The Frozen Empire - An Empires SMP AU

5 - Reckoning

Shelby walked through the desolate Rivendell - she came here once every two days to feed the animals, trim the flowers, and check on the Xornoth Crystal. It was harder to come here every day; the ice acted as a natural maze, every time a new spike grew, impaling yet another building. Today it was the Owl House. She entered with trembling legs; the Owls flew away, the roof caved in, and the cobble cracked. A cornflower grew meekly from the ruin of a chest, Shelby straightened it with a gentle hand, but the frosted flower snapped clean off. Hope was lost - this marked the end of Rivendell.

(I didn't know when I could put this in so I just put it here :))

Gem embraced her nether life... To an extent.

Gem started construction on her house almost immediately, to help distract her. But builds finish, and thoughts come to mind.
Gems Riviera was lonely, the gentle architecture bore no history, only silence. The local Piglin detested the wizard, she escape thousands of close calls with ravaging patrols. She soon crafted herself a golden helm that she put in place of her wizards cap... But she hesitated, the pointed hat was her only trinket from her past life. 

Gem couldn't dwell, as soon as she placed that glistening helm on his head, she felt a surge of confidence put a spring in her step. The ex-wizard sprung through the nether wastelands, unnoticed by the piglin inhabitants.  They slowly started to see her change, her skin became a tanned pink, and her value of gold made the piglin think she was their own.

Gem didn't know if she should be offended.

Glad to be part of the group, she immediately tried to communicate with them, mustering the magic she could to enchant herself with bispeak, a way for her to talk to other creatures - as she so regularly saw Jimmy and Lizzie doing. Soon, she could understand them, and she felt as if she belonged. 

They moved in immediately, Gem felt nostalgic, as if she felt the same sort of bonds between her porky friends as she did with her fleshy ones. It was weird, bartering opened up to a whole new group of trade. Locals starting going out into the wild to find stuff and sell them back at the town. Occasionally, the odd family of Piglin would come in to check out the place, they'd ultimately end up staying. The Rivera started growing onto the lava lakes, boats of blacks tone sailed out and around, they came back with strider broods that thrill seekers would ride. Gem felt a sense of pride at the civilization she birthed from isolation.

But all she had to do was keep it secret.

Every once in a while, an Emperor would fly over, usually Joel collecting Crimson Wood for his base. But sometimes it was FWhip, here to collect magma for his furnace. Sometimes it was Joey, harvest massed of nether brick for his temples. Gem swore she saw Scott one time, but she prayed it wasn't him.

She loved her new life, but she was still getting colder - at a slower pace, albeit, but colder was still colder, and the Wizard hadn't a clue on what she would do when it was too cold to stand. Gem thought of that rarely, her civilization was blossoming. 

"Gem?!" Jimmy gaped, a look of disbelief and betrayal on his face. "We all thought you were dead!" Gem frowned.

"I mean, that's a choice I get to make..." Gem reasoned, but then it dawned on her. "You didn't think I would-...." There was silence, Jimmy had a saddened look in his eyes. 

"I mean, I thought I could handle the loss of you," The Codfather continued. "But when Sausage disappeared-"

"Sausage is gone?" Gem rushed towards Jimmy. "How long has he been gone?" 

"It was just this morning!" Jimmy replied, a little to firmly. "He disappeared trying to find a glow ink sack for Joel."

"Why was he- you know what, it doesn't matter." Gem exhaled, closing her eyes. "I'm fine here." 

"But the overworld is-"

"What happens in the overworld is no longer my problem." Gem defied, turning away from the Codfather. Jimmy eyed her white slash of hair. He walked over to the streak and held it in his hand.

"It's freezing..." Jimmy shuddered. "Was this Scott's fault?" 

"We can't blame Scott." Gem snapped. "He was new to magic, and he only caused some minor freezing." Jimmy looked like he was about to argue, then a wave of submission washed over him. 

"Fine..." He agreed. "I don't think I can bargain with you..." Jimmy sighed, he then walked away. "I might be back, its a pretty cool build."

"Jimmy! Wait!" Gem chased after him, but he just kept running, arriving at his portal minutes after. 

The Codfather entered the portal, but Gem just sat at it's glassy surface. She reached her hand through then-

A stinging burned her hand, every fiber of her being felt at war with itself. She needed to pull her hand out, but she couldn't, she was frozen with fear.

Pulling her hand out, it was frozen solid, she tried to pry her fingers out of it's icy cocoon, but they didn't even move. The Codfather watched with eyes, he soon ran from the portal and disappeared into the overworld. 

Gem started to hyperventilate, as much as she loved her nether life, she valued the option to return to the overworld at any moment, but now, she risked becoming frozen forever.

Gem had to face the facts.

She was trapped in her paradise.