Divine Lives - 3rd Life and Empires Crossover

Gone Boys

Grian still feels like he's falling when the room materializes before him. His skin feels hot and livid, like he's burning all over as he stumbles backwards and falls into his bed. His strength is back and the ringing is gone. He scratches wildly at his skin, hyperventilating.

"God, this sucks!" he shouts, slamming his fists into his mattress furiously. A yellow glow illuminates the heart hanging at his chest and it buzzes. Before he can tap it, the hologram shoots out.

Bigbst4tz22 blew up

Grian burned to death trying to escape InTheLittleWood

Groaning, he gets out of the bed and opens the crate beside it. The room is small, the walls and floor are stone, and all it contains is a bed, a table, and a crate. He pulls some armor and a rusty looking sword from said crate and closes the top. The armor is older, but it isn't terrible, and it is certainly better than nothing. He does wish he had a bow but he knows he doesn't have a spare.

His yellow heart buzzes repeatedly and he looks back up at the hologram.

Solidarity: NO!

Smajor1995: Martyn! Why?!

RentheDog: Yessssss!

Grian taps the chat icon on its little screen and a keyboard pops up in front of his hands. He types: I'm on my way back. Don't die.

Grian sticks the sword in the sheath at his side before clambering out of his secret hidey-hole. The hologram shrinks back into his necklace just as he reaches the surface where Scott and Pearl wait for him. The sight is unbearable.

There is fire everywhere, a screen of it and a massive crater can barely be seen behind it. What he thinks is glass covers the ground as far as five feet from the nearest flame.

"That sucks!"

"It's not great, no," says Scott with a nod. Grian looks at Pearl.

"Don't die, it's terrible." She manages a chuckle, lifting a ball of pressure off Grian's chest. "Where have they all gone?"

"That way." Scott points at the forest on the other side of the desert. He can see a few small figures disappearing into it anxiously. "Probably to the Crastle."

"What about Jimmy and Scar?"

"They ran through the tunnel," says Pearl. She looks towards the forest.

"We have to find them. You guys look from above, I'll cover the ground." Scott and Pearl look at each other before taking off. Grian looks into the forest that borders his home biome. It looks huge compared to the sandy terrain. However he has no choice but to enter its trees.

Eventually he hears shouting. Grian runs towards the sound just in time to see Skizz corner Jimmy against a large rock. The sword clutched in his hand gleams in the moonlight.

Before Grian can say or do anything, Skizz stabs Jimmy through his heart. Grian doesn't say or do anything now because he is so shocked he doesn't know what to do or say. Lightning strikes. Jimmy is dead.

Just like that. 

Grian's heart buzzes.

"TIMMY!"

Skizz turns and sees him for the first time. He takes a running lunge at Grian but Grian throws his sword up and blocks the blow. Skizz swings twice more but Grian ducks out of the way, then attacks, forcing Skizz back. He gets his blade to the opposite side of Skizz's and forces it to the ground, dropping with it. Skizz unlaces his sword from Grian's and stands again, swinging his weapon up behind his head. Grian rolls, hooking his foot around his opponent's and kicking it the other way, forcing him to fall forward. Skizz manages to turn just in time and block a forceful plow, knocking the sword away from his throat. He grabs Grian's shirt and uses his rolling momentum to throw the man from on top of him.

Grian springs up as Skizz runs at him again. Skizz forces him against the rock, their swords clashing in a cross just inches from his nose. Skizz pushes with all his weight against the steel so that it moves closer towards him. Grian raises his foot and kicks Skizz in the stomach. He stumbles backwards but recovers within the instant. He swings at Grian's head but he ducks, driving his own weapon through the opposing stomach, leaving a gaping hole there.

Skizz screams, dropping a hand to press into his wound that bleeds like a fountain. Grian swings again. The final hit silences Skizz for good as he falls backwards and hits the grass. The thud is sickening.

The sky opens up. Lightning tears through the blue and strikes the body with an explosion of light and sound. Then Skizzleman is gone. His heart buzzes.

Grian can hear the soft ruffle of feathers and feel the rapid movement of air as Scott lands beside him. He can hear him crying and has the decency not to look.

"Oh, Jim," he whispers, then falls to his knees. Grian kneels in front of him and wraps Scott in an embrace. Pearl lands beside them and puts a hand on Scott's shaking shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Scott," says Joel as he too touches down, he wipes his eyes and feels a lump lodge itself in his throat. A couple of dogs run into the clearing and sit down behind Joel.

Ice begins to spring up in a circle around them; it sprouts up, retracts, then sprouts again at the same time as Scott's fast breathing.

Each of their hearts vibrates. Joel gets to his first.

InTheLittleWood was shot by GoodTimeWithScar

Screams of anger echo through the world. The Red Army is filled with their own anguish that quickly shifts into rage.

SmallishBeans: YES SCAR

"What is it?" asks Grian. Scott sniffles and looks up at Joel.

"Scar killed Martyn."

"Really?" Joel nods as Grian clambers to his feet. He turns around and helps Scott up. Their hearts buzz two more times. Joel, who already has his hologram up, widens his eyes. Suddenly Grian is too scared to look.

"Ren killed Cleo and Tango." Grian realizes he's sweating all over. Joel looks up at him. "They're on red."

"Right, I need to find Scar," he exclaims, hands shaking. He turns and looks into the forest just as Scar bursts out of the trees. A cut on his cheek bleeds madly but otherwise he looks unscathed. Grian breathes a sigh of relief and launches himself at his best friend. They hug each other for what feels like an eternity before Grian pulls away.

"You are never leaving my side again."

"Grian—"

"No arguing." Scar grins and gives Grian another hug.

"We should probably help the Crastle," mutters Scott.