A/N: I totally didn't plan adding Honeydew in due to the song release xD It just happened. I also added a few little references to said song just 'cause I felt like it.
"Honeydew!" I quickly loaded my bow, shooting at whatever was attacking the dwarf. Though, I had forgotten how much of a shit shot I was, and it merely flew past the creature. It was a good enough distraction, however, as Rythian soon destroyed it with his Ender powers. I think we stunned the poor dwarf because he was just sitting on the ground, unable to do anything. I quickly went to his side, helping him up. "Come on, Honeydew." Taking a quick glance around, I noticed there wasn't much else attacking. Just that one taint creature, actually. I looked back at Honeydew, helping him keep steady. "You alright there, Honeydew?" I asked.
"Y-Yeah." He nodded, smirking slightly. He 'coughed', regaining his composure. "I had that under control!" Honeydew replied. Rythian and I glanced at each other before we turned our attention back to the dwarf. He seemed unscathed, and his attire was mostly the same. The one thing I did notice was that his helmet was slightly different. The horns now faced the opposite direction – down instead of up. I didn't bother question it; it didn't affect much. "So, what are you two doing here?" From his reaction I could tell he hadn't seen the others. I was grieved, inside, but I kept a happy face on the outside. I explained the situation to Honeydew, who seemed shocked. "So that's where you went! I only start remembering things when I was in a crazy castle thingy, and everyone else was getting out of it. I had no idea where anyone had gone." He shook his head. "So all this time you've been in a coma...and you've gone and lost everyone again!" He rolled his eyes.
"Look, I didn't mean to." I pointed out. "I thought I might be able to find Lalna-" My retort was cut short by Honeydew's laughter. I wasn't quite sure what he was laughing at, my expression one of confusion. He noticed my face, smiling broadly.
"I was just messing with you! Don't take everything so seriously!" The dwarf explained. "Geez, no wonder Sips was shot down by you. You've become completely serious. This isn't the Sjin I used to know!" He smirked. I laughed nervously, glancing away. I guess I was becoming a serious ass, huh? "Come on, we'd better hurry if we want to find them." Honeydew added. I nodded, walking beside the dwarf. I listened to his singing, realising it was different from last time. It was...more developed... and catchy. Soon I was humming along to it as we journeyed together. Yet again the world returned to peace. How quickly the world can change...it still confuses me. It was like an hourglass; one moment the sand flows one way, and then the next it's flipped and flowing the other. The dwarf continued ahead as my feet stopped. Rythian stood beside me, his eyes trained onto me.
"Is something wrong?"
"...No. It's nothing. I was just thinking, that's all."
"Well, I know it's hard for you to do more than one thing at once, but try thinking and walking at the same time." Rythian said casually, like he didn't just insult me. I pushed him playfully, shaking my head.
"Thanks, asshole." I smiled. The two of us had to run to keep up with the dwarf, which was odd seeing as dwarves couldn't really move too fast. We soon got to him, walking either side of him. "So...where exactly are we going?" The dwarf glanced up at me, blinking.
"How am I supposed to know? I was just going this way since it was the opposite way you came from, and that seemed a better place to head than backtracking." He shrugged. I guess it made some sense. Nobody really knew where they were going, so we had to choose a direction and hope for the best.
"Us dwarves don't usually see the moon." The three of us sat under the moonlight. We hadn't travelled much further until Honeydew had decided that we would be stopping. Rythian almost blended into the darkness; his glowing Ender eyes are what gave him away. The bright ginger beard of the dwarf and the shiny helmet he wore made him much more visible than the Enderborn. I lay back on the ground, watching the moon and the stars. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Honeydew glanced at the two of us. "I-I mean, you've probably seen it a lot more than I have, but still..." He shrugged. "Refreshing, isn't it?"
"I suppose you're right." The Enderborn shifted his gaze to the moon. "Though...I haven't seen it in a long time..." He closed his eyes, the gentle light disappearing. "Huh...now that I try to remember...I can't recall the feeling of death. I only remember...seeing two others. Too fuzzy to say who, though." He shrugged, his eyes illuminating the area around us. "But, enough about that. I agree; the moon is beautiful. It always it, and always shall be. Endless beauty."
"Beauty..." I murmured without even realising it. My hand reached up towards the moon, the familiar pattern of taint swirling on it. I wasn't alarmed. I wasn't scared. Nothing seemed bad anymore...I could be...
"Sjin!" A sharp slap to my face brought me out of my fantasy. I looked at the two, before looking at my arm. The taint had vanished. "Fuck...you were seriously going crazy there, Sjin!" Honeydew sighed with relief. "You started mumbling to yourself, and you wouldn't answer us." I didn't remember this. All I remembered was my first mumble, and then the taint, then...oh Notch, what's happening to me? I glanced at Rythian, who had his Ender power flowing from his hands. He touched my arm, causing me to flinch. I avoided both of their gazes, standing up.
"Let's just get going. The longer we rest, the further away everyone is getting." I pulled my wrist away from Rythian, walking ahead without the two. I didn't care whether they followed me now or not. Half of me wanted to be alone, while the other half wanted me to go back to them. Which half would corrupt me more? Being alone or being with the others? It seemed I didn't have to decide, as the two DID follow me. The journey was silent – something that seemed to be occurring more and more often. The hourglass had flipped again. I almost jumped when Rythian suddenly appeared by my side. "Bloody hell, Rythian, don't scare me like that."
"Sorry. I guess being silent also has disadvantages." He shrugged. "Now, I can't work out whether it's just a psychological or physical thing that is affecting you. I don't know whether you still have the taint in you, or if you're just having some weird side effect from being tainted." He explained quietly. I looked at my hands, fiddling with them as he spoke. "But, whatever it is, you have to fight it. You can't just give yourself up blindly. What would Lalna do, then?" I blinked, looking at the Enderborn. "I know it might be hard; at times it'd be so easy just to give yourself to the taint and have that power. Nevertheless you can't. Not at any point. You need to stay strong. For yourself, for the others...and most of all for Lalna." I listened silently, watching the glow from his eyes. It wasn't blinding and I could still see his normal eyes behind it. "Promise me." I nodded slowly. His hand clenched around me wrist. "Sjin...I need you to mean it."
"I do. I promise, Rythian." I replied. "...What do you think that meant, at Lalna's castle?" I asked. "I mean...it was clearly my name. Do you think...it was Lalna?" I watched the Enderborn think. He seemed so peaceful when thinking. So...balanced. "I mean, who else would specifically ask for me?" Rythian nodded, acknowledging that he heard me. There were a few moments of quiet; the night time breeze providing some noise.
"...It seems like it would only fit Lalna. Maybe other friends, but they would surely ask for someone else. For example, if it were Lomadia, she would have put 'Xephos' no? If it was..." Rythian paused, 'coughing'. "A-Anyway, you get the point. The only other person I could think of would be Sips, but he was with you before. So, it couldn't have been Sips. It makes sense that it would be Lalna." He explained. I nodded solemnly. So whoever that was in the cloak had captured Lalna. Had he really caused him to be 'gone'? Did that mean...Lalna is actually dead? "I can see your expression, Sjin. I'm sure Lalna is fine." Rythian added. Of course he would say that. He didn't see the note. Unless he had looked before he gave it to me... I looked at the Enderborn, whose expression didn't change.
"Did you read the note?" I asked bluntly.
"No."
"Then you can't tell me Lalna is fine." I shook my head. "It said...Lalna was gone, and the figure made sure of it. So...you don't know that he is fine." My voice got progressively quieter, losing strength and hope.
"...No, I can't." I felt Rythian move my head so our gazes met. "I can't say for sure. But all we have is the hope that he is. Hope lasts forever, Sjin. As long as you have hope, Lalna will be alive." He whispered. I blinked, leaning on him slightly. I felt his arm around my shoulders, keeping me upright. "Strength comes from the bonds you make, too. Don't detach yourself from others. They're what keep you going." I nodded slowly, the two of us now walking together.
"Now, that's all very sentimental and philosophical, BUT we've got some friends to find." Of course Honeydew would interrupt this moment. "And, it looks like there's a village in need of saving." Pointing his pickaxe ahead, our gazes lay on the sight before us. A village ablaze in fire. Great.
