Cast Out
The worst and unthinkable has happened to Sapnap4K. A Realm God cast out from his realm. Alone and wallowing in his sadness, 4K hides himself away. But GeorgeHD finds him. HD always finds him.
The story carries on!
This is one of my most favourite stories to write in terms of lore and tickling and I hope you all enjoy it too.
After this fic there will be short break on updates as I catch up again. Maybe some smaller fics in between too if the mood takes me.
Pls enjoy~
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The Nether was only one temperature and that was boiling. The two differences were in bastions, which used specific bricks to cool down the bedding and housing areas. And Beldam.
The God of Witches cursed to the Nether until the end of time. Others rage might be like fire to fuel them. The Beldam’s rage was pure ice, that sucked out the heat anywhere she went. She had her home in a long forgotten bastion, far away from anyone where only very few knew. It was as cold as her and since she hated the Nether she never left her bastion often, so no-one bothered her.
As Sapnap4K approached his bastion the temperature drop was immediate. His skin prickled with the chill he so rarely got to feel and before he’d even made it up the steps, he could see Beldam at the broken doorway.
4K was unnaturally tall and still Beldam towered over him. Even before her Godhood, 4K remembered she had been tall then. The blessing from Prime only accentuated her height. The tip of his horns just reached her ribs.
From her neck to her ankles, Beldam was covered in a satin blue dress. The edges of her dress were lined with black ruffles, her neck, wrists and hem of her dress covered. When she moved it looked like she was floating. Short black hair cut close to her head, few strands curling around her double ears.
Beside the Beldam, Rosie lay. Her head rested over the stone floor but she was up as soon as she saw 4K. Her tail started wagging and she quickly trotted to 4K’s side as his hand opened to pet her.
For a small moment 4K had considered relaying to Beldam the news of the sculk returning but her thin face was already pulled to a tight frown. She would never be here if not for a reason and the news might only irritate her more.
“Beldam.” 4K forced himself to smile as Rosie nudged against his leg. “Here for a visit?”
“There are piglins are looking for you.” The Beldam ignored his question. “Since you are spending more time away, they came looking for me.”
4K gave a mental apology to the piglins. “Are any of them alive?”
“Do you take me for a savage? They live.” Beldam stepped aside while 4K came up the steps. Rosie nudged her legs as she passed and Beldam leaned down to give her a pat. “They had Sol leading them. I like Sol.”
Sol was a piglin wanderer. Part of one of the few nomadic tribes that had no ties to a bastion, stronghold or forest. They travelled the Nether, harvesting the gold from the netherrack and traded it fairly. As one of the few non-violent societies, 4K never had trouble with them. Sol was an old wise piglin though he didn’t seem it. Piglins aged differently. They had long lifespans though most lived fast lives. Sol was one of the few to live to old age.
Sol was waiting for 4K in an old map room that fell to disrepair. The main table had fallen apart and the maps on the table and hung up on the wall were outdated and ripped. Sol was looking over them when 4K arrived with Beldam.
For being old, Sol never looked it. The only way to tell was the fur around his snoot was slightly greying. Despite his age he held his strong build. A body with broad shoulders. He had loose, black cloth trousers on, two belts crossed over his chest with a a thick golden buckle keeping them together.
“My Lord.” Sol bowed his head.
4K held back his cringe. “Please don’t be so formal.”
“Very well. That makes this easier.” Sol rose his head. “There are plans for a coup.”
4K nodded calmly as he could but inside he felt like screaming. More in-fighting was not what he needed right now. “Do you know against who? What clan?”
Sol gave a glance to Beldam, before he spoke again. “It is against you, Sapnap4K.”
It took a few seconds before 4K realised he hadn’t said anything. His stunned stillness wasn’t just in his head. He opened his mouth but there were no words he could think to say. He looked up to Beldam but her face was passive. She had already been told.
“Some of the clans have joined together.” Sol carried on. “They’ve been meeting for a while.”
“Who would have guessed the thing to bring them together was their hate for me.” 4K laughed, but it was humourless.
“I assume you know why, but they want their terms laid out plainly. The Clans have made no secret they despise your distaste for violence. They call you coward and soft. They have denounced you as their Realm God and they mean to remove you.” Sol gave a careful look to Beldam before speaking. “They...know Gods can be killed. They mean to try. And keep trying and trying until they are all dead. Or...you perish.”
“Let them come then!” Beldam leaned forward and smacked her hands on the broken table. Thankfully it did not shatter. “Have they forgotten the power of Gods?! Let them run to their deaths!”
“I won’t kill them.” 4K found his voice.
“Then I will!” Beldam stood up tall.
“No!” 4K snapped. “I won’t allow it! They’re not dying over me!”
“It is a fools death they want.” Beldam scoffed. “Yes Gods can be killed, but by other Gods. Not mere mortals.”
Sol looked uncomfortable then. “They... They know that.” He spoke troubled and could not meet their eyes. “They have summoned the help of another God... The Blood God.”
A name 4K dreaded to hear. Of course, what God would be mad enough to fight another God on the behalf of angry piglins but another who was once an angry piglin himself.
“The Blood God has laid out his terms for them. If they fight against you, as foolish as it will be, he will take that as proof of their resolve. When a thousand piglins spill their blood against you, the Blood God will take on the fight with you.”
“’Take on the fight’ not even promising them to kill you!” Beldam hissed. “He doesn’t even know if he can kill 4K! 4K is a Realm God.”
“He is willing to try.” Sol said.
“Then let him try and he dies with his piglin!” Beldam raged.
“No-one is dying!” 4K snapped again. “I am more than capable of handling this!”
“Your handling of it is to lay back and let them kill you!”
“I never said that.” 4K tried to pull back his voice and calm the situation down. He took in a few slow breaths and looked over to Sol again. “Have they laid out any kind of terms? Or is it just a threat?”
Sol scratched the side of his face. “They knew you would never agree, but they want the rule of pacifism lifted. They want war again. The right to claim their gold and kill for it back if need be.”
It killed something in 4K to even think of allowing that again. “I can’t... I can’t do that...”
“I know.” Sol’s voice was sombre and pained. The next words came out like they struggled. “I wish it was not me telling you this but... I...”
“Out with it.” Beldam hissed.
Sol sighed. “They plan to storm this bastion. As many as they can, but...but not all. While a thousand piglins raid your bastion, many more plan to plunder the Nether. Starting with the forests, then the strongholds and the bastions. Any piglin or demon who agreed to your ways, they’ll slaughter them. No matter the age.”
4K felt sick and something close to a rage took him. “They can’t do that!”
“They mean to.” Sol said sadly. “It was not a plan they told me. But I have friends everywhere and scouts all over. This was to be done as punishment for your pacifist way. For every minute you fight against them more would die.”
“Beasts!” Beldam raged beside him. “Nothing but beasts! You have to see, 4K! They won’t be reasoned with!”
No they won’t. But I can’t fight against my people. Not again.
He heard a scream and shut his eyes to it. After a moment, it was gone and he opened them.
“The problem they have is with me. Why target innocents?”
“They despise you, its true, but they also hate their own kind who sided with you. The ones who agreed with you for no more blood feuds are called lower than cowards. They call them beyond weak and they see this weakness like a plague.”
Can some people not be reasoned with? 4K thought as despair plunged in his heart. Hasn’t there been enough war. Enough in-fighting!
“Sol. Give us a moment.?” Beldam spoke calmly now which shocked 4K out of his thoughts.
Sol bowed to the God of Witches and made his way from the room. 4K heard the hoofsteps on the steps outside before Beldam spoke again.
“You don’t need to do anything.” Beldam’s voice was soft. “Say the word, or even just nod. Give me any sign and I’ll deal with them now.”
4K winced like a stab to his side. He turned to her and looked up. “Never. I can’t just... I can’t just command the death of anyone who doesn’t agree with me!”
“But if you don’t, they will kill innocent lives.” Her voice was dark now. “Do you think they’ll just kill soldiers? Guards? It will be everyone! They will kill everyone they come across who is loyal to you. Even families. Children!” Beldam fell to her knees, coming more to 4K’s height. Her deep dark blue eyes were desperate. “They are evil, my son.”
My son.
Not a phrase Beldam used so loosely or ever much it all. It had been years since 4K had last heard those words from her. When it felt like he had lost his own heart and despair had threatened to take him. “I’m sorry, my son.” Were the words to comfort him and pull him to sense.
Now it worked almost the same.
“They are frustrated.” 4K reasoned. “All they’ve known is fighting. The blood feuds have been going on longer than we’ve been alive! They don’t care about fighting those not in the blood feud. They only do it to hurt me.”
“Only monsters hurt innocents.” Beldam’s voice was cold and she stood tall then. “They can say they only mean to fight others in the feud, but even thinking of hurting innocents...they are evil.”
“I wonder if they sought out the Blood God, or if he gave them promises first.” Either way it didn’t matter. They had made their choice and they meant to follow through. “We need to speak with Sol again.”
Sol came back in as Beldam called him. He took his same spot at the table.
“They’re going to attack innocent people because of me, which I cannot allow. I won’t let them run at me in some sort of suicide either. If their problem is with me then naturally removing myself is the safest bet.”
“You cannot be serious.” Beldam gasped. “You will not be leaving!”
“If it keeps the bloodshed confined to the bastions, then I have to. I won’t let innocence die because of me!”
“You do have support, Sapnap4K.” Sol carefully suggested. “Some of those who agreed with your rule would take up arms for you. They’d fight if you asked.”
The thought of it made him sick. “No! I won’t let that happen. No-one dies for me.”
“You leaving lets them win! What is to stop them from going after those innocents anyway.” Beldam pointed out.
“I’ll meet with them before I go. I’ll leave, and they have their blood feuds. But if they go after anyone not involved with them, I’ll deal with them.”
“Why not deal with them now?” Beldam pleaded. “Why even work on their terms to begin with? They’ve already denounced you as their God! You leaving will just validate them.”
“No matter what I do, they’ll twist it to their own way.” 4K said desperately. “If I leave, they’ll feel validated. If I stay, they’ll attack me. If I build up and defend this bastion, they’ll just go and slaughter anyone they can grab. And I cannot just kill those that don’t agree with me.”
“You’re a better God than me.”
4K didn’t feel like it in that moment. He felt hopeless and awful. Rosie pushed her head against his knee and he leaned down to pet her.
“I will inform the bastions and strongholds of your choice. There’s been fear and unrest. I assume you’ll want to tell the Clans against you yourself.” Sol said.
“Yes. I’ll have to.” 4K nodded.
Sol took his leave, giving a farewell to the two Gods. Beldam had not moved. 4K could feel her rage, sucking out all of the heat around him. Even 4K felt almost cold.
“I know I have no right to ask you but...I have a favour.” 4K started.
“Of course.” Beldam sighed.
“I’m leaving the Nether but Rosie can’t.” He looked down to Rosie. She was the smartest companion, and her eyes said she knew exactly what was going on. She looked at 4K disappointed but sad, a look he had only seen in her once before. “And she has a few of her brood here with her too. And I worry even if I leave here they’ll still try and raid it. If... If you could stay... I know it’s a lot to ask but if you could watch over my bastion and Rosie, I would really appreciate it.”
Beldam was quiet for a long moment. Just as 4K worried she’d refuse, her voice came softly. “Of course. I’ll protect the bastion but... I will not be kind if they come and threaten your home. I won’t hold back as you will.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to. If they attack, deal with them how you see fit. But please don’t hunt them down.”
Beldam pulled her lips to a frown. Obviously a plan she had been forming. “Fine.” She huffed.
For the one with no voice, Rosie showed her disapproval by butting her head into his leg with every step she took beside him. 4K walked through the bastion, trying to think if there was anything he needed. Really he had nothing he could not do without. Rosie butted his leg again, her tusk catching on his trouser leg and stumbling his step.
“Rosie! Down.” 4K snapped and she thumped him again. “Rosie! I can’t take you with me.”
She knew that of course but her tantrum wasn’t to go with him. She didn’t want him to leave.
“I don’t have a choice, Rosie.” 4K pat over Rosie’s mane. His fingers ran over the scars along her back. How many of those scars had been in defending him? “I’m not letting them harm you.”
Rosie pushed forward into 4K’s arms. Her head pressed to his chest. She gave a huff, a little bit of fire flickering from her snout that tickled under his chin.
“I’ll figure something out, Rosie. We won’t be apart for long.”
Another huff, with no fire this time. She just pressed her head close to him for a long time then pulled away.
I won’t be gone for long. 4K promised. I’m not leaving my Realm. I’ll keeping my people safe.
As soon as 4K left, the Beldam took over the castle. She waved her hands and vines grew up from the Nether. Green vines that turned black and burnt and coiled around his bastion. They grew until his bastion was completely covered over, only the doorway free. Beldam stood with Rosie, giving a final look to 4K before both of them went in, and the vines closed up.
4K’s bastion was locked away. Even from himself.
Sol had given 4K the names of the clans against him, none of whom were a surprise to 4K.
The War Bastion was nestled deep into a basalt biome. It’s walls were almost hidden beneath the grey stone and lava pouring through it. Each day had many casual deaths from a misstep or a simple push. The bubbling of the lava blended to the sound of weapons clashing and hoglins squealing.
As soon as 4K was spotted, excited shouts and chaos rumbled through the bastion. The clan leaders came out to meet him. Each held a golden weapon, ready and itching in their hands. Each leader held countless scars. One had so many all over her face there was no space for the fur to grow.
“The God has come to face us himself!” One of them shouted and the others followed with roars of excitement.
“No...” 4K spoke calmly as he could. Every scar he saw fuelled a deep anger in him. A forgotten rage he swallowed down. “I’ve come to inform you of my leave.”
The words were so surprising it silenced the piglins roars.
“I’m leaving the Nether. So you can call off your invasion of my bastion, and your slaughter of the piglins.”
The leaders looked between one another like working out some kind of trick. The scarred-face leader spoke up. “So your pacifism rule is gone?”
“You may have your blood feuds back. And you can storm each others bastions until none of you are left.” 4K spat. “But if you go for any other bastion, strongholds or settlements not involved in your fighting, I will come back.”
A collective laugh was shared between them. “And you’ll do what? You’ve not fought for years. Are you going to stop all of us by asking nicely?”
“I remember tickling each of you worked quite well to get you to stop.”
The laughter stopped suddenly. Each of the piglins looked flushed and furious.
“And you all seem to forget, I did that for your benefit.”
The lava’s bubbling between the basalt was nothing new. Sometimes it would boil over and calm after a few popped bubbles. But this time it just kept flowing...and flowing.
The narrow walkway from the bastion was covered almost instantly. The lava under the path rose up and up till it was an ocean of heat. The leaders realised quickly, but the path back to their bastion was already cut off. They were alone on an island with the God of the Nether.
“You’ve mistaken my mercy for weakness. My kindness for cowardice. I could raise the lava and burn you all in seconds. Or let it cool into obsidian and suffocate you all in your bastions. Or I could tear you all in half and it would be no trouble at all. Even before I became a God, you all were like paper to me. Now you’re even less than that.”
The lava bubbled. The leaders readied their weapons. If they were to die, they’d die in battle and 4K was never more tempted than he was in that moment.
He could kill them all right there and be done with it. Any who came for revenge he could kill them too. And when the Blood God would come he had no doubt in his mind he could kill him too.
And yet he couldn’t. Not even as they looked at him with such hate. All he could feel was pity, and a deep sorrow.
The lava subsided. The leaders relaxed.
“If you want your wars again,” 4K spoke again, “you’ve got them. But only with each other. Kill and steal your gold from each other again if that’s what your truly want; but if you dare harm anyone else I’ll be back and I will kill you all.”
It was a silent agreement the leaders gave. A simple nod of their heads and 4K was gone. He turned from the bastion into the swirling vortex of purple and came to a world of gentler air and rolling green hills.
Was it so wrong to try for a peaceful life? A life of blood and death was all he knew, from the moment he was born from the lava. He crawled out of the lava and took in his first true breath that burned his throat. He was naked and the magma was still dripping from his hair when he and his siblings were given the command.
“Kill.”
And he killed. And killed. And killed. And killed. It took a few other daemons to hold him down as he heard the command of “Stop!”
“He’s killed all four of them!” The voice laughed in pride. “Four kills! In not even his first hour of life! Four kills!”
Four Kills. 4 Kills. 4K.
“Never again.” 4K promised as he walked through the grasslands. “Never again. Not ever.”
He found a shallow cave under one of the hills. He lay down and closed his eyes to the exhaustion.
***
The sleep was not restful or very long, but 4K pushed himself up the moment he woke. He couldn’t just cower under hills the whole time as tempting as it was.
He did everything he could not to think on his situation and latched onto any distraction. He thought of HD and grew worried he had not heard from him since last he went to investigate the skulk and made a quick trip to the God’s cloud palace.
As soon as 4K arrived to the palace, he could feel the shift right away. The palace was brighter, like it was constantly in the sunlight. The clouds framed softly around it, comforting instead of hiding it. HD was softer and noticeably warmer. He was awake during the day and explained with a hopeful voice he was having George stay with him for a while.
He couldn’t ruin his friend’s good mood with his own problems, but 4K was ashamed he had reacted with such coldness. He should have shown support to HD but he couldn’t find it in himself to. He felt numb and weirdly jealous. Even as HD asked him what was wrong, 4K avoided the truth. He wouldn’t ruin HD’s moment with his own issues. He just wished his friend well, and left.
His next thought was to find XD. While not exactly the Overworld God, DreamXD was the protector of the realm for a while with HD’s absence. Before he could call out for them, his own doubts clouded his mind again. Going to XD would just be bothering them instead of HD. It would be no better. And if he told XD he was here, he was sure news of his stay here would spread and reach the ears of someone he really didn’t want to know.
Sapnap.
It was his first fear when 4K came to the Overworld. He deliberately tried to avoid going anywhere near the Kinoko Kingdom, but the area close to it was the only one he knew here. He was never much of an explorer, instead only staying close to his home.
My home is dead... And my replacement is now buried under black thorns and magic. I have no home.
Even with the fear he’d be found by Sapnap, 4K wandered. He hated exploring but wandering close to the spots he knew was the only thing to settle his racing thoughts. Being in fear of being found out from Sapnap would stop him from reconsidering asking for help.
The open land outside of the kingdom was wild, but most of the grass and trees had been cut away and a road was half heartedly paved leading to the kingdom. 4K kept to the trees as much as he could. Dodging the branches which would catch on his horns. He ignored the kingdom looming in the distance and slowly getting closer the longer he walked. He didn’t care. He tried not to care. He just focused on the overgrown path leading deeper to the woods, and came upon a small modest house.
4K fully expected the house to be abandoned and perhaps a temporary shelter for the time. Instead the house had a warm glow from the windows and glowing lanterns hung on the doorway. There was a small bench just under the front window where BadBoyHalo sat reading.
The demon quickly looked up to the sound of 4K rustling out of the woods, and then his face lit up in a wide smile.
“How... How are you here?” 4K asked, before realising it sounded rude and cringed. “I thought you had a home in the kingdom now.”
“I did!” Bad beamed with a grin and pushed himself up. “Well, I’m sure I still do. Given everything that went on I thought I could use a break from the kingdom.”
4K was stunned in the same spot, as Bad went to the door and threw it open. “Come in!” He called over. “It’s been so long since you visited!”
His steps were slow, but eventually 4K made his way to the house. While small, it was considered that for a demon. The house was build a bit taller, so much that 4K didn’t have to slough as much as he usually would have.
As soon as he stepped inside 4K was overwhelmed with a thousand memories. The place had not changed at all. A spacious front room, small kitchen, and two bedrooms on either side of the house. It still looked new.
“Have you been living here? Did they...allow that?” 4K awkwardly asked. “I thought with everything that went on they might... I dunno.”
“That all got taken care of.” Bad waved off as he made his way to the kitchen. He lit the furnace, getting the top hot before grabbing a kettle. “I was in prison for a bit. Suppose you could call this being released under supervision.”
“They arrested you?” 4K asked. He went to move to the couch before quickly catching himself and stepping back.
“I arrested myself. If you could call it that.” Bad shrugged. “After you, XD and...uhhh, the other gentleman left, I went to Skeppy. Once the Egg was gone and Skeppy was back to me, I put myself in jail.”
“But why? You were a victim of the Egg too.”
“I knew what I was doing. For Skeppy’s safety, it was worth it. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t suffer consequences.” Bad brought out two large cups. “I put myself in a cell but no-one was interested in guarding me really. They did a quick ‘trial’. They decided I wasn’t a threat but I’d be supervised on my release. Skeppy was appointed to guard me.”
“And where is Skeppy?”
“Oh, he’s off exploring some new region. Been gone for days. He’ll be back by the end of the week I think.”
The water boiled and Bad made the both of them tea. He returned to the front room, slowly growing in size till he was just about 4K’s height, and handed him the mug. “Sit down! Relax.”
4K did, taking the mug gratefully. The warmth against his palm was soothing and as everything else in the home the couch was a little bigger to fit a demon.
“What brings you here?” Bad settled back on the couch. His wings unfurled a little and then rewrapped around himself. “You’ve not been here for years since...—Oh! Shoot. Well, that doesn’t matter.”
Bad was not unkind, but he spoke without thought sometimes and the words could sting. 4K tried to forget his last visit here. With Sapnap, younger and angrier, screaming at him.
“I hate you! I never want to see you again!”
And despite 4K’s best attempts, he couldn’t keep that promise.
“I’m just...visiting for now.” 4K spoke softly. The scent of the tea was calming him more and more. His shoulders relaxed a little. “Well...maybe for a while.”
“You hardly ever leave the Nether for so long.” Bad pointed out, with a lilt of something curious in his voice. “Is there trouble?”
The knee-jerk reaction to deny it was ready to go, but stuck in the back of his throat. “Well...” 4K found himself saying.
“What happened?” Bad asked right away, and despite what 4K thought he couldn’t bring himself to stop.
4K laid out everything that happened. From Beldam and Sol giving him the message, to his choice to leave and his confrontation to the clans. Bad listened silently, but he nodded and watched with sympathy. When 4K was done he regretted it instantly, but the weight had lifted from his body.
“Those blood feuds were terrible.” Bad shook his head. “It was one of the reasons I left the Nether in the first place. It was chaos.” Suddenly realising what he said, he gave a sorry look to 4K. “S-Sorry. I didn’t...”
“No you’re right.” 4K quickly agreed. “I let them go on for so long. It was all I knew, and I only stopped when...” He flinched at the memory and mumbled. “Well...you know.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Bad spoke softly. “It was how you were raised. It was how all of us were raised in the Crimson Forest. When I was young it was considered shameful to leave, and even worse if you didn’t want to participate in the feuds. I couldn’t even imagine how it was like for you.”
A cycle of violence that 4K couldn’t even break until pushed to his limit. It was just easier to accept and not question it. There was no need to feel guilt when that was just how it was.
“Well I failed to stop them.”
“The Nether had about twenty years of peace. I’d say that’s the opposite of failing.”
“Twenty years of forced peace.” 4K leaned back on the couch. The tea was cooling in his mug, but he heat up his palms a little and sipped.
“The only way they were going to listen was with force.” Bad countered. “And your rule made it so more people like myself weren’t afraid to leave. Most of the strongholds and bastions are thriving communities now.”
“Thriving communities that are going to be slaughtered!”
“I think your threats will keep the clans at bay. And if they do try it, it’s not like it was before. People like this new life. They like the peace and they’re prepared to fight for it.”
“I don’t want anyone to fight! No-one should have to fight just to live in peace!”
“Some people don’t agree with that and some people can’t be reasoned with.” Bad placed down his cup. “You ordered a time of peace in the switch of a day. Years of hate and blood thirst don’t quell in one day.”
“So I did it wrong?”
“There was no correct way to do it.” Bad shook his head. “If you gave them a deadline they would have slaughtered as much of each other as they could. You stopping it suddenly; and controlling and stopping the attacks was the best thing you could have done.”
It didn’t feel like it in that moment. 4K felt like a failure. There was no proper way to handle it, but being run off from his Realm was wrong. Too much of a coward to stay and fight, and too scared to hurt anyone.
“Do you have some place to stay?” Bad asked as he stood up. He took his own cup and 4K’s half drunk one that he had left on the table.
“Not... No. I was in a few caves.” 4K admitted.
“Caves?! That’s not right.” Bad called back from the kitchen. “You can stay here!”
“Here?” 4K repeated. His skin prickled suddenly.
“Yes! I’ll get another room made up!” Bad chirped excitedly as he came back. “Just until things settle.”
“That is not a good idea.” 4K said quickly. He stood up suddenly, hitting his horns on the ceiling. “That... N-No. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“If Sapnap finds out I’m here, he’ll be furious. If he finds out I’m living here? There won’t be a word for his anger!”
“That’s...w-well...” Bad’s voice faltered. His eyes flicked downward. “He is reasonable. I can talk to him.”
Talk to him. Letting him know I was here.
“No! N-No...” 4K shook his head. The world was spinning suddenly and he stumbled back to the door. “I need to go.”
“4K please.” Bad called. He came closer but 4K stumbled back enough to reach the door and opened.
“I have to go.”
He ran. It was the only thing he was good at. He ran until he could not recognise a thing. Hot tears of magma burned down his cheeks and clouded his vision.
There was another cave, this one much deeper and darker. 4K went down, down, down, until he found a dark space he could crawl into. He squeezed himself in, shut off the opening with layers of obsidian. And he slept.
***
News travelled slower than 4K would have thought about his absence from the Nether. But once it started spreading, it was like wildfire.
Every village, town and city were talking about how the Nether God Sapnap4K was forced out of his own Realm. Rumours spread around about the reason. Some say he just quit. Others say he was defeated by the Blood God and now the Realm was in chaos.
If Sapnap knew, his rage was a simmering silence instead of the explosion 4K expected.
4K knew Bad would not have said anything but it was nice to get it confirmed when HD found him.
“Of all the things to go quiet about! This... Why wouldn’t you tell me?!”
HD found him about a week after 4K had enclosed himself in the caves. The obsidian wall was torn down and HD squeezed himself into the small space with 4K. He looked a right mess, yet more put together than 4K had seen in a while.
Usually the Overworld God overdressed himself with layers of robes he just found, like he was trying to shell himself from the world. These robes were a pale blue, light and elegant. It showed off more of his skin. A part of his chest, his hips, near all of his back. He didn’t even have the wraps around his eyes, instead letting them shine freely which he usually hated to do. The coloured streaks down his cheeks swirled in angry reds and annoyed greens, and his hair frazzled with white stars shooting through it like buzzing wasps.
4K tried to move over to give enough room for the two but gave up. He could feel HD pressed close against his back. His legs pressed up on 4K’s spine while his hand over over 4K’s shoulder.
“Why wouldn’t you tell me?” He asked again in a softer tone.
4K shrugged. In between his week of deep sleep, he had pulled off his long coat. He was in long shorts and a tank top. The feel of the stone on his skin somehow made him feel better.
“You were with George at the time. I couldn’t take that away from you...”
“That’s... I...”
He could not see the Overworld God. 4K was too shamed to look at them for too long. He saw them when they came into the cave but 4K lay on his side, his arm folded under his head and his hair curtained around him.
“I can still help you and see George. Those things are not mutually exclusive.” HD spoke softly.
“You couldn’t be sure the mushroom prince wouldn’t have run off home?”
“Okay! No! But I still could have helped. I could have made you a place to stay until things were sorted. Or XD could have. Why didn’t you come to us?”
4K shrugged and he heard HD sigh. It was how he always dealt with things. Alone and far away. Even despite the pleas of both his brothers, he’d always go out alone first and had to be found and brought back. Despite a thousand years going by, he never changed.
“Is your plan to stay in this cave forever?” HD broke the silence.
“Maybe.” 4K went to shrugged but stopped himself. “I can’t really go anywhere. The Nether doesn’t want me. If Sapnap finds out I’m living here, he’ll be furious.” A crooked smile pulled his lips. “Maybe I’ll ask XD to send me to the End. I’m sure the void might want me.”
4K didn’t have to turn to tell that HD was frowning. “That’s not funny.”
4K’s smile fell. “Sorry.”
It was silent again, then HD leaned his head over 4K’s shoulder. “Have you given thought that you might be depressed?”
“I think that’s a given, at this point.”
HD sighed again, but softer this time. He was silent but 4K could feel his chin rest over 4K’s shoulder.
“You can still stay with me.” HD brought up softly again. “Things have worked out with George. He says he’ll stay time to time but he’s got his cottage. You’d be welcome.”
4K’s skin prickled to the thought. “N-No... I can’t.”
“Why?” HD tilted his head towards him. One of his hands pet through his hair, twirling the strand between his fingers. It relaxed him.
“I just... I don’t know how to word it.”
4K shuffled and moved to lay on his back. He saw now the cave had been more opened, probably done by HD. The ceiling was higher and the walls dug out. The obsidian was still cleared away but there was still little light coming in through the tunnels outside. HD’s eyes lit up the cave enough, looking down to 4K gently.
He looks more like a God now. 4K thought.
“Staying here in the Overworld while Sapnap knows. I just... He’d hate that.”
HD frowned again. “What’s your plan then? Are you going to go back?”
“No...I don’t know... I don’t really want to think right now...”
HD went quiet again, but his face softened from his frown. He looked to 4K gently. Gentler than 4K had ever seen him look. His hand dragged down from 4K’s shoulder, over his chest and settled on his stomach.
It lay flat first, only moving to give comforting pats and rubs. It was on the third pat that HD’s finger’s curled so slightly. His nails dragged over the thin material of the tank top and 4K giggled.
“HD...” 4K’s voice rumbled. It wasn’t really said as a warning, or an invitation. More a curious wonder.
“You said you don’t want to think. Hard to think when you’re laughing.” HD offered and his hand scratched again. 4K expected it, but it didn’t stop the tingling over his skin and his lips curling to a smile.
The offer was...very tempting. It felt good to laugh again. His skin prickled with ticklish energy but also excitement.
He wanted that. He really wanted that. He wanted to laugh and not think and just giggle his worries away.
“Yesss...” 4K’s voice was soft and slurred. He was still tired, and mixing with his giggles made him giddy.
“Yes?” HD’s head tilted and voice teased. 4K giggled already. “Yes you want to be tickled and laugh so much that you can’t think anymore?”
“Y-Yehesss...” 4K giggled. “I wanna be tickled...”
“Then lift your arms up, silly.”
4K giggled again but raised his arms up over his head. He folded them under his head with his untied hair swallowing them up in a sea of black. 4K had not even settled when HD’s hands repositioned at his hips and thumbs drilled in.
“A-AHA-hahaha!”
His first instinct was to bring his arms down, but 4K stopped himself. He twitched, wiggled his hips and half curled up but he controlled himself and stretched out as much as his body would allow.
“Did that tickle?” HD cooed. He switched from drilling in to instead lightly spidering over 4K’s hipbones. “That tickle?”
Words were swallowed up by giggles, so 4K only nodded. He was trying to focus on keeping his arms up, and keeping his hips still. He really wanted to curl up and grab HD. Not to stop him but to bring him in closer. He wanted to wrestle and tease HD enough until the Overworld God would absolutely wreck him. A small release for the frazzled energy coursing through him.
The skittering nails danced down the side of 4K’s hips and swiped over a sensitive spot. 4K jolted and rut his hips up. His body twisted just from instinct, half turning towards HD to protect the right hip.
“Now how can I tickle you when you hide away?” HD purred. His voice soft, soothing and beautiful.
“S-Sohorry...” 4K giggled and slowly turned on his back. His face felt hot. Not like the usual heat always around him. This was softer, melting his mind to mush and making his skin sensitive. He could feel the pink on his cheeks, almost similar to HD’s colour stripes.
“Maybe it was too much for you.” HD hummed.
“Too much?!” 4K almost felt offended. “I can take it!”
“I know you can.” HD purred again. One of his hands pet over 4K’s hair laying over his arm. “But you’re overly soft now. Maybe you need soft tickles to match.”
His hand splayed out over 4K’s bicep. His nails tickled on the soft skin, making him squirm. “Can you give me your hands?”
HD scoot up to sit behind 4K’s head. With his prompting, 4K stretched his arms out from under his hair and placed them in HD’s lap. It took a few soft pets along his palm before 4K stretched out his fingers fully.
“Your hands are rough.” HD laid out his hand over 4K’s. They were opposite ways, so HD’s fingers touched over 4K’s palms and softly tracing the lines over them. “I like them though. They feels nice.”
Gentle claws traced over his palms. A hand caressed along his side. One gently squeezed his thigh.
It felt good to be tickled again. 4K almost didn’t want to laugh. There was something addicting about holding it in. Staying right in the cusp when the soft ticklish energy burned into a laugh.
One of the helper hands at his side, swiped just above his hip, sending a shiver through 4K. He gave a breathy laugh, and soft moan.
“H-HeheDeee...”
“Isn’t this what you wanted?” HD’s fingers tapped over his palm. “You begged me for it.”
I was coaxed into it, 4K wanted to point out but any words he thought to say were quickly fizzled out with a laugh and little gasp as the helper hands followed their master and lightly tapped along his skin. His tank top had ridden up, showing a sliver of his belly that a couple of the hands flocked to. They traced up his sides and followed the hem of his top.
“Move your head up a little.”
Even before he took in the words, 4K was guided to move. His hands placed back down and his head gently lifted into HD’s lap. Now he could better see the hands over him, and look up to HD smiling down at him.
It was rare for 4K to feel bashful, yet he glanced away from HD’s stare as his face burned red.
“Feeling shy? That’s not like you.”
One of HD’s hands pet through 4K’s hair. The other was playing with a stray strand just off his cheek. His helper hands were the only ones tickling him now. Careful pokes and tiny scribbles. Not enough to make him laugh but just to giggle and wriggle slightly from side to side.
“Usually you’re so boastful. Even when you start the fights and you get pinned you’re still so cocky and run your mouth.”
One of the hands trailed along his tank top, and slowly lifting the top up and up until his stomach was bare. A single finger traced back and forward right under his belly button and 4K couldn’t stop his bubbly laughter.
“Heheee...H-HDeee...”
“I watched you annoy XD until he eventually jumped you.” HD carried on like it was a casual conversation between the friends. “And even though he’s much smaller than you, he’d pin you down and tickle you senseless. And you’d let him!”
“Th-Thahat...”
4K couldn’t remember that. Or rather embarrassingly he couldn’t remember that specific time. So many times 4K would annoy XD. Or HD. Some buzz of energy that urged him to be thrown down and tickled but he always found it more fun to draw that out of his friends rather than just ask for it.
“You rile people up just to get them to tickle you.” HD petting over his hair turned to scratching. Getting closer to the base of 4K’s horns which made him purr. “Don’t you?”
The tickling lessened slightly, touches feather-light and calmed the Nether God’s laughter.
“I-If I say ‘no’ ahare you going to stop tickling me?”
“I might.”
“I-I do!” The words rushed out. “I annoy people in hopes they tickle me! I tickle people in the hopes they’ll go for revenge! I-IIEEEEHEHEHEHEHE!”
Squeezed, scratched, skittered and shaken. The hands all snapped to action, tickling the first space they grabbed to. There were two fighting over his tummy, moving and pushing one another out of the way to tickle at any space they could. His legs had two each, one squeezing and vibrating over his thigh and one kneading his calves. His armpits were ravaged and despite how strong he pulled he was held down, each a hand at his wrists. Two held down his ankles while his feet were attacked. All five fingers scribbled up and down his arches and heel. 4K fought more than ever to kick and protect himself but it was useless.
He was trapped. Helpless.
In bliss.
“H-H-HD! AAAHAHAHAHA! Ple-eEHEheheheease!”
“This is what you wanted.” HD cooed. His claws tickled down 4K’s neck, making him tilt his head side to side.
He did want it. He wanted more but every time he tried to speak, the laughter was too much and all he could manage were a few squeaks and unfinished pleas.
“PLEASE! PLEASE!”
More. More.
“If this is how you act to yourusual spots being tickled how are you going to react when that rib gets tickled?”
The tickling stopped all at once, but it took a few deep breaths for 4K to stop laughing. Fingers brushed along his cheeks. Soft and ticklish but it made him smile.
The hands were still floating and waiting but did not touch him. There were no eyes on them and no signs the hands had any ‘sight’, yet 4K could feel all the attention burned onto that one rib.
HD’s hands went still against his cheek. “Do you remember your safeword?”
In the last hundred years he had only ever used it once, and he still remembered. 4K nodded. “Yes...”
“Say it, just so I know you remember.”
“Nova.”
A kiss pressed to the top of his head. “Good boy.”
4K’s tail swished and shuddered.
With safety assured, HD immediately switched back. His smile was still soft, but his eyes gleamed with an excitement that got 4K blushing again. He looked away, just as HD placed his hand on his upper ribs on the right side. 4K squeaked.
“Where oh where is that rib?” HD spoke dreamily as he walked two fingers down 4K’s ribs. Each step his fingers took kneaded in just a little bit. Getting closer and closer.
“Y-Yohou knoooow...” 4K giggled.
“I don’t. That’s why I’m looking for it.” He kneaded into a rib halfway down, bringing 4K’s giggles up to a laugh. “See? That’s a good rib. Buuut not quite right.”
HD knew where it was. He was the only one who knew. An accidental find while HD was in one of his better moods and gave him a massage. It was quick, but 4K’s reaction was enough. When HD went back to it, merciless and precise, it was the first time 4K ever begged for mercy from tickling. From then on it was a secret shared between them. It was never used at every tickle fight even though it would probably always end in HD’s favour. Only for special occasions was it ever brought out.
Like now.
“You’re getting nervous.” HD tapped on the rib he stopped on. Two away.
“N-Noho. No-No I’m not...” 4K lied. He could not even cover his face, as the hands holding his wrists and ankles didn’t back off as the others did. He was helpless.
“You are~” HD cooed. “Your tail is twitching like crazy. Is that because you don’t want me to get that spot? Or you’re so excited for me to get it?”
Another step. One away. Just one more little step and his most sensitive spot would be wrecked. 4K couldn’t help his giggles. Not helped as HD leaned over him more. Could be in part to reach the rib that much easier, but 4K had a feeling it was to press his face closer to 4K’s. It was harder to look away when his tormentor was just inches in front of him.
His starry hair curtained around them, almost like they’d been taken to another world. His eyes were so bright and so soft. A reddish-pink streaked down his cheeks. 4K had never seen that colour before.
“You can safeword now.” HD whispered.
4K’s heart thumped. His fangs chewed over his bottom lip. “I don’t want to.”
“So you want your rib tickled?”
It was a death warrant, and 4K still replied. “Yeah...”
It was sudden but not surprising, yet even still 4K screamed. His back arched as much as he could and HD even pulled back while he fell into hysterics.
“SHIIIHIHIHHIT! O-OOOHH! HD! AH! AHAHAHAHA! NOT THERE! NOT THERE! AH-AHAHAHANYWHERE BUT THERE!”
“Anywhere? But I want to tickle this little rib right here. You wanted me to!”
4K’s tail lashed as the only part of his body that could move, but even that was quickly handled. Few of the waiting hands softly grabbed and held down his tail. Another slowly ran a finger over the wiggling tail. It wouldn’t have tickled so much but in that moment a strong gust of wind would be enough to get him laughing.
“AAAGH! HAHAHAHA! STOHOP! STOP STOP! I’M BEHEHEGGING YOU!”
“Begging me? But you were begging me to tickle you? Now you want me to stop? You just can’t decide.”
He couldn’t decide. He couldn’t think. HD switched from kneading into his rib to softly tickling his claws over it and it felt like 4K’s skin was electrified.
“STOP STOP STOP! MERCY MEHEHERCIHIHIY! I CAN’T TAKE IT!”
“Yes you can.” HD purred by his ear. “If you couldn’t, you know just what you have to say. Just one little word, and all this ends.”
His voice was closer. Like it was inside 4K’s mind.
“And you don’t want it to end. You want to be tickled senseless. You want to be thoughtless. Your brain turned into mush. You won’t know anything else but me tickling this one little rib.”
The hands slowly joined in with HD’s words. They started slow and gentle. A few soft tickles along his shin and thighs. Careful kneading at his hips and stomach. A couple tickled over his chest and dipped into his armpits. It wasn’t until they got to the rib that their excitement took over. They poked and prodded at any space they could get until all of them realised they were not simple hands.
Two. Three. Five. Seven! As many hands as they wanted. All zeroed in on 4K’s one little rib, gliding through one another like smoke yet 4K could feel all of them.
“TICKLEEEEHEHEHEHE!” It was all 4K could scream now. His voice destroyed as much as his mind. If he had been mortal he would have gone insane. His mind felt like it was only holding on by threads. “TICKLES TICKLES TICKLES!! IT TICKLESSSS!”
“You’re doing so well.” HD’s voice praised. Soft and warm. A sweet smell followed with it. Wildflowers and lavenders. “So well.”
4K wanted to be praised more. He wanted to be tickled more. He wanted to be frozen in this moment when his nerves cried out for mercy and he could do nothing but laugh.
It felt like hours but was probably only a few more seconds when one of the hands fazed under his back and tickled right at the base of his tail, and two more got at his feet again. With his rib and his tail and his feet it was too much even for the most loved of ticklees.
“NOVA!” 4K gasped and the tickling stopped.
It took a long while for his nerves to stop singing and even when his body had relaxed, his mind was still gone. 4K felt lighter than he’d ever felt before. No longer was he in a cave and lying on the rocks. Now it was like clouds cradling him. He could almost believe he could feel the breeze.
“You did so good.” HD’s voice was the one solid thing he could focus on. Cutting through the clouds. “Just relax right now. Thaaaat’s it...”
The discomfort of the stones and cave was gone. 4K could have fallen asleep there, but HD’s voice was his lifeline to the waking world.
“If you don’t want to stay at the palace, that’s fine.” HD whispered. “But there would be no harm in you visiting for a few hours.”
4K hummed. It was the most he could do, being on the edge of passing out. But if he said anything more he was going to laugh again.
“My palace is in the clouds. Nowhere near the kingdom. And if he’s not torn up the Overworld from just knowing you’re here, then he cannot be angry with you spending a few hours miles away from him.”
Despite how much 4K didn’t want to follow that logic, it made sense. Every day Sapnap knew he was here and hadn’t declared a war was a positive day. Maybe as long as 4K wasn’t near or in the way, Sapnap could ignore it.
“So I’m not asking you to stay with me. But just come over for a few hours. As a friend.”
He was too tried to argue and 4K couldn’t think of anymore excuses. With HD scratching under his chin, 4K tilted his head back with a purr and giggled: “Ohokahahay...”
He couldn’t even feel the teleportation, but when 4K opened his eyes they were laying in the clouds right by the palace doors. HD got up slowly first, then kindly helped up 4K without him having to ask. His legs were like jelly but they kept him upright. Or HD did.
The palace was just as 4K last remembered it though now he was seeing it through blurry eyes and sleepy thoughts. Warm and inviting, but now the stairway had flowering vines twirling down the railings.
It was like walking through a dream as 4K was lead up the stairs and into a guest room. A plain room with a bed big enough to fit five 4K’s in it. The covers were thick and warm and 4K fell right into them as HD lead him over.
“Sleep as long as you want.” HD’s voice faded as the scent of lavenders grew. “Eat whatever you want. The palace is yours to explore.”
4K only hummed as he turned on his front. He hugged the soft cloudy pillow under his head then fell in to the best sleep he’d ever had in years.
