The Hunt

♡ ̆̈XIX✩

His last memory is being grabbed by a random man and feeling a cloth held against his mouth and nose, filling his senses with an unknown scent. He remembers feeling it burn his nostrils as he tries to fight out of the hunter's grasp, kicking and flailing around. He remembers his vision growing black as he fell unconscious. Now, he had no idea where he was. How did a Netherian Prince end up in the Overworld, sitting on a stage in the center of an unfamiliar kingdom, with his wrist tied tightly around a pole, and people walking around and hissing at him in disgust and anger for his kind? Oh, where did it all start? That's right--he didn't tell that guard about what he was. He might've been treated better and given a chance.

Sapnap looked around, feeling a piece of cloth wrapped around his jaw, covering his mouth. It restricted him from speaking. All he could get out was quiet muffles and cries to be let free. He tried to pull his wrists out of his restraints, but nothing worked. "Mmm... mm!" he groaned, watching people approach the stage. One woman held up a bag of vegetables, pulling out a tomato. She smiled as she threw it at the prince. "Mmph!" Sapnap groaned in disgust as the tomato exploded on his head, its insides sliding down his forehead. "This is disgusting! Why... why would they do this?" he thought.

More people gathered around, holding their bags full of vegetables and food. They all grabbed something and threw it at him. Sapnap would grunt in pain whenever people threw apples or anything hard at him, hitting his sides and stomach. "Where is Bad?"

✩✩✩✩✩

Bad sighed as he dropped Tommy off at his house. The hunters had seen them at the entrance of the borders when they were ready to head out for another search through the fields for them. When he saw them, especially when he saw George. Memories of the night before, when he was declared an enemy. Part of him hoped it was merely in the heat of the moment in which George said those words, but the other part felt that it was the truth.

"Thank you," Tommy said, turning back at Bad. He stood before his house, Philza and Tubbo standing outside, waiting to embrace the blonde in a tight hug. Bad nodded, "Of course..."

Tommy sighed as he began to walk toward his father, feeling his heartbeat harshly in his chest. "Hey, uh... if you find that prince again, could you tell him something for me?" he asked. Bad tilted his head, nodding in confusion. The hunters stood a few feet away from them, watching in interest. "I overheard you guys talking last night when he was trying to start the campfire," Tommy said.

Bad's eyes fell. Tommy continued, "Could you tell him that I believe he'll master his powers one day? And I also saw you looking through his things... there was something on the back of some paper you were holding."

Bad's eyes widened, "What?"

Tommy nodded before turning away, hugging Tubbo and Philza tightly. Bad heavily breathed out, looking down at the pouch wrapped around his waist. He realized he'd taken the bag by the time he and Tommy arrived at the border. He approaches the hunters, who he hasn't talked to yet. Dream stepped forward, crossing his arms. "Where was Tommy?" he asked.

"He was watching me and Sapnap on a tree," he said. "Sapnap saw him this morning... if he hadn't told me, we wouldn't have realized Tommy was up there."

Dream hummed, staring at the pouch wrapped around Bad's waist. "Doesn't that belong to the Prince?" he questioned.

Bad nodded, "I accidentally took it... there are some things inside that he wasn't aware of."

George stepped forward, holding out his hand. "Give it up," he said.

Bad glared at the Brit, "No. I'm not going to give you guys my friend's property. Maybe I'll consider it under one condition."

Skeppy appeared from the distance, running up to the brunette. Bad remained still, unable to determine how he felt when he saw his friend. The man sighed as he wrapped his arms around Bad, holding him tightly. "Where were you? The hunters told me you ran off with that Netherian," Skeppy said.

"You told them where he was," Bad said. "You betrayed him. You betrayed me, Skeppy."

Skeppy frowned, "Bad, we don't know him."

"No, you don't. But I do! He's my best friend, I've known him since we were kids!" Bad yelled, pushing the man off. The hunters looked at each other, wondering if they should intervene. Skeppy scoffed, "Bad, you can't just convince us that he's a good person when he isn't even a human."

"Neither am I," Bad argued. "The only difference between me and Sapnap is that I was the son of a baker in the Nether and he was the prince and the face of my and the Nether's future. None of you would ever understand what I mean when I say he is the safest Netherian to be around because none of you grew up with him. He couldn't hurt a single thing. He physically can't say a bad thing about anyone!"

Skeppy fell silent as he turned around to look at the hunters. Dream shrugged as he looked elsewhere, finding a group of ladies sitting with each other in the distance. He tapped his twin brother on the shoulder, tilting his head. Punz stared at him with disappointment as he watched Dream walk away from the scene, approaching the group of ladies. "Typical," he whispered.

Puffy sighed as she pushed Skeppy to the side, standing before Bad. "Listen, we understand you don't want to give up your friend, but we were told by King John and Queen Rosa that your friend is a target. We have learned they knew Prince Sapnap Armstrong was coming and they have a plan for him. We must do our job and turn him into the King and Queen."

"I will only tell you where he is and give you the pouch as long as you, the rest of your hunters and that guard behind you guys promise you won't lay a finger on Sapnap," Bad said. "He gets here in one piece and I'm allowed to speak with the King and Queen about what they do with him."

Puffy turned around, looking at her friends. Sam nodded. Since the beginning, he and Niki stood against harming the prince. Skeppy shrugged, wanting what was best for Bad. Quackity remained silent, still disheartened by his and Sapnap's departure. George thought for a moment. Eventually, he nodded. Puffy turned to Bad, "You've got a deal. We will accompany you to the Prince's location and bring him back unharmed. Quackity will escort you to King John and Queen Rosa to speak about reconsidering their plans for the Prince."

Bad nodded, "Thank you..."

He unwrapped the pouch from his waist, holding it tightly. He approached Sam and handed it to him. "Do me a favor," Bad said. "Keep this bag closed. There is something I have to check later."

Sam nodded, "Okay."

"So," Punz interrupted. "Where is this Netherian prince?"

End of Part 19. ̆̈