#the ask void

1.

“Tubbo, I wanted to say-”

“No offence, Eret, but I really don’t care about what you have to say,” Tubbo interrupted, looking up from where he was working at a crafting table. “Take your stuff and leave. Wilbur says you’re not allowed back in after this.”

Eret sighed - a long, drawn-out sound that made Tubbo almost want to pity him. Almost. “Look, Tubbo, it wasn’t anything personal, I promise...”

Tubbo moved over to a nearby chest, retrieved the items from it, and flung them in Eret’s direction. “I’m not listening to you!” Tubbo exclaimed, listening to the sounds of metal and wood thudding on the dirt. There was silence for a few moments. Tubbo wrapped his arms around himself in a loose hug and murmured, “I hope you’re happy, Eret.”

Eret picked up his things and looked at Tubbo with pain in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said curtly. “If you let me- I want to speak to Wilbur, explain things-”

“Go,” Tubbo insisted.

“But- Tubbo, come on,” Eret pleaded.

“Just go.” Tubbo hurtled a small stone at Eret’s head and Eret ducked to avoid it.

“Goodbye, Tubbo,” Eret said, taking a step back towards the hole in the nation’s border wall.

Tubbo didn’t respond.

2.

Eret stood, beaten, in front of Tubbo, Wilbur, Tommy, and Fundy, his armour stained with mud and sword arm hanging limply at his side. Blood trickled down the side of his face from a wound on his temple. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have something important to say,” he argued, already annoyed at L’Manburg’s unwillingness to talk.

“Say it, then,” Wilbur demanded, taking a step forward. “Why are you here, tracking mud into our nation and bleeding on our floors? Why don’t you go die somewhere else?” Wilbur’s words were sharp and Eret winced, not just from the pain in his side.

“Things are getting worse,” Eret said hurriedly. “We need your help. I need your help.”

“Does Dream know that you’re here?” Tommy piped up, the boy’s grip on his crossbow tightening. Eret knew that if Tommy got another chance to duel Dream, he wouldn’t miss. L’Manburg was stronger than they had been before.

Eret shook his head. “No.” He hesitated. “Please, you have to trust me. It’s-”

Tubbo, who had been silent for most of the meeting, suddenly laughed. “Trust you? After what you did?” he interjected. “Good luck with that war, Eret.” And with that, Tubbo turned and vanished into the battered van that the L’Manburg men called home.

Fundy’s ear twitched. “I’m inclined to agree with Tubbo,” he put in. “I think this is all a trick.”

“No, wait-” Eret begged. “They don’t trust me either, not really. I’m going to die if you don’t help me.”

Wilbur shrugged. “You’ll just respawn. Don’t see what the issue is,” Wilbur admitted. “As president of L’Manburg, I order you to leave instantly, Eret.”

“You scumbag,” Tommy sneered from Wilbur’s side.

Jordan set Tom down on the edge of the cliff they’d used, once upon a time, to sacrifice cows, just a few steps away from the entrance to Declan’s tower. Exhausted, numb with distraught, and covered in blood, Jordan sat down next to Tom and gently coaxed the zombie over to lean against his shoulder. The sun was slowly descending towards the horizon, painting the sky with beautiful pastels.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Jordan muttered, putting his arm around Tom’s shoulders and curling in on himself slightly. “I thought... I didn’t...” Helplessly, Jordan gazed at Tom, taking in the Dianitee’s haggard appearance, his dull eyes, his bloodstained clothes, and, most importantly, the Darkness-infused blade driven straight through his stomach.

Tom gently squeezed Jordan’s arm, urging him to be quiet. “I’ll be alright,” the zombie lied before a cough cut him off and more blood started to dribble down his chin. “I’ll respawn.”

“No, you won’t,” Jordan whispered, eyes dark with sadness. “You know that, Tom. That’s why we’re up here.” Jordan took Tom’s hand, feeling the warm magic that sparked beneath the Dianitee’s skin. Alive, for now.

“So that I can see the sunset for the last time?” Tom wheezed, turning his red irises to look at the horizon. “How romantic-” Tom broke off into coughing again, doubling over with the force of it and then groaning in pain. “Oh, gods, that hurts.”

“I’d be more concerned if it didn’t,” Jordan quipped dryly. There was a long pause, while Tom gazed at the sun slowly setting and Jordan gazed at Tom. “Do you think we’ll ever see each other again?” he murmured, voice breaking on the last word. His eyes burned, but he held back tears. Not yet. He had to stay strong for Tom.

“In another life, maybe,” Tom replied, with more sincerity than Jordan had been expecting. “We’ve done leaps of faith before. This isn’t so different.” Tom started to move and Jordan tried to stop him, but Tom shoved him away with the little strength the dying man still had. Jordan was too distressed to insist on fighting Tom over whatever he was doing and possibly hurt him more.

“Tom,” Jordan started as Tom shifted onto his knees, “what are you doing?” He caught Tom’s shoulder with his hand, a silent pleading marked into his expression.

“Leap of faith,” Tom answered simply, taking the sword in his gut with both hands. “Maybe next time I’ll get to be human again. Kick the Darkness’ ass for me and then come find me, alright, Sparklez?” And then, before Jordan could protest or reply, Tom dragged the blade out of his stomach and heaved it over the cliff.

Tom collapsed back onto Jordan, his head falling onto Jordan’s chest. His breathing came in slow shudders and each tiny movement pushed more blood out of the wound in his gut. “J-Jordan,” Tom stammered softly, “Jordan, I...”

“Tom- Tom,” Jordan whispered, wrapping his arms around Tom and holding him tightly as if he could keep Tom’s spirit from slipping away with his own strength. “Tom, be quiet. Save your strength. Stay with me, please...” Jordan choked and buried his face in Tom’s hair as tears started to flow down his cheeks. “You can’t. Not after everything-”

“Nowhere else I’d rather die, Jordan.” Tom reached up to cup Jordan’s face with his hand. A small smile graced Tom’s lips. “I love you, brother.”

“I guess this is goodbye,” Connor murmured, leaning back against the doorframe.

Schlatt paused, stuffed a few more things into his bag, then slung it over his shoulder. “I guess it is,” he replied evenly. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”

Connor breathed out slowly, almost in a sigh. “Nah. I have to look after Ty. I’ll see if I can get permission to come visit, though.” Connor smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. They both knew that this was permanent. Once Schlatt and Carson left Hell, there would be no coming back. No visits, nothing. It was nice to pretend, though.

“I see.” Schlatt combed a hand through his hair. “Should I get rid of the moustache before we leave?” He glanced over at himself in the mirror and scratched at the hairs clutching his upper lip.

“I think it’s fine,” Connor answered. “Looks very... human. Hopefully, you’ll keep your shapeshifting or at least get stuck with, uh,” Connor gestured to Schlatt’s current form, “that.”

Schlatt wished Connor hadn’t reminded him of the fact that leaving Hell meant abandoning some or most of his demon powers. He groaned. “Can you imagine being forced to run around as a walking carpet all the time? I’d die.”

Connor laughed and slapped him on the back. “I think Carson’s waiting for you.” Three sets of eyes latched onto Schlatt’s face and blinked at him. “I’ll see you on the other side, brother.”

“Someday,” Schlatt promised. “Someday, we’ll see each other again.”

Pain shot across Sapnap’s cheek as the sword bit through his skin and sent him reeling. His palms slammed against the stone as he caught himself against the ground. Boots crunched in front of his face and he barely had time to brace himself before Dream kicked him in the face and catapulted Sapnap onto his back, the wind knocked violently from his lungs.

“Get up,” Dream spat, leering at Sapnap through his emotionless mask.

Sapnap staggered to his feet. “Please- wait, let me explain,” he pleaded, taking a limping step towards Dream.

Dream strode past Sapnap and for a moment, Sapnap thought that he would get another chance. Then Dream hissed, “No,” and Sapnap faltered. “I will spare your life, that’s all. Run, Sapnap. As fast as you can. Don’t look back.” Dream paused. “If I see you here again, I will kill you. Do you understand?”

“I-I do,” Sapnap mumbled, falling back against the wall next to the door.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Dream lifted his bow and shot an arrow into the wood next to Sapnap’s head, much too close for comfort, and Sapnap flinched away. “Start running, traitor.”

Tom paused, letting Jordan go first through the door. Tom could sense Jordan’s unease - the captain had never liked the Darkness’ prison, and for good reason. Tom didn’t particularly enjoy being there either, but it seemed to affect Jordan more than him.

“It’ll be alright, mate,” Tom assured his friend, placing a hand on Jordan’s shoulder. It was just the two of them - Karl was away doing something with Mianite and Declan had sent them on alone. “Look, would you rather be here doing something useful or watching Karlyle and Mianite stare at each other for hours?”

Jordan laughed at that. “I know what I said earlier, but is it too late to take it back?” he retorted lightheartedly.

“Yes,” Tom answered. “Now light up that torch and let’s get going. I’ll be right behind you, Sparklypants.” Tom grinned and pushed up the brim of his hat. Jordan would keep him safe. They’d done this sort of thing thousands of times before, in more than one world. The zombie and the captain. Chaos and balance. The partnership that not even the gods could have predicted.

Jordan shot him a small smile over his shoulder and struck a match against the torch, setting the end aflame instantly. Then the captain gulped and stepped over the threshold onto smooth tiles made of blackstone and obsidian. Soulfire lanterns dotted the walls, but it was still nicer to have their own source of light. Tom knew that he was supposed to like soulfire, being Dianite’s champion and all, but he could never get used to its blue glow. Perhaps he would, in time, but it was too new for him to enjoy it yet. Especially in such a place as the mirror realm.

The torchlight burned through the darkness to reveal side corridors, drawing Tom’s attention away from the passage ahead. He glanced back at Jordan, who seemed intensely focused on continuing straight. Tom pursed his lips. He swore that was a chest he could see in the shadows. They’d found treasure in here before... if he dashed off for a second, what was the worst that could happen? Tom knew what he’d promised, but it would only be a moment. The lure of thieving from the Darkness was too much for his pirate heart to resist.

As quiet as a mouse, Tom tiptoed away from Jordan and towards the side hall. He wrapped his coat around himself as he started to shiver, but remained intent on his goal. Open the chest and run back. No harm, no foul.

Then a hand grabbed the collar of his coat, pulled him back, and he felt the sharp tip of a sword press against his spine. The breath escaped Tom’s lungs and a very human rush of desire for self-preservation splintered through his mind.

“Good evening, boys,” a woman’s voice drawled from just behind Tom’s head. Her words were like a snake’s hiss in his ear. “Snooping around my master’s fortress for something to steal, are we?” Gandus dragged him around to face Jordan and Tom felt very, very stupid.

“Tom.” Jordan’s eyes were wide and slightly fearful in a way that Tom had never seen them before. “You said that you would stay with me.” His expression hardened into one that was more familiar - anger.

“Isn’t this touching?” Gandus commented sarcastically, and Tom could hear the eye-roll that went along with it. “I’m sure you already know my deal, Captain.” She took a step back, dragging Tom with her. “You might be thinking that if you refuse, I’ll kill him, and he’ll just respawn.” Jordan’s solemn silence spoke for itself. “So I won’t kill him. I’ll hand him over to the Darkness instead. Won’t that be fun, Zombie Boy?”

Tom bit down on his tongue in a desperate attempt to keep his composure. He knew what he should say, but fuck if it wasn’t difficult. “Don’t do it,” he managed to choke out, every nerve alight with a desperate urge to run. “I’ll be okay.” Tom was awfully good at lying. “Don’t make the deal, Jordan.”

Jordan’s eyes snapped back to Tom’s face. Everything they’d been through, and they were being beaten by a wizard-turned-Darkness-agent with a god complex. “I have to,” Jordan replied slowly.

“No.” Tom stumbled over his words as he forced them from his mouth. “No, you don’t. Take the water stone... tell Dianite what happened... and use all four to kill that son of a bitch, you hear me?” He hoped that was enough to rebind the stone to Jordan. There wasn’t much else he could do.

“While this is incredibly entertaining and all,” Gandus interrupted, “I would like an answer. The stones or your boyfriend, Captain?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Jordan retorted. There was a pause, then... “Take him.” Jordan’s expression was momentarily pleading as if he were begging Tom to understand what he was doing. “He’s not much use for anything anyway.”

Tom’s eyes burned. “Jordan?” he breathed, his tone one of disbelief. “Jordan, I know I said- but- do you really-”

“There’s no point in trying to use him for anything,” Jordan continued. “He’s a zombie, too - he’ll probably fall apart before you can get any information out of him. You’re better off sticking him in a cell somewhere.” Jordan paused. “I’ve wanted him out of my hair for a while. I should be thanking you, really.”

Gandus laughed. “Well, this is fun. And here I thought I could exploit your attachment to each other to get the stones.” Gandus shook her head dismissively. “I’ll make sure he hates you just as much as you hate him when we’re done with him.” She hooked her fingers into the collar of Tom’s coat and Tom felt a familiar rush that he knew preceded a teleport. “Goodbye, Captain!”

She is one of the antagonists from Mianitian Isles, a Minecraft roleplay series featuring CaptainSparklez, Syndicate, and Karl!

She’s been mentioned in the show for quite a while but was just recently revealed in her first appearance to be female :D