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“I’m gonna kill every single new player. Do you understand that?” Saps taunted, axe buzzing in his hand. He would cut this weak king apart, limb by limb.
They exchanged a few hits, neither at a clear advantage, but that didn’t phase him. He was stronger, he’d lived so long by himself, and this stupid bird wouldn’t be the thing to stop him.
Directly in front of the general, a new player spawned in.
“Avra, Avra, go down!” The avian urged. His breath caught tight in his throat as he was helpless to watch his innocent civilian get killed.
Saps smiled as he wiped the splattered blood off of his face, “Aw, that’s a shame.” He readied his axe. “But it’s not like they deserved to live.”
He sprung straight at the king, using his momentum to land a ruthless blow to his stomach. Parrot heaved up his shield and retreated to heal.
“C’mon Parrot! You’re a little slow!”
He hit him again, he was fighting him aggressively, swinging his blade with intent to kill. The overwhelming flurry forced Parrot to retreat again down the staircase.
Saps’ cheeks ached from smiling so hard. He wanted to drop the expression but that would go exactly against what he’d told him to do. He trusted him, Saps would follow the plan, make Parrot realize just how hopeless he was.
The avian reentered the fight and all it took was one hit for his helmet to shatter.
“Ohhh, finally!” The red trimmed man jeered. “Your helmet, look at your helmet! I can see your nice pretty crown!”
His hits rained down on Parrot and after all this, despite the earlier battle’s heavy toll, he felt more alive than ever.
“You’re pathetic! You understand that? You’re weak!”
The coward couldn’t even dignify a response.
The general stopped in place, standing confident in the center of the circle. His sword moved in wide dramatic gestures as he yelled.
“The great, mighty, king of Unstable, losing to me! You can’t even kill me!”
He motioned for the pitiful ruler to make his move and had no difficulty sidestepping his attack.
Saparata had armor and durability to spare, he’d win on resources and from the looks of Parrot’s sloppy attacks, skill too, but he needed to break his spirit.
The king ran into an attack, swinging his sword down at the general’s head. Saps raised his shield and kicked Parrot away.
“And after all this,” the white haired angel laughed, and its edges cut into Parrot like glass, “you’ve tried everything you could, failed in every way possible, after all this, their deaths are because of you.”
The parrot-hybrid unsteadily defended against Saps but the angel could hear his ragged panting.
He’d nearly won.
“Go.” Saps pushed him to the other side of the room. “Eat your gapples, we’re not done.”
He took delight in the animalistic fear clouding Parrot’s eyes. The king did as he was told.
“Do you not care about all the death, all the blood on your hands?” The avian shouted.
The general scoffed, unimpressed. “You said you’d given up on convincing me. Try and kill me, shouldn’t be too hard since you don’t seem to have any problem killing all your civilians."
They circled each other, shields raised defensively as they tossed accusations and insults at one another.
Parrot has a saviour complex and his morals are very rigid. His advisor’s voice reminded in his head.
He believes very few people are past saving, tire him out in a fight and poke holes in his logic. Stay confident, Saps, don’t stop smiling and don’t show any remorse.
He swung again and again, with his weapons and his words. Every blow landing as he’d been promised they would. Parrot was out of golden apples.
Redirect any blame squarely onto him. Saps drew closer. He needs to feel guilty for all of their deaths. Convince him he’s the villain, and humiliate him.
“Your guard force chose to fight for me.”
Parrot almost landed a crit. “Shut up, bro.”
“Bro,” Saps laughed, “you sound like an idiot. You are an idiot. You’re just as bad- no! You’re worse than Lettuce!”
Parrot desperately tried to ward off the angel with his spear.
“You’re copying him. I can almost- I can almost respect you for how callous it is, your plan.”
Once he’s distracted, end the fight.
“You recruit new players because there’ll always be more, and to them you’re their saviour.” Saps landed a bloody hit on the king’s arm, Parrot hissed through his bared teeth.
“But really? You’re not their saviour, you’re a pretentious hypocrite, sending them straight to their deaths!”
“And you’re any better, Saps?”
“So you agree?” Saparata gleefully asked, tracing a finger over the blood slicked edge of his axe.
“What- no!”
“You, Parrot, are the worst thing to have ever happened to this server. When you die, the players won't be crying. They’ll be cheering and celebrating the tyrant of Unstable’s long awaited death.”
That shut him up.
Saps swung at the disoriented king.
He didn’t miss.
~
The general spat a mouthful of blood onto the palace’s marble floor. With each step his netherite boots echoed in the abandoned hallways, the silence shattered by the unignorable weight of his presence. Even now, without a crown on his head, Saps was more of a king than Parrot had ever been.
Nearing the meeting room, Saps slid his weapons secure on his hips and tossed his helmet to the floor.
God, it felt nice to have it off.
He turned into another empty hallway, his shoulders rolled back, posture immaculate even still.
The former king’s meeting room came into view, and with it, his advisor. He’d clearly heard the general’s footsteps as he leaned against a wall, smiling at Saps with a quiet pride shining in his eyes.
“You did it?”
Saps strode over to him, his face melting into a happy smile. “I did.” His shoulders loosened ever so slightly when he failed to find any harm done to his advisor. “Everything you told me…”
“I know him best.”
Saps laughed, “I’m lucky you do, Wifies.”
His advisor narrowed his eyes. “You’re covered in blood.”
“Of course I am?”
“You shouldn’t have any on your face, I don't care if you think it makes you look tough,” the brunette chided, reaching out to cup the general’s face in his hands.
“So we won? Like, Cindercrest?” Saps asked, jaw moving beneath Wifies’ touch.
“Yeah, you’re the king now. Certainly didn’t hurt that his people are cowards, they were quick to convert over to Cindercrest.” His advisor gently wiped the blood from his face, his thumbs removing every last fleck of red. Saps relaxed beneath his thoughtful touch; today had been never ending, but it was worth it. He was soon to be king, and best of all, Parrot was going to meet an old friend.
If Saps was lucky, maybe the avian would even cry.
The angel let out an amused huff. “They’re idiots. I’m still killing them.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
The lavender-eyed man pulled back his hands, much to Saps’ displeasure. The angel sighed and turned to take in the room.
“Where’s the throne?” He asked, confused, until he remembered that this was the humble Parrotx2’s castle, of course that horrible excuse of a monarch wouldn’t have a throne.
“It’s Parrot,” Wifies smiled, nostalgia clear on his face, “his chair’s the same as everyone else’s.” Saps rolled his eyes while his advisor continued. “Don’t worry, your throne’s been rebuilt in the old ball room upstairs. It’s safer that way.”
“Oh yay. Is it done?”
“By now it likely is.”
This castle still felt like Parrot’s. Its halls were accented with teals and greens, the windows were all swung open, his papers and books were still scattered through this room. He still had a claim to this place. Saps would be sure to change that. Starting with his throne.
The general spun on his heel and started walking to the stairs, “C’mon, Wifies.”
His advisor trailed behind him.
They ascended the spiral stairs in silence, not rushing nor going slow, one step at a time until they reached the top floor.
They entered the room and were greeted by a dozen netherite soldiers lined against the walls of the grandiose chamber.
Immediately upon the general’s arrival they stood at attention, the two guards stationed at the entrance banging their spears twice.
Pride thrummed through his chest, his old players had been molded into loyal dogs, just as they’d been trained. This is why the new players were worthless to Unstable, they were rabid and unruly. Age and experience tamed all, it smoothed out ugly roughness and left someone ready to change with the times.
Saps’ smile was sharp and pleased as he sauntered to his throne and tested the seat.
Wifies followed respectfully, he kept his hands folded behind his back and face entirely neutral. From his imposing throne the angel smiled up at him. After years of ruling it wasn’t even a thought to maintain his rigid posture, it was automatic and plain to all his presence demanded respect.
“How do I look?” He grinned, moving his braid to rest on his shoulder.
His advisor’s eyes were analytical, roving over Saps like he was cataloguing every detail of his appearance.
Wifies hummed in thought. “Like someone to be feared,” he answered. “Your smile hasn’t dropped because you don’t lose and you don’t expect to. You look like someone who doesn’t
feel remorse, you just acknowledge it needed to happen. You look like a leader, you look strong, you look confident. You look like the king Unstable needs.”
The compliments landed straight at their intended target, Saps’ already lovesick heart. The angel didn’t even realize he was gazing at Wifies like he was the brightest star to have ever graced the night sky.
The general raised his voice in the direction of the guards. “All of you are dismissed. Leave us.”
His red eyes never left Wifies’. The old players trickled out and down the stairs.
It was just the two of them.
“You’re such a fucking flirt.” Saps scowled.
“Hm?” His advisor tilted his head innocently, his silver jewelry tinkling with the movement.
“Oh, shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything?”
The angel gestured for his hand, which Wifies dutifully provided. Saps tugged him right before the throne.
He stared at the standing man, waiting for him to speak.
Wifies didn’t bother. All the bastard did was play with their interlocked fingers.
“Speak.”
The brunette caressed the general’s knuckle, “What would his majesty like me to say?”
Saps glared through his lashes, mad at himself for relishing the repetitive brush of Wifies’ thumb over his bones.
“Saps?”
“Yes?”
“You’re going to be a great king. Greater than he ever could’ve been.”
A hot flare of rage – the type that had been building silently for days, months, possibly even years – exploded like a grenade, leaving him dizzy from the sensation.
“I am going to ruin him,” Saps promised. “That fucking- He’ll pay for what he did to you. I’ll make sure he loses everything he’s ever loved, his friends will die, the new players will be killed but I’ll make sure before they do, they all hate him.”
“That’s sweet of you.”
Saps pulled on their hands, forcing his advisor to lean so that their eyes were aligned.
“I’ll break his knees so all he can do is bow before you. He’ll see just how wrong he was to discard you.”
His paramour’s eyes crinkled, “You’re so cute.”
“Wifies. I’m serious.” He scowled. “I will have him begging you for forgiveness.”
“Saps, my love,” he smiled fondly down at the angel.
The white haired man quirked an unimpressed brow, acknowledging the words.
“You seem to care far more than I do about Paragon-” Saps’ grip tightened, “-I obviously care, but he’s suffering with or without my interference. I’m not that bothered because I know his life’s been in a progressive downward spiral ever since I ‘died’. He’s worse off without me. So why are you so angry?”
“Wifies, I was there those entire three months. I know just how much you care. And I'm angry because even if he’s suffering now, even if he’s losing, it’s nothing compared to what happened to you-”
“-I’d have to disagree-”
“Sweetheart-” Saparata interrupted, “he was your everything and you were discarded like something broken. You gave up your freedom, your happiness, your literal fucking life so his could be perfect and he-” the angel laughed, distressed, “tried to kill you.”
He forced himself to stop, his advisor was too silent, his purple eyes had gone dull and unfocused.
“Wifies…” He murmured, reaching to hold his sullen face in his hands. The ends of his fingers slipped into the lush tangle of hair and his thumbs rubbed reverently on the skin of his cheekbones.
He hadn’t intended on making him sad, but when Parrot was the topic of conversation it was hard to be calm.
“He’s done more than you’re willing to admit.” Wifies listened, mute. “The scales are ridiculously unbalanced and I want- no I need, for your sake, Parrot to wish he was dead.”
The brunette looked pointedly behind Saps as he responded, “Okay.”
“Okay.”
Wifies’ lashes flickered quickly, forcing any emotion away. He took a deep inhale through his nose and finally met the angel’s eyes.
“It’ll be satisfying,” Saps said in a soft tone.
His advisor hummed questioningly, leaning into Saps’ palm like an affectionate cat.
“Doing anything we want,” he elaborated, “nothing’s off limits anymore. The entire server- spawn, the great sea, even the farlands. We can have it all, anything you want, anything at all.”
Wifies blinked slowly, “Anything?”
“Anything you can imagine.”
Saps felt the playful smirk against his open hand. He saw how it sharpened all of Wifies features, it warmed something deep in his stomach.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Wifies murmured, looking at ease in Saps’ hold. “Parrot first, then we can see.”
“Whatever my advisor wants.”
Whatever he wanted, Saps would exhaust every single resource at his disposal to get it for him. He’d waste no time rallying an army, killing a thousand or throwing himself from a tower if Wifies showed even the slightest indication that it’d make him happy.
The difference between now and a year ago was that now there was nothing on the server that could stop him.
They held a long, soft look, Wifies still cupped tenderly in his hold.
The brown haired man’s smile shifted into something scheming – his eyes settled on Saps’ hand.
The royal advisor pulled back from the hand he’d been leaning into and pressed his lips to the skin. Wifies’ held unblinking eye contact with Saps as he kissed his way up the palm, stopping at the fingertips. He took the hand in his own and lifted it. Wifies placed a reverent kiss on the skin of his knuckle and pulled back with a satisfied smile.
Saps stared at him, processing. He wasn’t breathing, just blinking in disbelief.
“Aw, darling.” Wifies laughed. “You’ve gone red.”
He reached forwards to play with one of Saps’ dangling earrings. “Did I make you flust-“
Saps fisted the silver chain hanging from Wifies’ neck and tugged him against his lips. Wifies stumbled onto his lap, his hands clutching Saps’ shoulders for stability.
Saps sunk his nails possessively into his boyfriend’s scalp, Wifies sucked in a breath and the angel just took it as an opportunity to kiss him deeper.
Wifies was softer, he responded like he was cherishing him while Saps moved like he wanted to devour every part of him. And he did. Saps wanted Wifies to forget there was anyone other than him, because no one else could love him with the same worship as he could.
The angel felt himself drowning in the familiar lavender scent that seemed to emit off of Wifies. It was dizzying and made thinking that much harder. Everything was a blur of voices begging for more, more, more.
His hands slipped out of his brown hair, drifting over the perfect shape of his body until they settled on his waist. Saps guided Wifies closer, making him rest against his chest.
“Saps~” His advisor breathed, he’d put a hand palm to Saps’ chest to stop him from chasing.
“What?”
“Do we not have more important things to be doing?”
Saps planted a kiss under his jaw. “No,” he kissed lower, “it can wait.”
Wifies tilted his head, baring his neck. Saps eagerly continued to kiss, feeling Wifies’ throat moving as he spoke. “You haven’t been crowned yet. Parrot’s still …” he quietly gasped as Saps’ teeth grazed his skin, “not dealt with.” His eyes fluttered closed.
“There’s many pressing matters at hand-” He bit down on Wifies’ neck. “Saps!”
The angel kissed the mark like it’d count as an apology.
The brunette glared at the man, “Really?”
“You taste good.” The angel shrugged, not guilty in the slightest. He licked his lips and watched Wifies’ eyes track the motion.
“You just fought a war,” his advisor deadpanned, “you have blood on your face, and instead of taking a shower or I don’t know, becoming the king of the entire server, you’re biting me.”
“I’m rewarding myself.” Saps whispered against his neck.
“You’re such-“ he shivered, Saps nibbled at the skin of his collarbone, “oh my god, if you’re hungry go eat chicken or something. You’re not going to meet your calorie goal by chewing on my neck.”
“That’s what you think.” Saps smiled, leaning in to kiss him on the lips.
Wifies reluctantly gave in to him and kissed back. He supposed it was better to kiss him than be covered in bite marks.
Saps was thorough, he kept trying to get closer to Wifies, despite already being pressed flush against him. The angel made little happy noises whenever Wifies reciprocated, especially when he wrapped his arms around Saps’ neck. Eventually they resurfaced for air, chests rising and falling heavily.
Saps wasted no time returning to smother Wifies with his affection. He kissed the corners of his lips, making a point of pressing firmly. He moved to kiss Wifies’ nose, the bridge of his brows, his forehead, his temples and ending with a kiss to each cheek.
The angel pulled back and nearly melted from the warmth in Wifies’ eyes.
“I adore you.” Saps whispered.
Wifies wrapped the angel’s arms around himself and snuggled into place against his chest. “I know.”
~
Wifies secured the clasp of Saps’ cloak and adjusted the white fur collar’s position on his shoulders.
The angel watched his reflection absentmindedly, he’d changed out of the ribbed armor and into his royal attire. This was what he’d be wearing when he was crowned as king.
He reached to adjust his dangling ruby earrings and fix a stray lock of hair.
“Do you feel ready?” Wifies asked.
Saps laughed, “He’s had long enough to wallow. The real question is if you’re ready.”
Wifies hummed an answer and fussed a little more over Saps’ outfit.
“Wifies,” the angel sighed, “I think it’s okay.”
“You’re right, sorry.”
Saps smiled softly, “We should go.”
His advisor bowed his head in agreement to which Saps flicked his forehead.
“You don’t need to be doing all that.”
Wifies rolled his eyes to the back of his head and when he looked back at the general, his expression was unimpressed. “It’s common etiquette.”
“Sure,” Saps said sarcastically, “since you’re being polite, go instruct the guards to bring the prisoner to the throne room. Oh- and don’t immediately join us, I’d like the two of us to have a little chat.”
“Yes, General Saparata.” Wifies said, a smile audible in his voice.
“Whatever, go, get to it.” The angel shooed him off, gesturing for him to leave.
His advisor walked out the door, closing it behind him.
Alone in the room, Saparata took a moment to breathe. It had been such a long and treacherous road to get to this point. There’d been loss and anger, bloodshed and tears, but despite all the fighting and manipulating, it’d been worth it. He’d nearly avenged his dead friends, the new players were as good as dead and he’d almost fulfilled his promise to Wifies – the one that he’d made all those years ago.
Everything was falling into place for him and best of all? Parrot was about to understand just how much Saps hated him.
~
Saparata sat tall on his throne, listening to the weak grunts of pain coming from the staircase.
“Ugh- stop. Bro, let me go.” The man’s irritating voice carried into the new throne room
The angel kept his demeanor cool when two of his guards hauled the shackled avian through the entry.
He was dragged, legs limp on the floor, to kneel before the general’s throne. The second he was released from the guards’ hold he all but crumpled on the marble.
From his knees, Parrot glared up at Saps with fire burning in his eyes.
Saparata found great pleasure in looking at the avian. His charred feathers were clumped pathetically on his gruesomely bent wings, ruined so horribly that no pigment remained. It was honestly beautiful to the angel, seeing just how broken the war had left him.
“Hi Parrot.” Saps greeted cheerfully. “How’s captivity been treating you?”
The former king forced his lips into a line and stayed silent, doing his absolute best to deny the leader of Cindercrest any satisfaction.
“You’re lookin’ a little rough there, actually. What happened? Don’t you have body guards – to protect you? Like Theo and what was her name? Reya? Um, no that’s not right.” He tapped his lip in thought.
“Oh wait- ugh it’s on the tip of my tongue. Re- Rey- Rey- Oh! Reina!” He morphed his face into an amicable smile, knowing it was getting under Parrot’s skin.
“Yeah, where’d they go? Did they leave you? Were they not as loyal as you thought or- did they- did they… die?”
The avian clenched his jaw, his left eye twitching. “What is the actual purpose of this?”
“I’m worried, Parrot,” Saps confessed, hand to his heart while his voice dripped with sickly sweet sympathy. “It has to feel terrible to be you.”
He bent lower, shrinking the distance by enough to have his whisper carry over. “It has to feel terrible to be so pathetic.”
He sat straight up again and laughed. “I’m excited for you to watch everything you’ve worked for be destroyed. Because I won. And you’ll get the pleasure of a front row seat to all our upcoming executions! Doesn’t that sound fun?” He smiled with a disturbing amount of teeth flashing.
“Maybe we can even have you kill a couple? How’s that sound? You can have a hand in undoing all these mistakes you’ve made.”
“No.” Parrot spat, disdain so purely exposed on his face it made Saps giddy.
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll come around. It’ll be fun. You can watch as I break Theo’s wings, I’ll fracture them so badly they’ll be permanently paralyzed. The pillow in your jail cell can be stuffed with his feathers. His bright yellow feathers-”
“Stop talk-” Parrot tried to interrupt.
“Sorry, did you say something?” Saps asked, cocking his head like he was listening.
“Shut u-”
“Must’ve been the wind.” He smiled. “Where was I? Oh! Reina! Yeah, and as for her? I think it’d only be fitting for that worthless new player to die just like her stupid friend, starved to death in a field of daisies. I’ll make sure she knows to blame you when she’s watching her hunger bar creep closer to empty. Your friends always do seem to be better off without you.” The angel laughed sharply, shaking his head to himself.
“You’re a monster.”
“If I really was a monster, I'd have gouged out your eyes with my fingernails by now. Don’t tempt me.” He threatened, smiling despite the pain from his nails digging into the flesh of his palms.
“Saps.”
“What.”
“You might as well give up now.”
“I should give up?” He asked, so shocked he started laughing.
“Saps, I can promise you bro, you are not winning this.”
We’ll see who’s won when you’re half dead in a jail cell.
“Are you stupid?”
“You may have my army-”
“-And your whole fucking kingdom,” Saps butt in.
“Whatever, but we will beat you. We will persevere, we will keep fighting to stop tyrants like you because someone as evil as you could never win. I can promise you, you will slip up, you will make a mistake, and it’ll cost you everything. Your mask will crumble and the server, the old players that dedicate themselves to you, will see you for who you truly are. That I can promise.”
“Says the guy on his knees before me.” The angel’s unblinking eyes burned with ire. “And do tell me, oh wise, former king Parrot, who is this ‘we’ you speak of? Who are these righteous heroes that’ll all band together to defeat Saps Saparata, the big bad of the Unstable smp?”
“The players who won't stand by while you ruin this server, the people who are brave enough to do what’s right and stand up to you. That’s who’s going to end your reign of terror!” Parrot had lifted higher on his knees, visibly empowered by his own speech.
Maybe it’s about time…
“Yeah sure, I’ll slip up and show my true evil colors because I'm a wicked monster, clearly.” Saps nodded. “But, I doubt it. He’ll make sure that never happens.”
Take the bait Parrot, I know you’re curious.
“He?”
Oh, this was about to be fun. “I overestimated how smart you were, Parrot. Did you really think I was the only ruler of Cindercrest?”
Parrot’s face scrunched in shock, his eyes blinking like he was trying to fit this new puzzle piece into the picture he’d convinced himself was already complete.
Dumbass.
“Yeah, took you long enough.” The angel huffed. “I’m not really the planner out of the two of us, that’s really more of his thing.”
“Wow. I’ll admit, I should’ve known you weren’t smart enough to orchestrate all of this. Whoever this is must be sick in the head.” Parrot scowled. “I’m shocked that you found someone as fucked up as you.”
Saps just smiled, he heard the gentle footfalls ascending the stairs, his footsteps. He’d know, he’s had years to memorize the sound.
Parrot must not have heard, he was still looking at Saps expectantly, completely unaware as to who had just entered the room.
“That’s no way to speak about an old friend, now is it, Parrot?”
All the blood drained from the avian’s face. His wide eyes locked onto Wifies as if compelled by some otherworldly force. His head turned to keep his gaze directly on him, watching the brunette as though he was an unspeakable horror beyond the realm of human comprehension.
Wifies didn’t even spare a glance at the slumped prisoner while he walked to stand beside his general.
The two shared a brief look, no longer than two seconds but still saying more than any words could've.
“Wifies…?” Parrot murmured. “What?”
“This is just sad,” Saps said, trying and failing not to smile. He rested his head on his open palm — propped by the throne’s armrest — enthralled by the scene playing out.
“You- I blew you up?”
Wifies’ face remained flat, Saps admired the cruelty of acting so unaffected while Parrot’s reality was breaking at the seams.
“You fell for the same trick twice, Parrot.” The royal advisor said, his tone heavy with disapproval. “And then you replaced me with Theo. Naivety has taken you far but you’re truly a fool for believing you could bring peace to a server that never wanted you in the first place.”
He let his words reverberate, echoing until all they could hear was the choked breaths leaving the distraught avian.
Wifies next words weren't any less callous. “You can’t do what it takes, you never could. And now, thousands will die.”
The general felt his heart melting inside his ribs’ protective cage. Watching the disdain rippling off of Wifies as he spoke, watching the confidence in his stance, the way he committed to each word like he was going in for an attack, it made Saps feel weak.
“I used to admire your morals, but now I just pity them. You're weak because you're selfless, you can’t be cold, you can’t do what needs to be done.”
Wifies turned back to the angel. “But Saps can.”
He could’ve killed Saps with nothing but his words. To him it seemed crueler what he was doing to the angel than Parrot. Still, his face remained masked in indifference.
“What happened to you?” Parrot’s voice shattered.
The angel turned his attention back to the broken king.
“What happened to my best friend?” His throat bobbed hard. “Wifies… this is wrong.”
“Is it?”
“You want to kill thousands!”
“You’re letting thousands starve, you’re sitting by as bandits-”
“I don’t want to!” Parrot yelled. “I’m doing everything I can! There’s just too much-”
Saps cut his protestations off with a yawn, blinking the tired tears from his eyes. “Sorry, that was getting boring.”
“You’re with him? Saps? He’s committing a genocide!”
“What? I’m- I’m commiting a genocide? Aw darn, I didn’t even realize.” The angel frowned. “Wifies, I’ve lost my way, we need to change.” He looked to his advisor, seeing his sly grin was more than enough encouragement to continue. “Hold on- I know, let’s all hold hands and starve, together — old players and new players!”
The royal advisor’s mouth twitched, he visibly battled to stop himself from laughing. Parrot on the other hand wasn’t amused, if anything he looked more depressed.
“So you’ve been alive for years?” Parrot asked, his lips beginning to bleed as he bit on it.
“Do I look dead?”
Saps huffed a laugh.
“You’re just perfectly fine and alive after all that? You became the director, you obsessed over me, bro, you threw me in a prison, you ruined my life and then just accepted everything and moved on?”
“You killed me, Parrot. Forgive me for taking that as a reason to move on.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t die.” He scowled. “It’d be better for everyone if you died for real the second time. Two years of reflection obviously only made you worse.”
Saps was starting to grow irritated by all the claims the old king was making. It was insane that someone who’d failed as much as him felt like he could be insulting Wifies. How did Parrot of all people think he was in a position to be claiming Wifies had gotten worse and that he should’ve stayed dead?! Parrot only thought Wifies had gotten worse because he’d realized he deserved better than being seen as an obsessive psychopath!
“You’re talking a lot of shit, Parrot. It’d do you some good to know your place,” Saps warned.
“As if I’d listen to you, bro.”
Saps made a gesture to one of the guards. Parrot whipped his head only to watch as a figure in netherite moved to stand behind him.
“You were saying?”
“You think I’m scared of your goons? Your scare tactics won't work.”
“Upper right wing,” Saps instructed.
The guard brought their hands down on the wing’s bone and twisted. Parrot went stiff in pain and tried as hard as he could to suppress his whimpers. He squeezed his eyes shut in pain and curled into a defensive ball.
“Tighter.”
Parrot cried out, an agonized sound as his bones were manhandled and contorted.
“Bend it.” Saparata made a small gesture of what he wanted the guard to do and nodded for them to go ahead.
The frail wing’s joint connecting the bones was folded, hyperextending it past what should have been physically possible. Parrot’s attempts at being quiet all halted, he screamed, a horrible noise made by someone suffering the highest degree of pain. Saps imagined he sounded like someone being burnt alive would.
“Stop! Please! Saps, what are you getting from- AUGHHHH- this!? Stop!”
The angel sighed, disappointed at Parrot’s pain tolerance. Should probably stop before the bone breaks skin. He reasoned, he didn’t want to need to heal him before the coronation.
“Enough,” he commanded and the guard released the wing, returning to their spot on the wall.
“There’s always the shock collar, but that’s less fun, I’d say,” he said, listening to Parrot’s choked breaths.
The avian’s cheeks were wet with trails of tears he’d failed to cry without sound. Saps thought it was funny, his adamance to be silent, all that effort just for him to beg and scream in the end. And even if he had managed to be quiet, it wasn’t like Saps would’ve felt any less satisfied, he would’ve enjoyed watching Parrot suffer all the same.
“Pull yourself together,” the general scolded.
After a moment of visible struggle, the prisoner straightened to meet his eyes. Red-faced and teary eyed, Parrot bit his tongue — face cycling through flashes of painful emotions.
“Finally.” The general clapped. “Now that you’re done being emotional, we can talk.”
“Former king of the Unstable smp, you’ve got two options here, you should feel lucky you’re even getting that. You can devote yourself to living under the glorious Cindercrest civilization or eternal suffering and agony.”
Parrot blinked back tears, nose scrunched. “Are you like genuinely stupid, bro?”
He uses bro every other sentence and he expects me to listen? No wonder he was such a horrible king.
“Watch your mouth.”
“I will never join Cindercrest.”
Honestly, Saparata had expected that. It was fine by him if Parrot wanted to die in a prison cell. He shrugged with indifference. “Stupid choice but whatever. If you want eternal suffering then be my guest, Parrot.”
He glanced at his advisor, making eye contact and leaning in. Wifies mirrored the motion, and Saps whispered, “Can you please get it, Wifies.”
His advisor brought his lips to Saps’s ear. “Of course, my love.”
The future king bit the inside of his cheek, watching as the brunette disappeared from view.
“Where’d you send him off too?”
The general was tired of answering his questions, he settled for stating the obvious. “You look like shit.”
Parrot’s expression was temporarily taken aback. Still low on his bloody knees, he glared venomously. Saps ignored him, instead opting to watch the balcony. He looked at the midday sun, the tall walls surrounding the courtyard, taking it all in while blinking in slow repetitive flutters of his eyelids.
He scratched absent mindedly at the blood crusted to his nails. His head almost snapped to look when he heard his advisor returned, but for the sake of seeming cold and unaffected in front of Parrot, he kept his eyes on the chipping blood.
Wifies walked back in with a wooden box.
“You’re not wasting any time,” the avian said, voice still scratchy.
“Parrot,” Saps said, “it’s important to me that you know we aren’t crowning me with your crown, yours is ugly, so we got a new, significantly cooler one.”
“You won’t be wearing it for long, bro. Cindercrest’s doomed-”
“Should I just gag him at this point?” Saps complained to his advisor. “He’s talking a lot.”
Wifies’ voice was low in his ear, his cool breath tickling the skin. “I can cut out his tongue if you’d like?”
Parrot watched them, still kneeling in a dejected lump. His face creased as he tried to figure out what the man that’d stolen his entire kingdom was giggling at.
“I love you,” Saps murmured.
“I love you too.”
“As fun as that sounds, it’d be a hassle right now. Maybe later though, sweetheart.” Saps said, brushing some of the white hair out of his eyes. “But I am excited for the coronation.”
Wifies stopped his general’s hand and moved the defiant strands himself, taking care to position them as thoughtfully as he could. “You’ll look gorgeous in the crown.” He smiled with a slight tilt of his head.
“Aww~” Saps cooed. “And you’ll look handsome by my side. I’ll have you right beside me in the royal portrait, my dearest advisor.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
They shared a fond look. “The whispering must be driving him insane,” the angel said, glancing at the avian with a coy smile.
His advisor’s rich laugh rang out, Saps relished how unrestrained it sounded. “I hope it is,” Wifies whispered, “but it can’t be anywhere as bad as our dynamic must be.”
“I know he’s pissed.”
“It’ll only get worse for him.” Wifies promised, wearing that look, the one that meant his plan had already begun to go perfectly, the one that said his success was inevitable, the one that made Saps feel like he’d gotten a glimpse of heaven.
“Perfect.” He breathed out. “I’m ready.”
His partner scanned his face – relaxing when he verified the angel wasn’t lying. “Okay, Saps.”
Yeah, Parrot, I’m sure you’d like to know more about our dynamic. He thought, hit with a reckless idea so tempting he was helpless but to comply.
Wifies had begun to pull away, before he could rebuild the distance, Saps brought his face back and kissed him. He smiled against his advisor’s lips at the clear gasp from a few meters away. The general released his partner – who looked completely unphased – and recentered his vision on the prisoner.
Parrot’s lips parted, eyes bugging out, shoulders dropped like the shock had made him boneless.
“Pffft,” Saps snickered. “That’s- oh- that’s- a reaction.”
“You- wha- you two?” Their prisoner stuttered.
“General Saparata, I believe it’s time,” Wifies said, voice far more formal than his cocky smirk.
Saps neutralized his expression and stood up from the throne. “Guards, the prisoner,” he ordered with a gesture. He and his advisor – who’d taken the crown from the box and was now holding it – walked out to the balcony. The avian was dragged in their wake.
The fall air swirled through his cloak as he and his advisor made their way to the railing of the balcony. Thousands upon thousands of players cheered from below, all little specks of color in the courtyard.
The general unclasped the war horn from his waist, took a large inhale and blew.
The noise blared far and wide, commanding his civilians’ undivided attention.
“Citizens of the Unstable smp,” he projected, his voice somehow carrying as clear as his war horn, “the former king, Parrotx2 has been defeated-”
He paused as a cheer swelled, loud and thrashing. Players screamed and shouted, and the blurry sound of ‘glory to Cindercrest’ made its way to him.
Saps smiled. “This server is once again ours! No longer will we starve! No longer will we die! Finally we can rid our home of this infestation, of this disease! Cindercrest vanquished Parrot-”
The former king was held up by two guards, the sight of him sparked a wave of boos.
“They don’t seem too fond of you,” Saps noted, voice directed at the avian.
He didn’t get a response and he doubted he would anytime soon based on the hollowed out look in Parrot’s eyes. The king had finally been broken.
“And now we will be rid of the new players!”
He scanned the crowd, all these people were completely devoted to him, they wanted to rally and support the cause. He’d make use of that naive loyalty.
“Each and every one of you have lived, you’ve fought for this, and thanks to all of you, Cindercrest is strong. Thanks to all of you, there will be a new king.”
He took a few intentional steps back, moving away from the railing as the players cheered.
His advisor gave him a curt nod and stepped forward to take Saps’ place.
“From this day forward,” Wifies spoke, the timbre of his voice bouncing in the courtyard below, “there will be a new king.”
The raw screams of his people had Saps’ eyes crinkling in amusement. This hadn’t been the reception Lettuce got, and it definitely wasn’t the treatment Parrot’s people had given him.
“A king that doesn’t cower, a king that fights the wars himself!”
“RAHH!” The crowd yelled.
“A man who’s torn down all who’ve dared oppose Cindercrest!”
“SAPARATA! SAPARATA!”
“He won us the war and now he will wear the crown, as the new ruler of the Unstable smp!”
“SAPARATA! SAPARATA!”
“Saparata,” Wifies ordered. “Come forward.”
The general obliged. He kept his hardened gaze on the horizon, staying formal despite the voices urging him to turn to Wifies.
“There have been two before you,” his advisor boomed, “Lettucek, the leader of the law who fell to Parrotx2. And Parrotx2, the server's proclaimed ‘smartest player’, the man who’d taken down the mafia and survived what most could not. Parrot fell to you. The crown is once again passed on.”
Wifies raised the crown, holding it suspended in the air.
“You’re doing amazing, darling,” his partner whispered.
“You too,” he replied, barely moving his lips.
The gold crown was settled upon his hair, and his black headwings wrapped flush with the metal.
“Long live Saparata, king of the Unstable smp!” Wifies shouted.
“LONG LIVE SAPARATA! KING OF THE UNSTABLE SMP!” The players echoed.
Head held high, Saparata yelled, “Glory to Cindercrest!”
“GLORY TO CINDERCREST!”
He turned away from the crowd, back to face the man who’d fallen so far from his prior status.
Parrot stood, shackled and bloodied with silent tears streaking down his face.
Their eyes locked and he watched Parrot read his lips as they mouthed, “It’s only going to get worse.”
That much he could promise.