Work Text:
‘Scar, she‘s dead’
‘You won‘
“Oh...Really?” he gasped. His heart was racing, lungs burning and he fell to his knees. His wobbly legs no longer supporting his weight as the adrenaline rush slowly came down from it’s height. He couldn’t believe it, still looking at the place where Pearl has fallen to the ravine. The grass now black, burned from the lightning that struck her as she was released from the world.
“How did a guy with no friends win?” He laughed. The laugh bringing a bittersweet taste to his mouth. He won… But at what cost. He was alone, survivor.
He sighed and used his sword to stand back up on his feet, pulling his walking cane from his inventory and pocketing his sword he slowly made his way back to spawn, back to the Secret Keeper. There was one more thing he needed to do…
“Task completed,” he whispered as he pushed the button labeled as ‘success’. He turned to look as the sun slowly set, just lazily drifting down under his gaze.
A wave of nausea caused him to hunch over. One hand clutching his cane, the other one holding his stomach as if that would help ease the feeling building up in the back of his throat. With few deep breaths he was able to keep all the contents of his stomach inside his stomach. He straightened his posture and turned around to glare at the statue.
“What was that for?” He frowned at the Secret Keeper, but then realized that the symbol on the statue was glowing, pulsating like a heartbeat. It felt so familiar… He has seen that symbol before…
An ear-shuttering sound similar to opening a giant iron door stopped him from trying to sort through his memories. He looked around. The border was vanishing. But he wasn’t free was he? Something was telling him that this wasn’t his end. Not yet.
A task book popped into his hand and he opened it. It read:
‘On your way you go to what happened so long ago’
in handwriting that felt very familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it. The handwriting was messy as if written in hurry, but still having the sophisticated tails and loops to keep the professionalism. He hid the book in his inventory and saw that there was a single camel egg lying on the floor in the middle of the platform. He picked it up and summoned a camel for himself, without words he climbed on the camel’s back and looked around, he could hear voices, very distantly. But something told him that was where he was supposed to go. He picked some more food before leading the camel to the source of the noises.
It took him some time to get to the now nonexistent world border, only a chalk line drawn on the ground was keeping him inside the Secret Life game. He took a deep breath. He spend his last 9 weeks lying, burning, killing and stealing from the people that felt so familiar yet so not. Weirdly enough… he felt at peace. He felt like he had done good. He felt like he was coming home.
A voice in the back of his mind, called out his name, told him to move, so he did. Starting on his journey. He didn’t really have a goal but the world around him certainly did. It was as if the camel knew where to go, it didn’t need his guidance so he just leaned back and enjoyed the view. He enjoyed the freedom. He took off the dark cloak covering his upper body, pocketing it if he needed it later. He could feel the slight wind playing with his sweaty hair.
He stopped only for the night. Making a quick hole in the mountain or the ground and sleeping the night away, picking apples from the trees when he woke up and then getting back on the camel. He didn’t know how long he would need to travel for, but he knew he would know when his journey has finished.
It took him 2 days of travel to get to a similar but oh so different chalk-like border drawn on the ground. He recognized this place…
He jumped down from the camel and walked with the help of his cane around. He had to dodge so oh so many holes either made by creepers or tnt and then there he stood underneath The Rock. Suddenly memories flooded his mind.
“Scar!” He was greeted by a bright smile with few missing teeth by none other then the dragon slayer Bdubs, proudly displaying a clock on his belt, excitedly waving at Scar from the top of the mountain.
“My favorite son…” A figure appeared behind Bdubs, Cleo in all their glory with a proud smile on her face and a hand on their hip.
Scar’s throat closed. He could just stare as the two figures turned their heads to look at other incoming people.
“Dad!” Bdubs yelled. Cleo winced and dragged their hand on their face with annoyance. Scar’s head snapped to the side. From the remains of the crooked tower 4 figures walked to meet Bdubs and Cleo. The team TIES. Etho in the front, catching Bdubs, who just jumped at the other as a greeting. He looked up, there on the Skynet was a familiar character in red sweater, wearing black glasses and leather jacket. He wanted to call out, but just as he opened his mouth, the projection of his memories vanished.
“No. NO! Give them back! Give them back!” He cried out and ran up the mountain, his feet slipping on the stone. He scraped his palms in his frantic attempt to catch his mom and brother. Finally he stood at the place Cleo occupied just a moment ago, but there were no signs of her or Bdubs. It was like they have never been there. He looked around a shimmer of something catching his eye. He knelt down and removed few rocks to reveal a clock. It wasn’t working, half smashed, scratched and missing one of the hands. But he felt weirdly nostalgic about it. Without thinking about it too much he placed it into his over-shoulder bag and with a sigh turned back, finding his camel and climbing on it’s back once again. This wasn’t his final destination.
It took him few hours to get through the bordered place of Limited Life. Seeing and hearing other memories as the camel walked slowly through the land. The sun was just setting when the camel finally reached the chalk border. A tall figure was standing there few blocks in front of the border. Waiting for him.
When he got closer he finally recognized Martyn, dressed up as a pirate, drenched in blood, his eyes glowing purple. He was carrying an hourglass in his hands. It was empty. On Scar’s arrival he only smiled and waved him goodbye before vanishing. Scar quickly found a place to stay and slept the night away. Climbing on the camel in the morning and continuing on his way.
Two other days have passed when he reached another familiar chalk border. He had to abandon his camel to climb up the mountain. He walked through the forest and found himself standing in the remains of the Ranch. His memories returning to him in rapid speed.
The ranch was standing proud again and from the main door a wild Jimmy appeared and waved at Scar, smiling brightly. But he wasn’t really smiling at Scar. From behind him Tango walked up the road to the door and hugged Jimmy, spinning him, both of them giggling wildly and then he turned to Scar and smiled encouragingly. Tango nodded and then both of them vanished.
Scar sighed and started walking again. Trying to find something that would help him find his next step in his journey. He wandered over the bridge to find a horse tied up to a tree next to what looked like remains of the Relation-ship. It was trying to escape and at Scar’s arrival started making more noises so Scar would help.
“Oh hey, hey buddy. I’ll help you, here.” He ran up to the creature and untied the lead, pocketing it into his bag. He though the horse would run off, but it didn’t. He sighed.
“You’re with them right?” he just shook his head when he saw a familiar purple in the horse’s eyes and climbed on it’s back.
In the corner of his vision he saw the fort and a familiar figure dressed in a red sweater, colorful wings spreading in defense, but just when he whipped his head to look, the memory slipped from his vision and his mind just when he thought he had it.
“I’m getting tired of your games!” he said out loud but gave the horse a command to start moving. He just grabbed the saddle, no need to try going against their doings. The horse walked to the border and Scar just let it happen. He looked around, getting few new memories, but he felt like there was a big part still missing. He knew there was someone missing in his memories. Someone important…
Scar heard a whistle and turned his head to his right where Pearl stood, her hands tied in front of her, the familiar purple glow in her eyes seemed to welcome him as he got close. There’s a bunch of dogs running around her, or just lazily sitting down, minding their own business, not looking up at Scar or his horse as he crossed the chalk line and when he looked over his shoulder to say bye to her, she was already gone.
His shoulders sagged. This journey was getting lonely. He didn’t feel good about it. He was riding his camel and now horse for so long only to not get his answers again. He knew there was something slipping from his mind. Slipping through his fingers like sand and no matter how much he tried to catch it, he just wasn’t fast enough.
His next travels brought him to the Southlands. He recognized the walls and towers. He didn’t have positive memories about this game in particular. Something about this game smelled of loneliness despite the fact that he could hear laughter and chatter just inside the walls. He stopped the horse to peek inside and was greeted by Martyn and Mumbo waving at him before running to a side where Scar couldn’t see. His eyes scanned the base. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for.
A door slammed leaving only a feather slowly descending down on the floor. He thought he saw a flash of red, but he wouldn’t jump to lava for it. The horse made a noise and he just rolled his eyes. Collecting more memories at he made his way through the rest of the land of Last Life, the horse suddenly stopped at the spawn, where an enchanter sat. He tilted his head to the side. He didn’t remember leaving it here… That wasn’t suspicious at all. Nope not at all. He picked it up, the enchanter making itself smaller so he could stuff it into his bag. Scar stretched before jumping back on the horse’s back.
At the border he was met with none other than Scott with glowing purple eyes, waiting for him. He was clutching a totem of undying. Scar wasn’t sure where he got it but before he could open his mouth and ask, the horse started running away making Scar yell out and grasp the saddle in his hands to not fall.
“Slow down!” he yelled and to his surprise the horse slowed to walk. Scar huffed: “Why would you do that? I just wanted to ask Scott about the totem.” The horse of course didn’t answer and just took Scar to his next destination, but stopped in front of the border, refusing to cross it.
Scar jumped down and walked through the forest, finding himself standing before The Dogwarts where he was met with Ren, working on the walls. He stopped his doings and turned to Scar, smiling wide he waved, his tail wagging behind him. Scar smiled and waved back, only for Ren to disappear. Scar’s smile disappeared and he slowly put his hand back down. Right, he was looking for someone...
He was forced now to meet with all of them. He needed to see all of the players before the divine powers brought him to the desert. Scar wasn’t familiar with this place as he was with the other ones. There was something missing. He looked around, but couldn’t find anyone.
He heard a chirp behind himself and turned quickly, but there was nothing… or? Or was there? Something wanted him to go close to the cacti, but what-
It was a cactus ring. He died here. He died here the first time he played with them. But who killed him? He couldn’t remember that part for the love of Void. Despite the fact that this was his death place he felt weirdly calm. Like covered in blankets on cold day. HE wasn’t scared. He didn’t have the urge to run. He felt calm.
Scar heard rustling of feathers and when he looked from where it came he saw it. He was him. Red sweater, colorful wings tied to his back so he wouldn’t try to fly as he jumped from the height and ended his life.
“Grian!” he screamed but it was too late. He scrambled, running down the side of the overhang. There down on the floor was a puddle of blood and a pile of feathers. Nothing more. He kneeled down and gasped, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Grian…” he whispered and with a shaking hand picked up a red feather.
His memories came back. He remembered. He remembered the accident, pizza, the cactus ring and who killed him. He remembered Grian. His Grian…
He screamed, curling to himself. Grian died. Scar wanted him to win and he took his life. Scar couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see through his own tears.
He was alone.
He was alone once again. Just like he was alone in Last Life, just how alone he felt in Double Life. Grian wasn’t here with him just like in Limited Life. Scar won, but he was alone. All he’s ever wanted was for Grian to win for them. Now he just wanted to be with the Avian and wanted to hold him in his arms, hug him maybe once again. But now he was alone again. He clutched the feather to his chest.
“Scar, she‘s dead,” a voice above him brought him back. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and looked up. Suddenly he was in the ravine where Pearl died again and there up at the edge stood Grian.
“You won.” He said with a smile, his eyes glowing purple. From behind him the other 3 champions walked to his side, all of them smiling at Scar in a very unsettling way.
“You’re now one of us, a champion of the Watchers… Welcome home,” They all said at once, but Scar couldn’t quite concentrate on what they were saying. He build himself up and jumped at Grian, tightly hugging him and crying to his chest, but he pushed him off and Scar tripped and Scar was falling down the same overhang Grian jumped Void knows how long ago. But he didn’t panic, didn’t try to catch himself. He felt at ease. Now he could be with Grian with all his memories.
Finally he wouldn’t be alone…
Scar was doomed to fall by the narrative