Chapter Text
Parrot had lost.
He had so obviously and pathetically lost , despite doing his best, despite building those cannons , despite wiping out almost all of cindercrest's army!
He lost.
And to make it worse , people kept looking at him like that. Like he knew what he was doing , like he had a plan.
And he didn't. He was lost , his mind was empty but at the same time defeaningly loud. And he hated that look , it made him nauseous. It gave him the feeling of not knowing what to do- of feeling true fear again for the first time in a long time.
"Parrot- dude it's freezing cold why are you out here?"
Called out a familiar voice , his royal bodyguard- no. His best friend. Theo.
Parrot didn't bother to move his gaze from the stars , didn't bother to look at theo or even joke it off. He just let the silence stretch long enough until theo sat down next to him.
"Uh...parrot?"
He tried again , this time parrot forced himself to move. His gaze falling on theo through the parrot mask he wore. He sighed and let his gaze fall down to anything but theo. Looking awfully interested in the grass under his feet. They'd camped out somewhere for tonight since parrot doesn't doubt that they- maybe his own people , maybe cindercrest- haven't trapped the northern council.
"Yeah?"
He answered , his voice faltering for a second.
"Nothing specific you just look...uh- not the best."
Parrot felt his stomach turn. Of course , theo would notice soon enough. He's not sure why he even bothered hiding it from him.
What does he even say? That they've lost? That his whole kingdom is going to starve? That he's now responsible for the death of thousands upon thousands of players?
"I'm scared."
He managed out , his hands coming up to his own shoulders as if it'd guard him from the horrible things coming his way
Theo just frowned, even though he had his stupid sunglasses Parrot could imagine the worried expression he was making
"Dude you can be scared like- it's normal right? We're in a war anyways. But like come on we can strike back. Right?"
He sounded so sure it made parrots stomach turn again. Why did theo trust him so much? Why did he think Parrot knew what to do?
The silence was loud and uncomfortable, he could feel theos wings shifting and frowning again
"Okay- dude come on. You're you. And you have me and reina Parrot! We can surely figure something out even if we Dont figure it out today-"
"-then when, theo??"
Parrot interrupted him , feeling some guilt gnawing at his throat when he saw the way the other man shrank at that. Right. Theos just trying to be hopeful.
"Theo you don't get it- I'm sorry dude but..I genuinely don't know what to do. They have flame , they have wemmbu and his orbitals, and-i don't even know why they're with cindercrest!"
Parrot hates the way his voice cracks , the way his wings wrap up around himself as theo just listens for once , not giving his stupid annoying comments on anything. It was honestly worse. It made parrot have to actually face his feelings. Face this.
"I thought...for a second , I thought they were my friends. I genuinely did. I did everything I could to help them- I fought alongside them with you during the war , I saved wemmbu when he was getting kidnapped , and they just turn on me! And it's not just me , they're killing my people theo , and I just wonder if I could've prevented this , if I could've stopped it."
He feels his vision getting blury and he silently curses at himself for being so weak.
"...theo...why does everyone just- hate me? What am I doing wrong? Don't they see I'm trying my best?"
He almost begged , he didn't want an answer , he's not sure what he wanted. Maybe a break , that sounds nice.
He took a deep breath , the cool air burning his lungs as he fought to atleast keep some of his dignity and not bawl his eyes out.
"I- I haven't been king for more than a month. I didn't even have a proper army- I...am I that selfish for wanting more time?"
"..we were so close theo. So close. I could have....made more food farms , listened to the people , arrested more bandits , but I couldn't."
He felt a tear slide down his cheek , the streak feeling like acid as it burned into his skin almost , and he felt theo moving closer and hugging him. He didn't even resist it. He just let himself break.
He probably looked pathetic. Sobbing into his royal bodyguards arms , his mask off with those...ugly explosion marks which covered most of his upper face. He could be plotting , he could be gearing up. But instead he's crying.
...gosh. who is he kidding? Gearing up? Plotting? Against cindercrest who has three mace users , two of his ex-friends , and a leader like saparata?
He's not sure when he even fell asleep that night. He doesn't even sleep usually , staying up and working on any projects he could find , silence made parrot spiral. To so many things. It's kind of sad , he went through so much , his friends went through so much just for parrot to live on and survive. And he did , yet feeling so useless and pathetic , he feels as If their efforts- no. Their deaths are in vain.
In the morning , he wandered aimlessly. Trying his best to figure out where they'd attack next , how they'd attack. And what could parrot even do about it?
Well , turns out , as if the universe is playing a stupid , annoying trick on him. He runs into the one person who might actually know the answer to that , who was also in his kingdom , after all that he's done. Parrot holds back the urge to yell at him about the audacity he has.
"...flame."
He said , he's not sure why he even did so. He's talked with flame once , but it was to no avail.
The blaze hybird paused when he heard parrots voice , not fully turning around to face him as the wind harshly blew against his hair , it was almost like the weather was matching parrots emotions.
"..oh. parrot."
Silence , yet again. What does parrot say? The logical , stragistical part of him says to try and turn flame , to get his friend back on his side. But parrot says-
"...I considered you my friend. I hope you know that."
He sounded so pathetic. Like he was begging his enemy to feel bad for him. And he saw the way flame tensed , like he didn't know what to say. And he never did . Flame was never as good with words as parrot was. He only knew the language of combat , his whole goal in the server being to become a combat master.
"Uhm well...like I did too bro but- I'm kind of having second thoughts."
Second thoughts?
"..flame. you said you joined because of lomedy. Are you staying because of him or do you truely believe I'm that horrible of a king?"
"Bro I dont see how that concerns you..."
Parrot actually- genuinely huffed. His facade was cracking, and he tried to be nice, he really did. But it was hard looking the man who slaughtered your people in the eyes and feeling anything positive
"You..you don't how that concerns me?"
He repeated in a disbelieving voice , stepping closer to flame who stepped back.
"Dude just let me go I'm not here to fight I just needed something from my base I swea-"
"Flame."
He paused. What's he even doing?
"I can't believe you. I have so much I want to say to you , but I'm holding back. Don't you feel ashamed? Flame i- I genuinely cared. For you. For wemmbu! I never would've thought that you'd do this after everything because of something that isn't even true!"
Flame seemed like he was getting fed up , he tapped his feet impatiently while he was ready to grab his sword if ever needed
"Bro- not even true? You're letting people starve!"
"Im doing the best I can! I've made food farms all around the server , I've commissioned so many redstoners to make automatic food farms , I've gone through so much just to get that food to my kingdom, and guess what cindercrest does , You destroy the main food supply for my kingdom and take it over! You're telling me IM the one letting people starve?! Are you fucking hearing yourself-"
He snapped out, before he knew it he was barely a few centimetres away from Flame and gripping his collar , his wings flared out as a way of intimidation he didn't even notice he does.
"don't touch me-"
Flame rasped out , he grabbed his sword and parrot let go , stepping back before as his boots dug into the grass under him from how much he was trying to not pour his angers out on flame.
"...I hope you know what you're doing. I really hope you know."
Parrot simply said , almost glaring up at flame.
He didn't catch the way flames posture faltered for a second , or the way he almost put his sword back before parrot turned on his heel and flew away.
He was an idiot he was an idiot he was an idiot!
He totally blew his chance at convicning flame. He let his emotions He buried so deep take control of him. He's an idiot!
"Oh parrot! Dude you're back- I thought you left without us. Which would've been really mean of you if I'm being honest-"
Theo said when parrot landed back in their camp , he was showing reina how to combat apparently , considering they both had wooden swords in their hand and iron armor. Reina just smiled and nodded at him.
"Uh...yeah I just- needed some air. Do you guys have any ideas on...where to go next?"
Parrot asked , which, maybe he was a bit hopeful. He knew they'd say no but he just wishes that some sort of miracle would happen and save them from this god damned war.
"No not really , I haven't run into any cindercrest soldiers either. But- I heard they're recruiting people."
Reina said as she put her wooden sword in her inventory and organised it , while theos head snapped back at her with a speed that would normally make someone wince in pain
"Theyre WHAT??"
he exclaimed, looking back at parrot who was a bit suprised , he wasn't like theo who was...very loud about it. He'll be honest , he saw it coming. They lost most of their initial army. Now cindercrest relies on its allys to attack parrot.
"Seriously?"
When reina nodded at his question , parrot sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Resisting the urge to pull his hair out , mostly out of pure frustration. What did he do to deserve this?
"Well...we did kill most of their army last time. But that doesn't really matter when they have Billy, wemmbu and flame. The fact that they're recruiting more people is definitely troublesome though.."
Think Parrot, think! What could he even do?
"He probably won't take in new players- well- definetely won't. But...I think the old players inside of my kingdom might join him too. Which won't be good...'
Parrot almost whined as he thought about the possibilitys, the more he thought , the worse it got.
"Well- we still have our army right? We can still take whatever they throw at us!"
Theo tried , which made parrot let out a stressed huff. Sounding close to a laugh as he sat down on a log of wood.
"Theo. Dude. The merchant City guards were this close to not fighting with us because we almost lost the first attack. Now that we've actually lost the only food supplier for the entire kingdom- they're not gonna want to fight! And I'm not forcing my people to particapate in a war they don't want."
The logic was sound , and that part hurt most. He wishes someone would tell him he's wrong , that there's still something he could do.
"Well...then what do we do?"
Reina asked
"...I dont know. I don't know please- stop asking me that."
Theo can't help but feel this sense of dread when he sees parrot like this. He's usually the one calming theo down , reassuring him , stopping him from spiraling into his dumbass fears. And now there he is , looking hopeless and dull. And its all because of cindercrest. God.
"Parrot- dude. Like genuinely are you okay?"
He asked while stepping closer to the avian , he hesitantly put his hand on parrots shoulder. Parrot didn't lean in nor lean away.
"...I'll be fine. Just-"
"Parrot. I asked if you're okay. Right now."
The sheer determination in theos voice was terrifying to parrot.
"...I'm okay . Just stressed. I'm having a hard time handling all of this."
A half lie , he so was not fine. But he couldn't admit it , not to himself , and not to theo and reina.
"...if you say so , but if it gets too much- you've been a great king okay? Parrot if- if it gets to that point. Know you did your best. Just- we can just leave spawn. Leave the kingdom. Go into the farlands."
"And leave all these innocent players to die?? Theo- I can't. They're my people."
"Well they surely don't treat you with the respect you deserve."
"They're still my people! Even if some of them don't like me. I promised I'd make the server a better place. Im not going back on my promise."
Parrot huffed out , which made theo pull his hand back and look at him with such pity it was disgusting.
"..okay. okay. I get where you're coming from. But when it gets too much just- for once , put yourself first. Please parrot."
The next person he visited , was one he had quite the history with. Infact- despite their rivalry, parrot would often go and have a chat with him. Update him on the server , not too much , just stuff to make sure he wouldn't lose his mind.
Eventually they had to go back to the northern council , sending a few willing guards to check for traps before going themselves. And so that's how parrot ended up infront of the prison cell of the one and only-
"LettuceK."
He called out , he caught the way the cat hybirds ears twitched and he hummed when he saw parrot , moving closer to the bars of his cell
"Well what a suprise , the king of the unstable smp himself payed a visit to me."
He was still just as smug and manipulative , though sometimes parrot doubts himself. He doubts if lettuce was ever wrong. His ways , yes. Absolutely. Though his beliefs were something parrot had grown to understand.
"...well? Are you just gonna menacingly stare me down?'
Lettuce said with a hint of a scoff.
"...lettuce. when you said the server was too far gone...what did you mean by that?"
Parrot looked up at him , while lettuce looked taken aback , he raised a eyebrow as his paws wrapped around the iron bars of his cell
"Why are you asking me that now?"
"Just answer."
"...well- it's simple. This server is too far gone. The players , new and old , all are beyond saving."
Parrot paused. He felt his nails digging into his own palm.
"..not even me? Do you think I could save the server?"
"Why would I encourage my rival? I couldn't fix it. I don't think you can."
"Lettuce. I've done so much that you never could've. I opened up spawn , I managed to get a reliable food source for the new players - I managed to-"
"And you managed to get into a war. Congrats! I never did that."
Parrot felt his patience wearing thin. The word was testing him , and it was only a matter of time before he took his years of holding back out on one poor person. Or maybe nation.
"...I'm done."
He stood up to leave , hesitating when he reached the staircase , yet lettuce didn't even say anything. So he left.