Chapter Text
“Wow this place is cooked.”
Gazing out at the ruined war zone, Wemmbu can’t help but let out the comment. The battlefield was so worn down by the hundreds of players they’d fought. Smoke still rising from the remains of the explosions and the faint ringing that often lingered in the vast plains anytime he used his ballistics. Something about the way the booming noise would bounce off every surface and echo around the world. An everlasting ringing that never truly vanished after a massacre of this scale.
They’d really dragged it on to a ridiculous degree. His gear made that clear enough. Already groaning at the thought of needing to restock again. New gear for sure, some repairs to his tools, more potions-
He hears the bottle crack then.
The pungent smell of strength meets him. And the rushing footsteps fade in above the dead air of the field below. His dark eyes narrow into slits as he spins around just in time to block the swipe with his sword. Flame’s blade coming down on him hard and the recoil sending him flying off the edge. Oh come on bro were they seriously doing this?
The wind rushes past him as he plummets. Taking a second to glare at the fireborn grinning widely at him from the ledge. The expression enough for him to refocus. Shifting midair he starts chugging gapples and twisting to face the ground. Familiar purple light materializing from his back as his wings form from his command. The crystalline structure much more sparse and cracked with how damaged the elytra catalyst was. All of it making him scoff in annoyance. And irritation.
“Alright.” Barely inflection in his voice.
“Alright.” Flame echoes him as he leaps after. “Now that this is over, let's fight bro.”
For a second there Wemmbu had genuinely thought they were on better terms. Seriously they’d just taken down a thousand players together. That had to have been worth something, some truce that’d last longer then a few hours. Though none of it slows him down in fighting right back.
The fight almost feels like one of their old ones. Going at each other for the thrill, the need to one up the other. Tossing out insults and laughing at the sheer joy of getting to let loose.
He’s flying around with the rockets. Each one sending him high and blurring the world around him before he plummets back down with Gambit at such a high speed. The blow landing heavy and hard as it caves in the camouflaged armour the other wore. Enchantments shimmer and ripple out from the impact sight to reveal the outline and pressing harshly into Flame. Blood spewing from all sides around the crater in his chest.
Enough so to pop Flame’s totem. Green erupting from the golden artifact and rapidly pulling back together the smashed flesh and bone in an explosion of ancient magic.
Wemmbu’s reminded of how worn his gear was then. The specks of metal flickering off his mace as he glides ahead. Even feeling the rough way the wind catches on the broken structure of his wings. More of the cascading gemstone design sputtering out as the elytra’s durability wanes.
He shoves Gambit away into his inventory, pulling out the spare mace he’d scrounged from one of the fallen players. Firing off a wind charge below his feet, he engages back into the fight. Though his mind wandered more now.
Bro what even was the point of this. He’d gotten so much stronger now. Scouring the server for tools and weapons that’d make him the best. To get that recognition as the strongest player. And then it was for something else. Was all to just- be enough. For someone else. So he wouldn’t have to worry. It’s what made Wemmbu try to start fresh. As the invisible knight, a player nobody knew.
The barest sense of living without having to prove anything. Without having to stay ahead and on edge because everyone was out to get him. The closest, really, to freedom. Until he was pulled out from it. Back to living in the reality that was the server. Not a second to breathe nor reorient himself.
And he didn’t know what he wanted to accomplish now. What winning back the title of strongest from Flame would even get him- Wemmbu hesitates at the thought. Gritting his teeth as he misses the mace attack. Stunned to the spot, waiting for his legs to work up the strength to move again. He heaves the weapon up and turns to make distance to recover his health from the harsh landing.
The second he lets the pearl fly he glances back to keep his eyes on the fireborn. Only to be met with the dizzying feel of his head being smashed in by the blade. Helm shattering in an instant and free hand coming up to clutch at his crown before it falls. The disorientation made worse once his pearl lands several feet away.
“Come on bro! Can’t die this quick, give me a fight at least.”
That at least spurs him to keep going. The scuffle dragging on in a tiring back and forth. When did the fight get tiring?
It worked around in his head. That he really had nothing to gain from keeping the fight raging. No spark lighting up to prove Flame wrong. To stay the strongest. To keep struggling for- for what?
He launches another pearl to make distance. But he’s misjudged the throw. Open air beneath his feet as he has to activate his wings once again. Gliding down the long tunnelling crater he’d made with his explosive. Using the chance to land and try to re heal.
“Bro can you just admit that I’m stronger than you?” It’s a half hearted comment, Wemmbu can tell. Flame already scaling his way further down the crater to launch another attack. Netherite sword glimmering in the first rays of the sunrise as it shadows him.
Wemmbu stares for a moment. His breathing a bit more winded than he’d have liked. The only protection he had left was the netherite chest plate and leggings. Rockets completely depleted and left with only a few wind charges. He could keep fighting. Down to the last moment. But. Nothing in him soared to do so. Not when there wasn’t anything tangible on the line. Not his life. Not- someone else’s life. Just a title. One he hadn’t even been after in- a long time.
“Yeah, you can be- you can be the strongest.”
It’s an odd nothingness that fills him once Flame finally leaves. A small humorless laugh escaping him as he gazes at the state of himself. Tapping against the armour and seeing the shimmer pass over it. Outlining the hidden gear and making every dent and scratch visible, showcasing just how near it’d been to breaking. With how often he’d had to switch the armor, his clothes felt the impact from the battle. Scuffs and tears littering his outfit and boots. His crown at least stayed intact. Thankfully.
His inventory then. Drifting along the lack of rockets and potions. And his elytra catalyst only having a few more seconds of a summoning at most. Though, Wemmbu’s most aware of Gambit sitting in near ruins and in dire need of a mend. It makes him look to the spare mace he’d had to dawn, rolling his eyes at the weak enchantments. Dawg how did he fight with this? And it's tossed from his inventory. Clattering loudly on the way down the bedrock hole his final explosive made. He’d have to get on with restocking those.
“Hey buddy.” There’s a voice above him. Making him tense and gaze skyward.
“Hello-” Wemmbu lets out the response in as neutral of a tone as he can manage. Having to squint his eyes to look up at the shadow silhouetted by the early morning light.
He hadn’t expected Lettuce to be here.
The chimera is already mocking him as he glides down, wings collapsing the second he’s low enough to land on a nearby ledge. And Wemmbu retorts right back. Keeping up the easy laugh in his voice. Rather not give off just how under geared he was. Even as he tried to readjust his sparse tools in some semblance of a battle ready setup. Just in case.
Still, Lettuce gazes down at him from the raised stone. Eyes sharp and a lazy smirk on his face. Roaming his eyes along Wemmbu’s form. Noting how barren he seemed with so little armor. And then those eyes dart down below. The only indication before the green-black wings appear again. The chest piece morphing at the command of the elytra catalyst to allow him flight. And he’s diving down below, right to the glinting mace Wemmbu had dropped.
The second he’s out of view, Wemmbu launches his wind charge. Scrambling to try and scale free from the tunnel. Absolutely not bro he did not have the gear for this. But he has to silently curse at how nearly impossible it was to get out. The jagged and uneven ledges give him no purchase to land on steadily enough. And his elytra catalyst didn’t have anywhere near enough charge to get him out in time.
It’s only a moment after his failed escape he hears the exploding whir of the firework rockets. The green blur zooming past him and the wind from the wings expanding outwards knocking him back.
“Thanks for this, by the way.” Lettuce stood a mere foot away from him now. Hauling the mace up to rest on his shoulder. The sharp grin only a part of the reason for the dread that started to prickle at Wemmbu. Joined by the way those green wings furled back up, collapsing from their crystalline structure and remorphing into the gold and netherite chest piece that all in Law wore.
He’s met with the choice then. To go with Lettuce. Or die.
Well. He wasn’t going down without a fight. Because for all he’d just been thinking how tiring it all felt, he still wanted to survive. Yet as he fends off the chimera, he’s stumbling. Lacking the maneuverability he desperately needed in the situation.
The space was so cramped without his flight. And he’s struck hard by the sword. Getting flung from his ledge and plummeting down the tunnel. Twisting and turning midair he faces the ground, the bedrock of the world’s end expanding across his vision with each passing moment. Clenching his fists tightly he crosses his arms across his face. Curling up his legs as close as he can. Then summoning his wings and spreading them wide. Opening them just barely in time as he jerks to a stop and lands in a tumbling mess, falling to his knees and his hands shooting outwards to catch himself.
Wemmbu sees the way the last of the purple gem stones dissipate and shatter, the sparks reforming back into his chest plate. His elytra catalyst was entirely out of durability now. Leaving him with really no way out.
He rolls quickly at the whining noise of Lettuce diving after him. The mace slamming into the ground and rattling the entirety of the cave. The chimera is standing up the instant after, swinging the mace around high until it’s landing heavily in his other hand. Gazing on at him still with the same smirk.
Maybe- Wemmbu tries a last attempt. Using the single moment of recovery Lettuce, anyone, needed after a failed mace attack, he launched himself high with the wind charge. And he sees the way Lettuce’s eyes go wide. Finally some unease from the other. It’s enough to spur a grin on Wemmbu’s face. Baring his teeth as he brings out Crucible and lands hard on the too slow chimera.
But then he raises his head. And is met with the sword swiping across him. Damage twofold from how prone he was after his own attack. Making him stumble back and barely holding onto Crucible. Wet blood pools in his mouth and he’s forced to spit out the mess in front of himself. Already feeling the way his chest plate had caved from the impact and pressed into his own chest.
There’s a laugh then. High and foxlike in the way it rises and drops. That’s when he sees the grin on the other’s face. Beady eyes filled with such an unsettling look that makes Wemmbu hunch his shoulders up. He’d have scoffed and launched another attack if his own body didn’t refuses to move. With how he could feel a single hit would be enough to end his life.
“Alright! Fine bro you got it- you got it. I- I’ll go wherever you want.” It’s not like he could do much now. Even with how frustrating all of this was.
He’s made to drop his gear. Though he gets the chance to store some items away when Lettuce opens up an ender chest. No way was he handing over his maces. Then he’s left to stand there with nothing. His inventory barren in a way it hadn’t been since he first joined the server. Not even any armor to protect him. Only his scuffed clothing that he hadn’t had the chance to change out of in way too long. The unease is enough to make him fidget. Readjust the tie that kept his long hair up. And fixing the crown that sat atop his head.
But the second he does the latter, Lettuce hums. Twisting around the mace he still held like a threat. Yet still saying nothing as he gazes at him with a small smile that looked like it wanted to pick apart every inch of him. So much, to the point that Wemmbu can’t keep his mouth shut.
“Yo bro are we going or what?” Each word said in a way that made his annoyance clear.
“Yes, we are. But oh Wemmbu. You decided to fight back when I gave you such an easy out to start with.” There’s a way too happy tone in his voice. Only emphasized by how the chimera lifts and thuds the mace in his open palm over and over again. “I can’t just let that go without a little, correction.” And then he launches up with a jump. Wings unfurling and aiding in his height.
There’s no time for him to dodge. Not when he was already backed into the corner and left vulnerable without any gear. So he can’t stop the mace from slamming right on his head. No cushion from a helmet to save him now.
Wemmbu falls to the floor in a heap. Vision darkening around the edges and narrowing rapidly. Huh, that didn’t kill him. The slurred thought is the most his mind can come up with. Lettuce must’ve held back just enough on the impact. Because he was still alive. Having to deal with the way his head squeezed in on itself. Ringing a high twitching tone.
He’s desperately trying to hold on to some little bits of consciousness. Focusing in on what he can still see. The little shine being what catches his eye. From the purple gemstone that resided in the center of his crown. The headpiece sitting innocuously in front of him now. And- was that red? Oh. Must be his blood on it. Dazedly he tries to reach for it. No real sense behind the action. Just trying to grasp some semblance of reality in his collapsing world.
But it’s snatched away and away. Rising high and he follows after. Seeing the way it’s dangled from the pawed hand.
“Oh look at this poor thing. I’ll make sure to get it back to you soon.”
The words are a jumble in his head. Muffled from the still there ringing. And it’s then his energy chooses to leave him. The purple of the gem being the last he sees before he falls into unconsciousness.
There’s a clatter as he tosses the crown on the iron table. The sound reverberating around the small redstone lab.
“You needed this right? Then get to work doc.” Lettuce leans over the table. Smiling wide as he looks on at the golden headpiece on the table. Still splattered with the blood of that purple demon. Oh, this was going to be perfect.
It’s snatched up quickly. The player, M4ddSciNtist, hungrily turned around the crown and examined every inch of it. Scoffing at the blood obscuring parts of the gemstone.
“Like I said, call me Maddie, I hate the title. And come on dude! You got blood all over the amethyst!” She trails off then. Forgoing grabbing a cloth to instead rub away the blood with her coat sleeve. Letting the purple gem shine in all its glory. A grin breaking across her face as she leaps up and back. “Yes! It is the right one. A perfectly grown amethyst.” And then she’s off rushing around and grabbing tools and a little dark box.
Her hands moving with a crazed vigor as she grabs the sharpened piece of netherite first. Digging it into the edges of the gem’s placeholder. Lettuce grimaces a tad at her state. With how Maddie’s inky black hair cascades over her face as she leans over. Gold eyes practically glowing with excitement as she works.
Only the smallest bit of doubt at his own choice. Whether bringing in this mad woman was the best idea. Or if getting someone less deranged would have served him better. He absolutely hated when his people weren’t under his command. Weren’t the exact image he needed and expected of them. Yet the doctor here was the only one who seemed assured enough in herself. Assured in what he needed her to do.
The gem finally pops out of place. Landing with a sharp clatter on the table. Already the doc is moving to the next step, working at the hole to make room.
And Lettuce edges forward. Picking up the amethyst in a delicate hold. It really was a prime cut on the gemstone. Even looking at it this close, he could see the flawless inner structure. Where Wemmbu of all people got it he didn’t know. But what an amazing opportunity it was. That was, if Maddie truly knew what she was doing.
“Tell me again, how this all is going to work.” His words are sharp as he glances over at the still working doctor. Needing another confirmation to make sure she had a semblance of an idea of the end goal. That he’d get exactly what he was after at the end of this.
She hums noncommittal. Too distracted to give an immediate answer. Instead opting to pull over the little box. And the second she opens it, Lettuce can see the dark murk squelching and writhing in place. Tendrils of black and blue squirming in the confined area and agitated from the noise all around it. Sculk was still something he hadn’t taken the time to learn much about. With how new the discovery of the substance had been. Oh but the unknown possibilities it held had him dying to know more.
And Maddie lifts it out without a care for how it wrapped loosely around her hands. Admiring the way it wriggled around mindlessly. Unintelligent movement at the barest noise it heard. Trying in vein to alert a non existent catalyst. The doctor balls up her fingers then. Pressing the mass tightly. Before shoving it into the crown’s center. Adjusting and positioning the mess and letting it settle. Sharp eyes turning to Lettuce then. Unbothered by how he raised an expectant brow from her continued lack of answer.
“Man can’t you just wait and see?” She opens her hand and reaches out waiting. Only rolling her eyes when the chimera doesn’t immediately hand her the gemstone. “Whatever. I told you. Skulk absolutely loves reacting to noise. And it sends out signals once it does. Such a fun mechanic for redstone by the way.”
Maddie reaches out for a miniature redstone lamp then. Holding it close to the skulk and snapping her fingers loudly in demonstration. The skulk moving in a jerk when she does and the lamp lighting up bright for a brief moment before sputtering back out.
“But it’s got wayyy too short of a range and not enough oomph when it reacts. So, amethyst.” She reaches her hand back out again.
Lettuce narrows his eyes but acquiesces, dropping the gem into her waiting palm. And she’s fast to grip it and place it into the hole. Covering up the skulk and smoothly slotting it back into place. Almost like nothing had been done to the crown. Maddie grabs at the netherite tool she’d been using. Brandishing the item in front of him. Then throwing it right at Lettuce.
He has to dodge to the side as the piece goes flying by him. Landing off somewhere far behind with a distant clang. An irritation making its way through him as he rounds on her. Only to pause at seeing the way she’s lit up by the glow coming from the redstone lamp. Steady and strong. Still active despite how short the signal was. And looking closer, Lettuce can see the way the crown almost hums with the tiniest motion. Until it stills. The lamp finally shutting off.
“See Letty! Amethyst is an amazing catalyst for light and sound! So it picks up the noise and vibrates it all round itself. Making the skulk go absolutely wild and sending so many signals. Of course, it only works so well with this beauty of a gem. Most amethyst are poorly harvested or taken prematurely, making the signal way too weak to actually be usable. But oh I knew there just had to be a perfect one somewhere! I’ve just gotta calibrate it to find the right tune then-” She’s off rambling as she continues to work.
Though Lettuce ignores her after that. Enraptured by the sheer possibilities of what he could do now. He’d need to do oh so much experimentation to make sure it worked. But at the end of it all? He’d have the perfect dog whistle to keep his own little dog in place.
He leaves the lab then, assured the calibration wouldn’t take more than a few hours. Now making his way through the halls of Law’s prison, he walks with such a vigor in his step he’s sure. The urge to check on the purple menace a gnawing thing in him. To see exactly what state he was in from being captured. To figure out the approach he wanted to take. In picking him apart and twisting him and bending him to break and fit the role of an attack dog.
The open air of the fields meets him as he steps outside. Letting his wings materialize he launches himself up and towards the mines. Flying high above and circling the spot as he gazes down. Seeing the little specks of orange of the prisoners working away in the ravine. Lettuce lets his wings snap shut then. Opening them just before hitting the ground and landing with ease.
A quick nod to the guards around him is all the acknowledgment he gives before turning his eyes down. Narrowing in on Wemmbu far below. Scurrying around and looking still so full of life. Already he was making a useless escape attempt. Hardly only a few hours into his first day here. It’s inane how unobservant his guards were really. With how Lopez is so distracted by Fantst to see the purple and pink demons slinking away into the walls of the mine.
Yet it makes him all the more thrilled at how eager Wemmbu was to make any situation to his advantage. How willing he was to keep going. He’d seen it back then too. When he’d been so sure Wemmbu would give up in an instant. Only to keep fighting down to the last moment. Spurred on by his need to be free.
Lettuce wanted to crush that desire.
He leaves once Lopez notices her mistake. Instead reentering the prison and waiting in his office. Lounging back in his chair and waiting for the guards to bring Wemmbu to him. With a flick he opens his inventory. Pulling out the small item that’d be the start of it all.
A tiny tube-like contraption. Small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. And the wood a deep red in color from the crimson used to make it. Two little holes carved out of it just so. One on the long side, and the other at one end. He brings it up to his mouth. Blowing into the whistle as a test. Of course he can’t hear any sound. But he can feel the vibrations as the noise leaves it.
Each step he took from here would need to be carefully piled on higher and higher. Implanting the connection even before the real work could start.
The doors to his office open soon after. The pistons whirring as the blocks are pulled away. Two guards are the first to greet him, stepping aside to reveal the purple demon. Looking much worse for wear. The orange jumpsuit already scuffed and dirtied from work in the mines. And his hair a disheveled mess. All that without even his crown in place, it really did make him look so pathetic.
With a quick wave of his paw, the guards quickly shuttle out. Leaving the still much too confident demon behind. Standing in front of the doorway with his arms crossed loosely over his chest. Darting his eyes around in an unimpressed way.
“Pft. You really need an office? Are you really gettin a lotta work done down here?” It’s flat as he says it. The dry sarcasm coming through clearly.
Lettuce ignores his remark. Resting his chin in his free hand. Twirling around the whistle in the other. Letting the smallest smile encroach on his face. Inviting and gesturing for Wemmbu to come in and sit across from him. There’s a long pause as he only hums and resolutely stays standing where he was. But the chimera waits and simply blows at the whistle in a bored way. Ignoring the odd look from the demon at the noiseless thing. Only waiting patiently for him to finally edge over and sit carefully in the chair.
“How was your first day chungy? I’ve heard a lot already.” He can’t stop the lasting smile in his voice. Knowing full well how much of an annoyance the day was for Wemmbu.
There’s a sharp laugh from the demon. The high pitched thing making his mouth twitch at the corners. “Yeah bro your guards suck. You know, I am gonna escape. And I’m gonna destroy Law myself.” He shrugs after it all. Sinking into the chair now in a mild comfort. So self assured.
“Really?” It’s a dry mock interest. Like hearing a little child say something so outrageous. “And to think I had a nice offer all lined up.” There’s still no twitch from the demon. Though Lettuce didn’t really expect much. All of this was only meant to toy with him after all. “A chance for you to be freed from my prison.”
That draws out a little hum of acknowledgment.
“It’s simple really. You get to regain your strength. Live for that thrill I know you love.” Lettuce pauses then. Clearly seeing the way Wemmbu raises a brow. Skeptical of the offer. “Of course you’d do so under Law command.”
And he loses all interest from the demon. Those black eyes rolling at the suggestion and barking out a laugh at the absurdity. Loudly rattling on about how ridiculous of an idea that was. “How stupid do you think I am bro?” And going on and on in denying how he’d ever work with him.
It’s a bit funny really. How adamantly opposed he was. And Lettuce only waits for him to finish. The smile not leaving his face.
Once the demon finally tapers off, Lettuce hums. Blowing at the whistle again without much thought. “Just think about it, hm? Won’t hurt your little brain to take more than two seconds to refuse my offer.”
His office doors open again. A guard quickly rushing in with an object in hand. And Lettuce perks up as the crown is set on his desk before the guard backs away to stand positioned by the door. The chimera turns his eyes up to see Wemmbu staring at his crown sitting innocuously between them. With a gentle push, Lettuce slides the crown over an inch.
“Think of it as a peace offering. You were looking real chopped without it.”
He gets a glare in return before the crown is snatched up and quickly placed on the mess of purple hair. Readjusted just so to secure it in place.
“Whatever Letty, can I leave now or what?” The demon already stands without waiting for a reply. Turning and making his way to stand by the guard.
Lettuce hums and gives the okay for the guard to head out. Though as he waits for the process of the door to open, he brings the whistle to his mouth a final time. Blowing on it for just a moment. His eyes intent on the back of the demon. To see the real reaction the little piece of wood was supposed to draw out.
And Wemmbu in an instant stiffens the smallest margin. Bringing a hand to the side of his head with an audible wince. He rights himself only a moment after. Even if there is still the smallest bit of stiffness in his body.
“Remember to think on my offer!” Lettuce calls it out after him. Eyes alight with a hunger as he watches the other’s response.
Wemmbu looks back at him over his shoulder. Rolling his eyes and turning away right after. “Sure. Whatever.” It’s said still without much inflection. Maybe just a way to appease Lettuce after asking twice already. But oh he knew it was so much more.