Gifted: Hermitcraft

Victory Requires Sacrifice

(Last Chapter before Epilogue ;-; This story was a ride.)

(Iskall's POV)

"NOOOOO!", I scream as, in seemingly slow motion, the villains began to deliver the final strike.

Their weapons are about to reach their throats.

Also in slow motion, we all surge forwards to clash.

But what's the point? We're doomed.

And then, two fast blurs of red cannonball into Frost Queen and Menace.

In slow motion, I turn.

And then, it's normal speed, and we stop starting for each other.

The two newcomers attack the two villains before they could finish the job.

As I calm down, I recognize the rescuers.

One of them bombards the Frost Queen with eggs and skillful dodges. Poultry Man. But how was that possible? Grian and Poultry Man were the same person!

The other pins Menace down with his taller size. His red eyes gleam determinedly. Evil Xisuma.

Suddenly, they both nod, and pull out a bow and some arrows. They shoot it into a corner.

The prison begins to shake uncontrollably.

"Get out of here! It's going down-", Poultry Man said before cutting off as he is hit in the stomach.

Nodding, we hermits fled for the entrance, helping out our Ego allies too.

I lead two lost teenager versions of Zedaph and Grian outside, who happily scamper out. (Teen Grian: Aight' Imma head out!) 

I then run over to Poultry Man and EX in the middle of all the panic and fighting, ducking under a sword.

I raised my sword to strike, but then Poultry Man looked up at me, managing to knock Frost Queen out. 

"No.", he says, his voice remarkably like Grian, but slightly deeper. "Go."

I shake my head, and forcefully tug at him.

He sighs as he's pulled along.

I see False get freed by X, and then she tries to do the same to EX.

The, the ceiling rumbles louder. 

"GO!", I hear EX scream, and I see False and X tearfully run out.

I was the only hermit left.

I look back to Poultry Man. "Please!", I beg him.

Poultry Man stubbornly shake his head, and he shoves me to the ground as Menace charges at us.

He then sighs. "I'm sorry for doing this."

EX appears next to him. "I am sorry too. Tell them we're sorry for everything we've done to them. Especially my brother."

Then, Evil X balls up his fist, and punches me out, cold.

The last thing I felt and saw was them dodging another attack, and throw me out.

A brave bird and grey shadow in the midst.

Two brothers lending a hand to the end.

(Stress's POV)

I see Iskall getting tossed out, and I help Cleo pull him away.

We sit down, and watch dazed as the tunnels collapse.

I look to X pleadingly. "They'll respawn, right?"

He sadly looks at me. "They will. But they'll only die again and again of suffocation. I- I don't think we'll be seeing them. Not until everything's fixed."

His eyes behind the helmet tear up, and he looks away.

We won.

We won the battle, alright.

But..

But, at what cost?

At what cost?