A Rich Pig with Issues, Lots of Issues

Unforgotten Sentiments (SBI)

Word Count: 1297

Contains: Descriptions of blood, descriptions of major injury.

Techno loved his family. He loved it more than anything in the world. They had taken him in even when the whole world shunned him. They had protected him from the cruelness of man and monster alike. They had taught him all sorts of things he never could have imagined learning without their help.

Phil was the one who taught him love—the one who taught him compassion. He was the first to stumble upon the nether-native as he stumbled through the unfamiliar overworld. The piglin hybrid was battered from his journey through the nether and overworld alike, cast out of his home by those he had called his tribe just days before. When they had first met, Techno could see the fear in Phil's eyes. That was to be expected. What he did not expect, however, was when that fear turned to concern. When Phil's defensive stance relaxed and he held a slightly shaking hand out. Techno still saw fear in the man before him, but the difference was that Phil hadn't let it take over. Phil saw past the appearance of the piglin Techno was, and instead viewed him simply as a boy. A boy desperately in need of a friendly face. Techno would never forget the words Phil spoke on that day.

"I'm Phil... let me help you."

—

Wilbur was the one who taught him that the world wasn't always out to get him—that he was allowed to relax. Techno had been staying with Phil's small family for a few days, but still felt extremely out of place. He was constantly tense and always on his guard, hand twitching towards the hilt of his sword at every unfamiliar noise that dared rear its head. Wilbur noticed this very quickly, and decided to try and help the outsider. He brought Techno out to the sea shore and sat with him, playing songs on his guitar and talking to Techno like a person. Not as a monster, not as a bloodthirsty killer. Just as a regular person. Techno smiled for the first time in years on that day. He was happy to not have to fight for survival every day of his life. Happy that he didn't need to deal with the stress of constantly being perfect and never making any mistakes; mistakes often meant death in the Nether, an ugly and far too common occurrence in those hellish wastes. Techno would never forget the words Wilbur spoke that day.

"You don't have to fight your battles alone anymore, Techno. You have us now."

—

Tommy was the one who taught him to have fun. To do things he enjoyed and to enjoy the things he did. It had been a month now and Techno was much more comfortable with everyone. He started to help around the house and interacted with the brothers a lot more. However, something that had not changed throughout Techno's whole stay was Tommy. Tommy had been constantly bugging him with questions from the very first day, ranging from one's about his piglin hybrid appearance to why he had so many cuts and scars to why he had pink hair. Thus far he had managed to brush the youngest child off everytime they interacted, yet today was the day Techno finally gave into Tommy's persistence. With a groan, he accepted Tommy's request for a duel. They stood in the front yard, facing each other and holding wooden swords. Wilbur stood as a mediator and Phil simply watched with a soft smile. In moments, the duel began, and then ended as soon as it had started. Techno watched Tommy sputter on the ground, a wooden sword hovering over his throat. He immediately requested a rematch and Techno obliged. The longer they dueled, the more Techno enjoyed himself, Tommy even managing to drag a laugh out of the usually uncaring man through his antics. That was the first time in his life that Techno had genuinely had fun doing anything. The first time he had ever enjoyed himself fully. Techno would never forget the words Tommy spoke that day.

"I'll beat you one day, big man! Even if it takes a hundred years!"

—

Techno never asked for this. He had never wanted to drag his family into this. But no matter what Techno did to try to escape his old life, to start a new one, he knew it would always come back to bite him. He knew he couldn't ignore it forever. And if he tried to, then it would come back and make him remember.

It had come back, alright. Armed to the teeth and thirsty for blood. Techno stood in front of his family, just outside their house. His ears were tilted back and red eyes gleaming as he glared at the piglin invaders. As he glared at his old tribe. The enchanted sword of black metal trembled a bit from how tightly Techno gripped its hilt: the only fear he'd allow himself to show. He couldn't show fear now, not in front of his family. The family that was counting on him for protection. The family that he would kill entire armies for if it meant keeping them safe. The family that—

Thunk.

A cry of pain. Panicked shouts. An empty crossbow.

Techno saw red. He rushed forward without a second of hesitation. His mind clouded over as he barely registered what his body was doing, only having one thought on his mind: he needed to kill them—to kill all of them. They had hurt his family, they deserved to die no matter what. Techno didn't know how long he had been fighting, didn't know how much blood had been spilled, all he knew was that it was over. He looked down. Blood covered the grass that used to be just as bright as emeralds. Bodies laid all over the lawn of his family's house. Of Techno's home. Home... a home he had tainted with the shadow of his old life. A home and a life of others which he had ruined with his very presence. He needed to leave, needed to run away so that his family could be safe. He was a liability.

Techno took a step, only then realizing the great weight upon him as gravity dragged him down to the harsh ground of the world below. Everything was silent. Everything was eerily calm. As Techno turned over to face the sky, he felt a metallic taste in his mouth. He reached up to try and see what it was, though stopped when he saw his arm. Wounds littered his skin, his armor being pierced and cut in numerous places. He felt the warmth and weight of blood as it trailed down his arm, but also became acutely aware of the fact that he felt the same warmth and pain across his whole body. His arm fell like a stone and his eyes became unfocused as he faced the overcast sky. Techno closed his eyes for a moment, feeling exhaustion rapidly spread through his aching body.

His rest was interrupted by the jolt of being shaken just moments after darkness had consumed his vision. He grumbled a bit and half opened his eyes, seeing blobs of color looking over himself. He squinted and allowed himself time to focus, now seeing... the faces of his family. They were crying, and worried. That's not what Techno wanted at all—quite the opposite, actually. So, though he couldn't do much, he did the best thing he could think of in the moment to try and make his family feel better. Techno mustered up a smile and slowly looked between his kin. Phil, Wilbur, and Tommy would never forget the words Techno spoke that day.

"Thank you... for everythin'."

—

A/N: Starting this book off right—with heart wrenching family angst and ambiguous major character death! :D

I write a lot of angst for the pig boi, you have been warned lmao.