Who Lies in the End?

Ch 41: 12 "So, are we just not gonna talk about that again?"

art by: sunlit-mess

 The Bastion was a crumbling mess on the inside, but the piglin had no problem traversing the ruined building. They spoke amongst each other as they carried weapons and materials to different rooms. Some would stop and glance into the room Dream, George, and Ranboo were in, but once they saw the gold, they moved on.

Still, Dream kept a hand near his axe, in case one of them decided to take the gold by force. George and Ranboo were stood at a makeshift counter, on the other side was a piglin and a hoglin. The beast would growl at the trio if they moved too much, but the piglin would pull it back. The piglin was glancing over the gold ingots on the table then looking to the ender pearl that sat in George's hand.

They spoke quietly amongst each other, enough so that Dream couldn't make out their words. He glanced out the side of the wall where he could look down into the heart of the Bastion. Lava rivets dripped from the walls and pooled in a lake at the bottom. Pure gold blocks sat around locked chests filled with their prized possessions. The area was well guarded, though. Hoglins on chains were patrolling the area with their piglin brutes; meanwhile, archers sat in hidden perches, crossbows prepared to fire should anyone attempt a theft.

Dream had successfully stolen from a Bastion before, and got away with a fair amount of loot; however, he understood to do so now would be detrimental to the trio. Even then, the relationship with the Bastion would be cracked, forcing George, Ranboo, and the others to search for another one deeper in the Nether.

He sighed as he leaned against the blackstone, his eyes flickering back to the bartering trio. George was doing a majority of the talking with Ranboo adding in here and there. His expression was blank, but sturdy -unwilling to crack in front of the piglin. George was in negotiation mode and he tred carefully, strategically, knowing that one word could set off the whole Bastion.

A smile graced Dream's lips as he watched the duke work. His heart fluttered with a pleasant warmth as he admired the serious glint in those brown eyes. The way his eye brows were furrowed ever so slightly as he thought about the exchange. The way he would bite his lip when he was displeased with something. The triumphant smirk that pulled his lips as the ender pearls were placed on the table.

As the last details of the trade were being finalized, Dream remembered the note that Karl had given him. His hand slipped into his pocket and pulled out the folded parchment. He hesitated before he read the quickly scratched words.

Find me once Ranboo knows.

Grey eyes narrowed at the dried ink. Was he surprised? No. Was he annoyed? Yes.

"Dream? We're ready to go."

The outlaw glanced over at George who was holding a bag of ender pearls. Ranboo finished the conversation with the piglin before turning to the others, a smile on his face. The trio was led out of the Bastion by a brute who kept a close eye on them. Some of the other piglins glanced their way, but they kept the exchange to warning glares. Soon, the three were set out in the hellish landscape of the Nether.

They waited until they were a safe distance from the Bastion before speaking.

"I'm glad you were here, Ranboo. You managed to get us a couple of extra," George mused as he tucked the wares into his own bag.

"How many?" Dream asked.

Ranboo was the one to answer, "A total of twenty; hopefully, that should be enough."

"It'll be plenty," Dream hummed, "I hope the others will be ready by the time we get back."

All three paused as they thought the statement over. Their eyes drifted to the Warpded forest that sat in front of them. The bright teal color now loomed over them, asking them to tempt fate once more. Dream could even see endermen lingering at the edges, watching and waiting for them to get closer.