Who Lies in the End?

Ch 42: 13 "What would make you stay?"

art by: bluegekk0

"It's the egg: it's hatching!"

Dread and disbelief wrapped themselves around his neck.

"George and I went to check on it, and it was bursting out of its shell!"

The words tightened the noose and made it hard to breathe.

"The others are trying to contain it, but no one knows what to do!"

Fear -cold and infinite- gripped Dream's chest as a roar echoed through the mansion. Walls shook, windows cracked, and decor shattered on the floor around them. Wood and stone were being torn apart further down and the resounding crash as the ceiling faltered nearly sent the trio to the ground. There was silence for a moment, then another roar, this time outside of the mansion.

Bad and Karl ran over to the window. It only took a second before Bad pointed at something beyond the cracked glass, "There it is! Look!"

Dream could see it. He could see those sleek, black scales over rippling muscles. He could see the powerful leather wings as they cut through the wind. He could see the silver accents glisten like swords in the orange sunrise. He could see the mystic purple eyes that surveyed the forgien ground around it.

"Good, they're on route to the village," Bad quipped as he stared at the racing group that was rushing out from the mansion, "Sam will be busy with the guards. George, Sapnap, and Fundy will go after the dragon; meanwhile, Ranboo, Tubbo and myself will help the villagers and get them to safety," he turned to Karl, "We could use your help, and Dream-" he turned towards the outlaw who had yet to move, "They'll need help with the dragon."

Dream didn't want to go near the dragon. For once in his life, the risk of his life was enough to make him turn tail and book it in another direction. If Redne was just like her mother, then the whole village was doomed. There was nothing that could defeat her. Their mission was a failure. They would all die: each person succumbing to the void and getting lost in the infinite darkness.

He didn't notice he was backing away until Karl stopped him, "Come on, Dream. Get it together. You're the only one who has faced the Ender dragon, but this one you don't have to kill, okay? Just go and capture it."

Dream wrenched his arm out of Karl's grasp. He noticed there was a green glow around his body, and he could feel the Creative Block hum to life, "You can't just say 'go capture it', like it's so fucking easy. Do you have any idea what is flying around out there?!"

Karl stood his ground, "No, I don't. But you do. You are the best person to help capture that dragon."

"I barely escaped a full-ass dragon: how in the hell am I supposed to catch that?!" he pointed past Bad where the dragon was circling the village.

"You're not alone this time," Karl gestured toward Bad and himself, "We are all going to be there; besides, this is a fresh hatchling. Dangerous, but not as bad as a full adult."

"Uh, guys," Bad cut in drawing both of them towards the dragon as it spat purple mist at the buildings, "What is that?"

"Danmit," Dream hissed as he watched the purple cloud float down on the village. He knew damn well what that felt like, and the skin on his chest singed with the very memory.

"Bad, let's go: they're going to need all the help they can get," Karl grabbed his friend by the wrist and began dragging the two of them down the hall. One last stern glace was passed to Dream who remained frozen to his spot.

Flight. Fight. Hide. Help. Survive. Save. Go, Go. GO!

Phantom pains ghosted over his body as he recalled his own encounter with the Ender dragon. It seeped into his bones and kept him glued to his spot. His body wanted to run as far as he could, but his brain fought against his instinct. He had to help and he had to act fast. The longer he stalled, the worse things got.