Preface: Hello, again! This is where the Corruption Saga really gets into full swing - everyone's gonna get together! You may see a bit of familiarity with this chapter, actually...
MINECRAFT MANIACS RPG
THE CORRUPTION SAGA:
GLITCH'ER THINGS
Previously...Kevin finally stabilized the detotated wam in time for the journey into the Corruption, and afterwards, Buzzer went across the multiverse, gathering heroes to come assist the Minecraft Maniacs
Now...Danny and Liam join the game in time to rendezvous with the others.
Roll Call
Danny - Alfred von Any: Hero with emotional issues. The leader.
Liam - Willy Blanq: Expert crafter. The maker.
Kevin - Nevile Napoleon: Part-gangerman player. The brains.
Pork Chop - Dee Bradley Baker: Danny's companion. The pet.
Spawny and Spawnette - Damien Laquet: The rabborg siblings. The heart.
Buzzer - Jim Cummings: Psychic fly from the future. The fairy.
Chapter 38:
Spark of Error, Part Three:
Into the Corruption!
[Character Selected: Danny]
[Current World: Real World]
[Current Location: His House]
[BGM: C418 - Danny]
It was the week of my fifteenth birthday, and let me just say it wound up being the craziest week of my life. I mean, life was already pretty crazy as-is with COVID and everything else in the world that was happening, but I never really expected it to go this far…
Perhaps a little cruelly, it started almost the same way as when this adventure started. I had just finished some of my last schoolwork of the year and was checking my phone before I officially called it a day, and there it was. The fateful text from Liam that said, "go onto the realm. big thing!" "ok, going on now," I texted back, just the way I did back in December. And that's when I went back upstairs, just as unaware of what was to go down. The difference here was that I at least had a basic idea of it…
[World Change: Minecraftia]
[Location Change: Private World, Danny's House]
Popping into the game, I felt a little nostalgic. Was that normal, feeling nostalgic for something that happened months ago? Maybe. I didn't know then, and I don't know now. And then, I heard a knocking on the door. "Just like that first time around," I said, opening the door.
"Hey! Kevin's waiting for us at his lab!" Liam said, beckoning me to come out. "His new contraption's ready!"
"Okay, I'll go get Pork Chop," I said, walking out of the house. As soon as I rounded the corner, Pork Chop bounced to his hooves and ran to the gate. As I opened the gate and walked out to the minecart with Liam, I actually chuckled a little.
"What's so funny?" Liam asked as we hopped in and set out on our way.
"You don't realize how this is exactly like how this whole thing started back in winter?" I said in disbelief. "Here we are, riding a minecart to Kevin's lab, ready for something big to happen!"
The realization seemed to dawn on Liam. "Y'know, you're actually right. And look at where we are now. We found all the gadgets, conquered all sorts of bad guys, all while the entire world's gone to crap! And we have summer approaching, too…"
I shrugged. "Yeah, with everything going on, I'm not sure that even matters anymore."
"Well, that's a first," Liam said, shocked. "I guess having to stay home this whole time kills the mood of not having school for three months, but at least we still won't have any work."
"Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes. "This seriously should not have gone the way it did."
"C'mon, man! You're turning 15 this Saturday!" continued Liam. "That's halfway through your teenage years! I think you should try and work on your negativity."
I'll be honest: I have been thinking about how pessimistic I can be in terms of my self-worth. "I guess you could try and help if you want to," I told Liam. He certainly was looking out for me, considering these past few months. We stopped right in the jungle, in front of the large laboratory where Kevin lived. "We're here. Let's talk about this later."
"Yeah, alright," said Liam, helping Pork Chop out of the minecart. We walked up and he knocked on the wall, lacking in a visible doorway. "Yo, Kev! We're here!"
A click was heard as the entire wall opened up, revealing the inside of the lab. "Welcome, guys!" Kevin greeted us, the rabborgs and Buzzer accompanying him. "Sorry for the late start. Come to the testing room! We're expecting some guests, and some of them had some scheduling conflicts."
[BGM: Antimo & Welles - Boot Up]
Hastily, we walked right into the big chamber labeled "Testing Room". The room looked the same as always, with its grey concrete floor and walls marked with black-and-yellow patterns. But there was a spark in the very middle of the room...one that looked all too familiar. "So, you got that thing stabilized?" I asked.
"We certainly do," Buzzer proclaimed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get our little guests!" With that, the fly spun around three times and vanished, like he always did.
Liam cracked his knuckles. "So, who're these guests?" he asked.
"Quite frankly, I'm not too sure," responded Kevin. "Yesterday, Buzzer said something about gathering heroes from across the multiverse, but I'm not sure…" Before he could finish, a portal appeared right next to us, revealing a familiar face on a boat, who quickly stepped through into the lab.
"Oh, hey, Max!" said Liam. "Long time, no see! How've you been?"
"Not too good," said Max, shaking Liam's hand. "I haven't seen land in months, and this is the first time I've interacted with life since our last adventure."
"Ah, don't worry!" I said. "I'm sure you'll find something." I turned towards Liam. "See, I can be optimistic if I want to."
"Hmm, okay." After Liam said that, another portal appeared, and out hopped an ever-familiar blue hedgehog.
Max gasped as the figure walked up to us. "Are...are you Sonic the Hedgehog?"
"No, I'm the president of the United Federation!" the hedgehog said, chuckling. "This another one of your friends?" he asked Kevin.
"Well, yeah," said Kevin, rubbing the back of his head. "Either way, it's good to see you again, Sonic."
The next portal to open up revealed Knuckles. The echidna looked around as he stepped into our world for the first time. "Hmm, I was expecting something a bit more naturalistic for your world," he said to us.
"Knuckles, my man!" said Sonic, holding his hand out. "The Blue Blur and the Rad Rad, back together for another adventure!"
Sheepishly, Knuckles returned Sonic's high-five. "Look, Sonic, I wouldn't say we're, um, friends quite yet."
"Really?" the hedgehog said, raising an eyebrow. "Or do you just not want to admit it?"
Looking to my right, I could see that the next portal had opened up. "Oh, hey! It's the Unikingdom!" I said, pointing right into the familiar Lego-built world.
"(Now, that was an adventure…)" said Spawny, reflectively. "(That was when we first met Max!)"
"Hmm, you've been here before?" said Sonic, his interest piqued. "Because I've been there quite a few times." Shortly afterward, a pink figure stepped out and gave Sonic a big hug. "And we've hung out a few times…"
"Well, good to see you too, Unikitty," I said, trying to pry the princess from Sonic's grasp.
"Heheh, sorry!" said the kitty, sheepishly. "I just got excited." She smiled, happy faces emanating from her head. "But I'm glad to see you guys again, too!"
"Don't forget me!" we heard Puppycorn say as he followed Unikitty into our world. "Wow! This place is roomier than Dr. Fox's lab!" He noticed the detotated wam in the middle of the room. "Ooo, what's that spark-"
"NO!" shouted Kevin, hopping in the prince's way. "Not yet!"
The next portal opened, and peering inside, I saw the familiar interior of the Pawlace. "Wow, this place is gonna get crowded!" I remarked as the ever-familair white puppy and orange cat ran out.
"Wow! Reunitings all around!" Sonic said, shaking Pumpkin's hand. "Unikitty, this is Pumpkin and Treasure!"
"Delighted to meet you," Treasure said, holding her paw out.
"Always nice to meet a fellow princess," remarked Unikitty, responding to the handshake.
"I can see the confusion," I told Unikitty, "but they're actually the pets of princesses. No clue why they wear those crowns, though."
The last one to flutter out of the Whisker Haven portal was Ms. Featherbon, who sat herself down on Sonic's arm. "And here's the first one of these faces I ever met!" the hedgehog said.
As the next portal opened, showing the ever-familair look of Dream Land, I smirked. "Don't tell me you've been there, too," I said to Sonic.
"Don't hold your breath," Sonic responded, high-fiving the pink blob as he walked out.
"All by yourself, eh Kirby?" Liam asked.
"I'm not alone!" said Kirby. "I'm with all of you!"
"Not really what he meant," Knuckles corrected, shaking the puffball's hand.
The last portal to open up revealed some squealing, happy puppies that stood on their feet. As they eagerly looked around, I smirked again. "Okay, there's no way you know those two!" I said, pointing at the puppies.
Sonic sighed. "Alright, fine! You got me! I don't know those guys!"
"Well, I think I should go introduce myself to fellow dogs," said Pumpkin, She started her way over to Bluey and Bingo.
"Yeah, I'll come, too!" Puppycorn said, following attentively.
I watched Bluey and Bingo's excited reactions from a distance. "Oh, hi mate!" Bluey said, amiably. "I'm Bluey, and this is my sister Bingo!"
"My name is Pumpkin," responded the white puppy, "and I am Princess Cinderella's pet."
"So you can have a dog as a pet!" said Bingo, her tail wagging. "And they can walk on their hands and feet and talk, too!"
"And she's a princess!" added Bluey, squealing even harder.
"Nah, I don't think she is," interjected Puppycorn. "But I'm a prince if that makes you happy!"
"Okay, y'know what? I'm going in!" said Sonic, elbowing me in the chest. He zoomed right up to the dogs. "Step aside, fellas! It's my turn!"
I laughed as Bluey and Bingo gasped in awe. "You're...Sonic the Hedgehog!" said Bluey, stunned. "Dad used to play your games all the time!"
"Well, your dad's got good taste!" said Sonic, rubbing his nose. "Say, why do you sound like you're from Downunda?"
Bingo giggled. "Because we are from down under!"
"Really?" said Sonic. "Because I've never seen you on Mobius, and I think the real-world equivalent of Downunda is called Australia." Bluey and Bingo chuckled even harder.
I looked at everyone congregating with one another. "Well, this room got filled pretty fast!" I said.
"Yeah, we could have a pretty good party with everyone here!" said Kevin. "I just hope they don't take attention away from us. We're the main characters, after all!" At that moment, Buzzer reappeared from wherever he went to. "Ah, Buzzer! Just in time!"
"Well, it looks like everyone is here!" said Buzzer, witnessing the crowdedness. He flew to the middle of the room and cleared his throat. "Attention, everyone!" he declared, getting everyone's attention. "I have gathered you all here today for a journey into one of the most unusual worlds in this dimension: the Corruption! In this world, not everything will make sense, and what does make sense to some of you may not make sense to others. However, I'm confident that we shall be able to overcome any obstacle that comes our way, so long as we stick together."
Everyone cheered, probably because they didn't know what else to do. "So, should I start the process?" Kevin asked, putting a zombie mask on.
"Yes," said Buzzer. "Now, stand still, everyone! The teleportation process will be painless so long as you remain calm." With that, Kevin pressed a button, and a lightning bolt hit the dormant detotated wam. It started to pulse, just like the first time around. Only this time, when the bright light engulfed the screen...my game crashed, returning to the iPad's home screen.
"Oh, for crying out loud!" I shouted annoyed, relaunching the game. I wondered if the wam actually worked this time as I selected the private world…
[Character Selected: Liam]
[Current World: Minecraftia]
[Current Location: Corruption, Breached Plains]
[BGM: C418 - Moog City]
Liam reappeared in the game alongside Danny and Kevin seconds before everyone else woke up from the impact. "Did your game crash, too?" he asked the others.
"Yep," said Danny, looking around, "and it doesn't look like anything's changed." Sure enough, everyone was just in a plains biome, looking as normal as ever.
Just then, everyone else began to awaken. "Oog...where are we?" said Ms. Featherbon, openeing her eyes.
"It doesn't look like we were taken to another world," said Max, picking himself up.
Unikitty felt a few chickens walking on her stomach. "Oh, hi, little guys!" she said, petting them. Suddenly, the chicken turned into a cooked chicken, springing her to her feet. "Woah, what the-?" And then the chicken transformed again, this time into a rubber chicken. "What's going on?"
"Oh, that's just the normal effects of the Breached Plains," said Buzzer, flying in. "Anything in here glitches between alternate versions of itself, including their real-world counterparts."
Sonic looked at himself and screamed. He suddenly had blue arms, a human-like physique (including the eyes and especially the mouth), white, furry hands, and Puma Speed 500s in place of his Power Sneakers. "How is this realistic?" he shouted in confused anger.
"This is freaking me out…" said Treasure, her body morphing into a more realistic look. Suddenly, she realized something. "Wait, that meow meow meow." She had fully become a real-life cat.
"We're in the Corruption!" Liam said in her stead. "So the detotated wam did work!"
"(Of course!)" said Spawnette. "(That is why everyone is going all crazy!)"
"(Well, I sure hope it won't stop us from getting the…)" Spawny paused, realzing they found all the Gadgets of Order. "(Wait, what are we looking for?)"
"Glitch Keys!" answered Buzzer. "They will give us access to the most glitchy land of all time - the Far Lands!"
"The Far Lands?" repeated Danny. "Well, that's certainly unusual!"
"Well, no point in waiting for something to happen!" Liam declared. "C'mon, everyone! Let's get craftin'!"
"Wait, where are we going?" Bluey asked, unsure.
"Um...just follow Buzzer!" Answering Liam's suggestion, Buzzer immediately started to fly in the direction of the large party's first destination. However, Liam couldn't help but feel that they were being followed…
[Character Selected: Perinton]
[Current World: Minecraftia]
[Current Location: Planet of the Gangermen, Royal Lair]
The map was complete. Perinton's continued journey across the multiverse was about to commence. He gave one last look at the planet that was in the capable hands of Andy and Mark, and stepped right through the active portal into his first destination.
[World Change: ?]
[Location Change: ?]
The laboratory he stepped into was walled with several empty robot shells, and sitting in the back was a portly human whose PhD was questionable. Hearing the noise of the portal, the human turned around. "What? What's this pig doing here?" he said.
"Aplologies for the abrupt introduction," said Perinton, cordially. "Let's just say I believe we have similar goals. If I help you accomplish your goal of making your own personal amusement park, will you help me with mine?"
That piqued the human's interest. "Tell me more…"
To be continued...and next time: a new party member and reality breakage!
Next chapter: The "Into the Corruption!" arc is in full swing, and our heroes' first destination is "The Village Where Everything Was Changing." In this place, things can change into alternate forms at will, even the townsfolk! Luckily, our interpred heroes have a new guest...but you'll have to wait to meet her! But nothing will prepare everyone for the first of the many Glitch Lords...
Postface: Chapter complete! As you can see, this saga may be a little faster-paced than the last few sagas - I think part of the reason is so the chapters don't get too long, especially since the average length may be increased this time around!
Anyway, at long last, the Corruption is here! The idea for the Corruption came from the ninth episode of Kibitz and the Captain's Realistic Minecraft series, which this chapter and the next story arc are named after. That depiction of the Corruption, where things constantly glitch between different versions, including their real world equivalents, was the main inspiration for the Breached Plains. However, I wanted to incorporate other 'corrupted' aspects of Minecraft, both vanilla and in fan material, so the other locations will be a bit different! But besides that, what's Perinton planning? Who's that mysterious person he's talking to? Will others meet the same fate? Stay tuned...
That should be it! Please read, review, and share around, and I'll see you all next time for the first proper Corruption adventure. Stay diamond, everyone!
-Alfred
~Minecraft and everything related to it are properties of Mojang Studios and Xbox Game Studios. Sonic the Hedgehog and everything related to him are properties of Sega Corp. Unikitty and everything related to her are properties/licensees of Lego System A/S (The Lego Group) and WarnerMedia, LLC. The Palace Pets and everything related to them are properties of The Walt Disney Co. Kirby and everything related to him are properties of Nintendo Co., LTD and HAL Laboratory, Inc. Bluey and everything related to her are properties of Ludo Studio PTY., LTD., the Australian Broadcasting Corp., and BBC Studios Dist., LTD. No copyright infringement with any of these companies nor financial gain was intended in the making of this story. Any resemblance to real-world people or events are either coincidental or done fictitiously.~