Chapter Text
The end’s ambience was a quiet one, that's for sure. Static filling the air, not only through sound but through sight- the purple galaxy skies fading into a loud static texture. Not to say the teen didn’t like it, though.
The small (to the others’ standards) enderman had been exploring the static-full dimension mindlessly, chirping small 'hello's' to the other people he’d come in contact with, but not getting too much response back. Which he isn’t complaining about- since he’s bad with social interaction anyway.
The end City not too far behind him, continuing to wander without a single thought about where he’s going.
Undisturbed, walking- but stopping, hearing a sudden flapping noise, whipping around and looking around frantically. What was that?
Trying to understand the situation, he continues to look ahead, confusion spread across his face- until there's another noise from behind him. He examines the space around him, looking up to see a small dragon-like figure perching on a chorus fruit tree, their wings spread out.
Oh, he thought. Are those.. wings??
“Hello?” the enderman called out, the figure obviously reacting, the ender stepping back in surprise once they had jumped down- breaking their fall with their wings.
A small, hybrid-looking boy smiles up at him. “Hello! Oh, you’re so tall.. wow,” he whispered in amazement, circling around him in curiosity. The ender's expression not too far off from the others, astonished, staring as he spins to match the younger boy's gaze.
Then the young dragon pauses, speaking again. “Wait- oh, sorry. I’m Tubbo, what’s your name?” he holds out a hand to shake gleefully. The enderman stares at the hand, furrowed eyebrows in confusion. Looking back up at the mention of a name, he blinks. “Oh- I’m, Ranboo? Yeah..” he murmurs, awkwardly poking Tubbo’s hand.
“Do you not know what a handshake is?” The dragon tilts his head
“No?” Ranboo responds, blinking at him confused
“Oh. It’s like, a sort of greeting when you first meet somebody,” he smiles as he takes Ranboo’s hand to demonstrate, shaking it, whereas the enderman looked upon the gesture, a smile tugging the corner of his lips. “Really? I never knew that.” Ranboo comments, not questioning it as Tubbo starts to idly walk along, pulling him by his hand.
“How many things do you know? I can tell you a lot of stuff! So can my dad, he’s very knowledgeable..” Tubbo rambles along, smiling widely as he walks backwards while holding onto the boy's hand all the way.
“Oh! Speaking of my father, you need to meet him, I’m sure he’ll want to meet someone as interesting as you!” He bounces, each time he does so, falling down a little fumbly thanks to flapping his wings out of instinct.
“I’m not so sure about that,” he laughs a little sadly. “There's plenty of endermen around here, what's so special about me?” Ranboo asks with a curious gaze.
“I dunno. You just seem special,” the hybrid boy smiles widely at him, swinging their hands as he continues to pull him along.
“.. Oh, thank you”
“Why? Do you not hear that alot?”
“You could say that,” he hums
“Well, unlucky for your peers then! cause, I call dibs. Anyways-” He squints at Ranboo’s dumbfounded expression. “Can I fly you somewhere?” he shrugs off the look, nodding towards the capital, a huge castle right on the edge of the End City, somewhere Ranboo only heard rumors about from his peers.
“The capital? Are you like.. Did you eat too many chorus fruits or something?? Why??” he asks, completely out of depth with the question.
“Uhh.. no? It’s kind of where I live.” Tubbo snickers, raising a eyebrow at the enderman
Ranboo blinks at him, taking a minute to process what was said.
“.. Huh?? ” he squints
Tubbo groans, rolling his eyes and throwing his head back in mock annoyance. “Come on, I’ll just show you if you’re so reluctant about it. We don’t even have to go in.”
“I don’t know..” The enderman frowns, looking down nervously at the endstone below them.
“Do you want to tell your parents first? I’m sure I can convince them into letting you visit for even a bit!” He smiles, swinging his and Ranboo’s arms, but the cheerful stare dampening as he watches confusion arise on the boy’s face.
“What’s a parent?” The enderman asks, tilting his head in question
“Uhhh…” Tubbo reaches back with his free hand to scratch the back of his neck anxiously. “A.. person, who takes care of you every day?” he responds unsurely
Ranboo just nods along a bit cluelessly. “.. Okay..” to which Tubbo sighs, shaking his head and painting a soft smile on his face again. The dragon boy speaks, “Alright- well. Let’s get going. Oh, yeah and- uh- maybe.. hold on.”
“Hold on? What-“ the enderman lets out a panicked warble being lifted in the air from the dragon holding him under his arms, reaching up to hold onto the other while they approach the capital at a mild pace- the city left behind now. Maybe that was for the better, he thinks.
CASTLE, IN THE CAPITAL
Tubbo dips down, gently placing down Ranboo on his feet before lowering himself down, smiling and taking them by the hand and continuing to walk. “You’re gonna love it, I just know it.” He assures, looking back forward and walking up the carpeted stairs, opening the wide doors, them swinging open with soft particles enveloping the handles of the door.
Oh, end rods? are those what they're supposed to be used for..?
The dragon looks around, looking a little tense. He clears his throat, looking back to Ranboo. “Holdon- stay here okay? I’ll go get my father.” He smiles- strained, obviously somethings off but the enderman won’t pry.
Now we follow Tubbo off up the stairs, searching for his father. The castle looks bare now, he notes.
“Dad?” He calls out a little worriedly, slowly approaching his fathers room, going to grab onto the doorknob before a loud crash echoes throughout the castle.
Tubbo flinches, turning to the sound of the noise, anxiety creeping up his chest.
“Ranboo!?” The teen yells, letting go of the knob and starting to run back down the hall, stopping himself by grabbing onto the railing- seeing his new friend being seized by two, cloaked figures.
“Stop!” The dragon demands, hopping over the railing and gliding down, kicking one of the men back by the force of his fall- turning back to the other, who has a- what even is that? It’s not a sword. But what matters is he’s pointing it at the enderman.
Tubbo holds up his hands in defense. “hey.. let's not get too uh, aggressive over this..”
Ranboo obviously has fear in his eyes, breathing heavily as he anxiously stares at the dragon- he needs to do something before the intruder does something first, so he elbows them in the chest, the taller figure stumbling back from the force.
“You little shit,” the man grumbles, pulling his sword out of his belts hatch- Tubbo getting ready to shield his friend before the other man behind recovered, pulling fabric over his mouth and dragging him back, holding him in a tight grasp.
The enderman looks back, panicked, looking between the two. He didn’t want to die here. And that’s a sword- he yelps as he crouches down to avoid a sword swipe, running out of the way and backing up, heavy breathing.
The man sighs, switching to a splash potion out of his bag. “Go secure the dragon, we’ll discuss this later.” He nods to the other man, who makes an affirmative hum, disappearing with Tubbo in a swarm of particles before fading fully.
Ranboo couldn’t even mention anything else before there was glass shattering, pain, and then nothing.