Chapter Text
Null soldiers surrounded the two in the colosseum as the world started crumbling into bits.
Fracturing into thousands of glitchy pieces, each distorted in its own horrific way, twisting reality into incomprehensible parts. This always happened when the voidling started to glitch out. He was phasing out of reality himself, barely maintaining a physical form, and the glitching was beginning to burn bright.
This was worse than the slight stabbing pain the usually prickled him when everything went haywire.
And it was all happening at the worst possible moment.
Mapicc held Spoke close to his chest as he was glitching, hoping to comfort him in some way until it passed. At some points Spoke was so distorted you couldn’t even tell that it was him, rather it seemed as in he was a jumble of colorful shapes.
Spokes sense of anything was long gone as the pain from the malfunction blurred his vision, and made him see the void; his ears heard nothing but muffed voices and constant loud ringing that reminded him of church bells.
The only thing that he could grasp as reality was Mapicc, his only connection to the world at the moment.
Jamato was peering down at the duo sitting on the floor together and felt rage pierce his soul. It infuriated him that Spoke was somehow able to hold meaningful relationships. After everything that he had done.
And with Mapicc out of everyone?
This was ridiculous.
Mapicc was literally just a replacement for Spoke at first; how did it evolve into this?
As Mapicc held him, eventually the mace in Spokes hand phased through him, clattering to the floor.
“No, pick that back up.” Mapicc whispered holding him tighter, as he put it back in Spokes glitchy arms.
Spoke looked up at the blob in his vision, who thinks was wearing the color red, “M@pi(c…“ he mumbled. “1-l’m t!r3d…”
“Yeah, I know, just relax, it will be over soon.” Mapicc replied. Spoke’s face phased back together just enough for Mapicc to notice the slight, weak nod that his friend gave him.
Jamato took a step closer to the two and instantly Mapicc moved farther away from him, not wanting Spoke to be any where near The Leader of Null. However, Mapicc could only scurry back so far, as his back collided with a wall of armored bodies.
“There is no need for you to come over.” Mapicc said flatly, though a hint of panic had wiggled its way into the sentence. “You can talk to us just fine from over there.”
Jamato just stared at Mapicc for fraction of a second before his face twisted into a sly grin. “ Fine. Have it your way.” he said crossing his arms, though the grin was still present. “It’s not like you’re going anywhere.”
“Can you leave?” Mapicc grumbled, annoyed. He knew it was a stupid thing to even utter, but it couldn’t help but slip past his lips.
“That’s actually what I was planning on doing.”
“Really?” Mapicc’s voice was mostly aggressive, however there was confusion in it too.
“Yes. And Spoke will be coming as well.”
Jamato did a series of gestures directed at The Null around them, and before Mapicc could even say another retort, Spoke was being dragged out of his arms.
“Wait no, don’t do that!” Mapicc yelped as someone pulled him away from the voidling, and towards the swirling nether portal. In a sudden burst of panic, he elbow one of guards in the abdomen, while simultaneously kneeing another in the crotch. Then he lunged towards Spoke, but it was futile; all he ended up doing was getting himself tackled to the ground.
Mapicc was brought to his feet yet again, this time with the guards having more watchful eyes and a tighter grasp.
Spoke meanwhile was barely conscious, lights flashing, the world spinning, nothing registering. The only thing keeping him upright at the moment was the two Null trying to drag him onto his feet. The voidling tried to get a sense of his surroundings in hopes of being able to function again, however it just lead to more pain.
“Come on Spoke, follow me, we mustn’t waste time.” Jamato said without glancing at him.
“Wh@-t?” Spoke crooked out. With all his strength he partially resembled his body, allowing some sense of sight, even though it was blurry. Out of nowhere, Spoke was violently shoved forward, but instead of following like Jamato intended, instead he crumbled to the ground.
He didn’t even bother to try to stand.
It was the least of his worries.
“M@p!c€?!” Spoke shrieked out as another wave of the errors passed through him, causing his reality to get warped even further. The blackstone surrounding the voidling also started to shutter, indicating that it was spreading beyond Spoke.
“Spoke, just— try to—“ Mapicc shouted before whipping his head to Jamato. “He physically can’t move! Just let me help!”
“No.”
“He’s incapacitated!!”
“Seems functional to me.” Jamato retorted as Mapicc lunged, pulling out an iron axe that gleamed with the purple tint of enchantments. Obviously he didn’t get far.
“He’s nOT!”
Jamato rolled his eyes at the foolish attempt to attack him . “If he is so unstable,” he sneered, “Then I can just simply ask my guards to drag him along or, I can even help myself. I don’t need you anywhere near him.”
“You’re going to hurt him!” Mapicc replied back, but his responses were useless as they became background noise to Jamato’s ears.
The Leader of Null knelt down so he could be next to Spoke, who was trying to curl himself into a ball.
“Hey, we need to go.” Jamato whispered to the voidling softly. His tone surprised everyone but Mapicc.
“ F#dn3glqm$—Wh%hkfmj!y I—I wh@t-t!?” Spoke yelped.
Jamato put hand on the voidlings shoulder, and looked at him in his glitchy eyes. “I won’t speak politely again, so let’s not be difficult.”
Then without warning, he grasped his jacket and yanked him onto his shaky legs that were… phasing through the ground.
Spoke, through the burning, blinding pain, his blurry vision and fucked up hearing allowed him to realize who was in fact holding him up right.
“N—Nn0#0o!”
Spoke stumbled away, the phasing intensifying.
“It’s impossible for you to move him in this state!” Mapicc pointed out to Jamato.” you going near him literally makes him freak out!”
Jamato said nothing for a moment and this just caused Mapicc to shout.
“Let mE HeLP!”
Staring at the person he once called his best friend, Jamato realized he had no choice.
“Fine, but if you try anything, I’m killing you both.”
Relief flooded Mapicc’s system as the wall of armor slowly faded from his view and allowed him to pass, giving him a direct path to Spoke.
—
Jamato was furious.
Behind he was two of the most annoying individuals he had ever had to encounter. His ex-best friend and Mapicc. Honestly for Jamato even hearing Mapicc’s name echo in his own head made nauseated. Mapicc was the last person he wanted in these tunnels above the arena.
But he had no choice; he needed Spoke to be safely transported, and Mapicc was the only soul he would let near. Otherwise Spoke’s malfunction would flare up, destroying not only the voidling, but the world around him. And Jamato couldn’t have that.
So now he just heard the thundering footsteps of Mapicc trail behind him.
With each passing second, the glass trembled faintly.
The sounds bouncing off the tinted glass, like a rhythm that refused to conclude.
But alas it did.
The pearl cannon in the center came into view and he heard a small gasp escape Mapicc’s mouth. The redstone of the advance machinery gleamed in the starlight, showing off its finery to whoever could see it. Each part that was placed was calculated and valuable in its own way, each part necessary for its success.
“Isn’t it amazing.” Jamato said, arms opened widened as he presented it to Mapicc.
“I guess. “ Mapicc responded. “Why is it here anyway, what use would you have—“ Mapicc cut himself off, bewildered. “Are you sending us home?”
Jamato turned to face the demon hybrid, who was carrying the voidling in his arms, princess style. Spoke was unconscious by this point, still gitching, yet slightly less. You could actually see it was Spoke rather than a mess of spiky shapes. The hope in Mapicc’s voice was painfully noticeable, despite Jamato knowing that Mapicc was trying to hide it.
“Well not exactly.”
Mapicc’s hopes immediately died, his posturing lowering in disappointment. “Then what do you even need it for? Why are we here if we aren’t leaving?”
“I never said that someone wasn’t leaving.” Jamato responded curtly.
“So you’re leaving? Your own prison?” Mapicc’s face scrunched up in confusion.
“You are completely, literally completely, misunderstanding what is happening here. Spoke is leaving.” Jamato said.
Mapicc tilted his head to the side and adjusted his arms to hold Spoke more securely. “But… you just said that…we weren’t going to spawn..”
“Exactly.” Jamato smiled back at Mapicc, “Your not leaving, but he is.”
Immediately, Mapicc panicked, backing away from Jamato and the cannon, holding onto Spoke as if he was his life line. The Null commanders started to back Mapicc into the railing, and soon enough he was cornered.
No…
No.
No!
NO!
“Why…” Mapicc mumbled. “Just let us both go home.”
The demonic grinned plastered on Jamato’s face only widen at Mapicc’s despair. It was exhilarating for him to see the demon hybrid in this state. “I can’t do that.”
“Why…?”
“Because.”
“Oh come on this is ridiculous there is no reason to keep me here!” Mapicc yelled in his face. “I did nothing!” His voice bounced off the stones, the words ‘ I did nothing’ ringing through the whole world like a message that was lost to time.
“I offered you everything, yet you still refused. I have every right to.”
“Someone should still go with him, even if you’re pissed at me.” Mapicc argued; he would’ve crossed his arms in response if it wasn’t for the person he was still carrying.“Look at how distressed he is in right now, there is no way he even has the strength to throw the pearl, let alone survive the trip!”
“According to my calculations he will, and if not, what shame.” Jamato spat these words with such venom it took Mapicc aback, however Jamato obviously didn’t mean them, since he didn’t want Spoke dead.
The odd voidling.
His Spoke.
Only his.
Not Mapicc’s
Mapicc’s vision started to blur as water began to form in his eyes.
“Spoke can’t even take the cannon alone like this… he will die!” Mapicc’s voice immediately wavering as he cried out. “You out of everyone should know that if Spoke attempts to make the journey alone while glitching he will scatter into thousands of pieces!” He sounded genuinely concerned for his best friend’s life, which disgusted Jamato to no end.
“I’ll wait a few minutes and he will be fine.” Jamato said plainly.
“No, please!” Mapicc shouted at Jamato, his voice so deafening it could be heard from anywhere. “I know you’re mad, I get it okay, Spoke can be difficult!”
The other pretended not to hear.
But come on, don’t do this, it’s not worth it.”
“Commander take Spoke and get him ready of the cannon.” Jamato said emotionless.
“Stop, actually!” Mapicc cried out as he heard this. “YoUr going to KiLl him!”
Jamato’s black iris stared at Mapicc’s demeanor for a moment, his frantic state, and for a split second, felt remorse as he saw him break down.
Even though he hated even the thought of Spoke being near Mapicc, he realized that the demon hybrid was right.
If his Spoke went now, he would die.
Jamato let out a small, yet noticeable sigh.
“Wake Spoke up in an hour and tell him to take the cannon.” Jamato reluctantly told Mapicc as he started to walk away.
Then Jamato added, “Oh and tell him if he doesn’t, you both will be killed up here.” And so Jamato left it at that, spinning on his heels and walking over to the other side of the roof, waiting.
Mapicc, shocked and sorrowful, sat down on the dirty, dusty stone bricks that were older than the sun, with the voidling still wrapped tightly in an embrace.
The wind whistled past him in a soft melody that was almost comforting, twirling around them as if it was trying to tell the them secrets of the world. He breathed in the outside air deeply, as he was unaware whether this would be the last time his lungs tasted fresh air.
He looked out beyond the railing, and into the arena below. The stunning biomes were now covered in ashes and blood, stained and wreaked, only remains of the extravagance it once was. Mapicc wondered if it would ever be possible to have the beauty without all the destruction.
Slowly, time passed, and Spoke was still out cold. He knew it wasn’t a restful sleep, as it was caused by a phenomenon, however he hoped it was still pleasant. So he decided to let the glitchy voidling rest a little longer.
But soon enough, after a few minutes passed the hour, Jamato started glaring at him from across the roof.
“Hey Spoke.” Mapicc whispered as he shook Spoke awake; he tried to be gentle, hoping to not interfere with any jubilant dreams that Spoke might have been having.
After a couple seconds, there is a slight movement from the voidling, followed by a glitchy yawn.
“wH@t-Hvh?” Was all half woken Spoke mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He blinked a couple times before his vision registered his friend. “0h h!, M@picc.”
“Sleepyhead, you have to gooo.” Mapicc whispered-yelled, slightly playful, as he tugged lightly on the back of Spokes faded out, rainbow bandanna.
“Wh3re w3 g0in’?” His words word slurred both from the sleepiness that lingered and the distortion. Mapicc honestly found it kinda cute.
“Spawn. You’re going to Spawn.”
“0-oh?”
“But listen Spoke, after you use the cannon, I need you to do something okay??” Mapicc’s voice immediately whispered so lowly no one but spoke could hear.
“O-0k..”
—
Spoke landed back in the arena just as quickly as he had left. He glanced around, trying to see if Null was there, before immediately digging down into the ground.
He couldn’t help but feel disoriented.
After all, using pearls while glitching always messed him up even further. But it also did give a spike of adrenaline which was deeply needed.
So, with shaky, disappearing hands, Spoke began to dig out a small area. Mapicc had given him no further instructions besides, ‘find a way to stay here’ and now that was done, so the voidling was now kinda lost, unsure of everything.
What was he supposed to do?
As he excavated the stone, waves after waves of distortion started to pass through him, causing a brutal amount of agony.
He stifled a small cry as he continued to work at building a base under the arena.
But soon enough, hitting him worse than the last, another horrific moment of glitching overcame him.
Spoke let out a small shriek before quickly covering his mouth with his non dominant hand.
1’M-m dy!Ng
H31p
“G3t it tOgether.” Spoke mumbled to himself as it kept getting worse, causing his speech to be impaired again, and pain to start to flare up exponentially. He winced slightly as he glanced around the small, hidden space he had secretly dug out under the arena.
Everything was getting worse.
How was he supposed-
What about Mapicc?
Or Jumper?
M@piCc-
His panicking thoughts didn’t help in the slightest, his emotions flaring uncontrollably; and the glitching followed in suit, ripping his form into fractures.
He would hate to be found out just because he was causing the world to warp into chaos.
“It wil1 b€ fin3.” Spoke said to himself as put a hand through his disheveled, dirt-ridden, dark hair trying, but failing to calm himself; the pain was dreadful, he was clutching his side trying to get his bearings. But it wasn’t helping, the pain burned like a thousand of dying suns, disintegrating him into nothing but ash.
“I c@n f!x thi$.” His voice sounded so uncertain he couldn’t convince himself for his words to be true.
His legs started shaking as the adrenaline from the pearls was slowly dying out, and instead was now being replaced with utter exhaustion. He tried to stay upright, not letting his legs sway, but alas, finally, after so many sleepless nights, his body began to crumble. His back slid against the nearest stone wall as he hit the floor. The broken pickaxe that had been craving out this tight space cluttered to the ground besides him with a soft thud.
He didn’t even try to get up, his body was failing him.
THer3$ n0 p0!nT-
Everything was too distorted anyway. Usually in times like these, someone— usually Mapicc of course— would rush over to him rapidly, helping him to the ground so they could wait for it all to pass. Mapicc would always hug him so hard he couldn’t breathe, as the demon hybrid would be worried beyond belief. As well, his best friend knew that the comfort gradually trigger the subsiding of the phenomenon.
However now, there all alone, Spoke had no warmth near him. The ground was freezing to the touch, the exact opposite of what Spoke sought; he honestly couldn’t believe it had come to this, him hiding away, painfully glitching.
He had no solution in the back of his mind, there was no one to warn, no one to call upon for help.
Spawn was desolate.
Mapicc and Jumper were gone.
“uG#.” He muttered, unable to reassure himself.
So slowly, he decided to allow himself to drift off into slumber, hoping that this distortion would be gone when he awoke.