#qsmp ensemble

The islanders work around the hole, some seeing it more clearly, some barely noticing it at all.

"Where's Philza?"

"Probably asleep."

"Have you seen Philza?"

"Gotta be hungover."

"Isn't it weird we haven't seen Philza recently?"

"Not that weird; maybe he went exploring again? Or finally got himself stuck into a big build!"

There's something about the island; it steals your memory and warps your sense of time. The world expands and contracts until there isn't much else you can really tell at all.

Then one day, maybe sooner, maybe later, the day does not dawn at all. The moon which is maybe not a moon stays frozen in the sky, and the islanders come out to watch.

"What is that?" They ask. "What is doing this?"

"The Federation?"

"It's not really their style..."

"Are we so sure they have one now?"

With their talking, many look away.

At least they do until a figure on large, dark wings blots out the light.

"Is that... Philza?"

Nobody is sure who asks the question, but to many it elicits a response.

"Philza! Hey!" Etoiles calls, waving the code sword for attention. "I found a new dungeon for you!"

"Finally decided to show up, ey?" Fit yells at the figure too.

"How come he gets his wings back?" Baghera.

"I don't think you want his wings," replies Bad.

"Where have you been?"

"What did you do?"

"Why did you leave us?"

"Where did you go?"

"... Guys...?" Tubbo cuts across, face pale and voice quiet. "I don't think-"

Soul-fire blue bursts around the silhouetted form. Some people were ready to move - Bad pulls Baghera to the floor, covering her and Pierre with shadows; Tubbo drags Pac (and perhaps Mike, if it has been long enough) back a few paces, into the cover of a building; Fit throws himself into the river.

Bad pulls himself together just enough to yell at people to run. Some do - Antoine teleports away, Tina dives in beside Tubbo and Pac, Cellbit drags Forever and Roier into a nearby cave. Bagi boxes herself underground.

Others - Missa, Jaiden, Foolish, Etoiles - just stand there, watching or staring or readying themselves, different emotions on each of their faces.

Others still - Pol, Felps, Mouse - had never come out to see what was happening at all.

The rest take a moment longer before scattering to the winds.

It is not a moment too soon - perhaps it is a moment too late - before the very sky catches alight. Burning black, burning blue, the very stars themselves seem to be burning in death's wrath.

Silohetted now against that fire, Philza swoops, scythe in one hand and bucket in the other. Lava and lava and lava is poured from the sky, scorching the very earth. Lightning cracks and Philza weaves between it - ducks into the graveyard and momentarily out of sight.

For a moment people breathe.

Etoiles warps himself to a dungeon, throws down a sharestone, and seals himself in.

"What was that?!" Bagi yells.

Bad is already pulling Pierre and Baghera to their feet and shoving warpstones into their hands. "Doesn't matter," he yells. "Get somewhere safe!"

"Of course it matters!" She calls back, though she is already moving to comply.

Most do, warping and running to the higher levels of buildings, or deep within sealed caves.

Missa does not, instead he calls for Philza and wraps himself in the same soul-fire blue. For once, he is the person not cowering in fear; he knows Death, and Death knows him, and there is no reason for him to be afraid. Worried, terrified, but not afraid.

Everyone else is very, very correct to be however.

/QSMP was burnt to a crisp while fighting Ph1LzA./

The world holds its breath.

/QSMP was slain by Ph1LzA./

In their hidden places, some of the island residents breathe a sigh of relief. For those who know, however, their faces are grim; this is only the beginning, not the end.