"Where are those guards?" Chosen heard Night Shade ask. They'd been waiting for maybe hours for whoever the hell was supposed to come replace Night Shade so he could go help Orchid and nobody had come.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" He asked King.
"As long as the guards don't come around, we should be fine, knowing we'll probably lose the force-field and have to fight, which none of us really have the energy to do." King gestured to the younger sticks behind them.
What remained of the Color Gang laid against each other, partially asleep.
They were obviously exhausted from dying, coming back to life, and then being put right back into captivity as if they had never escaped.
King felt bad for them, knowing two of their group where off god knows where in serious danger.
Gold and his friends were trying to think of a battle strategy, which Chosen had been helping with earlier before noticing King staring blankly at the ocean.
"You've been staring at the water for a while." Chosen commented.
King stared at the storm clouds off in the distance. "Well, no shit. Those storm clouds over there? Purple and the others are in there. And I'm just really worried about that."
"Of course you're worried about Purple." Chosen deadpanned.
"He almost lost his powers, Chosen! Who knows how much more danger he could be in!"
"Dark and Second have powers, too," Chosen reassured. "And if they're lucky, they'll get out of the mess alive."
"That's exactly what I'm worried about! If they get out of this alive or not!" King snapped. "Purple's already killed himself once just to get to this point, and if they lose, then…" He couldn't think about it.
Purple would become Navy and Orchid's personal little puppet toy to use for their own nefarious purposes.
"There's no Purple to bring home…"
"They're going to get out of this. And even if we don't defeat Night Shade, they don't really have a clear motive without Orchid and Navy, so he can't really do much."
"You make a point."
"When do I not?"
"Shut up."
"Either way, I'm sure Purple can get through this. They have powers, and they're not ones to give up."
Sure, Purple had given them a whole speech about not giving up, but seeing the storm clouds get darker and bigger, he was beginning to regret that entire moment of splurged confidence.
Because Orchid seemed to be getting stronger within the minutes.
"Okay, everyone know the plan?" Purple clarified.
"Second gets me behind the formation so we can attack Orchid by surprise, Purple fixes the crown, gets his powers back-" Purple looked at him. "-Or, hopefully gets his powers back, defeats Orchid, Night Shade presumably escapes since the plans have been completely thrown out of whack, and we all go home! Easy, right?"
"And if something goes wrong?"
"Protect Purple at all costs and find another way to stop her?" Second suggested.
"Exactly."
"What happened to "we all give up" Second?" Dark asked, looking at him.
"Shut up. I had no other ideas, and we've established we have people who can encourage us with a few words. Now, don't we have a villain to stop?"
"Right, right." Dark sighed.
"Just get to the back of the formation so I can fix the crown while Dark attacks Orchid."
"Will these even kill her?" Dark asked, staring down at the bracelet settled on his wrist.
"Probably not. They might have killed Navy, but we've seen strength and power in Orchid that Navy has barely been able to match, so you can try, but I doubt it'll kill her."
"And if it does?"
"Then we have one less problem to deal with." Purple muttered.
If he was completely honest, he doubted this entire plan would work in the back of his mind. Sure, it was well mapped out, and they had worked out bits that would've murdered the living crap out of them, but Orchid had power Navy could only dream of.
If she killed them, only god knows how much stronger she would get.
If this mission fucked up, he knew one thing for certain.
The world was screwed.
"Purple."
Second snapped him out of his thoughts.
"You ready?" Purple could've sworn Second had a tint of concerned doubt in his voice.
"Yeah."
Second helped both of them climb up to the top, where Purple remained for a few extra moments while they waited for Dark's attack signal.
Another moment later, an explosion erupted from above them, and Second and Purple shared a look.
There's the signal.
Purple climbed the rest of the way up, and Second launched himself up into the sky to protect Purple.
Orchid almost hit Dark with another energy ball before Second countered it with a fireball of his own.
"Plans over, Orchid!" Dark shouted.
"IN YOUR DREAMS!" She shouted back, attacking both of them with an energy blast.
Purple watched the battle unfold, before running to where the crown was.
He stared at the shimmering shard for a moment.
"I still believe in you, Purple."
Purple looked back up at the crown and continued the climb towards it.
Orchid attacked Dark again, but he blocked it with a ViraBlade.
"Nice try, but your gonna do better than that to stop us!" Dark said with a smirk.
"Oh, really?" Orchid caught him by surprise with another energy blast, sending him flying into Second.
The gray spots that covered their bodies grew larger, and Dark noticed how much color had been robbed off of them.
Orchid's strength.
Purple ran up to the crown, trying to figure out a way to put the shard back onto the main piece.
And despite the few feet between the shard and the crown, a small spark emanated from the shard and the missing spot on the crown.
Purple moved the shard closer to the crown, and the pieces magnetically locked together.
The crown shined a brighter yellow than it's color, brightening the entire area.
"What the hell…"
The center of the bright light, the crown, suddenly emanated a violet purple color that surrounded the small child as he braced for impact.
King and the others watched in awe as a purple light overtook a bright golden yellow color, despite the dark gray storm clouds.
"What the hell is that?!" Chosen asked.
"Something related to Orchid, I'll say that." Gold commented.
King stared at it for another moment.
"Purple."
Orchid, not noticing the bright beam of light behind her, launched another energy blast, and the two braced for impact.
"It's the end, Dark Lord!" She declared.
Second and Dark stared at their impending doom.
"Well…at least we tried."
"Maybe Purple will show up at the last second and save the world?" Second asked meekly.
"Eh, who knows, but I'll die with dignity!" Dark declared.
Death never came, as a purple energy blast blocked the attack before it hit the two.
"What in the Alan Becker…"
Orchid stared at the beam for another moment before snapping out of her trance. "WHAT THE HELL?!"
Dark and Second stared at where the crown used to be, and instantly brightened up with awe.
"Purple?"
Purple stood where the crown used to be, donning the crown, a cape, and the Dual Block Staff Second vividly remembered destroyed months ago.
"Holy shit…" Dark said, awestruck.
"That's…that's actually Purple. Oh my god. That's actually Purple!" Second exclaimed with excitement.
"Impossible! You lost your powers!" Orchid snapped.
"So? I don't need my powers to kick your ass, Orchid." Purple said, and the monotone, almost brainwashed voice Purple had scared the shit out of Dark and Second.
Despite the fact that they'd heard it before.
"You…you can't do this!" Orchid shouted.
"Well, it's not my fault that you gave us a shard of the crown, which was what would release all that power!"
"Maybe that was my plan!" Orchid snapped.
"Well, it was a stupid one. One that I'm going to use against you."
"In your dreams, brat!" Orchid barked, blasting another energy blast at him.
Purple dodged it before launching himself into the sky and blasting a pale purple laser at her.
It reminded him too much of the Nether Battle.
"Your never going to win, Purple! I'm stronger, and your nothing but a weakling!"
The words struck something inside of Purple.
He'd been told the exact opposite for so long, the words almost meant nothing but fuel for stopping Orchid.
" Your one of the strongest people I've met, and nothing will ever change that. Even if you were weak, I'd still be there for you, no matter what. I promise."
"I'm always here for you. I always will. I'll stay right here. I won't leave your side, no matter what. We will get through this together. Cause I'm staying right here with you."
"With me?"
King pulled him close. "With you."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"There's nothing to be sorry about, Purple. I understand you've been hurt by people your entire life, me included, and I wish you weren't, but that's not something I can decide. Navy made the choice to turn you into what you are, and I chose to hurt you even if I didn't realize what I was doing then. You're still just a kid, and you're still stuck in that mindset because all the universe has done to you is hurt you."
"Kid, Navy could kill you! Even him kidnapping you is enough to hurt me! But killing you?! I'd be devastated for the rest of my life. I'm doing this for your own safety."
"I just...I don't want you to get hurt. If these guys ever find you...you'll die. And I don't...I don't wanna lose you, Purple! I love you so much it would hurt me so badly to see you leave."
"You were there when I needed someone the most. You became my family after I lost my own. It was you who stopped my rampage. You who brought me back into reality. You, Purple. All you. I need you to realize that. You have to fight against Navy's control. He isn't true family. I'm your true family. I'm the one you see as a father, not him. I'm there when you need someone, not him. You said I was the best thing that ever happened to you. I'm always there to comfort you when you need it! So, please, Purple, fight it! I'm here. I'm right here! I love you, kid. I always have, and always will. Please!"
"Purple, please. You fought through this before, you can fight through it again. I'm here. I'm right here! I made a promise to you, remember? I promised I'd always be there for you. I promised I'd always be with you. I'm not breaking that promise, am I!? I'm here for you, and I'm here with you. I'd never break a promise I made to you, okay?! Please Purple, listen to me! I know your in there. I need you to fight. For yourself, your friends, and for me. I love you, Purple. Always have, and always will."
"Of course. Listen, Purple, no matter what your dad says, always remember nothing he's done is your fault. Only his. Your dad can say anything he wants, but when he says I don't love you, he's wrong. I love you so much, Purple. Always have, and no matter what, I always will."
"What Navy's done to you has shaped you into who I know and love. Hell, if it weren't for you, I would've destroyed all of Minecraft. You've been through so much thanks to him, but it's shaped you into the person I grew to love. You're not Navy's kid, or guard, or an enemy of ours. You're my kid, my best friend, my everything. I can't risk losing you again, not when you're the only one I have left..."
"Please, Purple. Fight it! You've fought Navy's control before, and we all know you can do it again. Fight it!"
"Purple, he's wrong. You're not stupid, or worthless. And you are good enough. Any one of your friends can tell you, but I know you'll listen to me the most. You are good enough, even if your dad doesn't acknowledge it. You're a good friend to everyone, and you're an amazing kid, Purple. I wouldn't have let you come with me if I thought you were a failure. Because you aren't. You are amazing in so many ways. And...I am so, so proud of you and how far you've come, even with everything you've gone through."
"Purple…I know you're in there somewhere. Please, fight through this. You've fought through Navy so much throughout every single ordeal he's put you through, and I know this time won't be any different! Please, honey, I know you can do this. I believe in you, Purple. Nothing is going to change that."
"Come on, Purple. I know you're in there. Please."
"Purple, it's me! Please listen! I know you're probably too far gone to hear this but...I need you to listen. I'm right here. And...I love you. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you that sooner, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact that it's true. I love you, and I am so proud of you."
"Your my entire world, Purple. And your all over got left, and all I have left is so important to me, that I can't lose it. I can't lose you, Purple. I'm sorry...for ever making you think that you weren't important to me, but you are! You mean more to me than world domination ever did! Please...I can't lose you again..."
"Purple, baby, listen. You'll bring us back. I don't know how, but you will. You'll rescue Dark and Second, wherever they are. You might think everything's on you now, mainly since it is, but I know you can do this. You've gotten past every obstacle thrown your way since this whole thing started, and this...this isn't any different. You'll stop them. I promise."
"I love you, my little flower."
The memories echoed in his head.
Throughout all of this, King still believed in him.
King still had faith in him.
That was what gave him the courage to keep going.
Because King knew that somehow, Purple would defeat them.
"You know what, Orchid? Maybe you were right." Purple said, still refusing to stop the staff's power.
"Oh, was I?"
"Yeah. Maybe I am worthless, and weak, and nothing but a good for nothing useless brat who does nothing but bring shame to this entire family! Maybe I am a disappointment, and it was all my fault that Navy abandoned us!"
The words crept back into Dark's head.
Orchid had used these exact words before they escaped to the desktop.
"Oh, so you finally admit defeat, huh?" She smirked.
"In your dreams!" Purple said, the course of where he was going changed drastically. "I've been told the complete opposite of those phrases ever since this entire thing started, and you know what? I actually believe the opposite of what you and your disappointment of a family think of me!"
Orchid tried to gain the upper hand, but it was no use.
Purple had a major advantage.
"Get her ass, Purple!" Dark shouted.
Purple's eyes shone a dark violet as Orchid realized how far she was from victory.
And how close Purple was to it.
"NOW EAT THIS, SUCKER!" Purple screamed, launching an enormous energy blast at Orchid, engulfing the area in a large, bright light.
"PURPLE LOOK OUT!" Dark screamed, launching a fireball at the energy ball coming from Orchid's final attack.
Dark ran forward, catching the unconscious stick in his arms, and almost getting caught in the blast, rattling the boat.
"Shit!"
Second beat Dark to stopping the energy beam, as he fired the green fireballs at Orchid, seemingly killing her.
He wasn't even sure if they were hitting her, he was just throwing them at the giant light.
"THIS WILL NEVER BE OVER, PURPLE! WE WILL STILL BE HERE!" She yelled before she disappeared into the blinding light.
Leaving the trio on the boat in the dark water.
"Mom?" Purple called. Dark sighed, putting Purple down.
"I think you did it, Purp. You saved the world…right?"
"Look! Dark exclaimed, pointing at the pointed cliffs where Orchid once was.
The color was slowly coming back.
Dark looked down at his hands, which slowly returned to their bright red color.
"Holy Alan…"
"IT WORKED! HOORAY!" Second exclaimed.
Purple, still donning the crown, cape, and staff, stared up at the blue sky as the clouds that once overtook the sky vanished. He sighed in relief.
It was over.