𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕤 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝔸𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝔸 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕞

𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚞𝚎

It felt almost odd to be back in the flower forest. The lush, grassy fields were dotted with vibrant color as flowers caught the dazzling sunlight overhead.

It felt even more unusual now that Elude was by herself, even after she had spent her entire life alone. Well alone besides when she was much younger and lived with her parents. But it wasn't until that very moment she realized just how lonely it all felt. How had she been able to stand it before?

She just had to keep reminding herself that she would see them again. Every Council meeting, she would be there with Ethereal, and she planned to visit the swamp every once in a while, to see Peony and Aspect. Apparently, Peony had some huge plan that she absolutely refused to reveal to Elude though until... what had she said exactly? 'Until the time was right' or something along those lines, whatever that meant.

So, Elude was left to wait patiently until she knew what Peony had in mind. If only she were even the slightest bit more of a patient creature...

She also longed to see Blink in the End dimension again. Sure, she wasn't completely thrilled to go through the process of sneaking into the realm, if that were even possible for her to do anymore. But there was no doubt she missed the enderman.

Maybe one day the wars in both the End and the Nether will end. Maybe one day the creatures there will be free to come to the Overworld. And in turn, we can visit their home realms.

It definitely wasn't as easy of a mission as it sounded, and her thoughts spiraled into an upsettingly probable point: what if the war never ended after all? Humans had nowhere else to go besides the End Cities, and as for the Nether, she didn't even know what had caused the war. So how could she even begin to ponder possible ways to stop it?

She quickly shook the thought away before she could contemplate it any longer. The war would end at some point. It had to. It couldn't just continue forever, could it? Elude hoped that was the case at least. She hoped she didn't have to worry for the creatures who lived there for much longer. She hoped she didn't have to keep worrying for Blink.

⊡⊟⊠

As much as she missed the swamp where she lived, Peony definitely did not miss the obnoxious heat of the biome and how dismal it was. And she most definitely could live without mud and wet grass getting all over her boots and the way they sunk into the marshy ground every time she took a step. But it was still her home, and perhaps she would miss it once she left to carry out her plan...

Her plan. Would it even work? She hoped it would. No, it had to work. Peony refused to believe it wouldn't. After all, this was the only way the war in the End would come to a stop. The only way humans could actually feel safe and comfortable where they lived.

She hoped.

She took out a map she had been given back at the mansion after she had convinced the illagers there that she absolutely didn't need to be locked away in a mansion for the rest of her life. Fright had informed her of a village that had been long-abandoned when the humans fled the Overworld, and the idea of restoring it had sparked her idea in the first place.

This will work. She told herself, the confident tone of her thoughts bringing a surge of encouragement to her. I'm going to convince that dumb Council to reintroduce humans, and I'm going to stop the war in the End. I'm going to make sure every human alike never has to be ashamed of who they are.

⊡⊟⊠

He practically dove into the cave. The rush of cool air against his wings brought a wave of nostalgia cascading over him as if he were submerging himself in the thick mud of the marshland. He was fortunate that despite his eyes being damaged, they still retained their ability to allow him to see in darkness, even what he made out was still a little blurry.