#the garbage man

Y/N had moved to Chuglass a few years back, moving there after being named the sole benefactor to their estranged grandfather’s house and bakery. It was supposed to be a new start, to get away from the past and live a modest life.

Y/N got by fairly well in Chuglass, continuing the bakery and making enough to keep the heat and lights on. The bakery was next to Game Over World, this run down old game store run by a man who was still trying to live out his glory days.

Garrett was an interesting man, always trying to come off as too cool and as if wasn’t 1 late payment away from losing his store. Y/N felt a little bad for him, with no friends in their already small town. Y/N wasn’t much better, but at least they got daily interactions with their customers, and they would consider Dawn to be an acquaintance. The most interaction Garrett got was from the online auction websites he used and any garage sales he went to.

One day, however, Garrett entered the bakery. As he scanned over the bread and other baked goods, Y/N emerged from the back, greeting as they would any other customer.

“Welcome in!” Y/N smiled.

Garrett gave a kind of awkward nod as he looked at Y/N, still looking around the store for a moment before speaking. “Where, uh…where’s the old man?” he asked.

“You mean (Grandfather’s name?)” Y/N asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, him. He usually helps me out when I’m… a little low on cash.” Garrett adjusted his shoulders, obviously a little tense over the fact that he was admitting he was broke to a stranger.

Y/N leaned over the counter as they looked at Garrett, “Well unfortunately for you, my grandfather passed a couple months back, something you probably would have noticed if you had stopped by before.”

Garrett awkwardly cleared his throat, flipping down his sunglasses to cover his eyes to avoid the awkward eye contact before speaking, “Oh, I'm sorry for your loss.”

Y/N just shrugged, “Don't be, I never really knew him. I just ended up with all his property and decided to move here to get a fresh start.”

Garrett nodded, looking down towards the ground even with his eyes concealed. “Well… I'm sorry for bothering you then.” As he turned to leave, Y/N spoke up.

“Wait!” they said before Garrett stepped out of the bakery. “I don't have any extra money right now, but I can at least give you this.” Y/N reached into the pastry cabinet and retrieved a cupcake with pink and blue swirled frosting, stopped with pink sprinkles. Y/N reached their arm over the counter, offering it to Garrett.

“Oh no, I'm good.” Garrett raised a hand up, declining the offer.

“Come on, take it. I made too many for today and it'll go bad if you don't take it.” Y/N said, still holding out the cupcake.

Garrett waited for a second before reaching for the cupcake, his fingers brushing against Y/N’s as he took it. He once again headed towards the door, pushing it open and looking over his shoulder at Y/N, “Thanks.” He said as he headed out.

Garrett began to walk back to his own store, before spinning around and popping his head back into the bakery. “What was your name?” He asked.

“Y/N”

“Y/N…” He said in almost a whisper to himself, “I’m Garrett, it was nice to meet you.” Garrett pulled back, once again making his way back to his store.

Y/N smiled a bit, feeling happy that they got a chance to talk to Garrett, even if the whole exchange was awkward and he was only there to ‘borrow’ money.

Garrett eventually got ahold of the money he needed, but he started going into the bakery everyday before it closed. Always grabbing one of the cupcakes that were going to be thrown out at the end of the day. And secretly, Y/N always made sure there was exactly 1 left each day for Garrett.

~~~

It was around 4PM on a Tuesday, closing time for the bakery, and Garrett hadn’t stopped by yet. Y/N closed up the store and packed the cupcake they had saved for Garratt in a to-go box, then headed next door to check on him.

When Y/N entered the game store, they noticed that the door was left unlocked, lights were left on, and there was no one there. Y/N looked around, trying to find any clues as to where Garrett had gone, they knew he wasn’t one to leave his store unattended like this. As Y/N looked around, they found a note that looked like it was a few years old, left on the ground.

Y/N quickly read over the note, it was talking about some crystal, but the part that stuck out to Y/N was where it said “There loads of treasure down here… but it's not worth the danger!” They knew that it must have meant the old mines. Y/N rushed out of the game store and drove across town, parking their car next to what they recognized as Dawn’s. Without any thought, they rushed into the abandoned mines, worried about what danger Garrett could have gotten himself into.

Stumbling through the mines, Y/N heard the yells of Dawn, Garrett, and 2 other people. Y/N rushed towards the sound, finding what looked like a glowing blue doorway. As Y/N stared in awe, they were quickly sucked into the portal and thrown through the air.

As they sat up, Y/N was confused to see fresh grass under them. When they stood, they saw a full, bright world made of block shapes. As Y/N scanned the area, they saw Garrett, Dawn, and the 2 new kids running over towards a pink blocky sheep. As Y/N was running over to join the group, the sun suddenly set and the moon was already high in the sky.

What the hell? Y/N thought.

Before they could move further, a barrage of flaming arrows came raining down over the clearing the group was in. Y/N panicked and ran over towards Garrett, the opposite direction that the others had run to. As Y/N ran, they lost sight of Garrett. Trying to keep away from the monsters that had suddenly appeared, Y/N jumped onto a small tree, running along the leafy blocks and jumping across them, hoping to find Garrett with the high ground advantage.

As Y/N jumped from tree to tree, they finally spotted Garrett as he emerged from a hole in the ground. Y/N hopped out of the tree and landed next to Garrett, making him scream.

Y/N grabbed Garrett by the arm, “We need to get out of here!” they said.

Before they could figure out where to run to, they both froze as they heard a hissing noise from behind them. Garrett instinctively turned and punched the green creature. The monster began to pulse with a light, each beat being fast and faster. As Garrett tried to apologize to the monster, Y/N knew exactly what was coming next. Y/N kicked the monster back, sending it flying back. As it landed a few yards away, it exploded, the power of it sending Y/N and Garrett tumbling down the hill they were on. As they got us from the ground (for the second time today) they saw that they were surrounded by zombies.

Garrett and Y/N ran, finding a large tower that the others were standing atop of. The two ran towards the tower, fighting off zombies left and right. Garrett stopped for a moment, picking up a crystal cube from the ground and looking at it before it was knocked from his hands, the outer crystal shattering. Y/N grabbed Garrett by the arm, forcing him to continue to run before he reached down and grabbed the glowing center cube that was left. Y/N and Garrett reached the tower, both begging to be let in.

As they stood there, zombies began to surround them. The two tried to fight off the ghouls but were quickly becoming overpowered. Just before they could be ripped apart, the blocks of the wall behind them disappeared and both were pulled into the tower. The boy had pulled them to safety. As they all were running up the stairs to the top of the tower, an explosion destroyed one of the walls, letting in a horde of zombies. With everyone now on top of the tower it seemed like this would be the end, as monsters cornered them.

Suddenly, a man appeared who fought off the monsters, sending a few off the edge of the tower. Then, as if on a queue that only he knew, he pointed towards the sky as the sun reappeared, making the remaining zombies burst into flames.

The boy slowly approached the man, “Who are you?” he asked.

“I… am Steve!” The man said.

Steve explained that he needed the “orb” (as he called it) back to save his dog, Dennis, and that the group wouldn’t be able to go home because the earth crystal had shattered, meaning they would have to venture to find a new one before the portal back home would open. Steve promised to help the group find the earth crystal so that they could all go home, and began the journey by leading everyone to a nearby village for supplies.

As the group walked, Dawn introduced Y/N to Natalie and Henry, the two others in the group, and the new residence of Chuglass.

Soon, the 6 of them arrived at the massive village, filled with many blocky humanoid people. Steve explained the way of life for the ‘villagers’, as he called them, mostly focusing on their food. Y/N was intrigued, as someone who baked and had a knack for cooking too, they wanted to learn more about the foods they made.

“So, you're a foodie, huh? Well, let me introduce you to my little corner of heaven~” Steve said, singing the last bit as he led them over to a shack with a giant chicken on top of it.

“You ever wonder what happens when you mix hot lava and chicken? I did and you're about to find out!” Steve then flipped a switch, causing some type of contraption to move at the back of the shack.

Then, Steve started singing.

It was almost like a jingle for this place. Talking about how the lava chicken was crispy and spicy. It honestly was half bad, but Garrett felt otherwise.

“I’m a business owner too, but when I write a jingle I try not to make it sound like butt.” Garrett shrugged.

As the chicken landed on the counter, Steve ripped off one of the legs, biting into it and quickly recoiling from the pure heat.

Garrett scoffed and he told Steve to hand over the chicken leg.

“Careful brochacho, that chicken was just cooked using scolding hot lava!” Steve warned.

Garrett just shrugged and took a large bit out of the chicken, chewing it confidently. Steve nodded approvingly and began to lead the others more into the village. As everyone else turned away, Y/N saw Garrett as he tried his best to keep calm as the hot food burned his mouth. Y/N shook their head as he hurried behind the others. Y/N grabbed some of the chicken, finding it could be minimized like the blocks that Henry picked up.

Y/N trailed behind dawn, taking in all the sights of the village.

“We should really get a map, I don't trust just running into the forest blind.” Natalie said.

“I’ll look around and see if I find one here, but you go and ask Steve if he has one or where we can get one.” Dawn said, pulling Y/N with her.

When Natalie left and it was just Dawn and Y/N, Dawn spoke, “So, what's the deal with you and garbage boy?” She asked.

Y/N was taken aback, “N-nothing? He just comes into the bakery sometimes and I was worried about him.”

Dawn rolled her eyes, “mhm, sure. And you're just being all protective over him and hes just getting all jealous because you work next to each other, right?”

Y/N laughed, “What are you talking about?”

Dawn sighed, “Oh, come on! You ran in here worried about him and he’s acting all jealous because you're giving Steve all this attention while he's showing us around. I work with animals, Y/N, I know what it looks like when two animals like each other, and you two act just like peacocks.” Dawn laughs.

Y/N blushes, “Whatever, lets just find this stupid map.”

Dawn pulls Natalie back over to them as they talk to, what Dawn thinks, is a cartography villager.

“So… we need a map.” Natalie tries to explain to the villager. The villager just grunts.

Y/N, Dawn, and Natalie just look between each other, unsure of what that could mean.

Before any of them can try to ask in a different way, an arrow comes flying past them, striking one of the villagers on the nose before he poofs.

Mass panic ensues. Villagers run for cover as the Piglins come marching in. Steve, Garrett and Henry emerge from Steve’s weapons stash, defending the village.

Dawn, Natalie, and Y/N run for cover, hiding behind a flipped table. As a piglin lunges at them, they kick the table at it and run towards some stacked up tools to defend themselves. Dawn grabs a shovel, Natalie grabs a hoe, and Y/N grabs a pick axe. The three fight off attacks left and right, trying to get away from the invaders.

“We have to get out of here!” Y/N shouts,

“We can’t leave Henry!” Natalie yells back.

“He’s safe with Steve, we just have to meet up with them at the woodland mansion!” Dawn shouts, directing them towards where the cartographer went.

The three run towards the river where the cartographer is already taking off in a boat.

“Wait! We need a map!” Natalie yells towards the villager.

“We need a boat!” Dawn says.

Natalie then breaks a wooden plank from the dock and places it the way Henry did, “Boat magic!” Natalie yelled.

The three of them and the villager watch as the block Natalie places in the water just bobs and floats away.

“I don't think that’s how that works.” Y/N says.

“I’m sorry, I have no idea what I'm doing…” Natalie says

“Don’t worry about it, we have to go!” Y/N says, running back up the dock and towards the forest in the direction of the mansion.

~~~

Soon, the sun was already setting, and Dawn, Natalie, and Y/N were already exhausted.

“We’re already lost.” Natalie said defeated, before swinging her shovel and hitting a zombie across the head. Y/N swung their pick axe and landed the end right in the head of the zombie, stopping it from getting back up.

“I had one job, to protect Henry, and I blew it. My mom would have never let this happen. I just wish I could have been a kid for a little longer.” Natalie said, sulking.

“Trust me, Nat, no one chooses to be an adult. But I hear you.” Y/N says, passing the zombie to Dawn for her to hit with her hoe.

“Yea, you suddenly have all these responsibilities and have to give up on your dreams. You think I like having 15 hussles?” Dawn adds.

The 3 stop in their tracks as they hear growling. They turn around to suddenly see a wild wolf closing in on them.

Natalie screams and Y/N raises their weapon.

“Wait!” Dawn says, “I think this one just needs some TLC.” She says as she grabs a bone from the ground and slowly walks over to the wolf. As she gets close, she kneels down and offers the bone to the wolf, who takes it. The wolf smiles, a collar appears around its neck, the tag reading “Dennis”.

Dawn is shocked, “Dennis? Steve’s Dennis?” She asks the dog.

Dennis happily wags his tail and begins to lead them off into the forest.

“I think he knows the way!” Y/N says, following him as dawn and Natalie also follow along.

~~~

Dennis leads them to Steve and Henry, who they find passed out on the ground, Garrett nowhere to be seen. Dawn and Y/N work together to carry Steve and Natalie carries Henry, taking them to the giant red mushrooms to offer coverage as they wait for them to wake up.

Dennis leads them to the mushroom hut, where Y/N uses the supplies that Steve kept there to make some food to help Steve and Henry out once they wake up.

After a few minutes, Steve wakes up, “Dennis! Is it really you buddy?” He says as he pets Dennis. Steve looks up and see’s Henry is still unconscious.

“What happened, where’s Garrett?” Y/N asks as they hand a bowl of mushroom stew to Steve.

Steve’s brows furrow as he looks down, “He… He sacrificed himself for us. He didn’t want Malgosha’s army to catch us and knew it was the only way for us to survive.”

Tears began to form in Y/N’s eyes, but they quickly wiped them away, turning away to look out the window.

“And… they got the orb.” Steve said, the sun getting blocked out as Malgosha used the orb. Y/N shook their head, clearing the grief from their mind before speaking.

“Okay, we need a plan to fight Malgosha. We’ll wait until Henry wakes up and then we have to prepare.” Y/N said.

Once Henry wakes up, the group gets to work, crafting supplies and readying for the fight. Dawn goes out and tames more wolves while Henry invents more armour and weapons, Steve gets the supplies, and Natalie builds them. Y/N learns to make potions, crafting potions of strength and healing.

Once everything was ready, they headed to intercept Malgosha’s army, building dozens of iron golems and waiting for the army to attack. Once a single stray arrow hit one of the golems, it began.

The golems did the mass of the work, throwing piglin as they charged. Natalie and Henry charged into the battle, slashing and shooting the ones that got past. Y/N stood in the mountains, shooting poison tipped arrows and setting off TNT. Steve challenged Malgosha directly.

Henry knew he had to get the orb away from Malgosha’s portal. So he used an ender pearl to get up to the top, and Natalie stopped the great hog from reaching him. As Y/N shot down more piglins from reaching Natalie, Dawn emerged from the forest with her pack of wolves, sending them out to attack.

As everyone fought, Henry climbed towards the orb, just out of reach. Before he could grab it, the great hog sent a shot towards him, knocking him down from the tower.

“Henry!” Natalie yelled out.

Y/N’s breath caught in their throat as he fell, everyone was too far away to help him.

Just as the great hog lined up another shot to hit Henry as he fell, a ghast float came swinging in, catching Henry.

Y/N watch the float as it steadies. Piloting it was Garrett.

“Yes! Go, Garrett, go!” Y/N shouted. Everyone cheered them on as they used the ghast to destroy Malghosha’s portal, knocking the orb loose in the process. As the sun reappeared, the monsters began to burst into flames and the piglins started to zombify.

Natalie caught the orb as it bounced off the ground and Garrett and Henry landed. Y/N rushed to them and jumped up, wrapping their arms around Garrett in a hug.

Before they could even think about what they were doing, they kissed Garrett. The world felt like it stopped around the two of them.

Y/N pulled back and looked Garrett in the eyes, all he could do was smile and let out a laugh. Y/N let go of him and punched him lightly on the arm,

“Don’t you EVER scare me like that again!” They said.

Garrett rubbed his arm where the punch landed and chuckled, “Not if that's how you'll react every time.”

As Steve defeated Malgosha, the rest of the gang celebrated.

Soon , everyone was at the portal, ready to go home. As the gang said their goodbyes to Steve, he sang a short song to Dennis about how Dennis helped him and how it was time for him to help Dawn. As they passed through, they re-entered the mines. As they began the walk out, there was a whooshing sound and footsteps behind them.

Steve had decided to go back, to conquer the challenge he had started a long time ago:

To be an adult and make connections with people in the real world.

The adventure in the Over World wasn’t forgotten or a waste, though. Dawn opened up a real zoo, with Dennis as the main attraction, Natalie opened a self defense class, teaching the people of Chuglass to fight, Steve started working at Game Over World with Garrett and even started developing a video game, Block City Battle Buddies, that started the entire gang, and Y/N added more items to the bakery’s menu, selling mushroom stew, pumpkin soup, and even Steve’s lava chicken, that was extra spicy. Henry even became more confident, inventing more things and making a successful jetpack.

“I guess life is going to change a lot, huh?” Y/N asked Garrett as they leaned against the counter of Game Over World.

“Yeah, but it’s all for the better. Now I can say that I actually have friends my age.” Garrett chuckled as he draps an arm over Y/N’s shoulder. Y/N rests their head against Garrett, looking over the bustling store, filled with the local kids and their friends.

“Hey, what would you say to maybe moving in with me?” Y/N asked Garrett.

Garrett froze for a moment as he processed the question. Y/N straighted up, realizing that it was a very heavy proposition.

“I mean, it’s just a really big house! And I figure you living with me could help save you some money that could be used for the store and the game and-” before Y/N could finish, Garrett leaned down and kissed them.

“I think that’s a great idea.” He said smiling.

Y/N smiled up at him, resting their hand on his chest before they both looked back at their friends as they laughed.