"Well, isn't this just adorable!" Fern cooed, his eyes looking at King, who was holding Green and the others behind him.

"Where's Purple?!" Chosen shouted, holding Dark up with one arm and a fireball in the other.

Fern chuckled. "Who wants to know?"

"WE DO!"

"Oh. Well, who cares about him?"

"I. Do." King growled.

"Of course you do. You see something so hidden to the world in some weak little brat that has never been good enough for anyone on this planet. Hell, you thought that too!"

"Shut up! You know damn well none of that is true!" King snapped back.

I'm going to kill this guy.

"Oh, but isn't it? We all know what Purple thinks of himself. Or, used to think of himself."

"What are you..."

King growled. Every single one of their conversations echoed in his head.

" 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."

"Please, no..." He heard Green whimper from behind him.

"Your lying."

"Oh, no, I'm truly not. Your precious "son" has been dead for quite a while." Fern said.

Everything froze.

"No. No no no no. No! He's not! You lying bastard!" King shouted.

"Why would I lie to my own high school best friend?" Fern said sweetly.

You have humanity left in you, but your not letting yourself use it.

Green snarled from behind him. Second's grasp was the only thing stopping the poor boy from murdering Fern.

King would have gladly let him.

"...How..?"

This couldn't be possible. Purple was perfectly fine when the castle collapsed, and Navy hadn't made any moves to make an attack on the castle ever since they got there.

Fern was a mere second from answering, before something cut him off.

A voice.

A familiar one, too.

"Maybe you should try and double check your corpses before you assume, Fernando."

King blinked.

No..

No way, it can't be!

Fern's face gave it away.

"Shit."

An energy ball.

"PURPLE!" Green shouted with excitement.

King smiled.

Oh, thank the Lord.

Purple launched an energy ball at Fern, flying down to attack him again.

Green shouted at him the entire time, before running up to tackle him.

"Ow! Green, I missed you too, but calm down!"

"No!" Green hugged him tighter. "We were so fucking worried about you!"

"I know, I know, and I'm sorry. I know it's not my fault, it's those bastard's faults, but still."

"You had King scared half to death!"

"I'm sure he wasn't the only one." Purple said.

"No, it was pretty much all of us. The castle collapsed on you! We had a right to be worried!"

"Oh, but wasn't I brainwashed before the castle decided to come crashing down?!"

"Oh...right. But still!"

Purple smiled, shaking his head. "Okay okay, let go of me. You people aren't the only ones worried sick about me." He took a glance at King, and really did feel bad.

King was crying.

Chosen and Dark ran in front of him. "Purple! Your okay!"

"Holy shit, that was awesome!" Chosen exclaimed.

"Yep. Couldn't be more proud of you, kid." Dark said, patting Purple's head.

"Stop it."

"We missed you, buddy. It's gonna be good having your powers around here."

"Is that all you missed?" Purple deadpanned.

"No. We missed having you around. But your powers are really fucking cool. So it's gonna be good having them around again.

"Oh, I suppose."

King doesn't know what to think.

He knows Purple wasn't dead. Purple doesn't understand the meaning of "die and stay dead".

It didn't stop him from worrying.

Purple hasn't truly seen him in so long.

It hasn't stopped him from being so worried about Purple.

"King. King. Hey, King!"

Purple calls out to him, kneeling in front of him.

His hands are shaking his shoulders.

"Purple, your..."

"Yeah. Very, very long story. I know, I'm sorry."

The two words he ends the sentence with send him back into reality.

"Oh, baby...no, this isn't your fault. I promise. I don't know who the hell decided it was a good idea to brainwash you, but you didn't do anything. I promise." King cups the boy's face in his hands.

His sweet, innocent child.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, King. For the most part. Could be better, but I could also be worse."

"Love, you could be dead."

"I know. But I'm not."

King holds him close. "I know. I'm so glad you aren't."

He wishes everything could be conveyed in one hug.

Your safe, I promise.

They won't hurt you again.

I've got you.

I'm sorry I ever let you go.

I love you.

My sweet child. Your safe now.