The Haunted ships and one-shots!

Grayson x Lalea

Sorry that I haven't been updating anything of mine recently. I've been having a lot of trouble getting myself to write. I haven't been happy with anything I've been writing as well as my self esteem has been low for multiple reasons and because of that I've been finding much difficulty in keeping myself motivated to keep writing. Despite that, I am still trying to do my best for you all and I hope that you enjoy!
Set in an alternative universe to Rebellion, so there are major spoilers for later chapters of that. I tried not to base it on that but I wanted to test out this idea inspired by EndyDaHauntedPotato.
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Years had gone by since that fateful day; since Herobrine had taken over Drake's body permanently. More than three quarters of the world has been reduced to toxic wasteland, plants dead, water and soil dried up. If there was any water, it was surly poisonous. The earth's population had reduced drastically, nowadays it was rare to find another person who was not a cultist or enslaved. At this point, it was no longer a cult; it was a religion.
Grayson sat in the freezing cave, gaunt body shivering uncontrollably from the freezing cold that plagued the lands. Or at least his frail body felt so. His clothes hung loosely on his body, his belt with holes that he made himself just to keep his pants up on his hips, his pelvis sticking out beneath. While still strong, he had lost muscle mass from lack of nutrition. His stomach was growling, hallucinating from lack of food and water.
He was once a mighty king to the most feared nations in the world, emperor to the infamous Northern empire. Back in the day, you could never hear that name without quivering in your shoes. They were powerful, merciless, undefeatable... that was until those fateful days. The cult had begun to attack imperial territory, killing hundreds, thousands, then eventually they reached the capital. The imperialists had put up a good fight, but with Herobrine controlling Drake's body, they stood no chance.
Armen had reverted back to his Nightmare form. Xavier died in battle to the hands of cult elites, Nathan, being completely blind, had been killed with ease by his foes. Mia, Endy, Jane, all attempted to escape, but were inevitably enslaved. Dracey, the last dragon in existence, was also enslaved.
Grayson turned his head to face the female sitting across from him. Her blue hair had become dusty and oiled from lack of showers, as did his own. Even her skin had a slight blue tint, more so from lack of nurturing than natural skin pigmentation. It was joined with her usual cute pink coloration in her cheeks, and darkened half rings beneath her eyes. She messed with a golden ring upon her finger, a somber expression that tainted her usual confident look. Grayson did not even need to examine the ring to know that it was indeed the one he was thinking of, however he looked to it anyway, not expecting it to hurt as much as it did.

"Doesn't wearing that ring...hurt? I mean..."

Lalea looked out, an innocent look in her oceanic eyes. A sparkling light flicked within them before her gaze lowered back onto her precious ring, stroking it as she remained silent for a moment or two, eyes dilated as if lost in distant memories. He saw the corner of her lip twitch as if a smile had nearly risen. His heart sunk when it fell back into a line.

  "You mean because it reminds me of Drake?...Sort of, I suppose, but... I can't bring myself to stop wearing it."

She had stopped seeing Drake in her dreams years ago. A few days before the imperial capital had fallen was the last that she had seen of him. It did leave her worried. Did Drake's spirit finally pass on? Was Herobrine blocking their connection? A part of her wanted to think that it was for the better but everyday she remembered Drake screaming as if he were in h**l itself, and perhaps to him it truly felt like he was. She fought tears from forming in her eyes.
The male gave a somber nod, understanding her situation. He looked to his worn backpack set aside upon the ground, eyes welling up slightly from the memories. He was quick to wipe them away.