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What does one do when they’re at war on the losing side?
What does one do when your second in command thinks there's no chance?
What does one do when multiple of the strongest players are on the opponents side?
When you’ve seen deaths of thousands for your cause, what does one do?
********
“Wemmbu’s joined their side Parrot! What are we supposed to do at this point? They’re going to kill us all!” Theo yelled.
After the battle at Highwater City, we fled. Hid in a cave for a little bit. Returned to the Northern Council.
“Theo you have a point but we have to keep trying. They’re going to go on a killing spree if we don't stop them. Thousands of new players will never get to explore the server!” Reina countered back.
Wemmbu joined CinderCrests side. The attack was devastating. We lost so much.
“They’re already on a killing spree! There's nothing we can do anymore.”
The losses are becoming too much. I don’t know what to do. I tried to be what they needed me to be. Everyone's leaving.
“No they’re not! This is just war! They are killing, yeah. But it’s their opponent's team and not the players who aren't in our army.”
It’s too much.
“Parrot, tell her she’s wrong. We can’t fight anymore!”
Too much. Death around every corner. Stress. Worry. Too much.
“We still have a chance Theo! There's always a chance!”
Too much. Expectations. Just want what's best for everyone.
“Everyone’s gonna die! There's no point in it anymore. Wemmbu, Shoebilly, and Flame are on Saps side. We were annihilated at Highwater! Parrot please please please back me up. We can’t fight anymore,” Theo said.
Death. Stress. Wemmbu. TOO MUCH.
I whimpered.
“Parrot?” Reina whispered.
Too much. Too much. Too much.
“Parrot!” Theo yelled.
“...”
“Parrot, stop staring off into the distance and focus! We don’t have time for this dude,” Theo said.
Theo? Theo. Theo. TheoBaldtheBird. Too much.
“Parrot! Lock in!”
“Theo shut up!” Reina said.
Reina? Reina? Reina!
Her hand extended toward me. Soft touches. A kind one.
I flinched.
Too much!
“Parrot? Are you okay?” Reina said softly
I whimper. Too loud. Too much.
Theo and Reina are staring at me with concern in their eyes.
“Too much. Too much,” I whispered.
I’m so tired and it's too much. I started shaking.
“Too much. Too much Theo. Don-” my voice cracked. “Don’t know what to do anymore.”
Shock was painted all across Theo’s face. He’d never seen me like this. I usually kept this side of me to myself, hidden and behind closed doors.
Reina patted Teho on the shoulder and stepped out of the room, sensing it was a me and Theo problem/moment.
Theo cautiously stepped toward me and reached out. “Parrot, what’s up?”
“NO!” I shrieked and curled in on myself. Physical contact seemed too much. Too much. “Please I can’t. I ca- I can’t. Too much. Theo please. I’m scared”
Tears started slipping down my face.
“It’s too much Theo. Too much death. Too much stress. I’m okay with the stress. But the death, Theo. The loss and not knowing what to do. I can’t! I can’t anymore. I’m tired and lost.”
Theo grabbed and pulled me close to his chest. He started combing through my hair as I cried, cried, cried. He held me tight, as if afraid I would fade away if he didn’t hold on tight enough.
After a bit, I calmed down and we sat in silence, just holding each other.
Theo breaks the silence. “Parrot, I-,” he pauses. “I’m sorry. I realize I’ve been adding to your stress with all my crashouts.”
It’s sincere. It’s weird. It’s weight lifting.
I let out a sigh of relief.
“Omg, I thought I was just being a bad friend for feeling that you were annoying and over reacting,” I admitted.
“Hey!” he yelled playfully.
“Sorry. Sorry,” I chuckled, ruffling his hair.
********
When we walked out of the throne room, Reina was waiting for us, leaning against the wall with a smile on her face.
“Y’all better now?” she asked.
“Yea,” I replied.
“Took you long enough.”
I chuckled.
“Well then, back to work! Still have a war to win,” she said.
When I processed what she said, I wilted. I was too tired for this. Theo seemed to notice.
“Nah. It can wait a bit. Lets rest, regear a bit, eat, shower. You know, stuff like that,” Theo said. “Let's go, Parrot.”
“I- um, yeah. Sure,” Reina said as we walked off.
“Thank you bro, omg. I might’ve started crying again,” I said once we were down the hall.
“I got you, bro,” Theo replied, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Now and always.”
I chuckled. “Now and always.”
********
Five years later.
If you went to a civilian in Parrot’s kingdom and asked them ‘who is Parrotx2?’ they’ll tell you that he’s king, obviously. But, if you ask them what type of person he is, they’ll say numb but caring. Doesn’t talk unless he has an input, and it only is a couple words long. Sad, for all the friends he lost. They would then say that he’s still an amazing leader. They would say that he cares for his people and does his best to listen to the people and appease their complaints.
If you were to ask an older civilian ‘was he always like this?’ they would tell you: “No. There was a time when King Parrot was happy, always stated his ideas and was very passionate about what he loved.”
“So what changed?”
They would pause, thinking how to word it properly. “After the battle with CinderCrest, which is the first Civil War, his closest friends and best friend died again and he just never recovered.”
They would continue talking, but you aren’t listening. Their words shock you.
‘I’m not dead.’
You would say thank you and sprint off toward the castle, being stopped by the guards in the front of the castle gates.
“Items in the chest. You can get them back when you come out. And yes you can take food,” they would say.
You would comply, just wanting to see Parrot again.
And you start walking toward the throne room.
********
Back to the present day but after the war finishes. (I hope that makes sense) Parrot’s POV
“THEO!! REINA!” I shouted. “GUYS COME BACK! WARS DONE! WE WIN!”
We finished. It’s done. Now we rest a bit and work on renovations in the kingdom. Fix everything. Make better farms. Supply more space for people to live.
But where are Theo and Reina? Like omg.
As I was searching, one of my soldiers came running to me.
“King Parrot. We found them,” he said sadly.
“What? Why do you sound so sad about it?”
“They… They’re dead, my king.”
WHAT
“I can take you to them.. If you wish.”
They can’t be dead.
“Yes.”
We ran. I ran. I ran until he said stop.
“What?” Cyru1s muttered.
“What what? What’s wrong?”
“Scramies is dead and they're gone.”
“What does Scramies have to do with anything?”
“She was watching over them.”
“And?”
“King Parrot, Scramies was watching over them and is now dead. Someone killed her and took the bodies.”
“And you’re sure they were here and not somewhere else?”
“100 percent. Ask PPPunch3s or Corri3d0r or literally any of my friends if you don’t believe me sir.”
“Where are they?”
He pointed to their direction and I ran. When they saw me, they straightened out, bowing.
“Congrats on th-”
“Yes yes but please. Did you see them dead?”
They looked at each other solemnly and nodded at me.
….
“Okay. Thank you.”
********
What does one do when they lose a friend, and can’t move on?
********
Couple days later
“People of the Unstable SMP. Thank you all for your support. And if you were on CinderCrests side, you are forgiven. I don’t wanna see any hate toward them, please. Everyone in my kingdom is an equal.
“On the other hand. Renovations are being made. We’re going to expand the food farms and living space to the best of our abilities. Anyone can contribute as much or as little as they wish.
“For every player that died, they have been buried in the royal cemetery that was made for them. The expectation being my friends, TheoBaldtheBird and ReinaDrop, who haven’t been found but were seen dead. If you find them, please tell me.
“The cemetery is open to anyone at any hour. Just please respect it and the people there. Thank you.”
The crowd cheered. It should’ve made me feel fulfilled, but I was empty.
“Dismissed!” I said to my people as I turned around to enter my castle once again.
Theo’s dead. Reina’s dead.
I appointed Cyru1s, PPPunch3s and Corri3d0r as my personal bodyguards with Cyru1s the general of my army. His PvP skills are almost as good as Theo's.
We started walking to my room and I remembered walking back with Theo after the battle at Highwater.
“I got you, bro,” Theo had replied, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Now and always.”
I stopped, lifting my head toward the ceiling and closing my eyes.
The silence was peaceful until I was asked “Parrot?”
“Yea?” I replied without moving from my position.
“Do you want a hug?”
That broke the dam. Tears started slipping down my face. I started thinking about Theo’s warm smile. His willingness to always jump at someone if they offended me. His warm hugs. His soft glow.
“He said he’s got me. Now and always,” I sobbed. “Where are you now Theo? Where?”
My knees gave out and I collapsed on the floor. I huddled in on myself, sobs racking through my body. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye or bury them Cyru1s. I didn-”
I cried, cried, cried without Theo’s warm hold. Without his soft words. Without the little glow he had wrapping around me. Without his hand through my hair.
I was there for hours, crying in the hall with my bodyguards in formation around me, asking me if I needed anything from time to time.
At some point, they managed to move me toward a corner so rotations could continue. You may say ‘why the corner?’ I was not going back to my room. The one I shared with Theo. with all his stuff around it. With our pictures.
********
I didn’t cry after that day. I went on with my duties quietly. Got things done and retreated back to wherever I was going to stay for that night.
At one point I found the courage to go into my room. I entered and looked around before collapsing on the floor, just staring off blankly.
When it came morning, they had to drag me out. I didn’t enter it again after that. I got my stuff moved to another room in a different wing.
To the kingdom, I became numb. And maybe I did. And maybe it was because Theo was always in the back of my head. ‘Theo would’ve liked this! Theo would hate that. Theo would’ve jumped him for saying that to me!’ Theo. Theo. Theo. Theo.
At one point, Reina’s body was found. We buried her close to Zoey’s old home which we rebuilt.
May the world rest in peace. May my kingdom flourish to extents never thought possible.
*******
Five years later. This is at the same time the first five year timeskip happens
You ran, ran, ran until you reached the throne room where Parrot would usually be at this point in the day.
And then you see him, huddled over papers in your seat.
You smile. You missed your best friend.
“Hey Parrot. You seem to have taken my seat.”
*******
Same time Parrot POV
I was in the throne room, sitting in Theo’s seat, doing a bit of paperwork.
It was his birthday. I planned to make his favorite cake to eat on the highest point of the castle, closest to him. In the stars.
It was quiet, just like all the other days. There was no one to be loud. No Theo to complain about anything. No Theo to make me go outside and do something fun.
A little while later, I hear footsteps running toward the throne room but ignore it. Soldiers run around all the time.
The silence counts after that. Until I heard a voice I never thought I'd hear again.
“Hey Parrot. You seem to have taken my seat.”
My head shot up.
Theo. TheoBaldtheBird was standing in the entrance of the throne room, smiling.
“Have I finally gone insane or is this a cruel joke!” I said to the guards loudly. “You guys know how much it hurts! So why are you doing this?”
They didn’t even move.
I stood up and started walking to the Theo that stood still at the entrance. I reached my hand out to feel if he’s real, here. He grabbed it and pulled me into a hug.
I gasped.
It’s as warm and soft as it always was.
I pulled away. “Is it really you Theo? If I pulled at your hair, it's not gonna come off like a wig?” I said quietly.
“It’s really me, Parrot. I’ve missed you bro! Here.” He tilted his head down so it's easier for me to grab his hair.
Tears started to fill my eyes as I extended my hand to reach for his hair. I pulled at his hair, hard.
“OW! Bro chill,” he yelled, pulling his head back and rubbing it hair. “I forgot how strong you are.”
“I got you bro,” I said.
His eyes widened. “Now and always.”
That was the moment I knew my Theo was standing in front of me.
I jumped him, wrapping my arms around him for a hug as tears rolled down my face. “Theo!!”
We fell onto the floor with a thud. I started laughing, repeating his name. “Theo! Theooo! You’re actually here! TheoBald!”
He held me, laughing as well. “Yea bro. I’m here. I’m alive and well.”
We stayed like that, holding each other in our warmth.
“Where have you been bro? “
“Some guy picked up me and Reina after the battle to heal us. He took us FARRRR. Like edge of the farlands. Reina didn't make it. We grieved her and then he took her close to Spawn where he left her for you guys to bury her. I toughed it out. Somehow survived. Like genuinely, I think he brought me back from the dead a couple times. It was weird. After I was all healed up and I helped him restock on stuff, he pointed back to spawn and I came back. I missed you man,” he explained, wrapping me in a hug.
“I’m so glad you're here. I’m so happy you're alive,” I cried.
“Glad to be back!”
“Oh! Bro it’s your birthday you know. Come on. We’re gonna go make a cake and visit Reina,” I said, dragging him off to the kitchen.
“Alright man. Just gonna say it again though. I’ve got you now. Now and always.”
I paused. “Now and always.”