Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

14: Grian

After the chaos and emotion of the meeting and the furious arguments and constant pessimism of returning with the others, it's a breath of fresh air to be alone. Safe in my base, pretending everything is as it should be. Normal, (somewhat) peaceful, safe. I can hide away from the fact me, Pearl, Scar and everyone else on the server is in danger, Cub and Xisuma - two of the smartest people I know - are utterly imprisoned by the will of the skulk and our best way of stopping them refused to help. For one night, I can pretend it's just another day on Hermitcraft grinding and pranking and building.

There's a few unsorted boxes from making the base left in the centre of my storage. I gather them up quickly, for once grateful of the work of organising them. I consider talking to Mumbo afterwards, if he's still awake. Or I can leave something random in his base and see if he notices... I search my chests for the most conspicuous every day thing I can find... gravel, dirt, cobblestone.

Skulk.

I back away at the sight of a stack of skulk before realising. It's just a block. It's literally a harmless block. 

But still...

I move onto another chest... what can I hide in Mumbo's base? Knowing Mumbo, anything could be normal for him... TNT? Risky, but when have I cared about that? I grab a piece of TNT, knowing how much it'll freak Mumbo out, turn and-

Cub's here.

I scream, dodging as he slashes for my face. How did he get here?! When did he get here and how long has he been waiting to strike? 

I run past, outside and take to the sky. A glance back lets me know he's following. So I'll have to fly crazier than normal. I use up a stack of rockets just to get around the back of the base, diving, cutting through places I thought I'd covered up... looping around, trying to find anywhere I can go... I can't drive Cub towards Mumbo's base. My best option is the skulk-base, but as I glance back, I see Cub flying in from that direction, straight towards me. I land on one of my rocks for a moment, shooting back with Watcher magic, taking to the air again, around the base again. Another shot back as Cub lands on the NAR rock.

The skulk rock. 

Skulk spreads from it into Cub's hands, and then towards me. I glide out the way, aiming another shot as I fly past. Cub takes to the air again, letting the rock remain even more skulk-covered than I left it... Another loop, then another, higher and higher, away from any and all places he can summon skulk, then dive straight down, shooting around and out of view again, up and around corners he definitely can't make...

A hit from behind. I scream at the crack, the pain in my wings as I fall... I struggle to find the water bucket in my inventory, find any way to help myself... there. I throw water at the ground, 

I land. 

For a minute, I have safety, gathering sword, shield, bow and arrows... everything I'll need before...

I hit the ground. Cub's pinning me before I even know he's there, clawed hands holding my wrists down as skulk wraps tight around them, stopping any and all Watcher magic before I even try to use it. But my wings are strong enough alone to push me back up, shoving Cub away and standing. I point my sword at him. He swats it away with his own, standing. 

'Guess it's time for a good old one-on-one...' I begin to circle, refusing to give him or his skulk a chance to get me. 'How's your fighting, skulky?'

'Better than yours.' He pounces. I dodge out the way, but he's quick, slashing back... Pain across my chest. I fight a scream, slicing. Blocked. For a moment it's just sword on sword before Cub shoves me. Skulk wraps around my legs as I fall, trapping me again. All I can do is try to kick it away... nothing. It's too tight. I fumble against the skulk around my wrists. It breaks. I tear it off and throw it aside to despawn. A hit of Watcher fire at Cub first, making him stumble back and out the way, giving me enough time to hit the skulk trying to turn me into a Grian-flavoured burrito. I stumble to feet, taking to the air again.

'NO!'

A hand holds me back and I crash back down again. Cub. But as I scramble to my feet again and turn to face him, I see the desperation in his bright turquioise eyes. The worried glances up at the sky. 

He's failed too many times. I realise. This is his last chance. And he can't fight me in the daylight

'Come on, Skulky.' I goad, backing away. 'I won't fly away... I'll stay here and fight you.' 

He can't go back empty handed again. He'll make mistakes... and then I can knock him out or trap him. 

He attacks again. And hits. I stagger back, bleeding, a painful reminder that I still shouldn't mess around. He's too dangerous to mess around with. Another attack. I'm constantly moving out the way, pulling out my bow and getting a couple quick shots Cub dodges... a bit of fire, though I'm careful of killing him. I'm not getting his blood on my hands. I'm not going to be the one to tell Scar Cub's dead forever... It's only when I hit the rock behind me I realise my predicament.

I'm trapped.

He pins me with skulk before I can even think to escape, punching me in the face for good measure. I struggle, trying to escape... nothing works. I can't use magic, can't use my weapons... the skulk reaches my neck, wrapping tighter and tighter. It's over. It's all over.

'Please-' I barely manage to speak, black spots crossing my vision. 'Cub...'

'Don't worry. You'll wake up. But first you're going to be very very useful.'

'Use-?' I can't breathe. I can't speak. My vision blurs, but I still see Cub's grin as everything turns black.

Listening to HTTYD music right now.

It's so good

*ignores angsty ending*