Steel Blood - A Hermitcraft fanfiction

15: Hopelessness for everyone

'Cub?'

'What is it?' 

Scar faltered at his friend's weary tone. He took it back with a sigh.

'Never mind. You don't want to listen to me.'

With a frown, Cub looked over from his position at the 'front' of their prison. 

'Scar, I... I want to hear what you have to say.'

Scar's eyes flicked to the ground and stayed there as he spoke.

'If... if anyone asks about where the evil hermits came from, don't tell them it was me...'

'What?'

'Don't... tell them... that I caused this. And... and I think I destroyed Hermitcraft...'

'Scar, you haven't destroyed anything. Hermitcraft is still here...'

'Etho and Iskall aren't. Most of the hermits are weird and made of metal. And I did that by controlling NPG. And... sometimes... I don't mind that... well, they don't want me to mind it.'

'Who?'

'The ones it's always been. Them. The other Vexlings. The high Evoker. The people that made us cause chaos in season 5, and then again in season 6...'

'So... you think they're causing this?'

'Who else would it be? And surely you feel them too, since you're making up all this stuff for Jarvis about all the stuff we used to enjoy together. Cake... and Concorp... and chaos.'

'I guess.' 

'And... Cub?'

'What?'

'W...will they blame us when it's over? When they find out we're in here, safe... Cub, will we be the villains again?' Scar let out a sob, and Cub went over to comfort him, silent, as he began to cry. 

'I don't want to be the bad guy...' 

'I know. I know you don't.' Cub whispered back. 'I don't either.' 

'Jarvis?'

A voice. Jevin's. Cub opened his mouth to speak. Scar looked up at him, face tear stained, shaking his head in a silent plea for the other hermits to leave.

'Power low, come back later.' Cub excused quickly. The Convex remained silent, as they waited for Jevin to accept it and go.'

'Jarvis, please. I need help. We all do. It's me and Wels here. Xisuma thinks he's going to be next... what will happen when Xisuma's... gone?'

Silence. Cub looked at the floor, wishing he could answer. 

'Jarvis, please. Answer me.' 

'Jarvis, if you're feigning silence to get rid of us, it isn't going to work. We want answers. We want your help.' Wels joined in. Cub stayed mute. Scar still sobbed into his shoulder, clinging to him like his friend was the only thing he had left in the world. 

'Power low, come back later.' 

'JARVIS!' Desperation tore through Jevin's voice. 'Please! Answer me! We need answers. We don't... we don't want to be alone. We need help. Now. We want you to help us. We need you to help us. Our friends are going to die. We're going to die. I don't... I don't want to die.' 

'Can't you do something? Even if you're low on power? Can't you tell us something?'

'Power... low...' Cub continued to lie. 'Come back later.'

'Is the Jingler there?' 

'The Jangler is out of power. Come back later.'

'WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING US?!' Jevin screamed, breaking down into sobs. 

'Jevin, let's go.'

'No! I want help... I want to know when this will end!'

'Jevin, come on. They're not going to help us. They never do, and they never will. Why would this be the exception?'

'Because I trust Cub... and Cub made Jarvis.' 

'What's goin' on out here?' Stress's voice joined the conversation.

'We're just giving up on Jarvis's lack of help, weren't we, Jevin?'

'I guess...'

'Mumbo's base is safe. Me an' gem are in there.'

'Let's go there then. Come on, Jevin.'

'Jarvis... this is the last chance...'

'Jevin, he's not going to help. Come on.' 

Footsteps, and a final sigh from Jevin before he walked off, leaving the Convex alone, trapped, and feeling worse than ever before.

Xisuma knew it was over when he saw the black shapes on the horizon. When he figured who it was. Tango at the head, leading Bdubs, Impulse, Zedaph, False, Beef, Keralis and Doc over. Every single one of the NPC hermits. Every single one of them. He looked out from the Evil Empire, and sighed, helmet off beside him, and an obsidian sword next to it. Not, as he'd overheard Grian and Pearl speculating, because he was a watcher, but because it was a traditional weapon of the void anyway. If he was going to go down, he was going to go down fighting. This was the first thing he had decided. 

The second thing was that he was not going to let whoever was in control of the hermits become admin. So, he was going to give it to someone else. Who that would be, however, he still hadn't figured out, constantly scrolling through the list of players that didn't have the greyed-out names of NPCs. Cub or Scar? Missing. Grian? Experienced, but too closely related to what was happening. Hypno? Maybe. Jevin?  The list of excuses continued down. He was going to have to decide, and decide quickly. As the ominous figures approached, he decided, and typed in the command, before sending it. Half the options disappeared from his control, and he let out a shaky breath. It was done. 

Thirdly, he needed to provide the names of the NPCs to the other hermits, if there were any they didn't know. That was sorted quickly, with a message in chat listing them. 

And fourthly? Properly make up with his brother. 

Xamphe was guarding the entrance, and stood just outside. The figures were still approaching. He could clearly see who they were. He didn't have long left. 

'Brother...' He called down. Surprised, EX turned to face him.

'What is it?'

'I want to tell you that I forgive you. For everything. You're my brother, and you always have been, and you always will be. Don't forget that. Please. Don't forget that when they come to make me join them. 

'I won't. I forgive you too.'

A nod shared between them. It was all they had time for, as Tango landed. Xisuma turned away as Xamphe let out a war cry, running at them in one last-ditch attempt for survival. The former admin pulled on his helmet, took hold of his sword, and let out a calm breath. A death message appeared in chat.

EX was dead.

Xisuma stood alone. 

The NPCs entered the room and Xisuma faced them, head held high. 

'I'm not admin. Getting me on your side won't change anything. 

'No.' Tango replied blankly. 'But it will make them panic.' 

A bolt of lightning. A flash of white. 

And Xisuma had joined the NPC army.

And... this wasn't hard to write?! What?! Mostly because Convex angst but... what?!

Also, I am officially putting this book on hiatus while I focus on other stuff IRL and getting a few more chapters of the rewrite of cursed, and gather ideas for the rest of this book. 

See y'all in the future!