*DISCONTINUED* The Thirteenth Empire

Chapter 4 - The Corruption

"Wait, are you proposing to someone at our wedding?" Joel accused. "No! I'm just declaring my love so maybe one day he will propose to me," Joey defended. "Is this 'cause you want gifts?" Lizzie questioned. "Uh-maybe?" Joey replied. fWhip rose from his seat.

"If you would all exit this way please, Pix has prepared a fireworks display for us," he said herding everyone out of the side entrance to the church. Everyone walked down to the beach and sat on the lawn chairs. Many loud bangs were heard as a series of colorful explosions out on the ocean in the distance lit up the faces of the rulers. Oohs and aahs issued from the crowd in numbers as the fireworks illuminated the clear night sky. I couldn't help but notice how peaceful it all was.

As if reading my mind, Joel said "Look at us. All of the empires together in harmony. Who would have though?" The rulers echoed "Who would have thought?" "We need a screenie!" said Scott. "Everyone, come!" Everyone lined up in a row for the picture."All together!" Scott said. "The Empires SMP!" everyone shouted as the camera flashed.

No one noticed that I was not included in the group photo. I walked away dejectedly. I trekked down to Sausage's tavern for a little Jump Boost. I left the tavern a few minutes later having downed my drink, swilling at the dregs. I tossed my bottle into a nearby can.

Suddenly the ground began to rumble beneath me. I stumbled across the road as a massive crack split the ground right where I was standing only moments ago. The crack swallowed any trees atop it into the fiery depths below. I peered over the edge into the abyss for the ground to be hit with another tremor and I was almost thrown into the crack! I fell back and scrambled away.

I saw more cracks spread up buildings and statues. Then another tremor hit much worse than the previous two. To my horror, a bright red corruption tentacle burst from the ground meters in front of me. I could hear the shrieks and screams of the villagers as more and more tentacles sprouted up all over Mythland. I looked through the Great Wall of Mythland to see the same thing happening in the Cod Empire!

I glanced back over at the reception. Nobody could hear the chaos that was ensuing over the empires. I began to sprint over but halfway a corruption tentacle erupted from the ground beneath me with astonishing speed, lifting towards me the sky! I screamed as I clung to the tentacle for dear life. I fell from the tentacle to the ground below reducing me to half a heart.

I stumbled half dead over to the reception. "The empires are in danger!" I yelled weakly as my health slowly regenerated. "y/n!" Gem exclaimed running to aid me. "Are you okay?" she fussed. "There were earthquakes and cracks everywhere and corruption was spreading and tentacles were sprouting from the ground!" I described the scene I had just witnessed.

Murmurs rose from the rulers. Scott stepped forward. "Show me," he demanded. I led everyone to the place where I had seen everything, but to my utter dismay, the terrain seemed undisturbed. "I swear they were here!" I pleaded.

Scott held up his hand. "Enough," he said. He turned back to the crowd. "There is nothing wrong with the empires. The magic is strong! And so are the drinks." He herded everyone back to the reception. Gem stayed behind, face contorted with worry. She took me up to her tower at the Crystal Cliffs.