Acts of Redemption

Break it, put it back together, Break it again

This chapter has been rewritten!
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Second Coming had already lost track of how many hours he had been inside that stupid bird cage.

But in his opinion, it was already way too long. He was annoyed, bored and in pain.

His fingers traced circles on the small waterskin he had been given by the piglins. It did help somewhat, his mouth wasn't dry anymore.

The problem was, being alone in this silent prison wasn't doing well to his state of mind.

Second coming was already stressed out of his mind as it was, not knowing what happened to his friends was making him so anxious that his stomach was in knots.

Tears were forming in his eyes, no matter how many times he dried them on the sleeves of his jacket. His foot tapping the floor in a arrhythmic way.

Everyone was gone... His friends, his allies, his hope. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was their bodies, falling to the ground around him.

"Feeling homesick, Second Coming?" - The voice snapped Second from his haze.

The King himself, the culprit of his misery was standing right there, leaning on his staff and staring at him with a grin. Oh but Second would snap his neck right there if he could.

"What do you want? Haven't you fucking done enough?!" - He couldn't help the anger in his voice.

But the tall figure didn't flinch, after all, for him Second Coming was no longer a threat. - "Language now, kid."

"Believe me, cursing you out is the tamest thing I wish to do to your pathetic soul! Get me out of here!"

"You should speak properly, for I am your king now, and my words are law." - The King's tone was full of pride, his waving hand made a few piglins flinch.

It took every single ounce of restraint in Second's body to not shove his hands through those scorching hot bars and strangle that man right now.

"What do you want?" - He repeated, his fists tightly bawled. - "You got everything you wanted from us... You got power, you got your fame. Whatever else could you possibly want from us?"

"That's were you're wrong, my dear." - The kind said with a shake of his head. - "Although... It is a lot less a question of what I want from you, and more of a question of what you can do for me."

Second frowned in confusion, watching as the king moved his staff and a common grey chair materialized in front of him. It was rather comical, if not pathetic, in Second's opinion at least. The King's long slender legs almost hit his chest from how much he had to bend in order to sit in such a seat.

"But I suppose we started this conversation in the wrong order." - The older man said, leaning on his bended knees. - "I should first apologize for the damage made."

Second couldn't help but let out a humourless laugh. - "Apologize?! You destroyed the nether, you stole the icon, you slaved thousands of piglins, you tortured me and my friends, you killed our allies in cold blood, you trapped is into tiny cages like animals and you think a 'i'm sorry' would cut it? Well you're damn fucking wrong!"

"Don't act like what I have done is not something you wouldn't." - The King shook his head, his words soft and annoyingly tender.

"What? I would never do this kind of damage!" - Second bit back immediately.

"Wouldn't you now? Wouldn't you destroy this entire world looking for someone you care about? Wouldn't you blast every mob, every rock and everyone if that meant having them back?" - King's tone seemed to go somber at that. - "We are the same, you and me. I'm just brave enough to admit it."