Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“It’s time” I felt the world call out. My stomach sank. Had it already been time for change? Hands clasped on my chest, I didn’t want to give this one up. I tell myself not to hold onto something for too long, for everything must move on, but this one I wanted to hold a little longer even if it broke my heart. I had made a friend, not a sheep, not a villager, but an actual person. Many of changes had I spent alone, or with superficial life, but this one was different. He breathed. He built. He cared. He cared for me. It was my home- our home, and I was to move on so quickly.

It wasn’t fair! It’s not fair! Why me? I screamed to the sky, though I known why. Call it fate, call it destiny, the worlds had shaped my story long before my existence. Where. Who. Me.

I hadn’t remembered a past time, just a moment of existing, of breathing. The sinking feeling. A shooting star passes once in someone’s life time.

I remembered. Comfort of nothingness, the warmth of sky, the calm of night, the blinding lights. The story of my being was plucked from the sea of stars, and dropped into the pages of stories. Shooting stars, I’m called. A song of stories, nightingale.

“Let us move on, star child” the world chimed, its luring sing-song voice-if I should call it that- reached to me. The day’s sun was near the western horizon. There I stood, on the edge of the path home and the flower fields, gazing at the brilliant warm light.

“Dearest friend, are you alright?” He called. His name. What was his name? Did I care enough to know, knowing I would have to move on? Names held meaning, they held attachment. I couldn’t be attached to this one. I broke the silent stare at the sun and to my friend, mustering a smile with all that was broken and knowing.

“Yes, I’m good,” I lied. Was it even convincing enough? His eyes bore holes into my being, was he picking me out? A silent hum passed his lips, I think he knows. His gaze shifted from me to the setting sun.

“It’s about to be bed time, not trying to fight the horde of zombies again in the forest. Goodness me i barely go out of that mess alive.” His voice, even, soft- it was comforting. It took every ounce of energy in me to not break. I couldn’t break. It was simply time to flip the page.

The walk felt longer to the doors of our shared home. I soaked in the view, trying to ingrain the details of everything, letting the life of the builds imprint its shape to memory.

My feet trudged up the stairs. The unsettling feeling steadily growing. It was time. Placing my hard-earned armor on the stand, I turned to face the window one last time. The sun was but a memory of the day it shone on, the last of its rays reaching out into the abyssal of night through the waves.

I held my journal close that night, as I had in every shift. It kept me sane, it kept me company. It holds the moments and memories that slip my mind every now and again. I let my eyes drift shut.

Then it happened all at once. The feeling of lightness, my gut dropping. The world was shifting again. The bright light burned my eyes, but it got brighter, and brighter, and brighter and oh goodness it didn’t stop! Then it was dimmed. I peaked out past squinting eyelids, then slowly opened my eyes for a reveal. A pair of white eyes met mine, a curiosity in their gaze.

“Hello!” They said, maybe a little loudly. “Welcome! I was wondering when someone would show up!” They were excited? I’ve never been greeted to an unfamiliar place like this before…or maybe I had in a distant past, but this was different. The corridor glistened of pearling quartz, the sun shone through a prism of windows- no the windows were actually colored!

“Oh? They arrived?” Another voice called over. For hearing two voices, I was met with 5 pairs of eyes. Six if the chicken counts (I’m not too entirely sure how a chicken could even- never mind actually, this was all strange).

“Where-“

“In the world port! Or rather, the fragment that crossed the worlds. It’s sort of complicated, even I’m not sure how such things could occur- oh goodness I didn’t even introduce myself! Midas! I’m Midas!” They rambled quickly then waved. “This is Athena,” they pointed to the one with pink tulip hair, “and that is-“

“Cornelius, or just Corn for short,” they spoke.

“And I’m Jules!” An outstretched hand eagerly reached for me. I shook back and met the gaze of the last one.

“Rael.”

“Well, welcome to the Queue everyone! In a moment, I’m going to open the gates to allow others to join us as well, and your job is to help them! Think yourselves as minor gods I suppose.” We glanced at each other in a bit of shock, or maybe that was just me. Some of the people before me didn’t seem phased by this concept. A god, minor at that. What could that possibly entail? Midas continued speaking, though I’m not even sure I heard half of that part.

“-so yeah! That’s basically that, the only way to get to ground is through this teleporter. You’ll be randomly assigned to assist a team in need.”

We queued up to go down to the overworld.

Ruby, citrine, sapphire and malachite… what interesting team names.

One by one, the others that were up with me disappeared, and one by one it got closer to me. Hovering a hand over to activate the teleporter, I pressed it. In an instant, I had been warped in the soft green grass. A central building of quartz stood before us. My team: sapphire. My cloak took on hues of glittering blues, more vibrant than an ocean, much softer than a lapis lazuli.

“Hmm, we’ll need to balance the teams out a bit. Someone from sapphire want to swap?” Midas looked in my direction. I looked to the other person on my team, Rael, but neither of us said a word for a moment.

“I’ll do it,” I volunteered, the words leaving my mouth before I thought. Midas, pleased with this answer, snapped their fingers. The lights around me brightened for a split second, the feeling of lightness took over, but it was gone before I could process it. I looked to my coat again. It now resembled a citrine ore, vibrant hues of orange, mixed with sunset shades colored the fabrics now.

“Perfect!” Midas exclaimed! They set some ground rules, taught us briefly of our roles, and gave us a final good luck before disappearing from our sights. With a subtle hop up, I was now levitating off the ground! Terrified yet so perplexed! I’ve never been able to take flight without wings before! The others around me also left the grounds, opting to float a bit higher up. I flew over to a person named Jules. They hovered by themselves, lost in thought. It didn’t take much conversation for us to instantly click. It felt like reminiscing with long lost friend. Surely I’ve never met them before, have I?

While our new formed group chatted, a newcomer had appeared in the same spot we had made it to, then another, and many more people! Maybe 40 people had made it through the gates Midas had mentioned earlier. It felt overwhelming.

I snapped back to the present and began my work I was summoned to do: look over this team and moderate issues that arose. I did quick scans of each person assigned to team citrine as they arrived, each one passing the system’s test. The crowd eventually scattered over hill tops and across the rivers around us. I lingered behind, in hopes that anyone that got lost would make it safely. Not sure if I was waiting for someone, longing for a familiar face. Any one of them. It might have been half an hour until those in the initial flood had made it through and ventured into the wilderness. I turned to Jules, a sigh of relief taking over.

“That was insane! I wasn’t expecting so many people to arrive so soon!” Jules exclaimed, barely hiding the excitement in their tone.

I feigned a small laugh, definitely not used to such large numbers of people. “Ha, yeah, I thought for sure I would instantly fail at this job,” I added.

“Well, since it’s over, let’s look for a place to build a house then!” Before I could respond, they took off flying over the river to the neighboring hill. I quickly followed. We came across a flower field on the edge of the hills, but had settled for on top for its flatness. Time had flown before the house was fully constructed, trees dotted around the artificial forest that was grown to give nature around the house.

It wasn’t much, mostly a shell of a home waiting to be decorated. Jules and I had started the gardening when Midas reappeared.

“Woah! What’s going on here! This looks so cool!” Midas had glanced over us, astonished by the house. They had flown over taking in the view of the home we constructed.

“It was Night! I didn’t help much but plant the trees,” Jules spoke. The soft heat formed on my cheeks.

“It isn’t the best, but it’s definitely a start,” I chimed in. Midas flew around a bit more, mouth in awe, before they took off towards the direction of spawn. I think they liked what was created. Definitely the definition of a starter home, but I didn’t care, for what was the purpose of me owning anything else if I had the ability to do what I wanted?

There were some folks of team Citrine that settled around our little homestead. I watched as they developed their little chunk of land into a base, and soon a town hall was constructed. Guess I didn’t have a view of the central spawn area, but I suppose I could always fly there when I needed to.

✩✩✩

I set out into the world, collecting and achieving milestones of a new world, a bit bored of the area I built. I had wandered into the snowy hills and found a village, a bit desolate on the outskirts of the forest, when i saw something curled under the house. It was a kitten, the poor thing maybe freezing in this condition. I quickly scooped up the poor thing and quickly placed under my cardigan, attempting anything I could to warm him. His little eyes looked to me, and I stared back. It’s ok buddy, I thought, I’ll help you. Holding the tabby close, I quickly scanned the surrounding area for other ones, but spotted none. Holding the dear kitten close, I boarded my boat home bound to bring him warmth from the snowy terrain.

The warm rays of the sun and the crisp breeze of the ocean distracted my thoughts as I rowed towards home. An unnatural glint of light flashed to my right, and I did a double take to the quartz platform…..in the middle of the ocean? This isn’t a mirage, or naturally generated to say the least. I rowed a bit closer, spotting Midas and Haley….jumping? They had built a parkour course with a generous prize.

“Don’t mind us,” Midas as said, glancing towards me.

“Aha this isn’t suspicious,” Haley has whispered under her breath. I nodded in understanding, continuing my journey homewards.

✩✩✩

The following days were a blur, I had dedicated time to an under ice maze, getting lost in the process, and then moved to make a parkour course over a lake. I wasn’t the best at these things, but I wanted to test my ability. Being able to free fly came in handy for these. I had completed these and let the others go on in the world and have fun.

Back at the home, I had been tending to the farms when I saw a member of team Citrine diligently building something on the horizon. Curiosity took the best of me and I flew over, silently observing. A sign at the building’s entrances said “town hall, under construction”. I suppose citrine was finally banding together. The Quixivist beyond the hill tops had finally scattered long ago to their respective teams. I heard along the winds that each team wanted their own central place to be. Ruby took the far corners to the south and east. I flew out a bit and couldn’t determine Malachite or Sapphire’s bases quite as easily. They stayed under the radar more, whereas Ruby was out and about, causing havoc on nearby settlements.

✩✩✩

I still remember the day the town hall was completed, its looming shadow stood on the hill across from spawn, and took up the view of my back porch. it was quite a sight for sure, constructed with love and bright as the citrines team name. The team wandered in and out, stocking resources, corralling chickens, hanging out. It seemed fun. I stayed in the tree tops, observing the surrounding areas. Bored, I flew towards new areas of the world. I hadn’t touch the ground much. Was I afraid now? That the grass of the overworld would somehow strip me of this god-like ability?

In fact I craved to one day gather my own materials again, to spend those gruesome hours in the caves again, to want to feel that child like wonder. But I knew better. To trade a free, blissful life for that of a materialistic needs….it made me feel more human. Maybe it was my original purpose on the lands of the overworld, what the gods wanted to see.

✩✩✩

I watched with mournful eyes as I woke the next day, the town hall set into a blazing flame. It was oddly satisfying to watch, the claws of fire stretching upwards to new untouched wood. Maybe I was truly sad, a bit upset maybe, but it was true to the law of nature. It had to happen eventually. A signifying end to one chapter. The world was sure symbolic in its own rights. The ones who had caused such the disturbance stood at the foot of the town hall’s foundations, cheering in glory. A curious bunch to have such fun in ravenous adventures, or rather destructive tendencies, all in the name of anarchy.

From there it went downhill, team citrine was forced to relocate away, team ruby’s actions sending shockwaves through the world. Teams malachite and sapphire were smart to have moved away as soon as the world port opened up. Day after day, another home or property of team citrines was met with a fiery end at the hands of the flint and steel wielders of team ruby. But it didn’t stop there of course. Withers and tnt carts scattered the lands, leaving torn paths and little life in its wake. The fight with the dragon was not even this brutal, though I suppose the landscapes of the end island says otherwise.

I ventured to the end after everyone else had. Safety walls were constructed on the spawning platform, pillaring towers adorned the obelisks, and in the middle of it, an untouched land around the way home. It was….beautiful, mesmerizing even. Pulling up my console, I searched for the nearest end city. It honestly wasn’t too far, but I would be more surprised if it had not been looted. To no shock, it had, leaving the husk of the city in its place. I touched the grounds of purpur, bringing to like some shulker creatures. I felt bad for their slaughtering from others. They had looked to me cautiously, as if I would too end their short existences. I gave them a curt nod and flew off back to the main island with a pair of wings achieved. Indiscernible whispers fluttered around me, and I quickly whipped my head to the source, only there was no one else in the end with me. Did I make it up? I landed on a small platform right before the expanse that circled the main island. More whisperings rang around, its deafening silence forcing pressure on my head. It was overbearing! In a panic to get to the overworld safely, I had stumbled off the end island and plummeted towards the void around, the voices slowly growing louder and louder. I knew those words. They’re memories of past worlds, with past friends I once knew. And him. My only real friend in all those shifts. I panicked and hovered between the depths of dark and the safety above. I was alone, truly. The only sounds around me were those haunting whispers and my heartbeat, racing faster than horses. And then I felt it, the tear on my face, the warm hug of the voids beneath. To go back to it all or to keep going.

Why me? Why make a story around me? Forever unfilled, unhappy, false dreams, fake memories. Am I just a character to it? I couldn’t fight fates, and invisible and unbeatable thing. I needed out, and air. The rest of the way to the overworld was much of a blur as I woke back up in my bed. A dream? But I remember stepping foot in the end dimension. I remember the feeling of breathing life to shulkers, I remember flying in windless ends. I remember warm hugs of nothingness, the way the endstone ever so slightly shifted in each step.

I rubbed my face, disgruntled. I shouldn’t dwell on these thoughts for too long, it’s more soul crushing than one would think.

✩✩✩

I learned a few days ago to shift forms, the ability to spectate others. It was kind of freeing, to not worry about a corporal form in the world. Then I learned to shift back as well. The weirdest one was the ability to go where I wanted, or rather anywhere via someone else. An instant transportation that was tethered by another being. I would randomly appear to someone’s base, just lingering around. Most would say hello, a few would be startled and walk back in fear. I was simply bored, just observing them.

This came in handy when a few of the team ruby members continued their rounds of destruction. I sat on top of the rubble of the former team citrine town hall. Where flames had one consumed and left ashes, wild life had taken its place. The center area was now a tiny oasis for new life, vines growing onto what was left of the structure. It was oddly satisfying. The life after death, the beauty of aftermath. It was as if the world were to remind who’s in charge, that a player simply is a resident of its destiny. Out the corner of my eye, I saw new flames sparking ablaze on another poor member of team citrine, their house too becoming a shell of its former glory. At least the dog was saved. Those team ruby members sat on the hillside, watching the flames consume the home. They looked to me, as if to please or to pass judgement. I hovered by, not interfering. It wasn’t my job to.

It quickly became my job when one summoned a wither on the lands. It was too close to my home. I didn’t have the powers to take it town, but I did have the weapons I crafted. From above, I rained upon the creature with flaming arrows. They used it as target practice, I used it as stress relief. The pent up feelings bubbling out as I shot upon the wither. Not long after it appeared in the world, it had returned to its depths, leaving a star in its corpse. The ruby players had offered it to me, as a prize. They don’t fight for a god, they fought for themselves, and they made it clearly known.

✩✩✩

I hadn’t seen Midas since the first few days, but I knew they watched from afar. I could sense the small changes in the world when they did something.

The ability for a player to fight another was allowed, or PvP. I sat near spawn, many of the world’s players had already made claim here. One after one, death messages rolled by, killed by sword, shot by bow, burnt to ashes. It was brutal. Then was the introduction of sculk on the lands. It craved the bloodshed of the fallen, that’s how it expanded. It was hard to spot at first, appearing as a block or small cluster, but a watchful eye would see its tendrils sprawl across the lands, climbing shells of homes, clinging onto the spawn area. It claimed the hilltops. It’s starry like features glistened in the moonlight, twinkling like stars above. Its satisfied trills rang out when more blood was split, and it was not discriminating. Players, mobs, farm animals. It had a liking for all.

✩✩✩

I intended to watch from above, and make some themed fireworks as a fun side gig. A small group from each team was in stand down, glaring daggers to each other. Someone would cross the lines unknowingly and be caught in the cross fires. I idly launched fireworks as display. One member took a liking to the scent of gunpowder, willingly dancing with the blasts. I let them, who was I to judge their wants. I crafted a crossbow of multishot to launch more than one at a time. They liked that too.

It wasn’t ever meant to go this far. I saw familiar eyes on their face, it distorted. It was me. The me of several shifts ago, when I was naive to the world, when I didn’t have a care, just like them. The voices rang out again, the same ones that tempted to lure me in the void.

Do it, it would shout.

I’m no mere mortal to this world now. I knew the consequences.

“Are you sure?” I asked, though I couldn’t tell if I even had said it out loud

“Do it,” they asked.

Do it.

Do it..

Do it!!

Those voices grew louder and louder, my finger just hovering over the trigger. Then I couldn’t feel myself anymore, couldn’t hear anymore, couldn’t see. My vision clouded in the rainbow of the fireworks I had created, my ears ringing in pain. I dropped the crossbow on the ground. I spilt blood with my own hands. My feet moved back on their own, I tripped and landed sitting on the sculk filled grounds.

Then I saw it again, that same hovering interface. I was no longer invincible. I quickly adorned armor, the pains of the world was unmistakable. Those same members of team ruby had saw what happened in that split second. The stabbing feeling of arrows pieced my exposed skin, I wasn’t safe anymore. One targeted me more, I felt the blood trickle from the wounds. I wanted to fight, to dodge, but my body’s fear kicked in to action first, and I flew. I flew as far as I could in that moment. I landed in an empty grass field, trying to gather myself. I heard groans move closer. The mobs of the night were also not safe for me, they smelt the life I had, and they wanted it gone. I took off again, and stumbled into my observatory. It was safe here. I sat against my telescope and cautiously took my armor off to tend to my wounds. Most of the arrows weren’t too deep. Deep breath in, deep breath out, i ripped the arrows out my side. Gosh it hurt so much! I chugged a potion of regeneration to help the healing process, my skin stitched itself with ease. I sat, short of breath, gazing above to the field of stars. I don’t even know if wanted to be up there amongst the starscape, I just wanted some peace and comfort right about now.

✩✩✩

I think I might’ve dozed off a bit, the rays of morning sunlight hit my eyes. Actually, yeah now that I think about it, i actually don’t remember when I last slept in this world. About 3 weeks of being awake sure take a toll on you. I had reverted back to the immortal self I was previously, but the memories of the night before scarred my mind. A quick bite of a golden apple satisfied my empty stomach for now. I flew back over to the spawn area. Where sculk had made stakes was now craters in the ground, barely remnants of peace. I tended to the lands, carefully repairing holes where explosions had occurred, leveled a path that had collapsed going down the hill. A few hours had passed, and there were small homes of each team rebuilt. The area was mostly sculk free, flowers had regrown.

Oh I should have expected it all to go again. Not all good things last.

I returned to the spawn area to more craters littering the lands, the homes once again destroyed. Tall grass and mossy lands now claimed those grounds. I suppose I’ll let nature take this one over now, as much as I wanted to clean it up.

I took back to the spectral form again, this time closely following the breadcrumbs of destruction and pillaging created by those few members of team ruby.

I should mention at this moment that not everyone was in the same mindset from Ruby, just the rouge few that made a name for themselves.

I watched from flower fields, in the glacier fields under cold skies, from dense forests and sprawling caves. Their explorations were vast upon the overworld. I think the small blip of joy came from when they stumbled on the maze I had long forgotten. They backtracked and circled the same area for a bit. I quickly grew bored and announced my observation of them. They didn’t seem to mind.

I returned to observing the others in the world. I stumbled upon a member of team malachite, who unfortunately became trapped in a curse of binding pumpkin. I felt bad for this member. I mustered the power within me to update the world, ever so slightly and lift the curse of binding pumpkin from their heads. I was a bit shocked when it actually worked! I hastily undid my actions on the world and assisted the malachite player back to reality. They breathed fresh air the first time in a moment.

So what was I to do now? The world had created a small ripple a few days prior. I felt the shift impending this time, much more warning than most before. There were a few days left now.

Chapter Text

“This is OUR spawn! Not the server’s. Ruby’s Spawn.” A member of team Ruby declared. It had not even been an hour since peace settled back into the chaos of spawn. It had become a back and forth capture-the-flag like environment of spawn. It was on sight for many of the server members.

It got to the point where I needed to step in, I saw withers growing from the soil sand, arrows flying like angered bees. Spawn was not safe, and I was now the only one protecting its grounds. I’m not sure what’s compelling me to protect and rebuild it over and over. Am I just Sisyphus to the world’s will?

Or was it just the last remnants of what used to be good?

Oh the blissful ignorance I once used to hold, unknowingly protecting me from the reality of it all. Maybe I did have hope. Maybe I was just bored and had something to do now.

I think back to the time when they collaborated on parkour in the ocean. I watched from outside the course, their teamworks, their dedication. How fun it was for them. They looked at me, asked me to join, and asked me to play with them. I felt seen. I joined their games, another player on the board, and we all made it to the end, they made it to the end. They stumbled over and over and over again, but persisted.

The memory washed away like sands on the beach. A ripple of time long gone. They’ve grown to anarchist, they want nothing but each other's throats. Battle after battle fought, I saw their actions chip away at spawn. I wanted to stop repairing. I laid the rule of no harming on the quartz platform, not even using life form to bring in a wither. It was all for neigh.

✩✩✩

I followed the red winter alliance for a bit. It was breadcrumbs on a path. It led me to their base underground. Murmurs erupted from around the corner. I could make out what they were saying, maybe forming a plan, or discussing the day's work. I appeared more and more often around their base.

“Well, if you’re gonna be here so much, might as well have a room, yeah?” I was guided to an empty hole in the wall, told to form my own space within theirs. I wasn’t expecting the generosity of their team. Maybe there was a reason for the madness they created. They left me to my own devices, my eyes wandered the dingy stone walls. I pressed my fingers along the walls and floors, transforming it into a small oasis in the grim colors of their home. It’s not like I was gonna use this space, truly.

I appreciated their generosity, but I couldn’t stay. I wanted to feel welcomed, but this wasn’t mine to hold.

✩✩✩

I paced around my observatory for quite a while, was any of my actions true? The day’s sun had set and the cool night rolled off the ocean. I looked out to the stars through the telescope. I’m not sure what I was looking for, maybe just to get my sights off the present. They say looking into the night sky is looking into the past.

I had to rebuild the roof and part of the walls to my observatory. It was sad to see some vandalism on my precious building, but it reminds me of the inhuman part of me. I must remember that not even the gods are safe from the touch of destruction. At least it can be rebuilt.

I felt that every time I had done something to fix or to help, it would only be moments before it broke again.

✩✩✩

I saw Midas again today. They did what they always did, I’m not sure what that entirely means but I see their messages in the public chat on my communicator. The server members always become happier.

“Oh, hi god!” Someone would say. I usually gave a small wave in their direction.

“Hello again,” I spoke.

“We promise we’re not up to anything suspicious. Actually, Night has been protecting spawn from our silly fights,” a member of team ruby spoke. The bit of quartz I’d been repairing looked new now. Not even the might of a few withers could bring this structure down now.

“Oh! Spawn has a protector! I’m so glad to hear! I was worried it would’ve gone to bits ages ago.” Midas had looked in my direction, they floated a bit higher than where I was. “I think then it’s a fitting title for you, Spawn’s Protector. Glad you’ve kept it safe.” Midas beamed. To say I was shocked might have been a bit of an understatement. Midas continued their tasks and disappeared, as they usually do.

✩✩✩

A face I hardly see around flew to spawn. It seemed that some people were expecting their arrival. Rina, they called themselves. They were on team ruby, judging by the color of their badge.

“Oh, Rina! We need to show you the cool arena to practice fighting in!” They were in shock, amazed, maybe a bit starstruck. Were they a fighter in their past world? The swarm of players took flight to the new area. I had just recently built a shabby fighting arena made from the cliff sides of a drop stone cave entrance. It wasn’t much, but a little elbow grease to tidy up the area made the difference. I installed an elevated seating area to watch the fights below, and gave a bit of ambiance with torches around the ring. One by one, many of them sparred, practicing their fighting stances. Some of them had to knock a bit of rust off their shoulders, but it was clear: in due time they were going to do well.

✩✩✩

I had watched earlier in the morning a sparring practice of a citrine and Ruby member. It started off normal, giving tips and tricks to improve the other’s stance and technique. Then it turned into an apology, a sorry for going too far, that they shouldn’t have been so aggressive.

“How am I supposed to lead them, in this state? I led them to near death before.” A voice echoed off the walls.

“They trust you, and from my perspective, you’re doing everything you can for them and that’s a lot.” The other voice spoke, silence filling between their statements. I walked away at this point, this felt like something I shouldn’t watch on, their personal moment to connect. But you could hear in their tone, they were very unsure for the shift that was around the corner.

✩✩✩

I returned later in the evening to find a wall around spawn. I’m glad someone took the initiative to make it a safe zone. The walls reached higher and higher, the next thing I knew, it was a small building that (mostly) encompassed the spawn point. It was mostly aesthetics at this point, knowing anything with even the smallest ounce of explosive power could bring it down as well.

I caught wind of a meeting between the team citrines leader and the leader of the Ruby winter alliance. It took place in the newly formed meeting hall, the colors of each team. Ironically, this meeting hall also was built on the remains and rubble of team citrines former town hall. I was a bit curious of this, especially if it was team ruby that’s initiating a deal. I shifted into a spectral form to quietly observe.

The two leaders took their seats on the respective sides of the table of their team colors. “What is it you wanted to discuss today?” Team Citrine’s leader inquired, “surely, with the urgency you presented.”

“I suppose I’ll keep it simple and to the point: break your alliance with team sapphire and become allies with our team,” RWA’s leader spoke.

“Why would I do that? What good will it bring?”

“It’s something that will intrigue you, that you and your team will greatly benefit from. Your team is still running around in mixed iron and diamond gear, we have plenty of netherite to spare. The fight is tomorrow, you won’t have a standing chance- the fight would barely last 20 minutes at most. And that’s being generous with time. Gods know if the fight barely goes on, how many times we are going to have to fight, over and over for pure enjoyment.”

Team Citrine's leader hummed, thinking of their next words. It’s true, quite frankly, that if the world wanted the people to do something, it was to make it worth their time.

“My alliance with team sapphire,” the citrine leader spoke, “is not even an alliance. I’m only friends with their leader-“

“Being friends with their leader is being allies with their team.”

More words were spoken, on settling terms. I had accidentally bumped into the chandelier above, startling me and causing me to shift out of the spectral form.

“Oh, look, Citrine’s minor god is watching. How perfect. They follow the chaos and watch from afar,” RWA’s leader said, a bit of harshness in their tone.

“Hi Night,” Citrine’s leader said quietly. I composed myself and nodded.

“Then, I suppose with your god watching, we’ll have another witness to this agreement.” I was handed the book with their contract, and a space below for me to write my name. I gave it a quick glance.

“What do you think, Night, of the alliance that is about to form?” Citrines leader inquired. I can’t remember the last time someone asked for my thoughts.

“There are things I can do, there are things I cannot intervene on, this is one of them.” I paused, looking at the contract still in my clutch, “if you think this is what’s best for your team, I cannot convince you otherwise. It’s not my place to do so.” I signed my titles on the line, Citrine’s minor god, Spawn’s protector. I left my name off the pages, what if this book came back around one day.

The rest took turns signing the contract, officiating the deal.

“Then it’s settled. Inform your team, and I shall do the same, that we are in an alliance ship for tomorrow’s fight. Anything you need to hear from your team, we will assist you in. Until then, Citrine’s leader,” the RWA’s leader spoke before they flew back towards their base.

✩✩✩

Citrine’s leader stayed behind, staring off into the river below. I couldn’t tell if they were lost in thought, if they made the right decision for their team.

I sat next to them. Pulling a book, I scribbled a few words.

*Is this what they want? To live a little longer for their own wellbeing?* I asked. I passed the note and quill over to them. They looked for a moment, looked at me again and sighed. Their quill moved, words still unsure.

*I don't know. At this point I just want to keep my people alive as long as I can. i don't want to fight, and I wanted to at least get on some good side with ruby. I just want this cycle to end, and I don't want to risk stalling the end as much as I can…* the ink trailed off their last strokes. I could feel the anguish and confusion, the worry they had. They cared a lot. They cared for their team and for their friends. I held the papers tight. I wanted to help, to lessen their pains, but the world simply wouldn’t let me intervene on its fate.

Tomorrow was the final fight, and it was moments in the now that would prepare them for what was to come.

I picked up the quill one more time. * I see. I can only help until late tonight. there isn't much in my power to help stop this. I won't be able to watch the finale, I must prepare for the new cycle. If you're still here next cycle, I wish for the teams to be happier.
I do wish you all luck....
until then*

It was a lie. I was going to watch, but I couldn't physically be present. I set the pages down next to them, for them to read on their own time. I flew off to give them space, everyone was in preparation mode, I wasn’t prepared to leave this world quite yet. It felt like so much still needed to be done, and yet what was there for me to even do? I prepared my inventory, placing into shulker boxes and stowing them in hidden locations for safe keepings. The storage I had in my home had already been rifled through, I didn’t want anyone to steal my things. These were items I crafted or were given. The Quixmas cookies, the small flowers as gifts, the nether stars, goat horns, just memorabilia that I held onto I didn’t want to lose.

✩✩✩

I passed by my parkour course I made a while ago, seeing it put to good use again. I was proud to say the least. A nearby village was being used as a raid training, waves and waves of enemies coming in and then one by one being knocked out of the fight. I didn’t help much. I summoned more of the creatures they fought, and it swamped the poor village. The server members remained victorious in their battles and eventually headed back to the spawn area.

✩✩✩

Spawn was unusually lively. Members from every team gathered in a silly fit, crafting unusual weapons and recreating a fairytale we were all told as children. Fable, it was called, and fittingly so. It was a dramatic book with a storyline that any child would adore. The whimsical stories of each character brought to life by an unknown author. The story only lives in memory now, how I wished to one day read the story again.

They reenacted the scene where Fable gets betrayed by their son, the rainbow like colors fluttering on their chest. They repainted elytras to match the ones in the fairytales. They gave me the ones called “Wings of Creation”. It was beautiful to say, but I didn’t think the name fit what I could do. I couldn’t simply create and restructure the worlds how Fable did, I was at best someone with tinkering tools, but fitting the god in the room got the wings of the god from the story. They entertained themselves for hours, laughing over the silly creations they could remember. The handcrafted horns one made to match the horn of a character named Rae, or how someone else was able to piece together the trident the character named Icarus could wield unmatched.

✩✩✩

The sun started to set, and one by one the spawn had become empty once more. I was alone again. Final preparations were underway, and the stress was felt. I flew around the world one more time, to impress the memories of each building into my mind. The house where Jules and I started, the lighthouse I built to help others at sea. The Hour 150 studio on the hillsides, the empty land team citrine once claimed as home. It was strange, having no neighbors in my backyard now. The chest collection that once was claimed by the Quixivist now laid abandoned, sprawling caves littered with torches and no wanderers. It was too much. I didn’t want to forget this world. I felt as though their stories were just beginning.

I returned back to the lighthouse, gazing out into the blue seas. I wrote a note to a future wanderer and placed it alongside my hidden items. If anyone were to find it, they’ll see my last marks on this world. I placed back the red stone lamps of the lighthouse, making sure that it didn’t look tampered with. If anyone was able to see this, it would be impressive, granted it’ll be after my time in this instance in the world, and I won’t know if anyone reads it. Perhaps one day I’ll stumble upon this place, take a trip down memory lane, and dig up a time capsule. Or rather, break the lights in the lighthouse for the time capsule.

My mind wandered again, was this really it? Did I leave a story for others? Would anyone remember in the next cycle? I didn’t want to play along with the amnesia. They say knowledge is painful, but memories held by only one person are worse. Knowing how the flow of the story is sully written, I doubt it could erase my memories at this point. That’s why I have this, my journal. Though I doubt many things, writing my memories in this is the only way I’ll remember anything at this point. The mind is finicky like that.

✩✩✩

The day of the final fight was here. Midas showed up again for the spectacle, though it makes sense since they orchestrated the cycle’s end. I watched each team have their final meetings, each member prepared to leave home. It was war time. Weary voices of leaders instilling trust and confidence, declarations of war cries rung out. It was a test of faith, of teamwork and alliances.

One by one, the teams arrived to spawn, a final call of peace in their “peace circle”. It was all or nothing for them. Midas had taken their time, saying goodbye to the world that had been built.

“Was I a good god?” They once asked themselves, and yet, notes of reassurance filled their mailbox. I stayed out of everyone’s way for this, unsure if my presence would give them false hope. Besides, my spectral form was much nicer to observe in.

“It’s time,” Midas had announced, their godly voice ringing across the world, “it’s time for the final fight, the thing you have all been training for, waiting for: the fight to the end! There is a reward for the one that will come out victorious.” And like that, each team was summoned to the circle. Each team stood in their respective quadrants, color coded to the teams, Midas announcing the introductions:

Team Ruby, with some of the Red Winter, known to be the most violent.

Team Citrine, who once ruled as the most populous team and now stands as one of the least populous, is believed to be the richest and most powerful.

Team Malachite, the small and mightiest team, perhaps the most organized team.

Team Sapphire, the champions of the dragon challenge.

Midas wasted no time, I watched as they flicked their hands, conducting the orchestra of the world. The teams readied their swords and potions.

“Let the games begin!” Midas announced, their power shifting the world.

Instantly, the floors of the towers fell, the members charging into the fight. Withers spawned left and right, the explosive power shaking the sphere. I saw a few take to the skies to avoid the blasts below. Midas cheered on, calling out points of the game like a game show host. I watched from the edges of the ring, taking in the whole view.

I’m not sure what I expected, or who I wanted to win. I didn’t think it mattered, but I saw it written on the faces of the people I interacted with for the past weeks: they cared. They were determined. If not to prove an entertainment for the gods, a way to prove themselves worthy, no. This was now a fight to survive, a testament of willpower and endurance. The alliance formed the day prior showed strong. I found Midas standing on the central platform. I joined in.

“Eventually,” Midas turned to me, but looked past me to the fighting below, “they will need to turn on each other, Ruby and Citrine.” I nodded in understanding.

*Is this what they want?*
*I want to keep them alive as long as I can*
I remembered my written conversation with Citrine’s leader.

Midas continued speaking, perhaps monologuing. “When does that bloodlust just become too much? When does the chance for that crown outweigh the trust of your teammates?” They spoke with knowledge. It felt they experienced this too at one point in the worlds.

One by one, I saw people fall victim to the battles, unable to leave the arena they entered.

“Alliances stay strong, and alliances break.” Perhaps, it was this statement that I truly felt it, words that brought feelings I couldn’t quite place yesterday. The arena laid in shambles, a visual representation of what they were willing to do to stay strong, to stay alive. Broken, in despair, the determination to win was showing, kept their feet moving.

Then I saw it, the arrow that flew from the hands of a team ruby and shot a team citrine.

Alliances stay strong, and alliances break. The turning point occurred. Midas attempted to spice up the battle, to force a central battle ground. A ring of fire decorated the walls of the sphere. It worked for a while, but eventually Midas decided to reset the sphere. Like new, it showed no marks of battle, of all the lives lost just before. It felt wrong. It felt awful! But, it was something I couldn’t control. It’s the way of the world. Nonetheless, the fighting continued.

In an effort to contain the last handful left, Midas constructed a bedrock barrier with ease, and then a practiced wave brought the last ones into its central area. Exhaustion was evident, but the natural instinct to keep going was strong. Thanks to the creation of totems, it allowed a second wind to them, enough to jump out of danger and heal up.

In the end, two members of Malachite were left. It was clear, their team won, but it needed to be fought to the end, until only one person remained. I couldn’t hear the words, but their faces showed, to give in now when they're so close to the end, or to come out victorious?

The last fight, the last 1v1 to end it all. This was it, everything coming down to this. It was a long brawl. Swords clashed, arrows flew, armor broke. Then victory was claimed. A member named Dana Boo had won. I followed their journey for a bit before the fight. While other members were out and about, they were in grind mode. Every time I saw them, it was a new project to make themselves better. It showed.

“The end of something, the beginning of another. You will go down in history as the first victor of the Queue,” Midas spoke to Dana Boo. The reward was announced, the ability to choose a theme for the next cycle, and a winner’s token that could be exchanged for whatever their hearts desired ...to a limit. It was fair, a testament for all their hard work and efforts in this cycle.

“So thank you, everyone. Thank you for making this a good place. And you’ll get to do it again, and again and again for as long as I have power, but I do have to end things. And by end things, I do unfortunately mean,” Midas hand stretched out to Dana Boo, the life ceasing to exist in the other, “end things.” Everyone left, the spirits of those that fought ceased to be in this world.

Midas and I stood on the central platform.

“It’s time for you to go on as well, but I do want to say thank you, for all that you’ve done. See you in the next world,” Midas shoved my shoulder. The world warped out of my vision and the lights brightened. I was no longer in the world, artificially shifted out into holding.

Then it was black.

Chapter Text

“Hey, do you have pufferfish? Asking for a friend…”

Flash!

“Oh, where did all this sculk come from?”

Flash!

“I love the house!!”

Flash!

“It’s about to be bedtime, not trying to fight the horde of zombies again in the forest…”

Dark.

“Star child, it’s time…”

✩✩✩

A bed. I wasn’t in a bed, I think… Green, the winning team——the trees around me. Red, the alliance- no, the roses that grew in our garden…

White, their eyes. Who was it? Who was it-

“Star child, wake up.”

My eyes opened as I gasped for air. Heavy, warm, sleep, where was I?

Home. I was home, I was outside? I woke up in the garden where he planted my favorite flowers. Dark. It was unnaturally dark, but why was there sunlight on our home? My head swiveled, left, right, home, down. I laid in artificial greens, but I sat on solid nothingness. I looked back to the house. Lights glistened, but no light source. Left and right, it was an endless expanse.

I stood up to look more, the ground felt like water, but nothing was there. Then I saw him in the window, looking around at me. Breathe racing, I picked my feet up to move. Heavy water. He smiled, I ran. The ground turned to honey, it was hard to move. My friend, my dearest friend, how long has it been? I couldn’t move, it was difficult. The honey-like substance grew harder and harder to traverse in. I couldn’t, I couldn’t give in.

To go back to it all or to keep going.

Indiscernible voices fluttered in the air around.

To continue forward, or to leave it all for the past.

No, I remembered. This was home, this was the garden, but this is how the end was. Showing false illusions to lure you away from the lights. Focus. What happened? Green. The winning team. Team green, stone. Red, the blood spilt, the alliance. The destruction. Orange, of sunset colors, my coat. The friends- no neighbors. Blue- the ocean view from the lighthouse. The ones who took down the dragon. White. Those eyes, friendly? Strange.

I had been forcefully removed from the world. Don’t panic. How long had it been at this point? For the world to end so soon.

Something tugged at my sleeve, like a child would for help. Nothingness surrounded me. The tugging grew, my shirt, my shoulder, my leg. I tried to pull away from it, the invisible force held its grip on me. Endless void turned to shades of grey, then a blinding white. The lights dimmed, but my eyes remained shut. I felt cold stones below my back, it was oddly refreshing. I peered out from my eyelids to adjust, then opened them. It was early morning, I think. Pillaring white arches above me- oh. This was the world port. I rolled onto my feet from where I laid, a bit more awkwardly than I hoped. Midas stood at the opposite side, entertaining the chicken. I loomed quietly, unsure of how to feel. The chicken clucked at me, turning Midas’ attention around.

“Oh, you’re awake! I was beginning to worry you’d never get up-“

“Why am I here? Again?”

Their expressions didn’t change, white eyes peering into my purple ones. “Because, like I said. We get to do this again, and again. You were of much help last time, and I’ll need that same help this time as well. We’re officially starting cycle 2. Minerva and Rael are somewhere down below to assist as well!” My head still felt heavy.

See you in the next world

I see. Stuck in this loop, how different was this to how I shifted worlds? Though I knew what to do, it still felt foreign. No one else but Midas was in the world port with me now, but I pressed the button. The aura around me glowed red as I appeared at spawn. The stony beaches sure weren’t as welcoming as the hillsides before. The end stone pillars didn’t help the atmosphere- end stone? That’s not naturally occurring… I headed over to one, but the ground quickly turned steep. It was a hole over the end portal. My heart sank as I looked down, a more than comfortable height to fall from, that’s for sure. A new presence was behind me. Midas had reopened the world port to the world. I stayed, doing my diligence to help those coming in. I saw many familiar faces, and near equal amounts of unknown ones. This one was Corn, whom I knew well. They assisted last time, and it looks like they too were stuck in the cycle to help.

Like before, the seemingly orchestrated act of ensuring teams were assigned correctly began. It was endless. My hands hurt, it must have been about an hour. I saw familiar faces meet familiar faces, embracing each other in hugs. Others… more disdainful greetings. We’re missing someone. I’m missing someone.

Jules.

I hadn’t realized how much I missed them when I wandered off into the world to make a home again, this time without their presence. I saw the shenanigans go down at spawn, the feeling of the world slowing as it adjusted to so many people at once. It shifted unnaturally, similar to how I did, but this was more of a stutter where I was an abrupt change.

✩✩✩

I met a new group of wanderers in the woods. They were in search of a place to call home. They greeted me kindly, gave me some food. When the night came, they made camp in an opening of the trees and invited me to join them. The Star Squad, they named it.

I recognized one person from this new group. Dana Boo, the reigning champion of the previous cycle.

The group had set off into the horizon and I stayed behind. I don’t think I should follow, it’s still very early into everyone settling.

✩✩✩

Speaking of settling, I returned to my newly built home. I spent the day fixing the interior and decorating around the bridges. It wasn’t much but it was enough to make it cozy. I sat by the campfire planning out the next expansion to the base. The observatory. I dearly missed my observatory. It didn’t fit in on the cliff slides, but perhaps a scaled down version would work.

The final build was much smaller than before, but I suppose if I didn’t utilize the whole space last time, it didn’t make sense to do so again. I expanded into the grounds, connecting it to the library and kitchen area, the flow felt natural.

✩✩✩

Sculk reappeared at spawn again. It was a small and containable patch this time. It didn’t spread as rampant as I had known it to do, though I suppose it didn’t help that it decided to spread onto the surface as it pleased. Might have to investigate its spore nature if that is how it got to the surface lands.

✩✩✩

The group that I knew to be the red winter alliance settled on a mushroom island. It was a quaint little area, bamboo littered the hill tops and created an artificial forest on the purply-grey terrain. Can’t blame them for wanting to live somewhere a bit remote, but at least on the plus side mobs don’t spawn. So, I guess peace in this chaotic world is an added bonus. One of the members on their team took to fishing from the flat tops of a mushroom, using the height to their advantage. And it was safe. Compared to the sheer cliff faces their home stood on, the mushrooms were much safer. I saw a lone red mushroom sitting on a floating island nearby. It was lonely and remote. After a few finishing touches to the mushroom, I was proud to call it the little home away from home. The ocean waves could still be heard from here, it was a bit hard to get to, but it was a place I could just relax. The voices of the team ruby members echoed in the distance on the hilltops, their cheery and ecstatic voices ringing in glee.

✩✩✩

I found the group of wanderers I met a few nights ago. They settled home hidden from view of the world.

“Hey Night! Would you like to see our home?” One of them asked. I nodded and followed the trio to their home. It was an unconventional entrance to home, but I mean, it made sense. Inside, away from the outdoors, it was cozy. An oasis in the anarchy. They led me to the pond with axolotls, an endless mineshaft with resources, and ended it in a geode underneath.

“We decorated this for you, I hope you like it!” One spoke. It was beautiful. A small bedroom in the corner of the amethyst geode, and a path to a mossy room to the side. Sculk adorned the ceilings, artificial star scape underground. Then the trio cheered.

“We did it! We kidnapped god!” They laughed. I stood confused. I was given a gift of a place to stay, but they claimed it was a successful kidnap plan. Shock was evident on my face.

“We didn’t mean it that way, it was kind of funny though to say we kidnapped god, even though you joined us on your own free will.” I nodded. I stayed with the trio regardless, curious of their plans. They led me to the newly finished room with the axolotls and fish tank, and we sat on the bench. They welcomed me to their team with open arms, and thus we called ourselves Star Squad, for stargazing, but also Nebula Squad, as the sign by the entrance to the home said.

They introduced themselves to me, giving me their names. Sora, the nether born being, a wanderer of dimensions. Aelita, a moth, someone trapped in the cycles and tainted by the love for sculk. Dana, the lone champion of the last cycle, an allay who has seen a fair share of bloodshed and war, torn in the world and hesitant of their meaning. Then there was me. Night was the name I knew, what others called me by, but it didn’t feel right. I can’t remember what my name was, if I had one at all, but for now I was contempt with the name Night. I knew I was a descendant of the stars, fallen to the world to create and write stories. The reteller, the scribe, the memory keeper. The worlds had me to write it down.

✩✩✩

I had heard whispers in the wind of a fortress being built on the riversides. I headed over to see the progress of this. A member of team malachite was diligently building away, expanding a supporting platform and terraforming the hill sides for the paths from the river below. Creus, he introduced himself. He had also found himself in a new and unfamiliar world. He had dreams and visions of a safe fortress for his teammates. An architect and engineer, he was slowly bringing to life a place he once called home in his previous world. The sketches he showed me were amazing, and the eager tones in his voice he told me all about it. I was fascinated. Bringing a piece of home, familiarity in the unfamiliar. He told me to check back in about a week’s time for the progress, this was still at its ground level.

✩✩✩

I returned to the spawn area, sculk had been cleared and managed, though it decides to spread every now and again. Midas still hasn’t shown up. I suppose that was fine for now. It was about midday, according to the sun’s placement in the skies above. It looked a bit odd, the skies. I realized. Floating islands made of end stone littered around the spawn's skies. It was unnatural but fascinating none-the-less. Most of the people around had acknowledged the unusual structures, but mostly just ignored it. End corruption had spread, and apparently it took flight too. Someone had noted how similar this was to the story of Fable, where in the first book end stone had taken over the grounds and some became weightless and floated overhead.

Over the course of a few days and nights, those islands slowly grew outwards and upwards, sprouting chorus trees of the End on them. It really was a clash of realities, two different atmospheres of two different dimensions in one. I took to the skies to explore those islands, and apparently a few others did too. Curiosity took the best of all of us, exploring this foreign sight. It glistened unnaturally in the sunset and glowed eerily in the night. Soft blue lights of lanterns against the glowing end crystals on some of the purpur structures proved that destruction is really a beautiful sight when not startled.

Chapter Text

I learned of Dana’s story today. The Star Squad had spent the evening in my library while I was journaling. They came over unannounced, but their presence was always welcomed. They told stories by the fire pit, and spoke of tales of their world before here. It was interesting to hear of other places I hadn’t seen before. For Dana, it was a given name from the worlds.

“The desire to kill those who wronged them. The desire to kill those who hurt them. The desire to kill those who ... was on their way of survival. Yes. This is what it was.” Dana paused in telling us their account of the final fight. Left with no choice, they fought for survival, even if it meant killing their own teammate. In the end, they were slain by Midas, proving that winning wasn’t even an option either.

When the new world appeared, they came too. “Out of fear for more blood, I decided to flee. Flee far away from spawn, flee away from people, flee away from all of the emotions,” Dana recounted. She found a mansion in the outskirts of the dark forest. It was safety away from the crowds. It was understandable, to go from winning it all to the fear of losing it in a fell swoop. She wasn't their normal allay self anymore. The visions of bloodshed, the memories of fighting for your life, it was changing. It vexed her, poisoning their mind.

It was hard to imagine after watching it from an outside point of view, but I could understand the fear many of them had after that fight. Dana told us their actual name, not the one the world called her. Morana. It was a beautiful name. It felt nice to be told a name, but it confused me more on my own. I looked into the fire pit in my library, the flames licking the chopped logs, the smoke rising out the chimney above. If I had a name, it was long forgotten. I’d have to traverse worlds again to find where it was written one time ago. Until I find that journal I once had, I’ll have to just stick with Night. It was fitting, I suppose. The twinkling lights of the dark held stories, constellations if I remember, and it matched the multicolored stars in my hair as well, the stories I’ve held in my journals.

I don’t actually remember how I got the name Nightingale, or who gave it to me. Nightingale birds are known for their songs they sing in the nighttime. It was an inspiration to folklore and stories over time. It may be why that was my given name by the worlds, for the stories I wrote, the eyes in the nighttime, the observer to others.

✩✩✩

I found Aelita hanging out in the axolotl room, tending to the overgrowing glow berries and the shrubbery in the room. I took a seat in front of the fish tank in the corner. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to add to my journal today. It was a lot of learning people’s stories from before here.

“I think we have a lot of things in common, you and I,” Aelita spoke, breaking the peaceful silence. I looked up from my book, putting my quill down. “I too am from the stars,” she started, "though, for me, the stars are worlds, and when the world has nothing more to offer, it explodes in a nebula for all to see. However, there was one star that shone brighter than anything I had ever seen. I was tempted and went towards the light of that star, but for me to go there, it caused my home star to collapse. That’s how my story is written. I came from one of those stars and travelled the void of space until I ended up here.”

Oh? I guess the sea of stars had more to offer than I thought. “I’m sorry if this sounds like it came out of nowhere. I saw your journal on the barrel and was a bit curious. I just read where it was bookmarked, about where you came from and how you lost your friend. Again, sorry to read it.” I couldn’t blame her, but it felt a bit weird to talk about something I hadn’t said out loud to anyone. I didn’t know people were interested in my story as much as I was into other people’s stories.

“I’m sorry about Jules, your friend. I also lost someone in the collapse of the first cycle before this. I couldn’t say goodbye to her, couldn’t save her. I saw the fear in her eyes from the other side, but couldn’t move. The last piece of her I have now is the love for sculk. I’m cursed with the lingering effects of those from before that I held close.”

I sat there thinking. The emotions didn’t really process well for me, but I guess that’s what happens over time: you lose your sense of “self” the more and more worlds you go to and the more and more stories you write of them. The sinking void feeling in my chest may have been that: sadness, loneliness, missing my dear friend. Talking to Aelita helped me realize that.

✩✩✩

I followed Sora into the nether one day. He was tasked with mining some materials and gathering ingredients for potions. Being a descendant of the nether, they were well adapted to the harsh environment and swam effortlessly in the lava. It was very abnormal, quite shocking. I had forgotten that they were nether born for a moment and wanted to stop them before they stepped foot in the boiling lake. But I stopped, my hand reached out to their back. What was I doing? I retracted my hand, now placed at my sides again.

“Oh, hi Night!” Sora waved excitedly, and I waved back.

“What are you doing?” I inquired. Clearly, swimming in lava is not a usual activity… I think.

“Oh! I’m collecting ancient debris from the bottom of the lakes! Turns out, the fastest way to get some is near any lava pool. The past civilizations here sure did lose a lot to the fiery lakes, but at least these minerals are fireproof.” I nodded along, learning more and more of the world. I wouldn’t have thought anything would survive fire, but I suppose if it's durable enough it could be. I didn’t dare dip my toes into the lava, even though it couldn’t hurt me as an immortal being, but I floated just above observing. It was very toasty, very uncomfortably warm. I headed over to the warped forest to cool down a bit, the heat made me dizzy. It was still warm, but here it was much, much cooler up in the trees. I saw Sora’s head bob in and out of the lava lake, taking breaks every now and then. They eventually came to shore to start another task. Skillfully, she was able to navigate the extreme terrains of the basalt spikes without tripping in. I’m sure it was easy for her, not fearing the small drips of lava around, but it made me a bit uneasy, so I stuck to floating behind. I admire her for her carefree nature, the desire to explore with a smile on her face. I remembered the bliss of finding something new in the overworld, a new biome to explore, wondering how different trinkets I stumbled upon worked once upon a time, but I never took the time to explore the nether like she did. It was very much the same, just of a different environment. Lurking in ruined bastions and navigating twisting halls of emptied fortresses weren't up my ally, but I stayed with to learn more of this fiery expanse.

Realization hit me, we were much the same, curious to the unknowns. We just walked different paths of different dimensions.

✩✩✩

Hidden in the walls of the home, a nest was created. The floors were decorated in multicolored blankets and pillows, stunning deep purples, ocean glistening blues, cloudy whites. The ceiling was replaced with sculk, its starry pattern mimicking the night sky outside. It was a welcoming comfort to the harsh stone walls of the home. I couldn’t blame them for the stony material, it was durable enough to not burn, resistant enough to survive some explosions. Regardless of how the home was made, this was a cushioned oasis compared to it. Aelita had set it up as a surprise for all of us, a place to nest for daytime naps and conversations. I used it as another place to journal with others. Seemed I wasn’t the only one that wrote down the day’s events. Sora started to write down what she could remember from the last cycle and going into this one, Morana used her writing time to document her feelings and emotions, ones she wasn’t wanting to front to the world just yet but enough to process those thoughts.

I had gone out exploring for new flower types to spruce up my new little indoor garden. Bees moved into the hives I had set up for honey, the sweet golden nectar it was. I saw Aelita in the corridors of the storage area, just off to the left. Tired was written all over her face. She spent the day gathering resources to upgrade her equipment. The grind for the best gear was on everyone’s minds the moment the world port opened. She was no exception. With shuffled steps, she grabbed my hand and led me to the room with the nest. I obliged and followed suit. Down the steps, we entered the colorful comfort, and she sat down next to her dog Amethyst. I also sat next to her. Her eyes drooped until they were shut, her figure swayed and eventually fell into the pile of pillows beside her. I couldn’t get the blanket stuck below me, but I had my jacket still on. I didn’t need it right now, so cautiously to not wake the sleeping moth I took my jacket off and laid it over her. It was then I realized the pile of pillows she collapsed on was on my leg as well, thus trapping me. I suppose I didn’t mind, there wasn’t anything of major importance I had to do anyways. My journal was still on me, so I took it out to write more, doodling little pictures of flowers and perfect summer skies in the corners. But I guess even I was not immune to the sleepy wave that hit me and retired for the afternoon in a cocoon of blankets beside me.

✩✩✩

After spending many sun and moon cycles with them, I started to feel something in my chest. It was light and airy, the thoughts lightened my mood. Is this what it’s like to have friends so close you become tight knit like a family? I cherished the memories I had spent with them, despite the short time it’s been. I don’t want to lose this, the moments, the friends, the laughter, the welcomed feeling of a home.

I found my family.

Chapter Text

I was once again at spawn, the spread of end stone growing as desperate attempts were made to remove it. It is very much like slicing the head off a hydra, you remove one, another spawns in its place. While walking about the quartz platform, I stumbled upon a few members of team ruby- or rather the Red Winter Alliance- comforting one of their members. They seemed to be healing from devastating wounds that were caused by repeatedly having their bones and skin being ripped apart and put back together over and over by the constant use of totems. Popping totems one right after the next. It seems the effects of the last cycle were strongly imprinted upon those that lived through it. It was fun, it was chaos, then it was war. I don’t think it will ever escape the minds of those there.

✩✩✩

The islands in the sky continued to grow nonetheless. Its visible change was evident, starting as small blocks that just existed to now multi-layering islands like hills, growing from it the purpur blocks from the cities of the end, chorus trees sprouting as if they always existed. These islands did not go unnoticed. Everyone saw them, sure, they were right there above spawn, within a flight’s grasp away. Dana took an unknowing liking to them, wanting to reach those heights others could not. Wings. They wanted the ability to fly. The tokens they held were able to pass through cycles, the only currency to multi-world travel. They exchanged one such token for the ability to fly high. She took to the skies, touching clouds, riding the winds, and landing on said islands. It felt freeing to know I wasn’t the only one to be able to stand up high.

It was also noticed by Midas. They seemed…upset. Of course, such things could happen, they probably thought. Midas could make worlds, could control them, but they couldn’t bend it to their will like this. It was natural, create a world with corruption, and the world will give corruption back. Was it truly Malachite’s fault, the consequences of their actions, or was it Midas’ for going through with it? Whichever it was, it didn’t matter now, and we just had to live with it. The corruption has been mostly physical, physically in the worlds, and of recently on people, changing how they look. Though, I believe the psyche change won’t show for a while.

✩✩✩

I was told we would be meeting a new member of the Nebula Squad today. Myrtle, I believe is their name. Sora was very happy to bring home a new friend and introduce us. She was given gear to protect herself from others and quickly became part of the team. I haven’t interacted with her much, but I don’t doubt Myrtle would ever hurt us. One of the first things she gave each person was a crystal, something she collects a lot of. Anything shiny and of crystal form usually ended up in her pockets. I can’t blame her, the brilliance of some stones are ethereal and beautiful.

✩✩✩

Rina joined the world again, it seems that even they are trapped in these cycles. The others gathered to meet them at spawn, anxious to see what team they would end up in. In a one of four chances, they were assigned to last cycle’s winning team, team Malachite. Off into the world Rina explored. Rael also joined in the adventures, following above, taunting around. Rina noticed the spread of endstone all over spawn, it now reaching around the pit to the end portal. The end stone seemed to claw its way up the walls, replacing the stone that once surrounded the area. In a seemingly fitting role, they took to destruction, claiming a voice of another god was in their ears, telling them to burn and to explode places. Something was passed in conversation between Rael and Rina, causing Rael to endlessly spring anger from the grounds. Turn after turn through the forest, Rael stalked after Rina, springing forth withers from the earth, dragging Wardens from their homes, reconstructing wither skeletons of the nether. This harm directed to Rina indirectly started to affect anyone near the wrath. In clear, crisp daylights, lightning struck from the skies to the grounds, even tree cover was not safe. It eventually settled down after nearly an hour, Rael growing bored, or maybe a compromise was settled upon. Either way, it was a breath of relief for everyone, not having to deal with the chaotic natures of the gods. As much as I wanted to interfere in the ordeal, I didn’t. Rael was a much more powerful god than I was, and I feared the consequences if I did. So I just observed. I think it was more relaxing for me, not stressing to intervene.

✩✩✩

I stopped by my home on the cliff sides. A new neighbour appeared in the trees atop the hill I live along, the treehouse was still in its early stages, but I was looking forward to what it would be. For now, the end islands have begun to spread, maybe with the winds blowing over. Said end islands appeared at my home, not as many as spawn has, but still concerning. Its endstone elements dropped to the grounds below, and those became catalysts to spread. It reached all sides of the cliffside I called home, the spikes slowly growing out the earths, the end stone and purpur spreading like vines on the walls. I was starting to miss the natural terrains created by the worlds. I dared not try to remove it, learning from others that any attempts to try only resulted in it growing back tenfold. I did not want it in my home, so for now it existing on the cliff face was alright. I checked the mailbox on my way from one building to another and saw a note from someone in it.

‘Losing Godhood’ it read on the cover.

“Night,

I’m not sure how much you remember, some people seem to have forgotten the last cycle, but you killed me. This letter is not to say I’m mad… quite the opposite actually.

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to do that. It was stupid of me. I’m sorry that my humanity, my morality infected you. I’m not sure how it works but I know it’s my fault. I asked you to do it.

‘Is it right for a god to kill?’ you asked… well who knows if it is, but I encouraged you anyways. Ever since that day, I’ve felt guilty. You seem to have your powers back now, which makes me feel a little better… but deep down I don’t think this guilt will ever fully go away.

Don’t feel bad about killing me, it was honestly fun. I’d do it again if I could.

Signed,

Lunar”

Oh. Lunar. I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or uneasy about learning the name of someone I had killed in the last cycle. I sat on this for a moment. Should I pay them a visit? Give a flower and say it’s ok? Conflicted, I stashed the note in my pocket and continued what I was working on at my home. I patched some holes created by creepers, extended the path to my home, and yet this nagging feeling was bugging me to do something with this note, even if it was to just shrug this thought off my shoulders. I went through my chests and found spare paper to write on. I wrote it was alright, to not blame themselves for my actions, and that I was alright. If not to give them closure, at least give myself that. I shifted to their home and left it on the doorsteps with a flower. I think this was enough.

✩✩✩

Aelita was determined to make a banner for Star Squad today. To make the design they wanted, they had to go out and collect a bunch of oxeye daisies. Unfortunately, they were not readily available in the near areas to home. At the break of dawn, they set out to venture for the flowers in the wild. I got called to them a few hours into their journey, and so I willingly accepted and shifted over to their spot in the world. Ocean. We were in an ocean. I sighed inwardly, fearing this whole journey they either got side tracked by hidden treasures of the world, or had gone in such a path that they did not at all come across the flowery fields that held the oxeyes. Or simply both. After drying off from the quick swim in the ocean, we headed to the tree lines in hopes that a clearing would be nearby. We scouted for hilltops to get an advantage point over the area, and sure enough, there was a patch of oxeyes on the base of the hill opposite which we climbed. Aelita picked a handful and placed it in her backpack for the journey home. Hopefully it was enough, the patch of flowers was far, far away from home.

✩✩✩

“Night don’t come home yet.” was all that was told to me one day. I panicked, fearing I was being kicked out of the home. Did they not like me? I paced around my home on the cliff in the jungle, worried. I had to send a message back to them. Calm, compose, definitely not worried.

“Why?” Not calm, not composed, definitely worrying.

“You can’t come home yet.” Ah. This had settled some of the doubts clouding my mind. It still concerned me, though, being told not to go to the home of the Star Squad. I attempted to calm my nerves on the matters and took flight to the skies in hopes the winds would brush off my worries. The air above the ocean in the morning was calming and helped clear the mind of the void thoughts that sought to plague my mind. There wasn’t much for me to do today, spawn was still here, there weren't any chaotic events today. I didn’t want to jinx it but today was rather a quiet day for once. Peace. This world hasn’t felt peace in a long while and I feared it would never. I stopped by a few places people were hanging out, but everyone was in some sort of grinding mode to get the gear they needed for the halfway point in the world.

My communicator dinged with a new notification from the Star Squad. ‘Okay! We’re ready!’ is what it read. Perplexed by the notification, I headed over to the home. Once I landed on the doorsteps, I cautiously opened and stepped inside, unsure what would be there. Yeah, endstone had now spread into our home, but I didn’t think it had to do with that. I stepped further into the room, not a soul in sight. Taking a deep breath, I started to walk towards the stairs, figuring out where they might be. I stopped by some common rooms: the axolotl room, the nest, but no one. I continued down the halls, trying to find where in the world they all could be. I heard light footsteps somewhere around. I followed the path to my geode, hearing hushed murmurs from below.

“Night! We have a surprise for you! Follow,” Sora exclaimed. All eyes were on me from the squad. They led me through doors to the indoor garden and a small carved out portion. They opened the door to reveal a cake on the table, purple candles adorned on top.

“Happy birthday Night!!” Their voices sang in unison, my heart was bursting with emotions, the smile never leaving my face. After the cake, they showed me a book, each page having a little note from each member of the squad. My eyes started to blur, and I quickly blinked it away. I was touched. They kept me away from home to throw a surprise birthday celebration.

✩✩✩

Sora was once again tasked to go gather more materials from the nether. Today’s goal: get more gold. It was rather abundant in the fiery wastelands just from the portal. There were already paths being formed to and from different locations for faster travel. It looked kind of surreal seeing made paths floating high above the lands and dangerously snaking along the lava lakes. I suppose if it worked, then it could stay. The nether born navigated the biome freely, I again stayed behind and in the air. Using the air to my advantage, I was able to see all sorts of shining minerals glimmering in the fire lights against the muted nether rack. I didn’t realize how much it was like the overworld, on stony shores how copper and coal stand out against the grey backgrounds. We eventually ended up in the warped forest, a much-needed relief of cooler temperatures compared to the rest of the dimension. Stopping for a rest, we perched on the leaves of the warped trees, the unnatural blue hued leaves complimenting the glowing bark of the tree. Only in the nether would one find such unique trees that wouldn’t dare grow in the sun of the overworld.

We made our journey back to the portal, but I quickly became turned around in the maze of very similar walls and floors. It was hard to navigate without distinct landmarks around, all I had were the few rivers of lava and random patches of fire roaring around the grounds. Luckily Sora knew the way home. If you grow up knowing one type of area, you become deeply familiar with its traits and paths. Nether portals grew from the grounds, portals leading to homes of other members in the area. I was curious about who lived on the other side. I went through a handful of portals, the shift between dimensions never got easier and always left me a bit sick and dizzy each time. Maybe I had grown so out of touch with my prior self, who used to use the nether portals as a quick transport between remote parts of the lands. I ended up in a secluded part of the dark oak forest, a small house sat near the portal’s entrance. I was lost for sure, navigating the overworld was a much easier task for me than the nether it seemed.

✩✩✩

The days and nights passed in no time. I haven’t slept at all, truly slept in days- or rather since the start of this cycle. Sure, I’ve napped here and there, but it was nothing more than just closing my eyes and existing in the world. I was still conscious of the area around me the whole time, just now it was more relaxing and shutting out the bright lights around me. The lack of sleep has attracted the attention of phantoms, creatures of the night that want nothing more than to feed off the tired feeling of insomnia. At first, they showed up in groups of two to three, but over the weeks it has quickly turned into a pack- no a hoard of around ten, if not more. In the sunlight, I would forget they would follow me, but at night it was quickly apparent when they made their presence known. Those I was with were usually well equipped to fight them with ease. Were they annoying? Sure, but those creatures could be looted for their phantom membranes and used in potions, so I don’t think they were an issue.

At least, I hoped it stayed that way. Night after night, the phantoms would reign the night skies above and attack those around me nonstop. I had travelled with Dana to the villager trading hall one day. It seems even as remote as this place was not far enough to the endstone. It clung to the walls of the home and spread up like moss on a rainy day. End stone spikes grew from the grounds on the outskirts of the village, slowly making its way inward to where the villagers worked. On this night, no less than twelve phantoms materialized from the night sky above. It should have been like any other time, it should have been easy, but it wasn’t. It was just Dana and I in the village. We were relentlessly being attacked, the vast majority targeting Dana as she was closer to where they flew in from. One after one they were being taken down, but one after one more and more appeared. When will they stop showing? A yelp cried out behind me, one of the phantoms had thrown Dana into the side of an end spike and it was loud. Hearing someone’s body hitting solid endstone sent shivers down my spine. I dropped my bow, sprinting as fast as I could to Dana. It was all a blur, one moment she’s standing her ground, sword and shield in hand, the next she was rendered unconscious, laying against the endstone and her head bleeding. I grabbed her shoulders, shaking, hoping Dana would wake up. No response. The ear-piercing screeching of phantoms rang loud in the cool night air. Those creatures knew, they could smell it, swarming around like vultures scouting its prey. But it was my fault. I didn’t sleep and they were formed as a consequence. If only I had slept, if only I actually paid attention…if only. It wasn’t something I could fix now, it was too late, and I knew that. I scooped Dana into my airs the best I could and headed for the trading hall, it was safer indoors. I located an empty bed on the first floor and laid Dana there, carefully removing her helmet to get a better view of the injury. It wasn’t too bad, the blood which I thought was hers was actually from the amount of phantoms she had slain on her own just before. A bruise and minor cut formed on her temple, and I grabbed a cold cloth to help with the inflammation of it. After ensuring she was alright, I went back out to fight the last of them and gather the items that fell off Dana in the process. I suppose it didn’t matter at this point, the sun’s light was rising above the horizon at this point, those beaming rays would burn the phantoms at first touch.

I couldn’t stay, I realized. I was bringing harm to those I cherished, to those that were innocent, to those that didn’t deserve to be hurt because of me. I indirectly was hurting those I cared about. I needed to get away, isolate myself so that everyone would be alright. I left a half decent note on the desk by Dana’s improvised bed and left. I took to the skies as I always had, but I did not fly home. I let the winds carry me away, away from spawn, away from familiar homes, away from home. It didn’t take long before stumbling across windswept mountains topped with fresh snow. I located the most remote looking one, a singular pillar-like mountain with a flat top to build shelter. The freezing winds were starting to get to me. I quickly built a house to keep the snow out and break the wind from blowing me off the mountain tops. At least from up here I had a view of the sun setting in the west, the dying sunlight leaving nothing behind but the rays of moonlight, if it did even touch up here. I rubbed my arms and hands, doing my best to warm up in this biome. A fireplace. I scraped together materials and lit the logs to bring warmth to the cabin. I sat close, hands outstretched trying to grab the heat. I sat on the floor at the base of the fireplace, gazing into the blazing embers. Then it hit me. I was alone, lonely in some remote part of the snowy mountains. It was quiet, the deafening silence pressured my skull. My mind was playing tricks on me, thinking there were footsteps behind me, or a voice of someone I knew, but no one was there, just the whistling wind outside and the snow falling in the moonlight. Empty, the house felt empty without them. There is a big difference between being alone and being lonely, I was the latter. I placed a few decorations that reminded me of home, but this place would never be home, not without the Star Squad.

When the next day rolled in, the weather cleared up and the sun reflected off the snow from the night before. I could see out to the horizons of the landscape around me. I jumped down off the mountain tops, the winds of falling brushing my face and lifting my wings, propelling me forward. The entire mountain range was similarly made, tall windswept towering over carved earths and sprouting spruce trees. The terrain was jaw-dropping. If only I could share this view with them as well. I stopped by a nearby village, the outskirts had rows and rows of berry bushes, the nearby foxes having a feast with the sweet red berries that grew. I plucked a few, the tart and sweet taste bursting my tastebuds. I could see why the foxes loved them. The villagers were kind enough to give me a small basket of food and a blanket, seeing as I was still dressed for the warm weathered environment everyone else was in, whereas here was nothing but snow in the taigas. They were kind, refusing any sort of payment in return, despite my protest. I thanked them endlessly and headed back to my remote cabin with supplies in hand. I approached the stairs leading to the door and paused. There were footprints in the snow that didn’t exist before. Has someone already found out where I was? I took light steps to the door, peaking into the windows nearby to see if anyone was inside. No one was. I opened the door, it creaked with a warning to anyone inside. Instead, I found a barrel sitting in the middle of the room. A note and a few gifts were left inside. I placed my goods on the chair by the fireplace and opened the note.

'From Morana'

“Hi Night!

Yes, it's me, Morana. You thought it would be easy to get rid of me? Nuh uh.

But seriously, if this is about the phantoms that hurt me yesterday, I'm okay, I promise! I know how it feels, to be the reason someone else is hurt. Please don't be like me and lock yourself away, it will only mess with you more. If you need to talk, I'll be at the gazebo. I promise, everything is going to be okay.

Come back soon. We all miss you
--Morana✦

P.S. I live in your walls now :)”

Morana. I had hurt Morana just days prior. She had left a few flowers and snacks alongside the note. My heart started to beat more. Even though I had hurt them, they were still reaching out to me, letting me know it was ok. I guess we were becoming more alike. She had fled to a mansion at the start of the cycle, isolating herself from others, I had fled to the mountain tops to protect others.

The next day, another note was left in my home, this time from Sora.

'To a friend'

“Hello Night!!

It’s Sora :D

I found this while wandering the overworld, hope you’re doing alright, this cabin is pretty far out from anyone.

Though if you aren’t feeling the best I left you some gifts I gathered along the way :>

I know you’re a god and you can get these yourself whenever but in the nether giving gifts like gold can be a way of comfort or appreciation so i wanted to bring you some and let you know you’re welcome to see me anytime! Let me know if you ever want to know anything about the nether as well!!

I know you’ve accompanied me and probably others into the nether, but I thought I'd offer anyways. I’d be glad to ramble anytime!

I’ve actually been finding more warped fungus recently so I brought you one as well! They’re seen as a symbol of protection and guidance where I grew up!

Sorry, that was a lot more words than I thought hehehe- But yeah! If you ever want to talk or hang out just let me know!

-Sora ✦

P.s. This cabin is really pretty!! Was hard to get up here though”

They left a few golden apples and a warped fungus with the note. It was becoming harder to tell myself to stay, I yearned to see them all again, to be in the warm weather, to laugh and smile. Maybe I’ll go back now, I can’t stay away from everyone forever. I packed what few things I had brought up here into my ender chest, snuffed the flames from the firepit and took flight going back home.

Chapter Text

Midas joined us today. I haven’t seen them in a while, I was starting to fear they hated the corruption of the end around the spawn area and all islands nearby. Speaking of, the end islands seemed to have multiplied overnight. The sky slowly started to fill with these islands like the stars above. Though, curiosity took the best of me, and I went to go find Midas, not to talk, just to observe. They were floating above Minerva’s home in the ocean, looked up to the blank sky, and back to the home. I sat perched on a nearby island, Midas was slowly but surely building a home tethered to the other god’s island. Could homes even float away in the breeze?

I noticed I wasn’t the only one watching now. Another god I had met only a few times dropped in today. Corn. They’re very much a quiet type, only existing in time like Midas does. I’d like to think their soul is tied to the appearance of Midas, but I’m sure they act of their own free will. Lost in thought, Midas had eventually finished their home in the skies, casting a shadow on Minerva’s home in the afternoon sunlight. Corn had occupied the lower floor of said home, their T.V being one of the first things to move in. I had soon grown a bit bored of the home building, as interesting as it was, and headed over to the spawn area where most of the people in the general vicinity had gathered. One of them had pointed at a note posted beside the quartz structure. I picked up the note to read it better in the light of the sun. An invitation to a party at some castle across the ocean from spawn. I could make it, what else was there to do?

I headed home to the Star Squad, apparently they too had heard about the party and were gathered in the main room to design their outfits for the events. We settled on matching star related accessories.

✩✩✩

The day of the party was here, and I had arrived early to watch a panicked team of event organizers running around with last minute decor and setting up stalls for food and drinks. It was inspiring that someone, or rather a few people, would go so far to set up an event for everyone. One by one, people arrived at the party, and I was growing a bit anxious about the Star Squad. One of the main event organizers took the central area and called for everyone’s attention.

“Hello, welcome. Everyone who is here by the castle are the proud makers of this event and helpers, and Allie and Chaos are the main organizers, so big thanks to them.” A few claps from the crowd rang out. “Today’s event is for fun, so please, feel free to do what you want, just we ask that you don’t go into the castle. We’ll call everyone back here for more activities. So please, go off and socialize, make friends with those you want, and have fun!” The crowd had dispersed into a good atmosphere. I waited patiently for the Star Squad to arrive, so I flew around for a moment to take in the view. There were so many people who attended today’s event, it was nice to see members of all the teams gather without fighting, without chaos, just being themselves and enjoying the moment. I looked back to the portal, familiar faces appearing one by one, waving in my direction.

“Sorry, we’re just fashionably late!” Sora exclaimed. Though I had been there when they all designed their outfits, seeing the completed look was beautiful. Chronicle joined our small group on the outskirts of the dance floor, each one in awe of the other’s fancy fits. As we were chatting, phantoms appeared once more in the area, though it seems I wasn’t the only insomniac in the party. I had learned through my journeys that the creatures of the night seemed deathly afraid of cats, so I had gone about to get a few of them and placed them around to protect the peace of the party. Eventually, the group made their way down the hill towards the central area.

“Oh gosh. There are so many people. I think I’m just gonna stand over here,” I heard Dana say. Many people had a similar thought, slowly dispersing to their groups of familiar friends. The stalls of food had many options. I picked up some star treats and a glowing boba to munch on, the sweet treats a bright experience.

The rest of the people gathered on the patio, enjoying the scenery and food, but I had found Void at the top of the venue.

“Are you alright?” I inquired. Void nodded.

“Yeah… I’m just not used to big crowds like this. It kind of terrifies me.” I nodded in understanding. “I think I’ll just stay up here for a moment. But you, you can go be with them!” They ushered me away to have fun. I told them to please call for me if they wanted company. I hopped off the ledge to the patio area and made my way through the stalls. Sherbshake, Night in the Box, Minerva’s flowers, a boba stand, the bar. I wandered through each selection and in the back a bar was set up. I was offered a few choices, ultimately settling on wine. I sniffed it for a moment, its bitter sweet aroma wafted up. I took a small sip, a dry red that bit the tongue and went down smooth. It was surprisingly good, delightfully tart. I held the wine glass carefully whilst making my way back to the squad, weaving my way through rows of people.

Conversations were had left and right no matter where I went. Folks catching up with each other, a few team ruby members looking for a friend, chatter of catching up with ones they haven’t seen in a while. It was lively, and it was lovely. The clouds started to roll in, a small drizzle of rain fell onto the lands. Many took shelter in the venue, the squad ended up underneath a cherry tree, its leaves providing cover and protecting the nice outfits from the weather. Soon, the rain cloud passed and the sun was back out. Embryn made their way over. I had finally learned their name, the leader of Citrine from last cycle. Their sculk colored and covered fit sparkled in the sun’s rays.

After a moment, the party goers were called back to the central area for an announcement. The dance floor opened up for all to enjoy. I took to the floors with people I knew, swaying mostly. Dancing wasn’t really my thing, but for many they loved it. I spotted Dana and Void on the ends of the dance floor, wanting to join in, but visibly uncomfortable by it. It took just a brief moment of convincing from Sora to have them join in, even if it was on the edges of the floor. Many songs from across the dimensions played for all to enjoy. The Star Squad and I were simply dancing, mimicking the moves Sora was teaching when the distinct sound of iron on flint struck beside us, lighting the floors with roaring flames. It had hurt Sora, it had caused confusion, it had sparked fear. Concern flooded me, one of my friends was hurt, but anger consumed me. I quickly shifted into my spectral form, the uneasy feeling of shifting needed to be put aside as the dizzying vision of all-seeing eyes was on now. I scanned left and right, all I knew was invisible people were causing harm to the innocent, all I had to do was look for the faint outline of a person and suddenly they weren’t so invisible to me now. I had located one of the perpetrators, but was unable to shift into my corporal form. Damn it! I needed to stop them but was unable to. If I couldn’t do anything, I knew someone that could, so I followed them into a small cave shrouded by trees, hidden from view. The duo had restocked on potions of all sorts, rearmed themselves with destructive equipment and headed back to the gathering. I messaged Dana in a panic: get armor on now and get everyone out. My concern for the Star Squad was high, I knew some of them were not fighters, and I knew for sure the panic was overwhelming the majority of party goers.

I had a champion. I have someone in my cards to use to do what I cannot. They took my challenge to test their will and strength and passed, so I knew I could communicate through them to help.

‘Champion, suit up and get ready. What they have in their arsenal is going to hurt more people, so you need to get as many people out as possible.’ Of course, not many people trusted them, fear of rumors and actions they once did in the previous cycle, but they were someone that would fight tooth and nail to end the chaos on the dancefloor. TNT was lit in the crowds, the ones that stayed behind to fight threw their shields up in defence, preparing for the blast that would occur. It was now anyone who fled got out safely, anyone who stayed behind witnessed the pains and would stop at nothing to figure it out. Names were thrown out who it might’ve been and I had to confirm. Trees by the portal suddenly went up in flames, a distraction to deter them away from something, more fire sparked on the grass to coral them. It wasn’t looking good, but it seemed like someone was stalling, or rather proving something. It was hard to tell, even through these spectral eyes. Their motive was hard to tell, but once it was confirmed that everyone eventually made it out of the venue, I did a final sweep through and headed to find the Star Squad at home. Once the initial adrenaline rush subsided, I was able to shift back into a more comfortable corporal form, spawn was on the horizon. The scent of gunpowder lingered in the air and was carried by the breeze. My heart dropped. I flew as fast as I could to see the damage done. Craters several blocks deep were carved, the central quartz platform half in shambles. Then the world stopped. Something bubbled deep within my chest. Anger? Confusion? My eyes were starting to blur, my knees met the ground. The world went quiet, then the ringing replaced it. Moonlight shone on the fragments left. Why did I care so much about spawn anyways? It’s just something that can be rebuilt with patience, and yet I feared it wasn’t my care for spawn that sparked these emotions. I saw a member of team citrine rounding the corner, I stood up to compose myself. Together, we replaced the broken stones and repatched the grassy lands. I took to the central landmark and reconstructed quartz pillars, carving out the details of the archway. In time, it reformed back to its original state. Building spawn again, becoming its protector again, it calmed my nerves a bit.

I went home to find them, the house was empty. Where were they? That same panic started to fill me, I needed to know everyone was safe. I shifted to find them, going to places I thought they would be. If not spawn or home, maybe the mushroom island. I set sights to the purple-grey mycelium terrains, and luckily they were safe- and with the red winter alliance. With a relieving sigh, I saw as they sat in a circle, discussing who it was, why they would have done it.

“I noticed the party organizers left as soon as it happened. And Mess, we saw Mess running around invisible,” Chronicle stated, “it seems their targets were not set to everyone, perhaps certain teams. Teams aside, everyone has proven themselves, so I trust you all. I know things were messy, but thank you for following my orders. It helped you all stay safe.” A plan was made, an alliance was formed. I went back into a more visible form, greeted by many faces of the teams. They filled me in on what they knew, I filled them in on what I saw. I knew they were more than capable individuals, but I was still torn by the destruction of spawn. It looked intentional, not creeper made. But they reassured me, comforted me. Whatever was going to happen now, it wouldn’t break the teams made, not the ones forced by the worlds, but the ones bonded by war. The moods of those around me were lighter now, now that whatever the chaos happened has passed. I turned to the Nebula Squad, they all thought the same thing: it’s time to head home.

We made the trip back home safely, mind the rain that started once again on the way over. Once inside, I was finally able to look at the others. Sora had a few burn marks on their skin, Myrtle’s dress in disarray from getting caught in the trees, Void was a bit shaken and Dana was on edge. It was understandable, seeing what happened just a few hours prior.

“I, uh, kinda left. Uhm…I blew up spawn,” Void opened up. I felt taken aback, silent gasps breaking the silence.

“Why? Why would you do that?” Dana asked, cautious of the approach.

“Well, I talked to Chronicle, I mentioned that I had TNT. I wanted to blow up the castle, but I couldn’t. So, I went to the next thing that I knew that would be noticed, and that was spawn, and I blew it up. Then I came back and everything went to shit.”

“Why would you do that?” Dana asked softly, pushing more.

“Well, when you have a voice whispering in your ear craving for bloodshed and destruction and to blow something up when you have TNT in your hands, it’s hard to ignore it when it sounds like your own teammates, so I went to the next place: spawn,” Void admitted, their voice shaking with each word.

“Why? I thought I was with voices, why are you hearing them,” Dana tried not to break, the plea evident. I couldn’t think, my mind racing with thoughts. Sculk, Void said, the last thing they touched from the last cycle, and it made sense. It was spreading on their face much like the ender was on them.

I mustered what voice I had, whatever was left. “I want to be angry, but I can’t.” It was hard not to break here. Angry? Sure, someone I trusted just admitted to destroying what I was protecting. Broken? Maybe, it wasn’t on the verge of anything but I felt something shatter deep down. Betrayed? I loved these people. To know it was someone close did it hurt more.

“Maybe we should move to a more private location, so no one could see us,” Sora suggested, easing the tension in the hallways. We all nodded quietly and made our way down to the nest, though we didn’t take our usual spots- just separated in the corners facing one another. Void had admitted to hearing the voices coming back, though after meeting us, those voices became a distant memory until the appearance of endstone and sculk everywhere. Those voices for her craved the corrupted materials, craved more, anything, everything in the world that gave destruction. And those voices grew louder. For Dana, the voices grew louder and louder each passing moment in the last cycle, until they were deafening in the final fight, so this cycle she ran away to a mansion. For me, those voices were of past memories, of haunting thoughts of what I wanted. No one wanted to hurt others, Dana was afraid of it, Void was used to it. Though Sora, it was their first cycle, first time experiencing the horrors of the world in the cycles. It didn’t matter though, the world did not care for who was there, the normal person, nor I, we were stuck together. No one wanted this, no one wanted to fight the other, but they knew- everyone knew, it had to be done soon, not for the ending of cycles, but also for Midas’ enjoyment. Void apologized for blowing up spawn, and I accepted it. It was something I’ve done before and something I kept doing: protecting spawn and rebuilding what was lost in the destructive path. This world was corrupting, the people were corrupting, it should be stopped, but it isn’t. To stop it means to cut it off, the people included. I knew I shouldn’t have attached myself to them as much as I did, I should have stayed a hermit, someone secluded from others. It hurts more to love someone just to lose them. And yet, I broke my promise to myself.

✩✩✩

I returned the next day to the castle, scouting to see if there was something we missed during the mayhem of the event. Talks of underground traps and whispers of obsidian prisons were about, but I couldn’t confirm any of those things. What I did find was a lone Creus approaching Allie. I heard bits of the conversation, and they were along the lines discussing the events at the party from the day prior. Creus had extensive knowledge of the spread of sculk to the human anatomy, how it affects brain function, ultimately corrupting the mind like a parasite. This was deflected by the infected one, turning down all thoughts of said corruption, it couldn’t have been! Shooing the thought away by Allie based on Creus’ attire, a traditional outfit of cultural significance from where he’s from, Creus continued to push, asking about what actually happened. Allie once again pushed him away, Creus accepting defeat and heading into the castle.

“I see you, you’re not hiding well if that’s what you’re trying to do,” Allie spoke, looking to the hillsides by the castle. A member of the Red Winter Alliance stood and walked forward.

“Wasn’t trying to hide, just came to chat,” the other announced.

“Uh huh, so why should I trust you?”

“Truthfully, you shouldn’t.”

“You had Chronicle hurt my brother,” Allie spoke, the ruby member raised an eyebrow at the statement, “not of last cycle, at the party. Or whe Slum tried to kill me-”

“I don’t associate myself with Chronicle or them anymore,” Kairos spoke, Allie hummed in question. “I left, being a traitor and all, not exactly safe there anymore. I chose to leave, left a wonderfully written note for them. But me leaving is not why I’m here, I’m here to talk about the event. I doubt you had a hand in it, seeing you ran to the hills when it happened.”

“Kairos, let’s make a deal, yeah? Take your armor off,” Allie instructed. Kairos hesitated for a moment and compiled. “Good, now we can talk on even grounds. You wanted to know who would cause such a stir, who would raise fires on the castle grounds. I do know who it is, but it’s not the reason you care for.” Kairos listened intently to Allie as she paced around. She continued, “As I know is that Mess and Kelly pulled off a little stunt I wasn’t very happy about, wasn't warned about- oh, how terrible, your own brother.”

Kairos stood there absorbing the information, I watched trying to absorb this newfound knowledge. I figured it was intentional, but in the midst of panic it was hard to determine the motive. More words of the event were passed. If this was planned, intentional or not, why wasn’t it more destructive? Words passed in the winds of people not bringing their armor, innocently thinking it would be nothing but a gathering of everyone in the world.

“Huh, since you’re not in the alliance anymore, how about this: you know this. I want war, I want chaos, I want destruction. Whoever tries to hurt me or my family- you know how it is. How about a proposition: why don’t you be my right hand man, create chaos around this world.”

Kairos hummed, “it is a rather tempting deal. What do I get out of this?”

“Oh there is no catch silly, you are a force of chaos, you love destruction, just like me. We can make a great team, so join me. Become my right hand man. Stop people from getting in my- our way. You would get power, everything you’d ever want. To make your dreams come true. I am technically a princess, so that makes you my knight in shining armor.” Kairos nodded in return. “I knew you would come to it, become the most powerful people on this server.” Kairos accepted this deal and headed into the castle.

Creus soon returned to the plaza, Allie’s expression changed. “So it looks like we have a new member,” Allie greeted.

Creus stuttered. “Uhm, yes, that is nice, he seems like a nice person. So.. what do you mean you wanted to cause war and chaos?” Allie laughed at this question.

“Oh, a little TNT couldn’t hurt anybody could it?”

“I- no- well, forgive me, but that wasn't the goal of Atlas, was it? Wasn’t it to protect?”

“Yeah, protect my people, my brother. That’s the whole point.”

Creus looked dumbfounded, “This isn’t something to take lightly. War is serious, I know. Don’t be rash about-”

Allie interrupted. “Having war is necessary to protect my family.”

“If there is a solution we can take, not war, at least try to resolve this issue without the problem of bloodshed.”

“You think I wouldn’t take any means after that little stunt Chronicle and Embryn pulled today? You think I would trust them?” Creus was silent for a moment. “I didn’t think so.”

Crues was losing his words fast. “I just don’t have the full picture yet, I’m not saying it’s completely right or wrong until I know what happened-”

“Are you saying you don’t trust your queen?” Allie’s voice raised, Crues answered with a no silently. Allie chuckled under her breath. “Don’t worry, soon that will all make sense.” Creus stepped away to grab medicine to help stop the spread of the infection in the other, causing the infected to shake her head.

✩✩✩

I continued my journey around the world, finding anyone that would have more information. Mess and Kelly apparently, but they were nowhere to be seen within sight of anywhere. I found a flustered Embryn near Fort Deus looking for Mess as well, and I decided to follow and listen in on the conversation. A few members of team Malachite were there, discussing what happened at the party. They too were taken aback by the events of that night. Confusion was evident among a lot of people. The why’s, the concerns, it was all felt in their hearts. Creus appeared soon after, also giving information he knew from his conversation with Allie just prior. It seemed the rumor of the Red Winter being behind it was being spread, intending to cause a war, and Creus was unsure of his stance. He wanted to help, to have peace, but couldn’t see eye-to-eye with Allie in that conversation. A member of team Malachite took that to heart, not believing it could have been Mess or anyone else, solely basing their reasoning off of RWA’s actions of the previous cycle: the withers, the destruction of spawn… to an outside eye, this could make sense, but in the actions of now, the puzzle piece didn’t fit at all. It wasn’t Red Winter- in fact their leader was actively corralling the people to get them out to safety and stayed behind to fight the invisible member causing the chaos. It was all confusing, seeing fingers being pointed, not having the whole story. Fear was blinding, even to the most valiant people. And it was a rash thought. War caused people to have paranoia, and actions were based off a previous cycle.

I could see in Embryn’s eyes the patience was running thin. Being teamed against three to one in the growing argument, hope was being lost for a peaceful discussion. A clouded gaze formed over Embryn’s eyes, the members of Malachite there armored up against her. They were pressuring, using events of last time compared to now. It wasn’t Embryn’s fault: the sculk growing on them, Citrine’s town hall being blown up, but they fought through it all to get to this point. Memories were a blurred mess of then, and this was being used against her. In the next best thing she could do, she walked away, gaining nothing from the other team. They taunted, they pushed, they threatened. Embryn laughed. There was nothing left to say from this. Embryn glanced at the echo shard in her hand. What was she to do? Accusing words pushed, and actions pushed harder. She placed TNT on the fort grounds, those Malachite members in the middle of it. A spark flew from the flint in Embryn’s hands, and craters were carved in its place. Enough had been said.

✩✩✩

This wasn’t good. I headed to the mushroom island to find anyone I knew. As I landed, I heard voices from above the hilltops. Void and Dana were discussing their finding of the castle with the Red Winter, seeing nothing amiss at the venue. Things weren’t adding up for them, nothing made sense- and yet, Dana pulled some notes out of her enderchest. Poems written wonderfully to the outside reader, but when dug into, they were referring to certain members and certain teams in the world. Were they written cryptically to target people? Or was this just nothing but a reference to actions of the few? Dana and Void decided to head home when they felt like they were being watched by a certain someone around the walls of the castle, afraid they were about to be found and interrogated.

Mess and Foggy were hiding in the entryway of the castle, having seen Dana and Void wandering the castle halls. They were afraid that the two members were sent to look for Foggy, in fear that being close to Chronicle, it was him who sent the duo to the castle to look. It was a mess, people being afraid of each other for opposite reasons.

I stood at the ledge of the mushroom, shifting into my physical form to greet the others at the top. I didn’t want to walk into their conversation, so I stayed a bit hidden and listened closely. Phantoms started to circle above them, and I did my best to take them out while staying out of sight, but in the midst of trying to aim, my foot slid off the edge and hit air- rather I was now falling instead of standing. In shock, I tried to stop the downward descent, but couldn’t and was met with a solid impact to the purple-grey mycelium. The air was knocked out of my chest, and the world was spun into black and nothingness. I couldn’t feel myself, words not forming in my mind. Was this what it felt like to die before the end of the cycles? On second thought, could this get me out of the cycle? It would be nice, to just leave it all, to go back to a life I had before- or whatever that was. But I couldn't just leave the people I met, the ones also stuck in the cycles, stuck to an endlessly shifting world to Midas' will. I hesitated, and that hesitation kept me in the cycles. Flashes of the world port flooded my vision. It was dark outside, the floors of the world port shone bright in the void. Unnaturally lit. Eerie.

I woke up. The grounds I laid on were uncomfortable, though cold stones did sooth the achy feeling. I tried to sit up, the world spinning, the grounds feelingly shifted away. Was this what a concussion felt like? I needed to get home, any home, to be safe. My first thought was to head to the Star Squad home, the snowy biome bringing colder temperatures than that around it. It felt good, relieving. I tried to scoop what snow I could carry and headed to my geode. The cushioned mossy floors provided much needed support, the snow a cooling relief. Laying it out, I laid down on the snow blanketed floor and fell asleep. Maybe sleep will help pass this headache.

Chapter Text

The event which marks the halfway point of the world was here. A poem was left by Midas a few days prior:
"The stone grows far, the end comes near,
An evil is born, one filled with fear,
Looking over the hills, and into the pit,
One will prevail, to earn and win it"

Riddles were Midas’s favorite thing to hint at something soon, and if it was anything like last cycle, this most certainly had something to do with the End opening up. For now though, we had to wait patiently until then.

The endstone at spawn had by now reached the beaches of the island and crept down the cliffs underwater reaching the bottom of the ocean. Just next to the beaches was the pit, this time instead of just stone and vines had now turned to more and more endstone and purpur dotted with some crying obsidian that glowed. Surrounding the still closed off end portal, the room that was once quartz also started to take on features of the end. A spiraling path from the top all the way down was carved into the sides, riddled with tripping hazards of stone. And just like the grounds we walked on, the skies too saw more islands, and this time Chorus trees sprouting from them. It was abnormally beautiful, glowing fruits beared from the stems of the tree and glistened like the stars past them.

To pass the time until the event, an arena was under construction on the island nearby. A dug-out pit in the stone lined with quartz and filled with hills and hazards made sparring a bit more of a challenge. I watched as the area slowly turned to a usable area by many around to practice fighting. Unfortunately for now, fighting one another to the death was yet to be a thing until after the event, if last time had any influence on how this one worked.

✩✩✩

After many suns and moons have passed, Midas has once again appeared in the world, still off put by the amount of endstone that seems to never stop spreading. Minerva was here as well, assisting closely to Midas for this event. The teams were summoned to the spawn area to hear the announcement, listening closely for the rules of the challenge. A search to find keys to the end, scattered across spawn and surrounding areas, hidden on the floating islands and on sides of end spikes. It was a race to find the 12 needed to open the gateway to the next dimension. The countdown began and the teams were set to the surrounding lands in search of the eyes that opened the portal. One by one, members of all teams met back to return the keys they found, adding one to the count for their team. It was a close call, all moving at the same speeds, running as fast as they could to secure victory for the end. In a close call, Team Sapphire clutched victory a second before the next closest team, winning the halfway challenge for a second cycle in a row. Midas congratulated the team and led the people near to the real end portal. A flick of the wrist and magic appeared, opening the barrier to the next dimension to fight the Ender Dragon. This time was different. After the teams collaborated to take down the Ender Dragon, they had the ability to summon their own dragons whenever, varying in team colors and strength. They were much stronger than normal dragons that lived here, proving a challenge to the summoner stuck in the End.

✩✩✩

I waited patiently for the chaos to pass, creating a small outpost at the edge of the main island to relax. Many of the people still in the end were now exploring, set to find the cities in the far outskirts of the dimension for loot and elytra for themselves and others, many of Team Sapphire rejoicing in the wings they earned from winning the challenge. It was nice to see peace for a common goal in lieu of last week's mishaps at the castle. I placed down a jukebox and loaded in a disc, listening to the soothing music beside me and looking out into the abyssal ends off the islands. The starscape was beautiful, the glowing magenta auroras on the horizons. What would it take to touch those stars, to fly in the glittering maze laid in the skies? My hand reached out, yearning to go back to the sea of stars, to what was before. I didn’t want to leave my friends behind though. I stood to look over the sides of the endstone cliff, those stars so close and yet so far from reach. One step, then two, then it was void air. The weightless falling into the void, reaching closer and closer to those stars. The void opened up with welcome arms, the chilling warmth surrounded me. Silent, beautiful, I walked the false floors of the void…but something pulled me backwards.

You can’t, something spoke. Not a voice, a feeling, an emotion. Not mine though. The essence of that thing sensed it from me. I hesitated once again, desiring for the other worlds, and yet I couldn’t just leave this one, leave them all behind. Them, them, THEM. It tugged, it pulled, and I grew further and further away from the stars. Why, why me? Why did I become attached, to just be hurt once more, all for nay. The stars warped into nothingness, my vision blurred and the world spun again. I couldn’t tell how much time has passed, the end dimension doesn’t have a semblance of time like the overworld did, dominated by the passing of the suns and moons above. I felt cold, the ground felt hard, smooth. I opened my eyes to the same familiar quartz construction that laid in the skies by spawn. I was back in the world port, it seemingly knowing of my attempted escape, as if to mock me for such an idea. I couldn’t leave and it knew that, it dragged me back to the cycles we knew. I couldn’t accept this fate, and yet it seemed that I didn’t have a choice in the matter.

✩✩✩

Clearing my mind, I decided to fly over to explore the world, peek into what others were up to. Some distracting themselves, some still grinding for the best gear, some making cookies and sharing the warm delicious dessert with others. There was much progress on builds that others had created since last I saw many of them, impressed by the creativity. One being the arena and coliseum. I was summoned over by Dana to watch over a sparring practice between her and Chronicle. They shook hands on a deal, a life for a life. All bets were on the table, and I was concerned. On one hand, I needed my champion alive, but on the other, a dear friend and member of the Nebula squad was here. It was not a winning situation for me, but I couldn’t interfere, it wasn’t my job to. I was only here to moderate and watch for a fair fight. I counted them down, swords clashed on ‘go’. In the best of three, Chronicle was deemed the winner of the fight and of the bet placed. Dana willingly accepted defeat, and handed the victor a dusty book from their ender chest. They looked through it, quickly reading through its contents and the two set out to gather the materials called for in the book. It didn’t involve me, so I shifted to spectral mode to follow. Maybe I was a bit curious about what it said, but it was hard to make out the text with faded and fuzzy ink smears on the pages. No time was lost in setting up the circle, a performance of magic. Exactly what did Dana mean by giving her life? Were we about to lose her? She stood in the center of the circle, Chronicle just outside of it, reciting the words from the book. I watched as the light dimmed in Dana’s eyes and became unresponsive. At the end of the passage, the puzzle pieces all clicked into place! She willingly gave up her self control to the other. I was more and more afraid of this newfound news, unable to shift out of spectral, but what was the point of it if the spell was over now? Chronicle gave orders, Dana followed them. It was so unnatural to see someone not in control of themselves. When the emotions subsided, I shifted to my physical form to confront Chronicle.

“I know you hate me,” he spoke. I glared at him. What did it matter, whatever I said? My bow was being crushed in my grip, the arrow notched into the string, pulled back and aimed…but I couldn’t let the arrow fly. They were a devastating duo of destruction, my champion controlling my friend, and as per usual, there was nothing in my power I could do about it. Ancient magic, or heck even magic of another world was completely out of my control. Surrendering to defeat, I lowered my bow.

“What’s done is done, Champion. I am…disappointed in you. You showed good intentions and proved willing, and yet you decided to stray from the path which would lead you to destiny. There is nothing I can do to help, nothing more you can give me. Goodbye,” I stated, denouncing the former champion- and yet it was hard for me to let go of this one too. As much as I had wished to cut ties with Chronicle, I needed him in sight because he still had Dana in his controls. It was a lose-lose situation overall, and the incoming rain did not help the mood. I shifted, not standing at the sight of the area where the ritual stood.

✩✩✩

I once again ended up at spawn, needing to desperately clear my mind. My head was hurting with each passing day now, like a dull pressure on all sides. The sun’s light, though not seemingly changed at all since this cycle started, actually was a lot more blinding than I remember it to be. My hand extended up to block its rays, and that’s when I noticed it: my skin was much paler than it used to…with a tint of purple to it? Looking down as I lowered my hand, I noticed purple and magenta stained my legs, swirling in shape and eerily similar to the auroras of the end. Had I been stained that night I fell into the void’s arms? Realizing the more I looked, the more of the End’s sky I appeared to match, an unsettling but rejoicing feeling flooded my heart. I wanted the stars, to be amongst them once more, and yet the worlds of the cycle didn’t allow it, always needing me here…at spawn. Just like before and will always be in the future. I stood barefoot on the paths of endstone surrounding the familiar quartz structure. It felt refreshing, not warm but not freezing, matching the air flowing from the ocean nearby under the warm rays of the sun- as dastardly blinding as it was.

Speaking of blinding things, the familiar starry haired starborn I was familiar with was also at spawn, opposite side to which I stood and observed. Void was interacting with those nearby, their cheery nature sparking conversations and smiles to the recipient. But I should have expected worse things. A member of Team Ruby was nearby, watching silently, approaching Void like a shadow. Bitter words were passed, though the winds wiped them from nearby listeners, and a flash of dark metal pierced Void. I stood motionless, I should help- no I need to help, but my feet did not respond to my will. I watched as the perpetrator disappeared into the horizons of the sea, how Void strapped her wings on, avoiding the wound and flew home. I’m stuck, stuck in the sidelines as I watch those close to me get hurt, over and over. It was now twice this week I could do nothing but watch, what kind of god am I to watch people suffer endlessly- oh. I’m not. I’m nothing but an omniscient observer, a watcher to the world I struggled to interact with. I flew home, maybe then I can help Void clean the wound or patch it up.

And yet I was beat even to that. I approached the nest door when I heard a second voice. It was Dana’s, attempting her best to help Void with her wound. My hand paused at the door, debating if I should enter. I decided against it, thinking it best that the two bond with each other instead of me sitting in the middle, third wheeling their relation. Does this consider me a bad friend, perhaps handing me the title of worst friend on a silver platter for the world to see? That I couldn’t even will myself to walk in and ask if she was alright, if they needed anything, to pass a blanket or bring food- no I retreated like I had before, and the time before that and the time before that. My breath staggered, doubt clouding my mind. I needed air, desperately. I walked through the cold mountains which our home stood in, sitting atop the trees and gazing into the aurora and star show above, the beacons to spawn barely visible past the horizons, a nearly faint glow all that remained this far out.

✩✩✩

The order for bed rest did not last long, Void yearned to stretch their legs and leave the cushioned comfort of the nest. It’s been a few days and the wound was slowly healing, but not fast enough. After a few days, Void took the risk and left the nest, heading towards spawn to meet with a few people. It was a conversation of feeling trapped, needing an out, but wanting to see the world. The morning sun brought hope, especially seeing that this world was soon to come to an end now that the halfway point was over. But, like swords, secrets hurt as well. They saw Dana sparring with Chronicle in the arena by spawn, watching fight after fight where Dana was not coming out victorious in any of them. Void decided to confront Chronicle after many of the rounds. Though, sometime into the conversation, Void had learned that Chronicle had control of their girlfriend, a boiling emotion growing in their chest. I understood that feeling, having gone through it myself. The confusion, the anger, needing to know why- and yet even with all the words existing in the world, it could not undo the things that had been done, and Void could do nothing but watch as their girlfriend stood motionless, head bowed and unable to speak. They flew home in anger.

Dana had gotten home after the sparring, sorting the miscellaneous items in their pockets into the chests. Void had sought out Dana, cornering them in the storage room, controlled anger spilling down the halls. I heard it from a few flights of stairs down.

“When,” they spoke sternly, venomous anger dripping out their mouth.

Dana faltered back a step, “The other day,” she muttered.

“Why didn’t you tell me? That something important as, oh I don’t know, this?! You’re my partner and I love you but not telling me what’s wrong won’t help,” Void spoke, angered words piercing Dana’s heart bit by bit, the tears couldn’t be held back.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” the other stifled between sobs, “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to hurt you- I didn’t want to hurt anyone.” Dana was pleading with Void, holding their hands in hers, trying to hold what she had. But Void couldn’t, it hurt them too much, carefully prying Dana’s hands off and stepping back.

“Sorry doesn’t help, it won’t help either of us.”

“What’s done is done, we cannot reverse it, please I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I’m talking to Chronicle. No deal is safe, not with the gods, not with another person. This is a death game and we are all stuck in it. None of us are getting out, not you, not Myrtle, not Sora, fuck not even Night. No deal keeps you safe, and I’m going after him. You are not stopping me.” Dana tried to plead with Void but they made their decision.

“Please, I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, because of the things I’ve done.”

“I do not care about getting hurt-”

“I care!” Dana sobbed, “I care about you!”

The blinding rage continued to grow in Void, and there wasn’t anything Dana could do to stop their partner now. They couldn’t take what happened, couldn’t stand for the actions done, and Void took to the skies to hunt down Chronicle, and she would stop at nothing until something was done about it.

✩✩✩

I was on one of the end islands above spawn, watching the sun setting over the horizons. The chorus trees had taken root and grown a lot taller since I last saw them, their beautifully haunting aura glowing atop the endstones. My communicator pinged with a message from Aelita, ‘Where are you, I need to go somewhere but I don’t want to go home right now’ it read. I shot back a message right after, ‘I’m at spawn right now, how far do you need to go?’ ‘Far, anywhere, I don’t care.’ I hopped off the island and waited by the quartz structure of spawn, waiting for Aelita to show up. I saw their face, in complete distress and held back tears of anger. They hopped on my back and I took to the skies and headed to my cabin, explaining it would be a bit of a journey but the trip there will help clear her mind with the breeze of flying. I didn’t pressure her for an answer, it was clear they went through enough in the last few minutes alone, and I was fine with a quiet trip there.

The cabin appeared on the horizon, lit by moonlight above. I opened the frount door for her, letting Void in after the trip. I walked over and lit the fireplace, bringing in warmth compared to the snowy cold outside, though neither of us truly minded the cold anyways. We sat on the couch in the main room, watching the embers of the flames dance about the fireplace. The sun was going to rise soon, so Void and I stepped outside to go enjoy the sun rise. She opened up to what occurred between her and Dana and then subsequently her and Chronicle. It was an argument with both of them, and she was hurt from it. The day's first sun rays peaked from below the horizons, shifting the blue night sky into pinks and lighter blues. My communicator pinged with a message from Dana, ‘Are you at your cabin?’ it read. I replied yes and I was with Aelita, giving a heads up if Dana did head this way considering what had occurred the evening prior. I put the communicator down, listening into the story Aelita was telling me. Apparently in her fight with Chronicle, she somehow was able to get a piece of him- his flesh- from his body and she proudly held it in her hands to show me. It was rather unsettling, but I understood different beings had different needs to satisfy their hunger, and for Void it was flesh of dragons and gods… not that it helped calm my worries at all. I tried not to question it too much more. My communicator went off again, another message from Dana,’Nvm, I’m on my way… I just didn’t want to be alone.’

“Dana is on her way here, just giving you a heads up. I did let her know you were here as well, that is if it was alright after what you two discussed,” I informed Aelita. She just nodded and sighed a bit. The skies turned to a golden colour as the sun started to rise more, the night sky seemingly forgotten as the hues started to shift and the stars started to fade away, and soon those darker blue hues became the lighter blue with the sun. Dana appeared behind us a moment later, landing on the path to the front of the home. A soft greeting was said between Aelita and Dana, I patted the tree branches which we sat for Dana.

“We were just enjoying the sunrise,” I greeted. Dana took a seat on the opposite side of me from Aelita, becoming the middle guy between them for sake of peace.

The two sat in silence on the snowy tree tops. It didn’t affect me too much but the ones next to me I wasn’t too sure. I offered to go inside with the fireplace, and well… when one is a vex and the other is also a starborn, none of us are truly hurt by the colder weather. Aelita filled in Dana about the argument with Chronicle, and truthfully she had a point. Vaguely reading a book on ancient magic, nonetheless a book with some torn pages, was not something that should be messed with without understanding. Dana stood her ground on the deal she made with Chronicle, I saw her point, but like Aelita, many of us wanted this spell broken…if such a solution easily existed. Aelita angrily started munching on the flesh bits she got from Chronicle, complaining of how bland it was. I grabbed some salt and pepper blocks, the first thing that came to mind, to give the food some sort of seasoning. Then her anger turned towards Dana and myself, upset that I knew of the spell, of the deal, of the secret then after. But that was the thing, it wasn’t my secret so it wasn’t mine to tell, it wasn’t my world so I couldn’t intervene. And what about Sora? Us three knew this, but which of us were gonna tell her about it? Dana was unable to tell, Aelita really wanted to tell, I didn’t know what I wanted.

Aelita took off down the mountainsides, and I looked back to the cabin, actually taking a look at it. It was…different from how I built it. Terracotta replaced that which was planks, an eerie halo hovered just above the home. Inside also changed. The purple and magenta carpets that decorated all my homes changed to another set of multicolored rugs, the chair no longer the comfy purpur I grew to love. It reminded me of another home from another world, with someone I couldn’t remember. Their name, their face, it was all a blurred memory to me, but the home was a stark remnant and reminder of back then. The storage in the basement was filled with decorated mugs and various tools. I remembered the mugs we used to sculpt from the clay in the riverbeds, the dyes from the many coloured flowers of the world. Those flashes of memories passed my mind, but each image was fuzzy and making it harder to tell where it was from. To be honest, after seeing the main room and the basement, I was a bit afraid to see upstairs. Aelita had flown back to the cabin to meet us again, and the three of us headed upstairs. When I saw it, I froze. Our room, I remembered. Ours, but who were they? My dark blue bed was placed next to their dark green, the carpets matching that of the beds. The item frames displaying the heart of the ocean, a disc that when played made the flowers in the meadow dance. We looked through the shelves and barrels, many books had torn pages, or the ink had faded to time. Aelita found a book in the corner and called us over to it. The words seemed to have survived the shifts unlike the other books in the room. We placed it on the lectern that sat in the corner for all three of us to read. The pages were burnt, crunchy to the feel, but despite it I read the book out loud.

To my friend
[bottom of this page is burnt]
-=-
I remember when I asked you your name, you hesitated, unsure. 'Night' you said. I think that was your favorite time of day. It was fitting, the star painted sky matched your sparking hair.

You asked one day how I got my name, curious. You said you didn't have a real name. I wanted to be the one to change that.
-=-
I surprised you one day, in the flower fields by our home. A name. [scribbled out], I gave you. It was similar to my name, and that's okay! We matched. You smiled, the moon shine couldn't compare. You remembered your last name later on.

[the rest of this page is torn]
-=-

[more pages are torn, ink has been smeared across the bottom of the sheets]

-=-

I paused, noticing my breath for the first time. I did have a name, but of course the worlds weren’t as nice as to just freely tell me what it was. Through the torn pages, there laid some more, the ink flowing differently than that written in the first part of the book, almost as if it were freshly written, or tampered with. I cautiously turned the page, and suddenly met with a completely different language. They were words for sure, but instinctively I understood it. It was written in Galactic.

ᓭℸ ̣ ᔑ∷ ᓵ⍑╎ꖎ↸ (Star Child)

||𝙹⚍⍊ᒷ ⎓𝙹∷⊣𝙹ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᒷリ ᒲᒷᒲ𝙹∷╎ᒷᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵᔑリリ𝙹ℸ ̣ ʖᒷ ᒷ∷ᔑᓭᒷ↸ (you've forgotten memories that cannot be erased)

||𝙹⚍ ꖎᒷᔑ↸ ᔑ ꖎ╎⎓ᒷ 𝙹⎓ ⊣∷╎ᒷ⎓ (you lead a life of grief)

𝙹⎓ ᔑ ↸╎ᓭℸ ̣ ᔑリℸ ̣ !¡ᔑᓭᓭ ||𝙹⚍ ᓵᔑリリ𝙹ℸ ̣ ᒷ ̇/!¡ꖎ𝙹∷ᒷ (of a distant pass you cannot explore)

||𝙹⚍∷ リᔑᒲᒷ (your name)

|| 𝙹⚍ ∴ᒷ∷ᒷ ᔑ ᓵ⚍∷╎𝙹⚍ᓭ 𝙹リᒷ ╎ ᒲ⚍ᓭℸ ̣ ᓭᔑ | | (you were a curious one i must say)

ᓵ⍑𝙹ᓭᒷリ ⎓∷𝙹ᒲ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ !¡∷╎ᒲ𝙹∷↸╎ᔑꖎ 𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᔑᒷℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ (chosen from the primordial of the aether)

||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓭℸ ̣ 𝙹∷|| ℸ ̣ ᒷꖎꖎᒷ∷ (you the storyteller)
||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ !¡╎∷ᔑℸ ̣ ᒷ (you the pirate)
||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᑑ⚍ᒷᒷリ (you the queen)
||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᔑ↸⍊ᒷリℸ ̣ ⚍∷ᒷ∷ (you the adventurer)
||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ 𝙹∴リᒷ∷ 𝙹⎓ ||𝙹⚍∷ ᓭℸ ̣ 𝙹∷|| (you the owner of your story)
ᔑᓭᓵᒷリ↸ᒷ↸ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ⊣𝙹↸ ᔑᓭ ᔑ ℸ ̣ ᒷᓭℸ ̣ 𝙹⎓ ∴╎ꖎꖎ (ascended to god as a test of will)

||𝙹⚍∷ リᔑᒲᒷ ╎ᓭ ᑑ||⍊⚍ᔑᔑꖎᒷ𝙹 ᒷ∷ᓵ⍊ᔑ⍑∴ (your name is qyvuaaleo ercvahw)
ᓵ⍑𝙹ᓭᒷリ ʖ| | ||𝙹⚍∷ ⎓∷╎ᒷリ↸ ⎓∷𝙹ᒲ ᒷ𝙹リᓭ ᔑ⊣𝙹 (chosen by your friend from eons ago)
ᔑ リᔑᒲᒷ 𝙹⎓ ᒷリ↸ᒷᔑ∷ᒲᒷリℸ ̣ (a name of endearment)
ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓭℸ ̣ ∷𝙹リ⊣ (the strong)
ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ∷𝙹𝙹ℸ ̣ ᒷ↸ 𝙹リᒷ (the rooted one)
ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ⊣𝙹↸ 𝙹⎓ ⍑ᒷ∷ !¡ᒷ𝙹!¡ꖎᒷ (the god of her people)

||𝙹⚍ ꖎ𝙹⍊ᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ ᔑリ↸ | |ᒷℸ ̣ | |𝙹⚍ ᓵᔑリリ𝙹ℸ ̣ ꖎᒷℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ ⊣𝙹 ╎リ ||J⚍∷ ⍑ᒷᔑ∷ℸ ̣ (you love them and yet you cannot let them go in your heart)

ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷╎ᓭ⍑ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ (cherish them)

| |𝙹⚍ꖎꖎ ᓭ𝙹𝙹リ ᒲᒷᒷℸ ̣ ||J⚍∷ ↸ᒷᔑ∷ᒷᓭℸ ̣ ⎓∷╎ᒷリ↸ ᓭ𝙹𝙹リ(youll soon meet your dearest friend soon)

⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ| | ⍑ᔑ⍊ᒷ ℸ ̣ ∷ᔑ⍊ᒷꖎᒷ↸ ʖᒷ||𝙹リ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓭℸ ̣ ᔑ∷ᓭ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᔑリ𝙹ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ ∴𝙹∷ꖎ↸ (for they have travelled beyond the stars to another world)

!¡ᒷ∷⍑ᔑ!¡ᓭ | |𝙹⚍ ᓭ⍑ᔑꖎꖎ ᓵ∷𝙹ᓭᓭ !¡ᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ᓭ ∴╎ℸ ̣ ⍑ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ 𝙹リᒷ ↸ᔑ|| (perhaps you shall cross paths with them one day)

⚍リℸ ̣ ╎ꖎ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷリ ᓭℸ ̣ ᔑ∷ ᓵ⍑╎ꖎ↸ (until then star child)

I paused at the name, stumbling when I came across the assortment of letters. It wasn’t a real word, and yet I was that much closer to having something. I translated the Galactic to common for Aelita and Dana to help figure out, but they too were a bit stumped. It was cyphered in some way, but none of us had the mental energy to figure it out today. I continued reading the rest of the note, stumbling over words as I knocked the rust off this skill long forgotten.

Star child. Only the universe ever called me that, and it was clear they intervened on something about me. Of course they did, but my resentment towards them would lead me nowhere in this situation. Bottling that emotion, I closed the book and placed it in my ender chest to look at another day. Today had definitely been some day, and we headed back to the main room to sit on the couch. The two reassured me that they would help me figure it out. I tried to recount stories from then but it was all slipping my mind, becoming water in my hand and falling out, no longer becoming mine to hold but still trying my best to cling on to what I could. We sat in the cabin for a bit longer before heading back home, to the nest, and relax after the events that occurred in the past 24 hours.

✩✩✩

The end of the cycle was in the next week, and I wanted to document all the places I made a home in- or rather I had invaded and told the homeowner I live in the walls. Midas’ apartment, my first home on the cliff face in the jungle, the geode, cabin, mushroom island, the castle… there were even more I had yet to travel back to and find. I headed to the castle on the one path I knew to get there from spawn. I wasn’t the best at nether travel, only knowing a few places by the landmarks. In my defense, it’s hard to learn the path to and from places when teleportation exists. Landing on the spires of the castle, I noticed a commotion in the courtyard of the castle. To not cause a distraction, I shifted into spectral to observe. It was a heated argument, and I’ve never been more relieved to not be perceived in the moment. Allie, the one corrupted by the sculk, was trying to get Foggy on their side, that it was ‘alright’, but it clearly wasn’t. Creus showed up in a biohazard suit, defending Foggy from Allie, and as expected she did not take that lightly. It clearly wasn’t the same person anymore, the one that helped host the castle party not even a few weeks prior. Weapons were drawn, though not one person moved closer for the strike. A few people stood atop the roofing of the castle, bows aimed downward towards Allie’s side, and more people were joining the opposing side defending Foggy. And yet, with all these people chaos broke and the sword wielded by Ollie pierced Foggy. A battle broke out, swords clashed and arrows flew, it wasn’t safe here. The fight moved to the lands in frount of the castle, where the first time something went wrong at the castle was.

Chronicle’s communicator rang with a notification that made his blood run cold. His daughter was stabbed, and it was by a group of people he did not trust. Grabbing whoever was near him, the group of people and him immediately took to the skies to get to the castle as fast as they could. They hurt his kin, he was not going to be kind in return. Except, Foggy was nowhere to be seen at the castle, rather she had respawned at Spawn, the wound fresh on their chest.

Weapons were still held by each person at the castle, but words were passed. Creus made his point about the sculk infection, things he told Allie to do to get better but the other refused and rather accepted the sculk as part of her. He held a vaccine, one that helped those not become infected by sculk, but it was clear no matter what method he tried there was no getting through with the person he once knew. One of Allie’s children spoke up from behind her.

“If someone defies a queen, they should be beheaded. So why is his head still attached?” Isabelle asked innocently, though the intent was anything but. It was a chilling thought, the children of the sculk corrupted saw nothing more, wanting their mother back, also infected by the same thing. ‘A queen that kills is a tyrant,’ one murmured, the words lost in the wind. Continuing the conversation would prove pointless at this point, there was no saving the corrupted, and seeing this the two parties went their separate ways, never to cross paths again before the finale.

A server wide message was passed from the leader of the Red Winter Alliance. “Anyone who is a part of the Atlas Alliance is a kill on sight for hurting my daughter.” A list of names followed the announcement and told everyone to look out for them. Creus spoke up immediately. He had denounced his allegiance to the Atlas Alliance a while back, and had been one that was trying to help Foggy. He was being civil, informing the RWA who was and was not in the Atlas Alliance, who stood by, who was there, but that did nothing to calm the seething rage of Red Winter’s leader. Creus tried his best to soothe the issue, defending that Allie’s children are just that, children, and they have been caught in the crossfires of Allie’s actions.

“No, you don’t understand,” Chronicle started, ”you don’t understand my anger until you have stood in my shoes, Creus. Try losing your child that you tried to protect, then tell me you understand my anger.”

“Not a child,” Creus shot back,” but a sister, a mother, a father. I lost my whole family when the enemy attacked my hometown of Arcanium. I could do nothing as my sister passed in my arms, the damage surrounding us. So no, I won’t say I know exactly how you feel, but I do have an idea.” This did nothing to help the pain of the situation, and by daybreak the following day, the castle was in ruins as TNT and withers were set out on the lands.

✩✩✩

I found myself once again in the axolotl room, the calming sounds of running water from their pond, the sniffers in the room next door happily prancing around their mossy home. The burnt note from the cabin was held closely. I flipped through the pages to find any clues, something I might’ve missed the first time reading it when I was caught in the surprise of it. No matter how many times I reread the note, I learned nothing new. On a new piece of paper, I wrote the original words in Galactic and below the translation in common. It was some sort of puzzle, obvious to tell me but in the most inconvenient way possible. As much as I loved puzzles and reading, scrambling letters was not my forte, that was Dana’s thing. Ah. I could go ask Dana if she wasn’t busy at the moment. I wandered up and down the stairwell, going room to room finding Dana. Not her bedroom, not the nest, not the newly built storage system. I couldn’t sense her presence anywhere near, or rather I couldn’t sense anyone home right now. I was home alone and I didn’t realize it. The easiest way to find someone was using the all-seeing eyes of spectral mode, as dizzying as it was. It could scan the whole world in every dimension, the downside was how sick it made me feel after using it. Dana was in the End, surprisingly, and I shifted to near her location. There was a hidden basement in the island in the end, a good travel away from the main island. She was in an obsidian box, similar to how I found Aelita one day, except not surrounded by sculk. It was a small room, a rug in the carpet and a singular light source.

“Dana,” I called to her. She sat motionless, not even daring to meet my eyes. I sighed inwardly, calling her name again. No response came from her.

“Dana, I’m not sure why you’re here, in a box, but I’m tired of seeing my friends in obsidian boxes trying to block themselves from the world. Please, let’s go.” I was starting to plead more, but no matter what I said, it never sparked a response from her. I huffed, understanding now she was under the controlling spell. It should have hit me sooner, how dull her eye color was, the glowing mark on her hand. Someone walked into the room behind me, I spun on my heels, eyes meeting with Chronicle. The worry I had for Dana quickly turned to offensive anger towards the fallen champion.

“Why is Dana in a box, Chronicle?” I inquired, trying my best to keep my voice steady. He ignored me, looking to Dana instead.

“You understand why you’re in the box?” Dana nodded in reply. “Good. Go find Sora and stab her for me.” Dana wasted no time and was immediately on her feet. My heart sank when I heard those words, my hands summoning the obsidian much like the room was made of and blocked the entrance before my brain could catch up to what I had done. I was shaking, livid, tense, the obsidian I had used to block the path out gripped in the palm of my hands as if the fates depended on it.

“I will not have Morana stab someone, not in the family,” I spoke coldly, though I could feel my tone waver in fear.

“What is it to you?” He asked back.

I huffed, “Why do you care?”

An eyebrow raised. “The gods weren’t meant to meddle in things,” Chronicle replied. He was right, I hated that he was right, that I wasn’t supposed to intervene on matters and yet I took it into my own hands and stepped in. Thoughts raced in my head, what was I to do now?

“Unfortunately so, but I’ve become attached,” the words spilt from my mouth.

Chronicle chuckled, laughing at my pity of a response. “It shows,” is all he said.

“I know I cannot do anything to stop Morana,” my bow found itself in my grip once more, an arrow notched on its string, aimed at the one who gave the order, “But you though, drop the order.”

“Do it,” he replied blandly, accepting the fate if I were to release the arrow. I couldn’t. Hurting someone in this world equally hurts more, if it were to be anything like the first cycle.

“Perhaps then I can’t stop you,” my bow lowered, unable to take the next move, “but I can go save Sora then.” I shifted to spectral, that familiar adrenaline filled panic running in my veins as I navigated the worlds to find him. I was against the clock in finding Sora first. I didn’t have clear access to my communicator in spectral form, so I relied on something I hadn’t really proved would work. Much like interdimensional travel and communication, I attempted to send a message to Sora. I couldn’t explain the words, couldn’t give long-winded sentences, it only worked best in a few words. At most I could say ‘run, please’. Understandably, Sora didn’t know what that meant and asked why, but it was taking more energy to pass these messages than I thought. ‘Don’t see Morana,’ was all I could say, the world a dizzying mix of colors. The all seeing eyes mixed with trying to send messages burned my head, or the feeling of burning, mixed with the sound of my racing heartbeat. The calm I needed was not here, I couldn’t get back to my physical form, a classic prank the worlds played on me for trying to stop something. The more and more I pushed back on the worlds to shift, the more and more I was met with resistance. As I struggled fighting the world, I could do nothing as Morana entered Sora’s room. ‘Please, no,’ was all I could think, but it did nothing to stop the sword that struck Sora. The dull eyes of Morana watched as Sora collapsed on the floor, then walked out, back to that damned room in the end where Chronicle was. It didn’t matter if I followed her back, to hurt them. I failed my promise to help Sora, to keep her safe. I needed to shake this feeling I had, needed to concentrate and figure out where Sora went. I heard his voice, wisped words around me. Nether. I needed to head to the nether.

“Sora!” I called out, hoping they were near. I heard the portal woosh behind me, but the maze of netherrack confused me. I needed to tune out the noises of this dimension, I needed to find Sora.

“Night?” I heard, a pained voice cracked from around the corner. I sprinted, whipped the bend in the walls, and there was Sora, sat propped against the wall, agony all over her face, hand clutching the fresh wound.

I knelt in frount of Sora, hands shaking. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I tried… I tried to stop,” the first tears fell, summoning a healing potion, some bandages, a blanket to sit on that wasn’t this hard ground.

“Night, no. It’s- ugh. It was cold,” Sora struggled to say. Cold! Sora is a netherborn, they love the warmth, and my first thought was to start a campfire to help, the flames helping to warm him. I realized after she probably meant cold from the blade, not that she was cold, but it was some sort of comfort. I passed the potion for him to drink, something to lessen the pains of the wound. The bandages I helped apply soaked the blood quickly, but something was better than nothing, I just knew applying pressure helps. I’m no medic, but it was the basic first aid I could think of. Sora had questions no doubtably, and I did my best to answer. It was clear, neither Aelita nor I were able to tell Sora of the controlling spell Morana was under before this, and it was something that could no longer be kept a secret. Maybe once I just wanted to protect something I held dearly, but each attempt was a futile effort against the fates, against the worlds, it was depressing. Why, why would I break my promise to myself, to become attached to someone, or in this case a few of them, only to get hurt standing on the sidelines unable to do anything. I was a useless god in this world. If it was trying to teach me something, I didn’t want to hear it.

Sora was able to message Aelita our location, and she came in hot headed, also upset by this. Apparently, while at spawn she saw Morana flying back into the end, wanting to follow but had lost her through one of the many gateways that circled the main island. The creatures of the nether were not helping with our solemn atmosphere, and we decided to head back home, somewhere much safer than the open expanse that threatened to hurt those not netherborn. The portal brought us to a mineshaft, specifically one in our home. My geode was down the hall, Aelita assisting Sora into my room. I cleared the snowpile I laid the other day when I fell off the cliff on the mushroom island, and replaced it with a comfortable blanket and pillows, lighting another campfire for warmth in the cold amethyst room. I noticed the straining taking a toll on Sora, and she was not winning the sleepiness battle. I tucked her into my bed, one I didn’t use anyways, plus sheets could be replaced if anything. I gave her a plush I found in my cabin to hold onto if she felt alone, but Aelita and I were not leaving this room until Sora woke up from her nap. Aelita dozed off at some point, I just sat arms wrapped around my knees and looked to the embers of the campfire.

✩✩✩

It was now the day before the final event. I wandered the world, taking a look at everything for the last time, knowing I would most definitely never see this again. I walked up the stairs of Fort Deus, an unfinished project of Creus. It was supposed to be a stunning build much like those from his world, but time did not permit it. The foundation of it was strong, a few buildings still made. A shame, I wanted to see what his world was like, as one of the few that wanted to bring something they were familiar with into this unfamiliar world. I’ve heard many stories of other worlds, how their life was like, what they did, the adventures they’d gone on. We were just all an odd sort of individuals with our stories merging into one place.

I spotted Creus on the edge of one such platform, unable to bring himself to finish the build, not when the final event was nearing. There were some other people there too with us. Instead of building the tower where we all stood, we made a small oasis of a garden, terrance perhaps, to enjoy the last bit of peace in the waging war of chaos, to remind ourselves to take a breath and enjoy what we had before it was all gone. The space started with a picnic table, then an umbrella was raised to stop the rain, then a small campfire area was made to warm up from the rain, then the greenery to hide ourselves from the outside world. It was peaceful, listening to the many discs that this world hid, enjoying a cup of tea and some cookies, laughing and sharing stories of our time while in this cycle. When the sun started to set, I had laid a large blanket over part of the grassy area for others to sit, the small group of four of us now grew close to eight, and I cleared the lands near of tall grass. I set a stand down, filling it with various shaped and colored fireworks to watch as they flew towards the stars and exploding into a wondrous sight. It was the peak of closeness for many of them, not a moment to fight, perhaps the last moment to bond before this world came to an end. I felt that same unnerving feeling of the shift happening, and it ached. I left Fort Deus just after sunset, smiling at the gleeful individuals as they enjoyed each other's company. I wanted to spend my last few hours with my family before they all entered the final fight.

I flew home, finding them all in the nest. We didn’t need to talk to appreciate each other’s company, simply holding them close and being there was enough for us all. Myrtle was propped up against a few pillows, writing. Morana was here to, but on her own volition, none of us fought it. She was family, despite hurting one of our own, I couldn’t hold the grudge against her, I wanted her back to normal like everyone else. Morana, Aelita and Sora were all passed out, melted into one cuddle pile in the nest. I sat there, burning this memory to my mind. I was going to miss them a lot, so much. Myrtle looked to be asleep now, and I quietly stood up to leave doing my best to not wake any of them. Amethyst, Aelita’s dog, stirred a bit, but did not acknowledge me leaving. I stepped up to the door of the nest, cautiously leaving, and headed up the stairs to leave home. I stopped by my geode one last time, the small indoor garden and the birthday surprise, it brought good memories I’d never forget. The path to leave stopped by the nest, I took a long glance at the door, but decided to just leave, it would hurt less this way. I flew to my jungle home, the first place I settled in when the world port opened. It wasn’t much, but it was my first home here. I saw my cats, all laid by the fireplace, my parrot who was perched by the library. I smiled. Walking back to the first room, I located my secret passage through the painting to get to where I kept all the gifts I had received in this cycle. Another chest was there, ready to go for me to unload my ender chest into. I kept nothing on me now, all the worldly possessions I had owned now stored here.

After home, I made a detour to spawn, looking down into the pit which the end portal laid, looked to the skies where the world port was, and looked to Midas’ apartment. I didn’t linger long here, and took to the skies one last time to head back to the cabin, the strange familiarity it brought me. It was a bit of a flight, but one I would make over and over again if I could. I walked the grounds of the cabin one more time, still the same changed interior as it was just days prior. I headed upstairs to the bedroom and sat at the desk, taking out a note and quill to write.

‘To whoever find this journal,

Hello. The end of this world is nearing, I can feel the shift starting to happen. I made a lot of memories, met new people, had many adventures, all things I’ve tried my best to write in my journal through the worlds.

Unfortunately, a lot of these things will be lost to time here soon. And that’s ok! It’s how it always goes, I suppose.

I’m going to miss them. My new family. The many homes I made. I regret not figuring out my name, but I think it’s for the best.

I’ve grown attached to them, it will be hard to let this one go.

If it’s anything like last time, I’ll be stuck in these cycles again. On the bright side I’ll see them all soon.

I’ll just think happy thoughts until then.

I don’t know why I bother writing my thoughts down sometimes. It’s not like this will be found. Worlds pass like time, only moving forward, can’t go backwards.

If by a strange miracle this is found, well then… congrats?

I think I’ve rambled enough now. Until then, stranger…

-Night’

I closed the book on the lectern and placed the quill beside it, its use no longer serving now. My communicator pinged a message from Myrtle. ‘Thank you for watching over us <3 We’ll miss you… I hope our family can find each other again soon.’ I smiled, only letting the good memories of us fill my mind now. Then a tear fell down my face, and another, and another. Maybe exhaustion was taking over, considering I hadn’t slept this whole cycle. But perhaps now maybe it was time, time to lay in a bed and wake up in a new world, like I had always done before. Perhaps, though, instead of my attempts to leave the world another way, I leave the cycles like I had left my other worlds.

And so I went to sleep tonight.

✩✩✩

Sleep had been restful for once. I felt at ease, calmer…and yet I was still in the Queue? After all that hoping, I should’ve known I’d awake again here. It was still the cabin, which meant the world hasn’t quite yet shifted- oh! I’d forgotten today was the final event!! I swung the blankets off the bed, but nothing moved. Strange. Went to stand up and… nothing?

Ah.

Like last cycle, I was stuck in my spectral form for the final event. Shame. Everyone was gathered at the spawn where Midas was, waiting for all to sit still for the information. I noted Nebula Squad together, sitting closely to each other, and I had noticed the small change in Dana’s team color shift correctly. She had asked me in private to discuss something just the morning before. In exchange for her token, Dana requested to swap teams. I didn’t stop her, didn’t try to convince her otherwise. My palm extended towards her then, accepting her token, the other hand swatting away her old team color and replacing it with a newer color. She had accepted her fate in swapping teams, and it seemed today that it was noticed by so many. Midas spoke up, announcing that the final fight would begin shortly. They had guided all the people there into the end portal, each team being sorted into their starting rooms. Once they all had filed into the end, Midas introduced the rules to this game. It was PvP, the last one standing, just like before…but something was different when they announced the rules, hiding a crucial fact. I could see it in the glint of Midas’ silvery grey eyes, the sinister smile they dared not hide. It seemed they too were corrupted by something in this world, just like the rest of us. It was frightening, to see the god of this world as wicked as they were now. Then it was said that Midas would too fight in this battle, with a sword that could kill a thousand times over, that whichever poor soul dared cross Midas’ path would receive a fatal blow. An insta-kill weapon. To debuff this newfound strength, Midas would be blinded, with sights similar to a warden, only being able to sense someone or something a mere arm stretch away. The excitement people once had in their eyes quickly turned to an unsettling fear that not only did they have to fight each other, they too had to avoid the wrath of Midas as they swung their sword about the end island.

And like that, the games begun, each team fleeing to wherever they thought to be safe. Rockets were a finite resource, so the ability to fly was limited. Digging was safe for now. The sounds of swords clashing rung about the end, metal on metal creating sparks. One by one, people were falling to each other’s swords, and at an equally terrifying speed, Midas was taking down whomever they could see. Rael watched from afar, becoming sort of a game announcer, or more the eyes of Midas via words spoken. They enjoyed the bloodshed it brought, and so did Midas. I looked to see who was left. Impressively, many people were still alive, but it had only been a few minutes since the commencement of the fight. Rockets were launched left and right, weaving and dodging through the end obelisks, the chorus trees haphazardly placed, the death sword gripped in Midas’ clutch.

Rael had the magnificent idea to bring potions of glowing, to outline players still remaining, and suddenly the blindness aspect was less effective. Midas could see the rough outlines of someone and began to target them, engaging in midair combat. Sounds of totems popping rung, it’s deafening loud sounds of activating post mortality becoming a beacon of sound and confetti to its user. Perhaps one of the few things in this world that gave the people an advantage to living, or rather loaned time to their life. It was the only thing that would temporarily protect someone against the sword Midas used to fight, negating the insta-death the sword could bring. Rael was excited, seeing this, and they too gained a sword like Midas’ and received the same blindness debuff to fight. But it wasn’t enough, nothing was enough for Midas in this fight. They hovered over the central area of the end island, daring those to try to engage an unwinnable fight against them. Then that same sinister laugh at the beginning came out. They could tell someone was hiding in the grounds of the island. With their free hand, they began to carve craters into the endstone, leaving a path of nothingness in its wake, daring to expose those who decided to hide in the start of the fight. Midas snaked the grounds, the path trailing them as they flew around, striking terror in those alive to observe the rampage. And yet, this too was not enough. They craved more destruction, and what was more than the greatest threat of the end than the ender dragon herself? This time, she was stronger, this time more deadly. Her breath could blind those that entered the spray, could temporarily harm. It was now all against each other, against Midas, against the ender dragon. It was utter chaos, just how they liked it. The distraction of the dragon meant Midas could land a few more hits on unsuspecting folks blinded by the dragon’s breath. It seemed the gods too held vendettas against the people of this world, each targeting and following closely until they were satisfied to take down their prey.

The number of people left was dwindling fast, and soon it was nothing but a handful of people left. A temporary truce called to recenter everyone, though swords and shields still clutched in the hands of the ones remaining. Midas chuckled, seemingly mocking them for listening so blindly, and created the bedrock sphere to limit how far someone could now travel. The threat of the ender dragon still existed, for she could phase through any block regardless of its properties. The handful became four, becoming three, then two. It was Dana against Embryn now, neither one giving in, heartbeats racing, adrenaline at an all time high. Arrows flew, then swords clashed on shields. It was a tense moment, and anything goes. It was a tied fight. Rael and Midas decided to change things up, each claiming a person and granting them the insta-kill sword they both held to their “champions”. Nothing could stop these swords, it was pointless to try. The swords met in the middle, each side resisting to fail, for what would be the point to make it so far only to lose? Who was to win anyways? Dana, the cycle's first champion, or Embryn, the one wanting to claim the crown this time. Each strike was met with resistance, the tired eyes that needed to keep going, to stay alive and win it all. A fault in Dana’s steps cost her her life and the win, the crown now held by Embryn as their final strike hit Dana. And like that, it was over. A truly amazing battle to the end. Embryn was shaking, the hype of it still hitting them hard, the adrenaline not leaving their system. Midas had crowned Embryn the victor for this cycle, rewarding them and team Sapphire with the winners tokens. And like that, it was time to go. With a snap of their fingers, Midas had made everyone leave the world, leaving the gods here. Midas looked at Rael, returning to the overworld to take one last look at everything that had been created this cycle. They were proud of the accomplishments, not particularly the end islands, but still something. Midas had an idea for next time, waiting to share with Rael until next time. They understood.

“And we get to do it again very soon,” they said, waving a hand to force those left to leave.

And like before, my vision went dark.