Standing over the perimeter Doc grins as he jumps down flaring his Elytra out he glides over to the center platform. He sorts a few items into the chest set up as his brain and cybernetic enhancements try to understand what had just happened.
Vex was dead right? But she's back. His cybernetics are lagging as the information doesn't match. The creeper side of his brain understands what happened, she wasn't fully dead, respawn able. But the two sides clash. The cybernetic side accepting the perma death.
Just as he finishes recalibrating the new information the world shudders. Rocking the world up it shakes everything. Almost like something's under the bedrock
Grabbing onto a chest Doc hisses in surprise.
This isn't supposed to happen. They aren't updating the server yet. The update just came out.
The bedrock makes a large CRACK, and it echoes up the perimeter.
"Oh snap." Doc whispers as he watches the entire bedrock floor shudder and fine cracks start appearing.
One block is sucked down. Then another. And another.
Until a perfectly round ten by ten hole drops down into the void. A swirling mass of color slowly bubbles up.
Watching as the form starts to take shape Doc huddles back against the wall. Something about this being, it rilles his instincts up. Purring softly to calm himself Doc watches.
The being snaps its head up to the platform. Then dissolves and reforms right in front of Doc.
"You have seen my sister." It states. A grin splitting it's face, "where is she, please... it's been so long."
"You're Void."
Nodding End reaches out to pat Doc's head, "Im end at the moment. But yes that would be me."
"If you don't mind me asking, what's the difference?" Doc tilts his head to the side fascinated.
"As Void, I protect the players from falling too far in the void, see I never truly left, I couldn't. But as The End I am the ruler of my dimension. I govern and protect." It looks out, "I have little to protect now... but perhaps, someday we'll rebuild. Repopulate. Just as my brother has done."
Doc nods, "I see."
"Do you truly know where my sister should be?
"In the spawn village." Doc points.
"Thank you." Void bows. Then Just as swiftly as it came it drifted away on the wind.
______
"Sister?" A wall of pure heat blisters the air as the nether lord himself enters the overworld.
Vex looks over from her spot overlooking the cove. "Brother."
In a few steps Nether has his sister crushed in a hug, "You are ok?"
"A bit fatigued from traveling, but I am well." She hugs him back.
Joe watches from his perch, he's in his true form and both tails are wagging in excitement. "End will be arriving soon."
Reunited at long long last.
Oh, how long it has been since all three dimensions were properly joined.
End arrives a few minutes later. Vex shouts and runs to her eldest sibling.
When all three are in an embrace, something ripples through the world.
A spark of energy and love.
Things long forgotten by the players begin to stir. A slight tremor runs throughout the world. All the worlds.
And something else, the great three headed beast, opens its eyes.
For the first time in well over a thousand years.
_______
The dimension siblings stand in front of the gathered hermits. They are huddled together speaking in hushed whispers.
Most hermits are standing in stunned silence. "No way this is happening right?" Someone mutters to their neighbor.
"I think it's real, man."
From his perch on Cub's head Scar slowly raises his hand, "Uh, is something wrong?"
"Yes," Vex sighs, shaking her head she smooths the wrinkles from her dress. "The great withering Beast has awoken."
"That's bad?" Mumbo guesses, "I'm going with, that's bad."
"It's bad?" Nether snorts, "It's very bad. The wither beast uh... Void?"
Void stands, "It's what we used to tell us when it was time to move worlds."
"A huge monster, made of black bone." Nether describes, talking over his sibling, Void roll's its eyes. "It would send its minions first. Tall skeletons made of the same bone... they are protecting the fortress in my realm when not under its influence ." He mutters the last part. "It is not their will to destroy the world... then it's other minions, what you people call withers. Three headed, flying monsters. They destroy everything in their path."
When it becomes clear that Nether won't continue Xisuma pads forwards a bit. "What does the big one look like?"
"Think of my dragon," End states, "The Wither Beast is twice her size, made of the same darkened bone. Three heads, one made to destroy each of us. Its bones have no order, only A mass of bone writhing and moving like flesh. Its wings falter as the bones inside then move."
"It's coming here." Vex frowns. "We will need to prepare for its arrival."
"Ok." TFC nods, "What do we need to get?"
"Make your armor as strong as you can." Nether instructs, "We shall reinforce them for you."
"Will you help us?"
The dimensions look at each other, then Vex speaks, "When the end of the fight is near."
"If we were to fall to the beast. It would grow too strong and obliterate not only this world but all worlds." Void smiles sadly. "I apologize. We can not do more to help.
"You have our blessings, and you have our strength." Nether grins, "You will not fail."
"Is there any place you think would be the best to fight the beast?" Vex asks, "we can summon it there."
"My perimeter." Doc murmurs, shaking his head as his cybernetics wirr loudly. then hisses and looks up, "it's contained. Even terrain."
"Perfect," Vex grins coldly, "Lead me there."
So they head for Docs base.
The dimensions head into the pit, fascinated by the elevator Doc has.
The hermits on the other hand. A chaotic mess of motion. People rushing in and out of the nether.
Potions are gathered, armor and shields, swords, bows, tridents, and Axes. Hoarded Netherite is brought out and smeltedx adding a bit more protection to armor and strength to blades. Enchantment particles cover the floor swirling into hypnotic patterns. Hypno and Max are prepping as many spells as they can. Joe stands behind to explain further for hermits who still have questions.
Armor fitted to every hermit.
Before too long, they're ready.
The dimensions return to the top of the perimeter. Using their magic further reinforce the armor and increase the protection it offers.
"Get in position," Nether points down, "Let us know when you are ready."
Elytra are equipped over chest plates. Not the most reliable way of using the false wings but the best in this situation. Then the Hermits head down.
Nether puts his hand out stopping Tango in his tracks, "If you die to the wither beast, the rebirth," Nether kneels to meet Tango's eyes, "You will have to start over, no accelerated growth."
"But, I need to help." Tango frowns looking out at the swirling storm of withers, "I can't just let my friends do this all by themselves."
"Then use a bow, help from up here." Vex sighs, laying a hand on Tango's head, "My brother's words are true. You will not walk away from this, it would be a true rebirth. Not a combination of our processes. And from here, if you are hurt. Void can heal you."
Tango weighs the odds in his head, "Ok. I'll help from up here."
"Good choice." Nether nods.
"I'll let the others know." Impulse nods as he jumps down. "Stay safe." He calls as he plummets a few feet before snapping his Elytra open.
"Yeet" Jevin laughs as he jumps off.
A moment later the dimensions start the spell. Summoning the Wither Beast.
For the second time that day the bedrock floor heaves. Cracking apart, unbreakable stone splinters flying in all directions. One smashes through Pearl's shield neatly slicing through her wing membrane. Hissing an icey breath out she freezes the cut closed and completely tucks the wings behind herself. Protecting it from further harm.
A huge bone claw reaches up and grabs the edge of the hole.
A form starts to drag itself out of the pit. Slowly three heads rise.
A sharp thunk echos in the perimeter. An arrow pokes out of one of the Beasts eyes.
Chaos breaks out.
Arrows fly, Tridents and Axes thrown. The beast thrashes its tail and scatters the hermits. Sending them sprawling.
Beef rears up on his hind legs and Kicks. Bones in the wings snap and it starts to crumble.
"Go for the wings!"
"And joints," Grian calls back. "It'll crumble."
"Burn the bones that fall." Gem chitters as she turns into a frog and ducks behind a block of stone.
Bit by bit the hermits force the Wither Beast back. The hermits have been withered, killed and gotten their butts thoroughly kicked.
They're tired. Their armor is low on durability. Constant respawns aren't good and there's far too many of those happening.
After what feels like hour after hour of fighting, the beast crumbles. Turning into dust.
The larger piles are burned. Ensuring it won't be back for a very long time.
The dimensions and Tango teleport down to the rest of the hermits.
"You did well." Void grins, waving its hand the bedrock floor of the perimeter is repaired.
The hermits nod. Too exhausted to speak.
"Oh," Vex gasps, "Let's leave this place." Turning to Doc she kneels to his height, "May I teleport you and your friends to your home?"
"Sure." Doc murmurs as he fiddles with his cybernetic arm, it had gotten smashed a few times so it's currently bugging out.
A swirl of magic later everyone's in Doc's base.
Bumping his head against Tango's hip, Xisuma looks up, "You alright?"
"Yeah," Tango nods, "I'm doing ok... I'm realizing that I would have ruined my life if I went with you all."
"Oh..." Xisuma murmurs, "You coming off that adrenaline high?"
"Yeah."
The hermits drag blankets and pillows out of chests and fall asleep.
The next morning everyone's more alert. Still sore and exhausted but recovering.
The dimensions are talking, standing in a circle. Vex holding a small green creature in her arms.
"Is that a baby creeper?" Cleo asks.
"Yeah," Joe shrugs, "Creepers weren't a thing when she was last awake."
"Wait, so the story about them being made by the watcher by mistake is real?"
"Yep."
Snorting Cleo rolls her eyes.
After everyone's eaten the dimensions gather the hermits together.
"Now to deal with Avar." Vex clicks her fingers.
The air shimmers as the meteor is summoned.
Void and Nether place their hands on the rock and it cracks in half.
A form rolls out.
Exactly the same as he went in.
Avar stands.
His armor blackened. Cracking as the full effect of the withers leaves his body.
Black tear tracks mar his face. His head snaps up and with glowing eyes he stares directly at Vex. "you." He smiles coldly, "Are you pleased with what I've done?"
"No." Vex says, as she shrinks down to the height players normally stay in, properly meeting his eyes, "What have you done?" Her siblings and Joe follow suit, shrinking to human height.
"Your children chose some players. I also chose these players." He explains as he slowly edges towards the open wall.
"Why change them?" Void sighs, "What were you hoping to achieve?"
Aver throws his head back, a bit too hard as he stumbles back a few steps, "Nothing. It was just to get revenge."
"Did it work?"
Avar falls silent then turns and runs. He looks back every so often, ensuring they're following.
They chase after him. He can't be allowed to escape.
He's definitely putting magic into his steps as he's moving far faster than any hermit, or dimension.
He stops at the edge of the perimeter and grins. "I see my idea was planted correctly."
"What?" Doc hisses sharply.
"I gave you the idea. You claim to use a hive mind so often, so often that your brain was easy to mold. I just snuck the idea in while you were on a.. call." Avar laughs, "It was too easy."
"What did you do?" Doc growls clawing at his cybernetic eye.
"I just planted the idea in your head. Telling you it would look 'cool' epic even. And then you did it. Giving my master an easy way into the world." He points behind himself, "You saw the Wither Beast... though I didn't expect the dimensions to show up. You would never have won otherwise."
The hermits shout in outrage.
"Quite." Avar flicks his wrist, and something on Mumbo's frame starts sparking. The robot's eyes dim as he shuts down, "Or I'll do something worse."
The hermits fall completely silent. Not one daring to move.
"And to ensure I have your full attention." Avar snarls, his lips contorting into a smile, "I'll take this." He steps towards the hermits. They stand their ground. He grabs a wrist.
Tango squeaks as Avar drags him to a bed and forces his hand down onto it.
"NO!"