✓ Updated

Song: Lemon Boy

Artist: Cavetown

A/N: I'll be adding chapter titles from now on :)

The Settings page now has your reference up ♥

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• CHAPTER THREE•

| Nether |

The netherrack aflame crackled away, the oppressive heat was a wet one. not even minutes into the Nether and already they were sweaty, cheeks covered and mouths dry.

You sucked in a breath, licking yours lips, as that familiar weight that always seemed to settle inside you whenever in this Realm, dropped onto your shoulders.

The cavernous Realm had always felt burdensome against your biology, not long in this Realm made you want to start clawing at the netherrack to escape the bowels of this hellish place to return to the sky, to fell the air in your feathers.

"Wow," your new companion muttered as his wide eyes looked around your Nether base, "This is—this is amazing!"

You were extremely pleased with what you had built to be your Nether base, a large round room with small biomes in four patches to busy up the large room. On the ground were compass directions, north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west, west, and north-west. Above, as the ceiling, was all red stained glass revealing the far up Nether roof. You had used a collection of quarts, shroomlight,  warped wood and crimson trapdoors to design the place. Bright and cosy, yet perfectly in place for where it was—the Nether.

"I've never seen a portal hub so—I ain't seen no one put so much effort into something like before! The SMP just has an exposed hub with awkward as fuck pathways all over the place! No safety or precautions!"

Talk about dangerous, you thought with a small frown but pushed that aside. Instead, you give Tommy a smile, trying to hide your worry at just what kind of life this kid had in the SMP region, "Being cautious is always an important thing no matter where you are. Overworld or Nether."

"I guess," Tommy nodded and scratched his cheek as he didn't meet your eyes.

Perhaps in a sheepish manner? How cute, your lips curl upwards.

"I have a Nether Fortress not far from here that I've set up a sort of farm in for a Blaze Spawner so we shouldn't have to be here too long or be in any major danger."

Taking a deep breath, you turn for the east door. A few moments later you hear Tommy's feet as he rushes to catch up with you.

"How long...How long have you lived in your house? It looks old; your hub looks like it took forever to build too!" Tommy babbled.

You almost skip a step in surprise at his questions, blinking as you quickly catch yourself, "I lived in the treehouse almost my entire life. I left young to live with some people after my father was forced to leave but came back when I was thirteen—fourteen?"

"You lived with your father?" Tommy prods, nothing more than curiosity in his tone but the thought of your father brings an ache to your chest.

"When I was young yes," you don't turn to look at Tommy when you answered, not trusting yourself to not give away how much his question caused you discomfort. He was someone unfamiliar, it was natural to be asked questions when getting to know other people. Plus he was a kid, no way were you going to raise your voice at him, not when there was nothing malicious in his questioning. 

"So, you enjoy building then?" Tommy continued, a hint of awkwardness in his voice—had you unintentionally given away that the question had made you feel awkward anyway?

"I do, there's something relaxing about it. Especially when I only have myself as company. It keeps your mind busy, you know?"

"I know how that feels," he muttered quietly, then slightly louder added: "I enjoy building too but I'm right shit at it truthfully."

Your heart ached at his words—what had he gone through to affect him so greatly?

Still, you laughed heartily at his latter words, "I can give you some lessons sometime, maybe?" you tease.

The beaming, excited grin you get in return brings a rush of affection through you. A croon crawled up your throat but you quickly swallowed the sound. You didn't want to freak the kid out with your more hybrid traits (you doubt he even knows what you are, if he did he would have likely freaked out, either in excitement or fear). Besides you had only just met, those sounds were something you had considered only for close friends or those you considered close enough to be pseudo-family.

(A new ache forms, just short of longing, for the faces of your friends, deceased friends, and your pseudo-family, who you hadn't seen in a long time. A flash of pink; of black feathers; of brown hair hits you but you quickly push them aside.)

Climbing the stairs into the Nether Fortress, the oinks of zombie-piglins that walked the halls become more audible, as did the distant rattling of bones and the hissing of Blazes.

"This one here," you point to the right when you came to a three-way and you turned into an enclosed hallway that led to the Blase Spawner buried in a mountain of netherrack. Already, it seemed from the sounds, the Blazes had begun spawning. A smile crawled onto your face at the thought.

Stepping up to the glass that separated the Spawner from the rest of the Fortress let you see three Blazes.

"Think you could fight some Blazes while I go Wither Skeleton hunting? There's some Fire Res in the chest there," you point to the brown chest innocently sitting beside an iron door that led into the room.

Tommy perked up with a grin, "Hell yeah!"

He moved for the chest and you laughed, turned to the hallway behind you that led north, "I'll try not to take too long. There's a room just a little further down if you need a breather without having to worry about other Mobs."

"I've got it!" He reassured; a look glee on his face at the idea of fighting the Blaze.

You barely withheld a cackle in amusement at his enthusiasm. Kids, you thought.

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You decapitated the Wither Skeleton with the hope that it would drop the skull but no, it despawned with the rest of the body, leaving only coal and a shitty stone sword.

Spreading your wings, you took off, flying around the outside of the Fortress in hopes of spotting a Wither Skeleton on the outside paths or on the roof of the ancient building.

You shot down a Ghast that got a bit too close for your liking and swooped down to grab the Tear mid drop. You were running low on Ghast Tears, on Health Potions too. Thankfully glistering melons were far easy to keep in stock.

Speaking of melons, you needed to give Tommy a tour of your land. That included greenhouses, animals, and ore mine.

Also, winter was due to arrive in a few weeks time. You purse your lips; it was going to get a lot colder. You needed to get stuff for Tommy, more clothes and shoes for the soon to be drop in temperature and change in weather. You really didn't want the kid getting ill on your watch.

Also, also, on the note of clothes, better armour that was his size would be a far better suit for Tommy. The recovered pieces you had lent him were drops from monsters you hadn't yet disenchanted and melted down.

You should have some Ancient Debris laying around at home after upgrading the last batch of tools you had sold. Netheriate tools sold for a good amount, not that you really needed it, but having the extra emeralds laying around could help in emergencies.

Sighing, you made a mental note to return to your notebook to add more bullet points that needed to be done either pre-winter or were generally important. There was still so much to get done to prepare, you really shouldn't have been lazy the last few weeks, you only had yourself to blame.

Stifling a groan of annoyance, you swooped down having spotted a Wither Skeleton.

Again, nothing. Even with looting III, Wither Skulls were a fucking pain to get a hold of.

—Oh, maybe you could offer Tommy the chance to add some decoration to the spare bedroom since it was going to his for the foreseeable future?

You only hope Phil has no plans about coming to visit anytime soon considering his usual bed was being occupied now by your new guest.

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Tommy was so proud of his collection of Blaze Rods and no way in hell were you doing to rain on his parade. He had done well for the short time you had been gone. Twenty Rods. Impressive.

"You did a good job," you reached out and ruffled his hair playfully and listened to Tommy squeak.

Goodness, you grinned.

"Woman!" He barked, trying to flatten his hair but then again, his somewhat curly locks had already been messy, "Don't do that!"

You laughed and watched as his cheeks flushed red, "Don't laugh!"

You laughed harder.

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As a note, your nether base is based upon the YT Wadzee's nether base! I recommend looking him up, he's a great guy to watch :)