Sup.

:D


The sun beyond the horizon began to peek out from the hills, its warmth slowly being spread over the land beneath and across.

Duke and Andrew had decided just yesterday to push their search for powerful gear to new heights, and today was the first step to taking that step.

Their destination had been set after Dukes inner child came out upon seeing the land in the far distance: the Tundra. Visions of snowball fights and making snowmen with igloos and eating marshmallows by a warm fire had been all too enticing for him, Andrew straightly agreeing with amusement in his tone. It was something of a side quest to take their minds off of more pressing matters for a short time, the land calling to them to share its wonders and joys after years of barren air with no intelligent life around. The simple presence of the two men had shifted natures balance as it was, their interference having tilted the scale from one side to another without their knowledge.

Duke had packed the supplies he'd need for the venture, opting to take with him a furnace, a piggy bank from Milton who had bargained for 1 gold coin, much to Duke's chagrin, and a steady set of 300 wood. He felt fairly confident considering his recent trips into the earth and even more so now that he had his trusted advisor with him, but the memory of his fight against the Lost Girl, as Andrew dubbed her, kept him on his toes with an increased suspicion towards innocent looking creatures.

His walk held pure confidence and an eagerness to gain strength, some feeling within him yearning for another fight as from within the mines. Sure, he nearly died through multiple instances and was almost infected by his only friend, but that didn't stop him from feeling like he grew from that experience, in more ways than one. Combined with the vision from yesterday, he felt that the fight was his first real glimpse at how useless he was. He knew he couldn't fight slimes and zombies with no further goal in mind for the rest of his life, no matter how much he wished it to be that simple. It was that same feeling that longed for a fight that kept him restless, keeping him awake at night as his fingers trembled under the covers of his bedsheets while his teeth clenched, missing the feel of his blade as his adrenaline shook the very veins they traveled in.

He loved it.

Every second of it.

That was why he was so eager to see new realms, and now he understood that. He continued his even walking pace, but had to focus on calming his feverish breathing before Andrew could notice the excitement he nearly imploded from.

Andrew, though knowing what adrenaline does to ones body, and under normal circumstances would've noticed these tells, felt practically the opposite of Duke.

His movements were just as calm as his barely stable friends, but held none of the caged bloodlust that seeped through him.

Instead, he walked with his hands holding the same piece of parchment he had in the caves when he and Duke went mining, the map now glowing as his eyes darted around at the surrounding land. Nothing was too trivial to skip his sight as they scanned the meadows of flowers moving in the direction of the blowing wind, once dormant dayblooms springing to life in a fit of rage just to pester Duke with their attack seeds. He was caught by surprise, as he had leaned down to enjoy their pleasant scents that fit so well with the mood, but Andrew couldn't inform him of the dangers in time before he was struck by one of their projectiles. While he was laughing to himself, Duke was not. He made sure to relish watching the damned plant wither to dust after uprooting it from its birth place and wiping the blood from his scratched nostril.

"Oi Andrew, how much further until we reach the tundra?!" Duke asked, irritation present in his voice.

"Not much further, it looked like from behind this hill when we stood atop the house. Why do you ask?" Andrew replied.

Duke grunted. "These little shits keep popping up outta nowhere and for SOME reason they're hellbent on ripping my face off!"

Andrew laughed. "What do you mean? This walk is as peaceful as they come. Surely you're just triggering them somehow."

"Yeah, cause apparently walking is illegal to them." Duke snarked.

"You don't know their legal system, to be fair."

"Shut up Andrew."

They continued walking a short while longer before Duke spoke up again, this time having come up with an idea after seeing another of those damned flowers not too far from them. He had a slight grin as his eyes fixed themselves on the living vegetation.

"Hey Andrew?"

Looking behind him, Andrew saw Duke with his hands behind his back with a poor attempt at an innocent smile.

He narrowed his eyes, already suspicious. "What?"

"I just thought-"

Andrew held up his hand cutting him off, then turning to fully face him. "You managing to think is scary enough, do I wanna hear the next malevolent words to leave your mouth?"

Dukes expressions dropped straight. "Shut yer mouth."

"In that case, it was likely inadequate." Andrew mused, turning back around to enjoy his nature walk once more.

Duke remained still for a second before his grin reappeared on his face, once more making conversation. "Hey Andrew, have you ever wanted a pet?"

"sigh, why'd I know this was where it was going?" He replied, stopping to face Duke again.

This time however, Andrew caught a brief glimpse of Duke's terrified expression as Andrew felt a sharp pain in his stomach, the wind being knocked out of him as he doubled over, wheezing for air.

Duke stood in shock, taking a moment to understand what had happened.

Then he fell to the ground in laughter as he dropped the living plant he was holding, it getting agitated over being carelessly handled.

"Wh.. what was that?.." Andrew asked in between deep breaths, still trying to pick himself back up.

He looked to where Duke laid laughing before seeing a clay pot on the ground to his side, a plant inside moving around with obvious signs of frustration.

Andrew's eyes narrow as the plant notices him back, both locking in a stare down.

Duke's laughing was drowned out as Andrew readied his fingers for the next careful movement, the flower in turn curling up ever so slightly as apprehension rose in the air with the wind.

Then in a sudden movement, the flower shot one of its high speed projectile seeds towards Andrew, he barely managing to avoid it with a barrel roll, then coming up to see it preparing another shot. He saw this as an opening however, and brought out his bow and locked an arrow into its quiver, taking aim as fast as he brought it out and releasing the arrow straight for the plant. It was evidently unprepared for this however, and barely avoided this shot by twisting its roots out of their burrowed homes to push itself to the side.

That was an issue.

If it couldn't place them back into the ground, it would surely shrivel up and wither in a matter of seconds. Andrew saw the panic in its movements, and immediately uncovered its weakness, his own smile taking place as he knew how to exploit this advantage.

"Well, no idea why you're attacking me all of a sudden when Duke had your attention not too long ago, but I supposed I shall remove the weeds from this beautiful garden to help us both out." Andrew grinned, another arrow appearing in his hand as he brought the bow back up. However, this piece of ammunition held a flame to it, and the plant felt itself start to wither away already.

The pot had cracked upon its fall. Damnit! It cursed the giant man to his side. It wasn't its fault for getting aggravated, it was the winds! Always moving its seeds away from it when it clearly planted them there to grow a family. How can one not get pissed?! If only it had held it in though, it regretted that now. It had a simple life of spreading its seeds and looking pretty, but it's all gone to the gutters now. This is how I die then. It watched as the archer pulled its arrow back, taking aim right at its hopeless stem.

Then the arrow was released, and the plant prepared itself for its final moment.

Goodbye children.

Good riddance humans.

It struck.

...

...

...

...?

What?

Standing in front of it, Duke crouched in front of the arrows path facing the plant, he holding a brand new pot in his hands. It didn't understand.

"Before I go kill that idiot over there, let me make sure you don't wither out."

He picked the plant out of its old pot and carefully placed it into its new home, fresh soil from a nearby patch of dirt welcoming its weakened roots as feeling and strength began to return to them.

It was evidently no doubt confused over the sudden turn in events after its life having been on the line just moments ago, now it was being saved by the same idiot that nearly killed it?

I don't get it..

"OI ANDREW!"

The plant was shaken by a sudden loud voice, looking up to see the man who had saved it facing the archer, who wore a confused and shocked expression, much the same it did.

"HOW MANY TIMES ARE YA GONNA SHOOT ME YA SHIT?!" Duke asked calmly.

"Well why did you jump in the way of the arrow idiot?!" Andrew replied nicely.

"TO STOP YOU FROM SHOOTING FLOWEY!"

"You named the plant that shot me?!"

"YOU SHOT ME FIRST!"

The plant watched from the sidelines, having been placed down with a gentle care that completely contrasted Duke's current state.

Why didn't they just kill me?..

"Is this what you meant when you asked me if I wanted a pet?!" Andrew asked, picking up the map he dropped due to the plants attack.

"NO-well, yeah sorta.." Duke replied.

Andrew placed a hand on his face as he let out a tired groan. Today was going so smoothly, why'd it have to evolve backwards into this mess?

"Look, I'm all for having pets, but we're currently on an adventure right now and I don't think we'd be able to care for it safely." He said. "Plus, we'll be in a climate far different than what it's used to. No doubt it wouldn't be able to adapt, let alone survive the amount of time we would be there."

Duke looked down at the plant with a sad expression, understanding what his friend was saying was entirely true, though it didn't make him feel much better.

Oi, just leave me here, I couldn't care less really. Flowey thought.

"I know little buddy, I'll miss you too. We had a lot of fun though." Duke said with a sad smile.

"Not how I remember the past five minutes at all." Andrew stated.

Me neither. Flowey agreed.

Duke walked over to the shade of a tree with apples hanging from them, grabbing one and tossing it over to Andrew. "It'll replenish some health. Sorry by the way." Duke apologized.

Catching the fruit, Andrew smiled at him. "Don't worry about it. Just make sure it won't get blown away by the wind. And maybe try another spot, it might not get its nutrients next to a behemoth of a tree like that."

Duke paused a second, then turned back to the tree. "Ah, you're right."

THAT'S a TREE?

Much to the flowers surprise and the astonishment of the men, behind them stood a MASSIVE tower of beautiful wood topped with a full head of green leaves. Easily, the tree was bigger than any mountain the two had seen, and far bigger than the buildings Duke had managed to design. Andrew was awestruck, with every passing second he becoming more and more eager to draw this out on his map. Duke was growing with an insatiable curiosity to see what he could build out of the new potential base outline.

Flowey was utterly horrified.

HE WAS GONNA PLANT ME NEXT TO THAT?! IT WOULD SUCK THE NUTRIENTS OUT THE GROUND FASTER THAN I COULD SHOOT MY SEEDS!

While Flowey tried to calm itself down by ensuring it would stay in its pot instead of the ground, the men stepped closer to the massive tree.

"What is that?" Duke asked.

"I'm about to find out." Andrew answered, he stepping closer to the tree while reaching his hand out.

He inched closer to the tree with slowing steps, his fingers slightly retracting back into his palm as he stopped, now unsure if he should continue. He turned to Duke and Flowey, only one of them watching in anticipation and nudging him forward. "Go on, you got it!" Duke cheered, slight uncertainty being heard in his voice.

Andrew turned back around, then threw caution to the wind and firmly grasped the hardwood, Duke's gasp being heard distantly.

...

...

Nothing happened for a short moment before Andrew turned back to face Duke.

"Coast is clear!" He shouted.

Now beaming with excitement with a large smile on his face, Duke nearly ran before halting himself, turning to face Flowey. "Don't go anywhere bud, we'll be right back!"

He took off to the tree immediately after, leaving Flowey with his happy thoughts. I hate the both of you.

Andrew felt off about the tree though, even touching around to see if there were any secret visions he couldn't find at first, but was left with nothing. He placed both hands on the trunk of the tree and pressed his ear against it, wanting to see if there was anything to hear on the other side. It was unlikely, he thought. This tree was massive, giant, and most likely thicc to boot. But still he listened closely to the tree, his body relaxing upon contact with the cool surface of the overgrown product of nature. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing to a quiet crawl. He now heard more. He felt more. He felt the grass beneath his blowing against his boots and somehow still clean trousers, heard the buzzing of the smaller insects behind and above him, and eventually, he heard something from within the tree. Trying not to startle, he pressed closer against it with a greater vigor to listen, focusing on the quiet stillness that very clearly hid secrets within not intended for outsiders to find.

The outside world grew quieter as he drowned it out more and more, he feeling like he would fall into a slumber as his body slowed down with every slowly passing moment. His breathing was now quieter than a whisper, even breaths timing themselves with the beating of his distant heartbeat, his blood slowing down within their vessels and his brain nearly shutting down entirely just to understand what was in the tree. He wasn't doing this. Not to this extent at least. He only meant to listen for anything inside the tree, something to tell him it was simply a part of nature and not something done by anything other than them. And yet it was reaching to him. It nestled within his mind, curing the stress he held with a growing culmination of warmth within his chest. This tree was affecting him. It was protecting him. From what? He thought. His mind was hazy now, too lax to form coherent sentences longer than 20 words without slurring like a drunk, but still he opened his eyes. It was dark.


?

What?..

He could feel the tree moving, as if it were alive. A soft thumping, almost like the beat of a heart being heard all around him. It reminded him of when Duke found the Life Crystal, a low yet radiant hum of energy circling his being. His eyes moved languidly around his dark encampment before seeing a small, growing light. He wanted to reach out for it, but he could barely feel any of himself at this point, as if he were simply floating in a vast vacuum with nothing else existing. The light drew itself closer to him, to where he could use its faint glow to see his hands and feet, before its soft shine formed before him an image he couldn't make out at first, but upon leaning closer, he discovered it was a dimly lit room with torchlight on the walls. In the center stood a table supporting a sketched map, surrounding this a group of people in different descriptions. Most notably, they were all covered with what appeared to be living green leaves that marked everything else in the room, all except for one figure. This one was different, wearing what was clearly a foreign set of armor and giving off an energy that screamed power.

To say he was confused would be an understatement, because Andrew believed that all the consumption of mushrooms over the past few days had begun to kick in. He was looking at this through a vision shrouded with darkness, and he had no idea why he leaned closer as if there was more to it. That was, until he heard their voices.

"What do you mean?" A feminine voice holding clear authority asked.

"The borders were compromised.. it spread faster than any could anticipate... I couldn't stop it..." The different man said, defeat and sorrow present in his tone.

One of them moved forward, she pointing a glowing staff directly at him, a building power whirring from its end promising suffering. "You wretched fool! You said it would be held without issues! Damned arrogant-"

"Silence." The first woman spoke. "His carelessly stupid actions cannot be undone, do not waste your breath fussing over it."

The group looked to their leader, who placed her scarred hands on the table before them, her piercing gaze glaring through the man in their company.

"You know what must be done." She spoke.

"I do." He replied.

"Do you feel any regret for your neglectful actions?" She asked.

"More than you could understand." He said.

She scoffed. "Then bury it. Those thoughts will only kill you sooner. Come, it's better you face this with a sliver of hope for survival."

The vision blurs to a new setting, showing a great room filled to the brim with armors, weapons, tools, and other defenses all lined against the massive walls. At the end of it stood the woman with the man, they both looking up at a set of armor Andrew seemed to faintly remember.

"You will bear this, the armor of light." She said to him. "With it, you may have a chance at survival, it's power being summoned forth by the strength of its wearers will. Should you fault, it will fail you, as you have failed your people."

The man looked at her, then spoke with a small smile. "You believe I can do this?"

She scoffed again, a scorn present on her face. "Selfish idiot, you will not face it alone. This is OUR world, I'd rather end myself than leave it to your destructive hands."

Smiling grimly, he took the armor off the wall it clung to, its glow beginning to brighten slightly.

"As King, I would appreciate a tad more respect." He half-heartedly joked, attempting to lighten the future of their situation.

"As King, you should've seen this coming." She replied, a very slight tug at the corner of her lips.

"I know." He said, taking out a worn out cloth with a drawing etched onto it.

"But those thoughts will only kill me sooner."

Andrew saw what was on the parchment, his heart dropping cold.

"Then lets kill that first." The woman replied, nodding to the parchment.

It was the image of a horrifying creature, a beast with tentacle like appendages sprouting from its deformed torso while it towered over what seemed to be worshippers beneath.


Overworld

Would this idiot stop already?

Flowey had gained its strength back staying in its pot, now using one of its leaves to lean against the soil while bouncing a pebble against the tree across from it, catching it, and repeating.

Off in the direction of its worst nightmare, Duke ravaged the massive tree with insatiable bloodlust seething through every pore in his inhuman body with his axe, shouting profanities at it over the sudden disappearance of his friend.

And there wasn't a scratch on it.

Doesn't he understand it will get mad at him? Save the trees much?

Flowey was unamused by this however, instead finding his incoherent shouts rather annoying, though he was too comfortable in his pot to uproot and find another area.

This is a pretty nice home..

...

...

..?

It got, quiet?

Is he done-

KABOOOM

A massive explosion uprooted a small surrounding of dirt and trees, Duke having been shot into the air spinning ungracefully while Flowey held onto its pot for dear life.

THIS IDIOT IS GONNA GET ME KILLED!

Air rushed all aroundthe unfortunate plant as debris flew from everydirection, chunks of wood smashing into other trees and dirt and soil smacking the plant in its face.

The idiot that caused it flipped himself over middair, then stuck a perfect landing with both feet on the ground and hands half bent out to balance himself. Looking up however, a chill was sent down Floweys stem as he glared right back at the tree with a sadistic smile, satisfied at seeing the dynamite had done its job.

"I'm coming to save ya Andrew." He said, his voice unnervingly low.

Flowey was shaking now, its grip on the pot not loosening one bit, especially as Duke made his way over to the tree, his demeanor not changing as he dragged the axe along the ground.

"Don't move Flowey, I'm bringing your uncle back." He said, sadistic eyes holding a chilling glare meant to ease the plant, though it did the complete opposite effect.

Yup-sure-you-got-it-boss-no-sir-not-moving-from-here-nope-

Duke placed light steps into the grass while his hand held the axe in a bone crushing grip, he now peering down the exposed hole in the center of the tree.

"So ya snuck him down there, huh?"

His expression softened up almost immediately, replacing his axe with his sword now.

"How'd you know he likes exploring?! Ah man you should've taken me too! Don't worry Andrew, I'm coming!" He cheered, jumping down the hole and landing onto a small platform bridging between both walls of the tree. He placed a torch on the side and looked down, seeing more platforms as the space grew narrower.

"Real good thing I'm not claustromophobia." He said, butchering any hope of pronouncing the right word.

He continued down the tree hole as he placed more and more torches, before landing on a platform that had a door on one side rather than moss covering wood, a sight he began to like, albeit not the smell.

He stepped to it as he held out his torches, he noting their numbers began to dwindle, making a mental note to kill more slimes on the way to the Tundra.

Heh, I'm so gonna forget.

He placed a hand on the door, finding it was cold and damp. He pushed slightly, managing to open it without much effort at all. It opened up to a small hallway that led to another door, Duke stepping forward to this one and getting a nervous feeling now, drawing his sword in one hand as his torches were in another.

Andrew's behind this door, right? Right. He reassured himself.

Inching his hand to the door, he hesitated for a moment. I really just jumped into a living tree and placed torches all inside of it. I'm asking to be crushed. He kept thinking back to how Andrew practically hugged the tree for a long moment before its branches moved down to return the favor, initiating Duke's flight or fight response immediately as he dashed toward his friend. However, the tree opened up for a moment to bring its visitor in before closing the next, shutting Duke off entirely. That was when he started slashing away with his axe like a madman, though it worsened his behavior when he saw no effect had taken.

Ahhh damn this tree probably hates me. I even blew its entrance up..

So he kicked the door down instead, throwing a torch in to light the area as he brought his sword up high with a manic yell.

"RELEASE MY FRIEND OR BURN TREE-, ah?"

The torch had landed on a table, which was comforting the resting head of his best buddy as he slept soundly, not even stirring to Duke's sudden entrance.

"Aww he's all tuckered out! Thanks tree for taking care of him!" Duke said aloud, a slight groan of approval being heard from the walls.

Replacing his sword with more torches, he lit up the room to get a nicer view of the place he stood in.

Yknow this is actually kinda boring.

It was a small room with a single table and chair, though in a corner it had what looked like a harp made of wood and leaves and in the other a chest covered with vines. That was what caught his interest.

"Oooo, goodies!" He gleamed, heading to the chest to sort through its contents. He found nothing too amazing, simply some money and shurikens, apart from two wands that seemed to hold some properties similar to element bending, but with wood.

Pfft, wood bending. That sounds like a painful morning.

"mm.."

Picking up his head from the chest, he turned to face the table where his friend sat, he picking his head up slowly before stretching his limbs out to the side, bringing them back as he scratched his back.

"ANDREW! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Duke rushed over to his friend to embrace him in a bear hug, Andrew being caught off guard by the sudden awakening and suffering the tight experience.

"Hng.. can't.. breath..." He managed out through strained breaths.

"OH RIGHT!" Duke released him, dropping him to the ground as he let his friend catch his breath.

"What.. happened?.." Andrew asked through heaving breaths. His ribs were gonna feel worse tomorrow, he just knew it.

Andrew picked him up and sat him in the chair, earning a thanks in return. "You hugged the tree like it was your baby until it swallowed you up, nothing much." Duke told him.

Andrew looked up at him, obviously confused, before his eyes widened in realization as he remembered what he had seen. Duke saw this, but was simply confused over his friends reaction.

"You alright Andrew?" He asked.

Andrew sat there for a moment before turning to his friend, shaking himself back to reality before responding. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure dude? You sound-"

"Duke." Andrew spoke, his friend shutting up. "I had another vision."

At this, Duke went into his inventory to craft a chair at light speed, placing it down the second afterwards, then leaning in to hear what his friend had to say.

Andrew continued. "There was a man talking to a group of people, in a room like this one, but bigger." He looked around, noting how the room was nearly identical as the one he saw, bar the extra space. The same cracks and vegetation covered the same spots on the walls. Could it be the same one?

Shaking his head, he continued. "They talked about fighting something, something powerful. And it didn't look good."

Duke nodded slightly, before bringing up a question. "Do you know what it was?"

Andrew shook his head, his memory failing him for once. "No, I can't remember. I just know I saw something terrible."

"We need to get you stronger Duke, fast-woAH-"

Andrew was pulled instantly onto his friends shoulder, who marched straight out of the room and onto the platforms he arrived on.

Andrew was panicking, unsure of the reason for his friends sudden reaction. "OI, DUKE, PUT ME DOWN OR YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES-"

But Duke wasn't paying attention, for he simply leaped from one platform to another while using his grappling hook to cover the distance he barely missed, Andrew clutching on tighter by the sudden movement.

What's up with this idiot?! He wasn't the only to wonder that.

Duke brought them both to the expanded entrance of the tree, Andrews eyes widening slightly as he immediately knew the cause of such destruction before being put down by Duke.

"Did you use dynamite on this tree." Andrew asked, sending a glare in his direction.

Duke stopped, his eyes now nervous as they fixed themselves on his pet flower, who looked back with a smirk. Heh, got your ass.

"Uhh, maybe?" Duke said, turning to face him.

Andrew stared at him a strong moment before sighing, deciding to simply continue with their adventure. "You're literally a hazard to yourself. Why did you carry me up anyway?!"

"Oh, cause I got bored when you were gonna say I need to get stronger again, so I just helped us both out of there at once." Duke replied, picking his ear with his pinkie.

"But- y'know what, fine. Let's just go." Andrew said, leading the way out while stepping over the small mounds of wood and dirt thrown up by the blast. I'm gonna have to talk to Dolbere about that..

They passed by Flowey, who Duke gave a small pat too before continuing forward. They would never admit it, but Flowey enjoyed it immensely.

Pfft, idiots. He almost blows himself up and the other has a bow, they'll probably die before sunset. Flowey thought, having moved its pot to a shade where it could happily release its seeds. The wind can't get you here. Grow my young, flourish into beautiful fields-

"Hey Duke, pick those dayblooms there, we'll need it for a bunch of different potions soon."

"Sweet!"

The poor sentient flower stared in horror as the walking self destructing maniac picked its children clean from the ground and stashed them who knows where, they then continuing forward nonchalantly. From this critical hit, Flowey fainted.

Andrew turned around slightly to get a glimpse at the flower, wanting to know if his trick worked. Much to his pleasure it did, satisfied with his petty revenge on the living plant.

They continued forward as the sun now reached directly overhead, the duo finding that despite this the air began to grow cooler while the temperature began to drop, the grass shifting from their normal green hue to a lighter light blue as the trees became darker in color. Duke looked around as a smile grew on his face, enjoying the shift in scenery while Andrew sketched furiously into his map, feeling some ecstasy over venturing new lands and getting to color them in detail. Large lakes nearby with colonies of fish went from their dark hue to a lighter sky blue, the trees turning darker as their leaves followed the same pattern.

However, they still had to climb a hill, one that turned out to be steeper than either thought upon closer inspection. Walking to the base of it, both men had to crane their necks upwards with their mouths slightly open just to see the top of it, some snow already falling from its place down to them before evaporating upon landing.

"Andrew."

"Duke?"

"Ima blow it up."

"LIKE HELL YOU ARE! Let's not waste anymore time and start climbing now!"

Duke let out a childish groan while Andrew started up the hill, using careful foot placement to balance himself steadily on even the smallest rocks. He placed each hand with a firm grip on the dirt as he drew himself higher off the ground, the air becoming more chilly he noted. Duke on the other hand stared at the soil in front of him with a frown, replacing the stick of dynamite with more dirt blocks before he could be chastised further. This is lame.

From his current position, he just built up. He would look down, jump, and place two blocks under him in rapid succession, allowing for him to scale the obstacle with ease.

Andrew was the first to reach the top, though with heaving breaths. He managed a hand onto the surface where it caught a jutted out stone, he using it as leverage to pull the rest of his weight up with staggering arms and shaking legs, then managing to flop himself onto the ground in a starfish position.

Hahh, damn nature. He cursed mentally. So beautiful, so strong.

He lay in the snow of the hilltop as more slowly nestled itself onto his face, white puffs of smoke coming out with every steadying breath of his as he grabbed the ground with both of his hands.

"So this is snow?" He sat up while looking at his hands, holding the cold material in his hands as some slid out from his grip, he picking more up to play with it between his fingers.

This is actually nice.. Normally at these temperatures, any normal being would be shivering relentlessly from the horribly low temperatures and practically breathless due to his altitude, but Andrew felt none of this. The frozen texture of the ground and snow simply presented a chill to him, nothing more than a slightly colder area that he couldn't handle without an issue.

He stood now, walking to the edge of the hill where he could see the rest of the land.

It was massive.

Before him was a great wonderland of shimmering white and blue, tiny moving splotches of black being seen in some places while fish jumped from their frozen lakes to either land back in their holes, or to strand themselves above ground. Some even started.. walking?

Yup. Makes sense.

He was at ease again, his mind already mapping out the world before him as every small detail was absorbed. The small cluster of trees to his left? The yawning mouths similar to the ones he and Duke took shelter in making themselves present here? It was all remembered.

When he heard grunting.

He turned back to where he had climbed from, remembering he had gotten a head start on Duke, who still was presumably climbing up.

Then he looked at his feet and the snow around it, a smile growing on his face as a horrible idea formed in his head.

Even the most honorable men and women in our lives have had their moments where their motives or images were tainted due to some careless actions, it's just life. There are also those who act on these careless actions with every single step planned out. Those tend to do things their own ways for their own pleasures, not necessarily caring for the consequences that may accompany their actions.

Andrew was the latter currently.

He stood straight and tall before the cliffside where Duke was reaching up with his blocks, his head still facing the growing ground below him as he placed more and more blocks just to reach his destination. While tiresome for him, though more mentally than physically, Andrew patiently waited for his friend with both hands behind his back, forcing himself to suppress the snickers and smile threatening to escape from his stale expression. The wind blew a tad more to the left, Andrew making note of this as he adjusted the calculations of launch in his head. Heheh, this'll be good!

He watched as his friend built up to a few blocks below his level, then higher, then reaching him. Duke didn't notice however, and continued building.

Thought so. Andrew smirked.

He allowed his friend to continue building higher and higher, before he cleared his throat to gain his attention.

"Hm?"

"Hey Duke?" He asked innocently.

He looked up from his block and stared forward, then lowered his eyes to his friend.

"OH SHOOT. Hey Andrew! I kinda got lost in my building for a second there-"

A snowball?-

BAM


Village

Dolbere looked up from his chest with a rage in his eyes, storming out the house and to the pathway connecting the three homes.

"THAT DAMNED TERRARIAN STOLE ME STICK O' DYNAMITE!" He roared.

Milton looked up from his seat on the bench as he was counting his wares, deciding it better to enjoy some fresh air over smoke tainted oxygen. Though he now saw the source right before him, and tried to fight back a smile.

"Ah, Dolbere! What a travesty! I never imagined the young Duke to behave so recklessly!" He spoke with feigned sorrow.

The demolitionist continued his rants about the sly manchild before Milton placed his hand on the poor dwarfs shoulder.

"Here my friend, how about I pay for the missing pieces and you forgive the man? I shall charge him double over his next purchases to replace my payment." Milton said, his words already calming the rioting boomstick.

"Ah, would you do such a thing? Really?" Dolbere asked.

"Of course!" Milton replied.

"Then I say we repay the favor to him together!"

Milton raised an eyebrow as Dolbere's grin grew, a mischievous look in his eyes promising nothing good for the Terrarian.

"And how do you propose we do that?"

Dolbere released a low chuckle, putting his hand back on Miltons shoulder.

"We dwarves never run short 'o light shows."

Milton was unsure of what he meant before Dolbere handed him a parchment. "Don't open that 'till ye home alone."

The dwarf walked back to *their* home while Milton stood there, more confused than anything.

We live together. And why the note? Did he plan this already?!

BOOM

rumble

His house shook slightly as smoke cleared out the open, and now cracked, windows.

"I'M ALRIGHT!" Dolbere yelled from within.

"BRING THAT IDIOT HERE!" Kaitlyn yelled, her head sticking out from her front door. "THAT IDIOT CAN AFFORD TO LOSE DYNAMITE AND GOLD, BUT NOT HIS LIFE!"

Oh Andrew, where is my sense of peace? Milton thought, an already tired chuckle leaving him.


A/N: :D

So like, guess who's back?

I'm mixed between I should write more in this chapter and writing a new chapter entirely since I have NO idea how large I should leave them, maybe let me know? XD

Some more lore too, I gotta say that was really fun to write. Maybe next chapter will have more, not sure, but we shall continue with the Dynamic Duo!

Nanomemes, thank you for your review!! Your words inspire me, even when I wanted to sleep in doing absolutely nothing, MVP status. Andrew is a.. fun case.. I'm getting some more ideas over his future, and past?.. XD

AIGHT, next chapter will have more exploration of le winter horror land, maybe some fights or two idk

See you possibly next month? Next year???

Kill me.

:D