"Death, you're here!" Doc cried, face splitting into a wide grin. Behind him EX muttered to Netty, "For once that's something good." Which got him a tiny snort from the bush baby hybrid.

"I suppose I am!" Death laughed. "How have you all been? And what's happened whilst I've been gone?"

This made Doc, and everyone else too, sober up, "In short? Things went to shit. Thankfully you're the last piece to getting the last thing to fix everything!"

"To summon Conquest for their sword I presume?" Nods followed their statement. "Well I'm afraid it's not that easy."

"What?!" Echoed around the room, though Bdubs' was the loudest out of them, and it was him that continued talking, "What do you mean it's not that easy? We came all this way and we still have to do more? Can't you make an exception or something? You have two of your descendants here after all!"

"I see you found Xuan's portrait." Death hummed, glancing over towards EX and X for a second before turning back to the builder, "And no, my bias towards them, and all of you really, will not help at all. Nor will me and the Void's blood relation effect anything. Con has their ways to do things, things that I and the others can't affect, that you'll have to do."

Bdubs let out a frustrated yell, "Why is that anytime we accomplish something we have to do something else?!" He yelped when he felt a ghost of a hand gently patting the top of his head. "Sorry! I forgot it's not common to use phantom limbs." Death apologized, and they could only guess they had a bashful expression on their face.

"Why did you use a phantom limb?" Asked Solidarity, waving a hand over the top of Bdubs head to see if he could feel the said limb. Said phantom limb. Yeah he didn't feel anything.

"I'm a bit, ah, withering to the touch." Death admitted, face not "meeting" anybody else's (he wears a damn mask, no one knows where they are and where they aren't looking), "So if I were to ever touch someone, only bad things can happen. Well, unless I touch a wither or something like them, I just touch them normally."

"That must suck!" Netty exclaimed, horrified at the prospect of never being able to touch anyone.

The dark horseman nodded solemnly at her, "Yes, it is far from a pleasant thing." They shook their head, as if shaking the depressing aura away. "Well anywho, you all don't mind staying for a tiny bit longer? I have some things you, Xisuma and Xe-" EX shook his head with a glare, silently telling Death not to finish saying his real name. Death gave him a nod and swiftly changed, "-EX especially, need to know before we go on."

The group nodded, all very startled by the seeming almost reveal of EX's name. Death then led them all out of the ballroom, much to Bdubs' disappointment, he needed ideas damnit!, and into a smaller, more casual, lounge room off to the side. In a corner a dark skeletal like horse, it almost even looked like a thestral Doc noted, although this thing arguably looked ten times more dangerous and even more badass. All of what could have been said about how terrifying the creature was? Well that all went out the window when the giant horse started purring like a tame cat when Death walked up to it and started scratching it behind its ears.

Once everyone was situated Death spoke, "Xenagoras Void is innocent." The Hermits of the group stood up, disbelieving words spewing out of them whilst the EVO people watched on in shock. Death let them get it out of their systems before forcing them down into their seats again, "Will you let me explain now? Thank you. As I said he is innocent, and he's more of a victim here than an aggressor. Now why is that? It's real simple, he was being controlled. And after the day of that winter solstice the Uncle you knew had been replaced by the version Fallacy made."

"Fallacy?" Doc asked to himself, eye narrowing in thought, "What do they and Xenagoras have to do with each other?"

"He used to work for them, long before they hid away again and pursued their current actions, but Alexia turned him away from that. But he didn't know that leaving didn't mean he was rid of them. He was doing a good job, don't get me wrong, but he severely underestimated what they were capable of doing."

"I'm guessing he managed to keep them away?" Xisuma guessed, not looking to see if he was right before continuing to speak, "And-and after the solstice he couldn't anymore."

Death sadly shook their head, Tyrathon keening lowly where he was laying. "No, it was all just too much and Fallacy managed to slip in. On the upside, they at least made a clone for the really bad stuff, so if that helps at all then that's something."

"Fuck that!" Doc cried, eye blazing with fury, "It does't fucking mtter that it was a damn clone, they still made him do that! You don't do something like that! Not even on someone who even dares to leave you and your cause because they see how wrong it is!"

"Okay Doc, we all get it, now please calm down." Joe tried to gently ask the creeper, but he wasn't having any of it.

"Calm down? You want me to calm down?! An innocent man died because Fallacy was a possessive bitch who couldn't let go of what they'd lost! And Grian was caught in the middle of all of this, and he's suffering for it! And you want me to calm down?" Doc growled, skin flashing has his growls turned hissy. Thankfully he's not fully creeper, so that was as far as he'd go. But still, where was Ren when you needed him? "I'm not calming down until that fucking excuse of a fucking reptilian fuck is burning farther down than Hell!"

The cyborg startled and nearly swung when a gentle hand laid down on his shoulder. He followed the appendage to be met with the warm face of Keralis, and the warm and kind expression, combined with the gentle touch, calmed him down some, "You better now?" Doc gave a nod, panting out breaths as he got off his ranting high, "Good, I'm glad you got it all out. I understand you're angry, I am myself, but save some of that energy for the bad guy will you? Once we get back I'm sure you'll be able to attack all the trees you want, but right now we need to focus. Can you do that for me?" The creeper hybrid took in a last deep breath before nodding at the builder, a small smile pulling at his lips as he whispered, "Thank you."

"No problem!" Keralis chirped as he made his way back to Bdubs' side, "Now can you explain some of the things you said? We only know so much."

"I believe the young Void's can do much the same." Death said, looking over to where the brothers were sitting, "But if they do not wish to say it I can."

"I'll tell them." EX sighed, hand running through his fringe, "'Sum has explained enough as is over all. Alexia, if you haven't already figured it out, is Xenagoras' wife, our Aunt, and Grian's mom. One year during the winter solstice celebrations, there was an attack." A shudder passed through the albino as he recalled old memories, and Xisuma rested a comforting arm around him in silent support, "Aunt Lexi was home with Xel, that's Grian, during the attack. Which meant that when a soldier came and attacked she was alone to deal with them, thankfully she hid Grian so that he was safe, but she wasn't so very lucky. Dad didn't tell us much, even when we were older, but one thing I do know is that Uncle Xen came home to find Grian sobbing over the dying form of his mother. She dies soon after that." He ended with a shuddering breath and leaned close to his brother, seeking the familiar comfort Xisuma brought. And he sent Death a teary smile when he felt a pair of phantom arms wrap around him.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Martyn said, bowing his head in respect. And everyone else echoed his statement with similar ones. "I'm sure she was a wonderful woman."

"She was." X agreed, "The best, truly."

Keralis looked down at his hands before saying, "Hey Doc? Can you punch Fallacy extra hard for me?" When he got surprised looks from the people around him he narrowed his eyes, "What? They took advantage of a grieving man and used him, I think that deserves some extra punching." Muttered statements of agreement followed that.

Whilst that was going on Death walked up to the twins and leaned in close to them, keeping their voice low, "Are you two alright? I know it can't be nice remembering such a thing."

"I'll be fine." EX muttered, still keeping close to his brother. "And I'm alright, just a bit shaken up from all the new revelations." Xiusma answered.

"She worried about you two, you know." Death said, voice light and warm, "It was the first thing she asked, if any other Void had perished in the attack."

X blinked up at them, "You talked to her?" By now everyone else was listening in on the conversation.

They nodded, "I did, yes. She wouldn't go on unless she knew, so I was asked to reassure her. She's much like her husband like that, drawing me to come to them before they go on." Everyone could just tell Death was smiling, "She would be so proud of you all, I'm sure she is proud."

"You really think so?" Xeres asked, red eyes looking into the soul like ones glowing in the mask.

"Most definitely." Death confirmed. They then straightened up, but not before giving the two Void's one last phantom hug each, and walked back to where they originally stood. "That was all I had to say. So we can leave anytime you want. So take as long as you all need, okay? I'll be out in the ballroom if you need me."

And with that they walked out, Tyrathon following them out. As soon as the door closed muffled talk started up, but Death didn't even try to listen in. They walked until they came on the throne, there was a tapestry behind it. It was horizontally long and five figures drawn on it, the five horsemen to be exact. Tyrathon gently butted against their shoulder, as if telling him "you'll see them soon".

"I know I will." Death muttered, a smile hidden behind their mask, "But I'm not thinking about my siblings at the moment." As they said that their eyes turned to the door to the lounge. "I will live long, and I will get many chances to see the others over the centuries to come. They, on the other hand, only have so long." They glared down at one of their hands, the sleeves having glided down to expose shimmering black and white hands, as well as the runic patterns seemingly carved into the skin, "I see to many people go far to young. And call me unfair to all the others, but I feel like I need to help here. And-" They broke off before they could say anything else, the door to the lounge opening and its inhabitants trickling out. Death softened as he saw Doc, as well as all the other Hermits, keeping close by the Void twins, "-And is it really that bad to grow attached? Even knowing they will one day be no more? Only another name in the endless book I own?"

Death mulled over that as the group left, teleported to the front porch of the cabine. They walked into the building and came face to face with everyone else, Death smiled at their siblings, knowing the other three could tell it was there no doubt.

And as the groups finally reunited, smiles, hugs, laughs and all of that kind being done, they couldn't help but let that smile stay on their face.

No, it wasn't bad to grow attached to things you'll one day lose. One day you'll lose it all anyways, so why not live your life to the fullest?

<One of my favorite ones to write yet! I'm really happy with this one! And also, as I said I would in my announcements, I will provide Death's new look!

And there it is! I didn't bother redoing the mask, since I already had that done, plus I didn't want to potentially ruin the drawing.

And with that being said, I'm done! So stay safe and have a wonderful time everyone!>