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The gentle undefining breeze
Puts all my worries at an ease
No natural disaster could separate
The bond we share, our destined fate
Traverse the woods, set sail through the sea
Enchant my nightmares into a dream
Tell me your tales of victory
I'll work on mine for you to see
As suddenly as parenthood began, it ended for the members of Quesadilla Island.
Philza was dragged from bed by a frantic Lullah and Chay who found the buds of wings on their back, quick to wake his platonic partner to comfort the children while he contacted his friends to see if they had the same situation.
What was supposed to be a calm morning of farming and building with his children went on its head as they headed towards the middle of the Island as the other Islanders gathered. Cellbit, Roier, Richas and Pepito are the first, the husbands each carrying one of their sons. Neither children’s expressions matched their parents frantic, wiggling to freedom to rush to Chay and Lullah’s sides.
The panic of newness had faded to a dull concern, both the energetic kids convincing Phil’s own hatchlings to pick flowers as their parents talked.
“I think they are getting ready to fly.” Phil cuts into the quick chats that are happening between Roier and Missa, all three men turning their attention to the crow.
“What happens after that?” Cellbit asks, Phil’s gut turning.
“If they are to act like the hybrids I have spent time around, I believe we have reached our time of parting.”
“What?!” Roier nearly yells, attracting the children’s focus until Pepito falls over drawing their attention back.
“I hate this, every time.” Fit comments, rubbing his biceps as he walked up. Pac was slightly behind, Ramon’s hand tucked in his.
The clever dragon hybrid was already observing the situation, peering around to check on his fellow children.
“You knew?” Cellbit accuses, Fit giving the smallest, sad smile.
“I remember watching Phil on a world called SMP Earth. You want to talk about a disorderly, chaotic and rebellious phase, I have many stories.”
Phil chuckles, running a shaky hand through his hair. “Ah fuck mate, I hoped you had forgotten those.”
Cellbit is still staring him down as one by one; every islander comes to join them where they stand. All the children had awoken in similar fashion and after the server wide message, converging on the land between Phil and Cellbit’s made the most sense with the open meadow. Their kids huddled together, trading worried looks as Phil slowly kneels down, keeping sympathy in mind as he starts to reveal knowledge about them that would shake them to their core.
What do I do
If there's ever a day where I'm not there?
Just know that I care
'Cause I'll always be with you anywhere
“After your skin developed the cracks of pale flesh, I knew your nature would be showing soon. All hybrids go through a rite of passage on their way to growing up where you will spend time together now–far away from here.” Phil coughed over the last few words, all their eyes wide. “Please, do not fret. We have spent a wonderful year together teaching you all you had to know, you learned from the best.”
“Papa, I don’t want to go.”
“I know mi niña, I know.” A voice they are unfamiliar with slips into their father’s own accented tone, Phil giving a wide smile hoping to not scare them. “Someone wishes to have a few words with you, She only wants the best for you?”
Chay picks up the rose bloom he picked earlier, Phil gently shaking his head feeling the ghostly mask of a half skull covering his face with a wither rose winding through the eyehole. All in attendance gasp, Fit falling to one knee with respect, the others who knew about this Goddess also bowing such as Niki, Tubbo, Foolish, Badboyhalo, Tina, Quackity, and Charlie Slimecicle. Those unaware were confused, the voice of an ancient deity flowing from Phil’s lips instead of the crow’s beloved comforting one.
“Be calm, be calm dear friends. I am not here to harm you in any way.” The Death Goddess stands, her visage covering Phil’s own minus his once grand wings covered in burn scars. A gown wrapped in galaxies, all were in awe of the Goddess before them. “My dear husband is right, it is time for you to write your own stories.”
Chayanne and Ramon trade glances before stepping forth, Lullah handing over her notebook for them to scribe in. She reads it aloud after they hand it over, silence heavy in the surrounding circle of parents around them. “Why now? Some of us are still so young.”
“This isn’t forever.” She reaches out to place her palm on Chay’s dragon skull, circling it to hold his chin gently. “You are connected as long as you remember one another, you will forever think of this time fondly in your hearts. Now is just the next step in your journey, and you must do it apart.
“To learn how to care for yourselves beyond your parents and to bond as a family of soon to be dragon hybrids. Every good story comes with a beginning and an end, this is the end of this chapter but the start of a newer, exciting time full of change. You need to find yourselves beyond the people who helped start you on this path.
“You will still have each other and one day, perhaps you will be back. But it’s time for you to part, the moment your wings burst forth you will be filled with an unquenchable want to take to the skies. You cannot ignore the call of nature, it’s in your blood. This passage is one all souls travel, yours just a bit different because you are lucky enough to have draconic blood as well.”
She takes a moment to hug each child, from the biggest to the smallest and presses a kiss to each forehead. A few words are said to all, individual and unique to those who She embraced with the softest touch.
Then She returns to where Phil once kneeled, and releases Her hold on Her husband to fall back to the ground.
Fending through the endless night
When I'm with you, I'll be alright
Always standing by your side
Together we'll venture through the night
Please don't cry when I'm away
We'll both get out of here someday
I just hope you're proud of me
Wish you were forever next to me
Fit reaches out to steady the crow, everyone trading glances before they rush forth to their children. Phil shakily laughs, commenting only to Fit. “She has to appear in the most dramatic fashion.”
Chayanne and Lullah are the next to touch him, Fit moving away so they can be held in each arm and wrapped in his grand appendages.
“Oh my dear hatchlings, I will miss you.” Phil whispers, both of them turning their faces towards their father’s.
Lullah’s sapphire eyes morphed into Missa’s deep blue these last few moons, night-black hair twisting in wild curls beneath her violet hat striped just like the crows. Chayanne’s wheat blonde hair with sky eyes matched Phil’s complexion, both the perfect mixes of their platonic parents. “I promise you, this isn’t goodbye forever.”
“You don’t know that.” Chay glares, Phil squeezing his son close before replying.
“You saw who possessed me before, I happen to love a very powerful person. We will see each other one day, whether it be another universe or years down the line, I will hold your memories close until we reunite.”
Lullah glares at Phil, her father realising his mistake. “Not the Ender King, that was my wife, the Death Goddess. She speaks the truth, you were never meant to stay here forever, this is your chapter to write.”
“But I don’t want to say goodbye.”
“Me either, mi niña, but we must.” He presses a kiss to her forehead, before turning his face towards his strong little warrior. “My little soldier boy, take care of your sister.
“And yourself too.” He adds, waiting to make sure it sinks into his son. “Let the others help you lead your siblings, you are not infallible.”
“I love you two. I hope I was a good dad.”
“You were the best, we love you too. You and us, you and us always.” Lullah writes the first sentence, Chay the second and both have a similar impact of tears rushing down his face.
Never broken when you're right next to me
'Cause I have you next to me
All the parents around are exchanging similar words. Fit is close enough that he hears the gentle side of the anarchist come out in these final tender moments. Pac is holding his other side, all wrapped together in the tightest hug Richas wiggles his way into eventually.
The Mom village are passing their dear girl around, unknown to them a small bluebird perches nearby wishing her best to the small pancake-hat wearing child. Bad and Foolish are getting along for once as Leo and Dapper are wishing their best to their rival parents. Many of the children are running to their favourite aunts and uncles, tears aplenty throughout them all.
It was exciting, it was tragic, it was everything this world became the moment they woke up through various transportation methods crashing into this island. It was hope and love forging bonds that would never break, it was mourning those they lost and it was holding their friends close when they needed support.
Chayanne reached out to hold Phil’s hand, Missa holding Lullah close after he swept back up to their side.
“You were the best Dad I could have ever asked for.” His son gives words that he would hold forever, happy that this round of mentoring someone ended well.
It would be painful, this distance they would gain the moment their wings fully appeared. Phil remembers the sky’s symphony and how easy it was to get lost in her majesty. They would stick together as a bonded flight but their more primal instincts would begin to appear. It was safer for the Quesadilla Island residents to give these maturing dragons their space, but he had a good feeling in his soul this wasn’t the end of their adventure.
Just a painful, temporary separation as they learn who they are out of the nest they grew up in. The sun is reaching the height of the sky, the older eggs showing signs of discomfort once more. Soon enough, Chayanne collapses his full weight into Phil’s arms with a pained screech.
The scent of a rose could never compare
To the heart of a father who cares for their heir
And though that final day is near
Our memories live on forever here
In a burning fire, I know that you'd risk it all
Just to save me from my death
And when you're not here, I'll fight my way through it all
Just like the legends did
Wincing as his son suffers the change, one by one the other children lose their balance as two wings start the process of ripping themselves from flesh for the first time. After this happened, they would remain exposed to the elements and protected by the magic that ran through their veins.
Missa cradles their daughter as Phil hopes he looks reassuring as a burst of blood announces Chayanne’s change splashing across his forest green robe. Beautiful wings of bright gold sprout from his son’s shoulders, wet in the bright sun with blood as his body works to heal the wound within a few breaths.
Phil felt terrible his son had to go through this agony, glad when it was complete and he slowly raises his head once more from where he curled it. Mouth open in awe, all the children slowly gain scaled wings of differing hues that painted all the colours of the rainbow.
He slowly stands up, holding Chay’s hands as he also rises unsteadily, unbalanced with the weight hanging from his back. Letting his son lean on him, he checks to make sure Lullah is also supported, Missa’s face open with affection towards their flower-loving girl. Her wings were a deep royal purple, painted the same as the last lick of night sky at its deepest violet.
“Spread your wings, my boy.” Phil coaches through tears, mimicking his own broken ones. Chay does so slowly, before the moment is interrupted by Richas already taking off into the blue sky above.
Cellbit, Roier, Mike and Pac all yell out, their son having the wildest grin as his coffee-brown hair swirls in the wind. Ramon is soon to follow, not to be outdone by the courageous egg. Chayanne’s brow wrinkles beneath his bone-covered brow, thrusting his wings down repeatedly as he starts to hover.
“Go, you got this, just like that.” Phil encourages, letting his son fly upwards until its just their hands held together.
Missa comes to his side, Lullah right around her brother’s height above them. Phil’s blue eyes are full of water, blinking quickly to clear them to catch this last vision of his son for a while. “Oh mi niña, look at you go. Your wings are beautiful.”
She flairs them wide for a moment before catching her fall with a sheepish giggle, Chay trading to Missa for a few moments. He reaches out with open arms, allowing her to fall into them for a final hug. “I am so proud of you, you have come so far my love.”
“I will miss you.”
“I will always love you to the stars and beyond. I swear to Her above, this isn’t the end of our tale. Just a brief intermission for you to get in touch with your hybrid instincts, supported by those who understand you.”
“But I want you.” Her doe-like eyes were wanting, Phil understanding perfectly.
“I know you do. But this old bird can no longer fly, you must learn from those who can reach your height and above. It’s time for you to listen to the call of the sky, She is a wonderful soul who will keep you safe as long as we are apart.”
Releasing her gently after she starts flapping her wings, he steps back as she rises. His heart was shattering beneath the place he wished desperately he could still reach, wanting to be right there with his children while they took the next steps in their lives.
But all airborn type hybrids would yearn for freedom eventually, needing the space from those who raised them to find their own space in the cosmos. Both his son and daughter had grown leaps and bounds in their time together, all dragon children grew much faster than humans meaning they sped through yearly milestones in the matter of a few moons.
Chayanne was up to his shoulder now and to his chagrin, Lullah had him beat by a few fingertips. They had both reached the age of maturity along with their other siblings, the crow had a feeling for a while this would happen but it didn’t mean he was ready. The moment the bumps showed on their flesh he knew, keeping life as normal as possible until this moment.
Empanada and Sunny join Lullah where she hovers, the wind loud with their laughter as they discover the joy of flight. Dragons would always be quick to take to the skies, their primal instincts demanding it out of fear where they hatched would be dangerous which carried forth into their hybrid blood.
Ramon takes Chay’s hand and leads him to where they are encouraging the sky Leo to fly, Foolish watching with an open expression of pain, a rare show of feelings from the golden shark man. Missa leans into Phil’s shoulder as Niki reaches out for his other free hand, wrapping herself in his other side.
“I had hoped for longer with them.” Her musical voice is soft, Phil giving a gentle squeeze with his embrace.
“Me too, but it’s their time.” Phil repeats the same thing he told himself many times these past few hours, wrapping himself in the love his wife left behind post-possession. He could only hope the questions were kept to a minimum after they watched them fly off, bringing him back to what was occurring before them.
What do I do
If there's ever a day where I'm not there?
Just know that I care
'Cause I'll always be with you anywhere
Slowly, the children gather in one group, wind from many wings buffeting them in the storm of emotions that surrounded them all. The parents are gathering close by, some with their significant others and many surrounded by friends. Sorrow and happiness are the mixture of choice, practically tangible was the love in the air between parents and the kin they adopted as their own.
Chayanne moves close one more time with Lullah in tow, leaning down to hand a rose to each of their parents. Their daughter hands over the notebook they always wrote in, full of memories Phil would flip through and reflect upon later. Their fingertips separate, and they draw back to where their flight waits with their matching emerald earrings winking in the sun above.
Each child separates one last time to give various sentimental affects to their parents; Ramon gave Fit his bronze goggles, Leo passed Foolish her camera, Richas handed his art kit over to Cellbit and Roier among many other pieces exchanging ownership.
The parents move closer together slowly as their children draw back, none wanting to start the process of saying their last verbal goodbyes until eventually Phil steps forth with Missa at his side.
“There will never be enough time for me to say all that's crossing my mind right now, to both my hatchlings and everyone else's I fought to protect so I will leave you with a last few words of wisdom from this silly old crow who has lived too long.
“Though our paths may have diverged, you must continue to live out your life with all your might, you must never consider your own life to be something insignificant, and you must never forget about your friends for as long as you live.
“We will always keep your memories and our times together close to our hearts, each night I sleep I will think of you and each morning I will remember our meals together.
“I don’t believe this is a forever goodbye, our souls are too intertwined to be separated forever.” His speech finally breaks, taking a heavy swallow before he continues speaking through tears. “But this is a goodbye for now so I wish you all the best, please stay safe and thank you for everything you ever taught us.”
“Keep singing and keep fighting.” Missa adds, looking to both as he replies. “Though we didn’t spend as much time together as I would have liked, I am very proud to call you my kids. Every time I play my guitar it will be in hopes you can hear me, no matter the distance.”
Clearing his throat, Fit steps forth and looks only at Ramon. For so long, it was them two against everything. Not that Phil blamed the paranoid veteran of wastelands, the scars crossing his skin spoke of the hard life between this world and their last spent together. “Thanks to you, I will never be alone again.”
He reaches back to clasp Pac’s hand, pulling him forth to stand beside his muscular form where they stood. “You brought us together but there was too little time as a family, is my only regret.”
“We moved at the pace we were destined to, we will treasure the time we have had.” Pac reassures, meeting Ramon’s yellow eyes that had changed to match his Pai. “Every memory we create growing forth your presence will be a part of, even if it’s only in our hearts.”
“To be loved is to be changed.” Fit quotes, recovering slowly as the emotions ravaged his soul. “And you were the best change I have ever experienced.”
Echoing sentiments come from each parent's lips, far too many to be remembered as the late afternoon crept forth. Slowly they run out and the children begin to fly higher, called to the next step in their lives far away from the ones who raised them for just over a year.
Screaming out their last few sentences filled with love and affection, they watch until the children have flown off into the distance with a few looking back one last time. Then they do what they had always done best, support each other in times of loss and strife.
Suppertime found far too many people shoved in the larger living room Phil had constructed with his children’s help, several working together to create a meal for all. The more sympathetic souls who were well versed in emotions flitted between those suffering the most, Missa’s hand hardly leaving his platonic husband’s unless he had too.
None were entirely positive about what the future held, reminiscing over the many photos collected during their time together and speaking about times in their past. They were hurting and sad, losing souls that they treasured to the simple fact when you love something, you must let it go.
And in their case, waving their dragon hybrid off as they began their passage of what they do next in discovering their dragonic lives followed that sentiment.
Phil and many others could at least be certain when the others needed support, they could turn to each other. Even if it was to cry over past joy, laugh over shenanigans moons prior or to hug each other when they needed that simple touch.
Fending through the endless night
When I'm with you, I'll be alright
The problem with goodbyes is that there is never enough.
Whether that be enough time, enough experiences or enough memories to cling to in the cold night, it’s never-ending.
You can only take comfort in the fact you loved the time enough to mourn when it leaves, treasuring the moments that feel like torment to your heart because you remember the joy in that exact second.
It’s okay to cry. You are valid to feel what you do right now, there will always be a community formed around loving silly pixel eggs who want to create using their visage and character going forward.
You are never alone in your sorrow, just as you are never alone in your joy.
Keep your chin up kings, your crown is falling off.
[From this silly writer on the internet, I want to thank everyone involved in the QSMP from the admins, to the ccs to anyone behind the scenes who will never be publicly aknowledged. If anyone ever reads this who called themselves staff of that chaotic yet lovely server, I want to personally thank you for all your hard work in uniting who you did. You will never be forgotten by many, including me.
Here’s to whatever future endeavours you begin now, I wish you the best of luck and just know you have many, many souls who were touched by your creativity and hard work. We salute you, we will miss you, and here’s to the next adventure.
Goodbye, adiós, au revoir, adeus, verabschiedung…maybe in some alternate reality, it was meant to be and we will see you again.]
Never broken when you're right next to me
'Cause I have you next to me