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Chapter Text

Jimmy would never forget the day of the Rapture. It would haunt him until the day he died. But what happened afterwards was truly what finally broke him.

The Codfather soared towards his kingdom, practically spamming rockets as fast as his elytra would allow, then froze. Everything - all the rivers and ponds were all gone. The bodies of his subjects lay everywhere, unable to survive without the water of the swamp. Jimmy felt his legs go weak beneath him, collapsing to his knees as tears streamed down his face, trying not to gag at the strong tang of fish and death all around him.

“This is all my fault,” he whispered underneath his breath, “if I didn’t get so hung up over the Codfather head, none of this would’ve happened,” Jimmy just sat there for a long moment, muttering apologies to everyone and no one in particular.

Finally, he stood up, brushing gravel and dirt off of his clothes as he looked around, exhausted. I have to find everyone else. Jimmy narrowed his eyes with newfound determination, if this has happened to the Codlands, what could’ve happened to the other empires? He turned his eyes towards the ocean. I have to find Lizzie. Activating his elytra once more, Jimmy only found the Ocean Empire in a similar state to his own empire. The entire sea had dried up, showing only the sand, gravel and dirt, and the wilted seaweed that crunched and squelched beneath his boots as the Codfather landed at the base of the Prisma Palace.

“Lizzie?” Jimmy called for his seabling, but no one replied. He staggered, backing into one of the quartz pillars as a dizzying sensation filled him. He breathed hard, trying to clear his head. Jimmy blinked. That was weird. He frowned, scratching his neck awkwardly, then paused. My gills- Jimmy jumped up, hurrying towards one of the many (many) mirrors Lizzie kept lying around.

“No,” Jimmy gasped, staring at his own reflection. He looked… human. No fins or webs, no gills, no tail… Jimmy ran a finger across his cheek. His smooth, shiny bronze scales were gone too. “How did this happen?” he muttered to himself, turning his gaze back to the drained ocean.

Something deep blue flashed in the distance. Jimmy was on his feet in seconds, reaching for his rockets.

“Lizzie?!” He yelled, flying straight towards the light, stumbling slightly due to the change in balance in his body without his tail.

“No,” a deep, female voice made him stop.

“Who…?” Jimmy narrowed his eyes, hand already on the hilt of his sword, “show yourself!”

“Hello Jimmy,” The voice said again, before a huge, blue spirit drifted into view. Jimmy’s eyes widened.

“Mother?” he’d only heard of her briefly before, from tales Lizzie used to tell when they were alone together. The Goddess of the Sea, Thalassa. The reason for his and Lizzie’s demigod heritage.

“My small, damaged egg,” Thalassa murmured, her eyes soft and sad.

“Where is Lizzie?” Jimmy snapped, grimacing at the nickname.

“With no ocean, there can be no Ocean’s Blessing,” Thalassa didn’t meet his eyes, “as my firstborn, she carries the curse of losing her memories should she ever lose my blessing,”

“Then why her and not me?” Jimmy shouted, his heart beating furiously.

“That was not my decision. Another god insisted he step in, for the sake of his own champion,” Thalassa frowned ever so slightly.

“Aeor,” Jimmy’s eyes widened, “I have to check on Scott!”

“Go,” Thalassa nodded at her son, “I must attend to the Mazalean king,”

“Joel?” Jimmy paused, “you’ll look after him? And Lizzie too?” Jimmy didn’t even hear her reply before he was back in the air, making his way towards Rivendell.

Cod there was so much to unpack - the loss of the Ocean’s Blessing, Lizzie losing her memories and seemingly disappearing, Aeor’s supposed interference. But Jimmy didn’t have time to think too much now. Now, he had to find his boyfriend and make sure the elf was safe.

Jimmy shivered as the winds began to grow colder and colder as he approached the snowy mountains of Rivendell. He pulled his thin cloak tighter around himself, landing clumsily on the snow. If he thought the states of the Cod and Ocean Empires were bad, Rivendell was terrible. Red vines grew wildly all over, lava and flames everywhere. The elven kingdom looked abandoned. No elves running around, no snowy owls, only the hard cold sleet pelting towards the ground, a stark contrast to the red all around him.

Speaking of red…

Jimmy lurched forwards, scrambling towards a white body in the distance, choking on his own saliva as he spotted the red blood oozing all around it Scott.

“Scott!” Jimmy knelt beside the elven king, spotting the glowing broadsword stuck in his boyfriend’s chest, “not you too,” his breath hitched as he caught sight of Scott’s own hands, still clenched tightly around the handle. The elf’s icy blue eyes stared up at him blankly, a small smile on his lips. Jimmy heard himself break into a broken sob, pulling Scott into his lap as he pulled his boyfriend’s gold-tipped white owl wings from under him, wincing as he heard something crack. Why did you do this, Scott? Jimmy thought frantically, trying to feel for a pulse.

Nothing.

“No…” another voice rasped. Jimmy turned, flinching at the sudden noise. There, lying just around the corner, was a purple-haired elf with dark grey wings, “Scott…” the elf grasped his own chest, his eyes pained.

“Xornoth?” Jimmy recognised the elf from the old family portraits Scott kept in his bedroom. But how is he… not a demon?

“Scott,” Xornoth gasped for breath again, his eyes passing over Jimmy as if he were invisible. The elf let out another huff of air, before falling still, hand still clenched over his chest.

Jimmy wrenched his gaze back to his boyfriend, still sprawled motionless in his arms.

His memories became a haze of fuzziness after that moment. Jimmy could recall holding Scott for hours, before finally burying his boyfriend on the hill overlooking Rivendell. He liked to think he buried the rest of his friends with the elven king.

Jimmy left after that, searching for the other rulers, but finding nothing. Eventually, he left the empires, with only a small collection of belongings, including the golden band he found around Scott’s wrist, the one he’d given when he’s proposed.

And so he wandered.

The days blurred into months, which became years. Before long, it had already been nearly 90 years. Apparently losing the Ocean’s Blessing didn’t mean he stopped being a demigod. It was when wandering around that he came across a small town in some far away mesa.

The heat and dryness of mesas and deserts had stopped bothering him now that he was no longer merfolk. Jimmy had long abandoned his elytra, opting for horses instead to travel the new lands. He’d been sharpening his Codfather sword when he was spotted by a young man with dark brown hair.

“Is that a sword?” The man’s eyes were wide with awe.

“Uh… yes?” Jimmy cleared his throat, voice cracking from disuse.

“Can you fight?” The man sounded excited, perhaps a little hopeful.

“I’d hope so,” Jimmy tried to joke. I don’t know, he wanted to say, I haven’t done much real fighting for nearly a century.

“You’re the person we’ve been waiting for, aren’t you?!” The man was literally bouncing up and down now, “the person who will save us from the Sheriff!”

“The Sheriff?” Jimmy echoed, “like a king? Or a bandit? Is it like a Codfather?”

“Uh, you know, the Sheriff,” the man frowned a little, “he’s awful. Enforces all these rules, yet lets our town descend into chaos,” he shuddered, “could you help us?”

“I really shouldn’t get involved,” Jimmy tried to back away, but the man made him freeze with a desperate, begging expression. He sighed, “fine. I’ll check this town out for myself, then,”

“Great!” The man wasted no time dragging the former Codfather towards the town centre, “I’m Jones by the way. And this is Tumble Town!”

“Wow,” Jimmy tried to sound impressed, but there honestly wasn’t much to be impressed about. This was nothing compared to the welcoming Codfolk homes or intricate elven architecture.

“I know, right!” Jones tugged Jimmy towards the bar, “pretty cool little town we’ve got going, eh?”

“Yeah,” Jimmy replied absentmindedly.

“Well well well,” a rough, male voice made Jimmy snap into attention, “what did you drag in today, Jones?”

“I’m-” Jimmy bit his lip, “you may call me Solidarity. And who are you?”

"I am this town’s Sheriff,” the voice growled as he stepped into the low light, “Sheriff Fury. Longest reigning Sheriff of Tumble Town,”

Jimmy wasn’t blind to the way the citizens in the bar shied away from the Sheriff’s gaze, or the poor, tattered state of their clothes. He drew his blade, settling himself into a fighting stance.

“You have a nice, shiny badge there,” Jimmy gloated, trying to provoke Fury, “I’d like to take it for myself. Reckon it’ll look much nicer on me,”

“And your armband appears to be of pure gold,” the Sheriff hissed back, eyeing Scott’s gold band. Jimmy grimaced slightly, pulling his sleeve over it, “I’ll enjoy taking that off your cold corpse,”

“Corpses aren’t always cold,” Jimmy bit out, “bring it on,”

He raised his sword at the Sheriff, tensing as the larger man threw his whole body at him, drawing a steel blade. Jimmy stumbled backwards, trying to block Fury’s dagger with his sword. Joel and Lizzie would be disappointed. He felt unsteady and clumsy, out of practice from the years of peace.

“All that bravado for a silly little performance like this,” Fury spat, laughing as Jimmy found himself beneath the Sheriff’s boot. Jimmy cringed away as the man brought down his blade towards Jimmy’s head, and all he saw was black.

❅❅❅

Jimmy paced the room nervously, his tail flicking back and forth as he waited for his boyfriend to return home. He’d messaged Scott to meet him in his embassy in Rivendell, but it had been almost an hour and the elven king was still missing. Jimmy fiddled with the box in his pocket, just as the door slammed open, revealing an out-of-breath elf.

“Sorry!” Scott huffed, his wings ruffled and shirt slightly crinkled, “I got caught up on the way here. Did I make you wait too long?”

“Not at all!” Jimmy rushed over, giving the elf a quick, tight squeeze before helping take off his heavy cloak, “I’m just happy to see you!”

“We don’t get a lot of that, these days,” Scott agreed, shutting the door gently behind him, “what did you want to talk about?”

“Exactly that, actually,” Jimmy flushed, his heart racing, “we don’t see each other very often, with both our responsibilities as rulers, and this long distance thing is tricky, so…”

"Wait, you want to break up with me?” Scott’s voice flooded with fear and paranoia.

"W-what? No!” Jimmy spluttered, “of course not! I just-” he took a deep breath, “I was just thinking that maybe we should close the distance,” Scott let out a sigh of relief, a cheeky smile now playing on his lips.

“If you wanted to have fun tonight, you could’ve just told me,” the elf winked, “we didn’t have to meet in your tiny embassy. I have a perfectly large bedroom, you know,”

“You-!” Jimmy was sure he was as red as a strawberry now, “argh! I’m asking you to marry me, you idiot!”

Scott froze, eyes wide. Jimmy backtracked. “Too soon? I’m sorry, you don’t have to say yes, I just-” he stopped as Scott pulled him into a kiss, his wings wrapping around Jimmy’s back. Silenced, the Codfather leaned in to Scott, before pulling away with a laugh, “was that a yes?”

"Yes!” Scott’s eyes were shining, before he was kissing Jimmy again. This one lasted longer, both of them unwilling to let go of one another. Finally, Scott broke the kiss, gasping for breath, laughter still in his eyes.

“Oh, I got you a band too,” Jimmy fumbled for the box in his pocket, “I know elves don’t really do engagement bands, but I made you one anyway. It’s okay if you don’t want to wear it-”

“Jimmy,” Scott interrupted softly, taking the band from him in awe, “I love it. You made it?”

"I did,” Jimmy’s heart swelled with pride, watching as his boyfriend- no, fiance - traced the carefully engraved design of poppies and orchids.

“‘I’m always with you’?” Scott read, his eyes scanning the writing Jimmy had etched onto the inside of the band, “well I’m sure we’ve established that by now, Jimmy,”

“I know that you’re an elf, and you’ll live forever. And I’m a demigod, but I don’t know how long we’ll have together,” Jimmy shrugged, “I wanted the bracelet to remind you of me, if you happen to outlive me,”

“Aw, Jimmy,” Scott sniffed, eyes turning suspiciously watery as he pulled the cod into another tight hug, “let’s not worry about that just yet, okay?”

“Okay,” Jimmy grinned, running a hand through Scott’s feathers, admiring the way the elf shivered at his touch, “but you get it though, right? We’ll always be together,”

“Always,”

❅❅❅

Jimmy woke with a gasp, blinking away tears. His head hurt. His back hurt. Jimmy glanced around, seeing the stone walls and iron bars. Oh. I’m in a cell.

“Awake already?” Sheriff Fury’s moved into Jimmy’s limited line of sight, “you’re lucky I spared you, chap,”

“Why did you?” Jimmy scoffed, deep down thinking guiltily, if he’d killed me, I could’ve been with Scott.

“Can’t have the population of Tumble Town thinking their sheriff is some psycho,” Fury shrugged, tapping the golden star-shaped badge on his chest.

“As if they don’t already think that,” Jimmy muttered under his breath. Fury let out a frustrated hiss, but said nothing.

“Your execution will be in three days,” the Sheriff’s eyes glinted dangerously, “you’ll make a good example of what happens to troublemakers; to those who oppose the Sheriff,”

Jimmy let out a long, shaky breath as the Sheriff disappeared once more, closing his eyes as he leaned against the cobblestone walls of his cell. Soon, he fell back into a shallow slumber, dreaming of his sister’s teasing and Scott’s musical laugh.

❅❅❅

“Psst! Solidarity!” Jimmy jolted awake, his muscles tensing as he turned his head.

“Jones?” the former Codfather moved towards the iron bars, squinting at the new face, “what are you doing here?”

“I’m getting you out,” Jones whispered urgently, “I heard about the execution tomorrow,”

“Tomorrow?” Jimmy blinked, “isn’t that in three days?” How long was I asleep for? Jones shook his head.

“Fury has a habit of telling his prisoners that their execution is later than it actually is. Gives them false hope,” Jones smashed his pickaxe against the bars, the iron shattering against the netherite.

Jimmy shuddered, remembering when he had been the one to free Scott and Gem from Sausage’s basement all those years ago.

“Thanks,” he murmured, striding towards an open chest filled with his belongings. Jimmy spun his Codfather sword in his hand, comforted by the weight of the blade. Instinctively, his right hand moved towards his left wrist, only to find it bare. Scott’s band… that jerk! “I’m going to kill the Sheriff,” Jimmy growled, equipping his armour and shield that he usually kept off.

Marching through the town, Jimmy was shocked to find it completely quiet and abandoned; none of the former hustle and bustle he’d seen when he’d first arrived.

“Sheriff Fury!” Jimmy yelled, “Come out and face me!” The door to the town saloon banged open, revealing a furious (ironically) Sheriff Fury.

“You!” the Sheriff roared, drawing his steel dagger once more.

“I’m here for a rematch,” Jimmy declared, his eyes landing on the Sheriff’s wrist, spotting the familiar gold band around it, “and to take back what is mine,”

“You can try,” Fury snarled, “I’ll just beat you like I did last time,”

Jimmy barely braced himself before the Sheriff was charging at him once more. This time, the former cod was prepared, blocking the trajectory of Fury’s dagger. He let out a small oomph as the Sheriff pushed him into the fountain, grimacing as water partially splashed and soaked his shirt.

A century ago, Jimmy would’ve been able to resist Fury’s strength. A century ago, his merfolk physiology would’ve given him incomparable strength, and he would’ve been delighted, wearing the wet clothes he wore now. But that was a century ago. Jimmy shuddered, cringing at how the fountain water weighed down his heavy travelling clothes. His hand brushed against the Sheriff’s, grabbing onto Scott’s armband in desperation. A flurry of cold power rushed through him, fuelling him as he shoved the Sheriff off of him. The man stumbled away, as Jimmy plunged his sword into Fury’s abdomen with zero hesitation.

“Wait!” the Sheriff covered his face with his hands pathetically, “please, spare me!”

Jimmy almost laughed, disgusted and amused at the man. “Oh please, like you were going to spare me?” Jimmy hissed, “how many people have you killed in your time as Sheriff?” Fury fell silent, jaw clenching tightly. Jimmy scoffed, “just as I thought,”

In one, sweeping motion, he stabbed his blade straight through the man’s neck, watching as the Sheriff began to twitch, then stopped altogether. With a tired sigh, Jimmy leaned forwards, unclasping his bracelet from the body’s wrist, sliding it back onto his own. Just as he turned to stand up, he paused, eyes landing on the Sheriff badge. Jimmy snatched the badge up, fastening it over his own chest, turning to see the gathered crowd.

“Fear not, Tumble Town! Sheriff Fury is dead!” Jimmy declared, louder than he’d spoken since he’d been stripped of the title of Codfather. Cheers erupted all around him; women, children and men hugging and crying. Jimmy smiled, laying a hand over Scott’s engagement band.

“We did it, Scott,” he whispered, planting a light kiss on the golden band. Distantly, Jimmy could’ve sworn he saw the band’s engravings glow a soft cyan and gold. But that was a problem for future Jimmy. For now, perhaps he could build something good here, in Tumble Town.

Perhaps here, he could finally move on and start over.

Chapter Text

Lizzie raced home, hugging the Book of Prophecies close to her chest.
“No! Not Mythland!” She heard Sausage’s voice call out from above her. Lizzie turned, eyes widening as she saw blood sheep raining from the sky. 

A prosperous land shall be laid to waste. Streets will run red before spires are toppled .

“It’s all coming true,” she whispered, “I have to get home,” Lizzie sprinted towards her palace, only freezing in shock as she reached the shores of the ocean. The water was gone. All of it. She gasped, tears already pouring from her blue eyes. How could this be?

Lizzie slumped back against the quartz marble floor of the Prisma Palace, staring at the gravel now exposed. This is all my fault . I had the book of prophecies. I knew what was going to happen, yet I didn’t do anything about it. If she’d just told Jimmy not to seek out fWhip like he did, none of this would’ve happened.

She choked on her tears, feeling nausea and pain run through her body. Lizzie collapsed, her head spinning endlessly. Distantly, she could feel someone holding her, calling to her softly.

“Hang on, Lizzie, I’ll get you out of here. Everything will be alright,”

“Joel,” Lizzie whispered, “the Ocean’s Blessing. It’s in the Book. It was doomed to happen,” she let out a gasp as the world went dark.

❅❅❅

Lizzie opened her eyes, blinking. 

“Where am I?” she frowned, “and what is that smell ?” The scent of fish was everywhere. It smelled disgusting .

“Lizzie! Thank goodness, I don’t know what I’d do if you never woke up,” someone was hugging her, holding her tightly. It felt strange. Strange, but nice.

“Who are you?” Lizzie frowned, shoving the stranger away, “I appreciate the hug, but it was quite out of nowhere. And what am I wearing ?” she tore off the heavy armour and crown, discarding it onto the ground.

“Lizzie, wait!” the man called as she stood up, backing away.

“Why am I here? And why can’t I remember anything?” Lizzie clutched her head, “who are you? Who am I ?”

“You’re my wife, Lizzie,” the man whispered, his voice wounded. Distantly, Lizzie felt her heart seize up with guilt and hurt, “it’s me, Joel, your husband,”

“Husband?” Lizzie echoed, “I’m married ? That’s- that’s not right,” she shook her head, “it can’t be. Surely I’d remember,”

Lizzie grabbed what appeared to be an elytra that she’d taken off, jumping off into the sky. She heard Joel call her name, but ignored him, just trying to get as far away as possible. 

❅❅❅

For the next sixty years, she wandered the lands, trying to find a purpose for herself. It didn’t help that she didn’t remember her past. Lizzie met all kinds of people - elves, gnomes, goblins, humans; more than she could possibly count. 

It was only when she came across a civilisation of animal hybrids did she truly attempt to settle down. It was a mere small scatter of white tents in the middle of a birch forest when she found Anamalia (or so they called it). 

It was night time, the moon barely peaking through the dark clouds. 

“Help!” Lizzie had heard someone scream. She’d jumped up in surprise, pulling out her diamond axe. The sound of zombies groaning and skeletons rattling filled the air. Lizzie ran towards a glow of warm torch light in the distance, spotting three cat hybrids huddled together, cornered by a hoard of undead. Lizzie clenched her jaw, darting forwards, slashing the closest zombie with it, watching as it fell dead (un-dead? Alive? More dead?) at her feet.

“Are you alright?” Lizzie asked, scanning the three cats for any injuries.

“Behind you!” an orange tabby called, her green eyes flashing in the darkness. Lizzie turned just in time to behead a skeleton that had gotten scarily close to her face.

“We need to get to shelter!” Lizzie raised her voice over the endearing sounds of the undead, throwing her axe in a long arc to kill multiple zombies at once. The diamond axe cluttered to the ground several feet away. She considered grabbing it for a moment, then decided against it, instead reaching for her bow.

“Follow me!” a black cat hybrid waved at Lizzie, running towards an even stronger torch glow. Lizzie raced after the cat hybrids, following them through the darkness. She stumbled once or twice, unused to seeing and moving in the dark.

“Quickly!” what appeared to be a snowy fox hybrid waved at the group. Lizzie ducked into one of the white tents, barely squeezing in.

“Sorry,” she muttered when she accidentally stepped on someone’s tail. 

“The undead won’t be able to reach us here,” the fox hybrid explained after a moment of silence, turning to the three cat hybrids from before, “would you care to explain who our guest is?”

“She saved us from the monsters,” the orange tabby admitted, her ears flicking excitedly.

“Then you have our gratitude,” the fox hybrid smiled, although it was more strained than genuine, “however, you must know that we animals don’t trust humans like yourself,” Lizzie nodded, although somewhere deep down she wanted to protest that she was not human.

“Let her rest with us for the night, at least,” the black cat suggested, his own eyes flashing with gratitude, “it’s the least we can do,”

“You’re right,” the fox sighed, “the human will sleep in one of the spare tents we have,”

“Lizzie,” Lizzie intercepted.

“What?” the fox blinked, startled.

“My name,” Lizzie shrugged, “my name is Lizzie,”

“Oh, okay,” the fox hybrid bit her lip, “I’m Anchovy. I’m the oldest, so I’m in charge around here,”

“I’m Midnight,” the black cat added, “and that’s Ginger and Patch,” he nodded at the orange tabby and the third cat - a small calico - respectively.

“Patch can be a bit shy,” Anchovy whispered in her ear. Lizzie nodded understandingly, “great kid when you get to know them though,”

“The coast should be clear now, you can take Lizzie to her tent,” Anchovy said, louder, her words directed at Patch and a sheep hybrid. The two of them nodded, leading Lizzie out of the white tent towards a pink one built on the edge of the clearing.

“There are so many tents,” Lizzie commented awkwardly, “there must be a lot of you,”

“I guess,” the sheep hybrid responded, shrugging, “those of us here are the lucky ones,”

“What do you mean?” Lizzie paused, frowning, “out here? With all the undead?” The two animal hybrids exchanged glances.

“You must’ve been awfully sheltered,” the sheep hybrid commented, his words holding no real heat, just genuine curiosity, “animal hybrids like us all over the world have been used as slaves and manual labour in cruel living conditions. There are people who keep us locked in cages as their little toys to play with,” Lizzie was at a loss for words.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, “I- I didn’t know,” How could she? She couldn’t even remember her own past. They fell silent for a moment, “where’s Patch?” Lizzie asked, frowning as she realised that the calico was no longer with them.

The sheep hybrid shifted uncomfortably.

“Patch hasn’t had the kindest experiences with humans,” he murmured, “they probably left, feeling uncomfortable about our conversation just now,”

“Oh,” Lizzie made a mental note to never mention other humans around the other animals.

“The pink tent is yours,” the sheep grinned, “I’m Floof, by the way. My friends call me Father Floof,”

“‘Father Floof’?” Lizzie echoed, “that’s… an odd nickname,”

Floof shrugged again.

“It just kinda stuck. Don’t let the other animals’ distrust get to you, by the way,” he offered Lizzie a supportive smile, “it’s only natural for us to be wary of strangers, especially humans. You seem trustworthy to me, though,”

“Thanks?” Lizzie coughed at the awkwardness of the conversation.

“Get some rest,” Floof nodded at her, “I’ll see you in the morning,”

“Yeah,” Lizzie agreed, pushing open the doors to her tent and collapsing into the bed almost immediately.

❅❅❅

She was fourteen. Lizzie swam through the ocean, her little brother by her side.

“Race you to Mezalea!” she grinned, pushing harder with her tail and fins.

“Hah! You just want to see that human as soon as possible,” Lizzie’s brother called after her, his tone teasing.

“You say that like you don’t make love heart eyes at that elf,” Lizzie shot back, slowing down ever so slightly to allow for her brother to catch up.

“I don’t-” he spluttered, “ugh, whatever! I’m sure Joel will be absolutely stunned by your appearance today. Did you actually put effort into your appearance today?”

“I always put effort in, Jimmy!” Lizzie snorted, whacking her seabling in the head with her tail.

“Yeah, right,” Jimmy rolled his eyes, “stop going easy on me and go see your boyfriend already,”

“He’s not my-!” Lizzie let out a frustrated yell, her scream muffled by the water of the ocean. Her younger brother winked at her, to which she only swam faster, making it onto the shores of Mezalea in no time.

“Lizzie!” The sound of someone touching down on the sand made Lizzie look up, grinning. 

“Hey Joel,” she flushed ever so slightly, watching in awe as his elytra clicked shut.

“Staring?” Joel teased, although he too sounded flustered, “I could show you more,” Lizzie almost choked on her own saliva, “no, no, not like that!” The Mezalean prince insisted, his face growing red.

“Ew, get a room already,” Jimmy commented, pulling himself onto the sand, a smirk already evident on his face.

“GO GET SCOTT,” Lizzie and Joel both shot back instantly, then dissolved into embarrassed mutters as they realised they had said the same thing together. Jimmy glared at them for a moment, then cracked into giggles. Lizzie blinked, then quickly joined in, followed by Joel.

The three of them collapsed onto the sand, their laughter and the warm Mezalean sun the only things important in the world.

❅❅❅

Lizzie sat up with a gasp.

“Was that a memory?” she touched her head lightly with her hand, “I had a brother,” Lizzie didn’t dare let herself think about Joel. She still remembered his hurt eyes and voice when she told him she didn’t remember him, “but why now? Why are my memories returning now?”

“Miss Lizzie? We request your presence in the clearing as soon as possible,” an unfamiliar voice called, just outside her tent. Lizzie pushed apart the tent entrance, stretching.

“Good morning,” she greeted a goat hybrid, who hummed in response.

“Follow me,” the goat beckoned, “the elders are waiting for you,”

“The elders?” Lizzie echoed, “are they like leaders?”

“No,” the hybrid’s laugh was light, and oddly musical in its own way, “they are quite literally the oldest and most experienced of us animal hybrids. They’re not even that old, just older than the rest of us, so they make most the decisions around here,”

Lizzie nodded along. Wouldn’t having a single leader be easier though? She couldn’t help but think. Odd. Maybe it had something to do with her dream last night.

“Lizzie the Human,” a pig hybrid greeted her seriously. Lizzie bristled, wanting to protest that she was not human, but bit her tongue regardless. Instead, she simply nodded, trying to keep a neutral smile on her face, “I am Dirk, and I shall speak on behalf of the elders today. I trust you had a restful night?”

“Fine, thank you,” Lizzie forced out cautiously, “what did you call me here for?” She couldn’t help but notice a couple indignant glares she got for that.

“We animals are split on what to think of you,” Dirk told her bluntly, “whilst we are grateful for you saving a few of us last night, many of us don’t think you can stay,”

“I never wanted to-”

“We have spent the past two years avoiding the humans,” Dirk cut across Lizzie’s protests smoothly, “and now that you’ve found us, we’ll have to move again. By letting you go, we also run the risk of you telling your fellow humans of our existence,”

“I would never-”

“So frankly, I hope you’d understand that we have been put in a tough spot,” Dirk finished with a nod. Lizzie simply stared in silence.

“With all due respect, I have no intention of staying here, and no intention of telling anyone,” she said finally, relaxing when no one interrupted her this time. There was a moment of tense silence, before Anchovy stood up, clearing her throat pointedly. 

“I suggest a compromise,” the white fox hybrid offered once everyone’s eyes were on her, “why don’t we let her stay for a bit. Make her in charge of the fighting squad and lead our fighters against the undead? This way we will have animals watching her at all times, whilst she can also show us that she can be trusted. Once we deem her trustworthy, she can be free to go, or stay, if she wishes to do so,”

The gathered elders erupted into quiet chatter, a mixture of squawks, meows and other non-human noises mixed into the hubbub. 

“That’s enough!” Dirk called, their voice rising over the muttering as the animals fell silent once more, “thank you, Anchovy, that was a very insightful idea. Why don’t we vote on it? All in favour of Anchovy’s idea?” The majority of the animals raised their arms, “very well. So be it,”

“So be it,” Anchovy agreed, eyes turned to Lizzie with a friendly smile, “I’ll get her settled in with the fighters,”

Lizzie followed Anchovy out of the clearing and back into the forest.

“Thanks,” she murmured to the fox hybrid, “I thought that was going to end completely differently. Maybe with my head being taken or something,”

“Really?” Anchovy blinked, “the elders may argue sometimes, but we’d never resort to those types of measures. Whatever made you think that?” Lizzie fell silent, shrugging.

“Must’ve heard it somewhere, I guess,”

“Lizzie!” Lizzie looked up to see Midnight, Ginger and Patch waving at her. She grinned, waving back.

“Lizzie will be joining your group for a bit,” Anchovy told the three cat hybrids, “she’ll be in charge of hunting the undead. Could you let the rest of the squad know?” Midnight and Ginger immediately jumped up, hurrying off in two different directions, leaving Lizzie with just Anchovy and Patch.

“I’ll leave you two to it,” Anchovy winked at Lizzie, “I’ve got to help with some rebuilding down by the river,”

That left just Lizzie and Patch.

“So…” Lizzie cleared her throat awkwardly, “fighting, huh? I didn’t think you’d be the fighter type,” she winced, knowing how backhanded that would’ve sounded.

“Yeah,” Patch shrugged, not meeting Lizzie’s eyes, “most humans don’t. Or at least, the last humans I met didn’t seem to think so,”

“That’s not what I mean,” Lizzie said quickly, spotting a long scar that stretched from the calico’s scruff to their hind leg, “I-” she paused, sighing, “I don’t know what I meant, really. I just wanted to make small talk,”

“Oh,” Patch blinked, “okay then,”

“Um…” Lizzie fiddled with the ends of her shirt, rocking back and forth on her feet. She let out a long exhale of relief as she spotted Midnight and Ginger returning with about ten animals each.

“Hey Lizzie, meet the gang!” Midnight greeted her enthusiastically, waving at the twenty animals. Lizzie stiffened. These are all children. Surely none of them are any older than twenty.

“Hi,” she tried, “I’m Lizzie,”

“They say you’ll be in charge of fighting against the undead,” a young panda hybrid piped up, “is that true?”

“I guess so,” Lizzie glanced at Midnight helplessly.

“Lizzie’s great,” Ginger jumped in, “she’s not like the other humans. And she’s a really good fighter,” A relieved murmur spread through the animals. 

“So, what’s the plan of action for today?” the panda asked excitedly. Twenty pairs of eyes turned to her. Lizzie frowned.

“Uh… why don’t you show me around first?”

❅❅❅

“And that’s the Great Birch,”

“What makes it so great?” Lizzie paused, “it looks like every other birch tree,”

“It’s bigger!” an axolotl hybrid protested. 

“Aren’t we a little too far from camp?” Lizzie frowned, “it’s getting dark too,”

“We’ll be fine,” Midnight dismissed, “we have torches, undead can’t spawn here,” Lizzie refrained herself from correcting the cat hybrid.

“Look out!” Lizzie barely had time to react before she was knocked to the ground, Patch on top of her. She watched as an arrow thudded into the base of a tree, just missing them by an inch.

“Thanks,” she panted as the calico helped her up. The squad immediately sprung into action, drawing out weapons. Somehow, Lizzie could tell that they weren’t experienced in fighting. The stances were all wrong, grips too loose. Why do I know so much about fighting? Lizzie frowned, was there someone who loved to fight? Was it my brother? Or…?

She shook herself out of her thoughts, reaching for her bow and arrows. Lizzie fired shot after shot, barely registering the deaths of the undead around her. 

“We have to get out of here!” Lizzie called over the sounds of swords slashing and metal clinking.

“This way!” Ginger added, streaking towards the direction they had come from. Lizzie waited until every animal was in front of her before following, shooting down the monsters and switching to her axe when needed.

“Almost there!” Patch encouraged her, their cat physiology making them faster than Lizzie, “just a bit further,”

“We can’t lead all these undead back to camp,” she objected, “people could get hurt,” Patch frowned, then nodded.

“You’re right,” they paused to behead a zombie, “what’s your idea then?” Lizzie froze, her mind racing, before her eyes fell on Patch’s claws.

“I’ve got it!” she raised her voice so that the whole squadron could hear her, “I need all those who can climb trees to stay, everyone else get to camp and protect the other animals,” Lizzie waited until there were only around seven or eight of them left, “I need everyone to get in a tree,” she explained, “we’re going to shoot them from above so they can’t reach the entrance to camp,”

Lizzie watched as the animals each scaled up the tall birch trees with practice ease, before she tried doing the same, hauling herself up onto a thick branch. She loaded her bow once more, arrow trained on the path as she began to hear the rattle of skeletons. Before Lizzie could even fire, however, an arrow from Midnight hit the first skeleton, causing it to scatter into dust. The black cat hybrid waved at her, his amber eyes glinting in the darkness. Lizzie waved back, just as the large hoard of undead finally reached their area.

Lizzie tensed, aiming her bow at a spot directly below her. Through her peripheral vision, she saw the others do the same.

“Fire!” Lizzie called, letting her arrow fly. The rain of arrows followed her command as she watched the undead fall to the ground one by one, until there was only dust left. The group let out a relieved sigh all at once. 

Lizzie hopped down from her branch, landing lightly on the soft mulch, just as a bigger group of animals rushed towards them from the camp.

“You dealt with the monsters?” Anchovy raised an eyebrow, her eyes wide in awe when Lizzie nodded. An eruption of cheers swept through the crowd. Lizzie ducked her head, embarrassed.

“It was nothing, really,” Lizzie murmured.

“You managed to hold them off and destroy them,” Midnight purred, “I’d hardly call that nothing,”

“Join us for dinner tonight,” Ginger offered, “I’m sure the others would be happy to have you join us after what you’ve done for us today,” 

Lizzie hesitated ever so slightly, before making up her mind, “alright,” she agreed. Another wave of cheers erupted from around her. Lizzie smiled, maybe this isn’t going to be so bad after all .

❅❅❅

It had been almost a month since she’d first arrived, when Lizzie was finally summoned once more by the elders.

“Lizzie,” Dirk greeted her in a much more friendly manner this time, “you’ve proved your kindness and trustworthiness over the past month. In accordance to our agreement, we elders have decided that you are free to go,”

A month ago, Lizzie might have been happy. She might’ve gotten out of here as soon as possible. But staying with the animals had made her feel something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Complete . Lizzie enjoyed it, being a part of a community again. Being around other beings.

“If it’s alright with you,” she muttered quietly, “I’d like to stay,” a small hush fell over the gathered animals, then someone let out a cheer.

“We’d love to have you around,” Anchovy smiled, “you’ve been nothing but helpful for the past month,” there were several more murmurs of agreement. Lizzie smiled, feeling something warm inside her chest, just as a pink axolotl hybrid - Cherry Blossom , Lizzie recalled - came running towards them, eyes wide. 

“Trouble down by the river!” they panted, skidding to a halt, “a sudden hoard of drowneds are attacking the aquatic settlements!”

Lizzie was on her feet in seconds, moving towards the river, whilst pulling out her axe. She could hear others following her, but she didn’t stop to look back. Something about the water-related animals being in danger turned on her adrenaline to the max.

When she did reach the river, she froze. There were drowneds everywhere , along with ashes floating as a thin layer crust over the water. 

“Your call, Lizzie,” Anchovy muttered from behind her, making her jump, “what should we do?”

Lizzie stayed frozen for a moment. She had never had much experience fighting drowneds before during her travels. It made her think back to the drained ocean she’d woken up in.

“Try drawing the drowneds out of the water,” Lizzie decided finally, “they’ll be slower and weaker on land. We’ll need people to be the bait, and others to attack once the drowneds are on land,”

There were a few whispers of doubt, but everyone moved into action in no time. Lizzie jumped into the water, feeling the cold water on her skin as she began slicing through as many of the water zombies as she could. Something about the river and water seemed to soothe her. Like she was being welcomed back by an old friend. 

“Lizzie!” Lizzie turned, hearing the word of warning, just in time to see a trident in her face. She let out a yell of shock just as the world around her went dark.

❅❅❅

“Mother,” Lizzie, 17 years old, greeted a celestial body, glowing a warm blue, “after fifteen years, you finally show up after leaving Jimmy and I to fend for ourselves. Why?”

“I had no choice,” Thalassa’s voice echoed around the entire chamber. Lizzie shuddered, already overwhelmed by the strong aura the goddess exuded, “as the Goddess of the Sea, I have other duties. But you’ve grown up good and strong without me. I’m proud, my daughter,”

“Proud?” Lizzie scoffed, “you have no right! You weren’t even there !”

The goddess fell silent for a moment, her sorrow evident in her expression. Lizzie almost felt guilty. Almost.

“What do you want me to say, Lizzie?”

“I can’t believe you,” Lizzie spat, “you turn up once to drop off my baby brother, then I hear nothing from you for fifteen years. And now you’re here telling me you’re proud ?” Thalassa stared at her for a moment, “leave,” Lizzie snapped, her patience wearing thin, “leave, and don’t ever try contact Jimmy or I ever again,”

“Is that truly your wish, my daughter?” Thalassa asked quietly, emotionlessly .

“Just go,” Lizzie turned away.

“Then I leave you with a warning,” Lizzie’s mother said softly, “don’t leave the ocean. Ever,”

“I’ll decide that for myself, thanks,” Lizzie growled coldly, “what happens to me from now on does not concern you. Goodbye, Mother,” she exited the chamber, slamming the door as hard as she could. She tried to ignore the tears that were sliding down her face.

❅❅❅

Lizzie cracked her eyes open with a groan.

“You’re awake,” she turned to see Midnight and Anchovy watching her unenthusiastically.

“How long have I been out for?” Lizzie frowned, noticing that the sky had turned dark already.

“A couple hours,” Anchovy replied, “how do you feel?”

“A little sore,” Lizzie grimaced, “and I have a headache, but I should be fine in a bit,”
“I’ll be the boss of that. You have a concussion, Lizzie,” Floof huffed, entering Lizzie’s tent with a potion in his hand. He tossed it at her with a strained smirk, “regen. Drink up,”

Lizzie uncorked the bottle, trying to take small sips.

“The drowneds?” she asked finally, once she’d downed the whole bottle. Anchovy, Floof and Midnight exchanged uncomfortable glances. Lizzie tensed.

“We managed to drive them out,” Anchovy said finally, “but not without a cost,”

“Cost?” Lizzie echoed, her heart filling with dread.

“We lost Patch,” Midnight muttered, his eyes filled with grief, “they volunteered to be bait, under your command. Those on attack didn’t get to them in time,” Lizzie’s eyes widened.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, shrinking back, “I-”

“You couldn’t control the situation, and you did what you thought was best,” Anchovy interrupted, although her tone was bitter, “get some rest. We’ll decide what to do in the morning,” with that, the snowy fox hybrid and Midnight walked out, leaving just Lizzie and Floof.

“This is all my fault,” Lizzie finally broke down, clinging onto her bedsheets tightly. Floof watched her silently, before moving to sit beside her.

“You couldn’t have known,” Floof consoled her quietly, “it’s not your fault,”

“I was on attack, Floof,” Lizzie forced out, “I should’ve been there to protect Patch. Instead, I jumped into the river and completely disregarded my own plan like an idiot ,”

“You couldn’t have known,” Floof repeated, “I, for one, am glad you took charge. We don’t get much of that around here, and it’s done nothing but benefit us,”

“Until today,” Lizzie finished. Floof didn’t contradict her.

“The elders won’t be happy with you,” Floof said finally, “you know that, right? They’ll try to use your humanhood against you again,”

“They’re not even real leaders,” Lizzie bit out, despite herself.

“No,” Floof agreed, “we need a real leader. One like you,”

“Me?!” Lizzie almost jumped out of her bed, “you saw what happened today. Patch died because of me, Floof. I’m not even an animal either,”

“But you could be,” Floof’s eyes glittered in a strange way, making Lizzie stop in her tracks.

“What do you mean?” she asked cautiously.

“The new God of the Sky is rumoured to have a fountain of some kind,” Floof said slowly, “a fountain that can alter one’s very code. If you will it enough, you could take on another physiology,”

Lizzie stared at the sheep hybrid, her eyes wide.

“I’ve always thought that being human didn’t suit me. Wasn’t me,” she was fully out of bed now, fumbling for her cloak, “I need to meet with the elders now ,”

“They wanted to see you in the morning,” Floof frowned, “I doubt they’ll see you now,”
“Well they’re going to,” Lizzie snapped, moving towards the tent entrance, stumbling slightly. Floof caught her by the arm.

“Careful, you still have a concussion,” he chided, before guiding her towards the clearing steadily, “I’ll come with you,” Lizzie dipped her head gratefully, her eyes trained on the clearing, where what seemed to be every animal in Camp was gathered.

“Speak of the human,” as Dirk’s eyes landed on her, the whole clearing turned towards her at once. Lizzie lifted her chin confidently, despite the internal panic and guilt pulsing through her.

“I have come to speak with the elders,” she declared. An indignant murmur spread through the crowd.

“Why not speak in front of everyone?” a wolf hybrid Lizzie didn’t recognise growled, “there should be no secrets here,”

“Very well,” Lizzie dipped her head, “I’m sorry,”

There was a pause.

“What?”

“I’m sorry,” Lizzie fell to her knees, as gasps of shock sounded around her, “I take full blame for what happened today,” steadily, she stood up, keeping eye contact with everyone around her, “ however , I wish to remain here, to protect you all,”

“After today?” the wolf hybrid protested, “you must be a fool to think we’d trust a human like that,”

“You trusted me this morning,” Lizzie countered, “you trusted me each time I saved the Camp from being destroyed by the undead. Why not trust me now?”

“You are human -”

“But I don’t have to be,” Lizzie met Floof’s eyes, who nodded encouragingly, “the God of the Sky’s fountain could change that,”

“You would forsake your humanhood for us?” Anchovy finally spoke up, her eyes wide.

“I never wanted to be human,” Lizzie turned her gaze to Dirk, “I’m asking for permission to travel to the Sky God’s domain; to become one of you,”

A strange hush had fallen over the hundreds of animals as they all waited for the elders’ reply.

“Very well,” Dirk said finally, “you may. But you will go alone. Should you not return, we will not go looking for you,” 

Lizzie bowed her head, more respectfully this time, “I understand. Thank you,” 

The animals parted, clearing a path as she slowly walked towards the entrance she had entered through more than a month ago now. She paused at the edge of the camp, glancing back.

“I will return, and I will protect you all. I promise,”

❅❅❅

It took a few days by walking and having to pause to ask for directions, but eventually, she made it to Stratos, the land of the Sky God. Stratos was a floating city, suspended in mid-air. Lizzie simply stared for a moment, in awe at the city. She was so enthralled that she failed to see the 11 ft god that landed before her.

So when she did finally notice him, Lizzie did a very hard double take.

“Joel?”

Chapter Text

There wasn’t much Joel actually remembered about the Rapture. It was all a blur, really. The explosion, the earthquakes, holding Lizzie in his arms, watching her fly away… it really was just a blur of bad things, one after the other. But what came after that was startlingly clear.

He had returned to the shores of Mezalea, where he, Jimmy and Lizzie used to hang out, before all the madness. A wave of fury and grief swept over him. It wasn’t fair. Why him? Why hadn’t he been the one to forget everything? Why was he the one that had to live with the consequences of fWhip and Jimmy’s actions? And why did the stupid Ocean’s Blessing have to be a thing?

“Thalassa, Goddess of the Oceans and Skies beyond,” Joel screamed into the sky, “you call yourself a goddess, yet you can’t even save your own daughter? Come down here and face me, you coward!” he fell to his knees, panting with exhaustion from his sudden outburst. Unbeknownst to him, the sky began to grey, and rain began to fall, “oh, so now you bless us with your power?” Joel scoffed to no one in particular, “where were you when Jimmy had his cod head taken away? Where were you when both your children struggled to grow up without you? Where were you when-”

“Enough, King of Mezalea,” Joel glanced upwards, startled. He couldn’t help but gape in awe as a huge, glowing, blue spirit stood before him.

“Are you…?” Joel swallowed, hard, trying to hold back his anger at the goddess.

“I am Thalassa, Goddess of the Sea,” Thalassa’s voice was a mixture of soft and bitter.

“Why turn up now?” Joel could barely contain his frustration now, “you’ve remained hidden to us for years ,”

“My daughter did not wish for me to contact you,” the goddess sighed, “ any of you,”

“Don’t pin all the blame on her!” Joel spat, “ you should’ve stepped in when you saw fit. You’re a goddess, for gods’ sake! It’s too late anyway. I’ve lost my wife , and I’ll never see her again,”

“You make many assumptions,” Thalassa observed, “I do believe you and my daughter will meet again,”

“She’s a demigod !” Joel snapped, “I’m a mortal. And she’s just run off to gods-knows-where. Forget it. I’ll be dust before she even thinks something is wrong,”

“You don’t have to be a mortal though,” Thalassa’s eyes flashed with power. Joel shuddered, backing away for the first time.

“What do you mean?” Joel asked slowly, making sure to enunciate every word.

“It is fate for the twelve rulers to meet each other in every lifetime,” the Sea Goddess waved her hand, creating an apparition of what Joel recognised as the book Lizzie had been carrying around recently, “but unless all of you die or change physiology, those who have died will not reincarnate,”

“Reincarnation?” Joel scoffed, “you do realise how far-fetched this sounds?”

“Yet you have no choice but to trust me,” Thalassa bared sharp teeth, “what I’m saying is that you still hold a chance of meeting Lizzie again in this lifetime,”

“How?” Joel narrowed his eyes.

“You could ascend,” Thalassa’s blue eyes gleamed, “become a god in your own right,”

“A god,” Joel echoed, his voice now hushed.

“I hold two domains at the moment,” Thalassa explained, “my power is both over the seas and the skies. The burden has become unbearable as of late. After all, they are the reason I had to leave behind my children,”

“No one forced you to do anything ,” Joel grumbled. The goddess ignored him.

“If you agree to take on one of my domains and uphold the responsibilities that come with it, you could ascend as a god,” Thalassa smiled ever so slightly, “then you’d be granted immortality and invincibility. You’d get to see my daughter again,”

Joel fell silent, considering her words carefully.

“If I were to become a god, would I be forced into a spirit form like you?” he asked finally.

“We gods are shapeshifters,” Thalassa shook her head, “we take on whatever form we wish. I simply prefer to be one with my domains. This spirit form is my way of communicating with mortals,” She offered her hand, “so, what do you say?”

Joel bit his lip. On one hand, if he agreed, Joel would change forever. He wouldn’t be the same. On the other hand, he would be immortal . He’d get to see Lizzie again. Maybe even the rest of his friends.

“Deal,” Joel clasped the goddess’s hand. A bout of hot energy ran up his arm, coursing through his veins like fire. He trembled, gasping for breath as light filled his vision; white-hot and blinding. He could feel himself growing, crushing the vegetation below his feet. Please . Joel wanted to beg, make it stop . And it did. Eventually, anyway.

Joel couldn’t remember passing out, only that waking up once more in a plains biome of some kind. He sat up with a groan, feeling electricity run beneath his fingers as he did. Joel blinked, standing up, only to find himself twice his previous height.

Where am I? Joel frowned, running a finger through the soft, moist dirt. Dirt you’d never get in the mesa. He turned to the sky expectantly.

“Thalassa!” Joel yelled, “explain yourself!” 

Nothing.

He sighed, snatching up a rock and throwing it into the air in frustration. Joel felt something tingle in his fingers as the stone left his hand. He stared in shock as the rock froze in mid-air, expanding into a giant, island-like shape in the sky. Did I do that?

Joel frowned, grabbing another rock and tossing it. This time, nothing happened. He let out a frustrated sigh. I guess I’m going to have to learn to use these new powers. Luckily, he had a hunch he’d have quite a few years to do that before he met Lizzie again.

❅❅❅

It had been sixty years after he ascended as the new God of the Sky. He was building away at what would be his colosseum when he saw something pink out the corner of his eye. It was a bad habit, he knew, but Joel immediately jumped, manifesting holographic white feathered wings from his back as he landed heavily before the pink thing. Pink-haired person, he quickly realised.

“Joel?” Lizzie stared back at him, her eyes wide.

“Lizzie,” Joel breathed, “you- you’re here . In Stratos ,”

“I am,” Lizzie blinked, “I- I’m sorry for running off like that all those years ago. I should’ve let you explain things,”

“No, not at all!” Joel flushed, tucking away his wings and shifting into the height he was when he was king of Mezalea, “I’ve waited for you for decades , I’m not going to let something as trivial as that get in the way of this moment,” he hesitated, before adding tentatively, “you remember then?”

“No,” Lizzie glanced downwards, almost as if in shame. Joel felt a twinge of guilt, “but I’ve been having these dreams lately,”

“Dreams?” Joel echoed, “of the prophetic kind? Or memories?”

“Joel, do I have a brother?” Lizzie blurted. 

“I- yes,” Joel was almost disappointed that her first question was about Jimmy , and not him, “his name is-”

“Jimmy,” Lizzie finished, “so it’s true then. My dreams are memories of the past?”

“I guess so,” Joel frowned, “why are you here? I assume you weren’t looking for me,” he winced as he watched Lizzie shift guiltily. 

“There’s a rumour that the God of the Sky has a fountain,” Lizzie murmured, “one that can change the physiology of a person,”

“I suppose so…” Joel said slowly, “why are you searching for it?”

“I am living with the animals at the moment,” Lizzie admitted, “and I wish to become an animal, so they can trust me. And so I can continue to protect them,”

What kind of backwards thinking is that? Joel thought to himself. Instead of saying this, however, he simply replied with, “okay,” Lizzie gave him an odd look.

“Would you happen to know where the God of the Sky is?” she asked finally, “so I can find the fountain and head back?”

Joel had to hold back his laughter now. She’d seen him 11 ft tall, grow wings, fly down, make the wings disappear and shrink down to regular human size.

“I’m the god, Lizzie,” he rolled his eyes affectionately. Lizzie blinked.

“Oh,” she blushed lightly. Joel grinned like an idiot, seeing this.

“Come on, I’ll show you the fountain,” he closed his eyes, growing so that he was slightly larger than Lizzie. Joel spread the translucent wings that had reappeared, picking Lizzie up in a bridal carry. The pink-haired woman let out a squawk of embarrassment as Joel lifted off into the air, flying towards the Fountain of Strength he’d built around two decades ago. He could feel Lizzie trembling in his arms. Right, she’s probably been on land for the past fifty years or something . Joel concentrated hard, using his powers to create orbs of glowing light around them, like stars, “open your eyes,” Joel whispered into Lizzie’s ear, “trust me,”

Despite not seeing her face, he could tell the moment Lizzie opened her eyes. She gasped, leaning forward in Joel’s steady grip.

“Wow,” Lizzie whispered, “this is beautiful,” Joel hummed, smiling proudly to himself as he landed, setting his wife (were they still married if she didn’t remember?) down carefully. Joel noted with a rush of satisfaction that Lizzie was blushing furiously, combing her fingers through her pink hair.

“This is the Fountain of Strength,” Joel gestured at the white fountain, running his fingers under the cascading water.

“And this will make me a hybrid?” Lizzie checked. Joel nodded, “okay,” she stepped forward boldly, “how does this thing work?”

“Woah, there!” Joel blocked her with a wing, “I can’t just let you use a powerful fountain for free ,”

“Aren’t I your wife?” Lizzie teased, although her eyes were filled with worry, “what do you want? I don’t exactly have diamonds or gold or anything on me-” Joel cut her off, raising a hand.

“I don’t want any of that,” Joel grinned.

“Then what?” Lizzie frowned, still rummaging through her pockets.

“A kiss,” Joel smirked as Lizzie let out another squeak of surprise, “not on the lips, if you’re not comfortable. Just a small peck on the cheek. That’s all I ask,” he was beginning to feel worried when Lizzie just stood there, staring at him. Joel was about to completely retract his statement and apologise, when she leaned in and kissed him hard on the lips. Joel’s eyes widened, his whole body freezing for a moment, before he kissed her back.

She felt exactly the same. Lizzie still tasted like strawberries and summertime. Her lips were still the same, warm temperature; like touching sunshine and moonlight all at once. Finally, they pulled apart, both their faces beet-red. Joel cleared his throat quickly.

“Wow, uh, yep!” he struggled to keep his composure for a second, “I-”

“I feel like I should’ve done that a long time ago,” Lizzie’s eyes were shining. Joel was sure he couldn’t get any redder now.

“Me too,” Joel whispered, softening, “I’ve waited for you for decades , Lizzie,” 

“I know,” Lizzie smiled, and Joel practically melted at the sight, “so have I, I think,”

“Well,” Joel swallowed, “why don’t we get you all hybrid-ed up?” Lizzie blinked hard.

“Right, yes,” she refocused, “how do we do this?”

“It’s really quite simple,” Joel grinned, cupping his hands below the waterfall, letting his palms fill up with water. He beckoned to Lizzie with his head, then poured it over her.

“What sort of hybrid would you like to be?” Joel asked, his hands glowing a soft white-gold colour. Lizzie thought for a moment, chewing on her lip like she always did before the Rapture.

“A calico cat,” Lizzie smiled, “like Patch,” Joel didn’t bother to ask who Patch was, instead nodding, concentrating his powers on the water he’d poured over his wife. 

“Is this a bad time to tell you I’ve never done this on someone else before?” Joel joked, weaving his magic through Lizzie’s code.

“Joel!” Lizzie admonished, her tone light and scolding. 

“There,” Joel finally stepped back, his eyes running down Lizzie’s new body. Her face was now covered in white, black and orange fur, cat ears atop her head. She looked completely different. The only thing that remained the same were her gorgeous, ocean-blue eyes, “here,” Joel led the new cat-hybrid to the fountain so she could see her reflection, “what do you think?”

“Wow,” Lizzie breathed, touching her face carefully, before turning back to Joel, “I love it. Thank you, Joel!” she lunged forward, pulling him into a quick, tight hug, before drawing back. Joel blinked, surprised by the sudden hug.

“Uh,” he coughed, “you’re welcome?”

“I owe you one!” Lizzie waved her tail happily, purring.

“Seeing you again was payment enough,” Joel shrugged. Lizzie stared at him, her mouth hung open wordlessly.

“Sure,” she laughed finally, “I should head back to the animals though,” Lizzie glanced at him apologetically, “my head might not remember you, but I think deep down, my heart does. Why don’t we try this again? I’d love to get to know you… again,”

“Okay,” Joel agreed, his own heart soaring.

“I’ll write to you,” Lizzie turned to leave, “promise to write back?”

“Of course,” Joel nodded, watching as his wife jumped down, landing on her feet lightly. He watched as she threaded through the long grasses of Stratos, disappearing back into the bush. 

❅❅❅

It was more than twenty years later when he saw another of his friends. He’d just come out from a council meeting with the other gods, when a mesa caught his eye. Joel rarely left Stratos, so he was surprised by such a familiar biome. Hunting for nostalgia, he soared towards the red desert, landing lightly on the outskirts, letting himself shrink down to his human form. Joel wandered around, enjoying the heat, when he came across a man on a camel. He froze, mouth slightly agape, eyes wide.

“Jimmy?” Joel called tentatively.

“Joel,” the man slid off his camel, running towards him, “how are you- how are you here?” Joel let Jimmy pull him into a bear hug, feeling his brother-in-law’s tears on his robes.

“Long story,” Joel noticed the missing fins and tail on Jimmy, “Ocean’s Blessing left you too?”

“Yeah,” Jimmy pulled away, his hand brushing over his ears, where his fins once were, “like you said, long story. Come on, I’ve got to show you Tumble Town!”

Joel let Jimmy drag him towards a small town in the middle of the mesa.

“I saved this town from their last sheriff,” Jimmy told him proudly, “made it into something better,”

“Sure looks like something you’d build,” Joel teased, nudging his friend lightly.

“Oh piss off,” Jimmy rolled his eyes, opening the doors to what appeared to be a dimly-lit bar. He dragged out two seats, plopping himself onto one of them. Joel sighed, then sat down in the other.

“Now tell me everything,” Jimmy insisted, “how did you get here? How are you still alive ?” So he did. Joel told him everything, from Thalassa’s deal, to waking up in the plains, building Stratos, and eventually meeting Lizzie. By the end of his story, Jimmy was wiping away tears once more, “Lizzie’s alive?”

“Yeah,” Joel allowed himself a small smile, “we’ve been keeping in touch. She’s been elected the Mayor of Animalia, and is establishing a council to help her rule,”

“Always a natural born ruler, even when she can’t remember,” Jimmy commented, his eyes sad, “and you, a god? That’s pretty cool,”

“How about you?” Joel changed the topic, despite being almost too afraid to ask, “what have you been up to in the past ninety or so years?”

Jimmy’s eyes shadowed with what Joel recognised as grief and loss.

“I found Scott,” he murmured, “dead, in Rivendell,”

“Oh Jimmy,” Joel’s eyes widened, his voice hushed, “I’m sorry,” he’d never been particularly close with the elven king, but he knew what Scott meant to Jimmy. He’d helped Jimmy pick out the right gold, and watched as the cod hybrid turned the gold into a bracelet. Joel’s eyes fell instinctively to Jimmy’s left wrist, where the golden band was, still clasped tightly around his wrist.

“Buried him there, up on top of the hill, overlooking his empire. I left the empires after that,” Jimmy shrugged, “wandered for a bit, before finding this place. It was being run by some violent, corrupt sheriff. The people wanted me to help, so I did,”

“And you lost,” Joel guessed, picking up a glass of beer he hadn’t even realised had been passed to him.

“Only for a bit,” Jimmy sniffed, “I got back out there and defeated the sheriff. Became the new one. I’ve been ruling here for a few years now,”

“Wow,” the two of them fell silent for a moment, both mourning all the friends they had lost.

“Do you think Thalassa was right?” Jimmy asked finally, breaking the heavy silence, “about reincarnation? Do you think we’ll see everyone again?” Joel sighed, taking a sip of the beer as he thought.

“Maybe,” Joel answered finally after a moment, “I’d like to hope that she’s right. In my years of trying to find answers, I did come across a prophecy,”

“A prophecy?” Jimmy tensed, clearly remembering the book Lizzie had. The one that predicted the Rapture . 

“ ‘Kindred spirits will find each other and unite once more in this world, as they do in every other world’ ,” Joel quoted, “or something like that,”

“Hmm,” Jimmy hummed, “then I do hope my mother was right, too,”

The two fell into another, more comfortable silence, as they drank away at their beers.

“But until then, I do wish I had something more than this bracelet to remind me of him ,” Jimmy muttered so quietly that Joel almost didn’t hear him, “he always used to let me preen his wings, you know? And he wouldn’t let anyone else even near them,” Joel emptied the rest of his glass, setting it down on the counter.

“Would you want wings?” Joel asked softly, fingers drumming on the wooden bar. Jimmy stared at him for a bit, before letting out an awkward laugh.

“No,” he sighed, “not while he’s still dead. I don’t think I could live with being able to fly around freely, whilst he remains trapped below the dirt,” Joel grimaced at Jimmy’s visceral description.

“Well, let me know if you ever change your mind,” he muttered.

The two talked for many hours afterwards, catching up on everything they’d missed. They laughed. They cried. Finally, it came time for Jimmy to head to bed, and for Joel to return to Stratos.

But Joel left with a smile on his face, and a heart lighter than it had felt in decades. 

❅❅❅

“Joel Thundercheeks,” Joel blinked, bowing his head at Thalassa. They were gathered in the celestial realm; eight gods gathered around a glowing cyan orb.

“Thalassa. Good to see you,” Joel replied, greeting the goddess, before turning around to the rest of the gods, acknowledging them each in turn.

“Why have you called us here for another meeting so soon, Aeor?” the Sunflower Goddess asked, turning the shimmering golden-horned stag.

“My champion will be reborn soon,” Aeor stepped forward, his eyes trained on the orb, “the prophecy will soon be complete,”

A quiet murmur arose amongst the gods. Joel, like Aeor, kept his gaze on the orb.

“What of your own champion, Peril?” a fae covered in flowers asked.

“He has done everything we suggested,” the Sunflower Goddess laid a soft finger on the orb, adding her own soft glow of green-gold magic to it, “Sausage and his followers will be ready for when Scott returns,”

“Very well,” Aeor dipped his head, turning his gaze to his twin stag, “then Exor and I will be at the ready too, when the time comes. This meeting is over,”

One by ones, the gods scattered into the stars, each returning to their own realms, until it was just Joel and Peril.

“Pearl,” Joel greeted her by her true name, “do you really think they will all return?”

“We did, didn’t we?” Pearl smirked, “and I do believe the others are out there already,”

“You didn’t return though,” Joel eyed the burn scars along the goddess’ arms, “you died , Pearl,”

“I ascended,” Pearl corrected, “just as you have. Only I simply chose not to return to the Overworld. Now go, Joel. Prepare for the return of our friends,”

“You know where to find me, if you ever need me,” Joel called over his shoulder, closing his eyes.

❅❅❅

Joel sat up in his bed, a new determination coursing through him. He had work to do.

Chapter Text

The last thing Pearl remembered was grasping onto Sausage, begging him to do something, anything , to make the pain stop. Her kingdom was going up in flames, and so was she.

“I’m not healing, Sausage,” Pearl murmured. She was so tired. Her golden wings had fallen limply to the floor of her castle. Pearl distantly heard Sausage call her name in panic, before all she saw was light.

❅❅❅

“PearlescentMoon,” Pearl flinched, hearing her full name. Six spirits surrounded her, the space around them dark and sparkling with stars.

“Who are you?” she asked, her eyes narrowing, “and what do you want? Why am I here?”

“Pearlescent-”

“Just Pearl is fine,” Pearl snapped, “thanks,”

“Farmer Queen,” a fae that vaguely resembled Katherine stepped forward, “we’ve brought you here because Fate ordered it,”

“Fate?” Pearl scoffed, “ Fate didn’t care when my brother was ripped away from me. It didn’t interfere when the empires were attacked by the demon. Why intervene now?”

“Silence, young mortal,” a stag ordered, “we are offering you a deal. A once-in-a-lifetime deal,” Pearl felt silent, listening carefully, as the stag continued, “we are offering to make you a god, like us,”

“A god,” Pearl breathed, “why? Why me?”

“Soon, everyone in the empires will be dead, or gone,” a blue, ocean-themed spirit stepped forwards, “if you were to ascend, you’d get to guide those who remain to their next life. You’d get to see your friends again,”

Pearl bit her lip, considering the gods’ words carefully.

“Well? Do we have a deal?” a flickering, candle-like god spoke up quietly.

“Very well,” Pearl agreed, “I accept,”

❅❅❅

She didn’t remember very much after accepting the gods’ offer. Only waking up in her damaged and broken kingdom. She remembered making Sausage her champion, before guiding him towards new lands, like the other gods instructed. The years blurred passed, until she lost track of time. The only real event she remembered vividly was when a new god ascended.

❅❅❅

“Why are we here today, Aeor?” Pearl had asked the stag, “not to discuss the position of your brother on the council again, I hope?”

“No,” Aeor bared his teeth slightly, before sighing, “I believe Thalassa is the one who summoned us today,” Pearl turned in surprise to the Ocean Goddess.

“I would like to introduce you all to the newest addition to our council,” Thalassa smirked, seemingly proud of herself.

Pearl gaped in shock as a familiar face appeared in the celestial realm.

“Joel?” her eyes were wide, moving towards him, “what are you doing here?”

“Pearl?” Joel blinked, “I could say the same about you,”

“ Peril is the Sunflower Goddess, and has been among our ranks for years,” Exor spoke up, his eyes flashing. Pearl found herself liking the other stag god for the first time.

“Thalassa,” Aeor commanded, “explain yourself and your… company ,”

“This is Joel Thundercheeks,” Thalassa declared. Pearl choked on breath at the name. She shot Joel a look that read ‘seriously?’ , to which he responded by mouthing ‘Peril’ questioningly back at her. Pearl shook her head, as Thalassa continued, “he is the new Sky God,”

“You shared your domains?” The Spring exclaimed incredulously, her fae wings fluttering nervously.

“Why of course,” Thalassa lifted her chin defiantly, “two domains is simply too much for one god,”

“Hah!” Aeor scoffed, “speak for yourself, Thalassa,” the rest of the council fell silent, letting the two gods have their staring contest, until Aeor surprisingly looked away, sighing, “fine. We’ll accept your new… protege,"

“Our new god,” Thalassa corrected, “besides, I’m sure Peril is glad to finally have some real company, rather than just us oldies,” Pearl blinked as all the eyes turned to her.

“Uh… sure,” She coughed awkwardly, “welcome, Joel Thundercheeks,” after her acknowledgement, the council finally accepted Joel, leaving one by one.

“So, you’re a god now too?” Pearl nudged Joel playfully once they were the only ones left.

“I have been for years,” Joel rolled his eyes, “Thalassa’s just never bothered to introduce me,”

“Since the Rapture, then?” Pearl asked hesitantly.

“Yeah,” Joel bowed his head. The two of them fell silent for a moment, “why don’t you come back to the Overworld?” Joel broke the silence finally.

“I can’t,” Pearl let out a nervous laugh, “I made the mistake of appointing Sausage as my champion. Once a god chooses a champion, they can no longer walk amongst mortals,”

“Noted,” Joel nodded, “I… won’t do that then,”

❅❅❅

Pearl continued to watch over Sausage and her friends, spread out across the world, knowing they would meet again someday.

❅❅❅

“Peril. We need to talk about my champion,” Aeor came up to her one day, alone.

“Scott?” Pearl frowned, “isn’t he…?” she didn’t dare say the word dead .

“He will reincarnate soon,” Aeor muttered, “once each of your friends have changed or died, they will all reincarnate,”

“Okay…?” Pearl bit her lip, “and how does this concern me? Or rather, why is this an issue?”

“Once he returns, the world will be plunged back into an eternal winter,” Aeor’s tail thrashed back and forth, “that is the nature of his powers. The mortals will need to be prepared when that day comes,”

“What do you need me to do?” Pearl offered immediately, her golden wings twitching.

“Let your own champion know,” Aeor begged, “when Scott returns, he and his followers will need to cast an ancient ritual,”

“Why Sausage?” Pearl asked, “why not anyone else?”

“He has been possessed by Scott’s brother before,” Aeor’s eyes flashed a fierce cyan-gold, “and the nature of the ritual involves dark magic. A field of which your champion is experienced in,”

Pearl’s face dropped, “I had hoped you would not ask this of me or my champion,” her voice turned venomous, “have you and your brother not done enough to this world, Aeor?”

“I’m sorry,” Aeor turned away, “but it’s that, or the world freezes to death,”

Pearl sighed. “Very well. I will do as you ask, but know this; should anything, and I mean anything, happen to Sausage, I will come for you and Exor,”

Chapter Text

Pix would come to regret his decision to leave the empires for the rest of his life.

He’d lived for millenia, as the Keeper of the Vigil. He’d watched Alinar and Conal fight, was there when the Lost Empire became truly lost, and again when it returned. He saw the rise and fall of empires and monarchs over the centuries, and always hoped to be a guiding light for the other rulers.

But… apparently not.

After his failure to keep the demon from gaining full power, Pix was shunned by not only his own people, but also by the Vigil itself. And so he left. He abandoned his empires, his people, and most regrettably, his friends.

For months, Pix explored the lands just beyond the empires, coming across settlements of people he’d never met before. Lands of goblins, animals, gods, and so much more. It was only when the Vigil reached out to him once more did he return home.

Keeper. The Vigil had whispered in his ears for the first time in months , you must return home. Destruction threatens the empires and the rulers. Pix didn’t even reply, before he was in the sky, spamming rockets towards Pixandria. 

When he returned, it looked… normal. Sure, there was a greater pile-up of sand than usual, but that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for the desert. Plus, maybe the civilians had mysteriously vanished, but this wasn’t exactly the ‘destruction’ he’d thought of. Not here, Keeper. The Vigil murmured, head towards the Grimlands, and you will see what you have missed.

Pix hesitated, his hands brushing against an abandoned candle, lying knocked over in the middle of the road. Go! The Vigil urged, snapping Pix into action. He took off once more, picking up the candle as he went, before soaring towards the general direction of the Grimlands, passing over the Cod Empire and spawn as he did, mentally taking note of the lack of water in the oceans, only to find… a hole.

A big crater, carved into the centre of where the once bustling kingdom stood.

“What?” Pix’s eyes widened, “I didn’t foresee this,”

You wouldn’t have. The Vigil muttered, it took me weeks to get in contact with you. Your connection to the empires and myself are physical, Keeper. The further you are, the less connected you are to the deaths, rebirths and futures of this world.

“You cut me out,” Pix protested, “you refused to talk because of my failure,”

Exor’s champion’s corruption affected my own connection to you. The Vigil explained, by the time I regained connection, you had already fled.

Pix fell silent. Fled. An ugly word. One that described what he had done perfectly. He could see the rotting red vines in the distance, covering Rivendell. He could make out the flickering flames all over Gilded Helanthia and the Crystal Cliffs. He had seen the drained state of the Ocean and Cod Empires. And Pix could only begin to imagine the state of the other empires.

And-

Oh no. His friends. The rulers he’d watched grow up, the ones he’d vowed to protect, after having failed their ancestors more than enough times. He had failed them too.

“Vigil,” Pix called upon his guardian god, “they’re gone, aren’t they?”

They will return. The Vigil promised after a bit, it is written in the stars. You will all meet again.

“But not soon,” Pix finished, pulling out one last candle and a flint and steel. He knelt in the centre of the crater, lighting the candle, “I renounce my position as Keeper of the Vigil and Champion of the God of Death and Rebirth. Pixandria shall return to the sands from which it emerged, and the tales of the Copper King will be forgotten to time,” He laid down his crown beside the candle, watching as the flame slowly licked at the cream-coloured wax.

❅❅❅

Pix left the empires shortly after that. He found himself wandering in new lands, amongst technologies of the new age. Apparently giving up your position as Keeper doesn’t exactly get rid of your immortality, Pix soon found out. 

“Hey! You look new. A rookie?” Pix blinked, finding himself frowning at a man in what appeared to be very casual working attire, covered in dirt and sand.

“A… what?” Pix ran a hand through his messy, long hair. He wasn’t even sure how he got here, but here he was, standing in what appeared to be an excavation area.

“So you’re not an archeologist?” the man blinked, then laughed when Pix continued to stare at him blankly, “name’s Stephen. You?”

“Pixlriffs,” Pix shook Stephen’s offered hand gingerly, “but Pix is fine. I- what do you archeologists do ?”

“We preserve history, by uncovering it,” Stephen grinned, “we ensure no one ever forgets,”

Something about the archeologist’s words stuck with him, even as Pix left the site. Perhaps he couldn’t save his friends and their empires. Perhaps he couldn’t be the Keeper the Vigil expected him to be. But perhaps he could become a keeper of history. Maybe he could keep the memories of the old kingdoms alive.

So that’s what he did. Pix returned to the old empires, finding himself in the ruins of Mythland and Gilded Helanthia, just on the edge of the budding new empires that had begun to emerge. He kept telling stories to anyone who would listen, recanting the stories of Aeor and Exor and their champions, of the Demigod Seablings and the Overgrowth. He spoke of the gnomes, and the empire that became lost, then found, and lost once more. Sometimes, he’d speak of Pixandria, and the Copper King; the Keeper who failed.

But regardless of what he said, he kept the memories alive, and that was all that mattered.

❅❅❅

“Pix?” Pix blinked, watching in shock as an 11 ft tall god landed before him.

“Joel?” Pix stared in disbelief, “how-?”

“You’re back,” Joel shrunk until he was the same height as Pix, pulling him into a tight hug. Pix went slack under Joel’s hold, before awkwardly hugging him back. Neither of them had been particularly into physical affection, but clearly almost a century apart would change things.

“I am,” he whispered in response to Joel’s statement.

“When?” Joel stared in awe at the transformed state of the Wither Rose Alliance’s empires, “why here?”

“Just a few weeks after. And…it felt right,” Pix shrugged, “plus, it’s just on the edge of where the new empires are beginning to arise. Here, I can watch over the new empires,” 

Joel hummed in agreement, before hesitantly adding, “she’s still around, you know. Pearl, I mean. She’s a goddess now,”

“Like you,” Pix observed, cracking a small smile when he saw Joel’s surprised glance, “I’ve been alive for millenia, Joel. Hundreds of times longer than you, at least. I know a god when I see one,”

“Right,” Joel cleared his throat, “they’ll return, you know?”

“I know,” Pix sighed, “I may not be able to see the future anymore, but I have faith,”

“So do I,” Joel shook out the transparent wings on his back, “now tell me everything . I want to know what you’ve been up to for the past century,” 

Pix grinned.

❅❅❅

Keeper. Pix blinked, feeling the heat of the desert on his face; something he hadn’t felt in a long time. He let out a breath he hadn’t even realised he had been holding onto as a figure made of flame descended from the sky.

“Vigil,” Pix bowed his head, “I- how are you…?”

You may have renounced yourself as the Keeper and my Champion, but our connection is mine to sever, not yours. The Vigil’s warm glow filled Pix in a way he didn’t know he had missed until it returned.

“Why have you come to me now?” Pix asked, despite knowing the answer deep down.

Your friends will return soon. The Vigil murmured, you must prepare yourself, Keeper. They may need your guidance once more. Perhaps sooner than you think.

❅❅❅

“Sausage?” Pix frowned as he watched a man climb up the hill towards him.

“Pix?” Sausage looked up, his eyes lighting up, “Joel and Pearl said you were here,”

“Really? Because they said nothing to me,” Pix rolled his eyes, “I hope you don’t mind me building upon Mythland?”

“Go ahead,” Sausage’s eyes grew sad as he eyed the ruins of his old empire, “I love what you’ve done with the place,” he turned back to Pix, glancing at him, “you look… lighter. Less burdened,”

Pix allowed himself the smallest of smiles. The lack of the responsibility of the Keeper would do that.

“So, what’s up?” Pix said instead.

“You know, you should build a statue of Santa Perla where Gilded Helanthia used to be,” Sausage mumbled thoughtfully. Pix blinked, recognising one of the many names for Pearl.

“That’s… not a bad idea actually,” he admitted, already searching the chests around him for blocks. Sausage grabbed him by the wrist. Pix paused.

“Sorry, that’s kind of off topic,” Sausage smiled, “but I guess we could use a little off-topic these days, huh?” he grimaced when Pix didn’t reply, “look, I need a favour, Pix. For Pearl,”

Chapter Text

His empire was gone. All of it, burning up in flames. Joey staggered home, shaking with what he could only describe as unfiltered rage. Jimmy and fWhip will pay for what they have done . He made his way to the room he had built for Xornoth, shoving the crown he’d promised to never touch again onto his head. Joey felt the power and anger flow through him, only slightly aware of the feeling of corruption creeping up his arms and down his fingertips.

He stared at himself in the mirror, humming appreciatively at his red eyes. I need to destroy something before I completely lose my mind. Joey grabbed some TNT, making his way through the other empires. When he finally returned home, his mind was a foggy haze of numbness. 

“I’m the ruler of all rulers!” Joey declared, giggling as he slammed the final head onto his collection. He blinked, hard, as darkness crowded his vision from the edges. Joey could feel the wind rushing beneath his feet as he fell, his parrot wings spreading out in an attempt to catch his fall. He closed his eyes, as he fell into a deep, deep slumber.

❅❅❅

“Hello Joey,” Joey blinked, his eyes wide as he spotted a familiar demon watching him.

“Xornoth?” Joey jumped to his feet, “how are you-?”

“I’ve missed you,” Xornoth leaned forwards, their lips curled in a half-sneer, half-smile.

“M-me too,” Joey stammered, subconsciously reaching for his head. He’d never felt so clear-minded before. This isn’t happening. I have to get the crown off-  

Xornoth grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him in his tracks.

“Oh dear,” the demon purred, “we wouldn’t want that now, would we?” Joey shuddered as he felt the warm sensation of Xornoth’s power spread through him, “are we feeling better now?” Joey grinned, feeling his anger and rage return.

“Much better, Xorny,” he leaned into the demon’s touch. Xornoth laughed, their voice light and heavy all at once.

“Let’s go destroy the world together,”  

Joey had never felt so excited and afraid before in his life.

❅❅❅

“I do,” Joey leaned in to kiss Xornoth, feeling the hot, dry lips of the demon.

“As do I,” Xornoth kissed him back, their leathery grey wings wrapping around Joey’s parrot feathered ones. Joey sighed, content. This life is perfect. He thought to himself, almost as if trying to convince himself, don’t ever wake me up.

❅❅❅

Joey didn’t remember how, but he woke up after living and ruling with Xornoth for years. Joey only remembered opening his eyes to find himself in a cove by the sea, surrounded by people he’d never met before.

“Look, he’s awake!” a young boy called, seeing Joey’s eyes open. Joey jumped to his feet in an instant, hand reaching for his sword subconsciously, only to find his belt empty. 

“Who are you?” Joey hissed, shifting instead into a fighting stance with his hands ready to punch anyone who came near, “and where is Xornoth?”

“Uh… who?” the boy blinked, “and I’m Billy! I’m the cabin boy of the Ender Pearl ,”

“The Ender Pearl?” Joey echoed, then turned to see an entire group of men and women alike, their weapons all out.

“We’re pirates, me hearty,” the biggest, most muscular of the men stepped forward, “these are me crew, I’m the captain. Captain Seymour. And you are?”

“Joey,” Joey backed away, “Emperor of the Lost Empire,”

The pirates blinked at him blankly.

“The what?” Billy chimed in helpfully.

“The Lost Empire?” Joey frowned, “the greatest empire of all time?”

“Never heard of it,” Billy shrugged.

“What about House Blossom? Or Rivendell? Or Mezalea?” Joey’s scowl only deepened when his attempts were met with more confused glances.

“How long were you floating in the ocean for, mate?” Seymour asked, his eyes filled with concern. Joey hesitated.

“I… I don’t know,” he admitted, “last thing I remember was putting on that crown, and falling-” he cut himself off, “show me a mirror!” Joey glanced around frantically, before spotting the crown Xornoth had gifted him discarded in the corner, “how do you have that?” He was barely aware of one of the pirates passing him a small mirror, until it was pressed into his hands. Joey glanced down at it. My eyes- they were normal again. The light, spring green he’d started to miss after seeing red for so many years.

“We found you with it on,” Seymour picked up the crown, “it came off when we fished you out of the sea,” he offered it to Joey, “I assume you want it back?”

“No!” Joey blurted out desperately before he could stop himself, “get rid of it,” The pirates let out murmurs of surprise and displeasure, before Seymour sighed, tucking the crown away.

“Come on, I’ll show you around, seeing as you have nowhere to go,” the captain gestured for Joey to follow him. Seymour grinned, leading him out of the cove, “this, me hearty, is Eversea!”

❅❅❅

Joey ended up joining the rest of the crew of the Ender Pearl . He was a good shot, apparently, and was soon placed as the Master Gunner, then later as Captain Seymour’s First Mate. Joey was aware not everyone was happy with his quick rise through the ranks, but frankly, he didn’t care. He needed something to keep his mind off Xornoth and the crown’s influence.

After a few months of studying the crown, he figured that it had kept him unconscious, but alive, for many years; frozen in time so that he did not age as it was on. A parting gift from Xornoth , Joey thought bitterly.

“All crew to the deck!” Seymour’s voice commanded. Joey jumped up from his spot by his desk, making his way to the main deck.

“What’s up, Captain?” Joey fiddled with his iron rapier, adrenaline rushing through him. He’d come to love the sea; the cool wind combing through his feathers.

“Captain Skeletron,” Seymour’s eyes narrowed, “Cutler says we’ll have to cross paths with him and his crew if we continue down the route we’re currently on,” Joey shuddered, folding his wings carefully. Despite only being with the pirates for a few months, he’d had more than enough encounters with the nefarious pirate to know what Skeletron and his army was like.

“Could we take a different route?” Joey suggested, glancing at Cutler, the navigator. Cutler shook his head.

“With the storms raging over the ocean recently, the route we’re on is the only way back to Eversea,” the navigator glanced at their cook, Cordelia, “unless we have enough rations to camp out here for a bit?”

“Unfortunately not,” Cordelia sighed, running a hand through her greying blonde hair, “we only have enough for about two days,”

“Which is how long it’ll take us to get home with no stops,” Seymour finished, then turned to Joey, “I know I wouldn’t normally ask this, but-”

“You need me to scout ahead,” Joey nodded, spreading his wings, “give me an hour, Captain. I’ll be right back,” he leapt into the air, soaring high above their ship. It had taken him some time to get used to flying over the stronger winds of the ocean, but Joey could now proudly say that he was an expert in this field. It felt good to fly again, and he was secretly glad that he’d preened the night before, despite Billy always complaining about having to clean up the extra dirt and feathers that came loose when he preened.

Joey flinched as he heard a bang and felt something whizz passed him. He glanced down, seeing the familiar flag of Skeletron’s crew, all their cannons aimed at him. Joey pumped his wings harder, rising over the clouds for better cover. I have to get back and warn the crew. He turned, racing back towards his own ship, landing heavily on the deck.

“What did you see?” Captain Seymour raced over, the rest of the crew hot on his heels. 

“Skeletron,” Joey gasped for breath, “he’s only about an hour’s sail from crossing paths with us,” Seymour’s eyes widened.

“Arm the cannons, prepare for battle!” Seymour sprung into action, yelling out commands. Joey raced for the storage room, pulling out bags of gunpowder. He let out a breath of nerves and excitement, grabbing his guns.

❅❅❅

They came earlier than he thought. Joey sounded the alarm, jumping down from the crow’s nest, his wings spreading slightly to slow his fall. He could hear shots beginning to fire all around him. Joey grabbed a pistol, aiming it at the enemy ship, when the sound of an ender pearl activating made him turn around. Two skeleton pirates stood on the deck, brandishing swords. Joey leapt, shooting one of the skeletons and throwing his rapier straight into the other’s ribcage, watching as they both disappeared into ash.

“They have ender pearls!” Joey warned the rest of the crew, picking up his sword from where it lay. He could only watch as many more pearls landed, and tens of skeleton pirates flooded the ship. Distantly, he heard the sound of a young boy scream. Billy. Joey tensed, fighting his way through the enemy pirates towards the cabin boy. “Let him go!” Joey growled, slashing at the skeletons and hauling one off Billy.

“Thanks,” the cabin boy huffed, wiping blood off his cheek, then his eyes widened, “behind you!”

Joey barely had time to turn around before his wings were pinned down by what felt like cold, bony fingers. He froze on instinct, all his muscles tensing whilst his head screamed at him to move.

“Little birdy,” a raspy voice whispered in his ear, “unless you want me to clip these pretty little wings of yours, you’ll stay still,” Joey shuddered, his eyes darting about, before landing on Billy, who stared hesitantly at him.

“Get the captain,” Joey managed to gasp out to the cabin boy, watching as the teenager slipped through the fighting crowd easily.

“Smart,” the man holding him hissed, “you truly value your wings, don’t you?”

“Skeletron,” Seymour appeared before them before Joey could reply, “let my first mate go,”

“Surrender your crew, and maybe I will,” Skeletron’s grip tightened, causing Joey to wince. And Seymour hesitated. He actually hesitated. For Joey.

“Don’t,” Joey found himself saying, “don’t do it, Captain. Not for me,” Seymour’s eyes met his own, an understanding passing between them.

Joey felt a cold metal press against the base of his wings, shivering at the touch.

“You’ve made your choice then,” Skeletron growled, then cut through his left wing in a single, slashing motion. Joey screamed, white-hot pain filling his vision. He couldn’t help as he sobbed, feeling the enemy captain hack at his other wing, until the familiar weight of his wings was completely gone. Joey blinked through tears, watching as Seymour lunged towards him, before he completely blacked out.

❅❅❅

“What happened to your wings?” Joey asked Xornoth, the two of them entwined together as they waited for the rulers to come for Shrub. Xornoth shifted uncomfortably, their face showing a rare amount of emotion.

“They used to be owl wings,” Xornoth answered Joey’s question, something they rarely did, “everyone in the Rivendell royal family has wings. Mine were dark grey,”

“Then why are they…?” Joey gestured at the leathery, bat-like wings that now rested on the demon’s back.

“Exor’s influence,” Xornoth shrugged.

“Exor?” Joey echoed, “who’s that?”

“Someone who’s not very relevant,” Xornoth dismissed, running a hand through Joey’s parrot wings, “maybe I’ll tell you some other time,”

❅❅❅

When Joey woke up again, he almost wished he hadn’t. He could feel bandages across his back, scratching uncomfortably at the base of where his wings were- weren’t. They aren’t there anymore. He glanced around the room for a moment, noting that he was back in his room in Eversea. They must’ve returned back home safely. Good.

“I’m sorry,” Joey turned to see Seymour watching him, face full of sorrow.

“It’s not your fault,” Joey tried to assure his captain, even as emotions of betrayal and resentment coursed through him, “a pirate never surrenders, remember?” 

Seymour continued to stare at him, until Joey finally sighed.

“Can you leave?” he asked bluntly, “I’d like to be alone,”

“Of course,” Seymour stood up, shutting the door behind him. Only then did Joey truly allow himself to break down.

❅❅❅

The second and final encounter they had with Skeletron was almost two years later. Joey had slowly but surely gotten used to the lack of wings, although he still missed his wings all the time. He kept several of his bright feathers; sometimes tucked in books or slipped under his pillow.

It was a clear-skied afternoon when Cordelia burst through his cabin door, her eyes filled with fear and guilt, “Skeletron’s army is here,” Joey was on his feet in minutes, grabbing every weapon in his line of sight.

“Joe! Thank goodness!” Seymour greeted him. Joey smiled at the nickname, even as his captain’s eyes swept over where his wings used to be guiltily, “you have everything?” Joey nodded.

“The crew has been notified,” Cordelia added, before rushing off down to the kitchens to secure the grain stocks.

“I have a good feeling about today,” Joey commented, his eyes trained on the sea, where Skeletron’s fleet awaited them, “I think today could be the day we finally put an end to Skeletron’s conquest,”

“As do I,” Seymour agreed, “he has caused more than enough pain,”

“Captain,” Joey admonished, but said nothing more. The two fell silent for a moment.

“If this battle doesn’t go well,” Seymour murmured hesitantly, “I want you to be captain, Joey,”

Joey blinked, “nothing will happen to you, Captain,” Seymour shook his head, smiling ever so slightly, just as Skeletron’s army began to ender pearl onto their ship. Joey and Seymour exchanged matching glances, before pulling out their weapons. Joey lunged, stabbing any enemy troops that came his way. Fighting always fuelled him, even now, however many years after the Rapture.

“Well well well, we meet again, little birdy,” Skeletron’s familiar raspy voice sent shivers down Joey’s spine. He turned, raising his sword.

“Skeletron,” Joey growled, settled himself into the familiar fighting stance of the people of the Lost Empire; a combat style he hadn’t used in a long time. Before he could do anything, however, a flash of colour swept passed him. “What-” Joey’s eyes widened as he recognised Seymour throwing both himself and Skeletron over the deck.

“Captain!” Joey yelled, reaching for a rope, but finding nothing. Seymour’s eyes met his, a small smile appearing on his face as both Skeletron and Seymour disappeared beneath the violent waves. 

❅❅❅

He was lost. Stupid Joey. Joey scolded himself. You leave Eversea for one day to explore the lands, and you’re already lost. It had been five years since he’d become captain of the Ender Pearl . A few months since he became the King of Eversea.

Still, being lost in the woods wasn’t too bad. The trees still felt like home, no matter how long he’d sailed on the seas for. The only issue is he had completely forgotten which way he’d come from.

“Are you lost?” Joey looked up, frowning as he heard someone laughing in the branches above him.

“Who are you?” he tensed, “show yourself!”

“Classic Joey,” a girl dropped down from the trees, landing before him lightly, “you show up after a whole century , and your first words are show yourself ,”

Joey’s jaw dropped. He’d wondered what had happened to the other rulers - his friends - after the Rapture, but Joey had never really had time to think about it between losing his wings and becoming captain of a ship.

“Katherine?”

“Hey Joey,” the woman in front of him smiled, “it’s been a while,”

Chapter Text

“The Nether isn’t your corrupted home, but merely a gateway to all other realms,” Shrub shivered as the Mother Wolf spoke to her, her eyes glowing softly in the low light of the oak forest, “The Nether is in the darkest part of the Spirit World, that no other spirit or mortal being should ever dare to enter,”

“How does this have to do with my people?” Shrub prompted gently.

“If you go out past the corrupted zone, lies the rest of the Spirit World. And somewhere inside are your people,” the Mother Wolf growled, her paws scratching lightly against the Great Oak tree.

“You found a way to get to my people?” Shrub’s eyes widened as she practically bounced on her toes, “I could find them again?”

“You must return to your empire, Shrub Berry,” the Mother Wolf responded instead, “something terrible has happened. Your friends and your empire need you,”

“Thank you, Mother Wolf,” Shrub murmured, reaching for her elytra, strapping it on tightly around her body, before heading straight for the Undergrove, “it looks the exact same as how I left it,” she gazed upon her empire in wonder, just as she felt the whole world shake.

Shrub stumbled, her mechanical elytra spreading out to stabilize her. She headed for Spawn, landing beside where a pacing Scott was waiting.

“Shrub,” the elf greeted her worriedly, “did you feel that too?”

“I did!” Shrub nodded, her eyes wide, “what was that?” Scott shrugged, his pristine white feathers rustling in the wind. Shrub’s eyes fell to the empty golden chain around his neck, biting her lip guiltily, just as more of the rulers began to arrive.

“What was that?” Joey demanded, his parrot feathers rattling dangerously, “my whole empire is gone!”

“Uh, guys?” a familiar cod’s voice cut through nervously. Shrub snapped her gaze towards Jimmy, “fWhip’s gone. He- all of the Grimlands are gone,”

“What?” Shrub blinked, “how?”

“There’s this huge crater,” Jimmy fidgeted, shifting from foot to foot, “we- we tried to combine cod and salmon in the reactor, and this happened,”

“So it’s your fault my empire’s gone,” Joey spat, drawing back his bow. Shrub reached for her own, although she wasn’t particularly sure what she’d do with it.

“So you’re saying fWhip is gone?” she muttered instead, her eyes wide, just as Gem and fWhip arrived, the Count of the Grimlands covered in burns and soot. Exclamations of surprise swept through the crowd of the gathered rulers, as fWhip and Jimmy went through another short explanation of what had happened. 

Soon, everyone was flying off to check on their empires. Shrub raced towards the Undergrove, stopping only to exchange a short word with Joey, who was (rightfully so) quite mad. She swept her gaze over her ruined kingdom. I can’t stay here any longer. Shrub gathered her wolves, lighting a portal to the Nether.

“I think it’s time I find my people,” she decided out loud, watching as some of her wolves stepped through the portal, until she was the only one left. Shrub turned back. She felt bad, leaving her friends, but she had a duty to find her people.

“Goodbye, Undergrove,” she whispered, before stepping through the swirling purple portal.

❅❅❅

Shrub travelled through the Nether, finding her way through the Spirit World, until she finally found a lit portal, far from the portal from the Undergrove. 

“This… looks familiar,” Shrub turned to her wolves, “right?” there were a few barks of agreement, “well, only one way to find out,” she smiled to herself, before throwing herself in.

❅❅❅

“Shelby, wake up!” Shrub jolted awake, finding herself in the middle of a town she’d never thought she’d see again, “oh my gosh, it’s actually you!” Shrub’s eyes widened.

“Adessa,” she whispered, seeing the brown-haired witch stare down at her with excited, green eyes, “how- you’re alive!”

“You’re alive!” Adessa grinned, “we all thought you were lost forever, Shelby,”

“It’s Shrub now,” Shrub corrected. When Adessa frowned, she added quickly, “You know I’m a gnome, Adessa. I’ve been living as my true self in a land called the Undergrove for the past century. I’ve seen people and things you’d never believe existed!”

“Okay…” Adessa hesitated, “how did you find us again?”

“A Mother Wolf,” Shrub admitted, “she told me to walk through the Nether into the Spirit World, and from there, I found the portal back home,”

“A Mother Wolf,” Adessa echoed in an awed voice, “a Greater Spirit? Wow,” A moment of comfortable silence passed between the two, before Shrub tentatively asked.

“How is everyone else? The other witches of the coven? And… the gnomes?”

“They’re alright,” Adessa smiled warmly, “not all of us made it out, escaping from that demon, but most of us made it here alive. You need to meet with the Greater Witches though. They’ll want to see you. It’s been a hundred years, Shelb- Shrub,”

“Alright,” Shrub nodded, “when do we leave?”

❅❅❅

Shrub paused at the base of the Great Witches Academy, Adessa and one of her wolves beside her. 

“Lesser Witch Adessa,” a witch Shrub didn’t recognise greeted them, “what brings you to the Academy?”

“I wish to talk to the Greater Witches,” Adessa straightened up, her posture tense, “it’s important,” the witch hesitated briefly, but seeing Adessa’s confident expression, he nodded, leading them inside.

Shrub audibly gasped, seeing the dark corridors lit with soul flames and ancient-looking paintings everywhere.

“This place is creepy,” Shrub commented in a low voice, “just like the old academy. When did they have time to build this?”

“This is the old academy, Shrub,” Adessa blinked, “it was never destroyed. Our old home is closer to the new one than you’d think,”

“Xornoth left this place unscathed?” Shrub gasped, surprised.

“Xornoth?” Adessa stared at her blankly.

“Right. Uh- the demon,” Shrub corrected herself, just as they made it to the main meeting room.

“Lesser Witch Adessa is seeking an audience, O’ Great Ones,” the witch accompanying them called, opening the door.

“Send her in,” the familiar voice of Headmaster Nowls replied gruffly. Shrub followed closely behind Adessa, pausing to stand beside her friend. She felt herself unconsciously shrink inwards, seeing the group of gathered witches, watching her judgingly, “well well well, if it isn’t Lesser Witch Shelby. Finally showing your face after a hundred years, huh?”

“I’ve returned,” Shrub nodded, “and it’s Shrub now,”

“So you’ve finally embraced your gnome heritage,” Nowls’ lips drew back in distaste, “I see,”

“I have been in another part of the Overworld,” Shrub continued, “I have met incredible people and empires. I even ruled over my own. The Undergrove! Just like the Gnomeland legend I was told as a-”

“That’s enough,” Nowls huffed, interrupting her sharply, “you know we do not mingle with the empires, Lesser Witch Shelby,”

“I-” Shrub’s voice broke, “then-” a murmur of disapproval swept through the gathered witches.

“You will return to the academy,” Nowls ordered, his voice rising over the quite hubbub “as a witch. It’s best if you forget about this Undergrove and these people you’ve met. Then, perhaps your insolence could be excused,” Shrub fell silent, her head reeling, “we’re offering you a great honour, Lesser Witch Shelby. A place in our academy again. Something a gnome like you would never recieve under ordinary circumstances,”

“Why don’t we give her some time?” Adessa finally spoke out gently.

“Very well,” Nowls growled, “send her into the sitting room to think about our generous offer. And stay behind for a bit, Lesser Witch Adessa,”

Adessa nodded, leading Shrub into the waiting room, guiding her to the sofa. 

“The Greater Witches only want what’s best, Shrub,” Adessa paused at the door, turning back, “just think about it, okay? I’ll be right back,” Shrub sat there in silence. Of course. She’d forgotten how awful the witches of the academy could be. But… Gnomeland has been destroyed. I have nowhere to go. No. I can’t stand for this cruelty. I can’t go back to the academy.

“Hey,” Adessa slipped back into the room, sitting down next to Shrub, her eyes soft.

“I don’t know what to think, Adessa,” Shrub admitted, burying her face in her hands.

“Don’t worry,” her friend offered her a wry smile, “it’ll all be better. I promise,” Shrub flinched, feeling Adessa’s aura shift.

“Adessa, what-” a magic circle appeared beneath her feet, purple and glowing.

Shrub lurched to her feet, lunging towards Adessa, who simply stood there, her hands glowing the same shade of purple. It wasn’t like Gem’s bright violet that Shrub had gotten so used to. It was a dull, sickly purple. A shade Shrub had only seen Sausage use. Dark magic.

“I’m sorry, Shelby,” Adessa said as Shrub found her feet glued to the spot, “like I said, everything will get better. You just need to forget about your old life,”

“Don’t do this, Adessa,” Shrub begged, “you were my best friend,”

“And I still am,” Adessa moved towards her, her hand brushing against Shrub’s cheek, “this is for the best,”

“Adessa is doing the right thing,” Shrub whipped her head around to see Nowls standing there with his arms crossed smugly.

“You!” she hissed, “I should’ve known you put her up to this,”

“Well,” Nowls shrugged, “what can I say?” Shrub gasped as the light around her intensified. Tears were now freely falling from her eyes. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was the Headmaster saying, “it’s better that you forget everything, Shelby,”

❅❅❅

“Shrub!” Shrub turned, her face breaking into a smile.

“Katherine,” the gnome greeted the tall fae brightly, “you’re glowing today!”

“Thank you!” Katherine replied, flushing lightly, “you look great too. What brings you to House Blossom today?”

“I… just wanted to thank you,” Shrub cleared her throat awkwardly, “for coming to save me from Xornoth the other day,”

“Of course,” Katherine’s eyes widened, her voice softening, “what else are friends for?”

“Yeah,” Shrub almost felt disappointed, but smiled anyway, “it’s just- after losing my people, you’re the closest thing I’ve had to a family in years,”

“Aww, Shrub,” Katherine pulled her into a tight hug, “thank you. You’re stronger than you think,” Shrub pulled away, her face hot, “why don’t you stay for the night?” the fae offered, her wings fluttering slightly.

“I’d like that,” Shrub admitted, accepting the offer.

“You’d never forget me, would you, Katherine?” Shrub asked that night, as the two of them sat atop a tree, stargazing.

“Never,” Katherine promised, “as long as you promise to remember me forever too,”

“I promise,”

❅❅❅

Shelby was a good witch. She was finally finishing her studies at the Great Witch Academy! She’d be graduating today, and become a fully-fledged witch, like Adessa. The Headmaster had called her in for a short meeting, though, which Shelby was heading to now.

“You asked to see me, Headmaster Nowls?” Shelby poked her head into his office.

“Miss Shelby! Yes, indeed, come in!” Nowls gestured for her to sit, “how are you feeling, Shelby?”

“Excited, but a little nervous” Shelby admitted, fidgeting with the rim of her hat, “I must thank you, Headmaster. I would not be graduating today without you,”

“Of course,” Nowls huffed, “you are a gifted witch, Shelby. The Coven needs strong witches like you. I called you in today to ask if your memory is still foggy,”

“Yes,” Shelby drooped, “it hasn’t changed since you found me, Headmaster. All I remember is waking up here, at the academy,”
“That’s a pity,” Nowls didn’t sound particularly disappointed, but Shelby shrugged it off, “very well. I’m dispatching you to a town called Evermoore after you graduate,”

“Oh?” Shelby blinked, “may I ask why, Headmaster?”

“I need you to spy on the empires,” Nowls handed her a scroll, which Shelby unravelled to see a map, “we suspect they may be planning to attack us witches, and we need someone to keep an eye on them and relay any information possible. It’s a great honour, Miss Shelby,”

“I understand,” Shelby tucked the scroll into her bag, “I won’t let you down, Headmaster!”

“You may go,” Nowls dissmissed her with a wave of his hand. Shelby nodded, rising. She paused at the door.

“Headmaster Nowls, do you think my memory loss could be magic?”

“Perhaps, Miss Shelby, or perhaps not,” Nowls replied without looking up, “perhaps we’ll never know. Now go. And close the door as you leave, please.”

❅❅❅

Evermoore was a town in a mangrove swamp, just beside a few towns Shelby soon came to know as Eversea and Cogsmeade. She hasn’t quite met their rulers yet, but she’s not particularly in a hurry. The people of Evermoore were quite happy to accept a witch into their midst, grateful for the magic help she provided. It definitely helped that Shelby was declaring herself a “Great Witch” despite being only a Lesser Witch. She knew she’d get in trouble if the Greater Witches found out, but in that case, she’d justify it as being a part of her cover.

Shelby set up her witch’s hut, and helped build Evermoore alongside its people. Many of them are curious about magic, to which Shelby happily gave them some small pointers. The people out here were kind, not malicious in any way, but she chose not to let down her guard just yet. Besides, Adessa was visiting today, and Shelby hadn’t seen her friend in ages.

“Excuse me, could you tell me where to find the Witch Shelby?” Adessa’s familiar voice cut through the quiet sound of crickets chirping and people talking.

“I’m here!” Shelby crashed through the swamp, throwing herself at Adessa and pulling her into a hug, despite the weird alarm bells that screamed in the back of her head.

“Hi!” Adessa laughed, hugging her back, “what’s with the hug?”

“Can’t I be excited to see my friend?” Shelby protested, pulling away, “what did you want to give me?”

Adessa sighed, her face falling. What appeared to be guilt appeared on her friend’s expression.

“I’ve wronged you, Shrub,”

“Shrub?” Shelby echoed, “that’s a gnome’s name, Adessa. And what are you talking about? You’ve been nothing but an amazing friend to me,”

“Right, sorry,” Adessa grimaced, “Shelby. I- just-” she let out another loud exhale, before reaching into her satchel and pulling out two scrolls and passing them to Shelby, “take these. They’ll explain everything. I should never have listened to the Greater Witches,”

“What?” Shelby blinked, “what’s wrong with the Greater Witches?”

“Just… be careful, alright?” Adessa bit her lip, “you’ll likely never see me again. So… goodbye, I guess?” she turned to go.

“Adessa, wait!” Shelby caught her friend by the wrist, “you’re not making any sense! Why do you have to go?”

“I’m sorry, Shelby,” Adessa shook her head, “it’ll all make sense soon enough. Just read the scrolls,”

“Okay…” Shelby stepped back, watching as her friend disappeared back into the swamp.

❅❅❅

Shelby laid out the two scrolls on her desk, unrolling one of them. It appeared to be a report of plans of some kind in what was undoubtedly Headmaster Nowl’s messy handwriting.

‘7th of August, the Thirteenth Century

The gnomes of Gnomeland are too powerful. We must eliminate them before their magic becomes greater than our own. There are rumours of a demon from the far north. The champion of the Stag God Exor. The empires cannot suspect that it was we who plan to destroy Gnomeland. Legend says that if one can spread enough corruption into the Spirit Realm, it will become a land known as the Nether, where the demon Xornoth resides. We will blame the destruction of Gnomeland on the demon.’

Shelby could feel her heart hammering loudly. She didn’t know much about Gnomeland, but something deep inside of her roared with rage and grief. Shelby turned to the scroll over to read the back. It was another report two, but both were clearly written after the first.

‘12th of December, the Fourteenth Century

Gnomeland is gone. We have had to destroy part of our old coven village to prevent suspicion from rising, but it is a sacrifice we were willing to make. There is one sole survivor. A gnome who calls herself Shrub Berry. The empires have been made aware, and are keeping a close eye on us. We will have to raise Shrub to be a witch. We shall name her Shelby.’

“No way,” Shelby almost dropped the scroll, “I’m not a gnome! I’m human!” she forced herself to keep reading.

‘31st December, the Fourteen Century

We have destroyed the rest of our old village, after ensuring the survival of our witches. Shelby has disappeared, but we suspect she has either escaped or is dead. Let us hope she never returns.’

Shelby turned to the other scroll, her head spinning madly. It appeared to be a spell of some kind. Didn’t recognise the runes, but it appeared to be dark magic. A shiver went through her spine. Dark magic is forbidden. Why would Adessa have this? Shelby squinted to read the description below the spell.

‘A memory altering spell. Removes any memories of the caster’s choice. Changes any features that may hint at the past memories. For example, if the caster wishes to remove memories surrounding an injury of some kind, the injury will disappear. It is unclear how powerful this spell could be, but I suspect it could even change a player’s code and physiology. Memories may or may not return over time.’

Shelby was shaking. She exhaled slowly, trying to calm down. Adessa called me Shrub. She said she wronged me. Did she… cast this spell on me? Is this why I can’t remember anything? Shelby sat up, grabbing a pen and more paper, determination sweeping through her. She had to find a way to get her memories back.

❅❅❅

“As long as you promise to remember me forever too,”

Shelby sat up with a gasp. Ever since she’d begun to experiment different spells on herself a year ago, she’d been having weird dreams. She could never remember who appeared or what happened, but it felt important. The voice in her dreams was something reoccuring. Something she always remembered when she woke up.

Shelby hauled herself out of bed, throwing on a coat and heading outside. She greeted some of the civilians, before heading up north. She’d started making a habit of exploring the other empires every day. Shelby had gone in every direction except north now. She never ran into anyone, but it was peaceful. Grounding. 

Shelby spotted a beautiful white and pink city in the distance. She landed lightly, her elytra folding gently over her back. Something about the city seemed to draw her in. Shelby wandered along the streets, meeting some of the people there. It was only when the sun was high in the sky and she was beginning to head back when a voice made her pause.

It was the voice. The one in her dreams that dripped with honey and felt like home.

“Shrub?” Shelby turned, her eyes widening. It was someone she’d never met before, but somehow it felt right. Like she’d been waiting to see this person for years. Like a hole in her heart she hadn’t even realised was there was finally filled. Shelby didn’t know how, but a name was soon on her lips, like it had never left.

“Katherine,”

Chapter Text

One upside to being the new Sheriff of Tumble Town was the access to an ender chest. Jimmy hadn’t seen, let alone opened, one since the Rapture, so when he was finally presented with one, it had come as a surprise.

“A what?” Jimmy almost jumped out of his seat as Jones grinned sheepishly.

“Uh, an ender chest? Like a chest where the items inside can only be accessed by the person opening it?” Jones shifted from foot to foot.

“I know what an ender chest is, Jones,” Jimmy rolled his eyes, “but you’re saying I can have an ender chest?”

“Yeah…?” Jones frowned, confused, “why? Is that not normal wherever you come from?”

“Not at all!” Jimmy held back the words of doubt. Sure, the Cod Empire hadn’t been particularly rich, but Tumble Town was barren compared to his homeland. He hadn’t expected a small town like his new home to be able to afford an ender chest, “aren’t they just… really expensive?”

“Ah,” Jones laughed, finally understanding where Jimmy was coming from, “well, yes, technically, but the goblins from Gobland are masters at forgery, and where quite interested in buying some gunpowder in exchange for an ender chest,” He happily slammed down the obsidian-like chest onto Jimmy’s table, “go on!”

“Thanks,” Jimmy hesitated, “do you mind if I have to room to myself for a bit?” Jones glanced at Jimmy, shrugged, then nodded, before leaving the Codfather-turned-Sheriff’s office. Once he was alone, Jimmy anxiously opened it, his eyes immediately welling up with tears. One by one, he began to pick out the items he’d left in his chest before the Rapture. Nearly a century ago.

Lizzie’s trident. A gift given to Jimmy by his older sister when he rose as Codfather decades ago now. Jimmy turned it in his hands, feeling the sharp prongs of the trident, careful not to draw blood (he still pricked himself a little regardless). 

Some extra rockets and a golden apple, which Jimmy immediately pocketed, half-glad that golden apples never went off, unlike ordinary apples.

A totem of undying, gifted by Pix. He couldn’t remember when, but he remembered the other ruler pressing the totem into his hands, asking him to keep it on him at all times, at least until Xornoth was defeated. After the demon was gone, Jimmy had kept it stashed away in his ender chest. 

A locket. Jimmy didn’t remember ever opening it, but when he did, it was a portrait of Thalassa. Lizzie must’ve left it for him at one point, and he’d forgotten about it. Jimmy shoved it back into the bottom of his ender chest bitterly.

A poppy, encased in ice. Jimmy picked it up as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Jimmy remembered when Scott had appeared at his door one night to apologise for stealing the Crown from him. He’d handed Jimmy a poppy, frozen inside a ball of shimmering blue ice.

“It’ll never melt,” Scott had promised, “and the poppy will never die,”

Jimmy had decided that forgiving Scott had been one of the best decisions he’d ever made in his life.

Jimmy wiped his eyes, tucking the frozen poppy gently back into the chest. Although he trusted Scott’s magic would hold against the heat of the mesa, he didn’t want to take any chances, just in case. 

Finally, his eyes fell upon one last item. 

A singular long, white flight feather, strung onto a simple, golden chain. Jimmy cupped his hands around it, feeling the softness of the feather. It was one of Scott’s. He stroked the feather lightly, before he looped the chain around his neck, allowing the feather to rest against his heart. He’d tucked it away into his ender chest the day of the Rapture, not wanting it to get in the way of whatever fWhip had had planned.

“Dammit,” Jimmy whispered, watching as his tears fell onto his desk. He slammed his ender chest shut, leaning back heavily against his chair. He’d thought he’d already grieved enough, but clearly he was still stuck in the past. Jimmy slipped Scott’s bracelet off his wrist, tracing the careful engravings he’d made all those years ago with his finger. He was convinced that the band had protected him, somehow, during his duel with Sheriff Fury. The rush of cold power he’d felt could not be a coincidence.

Jimmy planted a small kiss onto Scott’s feather.

“I’ll wait for you forever,” he whispered, “just don’t leave me alone for too long, okay?”

This time, Jimmy was 100% sure that the feather glowed a soft gold. If the band had released a cold energy, the feather exuded warmth and reassurance. Distantly, Jimmy heard Scott’s voice murmur back;

“I’ll see you again, soon, Petal. I promise,”

Chapter Text

Katherine had lived a long life. A long, long life. Okay, maybe not as long as Pix or Scott, but she was still a few centuries old. Katherine thought she’d at least make it through most her life without anything too drastic happening. And it was true, at least for the first two hundred years. Sure, there’d been small feuds between the Cod and Salmon colonies, and Aeor and Exor’s champions were always out there causing trouble, but for the most part, the Overgrown was a safe refuge for all those who needed it. 

But that all changed when things started to pick up on her two hundredth year of being alive (and technically her ninetieth or something of ruling House Blossom). First the Cod Empire became an independent kingdom to the Ocean Empire, then the Lost Empire returned, then a demon was released and Joey tried to elope with the demon, then the demon turned out to be Scott’s long-lost brother, who then got trapped in a crystal.

And just as she thought her life couldn’t get any more dramatic, Scott had to have lost his control over his ice powers, starting the beginnings of an eternal winter, before everything was… alright again? 

And now. This weird thing that was happening now that Count fWhip and Codfather Jimmy had decided it would be a good idea to combine cod and salmon.

Katherine only remembered the rumble and everything shaking violently. She’d rushed to Spawn, her butterfly wings fluttering nervously on her back as she spotted the other rulers.

“What happened?!” She exclaimed, rushing over to where Scott, Sausage and Shrub were already gathered.

“I don’t know,” Scott was the one to respond first, “all I felt was that weird tremble,”

“Same here,” Shrub piped up, grabbing onto Katherine’s arm, “are you alright?”

“Yeah,” the fae murmured in response, “are you? I haven’t seen you since-”

“Fine,” Shrub lent her a small smile, just as more of their friends began to arrive. Katherine honestly zoned out after that, the words hardly reaching her. She could hear the voices of plants all around her, screaming.

Burning! Burning! Everything burning!

Hurts. Fire hurts.

Save us, Guardian!

“Katherine,” Shrub touched Katherine on the arm lightly. Katherine jolted slightly, her eyes snapping to the gnome, “we’re all checking on our empires. You should probably go too,” Shrub whispered, “I’ll see you later?” Katherine nodded, watching as Shrub took off, disappearing amongst a flurry of firework sparks.

Katherine spread her wings, fluttering towards her own empire, frowning when she spotted nothing out of the ordinary.

“It… looks fine,” she frowned. Katherine blinked as many of her people began to surround her, demanding answers. She let out a frustrated sigh, before hovering above the civilians to address everyone, “no one knows what is happening,” Katherine declared, despite knowing that was a lie, “just stay calm, everything will be alri-”

The world trembled again, and the ground split open. Screams filled the air, as Katherine’s people began to run, until there was no one in sight. 

“Wait! Please, just-” Katherine sighed, landing softly onto the grass. Cracks had begun to split across the Overgrown, lava pouring from the world’s core.

Pain. Pain. Pain! Make it stop!

World splitting!

Katherine clutched her head, trying to silence the screams of nature all around her.

“Spring! Please!” she begged, tears already pouring from her eyes, “it’s too loud!” Katherine gritted her teeth, pushing herself to stand straight despite the splitting headache. She let out a gasp as she realised what was making the plants cry so loudly. It’s all withering away. Katherine could only watch as a flower turned grey before vanishing to ash right before her eyes.

“I can fix this,” Katherine told herself, “I have to. I’m the Guardian of the Spring! This- I can fix this,” she closed her eyes, trying to connect to her magic. Katherine let out a strangled gasp as she poured all her energy and power into the withering plants around her. 

Nothing.

The Overgrown was dying. Nature was dying. 

I’m sorry, my champion. The Spring’s soft voice whispered in her ears.

“Don’t abandon me,” Katherine whispered, crumbling to her knees. She grasped at her back, watching sadly as her butterfly wings melted into nothingness. They’d been a gift from the Spring, but without nature- 

Katherine let out a relieved sigh when all the cries of pain around her went silent, only to catch herself mid-sigh. 

“Spring?” Katherine called out, only to be met with silence. She tried again, this time addressing the plants around her. Still silence. Katherine stared in stunned disbelief, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Her head hadn’t been this quiet since she had been chosen. It was nice, in a way; finally being able to think for herself. 

But still, it was only confirmation.

She was truly alone now.

❅❅❅

Katherine spent two years searching. She relearnt how to use an elytra, but still chose to walk most of the time. Using fWhip’s mechanical winged-invention felt like a cheap replacement for her wings. 

The first year, Katherine searched for her friends. She travelled to each of the kingdoms in search of her friends. Over that time, Katherine learnt to be relieved when she found nothing. In Rivendell, she only found an unmarked gravestone that she instinctively knew had to be the elven king’s. All the other empires were empty, which Katherine had to remind herself was a good thing. It gave her hope. It meant the other rulers could still be alive, somewhere out there.

She spent the second year searching for her people. Katherine felt awful abandoning her civilians to search for the other rulers, so when she finally did return to what was now a crumbling Overgrown, she returned with the intention to find her people. Again, Katherine found nothing. Nothing alive, at least. Was this how Shrub felt every day, not knowing whether her people were lost, dead, or alive?

The third year, Katherine finally brought out the courage to leave the empires behind. She spent the first few months using her elytra to get as far away from her home as possible. After it broke, Katherine walked, before learning to ride a horse. Decades passed (curse her fae heritage for her immortality), and still she continued to travel.

It was during these travels that she came across a kingdom not unlike House Blossom. It was the crack straight down the middle of the empire that really made Katherine stop though. GlimmerGrove was an empire built out of pristine whites, pinks and purples. Or at least, half of the city was, anyway. The other half was a blackened mess, like all the light had been sucked out of it.

Katherine looked away, feeling sick. It looked just like the Overgrown when she’d left it; withering and cracked. Broken. Abandoned. There was no one around; the city was completely vacated. Perhaps it was curiosity that drew her to the palace. Surprisingly, there were still a few guards and what looked to be advisors around the palace.

“You-” 

Katherine paused outside the castle gates, seeing that what appeared to be a noble lady was staring at her, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

“Uh, hi?” Katherine tried to wave in what she hoped was a friendly manner.

“Who are you?” the lady asked, her voice quiet and hushed. Any quiet chatter that had been around before was gone now. Everyone was staring at them. Great.

“My name’s Katherine,” Katherine offered, “why… Why is everyone staring?”

“I’m sorry,” the lady apologised, clearing her throat, flustered, “it’s just- you look just like the late queen and princess,”

“I… do?” Katherine shrugged, “well I come from far away,” she wasn’t sure why she mentioned this, but it helped. The few people began to look away.

“I’m Maple,” the lady introduced herself, “I used to be the queen’s maid, before the royal family was…” she grimaced, trailing off. Katherine shuddered.

“Assassinated?” she guessed, clearing her throat awkwardly when Maple only looked away, confirming Katherine’s suspicions, “is that why the city is so empty?”

“GlimmerGrove is cursed,” Maple admitted, “when the princess was born, an earthquake shook and split our empire in half. Half of the city lost its light and was plunged into darkness. Most of our people have fled to the outer villages. Those of us who remain in the city were loyal to the royal family. The rest of the empire wouldn’t accept us,”

“When…?” Katherine fiddled with her hair. She wasn’t sure why she was still here, but something deep inside her seemed to be drawn to this empire.

“Almost seventy years ago,” Maple frowned when Katherine flinched.

“That’s around the time of the Rapture,” she whispered under her breath, “but how did the earthquake reach here?”

“The what?” Maple blinked.

“Nothing,” Katherine dismissed, “um… if the royal family is gone, who’s running the kingdom?” Maple drooped, her auburn hair falling over her face.

“Oh,” Katherine drew herself up, “if you don’t mind, I could try to help you with your curse?” After all, it is mine and my friends’ fault that this happened to this empire.

“That…” Maple hesitated, “I know those in the city would appreciate it, but how would you be able to help? You’re not from around here,”

“Let’s just say I have some experience with these kinds of things,” Katherine allowed herself a small grin.

❅❅❅

Twenty-five years passed. Katherine was crowned as the “princess” of GlimmerGrove, a title she begrudgingly accepted, knowing that it was the only way she’d be allowed to stay and help. At some point at the 5-year mark, a strange cold had swept across the lands, but it had disappeared almost as quickly as it came. She had long laid down her pacifist ways, practicing in secret to fight the monsters that appeared at night. 

It was during one of her walks out in the woods when she heard someone grumbling to themselves. A very familiar someone. Katherine scaled up a tree, crouching over a branch as she heard Joey’s voice quietly.

“Stupid Joey. One day you try exploring and you’re already lost,” the parrot hybrid was muttering to himself frustratedly.

“Are you lost?” Katherine giggled, unable to contain her laughter as Joey whipped his head around frantically.

“Who are you? Show yourself!” Joey’s hand was on what appeared to be a sword Katherine didn’t recognise. She noticed with a pang of pain and shock that his flashy parrot wings were noticeably missing from his back.

“Classic Joey,” Katherine dropped down from her branch, lightly landing with a grin, “you show up after a whole century, and your first words are show yourself,”

She almost laughed again when Joey’s jaw dropped, his eyes wide in shock.

“Katherine?” Joey stumbled backwards, blinking fast and hard.

“Hey Joey, it’s been a while,” Katherine punched him lightly on the shoulder, “where have you been? And how… how are you still alive?” Joey’s face fell.

“Gift from Xornoth,” the wingless avian growled bitterly, “and you? How are you here?”

“We’re not as far from the old empires as you think,” Katherine shrugged, “I’ve got so much to catch you up on, but in the meantime…” she smiled, “you look…”

“Tortured? Tired? Ugly?” Joey guessed, tensing.

“I was going to say different. Lighter,” Katherine finished.

“Oh,” Joey blinked, “I guess. Are you… a pirate too?”

“A what?” Katherine barked out a laugh, “no way! What makes you think that?”

“I… nevermind,” Joey flushed.

“You’re a pirate, aren’t you?” Katherine guessed, grinning.

“Like you said, we’ve got a lot to catch up on,” Joey shrugged.

❅❅❅

The next time Katherine saw another one of her friends was when she heard the rumours of a witch in GlimmerGrove. She’d made her way towards the city centre out of curiosity and hope that perhaps someone with magical capability could help her with the whole curse-situation. What Katherine didn’t expect to see was a dark-brown haired girl with golden eyes that made her heart pick up in pace.

“Shrub?” Katherine tried hesitantly, despite knowing that this couldn’t possibly be her… friend? Crush? Girlfriend? They hadn’t quite sorted it out before the whole cod-salmon-combining-explosion incident. First, this girl was too young to be the gnome. Too tall, too. But all her doubts disappeared when the girl turned around, her eyes widening.

“Katherine,” the witch breathed.

“Shrub!” Katherine darted forwards, wrapping Shrub into a tight hug. To her surprise the other girl didn’t hug her back, only patted her arm gently. Katherine released her, stepping back with a small frown, “Shrub?”

“It’s Shelby now,” the gnome-turned-witch smiled sadly, “I- it’s a long story, but basically I found my people again but then I had my memories wiped and-”

“You WHAT?” Katherine grabbed Shrub Shelby by the shoulders, before letting her go quickly.

“Long story,” Shelby shrugged, “but my memories are slowly returning, I think?”

“Shru- Shelby,” Katherine addressed the witch seriously, “be honest with me. Do you remember me?” The witch drooped, her shoulders hunching guiltily..

“No,” Shelby admitted, “I just- it felt right. Like you’re someone I’ve been waiting to see for a long time,” 

Katherine’s heart felt like it was going to burst.

“I- can I hug you again?” she tried, fidgeting with the ends of her dress. Shelby offered her a small smile.

“I’d like that,” the witch barely had time to finish her sentence before Katherine had pulled her into another hug. When the two finally released one another again, it was Shelby who spoke first, “if you don’t mind… could you maybe… tell me about myself?”

Katherine felt warmth spread across her face at the request.

“Of course,”

❅❅❅

A few months passed. During this time, Katherine visited Evermoore; Shelby’s new kingdom. The two often met up to talk, and Katherine could see that more and more of the former gnome’s memories were beginning to return. There were days when Shelby would hold a full conversation about some House Blossom meeting or Joel and Lizzie’s wedding. But there were also days when Katherine would break down when Shelby would stare at her blankly, sadly shaking her head. ‘No, Katherine, I don’t remember.’

Three months into the endeavour, Shelby had been over at Katherine’s palace for tea when a letter arrived for the princess of GlimmerGrove. 

“What is it?” Shelby asked curiously as Katherine took the letter. Katherine’s eyes scanned the paper, blinking in surprise.

“It’s an invitation,” Katherine handed the letter to Shelby, “I think you’re invited too. It looks like… the princess of Dawn is asking for a meetup with all the leaders of the empires,”

“Huh,” Shelby traced her finger along the words of the letter, “I haven’t met the other rulers yet. Have you?”

“No, not really,” Katherine set the paper down guiltily. Back when she was Guardian of the Overgrown, she would’ve been the first to reach out and make sure she knew everyone. But it had been almost a hundred years. Things changed, “other than you, only Joey,”

“Then we should probably go,” Shelby decided, smiling at Katherine, who almost melted seeing this, “let’s see who these snobby rulers are!” 

Katherine held back a startled laugh.

“Yes, let’s,”

Chapter Text

fWhip could only feel an overwhelming amount of guilt and grief, riding the back of Gem’s dragons as the twins escaped from the empires. It was all his fault. He’d been the one to invite Jimmy to the Grimlands. He’d created the reactor, and he’d been the one to run the experiment, despite knowing the risks.

“fWhip,” his sister’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, her soft, concerned eyes turning to him, “you know I forgive you, right?”

“I-” fWhip turned away, his voice catching in his throat, “how could you? Everything- our homes are all gone because of me,”

“How could I not?” Gem laid a hand on his shoulder, “you’re my brother, fWhip. And as stupid or brash you might be, I’ll always be on your side,” she blinked, “it’s getting dark. Let’s land here for the night,” 

Gem whistled a sharp command, as the white dragon dove down towards the ground. fWhip barely held back a yelp of fear and shock at the sudden speed, his stomach lurching as the dragon landed heavily. Gem watched the second dragon, carrying Violet on its back, land with a fond smile.

“You coming?” Gem called over her shoulder, jumping off the dragon with ease.

fWhip let out a huff, slowly making his way down after his twin. Gem let out a delighted squeal as the baby ender dragon crawled back onto her shoulders.

“Violet and I are going to scout out for a bit,” Gem told him, drawing her staff from its sheathe on her back, “try to get some rest. Maybe make dinner, if you’re up for the task,”

“‘If’?” fWhip rolled his eyes indignantly, “I’ll have a feast ready when you’re back. Stay safe out ther!” he called after his sister as she disappeared over the hill with Violet wrapped still around her.

“‘If you’re up for the task’,” fWhip scoffed affectionately, “who does she think she’s talking to?” He drew his bow and arrow, aiming it at a nearby pig, only for his arrow to miss. The pig turned, startled by the movement, before running away. fWhip let out a frustrated yell. His muscles ached from all the travelling, and he still had a few minor burns from the explosion. He threw himself onto the ground with an exhausted groan, gingerly starting a small fire.

It wasn’t long before Gem returned, grinning.

“No feast?” she teased, “too bad. I found a village just beyond the hill. I asked around, and we can stay there, at least for the night,” fWhip sat up, grabbing whatever few belongings they’d brought with them, following close behind Gem. 

It turned out to be a very typical village. Oak wood and very little real architectural brilliance or creativity.

“It was this or camping out outside,” Gem shrugged, noticing fWhip’s expression. The Count sighed, resigned.

The villagers froze when the two approached the village.

“Miss Gem…” one of them whispered in an urgent, hushed voice, “that’s the Count of the Grimlands,”

“Uh, yes?” Gem blinked, “the brother I was telling you about,”

“Your brother is the Count?” another villager exclaimed, eyes wide, “don’t you know how violent and dangerous he is? Rumour has it that he caused some explosion that wiped out many of the empires,”

“I-” Gem glanced at fWhip, “he’s not-”

“Is it true?” the first villager asked, her eyes burning into fWhip’s, “did you cause the Rapture?”

“So they already have a name for it,” fWhip drooped, “yes. It’s true,” a gasp spread through the village.

“You must leave,” a third villager commanded, an axe already in his hands, “I’m sorry, but we can’t provide shelter for a criminal,”

“He’s- we’re not criminals!” Gem cried, “please! One night, that’s all I ask,”

“I’m sorry,” the villager repeated, shaking his head, “please, just leave,” Gem slumped, turning back to fWhip and dragging him out.

“I’m sorry,” fWhip whispered, “I-”

“Hush,” Gem murmured gently, “they were jerks anyway,” fWhip couldn’t stop himself from letting out a bark of startled laughter at the venom in his sister’s voice, “we’ll sleep with the dragons tonight, then search for a place to properly stay and recuperate,”

❅❅❅

But the next village was the same.

“It’s Count fWhip of the Grimlands!”

“Murderer!”

“He caused the Rapture!”

And the next.

“It’s Count fWhip!”

“Leave! Before we make you!”

“You’re not welcome here!”

“I’m sorry, Gem,” fWhip told his sister in tears after the fifth village rejected them.

“This isn’t working, fWhip,” Gem shook her head, “we need a way to start fresh. A clean slate,” 

“If only people didn’t recognise me,” fWhip muttered, fiddling with the frayed ends of his red scarf. Gem sat up straighter, her eyes brightening.

“fWhip, you might just be a genius!” she moved towards her satchel, rummaging through the books she’d managed to bring with her, “aha!”

“What is it?” fWhip peeked at the spellbook curiously, despite not being able to read a single word on the page.

“A spell,” Gem rolled her eyes, then giggled when fWhip punched her lightly on the arm, “it’s a spell that can alter a person’s memory, but can also change a person’s physiology,”

“Isn’t code-changing magic considered dark magic?” fWhip frowned. He may have been born without magic, but he’d spent enough time around Gem and Sausage to understand some of the basics.

“Well… yes,” Gem admitted, before quickly adding, “but! I can alter the spell so instead of altering memories, it simply changes a person’s physiology. It can’t be that hard,”

Before fWhip could object, Gem was already sketching out magic circles and writing out words in Galactic.

“There!” she grinned, “that should change our appearances permanently without messing with our memories,” Gem turned to fWhip, already fiddling with an amethyst shard, “what do you think?”

“I…” fWhip felt a small smile creep onto his face, “I think it could work,”

“Great!” Gem pushed any spare spellbooks out of the way, “what would you-”

“But,” fWhip interrupted, “I want you to remove my memories too,”

“Of course you- wait what?!” Gem froze, her mouth dropping.

“It’s too much, Gem,” fWhip fell to his knees before his sister, “knowing that I caused the death of everyone in my kingdom. People I swore an oath to protect. Not only that, but I also destroyed the Lost Empire, your empire, and Gods know how many others,”

“fWhip-”

“I can’t do this anymore, Gem,” fWhip could feel hot tears sliding down his face, “I can’t look in the eyes of another person and keep wondering whether my actions caused the death of someone they loved,”

“But-”

“Please, Gem,” fWhip begged, his voice soft, “I need this. Like you said, it’s a second chance. A clean slate,”

“And you want to forget me too?” Gem’s voice was sharp and cold, but fWhip could hear her composure breaking, “your own sister? Don’t you think that’d hurt me too?”

“You’re stronger than I am, Gem,” fWhip bowed his head guiltily, “you always have been,”

“Are you sure?” Gem dropped to the ground beside him, her expression broken and hurt.

“I am,” fWhip whispered.

“Very well,” Gem stood up, her green eyes flashing purple, “your wish is my command, Count fWhip,” fWhip flinched, but said nothing.

“A goblin,” he muttered.

“What?”

“I want to be a goblin,” fWhip clarified, “perhaps I could use this inventive mind of mine for a better cause that way,”

Gem nodded, biting her lip. fWhip knew she was trying hard not to cry. A purple magic circle appeared beneath his feet; his sister’s familiar warm glow filling his vision, until all he saw was purple.

“I’ll miss you,” he heard Gem whisper distantly. fWhip didn’t have time to reply, before everything went dark.

❅❅❅

fWhip awoke somewhere underground.

“You’re awake,” a gruff voice made him look up.

“Who are you?” fWhip sat up, rubbing his head with a frown.

“Who are you?” a green goblin stepped into the dim torch light, his eyes challenging.

“Goblin fWhip,” fWhip introduced himself, blinking.

“Goblin Vronk,” the green goblin shook fWhip’s hand, “how did you get here, Goblin fWhip?”

“I…” fWhip frowned, “I don’t remember,” Vronk squinted at him for a minute, as if trying to decide whether or not fWhip was lying, before sighing.

“Well, no matter! A goblin in the City of Gobland is a friend of all goblins!” Vronk grinned, “what is your talent, Goblin fWhip?”

“Building,” fWhip declared, despite something deep inside of him whispering creation. 

“An architect!” Vronk clapped him on the back, “we haven’t had a good one in years!”

“Yeah,” fWhip eyed the crumbling buildings around the huge cave, “I can see that. Perhaps I could help with that,”

“You are truly a friend, Goblin fWhip!” Vronk declared. More goblins were beginning to emerge from the shadows of the underground, greeting fWhip like he’d been amongst them for forever. fWhip could barely contain the happiness that began to bloom in his heart. He had a feeling he was going to fit right in.

❅❅❅

It was on a diplomatic mission to Dawn when fWhip ran into someone who appeared to know him. It had been almost eighty years since fWhip had woken up in the City of Gobland, and he’d been accompanying the Goblin King as his Chief Architect. Time passed differently underground, fWhip soon discovered, and goblins lived long lives thanks to the magic of the caves that ran through their blood. Despite his hazy (or more like empty) memories, fWhip had never questioned his past. After all, goblins didn’t usually venture out of the Goblin Empire.

They’d been meeting the new princess of the Sun Empire, when a ginger-haired girl with orange butterfly wings froze upon seeing him. Like, froze froze.

“fWhip?” the princess’ jaw dropped, her face paling. fWhip blinked.

“Who are you?”

❅❅❅

fWhip and Princess Gem soon became friends. Whilst Gem assured him that the nature of their meeting was purely a coincidence, and that she’d simply mistaken him for an old friend by the same name, fWhip was still unconvinced.

“Have you met any of the other rulers yet?” Gem asked one day, almost twenty years later. They both looked the same, and felt just as young.

“No,” fWhip blinked, “maybe I should invite them to an afternoon tea or something,”

“Afternoon tea?” Gem echoed, laughing, “that’s unlike you,”

“Not really,” fWhip shrugged, “goblins surprisingly like a good tea,” Gem went strangely quiet after that, but eventually agreed to help fWhip write up some invites.

“I haven’t met them yet either,” she told him whilst sorting out envelopes, “I’m kind of looking forward to it,”

“Same here,” fWhip grinned, “although… I’m not a ruler, Gem. Is it really okay for me to-”

“You can be my plus-one,” Gem cut him off with a wink, “if anyone has any objections, I’ll just tell them you’re my brother,”

“Ha!” fWhip rolled his eyes, “as if they’d believe that. I’m a goblin, you’re a…” he trailed off.

“Butterfly hybrid,” Gem filled in helpfully, “or fae, of some kind,”

“Sure,” fWhip filled with a strange excitement. It felt like something he’d been waiting for decades for. Maybe it’s Fate, he decided, whoever I’m going to meet, I’m sure we’re all going to become great friends.

Chapter Text

Gem could only watch as her twin brother changed before her eyes; shrinking down and his skin turning a strange green colour. He vanished as her magic transported him somewhere safe; somewhere where others like him could help and protect him. Gem’s lip trembled as she fell to her knees, tears finally streaming down her face.

fWhip was a goblin now; a hybrid that could live a very long time. And Gem- Gem was still human. She wiped her tears away, redrawing the magic circle into the ground with whatever energy she had left. For a moment, she considered erasing her own memories. Clearing the slate and starting over. But she couldn’t. Because what if one day she ran into her brother again? What if she could undo the spell one day, and they could be reunited once more? No. Gem couldn’t wipe her memories.

But she could change her code. Make it so that she could live just as long as fWhip, so that she may have a chance of running into him again. Gem thought about the many different types of people she’d met in her life; she thought of her friends. She thought of the graceful elves, the goofy merfolk, the cunning avians, and- 

The fae.

Half-humanoids that could live forever. People with pointed ears or beautiful wings or magic that could make you fall in love instantly. Gem had always wanted to know what it would be like to fly without the need for an elytra or flight magic. When she was young, she’d pointed at Lady Katherine of House Blossom, and babbled to her mother;

“Look! A fairy! I want to fly like a fairy!”

It was only years after, when she became the High Wizard of the Crystal Cliffs and became friends with Katherine did she get to see the wings up close. Katherine’s wings were that of a beetle - shiny, translucent and delicate, yet strong. 

Gem allowed herself a small smile, before altering the spell one more time, watching as glowing runes carved into the ground. She stepped into the circle, slamming her staff onto the rim of the circle; watching as purple wrapped around her. Gem could feel something unfurling from her back, and her limbs lengthening to the more elegant body of a fae. She let out a gasp as the glow disappeared slowly, leaning heavily against her staff as she panted with exhaustion.

Did it work? She pulled herself towards the river, before smiling at her reflection. Her hair had become a brighter, more fiery shade of ginger, and her ears had small, pointed tips; smaller than that of an elf, but definitely noticeable. Gem turned, feeling the extra limbs on her back. Red-orange monarch butterfly wings had folded from her back, fluttering lightly in the gentle breeze. She wasn’t unrecognisable, by any means. Her eyes were still the same shade of forest green, and whilst she had definitely grown taller and longer, her built and overall appearance remained ultimately quite similar to how it had been before.

Gem leaned back against the riverbank, closing her eyes as she breathed in the fresh air of the wild. She remained there for a while; perhaps minutes, or hours, or even days. Eventually, she regained enough energy to pull herself up and make herself some food. 

It took perhaps a year or two before Gem came across other fae. It had been a complete coincidence, too. She had been wandering, searching for fWhip, when she found herself on the edge of a kingdom called Dawn. A fae, with bright orange eyes spotted her, and waved.

“Hi!” the fae greeted her excitedly, “I haven’t seen you around before. You’re not from Dawn, are you?”

“No…?” Gem blinked, “I’m kind of just a wanderer,”

“A wanderer!” the fae echoed with a grin, “well, Wanderer, I’m Summer. You’re Sun Fae, too, aren’t you? You need to meet the others!” Before Gem could say anything, she was already being dragged towards the towering, beautiful city.

“I’m Gem,” she tried to make conversation, barely keeping up with Summer. 

Sun Fae. Gem had never really studied the different types of fae. All she knew was that elves, nature fae, and goblins were all considered fae. But Sun Fae? She’d never heard of them. And now… well, there were hundreds of fae buzzing around her, each with unique features, all centered around gold, orange and red. 

“Summer,” a tall, stunning fae with wings just like Gem greeted them in what appeared to be the city centre, “introduce your company,”

“This is Gem, Queen Solara” Summer bowed to the fae respectfully, “I found her on the outskirts of the empire,” The fae queen turned her piercing eyes to Gem.

“Gem,” Solara addressed her, her voice hard with power, “you are not from the Sun Empire, yet you bear resemblance to a Sun Fae of royal blood,”

“I… do?” Gem frowned, fiddling with her purple cloak nervously.

“Your wings,” Solara nodded at the orange butterfly wings folded over Gem’s back, “only those of royal blood have wings like ours. Who are you?”

“I…” Gem hesitated. Powerful fae have the innate ability to tell when a person lies, she recalled. Whilst she’d never come across such a fae yet (due to Katherine and Scott both being champions and having that ability suppressed by the power of their gods), she was willing to bet that Queen Solara was not an exception, “I was not always fae,” Gem admitted finally, “I am a wizard from an empire called the Crystal Cliffs,”

“Then your appearance is an illusion?” Solara guessed, her eyes narrowing.

“No,” Gem shook her head, biting her lip, “there is a spell that can change a person’s code. I cast the spell on myself to make myself fae. I didn’t know the Sun Fae existed, to be honest,”

“I see,” Solara sighed, studying Gem’s face with a softer look now, “well then you’ll need our guidance. Sun magic is not something that can be easily mastered without assistance,”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Gem tried to dismiss, but the Sun Queen held up her hand.

“You will stay here, in Dawn,” Solara ordered, “unless you have somewhere else to go?” Gem opened her mouth, ready to protest, but nothing came out. She bowed her head in surrender, “just as I thought,” Solara offered Gem the first genuine smile.

“So what? I’m just your prisoner now?” Gem frowned, subconsciously reaching for her staff.

“Goodness, no,” Solara laughed, “I have heard of the Crystal Cliffs. And it only has one true wizard, does it not? Its ruler. The high wizard,” she stared straight through Gem, making her shudder at the gaze, “is that not you, High Wizard Gem?”

“I-”

“I am in need of an heir,” Solara admitted reluctantly, “and you have experience with ruling. What do you say?”

Gem considered her options. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Perhaps this way, she could keep an eye on politics and the other empires, in case her brother ever resurfaced again. Gem turned back to the Sun Queen.

“Deal,”

❅❅❅

Gem was crowned as Princess of the Sun Empire forty years later.

Queen Solara retired the year after.

Gem would retain the title of Princess until Solara’s death (which admittedly would be in a long time, considering they were fae), but the empire’s affairs were now completely left to her. She sent out letters to each empire, ensuring she did not give her name (a fae thing, she was told). Gem was surprised when only one empire came to pay their respects, however. Back before the Rapture, each of the empires and their rulers had been close friends, and would’ve jumped at the chance to greet the other empires.

Still, perhaps she should be grateful that it was the goblins of the Goblin Empire who came that day. 

Gem had wondered where her brother had gone, and had even left the empire on occasion in an attempt to locate him, but never came across him. So imagine her surprise when she found him standing in the halls of her palace.

“fWhip?!” Gem exclaimed, her eyes widening at the sight of a goblin who was unmistakenly her twin brother. The goblin turned, his eyes blank.

“Who are you?” fWhip frowned, just as Gem’s heart sank. Right. The memory spell. She considered removing the spell right then and there, but stopped herself, reminding herself that she had long stopped using amethysts to channel magic.

“My apologies,” Gem composed herself once more, curtsying politely, “I am Princess Gem of Dawn,”

“Princess,” fWhip echoed, before realisation crossed his face. He fumbled for a moment, before bowing back, “forgive me, Your Highness for not recognising you!” Gem held back a laugh. Still the same old fWhip.

“Where is the rest of your people?” Gem asked, despite her heart screaming at her to give her brother a damn hug. fWhip shrugged.

“I believe they’re waiting in the throne room,”

“Ah,” Gem turned to go, “then let us go,”

“Wait!” fWhip caught Gem by the wrist, before letting go with an embarrassed flush, “sorry. Uh- you called me fWhip before. How… how do you know my name?” 

“I…” Gem was holding back tears now, refusing to look the goblin in the eyes, “I must’ve mistaken you for an old friend of mine,” she lied cheerfully, “his name was fWhip,”

“Right…” fWhip stared at her, unconvinced.

“Or it was a fae thing,” Gem snatched her hand back like his touch burned her, “let’s not keep the Goblin King waiting,” 

In spite of herself, she couldn’t concentrate on the goblin nobles at all. Every few moments, she’d find her gaze drifting back to her brother. Finally, once the meeting was over, fWhip approached her once more.

“I apologise for my rudeness before,” fWhip muttered, cornering her whilst the goblins prepared for their trip home, “I would like to get to know you, if that’s alright with you, Your Highness,”

“Why?” Gem blinked, surprised. fWhip flinched ever so slightly, “don’t get me wrong,” Gem added quickly, her voice rising slightly with panic, “I’m just… surprised, that’s all,”

“I don’t know,” her brother admitted sheepishly, “it just… feels right, you know?” Gem stared at him for a moment, before letting out a long exhale.

“Yeah, I know exactly what you mean,”

❅❅❅

Decades passed, and the two continued to meet on occasion for tea (despite Gem knowing full well that fWhip never particularly liked tea). It was during one of these meetings when fWhip came up with the idea to invite all the rulers to afternoon tea.

“Afternoon tea?” Gem echoed, laughing, “that’s unlike you,” the fWhip she knew would never suggest something so… tame.

“Not really,” fWhip shrugged, “goblins surprisingly like a good tea,” Gem went silent. She could feel her brother’s sincerity. Sometimes, she forgot that he was a different person now, but moments like this always snapped her back into reality, “Gem?”

Gem blinked, refocusing.

“Right,” she cleared her throat, “then I’ll help write up the invitations. I haven’t met them yet either. None of them came or replied when I sent out those letters when I became princess,” Gem forced a smile, “I’m kind of looking forward to it,”

“Same here,” fWhip grinned back at her with that stupid grin of his that Gem didn’t even realise she’d missed, “although… I’m not a ruler, Gem. Is it really okay for me to-”

“You can be my plus-one,” Gem cut him off with a wink, “if anyone has any objections, I’ll just tell them you’re my brother,” The irony was not lost to her. Perhaps some part of her had hoped that mentioning that would magically bring his memories back. But then again, she used to be the High Wizard. She should know better.

“Ha!” fWhip rolled his eyes, “as if they’d believe that,” Gem’s heart plummeted as she looked away, trying to wipe away her watering eyes without him noticing. Thankfully, fWhip seemed too caught up in the joke to notice Gem’s emotional outburst, “I’m a goblin, you’re a…”

“Butterfly hybrid,” Gem choked out, trying to keep the light-hearted mood, “or fae, of some kind,”

“Sure,” fWhip scoffed, “come on, Gem, everyone knows that the people of the Sun Empire are Sun Fae,” 

But Gem had completely zoned out of the conversation at that point. All she could think about was fWhip’s lack of reactions to things Gem could still remember. And she regretted it. She regretted casting that damn spell every day of her life.

❅❅❅

Honestly, she didn’t know what she was expecting when fWhip said he’d organise tea. She should’ve expected this, though. Anything Gem had thought fWhip meant about ‘goblins loving good tea’ went out the window when she arrived at the venue. It was literally the middle of nowhere, with a circle of wooden seats that reminded Gem of Spawn, before it was destroyed during the Rapture.

“fWhip!” Gem chastised, seeing the display, “this is what you mean by good tea? We’re inviting rulers of empires here, you know,” 

“I don’t see what’s wrong with it,” fWhip shrugged, “it’s a traditional goblin-styled afternoon tea,”

“I-” Gem sighed, “you know what? Fine, whatever,” she couldn’t be bothered to argue with her brother (even if he didn’t remember they were twins). Gem threw herself into a seat, already bored.

It was only when the rulers began to arrive did Gem sit up, her eyes wide.

She knew these people.

She’d grieved them.

She’d never thought she’d see them again.

Yet all she could see was the way fWhip continued to stare blankly, his eyes lacking the recognition that began to cross the eyes of every ruler that arrived.

Chapter Text

“I’m not healing, Sausage” 

Sausage broke at the tired, defeated voice of his best friend. 

“No, Pearl, I can fix this. Please!” he lunged forward as Pearl collapsed in his arms, holding her as she began to close her eyes, “don’t fall asleep, Pearl. Stay awake for me! I’ll fix this! I always do, don’t I?” Sausage shook the farmer queen desperately, unable to stop the tears that now fell freely down his face and splashed against Pearl’s burning skin. He would never forget the way he felt her heart stop beating. Or how her body slowly went cold.

Sausage had raced home, Pearl still limp in his arms as he broke his one promise to Gem. He punched through a glass cabinet, feeling the shards of glass puncturing his fist. Still, he pulled out his staff. The one Xornoth had given him. Sausage shoved Pearl onto his altar, trying every spell he knew, watching helplessly as his black magic uselessly fell upon his friend. 

But then something else happened.

A bright white and gold light began to emit from Pearl’s body as it slowly turned to ash, until all that was left was a spirit that somewhat resembled Pearl, floating in the middle of the room.

“Pearl?” Sausage tried hesitantly, “is that you?”

“Sausage,” the spirit spoke softly, undeniably in Pearl’s unique accent, “I’m sorry,” Sausage blinked.

“Why are you sorry?” Sausage protested, “I should be sorry! I- did it work though? Did my spells work?”

“No, Sausage,” Pearl’s wings flung open, shedding feathers of light everywhere, “I’ve ascended. I’m- I’m a god now,” Sausage fell silent for a moment.

“Very funny,” he said finally, forcing out a laugh, “a god? As if! You just don’t want to admit that my dark magic actually worked for once!”

“SAUSAGE,” Pearl barked, her voice serious and commanding now. Sausage froze, surprised, “I’m not joking. I’m a goddess, Sausage,” she leaned forwards, “and I need you to be my champion,”

“Champion?” Sausage echoed, laughing nervously, “like Scott? Or Katherine?”

“Yeah,” Pearl offered him her hand, “I need you to keep me from fading by creating a belief for me,”

“A belief?” 

“Gods can only survive for so long without followers, Sausage,” Pearl murmured, “and you’re my best friend. I- I need someone to remember me, even when everyone else dies,”

“And I’ll be immortal?” Sausage checked. Pearl nodded, “then I’ll do anything to keep you alive,”

He grabbed Pearl’s hand, clasping it tightly in his own. Sausage could feel the power of the moon and the sun throbbing through his veins. His fingertips glowed ever so slightly once they let go. Sausage turned to see his reflection in the mirror.

“I look the exact same,” he turned to Pearl accusingly, “I was expecting some power-up, like wings or antlers or glowy eyes,” Pearl opened her mouth with a small grin on her face, but nothing came out, “Pearl?” Sausage tried worriedly. Instead, Pearl’s voice came from inside his head.

I think I’ve made a mistake, Sausage.

“What do you mean?” Sausage frowned, watching as Pearl’s spirit began to disappear before his eyes, “are you- are you fading?”

No. Sausage breathed a sigh of relief at that. Now that I’ve chosen a champion, I don’t think I can actually walk upon the Overworld now. I’m trapped in the celestial realm.

“Oh. That’s… not good, I think?” Sausage didn’t quite know how to respond, “uh… so what now? I start a religion surrounding you?”

There are still survivors of the Rapture, Sausage.

“The Rapture?” 

fWhip and Jimmy’s big explosion. It’s what the other gods are calling it. Pearl’s voice was tinged with slight amusement now. I need you to gather all the survivors and create a safe haven for them. Somewhere to go. A sanctuary, perhaps.

“Sanctuary,” Sausage tested the word out, “I like that,”

❅❅❅

Sausage created Sanctuary, a kingdom to protect all those homeless or injured (or both!) after the Rapture. He helped establish Pearl (or as he liked to call her, Santa Perla) as a known goddess to the people of the Overworld. It was maybe sixty (or seventy maybe? He wasn’t really keeping track) years later when Pearl invited him to the celestial realm.

“Is that allowed?” Sausage frowned, “can I even enter the celestial realm?”

With my blessing, yes. Pearl responded casually. Champions usually aren’t allowed, but there’s something Aeor wants to speak to you about.

“Aeor? As in… Scott’s god?” Sausage felt Pearl’s confirmation through their psychic link, “okay then. When do we-”

He let out a yelp as he felt himself being violently jerked into what appeared to be endless void.

❅❅❅

“Apologies, Champion Sausage,” Sausage looked up to see a huge, golden-horned stag watching him with what was clearly not an apologetic expression.

“Aeor!” Pearl scolded, glaring at the stag god witheringly. Sausage blinked. Sure, he got to see his best friend’s physical form sometimes in his dreams, but he still couldn’t get enough of it. It was like torture, being able to constantly hear her voice in his ear, yet never be able to see her while he’s awake. Pearl turned to grin at him, rattling her golden feathers in greeting.

“Peril! Aeor!” Sausage gasped at the familiar voice.

“Joel?!” his eyes widened at the sight of the (former?) Mezalean king, “you’re alive? And… a god?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Joel huffed, but he, too, appeared surprised and pleased to see Sausage (which kind of baffled him, considering they never really got along with the whole salmon-cod thing, although that had technically been decades ago now).

“If you two don’t mind,” Aeor butted in sharply, “Exor and I have something to discuss with Sausage,” 

“Exor?” Sausage let out a choked sound, seeing the slightly smaller, silver-horned stag behind Aeor. Whilst he wasn’t 100% knowledgeable about the two stag gods, Pearl had filled him in on all the lore, and as far as he was concerned, Exor was responsible for the whole Xornoth-demon-problem they’d had. 

The silver stag turned its eyes to him coldly.

“Champion Sausage,” Exor acknowledged him blankly, before turning away. Sausage glanced at Pearl, who shrugged, and gestured for him to follow the twin stags. Once the three of them (plus Pearl, who kinda just tagged along) were out of earshot of the other gods, Aeor launched straight into what appeared to be a pre-prepared speech.

“We need your help, Sausage. As you may or may not be aware, your group of friends are destined to meet in every lifetime. As of currently, my own champion is waiting to be reincarnated, and will return soon, once all the conditions are met. When he does return, however, he will set off an eternal winter once more, just as he did when he was born in his last life,” Aeor paused, as if making sure Sausage was following along.

“Scott set off an eternal winter last time when he was born?” Sausage echoed, confused, “didn’t that only happen after Xornoth was defeated?”

“My champion was born with his powers,” Aeor sighed exasperatedly, “when he was born, centuries before you were, the world was plunged into an eternal winter. The high elves of Rivendell were able to seal his powers by creating a counter; a fire to the ice, perhaps,”

“Xornoth,” Sausage realised, “they were twins, weren’t they?”

“Not twins, no,” Exor stepped in, “not in the traditional sense. Xornoth was created by using remnants of my power to create a balance. The two may share blood, but Scott’s mother was never expecting twins. They were meant to keep each other’s powers in check, but with the corruption taking over not just Xornoth, but myself, the balance was overturned,”

“And when Gem and the others sealed Xornoth in the crystal…” Sausage gasped, “that’s why Scott suddenly ‘gained’ those ice powers!” He glanced at Pearl, who nodded in confirmation, “but how is that an issue now?”

“The way my champion left the world the last time was… rather unconventional,” Aeor bit his lip, “when he reincarnates, he will still retain my blessing. Like in his last life, he will set off another eternal winter, unless someone is there to stop him,”

“Can’t you just make another Xornoth?” Sausage glanced at Exor, “you’re no longer corrupted, right?”

“That only worked the last time because the high elves of Rivendell were still around,” Aeor exchanged a look with Exor, “whilst many elves are still alive thanks to your Sanctuary, all the high elves are long gone now,”

“Just tell him why you need his help,” Pearl growled, her wings flicking impatiently.

“My champion once used your body as a vessel to walk upon the Overworld,” Exor stepped forwards, until his snout was almost touching Sausage’s face, “and you are skilled in the magic of the dark arts,”

“Well skilled is an overstatement, but-”

“I have reason to believe that some of mine and Xornoth’s power still resides in you,” Exor interrupted, “that’s how you’re still able to tap into dark magic. With our help, you could find Scott when he reincarnates, and seal his magic, at least until he’s old enough to control it himself,”

Sausage frowned. 

“I made a promise to never touch dark magic again,” he murmured hesitantly.

“We understand, but we’re begging you to-” 

“However,” Sausage cut across Aeor’s words with a grin, “I did technically break that promise when I tried to bring Pearl back, so yeah, I’m in!” 

“Sausage,” Pearl rested a hand on his shoulder. Sausage shuddered, feeling the cold touch of her power, “are you sure?”

“It’s either that or suffer through another eternal winter,” he shrugged, “it’s fine, Pearl. Besides, maybe it’ll be fun,”

“Thank you,” Aeor and Exor bowed their heads in sync, “we owe you a great debt,”

“Sure, sure, whatever,” Sausage rolled his eyes, “I’ll call upon a favour at some point, I’m sure. Now are we done?”

“I suppose we are,” Aeor nodded, a little taken aback at Sausage’s casual use of language, “we’ll contact you when the time comes,”

Sausage made his way back over to where the other gods were waiting.

“Is it done?” a blue spirit Sausage didn’t recognise asked.

“Yes,” Pearl replied, then glanced at Sausage, “can my champion go now?”

“Of course,” another god that vaguely resembled a fae stepped forwards, “you and Joel Thundercheeks can escort him back,”

Sausage followed Pearl and Joel to an empty space in the void.

“‘Thundercheeks’?” Sausage raised an eyebrow at Joel questioningly. The god in question flushed ever so slightly, but dismissed the question with a shrug.

“C’mon, let’s get you back home,” Pearl was glowing again, her wings spread out in a glorious arc.

“Let’s talk later,” Joel offered, “come meet me at Stratos in a day,” Sausage didn’t have time to even ask what or where Stratos was before he was already jolting awake.

❅❅❅

After asking around a bit, Sausage did eventually find Stratos. It was a floating city of some kind, suspended above a plains biome. He watched in shock and awe as an eleven-foot tall being with wings flew down to greet him.

“Joel!” Sausage stared as Joel grinned down at him smugly.

“Not so small now, am I?” the god huffed, but he begrudgingly shrunk down to normal human size once Sausage glared at him intently enough.

“How can you be in the Overworld?” Sausage asked curiously.

“No champion,” Joel shrugged, “nothing to tie me to the Overworld except myself,”

“Ah,” Sausage blinked, recalling Pearl’s words when she made him her champion.

“So, what have you been up to?” Joel tried awkwardly. Sausage grinned.

“Oh boy, do I have stories for you!”

❅❅❅

Sausage climbed up a tall hill, towards a place he’d never thought he’d see again. It was the ruins of his and Pearl’s empires. Sausage ran his fingers along the buildings he’d grown up in. A familiar figure in the distance caught his attention. Sausage made his way further up the hill, towards where Gilded Helanthia once stood.

“Sausage?” Pix called, his voice a mixture of excitement and shock.

“Pix!” Sausage waved, running up towards the (former?) King of Pixandria, “Joel and Pearl said you were here,” 

“Really? Because they said nothing to me,” Pix responded with a roll of his eyes, “I hope you don’t mind me building upon Mythland?”

“Go ahead,” Sausage turned his eyes back to his old empire, allowing himself a bittersweet smile, “I love what you’ve done with the place,” he turned back to Pix. The man looked younger, almost, which was weird, considering he was the oldest person Sausage knew, “you look… lighter. Less… burdened,”

Pix shot Sausage a small, shy smile, but didn’t comment, instead changing the topic. 

“So, what’s up?”

“You know, you should build a statue of Santa Perla where Gilded Helanthia used to be,” Sausage shuddered, remembering his and Pearl’s frantic cries during the Rapture.

Sausage! Pearl chastised, you can’t just ask Pix to build a statue of me!

“That’s… not a bad idea actually,” Pix moved towards his chests, rummaging through them. Sausage grabbed the archeologist by the wrist, causing the man to pause.

“Sorry, that’s kind of off topic,” Sausage huffed, remembering his purpose for coming here, “but I guess we could use a little off-topic these days, huh?” he grimaced when Pix didn’t reply, “look, I need a favour, Pix. For Pearl. And for our friends,” 

“Of course,” Pix softened, “what do you need?”

“You’ve lived a long time, haven’t you, Pix?” Sausage hesitated, unsure whether it was out of line to continue. 

“I have,” Pix’s gaze grew distant and clouded, “longer than any of you, at least,”

“Right,” Sausage bit his lip, “then you’d know that there’ll come a day when our friends will return, right?”

“Of course,” Pix blinked, “they always have. It’s just a matter of when. Why do you ask, Sausage?”

“I’ve been tasked by the gods to do… something,” Sausage frowned, “something important that if I don’t do, the whole world will go cold,”

“Sausage,” Pix’s firm voice snapped Sausage’s attention back to him, “I know about Scott and the eternal winter,”

“You do?”

“I’ve been around for a while,” Pix winced, “but why does this concern you?”

“Something about Xornoth and Exor’s residual power,” Sausage didn’t quite understand that part, but Pix seemed to, so he continued, “but Pearl says that the Vigil is the god of Death and Rebirth. And you’re its champion, aren’t you? As much as I would like to use dark magic, I could use some help,” Pix went oddly silent for a long moment, “Pix?” Sausage prompted nervously.

“The Vigil did say that my place as Keeper would be needed once more,” the man admitted finally, his words slow and careful, “but I don’t see how I could be of any help,”

“You were in charge of the respawns, before Xornoth broke the system, weren’t you?” Sausage reminded him. The respawns. Back when death was temporary. He felt a twinge of guilt run through him. The reason it was no longer temporary was his fault, after all.

“I was,” Pix nodded, “but it’s unrecoverable now. Deaths are no longer temporary,”

“But you’re powerful, Pix,” Sausage pushed, “with two champions of gods, sealing Scott’s powers would be a walk in the park,”

“Well not-”

“You get what I mean!” Sausage fell to one knee, his head bowed, “please, Pix. I’m begging you, not as the champion of Santa Perla, or even as a ruler. I’m asking you as a friend,”

“Stand, Sausage,” Pix murmured gently, “I… will help you. It is a part of our Fate,” Sausage raised his head, pulling Pix into a hug, “Sausage, what-”

“You seemed like you needed it,” Sausage shrugged, releasing the man with a smile that he returned hesitantly.

“How long do we have?” Pix asked, ignoring Sausage’s outburst of affection.

“They say he’ll return on the eightieth year,” Sausage told him seriously, “I’d say we have a couple years,”

“Less time than I would’ve liked to prepare,” Pix bowed his head, “very well. When the time comes, we’ll find Scott together, and bring him here; to the statue of Santa Perla,” 

❅❅❅

Exactly eighty years after the Rapture. Sausage and Pix waited at the base of the beautiful statue Pix had built, staring at the sky as it struck midnight on the seventy-ninth year. They watched as northern lights broke across the sky, painting colours in streaks through the dark, starless night. A wind swept past them, cold and chilling.

“It’s finally here,” Pix murmured, exchanging a look with Sausage, who nodded solemnly. They had an elf to find.

Chapter Text

Scott was standing on a hill overlooking Rivendell, when Xornoth returned. A dome of red crystal and light surrounded him, as a familiar magic circle appeared at his feet.

“Xornoth,” Scott greeted the demon, barely looking up. The Rune Blade was strapped to his back, thrumming with magic.

“Hello brother,” the demon growled, landing before him, just outside the dome. Xornoth folded their leathery grey wings, their red-violet eyes glowing fiercely in the low light of the night.

“You can’t kill me,” Scott lifted his chin calmly, hands clenched around the hilt of his sword, “we’re connected, Xornoth. If I die, you die,”

“Oh, I don’t plan to kill you, baby brother,” Xornoth leaned forwards, until their face was touching the crystal dome, “you recognise this circle, don’t you?” They gestured at the magic circle below Scott’s feet, “it’s what that foolish wizard used to trap me in a crystal, only she only performed to spell half-correctly. Any elf could escape that spell easily. But this? This is the real deal,”

“So you trap me,” Scott spoke blankly, “then what? You and Exor take over the world? You rule Rivendell? Then what, Xornoth?”

“I’ll force you to watch, as I kill each of your friends, one by one,” Xornoth hissed, “I’ll make them suffer, Scott. Perhaps I’ll even keep that fish of yours alive for you. Jimmy, is that his name? Wouldn’t you like that? I’ll keep dear little Jimmy alive and make you watch as I tear of each of his scales and gorge out those pretty brown eyes of his,”

Scott staggered back, feeling ill. I can’t let this go on any longer. He pulled the Rune Blade out of its sheathe, his hands shaking.

“What are you going to do with that?” Xornoth taunted, “you can’t get me from in there,”

“I know,” Scott murmured, before turning the point of the blade until it rested on his wildly beating heart, “but that’s always been the difference between us. I don’t always put myself first, and sure, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and hurt people. But I always did my best. For myself, for Rivendell, and for my friends. And for the first time, in a long time, I finally know what I need to do for my friends. Because I don’t need you in here to kill you, when I’m right here,”

Scott could hear Xornoth’s roar of horror and realisation as he plunged the sword into his chest. Scott gasped as spots of darkness began to crowd his vision. He watched as the red crystal around him shattered, and he was being held in someone’s arms.

“Scott, please,” Xornoth - his sibling’s - voice whispered, “stay awake,”

“X-Xornoth,” Scott slurred, blinking hard to try to see his twin’s purple hair and dark grey feathers.

“I’m right here, Scott,” Xornoth murmured, “I’m not letting you go, I promise,”

“Jimmy,” he whispered to no one in particular. Scott could feel tears sliding down his face, fast and hot. If he died, who would be there to protect Jimmy? He could only imagine the look on his fiance’s face when the cod finds him here, lying in the snow, dead, in Rivendell. 

Alinar. Scott. My champion. Aeor’s voice called for him softly. 

“Aeor,” Scott closed his eyes, as the air around him grew colder, “protect him for me, okay?”

I promise. Aeor responded, the god’s voice sad. And I’m sorry I failed you. Twice. 

“Thank you,” Scott let out another shaking breath. There. I’ve done it. I’m dying, he thought, “let me go, Xornoth,” Scott could feel himself shove his sibling away, “please,”

Then everything went numb.

❅❅❅

“There you are!” Scott turned to see Xornoth waving at him, “I leave you for one second, and you wander off to Aeor-knows-where! You can’t keep disappearing like that, Scott!”

“Xornoth?” Scott’s eyes widened, “you’re-”

“Who else?” Xornoth grinned, “come on, brother. Your husband’s been giving me a headache talking about your anniversary plans,”

“Anniversary? Husband?” Scott’s answers were left unanswered as Jimmy burst through the doors of their house.

“Scott!” Jimmy pulled Scott into a kiss, hands going around his waist, “where have you been, Petal? We talked about this!”

“We- we did?” Scott blinked hard.

“Of course! Last time you wandered off like that, Sausage and Joey ended up kidnapping you as a prank,” Jimmy rolled his eyes, “and I had to save you. Like a very charming knight in shining armour,”

“But- that wasn’t a prank, Jimmy,” Scott pulled away with a frown, “and- and we’re not married yet, Jimmy. I don’t-”

“Scott, are you feeling alright?” Xornoth laid a hand on his shoulder, causing Scott to flinch away.

“This isn’t happening right now,” he murmured, backing away from his sibling and husband, “I died. This isn’t-”

Wait. That was it. He died. And the Rune Blade-

Sends its victim to an afterlife of their choice.

Scott’s shoulders slumped, as realisation hit him.

He’d died.

“Scott?” Jimmy whispered, poking Scott’s side, “are you alright?” Scott took a moment to take a deep breath, before turning to his husband with a fake, bright grin.

“Fine!” he responded cheerfully, “sorry for making you worry. Now come on! We have an anniversary dinner to get to,” Scott allowed himself a small smile as Jimmy and Xornoth visibly relaxed. He ignored the way Xornoth’s eyes continued to linger on him, sharpening with something Scott only recognised in his Xornoth.

And they continued to live together. The three of them were happy, and Scott only felt even lighter when he was reunited with his parents for the first time in centuries. Years passed. Almost eighty, but who was really keeping track? Not Scott. Nope. Not at all.

At least, not until Aeor visited him for the first time in eighty years.

❅❅❅

Scott had been helping dig out a section of the mountain to help build a new owlery, when a bright flash of light gleamed before his eyes. 

“Aeor,” Scott recognised the god, falling to his knees in respect.

“My champion,” Aeor spoke softly, touching his nose to Scott’s shoulder, “it’s time to go,”

“Go?” Scott echoed, confused, “go where?” Aeor’s gaze saddened, pulling away.

“Remember, Scott. What happened before the day you awoke here?”

Scott stiffened, his eyes widening as his memories flooded back towards him. Not that they’d ever been gone; they’d just been buried below many happy memories built on this- this lie.

“I died,” he murmured, before straightening, “why are you here, Aeor? Why now?”

“It is time for you to return to the realm of the living,” Aeor’s golden antlers shone beneath the light of the sun, mirroring the golden circlet that rested on Scott’s head.

“Will I be alone?” Scott asked, his voice fearful, glancing in the direction of his house, where he knew his parents, Xornoth and Jimmy were probably waiting for him.

“No,” Aeor snorted gently, “I kept my promise, champion. Your friends are waiting for your return, Scott. Your beloved is alive and well,” Scott fell silent at that.

“How?” As much as he wanted to believe the stag god, he didn’t know how long it had been since his death.

“Your band,” Aeor’s tail flicked impatiently, “I imbued our power into it. It’ll protect the Codfather for as long as it will need to,” Scott relaxed ever so slightly.

“Okay,” he finally stood up, eyes locked with the god’s, “take me back then,”

“I cannot,” Aeor shook his head, “you died. Your body is gone, champion,”

“Then how-”

“You will reincarnate,” Aeor interrupted smoothly, “but I cannot guarantee your memories,”

“But I will see them- see him again?” Scott frowned, his wings rustling loudly.

“That much I can promise,” Aeor nodded, “what do you say?”

Scott spared one more glance at where his family was waiting for him, before laying a single palm on Aeor’s snout.
“Let’s go,” his eyes sharpened with determination. His heart ached for his family, who were still waiting for him to return. But it ached even harder for his friends. A chance, at last, to see his friends. Truly. Scott wrapped his wings around himself and Aeor, watching as the world around him faded into white and gold light.

Scott closed his eyes at the last moment, trying to picture Jimmy’s face.

“I’ll see you again soon, Petal. I promise,” he whispered, hoping that, wherever his love was, he would hear him.

❅❅❅

On the day Scott was born, a strange cold swept across the Overworld. His parents constantly told him the story of how he disappeared for five days, and they had feared he’d been kidnapped, until the day he returned, right where they’d left him; in his crib.

Scott was born to Leona and Maude; two adventurers who ruled Chromia - the empire of colour and exploration. He grew up adventuring with his father, Maude, and one day, when he was sixteen, he left home.

“Be careful out there, Scott!” his mother, Leona, had called after him, “return home safely!”

“I will!” Scott yelled over his shoulder, fixing his father’s fedora’s position on his head for the hundredth time.

“He’ll be fine,” Scott heard his father reassure Leona quietly, “he’s been doing this since he was a kid,”

“He’s still a kid,” Leona responded with a laugh, “and this is his first time going out alone-”

“I’ll be fine, mother!” Scott huffed loudly, before marching off into the woods with a final wave at his parents.

He spent the next two years exploring the world alone. There was so much to see. 

He was eighteen when he lost an eye to a deer. Yes. A deer. Scott had been exploring the abandoned ruins of what appeared to be some city in the mountains, when he spotted a strange grey-white stag with golden antlers. He frowned as his eyes met the stag’s.

Champion. A voice emanated from inside Scott’s head, causing him to stagger back in surprise.

“Uh…” Scott blinked, “you’re not the stag, are you, mysterious voice?”

Oh dear. The voice let out an amused laugh, just as Scott lost all consciousness and memory after that moment.

❅❅❅

He awoke in what appeared to be endless void. 

“Aeor,” Scott greeted the stag, then froze as everything came crashing back. He slumped, eyes wide and brimming with tears, “it’s already happened?” he whispered.

“Yes, champion,” Aeor murmured, “it has,”

“Why am I remembering now?” Scott asked, trying to massage out the headache that was already throbbing through him.

“You won’t, after you leave the celestial realm,” Aeor responded, “we don’t have much time. I can’t keep you here too long, so listen, Scott. You have been reborn as my champion again, and will be able to tap into your powers once you leave here,”

“But Rivendell-” Scott gasped, “the city I was just in! That was-” 

“Rivendell, yes,” Aeor finished, “it may no longer stand, but Exor and I still remain, as does my blessing on your soul,”

“So do the ice powers, then,” Scott realised, then frowned, “wait, Exor?”

“Long story,” Aeor dismissed, “I should let you go now,”

“What was the point of this meeting if I won’t remember after?” Scott yelled, frustrated, as the stag turned away, “Aeor!” he sighed, then changed the topic, “I’ll see them soon, won’t I? You promised!”

“I did, and you will,” Aeor replied without turning back, “I’ll see you again soon, too, champion,”

❅❅❅

Scott awoke with a jolt. He was in a hut he didn’t recognise. What happened? Scott touched his face hesitantly, only to feel a bandage over his left eye.

“You’re awake,” an old, male voice made Scott whirl around.

“Who are you?” Scott demanded, “and why am I here?” the man laughed.

“I am a wizard, and did you not come to me?” the wizard turned away, “you appeared in the middle of my home, and your eye was bleeding. You should be thanking me, really,”

Scott ripped the bandage off, before staring at his reflection in the wizard’s cauldron. His heart throbbed with horror as he spotted that his icy blue left eye had been replaced with a glowing golden one.

“How curious,” the wizard commented, “golden eyes are usually associated with the gods. You wouldn’t happen to have crossed paths with one out there, did you?”

“I- I don’t remember,” Scott clutched his head, staggering backwards, “why don’t I remember?!”

Frost began to cover the walls, creeping across the windows, until they shattered. 

“Hey!” the wizard snapped, “quit that!”

“I’m not-” Scott shot back, only to freeze as he noticed the way ice was freezing the patch of wood below his feet, “I don’t- how-”

“Gift from whatever thing gave you that eye, I’m guessing,” the wizard picked up what appeared to be a golden-orbed staff, pointing it at Scott, “sorry kid, but you’re a danger to yourself and everyone else. I promise it won’t hurt-”

“Get away from me!” Scott backed into the door, only panicking more as sharp thorns of ice grew from the walls. He slammed the door open, before bolting out. It was only when he’d found himself back in woods he recognised and calmed down did he realise he’d left his father’s beloved fedora back with the wizard.

❅❅❅

When Scott returned to Chromia, his parents were shocked by the change in his eye, and even more concerned at the strange ice powers he’d come home with. He could only watch as his parents left Chromia, promising to find a cure for everything, and when the letter arrived home notifying him of their deaths, he thought he was going to die of guilt and shame.

Scott took over the job of ruling Chromia, suppressing his weird ice magic and trying to appear as the cheerful colourful man to everyone outside. Eventually, he learnt to control his powers with ease, as if he’d always had them. Still, he kept away from the other kingdoms, afraid of what they’d think if they found out.

So it was only when an invitation from some goblin guy named fWhip arrived in the mail did he even consider finally meeting the other rulers. At age twenty-six, he set out to the coordinates he was sent in the invitation with high hopes that maybe things were finally looking up.

He was running late, and was fully expecting a firm talking to. What he didn’t expect, however, was the look of shock, horror, and joy that he received upon arriving. In seconds, every ruler in the gathered circle was on their feet (except for maybe the weird goblin guy), rushing towards him. They all froze, however, when a man with blonde hair and gorgeously rich brown eyes pushed through the crowd. 

Scott’s breath hitched in his chest, despite having no idea who any of these people were. Still, hearing these people say his name in such a soft and loving way filled a broken part of him he didn’t even know existed.

“Scott,”

Chapter Text

Xornoth didn’t remember when their mind became clear. It had been centuries of haziness and red. All they knew was a piercing pain that split through their body and the whispering voice in the back of their head disappeared. Xornoth remembered holding their brother in their arms, only to let him go - why did they let him go? Then; darkness, and waking up here. In the world of their dreams. Or rather, Scott’s dreams.

Xornoth tried to play along with whatever fantasy Scott had subconsciously created. Their eyes sharpened when the brother in question froze upon seeing them, and reacted strangely to Jimmy’s appearance later on. Oh, he definitely remembers. Xornoth huffed to themselves, but ignored it anyway.

Xornoth wished they could say they were happy for the next eighty years, trapped in Scott’s fairy-tale ending, but a part of them knew that somewhere, out there, there were people grieving their twin brother, waiting for him to return. 

It was early morning, when they noticed that Scott was pointedly missing again. Xornoth followed their brother’s footsteps in the deep snow to where they had been building the new owlery, freezing as they saw a golden antlered stag standing before their twin brother.

“Aeor…” Xornoth whispered in awe, they dark grey feathers puffing up excitedly. But as they moved closer, it became apparent what was happening. Scott was leaving them. Xornoth wished they could rush forwards and beg their brother to stay, but they knew it would be selfish.

They watched as Scott vanished in a flash of light, until only Aeor remained.

“Xornoth,” the stag called without turning around, “you may come out now,”

“Aeor,” Xornoth bowed respectfully.

“I’m sorry I cannot bring you with him,” Aeor murmured, “your soul is bound to Exor’s, not mine,”

“I understand,” Xornoth shrugged, “this place was meant to be my prison; my atonement, after all,”

“That is not the purpose of this place,” Aeor huffed, “it serves only as a bridge between one life to the next. Exor will soon come for you, if my brother is to be trusted,”

“Siblings, ey?” Xornoth tried to joke.

“You have no idea,” Aeor sighed, shaking his head. The god began to glow a soft golden colour, “I have to go now. Goodbye, Xornoth,”

“Goodbye,” Xornoth muttered quietly, standing once Aeor was gone. 

The world was crumbling all around them. With Scott gone, this carefully-crafted afterlife was disappearing. Xornoth lay down in the snow, wrapping their wings around them. So Exor didn’t come. They closed their eyes, waiting for the void to claim them. 

Champion. Xornoth’s eyes snapped open at Exor’s familiar call. It was no longer the disturbing, corrupted voice they’d gotten so used to, but instead a clear, singular voice of Exor.

Exor. Xornoth thought back as the world continued to turn to dust.

You, too, will be reborn, my champion. Exor’s voice was higher in pitch compared to Aeor’s.

Right. Xornoth recalled, because Exor is the younger brother. If the stag god could hear Xornoth’s thoughts, they didn’t comment.

I have led you astray in the past, Xornoth. I’m sorry. Xornoth didn’t reply, but they hoped Exor could feel their forgiveness through their connection.

“Will I see him again?” Xornoth asked out loud, watching as the snow beneath them turned into dark, inky void.

No promises, champion. Exor responded, but I will try.

“Thank you,” Xornoth whispered, closing their eyes one last time. They had done much wrong in this lifetime, but hopefully, in their next, things could be different.

Chapter Text

Jimmy shuddered, pulling his coat tighter around him. It had gotten really cold recently, which was strange, considering he lived in a mesa. It almost reminded him of the short time Scott’s powers went haywire. The cold lasted around five days, before the warmth returned, and Jimmy couldn’t have been happier to welcome back the heat of the mesa. It was only when Joel came by and explained what had happened did Jimmy wish that the cold had stuck around a little longer than it did.

Jimmy watched as Joel touched down lightly on the outskirts of Tumble Town, waving him over. 

“Hey,” Jimmy greeted his brother-in-law, rushing over quickly. 

“Hey Jim,” Jimmy watched in awe as the wings on Joel’s back melted back into nothingness.

“What brings you here?” the Sheriff asked curiously.

“I needed to let you know,” Joel murmured, “the reason behind the cold,”

“Enlighten me, God of Thunder,” Jimmy rolled his eyes affectionately, “Aeor ran wild again?” he joked lightly.

“You’re actually not too far off,” Joel smirked, before slipping back into his ‘serious’ voice, “Scott’s back,” Jimmy’s eyes widened, straightening up.

“What?” the Sheriff then tried to laugh it off, “haha, very funny, Joel. I buried my fiance with my own hands, remember?”

“Jimmy,” Joel locked eyes with Jimmy, his expression grim, “I’m not joking. He’s back,”

Jimmy studied Joel’s face for a long moment, before staggering backwards, his shoulders slumped.

“He… he is?” he whispered, “where is he? Does he remember? Can I-”

“Jimmy, Scott was literally born five days ago,” Joel rolled his eyes, interrupting Jimmy with ease, “maybe wait until he’s an adult before you go asking him these kinds of questions,”

“He-” Jimmy sighed, “right. Well, I’ve waited eight decades, I suppose I could wait a couple more,”

❅❅❅

Jimmy met his sister for the first time a few weeks after Joel’s visit. Despite the two of them meaning to meet for years now, Jimmy had always found some excuse to avoid her. Part of him still felt responsible, he supposed, for the Rapture and all the trouble that came after, including his sister’s lack of memories.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel excited as Joel led him to what looked to be a small settlement in a birch forest.

“Joel!” a calico cat hybrid with Lizzie’s bright blue eyes darted out from between the buildings, wrapping her arms around the god. Jimmy allowed himself a small smile, even as he stood awkwardly to the side.

“Hey, Whiskers,” Joel teased, hugging her back.

“Joel,” Lizzie admonished, pulling away, “I told you not to call me that,”

“You told me not to call you that in public,” Joel corrected matter-of-factly.

“Alright, Thundercheeks,” Lizzie shot back, then seemed to notice Jimmy’s presence. She froze, her mouth falling open in what Jimmy hoped was pleasant surprise, but he guessed was probably more like shock.

“Hi,” Jimmy waved with a wry grin, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“Jimmy,” Lizzie breathed, her eyes wide, “you’re- you came,”

“I did,” Jimmy bit his lip, uncertain whether to approach his sister or not. His worries, however, were quickly destroyed the second Lizzie barreled into him, squeezing him tightly. He let out a yelp as Lizzie punched him hard on the arm.

“Why did you never visit?” Lizzie demanded, “we’ve known about each other for years through Joel, and you never came!”

“I-” Jimmy looked away, shame rising through him, “I don’t really have an excuse,” he admitted finally, “I’m sorry,” Lizzie studied him for a moment, then sighed.

“Can’t suppose I blame you,” she shrugged, “if I had a loved one who didn’t even remember me, I wouldn’t want to face them either,”

“Wh- Lizzie, no!” Jimmy spluttered frantically, “that’s not it at all! I just… felt bad, okay? Like this is all my fault!” Lizzie stared at him for a moment, before drawing a breath to say something. Whatever it was, however, Jimmy interrupted her quickly, speaking over her, “how are your memories anyway?”

Joel shot him a knowing look, elbowing him. Jimmy ignored his brother-in-law.

“They’re slowly coming back,” Lizzie accepted the topic change, although she still glared at him with a huff, “memories of our childhood have been coming back. I’m still missing some of my more… recent memories though,”

“Define recent,” Jimmy tried to joke, “it’s almost been a century, Lizzie,”

“The memories that had been recent before I woke up with no memories,” Lizzie clarified, rolling her eyes affectionately, “Joel’s been helping me fill in some of the gaps, though. We think my memories will be complete again with a few more years, hopefully,”

Years. Hearing this, Jimmy had to stop himself from groaning out loud.

“That’s great!” Jimmy said brightly instead, “still, it’s good to have you back,” Lizzie smiled at Jimmy, her whole face lighting up.

“You too,” she nudged him, before slapping him hard on the arm.

“Ow! What was that for?” Jimmy protested, “you already punched me once!” Lizzie simply laughed, pulling him into another hug. Jimmy allowed himself the smallest of smiles. He’d missed his sister. Really missed her.

❅❅❅

A golden bird was waiting at the Sheriff’s window. Jimmy opened the window, as the canary flew in, before dropping a golden-white envelope onto his desk. The bird chirped, fluttering its wings as Jimmy grabbed a handful of seeds from a nearby chest.

“Thanks buddy,” he watched the canary gobble up the seeds at record speed, before flying back out the window and vanishing into the bright blue sky. Jimmy picked up the envelope, carefully opening its seal and slipping out the letter.

“Goblin F. and Princess G. cordially invite you to an afternoon tea with the rulers of the empires,” Jimmy read aloud. He traced the careful cursive, wondering whether he’d seen this handwriting before quickly dismissing his thoughts. Jimmy frowned. Had he even met the other rulers before? Apart from Joel, and recently Lizzie, no. He was aware that Sausage was also around (from stories from Joel), but hadn’t actually seen him (which looking back now, why hadn’t he?).

Jimmy sighed. It would probably be a good idea to meet these other rulers, and even if he didn’t know anyone, at least he could use this event as an excuse to reunite with some old friends. Jimmy glanced down at the details. 

One day. 

❅❅❅

Jimmy swung off his camel, approaching the coordinates that had been provided in the invitation. It looked like Joel and Lizzie hadn’t arrived yet. Two figures sat, waiting, whom Jimmy could only assume were F. and G. Whoever those were.

Or… maybe he did know them.

Jimmy froze, just as a fae girl looked up and met his eyes, her striking green eyes piercing his.

“Jimmy?” Gem was the first one to recover her voice, “how-”

“Gem!” Jimmy almost broke down, right then and there, as she pulled him into a tight hug, “you’re alive!” He turned to the other figure, “and fWhip-”

“Who are you?” the goblin frowned. Jimmy glanced, confused, at Gem, who was biting her lip.

“He doesn’t remember,” Gem whispered, her voice thick with grief and guilt. Jimmy blinked, his head bowed in understanding. 

“I’m sorry,” Jimmy murmured back, “how did this happen? He seemed fine last time I saw you both,” Just after the Rapture went unsaid. His eyes lingered on the new wings on Gem’s back, and the strange green skin fWhip had acquired.

Gem shook her head, “I’ll fill you in later,” her gaze moving to the edge of the area, just as Joel touched down neatly on the grass with Lizzie in his arms.

“You’re here!” Jimmy marched over to greet them, “you’ll never believe who-”

“Joel? Lizzie?” Gem’s eyes were wide as she rushed forwards the pair, “how are you here?”

“Same way Jimmy is I’d imagine,” Joel shrugged, trying to seem unsurprised by Gem and fWhip’s presence, although Jimmy could tell that even the God of the Sky was surprised.

One by one, more of the rulers began to arrive, and as they did, shocked and happy cries filled the air. 

“Pix?” Jimmy found himself gravitating towards the man, his voice hushed, “you’re back too?”

“Joel didn’t tell you?” Pix blinked, glancing at the god, who turned away sheepishly.

“It’s good to see you,” Jimmy nudged the Keeper (?), bringing the man’s attention back to him, “I missed you,” Pix’s eyes softened, the gentle wisdom Jimmy had come to associate with the former ruler of Pixandria returning.

“Me too,” Pix admitted, before turning his eyes to the rest of the group, “I didn’t think so many of us survived,” Jimmy nodded in agreement.

He left his old friend’s side to greet some of his other friends, hugging Katherine and Shrub (or Shelby, apparently?) tightly. Jimmy tried to steer clear of Sausage and Joey, but eventually approached them hesitantly, relaxing when they greeted him enthusiastically. Apparently all old grievances were out the window, now that they’d all survived the end of the world and found each other once more. Well, all of them, except-

Jimmy turned, confused, as a loud gasp was sounded from Gem, and the whole clearing went silent. He frowned, trying to see past the crowd of rulers. He could barely see pokes of cyan hair through the gaps between his friends, but when he did, Jimmy immediately pushed through until he was standing at the very front.

He almost hadn’t believed Joel when the god had told him of the elf king’s return. Jimmy could feel the strange magic in his engagement band humming with power as his eyes landed on a face he’d never thought he’d see again.

It was Scott.

He looked so different, yet exactly the same. Scott lacked the pointed ears or brilliant white and gold wings, and he appeared slightly smaller than Jimmy remembered. His eyes were no longer homochromatic, but instead his left eye was a shimmering golden colour. And his clothes- they were no longer in the crisp, cold colours of Rivendell, but instead the definition of colour. But Jimmy wasn’t focused on the things that had changed, but was rather drawn to the things that were the same.

Scott still had the same, soft cyan hair. His right eye was still sky blue. He wore the same diplomatic smile that Jimmy could see right through and tell that he was nervous, and held the same tense, stoic posture. He was still Scott, the beautiful, witty man Jimmy had fallen in love with. Or at least, he hoped so. Cod, he really shouldn’t be judging someone purely based on looks. Personality mattered too.

“Scott?” Jimmy tried, his voice barely a whisper. He watched in horror as Scott simply stared blankly back at him, his body language still the same, cold stance that he reserved for strangers or advisors. But when he spoke, Jimmy felt like he was going to die in an instant.

“Do I know you?” Scott murmured, his voice soft and careful, more like the tone he reserved for Jimmy and their close friends than the cold, harsh voice he gave everyone else, “you seem so… familiar,” his heterochromatic eyes turned to the rest of the group, raising and steeling his voice back into something colder and more unfamiliar, “apologies for being late. I’m Scott, ruler of Chromia,”

There was a collective nervous laughter, as Scott blinked.

“Don’t tell me all of you know who I am too,” he deadpanned, formal tone dropping instantly.

“I don’t,” fWhip piped in helpfully, only to receive a hard elbow from Gem.

“So you don’t remember?” Jimmy was almost afraid to ask, his voice only loud enough for those close around them to hear. 

“Remember what?” Scott frowned, “I’m not-” he huffed, “why am I even answering your questions? We just met,”

“But it feels right, doesn’t it?” Jimmy pressed, watching as Scott’s shoulder shifted ever so slightly. Jimmy knew that if the former elf still had his wings, they would’ve twitched at their tips.

“I don’t even know your name,” Scott said instead, although he didn’t deny Jimmy’s words.

“Jimmy,” the Sheriff held out a hand in mock professionalism, “Sheriff of Tumble Town,” Scott took his hand, shaking it firmly, sending alarm bells through Jimmy. Cod, it was like he was a teenager all over again, getting excited over simply holding hands with Scott. Jimmy held onto the ruler of Chromia’s hand, feeling Scott’s smooth, cold skin. Eventually, the two of them snatched their hands back, and Jimmy could feel his face heating up.

“Finally,” fWhip rolled his eyes, “I could feel the sexual tension from here,”

“fWhip!” Gem scolded, scandalised, “you-”

“Why don’t we all introduce ourselves and how we got here,” Pix suggested to the group, clearing his throat pointedly. Jimmy wanted to protest that there was no need for that, but remembered that it would be a good way to find out where each of his friends were situated now. Everyone else seemed to come to the same conclusion, because each of them took their seats around the circle wordlessly.

“I’m Princess Katherine of GlimmerGrove,” Katherine started, which seemed natural for everyone. Jimmy had to remind himself once more that this wasn’t a House Blossom meeting, “I kinda just wandered around after the Rapture, until I found GlimmerGrove, a kingdom that needed my help,” she shrugged, “so I stayed,” Jimmy noticed Scott jolt at the mention of the Rapture through the corner of his eye.

“I’m Lizzie, the Mayor of Animalia,” Lizzie, who was seated next to Katherine in the circle continued, “I lost my memories after the Rapture, but they’ve been gradually returning to me. I’m fairly certain my memories are complete now,”

“Joel Thundercheeks, God of the Sky and Ruler of Stratos,” Joel introduced himself grandly, causing a collective eye roll from the group, “struck up a deal with some goddess after the Rapture. I’ve been building Stratos ever since,”

“Wait,” Scott frowned, finally speaking up, “you all keep bringing up the Rapture, but that happened a hundred years ago. There’s no way you’re all that old,”

“That’s what we told you when you told us you were over three hundred at our first House Blossom meeting together,” Joel retorted, earning a few laughs and an even more confused glance from Scott.

Jimmy sighed as everyone continued. This memory thing was going to be an issue.

❅❅❅

Jimmy approached Scott after the meeting, surprised to find the man waiting for him.

“Hey,” Jimmy stood opposite his former lover, arms crossed.

“Hi,” Scott turned away, letting out a long exhale.

“Are you alright?” Jimmy asked immediately out of habit.

“Sorry, it’s just a bit much,” Scott admitted, “the Rapture, and you guys all being old, and Gem erasing her brother’s memories… I don’t know if I want to even think about how we knew each other in my past life,”

“Yeah, I’m a little shocked at that part too,” Jimmy tried to offer Scott a small smile, “but I’m glad Gem and fWhip sorted that out,”

“Did I really…” Scott hesitated, before miming a stabbing motion silently. Jimmy’s smile faded.

“Yeah,” he muttered softly, “it was stupid. Noble, but stupid,” Scott snorted, but said nothing. A moment passed between the two, before Jimmy finally spoke up once more, “I know you don’t remember anything, but I was hoping we could be friends? Maybe I could help you remember again,”

For a moment, Jimmy wasn’t entirely sure if Scott had even heard his words. Eventually, Scott turned back to him, his odd eyes meeting Jimmy’s brown ones seriously.

“What were we to each other, Sheriff?” Jimmy winced at Scott’s use of his title instead of his name. Cod, it had taken weeks the first time to coax the elf into saying his name.

“We were…” Jimmy bit his lip hard, unsure whether to tell the truth or not. Before he could say more though, Scott broke eye contact with a huff.

“I see,” the former elven king said gently, before he tentatively touched the back of his hand to Jimmy’s. Jimmy flinched ever so slightly, but brushed his hand against Scott’s during a moment of boldness. Scott seemed to crack a smile, “you know,” the colourful man hummed, “I think my heart remembers you,” he leaned into Jimmy ever so slightly. Even if he was shorter now, he was still ever so slightly taller than the former Codfather.

“Yeah?” Jimmy acknowledged faintly, his own heart hammering loudly in his chest.

“Yeah,” Scott reaffirmed, “I’ve been having this weird deja vu feeling all the time recently. And seeing you, and all the other rulers too, seemed to fulfil that feeling,”

Jimmy was speechless. He didn’t think he could fall in love with someone so many times over, and yet here Scott was, proving him wrong every moment they were together.

“Jimmy,” the ruler of Chromia murmured firmly, sending a shudder of pleasure down Jimmy’s spine “I want you to help me recover my memories,” Scott flushed ever so slightly, “if you want to, of course,”

“If I want to?” Jimmy echoed, “of course I want to, Petal!” he gasped, covering his mouth, “sorry, I-”

“Petal,” Scott tried the word, then smiled, “that feels right,” Jimmy giggled ever so slightly, blushing profusely now, “alright then, Sunshine, promise me you’ll help me remember,” Jimmy smiled, feeling lighter than he had in over a hundred years.

“I promise,”

Chapter Text

It had been a year since she’d returned to the animals as a cat hybrid. As expected, without her human-ness, there wasn’t any reason for the elders to object to her presence any longer. Still, the camp was a mess. The disorganisation became strikingly clear to Lizzie the more she stayed with them. She found that she became more and more restless, often dishing out orders or tasks that needed to be done like it was second-nature. Perhaps that’s why Floof came to find her one day.

“We need someone in charge,” the sheep hybrid commented off-handedly as Lizzie was sorting through the weapons storage. Lizzie paused, though her eyes kept to her task at hand.

“And?” she prompted without looking up as she pulled out a bundle filled with an assortment of old and damaged arrows, frowning.

“You seem more than comfortable ordering around the rest of us,” Floof’s tone made Lizzie finally stop and turn to face him worriedly.

“Did I come across too bossy?” she asked nervously, even as Floof let out a small bah of laughter.

“Not at all!” Floof shook his head, “it’s good for us, I think. We animals may be of different species and have different instincts, but I think we can all agree that some organisation is needed around here,”

“What are you suggesting?” Lizzie bit her lip, a suspicion already rising in her chest.

“I’m saying we should establish this ‘temporary’ camp as something new,” Floof shrugged, “something more permanent. Like… a town. Or an empire of some kind. And I’m saying that you should lead it,’

Lizzie froze completely now. Ruling an empire. Why did that seem so natural to her? Did it have something to do with those memories that had slowly begun to return to her? She knew she’d once been Crown Princess of the Ocean Empire, but did she really go on to rule it? Lizzie made a mental note to ask Joel later.

“The elders lead us, do they not?” Lizzie said instead, her gaze turning back to the arrows that were still in her hands. 

“You’d be an- excuse me, a cluckbrain- to think that they actually get anything done around here,” Floof scoffed.

“So what? You want to establish me as a queen? Or empress? They’d hardly accept that!” Lizzie exclaimed, slightly overwhelmed. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, Floof was right. This camp of animals really was a mess, and a change in leadership wouldn’t be the end of the world.

“I was thinking more like a mayor,” Floof sounded amused now, before sighing, “just… think about it, alright?” 

Lizzie remained silent, her head spinning.

“Okay,”

❅❅❅

‘Dear Joel,

Did I really rule over the Ocean Empire before? Was I a good ruler? It’s hard to believe that I could’ve once been a mighty queen of a great kingdom. I was recently approached with the idea of establishing this camp of animals as an empire of some kind, and they suggested that I rule this new empire. Can you believe that? Me, ruling? 

It’s overwhelming, Joel. I have no idea what I’m doing, yet something deep inside of me seems to know EVERYTHING. You mentioned once that you were the King of Mezalea long ago, when we were married, and even before that. How did you deal with the burden of leadership? 

I don’t know what I’m doing, Joel. I just feel so lost. 

Love,

Your Wife, Lizzie’

❅❅❅

‘Lizzie,

Before the Rapture, you were indeed the Ocean Queen herself, and you were the very best of rulers. I won’t deny that you had your flaws, but every ruler does (except me, of course), and that’s what makes a good ruler. I don’t think a perfect ruler is a good ruler (unless we’re talking about me. I’m perfect AND good).

I used to feel lost all the time, but when I was, I had you, Lizzie. You were always there to set me on the right track and provide me with advice that could keep my empire running for DAYS. If you wish, I will try to do the same for you. However, I think that your instincts will bring you far enough. You were and are a great leader, Lizzie.

And about ruling the animals? Really, it’s your choice. In the past, neither of us had a choice. We were born into our roles. But now, you have a choice, and I envy you for that. It’s really a matter of how much the animals need you, and whether you want to lead them. Remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. And really, if it’s too much, just run away and come live with me in Stratos!

I’m just kidding. Kinda.

Hope that helps anyway!

Lots of Love (and other stuff I guess),

Joel Thundercheeks, God of the Sky’

Lizzie let out a laugh at Joel’s stupid use of his title at the end of his letter. She sighed, setting the paper down on her bedside table. She was glad she’d written to Joel, but at the same time, it felt like nothing had changed. The decision was still hers to make. 

“Lizzie! Everyone is being summoned to an elders’ meeting!” Midnight poked his head into Lizzie’s tent, “come on!” Lizzie followed the black cat hybrid out into the clearing where everyone was gathered to watch what was apparently a heated argument between the elders and Floof.

“I’m just saying that we need a change in leadership!” The sheep hybrid seemed to be yelling.

“And we’re saying that the current system is fine,” Dirk growled, even as the other elders shifted uncomfortably, “we’ve been getting stuff done, haven’t we?”

“Dirk-” Anchovy began, only to be cut off.

“The current system consists of you lot yelling at each other until you come up with some sort of half-baked solution,” Floof scoffed, “and stuff has only been getting done thanks to Lizzie! Who, by the way, you almost drove away last year because of your own incompetence!"

Lizzie felt her face heating up as several eyes turned to stare at her. She shifted uncomfortably, already knowing where this conversation was heading.

“What are you suggesting, Floof?” Dirk asked coldly, his tone careful and dripping with venom.

“I’m suggesting that we finally establish this place as our home,” Floof seemed to stand taller, his confidence growing, “we’ve been here for over a year now. And I’m suggesting we put Lizzie in charge,” An eerie hush fell over the clearing.

“I think… this could be a good idea,” Anchovy spoke up tentatively, grimacing as all eyes snapped to her.

“Anchovy!” Dirk protested, whirling around to face the white fox hybrid.

“Me too!” Midnight called out from amongst the crowd, with Ginger agreeing quickly. A chorus of agreement swept through the crowd of gathered animals, until everyone was cheering Lizzie’s name. Eventually, the chatter did die down.

“Well?” Floof prompted, his dark eyes boring into Lizzie’s with encouragement.

Lizzie hesitated, but only briefly. Joel’s words swirled in her brain. Was this what she really wanted? Could she bear the burden of leadership? Did her people need her?

Yes.

Lizzie raised her head, staring straight into Dirk’s face defiantly.

“I’ll accept any role the animals wish to bestow upon me,” she allowed herself a small smile, “including roles of leadership,” A cheer erupted once more, as Dirk finally stepped back, defeated.

“Then let it be known! Lizzie shall be the ruler of-” Anchovy cut herself off with a smirk, “well, I think only the ruler of our camp should be allowed to name it,”

“Lizzie, the Mayor of…” Floof nodded at Lizzie expectantly.

“Animalia,” she finished, the name coming to her naturally. A murmur of approval and satisfaction arose. 

Lizzie, Mayor of Animalia.

❅❅❅

“I’d like to propose a trade,” Lizzie said to the cold elf in front of her.

“Oh?” the elf raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“You have an item of my interest, Scott,” Lizzie grinned, “you came across an orb recently, within the elven archives, did you not?”

“I did,” Scott crossed his arms, “although I’m not sure how you found out about it,”

“Jimmy,” Lizzie shrugged, watching with a smirk as Scott turned slightly pink.

“Right,” Scott let out a short laugh, his wings shuffling slightly, “fine. Why do you want it?”

“A secret,” Lizzie winked, “but I do have something of yours, I believe,” she pulled out a pair of white boots, “Rivendellian boots. Ancient ones, I suppose, with some sort of enchantment on them. I can’t quite tell what though,” Lizzie handed them to Scott, who ran a hand along the edge of a boot, humming.

“You’re right,” Scott nodded, “these are enchanted. Elven enchantments, too,” he seemed to consider his choices for a moment, “very well. I’ll trade you the orb for these boots,”

“A deal with destiny,” Lizzie took the orb from Scott, who rolled his eyes.

“Be careful with that,” he warned, “I have no idea what it does, and I’m not particularly sure you do either,”

“Of course,” Lizzie murmured softly, “you too. Be careful,”

“Yeah, yeah,” Scott dismissed with a huff, spreading his wings as he turned to go.

“I’m serious, Scott,” Lizzie called after him, “with everything that’s happened lately, this sudden peace makes me… uneasy. Stay safe out there, okay?”

“Always,” Scott paused, glancing at her over his shoulder, his expression softening.

❅❅❅

“Joel!” Lizzie almost bowled the god over, grinning as she held onto her husband tightly.

“Hey, Whiskers,” Joel teased, hugging her back.

“Joel,” Lizzie scolded, pulling away so she could stare at him, “I told you not to call me that,”

“You told me not to call you that in public,” Joel corrected. Lizzie resisted smacking him in the face.

“Alright, Thundercheeks,” she shot back, just as she spotted the person Joel had brought with him.. Lizzie froze, her mouth falling open. It was her brother. He looked the exact same. Sure, he was missing his scales and tail, but so was she. 

“Hi,” Jimmy waved at her awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot.

“Jimmy,” Lizzie breathed, her eyes wide, “you’re- you came,”

“I did,” Jimmy bit his lip, lingering nervously. Lizzie ignored all the nerves she’d been feeling, and instead took a few strides to close the distance, pulling her brother into a tight hug. Okay, that’s enough affection now. Lizzie pulled away, punching him in the arm.

“Why did you never visit?” Lizzie demanded, “we’ve known about each other for years through Joel, and you never came!”

“I-” Jimmy looked away, and Lizzie’s heart almost broke seeing this, “I don’t really have an excuse,” he admitted finally, “I’m sorry,” Lizzie studied him for a moment, then sighed.

“Can’t suppose I blame you,” she shrugged, “if I had a loved one who didn’t even remember me, I wouldn’t want to face them either,” Lizzie tried to move away, but Jimmy’s own heartbroken expression made her pause.

“Wh- Lizzie, no!” Jimmy spluttered frantically, “that’s not it at all! I just… felt bad, okay? Like this is all my fault!” Lizzie stared at him for a moment, opening her mouth, ready to say something. Anything. But Jimmy, sweet Jimmy, interrupted her quickly, speaking over her, “how are your memories anyway?”

Lizzie noticed the way Jimmy and Joel shared a silent conversation, but made no comment.

“They’re slowly coming back,” Lizzie glared at her brother, but accepted the topic change regardless, “memories of our childhood have been coming back. I’m still missing some of my more… recent memories though,”

“Define recent,” Jimmy joked, “it’s almost been a century, Lizzie,”

“The memories that had been recent before I woke up with no memories,” Lizzie clarified, rolling her eyes affectionately, “Joel’s been helping me fill in some of the gaps, though. We think my memories will be complete again with a few more years, hopefully,”

“That’s great!” Jimmy said brightly, although Lizzie could tell he was half-faking his tone, “still, it’s good to have you back,” Lizzie smiled at Jimmy, her whole face lighting up.

“You too,” she nudged him, before slapping him hard on the arm.

“Ow! What was that for?” Jimmy protested, “you already punched me once!” Lizzie simply laughed, pulling him into another hug. By the gods, had she missed her brother.

❅❅❅

“Nervous?” Lizzie turned, startled. 

“Jimmy!” she rose to her feet instantly, “are you even allowed to be here?”

“What, a man can’t even see his sister on the day of her wedding?” Jimmy teased. Lizzie sized him up from head to toe. She had to admit, he looked incredible today. He must’ve truly made an effort, which Lizzie appreciated. 

“A little,” Lizzie sighed, responding to his first question, combing her webbed fingers through her hair one more time, catching her reflection in the mirror with a frown.

“Well you look great,” Jimmy frowned, noticing Lizzie’s anxious movements, “Joel would be an idiot to not marry you,”

“Thanks,” Lizzie laughed, picking up her crown and turning it in her hands.

“Here, let me,” Jimmy took the crown from her, placing it gently on her head, “c’mon, after so many years of you helping me with my crown, I had to do it at least once,” he raised his hands in surrender when Lizzie turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

“Ready?” Jimmy offered Lizzie his arm with a soft smile.

“As I’ll ever be,” Lizzie pushed his arm away, “thanks, but I need to meet up with my bridesmaids. Go get yourself a seat next to Scott before fWhip or Sausage do,” she smirked, watching her brother flush.

“Only because you insisted,” Jimmy rolled his eyes, turning to go. He paused at the door, “you know, I’m thankful you’re my big sister, Lizzie,”

Lizzie’s heart swelled with warmth, but she laughed again.

“Just go already,” Lizzie grinned as Jimmy shot her an affectionate smile before disappearing back down the corridor.

❅❅❅

“Lizzie! Come on, or we’ll be late!” Joel waved at her impatiently, his holographic wings fluttering behind him.

“You know, we could’ve just gone separately," Lizzie rolled her eyes, waving goodbye to a few of the members of her council, “you know the council likes to keep me for ridiculous amounts of time. You’d think after so many years, they’d have learnt by now,”

“You appointed them,” Joel shrugged, “now hurry up!”

“You’re one to talk,” Lizzie huffed, wrapping her arms around Joel’s neck as he picked her up in his arms effortlessly, “I almost liked you better when I didn’t have my memories,”

“Couldn’t have you getting scared and running away,” Joel joked, shooting up into the sky, “plus, I like you better with all your memories intact,”

“Well all feels like an overstatement,” Lizzie reminded him, as they approached the coordinates they were given in that invitation they’d both received a few days ago, “we still don’t know if I’m missing anything,”

“Well you did say you didn’t think there were any noticeable gaps in your memory,” Joel slowly began descending towards the ground. Lizzie hummed in agreement, just as the three silhouettes of people became visible. Jimmy waved, rushing to meet them as Joel gently placed Lizzie back down onto the soft grass.

“You’re here! Hey, you’ll never believe who-”

“Joel? Lizzie?” Lizzie’s eyes widened as a familiar wizard gasped, moving towards them, “how are you here?”

“Same way Jimmy is,” Joel shrugged, his tone nonchalant, but Lizzie could tell he, too, was surprised.

“Gem,” Lizzie breathed, allowing herself to be pulled into a hug. She mentally took note of the wizard’s new orange wings.

“Uh, Gem? You told me you never met the other rulers,” another voice piped up, confused. Gem turned, her eyes already filled with guilt.

“fWhip?” Lizzie stared past Gem, unsure how to feel. They’d had their beef in the past, but that was exactly it. The past. She was happy to see another person she knew- another friend - alive.

“I’ll explain everything later,” Gem promised, although Lizzie couldn’t tell if the wizard (fae?) was talking to her or fWhip.

Lizzie smiled as more familiar faces began to appear. She watched from a distance as Jimmy and Pix spoke, waving in greeting when Pix’s eyes met hers warmly.

“Lizzie?” Lizzie turned, gasping.

“Katherine!” she exclaimed, “and Shrub too! How are you both all alive?”

“I’m fae, Lizzie,” Katherine rolled her eyes, but she, too, seemed happy to see her, “and Shelby here has… been through some stuff, to say the least,”

“Hey Lizzie,” the gnome- no, she wasn’t a gnome anymore- greeted her, “and it’s Shelby now,” Lizzie nodded, accepting it without question. A lot could happen in a hundred years, after all.

“Well this is unexpected,” another voice made Lizzie jump, startled.

“Joey?” Lizzie blinked, as the parrot hybrid grinned sheepishly.

“Before you say anything, I live by the ocean now,” Joey huffed, his chest puffing up proudly. Lizzie couldn’t help but laugh, earning herself a surprised but pleased look from the former emperor.

Lizzie continued to mingle with her friends, exchanging greetings and short stories of the past century. She turned to where Gem and fWhip were seated.

“Why haven’t we started yet?” Lizzie asked curiously, to which fWhip responded with a cheerful shrug.

“We’re still waiting on one more ruler,” he explained, “how do you all know each other?”

“I-” Lizzie glanced at the very guilty-looking winged fae, “I’m sure Gem can explain it to you later,” The sound of boots clinking against rock made Lizzie turn around, as Gem and fWhip hurried to their feet. She froze, her eyes widening as a young, cyan-haired man with odd eyes stood at the edge of the gathered crowd of rulers.

“Scott?” Lizzie turned to see her brother rushing forwards. She wanted to hold him back, prevent him from another heartbreak, but she knew it was not her place to do so. Her eyes were trained on the pair as the meeting continued, remembering how awful it had been for both herself and Joel when her own memories were gone.

She was suddenly very aware of everyone’s eyes on her. Lizzie blinked, glancing at Katherine, who’d just finished reintroducing herself to the group.

“Oh! Uh- I’m Lizzie, the Mayor of Animalia,” Lizzie avoided Joel’s teasing gaze, her ears turning red as her tail flicked behind her, embarrassed, “I lost my memories after the Rapture, but they’ve been gradually returning to me. I’m fairly certain my memories are complete now,” she added, seeing the understanding nods around her. Lizzie let out another sigh of relief when everyone turned to Joel expectantly.

❅❅❅

“So you lost your memory too?” Lizzie was approached by (not Shrub) Shelby after the meeting. Everyone had split off into small groups again, catching up with old friends. Lizzie was distantly aware of Jimmy lingering around Scott nervously. She shot her brother a grin and a thumbs up, before turning her attention back to the witch.

“Yeah,” Lizzie responded, “ancient ocean curse,”

“Ah,” Shelby nodded as if it were the most normal thing to hear, “my former best friend betrayed me and cast a memory-altering spell on me,” she offered. 

“Uh…” Lizzie didn’t know how to respond to that, “I’m sorry?”

“Don’t be,” Shelby laughed, “it’s good to see you again, even if we didn’t really interact much Before,”

“Yeah,” Lizzie offered Shelby a genuine smile now, “we’re all friends, Shelby. The past is history now,” she smirked, “how’s Katherine?” the witch flushed, immediately losing all composure.

“What about me?” The fae sideled up next to Shelby, her eyes flashing mischievously. Lizzie grinned.

“So you two finally made it official?” she teased, although she was genuinely curious. Katherine and Shelby exchanged panicked glances, before Katherine finally responded.

“You could say that,” she laughed, her face lighting up. Lizzie’s own smile widened, before pulling the other two girls into a group hug.

“Congrats,” Lizzie murmured, “I’m happy for you,”

“Thanks,” Shelby hugged her back tightly. It felt weird, now that Lizzie was no longer abnormally tall, and Shelby was no longer tiny. We’re practically the same height now, Lizzie noted. They may all be back together now, but everyone has changed.

❅❅❅

“Hey,” Lizzie nudged her brother, watching as a few of the other rulers began to file home. Gem and fWhip were off to the side somewhere, out of earshot, and many of the rulers still stuck around.

“Hey Liz,” Jimmy kept his eyes trained on the horizon. Lizzie considered teasing him for his gloomy attitude, but decided against it.

“You alright?” she asked instead, her voice soft. Jimmy sighed.

“Yeah,” he muttered, “it’s just…” he waved his hands vaguely, trailing off.

“Mm,” Lizzie hummed in agreement, knowing exactly what her brother meant without him having to say it with words, “I know what you mean. It’s a lot,”

“Do you ever miss it?” Jimmy whispered after a moment of comfortable silence between the two, “Before?” Lizzie winced at his raw tone.

“I…” she hesitated, “yeah, I do. I miss the ocean, and the palace, and the people we came to know. I miss the certainty and normality of life; waking up and knowing exactly what to expect,”

“It’s all my fault,” Jimmy whimpered, pulling away from Lizzie.

“I’m not finished, Jimmy,” Lizzie interrupted quickly, “yes, I miss it, and sometimes I wish we could turn back time. Heck, I’d trade anything for none of this to have happened. But this?” she waved her hand at the clearing, “this is a new beginning. A chance to earn back all we lost. And I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Lizzie softened, a small smile making its way back onto her lips, “I don’t blame you for the Rapture, Jimmy. None of us do. This may not be perfect, but who are we to turn down a chance at happiness again?”

“Thanks,” Jimmy murmured, resting his head on Lizzie’s shoulder.

“Anytime,” she grinned. Now it was her turn to pull away, even as Jimmy grumbled in protest, “now go get your man. I’ve seen you lingering around him for the past hour, and he’s clearly waiting for you,”

“Lizzie!” Jimmy exclaimed, exasperated, as Lizzie shoved him away from her and in the direction of the cyanette.

“Nicely done,” Joel’s voice made Lizzie turn with a small blush. He leaned against the stone cliff casually, his eyes glittering with too many emotions for Lizzie to decipher. Instead, she marched up to him and smacked him playfully with a huff.

“Quit staring,” Lizzie teased, “and get me home already,”

“So many demands!” Joel gasped dramatically, “but who am I to refuse?” he smirked as Lizzie wrapped her arms around his neck, picking her up with ease.

“Oh stop it, you,” Lizzie rolled her eyes.

“Your wish is my command, Your Majesty,” Joel leapt into the sky, his holographic wings spreading from his back. Lizzie sighed, feeling the cool wind rush around her, “look, Lizzie,” Joel whispered, pausing in midair, “the sunset. It’s beautiful tonight,”

He was right. Invisible paint brushes splashed red and orange against the darkening sky. The sun had tainted the clouds a soft purple-pink colour.

“Yeah,” Lizzie agreed, “it is,”

Chapter Text

Joel was humming to himself. It was an old Mezalean tune his mother used to sing to him when he was a child, he recalled. Joel slipped his handiwork into a simple, blue box, before tying it off with a satin ribbon. Tucking the box away safely under his arm, he leapt into the sky, shooting off towards the direction of Animalia.

The animals were used to him showing up unannounced at this point. They simply let him in with exasperated sighs, already tired of his frequent visits.

“She’s in a meeting,” a black cat hybrid- Midnight, Joel recalled- told him sternly. 

“Sure,” Joel rolled his eyes, “I’ll just wait for her out here until she's done,” Midnight shrugged, before slinking off back into the trees. Joel stood in the middle of the clearing, admiring Lizzie’s buildings. Every time he came over, there seemed to be improvements left, right and centre.

“Joel!” Lizzie’s call made him turn with a grin.

“Lizzie,” Joel waved, expecting a hug. Instead, he got an armful of nothing.

“You can’t keep showing up unannounced,” Lizzie scolded, although she was smiling.

“Sorry,” Joel apologised easily. He was decidedly not sorry, “I have a gift for you,”

“Do you, now?” Lizzie raised an eyebrow, although Joel noticed her tail waving excitedly. 

“Made it myself,” Joel puffed up his chest proudly, passing her his carefully boxed gift.

Lizzie undid the bow, lifting the lid with a gasp.

“This is-”

“A perfect mask that resembles your face when you were human,” Joel finished with a smile, “you were worried about kingdom relations whilst the abuse of animals was still popular, so I made you a disguise,”

“Thank you,” Lizzie breathed, her eyes shining, “you have no idea how much this means to me,”

“Of course,” Joel brushed Lizzie’s hair back gently, his voice soft.

“I’m serious,” Lizzie met his eyes, flustered, “I- I’ll find a way to repay you,”

“Lizzie, you’re my wife,” Joel reminded her smugly. Now that she had most, if not all her memories back, she couldn’t use the amnesia excuse on him, “although…” he leaned forwards, “another-” Joel didn’t even have time to finish his sentence before Lizzie kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“Another kiss?” Lizzie grinned, “come on, you could get a more little creative at this point,”

“You’re impossible,” Joel laughed, blushing hard now.

“Before I forget,” Lizzie broke the moment casually, “did you get an invite to some meeting with the other rulers?”

“From ‘F’ and ‘G’?” Joel raised an eyebrow, “yeah. You got one too,”

“Mhmm,” Lizzie hummed, “are you going?”

“Yeah,” Joel’s gaze grew distant, “I have a good feeling about this one,” his eyes snapped back to his wife with a smirk, “although, I’ll only go if you do,”

“Alright,” Lizzie purred in amusement, “but only because you asked,”

❅❅❅

“Pearl,” Joel greeted his fellow god, watching the Sunflower Goddess approach him.

“They’ll all be there at the meeting,” Pearl told him gently. Joel frowned. Even he didn’t know just how many of his friends would be there, and who was still alive, but he was willing to bet that Pearl did.

“Care to enlighten me who ‘all of them’ are?” Joel tried, despite knowing Pearl probably wouldn’t tell him.

“I didn’t tell Sausage, and I won’t tell you,” Pearl smirked, “but I suspect you might be pleasantly surprised,”

“We’ll see,” Joel huffed, “if… if they’re all there, do you want me to…?”

“If you can,” Pearl’s golden wings fluttered, “summoning an untethered god takes a lot,”

“Oh please, you’re not even truly untethered!” Joel rolled his eyes dramatically, “you have Sausage. With his help, I’m sure we could pull it off,”

❅❅❅

Joel couldn’t help but be surprised at the appearance of all his friends. He’d expected it, to some extent, but knowing and seeing were two very different things. Seeing is believing, after all. His eyes met Sausage’s, as an understanding passed between the two. 

“I’m Sausage, the Protector of Sanctuary,” Sausage introduced himself when his time came, “after the Rapture, I took in the survivors from each of our empires and provided them with shelter,” Joel watched as everyone around him relaxed. Sure, they’d all moved on, but the weight of responsibility towards the people they’d failed had been heavy. It provided everyone with relief to know that not all had been lost after the Rapture, “Pearl- I watched her die,”

Silence fell amongst the group, as grief clouded the air. Only Scott and fWhip looked mildly confused, although thankfully neither of them spoke up.

“She ascended as a goddess,” Sausage continued, “and made me her champion,” 

“Joel? Is this true?” Katherine’s eyes met Joel’s, as he was reminded with a shudder of the power she held during House Blossom meetings before everything went downhill.

“Yes,” Joel nodded, “I’ve seen her in the Celestial Realm,” Well, ‘seeing’ was a massive understatement, but Joel refrained from saying that.

The group remained in shocked silence. 

“Could we… see her?” Gem was the one who found her voice first. Not surprising, considering her and Pearl had been close due to both being members of the Wither Rose Alliance, “you’re here, after all, Joel,”

“Gods who take on champions cannot walk upon the Overworld,” Joel shook his head, then glanced at Sausage, “but there is a way for her to descend, just for a few minutes,”

“She actually wanted this,” Sausage added, “I think she knew we’d all be here,”

“Oh she definitely knew,” Joel scoffed, before rising to his feet. 

A murmur of confusion arose, and Joel was suddenly very aware that ten pairs of eyes were watching this exchange between the two. 

“Shall we get this over and done with then?” Joel gestured vaguely, his eyes and palms glowing a faint golden colour. Sausage laughed, his eyes lighting up too.

“Sure,” he grinned, as the two of them concentrated their powers into the unlit campfire in the middle of the circle.

❅❅❅

Pearl watched over her friends. She rode alongside Katherine, sailed beside Joey, watched as Gem and Shelby discovered and learnt new magic, and guided Sausage through the new lands. It was tiring, seeing everything yet never being seen. Pearl was constantly an invisible being, hovering over others as they looked right past her, like she wasn’t there. Because to them, she wasn’t.

Pearl stared down at the world now, through a glowing blue orb that sat on a pedestal in the Celestial Realm. She watched as her friends found each other once more, settling into the familiar circle that so resembled Spawn. Her heart ached, not being able to be seated beside them, laughing and sharing tears. So instead, she focussed her attention on two other empires emerging in the distance. Pearl had helped guide one of the new emperors to this land, something she was immensely proud of.

Still, she couldn’t help but be drawn back to her old friends, watching them rediscover each other. Pearl flexed out her wings, stretching as she heard Sausage and Joel preparing to summon her. She grinned, practically glowing with excitement.

It was finally happening.

The moment she’d been waiting a hundred years for had finally arrived.

❅❅❅

Joel released his magic with a gasp as the campfire sprung to life, golden flames licking at the air; unnaturally scorching and hot. He grinned, watching as the flames formed the shape of a familiar feminine silhouette with wings stretching from its back. Everyone sat up straighter, leaning forwards in awe and excitement.

“Pearl!” Gem gasped, watching the flames, even as her brother tried to pull her back.

“Hi,” Pearl greeted the group, her smile evident in her voice. The rulers were speechless, as everyone tried to say something, anything, yet failed.

“You died, then?” Joey broke the awkward struggle, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

“Joey!” Katherine scolded, her eyebrows shooting up in an instant.

“It’s fine, Katherine,” Pearl laughed, “I ascended. There’s a difference between that and death,”

“And you’ve been watching us,” Gem’s eyes widened, “for…”

“The past century,” the Sunflower Goddess confirmed, “you could say that I’ve been waiting for this moment for a really long time,”

“And she didn’t think to tell us,” Joel rolled his eyes, exchanging a look with Sausage.

“Surprise,” Pearl sounded smug, a little guilty, and a bit triumphant all at once.

“So you’re friends with gods too,” Scott cut in with a frown, “is this typical ruler stuff or am I just missing out?”

“You could say this is typical for us,” Joel shrugged, shifting uncomfortably.

“Aeor hasn’t returned his memories yet?” Pearl blurted out, shocked. Scott simply stared back at the flame coolly, his expression calm and stone-faced. “And fWhip-” Pearl whipped her head towards Gem, “you haven’t returned his yet either?” A long, awkward silence filled the air and they all turned to stare at Gem.

“Gem…” fWhip said slowly, his eyes narrowing, “what is she talking about?”

“I-” Gem bit her lip, not meeting her brother’s eyes.

“Well, thanks for joining us, Pearl,” Joel snapped at the apparition of his fellow deity, “we’ll talk later, yeah?”

“Of course,” Pearl softened ever so slightly, her voice thick with guilt and realisation, “it was good to talk to you all again,”

❅❅❅

Pearl blinked, finding herself back in the endless void of the Celestial Realm. She felt bad, revealing Gem’s secret just like that, but someone needed to say it. For all their sakes.

“Peril. You’re back,” Pearl turned to see the familiar golden-horned stag god waiting for her.

“Aeor,” Pearl greeted the god, “why haven’t your champion’s memories been returned yet?”

“That is out of my power,” Aeor scoffed, “I already installed a failsafe. A condition that must be met for my champion’s memories to be returned. The rest is up to the mortals,”

“You say that about a lot of things,” Pearl grumbled, but didn’t press, "What is the condition anyway?” she asked finally, out of curiosity.

“Let’s just say that they’ll have no problem fulfilling it,” Aeor let out an amused chuckle, “as long as Thalassa’s son shoots his shot, that is,”

“Great,” Pearl rolled her eyes, understanding what the stag god was playing at, “so in other words, it’ll take a while,”

“You never know,” Aeor shrugged with a grin, “it might be different this time,”

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Pearl sighed, her attention drawn back to her friends. She would continue to watch over them, for however long they needed her to. Until their next lives, she supposed. Maybe in their next lives she could have a chance of walking among them again. But for now, simply watching was enough.

❅❅❅

The golden flame flickered out, leaving only the smell of smoke. Joel sighed, catching Lizzie’s eye, who offered him a quick smile as they all turned back to the former wizard expectantly.

“Gem,” fWhip leaned closer to his sister firmly, “what did you do?”