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“…Why?”
Parrot’s voice weakly choked out.
The rain poured down the streets as the sound of puddles splashing echoed in the air, his feathers damp and soaked, blood stained his once prestigious attire of a king. Parrot dashed through the streets, running as fast as he could before his vision could begin to blur.
Days after days since he achieved the throne, Parrot felt a new surge of hope that maybe now, as a ruler of the server, he would be able to become the king this server had always needed. His friends have entrusted him, his rival admitted him worthy, he was destined for this position. He had worked so hard, over and over again had he thrown himself in danger just to save another stranger, just to give another player a chance to have fun like they should be able to.
Then why?
Why did his people still starved to death? Why can’t he bring the new and old players together? Why are the number of bandits still growing and his people are dying?
It’s okay, he’ll find a way, he always did. No matter the situation, no matter how close to death he always find a way to slip right through, he’s the smartest in the server after all. Then he’ll find a way to save everyone.. he just
Needs more time.
“It isn’t good enough.”
The words rang through his mind as he was running, stumbling in his tracks. The freezing cold crawling onto his skin, he doesn’t even know where he’s heading anymore. Just somewhere, anywhere that no one can see him, somewhere he can just… hide away.
Parrot can feel his heart clenching terribly with guilt, he knew Lomedy had his reasons for saying so. But god does it not help, is he just that incompetent at being a king? He had tried everything he could, or are there just better ways to do it that he hadn’t figured out yet?
Admist his racing thoughts, Parrot hadn’t notice he had ran towards the snowy mountains. His body felt like it had a mind of its own and it is trying to drag him down, each steps slower than the previous.
His vision already started to blur, his lungs felt like it is getting stabbed from inside out from breathing the cold air, it’s getting harder to breath. And worst of all, he could feel what he hated others to see most welling up in his eyes.
The night sky felt oddly still as Parrot stood in the middle of nowhere, he had just lost his crown, lost his people, his friends. Where else can he even go? He had already lost everything.
There is nothing left for him to return to.
…
His legs felt tickly.
Parrot jolted slightly at the feeling, almost tripping and falling down the snow before he thankfully caught himself, looking around confusingly to see what nudged him.
Finally, his gaze casted down to see a dog nudging at his legs, its fur silver with a red collar. The dog nuzzled its head to Parrot’s legs.
“…Pfft… haha.. what the hell?” Parrot let out a shaky laugh, his tense body relaxed ever so slightly. Parrot knelt down and pet the dog, it seems enthusiastic to see him, just for a moment, Parrot felt his heart got lighter.
The dog suddenly turned its tracks and headed somewhere, seemingly wanting him to follow.
Parrot followed the dog through the snowy forest, the sound of snow crunched beneath his boots. It’s been a while since Parrot had been back here, he lifted his head up to the sky to see the pitch black sky and snow slowly descending, the biome had always feel quiet… and calming.
Parrot suddenly found his surroundings grow more familiar, had he been here before? Now that he thought about it, why is there a tamed dog in the middle of snowy mountains?
Then he saw it, a bright, yellow light admist the snow.
Parrot’s breath caught in his lungs as he stared at the familiar surroundings. A small cabin covered in snow with oddly colored windows. The owner must got a really strange taste, each window was colored with white and yellow. He remembered the boy chuckling when asked about it and said he wanted it to represent the beacon’s colors, that whoever that feels lost and helpless in their way, could see this and know that they are not alone.
His dreams had reached thousands of players in the past, yet Parrot didn’t expect that now, his light is guiding him too.
“…How did it all lead back to you?” Parrot huffed in disbelief, yet he feels his resolve weaken, slowly approaching the building.
The door creaked open, the dog reunited with its home with much familiarity, no one had been here for a while, yet it feels just like yesterday when the two of them settled down here. The bookshelves have gotten slightly more dusty, the wardrobe still have yinyang sweaters hanging, a few bandanas and his stupid treasured ender dragon head that he refused to throw away even though it took up too much space.
One of Parrot’s journal was left open on the desk when he was brainstorming how to deal with the mafia, that was until Wifies was taken by the mafia from him and killed in front of his very own eyes.
Wifies. When was the last time had Parrot mentioned his name?
Parrot had told him that after leaving the prison, he would’ve tell other players of the once kind hearted player that was his best friend, who had stayed alongside him through thick and thin, and the one who had brought hope to thousands of players when they were lost.
Even when he had imprisoned Parrot, Wifies still did all of this because he cared.
Yet king’s duties made time pass by like a blur, and the only person who was able to hear about the story was Theo. Parrot never truly got to tell the world to know of his friend’s name.
Parrot sat down on the couch and takes in his surroundings, the cabin wasn’t much, it only had a few simple furniture because the two only planned to settle down here temporarily, yet it felt cozy, warm, calming with the scent of wood filling the air.
Parrot took a deep breath, his body slumping on the couch, he had been… so tired.
“Running away again?” a voice spoke softly beside him, chuckling.
“…”
“Well, it is kinda your thing, not the first time this happened after all.”
“..Shut up bro…” Parrot sighed.
“..There must be a reason that you’re here then?”
Parrot’s mind is probably playing tricks on him, or whatever it is. But it felt like Wifies is sitting right beside him as if nothing ever happened, like old times, where they were just any other two players on the server.
And it oddly makes him feel safe.
“..I… I don’t understand.” Parrot lowered his head.
“..Yeah?”
“I’ve.. done everything I could, I’ve always tried my hardest to help every player in the server, I thought I’m doing the right thing. But even then, my people still starve, my people are getting killed. My army, who were supposed to be my teammates just… betrayed me the moment someone else promise them safety. I don’t blame them for getting tricked but… why won’t people give me a chance?”
Parrot felt the words stuck in his throat, he paused and took a deep breath. He doesn’t want to get emotional over this, he must keep his mind clear.
“I don’t know I just.. I don’t know if it’s worth trying anymore… I’ve done everything I could. Yet the crown was still taken away from me.” Parrot glanced over his bag, his crown was kept it in but what was the point? What is a king with no people? “…I’m just… all alone now. Heck, I’m not even talking to anybody at all. This is… so dumb.”
Parrot’s voice died down, no longer able to hold it in, he covered his eyes with the back of his hand.
“…Parrot, that’s not true.”
“It is. I couldn’t even protect my friends, let alone my people.” Parrot’s voice grew hoarse as all his guilt, his shame and pain spilled out.
“Parrot…”
“I even left you behind because of my ideals, Wifies.”
Silence stretched within the room.
The outside seems to grow more windy, at it is all the sound that filled the air.
“..Parrot, listen.” The voice stayed as calm as Parrot can remember, though he is scared he’ll forget it too. “…Parrot, do you remember what I told you before?”
“..I never forgot it, not even if I wanted to.”
The voice chuckled “Good, I guess you know what I will say by now, but I will say it again.”
Parrot sighs softly, calming himself and wiping his tears. “..Yeah.”
“..I stayed in that tower that day, because all I really cared for.. was you. And seeing you getting into danger over and over again hurts me more than any injury ever could. If you had to go on, it is a path without me.” The voice paused. “But.. you’re different, Parrot. You got so many people who cared and truly believed in you, you got friends who will fight by your side and risk themselves because they trust you. Even if it’s the slightest chance, sometimes it is all that it takes.”
“…And you know that’s not enough.” Parrot huffs, though there was the slightest smile that was able to crack on his face.
“Perhaps.” The voice sounded like it came out with a smile, one Parrot haven’t been able to see for so long. “But it is so important that that slightest amount of people still exist, because you never know if it’s two, or hundreds more players who wanted to believe that there is still a chance, to live free of fear and be able to play with their friends on the server and they just a way to ensure them that.”
“..What if I never find a way? What happens then?” Parrot’s eyes drifted to the seat beside him.
“…I don’t know, but, what I do know, is that you only truly loses the moment you give up. And you still got your friends who are waiting for you, the Parrot I know always get himself in the weirdest situation just to keep his friends safe. So, you will never know until you try, yeah?”
“…Yeah.” Parrot cleared his mind and stood up, Theo and Reina is still out there somewhere, waiting for him. He can’t just sit around and do nothing.
“..And Parrot?”
“..Hm?”
“…If anything happens, you know this place is always here for you.”
“Yeah, thanks dude.”
The voice seemed to fade, and Parrot’s heart.. felt much lighter. He turned to hug the dog goodbye.
“And you too, thanks for leading me here, little guy.”
With newfound determination, he turned to leave the cabin. He will save his friends.
And he will have his kingdom back.