The White Pumpkin Gang

"Oh, not you too!" Radar shrieks as the enderman seems to suck in a pained breath. It turns its eyes to him for a moment before the leviathan slams its tail into its side. Immediately, the enderman shrieks and thrusts its talons into the dragon. The two of them interlock talons, throwing the two of them far enough from the bridge.

"Am I going crazy?" Petra remarks.

"Just run!" You order. You leap over the distorting half of the bridge and most of your group manages to follow. You keep an eye on the portal, just in case it decides to leave. PAMA takes a shaky leap and nearly plummets into the void. They just barely manage to grab onto the side of Radar lets out a yelp as he turns to try and pull them up.

Radar might be 'dueling with a massive behemoth and winning' strong, but he's not going to be able to pull PAMA up on his own. You run to his side and feel something ache when you pull as well. Radar shoves you back and Petra and Tripwire help him. PAMA takes a moment to blink, the injured half of their screen a mess of color, before returning to running.

The two behemoths are still dueling, thankfully, when you leap through the portal. When you make it back onto the roof, you return to standing vigil over it. An agonizingly long second passes before everyone else manages to head through it.

Petra blinks before her face splinters into a strange, almost bewildered smile. "Ha ha! We're alive! We. Are. Alive!" The sky returns to its standard state, clear and without bedrock.

"Yeah. For a second there... I... Woohh... Anyone else feel like they're about to pass out?" Radar begins before his knees buckle. Lukas scoops him up right as his consciousness gives out. His eyes turn to Romeo, who seems to be trying to hide his face.

"Jesse, I... I don't want to rub it in, but I don't think this was the best call." Lukas pipes up. You tense.

"He's gotta stand trial or something at least." Tripwire shrugs. You watch as she keeps an eye on Radar. You can't help panning your eyes over his rising chest. "I'm still surprised he made it."

"He is something else, isn't he?" PAMA smirks before slumping on their side. Tripwire jolts to their side and they push her back. "I am okay. PAMA is simply very dizzy."

"Yeah, no, I'm not believing that for a damn second. See you all on the ground!" Tripwire shouts before she fishes the elytra out of her inventory. You watch her take off before shaking your head.

"Here. I'll watch you while she fetches Harper." Petra sighs and sits next to PAMA. "I still don't get why you did that." She turns to you. You tense. "You almost threw it all away for him."

"He didn't deserve a quick death. That's what he wanted." You click your teeth together. The silence grows thick.

"I could make it easier for you." Romeo's voice is quiet. It's strange to hear someone so eager to distort and ruin so cowed. "I could return to the Underneath. Try to help all the people I left behind. Fix all the lives I… Ruined."

"Are we really going to trust that?" Lukas turns to you. You shrug.

"And I’m going to try and find Xara. See if I can’t make things right between us--"

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" PAMA shouts. "STAY AWAY FROM HER!"

"Yeah. I think everyone here can agree with that." You cross your arms. "If Xara wants to see you again, it'll be to chop your head clean off. Spare her the misery of having to see you, alright?"

"I think a few years stuck underground will suit him." Lukas nods. "And I think Radar would agree if he wasn't napping on my shoulder right now. Which uh, Radar, no offense, but my whole body is kind of going to sleep." Radar doesn't stir nor twitch. Lukas sighs.

"Ahh--oh man--OH MY GOD--!" Tripwire yowls before Harper plucks her out of the air and sets her down. "Okay. Going up sucks. I guess the first time was beginner's luck," She blinks, "I brought some healing potions, though."

"And don't fight her on this one." Harper glares at you as Tripwire hands you one. "I heard you ate shit. You're probably bleeding internally." She turns to PAMA as you down the potion.

"You know, I think there is a very eager welcoming party." PAMA flicks their tail as they look to Romeo. Harper eyes up the crack on their screen before sighing. "If you want to know the best way to make things up, they are your people, after all."

"I do wonder how Xara's doing." You say in between swigs of the potion. "Last I checked that portal was still up and running." Harper seems to throw her head back before flicking her paws. It seems she's settled for healing PAMA with an enchantment.

"Where'd you even manage to lose your antler, anyway?" Harper asks as she seems to debate how she'll restore the lost one. PAMA puts one hand to it before looking to Harper.

"Wait. Do not." They put their hands up. "We match." They point to Radar.

"That doesn't answer my question." Harper narrows her eyes. PAMA points one thumb towards Romeo. Harper sighs. "You don't need to match."

"It makes a cool story." PAMA insists as they beam. Radar stirs and Lukas sets him on the ground. His eye is barely open when he speaks for the first time in a few minutes.

"Look." Radar's voice is quiet, almost wraithlike. "We're home." You follow his gaze to find the sun has begun to peek over the horizon.

"Yes, Sunshine, we made it." PAMA gently presses their head against Radar's cheek. "We missed you."

Radar takes a moment. "I know."

The time after you leave the tower is the most defined in your memory. The next week is a haze of rebuilding and explanations. Romeo vanishes after you bring him to the settlement right outside town. You were there when he headed off, heard the theory the people of the Underneath had about the bedrock being dissolved. Maybe it's true, the sky holds no memory of its attempted bedrocking.

Radar does a lot of sleeping in the first few weeks after everything. Most of the time he spends awake is eating something. You don't blame him. Binta offers to take his place a few times, just to help with the load. You wonder if she'll stick around after it's all done, or if her and the Fredfolk will venture into the world and settle down somewhere.

She does come back one day with the Amulet, speaking of an 'old friend' who gave it to her. Seems Xara's still kicking out. You can't blame her for shunning the loudness of society. Heck, that might be why Olivia's mentioned being so busy in her notes, lately.

At some point, it seems Lluna has wandered out of the map shop. With all the chaos, you can't form a search party. But considering how she's done before, she'll probably be fine. Hopefully.

PAMA stops by often to talk to Radar when he's awake. Sometimes they speak quietly when he sleeps. Other times, it seems they're off at the shop.

Clarity isn't surprised when you tell it of all the nonsense. It insists that the fake-you gave it a bad feeling. Just another reason for it to be glad to be retired, you suppose.

Even Sonar has come out of the woodwork to help with the effort. You suppose there's one good thing in all this, that no one is injured. Tripwire is often at the map shop, trying to put things back together. You wait for Radar to stay awake long enough for a proper vigil.

Val and Soup don't stick around long. You don't dare tell them to stay. There's something about what they say, about needing to see what the new world holds for them, that makes Petra clam up for a moment. And for that moment, you can read her mind.

"And I was thinking, since I already needed some magma cream... You might want to map this place in the Nether? Loads of the cube buggers there." Tripwire speaks up as you lazily lay on top of the bridge between some of the buildings. "You know, catch two parrots with the same seed."

"And let me guess, you already have a cool name for it?" Nurm rolls his eyes.

"Mmm, not really? Unless you consider 'The Great Cube Migration' a good place name."

"That is an event!" Nurm slugs Tripwire. "I swear, if Jack was here..."

"I think he'd laugh, yeah?" Tripwire slugs him back. Nurm sighs.

"He'd tell you to narrow it down a little. Add some flair." Nurm waves one hand from side to side. "I always gave him the naming rights for that reason."

"Hm," Tripwire seems to try her hand at scrabbling something on a piece of paper, "you give me an idea for what it looks like." Nurm takes a look at it.

"Seems like a nest."

"Ohhh... I can work with that. 'Nest of The Fireborn!'"

"Feels more like a blaze name."

"Oh choke on some magma cream! I swear--!" Tripwire snaps. Nurm snorts. "It took him some time to figure it out, right?"

"Vos had a leg up on him for a bit." Nurm puts his hands together. "Don't tell him I said that."

"Eh, knowing him, he's probably eavesdropping."

"Oh. Tell him his accent wasn't that bad for me, would you?" Nurm slugs Tripwire. She laughs. "I'm going to be honest, I've never stepped foot in the Nether. Jack said it wasn't worth it."

"There are a few nice Piglins, but yeah, really hot place. Not very habitable for folks like us." Tripwire shakes her head. "But it has its moments."

"I think they'd say the same about us." Nurm shrugs as he continues walking.

"Jesse!" A voice greets your good ear. You turn. It's Ivor. It seems he's swapped his casual robe for a shirt of a similar color with gold adornments at its parted bottom. He puts his hands up. "I am approaching you from this direction and am coming to speak with you! No ninja trickery, hijinks, or tomfoolery here! Both my actions and my intentions are crystal clear…"

You roll your eyes before smirking deviously. "Huh? I think I can hear Ivor… But I don’t see him!"

"I'm right here! Hello! Clearly in view!" Ivor insists.

"Oh! There you are. Hi, Ivor!" You mock your eyes widening. Ivor's own narrow in turn.

"Yes, hello. Hm."

"Not getting much use out of 'Ninja Ivor' right now, huh?" You laugh.

"Would be a bit silly of me to keep up with it." Ivor says.

"Isn't that the point of life, anyway? Having a little bit of fun with it?"

"To be honest, I think it's probably annoying Harper now."

"If I was annoyed, I wouldn't have dealt with it." Harper plods across the bridge. Ivor lets out a small 'eep.' "You gotta stop neutering yourself, now."

"Well, I've gotten my mileage out of it." Ivor shrugs.

"Okay. Now that's fair." Harper lays down on the bridge. She turns to you. "PAMA didn't cause too much trouble, did they?"

"No, no. Honestly... You wouldn't believe it, but they helped quite a bit." You laugh. Harper raises an eyebrow. "Told you you wouldn't believe it."

"It's good to know they didn't bother you, at least." Harper flicks one wing before putting a paw under her head. "Just feel bad for that poor sap who's in love with 'em."

"I think Radar can handle himself." You laugh. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"Here to tell this idiot his buddies have dropped by." Harper nudges Ivor with one wing. He blinks. "C'mon now."

"Well, I suppose it’s time for me to go. This has been fun though, hasn’t it?" Ivor speaks. You nod.

"Jesse! Jesse, hey!" Radar calls up to you before you can speak.

"What’s up Radar? I was just saying goodbye to--" You begin before turning to look for them. They've disappeared without a trace. "Guess ninja habits die hard." You hop down from the bridge and next to Radar.

"I, uh, hope you don’t mind… But I’ve kinda been taking charge of the Beautification Project." He gestures to the floating terminal. "You know, reclaiming it, making it look like it's always been here and all. Makes a nice garden, too. And you wouldn't believe what I've found up there." You turn from the darkened lens covering Radar's scar to the stuffed animal in his hands.

"Is that--?"

"Yeah, yeah. Whaley." Radar looks over the plush. "And in one piece too. Crazy, huh?"

"Guess Romeo was one hell of a sentimental guy." You shrug.

"Aren't we all?" Radar laughs. "It's been nice... Stressful, but a good kind, you know?"

"You've got a knack for it, you know." You elbow Radar gently.

"Had to learn from the best. Lukas." Radar smirks. You stare at him. "Kidding, kidding! Although, he was pretty cool."

"Yeah, he is, isn't he?"

"He did say I'd get a part in his next book. So yeah, I'd say so." Radar laughs. "Maybe I can work in some cool nickname or something." He points to his eye.

"Ehhh..." You shrug.

"Maybe." Radar ponders aloud. Something nibbles at your arm. You jolt. Oh. It's just Lluna. Stella approaches as well and Radar glares.

"Anyway, ah… So with Champion City gone… I was going to make Lluna a new llama-house, get her set up here in Beacontown while I help out up there." Stella looks to the terminal for a moment and then to Radar. He sighs. "But, uh, before I did, I thought I’d double-check and see if you’d already been planning on… You know… Watching out for her?"

You look at Radar. He shrugs.

"Seeing, you know, as she likes you so much and all. If you’ve already built her a llama house when I haven’t been around, I just wouldn’t want to double up. Which, by the way, I’d be okay with you doing. If you’d already built one. Or were planning to. I just wanna be sure." Stella murmurs out that last part.