Just above the mountain his house faced stood a familiar figure. Their head peeked out from a crack in the stone but their eyes went wide when he caught their gaze. Quickly retreating into the cave, Purpled grabbed his pickaxe from his chest and ran towards the mountain. A mix of anger and hope rushing over him.

Anger because he had clearly stated that he didn't want to be associated with anyone from the Dream SMP lands. That was in the past and he needed to move forward and he couldn't do that if people from his past were still haunting his present but there was also hope. Hope that he wasn't too slow and he'd be able to see them properly again. His mind was conflicted between the two until he had finally climbed into the cave and was standing just mere inches away from them when he realized which feeling outweighed the other.

"(Y/N)…" His voice trailed off, suddenly speechless when his mind was just filled with words seconds ago.

His mouth went dry as he tried to find those words once again. There was so much that he wanted to say yet here he was, staring at the person he used to call his best-friend with absolutely nothing to say. After what felt like hours, he decided that actions could possibly speak louder than words but the sudden action must've scared them since they quickly threw an ender pearl outside and in an instant, they were gone.

Forming his lips into a line, his mind had decided to finally grasp at the words he so desperately wanted to say but it was now too late. As a sigh escaped his lips, he took one last look at his empty surroundings before turning around on his heel and heading back down towards his home.

The next few days seemed to drag on, somehow more lonelier than when he first left. If it was even possible that is.

Perhaps it was because DogChamp was staying out longer or maybe it was the fact that he had a chance to no longer be lonely but he blew it.

In the midst of his thoughts spiraling, the fact that he hadn't seen his dog for the past few hours hit him. It was nearly sunset and DogChamp hadn't come back yet. Usually his dog didn't stay out for longer than an hour so it was odd that he had suddenly become more outgoing. Getting up from his bed where he had been moping about all day, Purpled walked down the stairs and out the door of his little cottage and that was when the search began.

There weren't many places Dogchamp could possibly be. The mountains were far too steep for the dog to climb and even if he were able to, fences lined the fields above preventing him from running back into the direction of the Greater Dream SMP Lands. The only possible places the dog could've gone was Skull Cave or the meadows behind his cabin. Purpled decided to check the cave first.

Having been abandoned for a while now, the only thing he saw were many spiders that tried to attack him and a few other mobs he easily defended against. Usually he didn't let those thoughts clog his brain but today he let them. What if DogChamp died? What if I really am alone now?

Quickly running back outside, Purpled headed towards the meadows where a small stream of water and flowers littered the ground. As his pace slowed to a jog, he found himself remembering how his friend once expressed a liking towards flowers. More specifically, daisies that were coincidentally an abundance around his cabin. Was this the world's way of taunting him? Reminding him of what he's left behind and what he would never get back?

"DOGCHAMP!" Purpled called out loudly.

None of that mattered right now. Not the flowers, not whether or not he would be able to properly see them again, none of it! The only thing that mattered right now was finding his dog.

A few feet ahead of him he saw a familiar animal but something odd caught his eye. It looked like someone, or something, was petting it?

"Dogchamp?" His voice came out like a whisper, the figure and his dog not even noticing his presence. Drawing out his bow, he brought it up to eye level, steadying his wrist before letting go. The bow flew through the air sharply, allowing no time for the figure to react before impaling their cloak into the tree behind them.

Running towards them with his bow drawn again, he studied them carefully, noticing they were human. It was just their oversized cloak and distance previously between them that made them not look like it.

"There's no use in fighting, now tell me why you were with my dog." Purpled asked in a stern voice. The hand on his arrow looked dangerously relaxed, almost as if he was about to release it at any moment and kill them.

The person, whether they heard him or not, continued to struggle in freeing themselves from being trapped. It must've been harder with the cloak covering their face.

Getting annoyed by their stubbornness, he threw his bow onto the ground, letting the arrow fly and hit a nearby tree as he took off the hood of the cloak, a mix of shock and relief filling his system when he saw their face. It was them. They were back, but why?

"(Y/N)."

They grunted in response, continuing to struggle against the arrow keeping them in place against the tree.

Forgetting that he had shot that arrow, Purpled quickly helped free them and watched as they sighed in relief only to frown when they looked at their cloak. There was now a hole where the arrow had previously impaled itself into the tree. Taking a closer look at it however, Purpled recognized the deep purple cloak he once had that he left back in L'manburg but before he could ask them, they spoke up.

"Fucking hell Purp," They started, giving up with staring at the cloak. "Whatever, it's fine. I need you to listen to me, do not take his offer."

Confusion clouded his face as he took in what they were saying. This was the first thing they said to him after months of not seeing each-other? Did he mean anything at all to them?

"That's all?"

Tilting their head in confusion, they replied, "What do you mean?"

"We haven't seen each-other in months, I haven't seen anyone from the Dream SMP months and that's the first thing you say to me?" He tried to control his voice but his anger managed to lace into his words.

(Y/N) looked at him as if their emotions were conflicting in their head and maybe they were but how would he ever know? And plus, that was the least of his concerns right now as he tried to control his anger.

"I ran away from home, I left in the middle of night with nothing but a note on my table asking to be left alone and while I'm happy everyone respected my wishes, it felt like no one even noticed. I mean, did anyone ask about me? Did they wonder where Purpled was? Did anyone even know who I was?"

They fell silent, taking in his words but at the same time, they looked worried.

"And what hurt most, was you-"

"Look I know you're angry and you have every right to be but please, listen to me. I don't have much time so just, promise me you won't listen to him."

"Who the hell is he?"

"I can't say, just don't take any offers or deals. Please, it's not worth it, believe me. I'll explain everything when the time is right but for now, just please listen to me." They said and before Purpled could even catch his breath, an enderpearl was thrown and they were gone. The image of their soft smile at him before the pearl landed stayed in their mind as he tried to collect his thoughts.

Could he trust them? What did they even mean by not taking any deals anyways? He didn't want anything to do with the Dream SMP Lands and everyone has been respectful of his choice so far.

Bark.

Whipping his head around to the source of the sound, he had almost forgotten he came here to find his dog. As a smile graced his face, he kneeled down to pet the dog before guiding him back towards his cottage. Perhaps this was all some odd dream and he'd wake up the next morning laughing it off. Surely no one would come to him, especially no one asking for a favor of any sorts, right?

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

"Did you tell him?" Karl asked once you entered his library.

Nodding, you took a seat on the couch and leaned your head back. A sigh escaped your lips as you closed your eyes and hoped that Purpled would take your words seriously. It was all for his own sake anyways.

"Good. Now if he listens, he should be safe from that casino man." Karl said. His wording for the "casino man" however caused you to look at him with a confused look.

"Casino man? Don't you mean Quackity?" You asked, not quite knowing what sort of answer to expect.

Nothing however, could have prepared you for his response: "Who?"

"Your uhm, fia- nevermind. Won't be important as long as Purpled doesn't listen to him." You said as you grabbed an empty book from the shelf and opened it. "Come on, we have to go don't we?"

Practically jumping out of his seat, Karl grabbed his camera before joining you in heading towards the portal.

"Wonder where we'll be this time?" He asked aloud.

Shrugging in response, you looked up at him and shot him a soft smile. "Ready?"

"Always, let's go save our friends!" He exclaimed as he stepped through the portal.

Following suit, your face fell to a slight frown. You knew Karl was starting to forget his friends and you feared that it wouldn't be long before you started to forget as well. Your memory has been getting slow lately but yet again, as long as you were able to keep your friends— keep Purpled safe, it would all be worth it. Even if you wouldn't be able to remember him.