Pix closed the book on the desk in front of him, getting out of his chair and walking out of the room.

He had been up all night trying to determine some way to cure the sculk infection, skim-reading history books for any hint of a cure and looking through old records.

But apparently the whole thing with Cub (and now Shelby, the brunette supposed) and the sculk infection hadn't happened previously (although there were brief mentions of some form of corruption that had been hastily crossed out by someone long ago).

Pix closed the door behind him, muffling a yawn as he left the building. He wandered around aimlessly for a while, paying little attention to anything around him- a few trees dotted around, a patch of oxeye daisies, a somewhat deep hole in the ground that he was about to walk into-

Wait, what?

Pix barely registered that he was falling until he landed on a patch of dirt with a thud, biting back a scream of pain and clutching his arm. Ow, ow, ow, ow, that hurts so much- The one time I don't wear my elytra, I swear- He tried to sit up, gritting his teeth and gingerly attempting to move his legs. Okay, nope, nope, no, ow-

Both his right leg and right arm were in immense amounts of pain (more so his right arm, which he had landed on). He used his left arm to practically drag himself towards the wall behind him, leaning against it with an irritated hiss and letting out a sound that was a mix between a sob and a shout.

Pix pulled his communicator out of his pockets, (somehow it wasn't broken) typing incredibly slowly with his left hand.

-.-.-

PixlRiffs: cn sominr hkp mr
OrionSound: why are you typing so badly
SmallishBeans: yeah what does that even say Pix
PixlRiffs: frll doen an holr
PixlRiffs: helep
PixlRiffs: hurt mry srm I think
MythicalSausage: I don't know what he's trying to say but it's very concerning
MythicalSausage: are you in your empire?
PixlRiffs: nesr it
PixlRiffs: in a hole
PixlRiffs: oh idprlt it ruhht
PixlRiffs: jvm
PixlRiffs: help
OrionSound: on my way
GeminiTay: I'm relatively close, I'll come help!
MythicalSausage: be there in five

-.-.-

Pix dropped the communicator, sitting in awkward silence for a few minutes.

He suddenly paused, shrinking against the wall at the sight of a slightly glowing midnight blue tendril creeping out of a crack on the other side of the hole. No, no, no, no, absolutely not, begone sculk- He kicked it away lamely, frowning as it immediately began moving towards him again.

Stupid- He pulled a face as the sculk vine began to slowly wrap itself around his right ankle, and Pix attempted to violently kick it away with his left foot (which didn't help in the slightest). Pix looked up as a shadow was cast over the hole, letting out a shout as he recognised Gem.

"GEM! DOWN HERE!" He shrieked, his voice cracking slightly (but he couldn't care less at that moment in time).

Gem landed next to him a few moments later, looking him over with an alarmed expression. "What on earth- oh, stupid-" She sliced through the vine with her sword, glaring at it before leaning down and helping him to his feet (well, it was really just Pix leaning on Gem). "How did you fall into a hole?" The ginger haired butterfly hybrid cried.

"I- wasn't paying attention." Pix admitted awkwardly. "And I fell down here. I think my arm may be broken." He gestured to his right arm. "And my leg. Maybe." The brunette added.

"Okay, well I don't know if I can get you out of here by myself... I might need to wait for Sausage and Oli to show up." Gem shot him a wary look. "How long were you near that sculk for?"

"Not long. It was like thirty seconds max." Pix informed her wryly.

"Ah, okay. Just checking!"

The two waited for a few minutes longer before Sausage and Oli arrived, both helping Gem get Pix out of the hole with the use of multiple items. He didn't remember much of what happened after that, if he was being honest.

——

??? PoV-

They descended the ladder, frowning slightly. There's no way this hole has always been here and Pix just happened to not notice it. And I'm sure it isn't a coincidence that there was sculk at the bottom either.

They let out a startled yelp, clinging to the ladder as they looked down to see that the floor of the hole was covered in sculk. Nope, nope, nope, aaaabsolutely not, not today, no thank you! The person began ascending the ladder again, frowning slightly.

That spread awfully fast, I- They let out a startled shriek as a vine shot up, wrapping itself around their waist and pulling them down towards the bottom of the hole. They attempted to grab their sword, only to find that another vine was holding their right arm in place. This stuff is surprisingly efficient- nope, not the time. They screamed loudly as another vine pulled their feet away from the rings of the ladder, dropping them into the hole.

They landed with an awkward thud, sculk vines immediately wrapping themselves around their neck. They struggled vainly for a moment before pausing and lying there in defeat. There's no point. But I don't want to-

The sculk isn't that bad, I guess. They blinked. No, it- definitely is. Then again, maybe I judged it slightly hastily. Noooo, I didn't. What's going on? They closed their eyes with a quiet sob as the vines moved to cover their face completely- the vines were mere seconds away from being wrapped around their entire body.

What if it makes me hurt someone? I don't want to- Then again, if it's deserved- NO. They let out a muffled sigh. I'm so sorry.

Whatever this... thing... makes me do, I'm so incredibly sorry.

I'm sorry.

That was the last thing they managed to think before everything went dark.

Dun dun dunnnn

Pix did break his arm, but Sausage has healing magic, so he's all good :>

Mystery person, on the other hand

Not so good.

I wonder who it is?

🙃

Also yes, that hole was made by someone. It didn't just... appear. The sculk was in the hole for a reason, as well.

Almost makes you wonder why it was outside Pix's base.

Strange.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed.

(Also I just used they/them for the mystery person to make it even harder to figure out who they were :>

I think you all should be able to guess who they are anyway, though.)