Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was dark. Milkman slowly crept around the Shroom island. He had a plan to extract his revenge for the next progression in this war that the Birch Kingdom had with the other kingdom. It was mainly dark besides the nearby lava pools lighting up the immediate area. Milkman crept closer to the pool, gazing into it. An immediate temperature difference. The lava slightly crackled, some droplets spitting out and up into the air before settling back into the lava. A smile started to spread across his face. All it takes is one bucket of water to undo all of Elffe’s work. He would have to break all the obsidian too.

Milkman was about to take out a water bucket when a sudden pain sprung up in the side of his arm, causing him to fall down onto the netherrack. It was Elffe, who had sneaked his way up to Milkman. The other didn’t even hear him at all. Blood stained Elffe’s axe from striking Milkman’s arm with it. Milkman backed up. Accidentally backing up way too close to the lava pool. He realized a split second later, but before he could backup, Elffe got on top of him, grabbed the top of Milkman’s hair, trying to push the back of his head into the lava.

Milkman used all his strength to push against Elffe’s force, feeling the heat crept up on the sides of his face. A drop of sweat ran down his head, falling into the lava causing a light sizzle. He then managed to knock Elffe off of him and quickly got to his feet. There was a constant stream of blood running down Milkman’s arm, dripping everywhere. Elffe then went to strike again, having Milkman dodge just in time. Elffe then took a second, standing right where he was, glaring at the other. He twirled his axe in his hand. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Milkman.”

Milkman gave a quick glance at the lava pool then back at Elffe. He was feeling immense levels of pain from the gash in his arm. Elffe the closed the gap again, raising his axe high in the air. Milkman quickly turned around, throwing on his elytra, grabbing some rocket and took off. Elffe gritted his teeth, annoyance spreading across his face as he watched Milkman soar off. He took out his bow, aiming carefully, hoping to get one last shot in, releasing the arrow. The arrow flew right past Milkman, catching him off balance, having to use another rocket.

Milkman got back to the Birch Kingdom, nearly flying into the side of Big Bircha. HE stumbled, the blood loss causing him to be a little unsteady. He did his best to climb the ladder, ending up collapsing on the ground a few steps after making it all the way up. He groaned in pain. Within the next moment he heard a rocket go off outside. A little panic aroused in him, hoping that it wasn’t Elffe following him. He listened carefully as whomever this may be land, climb up the ladder and– It was Fool. the two of them immediately locked eyes.

Fool quickly ran to Milkman’s side, examining the open wound on the other’s arm. Milkman’s sleeve was stained in blood along with both of his hands. His eyes were focused on the stream of blood leaking out of the gash. Fool took off his jacket, quickly wrapped and tied it around Milkman’s arm acting like a bandaid for now to stop the bleeding. He took the other’s hand, pressing it down against the wound, applying pressure. Milkman winced as he held his hand there.

Fool had a blaze of fury in his eyes. “Who did this?” aggression in his voice.

“Fool, it’s fine–”

“Who. Did this!?” it wasn’t much of a question that time around.

Fool slightly held him up, just enough to not cause Milkman any pain. “Fool, it’s nothing, really. It was just a little accident.”

“A little accident?” Fool got up, storming off to where his stuff laid. “A little accident!?” He grabbed his crossbow, taking arrows with him.

Milkman tried to get up, wincing and gritting his teeth in the process. It took him a second to get on his footing, stumbling at first. He reached out for Fool, gently placing his free hand on the other’s shoulder. Fool violently turned around, causing Milkman to lose his grip, almost failing backwards. Fool caught him just in time, the expression on his face softening. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that so viciously.”

Milkman nodded, getting back on topic. “Fool, can we just let this go? I’m sure it will never happen again.”

And that’s when the anger returned to Fool’s face. “It will never happen again if you do something about it. If you do nothing, you’re giving them leeway to do things like this again. And I will not let anyone else hurt you.” He started towards the exit.

“Fool-” Milkman reached out for him again.

Fool stopped in his tracks turning around to face Milkman one last time. A hint of sorrow swirled in with that anger. “Everyone should know that you don’t mess with the Fool’s family. You, Milkman, are a part of that. I do not want to hurt you, but I am walking out that door either way.”

Fool paused for a second, and Milkman dropped his arm, his gaze lowering to the ground. And without another second to waste, Fool turned right back around. Milkman stood there in silence. He then sighed, making his way to his bed.

Fool didn’t waste any time flying to the Shroom island with his elytra. He immediately spotted Elffe, standing by the pool of lava. Elffe noticed the sound of the others’ wings a bit too late, turning around just to get an arrow shot in his shoulder. He stumbled from the sudden impact, managing to catch himself. Fool landed, pulling his axe out. He was swift and quick, rapidly approaching the other.

Elffe dodged Fool’s first attack, quickly getting disarmed afterwards when he tried to return the strike to Fool. Fool bashed the bottom side of the axe hard against Elffe’s face. Elffe stumbled back, clutching his face. Blood ran from his nose. He didn’t have time to recover as Fool slashed his axe down the other’s side. Elfee screamed out in pain, unwillingly falling to the ground. He turned on his back, looking up at Fool. 

Nothing but anger was in Fool’s eyes. No mercy, no shame. Elffe’s wound was much worse than Milkman’s, and Fool wasn’t going to stop there. He swung his axe down, having it impaled into Elffe’s leg. Elffe cried out again in pain. He tried backing away, but the blade was still there, causing him pain at every movement he made. Fool crouched down on top of Elffe, pulling an arrow from his pocket. He placed the tip of it right up against Elffe’s neck. 

Elffe shook in terror. “Please, I’m sorry! I’ve learned my lesson!”

Fool didn’t falter. He just leaned closer, his tone dropping. “You don’t mess with the Fool’s family.” a slight growl to it.

Fool forced the arrow into the bottom of Elffe’s chin, and up, impaling Elffe’s skull. And Elffe fell limp.