Brock rowed his boat, hearing the gentle splashes of the others around him. Dooo was sitting behind him, neither having a double and figuring it'd be easier to just share. Brock missed Moo's commentary behind him, the light teasing he used to do of everyone else's rowing techniques.
His favorite to roast was Daithi and Evan, Brock always having trouble keeping his laughs quiet as his doubles mouth ran.
Dooo was very quiet, fingers of one hand tapping on the wood of the boat while the other trailed the waves. Brock was almost uncomfortable, hearing everyone else chatter to their doubles while he and Dooo sat quietly.
Too many times Brock considered saying something to the other, but would lose his courage before he opened his mouth. What could he even say?
"There!" Jaren called, pointing at a red beacon in the distance. Brock watched as Dooo's face tensed, eyes sad as he stared at the light. That Brock could understand, having felt the same when he'd seen their beacon just a few hours before.
They docked their boats about 20 minutes later, Jaren and Smii7y climbing out first to stare wide eyed at the buildings around them. Dooo climbed out, eyes on a simple white building in the distance, Brock following his gaze.
One by one everyone climbed out, Dooo looking at Brock pleadingly. Brock just nodded, not looking or saying anything to anyone around him as he and Dooo slipped away from the crowd unseen.
Dooo led him to a cluster of trees, an obsidian headstone sitting next to a aspen tree with a guitar carved into it. Dooo let out a silent sob, kneeling next to the gravestone.
Brock stayed back, eyes on the shadows around them. It'd been 5 years, he knew Dooo needed this. He struggled with only a month, he couldn't imagine how Dooo felt.
"Hi Eric," Dooo whispered, taking a cloth from his bag and starting to clean 5 years of dust and dirt off the gravestone. "We met some new people, they went through the same we did. It's been 5 years, can you imagine that? They got me back here, back to you."
Brock swallowed, heart aching at the whisper. "I never forgot you, I promise. I learned the guitar for you, and I play videos online. I live with Jaren and Smii7y, I couldn't go to your parents like you wanted me to. How could I? I'm not you," Dooo whispered, hands trembling as he wiped the headstone.
Brock looked away as he heard a rustle, shoulders tensing as he slid his sword out silently. He heard a chitter and bared his teeth, moving silently into the trees. He didn't go too far, not wanting Dooo to be left unprotected, but he didn't have to go far.
The spider jumped out of the shadows, Brock instinctively diving aside and rolling to his feet. He whirled around and sliced quick, chopping three of the spiders legs off. He swung again, slicing the spider in half.
It crumpled to the ground, bleeding out. Brock paused, knowing where one spider was there was more. Sure enough, two chitters were heard and he dove to a tree as a mass of spider webbing flew at him.
He rolled to his feet, catching that red glow from where the spiders stood in the shadows. He attacked, spinning his sword without hesitation. His body fell into familiar motions, moving fluidly even though it'd been a month since he'd held his sword.
The spiders died fast, Brock pausing a moment with his sword glittering in his hand. Once he was certain that was it, he grinned to himself as he carefully wiped his blade and put it away, moving back to where Dooo was standing, looking around curiously.
"Where'd you go?" He asked and Brock gestured behind him. "Some spiders attacked, I took care of them. You doing okay?" He asked and Dooo smiled faintly, eyes moving to linger on the gravestone.
"I'm feeling better. I could never get rid of the guilt that I'd been able to go to his home and he couldn't, and that I left him behind. But I can come back now, I can see him," he said and Brock nodded, smiling faintly.
"I feel the same way everyday about Moo," he said softly and Dooo nodded, taking a deep breath.
Something glittered in the sun and Brock looked over, seeing a rainbow flower under a window by the house. Something teased the back of his head and he frowned, thoughts racing.
"Brock! Dooo? Where are you?" He heard Brian call and the two walked around the house, finding Brock, Terroriser, Jaren and Grizzy looking around, worry on their faces.
"Right here!" Brock called and they rushed over, Brian grabbing Brock's hands and looking him over as Grizzy and Jaren surrounded Dooo.
"What were you doing? Where'd you go?" Brian demanded and Brock raised an eyebrow, Dooo frowning at them. "I came to see Eric, and Brock came with. It's the whole reason why I came, why are you so surprised?" Dooo demanded and the four just looked at each other.
"You two just vanished, we got worried," Brian said and Brock shrugged. "We're okay, we're fine. Now, I need to do something, I'll be at our base," he said, kissing Brian's cheek before rushing off, a map in his hand.
He headed to the boats, grabbing his and taking off, ignoring Brian's calls after him. He sailed the miles home, mind focused on one thing. The rainbow flowers.
He knew there was something more to them, otherwise they'd have never shown up with the doubles. He couldn't believe he'd forgotten about them, but faintly remembered reading a book that had mentioned them.
He arrived home, tying his boat to the dock and rushing to Tyler's house. He knew where Tyler had stored all the books they'd used to research everything about the spell, having been the one to usually help read them.
He searched the bookshelf a moment, muttering to himself. He found the book he was looking for, muttering a quiet, "Fucking finally" as he tucked it under his arm and searched the titles for the spellbook that had been found next to Jaren's journal.
Once he had both books, he left Tyler's house and went to his, sitting on his couch and opening the first book. He sat quietly for about 30 minutes, searching for the passage he'd remembered reading before.
The rainbow flower is an anchor. Nothing can leave while it's still intact. Witches use them to anchor their spells, and with them can reverse or enhance their spells. They've been known to even hold onto souls of people who died under the spell.
Brock stared at the passage, heart beating fast. Hold onto souls? He swallowed, bookmarking the page before moving to the spellbook, flipping through it fast to the page he'd bookmarked months before.
Rainbow flower reversal. Brock looked over the spell, thinking hard. He had a piece of Moo's soul inside him, and plenty of his personal belongings. If, if he was thinking correctly, he could bring Moo back.
The door flew open and Brock jumped, almost throwing the book in his shock. He looked over wide eyed to see Brian storm in, eyes angry as he looked at Brock.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing? What's the one rule of this world? You don't go fucking anywhere alone!" Brian snapped, slamming his hands on the table beside Brock.
Brock's face hardened, his defenses rising. "I was on a boat, and then I was here. It wasn't like I was fucking off into the woods or on a raid," he snapped back and Brian glared at him.
"It's been a fucking month Brock, you're not as paranoid as you used to be. Did you forget the fucking drowned in the waters? Or the fact that monsters can still get onto base? Anything could have fucking happened, and with you being alone, who'd have been able to help you?" He demanded and Brock sneered at him.
"Nothing happened, I'm fine," he said flatly and Brian hissed a sigh. "You got fucking lucky, is what happened. But what if? What if something did happen? Do you really want to put that on us? Finding you dead?" Brian demanded and Brock shook his head.
"You always think of what ifs. Nothing did happen, and I'm fine. I know what I'm doing, I'm not a fucking idiot," he said, anger coloring his words.
Brian walked away a few paces, hands running agitated in his hair as he turned to walk back. "You've been reckless, Brock, since Moo died. You're not as careful, you never seem to care. Do you even care? Do you want to follow him? Do you fucking want us to lose you too?" He demanded and Brock scoffed.
"Of course I fucking care! Moo gave his life for me, do you really think I'd throw that away? No! I wouldn't! I am being careful, I know how to defend myself," he said defensively and Brian sat heavily on the couch.
"So did Moo, and look at what still happened to him. We can't lose you, Brock. I can't lose you," he said defeated and Brock felt his defensive anger ebb away.
"You're not going to lose me Brian. I'm sorry, okay? I remembered something, and I didn't think. I rushed off, and I won't do it again," he said quietly, looking back down at the book in his hands.
Brian tugged it from him and set it down, pulling Brock against his side. "Fuck, too many things ran through my head when I saw you leave. Just talk to me, okay? If you'd had given me a moment, I'd have come with you," he said and Brock rested his head on Brian's shoulder.
"So what made you rush off?" Brian asked finally and Brock picked up the first book, finding the bookmark and handing it to him. Brian read over the passage, a crease appearing between his eyebrows as he thought over what it implied.
"I saw the rainbow flower by Dooo's house and got to thinking. The flowers meant something, otherwise they wouldn't have shown up when the others did. I remembered reading this when Tyler and I very first started going over these books, but I'd forgotten about it with the discovery of the dragon and Nether," he said, picking up the spell book again.
"And look at this," he said, handing it to Brian. Brian read the spell over, eyes slowly widening. "I think- I think if we do it right, we can bring Moo and Eric back," Brock said quietly and Brian stared at the page a moment, thinking hard.
"You know, it might be possible. We have everything we need," he said slowly, trailing over the list. "But what will happen? This is a type of necromancy, what if we don't bring Moo and Eric back as themselves?"
Brock swallowed, looking down at the pages. "I think we will. It says we need a piece of them, and Dooo said when Eric died the same thing happened as when Moo died. A light left him and went into Dooo, like Moo did to me. We have their souls in us," he said and Brian nodded slowly, thinking hard.
"Let's go talk to the others, Scotty and Tyler are the best as the spell working, they'd know better than us," he said finally, bookmarking the pages and standing up.
Brock hurried to follow him, finding everyone standing around the beacon talking. They looked over as Brock and Brian approached, Tyler and Evan looking irritated and Terroriser looking relieved.
Tyler opened his mouth and Brock said hurriedly, "I don't need the lecture Tyler, I need an answer. Read this." Tyler snapped his mouth shut with a glare but took the books, reading the pages marked a moment before his eyes widened.
"You think you can bring Moo and Eric back," he said shocked and Brock heard Dooo gasp behind him. "We have everything we need. The flowers are keeping them anchored here, and Dooo and I have Eric's and Moo's souls in us. Do you think it'd be possible?" He asked, trying to hide his hopeful desperation.
Tyler looked to Scotty, who'd moved to stand next to him and read the passage. They looked at each other, frowning a moment before turning back. "Let me read this over a bit more, I think I have another book with more in depth information. We're all staying here tonight, I'll get back to you tomorrow, I don't want to give you too much hope and not be able to do it," he said and Brock nodded, feeling disappointed.
"Right, it's getting dark, let's separate to our houses and meet here tomorrow after breakfast," Evan called, Dooo rushing to Brock's side. "Can I come with you?" He asked and Brock nodded distracted.
"Terror and I will be going with Brock if any of you guys want to crash at my house, I have three bedrooms," Brian said and Jaren and John nodded. "704 and I will be with Marcel if the rest want to go to mine," Scotty said and Nelson looked over to Grizzy, Chris and Puffer, nodding.
"Right, see you all tomorrow," Evan said, leading Vanti, Jon and Delirium to Jon's house. Brock turned, walking back to his house with his thoughts racing. Terroriser and Dooo caught up to him quick, Brian behind then.
"Do you think it's possible?" Dooo asked quietly, that hopeful desperation Brock had been feeling earlier clear in his voice. "The flowers mean something. They have to. We hold Moo and Eric's souls in us, and this world is full of insane magic. I have to try, I owe it to Moo," he said quietly, letting the small group into his house.
Brock missed his cats, but when they'd been only a couple weeks away from leaving, he'd found a peaceful village and given them to a villager, unsure if he'd be able to bring five cats with him home. Also, his mom probably would have gotten mad.
Brock headed to his room, Brian showing Dooo to the spare room. Terroriser had claimed the room he'd shared with Moo, which is where he'd slept after they'd buried Moo.
Brock slowly took off all his armor, storing it in his chest. His hands were on autopilot, thoughts racing. This was going to be big, and he hoped and prayed with all his heart that it worked.
~~~~~~~
Brock was up with the sun the next day, sliding carefully from under Brian's arm. He used the bathroom really quick before getting dressed, not bothering with his armor since he knew the others wouldn't be meeting up until after breakfast, and he didn't want to wake Brian.
He headed into his kitchen, pausing as he saw Dooo sitting at the table with his head down. He looked up at Brock's footsteps, face tense.
"Couldn't sleep very well either, I'm guessing?" Brock asked softly and he shook his head, fingers tapping silently on the surface of the table.
"Too many thoughts. I'd forgotten about the flowers too, and I couldn't help but think that if I'd remembered, maybe I could have brought Eric back years ago. I should have done more," he said quietly and Brock shrugged.
"You guys were kids then, Dooo. You had a lot going on. Fuck, I forgot about it too, and it was only because of Scotty and Marcel that we were even able to come back," he said, rubbing his forehead.
Dooo sighed, twisting his fingers together. "If this works, what am I supposed to say to him? Will he understand?" He asked and Brock frowned, tilting his head.
"Why wouldn't he? I'm pretty sure he didn't expect you guys to come back, or even be able to," he said and Dooo shrugged, sighing as he sat back.
Brock heard footsteps and looked over, seeing Terroriser walk quietly into the room wrapped in one of Moo's spare shirts Brock had left in the closet. "Hey Terror, you doing okay?" Brock asked softly as he joined the two at the table.
"Can you really bring him back?" He whispered and Brock shrugged, looking at the table. "I really hope so," he said and Terroriser sighed, fingers twisted in the fabric of the shirt.
Dooo studied him a moment, head tilted. "Oh, you loved him," he said quietly and Terroriser winced, biting his lip shyly as he peeked up at him through his hair.
"I did, somehow. He was, he was so mean, and really liked to pick on me and Zip, but he changed over the months and he showed a really sweet, protective side I couldn't help but be drawn to. I never told him, I thought he'd laugh at me, but Brock gave me his journal. He liked me too, and was going to tell me after the fight with the Ender Dragon. Where he died," he whispered, tears gathering in his eyes.
Dooo winced, looking at the double sympathetically. Brock stood, moving to his cabinets to see if he had any tea leaves or something for coffee. He thankfully had some tea and boiled a pot of water, stewing the leaves in it.
He could hear Terroriser and Dooo talking quietly, but couldn't make out any words as he focused on his task. He heard a door open down the hall as he poured the tea into three cups, grabbing a fourth as Brian walked around the corner.
Brock gave him a small smile, handing him a cup before carrying the other three to the table. Terroriser took his gratefully, Dooo wrapping his hands around the warm mug.
"Are you guys okay?" Brian asked concerned and Brock shrugged, chewing on his lip. "Hoping for answers. Tyler said he'd have them today after breakfast, and we couldn't sleep," Brock said softly and Brian sighed, moving to sit between Brock and Terroriser.
He kissed Brock softly, setting a hand on Terroriser's arm. "Worrying yourself sick isn't going to help, you three. I'd like to have Moo back too, shockingly, but I don't want to see you guys get crushed if it isn't possible. I want you three to get some rest, relax for a little while I make us some breakfast. I'll keep an eye out to see when the others gather, go on," Brian said firmly, looking at all three of them.
Dooo and Terroriser nodded immediately, but Brock felt a little irritated at being ordered around. The other two left and Brian turned to face Brock fully, cupping his cheek with his palm.
Brock felt the hint of anger disappear, closing his eyes as Brian's thumb gently traced his cheekbone. "Let me take care of you right now, baby. Go relax, you need to. I can tell you haven't gotten a decent night's sleep since we went home," Brian said softly and Brock sighed.
"Too many nightmares without you there," Brock mumbled, not seeing when Brian leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his lips.
"Not much longer and I can make sure you're never feeling alone again, okay? I've told you, if you can't sleep, just call me. I'll answer every time," Brian said softly and Brock opened his eyes, looking at the warm blue.
"I love you," Brock whispered and Brian kissed him again, hands framing his face. "I love you. Go lay down love, I'll come get you once breakfast is done, okay?" He said softly and Brock nodded, his body and mind more relaxed than he'd felt in two months.
He stood, walking to his bedroom. He curled up on the bed, eyes closed as he took to breathing slowly, counting his breaths mentally. His parents had forced him to go to a therapist a little over a week after he'd gotten home when he'd nearly attacked a neighbor who'd startled him.
The therapist had helped him learn calming techniques, helping Brock work through the memories though Brock never told him exactly what had happened. Only that he'd been unable to leave where he was the whole 5 years and had watched his friend be killed in front of him.
The slow, steady counting of breaths had Brock's mind tranquil and silent, body relaxing more and more until he found himself slipping into a light sleep.
Next thing he knew, he was feeling fingers brushing his hair aside softly. Brock blinked his eyes open slowly, seeing Brian's soft smile above him.
"Come eat love," he said quietly and Brock nodded, yawning lightly as he rolled over to stand a bit unsteadily. Brian wrapped an arm around his waist, leading him to the kitchen.
Breakfast passed in a blur, Brock almost too tired to really notice what he was eating. Dooo, Terroriser and Brian all talked quietly, Brock trying to keep up with the conversation but he'd zone out and miss half of it.
"Hey, looks like everyone's headed to the pavillion," Brian said and that cut through the fog in Brock's head, turning around to see Tyler, Zip, Daithi, Nogla, Evan and Vanti walking past his house.
Dooo grabbed Brock's arm and he looked at him, mirrored expressions of desperate hope on their faces. "You three go meet them, I'll deal with the dishes," Brian said amused and Brock hesitated, looking at him.
"Are you sure?" He asked and Brian smiled faintly. "I'm sure love, you three need answers more than anyone, go on," he said and Brock stood, hurrying around the table to kiss Brian deeply once before rushing to his room to grab his armor and sword.
He met Dooo and Terroriser at the door, both armored up and swords at their sides. Brock cast one look towards Brian before opening the door, the three rushing out to the pavillion.
Everyone else was there except Anthony, Panda, Scotty and 704, though Brock could see them walking over in the distance.
"Where's Brian?" Tyler asked and Brock said, "He told us to come ahead, he'll be here soon. Did you find anything?"
Tyler sighed, raising an eyebrow at Brock's and Dooo's impatient expressions. "I did, it's possible," he said and Brock and Dooo gasped, hands clutching each other.
Imma end it there before it get too much longer lol next chapter maybe Moo and Eric come back? Maybe just Moo and Eric has his own chapter? Idfk, probably the latter. I hope yall enjoyed! Kisses!!
~Banana