Hey y'all, it's Ender! I hope you're having a great day and I hope to make it even better with this new one-shot! Yes. Another one. Because guess what: this here is becoming a book of Mianite-themed one-shots!

NOTE: I do NOT own Minecraft, Mianite, any YouTubers mentioned, or anything else in this story save for the story. Takes place after the previous one-shot.

Summary: After returning to the land of Mianite, Wag has once again settled into the living quarters of FyreHQ... but a stranger from the world of Ruxomar has also joined them. The mysterious Prince Andor always seems to be around when Wag least expects it - and most needs it. (Andorington one-shot)

Flying Without Wings

There he was again. The prince. I swear, he was always around - it was like he was stalking me or something. Sometimes I saw him standing in the shadows, watching me, and sometimes I only saw a shimmering purple wing or a fleeting glance from cyan-blue eyes.

I stopped my conversation with Tom outside the HQ for a second and stared at Prince Andor, who was standing at a distance. He quickly flew off when he saw me looking at him, taking to the air easily with his large angelic-like wings. I shook my head, telling myself that it was just a coincidence.

"Hey, Wag?" Tom asked curiously, shifting on his feet. "Are you okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"It's nothing," I muttered. "Just - just the memories. I still can't believe that it's been two months. It only seems like a week since -" I stopped myself before I could continue. It still hurt too much to think about Dec and how I could have saved him - should have saved him.

Tom nodded sadly and put his hand on my shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "It's okay. You'll get through this. We're all here to help you."

"Yeah," I breathed. But no matter how much reassurance I was given, I knew I would never be able to get over it. Dec had always feared that he would never be missed if he died. I only wished I could assure him that I wanted nothing more than to have him back in the living world.

To be honest, his death reminded me too much of Chase's. The young wizard, who I had only known for a year, had sacrificed himself for me by taking a poisoned dagger to his stomach. And now, Dec had done much the same thing, except he was sacrificing himself for the fate of the whole land.

I knew I could never be that noble. Dec was the bravest friend I had ever had. Sure, he had doubted himself and doubted others, but in the end, he died knowing that there couldn't be anyone else who had sacrificed more.

I swallowed back a sob and turned away from Tom. It was just so hard for me to get through this. I didn't like talking with anyone about it, as it only brought up fresh grief.

"I'm going to finish those building plans," I murmured to Tom, ignoring his concerned glance. "You can round up the other wizards to go and finish up any repair work that needs doing. I heard that Syndicate found some of the redstone to his vault messed up."

Tom nodded and I turned around, staring at the floor, and walked back into the HQ. It was true, I had yet to finish the layout plans of the Fyre group's next build, but I didn't think I could concentrate on that right now. I needed to be alone for a little while.

I walked into a nearly hidden door on the right side of the main hall, invisible to most but a familiar path to me. It of course led to the living quarters within FyreHQ, which included a medium sized dining room, a meeting hall, and the main spiral staircase leading up to the different rooms. There was a giant fountain with three tiers in the middle of the room with the staircase, and hanging from the ceiling of the tower was a golden chandelier, lighting up the tower with magical candles that would burn forever.

I ascended the staircase to the second-to-top floor, the sound of water splashing in the fountain soothing to hear. Every floor had two rooms - Matt and Phil had rooms on the top floor, Tom and I had rooms on the floor right below, and Twisted and User's empty rooms were on the floor below that. The two best friends still preferred to live in their little mushroom house amongst the mortals, but still visited from time to time.

I trudged into my room, quietly shutting the door behind me. My room was almost completely soundproof and the dark mahogany paneling helped to absorb any internal noise. There was a desk by the window which had maps of building plans spread out all over it, but I ignored that and instead sank down onto my bed, crawling under the warm sheets. The magic silver orbs of light floating around my room dimmed down at just a simple murmur and I closed my eyes. Yes, it was the middle of the day, but I was hoping that I could dream myself to a place where I had walked before, and maybe meet up with someone I had been wanting to talk to for weeks.

Maybe it would help me get through this.

Maybe it would help me.

Maybe...

I never thought that I would wish to be back here, amongst the dead trees and the lost souls.

But today, I was here on a mission to find someone. I had no clue if he was even still around as a spirit, but if he was, I was going to find him.

I walked swiftly through the masses of lost souls, but since I was only here in a dream, they ignored me. I swallowed down my rising fear as a dark red river came into sight, the current slow and the liquid thick. It wasn't water that filled that river - it was blood.

I walked for what seemed like hours, searching for the slightest sign of Dec's whereabouts. I found nothing, just a few spirits running from the lost souls and begging for help. I knew they wouldn't be able to find any help here. I was lucky enough to find my friends so that we could defend ourselves together, but that was only after they had also found Syndicate, who had been 'living' in this land for years and was able to teach them how to bend the fabric of the reality in this world.

But now I was all alone, and I knew Dec didn't know how to force this world to obey his will. There was almost no chance that he would have survived this long.

That's when I realized that there was a large group of lost souls in the distance, screeching and wailing angrily, as though they were trying to reach something they couldn't get. My thoughts immediately flew to Dec and I ran forwards, tripping over my robe in my haste.

I shoved through the crowd of lost souls and found the young priest completely surrounded. He was desperately swinging a Wither sword and I had to force myself forwards, remembering my own experience with Wither poison.

"Dec!" I cried, relieved that he was still alive. "Dec, it's me!"

"Stay back!" Dec screeched, shrinking away from me. "D - don't come any closer!"

"Dec, it's okay!" I made my way over to his side, grabbing his arm as he tried to jerk back. I glared angrily at all the lost souls trying to reach him and hugged Dec close against me. The priest broke down and clung tightly to my robes, sobbing hysterically as I rose up into the air and flew him away from the mob of souls. They howled in protest and tried to grab me, but I kicked their smoky hands away. I would not let Dec die to these souls today.

I flew until I reached a large tree where I couldn't see any spirits. I gently floated down, still holding Dec, and sat amongst the twisting roots. Dec was silent, but he was trembling badly as he leaned against me.

"Dec?" I whispered, searching his face. He looked as though he hadn't slept in weeks, and his eyes were red from crying. He sported several nicks and scrapes, and the scars on his arms looked freshly torn open, as if by sharp claws. I felt anger well up inside my chest. Dec didn't deserve to be hurt and tortured like this - he had gone through so much already. This just wasn't fair.

"I - why did you come? Are you d - dead too?" Dec whispered, his eyes glistening with more tears and his terrified stutter was heartbreaking for me to hear. He had been broken, and there was no way for me to help him.

"No, I'm not," I murmured, gently tracing my fingers over a particularly nasty gash on Dec's cheek. He flinched away as though it hurt him and I frowned sadly. "I'm only here in a dream. I can't stay long, but I had to find you."

"F - find me?" Dec glanced up at me, his dark brown eyes filled with confusion. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because I miss you," I answered, surprised that he doubted me. "Please, Dec, I want nothing more than for you to be alive again. Back with us. Back with your friends. We all miss you."

Dec made a choked sobbing noise and rubbed his arms, wincing as he pressed down on the fresh scars. For the first time, the thought came to me that maybe it wasn't any sort of mob or soul that had made the bright red cuts on Dec's arms. It was all too possible that he could have found a sharp shard of flint and... done it himself. It made me feel sick to think about Dec harming himself like that because he thought no one cared, even in death.

"Did you -" My question trailed off, but Dec seemed to know what I meant. He swallowed, and gave me a quick nod, sniffling. I closed my eyes tightly for a second before opening them and looking down at Dec. How could someone who had given up his life to save his friends feel so insecure?

"I want to g - get out of here," Dec whimpered, burying his face in my robes. "I can't take this. I d - don't want to become a lost soul, but I can't fight for - forever. I - I don't know what to do. Please, Wag. I'm scared."

"I wish I could help," I heard Dec start crying again and I pulled him closer, wrapping my arms around him protectively. I really did want to help him, but there was no way for me to do so. It wouldn't be long now before I woke up and then Dec would be alone again. He seemed too weak to go on fighting, and I knew it wasn't likely that he would last much longer.

Dec's spirit would be destroyed and I would never be able to see him again.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered sadly. "I should have saved you. I shouldn't have let this happen to you."

Dec didn't reply and instead started to tremble again. I knew he was terrified that he would be killed in here and I felt his fear as clearly as if it were my own. After all, I had gone through much of the same experience, only I had my friends with me.

Dec was alone though. He had no one to help defend him. I wanted so badly just to help him...

But I couldn't.

And that was the hardest thing of all for me to accept.

I woke up in the late afternoon, the memory of my dream staying fresh in my mind. Dec was still a spirit... for now. I didn't know how much longer he could survive alone, and it had broken my heart to see him so upset.

I slowly trudged out of my room and walked out onto the staircase, leaning on the smooth wooden railing. I stared at the shining chandelier, watching the magical blue candles sparkle and dance, driving back the shadows.

Lights had taken on a new meaning for me. They were no longer just a way to see through darkness - they were a symbol of hope and peace. They warded off evil and provided warmth and comfort to those around them.

Dec's final wish - to remember him in the fireflies - had completely altered my view on life. How the simple things count. How the small things make a difference. How we should value what seems so unimportant. Because that's what makes up life.

I sighed softly, then noticed a candle that had gone askew. It was flickering weakly, tilted to one side. I frowned and reached out over the railing, too troubled to concentrate on flying. I stretched my arm out as far as I could, leaning dangerously over the railing as I tried to reach and fix the lopsided candle.

Suddenly, I found myself slipping forwards, my feet lifting off the ground as I lost my balance. Time seemed to slow down as I fell, a scream rising in my throat as I plummeted down the tower, flailing hopelessly in the air.

I landed hard on the top tier of the fountain, wailing as pain exploded throughout my body. A haze of red shrouded my vision and I rolled over slightly, groaning softly. I fell down the rest of the level, yelping as I was battered worse each time by the hard concrete material. Finally, I landed on the bottom level, water rushing down over me and soaking through my robes instantly. I lay on my back, gasping for breath with my eyes tightly shut.

Oh gods... oh gods... this - this was horrible. I just lay in the fountain, feeling the cool water cascade over me as I sobbed. It hurt too much to move and when I cracked open my eyes, I found that the water around me was laced with horrific swirls of scarlet blood. I shuddered, then felt an icy chill race through my limbs from out of nowhere.

No... How long had it been since I had had a drink of milk? It had to have been at least six hours. The Wither poison was taking over again. It would kill me if I couldn't get milk in time...

Which was a problem because I couldn't move without feeling intense pain.

It seemed like hours as I lay in the fountain, shivering, whimpering, and moaning in pain. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak, and my world had turned into eternal agony.

This was too much for me to handle.

I faintly heard a door open and close, but I could barely even cry out anymore. I was shivering worse than I ever had before, the Wither poison freezing the water onto my skin at first contact. I was completely covered in a thin sheet of ice and I could feel my breaths slowing down.

"Wag?"

I wanted to answer.

"Wag, are you in here?"

'Yes, I'm in here. Please, please, help me.'

"Hello?"

'I - I'm right here. Why can't you come to me?'

"Is there anybody here?"

'Please...'

The sound of a door closing was enough to let me know.

Nobody was coming.

Tha... thum...

Tha... thum...

Tha... thum...

S - so cold...

Please... oh gods, why won't someone help me?

Just let me die already.

Someone.

Please.

I can't go on like this.

I can't open my eyes anymore. They've been frozen shut.

I can't move. I can't feel anything.

I can't...

I can feel myself being lifted up. I can hear someone talking faintly. I can only see darkness.

Maybe it's all over.

Maybe I'm dead.

I felt something warm wrapping around me and I sighed softly, leaning into the warmth. I was still so cold.

"It will be okay. Trust me."

I do. I do trust you. It doesn't hurt as much anymore.

"You're safe with me. Just hang on. I'll be right back."

What? Where are you going? The warmth leaves me and I whimpered, the cold rushing back in on me.

"Here. Drink this - it will help."

I felt a glass bottle being pressed up against my mouth and I obediently swallowed the liquid inside, recognizing the slightly bitter taste of a healing potion. I almost instantly felt better, but I was still cold.

Milk. I needed milk.

I tried to tell whoever gave me the healing potion that I needed milk, but all the only noise that I could make was a weak choking sound.

Then I felt another glass bottle against my lips and drank from that as well. I started to feel warmer again shortly after - it had been milk and it was driving back the Wither poison.

"There you go. You should be feeling better soon enough now."

I managed a thankful smile, even though my eyes were still closed. Whoever my saviour was, I was so glad that they had come when they did.

"Rest up. You've had a hard day. And I promise I'll be here when you wake up."

Thank you.

I blinked, opening my eyes to find myself shrouded in the darkness of my room. The curtains were drawn and the lights were still dimmed. I felt something like a heavy blanket draped over me and I shifted slightly.

"Good morning, sunshine," I heard someone smirk and the 'blanket' was moved off of me. I caught a glimpse of shining purple feathers and that was all I needed to know.

Prince Andor. He had saved me.

"You...?" I left the question hanging, waiting for an answer. I knew he would understand what I meant.

Prince Andor nodded, a slight smile playing on his face. He was lying next to me on my bed, staring at me with bright eyes. "You gave me quite a scare. I came in to talk with you and I found you just lying in the fountain, covered in blood and ice. What happened?"

"I - I wasn't being careful and I fell," I admitted, embarrassed. "Thanks for saving me."

"Anything for you," Prince Andor's gaze was steady as he stared at me, cyan eyes swimming with unidentified emotions. "I would never leave you in trouble."

I glanced down, feeling a heated blush rise to my cheeks. Did he really mean for it to sound that way or...

"Actually, Wag, there's been something I've been meaning to tell you for quite a while now," Prince Andor began shyly, as though afraid to be rebuked. "You see, when I first met you, I was scared because you were a powerful wizard. I didn't know if you meant good or destruction. When you came to the town with the marks of Wither poison, I was confused. But after you confronted my father, I realized that you only tried to do what was best. And - and I just want to say that - that I care about that. About you. Maybe more than I should. But I do."

I blinked, trying to comprehend what the young prince had just confessed. It seemed so obvious - so crystal clear. But... did he really?

"I - I mean, I would understand if you hated me now," Prince Andor's wings drooped, the feathers trailing on the floor. "I guess - I guess I was hoping for too much."

"I never said different," I breathed, staring at Prince Andor. "Haven't you learned not to jump to conclusions?"

"Really?" Prince Andor's eyes widened with disbelief as he stared at me. "You - really?"

Did I?

Was I just saying that?

No.

I did feel something more for the prince.

"Really," I promised, feeling more certain about this than anything I had ever felt before. "I can promise you that on my life."

Prince Andor's eyes lit up and he slowly lifted his right wing, wrapping it around my shoulders. I leaned into his feathery hug, smiling happily.

And at that moment, everything was right in the world.

I'd just like to say that I'm so much happier with this than my Sparkant one-shot.