Note: Slight AU regarding how Nikki gets her Turtle Helmet

Wilbur shuffled nervously as he watched the brewing stand. The translucent deep blue liquid bubbled quietly as the bit of glowing redstone slowly dissolved into the liquid. The potion glowed faintly as the potion stand let out a final burble.

He sighed in relief and carefully removed the three large bottles and started carefully pouring the liquid into smaller, thinner vials. He had done this often enough that his hands shouldn't be shaking, but with the end so close, he had to concentrate to keep from spilling the liquid.

When the last of the potion was finally separated into the vials, Wilbur inserted them into the potion vial holder. He carefully closed the top and set it down on the small stack of others he had already finished.

Wilbur picked up the stack and tucked it into his bag. He sent a message to Nikki and grabbed the larger wrapped bundle on the shelf, which quickly was tucked into the bag following the potions.

He shifted to his Phantom state and stepped through the wall, blinking quickly at the bright light. He glanced at his pocket watch, and grimaced upon seeing that it was still a bit past noon. He hated the burning sensation on his skin during the day when he wasn't in his phantom state, but he was admittedly still nervous to ask Ranboo to make him an umbrella. Although Ranboo was a good kid, Wilbur was still nervous around him, due to how off-putting he was.

Wilbur stepped into the river, and glanced up and down. He glanced down at his communicator, and his brow crinkled at the message from Nikki. He would have to wait a bit. Wilbur typed out a message to Jack.

Wilbur tucked his communicator into his bag and dropped fully into the river. He shifted back to his normal state, and swam down toward Nikki's Cove.

"Wilbur!" The happy, bubble voice of Nikki echoed out as she swam up beside him. "Hello!"

"Nikki! Hi! How are you?" Wilbur asked.

"Quite good. And yourself?" She asked, tilting her head.

"I'm a bit nervous, I'mma be honest." Wilbur admitted.

"Wilbur. You know you can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?"

"Um. Yeah." Wilbur sank down to the bottom of the cove. "You know how I promised that I'll get you to see the Nether, right?"

"Wilbur…" Nikki said, crossing her arms. "Details. Now."

Wilbur dug the large bundle out of his bag. "I made a few things for you, so here."

Nikki took the bundle and carefully unwrapped it. The deep green helm inside shimmered in the patchy sunlight filtering through the water. She gasped quietly and a smile spread across her face. "Wilbur!" She turned the turtle helmet in her hands, her webbed fingers tracing over the glowing runes carved into the edge of the helm, a happy smile on her face. "Thank you so much, Wilbur. I'm still working on my own turtle breeding project, so I haven't had a chance to make my own yet." She put the helmet on and twirled in the water. "What do you think?"

"I-um. Also made these." Wilbur said, pulling out one of the potion holders. "Phil did some research, and Water Breathing potions should help with staying out of the water longer. And really help with the Nether."

Nikki blinked, staring at her good friend. "Are you serious? Are you serious right now." She smiled, and brushed at her face. "You promised that you would find a way to let me see the Nether, and you've…"

Wilbur nodded. "Yeah. Jack said that he'll show us around a bit. Since, you know. Fire and the nether is kinda his thing."

Nikki's cheeks looked fit to split, her grin was so wide. She pulled one of the vials out and turned it in her hands. "Extended duration?" She said, surprised.

"Yeah." Wilbur nodded. His communicator buzzed, and he glanced at the message.

"OI!" The slightly muffled voice of Jack Manifold filtered down to the two.

"Jack! Hello!" Nikki chirped, popping her head above the water. "Wilbur let me know what the plan for today was. Thank you so much for helping."

"Ah. Well, Wilbur kinda sprung this on me. But, I'm happy to help." Jack replied.

Nikki pulled one of the vials out and quickly gulped it down. She climbed out of the river and stretched. She took a slow breath, and smiled. "So far, it seems the potion is working."

Wilbur shifted to his Phantom state, and climbed out of the river himself. "Where's the portal, Jack?"

"Follow." Jack replied, turning and heading toward the Pub he and Tommy shared. Wilbur and Nikki followed, Nikki looking a little nervous.

It was a short walk, and Jack indicated toward the obsidian structure positioned below the floating building. "Here she is. My portal to home." He said, sarcastically.

Nikki reached out and grabbed Wilbur's hand. He was a dear friend of hers and she trusted him, but she was still nervous. Jack stepped through the purple portal first, and Nikki squeezed Wilbur's hand. Wilbur nodded, and stepped through first.

Nikki closed her eyes tightly, and walked through as well, pulled slightly by Wilbur. A very warm feeling surrounded her as she finished stepping through.

It was a sticky and uncomfortable feeling, which she did not particularly enjoy. She slowly opened one eye, then the other. A small gasp left her mouth as she looked around with wide eyes.

The air had a faint hit of deep red, which made her want to blink it away. She looked left and right, squeezing her hands together nervously. The air was dry, and she could feel a prickling across her skin.

"It's a bit…" She started hesitantly. "Warm."

"Ah." Wilbur said.

"Probably because her skin is drying out a bit." Jack commented.

Nikki glanced down at her hands, and she could see the protective oils on her skin becoming thinner. "I probably shouldn't be here for too long."

Jack sighed and pulled something from his pouch. He pulled the cork from the bottle neck of the golden potion, and upturned it over Nikki's head. The liquid soaked into her skin, and while the prickling stopped, Nikki still felt a bit dehydrated. "I always carry a Fire Res potion on me in case an idiot jumps in lava and I need to go rescue their ass."

"Thank you Jack." Nikki said. She turned and looked around. "It's amazing, Wilbur. Terrifying, but amazing."

Wilbur nodded. "I understand."

"Thank you for showing me Wilbur." Nikki smiled, cheerfully. Although the air in general made her uncomfortable, there was a hellish beauty to the place.

She grabbed the older Phantom in a hug. "Thank you, Wilbur. I appreciate the effort you went through, so much."