Good Things Never Last

Chapter 1

I was finally free.

It was the day I got to go home. I got to see everyone.
I had spent months away on my own adventures, attempting to perfect the art of PvP and gradually becoming one with the movements and tactics.

Learning all the different techniques to block a hit or how to select the best weapon for a certain situation had been fascinating. Yet no matter how much I accomplished, how much I improved, or how hard I tried to settle into my supposed new home, I missed L'manburg, my L'manburg.

I'd only been gone for a few months, but it felt like years as I waited for the day I got to go back home. The day I could see Wilbur, Tubbo, Fundy and, most importantly, Tommy again.

My younger brother. He was quite a character to say the least.
With Tubbo by his side, he was always finding a way to cause havoc with his loud, boisterous attitude. Tommy may not be the most logical person on the planet, but he always managed to make everyone grin.

Really, he was the best little brother I could have asked for, even if he irritated me from time to time. He had always been there for me in good times and bad, and I'd done the same for him.

When I left, he wasn't happy, and he even wanted to come with me. But once I brought Tubbo into the picture and told him about how much his best friend needed him, Tommy was quite understanding.

Wilbur was actually the one who suggested that I took my own path for a bit. He claimed it was so I could learn more about myself and the world around me. But, in the end, I realised he was worried about my safety.

I missed him terribly, as well as everyone else.

So I continued onwards, filled with joy with the sun setting behind me, the pastel colours faded into black and darkness slowly began to cast over the lands.

The birds were chirping as they made their way to bed for the night, and the light breeze rustled through the leaves, allowing the whispers of the trees to be heard for miles. It was a scene from a movie. Everything was perfect. I was finally home, I got to see everyone again and see how the nation had grown. But that's when I saw him.

My gaze wandered to a nearby forest on a hill, and there he was, the man himself.

Dressed in a green hoodie, slightly too bright to blend in with the trees surrounding him, but still managing to make him more or less camouflaged within the leaves. But what really made him stand out was that mask of his, the last beams of sunlight reflecting against its bone-like material.

The drawn on happy face was still visible despite being splattered with a scarlet red substance, which I imagine to be someone's or something's blood.

The sight sent shivers down my spine.

His appearance was unmistakable, even to someone who'd never met or even seen him before, like myself, but based on what Tommy had described in the letters, the description was spot on. He just had such a wicked aura, like a psychotic evil mastermind in the latest movie, and that's exactly what he was.

At least that's what Tommy told me.

As I looked up at him, his head slowly turned to the side, like he was a bewildered puppy. I could feel his piercing eyes on me, examining every inch of my tired body for clues as to who I was and whether or not I intended to harm him.

I saw he was armed as well.
A diamond axe dangling from his left hand was coated in blood, which made me consider the fact that I might have been in danger.

We just stayed there for a few minutes, staring at each other until the ground around us was fully overtaken by darkness. Only a couple of moments later, he dashed back into the forest, out of my sight. But little did I know I wasn't out of his.

I continued my way down the wooden walkway until I reached the gates. Looking up at the towering walls above me, I exhaled a breath of relief, knowing that I had arrived at my destination.

I returned my gaze to the gates that were before me, but no one was there. That was rather strange actually. I knew Fundy usually manned the gates at that hour.

I hesitantly opened the gates and looked around, but there was no one there, not a single soul in sight. There was an unnerving silence all around. I took small steps inside the nation walls of L'Manburg, cautious of my every move. It was strange that a place like L'Manburg was so quiet. It had always been bustling with activity, and it felt great to be among the enthusiastic locals.

So when I could only hear my own breathing, I knew something was wrong.

Scanning the area, a wave of pride washed over me as I looked at the various structures around me, astonished at how far our country had progressed in my absence, but my panic returned quickly.

And that's when I heard it. I heard him chuckle.

My gaze was drawn to the source of the faint giggling and I was greeted by the sight of the one and only Camarvan.

Its long windows let plenty of light flood out, accompanying the numerous stray lanterns that sat across the field. The strong light inside the small trailer illuminated various silhouettes of the people who sat inside, spiking my interest.

I took a long deep breath to encourage the fresh air to fill my lungs before taking a step towards the van, swallowing down my nerves and bracing myself for what was about to come.

As I crept closer to the vehicle, the laughter from within increased in volume, certifying my suspicions.

So when I got to the door, I did a quick double-check of my surroundings before entering.