"Shit! Everyone get down!" Dark screamed as the boat was sent flying by the shockwave brought by Orchid.

Dark couldn't even remember screaming before he was plunged into dark, cold water.

God, it was so dark and cold.

His body feels light against the water surrounding him, almost as if he's falling.

It feels so much like he's falling, it's hard to contrast the feeling of sinking to the bottom of the ocean and the feeling of falling.

Either way, he fights to keep himself from having to feel it any longer.

Eventually, he gives up on trying to resurface, and his body grows weak.

Suddenly, the world goes dark, but he still feels conscious.

Almost as if everything's been vacuumed into a black void.

Now, the falling feeling takes over his body before he hits the ground.

A jolt of pain shoots through his body, worse than the injuries sustained during the recent battle.

"Ow…"

His whole body ached from the battle, and the subsequent fall only Alan knows who put him through.

He stared at the black abyss he hated, despite him not being in it all that often.

He knows Purple's seen the black void that he's grown to hate, because he never can expect what's in it.

But Purple's been in the void enough to know that it usually brings out whatever they fear the most.

Dark hates to think about whatever the hell he fears the most, but all he can really decide is it involves Chosen.

God, seeing Chosen in danger already hurts to think about, but seeing Chosen in the void where he'll be forced to confront the parts of his life he fears the most about resurfacing, if they even involve Chosen, hurts more.

Hurting Chosen because of the ViraBands.

Almost losing Chosen to Navy.

Abandoning Chosen and letting him die.

For all he knew, Chosen was in this mess because of him.

"God damn it, Dark! Your best friend is out there dying because of you!" Dark snapped at himself.

Something in the back of his head told him it wasn't his fault, as if he cared.

He blamed himself for Chosen's situation, whether it was his fault or not.

Everything that put Chosen in a dangerous situation, he was blaming himself because for all he knew, he could've prevented it.

"God damn it, Dark. It's all your fault that Chosen's in this mess! If you had just-"

Dark stops himself from saying anything else to himself before trying to think positive. Maybe he could rescue Chosen. Maybe he could apologize for putting him in these stupid situations because he can't fix things like this on his own.

Hell, this isn't even his problem! It wasn't his problem, but he just had to get involved, and doing so nearly killed Chosen more times he can count!

And then he had to be stupid and go self-sacrificial on him, and almost got himself killed right afterward!

God, he was lucky to have survived.

"I'm so sorry, Chosen…"

It's all his fault, isn't it.

Bringing Chosen into this, abandoning him on the desktop, leaving him to die.

It was his fault.

"I'm so sorry…"

"You've really gotta stop apologizing over stuff that isn't your fault."

Dark shot his head up. "Who the hell said that?!"

"Wow. You don't don't recognize the voice of your life-long best friend?"

The voice rang in Dark's head for another moment before it clicked.

"Cho…?"

"Bout damn time."

How?

How was he…?

Dark didn't know how, but frankly didn't care right then and there before he tackled Chosen into a hug.

"I was so worried! And scared! And-"

"Hey, relax…Dark, please. Calm down. I'm right here."

Dark didn't stop himself, and frankly couldn't before he started crying. "And I am so goddamn fucking sorry!"

"For what?" Chosen laughed. "There's nothing to be sorry for, Dark!"

"Of course there is!" Dark snapped tearfully. "I got you all tangled up in this mess because I'm a fucking idiot! And it's almost gotten you killed so many times and I just can't let that happen! I'm sorry! For being a stupid fucking self-sacrificial moron because I just can't let you die!"

"Dark…"

"I can't just sit around and watch some asshole kill the only person that's ever truly been there for me since I was created! Since then, I've always wanted to keep you safe! And then the whole thing with the ViraBots and Second and I just…I wanted so badly to make it up to you, but I couldn't do it! I wanted to apologize so badly for hurting you, but I just couldn't!"

"Dark, please stop. It isn't anyone's fault, and it certainly wouldn't be yours."

Dark didnt understand how he didn't see what Dark saw. Dark saw that everything was his fault, while Chosen saw the exact opposite.

"Dark. It's not your fault, and it never was. I understand that you wanted the best for me, and just wanted us to be safe. I understand that. I see that now. I'm sorry for not seeing how badly you wanted to protect me, and just seeing the measures you were willing to take to keep us all safe."

"It was all just for you. I know you thought I was just looking out for the others, but I wanted to make sure you were safe too."

"You act like King when you do that, though." Chosen said.

"King does it out of love and protection for Purple. He loves Purple just as much as I love you. And…just like him, I'm not going to stop at anything to make sure that you are safe."

"I see that now. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner."

"Now you understand why I'm so self-sacrificial and protective whenever Navy tries to hurt you?"

"I guess?"

"I fucking love you, Chosen. You're one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and the best friend and brother I really could've ever gotten from anyone, whether it was Alan trying to use us as slaves, or anyone else who had created us. Either way, you're one of the most important people in my life, and I can't bear seeing that important piece get taken from me and harmed in front of me."

Chosen stared at him for a moment. "I…I love you too, Dark. I wouldn't want to see you get hurt either. You're the greatest thing I've ever gotten from the world, and I'm not about to let the world that gave you to me take you away. I'm not about to lose the most important person that ever came into my life. I'm not about to lose you."

"I get that."

"I know…we've gotta get out of here. Somehow."

"I'm sure you'll get out of here somehow, Dark."

Second hit the ground hard.

"Ow…"

That's when he noticed the black void around him.

"Shit. Dark! Purple! Hello?!"

Nothing but dead silence.

"Anyone…?"

For a brief moment, he didn't know how he got there, but he was desperate to know.

And then he remembered.

"What do you say, little flower?"

Purple sighed. "Fine. You spare my friends, and you get my power."

"Purple, no!"

"YES!" Orchid blasted him with another energy blast, before throwing him into the boat and blasting the entire boat with a shockwave.

Dark and Second braced themselves for the impact, holding the unconscious Purple and bracing for an attack.

The boat was sent flying by the shockwave, sending them all flying into the water.

Second had tried to get Purple behind the formation so he could get to the crown without Orchid attacking him, and that had almost killed them.

Purple almost drowned.

Dark was almost severely injured.

All because of Second's stupid plan.

"God damn it, Second. Your stupid plan got you into this situation! Now think of an even stupider plan to get yourself out of it!" Second slammed his fists onto the ground.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

How did he even think of a plan this dumb?! He knew getting behind the rock formation was a stupid plan, and that got them here!

How was he so stupid?!

"Fucking stupid! How could you be this idiotic?!" Second snapped at nothing. "If you knew it was so goddamn dangerous, why'd you do it?! God knows where Dark and Purple are, and you're just stuck in here sitting around like a goddamn moron!"

That's all his thoughts were.

Screaming at himself for being so stupid for thinking his plan would work.

"You fucking idiot! You just had to get us all in some major shithole, and now there's really no way to get out thanks to your stupid plan! Way to go, Second! You're a goddamn moron!"

The words echoed in his head like a mantra.

Stupid.

Idiot.

Moron.

Failure.

"Now I know how Purple feels." He thought. "Always having these dumb thoughts looming over him like the plague."

God, he hated having those thoughts. And he knew just how many measures Purple was willing to take to keep them all safe.

He'd given up his powers for them! He'd done everything in his power to prove to Orchid and Navy that he wasn't a failure.

And of course, in typical villain fashion, it backfired completely.

Purple had tried so hard.

"Stupid failure…"

"I wouldn't say failure…then again I wouldn't say stupid either."

What?

"Red?"

"Yep…somehow."

"But…how? How did you-?"

"Don't know, and frankly I don't care. Somehow, I'm here."

"Holy shit…you guys are alive…"

"Well…yeah, we're alive. But we've been captured and it fucking sucks."

"Why are you coming to me for help?! I got me and the others stuck here with some stupid, life-threatening plan and now we're stuck in here with no goddamn way out!"

"Sec, easy.."

"No! I'm the worst person to come to when asking for plans! I got us into some stupid situation that could have easily been avoided! Now Purple's lost his powers, the boats destroyed, the last piece of the only thing capable of saving the world is somewhere at the bottom of the ocean, and it's all my fault!"

"It's not your fault and you know it!" Red snapped.

"What do you know?!"

"I know you're not stupid, and you're not a failure. After all, weren't you and King the leaders in the first rescue mission you guys launched when Navy first came around?"

Second remembered that all too well. King had a complete breakdown after Purple got captured, Second led them to Chosen and Dark, and he and King led the others on what actually ended up being a successful rescue mission.

"The victory wasn't long and you know it." Second said quietly.

"But does that matter?" Red asked incredulously. "I know I wasn't there with you guys during that entire thing, but I'm completely sure it was your intelligence mixed with King's that got all of us out of there alive."

"Until you almost killed yourself." Second deadpanned, the memory of Red running into that collapsing building to save Purple burned in his head.

God, he hated it.

"That's besides the point. You led a rescue mission. You helped me get through what was the worst part of my life after being possessed by Herobrine. I wouldn't have gotten through that entire kidnapping ordeal if not for you. You're not stupid, and you're not a failure. You're the farthest from it, I can tell you that."

"But, my plan-"

"That means nothing. Sure, your first plan fucked up, but you can still make another! Hell, you could learn from that mistake!"

"What mistake is there to learn from?!" Second snapped. "The entire plan was a mistake and a fuckup! Just like me! I'm nothing but a fucking failure!"

"Says the one who destroyed The Dark Lord himself and swears on his life he doesn't have powers."

"Shut up. I saved your asses with those powers."

"And you can save us again."

"But…how?"

"Oh, I don't know, make up a new plan? Use some components from your last plan to make this one better?"

"You think it'll work?"

"Knowing you, it's going to work."

It doesn't take long for Purple to realize he's not falling to the bottom of the ocean and he's falling onto solid ground.

He also realizes too late he doesn't have his powers anymore, and he hits the ground.

"Ow…what…happened..?"

Looking around the literal blank space he's been tossed in, he instantly remembers what this place is.

"Oh, God…not the void again…how did I even get here?"

And then it struck him.

They had failed to stop Orchid.

They'd failed to save everyone.

He'd failed the others.

"We…failed…"

The thoughts came rushing back all at once.

"I failed…"

Worthless.

Weak.

Failure.

Good for nothing.

Unloved.

Useless.

Every word came crashing down onto him.

"Damn it, Purple…why are you such a failure?!" He slammed his fists onto the ground. "You had a simple job and you fucking failed it! One simple job to complete and it all comes crashing down on you because you're nothing but a goddamn failure!"

His parents were right.

"Mom and dad were right…I am nothing but a failure. A weakling. A useless, worthless, good for nothing-!"

"Most loved child by a former villain?"

Purple's self-loathing was cut off by a familiar voice.

"Who…"

"The King of Minecraft himself, kid."

"King, your…"

"Alive? Barely. Thanks to you."

"But…I didn't…"

"Yeah, you did, kid. The prince of Minecraft saved his King, despite the cost."

"But…I failed. I lost my powers and let Orchid defeat us…there was no cost, just the biggest failure."

"Kid."

"No! I failed you! I failed the others! I failed the entire city because I made a stupid choice that was built on the belief that I could keep you safe! I did everything I could to keep you guys safe! And…it wasn't enough…I wasn't enough…"

"Purple."

"I failed everyone…"

"No. You didn't fail anyone."

"Of course I-"

"Purple. You didn't fail anybody. We're all still alive, albeit captured by Night Shade and under whatever plan he's got up his sleeve, and Orchid can still be stopped," King held out the shard Purple had lost earlier back during the battle. "And there's still the crown to be fixed."

"But, without my powers.."

"Dark and Second still have them, right?"

"...Maybe."

"Then there's still a chance. You can still fix the crown and save the world. You can still stop Orchid, and we're still alive for the time being."

"But for how long?"

"Who knows? But what I do know is you're able to stop her, with or without your powers."

"You're sure?"

"I still believe in you, Purple. I'm sure that no matter what, you'll be able to stop her."

Purple stared at him for another moment.

"You're still Minecraft's little prince, after all."

It's only then Purple notices King's been holding his hands tightly. He smiles at the gesture.

He hasn't felt that in probably days.

"You're still my little flower."

The two stare at each other for another moment.

"Thanks…dad…for everything."

King returns the small smile. "Right back at you, kid."

"Purple? Purple!"

Purple doesn't realize he's regaining consciousness until he feels a pair of hands hook under his arms and pull him above water.

Finally, some fresh air.

"Jesus, kid, we thought you were a goner down there. You alright?"

Purple coughs up water again, feeling the ice cold feeling run down his face.

It feels good, knowing how badly he needed the feeling earlier when Orchid attacked him.

"Purple?"

Purple breathes in deeply, grateful to be out of the water and back into fresh air.

"Yeah…I'm alright."

"Thank Alan, we woke up from wherever the hell we were, and figured you'd drowned because you weren't resurfacing, so Second jumped in to find you."

Purple notices that he's gripping something tightly in his hand, and opens his palm to find the crown shard he'd lost earlier.

He stares at the golden yellow object for a brief moment, and has a reminder of what he just went through.

"You found it!" Second exclaimed. Purple stares at him.

King found it and gave it to him.

"I wouldn't say…find it." Purple said, smiling at the object.

Minecraft's little prince.

"Purple? Are we going home, or…"

"No."

The tone in Purple's voice gives Dark clarification.

"We're not going anywhere. We're gonna fix the crown and stop Orchid." Purple said.

Dark smiled at his determination.

"But…you don't have your powers."

"He doesn't need the reminder, Sec." Dark said bluntly.

"So? You guys still have your powers, right?"

Dark and Second shared a glance before nodding.

"That's all we need. Second, you'll try your plan again while Dark…" Purple reached into the soaking wet bag and pulled out an almost black bracelet. "Fights off Orchid with these."

Dark gasped. "The ViraBands."

"I think you'll need them." Purple said, grabbing another one from the bag and placing it on his own wrist.

"Your…gonna fix the crown?"

"Or at least try to?" Second clarified.

"I'm going to fix it." Purple corrected. "And your plan is how."

"What?! That failure of a plan that almost killed us?!"

"You'll get Dark behind the formation so he can attack Orchid and catch her by surprise, while I get to the crown and fix it before defeating her for good."

"But that plan failed horribly!"

"Second." Purple grabbed his hands. "It was a failure at first, but both of you have powers you're very aware of, and Dark will have the ViraBand's power if you can't launch a surprise attack. Even if the surprise attack doesn't work, you can still hold her off long enough for me to reach the crown."

Dark smiled at Purple's sudden confidence boost.

"When did you get so confident in this?" He asked subtly.

Purple stared at the shard again. "I had a little encouragement."

"I think we all did." Second said.

"Well…"

"Dark."

"Okay, fine. Maybe Cho and Red and King gave us some encouragement."

Second and Purple stared at him.

"Whatever, let's just get this over with so we can go home. Right, Purple?" Second looked at him.

"Right."

"So we're gonna try and stop Orchid?" Dark said.

Purple stared out into the horizon, still gray and stormy.

"We're going to stop Orchid."