Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“… just need to follow my rules and everything will turn out fine”

Impulse glared at the man in front of him. His tail whipped side to side in frustration.

“Why would I ever let you do such a thing?”

“Well, I was hoping I wouldn’t need to do any convincing, however,”

The man pulled a small device from his pocket and pressed a red button, sparking Impulses confusion.

“It appears I’ll have to use force.”

Impulse looked at the man confused. “Why can’t you just let it go? It happened so long ago?”

The man hummed and said, “im afraid it’s much more complicated.” He moved a dial on the device and Impulse felt something tingling around his neck. He realized that it was coming from bdubs, so strong it passed through the almost completely faded soul bond between the two. Impulse found that he suddenly had an overwhelming urge to smash the device.

It shattered on the stone ground in a flash of movement. A small green shard of something flying out of a small compartment. The soul bond sensation faded away quickly, as his theory was proven correct, the man in front of him scowled.

“If you’re so unwilling to go, I’ll just have my pets retrieve you.” A shiver fell down Impulses spine as he thought of what exactly that meant. Before he could prod further or argue, however, the man was gone with the broken device and green shard.

Chapter Text

Impulse was still put off by the encounter he had a few days ago. He had become jumpy and found himself looking over his shoulder every few seconds. Paranoia was starting to set in his bones. He found himself walking back to his base after not being there for the day. Walking into his small hole in the mountain, he found himself face-to-face with four unlikely people. Mumbo, Bdubs, Joel, and False all stood in a circle, they were clearly in the middle of a conversation before he walked in, a serious one by the look of things. But now they stood in frozen in their place, looking like deer in headlights. Standing around with wide eyes.

Impulse looked between the four and noticed something he never had before. Each of them had what looked like a… collar? With a green shard of something hanging from each of them, glowing slightly. He recognized it from somewhere.

“Impulse! You’re back!” Bdubs broke the silence. Looking at him, Impulse felt a light tingling on his own neck. Weird.

“Yeah, I’m back? What’s going on? Some secret surprise or something?” Impulse joked lightly, his heart rate picking up. False stepped up to him and Joel attempted to sneak around back. Impulse heard the door click locked. False put a hand on Impulses shoulder.

“Look. I don’t want to make this any harder than it has to be, Impulse. Please make the right choice here. You have to come with us.”

Impulse saw something in False’s sky blue eyes. They got cloudy and hard to read. He felt as though False believed something dire was at hand.

“What exactly is at stake here?”

Something flashed in False’s eyes, the hand on Impulses shoulder tightened.

“Sometimes it’s better to just follow.”

Impulse felt a pit deep in his stomach open. He dug deep into his magic reservoir and hoped this would work.

“Impulse,” Bdubs spoke up from the back of the room, “just do as we say and this will go smoothly.” Something deep in Bdubs’ eyes told Impulse everything he needed to know before making his escape. He grabbed a hold of just as much magic he knew he would need. He teleported right in front of Skizz‘s base. And, unknowingly, right in front of Skizz.

Chapter Text

Only a few days later, Impulse had made himself completely MIA. His new ‘home’ was well underground and far too far away from spawn for anyone to properly search for him. This came with the obvious upside of the people actively hunting him not finding him easy and giving him time to gear himself up. However, there was an unexpected downside. He was too far from spawn for his communicator to work, it sat unused on a chest in the corner as he paced around the small, dark room, sword swinging in his hand.

Impulse had gotten into the habit of practicing magic, then practicing swordplay. He knew False would be a force to be reckoned with. He felt uneasy, it was quiet. Impulse had realized in the recent days that he had gotten used to the background noise of his farms and Hermitcraft in general. People flying overhead or chatting just in earshot. The lack of noise often kept him on his toes, though Impulse knew it was best not to make any noise himself. He thought that maybe if it was quiet, he would hear and know whoever came near. This specific day, that silence became useful.

“-swear it was just here!”

Impulse froze. He knew that voice. He recognized the two foot patterns coming near the entrance of his new base.

“Well, you better be right. We have limited time to do this, you know that.”

“Of course I know that!”

Bdubs and False neared the entrance and Impulse found himself pulling into his magic reserves yet again. Preparing a spell he only just got right. He had one shot and only a few seconds to get somewhere else.

The door handle shook. Bdubs and False conversed a bit more before someone takes a few steps back. Impulse focused and, just as Bdubs barrels toward the door, to kick it down, undoubtedly, Impulse dissipated his physical form. Turning himself to mist and seeping through the walls, going upwards toward the surface.

Bdubs slammed himself into the doorway and knocked the door straight off its hinges. He did a quick scan and concluded, no impulse. Unfortunately. False passes him as he catches his breath. Bdubs goes looking around with her, tension surrounding them.

“Two days.” False says suddenly. “We have two days to catch Impulse and bring him to ‘master’” she spat out the last word like it was poison.

“I know, I know. We’ll think of something, False. We have to”

False slid her finger across the top of a crafting table, looking at the dust that had collected there. “We will need all four of us, together, to do it. Impulse has magic”

“So do I!” Bdubs sounded betrayed.

“Impulse has magic he can use,” False said, “you have been unable to cast magic for years, Impulse, I’m sure, has been practicing. He’s smart. He knows when things are serious.”

Bdubs felt his cheeks heat up. “Well maybe we can find a way to stop him from casting magic”

False hummed thoughtfully, cogs turning in her head. “I think I have a plan,”

Impulse reappeared on the surface. He took in his surrounding and noticed mumbo, and mumbo was staring at him. Mumbo’s parasol spun around as he approached. And Impulse ran.

Chapter Text

Only two days later Impulse found himself back at spawn in time for the meeting, which was surprising. The four Hermits who are hunting him down glare at him the whole meeting. Mumbo’s ‘glare’ however, just seemed like a nervous glance. Like he knew something.

Without knowing how the day will turn out, Impulse tried to treat it like a normal day. Like nothing was happening. He had talked with Skizz and a few others. Had tea with Zed, and even planned out a red stone contraption with Tango.

Impulse walked back to his original base with the mountaineers, and he took in his surroundings. He watched the sun lower in the sky. And Impulse had almost forgotten about his troubles. Until he heard people approaching. He turned around suddenly and found himself standing a few feet in front of False and Bdubs. Impulse knew there was no use in trying to run. He had to talk his way out of this.

“Impulse, I know you’re probably scared- but you should reconsider what you told us last week.”

“Why can’t you just tell your boss I’m not going to follow him? Isn’t he tired of waiting for me to just fall into his lap?”

“He is, we need you to come with us” Faldo walked forward as she spoke, getting close enough to reach out and grab Impulses arm if necessary.

He felt cornered. Impulse remembered one last thing he could do.

A pair of leathery wing sprouted from his back and turned and flew upwards. Behind him, Bdubs tore off his coat and took off after him. False fiddled with something on her back and shouted after them. Eventually giving up on what she was doing and running after them.

Bdubs chased Impulse around in the air, and, out of breath, Impulse pleaded with him as he dodged.

“Bdubs! I know you think this is the last option-“

“It is!” Bdubs sounded rushed.

The two danced in the air. Bdubs barreling toward Impulse as he dodged each time. But he wasn’t quick enough.

Bdubs slammed into Impulses chest and sent them flying towards the ground.

Chapter Text

Impulse had managed to teleport last second but wasn’t quite quick enough to get away from the scene. His arms were grabbed and something stabbed into his neck. He quickly realized that Mumbo was draining him. False and Bdubs caught up with them.

Something was tightly wrapped around his wrists as he fought against Mumbo. Joel was helping keep him still and eventually his vision was beginning to go dark. He slumped backwards against Mumbo and heard faint cheering.

After a few minutes, Impulse almost fell over and caused Mumbo to pick him up bridal style and start walking.

Impulse was pretty sure he passed out for a while. But, either way, they were close. There was chatter between Bdubs and Joel. Excited and happy. Impulse was forced to walk and Mumbo helped him stay upright for a while. They eventually reached a house on a hill in a public server, surrounded by woods on all sides. They walked in and presented Impulse on his knees to the man who’d spoken to Impulse a week ago.

“Master. We have him.” False did honors of getting his attention.

Turning around is a handsome human. He holds himself high and his medium length blonde hair has begun to gray. His green eyes pierced straight through Impulse. Impulse forced himself to keep his gaze fixed on the man.

“Brilliant job. You all are dismissed.” He spoke with a cool Australian accent and didn’t look up from Impulse as he dismissed the others.

“Zachary.”

“Impulse. You aren’t to be referring to me with that name. You call me ‘master’” he spoke with smile on his lips. He looked as though he had just won a war.

Impulse stood, “What is this all about? We last spoke in the third grade.”

“I would get back on your knees if I were you”

Impulse didn’t listen. “If this is about the fight you need to let it go!”

“Maybe you should pay more attention to what currently rests on your neck, Impulse.”

Impulse brought a hand to his neck and, sure enough, he had a matching collar.

Zachary pulled out the same device impulse had destroyed a week back. He pressed the same button, and Impulse felt a searing pain in his neck. His shoulders felt as though they were getting pushed downward. He fell to his knees.

“I believe I told you to get back on your knees? Now, I have some house rules you need to know.”

Impulse hummed in response.

“I would like you to come to me when I call for you. Do as I tell you, and you’ll get on fine here. I’ll teach you more when you’re accustomed to the house. Do you understand?”

Impulse didn’t believe it had come to this. He hesitated.

Zachary reached out and grabbed one of impulses horns, breaking it off easily and setting it on a table before repeating himself. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Impulse grumbled. Pain shooting down his broken horn.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, master” impulse wanted to throw up. He held himself together just long enough to hear,

“You’re dismissed”

Impulse got up and walked in the direction everyone else had, going by sound to find their voices.

He got to the room where everyone else was chatting and immediately spotted the bathroom. He took a b-line to it and ignored everyone else. Locking the door behind him, he looked in the mirror, taking in his appearance. His hair was disheveled and his horn was bleeding. Impulse found the paper towels and wrapped up his broken horn. He noticed his wings were tied up to the point it would be difficult to untie them.

He needed to get out of here.

Impulse took a drink of water from the sink and splashed his face before moving to sit against the door. His tail moving around anxiously. It eventually slipped under the door as it moved side to side. Soon after, there was a knock on the door.

“Hello?” Mumbo’s voice sounded from the other side of the door.

“Go. Away.” Impulse hissed out.

Mumbo got quieter and lowered himself. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. That whole thing back there was False’s idea. I hated every second of it. We were threatened to find you. We aren’t sure what would’ve happened if we returned empty-handed but I can tell you for certain it’s bad. I can smell the incoming death. I’m so sorry-“

“Mumbo,” impulse interrupted, voice softer, “it’s fine, I just need some time alone. You did nothing wrong. I get it.”

Mumbo stood and walked away. Impulse let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

Chapter Text

Impulse stared out of the window. He had to get out of this place. He dropped a makeshift rope made from bedsheets out of the window. He made sure it was secure to the nearby bedpost and went to climb out.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes. Mumbo, you have to know that this is important to me.”

“I don’t recommend trying to, it won’t turn out well.”

“I can figure it out, please let me go.”

“Fine, please be safe”

Without another word. Impulse dropped down his makeshift rope and took off running. The crystal around his neck started to emit the same shock as the day before. He stumbled before catching his footing and running even faster.

After getting far enough away, the shock eventually stopped and he was able to take a breather.

-

“I can’t have him getting away” Piercing green eyes stared down the other Hermits.
Zachary handed each of them weapons.
“I want you to bring Impulse back. I want him back, dead or alive. You know what will happen if you don’t comply.”

Chapter Text

Impulse sat against a tree in the middle of the forest. He finally made it out. He barely managed to take off the bindings on his wings when he hears footsteps approaching.

“Impulse. You need to came back.” False spoke up from the trees.

“Why should I?” He only wants control. Why give him what he wants?”

The others appear around him. Emerging and circling around Impulse.

“Because if he doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll take it out on someone else.” Bdubs spoke this time. “And this time, maybe it’s better if you just listen.”

Impulse looked around and said, “what are you going to do? Try and take me back?”

Joel lunged at him, brandishing an iron sword. Impulse dodged and advanced, slamming Joel straight into a tree, causing his sword to fall to the ground. Impulse picks the sword up and uses the handle to hit Joel’s chest and take him out of the fight.

Seeing this approach fail, Bdubs moved into action. Moving forward with an axe, Bdubs managed to get a good hit on impulses non-dominant arm. Impulse replied with a good swipe to the wing with his stolen sword. Bdubs stumbled backwards and started looking over his wing, signaling false to come in.

False came barreling down at Impulse with a diamond pickaxe, swinging it upwards and bringing it down right where he was standing. Impulse dove to the side just before False hit and he went to slash his sword at False, who blocked his attack and caught the sword just right to send the sword flying, and it gets forgotten on the ground. Impulse put some distance between himself and False and remembered suddenly that he has wings that are free and can fly. So he shot up in the air and crashed down on False, who attempted to dodge but was just a little too late. Impulse used the handle of her pickaxe to knock her out.

The last person standing, Mumbo, was only armed with his parasol. Impulse moved over to Mumbo and said, “you aren’t going to fight, are you?”

“I don’t feel confident in taking you on with just this, no” Mumbo seemed embarrassed.

Impulse smiled and said, “then take care of False for me, yeah?” There was something in his eyes that said he wasn’t entirely sure his plan would work. Nevertheless, Mumbo nodded and walked towards False on the ground.

Impulse flew back to the house on the hill, hoping more than anything that he makes it out alive.

Chapter Text

Impulse approached the house on the hill at lightening speed, crashing into a window with his shoulder to shatter it. He flies in and walks around the house to spot Zachary. When he does find the man, Impulse rushes towards him and attempts to choke him out. Zachary, caught by surprise, was able to gather his bearings just enough to find his control device and turn it on.

Impulse once again found himself forced to his knees. Zachary grabbed an enchanted diamond sword from off the wall nearby, he moved toward Impulse and smiled maliciously. “I’m going to enjoy this.” He raised the sword and faced the point down at Impulse, ready to skewer him. Impulse found his strength at the very last second. Despite the pain, he rolled over on the floor to dodge the blow. He stood up on shaking legs and runs to Zachary, shoving him into the wall with his shoulder. Zachary brandished his sword but fumbled as Impulse bared his teeth as a purely instinctive response. Zachary regained himself quickly and smiled, “Are you going to, what? Bite me?”

Impulse thought that was a great idea, so he lunged forward and grabbed the hilt of the sword, shoving it to the side and causing it to fumble out of Zachary’s hand. Impulse then bit down hard on the side of Zachary’s neck and /tore/. Zachary immediately slumped down and his green eyes got glossy. Impulse then remembered the pain in his own neck, and he snatched the device from out of Zachary’s hand, snapping it in half. Impulse looked down at the dying man with pain in his own eyes.

“I always win these fights.”

Chapter Text

The last thing False remembered was getting slammed onto the ground by Impulse landing a good hit on her back and landing on her. She slowly woke up with the realization that they had most likely failed and now were going to pay for it. Though, her surroundings didn’t seem too tense. Instead, there was light chatter in the distance. She found herself groggily sitting up only to spot the others chatting and playing cards around a table, the whole place smelled like dried blood. She stood up and walked out casually, like nothing had happened.

“Hey Falsie, you’re awake!” Bdubs shouted as he noticed her first. The others looked over to her, everyone except Impulse shouted happily. Impulse seemed to avoid looking directly at her. False smiled and joined them at the table.

“What’s going on here?”

The others quickly start enthusiastically explaining the rules of the game, and False couldn’t help but glance to Impulse, who was looking down at his cards and pretending not to exist.

A few moments later, False is dragging Impulse down the hall to talk privately.

“What’s going on with you?”

“Oh, i don’t know, maybe it’s the fact I attacked everyone yesterday.”

“We attacked first. You have nothing to be upset about. You defended yourself, and did a damn good job if I may say so.”

“I guess.”

False looked Impulse in the eyes and says, “Stop blaming yourself, what happened was no one but Zachary’s fault.”

“I killed him.”

“That explains the smell of blood. If you hadn’t I would’ve. Don’t feel bad. All of us would have jumped at the opportunity to murder him.”

“Yeah.”

As they went back to the table, False thought about Hermitcraft, how they’d left it behind. She knew they could go back. So she brought it up to the others. Soon, the group of them decided to head back the next morning. False couldn’t wait.

Chapter Text

Meetings went by excruciatingly slow the next few weeks, everyone spared glances at the five that had gone MIA for so long. Xisuma was gracious about letting them take time to explain where they had been when talking in private to them.

Finally, they had decided to tell their friends about what happened. Starting with Impulse.

“Skizz will probably remember this, uhm.” Impulse took a deep breath.
“When I was in the third grade, there was this kid, Zachary Owens. He was awful, manipulative, human-supremacist. This was back when it was legal, though frowned on, to own hybrids. His father owned something close to 40 hybrids and was super rich. Worked in a crime ring, all that stuff. And Zachary inherited all of this. He would constantly talk down to the hybrids and bully them, treating them like he owned them. And the only non-human he tolerated was Skizz. He was starting to instill his beliefs in Skizz, and I saw the behavior change at home as well. I consulted my parents, and my father, also a demon, said to pick a fight with him, so I did. And I rocked his shit. Almost hospitalized that kid. He vowed that his father would ‘take me’ and he would get payback. And, he finally did.”
Impulse saw the look in a few of his friends eyes and just says “you don’t have to worry about murdering him, he’s dead, I killed him” Bdubs chuckled at impulses blunt tone. Impulse flushed red.

False said, “I’m going next, because I can talk for all of these fools as well.” She gestured to Bdubs, Joel, and Mumbo. “We all were taken as teenagers, at least, most of us.” She glanced at mumbo who looked away. “We all were taken around the same time, conveniently, and we were trafficked and sold to Zachary well after the hybrid owning ban. He eventually sent a few of us out here to look for Impulse. When I reported back someone of the same name, but seemingly human, he sent more of us, keeping Joel, and when impulse revealed that he was a demon, Joel was sent over as soon as possible and we were giving the task of bringing impulse to Zachary, who wanted revenge for what impulse described, though he didn’t explain anything, and we succeeded at our task. Not after some stubbornness though.”

After some more chatter, the meeting concluded. Bdubs, Impulse, Joel, Mumbo, and False all met up later that afternoon and brought food or drink and watched the sun set on Hermitcraft. Comfortable and happy, and with each other.