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Chapter Text

JSchlatt won the election.

No one expected, no one except Shlatt and Quackity did since they banded together and pooled all of their votes in to overcome everyone else within the election. 

Tommy could only feel numb as he and Wilbur now stood among the audience, watching Schlatt smile on the podium with a type of arrogance that Tommy would have loved to wipe off that stupid face of his. But he couldn't move from his spot as Schlatt started his speech, gaze half-lidded and twinkling with victory and smile oh so very wide and smug. Tommy took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself- no, he was calm. The dread in his stomach was a heavy sensation but he would deal with it in due time.

Wilbur was watching with stony eyes and an emotionless face, however Tommy could see the turmoil underneath the stone, the anxiety bubbling underneath his skin and the way his hands were clenched tightly into fists by his sides. Tommy bit his lip, but focused his attention back on Schlatt who was still talking by Ender shut the fuck up man.

Schlatt's eyes sharpened a bit and Tommy tensed within the crowd as he grinned, "Let's start making it happen." As soon as those words fell out of Schlatt's mouth, a bright light nearly blinded everyone as well as the sound of a portal's unnatural hum. It sounded just like a Nether Portal, but louder and more distorted. 

When the light died down and everyone got their vision back, Tommy's eyed widened at the brand new sight before him. A portal, structured like a Nether Portal but built out of metal and stone, glowing silver, stood right between and before the stage and the audience. They were all stunned in silence as a figure came out of said portal, tall, decked out in full enchanted netherite.

A man with a familiar mask but unfamiliar clothes stood. 

"Where's Dream?" The man with the red hood, wearing Dream's mask immediately asked. 

Before anyone could even react or answer, the portal behind him flared brightly and the man jumped away with an annoyed grunt as another man also decked in netherite tumbled out of the silver glowing portal. Wild dark hair, dark blue eyes, burnt scars underneath his chin-

"Tubbo?" Tommy muttered in surprise, somehow recognizing the man as his best friend. Which was impossible because Tubbo was sitting right by Niki- but this man looked so much like Tubbo only older, scarred and properly built for combat.

"Tommy!" The older Tubbo screamed, but not at Tommy who stood beside Wilbur. But at the masked man with the red hood. "What the fuck was that?!" He spat, just as the portal's silver glow dissipated, the sound of what seemed to be ethereal glass breaking, leaving only the shell of the portal behind. 

'Tommy'- the man in Dream's mask, shrugged, "Probably definitely what it looked like pal, but damn bitch I didn't think you'd actually follow me." He said in a voice so nonchalant, Tommy had to double-take. What the fuck was going on?

"Excuse me but what the fuck is going on exactly?" Tommy hid a grimace as Schlatt asked the question that had just been in his head, the goat-horned man looking down at the two men with an incredulous look. In any other situation, Tommy probably would have snorted at it but Schlatt had indeed asked a very important question.

Older Tubbo? Glanced up at him, his face dropping from indignant fury to pale shock, "Oh fuck," Slipped past his lips as he finally seemed to register where the hell they were. "We're at the elections." He said, gaze dropping down to the rest of them who were looking back at him with the same amount of shock on their faces. His eyes were wide as he looked around, pain filtering in as he sees a lot of familiar faces and- he and Tommy's eyes meet and the young blond watches as the color practically drained from his face while a whirlwind of emotions invaded the older man's expression. Tommy held his breath, gazing into the man's eyes as he felt concern build up from the expressions alone. Just why was he looking at him like that? 

"Looks like it yeah." The masked Tommy- why the fuck was he wearing Dream's mask? What the hell- drawled, expression hidden behind the porcelain on his face. "I didn't think it'd send us this far."

Schlatt frowned, "Uh helloo? Mind telling us on what the fuck is going on here? What just happened? Who are you two? I know as hell that you are not Dream so why are you wearing his mask?" He questioned, leaning over the podium towards them. 

"Yeah man like, what the hell?" Quackity added in, actually putting his sunglasses on his head just so he could see them both better. 

Older Tubbo tore his gaze away from Tommy, who felt like his heart could just jump out of his chest because of the lasting look of longing and pain on his face before his expression hardened as he turned to look at Schlatt and Quackity on the stage. He smiled, though it looked more of a grimace, "Uhh, well y'see... Hi Quackity, it's me! Tubbo! Or well, future Tubbo? I'm from the future!" He exclaimed though it seemed awkward as he glanced back from the stage to his younger self who was gaping at me. "Hello, past me- er, Tubbo? Fuck, this might get confusing- y'know what? Just call me Toby! Much easier that way yeah?" 

"What." Schlatt deadpanned as whispers and murmurs erupted as soon as Tubb-Toby? finished talking, standing there awkwardly in his fully enchanted netherite armor. 

"Look, it's complicated to explain but just believe me okay? I'm Tubbo from like, I think probably ten-ish years in the future bu- hey!" Toby shouted, head whipped up to the side towards Masked Tommy, who had seemingly tried to sneak away during the commotion. "Don't you dare sneak away Tommy! You're going stay right here, with me-" 

"Like fuck I am! I'm not just going to stay here in front of these bitches, and especially with you. Bitch." The man snarled at him, which was wrong, why the hell was he snarling at Tubb- Toby like that? He was his Tubbo wasn't he? His friend?

He couldn't help it, he had to speak up. "Oi!" He trudged through the crowds closer towards them, "Don't call him a bitch!" 

Both men seemed taken back by his sudden appearance, Toby looking lost while Masked Tommy- it was hard to tell with that damned fucking mask on his face. "I'll call him whatever the hell I want." He finally replied, arms crossed tightly in front of his chest. "Stay out of this Tommy." 

"What the fuck man? You're in this which means I should be too! I'm literally you- you're literally me but fucking older! Which by the way, what even the everloving shit man?! What's with the get-up? Full fucking netherite, enchanted and Dream's dumb fucking mask?! What the hell?!" Tommy shrieked, feeling angry at himself. At his older self, fuck was this weird but no less was he angry. 

But suddenly, that anger turned into fear as he was met with a glowing netherite axe to the face- the sharp edge practically grazing the tip of his nose before a glowing diamond sword intercepted the weapon. Tommy was shoved back as alarmed screams and gasps sounded the air, Wilbur and Tubbo scrambling to his side while Toby stood before him, brandishing his enchanted sword at Masked Tommy. 

"Dont. Call. It. Dumb." Masked Tommy hissed at him, gripping the handle of his axe which was currently clashing against Toby's sword. He let himself be pushed back by Toby, if only to give them both room as Masked Tommy turned to the man with fury on his face. "What? It's not like I was actually going to fucking kill him, I'm not stupid." He spat, slinging the axe over his shoulder, but not putting it away. 

Toby kept his stance, sword aimed at Masked Tommy while Tommy panted behind him- quietly whispering, 'What the fuck' over and over again as Wilbur and Tubbo kept to his side. "It sure looked like you would've!" Tubbo, Tommy's Tubbo, the young Toby, hysterically shrilled, hugging Tommy tightly.

"Tommy what the fuck!?" Fundy shouted from the sidelines, holding on to Niki who was staring at Masked Tommy with disbelief and fear as the rest of the audience either looked ready to run, or to fight. 

Masked Tommy tilted his head, it reminisced so much like Dream's occasional head tilts it was creepy. "Yeah... No, Tu-Toby's actually right. This'll be too confusing, 'sides I refuse to share a name with that bitch over there." He motioned to the wide-eyed, pale and shaky Tommy behind Toby. "Call me- Tom's too fucking obvious and too weird. Theo. Call me Theo, easier that way." 

"I have no idea what's going on here," Schlatt said aloud, a strange look on his face but he's eyeing both Toby and Mas-Theo with a complicated expression. "Time travel seems fucking insane but whether or not that's the actually the case here, I am now in charge of L'Manberg- no, Manberg. We are changing that name, and now as the presid-" He says, building up to something.

Only, he's interrupted.

"Shut up Schlatt." 

By both, Toby and Theo. 

Toby has a dead-eyed, near-murderous look on his face as he stared down the goat-horned man who falters at the look. Terrified. Theo's glare was clear even with the mask on, and honestly, just like how Dream sometimes did- the mask seemed more intimidating in that moment. 

Wilbur's fingers seemed to tighten around Tommy's arm, "W-Wha- excuse me?" Schlatt spluttered, despite being terrified to his bones. 

"We said, shut up! You're going to be a terrible president anyway! It hardly fucking matters now!" Toby, the strange older, angrier Tubbo, screams at him. "And it's L'Manberg no matter what the fuck you just said! You change it to Manberg and you will fucking die you hear me?! A war will be waged and you will die from an Ender-damned heart-attack- some president you are! You're just a daft old fucking man who can never be a good president!" The fingers around Tommy's arm loosened, tightened and loosened again, making the young blond give his adoptive brother a confused look that gets ignored as Wilbur stares directly at Toby. 

Tubbo just gawps at his older self, who stood tall and strong before him, spitting treason through his lips with hardly an ounce of fear in him. Just a righteous fury and anger that honestly scares him. Tubbo was scared of himself, now. Of the man that he seemed to have grown into and he's hardly even known what exactly happened. 

Schlatt looks disbelieving, how couldn't he? When a man who claims to be from the future suddenly shouts at you with anger laced in his voice on how you were going to be terrible and how you would die, anyone would be hesitant. But Toby is giving him an absolutely feral look, and Schlatt couldn't even see a shred of deception or lie in his eyes which were blinded with such rage- Shlatt really felt terrified for his life. 

So he steps away from the podium, and in his head he's thinking through a lot of things. Mostly on how to stay alive when a man, decked absolutely in enchanted netherite armor was giving him a death glare all the while declaring his death to the whole world. And those were high enchantments. Even to someone like him, he could tell that that armor was fucking overpowered as fuck. Not to mention Toby's sword which definitely had high enchantments, all it was truly missing was a netherite coating. 

Toby took a few deep breaths, trying to keep calm. So many buried feelings being dug up just by standing here, screaming at Schlatt- it was kind of cathartic actually but ultimately now he felt somewhat awkward as he stood before so many people who were gawking at him. Fuck, he hadn't really meant to go off like that but still the memories that were here were fucking painful and a lot of it was rooted towards him. What would've happened had Schlatt lost the vote? Would things have been better? Would've he and Tommy still be- "Wait." His eyes widened as he looked around, "Tommy?!" Tommy squinted at him, he was right there with Wilbur and Tubbo- oh, he meant Theo.

Oh fuck, Theo was gone.

"Shit shit shit shit! No! Where's he gone now?!" Toby whirled around, trying to find even a clue as to where the masked man went but it seemed like he had used Toby's shoutfest to sneak away properly this time. "No, no no! I have to find him, I have to-" Just before he can go, he's stopped by Wilbur. 

"Tubbo wait!" Wilbur exclaimed, catching his wrist and taking his attention, "Wait, I mean Toby- we still need answers! What the hell happened? You have- your chin, that portal, Tommy- Toby what's going on?" He questioned, desperate to know more about the future that by the looks of how Toby was acting, didn't seem to be so bright as he once had hoped. 

Toby grimaced, shaking off Wilbur's hand from his wrist, "I'd love to answer your questions- later! But I have to find To-Theo, that bastard I have to get to him before he-" He's stopped once again. But this time, by both Tubbo and Tommy. 

"Before he what?" Tommy questioned, gripping what scrap of cloth he could hold on to from underneath the armor. "Tu-Toby. Why the fuck am I wearing Dream's mask and why is he- why the fuck is future me such a bitch?" He asks quietly, which made Toby falter right then and there.

Tubbo just hammered it in, "I know it's like, important for you to find him. I do want to find him too but, I also want to know... just what is happening? Why do you both sound..." His younger self looked so lost, so confused. Toby realized just how smaller Tubbo was compared to him now. He realized that Tubbo, his younger self, was still sixteen. And so was Tommy.

Toby sighed, putting away his sword and giving them all a very tired look. "Okay, fine." He had to find Tommy. His Tommy it ached thinking that fuck but he couldn't just leave all of a sudden, not to mention Shlatt was up there, he'd interrupted his speech. Shlatt hadn't actually exiled Wilbur and Tommy, yet. Toby could stop that, he could stop a lot of things.

Tommy included. He could get help here, from his younger self, from Wilbur he's alive he's not a ghost but was he sane?, and everyone else in L'Manberg. 

"But first," He says as he thinks carefully, he looks at Wilbur and Tommy. "Contact Technoblade. He needs to get here as soon as possible." 

Both brothers gave him and each other a look of surprise.

Technoblade? Why would Toby want him here?

Tommy- no, it was Theo now wasn't it? 

Theo sighed in relief as he leaned against the tree. He was out of that damned nation- it had been easier than he remembered, getting out of there. But then again, L'Manberg now was still in one piece. Wilbur hadn't blown it all to fucking smithereens yet and everyone hadn't rebuild his brother was alive. A lot of buildings and structures were missing, key landmarks were gone but that just meant it was easier for him to escape unnoticed.

Tub-Toby had been so caught up at shouting at JSchlatt that he hadn't noticed him slipping away, how hilarious was that? Granted, Theo had been tempted to do the same at the goat-horned man but Dream had taught him better. And he wasn't going to just let the opportunity to get away slip by.

Don't let your emotions get the better of you. Pick your timings and abscond when it's best.

He sucked in a deep breath, it's a bit hard with a porcelain mask over your face but he's gotten used to it. "Well then, to get on with shit." He muttered, stretching a bit in place. "Mind comin' out here Dream? I gotta talk with you." He asked aloud, looking over at the dense trees that surrounded him. He snorted when silence greeted him instead of Dream's reply, "Come on man, I'm tired right now and- no wait hold on." He stripped himself from his netherite armor, he's done stripping armor off down pat as a fucking art he tells you, it's mostly on instinct by now. Taking off his armor quickly like this, and he hasn't done it in months. Why was he doing this exactly? Well, it would make Dream feel more safe, probably, but ultimately more curious and willing to speak as Theo leaned against the tree and taking out a steak from his inventory.

No weapon in hand and armor off. 

Something old and small shivered in him, old, bad memories, it was whispering something that he ignored as he moved his mask aside slightly and bit into the steak. "'ell? Go' t'e a'hmo'h off. C'mon out, talking to thin air is never fun." He complained after swallowing the steak. Dream was here, he was. He was just being a bastard, not showing up just for the hell of it- Fucking prick. He means well, but Dream was a downright ass.

"I'd say otherwise, watching someone talk to thin air is kinda entertaining. Not gonna lie." Theo's tense shoulders immediately relaxed as Dream's voice came from his left. He glanced towards the side to see- yep. There was Dream, in his own set of enchanted netherite armor. The sight should make Theo tense, but Dream didn't have his axe out, no weapon in hand and that was enough for Theo. But he'd still be ready nonetheless if Dream decided attacking him would be a decision he was going to make. "George messaged me earlier on, saying some guy appeared in a weird portal with my mask on- now that was weird. Even weirder, another guy comes out too. And the weirdest thing he said was they guy with my mask? Was Tommy from the future." Dream said conversationally, like he wasn't curious as to what was going on. 

Theo snorted and without an ounce of hesitance, took off the mask and his red hood down, showing Dream his face and catching the other man off guard. "He was right." Theo smiled at Dream, it's a tired and somewhat resigned smile. His eyes are a dull shade of blue, they never really did recover their full color after his exile, same went for his hair, not as bright as before. He still looked like Tommy, because he was Tommy. Only older, his face thinner, duller, and a scar coming from his upper lip towards his forehead, narrowly missing his right eye. "Hey Dream, glad to see your green ass again." 

He missed him. Despite everything, he fucking missed this man. His old friend. His old enemy. His old abuser. His old mentor. His old everything. Ender, Theo felt old now- he was at Dream's height! Dream was 23 right now. Theo was older than him right now by 3 years.

Endering fuck. 

Dream was silent, staring at him through that mask but Tommy could practically see the cogs in his head spinning. "This can't be happening." He deadpans at him, Theo snickered at him. "No really, time travel? You, Tommy, wearing my mask? Just what even-"

"A lot's happened my friend." Theo interrupted him, mind getting back on track. "But for now, we should get to the Stronghold. Got a lot of shit to do." At the mention of the location, Dream instantly tensed and an axe appeared in his hand. Theo raised his hand submissively in surrender, feeling nothing but bitter fondness at the familiar act as he threw Dream his netherite armor, surprising the man in the green hoodie. "Here, take it. I'm keeping my weapons though, for the mobs. But really we need to go, I'll explain both on the way and at the Stronghold." He told him as he tied his own mask around his face again, covering his hair with his red hood.

He wasn't kidding when he said he had a lot to do. T-oby would be preoccupied by everyone else, he'd probably get Technoblade too. 

They needed to get this show on the road, Theo had some shit to do and a friend to save.

Chapter Text

A piglin hybrid surrounded by brewing potions pauses in his tasks as his communicator goes off, beeping out a specific tune that has him quickly reaching for it.

Wilbur Soot messaged you: Tech you need to come to the SMP now pronto
Wilbur Soot messaged you: Please you really need to come something's happened
Wilbur Soot messaged you: I honestly don't know everything that's happened but Tech I can already tell it's bad
Wilbur Soot messaged you: We need you Techno please come

TommyInnit messaged you: big t come the fuck right here
TommyInnit messaged you: please

Technoblade messaged Wilbur Soot: I'm getting Phil
Technoblade messaged TommyInnit: We're coming

The hybrid wastes no time, gathering the finished potions and storming up the stairs. "Phil! Pack up! Wilbur and Tommy need us!" He shouts, loud enough for it to reach upstairs and in no time he can hear the muffled flurry of footsteps and cursing. 

"What?! What happened?!" 

He rummages through his items, critically thinking to himself on what to bring. The voices in his head try to help.

need leashes? TECHNOBRO! big brother mode. E. Bring potatoes! You need to bring books. Bucket! extra food sounds good. Cccccc. POOOOOG TECHNOSUPPORT! flowers?

It's a half and half effort, some are trying to help, some aren't, and by now the usual ritual of a random letter just appears in his head. Nonetheless he takes it all in stride and starts looking for his bags.

"I don't know but we're going to find out!"

Dream felt confused.

Cautious, but confused.

Behind him is a man wearing one of his masks- and he knows it's one of his masks, not a pale imitation or an imitation period. That porcelain, that smile, the eyes, that was genuinely one of his masks- and behind that mask is a familiar yet unfamiliar face. 

A face he's seen frequently before, thought frequently before. A face that was usually associated with annoyance and mostly annoyance, sometimes it'd shift into amusement and even anger but annoyance was what he usually felt whenever he saw that face or heard the name of that face.

TommyInnit.

Tommy.

A teenage brat that's caused so much trouble on his lands and kept going against him at nearly every possible turn. Someone who he sees as an annoyance at best and a potential threat at worst. He kept getting into trouble, causing it, instigating it- trouble was Tommy's middle name. Whenever Tommy was involved with something important, you'd best know that trouble was around the corner somehow in someway.

And yet here he was, right behind him- no longer a teenager but a grown adult. Following his lead towards a location that no one else should know about. Not even George, Sapnap or Bad knew about the Stronghold so how did Tommy know about it? 

"You showed it to me." Tommy answered after he asked, voice steady, casual, as they walked within the dim moonlight. They were getting farther from the SMP lands, from L'Manberg. "Future you, my Dream- he brought me to the Stronghold. He showed me the path there, the secret portals you put up and the passages you've hidden. I even know about the Pillager Dark Mansion's whereabouts." 

Dream stopped in place and turned to face the te- the man. Tommy was his height now, 6'4, maybe 6'3 without the boots. It's hard to tell right now, but if they were both maskless at the moment, they'd truly be seeing eye-to-eye at the same height level. Tommy was always a tall gangly teenager, but Dream didn't have to tilt his head down to meet him eye-to-eye. They were really the same height now. That was weird, uncomfortable really but it didn't matter. "... You know where the Mansion is?" He questioned quietly, giving him a piercing stare through the eyes of his mask. 

Tommy hummed, nodding, "Yeah I do." He confirmed, tilting his head slightly as he stared back at Dream. Unflinchingly. Without arrogance or feigned casualness. His body language just completely relaxed- it was baffling, Tommy used to fidget at his gaze, covering it up with his boisterous voice and loud, flailing movements. Tommy used to be unnerved by him- not anymore. That's... pretty annoying actually. Disappointing almost. Somewhat relieving in strange, unknown ways."... Oh right, you're probably still looking for it now yeah?" Tommy questioned back, realizing on why Dream had asked that instead of literally anything else.

It's irking, that Tommy realized that. That Tommy knew that. That he knew Dream had been trying to find the damned mansion for a couple of months now- he almost had it, he had a few locations where he suspected it was but then Tommy shows up saying he knew there it was. Though it's implied that Dream, future Dream or whatever, found the mansion on his own in the future. That, at least, is good to hear.

"Do you want me to tell you where it is?" Tommy asks, and Dream has to look at him. Really look at him. 

Because he's finally getting it.

This Tommy wasn't the Tommy he knew of. 

Because the Tommy he knew of wouldn't be standing still, relaxed in presence, he wouldn't be quiet during the walk, he wouldn't be asking Dream with a tone that had no amount of arrogance, or childish smug- just genuine curiosity mixed with a quiet expectant near-submissive undertone. Tommy wouldn't be wearing a hoodie that was so much like his, even if it was red. He wouldn't be wearing one of his mask, or anything near like it. He wouldn't be willingly giving up his enchanted netherite armor to him -which had the highest enchantments he's ever seen holy shit- He wouldn't be following behind Dream, he wouldn't know about the Stronghold, his secret portals, his passages or even the Mansion.

This wasn't Tommy.

"Who are you?" Who was this man to him? To Dream? To whatever Dream the man apparently was close to.

Not-Tommy quietly looked at him, proving more on how he was not the Tommy Dream knew of, was used to. "I'm Theo." He finally answered, "Not Tommy, not the one that you know anyway. I'm Theo now." 

Theo. 

Dream didn't know what it was short for, but it's not enough.

He stepped closer to Tommy. To Theo. Watching how Theo's shoulders bobbed, seeming to tense up slightly before dropping back. "Who are you Theo?" Who was he? What happened to him? Where was the Tommy that Dream knew? The Tommy that screamed profanities at him. Stared him in the eyes with trembling hands clutching a bow in a duel that he lost. The teenager on his last life who bargained for his nation's freedom with the most precious items in his possession.

Where was he? Where was Tommy?

"I'm Tommy." Theo answered, taking his mask off. Dull blue eyes glinting in the moonlight, hair still covered by his hood but his scarred face stared right at Dream. He looked vulnerable. He looked content. "I'm Theo." He continued, a single but familiar old, slightly scratched and cracked disc appears in his hands and he offers it to Dream, his hand not even twitching. "I'm yours, Dream. Your tool, your weapon, your protege, your friend. What you need from me, you'll get. I will be by your side and I will do anything to help you." He says with conviction, he doesn't have a smile on his face- the corner of his lips do twitch up a bit but he ultimately looks at Dream with a stoic look of burning loyalty. And underneath that, a bitter fondness mixed with several other emotions. A whirlwind fanning the burning in those unfamiliar blue eyes.

Ah.

He's only seen that look aimed at everyone else but him. 

Now though...

Dread mixed with elation as he looked down to the disc in Theo's hand, outstretched and offered to him.

Theo was Dream's. His friend, his protege, his weapon, his tool.

That's not right.

No, that's perfect.

He reaches for the disc and Theo watches him, with trusting, loyal eyes and steady offering hand.

Toby sat down on the bed with a sigh, his armor was off and safely put in his enderchest along with a few other valuables he had. The sun was rising but Toby didn't care, it's been a long day and he really wanted to rest for a while. He was exhausted in all types of it- emotionally, physically, mentally, socially. A lot of -ally. 

He flopped over to lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling with a grimace.

He's failed his main goal.

Theo was probably with him by now and who knows what was going to happen. Chaos most definitely, either way, Toby would have to prepare himself. Try to prepare everyone as well. But that was going to be hard, because despite everything everyone respected and feared Dream.

Just the thought of seeing that bastard again, alive and well- Toby's jaw clenched as he promised to himself. Things would be different now, he was here, he was already changing things. Dream would stay away from Tommy, tiny Tommy. Ender it hurt to see him, his old best friend as he should be. Boisterous, loud and so bright- he'd almost forgotten on how bright his eyes and hair was. How his face looked like.

Toby sucked in a deep breath, pressing his palms into his eyes hard. Hard enough to see stars in an effort to stave off whatever nostalgic, old tears would come. He's done his crying, he's done it months ago. He has things to do, he shouldn't cry now. His resolve to keep this Tommy away from Dream grows.

But what about Theo then?

He couldn't leave him with that man either. Not again. Never again.

He had to separate them for good, get Tom-get Theo some fucking therapy or just any kind of help.

Months of chasing after him, after the masked bastard was finally dead and gone, and here they were. In the past, a second chance in their grasps- they could change so much. Toby could prevent so much suffering. He could prevent disasters. He and Theo both, could prevent the end of the world. The end of this world, at the cost of their own.

It hits him then, that he can't go back now. To his world, to his future. The portal was a one-way trip, that was what Philza and Fundy had said a week ago when the portal was still unfinished. 

They were- they were both stuck there. With- with the-

Knock knock

"Toby?"

He sat up immediately, sword in hand- but- it was just knocking. It was just Wilbur. Sane and alive Wilbur. Toby's breath of relief was quiet as he puts away his sword, "Come on in Wilbur." The door to his room, temporary for now, creaked open.

Toby was bunking in one of his younger self's guest room. It was small and bare but it was enough for Toby. The knowledge alone that outside was a not-blown-up L'Manberg with green grass and blue skies was enough for him. He hasn't slept in the Overworld, in an actual bed, above ground, in a very long time. And not safely at least.

Wilbur steps in, alive and now dressed in his casual wear instead of his L'Manberg uniform. "Hey." The olde- no, Toby was older than Wilbur now wasn't he? By two years at least. Ender, that was so strange to think about. 

Toby gave him a weak smile, sitting on the edge of his bed, "Hey Gh-Wilbur." Wilbur was alive. He wasn't Ghostbur, he was alive, sane. Ghostbur was back in the future, hopefully keeping an eye on everyone else. 

Wilbur gives him a smile, and Toby swallows down the complicated feelings that brings up. It's been almost a decade since he's ever seen Wilbur, Alivebur, smile like that. Without a hint of paranoia, of insanity and malice on his face. Swirling in his eyes, boiling underneath his smile. Wilbur gives him a smile free from any of that, full of reassurance and what seems to be gratitude. 

"So..." Nonetheless, there's an awkward air between them both. Toby doesn't know how to interact with Alivebur, so used to Ghostbur who was only a pale, yet more innocent version of the Wilbur that sat next to him. And likewise, Wilbur doesn't know how to interact with Toby, the older, more jaded Tubbo with scars underneath his chin and a strange hardened resolve in his eyes.

"So... what brings you to my company Wilbur?" Toby asks, offering to talk first. 

Wilbur shrugged, "I just- wanted to check up on you. It's been a very busy night. I, well, I didn't have the chance to actually talk with you earlier on." He said, remembering hours ago when everyone was hounding Toby. Trying to gain information from the poor man, granted he wanted information as well but he could see how Toby was fairing with everyone already. And Toby had firmly put his foot down, diplomatically answering that he'd talk with all of them soon enough but some things needed to be done first.

Technoblade had to be contacted into coming to L'Manberg and Toby had to talk with both Schlatt and Quackity.

"Technoblade's on his way with Phil." Wilbur told him, showing his communicator and watched as Toby seemed to deflate with relief. He'd been so tense, he realized. Despite sitting here in Tubbo's guest room, on the bed, without his armor on. 

Wilbur watched Toby grin, genuine and true. Toby really was Tubbo, but older and different wasn't he? "Oh thank goodness. I mean, I wasn't expecting Philza coming too but maybe having him come sooner than later would be for the best." He said mostly to himself. He should've thought of it sooner, with Philza around then things might be a bit more stable, not to mention the old man could look at the leftover blocks from the portal that Toby collected. He couldn't risk leaving the blocks there, someone would've definitely stolen them.

"If you say so Tu-oby." Wilbur coughed, trying to cover up his near-mistake. Toby just chuckled by his side. "... Toby, earlier on. When you were shouting at Schlatt-" He starts and winces when Toby's relaxed state turned rigid. But he continues because he has to know- "You said he was, he would've become a terrible president. That he'd die of a heart-attack and that there'd be a war... Can you- Please, tell me what happened. And what you were talking about with Schlatt and Quackity."

Toby stays silent and he sighs, closing his eyes.

"So? What do you want to talk about Toby?" Schlatt questions, the three of them together alone in a single room. It wasn't too large, but the atmosphere was heavy as Toby stared down the goat-horned man. Quackity stood by Schlatt's side, unsure and wary. "You here to kill me kid?" He asks, feigning nonchalance. It was clear that Toby hated him, and his announcement of his death and apparent terrible presidency skills earlier hammered it all in.

"Toby, don't you even dare think about it." Quackity warned, but his stance is faltering because how can he really consider fighting against Toby? Against Tubbo? Tubbo who'd been so kind to him, one of his friends- and yet. The man before him called himself Toby, bore himself differently than Tubbo, and was from a future that Quackity didn't want to believe. 

Surprisingly though, Toby scoffed. "Oh no. I didn't bring you and Quackity here to kill you Schlatt, if I wanted to kill you I would've already stabbed you. Others be damned." He told him bluntly, with a cold look in his eyes. "You'll die on your own anyway." 

This man wasn't Tubbo. 

Not the one that both knew. 

Tubbo was a child soldier, age 16 but still capable of smiling so wide and gushed over bees whenever he saw them or whenever it was mentioned. Somehow he still retained some baby fat on his cheeks, he was an optimistic boy that was mostly polite- just some time ago Quackity had been joking around with him, with Tubbo sitting in a box while he and Tommy chanted 'Tubbo in a box, Tubbox Tubbo! Tubbo in a box! What will he do?'.

Toby here, was a warrior. Ten years older, still smiling but it wasn't as bright as before. His face was thinner, his body was bigger, well built and he had scars on him. The most noticeable one being underneath his chin, covering his neck and disappearing underneath his shirt and armor. It looked a burnt scar. Just earlier, he faced down Theo with an enchanted diamond sword and screamed vitriol at Schlatt.

Toby wasn't Tubbo, not in the same sense anymore.

"And? What do you want then? You want me to step down from presidency huh big guy? That what you want?" Schlatt asked, thinking to himself. If he stepped down, then maybe he'd be able to stay alive. He would go somewhere else, to a place with a nice beach maybe. Get as far away from here, as far away from Toby, as possible. "I could do that, but you'd need to think on who to give the job then- Quackity could be president." 

Quackity squawked beside him, "Wha- Me?! Are you kidding? You already agreed and you-" Schlatt had insisted being president before, when the votes were being polled and the ballots counted. Quackity had protested slightly but let him have it, he was fine with vice-president but now? Schlatt was just willingly giving away the job? 

"No." Both of them had to blink in surprise at the interruption. 

"No." Toby repeated, arms crossed and deadpanning. "Y'know what's going to happen now? You're going to stay president, you're going to keep the name of L'Manberg, you're going to fucking do your job properly." He declared firmly, eyes narrowed at them both.

Schlatt spluttered, "What- but you just said I would've made a terrible fucking president! Why the hell are you letting me keep the job?!" Did Toby really just want him to die that much?!

"Yeah man- as much as Schlatt's being a bitch right now, what he said makes sense and what you said doesn't make sense!" Quackity agreed, looking baffled as Toby glanced between them.

Toby huffed through his nose, scowling, "You were a terrible fucking president. But that's because you weren't doing your job properly, you were being a power-hungry idiot that was ruining our country. An alcoholic son of a bitch that didn't care about anything but the power you had as president- you pushed the work on Quackity and I and faffed about on your own while flaunting your control. This time though, you're going to do this properly." He told him, fists clenched as he continued. "Currently no one else is capable of being president, or vice-president and you won this election. Pooling your votes is iffy but you still won. I'm going to make sure you'll do your job and that this L'Manberg avoids the utter bullshit mine went through." He began to walk towards Schlatt, Quackity didn't even move from his spot or make a move to defend Schlatt as the air turned heavier with each step and each word.

"No wars against Pogtopia, no corruption, no public executions and certainly no. Fucking. Exiles." Toby hissed, practically looming over him as Schlatt pressed himself against the wall in a futile effort to stay away from him. Schlatt's sweat shined softly, reflecting the glow from Toby's armor. "You're lucky that Tommy and I interrupted you before you could exile Wilbur and Tommy- younger Tommy. That would've been the first step to your downfall, even without me here." He whispered, low and menacing.

"H-He was going to exile Wilbur and Tommy?" 

Toby glanced over to Quackity, giving him a hard look, it made him flinch. "Yes. Revoking their citizenship and exiling them results to them creating a rebellion faction of Pogtopia. And from there- war." He finally stepped back, letting Schlatt slide down the wall. "Two years, they were exiled for two years and it just gets worse after that. I will not let that happen again." He promised, to himself, to Tommy and Wilbur, to Quackity and Schlatt, to everyone, to Theo. 

Schlatt gulped down some very needed air, lungs straining in his chest besides his hammering heart, "A-A-And you think letting me stay in power will do any help?!" He said hysterically, now desperately wanting to give his seat away from the obviously insane man before him.

Toby snorted, "Kind of. Like I said, no one else would be able to fill the spot properly. Wilbur needs a break, he's established L'Manberg as a country with Tommy, he's only 24 for Ender's sake. And the war just finished months ago. He needs time. You on the other hand can get off your dumb fucking ass and be an actual man and president this once until I say otherwise. I'm going to make sure of it." 

"And i-if things go to shit?" Quackity couldn't help but question. 

Toby paused and his face darkened, he took out a glowing trident and-

Woosh-CLANG!

The trident embedded itself deep within the stone wall right beside Schlatt's head. The man wheezed in surprise and fear, fainting right then and there as the trident removed itself from the now cracked wall and returned to Toby's hand. Toby gave him a cold look and turned back to the now pale Quackity. "I'm not letting that happen... But if it does- well. Guess you'll be president then, and you will have to be responsible for everything." 

Whether or not Schlatt would be alive should Quackity be president was unknown.

"So try not to fuck things up, and everyone'll be happy yeah?" Toby said with a faint pleasant look on his face, which didn't affect his intimidation in the slightest. Not with a glowing trident in hand. "Am I understood?"

Quackity squeaked, "Y-Yes sir!"

Schlatt just whimpered on the floor as Toby nodded and left the room.

Honestly, Toby hadn't meant to keep Schlatt as president. But he truly couldn't think of anyone else to rise up for the job. Wilbur? Maybe he'd be a good president but he has his own problems, and Toby was admittedly afraid that he'd become just as power-hungry or just as insane as before. Toby didn't want to risk it. Niki? She had been a good president before, but she hadn't had a choice back then. He'd been down for the count and he didn't know if she wanted to be one now. He wasn't going to force anyone else to be President.

...

Toby could've been president. He probably should, he's been one before but...

No.

Just, no.

"Schlatt's going to keep presidency for now. I need more time to think on who can replace him, but I'll force him to do his job and be a good president." Toby told Wilbur carefully, watching him closely for his reaction.

To his unsurprise, Wilbur immediately looked angry, offended and- he looked hurt. Betrayed. Fuck. "What?! Why would you let him keep his seat?! You said-"

"I know what I said!" Toby snapped, "But I'm going to give him one chance. If he fucks up, he can fuck off the seat and it'll be free again. But for now, he can keep the damn seat and oversee the nation." 

"I could easily do that, I could be President and run L'Manberg-" Wilbur tried to argue, wondering why Toby was letting Schlatt continue to be president when just hours ago he was screaming at the goat-horned asshole. 

"You need to focus on other things! You have a son, you have a brother, you have a father and another brother coming soon. You faced a war months ago and you'll end up running yourself ragged if you took on Presidency- or worse." Toby stressed, he wants Wilbur to understand that this was for the best. For now at least. He wants him to understand with Toby telling him on his fears. On how he was scared that Wilbur would let the power to his head, would make decisions he would regret backed with the power of a nation. 

Toby's been there, at the tender age of 20, fresh out of the fucking war with so many things happening at once that Toby made so many regrets. 

"Worse? Worse? Tell me what's worse- tell me what happens. Toby I should be president, I could lead us to glory! L'Manberg would be the greatest country ever if I came to power. You said JSchlatt was a terrible president and that there was a war right? You said that this was L'Manberg, not Manberg so it means that we won whatever war happened. Schlatt died and we won, so why can't I be president?" He assumed that he would've become president after the war, another war- horrible to think of but if it was for L'Manberg then it would've been worth it.

If it was for L'Manberg- "Wilbur." Wilbur straightened and shivered at the look on Toby's face. It was- sad. Desperate. So packed full of emotions as Toby eyes shined with a building layer of tears. "Stop. Please just- stop. I can't. I can't- Don't brush aside the fact another war happened so casually, don't just remark that 'we won' without knowing what the ever loving fuck happened. Schlatt did die, but so did so many others. I died. Tommy almost died so many times. And you-" The memories swirled in his head as he stared down Wilbur with wet, conflicted eyes.

For a moment, Wilbur sits there not with a casual sweater, but with a trench coat. Then with a yellow sweater and he was entirely transparent. "Being president means more than just having power or leading a country to glory." He whispered, the seed was there in Wilbur's eyes all along. Even before the war, the seed was there. The exile watered that seed, made it grow and twisted it horribly at fast rate. "Being president means caring for your people, humbling yourself and remembering what your nation stood for and running it for the sake of everyone. That the power you hold isn't just for you, but for everyone. Listening to everyone and trying to work out the solution- It's dedicating your life to your people but also trying not to lose yourself in the process. There will always be consequences to whatever you do, but this time it'll be bigger because you have power behind your actions." 

"Hello Mr. President." Tubbo could only stare at the him with numb disbelief as screams and ash filled the air. The last of the explosions have long gone out, but the fire was still roaring and his people were still dying. L'Manberg was dying for a third time, and like everyone else. It seemed like this would be their last and final death as Tommy's face was stoic and completely devoid of emotions, even with blood dripped from his face. Blood that stained Tubbo's sword. "And goodbye." He was kicked into a crater, filled with fire and burning red plants that screamed but it all blended in with everyone else's scream as L'Manberg died.

Toby took in a deep shaky breath, and gave Wilbur a searing, teary look through narrowed eyes. "Get out."

Wilbur was stunned, sitting still on the bed. "What?"

"Get out Wilbur." 

...

"... please..."

Toby watched him go, a maelstrom of conflictions and emotions. When the door creaked close, Toby flopped back down on the bed. Taking deep, trembling breaths as tears began to finally fall down his face. 

Ender, he felt so tired...

He threw an arm over his eyes. He should sleep...

Toby jolted back up from the bed, eyes wide and disbelieving as he stared at his arm. Right at his wrist. 

No.

No way.

That was impossible.

Three hearts stared back at him from his wrist. 

He had three lives again.

"Huh, I've got three lives again." 

Dream paused from his chest rummaging, they were now in the Nether. Hidden in the entrance of one of Dream's passages. "What?" 

Theo showed him his wrist, showing the three hearts stamped permanently into his flesh until he died and lost one of the hearts. "See? Three hearts. Lucky me." He said sardonically with an unseen smile, only twitching when Dream grabbed his wrist, rubbing at his skin. It did nothing. His hands flexed, curling up before quickly uncurling. Don't. It was just Dream, he was fine.

"What even the fuck dude." Dream says, probably frowning underneath his mask. "That's just not fair." He complained, finally letting go after it was clear that it was indeed legit. Theo had all three of his lives back, no longer hanging on one life anymore. 

Theo snickered at his complaint, but wordlessly got out a certain item from his inventory, tossing it at Dream. "I won't be needing this then." 

Dream deftly caught the time, staring down at the golden item with emerald encrusted eyes. "Is this...?" He trails off, clutching the item tightly as he hungrily studied it closely.

"Ye-p." Theo popped, "A genuine Totem of Undying. That's my last one. We'll have to get more later." He says, flicking the switch to one of the passages, watching the entrance open. 

He glanced back at Dream, motioning to the passage way. "C'mon. You can study the thing more at the Stronghold." This was the last stop before they reached the location.

Dream shook his head, putting the totem away in his inventory and nodded. Striding forward and leading the way once more, Theo followed after him. Like always. The entrance locked shut behind him and it didn't take long for them to reach the final portal. Theo took in a deep breath as Dream activated the portal, stepping into the glowing purple portal with Dream and in no time...

Fffwoooommmm

They were there.

"Ah, home sweet home." Theo murmured as familiar stone bricks and iron bars greeted him. 

Dreams snorted besides him, "Home? Really?"

Theo shrugged at him, "Really. I'm gonna have to make my room again, can I build it where it was or do you have anywhere you want me to build it?" He asked Dream, always ask Dream before he did something. Unless there was no time to ask, then he'd have to do it first then explain later for his reasoning. If it pleased Dream then he went unpunished, even rewarded sometimes. But if not- he should've done better.

Dream gives him a look, it's unnoticeable to those who haven't know him for years but Theo's been by his side for years. "Where was your room?" 

"By the library, across from your room." Theo answered, watching him think before nodding. He smiles, that was easier than he thought. 

But then again he was here before the war so of course it was easier.

"Build it later, for now... tell me everything." Dream says, tossing the totem back at him.

He almost fumbles in surprise. Almost. Dream's trained him to be better than that so he catches it in surprise instead. "You're not keeping it?" He asked, confused as to why Dream gave him the mystical item back. 

"I'll get my own at a later date, when I find the mansion." Dream answers, arms crossed, "So keep it." There was an unspoken 'for now' but Theo didn't care. There was a small feeling of warmth in his chest, warring with the usual emotional conflict. Still he nods and puts it back in his inventory.

"Alright. I'll tell you everything I can."

Here's to hoping everything works out.

Chapter Text

They move to the library instead of staying where they were.

It was more comfortable there, Dream had yet to create a lounging area within the Stronghold. Theo notes on what was missing, what wasn't there when he'd first been in the Stronghold. But essentially, the library is probably one of the only rooms where Dream didn't change much over the years it seems.

Numerous amounts of bookshelves, one section dedicated to enchanting with the enchantment table surrounded by bookshelves. Ghostly letters separating from certain books and sucked into the table. There's a gigantic map on one wall, colored string pinned to the map, leading from one point to another. It's not a finished map, Theo knows the map will grow bigger because this was not the map he was used to. 

Dream pulls up a chair from a nearby table, sitting down. Theo just stand before him, a table in between them. His arms are folded behind his back, his mask is gone but his hood is up.

Theo never wears his mask within the Stronghold. It felt more comfortable this way, and Dream could always see his face. Would always be able to tell whether or not Theo was lying to him or was hiding something from him. But it was more comfortable this way, he almost always had his mask on whenever he went outside so he'd get the freedom of having it off back within the safety of the Stronghold.

"Ask me something and I'll answer it. To the best of my abilities." Theo tells him, watching him silently as the younger version of his mentor sat before him. 

It was really strange for Theo, to see Dream like this. His hoodie was a bit different, it's style changing over the years. His mask was essentially the same as always, the man had tons of masks. It had honestly baffled him but it made sense. His mask wasn't indestructible. And hey, Dream gave him some of his masks too because Theo was his protege. His student, his friend.

His weapon, his tool.

Theo had to wear something of Dream's to show everyone just how close they were. 

Not to mention no one else could tell what he was thinking or feeling when he had the mask on. Well, Dream sometimes did, but he was Dream. 

"The portal." Dream starts, "George told me you came out of a portal made out of iron, netherite and stone. And that it glowed silver. Tell me about the portal, who made it, why and why you jumped out of the portal." 

Philza and Fundy had made the portal.

A joint project between them in an effort to change everything that's happened, both were geniuses when it came to runic inscriptions and adept in enchantments. Creating the portal however was no easy feat, they had risked their lives for the one-way trip portal that was, for the moment, useless. And currently in Toby's hands apparently.

Figures he'd keep the blocks to himself. Damn. 

Theo would just have to try and take them, they weren't that important but Dream would probably want them. He already looked interested in how the portal worked. If Dream wanted him to get the blocks then Theo would get those blocks. 

As for why...

"Tommy."

He shifted his weight, trudging on despite how tired he was. Despite how cold he was. Thankfully though, it wasn't storming and the snowfall was gentle and if it were any other situation. It'd be pleasant.

"Tommy, listen to me." 

He was and is listening. He always listens to him. There was rarely a time he didn't listen, he knew this. Dream knew this. He was listening, and he was going to continue walking through this snow. He could walk and listen, Dream had taught him how to multitask efficiently. He would walk and listen, this was what he was doing. Walk and listen. Continue on. 

"Tommy, stop."

His legs are trembling, not just from the cold now. But to listen to his words and stop. He doesn't. He can't. He could make it. They could make it. Dream they could make it. They were so close, the snow was lovely today, it wouldn't hinder them to continue. They could still make it. 

"Please."

He stops. The weight on his back shifted, the arms over his shoulders pushed at him weakly. He kept a tight grip on the thighs on his sides, not budging.

"Put me down."

He shuffles towards a nearby tree for shade and flimsy shelter as he sets Dream down against the trunk. He looked horrible. He had to say, red was not Dream's color. It didn't suit him. Green did. But the only green left on Dream were the small spots unstained on his hoodie and the single green eye he had left. And even then, that eye wasn't the right shade of green.

"I'm done Tommy." 

He can't be. Dream was his friend. Dream was his owner. Dream couldn't die and leave him all alone.

"I'm sorry Tommy." 

He's said that a lot these past few months, and every time it's a punch to the gut to hear. His body warred with itself, searingly hot against the bitingly cold. The back of his neck ached as Dream slowly closed his eye. Ichor escaping his eye sockets, black and red on what should've been green.

"Good luck."

Dream's gone.

The Crimson was spreading into the tundra, finally gaining resistance to the cold. Soon the Overworld would be completely doomed.

Tommy was alone with a pain in his neck and the static scrambling his head.

What now?

Theo sat up, heart hammering in his chest and sweat on his brow. For a moment he's so confused on where he was-

Where were his chests? His armor stand, his desk, bookcases- The room was bare aside from his enderchest, a couple of torches and the bed he was sleeping in. The walls weren't even stone bricks but smooth stone and some dirt. Which was fucking inefficient for protection against the Crimson. Where the hell was he?

He's half-way getting out of his bed and scrambling for his netherite armor before he remembers that Dream had his netherite armor, he remembers where he was, what he was doing there and what had happened.

He was in his room, his unfinished room that he'd just mined out across from Dream's room within the Stronghold. 

He was ten years in the past.

The Crimson wasn't a problem yet. The Overworld was fine. Everything was fine.

Dream was alive.

The crick in his neck disappeared, the pain receding as he sat on the bed. Leaning on his knees and taking deep, calming breaths. 

"Stupid fucking nightmares..." He muttered to himself, grimacing as he wiped away the sweat on his forehead. He shook his head and finally got off from the bed.

Even though he knew Dream was alive, that he was fine, he needed to check on him.

He wouldn't truly be calm until he could check on his friend, see for himself that Dream was alive and well.

Stumbling out of his room, he found Dream in the library before the map, winding strings together and pinning it to the wall. 

Green.

Dream was green, he was wearing green and had no signs of any type of red on him. No vines, no flowers, just green.

"Nice to see you finally awake." Dream comments casually as he turned to look at him and Theo almost stumbles in place at the doorway at the sight of Dream's face. 

He didn't have his mask on.

"Your eyes are green." He blurts out stupidly, unable to help himself as he stares at Dream's face. His eyes were green, light green. Dream had a few small scars on his face, and freckles- Theo knew this. He's seen Dream's face before, of course he has. They were friends, Dream was his mentor. He's given Theo the honor of seeing his face before, even before Theo joined him. 

His eyes were a light green, the color of healthy leaves underneath the sun. They weren't green like poison.

That was his friend.

Dream was his friend.

There he was, alive and well and green.

Dream cocks a brow at him, looking amused and a bit uncomfortable. Theo almost laughs at that, it bubbles in his throat but he doesn't. "Yeah? You obviously know this, my friend." He said somewhat sarcastically, but there's a mischievous light in his eyes that has Theo feeling more relieved than ever. No glint of possessiveness, no shard of hunger. No flecks of red, no roots covering one of his eyes where a disgusting but hauntingly beautiful red flower would bloom.  

"Haven't seen both your eyes in like almost a year." Theo tells him and regrets.

Because the light is gone as Dream grimaces. "Ah right, the flower thing. Gross." And terrifying. "Thankfully we won't have to deal with that just yet. From what you've told me, this Crimson thing along with the Egg won't happen for another couple of years." 

Hopefully. 

"I'd still like to check underneath the Badlands just to make sure." Theo wasn't sure on where and how exactly the Egg came from but he knew that Bad had first found it within his Badlands. 

Dream tilted his head, "Badlands?" 

Theo blinked and it clicked, "Ah, BBH made a new faction before the war of Manberg and Pogtopia. Don't worry, he's our ally. Right up until he got himself under the Egg's thrall of course." He'd been one of the original who'd been caught by the Egg, but he's heard that he'd once been free at some point from it before. Probably because of Skeppy but once Skeppy was caught, Bad wasn't far behind. 

Dream nodded, looking thoughtful. "Do you think Bad will still form the faction now? With Toby back in L'Manberg, I don't think he's going to let a war break out from what you've told me." Theo'd told him all he could last night, every question he answered to his ability before Dream sent him off to go mine out his room and sleep. Saying he needed to rest, which was kind of him.

Theo frowned at the mention of his old ex-friend. "I don't know. We'll just have to see. Toby's going to be fucking annoying to deal with though." He sighed, rubbing his face as he went over to sit down by the table. Dream watched him, his eyes were still green and thoughtful.

"Is he going to kill me?" 

Theo immediately tensed, fists clenching. "I won't let him." He promised. 

He promised, he's promised. To himself, to Dream. He would protect this Dream, help him, save him. 

Dream was everything to Theo, even if some part of him screamed he wasn't. That part of him is small though, he's made his peace. He's made his decision, even with or without the bullshit static in the back of his mind, it pulsed and he knew already. He's decided.

He would be by Dream's side no matter what.

He promised after all.

Dream smiled, it's a kind and the tiniest bit cruel thing. The shade of his eyes shifts ever so slightly, unnoticeable to everyone else but him. No longer leaves underneath the sun, but grass in the shade. It's not poison, but it's a change. He scratched the back of his neck, feeling the itch at the sight of the change. 

His mentor. His friend. His owner.

"Thanks Theo."

Tubbo finds his older self nursing a cup of coffee in his kitchen. Staring out the window with wide, dazed eyes and a haunting look that makes Tubbo shiver.

It's noon, he's just woken up from sleeping so late and he thinks Wilbur and Tommy are still asleep. He hasn't heard them both yet, and he had thought his older self- Toby had been asleep as well. 

Guess he was wrong.

"Um..." Toby snaps out of his dazed gazing to look at him sharply, Tubbo flinches at the sharp piercing look. Like an arrow, he can't help but think anxiously, trying to push away the awful memory of the duel that happened months ago. Toby's gaze softens and Tubbo tries not to sigh in relief. "G-Good morning." He greets with a sheepish smile, shuffling into the kitchen. His kitchen. C'mon Tubbo, this was just another you. An older, kind of scarier you. 

He gets a smile back, "Good morning mini-me." Tubbo cracks a grin at that, finding it nice. 

Okay so Toby wasn't all that scary, not now at least. Last night he'd been terrifying frankly, but right now he was amicable and pleasant.

"Want some coffee? There should still be some in the kettle ." Toby offers, motioning to the still steaming kettle.

Tubbo beams and nods, "Don't mind if I do!" The coffee tastes nice but it'd be much better with some honey. And to his delight, his older self had already taken the jar of honey out and had left plenty for him. He was glad that some things stayed the same, even if it was kind of little compared to a lot of other things but still.

Toby was Tubbo, but older and different. He was still Tubbo though.

"Did you sleep alright?" Tubbo asks as they sit down together, right by the window. He sips from his hot cup of coffee with a content sigh. 

His relaxed, content emotions are disrupted though as he sees Toby grimace. "Oh..." That was a no then.

Toby noticed and coughed, "No, no I slept- well frankly I slept better than I have in months! And it's been so long since I last slept in a bed in the Overworld. So it was great!" He reassured him, smiling. 

Tubbo immediately notes though, "What do you mean?" He asks, watching Toby freeze as he continues. "'Since you last slept in a bed in the Overworld'." He repeated, a rock sinking into his stomach.

Toby's smile is frozen, and it melts. Turning into a frown, he looks down to the table and there's this heavy air that spreads from his person. Tubbo regrets asking now, and before he could even take back his question-

"When is Technoblade coming?" 

Caught off guard from the question, Tubbo takes a bit of time to answer. "Well, Tommy told me that Techno was coming either tomorrow or the day after at earliest. He and Philza are coming as fast as they can but they're coming. At the latest, he'll arrive probably by the end of the week." Tommy had told him that they were both probably going to cash in the favors they had with a few people to get to L'Manberg as soon as possible but even then it'd take time. 

Toby's face scrunched before he sighed, "Good enough. Wish they could arrive today- I would like to just explain once but I'll explain it as many times if I have to... Can you get Wilbur and- and Tommy here? I think it's time I tell you some things about the future." He says, a rueful look on his face. Filled with pain. 

Tubbo doesn't hesitate, he stands from his chair. 

The Crimson. Blood Vines. The Egg.

No one really knew where the hell it all came from. All they knew what it wanted.

Complete control over the Overworld.

To grow in it's entirety. To hatch within a world of it's own and to feed on the prey it caught underneath its thrall.

Bad had found The Egg, miles underneath his lands and was immediately enthralled by it. Though, the Egg was weak, small, still growing in itself and didn't have complete control. Yet.

Over time, it grew with the help of Bad and the others that it snatched in its control.

You could almost mistake the red vines that grew from as nether wart blocks and crimson nylium, red flora from the nether, but they weren't. They were different, so much more vibrant in color and ultimately so much more dangerous. It grew at a steady rate, but hidden thanks to the efforts of Bad and his followers.

In the beginning it was easy enough to snap them out of its control, Skeppy had done so towards Bad but in the end fell under its thrall as well. Bad ended up back in its control after trying to help Skeppy but failed. And after that, the growth rate sky-rocketed, suddenly the vines were digging into the earth. Turning the grass red, the trees dark and scarlet. Mobs weren't unaffected as roots appeared on their skin, in their flesh.

People too.

Garnet roots, scarlet flowers, cherry-colored berries that smelled of iron that grew from the skin and blood of a person. A significant sign that the person was lost to the Egg, who began to consume some of them. The ones who died on their last life or the ones who were caught by the infected and taken for consumption.

The Overworld was being invaded by the The Crimson.

Most biomes were easy for it to invade, but some were capable of staving it off. The deserts, the tundra, extreme biomes were capable of stalling its invasion but the flora would eventually take it along with the infected mobs and people.

Not even the ocean was safe, the coral reefs turned ruby and the aquatic life were infected as well. The waters tinged dark red. 

The world turned red in its wake.

The surviving people who were uninfected started moving into the Nether permanently, trying to terraform the hellish wasteland into a safe haven. An almost impossible task, but they were persistent and were striving for survival. They managed, however the Crimson was greedy and relentless. 

Not even the Nether was safe. Not for long.

"We didn't know what to do," Toby explained to the horrified trio sitting before him, "It was spreading everywhere and it was only a matter of time before it overtook the Nether too. We couldn't get rid of it, not permanently at least. Obsidian could safely contain it for a while but it would turn into crying obsidian and then break apart after a set amount of time. Tundras and cold environments were one the safest place we could go to in the Overworld but it was gaining resistance to the cold. Soul fire could also burn it good but it was so risky to use it, not to mention the Crimson spread faster than the fires not to mention the infected would do anything to protect it, which means they could put the fire out one way or another."

Toby leaned back against his chair, tiredly palming his face as he continued. "Fundy was the one who suggested time travel. He'd been thinking of a way to get back to the past, to try and stop it from spreading. To stop Bad from finding it. To destroy the Egg before it cracked, before it hatched. So he and Philza spent the past year and a half trying to find a way back into the past. It was crazy, so crazy that maybe. Maybe it'd work." He laughs, somewhat hysterically. "And it did. Fucking Ender, I wish I could tell them it worked. They were fleeing the lab because one of the infected finally broke through our defenses."

"By Ender..." Wilbur whispered, pale-faced and terrified. He wasn't the only one, both Tommy and Tubbo were shaking. And Toby noted, with a pained squeeze in his chest that underneath the table, they were holding hands in comfort.

He forgot, they used to do that before didn't they?

Toby tried to remember the last time he held hands with Theo. With Tommy. His Tommy. 

The only time he could remember was...

"Tommy!" Tubbo screamed, clasping his hand on Tommy's, holding on for dear life as the masked man dangled over the cliff. Below, a sea of red and a cacophony of snarls and moans. He hadn't meant to nearly knock him off! They were just fighting too close to the cliff! Tubbo wheezed, trying to pull him up, the both of them scrambling to get away from the edge of the cliff. 

Could that even count?

They had somewhat of a truce after that, they couldn't fight with the Crimson nearby. They've already lost too many people to its thrall.

"What about Tommy?" Toby snapped out of his thoughts to look at Tubbo, who was pale and shaking but confused and a bit desperate. "W-Where does he fit in all this? He came out of the portal first and- and he was-" He couldn't continue, looking oh so lost. Unknowing to the horrible answers that paired for the questions he asked.

"I-" "Why was he wearing Dream's mask? He-" Wilbur interrupted him, a look of realization on his face, "He asked for Dream, as soon as he came out of that portal. And he almost hurt Tommy, his own younger self! With an enchanted netherite axe!" Toby felt a somewhat bitter taste in his mouth, had Wilbur really realized that just now? Toby needed to work on that, he'd have to get Wilbur to focus on his family. He had to make sure, Wilbur was sane. For his own's sake. For everyone's sake. For Tommy's sake. 

Tommy himself was quiet, and it pained him to see him so quiet. Tommy shouldn't be quiet, he was bright. So bright, and loud and-

"Toby, what happened to me?" Tommy asks oh so quietly with a look of fearful hesitance and like wet paper, Toby crumbles.

"Dream happened. He brainwashed you, him, Tommy. My Tommy. He broke and manipulated him to his side and I can't get him back." Toby answers hoarsely, heart stuck in his throat at the last admittance. "It's been five years since I saw him, you. My Tommy, bright and loud. He's so quiet now, so obedient to Dream." Even after he died. 

Dream had died and Tommy, Theo didn't come back to him. If anything he stayed farther away, breaking the rest of Toby's heart and hope.

"He and Dream found out about the time travel plan, we had a shaky truce because it was their only hope too. They gave us supplies, materials, but they stayed mostly away. But Dream knew we'd try to change other things too, he and Tommy- Theo. They knew we would've tried to make sure Tommy wouldn't end up with him. So when the infected broke into our base, Theo snuck in and activated the prototype portal while the others were evacuating." Toby whispered, fists clenched and head bowed. "Of course I followed him, I had to. He was- He was my best friend, and I had to stop him. Stop Dream and do a whole lot of other things too."

He had so much to do with only a vague sense on how to do it.

"I've failed my first goal, Theo's probably with Dream now. Again. I... I don't know if I can get him back, ever again."

Because if Theo hadn't come back after Dream died in the future, how could he come back now with a younger but alive Dream?

A hiccup escaped his throat as finally, he thought to himself.

"I've lost my Tommy."

Chapter Text

<Sapnap> We're talking about the same Tommy here right.
<Sapnap> The screaming kid that used to fight you for those stupid discs of his and just yesterday, called you a shithead in an offhand chat.
<Dream> Yeah it's definitely weird but it is him.
<Dream> He's my friend now apparently.
<GeorgeNotFound> Apparently?
<Dream> Apparently
<Dream> I gave him one of my masks and he gave me one of the discs he had, that's how close we are.
<Sapnap> the hell he did???? and he just wears your mask around?
<Dream> Yep
<GeorgeNotFound> That's impossible
<GeorgeNotFound> Where are you two by the way?
<Dream> In one of my bases
<Sapnap> Which one?
<George> We checked the nearest ones and you weren't there
<Dream> It's a new base somewhere else
<Sapnap> You made another one? Where the hell is it this time?
<Dream> That's a secret
<GeorgeNotFound> A secret from us but not him? :(
<Dream> Hey he found out in the future, I was going to tell you guys soon but here we are.
<Sapnap> So are you going to tell us now or what?
<Dream> Fiine
<Dream> It's somewhere in the tundra, I'll show it to you guys later
<Sapnap> wtf why the tundra???
<Dream> Why not the tundra?
<GeorgeNotFound> Are you just going to make bases in every biome now
<Dream> Maybe
<Dream> Anyway, you guys want to meet him?
<Sapnap> You mean future Tommy??
<Dream> He's going by Theo now remember.
<GeorgeNotFound> Yeah he did say that
<GeorgeNotFound> Is he going to tell us the future? Toby hasn't said pretty much anything yet, he's talked to Schlatt and Quackity for a moment and now they're pretty terrified of him
<Sapnap> wait really???
<GeorgeNotFound> Yeah, didn't you see them last night? toby left the white house and then both Schlatt and Quackity left looking pale af
<Dream> Wow that's hilarious
<Dream> Where is he now by the way?
<Sapnap> He's at Tubbo's house with Wilbur and Tommy
<Dream> Hmm
<GeorgeNotFound> What's the 'hmm' for? What's on your mind Dream?
<Dream> a lot of things
<Dream> Theo and I are heading back towards the smp, meet us there?
<Sapnap> Definitely, i gotta meet this new tommy theo man
<GeorgeNotFound> Same!
<Dream> Gotta warn you guys, the future's not sounding pretty.
<Sapnap> That does nothing against our curiosity here Dreamy-poo
<Dream> Shut up Sappy
<Sapnap> Dreamy-poo
<GeorgeNotFound> Children, I'm friends with children
<Dream> Shut up Gogy
<Sapnap> Yeah gogy shut up
<GeorgeNotFound> I hate you guys so much

There's a broken man crying in Tubbo's kitchen.

It sounds weird, even in his head it sounds weird.

It's weirder and heartbreaking to see in reality because that broken man is Tubbo. Toby. Older Tubbo who clearly's been through so much. 

"I've lost my Tommy." This man in his mid-twenties says with a hiccuping voice, tone hoarse and sad. Eyes welled up with tears, and lower lip wobbling in the same way his Tubbo's lip would wobble whenever he was upset. Because this was still Tubbo. Toby. 

Tommy has never before hated himself as much as he did now. He's never wanted to punch himself in the face as much as he did now- his future self of course. But still himself.

But maybe it shouldn't be himself he should want to punch and hate, Dream was the root of the problem. He always is, he's torn Toby and Theo apart and Toby is crying in Tubbo's kitchen. The confident, jaded adult that came from the time traveling portal is gone. Leaving a tired, sad man in his place. 

And yet, even with that knowledge. He can't help but put a little blame on himself, on Theo, because who in their right mind would leave their best friend like this? Ten years was a long time, but he'd always thought he and Tubbo would stick together, best of friends. Forever.

Him and Tubbo against the world.

But proof that they could be torn apart was sitting right in front of him, crying in his seat.

He and Tubbo share a look and Tommy's the first one to let go. Tubbo instantly leaves his seat to get to his older self's side, and it doesn't take long for Tommy to join him.

"Hey, hey! Surely, you can get him back. He's- He's still Tommy in there right?" Tubbo reassured, hugging Toby while trying to be optimistic and hopeful. Something that Toby was struggling to be. "We can help you get him back!"

Tommy somewhat awkwardly patted Toby, "Hey, future me's being a bitch boy but he has to snap out of shit once we get him away from Dream right? I always knew the green bastard was a fucking insane guy, let's get rid of him!" Honestly, he kind of thought Theo was beyond help but Tubbo was thinking otherwise. And Toby needed some hope. 

"Toby, we're here to help you." Wilbur added in, looking at him with a smile of reassurance. He'd been strange earlier on, giving Toby weird, frustrated but thoughtful looks- those were gone now as he seemed to look at Toby in a new, helpful light. Tommy grinned, Wilbur seemed more like himself now, just a bit. "Theo is still my little brother, Techno's too, we're going to snap him out of it and make sure Dream never gets to him or Tommy ever again." 

Toby looked better, still a bit doubtful and sad, but that was okay. They'd keep their words and help him. 

But what Wilbur said made Tommy thoughtful and he couldn't help but ask Toby, "Hey, what happened to Theo's Wilbur and Techno? Surely they would've and should've done something for him. Or did that green asshole do something to them?" Tommy watches as Toby freezes, the pain returning to his eyes. A rock made of dread sunk to the bottom of his stomach at that, immediately think the worst. Did Dream really do something? Were his brothers in danger? 

The hesitance is everything to Tommy as he glanced at his Tubbo and Wilbur with panicked looks, wondering what the fuck was even wrong with the future. A crazy, monstrous red egg, plague, virus thing, Dream brainwashing his future self, future Tubbo being a wreck. 

Just where did everything go wrong?

"I..." Toby started, looking extremely hesitant before he shook his head. "I'll tell you when Techno and Phil are here." He said instead, looking down at his hands. 

"Wha- why not now?! You can tell us now, c'mon Big T." Tommy tried even though there was dread in his stomach, he had to know. Wouldn't it be better so they could all avoid it? "It's- It's Wilbur and Techno, we have to know. You said Phil and Fundy were fine-ish, they made the portal. What happened with Wilbur and Tech?" What happened to his brothers?

Wilbur chimed in, "I would like to know what happened to me Toby. Please?" He asked, wanting to know. It's been on his mind ever since they last talked within the guest room where Toby slept. He wanted to know what happened to him. What happened to L'Manberg. He has his suspicions, it would've been overrun by the Crimson right? They would have to prevent that, but what happened to him? He would've tried to help Theo, tried to get him back, he and Techno. 

Toby had asked for Technoblade, was relieved to hear that he and Philza were on their way.

Phil was at least alive by the sounds of it, Fundy as well- which was good. His adopted father and son were alive, but what of him and his brother?

Toby wouldn't budge though, "When Techno and Phil are here, I'll tell you." He said firmly, putting his foot down. "It's- it's best to tell you then." He gently broke out of Tubbo's hug, patting his younger self's head. "I need to go check on Schlatt, make sure he hasn't run away. I'd be very cross if he did." He mentioned as he stood up from the table.

Tommy scowled at the mention while Wilbur frowned, "Why would you be cross if he ran away? Schlatt's a dick, he shouldn't be president. You said so last night! He'd make a terrible president." 

"You did scream at him." Tubbo reminded Toby who sighed, shaking his head.

"I know I know, but still. He won, he gets to be president, but don't worry. I'll make sure he'll keep in line. If not- we'll pick someone else then." Toby told them both, ruffling their heads much to their protest. "I promise, I have a good idea on what I'm doing. Trust me." He quietly said, giving the trio a small, pleading look.

Despite the fact Tommy wanted to protest, he bit his tongue and swallowed down his words at the look. 

Even from ten years from now he couldn't exactly say no to Tubbo when he used that look.

Well, apparently he could telling by Theo but Theo was a bitch and didn't count...

Tommy didn't want it to count.

Sapnap wasn't too sure on what to think about the whole, 'two guys coming from the future' ordeal.

He hadn't been present during the election but George was quick to fill him in on the matter.

He had thought it was a prank in revenge for missing the election, but George insisted that it was real. Bad and a few other backed him up, claiming that there was an older version of Tubbo now who went by Toby. Skeppy even sent him a quick photo of Toby, it was a bit blurry and Toby was looking at something else but Sapnap could see it was clearly an older Tubbo. His face more defined, his hair bit scragglier, burnt scars underneath his chin and covering his neck and decked in full enchanted netherite.

This was too much for a joke and he doubted that everyone would be on board with it just because Sapnap wasn't at the elections.

Schlatt had won, Sapnap was surprised but frankly didn't care about the elections in the first place so it didn't really effect him.

"You got a look at him Gogy, what'd he look like?" Sapnap asked as he and George waited within the forest near the SMP lands. They had sent Dreams the coordinates to where they were, it was close enough to the SMP and far enough from L'Manberg that they didn't have to worry anyone seeing the four of them just yet.

George sighed from his seat underneath the tree, "I wasn't that close to see him, but when he got out of the portal he definitely looked like Dream with that mask of his. I even thought it was Dream doing something dramatic or something and wearing red instead of green, but then he spoke, asking where Dream was and we all instantly knew it wasn't him. It was weird." He informed his friend, thinking back to the interruption of the election.

The fact that Theo was an older Tommy really didn't seem to connect, not with how they both knew Tommy. Tommy would've hated wearing Dream's mask, he would rather destroy the thing instead of wear it on his face.

"George! Sapnap!" The two of them looked over to see Dream jogging towards them, Theo jogging behind him, sticking close.

Sapnap blinked at the two masked individuals, going as far as to rub his eyes as they came closer. "Well I'll be damned." He whistled, glancing between Dream and Theo. "It's like there's two Dreams now, that's fucking weird." He commented, looking over Theo.

He wore a hoodie similar to Dream's, only in red and slightly different in style. His pants were dark brown to Dream's black, and he wore bandages on his hands instead of fingerless gloves. However his mask was pretty much identical to Dream's. He and George could see that, he even kept his hood up like Dream's, only small tufts of hair escaping the confines.

"George, Sapnap." Theo greeted amicably, his voice steady, calm and not as loud as Tommy's usually was. His voice had dropped a bit growing up but it was still recognizable at least, however the way he spoke...

George's eyes narrowed underneath his goggles, "This can't be Tommy." He said, looking at Theo up and down, "He's so..."

"Not like Tommy." Sapnap chimed in to help, agreeing with George. 

Dream laughed with his hands on his hips, "I know right? It is kind of weird, but like- it is him. Show'em Theo." Dream said, commanded really, and without hesitation. Theo reached up to move his mask to the side, letting his hood fall to show off his hair as well.

Both Sapnap and George stared at him, at his duller blue eyes and hair. At the scar from his lip his forehead, at the frown that was on his face which looked only just a bit annoyed. "Fucking Ender." Sapnap swears, standing up just so he could step closer to the man. Annoyingly, he was taller than him, at the same height as Dream. "It really is you isn't it Tommy?" He wouldn't have believed it if it weren't staring at him in the face.

Theo gave him a more annoyed look, looking closer to the Tommy he knew of. "Of course it's fucking me bitch boy- but I go by Theo now. Do use the name." He drawled, unimpressed. But Sapnap could tell he was hiding how uncomfortable he was with how close they were, Sapnap snorted, taking a step back. 

Now that, that was Tommy-like.

"Ender To-uh, Theo, what happened?" George asked, now standing as well. He motioned to the scar on his face, "Any more to the right and you'd probably lose your eye." He said with a grimace. The scar looked probably a year or two old? 

Theo paused and glanced at Dream, "Can I cover my face now?" He asked instead, Dream hummed and Theo took to that as approval. Moving his mask back over his face but letting his hood stay down for now. "Tubbo gave me the scar. My Tubbo, Toby now I guess."

The three other men were caught off guard from the revelation, "What?" Sapnap said, staring at him for a while new reason now. Incredulous and disbelieving. "Tubbo. Toby-Tubbo, whatever, gave you that scar. As in he was the one who did it." He watched as Theo nod, his mind whirling.

He's seen how close the two of the teens were, he didn't think they'd ever hurt each other on purpose. "Was it an accident?" Sapnap asked, because that had to be it. Even with the seemingly rocky relationship between Toby and Theo, it could've been an accident.

"No." Theo answered, paused then tilted his head. "Not really. He was trying to kill me, he didn't know who I was until he cut off my mask and saw my face." He shrugged, as if the fact his former? Best friend trying to kill him and instead left a lasting scar on him wasn't that big of a deal. "You could say it was an accident since he didn't know who I was before hand but, he still aimed for my head." 

"By Ender, isn't he like, your best friend?" George questioned faintly trying to wrap his head around the image of Tubbo trying to kill Tommy. It just- didn't compute for him. 

Theo looked at him, George shifted a bit because of the mask- it was weird to face Dream's mask on someone else's face. "He was. He's not anymore, I don't think he is. Dream's my best friend now, he has been for a couple of years." He says, nodding to Dream who stayed quiet. But Sapnap got the feeling that Dream seemed pleased by that.

What the fuck. Sapnap couldn't help but think to himself, aloud though he asks, "What the fuck even happens in the future? Why are you even here?"

"Do you really wanna know?" Dream questioned, head tilting at Sapnap and George. 

The two of them shared a hesitant look before nodding, "Lay it on us." Sapnap said, looking back to Theo.

Theo tilted his head at him, so much like Dream- fuck this was creepy in a way. Just what happened to Theo? 

The question settled on his tongue and he wondered if he should ask that.

The question is mostly forgotten when Theo starts talking about The Crimson. How it affected the Overworld, affected the lands, the mobs, the people.

"You die to the Egg," Theo tells George, who paled at the revelation. "Twice. You had already died beforehand because of Techno, but your last two lives were to the Egg. It ate you after Sapnap was infected and brought you to the Egg. Dream took your final life, Sapnap, he got infected because of you."

Sapnap drops on his ass, unable to stay standing up at that. He got infected, he brought George to his death, to be fed to some Egg thing that ate people and then he died permanently by Dream.

"You didn't tell me that." Dream said tightly, gripping the blades of grass from where he sat. 

Theo shifted in place, "I'm sorry Dream, but- you didn't ask. You asked how you died, but you didn't ask how you got infected." He said quietly, apologetically with his head bowed. Submissively. Sapnap took in a deep breath, trying to gather himself once more.

"How do we know it's true? For all we know, you could be lying to us- trying to start shit from the past!" Sapnap exclaimed, hoping that that was it. Theo was just being an asshole, lying about a plague apocalypse that tore everything in the Overworld and took their lives.

"Never." Theo snarls, all three of them flinch at the primal and desperate sound. "I wouldn't lie about this- not this, not to Dream." He said heatedly, gripping the sleeves of his hoodie tightly in what seemed to be a death grip. "You're Dream's friends, his best friends. He was fucking devastated after you both died, he tried not to show it but he was."

George bit his lip and he thought back to Theo's words, "Dream died because he got infected? Did you kill him?"

It was Theo's turn to flinch and he hung his head. Dream was the one who answered.

"He didn't." Dream took in a deep breath, "I died in the snow, the infection got to me along with some heavy wounds from a supply run. I was immune to the mind manipulation of the Egg, Crimson thing, because of my blood, the whole 'admin descendant' thing." He paused, staying silent for a while before continuing on, his voice a bit strained. "The infected can't use healing pots, not as effectively as we can. So he couldn't help me. He watched me die."

"I burnt his body." Theo continued in a whisper. "Couldn't let the Crimson spread more into the tundra. So I burnt him and left."

George looked horrified, Sapnap was as well. The four of them sat in silence. Uncomfortable, heavy silence.

They stayed like that for a while.

"Can I ask how you and Dream became friends?"

Theo looked over to him, to George. 

They were now in one of Dream's hidden bases, deep within the SMP lands. They decided to move there after the heavy silence. It wouldn't bode well for them to be seen by the others, not yet at least. 

Sapnap and George agreed to help Dream and Theo with their plans, they couldn't let the Crimson spread after all. Not after Theo told them the future. Even if it was so early in the timeline, there was a chance that the Crimson was there, hidden underground underneath the land. Waiting for someone to discover it. If that was the case then they needed to find it first and destroy it. 

Dream and Sapnap were in another room, getting a few items which left George with Theo.

"He kept me company, after I was exiled from L'Manberg." Theo told him, "Toby exiled me after I burnt down your house. Which was an accident by the way, I'm very sorry about it." He apologized, meaning it as well. He's come to regret a lot of things over the years. Burning one of Dream's closest friends' house was one of them. 

George's face furrowed but he nodded back, "It technically hasn't happened yet to me, don't apologize... So you were exiled by Toby?"

Theo hummed, "Yeah. I'll admit I was a fucking ass back then, I hurt so many people. I was being selfish with what I wanted, with the discs." Theo said, he's repeated those words a lot since he's been with Dream. "They don't really matter anymore, I still like them, but they don't matter. Dream helped me realize that. He helped me a lot over the years, he gave me items, kept me humble and made me his protoge. I've learned a lot from him." Theo said with a hidden smile. 

"Huh..." George glanced to where Dream and Sapnap were before back at him. "You... really consider him your friend." He said with a strange look on his face, Theo nodded.

"He is. He was my only friend when I was exiled. He was the only one who consistently visited me all the time, he saved my life, saved me in the end." 

Peering over the edge of his tower, he sees one man at the bottom. His communicator goes off. He's startled off the edge and screams, but water saves him. Dream saves him from the fall. "Tommy are you okay?!" Dream screams, getting rid of the water and checking over him, he sounds so panicked. 

"I made so many shitty mistakes but he forgave me time and time again."

It's cold in the snow and Dream towers over him. "Techno told me where you were Tommy. He doesn't care about you." He says quietly with a gentle smile and green eyes colored like poison, "No one does. Except for me... Now will you stop running and just come with me, Tommy?" It's cold, he's shivering and crying, he nods. He's done with running. He just wants to be warm and not alone.

"He's taught me everything he could."

"Again." Tommy's so tired, he's low on health but Dream splashes him with a potion and his health is no longer low. "Come on Tommy, you can do more can't you? You don't want to disappoint me now do you?" He doesn't, he lifts up his axe and charges forward. 

"I owe him my life. He has my loyalty."

"How are you feeling Tommy?" Dream asks, setting aside the bloody blue needle. His neck hurts, and there's static in his head. He tells him this and Dream smiles. It's crooked, strained, his eyes are two shades strangely. "Good."

"He's my friend." 

"I'm so sorry Tommy." Tommy stares at the broken man, red vines creeping up his neck and black ichor dripping from his grassy green eyes. No poison. "I'm so sorry." It hurts to breathe as the static in his head grows louder the more he apologizes. "Kill me-" He can't.

George is staring at him, Theo notes.

"Hey Gogy! Get in here!" Sapnap calls from the other room and George doesn't hesitate to move. 

Theo stays where he is, Dream hasn't called for him.

"Do you think... when I die- would you be free Tommy?" Dream asks him, one specific night. One of his eye's been covered. Roots digging into his skull, but his other eye is fine and grassy green. No poison. No ichor. His friend looks at him, tiredly, there's leaves growing out of his shoulder. "There's a chance that maybe, after I die... You'd be free. You could go back to Tubbo."

"Stop talking nonsense, you won't die." Tommy immediately replies, sounding strained as he popped the blaze powder into the brewing stand. Dream stays silent and he sighs, "It is a small chance, but even then- I wouldn't know how to be free." His life is centered around Dream. If Dream is gone, is dead, what could he do? The static pulses like a heartbeat in his ears.

"Tubbo could show you, he's your best friend."

"He's not. You are. End of fucking story Dream, now shut up and sit still. I need those leaves." 

It's silent in the potions room before Dream finally speaks again as Tommy is carefully cutting a few leaves off his shoulders. "If Funy and Phil get that portal working... Are you going to help me? The past me?"

"Of course I would. We'll help him together."

"Tommy..."

"We'll help him. Save him, save you and everything will be fine."

"... Alright... Hey Tommy?"

Tommy looks at him, and he almost freezes as he sees the ichor in his eye, poison swirling in the pupil. "Yes Dream?"

"You won't betray me right?"

Tommy doesn't hesitate. "Never Dream, I'll never betray you."

He'd never betray his friend.

Never.

He'll help him, save him, and everything would be fine.

Chapter Text

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! laaame. it's been a while. TECHNOBRO TECHNOBRO TECHNOBRO!! R. there's something wrong. are we there yet? are we there yet? when are we getting there? AAAAAAAAAAH I'M BORED! blood god blood god blood god. it'll be nice to see tommy and wilbur again. smile smile smile! e. technoboat and dadza. technoboat and dadza.

"You doing okay Techno?" Technoblade's eyes snapped over to his adoptive father, the piglin hybrid taking in a deep breath. "We're almost there buddy, hang on."

"I know, I'm doing fine Phil." He replied, shaking his head and trying to clear his thoughts. 

Sometimes it was so hard to try and focus with a chorus of voices in your head, but Techno can manage. He's grown up with it, gotten used to it, most of the time anyway.

Soon, they'd get to the SMP, to L'Manberg and reunite with his brothers who needed him there. 

Tommy had even said please to him, so something must be going on over there. 

dolphin! booooring. something's off. EEEEE. dadza and technoboat. Hmmmm. technosupport! WHERE'S THE DOLPHIN?? the ocean sucks!! what's wrong? TECHNOBLADE AND PHILZA OFF TO SEE THE FAM. are they okay? there's a problem. YA SUCK G.

Technoblade huffed through his nose, rubbing his aching head. Long journeys always did make the voices more frantic and annoying and he'd have to double his efforts in trying to ignore them. It wasn't fun, but he managed. At least he had Phil by his side to help.

techno there's something going on and it's wrong.

Seeing L'Manberg as it was right now felt bizarre to Toby, looking up at the tall walls that surrounded their nation. 

The man-made lake was gone and Toby was walking vaguely familiar grounds, buildings were missing, structures were yet to be built, less paths leading to areas that didn't exist yet and may or may not ever exist. L'Manberg felt comparatively smaller and unfamiliar to him as he stood in its first era. 

"What was L'Manberg like," Wilbur asks from his side, the man's been following him ever since he left his younger self's house. Tubbo and Tommy were somewhere around, they had wanted to follow him too but he nudged them to have some free time to themselves. To hang out and be the teens that they were, something he and Theo couldn't have done in the past but Tubbo and Tommy could do now. Toby would make sure of that.

Ender, they were just teenagers, 16 of age. Experienced a war, however brief it was, they had died- Tommy was on his last life while Tubbo still had one extra left.

Toby would protect them, would protect Wilbur and everyone else. He had his three lives again, he could and would spare two of his lives for them all. He was already used to the precarious life of a single last life after all.

The burn scars underneath his chin ached slightly at the thought, it used to disturb him before but now it's a small comfort. 

"Toby?" Toby blinked and hummed, shaking his head.

"Sorry Wilbur, what was that again?" He needed to stop spacing out. He wasn't alone here, Wilbur was with him.

They were at the outerskirts of L'Manberg. Right by the walls. Toby had wanted to see them up close, it had been years since he'd seen these walls.

Wilbur repeats his question, eager and curious. "What was L'Manberg like Toby? In the future, before the..." He trailed off uncomfortably. Before the Crimson, Toby knew. That was what he wanted to say.

"It was beautiful." He answers, wistful and smiling. "But very different to now. There's a lot of things that've changed. Like the walls." He reached out, placing a palm on the cool stone, "Schlatt took them down, and even after the war, we decided to keep them down." The only other time they had walls was when Dream... his fists clenched and he tried to shove the memory away.

He looked away as Dream escorted Tommy away from L'Manberg. He couldn't bear to see the betrayal in Tommy's bright blue eyes.

Never again.

Wilbur however, seemed appalled. "Schlatt took down the walls?" He gasped, angry and offended. "Ooh, that man I-" 

"Enough." Toby snapped at him, grabbing Wilbur's wrist before he thought of leaving. Of going back to Schlatt just to harm him. "Wilbur, it's fine. Wilbur look at me." He insisted, trying to ground Wilbur to the spot and focus on Toby. "I know you hate Schlatt for what he's done, but it's fine. You don't have to go to him, frankly I'd rather avoid visiting him again right after I threatened him and left." Toby smiles at Wilbur's amused snort.

Before he and Wilbur came to the walls, they'd both visited Schlatt at the White House. 

It was, amusing to say the least.

"Schlatt." 

The horned man jumped from where he stood at his chest, whirling around to see Toby and Wilbur right behind me. "By Ender's fuck!" He swore, pressing a hand against his rapidly beating chest, "You're really trying to give me a fucking heart-attack aren't you?!" He accused, wide-eyed and breathing heavily from his surprise.

Toby gave him a look of amusement as he heard Wilbur snicker behind him, "Oh no. No no no, I mean, I wouldn't care if you had one but I wouldn't voluntarily give you a heart-attack Schlatt." He waved off, "But I'd advise not drinking anything alcoholic if you really want to avoid a heart-attack. Your alcoholism plays a big part to that." Schlatt gaped at him before cursing quietly underneath his breath.

"Always told you that you were drinking too much, but you never did listen~" Wilbur sang smugly with his arms crossed, a shit-eating grin on his face. Toby couldn't tell if he was over the fact Toby was letting Schlatt continue being President or not, he probably wasn't but was hiding it well. 

Schlatt groaned, "Shut up Soot." He grumbled, taking a drink from his chest. Toby was pleased to see that it was at least just a normal bottle of water. The newly-decreed President went over to sit on a nearby sofa-chair, uncorking the bottle of water while giving them a dead-eyed stare. "So, what brings you two into my humble abode? Without knocking." He added derisively, giving them both a scowl.

"I just wanted to check on you." Toby said amicably, arms relaxed at his side but he could see the wary glances Schlatt gave him and his hands. Very much remembering last night when a trident was thrown by his hands that almost hit him. "Make sure you were actually here and not planning anything, like say; running away from your responsibilities." 

"And I wanted to follow him around!" Wilbur chimed in happily, for a moment he sounded just like Ghostbur and Toby didn't know how to feel about that, so he just maintained his attention to Schlatt who quietly sweated underneath his intense gaze.

Schlatt cleared his throat, adjusting his tie. "Me? Run away? Hah! No, I wouldn't do that." A lie but Toby is very impressed at how composed Schlatt seemed to be at the moment, even if it was obvious he was nervous. "What would you even do if I did that?" 

Toby gives him a smile filled with teeth, "Well I'd give you a couple of hours of a head start before I hunt you down and drag you back to L'Manberg kicking and screaming." He told him pleasantly. "I like to think that I'm a great hunter, learned from the best. So I'll be able to find you no matter how far you run." Despite how cheery he is, both Schlatt and Wilbur could sense and hear the clear threat that came from Toby.

Schlatt's already pale, Toby nails him down by adding, "And if I can't find you, then maybe Theo can." They glance at him in shock at the mention of him. "Dream... bastard as he is, taught Theo all he could. So he's a great hunter as well- but unlike me. I don't think Theo would drag you back to L'Manberg oh no. He'll probably just kill you. Remember what I said last night Schlatt? Pertaining to what happened in my timeline, what you did, what you were thinking of doing?" It's painful to bring that up but the look of damning realization on Schlatt's face makes it almost worthwhile.

Almost. 

"Yeah, he probably doesn't find you too pleasant Schlatt. Just a fair warning." And it is a fair warning.

Toby didn't know how Theo felt about Schlatt, sure he had left last night while Toby'd been busy but that was because the opportunity came for him to sneak away. But if he hadn't, there was a fair chance that Theo would have gone for Schlatt's head. 

It was completely possible that Theo would have killed Schlatt.

But there was also a chance that he wouldn't, Dream might say otherwise and Theo would listen.

Schlatt didn't know that, and Toby didn't know if Dream would say otherwise, so Toby kept that to himself.

Wilbur looked conflicted, he also probably wanted to know what Toby was talking about but thankfully for now. He stayed silent, watching Schlatt down the water from the glass bottle, probably wishing it was alcohol before corking the empty container.

"Right... Thank you so much, for the warning." Schlatt says slowly, strained and covering the fear he now felt for his life. He really was now stuck in L'Manberg as President now wasn't he? Fuck.

Toby smiled back at him, still with teeth. "You're very welcome Schlatt."

Schlatt had wanted to be president, he'd get to be president. A fucking proper one. Toby was going to make sure of it.

Toby was going to either make him into a good fucking president one way or another until he found someone else or thought of something else, or Schlatt was going to die. 

There might be options in between but they were unknown for now.

Toby was going to kick this man into the threshold of responsibility whether he wanted to or not. 

"Trust me Wilbur." Toby tells him, pleads with him. "I can handle Schlatt. Just leave him to me and focus on other things."

Wilbur looks unsure, hesitant to even consider it and Toby hopes. With all his being, that he'll let go. He knows that Wilbur cared for L'Manberg, that he wanted to protect it but that kind of thinking would twist Wilbur, had twisted Wilbur.

Toby's afraid that Wilbur would end up as Ghostbur again, but this time through different but ultimately worse means. He doesn't want to lose Wilbur, this alive and mostly sane Wilbur. He doesn't want Tubbo and Tommy to lose him either. He doesn't want Philza to end up killing him this time.

By Ender, he was going to make sure they'd stay together and live. Heal. Be a family again.

He would tell Wilbur what happened, but only if Philza and Technoblade were around. They would be able to ground him along with Tommy. Fundy could help as well, but until then. He wouldn't tell Wilbur on how he died, how L'Manberg's second death was by his hand.

He doesn't know if he could tell anyone how Theo caused L'Manberg's final death.

Sure, the Crimson had been taking over the nation but Theo still destroyed L'Manberg in the end. A third and final fiery, explosive death. 

"Toby, you're uh- you're holding my wrist a little too tightly there pal." Wilbur said with a pained tone to his voice and Toby abruptly lets go of his wrist.

"Shit, sorry Wilbur-" He apologized frantically, he hadn't meant to hold on so tightly! "I'm sorry, I really am. I- fuck." 

Wilbur winced, rubbing his now sore wrist and gave him a strained but reassuring smile. "It's fine Toby. It's really fine." It had just been starting to hurt was all, he hadn't realized just how strong Toby had been. It was unexpected, he knew Tubbo was kind of strong, he had fought well and hard in the war but still. That was one hell of a grip that Toby had.

For a moment, there's an awkward silence between them. Wilbur and Toby looking at anything else but each other, Toby at the wall while Wilbur observed the blue sky.

"Toby." 

Toby glanced at him, "Yes Wilbur?"

"Do you... want the walls down?" Wilbur questioned quietly, still not looking at him but at the sky.

"I..." He had wanted Dream's walls down years back, when Dream threatened to box them all in. Threatened to kill them should they take a step outside. Did he want L'Manberg's original walls to be down? "At first I didn't want the walls to be down." He said carefully, looking up towards the sky now with him, leaning against the wall. "It did protect us from Dream and the rest of the SMP and all, but it also separated us. Kept us separate from the outside world. Don't get me wrong, the original walls around L'Manberg are important but... I got used to them being gone. L'Manberg didn't build the walls up again after Schlatt died." They were too busy rebuilding everything else to even consider rebuilding the walls again. 

Toby looked over to him, "Do you want the walls to stay up Wilbur?"

"Would it even matter?" Wilbur answered his question with another, finally looking away from the sky but he still didn't look at Toby, instead looking at the grass below.

"Maybe..." Toby closed his eyes, quietly thinking before he opened them with a resolute look. "Wilbur. If I let you be president, or even vice-president. Either way, a position of power, would you choose between this country or your family?" Finally, Wilbur looked at him. With wide, shocked eyes. "Between L'Manberg or your family, Wilbur. Between L'Manberg or Phil, Tommy, Techno, Fundy- which would you choose?"

Wilbur's mouth opened, but nothing came out. His face scrunching as his mind whirled within his skull. His country or his family? Which would he choose?

"Don't answer for now." The curly-haired man looked at him with confusion, "I'll ask again at a later time. Think on it Wilbur. Being President, or even vice-president, is not easy. You'll have to make choices sometimes. When Phil and Techno come, when I tell you more about the future, you can give me your answer then."

Wilbur closes his mouth, lips thinning as he considered what Toby said and nodded. "Okay, okay I'll- I'll definitely have my answer for that then." He said with a confidence he doesn't truly feel.

Toby doesn't know if he wants Technoblade and Philza to come sooner or later now.

He hopes for the best, but he's already planning for the worst.

The rest of the day, Toby and Wilbur wander L'Manberg. Toby gets to meet everyone there, he gives Niki a hug when he stops by her bakery. Telling her he's missed her. He doesn't see her as much anymore, she was busy with the other survivors in his time while he kept close to Philza and Fundy and trying to chase Theo down. He chats with Karl Jacobs, one of the infected who was killed by one of the survivors just months ago. 

He sees Purpled from afar, talking with Bad and Skeppy and it takes a lot in Toby to not flinch or instinctively draw his sword out at the sight of the three of them together. Purpled died to the Egg, Skeppy and Bad were infected before dying to the Egg, but here things weren't so. They weren't infected, they were just living their life as normally as they could be. Just talking to each other, he waves back when Bad spots him and waves at him, he doesn't smile though and walks away.

He pushes Wilbur to spend time with Fundy, he does tell Fundy about the fact he made the portal and the fox-hybrid is so intrigued. He tells him that he could check it out with Philza later, he walks away from the two to let them bond. They need it, Wilbur's been so busy with the election and L'Manberg, he needs to spend time with his adopted son. It was one of the things Fundy had wanted before, he'd told him. Ghostbur as well. So he leaves and tries not to think of Wilbur's answer too much.

Toby's confused when he can't find Ranboo until he remembers that the enderman-hybrid wouldn't come into the SMP lands for a couple of years. Still out there, somewhere. Only Niki would know where he was. He makes a note to himself to ask her about him later on, Ranboo would be someone important to them in the future. And he's missed him as well.

He stops by Quackity and tells him what he told Schlatt, Quackity is definitely terrified of him now. But they talk, Toby asks him if he still wanted to be vice-president and Quackity answers with no. He takes note of that. On another day, he'll tell Quackity on how he served as Toby's vice-president, how he was good at it- not the best, but he meant well for the nation. For Toby. Even if some of his ideas were iffy.

He goes back to wandering L'Manberg. He's not only doing that though, he's making notes for a regular patrol route and schedule. As much as he wanted to go out and find Theo, he couldn't leave L'Manberg under Schlatt's presidency without supervising him. And he didn't want to leave Tubbo, Wilbur and Tommy behind. 

He's noted that he hasn't seen George and Sapnap anywhere, he's even asked a few others and he knows. They were both with Dream. At this time, they hadn't defected from Dream's side, they were still the Dream Team. Best of friends until Dream revealed his plans and true colors and drove them away with his bullshit. Dream still considered them his friends though, Toby had heard the emotional scream Dream had made during a specific raid when he found Sapnap, covered in red vines and growing flowers out of his head. Sapnap had been clutching George's goggles and that alone was proof that George had fallen to the Egg as well.

He'd pitied the man then.

He doesn't pity him now.

During his wandering while trying to think of a patrol route, he finds them.

Tubbo and Tommy together in a small flower field, a couple of bees dancing in the air. The two of them sitting down, looking so happy and chatting so peacefully. Toby stayed within the shade of the trees, out of sight. He watched them for longer than he would've like to admit, trying imagine himself in Tubbo's place and Theo in Tommy's. 

That could be them, that should be them.

Ender, he misses his Tommy. So much.

He tries to imagine, to bask in that imagination for a moment before shaking his head and quietly leaving the two alone. 

By Ender he wants that so much... 

But there was much to do. 

He doesn't want to admit that the possibility for that was impossible, because Theo was with Dream and Toby was in L'Manberg. Again.

His mood plummets and he keeps to himself for the rest of the day.

"Theo!"

The man doesn't seem to hear him, head bowed to indicate that he was staring down at the lava, near-inscrutable with Dream's mask on. He sat at the edge of the teal-covered netherrack, legs dangling without a care- he didn't even have netherite on. He seemed at peace there, so close to the edge, one wrong movement, wrong action and he'd descend into the bubbling liquid of molten magma. 

Cautiously, George went by his side. Standing right behind him, ready should anything happen to him. "Theo?" 

"Hi George." Theo greets back, but he keeps his head aimed to look at the lava below. "Does Dream need anything?"

George frowned but shook his head, "Not really- I, uh, he was just wondering where you went. I think we have enough soul soil and sand, we can leave the Nether now." Please get away from the edge, George doesn't say. Disturbed by how quiet Theo was while watching the sea of lava below. 

Theo nodded, finally looking away, standing up from the edge to look at George. "Sounds good. Shall we leave then? Oh yeah here George." He took something from out of his inventory, it was a few pieces of ancient debris. "I managed a few lucky trades from a couple of piglins, you can have these. I've got something else for Dream and Sapnap as well."

"Uh- thanks?" George accepted the two items, feeling bewildered as Theo started to walk away. George followed after him.

George didn't know what to truly think about Theo. Future Tommy who was so unlike his younger self- sure there'd be some moments where snide comments and curses came, reminiscent to Tommy's usual way of speaking. But that was mostly it. He stayed quiet most of the time, speaking only when spoken to or speaking when he thought it was necessary. No other noises. He stayed close to Dream too whenever he could.

Sapnap joked on how Theo was better than Tommy like this but George knew that his friend too, felt unsure and somewhat uncomfortable from Theo's presence. His very existence. Things just felt... off with Theo. Especially hours ago when Theo went on a slight tangent on Dream and how he considered Dream his friend and such. 

Dream's been a bit weird as well, it felt like he was taking advantage of Theo- George wasn't really surprised with that. Dream was just like that sometimes but this felt different. Dream and Theo were just...

"Heeyy, Theo! George! Welcome back!" Sapnap called with a grin, though he was surprised when Theo offered him a pair of enchanted boots, they were made of iron but the enchantments were good. "Woah, what's this?"

"Traded with a few piglins a while back, you can have these. You complained about your boots durability yeah?" Theo said, giving Sapnap the boots.

"Really? What about you? You're not wearing any armor." Sapnap pointed out, accepting the boots. 

Theo shrugged, "I'm used to being in the nether without armor, and if I do really need it. Dream has my armor set. Oh yeah, here Dream." Dream tilted his curiously as Theo offered a splash potion of fire resistance and a netherite ingot. "I managed to get some soul-fire torches from the trade too, which is great for us."

"Thanks Theo, you're such a good friend." Dream said, a bit smugly, Theo said nothing else but George suspected he'd perked at the praise. 

Sapnap wrapped an arm around Theo's shoulders, "Yeah dude, these boots are great! Thanks!" He exclaimed as Theo tensed before relaxing. 

"'S nothin'." He mumbled, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and George had to smile, despite how strange Theo was. He didn't seem all that bad.

Maybe George was overthinking a few things... Still though, something still felt off here.

"C'mon, let's get back to the Overworld and plan out on what to do!" Dream exclaimed and they all agreed.

They had some things to do, an evil Egg to destroy.

The sun sets when Toby reunites with Tommy, Wilbur and Tubbo back in Tubbo's house.

The three of them greet him enthusiastically, he's taken back but can't help but smile. Especially at Tommy and Wilbur as the two brothers seem so happy. Letting them have a nice peaceful day to bond with the ones they care about was a good call as Wilbur tells the three of them on how Fundy was doing and how interested Fundy was on the blocks that Toby had from the time-travelling portal.

Of course Wilbur told Fundy everything, he was his son and he had the right to know. Especially since he created the portal with his his grandfather, naturally Fundy was both horrified and intrigued and wanted to know more. Toby wasn't surprised and only sighed and smiled, nodding in agreement. Fundy would join them whenever Techno and Phil arrived. 

They spend dinner pleasantly with each other, Toby being pulled into talking about bees with Tubbo- he still loved bees. He doubts he will ever not love them, but after the Crimson took over, the bees that he loved just turned into another infected enemy that Toby had to avoid. Sure they had managed to save a few hives and bees but the danger was still there, terraforming the Nether into something like the Overworld as well as a safe place wasn't easy and there wasn't a place yet to let the bees leave their hive blocks.

As sad as it was, it lead to the interesting topic of the whole 'terraforming the Nether'.

And Toby spent an hour explaining how the survivors had been carefully, carving their own place in the Nether. Creating an ecosystem in the Nether through back-breaking work. Normally the Nether was so hot that the moment you placed any water it would evaporate but they managed to get past that by changing the temperature through a near impossible amount of ice. Ice would melt of course but with enough packed and hard ice, they managed to create a few spots in the Nether where water could exist without evaporating and from there, the terraforming truly flourished.

It wasn't easy but it worked. And they had a safe-haven home in the Nether, away from the Crimson.

He promised to tell more tomorrow, hopefully when Techno and Phil came by. They were disappointed but headed to bed without much of a fuss.

Toby found himself sleeping peacefully for the second night in a row. One of the rarest things to happen to him over the years.

And in the morning, he gets great news.

"Techno and Phil are almost here! They should be here around noon!" Tommy exclaimed excitedly at breakfast, Wilbur grinning with him.

Toby beams, "Fantastic!" With this, thing should be easier.

Right?

"Here we are." Phil says, looking up at the walls with a somewhat anxious look.

Finally! we're here!! sleepy fam sleepy fam sleepy fam!!! TECHNOBRO AND DADZA ARE HERE BOIS WHERE ARE YOU?! egg. we are finally here! I wonder what's going on. blood for the blood god. Can't wait to see everyone! been a while since we saw toms tubs and wils. what's going?

"Here we are." Technoblade repeated, sighing to himself, "Chat can you please pipe down a bit?" He asks to thin air- well, not exactly. The voices blared a bit before quietening down. Listening for the moment. "Thank you."

Phil gives him a look, "They listened? Must be important." He murmured, knowing that the voices, or 'Chat' as they had dubbed Techno's voices as from their constant chatter, don't usually listen to Techno's plea for silence or some reprieve. Unless something important was happening, or if it seemed that Techno really needed it. Chat would go on and on otherwise. 

very important.

Technoblade grimaced but nodded, both to Phil and at the stray Chat voice who piped up. That one voice somehow took his attention more than the others lately, saying ominous things over the journey that Techno didn't really like. He didn't like it when the voices were ominous, he even almost preferred their mockery over it but he had to say, the ominous warnings were at least helpful for him to be prepared.

Still, this seemed more ominous than normal, which wasn't helpful at all.

"C'mon then, let's go find your brothers." Phil murmured and together, they entered L'Manberg.

Of course, it didn't take long to find them. Actually it was Tubbo that found them, spotting them from the distance and shouting to gain their attention.

FAMILY REUNION!!!!!! AAAH IT'S THEM! wilby tommy and tubbo! hiii you guyyssss. They're looking well.

"Techno! Phil!" Wilbur exclaimed the moment they reunited, looking happy to see them both. 

"My boys!" Phil exclaimed back, taking Wilbur in for a hug, doing the same for Tommy who pretended that he wasn't enjoying the hug. He even gave Tubbo a hug, making the boy beam at Phil.

"Hey Blade." Tommy greeted Techno, grinning widely as Techno and Wilbur did a one-armed hug. 

The piglin hybrid snorted, "Tommy, Wilbur." He greeted back, smiling at them both.

"Now, what's wrong? Why did you call us here?" Phil asked seriously. As much as he wanted to catch up with his middle and youngest child, they had come for a reason.

trouble. Something's happened. something big. WHAT HAPPENED???

Chat whispered in Techno's head as he watched the three of them exchange worrying, hesitant looks before glancing back at them. "C'mon, let's get to Tubbo's house. We'll explain there." Tommy said with a surprising amount of seriousness in his voice. Which really didn't help the voices who shoved it into Techno's face, Tommy usually wasn't this serious. Not genuinely so, but it was clear that whatever was happening, it was indeed something big. Something important.

It didn't take long for them to get to Tubbo's house, along the way they were greeted by a few familiar faces but not once did they stop to sight-see or anything. They could do that later, and maybe Techno would have some time to sow in some anarchist chaos. He's ignoring the fact that there's a government, small as it is, in place within L'Manberg for now. His brothers needed him for whatever reason.

He finds out that reason after he and Phil enter Tubbo's house, sitting in Tubbo's living room with Fundy.

An older looking, scarred Tubbo. 

"Tubbo?" Phil questioned slowly and quietly, glancing between the man who looked like Tubbo and Tubbo himself. Tubbo smiled back at him, it was more than a bit strained, sheepish really.

"Dad, this is Toby." Wilbur introduced, motioning to 'Toby', "He's um, he's Tubbo. From the future, about ten years into the future. A bad future." 

Tommy chimed in, "Very very bad future- he's gonna tell us what happened! He wouldn't tell us everything until you two came here." He said, looking frustrated. "There's also another me, future me called Theo but uh, eeehhh we'll get to him in a bit! Right now, Toby here needed you both here."

"Future... Tubbo... Toby?" Phil repeated, sounding and looking incredulous and doubtful. Techno couldn't blame him, the sheer thought of someone coming ten years from the future was mind-boggling and was more fit for a fairy tale rather than reality.

time travel! FUTURE TUBBO! he grew up hot!! that shouldn't be possible. HE'S AN IMPOSTER KILL HIM!! he's not! he feels wrong but not really. What the hell is happening?

"And this is entirely true." Technoblade deadpans, eyeing them all as before looking at Toby who smiles at him. He's taken back by the smile, it was filled with relief and painful nostalgia. There was something else there but he couldn't decipher it. He seems a bit distracted by something.

"It is!" Fundy declared, jumping up from the couch, "We watched him and Theo come out of the portal and it wasn't a Nether portal! It was completely different, it was made of iron, netherite, some runes and it came out of nowhere- which by the way the portal was made by future me and Phil! Family project!" The fox hybrid exclaimed, grinning widely. 

Of course Fundy and Phil managed to find a way to time travel, they were both geniuses in their crafts but really?

KILL HIM! HE'S AN IMPOSTER KILL HIM!!! how about no? he does feel different and kinda wrong but not that bad!! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!! he shouldn't be here. FUTURE ARC? time travel shouldn't be possible. how interesting! KILL HIM. T ubbo grows up so cool!  AAAAAAAAAAAH. i wonder how he got that scar? something's not right here. it's him. Wait, where's future Tommy? I like Toby! stab him. blood god blood god. toby and theo how quaint. Something is off. great work phil and fundy you broke the laws of time! WHERE'S FUTURE TOMMY I WANNA SEE HIM! stab stab stab! don't stab! shut up toby's about to talk!! listen. wrong wrong wrong. toby's a new favorite. SHUT UP AND LISTEN. 

Chat had grown so loud at the revelation that Toby was future Tubbo that Techno was trying to push them all down, he almost didn't pay attention when Toby stood up.

"It's really nice to see you both again." Toby said with a relieved smile, "Look, I know things are really weird right now but you have to trust me and- dear Ender I forgot how loud Chat can be with you around Techno, can you please keep it down so we can continue to think and do things?" He asked, wincing as he rubbed his forehead.

...

"Heh?"

he can hear us.

Chapter Text

Toby nodded, "Yes, I can hear you lot. A lot better than I used to actually." He said, mostly to himself as he frowned. Was it because he was around Techno again? No, he remembers on how loud they'd been with Techno around, even in the Nether. They weren't in the Nether or around other piglins, so why could he hear them louder than usual now?

"You can hear them?" Techno demanded just before Chat exploded with noise. Simultaneously, they both winced and almost doubled over at how loud Chat started to scream, the discord of multiple ethereal and near-nonsensical voices overlapping each other in an effort to be heard all at once. 

HE CAN HEAR US?! HOLY SHIT!!! oh my ender. TOBY HII!!! oh shit he can hear us?!!! AAHHHH SUPER WEIRD!! KILL HIM HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HEAR US! MORE BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! wait does that mean there's another warrior now? ENDERING FUCK WHAT THE HELL HOT FUTURE TUBBO!? super duper weird but yay! someone else can hear us. DUN DUN DUUNNNN. TOBY TOBY TOBY HII. how the fuck? HOW???!! ender ender we have a new warrior! impossible. he can actually hear us?? TOBY CAN YOU HEAR US? a new warrior that's unprecedented. FUTURE TUBBO CAN HEAR US!? how in the fuck can he hear us. Does he have the mark? we haven't had TWO warriors in a long time!! he's human but he can hear us. HE'S HUMAN HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HEAR US!! KILL HIM. stab the new warrior! OI TOBS WHAT THE HELL WHAT DID YOU DO?

"Aaugh! Chat please! It's too loud!!" Toby pleaded, clutching his head as the voices drowned out his own thoughts. This was almost as bad as their chants during fights and life-threatening situations. Almost, but it was still too loud and unlike Techno, he wasn't that used to the voices being so loud outside of battles. Techno had taught him on how he could focus during a fight with them in the back of his head, chanting and screaming in his ears. 

He could barely hear the others, panicked at the sight of both Techno and Toby clutching their heads to something they could not hear. The fact that Toby could apparently hear Techno's voices, could hear Chat- they didn't think it was possible until now. But here they were now, both hybrid and man clutching their heads in a futile effort to silence the cacophony of noise that only they could hear. 

Techno gritted his teeth, "Chat that's enough! Tone it down!" He ordered, he understood their shock but screaming all at once would do no one any good! "We won't get any answers if you keep screaming at us like this!" He was right, they knew he was right and so the voices gradually quietened down to a more manageable degree of noise but were certainly not silent. 

we have to know. Shut up! If we kill him we won't know how he can hear us. stab! sorry hot future tubbo. HE'S FUCKING HUMAN HOW THE ENDER CAN HE HEAR US?! that's what we're trying to find out! we've never had a human warrior hear us before! OH POG TUBBO CAN HEAR US! how? SHUT UP WE HAVE TO KNOW. new warrior tell us what happened. The future seems so interesting! shush everyone, let him speak.

Techno and Toby took a few deep breaths, shaking their heads lightly. 

"Are- are you two okay?" Philza asked with obvious concern, placing a comforting and worried hand on Techno. Wilbur was on Techno's other side with Fundy while Tommy and Tubbo flanked Toby in turn, they were all apprehensive as to what happened. 

Toby groaned, rubbing his forehead, "For now yeah, Chat's gone back down to a manageable level of noise. They're not screaming as loud anymore." He said with a sigh of relief. 

"You can- you can hear Chat?" Tommy asked him, both he and Tubbo looking wide-eyed and shocked. Almost awed. 

"How? I can't hear Chat!" Tubbo exclaimed, wondering how his future self could hear what Tommy's adoptive older brother could hear. Of course, he wasn't the only one.

"How indeed." Techno rumbled, eyes narrowed at Toby. "The only way you could possibly hear them is through-" It clicked and Techno straightened, a face of realization mixed with apprehension. "Oh Tubbo, you didn't." 

he did! he did. HE HAD TO IF HE CAN HEAR US. it's the only explanation. But he's human! he must have done it enough to satisfy him.

Toby blinked and smiled, it was strained and sad. "I'm afraid I did Techno, I had to." He replied, shifting uncomfortably in place as Techno shook off Phil's hand so he could move closer to Toby, grasping his shoulders. 

"You had to? What happened? You can't- you're human, you don't have to go through those trials if you're human. They don't let humans participate in the trials!" Techno exclaimed, his usual calm and monotoned self was gone, in place for apprehension and worried concern. Everyone else was confused but Toby could only feel resigned, losing his strained smile for an empty smile.

apparently in the future they do. HOLY FUCK HOW UTTER POG TOBY! he IS a new warrior. 

"They do under special circumstances." Toby told him quietly, "There was no other choice. I had to, for everyone else. We needed the alliance and help of the piglin factions. All of them. But you know they won't accept anything other than hard-earned respect Technoblade." He gently shook off Techno's hands off his shoulders.

HE FOUGHT THEM AL!? okay wow. BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD. BLEED FOR THE BLOOD KING! new warrior for our god! HE'S A WARRIOR THROUGH AND THROUGH! oh toby you poor man. but why did he need to gain every factions alliance? 

Blood, so much blood. The heat of the Nether didn't help his shaking, sweaty body, covered in wounds and blood. There's roaring coming from all around him, chants in a language he's only just begun to learn. But he understood them all the same. "Blood for the Blood God! Bleed for the Blood King!" There at the side, a familiar piglin hybrid stares at him with pride mixed with conflicted regret. He's won. For the final time, he's won. He did it.

He unbuttoned his shirt a bit, spreading it open just enough for Techno to see the brand on his chest, right over his heart, dark and red. A tribal marking of a pig skull with big tusks. A burnt brand on his burnt mark. The same mark that Technoblade had given him during the Festival- he's long forgiven him for it though. Technoblade has long earned his forgiveness.

Techno and Phil stared at the mark in horror as Chat went wild once more.

HE HAS IT! THE MARKING! HE'S REALLY DONE IT. OH BY ENDER IT'S TRUE. HOLY FUCKING SHIT TOBY! TUBBO TUBBO TUBBO TUBBO!!! CHAMPION POG!! BLOOD! WARRIOR TOBY HAS COME! HE'S FUCKING DONE IT BY THE ENDER! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! BLEED FOR THE BLOOD KING! AHAHAHAHAH!!! he's bled for the blood god and proved himself worthy. HE IS WORTHY! HE PROVED HIMSELF TO OUR GOD AND HE'S BEEN BLESSED BY OUR VOICES! FUCK YEAH TOBY YOU DID IT!!

"Breathe Tubbo." He is breathing, he's breathing so much his lungs are starting to hurt. "Through your nose pal, come on. Open your mouth and bite down." He does, he bites down on the leather while staring at the red hot iron branding rod that was aimed at his exposed chest. He holds on to Techno's hand for dear life as it comes closer, breathing heavily through his nose. "Hang on Tubbo." The rod comes closer, and closer, and- it burns. He screams through the leather as his chest burns worst than the fireworks. Something hisses in the back of his head but he can't focus because of the burning pain.

"What the fuck? Techno, don't you have that marking too?" Tommy questioned, glancing between his adoptive brother and Toby.

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! BLEED FOR THE BLOOD KING! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! BLEED FOR THE BLOOD KING!

Toby clutched his shirt before buttoning it once more, "Chat please. We're not even in combat right now-" Toby hissed, the voices swirling in his and Techno's heads. A building bloodlust in his veins that he hated.

"I do have that marking." Techno growled, posture rigid and tense. Complicated emotions swirling in his eyes as he stared down the future version of Tubbo. "Chat, shut up please. We- We need to fucking know Toby, why did you go through the trials? How? Why did you need the alliance from all the piglin factions?! That's shouldn't be possible!" 

Wilbur seemed to have connected it first, "Does it have to do with the fact everyone had to move to the Nether and had to terraform it?" He questioned aloud, while he only had a terrible and vague clue on what the 'trials' were thanks to Techno's reactions and Toby's newfound connection to the voices, it just came to him that people had decided to move to the Nether permanently. And tried to terraform it, so what did it exactly mean for the residents in the Nether? The piglins who rarely welcomed outsiders to their settlements and cities, how would they have reacted to the sudden influx of overworlders coming to their world?

"What?" Phil shot him a confused look, moving to the Nether? Terraforming the hellscape?

"I think we all need to sit down." Fundy declared, seeing how worked up everyone was- they all needed to sit down and take a reprieve. He'd even go get or make some drinks for everyone.

They agreed to move to the kitchen and sit down.

Toby had a lot to explain after all.

"Oh Ender, I- why did they choose me!? I'm- I don't know if I can do this!" Tubbo cried out, nervously pacing throughout the room. He's just finished the meeting with the piglin elders, with him were Ranboo and Techno. He'd just been chosen to undergo a trial, a vicious sounding trial that even Techno had been shocked to hear about when it was brought out. Tubbo had no self-confidence to winning, how could he? He was on his last life and he would be up against the best of each tribe! "Is there any chance they could've chose wrong or maybe, someone else can-" 

Techno grabs his shoulders and Tubbo flinches at the contact, the hybrid looks slightly apologetic but he stops Tubbo in his place, interrupting his question. "No Tubbo. There's no one else, as much as I want it to be someone else too but the old bag has chosen." He told him firmly, letting go as Tubbo shook in place.

"B-But I- this is-" Ranboo gave him a look of reassurance, "Tubbo if anyone can get through the trials it's you, besides. You have time, Technoblade promised to train you. You can do this!" He exclaimed, trying to give him some hope even though he too, was worried for him. 

Tubbo sniffed, glancing over to Technoblade who solemnly nodded. "I'll train you, it's not going to be easy. But you have to win. Keep that in mind, don't think about the what-ifs. Just focus on winning, because it's either you win or you die Tubbo." Win or die. That's what he had to do, win or die.

He couldn't die, not yet. He still had to get Tommy back, beat Dream and protect his people.

Shakily, he took in a deep breath and nodded. A new resolve in his eyes. "Win or die."

Phil had been expecting something important when he and Techno arrived to L'Manberg. He was expecting trouble big enough that Wilbur and Tommy had no choice but to call for them both, and here it was.

It was nothing that he was expecting.

A future version of Tubbo sat across him, a man. Twenty-six years old, a decade older than Tubbo. So much can happen in a decade, that itself was a fucking understatement.

A plague. A virus. A monstrous Egg that takes over the Overworld.

Biomes becoming uninhabitable, mobs and people infected, resources becoming scarce and an attempt of salvation in the form of terraforming in the Nether. And even then, it wouldn't be enough as The Crimson was starting to appear there as well.

"I told you guys on how we created an artificial ecosystem within the Nether last night." Toby said, glancing at Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo, "That was a hopeful surface look as to what really happened. I wasn't lying when I said there was back-breaking hard work, but that wasn't the only thing. We did manage to create the ecosystem, our own lands within the Nether where we could try and recuperate, salvage what we had from the Overworld. Uninfected crops, flora, fauna... People. However it was the Nether, and the Nether isn't our home. The Nether is dangerous and was already home to others." 

"The Piglins." Fundy said softly, "They were there when you guys all escaped into the Nether. So many people- I'm going to guess that not everyone were able to wear gold or even had gold." 

"Even if they all had gold on them, the fact that there were so many Overworlders in the Nether- they'd feel threatened." Phil breathed, imagining faceless people trying to escape one hell into another, only to be faced by the residents of that hell who saw too many people within their lands. 

Toby nodded, looking down at his steaming cup of honey tea. "They did, they thought we were invading the Nether so they attacked and the people who died to them- some of them respawned in the Overworld. They've managed to come back one way or another, some of them at least... And we couldn't sleep in beds in the Nether, we were trying to create as many respawn anchors for everyone and charge them but..." The way he trailed off, and the haunted look in his eyes. Phil wanted to give him a hug, something that Tubbo beat him to him. Hugging his older self, sitting by his side. Toby smiled faintly at him and patted his head but the haunted look didn't leave his eyes. "We couldn't work on creating a haven for us if we were constantly attacked. So we asked Techno and other piglin hybrids for help."

Techno himself sipped his own cup of tea, silent throughout the explanation. But Phil knew just how horrified he felt, his grip was a bit too tight on his cup, his ears pinned down to his skull and his eyes belayed a bit of his emotions. 

"There was a temporary truce, it wasn't easy because of the language barrier even with the help of Techno and the others. Eventually though, they understood why were in the Nether... but they didn't want to form a peaceful alliance. Nor would they help us. We were desperate for help, we offered what resources we could give them, offered to help them but majority refused." 

"Why?!" Tommy asked, unable to get why the piglins would refuse them. Refuse Toby. They were people in need of desperate help! There was a crazy, red egg thing that was threatening the Overworld! 

Techno sighed, looking over to his youngest brother, "Because majority of the piglin factions are warriors, Tommy. Fighters. Sure there are healers, sages, others but the ultimate fact is piglins have a bloodlust that not a lot of mobs can match when it comes to it, and to them, respect is earned through blood. And a lot of piglins don't like overworlders Tommy, the Nether is a harsh place. And unless you come from the Nether, you won't be shown much kindness or mercy by them. Not without paying a price. And even then, it's hard... Let me guess, some hotheaded piglin leader suggested the trials?" He glanced over to Toby who grimaced, shrugged but nodded.

"What are the trials?" Tubbo questioned, but he was already dreading the answer. Despite it though, he wanted to know. Needed to know, because his older self knew and went through it. Been branded by it, literally. Tubbo was afraid of the future already, but he had to know.

"The trials are... exactly as named, trials. Warrior trials. Trials where you could prove your strength, your power, prestige- you would have to prove yourself in the art combat and bloodshed." Techno explained, rubbing his face as he reluctantly got into the specifics of what the trials were. "There are many types of trials, it somewhat differs from faction to faction. But in the end of those trials, you get a mark which proves you went through the trials."

"A branding mark?" Wilbur questioned incredulously, glancing between Techno and Toby who flinched at the mention of it.

"... It differs for each trial." Techno says, staring into his cup of tea, stirring the liquid. "For example, piglin hybrids go through a trial if they want to leave the Nether, to live in the Overworld, every piglin hybrid in the Overworld has a mark from that trial." He motions to a certain golden piercing on his ear, a fire stamped to the circular piercing. "I can't take this off. If I do, it means I forfeit my right and want to live in the Overworld. Any piglin who sees this piercing knows that I left the Nether, left the faction I was born into, I made that choice. I chose to be with the Overworlders. The Nether is not my home, not anymore." He paused then snorted. Guess it would be again in the future though huh?

"So that's why you never took it off." Tommy mumbled and Techno nodded back.

"But what about the trial for the branding mark then? A-And the voices? What trial needs that?" Fundy asked, fidgeting in his seat.

"The Trial of Blood." Both Toby and Techno answered in a chorus, they along with Phil wore grimaces on their faces. Phil knew about the trial, but not all of it. 

"But why? Why that trial specifically?" Phil asked Toby, "There could've been other trials. Surely, there could've been-"

Toby interrupted him, tired and quiet, "It was the only trial that would've included every tribe and earned their respect simultaneously and immediately." He took in a deep breath, "The Warped Priest was the one who suggested it," Techno paled at the mention of him, the cup cracking slightly in his grip. "And every tribe agreed to it. Someone had to go through that trial and win, for the sake of peace."

"And you did?!" Philza couldn't see it, couldn't see Tubbo going through such a violent trial. He may not know much about it, but he could piece together the pieces. "Why you- no offence Toby but-"

"Don't say 'no offence but', Phil." Philza froze at the chilled interruption. His own son interrupted him, giving him a cold look. "He won Phil, don't say no offence to his face when he made it through that trial. Just don't. Despite what you think, he still did it, he still won, you can't do anything but give him the respect he deserves for winning." Techno pinched the bridge of his nose, seeing the lost and hurt look his adopted father gave him. "Look Phil, I understand why you're upset, hell I want to know why he went through it too but he did. And before you ask, no, I already did that trial remember? I can't take it again. Especially if the Warped Priest is involved and he chose Tubbo. Toby. Did he choose you?" 

The silent nod was all he had in reply and Techno sighs heavily through his nose. Grunting like the half-piglin he was. 

Tubbo hesitantly chimed in, asking. "Erm, who... Who's the Warped Priest?" 

"He's the oldest and most respected Piglin in the Nether." Toby answers him, "He lives in one of the Warped forests, he and his faction worship the Blood God and are the ones to instigate and look over the Trial of Blood. They also give you the mark should you win." He says, hand over his heart. Over the branding, scarred mark on his chest. "After the trial, I won the respect and alliance to every faction. They even started helping us with the ecosystem, helping us with the building, defending us from nether mobs, trading us in not only gold- we didn't even have to wear gold anymore. There was peace in the Nether."

"But why you?" Tommy asked with a frown, "I'm not insinuating any disrespect Big T, fuck off but really- why did this Priest guy choose you?"

Toby bit his lip, seeing the same question on everyone else's face. "Because I was the only one that could. Because I was the President even if L'Manberg was gone, the one in charge of everyone and I had to for the sake of my people."

Wilbur slapped the table with both hands as he stood up, "You were what?!"

"Ender, the enchantments you have on your items are crazy. Just look at this chestplate!" Sapnap exclaimed, looking over the chestplate that was originally Theo's. It still was, actually, but Dream was keeping it for him and currently he was letting Sapnap look over it.

They were back in Dream's base, having the great plan of trying to mine and try to find the damned Egg and destroy it. However it wouldn't be easy, and Theo wanted all of them to be ready. Which meant the best of armor and enchantments as well because for as much as the Egg might be at it's weakest right now if it even existed at the moment, it could still have tricks up its sleeves and try to infect or control any of them.

He wasn't going to let them get infected, especially Dream.

"'Soul-Fire Aspect'? Is that even a thing?" George questioned, looking over the netherite axe that Theo mostly used. It was easily the most overpowered axe he's ever seen. 

Theo hummed from the crafting table, "Yeah, it's not a normal enchantment you can get with the enchanting table or even by anything else. There's a very specific way to get it." He said, creating a few Soul Torches. "It's very effective against the Crimson, it should be able to destroy the Egg as well." 

Dream glanced over to him, communicator in hand. "Hey Theo, Technoblade and Philza are in L'Manberg. Looks like they met up with Wilbur, Tommy, Tubbo and Toby." He called out him, causing the blond to freeze. "Theo?" He sat up from his couch, Sapnap and George halting their awe'd observations to see Theo shake his head and pick up the Soul-Torches he dropped on the thankfully stone ground.

"Hey, are you alright?" George asked worriedly, walking over to him.

Theo shook his head, putting the torches into his inventory. "I'm fine. I just- didn't expect them to be here that fast." He said, somewhat bitterly. "That'll be annoying, having them here already. Technoblade especially." Toby would tell them, tell Technoblade and then the damned hybrid would try and go against Dream. Maybe even try to kill him. Hah, he could try but Theo wouldn't let him. Him, Toby, anyone- they could try to hurt or kill Dream but Theo wouldn't let any of them do so. "However I will tell you that Technoblade is also immune to the Crimson's mind control. It's because of Chat, the voices that speak to him. Apparently you can't control a person who already has something in their heads." He says casually and catches the way Dream pauses for a moment. He's not the only one.

"We'll have hurry. I'd rather we go find the Egg, destroy it before Toby finally decides to deal with it."

Sapnap frowned, "You guys won't team up for the sake of the world?" 

"No." The immediate response was jarring, "Maybe if it was just the two of us. But with you lot around, he'll just get in our way." Get in his way. In Dream's way. He'd try to prevent everything that Theo was trying to do, which was stay by Dream's side. He'll just hurt Dream, maybe even try to kill him. Technoblade would help now that he was here.

"Besides, Toby is trying to keep L'Manberg in tact rather going immediately after the Egg. He's focused on changing other things. I don't think the sake of the world is a priority to him right now." Theo added in.

George shared a look with Sapnap, glancing over at Dream who stared at Theo with a tilted head. He was thoughtful, George knew, they'd been friends for so long so of course he knew. But there was something else there mixed with the thoughtfulness. 

"What if the Egg's not there Theo?" Dream suddenly asks, "Not there yet, or even if it's there and then it's destroyed. What are you going to do?" He asks, something akin to anticipation surrounding him.

Theo looks back at him, expression hidden behind the same mask Dream was wearing. "I'll stay with you of course." He answers with complete confidence. Complete obedience. "I'll help you with whatever you need me for. If the Egg's not there yet, I'll wait until it's there and immediately deal with it. And if we do deal with it- afterwards I'll just stay with you. If you'll have me of course, I can always go somewhere else and do something else I guess." He says, losing confidence at the end. If Dream told him to stay away, he would do it. He'd prefer not to though. What was he on his own? He couldn't stand the thought of being alone. And being away from Dream.

Dream tilted his head, humming, "Alright." He stood up, stretching, "Let's go find one monster Egg. I'm going to get some items from the storage." He left the room soon afterwards.

Theo smiled underneath his mask, it's unconfirmed but he doesn't think Dream will tell him to go somewhere else. At least that's what he's hoping for.

"Can I have my axe back George? I might need it." He asks, turning back to George who'd stayed silent since Dream asked him. 

George snapped out of his thoughts, hiding the frown he had with a strained grin, "Oh yeah, sure. Here you go Theo."

Theo puts his axe back in his inventory, turning back to the crafting table. "Give me the soul sands and soil, we'll need a lot of soul torches if we're going to get all three of you Soul-Fire Aspect enchantments on your weapons." He misses the way Sapnap and George have a silent conversation with their eyes alone.

Toby sighs tiredly, leaning against the balcony railing. Head hung down as the sky above him turned orange, gradually turning purple as the sun set over the horizon. 

That was... a harrowing conversation.

He told them.

How Toby became president at the age of 20, just out of teenagehood, so young and inexperienced but he took the job nonetheless because the war was over and Tommy hadn't wanted to be President, he didn't think he could handle it and he had unfinished business. So Wilbur chose Tubbo and they thought they could do it. Together. They thought they could do it as President and Vice-President. He told them about L'Manberg's second death, at the hands of Wilbur. His Wilbur, who'd been plagued by paranoia, turned insane and violent- he hid it well, or maybe they didn't want to believe that the Wilbur they knew had changed so much. It was hard to remember right now. He told them about Technoblade's betrayal, the withers- he left out the speech, he can't bear to tell Tommy about Technoblade's speech. 

He told them about Wilbur's death, at the hands of Philza.

It was chaotic, the reactions.

No one wanted to believe it, though Technoblade was probably more willing to believe the withers. He had made quite the face at the tale of Wilbur and Tommy asking his help in their rebellion and with Techno's anarchist ways, he really didn't like Toby's sudden seat of power. 

But Wilbur, oh Wilbur was crushed and in denial.

"I wouldn't do that!" He protested, screaming, "I- L'Manberg is my home, my country! I love it! I wouldn't just, blow it all to hell!"

"But you did, for me. Two years exiled from the country you built and love, that was enough for you to decide that if you couldn't have it. Then maybe no one would should." Was Toby's cold reply. 

It was unfair. Probably. But to hear the denial after living through what happened- he couldn't let it stand.

"Your country or your family Wilbur?" He reminded him, causing Wilbur to stop. "I asked you yesterday. Your country or your family." 

His Wilbur chose L'Manberg. In a sick, twisted way, he had chosen L'Manberg over family.

"Is- Is that why you didn't want me to be President?" Wilbur asked, trembling and hurt. 

Maybe, Toby thinks but he doesn't say it aloud. Watching Wilbur flee from the chaotic kitchen. Fundy chases after him, Philza as well after a while. He was still reeling from the fact he would be the one to take his son's last life. Tommy and Tubbo are besides themselves, but ultimately, they follow after. And it was only him and Technoblade left in the kitchen. Toby doesn't stay, he leaves. For the balcony, for a breath of fresh air and for some time alone.

"You don't understand Tubbo, it could've been worse with Wilbur!" Quackity had told him before, when JSchlatt was in power, when he was seventeen and they were both really seeing how bad of a president Schlatt was for them. 

Maybe it would've been worse.

Maybe that's why he was scared to let Wilbur be President. 

He hasn't told them the rest of what happened, about Ghostbur. About the rebuilding, about everything else- should he though? He was already hesitant to tell them about Tommy's exile, he's hesitant to say why Dream could brainwash Tommy in the first place. He hasn't told Phil and Techno about Theo, what happened. Fuck. This was more complicated than he thought it'd be. He should've known.

Toby failed his first goal of getting Theo, and he might just be failing the rest of his goals as well.

toby looks so sad. NO DON'T BE SAD TOBY. a lot of shit happens in the future oh wow. WILBUR BLOWS UP L'MANBERG??? and he dies. ENDER WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH THE FUTURE. what happens with tommy though? Tommy is still out there. e. g. g. TECHNOSUPPORT! techno go help hot future tubbo.

Toby jolted at the sudden influx of noise, Chat was there? But that meant-

"Stop calling him hot future Tubbo, the man said his name is Toby now." He whirled around to see Techno behind him. "Hey."

Toby awkwardly coughed, "Uh, hey, Techno."

the two warriors need to speak, everybody shush.

Chapter Text

the two warriors need to speak, everybody shush.

"So..." Techno says, walking up so he could lean against the balcony besides Toby. "The future's a mess." He says with the perfect deliverance of an emotionally incompetent man who has no idea what else to say.

Toby can't help but laugh slightly at that. "Yeah." He says, laughter quickly dying as a rueful smile grew on his lips. "Yeah, it's a fucking mess." He agreed, smiling at him before looking at the setting sun. 

"... I'm surprised you even called me here when I tried to blow up your country with withers." Techno admitted, looking at the now former President. 

Tubbo as President, it did seem to make sense but Techno was very much reminded on how young Tubbo was and is. Tubbo had given Toby such a wide-eyed, lost look, he looked so much younger compared to Toby who was leaning against the railing with a rueful smile on his face.

Toby's smile turned softer, not as rueful, "I've long forgave you for all the things you've done Techno." He tells him, not a lick of lying or deception in his voice. Just a stated fact, a truth that Techno didn't understand.

"'For all the things I've done'?" Techno repeats quietly and he almost doesn't ask. But curiosity is overwhelming and he's willing to be the cat that was killed. "What else did I do, Toby?"

Toby doesn't speak for a moment, "You... Well, before you created the two Withers, you shot me and took my second life." He says and Techno closes his eyes, feeling guilt bubble. "It was during a Festival that Schlatt planned, well- he said he wanted a Festival and actually had me plan and host it. I did everything, tried my best at it, he knew I was a spy though. And when I went to say my speech, he trapped me in a box and had you kill me." He rubs his neck, feeling the scarred skin that stopped underneath his chin and covered most of his upper chest. 

"I was on your side, and I killed you." 

"You didn't have a choice, Schlatt and Quackity put pressure on you. And there were too many people around that could overpower you, you never did well under pressure. Chat certainly didn't help, the voices were influenced by the pressure and the bloodlust. You told me that." Toby tilted his head and looked at him with eyes filled with understanding. "I didn't really understand truly back then, but I do now." And he does. It's clear he does.

He's been through what Techno's been through, he hears what Techno hears. He's tasted the blood, felt the lust and heard the chanting that went unheard by all but him. By all but them.

Someone finally understood Techno's plight with the voices and Techno hates it, because this was Toby. This was Tubbo, the bee-loving kid that was his youngest brother's best friend. Before he wouldn't have ever thought that the child, as much as a gremlin as he could be with Tommy, would be able to understand Techno on this level.

"How old..." Techno asks as it dawns on him and Toby gives him a look.

"Seventeen."

Ages could be forgotten in the moment. It could be forgotten in an important situation because of the flurry of action, it's not something you really think of when you were too busy thinking of something else. Like survival. Like blood. 

A lot of teenagers of their world would lose only their third lives around that age, because they were reckless or because of something else.

Phil had lost both his lives at a young age, but he lived on his last life and survived. 

Techno had only lost one of his lives- his human genetics being the only reason why he could even have the standard three lives anyway. 

And Toby had lost two lives by the time most teenagers lost their third life. 

But normal teenagers didn't go through wars. Normal teenagers weren't soldiers who suffered through two wars nor took Presidency fresh out of their teenage years and right at the start of their young adulthood. Toby wasn't a normal teenager, nor were Theo, Tubbo and Tommy. They'd grown through fire and violence, Toby and Theo more so than their younger counterparts and Toby could only hope it would stay that way. That Tommy and Tubbo wouldn't have to go through another war, wouldn't have to experience what he and Theo experienced. Wouldn't have to be torn apart. But Techno didn't know about Theo, not yet.

All he could think of, was that how he, Tommy's older brother. Took his younger brother's best friend's second life away underneath peer pressure.

"Don't." Toby interrupts his thinking, still understanding but stern. "You already said your apologies- your future self, my Techno. He's done all he could to repent, I've forgiven him, you already. Don't look so guilty now, when you haven't even done anything. Tubbo here, still has one life to spare. And besides," He rolls his sleeve up to show Techno the three hearts on his wrist. "I'm not worried about living on my last life anymore."

Techno stared at his wrist, "How?" You couldn't regain a life once you lost it. That was frankly, impossible. But then again, so was time travel.

Toby shrugged, looking down to his wrist. "I don't know. It feels weird to see all three hearts again. I think the portal had something to with it but- I'm really not sure."

three hearts again. HAH HE IS AN IMPOSTER! stop saying that he isn't you literally saw the mark on him so shut up. It's because he's Toby now. makes sense. maybe? that's so unfair! Hot future Tubbo is different from adorable present Tubbo. he was given a chance and now he gets to change everything. How exciting!

Both of them had to wince at the sudden reappearance from Chat, they'd been surprisingly silent for the past few minutes while they talked but now they were back again.

"Excuse me?" Toby questioned, startled by their words. One, because one voice was insistent to call him 'Hot Future Tubbo' which is kind of flattering but also very weird? And two, most of them were proposing theories as to why Toby had all three of his lives again.

Toby shouldn't be here but he is! time travel shouldn't be possible. NO SHIT IT'S NOT! E! you can't have two versions of the same people. 

"You can't- Chat, settle down. I can barely hear any of the good theories coming together. Give us a second to piece it out." Techno complained, trying to think and puzzle together what they were proposing to him in a way that could make sense to him and Toby. "So essentially, you're telling us that because Toby is Toby, as in he's different from Tubbo, he can get three lives again. He's his own person and isn't Tubbo in the same sense anymore?" He threads together as Toby caught on.

The time-traveler rubbed his chin in thought, "I did come from the future and I've changed enough that I can, stay in this time and have three hearts again?" His eyes furrow as he thought more about it. "I suppose that makes sense? In a weird, sort of not really way- Tubbo won't grow up to become me, that's something I would make sure of if I had any say on it."

"I think it's best we don't question it now," Techno said dryly, rubbing his forehead, "Let's just say the portal gave you two lives again and you're your own person... Still doesn't change anything." He sighed, looking away from Toby towards the sky. It was dark now, the stars were coming out along with the rising moon. Night was upon them, the hostile mobs would come and spawn from the darkness. 

Toby sighed as well, "No. It doesn't... For me anyway." He nudged Technoblade, "Like I said. You've already apologized to me. You've made it up to me- who do you think taught me and supported me through the trials?" He asked and watched the realization really click to the hybrid piglin. "You did. You were there for me, you became my mentor. I survived because of you. You were on the main people that kept me going, and even better, you understood what I was going through."

"Because I went through what you did." Techno mumbled, a bit caught off-guard. He never really thought himself as a teacher before, a mentor. Sure he taught Tommy and Wilbur a few things in fighting but- becoming a mentor to someone who had faced the same trials as he had? That was... another thing entirely.

TECHNOTEACHER! no no technoMENTOR! aww how cute! They're bonding! this is nice. it does make sense for a warrior to teach another warrior, even if he is human. technomentor technomentor techNOMENTOR!!!! 

Techno snorted, "Now look what you did kid." He said, trying not to smile. Technomentor. He's trying not to be attached to that word already. Which was strange and a bit uncomfortable, he wasn't the one who taught Toby. Not yet. He hadn't even done anything yet, he shouldn't feel fond over it and Toby. 

"I mean, they're not wrong." Toby laughed, grinning at him and Chat, "Also I'm actually older than you now, don't call me kid." He said with amusement and Techno remembered that Toby was twenty-six.

Techno was only two years younger than him. "By only a couple of years." He argued, "Right now, to me. You're still the little shit who loves bees and is Tommy's best friend." 

At the that, Toby lost his smile, his relaxed and amused posture falters and he shrinks into himself. "Ah," Toby mumbles, looking away to the ground below. "You're half right... I still love bees but..." At this point, he doesn't know if he can even call himself Tommy's best friend. Or rather Theo's. They... haven't been best friends for years, Toby's been trying to change that, still trying but...

Techno frowned, "Toby?" His brows furrow as he watches him and he can't help but think back. "Toby you and Tommy said that Tommy was here, future Tommy. Where is he? You... never explained or even mentioned him." Techno realized and he straightens, "Toby, what happened to him? Where's Tommy?"

Toby grips the railing before defeatedly letting go of it, and turns to Technoblade.

The man from the future speaks and the bloodlust within him skyrockets.

oh no. KILL HIM!! Tommy wouldn't! dream? DREAM WHAT THE HELL!! welp, dream is dead. blood for the blood god? BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! MAKE HIM PAY!! something seems very off, what happened?

"Jeez man, how do you two bear with wearing masks all the time?" Sapnap asked, glancing between Dream and Theo who looked back at him with their identical mask. He barely stopped himself from shivering from how in sync that had been. Theo was too much like Dream- he could deal with one version of his best friend thank you very much but another? 

Well, Theo wasn't exactly like him obviously but he copied Dream's movements well enough that the only difference in that moment were the color and styles of their clothing. "I mean, I get Dream? He's been wearing that mask ever since we met and he's never really taken it off but Theo dude. When'd you even start wearing the mask? When do you not wear the mask?"

They were still in Dream's base, but at the moment they were just taking a small break. Night was approaching, and they were deciding whether or not to go out or just sleep in. 

Theo scratching the side of his head, "Um, well my Dream gave me one of his masks about... four and half years ago? It was a gift, to celebrate me coming back to the SMP- we didn't want anyone knowing it was me so he gave me his mask. Also it's like, a symbol of our friendship and how I'm his protoge." He admitted carefully from his place on the carpeted floor. Crossbow in his lap. He'd just been fiddling with it a bit, tuning it to his liking. 

George snorted from where he was sprawled on one side of the couch, Dream on the other side. "Wow Dream, what a shitty gift. You could've at least made him a new, different mask." He joked to his best friend who snorted back at him.

"Hey, I like it!" Theo defended, shifting uncomfortably and putting away his crossbow. "He didn't have to give me one of his masks, and I could've changed it or ask for something different I guess but I just- it- it never came to me." He said quietly, anxiously rubbing his fingers one by one. He actually never thought of changing or asking for a different mask. It was Dream's mask after all, he was still just grateful to have it. Another thing that his best friend gave him, something permanent, something that Dream would continue giving him even after it broke a few times. 

"You heard him, he likes it." Dream repeated lazily, though he was pleased to hear it nonetheless. Something just seemed... wrong right about it. Theo was his right? No. He shouldn't  be wearing something of Dream's. 

Sapnap frowned, sitting up from where he'd been laying on the carpeted floor just a couple of blocks away from Theo, "But don't you want something different? Something of your own dude? You could be wearing literally anything else on your face- you've been wearing Dream's mask for like, almost five years! That's a bit much." He pointed out, causing both Dream and Theo to frown. Not that they could see it, they could feel it though.

"But..." Theo hesitated, the urge to defend Dream's decision and mask on his tongue, static in his head swirling. "I-I wouldn't e-even know what mask to wear. And I'm already used to this kind of mask-" He said instead much to his surprise, he glances over to Dream. "A-Also... I don't- I don't know... how to make one. Dream's gave me every mask I had, and I never asked how to make one, he uh- it's one of the things he never taught me." He admitted, picking at a stray thread of his jeans. 

George and Sapnap made dramatic gasps, "Dream!" George exclaimed with a scandalized tone, "You didn't teach your own future student, how to make a mask?!" He moved from his part of the couch to flop on Dream who squawked and tried to push him off, but George was stubbornly bearing down on him. "You're the worst teacher ever!" 

"No! H-He's really not-" Theo tried to defend only to have Sapnap quickly crawl up to him and wrap an arm around his shoulder. "Shame on you Dream! Don't worry Theo, we'll teach you how to make your very own mask." Sapnap cooed, using his free hand to pat the side of Theo's covered face. Theo made confused noises and could only look over to Dream for help.

Dream himself was busy trying to wrestle George off of him, "George what the fuck- get off me!" George stuck his tongue out even as he struggled to stay on Dream, only letting go when Dream managed to hit his gut causing him to let go and fall off the couch with a painful groan. "Ender! Hey, both of you can shut the fuck up! Theo likes my mask and you guys don't even know how to make masks!" He declared, arms crossed and irritated.

Theo fidgeted in Sapnap's hold, deciding to keep silent as Sapnap laughed at Dream and the pained George now on the floor. "Then teach us oh great teacher! Theo keep saying you're a great teacher, mentor thing right? Then teach us! Show us how to make a mask and we'll teach Theo how to make one for himself!" He replied, grinning widely at his best friend. 

"And why the hell would I do that?" Dream questioned, tapping his bicep and staring at Sapnap and Theo. His stare made Theo want to apologize, apologize on Sapnap's rudeness and for not defending the mask. His mask. Sapnap was being ridiculous and Theo shouldn't be thinking thoughts about changing Dream's mask no-

George stood up, over the pain Dream gave him and grinned at Dream. "Because we asked that's why. Also Theo should totally get his own mask, heck- Sapnap and I should have masks too, probably won't wear them all the time but still. Or are you just being a baby and not wanting to teach us because you can't actually teach for shit?" He taunted, going as far as to even snatch Dream's mask from him.

Theo gaped at George as he did so, wondering what the hell did he think he was doing? Fearfully, he watched Dream, focusing on his eyes.

Dream gave George a glare with his green eyes, leaf green eyes. "Oh that's it- you want masks? You wanna know how to make them? Fine- but I'm gonna make sure you three are gonna make perfect fucking masks! Also give me my mask back George, you're being a bitch!" He swore trying to snatch the porcelain mask from the annoyance his best friend. He was getting in the way such an asshole sometimes! Why did he care for him again? Oh right becausethey were useful for now but he shouldn't be so attached they were best friends and he loved them.

George and Sapnap beamed while Theo gaped from behind his mask, which suddenly disappeared as Sapnap took it from him. "Y'hear that Theo?" Sapnap questioned as George ran away from Dream, cackling as he tried to keep the mask away from the leaf-green eyed man. "You're getting your own mask!"

Theo stared at him, dull-blue eyes wide with disbelief and hesitance. "I-I am?" He glanced at Sapnap, then at George, then at Dream. His fingers itched to grab the mask back from Sapnap, to glue it tight to his face. And yet...

"Yep! C'mon, Dream should have some quartz and clay in one of his chests here!"

He follows after Sapnap, glancing back to see Dream tackling George, laughing as he demanded his mask back.

Huh.

His brain filled with static, his neck ached but he thought to himself, Dream had said he was going to teach him how to make a mask of his own. He was going to teach him, Sapnap and George. He wasn't... going against Dream by making his own mask. Dream was going to teach him and- he was letting him get his own mask. Make his own design. That was... his friend, being nice. The static died down and the ache went away as he helped Sapnap rummage through the chests, looking for clay or quartz or just whatever was needed to make masks. 

They should be getting ready to find slash fight a demonic, mind-controlling egg right now but- but maybe they could make the break a little longer.

His face is still bare and Sapnap still has his- Dream's mask. It's uncomfortable but, he thinks he can bear with George and Sapnap seeing his face more often. They were... nice.

"C'mon Wilbur, this is just ridiculous!" Tommy exclaimed, pressing himself against the cobblestone box that Wilbur trapped himself in. "Get out of there bro, you can't stay in there!" 

"Watch me! And ridiculous? No Tommy, it isn't! Apparently I become some, insane motherfucker who blew up everything we did in the future! I just- You saw him! You heard him! I went insane! Just leave me alone!" Wilbur shouted through the stone, muffled from the blocks that separated him from the others. Every time they tried to mine him out, he just quickly placed more blocks. Thankfully though, it didn't seem like he had obsidian on him.

Philza had his eyes closed as he laid his forehead against the cobble, "Son please. Trying to box yourself in and keep us out isn't going to do you any good. Come out so we can talk properly?" He pleaded, glancing over to check on Fundy and Tubbo. 

Wilbur had ran out of the house and into the nearby forest, where hostile mobs could easily spawn. They had placed torches but it wouldn't be enough, so Fundy and Tubbo decided to team up for a bit and protect them should any mobs come by. So far, only a stray spider had come which Fundy was easily able to take out with an iron sword. 

"No! I-I'm, I'm going to stay in this box. And think to myself. I just..." Whatever else he said must've been whispered, mumbled or kept to himself as they couldn't hear the tail end of it. Wilbur was worryingly silent in the box. 

Fundy's ears pinned down with worry, and he looked back and forth between the box and the woods. "Fundy, go." He blinked at Tubbo who held his sword tightly. "I can handle the mobs, you go and try to get to Wilbur." He said, giving him a smile. "Go on then, I'll be fine! If I need help, I'll scream. Really loudly."

Fundy smiled back, laughing slightly. "Thanks Tubs." He put away his sword and ran towards the box, joining his uncle and grandfather. "Wilbur? Dad?" He called out, knocking hard on the box to let him know he was there. "Come on, I- the future sucks ass yeah but there was a reason for that!" He exclaimed, trying to get his father, adopted but his father nonetheless, to respond.

"A reason Fundy?! Oh no kidding- that reason was me! I blew up L'Manberg, I-I went insane and blew up L'Manberg and asked Phil- my dad, your grandfather to kill me!" Fundy winced at the reply, he wasn't the only one. He didn't like the way how lost and heartbroken Phil looked. 

"After two years of exile Wil!" Tommy pointed out, stubbornly keeping his ground and trying his best to help Wilbur. His brother. "We were both exiled by Schlatt in Toby's- Toby's future. Past. Whatever! But you're not insane now! You would never blow up L'Manberg, we wouldn't let you! So come out and stop being an idiot!" 

The three of them looked over at Tubbo's yelp, seeing him trying to get close to a skeleton- there was even a zombie there. Tommy went to help him but Tubbo managed to kill the skeleton and was now on the zombie, "I'm fine! Get Wilbur out of the box! It's just a zombie!" 

Phil watched him, thinking over it before nodding at Tubbo. He could handle a zombie, if he really needed help, he'd let them know. He turned back to Wilbur, still in that box of his and sighed, "Wilbur, come on. We're not leaving you out here in a cobblestone box." He tried, but he was struggling on what to say, on what he could possibly say to help his poor son. "Wilbur, it hasn't happened yet. And it'll never happen, you're safe in L'Manberg and you have us! You're not exiled here, you're fine!"

"Yeah dad! You're fine! You're not exiled, you won't blow up L'Manberg." Fundy quickly agreed, though he couldn't help the hesitant 'Right?' in his head. Thankfully just in his head and not out loud, but the fact he still thought it was...

"But what if I will? And Schlatt's still president! I- you didn't see Toby, you didn't hear what he said to me. He sounded so hesitant and scared! What if I end up like Toby's insane Wilbur and hurt everyone?" 

"The fact you're asking that is already making you very different!" Phil pointed out, "Wilbur, whatever happens. We're here for you, whether to support you or to stop you. Please, come out of the box. Talking outside at night isn't really a good idea." 

Tommy bit his lip, "Wilby. Come out of the damn box won't you? Look, if you're so worried about you going insane then remember the fact that Toby's here to change shit- that we're also here for you like Dad said. You're not going to go fucking coocoo in the head on our watch. L'Manberg's gonna be fine, and so are you." It's a moment, before a block is destroyed, Wilbur peering out of the darkness of the black towards Tommy.

"You called me Wilby." Was all Wilbur mumbled before he was pulled out of the box by Philza. 

Tommy and Fundy helped him, though Tommy was scowling. "Out of everything I just said, that's what you're focusing on?!" He shrilled, aghast by Wilbur's apparent focus. 

Wilbur chewed on his lower lip, "You stopped calling me Wilby after you turned twelve Toms, 'course I'm gonna focus on that." He weakly retorted, yelping when he was pulled into a group hug by his family. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around them- tried to, he only managed to be able to hug Philza and Fundy with his arms with Tommy smushing himself between them, grabbing at Philza's coat and Wilbur's sweater. "... You promise? About what you all said?"

Fundy, the cheeky teen, gave him a winning smile. "Of course!"

Phil kissed his forehead, "Wouldn't dream of saying otherwise."

"Duh, I fucking said it didn't I?" Tommy scoffed, though he was hiding his relieved smile from him.

Wilbur sighed, basking in his family's affection.

"... Thank you..."

It's a lovely moment, until the sound of a zombie grunting and an unholy shriek breaks it. 

"Um guys?! A little help here!" Tubbo squeaks out as he was facing not only a zombie villager, but an angry Enderman. "I accidentally looked the enderman when I was trying to hit the villager!"

Tommy was of course the first to let go and scramble over to help his best friend with a sword in hand, "Hold on bud I'm coming!!" 

With all five of them, it wasn't hard to defeat both the zombie villager and the enderman. Tubbo was a bit bruised but ultimately he was fine.

"I think it's time we go back." Phil told the boys, eyeing the woods warily. 

No one disagreed and so, with Wilbur once again with them, they headed back towards Tubbo's house.

They chatted quietly on the way, reassuring Wilbur that he was fine and that he would be fine. They were there for him, they wouldn't let him do anything bad. The future could be changed after all, wasn't that why Toby was there in the first place? To change the future.

To change his future.

Wilbur would have to talk to him again, one on one. He would give him his answer and hope for the best. He also wanted to know a bit more, even if he wouldn't like what he'd hear. He had to hear it. 

Unfortunately that talk would just have to wait as the moment they arrived back, they hear Toby screaming and Techno growling.

"Toby let go-"
"I am not going to let go until you calm down!!"
"I am calm!" 
"Calm my bloody ass you are-"

They find the two men on the floor, Toby trying to hold Techno down in a triangle chokehold- both his legs around Techno's neck and one arm while making sure said arm was tightly held down. Techno was trying to pry his legs open with his free hand, wheezing and growling, straining to actually get Toby off of him.

The three men gaped while Philza shouted, "What in Ender's fuck are you both doing?!" 

Toby flashed him a clenched, strained smile, not losing concentration whatsoever in restraining Techno. "Hi! Every-one! Welcome back!" He gritted out, grunting when Techno started jabbing his side in an effort to get him to let go. 

"Dad get this man off me- he's not going to let me murder Dream!" Techno growled, wheezing a bit- though privately, he was impressed with Toby's form and strength. He was doing an annoyingly impressive job keeping him down like this. He must have taught Toby how to do this and trained him well, wow he never knew he was such a good mentor. Now if only his teachings weren't being used against him!

"Excuse me?!"

"Tubbo your future self is downright badass and terrifying." Fundy whispers to Tubbo who continued to gape at the two men on the floor, Wilbur and Tommy nodded in awed agreement.

Theo deadpanned, stone-faced as George laughed proudly behind him, Sapnap snickered in front of him while Dream imitated a whistling tea kettle to the side, "I thought were were supposed to be making masks." He said aloud, a pair of white triangles on his head, crudely shaped and carved to look like cat ears. A quartz-made cat-eared hairband created by George, who decided it was a good idea to plop them on Theo's head.

"We are! But we didn't say anything of making anything else!" George exclaimed slyly, grinning as he came to the still snickering Sapnap. "Besides, it looks great on you Theo!" 

Theo squinted at him, "I highly fucking doubt it." He said, reaching up to take the frankly uncomfortable to wear and kind of heavy headband off. 

"No no no, keep it on-" Dream wheezed and Theo froze, sighed and let his hand down. "HHhhhaaaahahaha!!" Dream collapsed once more, his lungs dangerously expelling more air- Theo is almost concerned if it weren't for the fact seeing Dream laugh like this was a bizarre and amazing thing for him to see.

He hasn't seen Dream, his Dream, laugh like this in a long, long time.

Even if he was the one Dream was laughing at, at least he was causing his friend some genuine joy in his life. 

So Theo doesn't mind keeping the stupid, bulky and ugly headband on. Even if it sat too heavy on his head, and the size wasn't really fitting his head comfortably, and his hair was covered in quartz-dust, and so much more. He keeps it on because it makes Dream laugh, and him laughing is nice.

Despite his gripes about it, the moment itself is nice even at his expense. The Dream Team were having fun, and you know what? So was he.

There was bits and dusts of quartz all over, some lumps of clay here and there. Carving tools on the low table they surrounded and worked on with some broken, unfinished masks and other items strewn about. 

Theo finds he's not good at carving or molding. He can make and swing an axe or sword and kill all types of mobs, but carving quartz or molding clay isn't his forte. The masks he tries to make crack, even the pre-made porcelain that Dream made and gave him. He ends up fucking up and a few times at the start he mopes and expects a punishment. Instead, he gets reassurance, laughter- good laughter, not mocking laughter-, and another chance with no punishments.

Or maybe this was a punishment, him having to wear George's ugly, bulky monstrosity on his head.

Either way, he's having way more fun than he's had in a month. 

He's having way more fun he's had ever since Dream died and left him alone.

Surrounded by the Dream Team, being included into their shenanigans- it's awkward and he has no idea what to do but it apparently doesn't really matter. Dream seems so free with George and Sapnap here. So different. His eyes are leaf-green, a constant shade that doesn't change. Theo's still kinda shocked that Dream hasn't put his mask back on but he says nothing, in case he does and he can't see Dream's eyes anymore.

Leaf-green.

Healthy leaves underneath the sun.

His friend.

"Here, give- give it back to me. I'm not finished with it yet." George laughs, motioning Theo to hand it back. Theo hesitates, he almost looks at Dream but he... doesn't and just, takes it off. Handing it back to George. Only then does he look at Dream. He's recuperating from his wheezing and didn't seem to care.

Theo feels better at that and goes back trying to carefully carve what he wanted on the mostly smooth stone, only- "Auck! Son of a bitch!" He curses, accidentally cutting himself on the sharp edge of the quartz. It slices his palm, it's not wide or deep but it stings and was unexpected.

"Oh dude, you okay?" Sapnap asks, leaning over to look at the the cut. 

Theo hisses, flexing his hand, "Yeah, yeah. It's just a stupid cut." He's surprised though, to see visible concern on Dream's face. He shouldn't be, it's still before the war- a war that'll probably never happen thanks to Toby. But Dream is a lot more... different right now than he's used to. 

George leans over as well to look, "Damn, should've been more careful. Here, let's go wash that and bandage it." He said, nudging Theo to stand up and go towards the bathroom.

"I-I can do it myself! Stop pushing me!" Theo protested, but didn't really fight George's pushing. Just, resignedly letting himself be moved. 

Dream stands up, stretching. "I guess we should stop, it's like getting late and you guys suck at carving anyway." He says making Sapnap splutter.

As Theo is being carted away, he hears Sapnaps offended voice muffle as he and George left the room. "Excuse you! My carvings are awesome thanks-"

"Hear, there's bandages in the cupboard. Left side." George says, motioning towards the bathroom. 

Theo awkwardly shuffles in, dousing his bleeding hand with water to clean it and get rid of the blood before reaching for the bandages in the cupboard. All the while, George watches him from the doorway. It's very awkward and Theo's having trouble keeping his face stoic- he's regretting letting Sapnap keep the mask he usually wore right now.

"Theo." George suddenly says, looking almost apprehensive about something.

"Yeah?"

"I... Nevermind, it's nothing. I'm going to go back to Dream and Sapnap, you can take a shower first if you want, looks like you need it." George says, waving it off and leaving from the doorway, closing the door behind him. Theo gives him a look of confusion before shrugging and finishing up his hand. When he's done, he looks into the bathroom mirror. Looks at his face, his dull eyes, his scar, his dull hair. Was it just him or was his eyes a color shade brighter? He couldn't tell. His hair too, seemed sparkl- no wait, that was just the quartz dust on it. He shook his head, patting it down to try and get rid of all of the dust. His clothes too. 

Ender, he was covered entirely in dust.

No wonder George offered him to shower first. 

He strips off his clothes, putting them away in his inventory- his ender chest had more clothes thankfully so he didn't have to ask to borrow any. After that, he showers. Dream only had basic shampoo and soaps in the shower but that's enough for him, it has been for the past years. He couldn't even shower when he was exiled, his first shower after Dream took him in was the greatest one he's had in a long while, even if he was dead tired from Dream's first training session.

He doesn't take long to shower though, he tries not to. Better not waste time or water, and he was sufficiently clean.

As he dries using one of the spare towels, he glances at himself at the mirror. Better. Cleaner. As he moves away, he pauses, seeing the hint of blue, slightly shimmering on his back right by his neck.

"Stay still Tommy." The needle glints, covered in blue-

He looks away from the mirror and changes into his clothes. 

He was done showering, he should get back to Dream. Mustn't keep away from him too long.

Theo finds Dream with Sapnap and George of course, cleaning up the mess they had all made. "Um," He speaks up, causing all three of them to look at him. He coughs, "Shower's free-"

"I call dibs!" Sapnap screeches, already running off towards the bathroom. 

Dream runs after him, "Oh no you don't Sapnap!"

George merely laughs, shaking his head before continuing the clean up. Theo helps him and soon enough, Sapnap comes back with a scowling pout on his face while rubbing his face. "He bitch-slapped me Gogy!" He sobbed to George, lamenting his woes. "The bitch, bitch-slapped me!" Theo can't help the snicker escapes his throat, smiling innocently when Sapnap glares at him.

His best friend rolled his eyes and patted Sapnap's shoulder, "There there you big baby, you can have next shower- now come on and help us clean up." Sapnap only bemoans once before helping them.

By the time Dream came back, refreshed, showered and now sporting his mask again. The room was clean and Sapnap disappeared in a flash to bathe. "Ah damn, I should've gotten my mask back from him." Theo said after he left, frowning. 

"Hey Theo," Theo immediately gives Dream his attention, "I noticed the design that you were trying to carve into, you sure that's what you want? It's literally just my face, but frowning." He says and Theo winces.

The blond fidgets in place a bit as he explains, "I- I like it, it's simple. Should've been easier to carve but like, yeah, simple... I still like the mask you gave me though." 

Dream shrugged and later as George finally goes to shower after Sapnap, he makes beds for everyone- going as far as to dye them as well. Theo accepts his red bed with a smile, it's hidden though as he was now wearing a mask over his face again too. He's more used to it, and as nice as it was showing his face to George and Sapnap, he's more used to just letting Dream see his face when they were alone.

He sleeps that night contently, feeling so much more at ease then he's had in the last few months since Dream died. 

And in the morning, as the first ones up by habit alone. He finds a new porcelain mask placed on wooden block besides his bed, on it, a frowning face stares back at him and he feels ecstatic. He wears it immediately.

Chapter Text

"Tommy why didn't you tell me you were on your last life?!" Philza, his beloved adopted father, questioned loudly with a look of harried panic on his face that made Tommy feel the tiniest bit guilty. Okay a lot guilty. He wasn't having the best time sitting besides his fox-hybrid nephew who was actually the same age as him. Look, their family was complicated as it was, Wilbur found a child, declared he was a father and they all ran with it. He had been briefly following Phil's footsteps of adopting children. They never complained, Fundy was their family through and through.

"Tommy, Tubbo, Wilbur, Fundy- you should've told me about this!"

Fundy nervously shuffled in place, looking guilty and a bit ashamed, "It just, never came up?" He tried with a weak smile, flinching at the narrowed look he got from his grandfather. Wilbur wasn't doing any better, looking even more guilty and ashamed.

The four of them were on the couch, Philza standing before them, Toby and Techno sitting in separate sofa chairs. Techno looked agitated from where he sat but Phil had used his 'dad voice' to make him stay. Toby was eyeing Techno warily, ready to jump him again if he needed to but he was also watching Phil lecture and rant to his family plus his younger self. 

Phil pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling oh so tired as he looked over everyone. His boys minus Techno, looked so guilty. Toby was just wary on what Techno would do. Fuck, this was a mess.

"So can I go murder Dream now?" Techno questioned irritably, tapping his fingers impatiently on the chair. He had a masked motherfucker to meet and had full intentions of having Dream's face be introduced thoroughly to his sword. With vigorous amount of violent enthusiasm.

"No!" Toby and Phil exclaimed together.

Techno abruptly stood up leading Toby to stand with him, ready to wrestle him to the floor and restrain him again if he had to. "And why not?! He took both of Tommy's lives and brainwashed Toby's Tommy! Theo is out there with that maniac and you're not letting me give him what he deserves!?" Half of the voices in his and Toby's head were demanding blood, demanding Dream's death but a surprising amount were against it. 

we need to know what happened.

"What happened Chat is the future self of my baby brother was brainwashed by the same person who killed him twice! He threatened his younger self, his own younger self. I have every right to kick and kill his ass." Techno hissed, fists clenching, a furious grunt escaping his throat.

Phil placed his hands on his oldest's shoulders, "Techno, I understand your fury believe me I do. I want nothing more than to make that bastard pay but going off now isn't going to help anyone!" He snapped. Did Techno think Phil wasn't angry? Oh no, he was really angry but he was also cautious. He had to be since he was on his last life. He had to be since Tommy was on his last life. He didn't want his sons to die, even if Techno and Wilbur still had a life to spare. 

"If you go and try to find Dream to fight or kill him, Theo will stop you." Toby says with a stone-cold voice, "He won't let Dream die, not again."

"Dream died in the future?" Tommy blinked, surprised to hear it. "The bastard actually did die in the end?"

Tubbo frowned at the nod he got in return, "How?" It was hard to think of, thinking that Dream would permanently die. He was the type of person to avoid death even while living on the edge- he's shown how capable he was. He's survived so much deadly things, but he supposes that not even Dream can avoid death in the end.

"Like most other people in my time. By the Crimson." Toby said with a scowl, "However, thanks to his bloodline. He's immune to the Crimson's mind control. So instead of being controlled by the Crimson, he just got infected and died because of the parasitic flora." The one good thing the Crimson did... Normally he wouldn't be happy with someone dying to the Crimson. He's seen what dying to the Crimson looked like, he's seen what it could do to a person. But Dream? He couldn't care less anymore. He's already pitied the man when George and Sapnap died, but that was it. Toby was out of pity for Dream, his Dream and the present.

Tommy snorted, "Of course the bastard gets to be immune thanks to his 'Admin bloodline'." Tommy mocked, scowling.

Wilbur sighed, rubbing his forehead as he thought about it. It would make sense he suppose. Those who were descendants from the Admins were inherently powerful, it was partially why Dream was so strong. That and his general capability, strength and skills.

Fundy frowned, "So anyone with Admin blood in their veins were immune to the Crimson?" He couldn't help but ask which only made Toby shrugged.

"Those with enough blood in them I suppose. You know how rare active admin descendants are, and Dream's one of the most active with the most connection to them." He pointed out with annoyance. Truthfully, practically anyone could be the descendants of admins, or maybe everyone was. But active admins were the ones who were capable of being so powerful, even those with little connection to the bloodline had the potential to be powerhouses should they become active and use their skills and powers properly.

Techno huffed hot air from his nose, "Theo won't be a problem." He said even though he knew the opposite was true. Theo would be a problem, but he wanted to try anyway in an effort to get the older version of Tommy away from Dream.

"Oh no, Theo will be a problem." Toby countered hotly, glaring at his mentor, giving to him straight and bluntly. "He won't let you hurt Dream so easily, he is willing to die for him. He's thrown himself in danger for Dream, he's loyal to him to an absolute. If you face him, Theo will force you to kill him before even getting near Dream." He said bitterly, closing his eyes. His fists clenched and shaking.

Time and time again, Theo threw himself right into danger for Dream- the only reason he hasn't permanently died yet was because of sheer luck and his mysterious supply of Undying Totems.

He still has no idea where the hell he got all those totems, but it's saved them both more than a handful of times. 

"... Just what did Dream do to me to make me wanna die for him?" Tommy whispered, looking very disturbed at the thought of dying for Dream of all people. 

Toby couldn't answer, because he didn't really know. Not all of it at least, he knew how Dream got to Tommy. That stupid fucking exile and Theo's discs. But he doesn't know how Theo could be so loyal to Dream. How Dream brainwashed him exactly.

But it didn't matter for now, he just wanted his Tommy back. And as much as he too, wanted Dream dead- Techno going against Dream would just trigger Theo. He would go insane, trying to protect Dream and become extremely volatile and hostile. Was he willing to die for Dream? Yes. Was he willing to kill for Dream? Yes. Was he willing to kill his family for Dream? ...

Toby didn't want to find out. Theo was willing to fight Technoblade and Philza for Dream, but killing them? There may be a chance that he wouldn't but then again, there was just as much of a chance for him to do it. So he definitely didn't want Techno going after Dream yet.

And maybe, just maybe, Toby wasn't ready to see Theo by Dream's side again.

"Heeey, nice mask Theo!" Sapnap exclaimed once he saw Theo wearing his new, frowning mask. "I mean, it's just a frowning face but it's officially yours!" Theo smiled happily underneath the mask, it was his wasn't it? It was similar enough to Dream's to be satisfying but different enough for him.

"Thanks, I love it. I'm not gonna wear it all the time yet, but yeah. I really, really love it." Theo replied, glancing from him to George to Dream, Dream had lifted his mask a bit so he could eat but even through chewing, Theo could tell that Dream was pleased. And if he was good then Theo was definitely good, and really he was genuinely happy about his new mask. He loved it.

"Well you're gonna love this too." George chirped, sidling over to hand Theo a more polished, thinner and actually nice-looking pair of a quartz-made cat-eared headband. "I got some help from Dream, and together we finished my headband!" Dream immediately coughed, trying not to imitate a tea kettle again as Theo stared at the cursed headband in George's hands.

Sapnap cackled at Theo's silence while George gave him an innocent smile.

"Dream can I break the headband? Please? I also want to smack George. Can I do that?" Theo asks aloud, still staring at the headband with a dead-eyed look behind his new mask. Also a new perk to his new mask, he could frown at people constant now. 

Dream couldn't help himself and wheezed, smacking the table in his breathy laughter. "N-N-nrk-No Theo. Y-You- haha! You cannot break the headband, take it. I-It's a gift from George." Theo wilted, reluctantly taking the gift into his hands and storing it in his inventory. "But, you can smack George." He immediately perked as George wailed.

"Dream!"

Sapnap enjoyed their breakfast with entertainment as Theo chased George a bit within the room, trying to smack him for his gift. It didn't take long, and Theo laid a good hit on George. "Ow!" The colorblind man complained, pouting as he rubbed his shoulder from where Theo punched him. They returned to have their own breakfast, Dream and Sapnap providing them the food they'd need to start the day.

"Bad's been messaging us on where we were and what happened to you." Dream tells him over breakfast, Theo's mask temporarily removed. "What should we tell him? You said he's an ally to us but he's also the first one to be controlled by the Egg." He sipped his bottle of water as Theo chewed on the cooked porkchop.

Theo looked thoughtful, "He is an ally to us. He rarely interfered with any of your plans, and he hasn't formed the Badlands yet with Skeppy, Antfrost and Sam... It won't really matter to our plan if we tell him about the Egg and the Crimson, but only if we keep him away from the Egg if or when we find it. He's very susceptible to the Egg's control, Skeppy could temporarily break him out of it but once Skeppy is under control as well, we lose them both." He said with a frown. "At the very least, if Bad is under control we can use Skeppy against him. And if they're both under control, killing Skeppy will be killing Bad."

"We are not killing either of them." George replied firmly, frowning at how blase Theo seemed to be talking about the possibility of killing their friend.

Theo bowed his head, "It's only a possibility to remember. But the point is, we need to keep them both away from the Egg. Especially Bad, he was notoriously difficult to kill because of his infinite lives bullshit as long as Skeppy was alive." Demons, how lucky they were- but then again. That was the exact reason why they were hunted to near-extinction. Without their anchors, they died so easily and permanently. 

"How can Bad even be controlled anyway? He's a demon, I thought they were like, resistant to a lot of shit. Mind control's not one of them?" Sapnap's brows furrowed.

Theo shrugged, "Maybe it's because he's a reformed and tamed demon whose anchor is a human. He did lose a lot of his powers when he and Skeppy bonded, at this point he's more human than demon despite how he looks and his infinite lives." He points out, taking another bite.

Dream propped his head on his palm, "I'm going to guess I told and taught you about all of that?" He questioned. Not a lot of people knew about the life bond between Bad and Skeppy, nor the fact that Bad was a reformed and tamed demon. 

"'Course, you told me everything you had to. In the future, you and Toby held Bad off while Techno and I went to kill Skeppy. With those two down, the Egg lost its very first and arguably one of the strongest people it had underneath its control." His face darkened a bit, "Of course by that time it was far too late, the Egg amassed enough followers, ate enough that The Crimson started to spread faster and faster. It was already infecting mobs, and people and taking over the biomes. We killed them too late, the Overworld was already doomed by then..."

Silence reigned the table as the Dream Team considered his words. 

"You, me, Toby and Techno teamed up against Bad and Skeppy?" Dream broke the silence by asking the question, no doubt there was a frown on his face. 

Theo nodded, "We had a temporary truce in the future. They needed supplies, we needed the portal. All of us. So we made a temporary truce, it was either that or we died to our own machinations and fucking stupidity. We also tried to take the Overworld back but, the Crimson had already spread out too far and was too strong."

George took in a deep breath, rubbing his face tiredly, "Okay. So we keep Bad and Skeppy away from the Egg if we find it. So, are we going to tell them?" He questioned, glancing between his best friends.

"It's up to you guys, I don't particularly care either way. I just need them to stay away from the Egg." Theo told him when George went to look at him as well. 

As long as the both of them weren't a threat to his mission and Dream, Theo would be alright with it. Technoblade was in the SMP too right? It was fine, Skeppy wasn't under control and Technoblade wouldn't die to him.

" TOMMY WATCH OUT! " Tommy was shoved aside, colliding with the hard wall. He groaned but his eyes widened underneath his cracked mask at the sight of him. Technoblade's sword pierced Skeppy's throat. A demonic shriek was heard from afar as Skeppy gurgled, emotionless eyes wide with petals dripping from his eyelids. Roots lashed out at the piglin hybrid. Entering the injury that Skeppy made with his sword, right through Techno's stomach. 

It was fine.

Tommy held on to Techno's hands, he wasn't trembling. He was just cold. It was raining after all, he was cold. He cuts root after root with his shears but they kept multiplying. They weren't letting the wound close even after he got rid of the sword, they were spreading so fast."Tommy..." He splashed the healing potion on him, they were comrades right now. He couldn't let him die, he couldn't. Technoblade never dies-  a hand on his face and he freezes."Theseus... Come home..." He lets go of Techno's hand and forces the hand off his face. Gently. Again, he splashes another potion on Techno after cutting more roots. So much blood. So much blood. "TECHNOBLADE!" That was Tubbo and with him was Dream. 

Theo was fine with it all.

He and Dream help Tubbo with Technoblade, they get him through the portal but they leave despite the murmurs to come home from the dying injuredpiglin and the pleads from his former best friend. He doesn't cry when they get to the Stronghold, Dream hugs him and he doesn't cry. His face is wet but he isn't crying, he swears. Dream can testify.

Would Toby tell Techno about Skeppy?

"He's dead." Tubbo tells him next supply mission now partnered with a quiet Ranboo, a week later. Eyes filled with tears and a scathing hatred- not aimed at him. Never at him, but at Dream. He steps between them, breaking the glare and Tubbo wilts and whispers. "He died saying your name. He said to come home."  Dream is tense and hesitant, so very hesitant and Tommy knows there's conflict going on in his mind but in the end Dream shakes his head and Tommy says no. He won't come home. He doesn't have a home with them, he is home. With Dream. For once though, he wants to say otherwise but at the same time he doesn't. The static in his head screams at him and the back of his neck is in so much pain but he goes on with the mission with them. He stays where he is, where he's supposed to be, by Dream's side. The mission goes as expected, Tubbo and Ranboo hate him- they hate Dream and they almost want to break the truce. They don't. Dream hugs him again, and he screams his throat sore in the silence of the Stronghold. 

Toby should tell Techno about Skeppy. Techno would probably ask how he died.

<BadBoyHalo> Why do you want Skeppy and I away from these coordinates?
<Skeppy> yeah what gives??
<GeorgeNotFound>Trust us it's for the best.
<GeorgeNotFound> We're gonna do some serious mining there and no you can't help.
<Skeppy> why not?
<BadBoyHalo> Is this something that has to do with that future Tommy?
<Sapnap> Theo yeah
<Sapnap> Look we'll explain but you have to PROMISE that you won't go anywhere NEAR those coordinates.
<Dream> You trust us right bad? 
<BadBoyHalo> :/ yeahh I do but still I am very curious as to why you want Skeppy and I away from there
<Skeppy> Also can we meet Theo? bad and I didn't get to see him that well before he ran off
<Dream> Yeah sure, just promise us you won't go there?
<BadBoyHalo> Okay! :)
<Skeppy> sure
<GeorgeNotFound> Perfect
<GeorgeNotFound> You can meet him later, we have to go mining first.
<Sapnap> remember your promise!

They've stayed up later thanks to the lectures and the talks- Toby hasn't said everything yet, but they all need sleep. They, the others need to process everything. Wilbur doesn't give him an answer yet and he doesn't ask for one. Toby doesn't sleep as peacefully that night.

He keeps waking up after a few hours but that's fine, he's used to sleep only at a few hours at a time. Sleeping in a bed after years of sleeping either on a softened, pillowed floor or within a hammock was a bit weird, but he got used to it the first few nights. But that night even sitting on the bed feels foreign to him so he tries to sleep on the floor, it's better and he only sleeps for an hour before jolting up from a nightmare he can barely remember.

"TECHNOBLADE!" Red, red, red, red- a warrior has fallen.

He's tired, he goes back to sleep.

Two hours.

"C'me... home..." Blue, blue, blue, blue- a pyre of honor and respect.

He wakes up, choking. It takes a bit before he closes his eyes again on the floor.

Another two hours.

"No, I'm staying where I am. I am home." Red? No, green. Green, green green green- an enemy forever despised.

Five hours, five hours in total and he's done. He gets up and stumbles his way towards the kitchen for anything to drink, water, tea, coffee-

Phil is there, startled to see him then he's concerned when he sees how tired and disgruntled he was. "Toby, sit down. I'll make some tea, yeah?" He suggested, going over to lead Toby towards a seat so he could sit down.

"Thanks Phil." Toby rasps, rubbing his eyes and slouching against the table. His hands propping his head up on it as he listened to Phil move around the kitchen. "... How's Technoblade? And Wilbur?" He asks quietly and hears the pause of movement before the filling of a kettle and it being set down.

"Techno's still in the house if that's what you're asking." Phil tells him, preparing the cups, "He never left. Wilbur too, both still asleep."

Toby sighed in relief and goes quiet. It's a comfortable silence between them, it goes on for a few minutes until the tea kettle whistles and Phil is preparing the tea. Giving Toby his cup when he was done, as well as a small jar of honey that has Toby smiling slightly. 

The silence then continues, it's not awkward. It's not uncomfortable. It's just silent, patient. Phil gives him the space and time he needs to recompose himself and Toby basks in Phil's presence. Comforted by it alone. When Toby looks better, seems to be better and the sun is steadily rising over the horizon outside, Phil breaks the silence.

"Am I destined to watch all my children burn and die Toby?"

It's a heavy question, but Toby's been expecting it ever since Phil arrived. Phil, the father of the blade, the father of the ghost, the father of the manipulated. Phil, who tries to be a good dad, who tried in his timeline but couldn't succeed as much as he wanted to. Phil, the man who sat before him, quietly fearing for the future of not only himself, the world, but all three of his sons. 

Toby doesn't ask how he knew or suspected Techno's death, maybe he saw it in the way Toby would look at Techno. Nostalgic and pained. Maybe it was that, or maybe it was father's intuition. Toby didn't know, but it didn't matter as he answered.

Toby cracks a smile, "What are you talking about Phil? Your grandson is fine, he's been through a lot but he grew up wonderfully even under pressure. He invented time travel and you helped him." A small, helpless smile appears on Philza's face. 

"Hah, I guess you're right." Phil murmured, sipping his tea as he closed his eyes.

Toby waits before he speaks again, "He died saving Tommy." He wasn't there but he knows. He knows- Technoblade died saving Tommy. He wouldn't believe otherwise. "We gave him a warrior's funeral. Wish it was better and not hasty, but we gave him a fiery funeral of soul fire. It's the most effective against the Crimson." He murmurs, watching as a tear drips from Phil's face. "He didn't come back as a ghost. Not like Wilbur."

Phil wipes the tear away and blinks, "Wilbur turned into a ghost?"

Toby smiles, a bit bigger. "He called himself Ghostbur and he remembered only his happy memories."

He tells Phil about Ghostbur. The crystals he called 'Blue' that he liked to hand out, how happy he seemed even though sometimes it seemed like he was forcing himself to be happy, to forget the sad memories that came his way. He called his previous self 'Alivebur' and how he was more focused to be happy and try to reconnect with everyone in the afterlife. His lasting determination as a ghost.

"No one knows what happened to him after the Crimson spread. He just, disappeared." Toby finishes, saying nothing as Philza wiped his eyes. They were slightly red but he was a bit happier than he was earlier. "We want to think he's somehow moved on. It's better to think it that way."

Phil hummed, looking down at his empty tea-cup, "I suppose. It is better but... I wish you knew what happened to him."

"So do I Phil. So do I."

"We'll mine quickly, but carefully. Pay attention to where and what you're mining. Stay close. Dream, if any of us seem strange, knock our weapons out of our hands and either destroy the egg or get us out of there. It might be weak and small but it could still be very dangerous. Be very careful." 

This was it.

All four of them were covered in netherite, enchanted. Dream had given him back his armor set for this and declined switching armors when Theo offered it. Their swords were enchanted with Soul-Fire Aspect, Theo had worked hard for those enchanting books. Combining soul-fire torches with enchanting books was a tiring task, there was only an infinitesimal amount chance of succeeding which was why he made so many soul-fire torches and used so many books. But thankfully, he had a spare enchanting book of Soul-Fire left in his ender chest so he only had to make two more for Sapnap and George. 

"Y'know it's going to be anti-climactic if we mined down there and found nothing" George commented faux-casually. He was nervously adjusting his chestplate. 

Sapnap nodded in agreement with a strained smile, "Yeah. We go down, we mine like, everything but nope. No ominous dangerous apocalyptic egg for miles."

"It would be anti-climactic." Theo agreed, but he continued seriously, "But it would either be for the worse or for the better... And by Ender you'll hope for the better." 

"Okay." Dream motioned them to move, they had to leave the base first and actually get to the spot where they were supposed to mine. "Let's go. We have coordinates to get to and an egg to maybe find and hopefully destroy."

Theo's heart pumped in his chest in anticipation. Clutching his pickaxe in hand. "Right."

Here goes nothing.

Sprinting through the tunnels, Techno's heartbeat skyrocketed and his mind was whirling as he and Phil followed after Toby who was sprinting like his life depended on it.

Theo. Tommy. Future Tommy, Theo.

hurry hurry HURRY HURRY!! WRONG WRONG WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?! oh ender oh ender. It feels disgusting!! WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK! help theo help help. KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT!!! oh fuck oh fuck oh shit oh endering fuck. IT WON'T STAY STILL!! it's there right there kill it get it away!!!! FUCK OFF OH FUCKING FUCK KILL IT FOR ENDER'S SAKE. too late.

His heart dropped into his stomach just as the three of them skidded to a halt into a chaotic man-made cavern. Tunnels going off into different directions at the edge of the cavern, ores left unmined, suspicious red liquid smearing the walls, the smell of burnt iron in the air and a few charred pieces of something on the floor. Currently within cavern with them were four certain men in netherite armor.

Two were at the side, Sapnap and Dream with Sapnap knocked out with his nose bleeding and Dream keeping him supported, while the other two were panting in the middle of the room, back-to-back, though George was on one knee, leaning on his sword. 'Theo' stood behind him, on his feet and clutching a glowing sword covered in blue flames which were dying down, he wore a half-cracked mask, revealing the side of his face and-

"Tommy?" 

Theo looked over to them and his face contorted into a sneer, quickly putting himself between them, with George, Dream and Sapnap behind him, he glared. "Crimson Truce." He spat through gritted teeth, aiming his glare at the stunned Toby. "It's gone." What?

it escaped.

Chapter Text

"It's been a while since I've walked the Prime Path." Theo mumbled aloud as they walked upon the wooden path that would help lead them towards the coordinates. Heading towards where the egg was supposed to be. He had gotten the coordinates from Sam a long time ago, when they were trying to track the Egg which had been moved by its followers to different places. Sam remembered the coordinates of where Bad found it, it wasn't exact but it was accurate and he'd written it down for them before he died like the rest of the others. The coordinates had been written on a stray slip of paper in his inventory, wedged in one the enchantment books just so he didn't forget it after he time travelled into the past.

And here he was. With the younger Dream Team who were still friends, still close, still a trio. They were alive and well. Theo would make sure it stayed that way.

"Before the Crimson, there used to be more shit around here. It's weird, seeing everything all green and nature-y after like, three? Four? A couple of years." Theo said, unable to resist looking around. Everything was green, nature was thriving as it should be and nothing was unnaturally red. The only red he could see was the red of his hoodie and the few poppies and tulips he managed to see scattered around.

Red was a conflicted color to him now, he liked wearing red- normal red. His hoodie was red, it was probably a shade darker from his old shirt that he used to wear. Normal red was fine for him, but bright unnatural red would always remind him of The Crimson. As well as other shades of red- but only if they were all together. If there were other colors mixed in, then it would probably be fine. 

If there was something he and Toby could mutually agree on was that a completely red room would be a room they'd both try to avoid like the plague. They've lived the last years few years trying to survive and overcome the unnaturally bright red world that their Overworld had transformed into. 

"Oh yeah?" George hummed, curious as to what the future was like before the apocalyptic takeover from a monstrous egg that may or may not even exist at the moment. 

"Yeah. There's less clutter around, Targay hasn't been built, nor has the Prime Church, the Holy Lands haven't been established- Ender, I just realized that some people haven't even come into the SMP yet." Ranboo wasn't around, he wouldn't be for years. He wonders on where the enderman hybrid was right now before shaking his head. 

He sees Sapnap mouth 'Targay' to himself, snorting right after. "Man, I wish I could've seen how the future was like- before the whole, horrorshow apocalypse thing." Sapnap says, arms behind his head and thoughtful. "Hey Theo, what was I like? I'm still pretty awesome aren't I? What'd I do before the uh, bullshit infection thing." He cringed, not really wanting to think about how Theo's Sapnap got infected and ended up sacrificing George to the Egg and then dying to Dream, infecting him in turn. Man, the future really sucked for Theo. They would change it, he was sure of that but still. Theo still lived through it, remembered it.

"Oh! And me- what about me? Am I stuck with these losers for the rest of my life?" George questioned, glancing back at Theo- he seemed to like following them. Staying on their flank instead of walking with them. He slows his steps down and backs up a bit so they could walk side by side. 

"You're still strong and annoying if that's what you're asking Sapnap. You've killed more pets in the future, you've been dubbed 'Pet Killer' and anyone with a pet filed a restraining order against you for their pets. You killed my old pet cow Henry." Theo told him making Dream and George burst out laughing while Sapnap spluttered and floundered. "I've forgiven you and it hasn't exactly happened yet here- sides I got my revenge back by destroying the awful wooden tower thing you made and threatening you with Mars." 

Sapnap whirled to Dream, "Dude! You have Mars, why'd you give Theo Mars?!" He quesitoned, more shocked than hurt- it hasn't happened yet, or will never happen again because really. Being dubbed 'Pet Killer' and having a restraining order against people who had pets? He didn't even mean to kill pets half the time, he was just bad with animals! Other peoples animals at least. 

Dream shrugged, "Dunno, maybe you pissed me off or were being such an idiot I gave Theo Mars to help him."

"To be fair Dream told me that I could not, in any circumstance, kill Mars whatsoever and I gave back Mars in the end." Theo chimed in helpfully, which helped calmed Sapnap down a bit. He was still grumbling though. "It was one of the rare times Dream and I got along before my exile." He doesn't tell Sapnap he died to Techno, Sapnap hadn't asked for more and Theo was long over the pet wars. Another war he participated, just not as seriously even though people still died in it.

"And? What about me?" George asked again, wanting to know at least something about himself.

Theo couldn't help the snort, "You do fine up until The Crimson started spreading, I wasn't exactly paying attention and Dream didn't tell me much while he was training me. I didn't even see you in person until I came back to L'Manberg as Dream's protoge, you looked like you were doing well with Sapnap." He was telling the truth, the last time he saw them before the Crimson, they were doing alright. However they weren't close anymore to Dream, there'd been a rift between them and Dream. He doesn't mention it. Doesn't talk about it.

They didn't have to know, and if they did- he'd deal with it. Maybe it would help, maybe it wouldn't. There's another slip of paper in his inventory, wedged between pages that he has just in case. He'd decided, George and Sapnap might be able to help him. It all depends though. Dream wouldn't like it anyway. But right now, they needed to focus.

On the Egg.

"We're here." Dream announced, and together, they started digging. They needed to get to the layer where the coordinates were, and from there.

They would search for it.

"Toby, Toby wait!" He stopped walking, surprised and let Wilbur catch up with him. 

He'd just been leaving the house, planning to meet with Schlatt and Quackity - not to threaten them. He was done with that and he was sure they had gotten his point but to discuss on a few things about L'Manberg. Then afterwards he'd have to plan with Technoblade and Phil about the Crimson, they had to get ready. Theo was surely getting ready as well, no doubt prepping Dream up, either that or something else happened.

He didn't like it either way.

"Wilbur? Um, good morning. Have you had breakfast yet?" Toby asked him, it was rather early in the morning. He and Phil had a lovely time drinking tea a few hours earlier before Technoblade finally woke up and joined them for breakfast. He'd given Toby an annoyed look, no doubt still ticked on how he restrained the hybrid last night but reluctantly gave Toby the praise he deserved for such a feat. It made him quite happy.

By the time Tubbo, Tommy and Wilbur woke up and came down, Toby had stood up and told Phil and Techno that he'd first speak with Schlatt and Quackity. He'd told them yesterday before they came that they would meet to discuss a few things about L'Manberg. Techno's annoyance grew, Toby was an ex-president and was going to meet with the current president of L'Manberg, ever the anarchist. Though Toby suspected that he didn't want Toby to meet with the man who ordered his demise in a festival. Either way, Techno protested but ultimately had to stand down when Phil got involved.

"The government is the last thing you should be focusing on right now Techno." Phil pointed out to him. They both needed a permanent place to stay, Toby as well, not to mention they had to prepare for the Crimson. The Egg. Theo. 

The government was the last thing they should be focusing on indeed. However Toby couldn't help himself, he still wanted L'Manberg to flourish. Wanted it to be- not exactly like his L'Manberg. He hoped opposite in fact, but he wanted the nation to stay standing and have a competent president that actually cared for it. 

Wilbur shook his head, "Not yet but- I wanted to, to talk with you before you go." He said, looking both nervous and determined. "What you said, what you asked a couple of days ago..." Toby turned to him fully, giving him his full attention.

"I choose my family." 

Toby's sigh of relief was deep and a bit emotional.

"I still want- I still care for L'Manberg though." Wilbur continued, "I made it, I fought for it. I don't want to blow it up."

Toby gave him a smile, "Good answer, Wilbur. I don't think you'll ever not care for L'Manberg, but you also need to care for yourself and for your family too." He nodded, "Give yourself some time Wilbur, I know you won't blow L'Manberg up." His smile dropped and he sighed, "My Wilbur was stressed out of his mind. He was paranoid after he was exiled, he spiraled into the deep end. But you know what? I don't blame him, not really. He was- He was a stressed man who was so focused on one thing that everything around him, including himself, fell apart. He pushed everyone away, but we should've resisted harder and helped him. Either way, I know you won't end up like my Wilbur."

Wilbur hesitantly nodded, a faint smile on his face but his eyes were troubled. Thoughtful, but troubled. Toby would keep an eye on him, ultimately though, he hoped that having Phil and Techno early and having Wilbur face himself and his family would be for the better. "I won't."

"Right. Now go back and eat some breakfast man! It's the most important meal of the day!" Toby insisted, pushing Wilbur back towards the direction of his house.

Wilbur squawked but complied after some more nudging, "Alright alright! I'll go!" 

Toby watched him leave before continuing on to the White House where Quackity and Schlatt were waiting for him.

Ah, time to talk politics and morals.

He hasn't done any of his presidential duties in a while, he officially gave his position to Niki, letting her and Quackity focus on the rest of L'Manberg while he put himself more into going into the Overworld and getting supplies for Fundy and Phil.

He... really hopes they were doing alright.

The rhythmic sounds of the pick hitting stone, stone breaking apart and the occasional torch being place was almost peaceful.

It would be, if it weren't for the heavy air of anticipation filling the tunnels that they were mining through. Even while they were talking through their communicators, the heavy air never left.

Dream snorted as he heard George and Sapnap bicker over the call the four of them were in, trying to lighten the mood by acting normal even as they scoured through the ground for an egg that might not even be there. 

If the egg wasn't there, what would happen?

Theo would probably be paranoid, or grim. It's only been almost a week since they've met but Dream feels pretty good about him. He was his surprisingly good to Dream despite being the future version of Tommy. He even gave him his version of Cat. He should give it back. One of his most precious discs, his only disc apparently. Toby had Theo's Mellohi much to Theo's chagrin however he still didn't care. The discs were worthless to him now aside as a sign that he had given himself sided with Dream. 

It was great weird, having Theo close by and be so protective over him. And he guesses, being protective over Sapnap and George. He didn't have to give George and Sapnap those enchantments after all, Dream didn't even have to tell him.

All he's been doing was give to him and his friends, granted he was trying to prevent the end of the world but it was still nice of him to do so.

Dream though can't help but feel satisfied guilty strange around Theo.

From the very start, he felt apprehensive pleased with Theo's alliance to him. 

He wasn't blind to Theo's reactions towards him, his contact seeking of permission and reassurance, the way he kept close to Dream and defended him all the time, reading between the lines of his stories about the future and how Toby possibly wanted to kill him- he knew something was up. Something happened and he's been feeling conflicted ever since Theo gave him his Cat disc.

He felt...

Invigorated, it's what he wants. Total obedience and submissive, he wants to control Theo.

Terrified, it's what he doesn't want. So obedient and subservient, he wants to help Theo.

"Uh guys?" Sapnap's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, his best friend sounding hesitant. "I think I may have found it? It's an egg but it's like, one block in size. It's just sitting there." 

Theo's voice immediately spoke up, "Sapnap stay away from it and wait for us to come find you. Where are you?"

"You found it? Where? Sapnap where are you?" George asked over the call.

"Sapnap tell us where you are!"

"Okay okay! I'm at-" Sapnap started, sounding off the coordinates but at the end he seems to be trailing off. "Guys, what the fuck it's talking to me." 

Dream had immediately turned his tunnel, heading towards where Sapnap was, mining through the stone. He paused and glanced over to his communicator, "What?"

"Sapnap, Sapnap get away from the egg." Theo stressed through the call.

"Guys it- it sounds scared. It sounds like a kid- we, we can't kill it. It needs help!"

"Sapnap what the fuck are you talking about?" George was starting to sound pretty freaked out, Dream was feeling pretty freaked out himself.

Theo screamed through the communicators, "QUICKLY GET TO SAPNAP HE'S UNDER THE EGG'S CONTROL, DON'T LET HIM TAKE THE EGG!" 

"I'm not- just listen to me it sounds so fucking terrified, we have to help it!!"

Dream mined as fast as he could towards Sapnap, he wasn't the only one but he was the first one to arrive. 

Their tunnels connected and Dream stared directly at Sapnap who started back at him in surprise.

Sapnap stood in the tunnel, cradling a large bright red egg that had tentacles coming out of it. Tentacles that were actually scarlet vines wrapped securely around Sapnap's arms, Sapnap's eyes had flecks of red in them and something in the back of his head hissed at the sight.

He's mine don't you fucking touch him-

Save him save him Sapnap SAPNAP-

Any conflict in his head was forgotten as Sapnap screamed, frantic and wide-eyed, desperate. "Dream please! Can't you hear it?! It's scared, we can't hurt it-" He pleaded, backing away from Dream who got out his newly enchanted netherite sword. 

Just in time, George managed to find them, eyes widening at the sight of Sapnap holding the egg, "Sap-" He was interrupted by both Dream surging forward to attack the egg in Sapnap's arms and Theo's scream.

"GET THE EGG! KILL IT NOW BEFORE IT ESCAPES!" 

Sapnap let out a terrified screech, it sounded inhuman as Sapnap bounded away from Dream and back through the tunnel he mined. Dream chased after him, sprinting as quickly as he could to try and catch up to his controlled friend. George followed after them.

"Sapnap's running Theo! Dream's running after him but Sapnap's got the Egg in his arms!"

"Get the egg away from Sapnap, don't let them escape!"

It's a rush of adrenaline as Dream and George chased Sapnap through the tunnels. Sapnap couldn't do anything but run since he was using both arms to properly carry the Egg. Theo had gone silent but that was because he was rushing through his own tunnel, hoping to catch up to them or even better; cut Sapnap off before he could escape. 

"Sapnap come back! You're not thinking clearly- Drop the Egg!!" George shouted desperately at his friend, wanting to somehow get through to him but unfortunately it didn't work. The Egg was in Sapnap's hands and was touching him, the connection was strongest that way in its small and weak state.

"LEAVE US ALONE!" Sapnap screeched back, the vines tightening around his arms.

Dream stayed silent, more focused on trying to catch Sapnap then to talk, something urgent in his every move. 

Finally, they emerged from Sapnap's tunnel into the man-made cavern they had made. A spacious area, but it also had the only created entrance and exit. Thankfully though, Theo was already there, and he stood in the way the exit, blocking the path. 

Sapnap skidded to a halt, clutching the Egg tightly to his chest as Theo glared at it through his smiley mask. "End of the line fucker." He spat, sword held tightly between his hands.

"No no no no no-" Sapnap chanted, forcefully backed into a corner as the three of them surrounded him. Tearfully, he begged for the Egg's life. "Please! Please- can't you hear it? It's crying you can't- you can't kill it-"

"Don't worry Sapnap, we'll- we'll snap you right out of it." George shakily said, trembling as he stared down his pleading friend. Mind control it was just mind control, Sapnap wouldn't beg like this, the Egg was using him.

Kill it kill it it has OUR TOOL

Kill it kill it it has OUR FRIEND

"You're going to pay for even trying to use Sapnap you damned Egg." Dream promised firmly, scowling underneath his mask, sword raised and aimed right at the Egg.

Theo said nothing, silently seething as he raised his sword in the air.

"-nd. So taking down the walls would be a good idea regardless. And besides if anything happens I'm sure we can build the walls back up." Schlatt said, being both surprisingly and unsurprisingly well knowledgeable, determined and behaved. Schlatt was competent when he actually gave a fuck, Toby had to give him that. When he was younger he flipped and flopped on the presidential seat, unsure on what to do and self-conscious- he was fucking twenty, he had no idea what he was doing and Quackity tried to help but he was only just a bit older than him anyway.

"Well Toby? Walls up or down?" Quackity asked, glancing over to the time travelling man that sat with them in the room. 

Toby hummed, "You make a good point Schlatt. You know, when you actually do shit and give a fuck, you make a compelling president." He told him before turning to Quackity, "I won't make that decision. It's up to you two as well as the populace of L'Manberg. Hear what they say and think, persuade them if you want but no bribery. Like I said, I'm here to make sure you don't make bad decisions but I won't make those decisions for you, I'll give you advice and if I think it's a really bad decision I'll stop you."

He was done being president, he doesn't mind being an advisor though. But he had more important things to focus on. Eventually. 

Schlatt looked disgruntled but resigned as he nodded, "Yeah yeah, I'll make a public announcement about the walls, make poll, all that sweet jazz." He grumbled, "Remind me to do that Quackity." Quackity nodded back, scribbling it down.

This was almost nostalgic, having the three of them in one room making plans- only Schlatt wasn't being that much of an asshole mostly out of caution and fear, Quackity was a bit more subdued and hesitant but he was getting there and Toby was a time-travelling man who's been done with Schlatt's shit a long time ago.

But yeah, almost nostalgic.

They continued to talk for a while, plans for L'Manberg, possible new laws, Toby reminding Schlatt that his alcoholism was going to contribute to his death when Schlatt went to get something to drink.

He came back with coffee but glared at Toby who smiled back at him. Quackity quietly sipped his soda, muttering occasionally in Spanish.

Of course, it all changed when Technoblade burst into the room with a frantic Philza behind him.

"Something's wrong and we need to go now!"

egg wrong wrong wrong. Ender oh fucking ender that's not right. WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING? EGG!!! holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck. THEO'S WEARING DREAM'S MASK AND THERE'S A CREEPY MONSTER EGG!! it's not supposed to be here. KILL IT HOLY FUCK KILL IT BURN IT WITH FIRE!! BLOOD BLOOD KILL IT FOR ITS BLOOD. TOBBYYYYYY THE EGGGG!!!!

Toby was sprinting out the door with Technoblade and Philza in no time, leaving a flustered and startled Schlatt and Quackity behind in the White House.

It turns out that when Phil and Techno went out to explore L'Manberg, they had met with BadBoyHalo and Skeppy. They greeted each other and talked but one stray comment about how weird Dream and his friends were being spiraled into something so much more.

"Dream's acting weird?" Techno asked, fist clenching at the very mention of the masked bastard. Phil's eyes hardened but he tried not to let it show as he focused on the demon and human duo in front of him.

Both Skeppy and Bad nodded, "Yeah, they told us to stay away from some specific coordinates today." Skeppy replied with a frown.

Before Techno could ask anything else, the piglin hybrid was startled as Chat surged in a frenzied panic. He doubled over as they screamed at him, no bloodlust in sight but a sense of panic and apprehension.

ask him!! SOMETHING'S OFF TECHNO ASK BAD ABOUT THE CORDS!!! something's happening something's happening somethings happening. WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG. fuck fuck what is going on. THE COORDINATES! NOW!! we need them techno get them. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. e g g g g g g g.

"Oh muffins! Techno are you-"  Techno interrupted the demon, looking him in the eyes with a look of confused panic.

"I need those coordinates." 

Phil gave him a concerned look, "Technoblade?" He questioned softly but Techno kept staring at Bad who stared back in surprise.

"Please."

Skeppy and Bad shared a look, Bad frowning before carefully replying, "Well, you did say please..."

He thought the Egg was weaker in its smaller state.

He thought it couldn't move on it's own, maybe it couldn't when it was fucking huge and fat like it was in the future. It took various infected mobs and people to move the damn thing from place to place. 

"What the fuck." Theo says softly, staring across the field as the Egg was being carried across the land on the backs of infected mobs, pushed on by infected people. Behind him, Dream gripped his shoulder tightly. "Dream, what do-" "We tell the others. The Egg is moving, come on." 

Well, it probably was weaker now that was it smaller but the damn thing was fucking crafty and faster. Theo realizes as the Egg fucking leaps out of Sapnap's hold. The scarlet fucking vines lashing out, attempting to latch on to the closest target- Dream.

"No!" Theo screams, shoving Dream aside and letting the Egg latch on to him instead. He ends up on his back, the Egg right on top of him, bright red and fucking feral.

The Egg screeches, it actually screeches. Not just in his head, where it's muffled thanks to the static but right at the bottom where the vines were coming out, its mouths open and screech like the monster it was. The vines flail and wrap around his arms and his neck, trying to gain control or at the very least hurt him- "Get-It-OFF!" Theo snarled, struggling to both keep the Egg away and get the vines off of his neck. One vine lashed out hard and managed to break half of his fucking mask!

"Theo!" George and Dream scream, scrambling to help him, only Sapnap is still under the lingering control and he grabs George, holding on to him tightly.

"I won't let you hurt it!" Sapnap shouts, eyes crazed with red flecks in his pupils as he tried to choke George out too. 

George wheezed, Sapnap's arm around his neck. Dream quickly pried Sapnap's arm away from George, shoving his friend away, "Help Theo!" Dream exclaimed briefly before he and Sapnap got into a fist fight. It doesn't last long but Dream manages a hard hit to Sapnap's face, breaking his nose and knocking him out while George and Theo handled the Egg.

He desperately gulped in some air but spared no time running towards Theo and the Egg. He grabbed the Egg and pulled- The Egg switched victims, latching on to George instead and George screamed, seeing the mouths that edged along the area where the vines came from the Egg. "Heeelp!!" In the back of his head something started to whisper- help me save me obey don't let me die feed me love me keep me safe listen -

Theo coughed, shaking his head but he got his sword out and swung- the Egg screamed the moment the sword connected to one of it's vines. The vine and sword burst into blue flames, breaking the internal chant in George's head and snapping him out as the Egg continued screaming. Terrified, George threw the Egg at the wall. 

With a hard crack and splat! The Egg collided with the wall, its exterior cracked and red liquid coming from the mouth where a stump of the vine was. It didn't fall to the floor though, it held on to the wall, skittering across it, smearing the liquid against it before it dug up. Disappearing upwards through the stone.

"No-" Theo snarled only to cough again, his voice rough and his sword still flaming. He was about to try and follow it when behind him, George let out a small whimper and fell to the ground on one knee, leaning against his sword. Trembling and panting on the ground. To the side, he could see Dream supporting a bloody-nosed and knocked out Sapnap, he could see the way Dream's body trembled slightly as well.

He'd failed protecting them. He failed in preparing them for the Egg.

And the Egg escaped.

The amount of shame and rage in his body was almost overwhelming but it was familiar. 

Then he hears it. 

Footsteps.

Sprinting footsteps and-

"Tommy?" 

His heart skips a beat and his hands tremble slightly at the familiar voice. Dad Phil. 

"Please Tommy come back!" Phil cried out, reaching his hand out for him. He doesn't move. Dream ruffles his hair and has a grin on his face after they return to the Stronghold.

Technoblade.

"Theseus... Come home..." Technoblade whispered to him, bleeding out. He ignores the plea, trying to keep him alive. Dream hugs him and whispers comfort and apologies in the Stronghold.

Toby.

"Tommy please- Dream is dead! You can come back now!" Tubbo screams at him from afar. He stays away and leaves the supplies in the chest like always. He's alone in the Stronghold.

He sneers at them. Here they were, right in front of him. He thinks about the Dream Team and he steps forward, putting himself between them and Toby, Phil and Technoblade. They'd have to get through him to get to them, but right now, all he can do is invoke a familiar phrase.

"Crimson Truce." He spat through gritted teeth and a sore aching throat, aiming his glare at the stunned Toby. he can't look at phil and techno he can't "It's gone." 

He needs more help. From someone who's more experienced with dealing with the Egg. 

He needs Toby's help and he knows, Toby needs his help.

Chapter Text

Tommy stands before him, a grown man and broken.

Theo looks so much like Tommy but wrong- the color of his eyes and hair are too dull, his hair is longer, there's a scar on his face that would have taken his eye had it been just inches over. On his face is a broken mask, if it wasn't broken it would've definitely been identical to the mask Dream was wearing.

And his face is sneering. A swirl of emotions in his single exposed eye but his face contorts and he sneers at him, Techno and Toby.

Phil's son is different in the wrong ways in Toby's future. And all because the man that just blocks away, supporting his knocked out friend who had a bleeding and probably broken nose.

He doesn't know what happened here, but all he can focus on is that fact that the older version of his son is before him and he's not looking at him or Techno.

He's glaring at Toby with reluctance in his voice, failure in his eyes and a posture filled with shame and anger.

"It's gone." Theo repeats, rubbing his throat and coughing slightly. "We found the damned Egg but now it's gone." 

Toby looked flabbergasted but also fearful, "It's gone?! How?! It's supposed to be weaker, it-"

"It was weaker." Theo interrupted, gripping his sword tightly, a look of frustration on his face. "But it was smaller and faster and fucking crafty. Apparently it can move on it's own when it's the size of one enderdamned block." He seethed, "It still had its vines and it was more efficient with it. It wasn't the fucking size of Church Prime yet so it was quick as shit, I've managed to cut a piece of it with my sword and George threw it on the wall- the exterior cracked and it was definitely bleeding as you can fucking tell." He motioned to the smear on the wall and they glance at it before back at him as he continues. "It's gone now. Crawled against the wall like a hell spider and dug away." 

Toby swore, looking over the smear and then the hole that the Egg had made for its escape. "Why didn't you wait?! You could have told me you were going after the Egg and we could've gotten it together!" He exclaimed, whirling back to look at Theo who gave him a pissed glare.

"You knew I was going to go after the damned Egg, you could've come yourself! That was the main objective in going in the past wasn't it- destroy the Egg, save the fucking future. But you were too busy with L'Manberg and shit. You wanted to change the future there, go right ahead but I was focusing on the mission." Theo hissed.

Toby glared back, "Are you sure about that?" He questioned coldly, his eyes darting over to Dream at the side. 

"Oi!" Theo barked, stepping back into Toby's line of sight, his stance ready and wary and protective over Dream. Over the Dream Team. "Eyes on me fucker, we're discussing important shit right now and I said Crimson Truce. Look, point is- The one real chance to destroy the Egg fucked up, my fucking bad. But now we have a real shits to hell problem, the Egg is gone, we don't fucking know where it is and now it knows we're coming for it." 

The dark-haired time traveler scowled and winced, pressing a hand on his head and glancing over to Techno who was gaze was switching between Dream and Theo, Phil could only assume that Chat was going wild and it was affecting both Toby and Techno. Techno was already pulling out his diamond sword, a dark scowl on his face.

OLDER TOMMY OH ENDER HE LOOKS BADASS BUT HE SOUNDS SO MEAN!! he sounds so different! hurt him make him PAY. Dream definitely brainwashed him he's wearing his mask!! pog theo but damn he fucked up on the egg. wrong wrong wrong it's all wrong. I wonder what that liquid tastes like. DREAM!!! oh ender what's going on? there's something wrong with them. Dream fucked up he fucked with Theo holy fuck why Dream why. KILL HIM!! OFFER HIS BLOOD TO THE BLOOD GOD!! 

Phil was definitely right to assume that the Chat was affecting both Toby and Techno. Technoblade's bloodlust was rising as the voices descended more and more into violence. The more passive voices were being pushed down as the chant for blood started to ring in their ears, fueled by Techno's own anger at Dream and Toby's repressed vitriol for the man.

Unfortunately, Theo of course noticed and snarled at them both. He took off his mask and threw it at Toby, it nailed him in the head. "Calm the fuck down you savage assholes!" Theo shouts, face fully revealed- it was bleeding slightly as fragments of his broken mask were in his cheek, and Phil wanted to help him so much. "If you take even one threatening step I will attack you. All of you." He stressed, glancing over Technoblade and Phil. "I will fucking stop whatever Enderdamned rampage you idiotic dickheads will do, and Chat can fuck off with that bullshit too. You're going to have to get through me to get to them." He declared firmly, a shield suddenly in one hand and his axe in the other.

"Tommy-" Phil tried to speak, hurting over how Theo seemed to acting right now. He flinched at the glare he got from him.

"It's Theo Philza. Tommy is a naive brat thinking he's a man when in reality he's some dumb irritating bitch. Your Tommy is someone I've stopped being a long time ago. And you stopped being my father for longer than that." 

"Tommy!" Toby exclaimed as Phil gasped.

Techno growled, "Do you even hear yourself? That man has brainwashed you, he's just using you-"

Theo scoffed, "He's done fucking nothing. This Dream has done fucking nothing to me, and you know what? He's still got my loyalty in the end, so shut the fuck up pig man. Either you fight me and kill me or you stand down and stop being fucking idiots and we can discuss actually important shit like the damn Egg that got away." He said, standing his ground. He wasn't going to let them get to the Dream Team, get to Dream. He was going to fight them, like he said before. He was willing to give away his life for them, for him, for Dream.

Behind him George and Dream stared, George looking confused and conflicted while Dream's face was hidden behind that mask so no one knew what he was thinking. 

stop, he's serious - he's willing to die for dream and his weaponry is far better than yours toby might help but theo is dangerously determined.

Toby gritted his teeth, "I know that." He hissed to the voice who managed to speak above the chanting which was gradually dying down as the passive voices returned, trying to quell the violent, chanting voices. Violence wasn't the most optimal option now. "We've fought before, he's good. Really good." He almost died permanently during one of their fights, but he had managed to get his hands on an Undying Totem and survived the ordeal. "Fine. Technoblade, put away your sword."

DREAM HAS TO DIE! older tommy what the fuck why are you doing this? he's changed so much! KILL DREAM ANYWAY!! toby says he's good so he must be a fucking powerhouse. He has better armor than us we shouldn't fight him. WE CAN TAKE HIM! and if dream decides to join in? George too they both have good netherite armor! techno and phil need better armor and weapons. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE EGG ANYWAY!! DON'T HURT THEO!

Techno's jaw clenched and he grunted but reluctantly, he put away his sword. He still gave Dream a glare, the masked man still staying silent. But his grip on Sapnap tightened.

Theo gave Toby and Techno a narrowed-eyed look, but he too, put away his shield and axe. He took a new mask out of his inventory, surprisingly it was a bit different than the smiley mask that Dream gave him or as Toby told him and Techno about, a frowning face on the porcelain instead of a smiling one. "There's no point staying here. Let's go above ground, staying down here is making me claustrophobic." 

Phil watched the older version of his youngest son help George up, whispering something to the goggled man before moving on to Dream and Sapnap. He watched him offer Dream that he would carry Sapnap, Dream hesitated but finally shook his head. Theo nodded back but said they would have to heal Sapnap first, set his nose back in.

Theo does it, efficiently as if he's done it before. Then he motions George closer so they could all be within the splash zone of the healing potion he threw.

Phil does not recognize Theo. He looks like Tommy but he's not. He is, but he's not. 

What happened to his son?

"Hey Tubbo."

Tubbo blinked and glanced over to Tommy, "Yeah?" He asked, swinging his axe at the tree- they were getting more wood. Tubbo had nearly run out just a bit ago and Tommy offered to help him gather more wood. "What is it Tommy?"

"Do you really think we can get Theo back on our side?" At that question, Tubbo stopped swinging just as the wood breaks and he gives Tommy a confused and concerned look. Tommy had his head bowed, axe gone from his hands as he stared at them. "You saw what he did, at the elections. He almost hit me, any closer to my face or if Toby wasn't there- he probably could have one shot me with that axe. Me, his own, younger self."

Tubbo winced as he remembered that moment. He remembers the way the axe glinted and glowed with its obviously high-tiered enchantments. Remembers the way it grazed Tommy's nose before Toby shoved Tommy back and intercepted with his sword. Remembers how terrified he'd been for Tommy, holding on to him tightly- he was only on one life now he couldn't afford to be reckless. "I- well, he said he wasn't actually going to hit you." He said weakly which only made Tommy snort.

"Yeah I guess but still, what kind of fucked up man did I grow into to actually do shit like that? Not to mention side with Dream of all people! I mean, there were moments where we got along yeah but those are far and in between!" Tommy exclaimed, fists clenching tightly. "You heard Toby, even after Dream died Theo wouldn't come back! He just- he stayed away from L'Manberg, from Phil, from you- now that he's here and there's an alive Dream. Can we really bring him back to our side? Snap him out of whatever the fuck happened to him?"

Tubbo doesn't like the doubt in Tommy's voice, because they were talking about Theo here. Tommy's older, alternate self that came from a bad future. "It won't be easy," He started, going over to offer him a comforting hand. "But we surely could do something at least. He's you! Older, kind scarier and stuff but surely we could get him back." They had to. For Toby. For Phil and Techno. For them.

Because this whole future thing has him realizing that there was a possibility that his friendship with Tommy could actually be severed. That their bond could be broken and that they'd drift apart and change into people they could hardly recognize in a bad way. Not that Toby was bad, oh no. But Tubbo had caught on to the longing glances he sent Tommy whenever he thought no one was looking. Caught on to Toby's repressed rage over Dream. Caught on to the trauma that he had.

He wanted his future self to heal, to have his Tommy back. And that it could be proof.

Proof that despite what happened, they could still be friends. Best friends, he and Tommy against the world.

Toby and Theo were proof that their friendship wasn't invincible, that it could be broken and that they could very well end up almost hating each other. Tubbo secretly hated them for that. But he wanted to help Toby get Theo, both for Toby's sake and his own.

Tommy smiled at him, though it didn't reach his eyes. It was clear he wanted to believe Tubbo but his doubts were too strong. "Yeah. Somehow..."

They continued gathering wood, easily reaching more than two stacks, they planted some saplings before deciding to head back towards Tubbo's house where basically everyone was bunking in. Tubbo lightened the mood with Tommy, steering the conversation away from their troublesome future and instead focused on what they could do now- the elections were over. They had more free time than before, of course they would come to help Toby but right now Toby was with Schlatt and Quackity or so Phil told them before they left. 

When they arrived back, they were confronted by Wilbur, "Have you seen Phil and Techno on your way back here? They were out exploring L'Manberg but they haven't come back yet." He said with a frown, it deepened when both boys shook their heads. "Hm."

"Maybe they're out gathering resources too, I know Techno's itching to get better armor and supplies." Tommy proposed, remembering how his brother grumbled underneath his breath about the state of his armor and their supplies- he grumbled even more when they had told him about how high-tiered Toby's armor and weapons were. 

"They could be sidetracked by someone or something in the town, maybe they saw Niki and had lunch!" Tubbo added in, his stomach growling afterwards making him smile sheepishly, "Speaking of lunch."

Wilbur and Tommy laughed, and the three of them went off into the kitchen to get some lunch. 

"Maybe we should go look for them." Wilbur suggested after lunch, noticing that Phil and Techno had yet to return, they hadn't sent any messages. Oh right, messages! He could just ask where they were. He got his communicator out, beginning to type into it.

Tommy waved him off, "I'm sure they're fine Wil! It's Dad and the Blade, they'd totally be fine no matter what! If Tech was here he'd go all, ' Ahhmmm- hooo I'm Technoblade bluh bluh Technoblade never dies buh' and shit." He mocked, grinning widely as Tubbo tried to smother his snicker.

Wilbur snorted, rolling his eyes as he kept typing into his communicator, sending off messages to Phil and Techno. 

Tubbo shook his head but paused when he heard the faint sound of the front door opening, "I think they're back, or at least Toby is." He said, going over to see who came back. Only to yelp in shock when he saw the entourage at the entrance of his house. Wilbur and Tommy were quick to run over to see why he was so surprised.

Tommy's eyes widened before they narrowed down, "What the fuck are they doing here?!" Tommy screamed, pointing at the four netherite clad men that were behind Toby, Phil and Techno. "They're- what the shit happened to Sapnap?" He couldn't help but question as he sees Sapnap on Dream's back, his face bloody and bruised, the bruise was healing but that was a lot of blood on his face. 

He also noticed the frowning mask on Theo's face, his confusion and apprehension growing.

Techno and Toby seemed to be in a bad mood, both of them shooting Dream occasional glares. Phil seemed downtrodden, heartbroken- his expression both lit up and got sadder when he saw Tommy himself. 

"Dream punched him because he was under the mind control of an evil egg." George told Tommy, glancing between him and Theo before turning to Tubbo, smiling weakly. "Mind if we come in? Toby uh, insisted we go to your house instead of anywhere else." 

Tubbo could only helplessly shrug, motioning them to come in. "Uh go on? Jeez, why is my house so popular lately?" He asked himself as the group of men entered his house. 

"Sorry, it was the only closest and safest place that came to mind at the time. And I certainly didn't want to go with them." Toby apologized to his younger self who could only shrug it off with a nod of understanding. 

"No no it's fine! Um, I would have appreciated a warning though." Tubbo pointed out making Toby laugh sheepishly.

"Yeah I probably should have given you a warning." 

With that, they were all in the living room, Sapnap laid on a bed that was just crafted so he could rest and be unconscious all he wanted. 

The room was split though, with Toby, Tubbo, Phil, Tommy, Wilbur and Techno on one side and Theo, Dream, George and the unconscious Sapnap on the other.

There was a heavy tension mixed with some awkwardness that permeated the room, Wilbur ignored it to ask what happened.

"The Egg happened," Theo answered with a grumble, standing by Dream's side while he and George sat down on two placed blocks. "We tried to destroy it for good, before it could grow and things went to shit. Sapnap found it first but his mind got jacked by it and he ended up trying to run away with the Egg. It was the size of a block and he had to use both hands since apparently you can't put the Egg into your inventory. Makes sense since it's an entity." 

George shivered, "Definitely a hostile one."

Dream turned to him, "You okay? That thing almost got you didn't it?" He ignored the glares he got from the three males whose names all started with a T; Techno, Toby and of course, Tommy. 

"Yeah I- fuck, it was terrifying. There was this voice, it was all sweet in my head. It kept whispering and it just-" He shivered again, hands gripping his own arms tightly. "It felt and sounded so wrong."

Toby and Theo scowled, "That's the Egg's voice. It changes from time to time depending on whose near it, for people who are resistant to its voice it'll whisper and try to get your guard down. But usually people are immediately influenced by it, like Sapnap over there." Theo pointed at him with his thumb. "It was really weak, the exterior cracked when George threw it at the wall. It didn't die unfortunately and got away."

"It got away?!" Tubbo yelped, terrified at the thought of a monster egg on the loose.

Toby grimaced but nodded, "Yeah, which is why they're here. We have a truce, for now. Crimson Truce- or well, Egg Truce right now. No Crims..on... Hold on." Abruptly he stood up and scrambled over to Sapnap, only to be stopped by Theo.

"What the fuck do you think you're you doing?" Theo questioned stonily, gripping Toby's sleeve shoulder tightly.

Toby threw his arm off, "We have to check on him to see if he's infected!" He snapped, "You said he was in contact and was controlled by the Egg, we have to check him!"

"Shit." Theo cursed and together, they stripped Sapnap of his armor and clothing much to the shock of the others.

"Dude-"
"Ack, Toby!"

"Ahh dammit..."

'...'

"I'm fine, I'm fine. It wasn't that bad, just lost two hearts and my legs hurt."

'...!'

"Yeah that would suck, but don't worry. I'm good."

'...!!'

"Hm? Oh! Oh crap! Okay, okay okay okay- We're good! We're fine! Look see? There's- a cave, let's stay in the cave for now."

'...'

"So you keep telling me... It's certainly going to take a while to get there."

'...?'

"No no, I'm just pointing it out. There was nothing left for me back there, it's fine. Besides, you need to go there don't you? Might as well come with, all the stories you've been telling me are interesting. I want to meet them."

'...'

"Mhmm.... Thank you by the way."

'...!'

save me save me protect me feed me hungry angry hungry bad men hurt help me save me help me hungry angry angry 

Chapter Text

"Toby Theo what the fuck are you doing?!" Dream exclaimed loudly, and though it was Dream, almost everyone else agreed with his question as Theo and Toby worked together to strip Sapnap of his armor and clothing- thankfully though they didn't strip him naked. No, they left Sapnap's pants alone. That still didn't change the fact that Sapnap was now shirtless and half-naked on a bed in Tubbo's living room.

Theo was holding Sapnap's right arm up, checking the skin, "We're checking to see if he was infected by the Egg." He answered Dream while Toby carefully moved Sapnap's neck, checking his neck and head. "Flip." He said and they both flipped Sapnap on his front, looking over his back.

Unease settled in the air as they remembered that in the future, the Egg caused the Crimson, caused an infection so their actions made sense. But it was still strange to watch them both work together just to look over Sapnap's half-naked body. 

"Ender this is so weird to watch." Tommy muttered and those who heard it agreed, watching two time-travelling men inspect the half-naked and unconscious body of someone you know. It was weirder for Dream and George since Sapnap was their best friend, but honestly it would've been amusing if it weren't an actual concern. "So? Is he infected?" Tommy asked as Theo and Toby sigh in what seemed to be relief, sitting on their asses on the floor.

"No. No red spots or roots showing," Toby replied, rubbing his face. "If you're inspected there would be either an unnaturally red spot or roots on the upper half of your body. It always shows right at either the surface of the skin or just underneath it." 

Tubbo's face contorted into displeasure as he imagined it, "That seems a little gross."

Theo snorted, "That's a fucking understatement. Ever seen a flower or berry grow from the roots underneath skin of a person?" The faces he got for even asking had him snorting again. "Yeah. It's not pretty to watch." He said darkly remembering every flower that Dream had grown. Toby's face went just as dark as he remembered the writhing roots and the quickly budding flowers that Technoblade had.

Theo suddenly remembered that George had been grabbed by the Egg as well, he stood up and motioned George over.

"George, come here and take of your shirt." George looked startled, he then paled when he realized why Theo wanted him to take off his shirt. 

Despite being in front of other people, George took off his chest plate and lifted his shirt- he didn't completely take it off. He let Theo check his back though and sighed in relief when Theo shook his head and quickly put his shirt down. "Wait, what about you? It- It was attacking you before, it was trying to choke you." George said with worry.

"I'll check later-" Theo said, only to be interrupted.

"It tried to choke you!?" Phil exclaimed, hurrying over to try and check on Theo only for Theo to back away.

"It failed. I can fucking check myself later, I don't feel anything off." Theo replied stiffly, scowling underneath his mask. 

Toby however, got to his feet. "Oh no, we'll check you now- having one of us infected so early will cost us in the end." He argued, glaring defiantly at Theo. "It's a risk we can't take."

"You think I don't know that? But like I said, I can check my-fucking-self-" Theo spat, not wanting to take off his hoodie.

Tommy rolled his eyes, "You've stripped Sapnap and told George to take off his shirt- stop being a bitch and just lose the fucking hoodie already!" He exclaimed, ignoring the looks he got. He was neutral about hoodies before, he had some of his own in his closet but Theo and Dream pretty much ruined his opinion about them. 

"Shut up!" Theo barked at his younger self who stuck his tongue out at him.

By this time, George had returned to Dream's side. He glanced at him and nudged him, motioning to Theo who was still protesting against Toby and Phil's insistence to let them even near him. "Theo." Theo immediately silenced himself, giving Dream his full attention much to everyone else's chagrin. "Take off your hoodie." Theo faltered, clutching the red fabric before reluctantly nodding.

"Alright fine." He tugged his hoodie off, showing off the simple white t-shirt underneath. "None on my fucking arms-"

"What about underneath your shirt?" Toby questioned with a frown, his brows furrowed.

Theo growled but reluctantly pulled his shirt up, he didn't take it off completely, he just pulled it up enough to reveal most of his back and front. No one would see the blue staining his skin at the base of his neck, not if he had anything to say.

A root-pattered scar covered his side. Coming from right above his hip and crawling over to the other and upperside of his chest. 

"What the hell is that?" Techno asked, staring at the scar- it almost resembled a lichtenberg figure scar, the type of scar you get when you were struck by lightning or high amounts of electricity. Only the scar was so much darker, permanent and jagged. "Theo, what the hell is that?"

Toby stared at it, a look of horror dawning his face. "I thought you said you weren't infected-" He said and the tension spiked from his words.

"FUCK!" Tommy shouted as the blade sliced into his side, the pain heightened as the roots quickly slithered into the wound."TOMMY!" Dream shouted as Tommy stumbled back, the infected gurgled from the sudden sword to the neck, Dream kicking them away and quickly scrambling to Tommy's side. Tommy pressed against the wound, clawing at it and trying to pull the roots out but too many had entered his side. 

Theo snarled underneath his mask, "I'm not! Not anymore anyway. See for your fucking self, it's just a scar and there are no red roots and shit on me." He growled, showing his back, the scar reached the middle of his back as well. "I'm not infected." He spat, dropping his shirt, irritably scratching the back of his neck. 

"How the hell are you not infected anymore? You- you can't get the fucking blood vines out of your body if they were that big! You'd die! Even with an Undying Totem, you would've died from the aftershock- healing potions still wouldn't have worked after taking the roots out!" Toby exclaimed, "You can only take the roots out if they were small!" He's seen people who tried to take the roots out at that size- they all failed and either turned fully infected or die.

"Yeah well it wasn't fucking easy, Dream and I spent hours trying to get it all out. All the while I was trying not to die- We wasted through almost all of our golden apples. I wasted." Theo's hands clutched his shirt tightly, the phantom pain of the whole process made him flinch.

"Keep- keep eating Tommy." Dream told him, breath short and panting, sounding strained and in pained- Tommy could only gag, chewing through the agonizing pain as he felt the roots wriggling underneath his skin, fighting against Dream, trying to grow and sink into Tommy's body, travel up his torso right into his brain. His mind was filled with static and whispers, his thoughts were everywhere as he continuously chewed and swallowed on one golden apple after another. 

"So what, you kept eating golden fucking apples? Bullshit, we tried that, we-"

Theo interrupted him as he tugged his red hoodie back on, adjusting his mask. "Dream took the roots for me." He said icily, silencing him as he continued. "He could've lived longer, he could've let me die to the vines, the Crimson but he took them from me. He was already infected, but if he hadn't taken my infection he probably would've been here instead of me. You need another fucking infected who isn't under the Egg's control to get the big roots out. Dream saved my life, again and again. And you wonder why I stayed with him." He hissed to the stunned Toby.

An awkward, tense silence came after that. Toby looking pale, angry and a whole slew of other emotions mixed in. 

"So, you, George and Sapnap aren't infected. That's good." Dream spoke up, ignoring the intense stare he got from Toby.

"How do you get infected by the uh, the Egg or the Crimson?" Wilbur asked hesitantly, glancing between both men. From what you've said, it certainly doesn't seem to be an airborne thing..." As much as he didn't really want to continue the subject, it was best to learn everything about it now. So that they can prepare for it in the future, the Egg was gone and these two time-travelling scarred and scorned men were the only source of useful information they had. 

Ender, Wilbur almost wished they hadn't appeared. Almost. If they hadn't...

"You get infected two ways. The Egg directly infects you with its vines, or another infected's roots get underneath your skin, into your blood, your veins- a scratch not healed in time is practically an invitation for the Crimson and the Egg." Toby answered with a scowl. "And the infection time varies depending on a lot of things, if you get a small cut and only a small, single root enters it, you're infected but not totally yet. If it's small enough, you can cut off the skin and get the root out but if not... Not even respawning will get rid of the vines."

The unease sharpened at the revelation, "It- it follows you after you respawn?" Phil gasped- only intense scars followed you back after you respawn like the burnt skin of Toby's scar. Anything else was unheard of, until now.

"That shouldn't be possible." Techno pointed out, arms crossed and figure tense. He's getting sick and tired over these past few days, the future version of his brother was being an idiot and siding with someone who he shouldn't be siding with, both he and the future version of his brother's best friend had better armor and weapons than him and they both bring news of a horrible future. Also there's a fucking monster Egg somewhere but they had no idea where and it could potentially bring the end of the world as they know it.

He wished things were simpler and that the world made sense again.

Unfortunately wishes like that don't come true.

"Big T, time travel shouldn't be possible either." Tommy couldn't help but retort to his brother's words, grinning nervously at the look he got from Techno.

"It shouldn't be possible yeah," Theo said, returning to stand by Dream. "But it is. We still don't know how or fucking why yet. We were all too busy trying to survive to find out, but now we have a chance. The Egg had to come from somewhere. Someone, or something, had to have made it."

Tubbo frowned, "But why? That- why in the world would they make a world-ending monster egg that took over people's mind, infected them and- and ate them?"

"Whoever did is a sick bastard." Tommy chimed in with a grimace.

Toby nodded, taking a deep breath. "The sickest of bastards." He mumbled in agreement. "Dammit. Okay, the Egg is gone from it's original location. It managed to control Sapnap, you and George managed to injure it but it got away. It's more maneuverable when it's the size of one block but more vulnerable. And since you three weren't infected, it's too weak to actually infect anyone yet. It took years for it to grow as big as it did when Bad found it, it was strong enough then to pull people in and control multiple at once, with how it was eating it only grew stronger and bigger over the years." He recapped, trying to make sense of everything and to plan as to what to do.

"So what should we do? And how do we find it?" Phil was the one to ask, looking grim. He also glanced at Theo who gave him no acknowledgement which continued to make him hurt.

"The only thing we can do," Toby starts, a frustrated look on his face as he ran a hand through his hair, "Is prepare. We have no idea where to find it, no idea where it went- it could be anywhere."

"We'll have to keep an eye on everybody, keep an ear out." Theo said, he was about to continue when a groan caught all of their attention.

On the bed, Sapnap moaned in pain, blearily his eyes blinked open. "Wh-ugh!" He grunted, pushing against the bed to sit up, pressing a hand against his face, over his nose. "Ow... What happened?" He questioned, squinting while looking around to where the hell he was.

"Sapnap!" Both Dream and George exclaimed, happy to see him awake.

"Guys? Wha- what the fuck? Where's my shirt- why am I half naked on a bed?!" Sapnap screamed, finally noticing the fact he was shirtless. He also then noticed the rest of the people in the room. "Why are they here?! Where are we?! What the hell happened?!"

The heavy tension lightened a bit as Sapnap freaked out, it was too amusing not to consider funny.

They spent another half-hour in Tubbo's living room before deciding to leave. Sapnap had redressed himself, eyeing both Theo and Toby all the while with a look- though he did joke on how they should've paid for his dinner at least.

Toby and Theo expressed their disgust and exasperation as they were temporarily entertainment for the others, they were quick to get everything back on track. But Theo was aching to go now that Sapnap was awake and was fine- his nose hurt a bit but it was back in place and properly healed. They could leave, do a meeting another time about the Egg, however to leave immediately would be foolish if they hadn't established at least something.

Theo learns about Schlatt when Toby mentions he'll talk about gathering resources with Schlatt to ready L'Manberg for the future. "You kept him in office?" He asked, genuinely stunned to hear about it. "You kept Schlatt in office."

"... I did." Toby replied cautiously, watching him. "There wasn't anyone else suited for the seat of Presidency." Wilbur flinched a bit at this, looking a bit bitter, however Phil nudged him and gave him a comforting smile which made him a feel better.

Theo stayed silent for a bit, "Would've thought you'd take it again. Mr. President." He said, a bit mocking.

Toby only grimaced, "Don't call me that, and no. I- I'm done being president. I have been done for years now, you know this." He couldn't focus on the time travel plan while still being president, couldn't be on the frontlines while dealing with his people back in the Nether. He still occasionally helped Niki and Quackity with their duties with the people and the terraforming of the Nether but they didn't need his help all the time.

The masked blond only scoffed, "Whatever you say, Mr. Ex-president. But really, you kept Schlatt?"

"As much as I'd hate to agree with my bitchy futureself here, because duh bitchy futureself. But yeah, you really kept Schlatt on the damn seat?" Tommy asked with a frown.

Toby sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "When he's not being a prick and not drunk, he's actually a competent president." He replied, "I've got him under control."

Theo snorted, "Oh that's just wonderful." He said sarcastically, though it was typical that Toby would still be in some form of power over L'Manberg. Hah, it was actually a bit amusing to think that Schlatt would be a figure head while Toby controlled him from the not-so dark shadows. He wondered though, if Dream would want to interfere with this. He'll just have to ask him later, there wasn't a war and probably won't be if Toby had any say about it, but Dream could be thinking of things.

Either way, they continued to talk, it wasn't smooth whatsoever but it could've been worse. Actually it would've been worse as Theo's annoyance against his younger self and Technoblade grew during their discussions, they kept looking at Dream- giving him dark glares, angry looks. Phil and Wilbur were being annoying as well, looking at him with concern. Toby at least was being professional but Theo knew that he definitely wanted Dream out of there.

Tubbo...

Tubbo was the worst of them.

He looked at Theo and Theo wanted him to look away.

Wanted him and his younger self out of the room.

He didn't want to see the old friendship that he and Toby had, be reminded of how things were. That life was over for him. Tubbo wasn't his friend, Toby wasn't his best friend. 

Dream was.

His life was centered around Dream, he couldn't and wouldn't abandon his side. 

"You should leave." Dream tells him one night and he freezes in place, "I'm giving you permission to go back to Tubbo, that's what you want isn't it? Deep down, underneath the bullshit I've done to you- you should go. Go back. Tommy, you can leave." Tommy feels torn, his neck doesn't even twinge and the static is calm. "I've done so much bad shit Tommy, leave me to die." The roots have climbed up his neck, travelling up to his face. They can't do anything about it and Tommy hates that.

Tommy hates that. Tommy hates him. He doesn't actually, Tommy cares for him and it's confusing. Ever since the roots settled into Dream, he's been so confusing. More confusing than ever. His eyes change between the color of leaves to grass and poison. He tells Tommy one thing and tells him a completely different thing next. "No." Tommy finally says and Dream gives him an upset look. It changes though just like his eyes, the poison is back and Dream smiles. It's broken and cruel and satisfied.

"Good, stay with me Tommy. Don't abandon me, that's an order from your dearest friend." He won't. The back of his neck twinges and the static pulses. 

He doesn't think he could actually go back to Tubbo anyway. 

They decide to leave and Theo is at the door when Phil grabs his wrist. Techno and Wilbur behind him, Tommy and Tubbo around the corner. Toby nowhere to be seen.

"Don't go." Phil says and Theo doesn't look at him, he looks at Dream who's right outside with Sapnap and George. "Tommy. Theo- stay. Please. My son-"

"I'm not your son." Theo tells him, freeing his wrist from Philza's grasp. "I'm not your brother." He tells Wilbur and Techno. "I'm not your best friend, or you." He tells Tubbo and Tommy. 

He leaves, shutting the door behind him and starts to walk. "I'm Dream's friend." He tells himself and Dream and George and Sapnap. 

"Theo..." George trails off, frowning at him.

Dream looks at him from behind his mask, "You could stay with them." He says quietly and Theo knows his eyes are like leaves. "They sound-"

"They don't matter Dream." Theo interrupts, "I've cut ties with them before, I'm cutting ties with them now. They don't need me, I don't need them. I'm your friend, I'll stay by your side."

Sapnap's brows furrow, "That doesn't sound fair Theo. They're still your family." He points out carefully and Theo laughs.

"No. They're not- they're Tommy's family. This Tommy, young naive, bratty fucking asshole Tommy. My dad came too late, killed one of my brothers at his behest and only stayed because of my brother's ghost and my other brother. My older brother went insane, blew up the nation we built and died to my dad but came back as a fucking ghost who doesn't remember the bad shit he did. My oldest brother tried to kill me with withers, he called me Theseus, told me to die like a hero and gave me up. My family didn't give two shits about me when I was just a bit older than your Tommy's age, why give a shit about me now that I'm an adult?" He questioned with fists clenched and something wet trailing down his face, dripping off the underside of his mask, they notice and he hates it.

"Please Tommy come back!"
"Tommy do you want some blue?"
"Theseus... Come home..." 

"Tommy where did Techno go?"
"Let's be the bad guys."
"You want to be a hero Tommy? Then die like one!"

Theo wipes his wet chin, taking in a deep breath.

"Let's just go now. I'm done here, I want to get out of this shitty country and sleep."

Chapter Text

"I'm not your son." 

Phil collapsed on his knees, gripping the cloth at his knees, a rasping sound escaping his mouth as the words bounced in his head. 

"I'm not your brother."

Techno made an animalistic growl, hiding just how effected he was by those words alone, he stormed off somewhere into the house. Wilbur on the other hand staggered towards the wall, palm pressed against his mouth as his eyes got teary.

"I'm not your best friend, or you."

Tubbo clung to Tommy, a wide-eyed, shocked and hurt look on his face while Tommy gritted his teeth, holding on to Tubbo while helplessly looking over his family.

"He was right about one thing," Tommy said aloud, shocking the three males that were with him. "He's not me. And I'm never going to end up like him."

He wouldn't, he was never going to end up like Theo. He wouldn't become Dream's brainwashed little puppet, he wasn't going to cause his family and friends to much suffering from words alone and he was going to stay with them to the very end.

He was going to make sure of it.

Toby didn't want to watch Theo leave with Dream. Again. He's seen it far too many times now, so he stays within the house, he doesn't follow the others, doesn't say anything or doesn't do anything even if, like always, he wanted Theo to stay. To come back, to get away from the masked man who took his life away and reshaped it into something he shouldn't have been.

There's a bitter taste in his mouth, it's familiar but intensified.

And you wonder why I stayed with him.

He did, he fucking did. Ender knows how much he's wondered on why Theo stayed with Dream, even after he died.

The sheer utter joy and relief Toby had felt, when he found the grave within the snowy tundra. The smoldering pile of embers, Dream's mask hanging on an empty sign post- the sight had knocked the air right out of him and it had been the happiest he'd felt in a long while, his friend was free. He could come back, he could come home. Right? 

With Dream dead, he could freely come home to Toby, to Phil, Fundy, Ranboo- everyone who managed to survive. They had missed Theo, surely Theo had missed them. Surely, he'd come back. Surely, all could be right again and Toby would truly be fighting side-by-side with his best friend once again. Together, they could overcome the Crimson! 

But Theo never came back.

He never approached him, not a word about his return. If anything, he stayed away more often, started leaving supplies in a chest within their base. Silent and distant, more than ever and Toby couldn't understand.

Why?

Why hadn't he come back? Why was he staying away? They would always welcome him with open arms, they wanted him back, they missed him. He missed him. So much.

They had so much to talk about, Toby had so much to say, had to apologize for the utter bullshit he's done but Theo had to come home first. Had to be safe. Had to come back and stay with them.

"Tommy please- Dream is dead! You can come back now!" He screams at him from afar at the distant figure, shrouded by the snow-covered taiga trees. Desperation and want mixed together as the masked figure disappeared from his spot. Despair clouded his mind as Tommy left, without a word, without a sound, and there wasn't anyone coaxing him to leave. He left, on his own. He screams and Ranboo is there, hugging him. The hybrid crying silently while he cursed into thin air. 

It had been one of the worst moments of his life, easily toppling...

"Tommy?" The ground was uneven and covered with holes. Explosion-caused holes, he realized with a dread in his stomach. "Tommy?!" He runs around, trying to find any sign of his best friend. Logstedshire, Ghostbur's house, Tommy's tent- in pieces with the smell of gunpowder in the air, the tent was practically gone. He's panicking, where was Tommy? Where was- If only he had his compass, if only- He sees it. A pillar. Made of dirt, reaching so very high and his dread grows rapidly in his stomach, staring up the pillar. "Surely- Surely not." No, Tommy wouldn't do that. Tommy wouldn't- he was too stubborn, so filled with life and loud and bright-

"Hello Mr. President." Tommy. Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy- it was Tommy, the mysterious protoge of Dream's was Tommy and he was wrong. His face was emotionless, bloodied but emotionless. Tommy was alive, Tommy was here, Tommy was blowing up L'Manberg, Tommy was- "And goodbye." Trying to kill him. He's falling into the crater, the burning, screaming crater. He's only saved from certain death because of Ranboo who stares at Tommy in shock from across the crater who leaves no where are you going no please come back- Dream laughs as Tommy returns to his side, offering a new mask. He accepts and Tubbo right then and there, understands something. Dream did something and now Tommy was gone.

Techno's dying. The Priest and Sages are doing all they can, but the roots are rapid, they're growing and they're too deep in Techno. Chat screams in their ears, panicking and worried while Tubbo sits by Techno's side. "T..mmy... Come... home..." The piglin hybrid mumbles, barely able to move, to breath, to open his eyes and Tubbo breaks. Chat chants in their head, it's the loudest he's ever heard them. They're denying Techno's death, they're telling Tubbo to get Tommy and bring him home, they're chanting and screaming and Techno's chest stills- Chat goes silent. They stay silent until Techno burns on the pyre. They whisper to him as he leaves the Nether. Bring Tommy Home. 

Toby felt so tired, so upset, so angry- he just wanted his Tommy back. 

He wanted everything back the way it was, before his presidency, before the wars, before everything started coming down on them both and they went their separate ways.

TOBY TOBY THEO MADE TECHNO UPSET!! he made everyone upset. NOOOO THE FAM IS ALL UPSET!! i can't believe that's tommy i REFUSE to believe that's tommy. Man's gotten cold it's kinda cool actually. AAAAAAAAH WHYYYYY?? ender someone fix things i can't take all this angst. he juST LEFT?? toby techno are you two alright? TOBY WHY IS THEO SO MEAN!!! something is definitely going on here like what even the fuck. E E E E. How does our lovably annoying raccoon boy turn into a stone-cold badass? DREAM THAT'S HOW HE'S AT FAULT DIDN'T TOBY SAY HE'S THE REASON WHY THEO'S LIKE THIS?! i think it's more complicated than that. brainwashing's one hell of a drug. Is he really tommy? 

Toby startled when he heard the voices, he'd been alone in the kitchen and suddenly he wasn't alone anymore.

Techno appeared at the doorway, looking angry, upset.

"I take it he's gone off now." Toby said rather than asked, he sounded tired. "Chat, that is Tommy. Believe me, it is him." Toby told Chat who rumbled in both his and Techno's ears.

Techno grunts, growling, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself." He said lowly, stalking into the kitchen, "He's changed for the worst. He made Phil upset, Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo too." He made me upset. Techno doesn't say, ever the one to keep his personal feelings to himself. But Toby has spent enough time with his mentor to see that whatever Theo had said, it had affected him greatly.

"Yeah. He does that now." Toby murmured, rubbing his face and smiling sardonically. "He's become one hell of an asshole."

got that right. HE'S SO MEAN!! he's gotten hot but he's gotten so cold enderdamned.

The half-piglin scoffs, "That is an understatement." He took in a deep breath, shoulders tense and posture rigid. "... How the hell did he end up with Dream anyway? How did Dream manage to- to turn my little brother into that guy? I know as hell that Tommy wouldn't have willingly gone with Dream." 

Toby flinched, and of course Techno catches it. "Toby... what happened to my brother?"

To tell or not to tell? That was his question. He looks at Techno, the glint in the hybrid's eyes. He's Technoblade, but younger. He's his mentor, but not yet. He's Theo's brother, Tommy's brother but he hasn't done anything. Toby thinks back to the burning blue pyre, the funeral fit for a warrior and he opens his mouth.

"I... I exiled him, that's how Dream got to him. I exiled Tommy out of L'Manberg and Dream took advantage of that."

PLOT TWIST?! hot future tubbo why the hell would you do that??? TOBY!! tell us the whole story.

"You what?!"

Surprisingly, it wasn't Techno that said that. No, it was Tommy who said it. He stood in at the doorway, eyes wide at Toby. Behind him were Phil, Wilbur and Tubbo. They too, were stunned by his admittance. 

Dread bubbles in his stomach. Ah, it was time to admit his mistakes now.

The walk back to Dream's base was awkward and silent. The air strained as not even Sapnap or George spoke on the way back, just silently contemplating on a lot of things.

Theo didn't like the silence but didn't have the courage to break it or say anything else, all he wanted to do was sleep. Preferably at the Stronghold, but there was no telling that Dream would go back with him and he didn't want to leave the man alone. But he would, if Dream wanted him to leave him alone. 

Once they're back in the base, once Sapnap and George are in another room- he followed Dream out of the room actually, he finally speaks up to Dream. "Dream?" His younger friend, owner, Dream- still weird, so very weird- looks back at him and Theo notices.

Dream is uncomfortable.

He's uncomfortable with Theo.

He has been since they left, since Theo said he was cutting ties with his family for Dream.

"Do you want me to leave Dream?" He asked and he startles the masked young man, "You're uncomfortable with me." He states bluntly and Dream lets out a sigh.

"Theo, I-" Dream starts, pausing, and stays silent. Theo waits, he stands there and waits. "What do... you want. Theo?" Dream asks him and Theo blinks at the question.

Huh.

Theo takes a bit to answer, "I... want to go- Go back to the Stronghold. Maybe... finish my room, it's still shit. But I don't want to leave you alone if you're not going back yet." He tells Dream, "I want... to find the Egg too. Even if, we don't know where the hell it is."

Dream looks at him, Theo wonders if his eyes are switching now or if they're a solid color. "You can go back to the Stronghold if you want." Dream tells him, "I'll be staying here for now. You don't- you can go." 

Theo frowns underneath his mask, "But I don't want to leave you alone." Something might happen, Dream might get hurt. 

"I won't be alone. I have George and Sapnap with me." Dream points out, his voice is strained and hesitant. His eyes are switching then, conflicting thoughts in his head. "Just go Theo, I'll be fine. You'll... come back to me when I call you anyway, right?"

"Of course." Theo says immediately, "I'll always come back. I'm on your side." No one else's. "Alright, I'll- I'll go back to the Stronghold and finish my room. If anything happens, message me, I'll be back tomorrow morning." Before he turns around, he stops and he takes off his netherite armor, about to give it to Dream.

Dream stops him, "Keep it. You- just keep it and go Theo." 

Theo hesitates, he doesn't put the armor back on but he does keep it in his inventory. "Okay." He turns in place, about to open the door when Dream stops him again.

"Wait." He immediately stops and looks back at him. "Theo, what am I to you? What... what did I do to you?" Dream asks, there's a war in him, Theo can tell by his voice. It's unexpected, he didn't think- Dream really was different before the war wasn't he? It was early, and he still had Sapnap and George by his side.

"You're my friend." Theo starts, "You're my owner. You didn't do anything to me, my Dream though- he did everything to make me loyal, to him. But I chose to be loyal to you because honestly, I don't know anything else at this point and you remind me of him. Mostly the Dream who was my friend but sometimes you remind me of the Dream who was my owner. You're my friend, my new owner but still my friend. And it hurts to think otherwise." He rubs the back of his neck, the static in his head is calm. Dream asked him after all, he can tell him his thoughts. "I'm going to back and finish my room now. I'll be back in a couple of days."

He opens the door and is face to face to George and Sapnap. He doesn't react, but Dream's breath hitches behind him while George and Sapnap give Theo a wide-eyed look.

They'd heard him. The door was made of wood after all, not the best sound-proofed entrance.

He closes the door behind him, facing George and Sapnap. "Stay with him." He tells them both, "He needs you both." He wasn't expecting to give this so early, but maybe it was for the better. He takes one of his books out, takes out the slip of paper and hands it to George. "Don't leave him this time and he'll be okay." 

"Wouldn't George and Sapnap ask where you are?" Tommy asked him during the break of one of their training sessions. He's getting better, Dream says so and if he says so then he must be. Dream tenses from beside him and there's an air around him that makes Tommy regret asking. "I-I'm- I didn't mean to- I was just curious. I'm sorry for asking Dream." He mumbled and Dream stands up. "Get up Tommy. Break's over." It's only been a few minutes. Tommy still stands though, even if he's legs wobble, and he feels so tired. 

Hopefully.

Having George and Sapnap would help him. Dream had missed them so much, he tried to hide it, but he had before they found them. He thought they were still alive, surviving somewhere- he was half-right. Sapnap had been alive. But he'd been infected completely and it was too late to save him.

"SAPNAP!" He's never heard Dream scream like that. Desperate, despair-filled and in pain. He immediately run towards his direction, ignoring Tubbo's protests and goes to find his mentor. His friend. His owner- He finds Dream, cradling Sapnap's dead body, his own shaking and- "DREAM THE VINES!" Tommy screams, because Sapnap's roots are creeping towards the wound on Dream's shoulder. Dream doesn't move and it takes all he has to separate Dream from Sapnap. They leave for the Stronghold and in Dream's hands are Sapnap's cut headband and George's goggles. He doesn't let go even as Tommy frantically tries to dig the roots out of Dream's shoulder.

He leaves the Dream Team, he leaves Dream in the base and goes to the Nether to head towards the Stronghold.

He doesn't look over towards the direction of a certain forest he knows. He's not allowed to go there anymore, Dream- his Dream, with poison eyes, told him he wasn't allowed to go there anymore but that was fine. He didn't have to go there himself, Sapnap and George would go for him. 

He hadn't planned any of this, not this soon. But maybe it was for the best. The Egg was gone for now, but he could at least start the process of saving his friend.

"This Overworlder is a Legacy of the Admins of old." The old voice rasped, Tommy couldn't hold back the growl when he sees Dream being prodded by the teal stick. "Calm yourself. No harm will come to you and this Legacy. The Blood God recognizes you, child, as the kin of one of our warriors and attached to the other. If this Fragmented Legacy was not with you, we would have burnt him already for not only has he been infected by the Consuming Crimson but for the fact he is an Active alone." "Don't you dare fucking-" WHACK! Tommy cried out, his head hurting from the sudden whack from the teal staff. "I said calm, child. It has been voiced." Dream gets taken away from Tommy, and all Tommy could do was watch. "Now, let us talk."

The old pig better be right. Theo doesn't know if he can take the static and neck pain any longer, have younger, past Dream around was helping but he wanted his freedom and friend back.

coordinates lead to a piglin faction in a warp forest. don't wear gold in the forest. ask for warped priest and ask him for a trade, don't let him send dream away or get attacked. tell him there's another warrior now, don't say anything else until he agrees to the trade, after he does. tell him about toby and give him a wither skull and one of dream's mask.

"What the hell does that mean?" Sapnap questions him and George can only shrug helplessly, Dream laid on the ground underneath them, being used as a chair as punishment.

They'd spent the last couple of hours arguing, talking about Theo and how weird Dream had been lately and now Dream was being used as a chair after Sapnap knocked him down.

"Can we go or are you two going to keep using me as a chair?" Dream asked with a slight wheeze, his head clearer than it has been ever since Theo arrived.

He really hadn't realized how different his mindset had been until now.

Fucking hell, just what was happening to him? What did Theo do to him?

everything, he came to serve you
nothing, you need to help him

Chapter Text

Toby told them, told them about what happened, what lead to Dream being able to take Theo away. Toby had helped, he had exiled Tommy- he hadn't wanted to, but he'd been so new to Presidency, hopeful but ultimately stressed as he dealt with the aftermath- they had still been recovering from the war from Schlatt, from Wilbur's bombs and from Techno's Withers. An attack from Dream would've been their downfall, permanently and they were in no shape to go through another hard battle with the powerhouse that was Dream. It'd be a massacre. Toby had been President and he had to make a choice. 

Tommy or L'Manberg.

The best friend he loved or the country he was then responsible for.

His best friend who back then, had been irresponsible with his duties but was trying but failing or the country that was trying to recover and relief on him for that recovery.

Tommy hadn't been a good vice-president and secretary, he tried his best but Phil had left to look for Techno, Ghostbur had suddenly appeared and he'd been so convinced that he could have his discs back from Dream. Toby had thought back then, that Theo had been selfish, caring for the discs that way but now he could only wonder what would've happened if he had stayed true to their promise or even ran away?

It was too late by the time George's house was burning and things just spiraled after that.

"Tommy burned down George's house and that was it, Dream had enough and demanded us to exile him. We put him on probation and Quackity became my vice with Fundy as my secretary but Dream built walls around L'Manberg and said if Tommy wasn't exiled he'd keep us locked inside, no trades, no one leaves, no armor or we'd be slaughtered. I exiled Tommy... and Dream used that to his advantage. That's how Dream got To-Theo. I exiled him and Dream took him away." Toby whispers to the silent kitchen, even Chat was silent. He kept his gaze fixed on the floor, he couldn't bear to see their reactions.

Would they hate him? Would they want him gone? He's shifted their world views so much over the time he's been there, and now he's shifted them again, revealing the mistakes he'd kept so close to his chest and agonized over the years.

He hated Dream, but in the end he had helped the man take his best friend away.

He despised the masked man, for what he's done to Theo, to them both but he also blamed himself. 

They were both at fault here.

A pair of legs come into his vision and he glances up- it's younger him. Tubbo-

SMACK- Toby's head cracked to the side, a stinging pain on his cheek while Tubbo cried out in pain, holding his hurt hand.

OH CRAP! uh-

"Tubbo?!" Toby thinks it was Tommy who shouted but honestly, he doesn't know. He's too busy staring at his extremely upset younger self. His eyes were wide, wet and furrowed angrily at him, his mouth set into a gritted grimace as he clutched his hand. 

There's something visceral, when you see the younger version of yourself looking at you like that. Staring at you like he couldn't believe what he'd become in the future, couldn't believe what he'd done- and it hurts. For Toby, it's a bitter hurt that he accepts wholeheartedly because he really would have done the same. 

Tubbo raises his hand again and Toby doesn't do anything to stop him.

Someone else does though.

Surprisingly, it's Techno. He has a stony face on as he grabbed his younger self's arm, "Stop that." He tells Tubbo who struggles to make Techno let go of his arm. 

oh ender the ANGST RIGHT NOW. endering fuck it's only been two days TWO DAYS. time flies fast when you're involved with something as dramatic and emotionally filled like this. HOT FUTURE TUBBO WHY WOULD YOU EXILE HOT FUTURE TOMMY?! he didn't really have a choice didn't he? He had a choice though. Dream threatened him before he became a warrior. TUBBOOOO!!!! you have made mistakes, mistakes you dearly regret. acknowledging them is the first step for something better. 

"Tommy, help your best friend here for a bit before he ends up hurting himself even more." Literally. Tommy looks hesitant but he does grab Tubbo, actually giving him a hug as his best friend clings to him with wet eyes. Techno finally turns back to Toby and Toby waits for whatever Techno has in mind. "You shouldn't have exiled your Tommy." Toby smiled sardonically.

"Yeah. I really shouldn't have."

"The government should've been abolished. Or maybe you shouldn't have been President when you were, what, like, twenty? That's a big responsibility for someone so young." Techno continued, and Toby bit his lip to protest- or maybe it was to agree. Dumped right into the start of his young twenties, fresh right out of another war, in hindsight it didn't seem like a good idea. But who else would've been president if not him? "But it was Dream, who took advantage of that. You sure as hell shouldn't have exiled Theo, don't get me wrong but Dream by that time was someone who was older than the both of you, he threatened you and you reacted. Theo was exiled and like you said, he took advantage of that. I don't know what the hell happened during that exile or what he did exactly but regardless, Dream shouldn't have messed with my little brother."

Toby stared at him, the younger version of his mentor looked determined and angry. Chat was agreeing with him, mostly reassuring both Toby and Techno that they'd get Theo back- he looked over to Phil and Wilbur, they were silent throughout the ordeal but there was a look in their eyes. It was nearly identical to the look in Techno's eyes. He looks over to his younger self and Tommy, they both had it as well but Tommy...

Toby couldn't help but note that it wasn't as intense as the others, there was still conflict swirling in his eyes but the determination was still there.

He wondered, what went on in young Tommy's head. Just what he was thinking- but he his wonders were interrupted when Techno grabbed the front of his shirt.

"I'm angry and full of pent of energy. You're my protege right? Grab an iron sword, we are going to spar." The hybrid says to him firmly and Toby could only blink in surprise and then smile crookedly.

"Okay." 

He did miss sparring with his mentor.

Theo gathered the resources he needed to turn his room within the Stronghold into the room he remembered. Silk-touching stone to turn into stone bricks, making four large chests tucked against the wall, an armor stand that would display and hold his netherite armor for now, his desk, a nice and comfy chair, an empty book case that would be filled as soon as Theo found the time to fill them with the books and items he'd want- well, it wasn't really empty. He carefully put his frowning mask on the shelf, as well as George's stupid quartz cat headband. 

He finished late into the night and by all means, he could just return to the base but he knew it would be empty as George, Sapnap and Dream would probably follow the slip of paper. 

He could last a few days without Dream, he's lasted the last few months within the Stronghold without Dream just fine.

Static clouds his head the worst at night. The Stronghold is fortified but so empty. He was alone a useless friendless tool that couldn't protect its owner. What was the use of being loyal if there was no one to be loyal to? When your owner was gone and you were alone? Alone. Alone. Friendless. Useless. Dream Dream where are you help don't leave me alone Dream please I'm loyal always I promised don't-He slams himself against the wall, the static calming from the sudden action and the brief pain from slamming his own shoulder into the wall but the pain in his neck persisted for a few hours. "Fucking hell, Philza and Fundy better get that portal finished fucking soon." He mumbles to no one. 

Dream had told him he could go, and that implied he could do what he wanted as long as he returned to Dream side when called. Which he would, always. Dream just had to message him and he would come running. He was good, he was useful, he was a good friend.

So instead, he begins mining a fuck ton of obsidian and starts fortifying the Stronghold. Sure, the Stronghold was located in an extremely cold area of the Tundra. Bordering a Frozen Ocean biome, the Crimson had taken years to reach the tundra itself and was halted by the extreme temperature. He and Dream had fortified the Stronghold just in case and he was going to do it again, even if the Egg was weak and the Crimson wasn't even spreading or starting. 

It paid to be cautious of course.

Better to be safe than sorry and all that.

Obsidian was good in stalling the Crimson, in blocking the Egg- it wasn't permanent as was said before but with the Egg weak it would definitely be enough. 

He spends most of the morning mining obsidian and checking his communicator. No messages from Dream, it makes him nervous but he's determined and sure that if Dream needed him, he'd message him. During the afternoon, he digs around the Stronghold, placing the first layer of Obsidian over the stone bricks, managing to fortify half of the base before he runs out of obsidian. He takes a break and goes to the End Portal Room for his late lunch.

It's his favorite room frankly, what with the pool of lava that Dream had decided to keep even in the future. He likes to sit at the edge of the broken end portal. Stare down into the lava and feel at peace, it's helped with the static ever since Dream-

"Stay still Tommy." The needle glints, covered in blue- "Tommy it'll hurt more if you keep moving." Pain as blue stains his skin, needle poking his flesh again and again and again, forcing glowing blue into his very body- "You're mine Tommy. My friend, my tool, my weapon, my protoge. I'm your friend, your owner, your user , your mentor. Don't ever forget that I'm here for you, and you're here for me. ꖎ𝙹||ᔑꖎℸ ̣ || ╎╎╎ - ꖎ𝙹||ᔑꖎ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᒲᒷ ↸∷ᒷᔑᒲ" There's static in his ears, his head filled with letters he can't possibly understand but recognize. Something solidifies in his mind, a bond, a tether, a sensation that will never leave him. Not without Dream's permission or demise.

He rubs the back of his neck, barely feeling the blue staining his skin. "I'm Loyal." He says out loud to no one. The static stays calm and he feels no pain. "I'm... Loyal, to the end. Dream is my friend, my owner, my user and my mentor... I'm here for him, and he's here for me." Dream told him, but not this Dream. 

Surprisingly, or maybe unsurprisingly, everything was fine. The static has been more calm than ever with the rare exceptions whenever he thought of something not good for Dream. 

Guess it really didn't matter what type of Dream he belonged to. 

He would always come back to Dream.

A stray thought enters his head, what if there were two Dreams? What if his Dream had lived, and he'd come with Theo into the past? Who would he be Loyal to? Who would he return to?

Dream of course, always Dream.

"My Dream is dead, and I belong to this Dream now." He says aloud, standing up and walking atop the End Portal blocks, stepping over the gap from one of the missing blocks. He never knew what happened to that, Dream didn't either, he said he found the portal broken and missing one block. They never found out where it went, too busy with surviving and the Crimson, maybe they could finally try and find out what happened or even fix it. Who knows. "I'm- I'm fine with that. Dream is Dream. He's my friend, my owner."

He'll be saved. Dream would be saved. He promised, Theo did and the static would be forever calm and he could have his friend again.

His owner.

Friend.

"Time to get more obsidian. I hope Dream, George and Sapnap are okay." They probably were but Theo couldn't help but still worry nonetheless.

Warped Forests.

A unique biome within the Nether, practically a type of oasis within the hellish desert that was the Nether. Hostile mobs weren't typically found within the forests, it was a common spawning or sighting ground for Endermen as well and some forests were home to a few small piglin factions. The more passive factions anyway, not that many knew about it.

Theo did though.

Theo knew about a piglin faction residing in a specific forest, coordinates jotted down on a slip of paper as well as instructions that were vague and kind of concerning. However the Dream Team went along with it anyway, because this was something Theo wanted them to do.

For whatever reason.

As much as they wanted to ask him, the three of them knew that if they went to Theo, something would happen. 

"Dream what the hell?!" Sapnap snapped as soon as he and George entered the room. "'You're my friend, you're my owner'- what the fuck was Theo talking about?! Dude, it's bad enough you act so weirdly around him, just what is that bullshit?!" He exclaimed.

Dream stepped back, hand on his head gripping his hair. "I-I don't know! I'm just as confused as you are! And what do you mean acting so weirdly?" 

"Dream, ever since Theo came, ever since we met him and you were with him- you've been really weird." George told him with a frown, "He has been too but, you especially. I don't know how to describe it for you, you've just been- off. Theo though? He's heavily dependent on you, like unhealthily so. He keeps going to your approval, for your advice, for your permission- and you give it to him, like all smugly and shit. Like you like the fact he's doing it! He does everything you say with no hesitation at all and no complaints. He called you his owner- Dream, that's not good. That is the opposite of good." He points out to his friend who was staring down at the ground with a look of comprehension.

The masked man took too long to answer and George and Sapnap hounded him once more, George gripping the slip of paper tightly in his hands. He puts it away in his inventory to read for later, right now, he and Sapnap had to tear Dream a new asshole.

George checked the slip of paper once again, "This should be the place. We're near the coordinates but I don't see any piglins around." He said, looking around. He, Sapnap and Dream decked in Netherite armor- no gold. Theo had said no gold, and as questionable as that was, they still followed it because it seemed like Theo knew what he was doing.

He had known what to do with the Egg, even if the attempt failed.

George wasn't going to doubt the time-traveler when it came to very important things like the Egg anymore. 

Bright red vines wrapped tightly around his limbs, a voice distorting whispering in his head while George screamed, staring at the gaping mouths that were on the Egg, edging where the tentacles were emerging -help me save me obey don't let me die feed me love me keep me safe listen -

The colorblind man shivered as he remembered. Yeah, when it came to important things, George was willing to give Theo more than a bit of his trust.

"I think we'll find them when we actually get to the coordinates." Sapnap says, also looking around. He too, trusted Theo- even though the man stripped some of his clothes while he was unconscious. 

He remembers, what it was like being under the control of the Egg.

help me please help me don't let me die i don't wanna die i'm hungry help me protect me please please hungry scared i'm so scared- Sapnap clutched the Egg tighter to his chest, mind filled with the screams of a child. A surge of 'protect protect protect' and he was gone. He only had vague sense that he shouldn't be doing this, that he should be trying to get the Egg off of him and kill it but it's drowned by the - listen please help me obey i'm scared don't let me die protect me protect me protect-

Sapnap definitely wanted to break the Egg now, without the risk of being controlled.

Dream sighed, "Well, I just hope that whatever this is, it'll explain something." He said, rubbing his head. 

Now that Theo was gone and Dream had spent hours apart from him, he could really think clearly. It was as if his head had been a bit too crowded and he hadn't notice until the crowding was gone.

George and Sapnap had been right, he'd been weird with Theo around. And Theo was unhealthily dependent on him, he dreaded on what the hell his future self did because- Theo was not okay.

"Dream just what the hell is going on with you?" George demanded, hands gripping the front of Dream's hoodie, staring right into Dream's face- Sapnap had managed to steal it away during the tussle. 

Dream cringed, "I really don't know! Look, I just- ever since I met Theo, actually even a little bit before that, I felt- fuck I don't even know! I didn't notice anything wrong, even when Theo started saying the shit he said about him being my friend and my tool and- Fuck's sake George what is wrong with me? I felt so conflicted, but so damn satisfied when he said it. Ender, he just gave himself to me and I couldn't, didn't even want to reject that! I still kinda don't!" he's mine he's not he gave himself up i shouldn't have accepted 

"He's not a damn object Dream!" Sapnap exclaimed, gripping his mask tightly in his hands and staring hard into Dream's face. "He's a person, you can't just do that to someone!"

"I know Sapnap! I know! But I still did and I don't know why!"

Dream rubbed his chest, feeling the slight ache from when Sapnap and George spent more than half an hour on his body, using him as a chair as punishment.

At the very least though, they stayed by his side. And told him what Theo gave them, a strange slip of paper with coordinated and instructions.

Instructions they were trying to follow and coordinates that they've finally found.

"Well, we're here. Where's the piglin faction?" Sapnap asked with a frown, scratching his head while looking around their surroundings.

George checked the coordinates, "This is definitely the place... Uh, where- oh! Look!" He exclaimed, pointing to the side towards a dense formation of giant nylium wart trees. Within the shadows, a piglin spied on them, ducking behind the trees when it was spotted. "Wait!"

Dream tensed and got his sword out as suddenly, multiple piglins poured out of the cyan and teal trees and foliage. He backed up against George and Sapnap, nervously eyeing the amount of piglins that surrounded them, they all wore nether sprout skirts and teal cloths. Each piglin wielded a type of weapon, some with swords, some actually had a bow and a teal-staff in their hands but none of them wore armor. They were different from the usual piglins that they saw within the Nether. "We're here to see The Warped Priest!" He exclaimed as soon as he saw them preparing to attack, remembering Theo's instructions. He doesn't know if they could even understand him but he's giving it a shot nonetheless. "We're here for a trade! Don't attack us, we're just here for a trade and to meet the Warped Priest." 

The piglins all paused, snorting to each other and speaking a language that none of the Dream Team could understand. But at the very least, they had put their weapons down, eyeing them warily. 

The three of them stayed tense against each other, carefully putting away their weapons as it seems that the piglins really weren't going to attack them even though they weren't wearing gold and were communicating with themselves. Then, most of the piglins started moving, heading back deeper into the dense forest, a piglin motioned to follow them and after some hesitance, they did.

"Ender, this is so weird." Sapnap whispered to his best friends and they could only nod in agreement.

This wasn't really typical piglin behavior, sure a half-piglin hybrid could amicably interact with the piglins in the Nether but Overworlders were usually treated with hostile intent unless they were wearing gold. But here they were, not wearing a single gold armor piece and they weren't being attacked. They were actually being led into a faction's area where the piglins lived.

There were tents made of tightly twined vines, both cyan and red. There were also little shacks made of warped logs. Small piglin children hid within those shacks with a few piglins.

They were lead to a netherrack cave that had cyan vines covering the entrance, the piglins motioned them to stop and they stayed where they were.

One of them entered the cave while the rest surrounded Dream and his best friends, keeping a close, watchful eye on them. This was probably one of the weirdest and most nerve-wracking moments the three of them ever experienced together. 

Suddenly, the vines were parted by two small piglin children and from the depths of the cave. A hunched over piglin, looking far older than the rest, limped out with a teal walking staff. 

He wore a cloak made of nether sprouts and warped roots. Blaze rods hung from his neck in a necklace while blaze powder was painted underneath the old piglin's eyes- which was very strange since blaze powder when directly applied to skin, burnt the flesh. But maybe it was different for piglins? Atop the old piglin's head was a cracked wither skull that had a twisting cyan crown on it. 

"You come and ask for me to trade Overworlders?" The piglin asked in only slightly accented English, surprising them greatly with his raspy voice and lingual skills. "How very daring of you, especially you," He uses his staff to point directly at Dream. "Legacy of Admins, an Active one who nears Separation as well." He says with a guttural grunt that has the other piglins grunting as well. "Give us a reason why we should not kill you where you stand? You are not welcomed here Legacy."

Dream stared at him in surprise, for a moment too surprised to reply just yet- The old piglin knew about the Admins? Knew, just by looking at him, that he was a descendant of them? What did he mean by Separation?

George thankfully, spoke for him. "Please don't kill us- there's uh, there's another warrior." The old piglin narrowed his ancient eyes at him, while the surrounding piglins whispered. 

He grunts, "Speak, Overworlder."

"Not until you agree to trade with us." Sapnap said firmly, "And uh, we don't get attacked."

The Warped Priest stayed silent, "Very well. Come inside, we shall speak then. It has been voiced." He rumbled, turning around and limping back into his cave. 

Dream shared a look with George and Sapnap before moving forward to follow the old piglin into the cave. 

Chapter Text

The cave itself was large with branching tunnels that would no doubt lead to a different part of the cave, it was well-lit with shroom lights and a few blocks of glowstone all scattered about, placed hanging from the walls, embedded within said walls, on the floor, in it- Cyan vines grew from the ground up, and the path underneath them was made both of netherbrick and the cyan wood of the warped trees. Warped fungus growing along the nylium covered netherrack.

The Warped Priest, the old piglin before them, lead them into a large room. The walls were decorated with twisted vines with blaze rods knitted into them, there were multiple heads of skeletons -both Wither Skeletons and Regular ones- hanging from the teal roots and netherwart grew on soul sand near a brewing stand to the side along with a cauldron filled with water. Gold blocks were also decorating a few corners of the room. He hobbled over to the low table in the middle, grunting as he sat down, motioning them to sit across from him. 

"Sit, no harm shall come to you while we speak." He said in his old, rasping voice, grunting at the end as a couple of piglin children entered the room to bringing red stone cups filled with what seemed to be water before they exited the room. It was just the four of them now. "For now, you are guests to us. Come and sit, it has been voiced." He told them, tapping the other end of the table with his staff before setting it to lean on his side of the table. His face amicable, almost dazed-looking but he was far from distracted.

The Dream Team Trio hesitantly sat down on the plant-cushioned floor, barely feeling the temperature thanks to the enchantments on their Netherite armor. They looked around the room, at the old piglin priest, at the skulls of skeletons hanging from the ceiling along with blaze rods and a few spheres of solidified magma cream.

Sapnap eyed the cups of water warily- he didn't even know water could be around in the Nether. They did fine in a bucket or bottle, but once the water was out of the bucket it would evaporate. These cups of water meant that there was a source of water somewhere. 

"Drink if you'd like. The water is clear, pure. We dare not corrupt this liquid which we need for survival." The old piglin says to him, noticing his wary gaze. "As I said, you are guests. For now." Old, wrinkled and aged, hooved hands reached out for his own cup, taking a few sips from it before setting it down, his eyes become half-lidded as he stared at them. "Now, let us talk. You come to our forest, know of our faction and about I, The Warped Priest. You wear no gold, you ask to trade with I and one of you Overworlders is the direct Legacy of the Admins. Speak what you want." 

George glanced at Dream and Sapnap, chewing on his lip before deciding to speak first, "Well honestly we have no real idea- our uh- our friend, Theo. Told us to come here, and to ask to trade with you. He didn't say what to trade exactly but we have a wither skull and one of Dream's mask- um, the guy you call Legacy or whatever... I guess what we really want is answers." Answers to a lot of things, they didn't really know where to start.

"If it is answers you seek, then I will provide what I can. However the Legacy must leave should you want answers." The Priest said gravely.

Sapnap scowled, "No- Dream stays, he's staying. Or else we leave with him and you don't get to hear about T- the other warrior." He replied stubbornly with George nodding firmly in agreement, not willing to lead Dream just up and leave. And didn't Theo say not to let them send Dream away? 

"I'm staying." Dream agreed, hands clenched in his lap as he stared down the ancient piglin, "Either we leave or we stay. It's up to you."

The Warped Priest was silent for a moment, a calculating look on his face, he gave them each an intense look that they powered through before he sighed, "It has been voiced." He finally rumbled, "Very well. You, Legacy, shall stay. I will provide you with answers, trade me the Wither Skull and the information about the other warrior and I shall answer your questions. Be warned, there will be questions I will not be able to answer." He told them, holding his hooved hands out for the skull.

Dream frowned, "Just the skull and information?" He questioned carefully.

"Indeed." 

Then why had Theo tell them to bring an extra mask then? Or would he ask for it later?

Right now though, it seemed like the best option for them was to trade the skull and information about Toby. Dream nods to Sapnap who nods back, taking one Wither Skull from his inventory to give to the old piglin. 

An animalistic snort escapes the ancient mob, a fond smile on his face as aged hooves caressed the top of the blackened skull carefully, as if someone were to pet a beloved pet. It was weird and creepy but thankfully soon enough, the Priest puts the skull aside, though the piglin still had a smile on his face. "It has been voiced. Tell me now, about the other warrior."

"His name is Toby." Sapnap starts but is swiftly interrupted by the Priest.

"It is not his original name I take it?" He asks calmly, picking up his red cup of water once more, observing their shock.

"How did- no, it's not. His actual name is Tubbo, but through complicated circumstances, he calls himself Toby now." George said, wondering who this old piglin really was and how he knew that tidbit. Theo, who did you send them to for answers?

The piglin priest hummed thoughtfully but nodded in the end, motioning them to continue, "I see. Continue, Overworlders."

At first Tubbo thought his future-self was a man he could admire, Toby had time-travelled from a horrid future after all. He thought him as very heroic at the start, if a bit scary because of his unyielding confidence against Schlatt. He could wrestle Technoblade to the ground and come out victorious for however short it was. A hero, Tubbo thought to himself was his first thought when he thought of his future-self.

His second thought about Toby was that he was broken man who wanted his best friend back. Toby had only time-travelled to their present because he'd been following Theo right through the portal, the best friend he had lost in the future. His Tommy who grew up so differently, who he had lost unfairly to Dream. Or so he had thought. The fact that Toby and Theo's friendship had been so broken made Tubbo fearful for his own, that was proof after all that he and Tommy could lose each other, that he could lose him. He hated them both for that, just a tiny bit. 

His third and final thoughts about Toby...

Tubbo didn't even know where to begin.

He was angry, he was hurt, he wished that the future never revealed itself to him and the others.

Toby had exiled their best friend. Had exiled his Tommy and inadvertently pushed Theo right into Dream's hold. He, Toby, Tubbo, had been the reason why Theo, Tommy, was so distant and hurtful.

"I'm not your best friend."

Those words uttered by a man who was Tommy, who Tommy had the potential to be, who didn't even look at him as he said that- it hurt so much to Tubbo.

And it made him angry.

So he hit Toby, it was painful but satisfying in a strange and cruel way. His arm throbbed from hitting Toby's face, the man didn't have a soft face like he did anymore, all baby fat burned away through hardships over the years.

Techno stops him from going to hit Toby again and he clings into Tommy when his best friend hugs him. He listens to Techno half-heartedly and swallows down what Tommy's brother says.

Toby had been President, at the age of twenty. Tubbo would've been awed and even maybe ecstatic before, but now it was just a bitter pill to swallow as he re-considers Toby's words, his confession alongside Techno's words and the situation his future-self must've been in. 

He's still angry at Toby, and he doesn't understand anything. 

But what he does understand is that Toby regrets. Toby misses Theo, wants him back and has been for years. His goal alongside saving the future, was saving Theo, getting his best friend back.

Good. It meant that friendship still mattered to him, to them despite whatever happened.

Tubbo doesn't know what to think about him now, but he'll still help him try and get Theo back. Or at the very least, he wants to talk with Theo himself, wants to understand Theo and why he left everyone behind for Dream. The basis of brainwashing and manipulation is still there, very strong because he honestly can't think of Tommy, his own Tommy, willingly acting like Theo without something wrong going on for him.

So he'll help Toby in his goals, for the future and Theo, and hope for the best.

Because honestly, it was the only thing he could do without hurting himself again. Literally.

"Tommy." Tubbo murmurs as they walk towards a clearing where Toby and Techno could spar and where the rest of them could watch safely. He's still by Tommy's side, clinging to him and holding his hand tightly. "Tommy, I promise I won't end up like Toby." He tells him, which startles Tommy.

His blue-eyed go wide, "What?" He said, stunned at Tubbo's words. They both stop in place.

"I won't end up like him. Just like how you won't end up like Theo- don't get me wrong. Toby is nice, he's kinda awesome, he's about to spar with The Blade of all people but-" Tubbo squeezed Tommy's hand, "A lot went wrong, between him and his Tommy. I don't... I don't want that to happen to us. So I don't want to end up like Toby." He explained quietly and there and then, Tommy understands.

Tommy's shock melts into a smile, weary but understanding. "Yeah, yeah I- I get it. Man, their future is fucked up." He says, and Tubbo can't help the smile on his face. "So, I won't end up like Theo and you won't end of like Toby- great plan." They'd stick together, they wouldn't end up like their future counterparts. 

They wouldn't.

techno vs toby techno vs toby tECHNO VS TOBY TECHNO VS TOBY!!! the teacher vs student! good luck you two!!! I legitimately can't wait to see how this turns out, Tubbo himself is a good enough fighter but Toby is a different caliber since he was taught by Techno to be a warrior. TWO WARRIORS FIGHTING IT HAS BEEN SO LONG! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!! SPILL SOME BLOOD FOR OUR BLOOD GOD! may this be a fight to remember. They're fighting each other, this will be interesting. be careful you two!!

Toby lightly swung the iron sword in his hand, feeling the weight of the sword and its testing out its balance. It's a simple iron sword. He hasn't wielded an iron-made sword in a long time, iron couldn't match diamond and netherite and was mostly used for builds and redstone contraptions back then. Even during spars, he and Techno tended to use either stone or diamonds. Iron was actually lighter than he remembered, probably from the fact he was stronger now.

"Shall we go all out? Third to spill blood?" Toby suggested to his opponent. Technoblade, younger Technoblade. Ender, it was still weird to think that the Techno before him was younger than him right now. He didn't look too different aside from his clothes and the lack of aged-lines on his face. Hybrids were slower to age after all. 

Techno huffed across him, smirking as he brandished the iron sword in hand. "That what you and future me usually do Toby?" He questioned back, wondering once more on just how his future self and Toby interacted. 

Toby smiled, "Kinda yeah, it was third to spill blood most of the time whenever we used swords or any sharp weaponry." He replied, taking his stance just as Techno took his.

"Sounds good then. Third to spill blood first wins." Techno shot back, anticipation and low-brimming anger that turned into pent up energy in his veins just begging to be used. He felt high-strung like a bow-string in that moment, his expectations high from the man from the future where Techno had been his mentor. 

Another warrior, a brother in arms, violence and bloodshed.

The air was heavy and pregnant with tension, a presentiment towards the spar that would occur. To the side, observing safely from afar, Phil, Wilbur, Tubbo and Tommy stood and sat. Though just earlier things had been heavy with tension before, and they were feeling conflicting emotions about everything that Toby had admitted so far, they couldn't help but look forward to the fight as well.

To see Toby truly let loose, see just how strong this Future Tubbo had become and just what kind of fighter Technoblade had taught him to be.

Technoblade felt like a high-strung bowstring, taut and tense to the point-

Woooosh- CLANG

Of snapping.

Techno moved first, cape flaring in the air as he was suddenly right in front of Toby- sword thrusting forward only to be blocked by Toby's own sword. Iron clashed with iron, Techno's strength versus Toby's.

Impressively enough, Toby skids back only a couple of inches from his spot and Techno actually a bit thrilled to see the familiar battle-hungry look in Toby's eyes that reminiscent his own. Toby was his warrior brother, a student from his future that would never be but still they were bonded in the ways of combat. Toby understood him in ways that no one else would.

A grin curls up his tusked mouth as Toby suddenly leans to the side, letting Techno's weight slide sideways, the grating sound of metal sliding against metal as their swords ground against each other with Toby's abrupt movement. Techno was quick to steady himself just in time to duck away from Toby's sword when it aimed for his head, the sword knocks his crown off his head and Techno aims a sweeping kick that knocks Toby off his feet as revenge.

Toby may have lost his footing but he uses his hand to support him instead, the heel of his foot colliding with the side of Techno's face. Tainted spit flies out of the piglin's mouth from the sudden attack while Toby flips himself right up, a few steps away from Techno who spits to the side and wipes the corner of his mouth. "Impressive." He says, an ache and pain in his jaw and a smear of blood mixed saliva on his palm. If Techno had been any weaker, or if Toby had been just a bit stronger, his jaw might have actually dislocated. 

"First blood goes to me." Toby replies with a grin, readjusting his stance even as one of his ankles already felt sore as well as the familiar ache in his arms- Techno was still the stronger between them even if he was younger right now. Hybrid perks. Toby didn't expect anything less. He's nonetheless missed this.

Chat roared in mixed approval and disapproval in their ears, a cacophony of voices that encouraged and discouraged them both. 

FIRST BLOOD. YES SPILL WARRIOR BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! HE'S GOOD! THAT WAS QUICK! GO TOBY!! FUCKING POG YOU TWO!!! TECHNO YOU'RE SLIPPING. THAT WAS SMALL BLOOD BUT BLOOD IS BLOOD TOBY GOT IT FIRST!!

Techno chuckled, tasting the iron in his mouth, unclasping his furred cape and throwing it aside to where his crown had been knocked. "This is already going to be so much fun." He growls, huffing hotly through his nose as he rolled his shoulders. 

This time, they both move.

"I shall admit, this is something that I have never considered nor thought of before. Another warrior, from a time not of our own. And human nonetheless, it leads to thoughts and possible previously unthinkable..." 

Dream couldn't help the snort that escaped him, "Yeah well, neither did we. But here we are." He said, tapping the side of the red cup in his hands. "But that's about it, Theo told us to come here. We don't know why, but I'm going to guess it's because that you have answers to some of the questions we have." Like how weird he'd been around Theo and why he was so weird.

The Warped Priest nodded slowly, face contemplating. "Perhaps, it would depend on what questions you ask of me," He said slowly, closing his eyes. "So ask now, Overworlders. And I will answer, keep in mind, some questions I may not be able to answer for one reason or another." 

Finally, they could ask their questions.

"What exactly is a warrior?" Sapnap couldn't help but question first, he noticed the looks he got from George and Dream, "What? It's a legitimate question- Theo said another warrior or some shit and that turns out to be Toby. Future Tubbo. What does that mean and how is that important to this guy?" He waved his hands towards the now amused piglin Priest. 

Despite the fact that Sapnap wasn't asking anything pertaining to Dream, they had to admit, now that he was pointing it out they were really curious about it as well.

"Hm, the Wither Skull itself is worth two questions. And information you gave me is worth three, you have five questions. Now four as I will answer this question. It has been voiced." The Warped Priest told them and they recoiled.

"Sapnap!" George exclaimed exasperatedly, smacking his friend up the head. 

Sapnap whined, rubbing his head and pouting, "He just said that now, I didn't know beforehand! And besides, we still have four questions to ask!" He pointed out to his friends who begrudgingly accepted it.

Chuckling, the Warped Priest cleared his throat and gained their attention. "Warriors, to us, are common. But the other warrior you speak with I, is another Warrior of Blood." He rumbled, a slight tone of reverence mixed with a great amount of respect in his voice. "A champion to the Blood God, they who survive through the Trial Of Blood, and proof of their survival marks their body forever more and connects them to the Blood God." 

"Blood God- I've heard Technoblade chant that before." Dream murmured, remembering the battle between he and Technoblade had before he had come to the SMP. When they were both teens and in a tournament, fighting for the top. "Blood for the Blood God." He said aloud, remembering what the hybrid had said.

All three of them jolted by the delighted grunting and snarling that came from the Warped Priest. "Blood for the Blood God. Bleed for the Blood King." The old piglin hissed in an utter guttural tone with a wide, manic, adoring grin. His amicable nature gone for a moment, but just as it came, it went. The Warped Priest settled down, humming to himself. "Technoblade. Yes, he- he is our warrior. First warrior. He is the Champion, blessed by the Blood God. Connected to our deity forevermore. And now, he has a brother in bloodshed. Another warrior by his side. A worthy ally to him and our God." 

CLANG-CLANG-SSHHHH-CLANG
Toby and Techno's eyes shined from the sparks that came from their colliding swords. Matching blow for blow- thrust, parry, block, swing, slice, dodge- Toby swears, his parry weak and Technoblade strikes.

"Though this Toby is an Overworlder, a warrior is a warrior is a warrior. He is claimed by the Blood God. He is recognized and shall be accepted as so." The Warped Priest said with a tone of finality. "It has been voiced."

George certainly felt disturbed by the odd behavior, but he too, couldn't help himself from asking. "How do you even know? We could be lying for all you know, you're just taking our word for it." He pointed out. 

"Three questions." George looked sheepish as Sapnap and Dream swore, "You do not lie about this matter. A sensation befell on us, on I, days ago. The Blood God revealed to I something amiss in the worlds, a change that would affect everything. Us included. I have been privy to the knowledge that we shall gain allies and face threats never before seen. Here you come, with tales of another warrior, Overworlder he may be, but an ally to us and no doubt you come with knowledge of a threat."

The Warped Priest snorts at the looks he sees on both George and Sapnap's face, Dream's own was still hidden. "Ask your questions, you have three left. It has been voiced." He says, not asking about the threat at all. 

Should they tell him? Bargain for more questions? They didn't know.

Dream however, couldn't take it anymore. And he asked. About himself. "You called me a Legacy of the Admins. You said something about a Separation and knew I was Active. How? How did you know? And, what does the Separation mean?" He only knew just a bit more about the Admins than the others, knew about the powers and such but he's never heard about anything called a 'Separation'. Was it connected to the reason why he acted so strangely with Theo?

The ancient piglin's face morphed into a look of distaste, but he sighs, "Very well. One question, I shall answer both."

SECOND BLOOD! WHOOOOOO!!!! TECHNO TECHNO TECHNO! TOBY YOUR HOT FACE!! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! TECHNOMENTOR FINALLY DRAWS BLOOD!

There's a slice on Toby's chin, it bleeds sluggishly as the dark-haired time traveller pants, wide-grin on his face. "Well, that took longer than I thought it would." He laughed, using his thumb to wipe the blood dripping from the cut, shaking his hand to get rid of the blood. It stings and he smells the metallic scent of his own blood, "That's one for one. Next one wins the spar." His chest feels like a drum with the adrenaline pumping through his body. The good type of adrenaline that came from a harmless but still invigorating and blood-pumping spar, there's no death over their heads or anything like that. Just a simple, but wonderfully stimulating spar.

He feels alive. He's fucking missed sparring with Technoblade.

"Next one wins the spar." Techno echoed, a look of intense satisfaction on his face. "I gotta say, you're good Toby. I must be one hell of a mentor." He says, complimenting him and himself. Tubbo was good at fighting, but this? This was well beyond his expectations. Toby had been matching his blows, giving good thrusts and swings, dodging attacks, parrying- well, maybe his parrying needs work, the last one had cost him after all.

Speaking of Tubbo, he, Tommy, Phil and Wilbur were wide-eyed at the side. Gaping from the match so far. Technoblade and Toby had been slightly terrifying, fighting with near-maniac smiles on their faces. The battle hunger in their eyes and the violence in their teeth and actions- Technoblade they were used to to an extent. But Toby? 

This was the man that Tubbo had the potential of turning into.

"I'll say!" Toby exclaimed, "You systematically kicked my ass through the training until I started getting better! You threw golden apples at me whenever I was tired, potions too, we had a few breaks but you made me work harder than I ever did to get where I am today!" For all the trauma he faced in the trials, the pride that he survived, that he caused for Techno had certainly been something. And typically, good battles was something he had come to crave himself ever since he received his mark- he disliked killing but could enjoy a good fight. Not to mention the camaraderie he and Technoblade had afterwards had almost been matched to none. Almost. But he wasn't going to think of the masked duo that paralleled them. Not now, not when he was busy sparring Techno.

Techno smirked, "Good to see something good came out of it! Now shut up and fight!" Once again, they both moved.

The rhythmic sounds of metal hitting metal, of fist hitting skin, the haze of combat and the flurry of attacks that were sent from one warrior to another.

It all came to an end in one. Moment.

ShhHHING

Iron grounded against iron, blades sliding off of each other and cutting right into flesh before precariously halting. 

Techno's sword dug into Toby's neck, the tip, covered in blood from a shallow cut. Toby's sword pressed against Techno's cheek, blood dripping from the cut and staining his sword.

third blood, it's a draw.

Chapter Text

Technoblade's breaths came deep and slow despite the adrenaline in his veins, it was slowing though as he and Toby stayed where they were, swords pressed against each other with a roar of voices in the back of their heads. Then, he cracked a smile that made Toby laugh out loud. "Even when you're like, ten years younger I still can't beat you!" Toby exclaimed with a grin, his turn to make Techno laugh as they retracted their swords. 

"Hey, it's a draw. Good enough." Techno pointed out with a smirk, though inwardly he couldn't help but look back at the fight. Noting just how strong Toby was, how his skills were on par with his own- ten years was a long time, and clearly it made Toby into a formidable opponent.

A formidable warrior.

THAT WAS AWESOME!!! holy fuck hot future tubbo being amazing techno you taught him good. THAT WAS A GREAT FUCKING FIGHT! A DRAW THAT'S JUST NOT FAAIR?! Ender, Tubbo certainly got better in the future even if it was at a cost. WARRIOR BLOOD HAS BEEN SPILLED IT SHALL PLEASE THE BLOOD GOD! enderdamned we got some badasses here. guess the old pig was right to choose tubbo as another warrior. the priest always had a good eye for warriors. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"Yeah, but still- I thought I had some advantage." Toby snorted, shaking his head and using his hand to wipe at his still bleeding chin and then the new cut on his neck. Neither of them were particularly deep, but they were still proof that he still hadn't managed to surpass his mentor. Even when he was ten years younger. However, he's made progress. There was pride that he felt when he saw the cut on Techno's cheek and the blood on his lip, he's made it far from where he had been.

Tubbo gasped for breath, body bruised and slightly bloodied while Techno loomed over him, barely panting but there was a smirk on his face along with a look of approval. "Good job Tubbo. You lasted longer than last time." He was told, a limb offered to him. He takes it, groans as he's hauled up from the floor, feeling sore and pained but he was smiling. It's strained but still there, "Give- give me a bit. And maybe a potion, I can go again." Tubbo told him, hands on his knees and wincing at the pain he felt on his side where Techno had punched him. "Good. You're getting better Tubbo, but better isn't enough. The first Trial is coming soon, and you need to be at your best." Tubbo took in a deep breath, determination laced with apprehension in his veins. Win or die. Dying was not an option.

The piglin hybrid snorted as well, "Like you said, even ten years younger and I'm just that awesome." He replied casually, wiping the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. "And I'm even more awesome in the future."

Toby smiled, it's a bit sad as he nodded in agreement. "Yeah. You were." He said softly, which made Techno narrow his eyes at him. Though before the two of them could even say or do anything else, their audience finally joined them, Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo coming up- Phil had broken off to fetch Techno's cape and crown. 

"That was awesome!" Tommy crowed, wide-eyed and amazed. "You two were so fast and holy shit Tubbo- Toby, you went against The Blade and made a draw!" He exclaimed, unable to repress the grin on his face. Despite how iffy he had felt earlier on, what with Toby revealing how he had exiled Theo and all but even he couldn't deny just how impressive the fight had been.

Tubbo felt the same, he gave Toby a slight smile, the tiniest bit apologetic- he didn't regret punching Toby in the face. He never will, but he'll give credit where it was due. The awe he felt for Toby was still there, it had flared and reminded itself during the spar as he watched his future self face off one of the greatest fighters in the land. It still escaped him, just the fact that Toby was a version of himself from the future... Could Tubbo himself learn it as well? However, he still didn't want to end up like Toby- he had promised with Tommy after all... "It was- it was pretty awesome." He mumbled to him.

Toby blinked but smiled at the two boys, "Thanks you two." 

"Never thought I'd see the day someone else would draw with Technoblade." Wilbur commented, glancing at him then at Phil who finally joined them, offering Techno his cape and crown back. 

Phil chuckled as Techno obviously accepted, affixing his crown back on his head while throwing his cape back on his shoulders and clasping it on him. "That really was impressive Toby." He agreed, "Now come on you two. We should clean those cuts and patch them." He said, eyeing their injuries.

Though it had been rough, revealing the exile just earlier on. Toby couldn't find it in himself to regret it, which he shouldn't. He had enough regrets as it was, the exile itself being one of the main regrets he held close to his heart. 

He was just glad that even though he told them about one of the biggest mistakes of his life, they were still there for him. Techno didn't have to spar with him, didn't have to say what he said- they could've told him to leave and he would without complaint. It's more than what he deserves really but they didn't, maybe he lost a bit of trust from them, that was fine.

As long as he made an impact, made a change that would prevent his own future- he was fine with anything.

"Very well. One question, I shall answer both."

All three of them straightened, looking at the ancient piglin with focused eyes as the Warped Priest stayed silent for a while before speaking once more. The blaze powder smeared underneath his eyes seemed to glow a bit brighter as he spoke, "You, masked Overworlder, are a Legacy of the Admins of old, one of the few who are Active. Luck and Strength is on your side and you are nearing Separation. Soon, you shall become a Fragmented Legacy, though you seem to have started rather early." The Warped Priest tilted his head at him, "I am not surprised that you know not what this means, the knowledge about it gradually died within the Overworld." Dream frowned but a chill went down his spine as the piglin priest stared at him through half-lidded eyes.

"The Separation is where you will face yourself Legacy. Your morality shall divide, your thoughts become askew and whichever Fragment gains the upper hand shall be who you are until the other overtakes them, a constant battle within your mind that shall go unnoticed until it is too late. The Separation is only started when the Legacy is confronted and put into personal turmoil. When they are faced with something, something important. When their morality wars with their logic, when their consciousness and decision is questioned or rejected. When their very livelihood or life is forced out of their control. It all depends for that Legacy but ultimately, Separation starts slow and ends swift, leaving you Fragmented."

"The Separation- it will adapt your mind. Adapt your morality, though it is divided. It shall change you, when the time comes. When certain events come to play, it will change you, it goes unnoticed but it does. You will change, you have changed as you are already undergoing Separation. You are nearing its ending. You have changed, be it for the better or for the worse should the Separation complete itself and you will become a Fragmented Legacy." Dream's head drops and he stares into his hands. Change him? How? He would've noticed if he had changed, right?

Dream had no idea how things escalated, he leaves in search of the legendary Stronghold and once he does, he comes back to his SMP- the lands his family left him was rampant with chaos. Things were going out of control. Tommy stood afar, armored and defiance incarnate. Something stirs in the back of his mind as he tries to keep things under control. How? Tommy's chaotic, he's out of control. Would he behave if Dream took his discs? 

Wilbur Soot takes over part of his land, naming it L'Manberg. Tommy immediately joins him and together, there's a divide on his land.

"Independence or death," Wilbur says and Dream stares at him, Tommy, Tubbo and Fundy. "If we get no revolution, we would rather die then to give in to you and your SMP." They were on his lands, they were demanding independence when Dream just wanted order and control. Wilbur Soot and his boys, he welcomed them into his lands and they were defying him. At least Eret knows better, even if Dream promised to make them king- it doesn't matter. Eret will betray L'Manberg like planned, a good hidden weapon for them. For him.

Blowing up L'Manberg was much, but it makes an impact. They need to learn. Why can't they learn? George and Sapnap thankfully stay by his side, they help him and he can't thank them enough. They're his best friend, they've been so useful during this nonsensical war. Then he listens to a proposal. A duel.

Tommy loses, he's on his last life. Dream feels bad, but the boy has caused so much trouble for Dream. He is offered the discs, they're worthless to him but Tommy doesn't think so and he's on his last life. He accepts the discs and something in him changes. He doesn't notice. He's tired and just wants things to settle, for there to be peace. But it was strange though, to see Tommy give in to him and give away his most precious items. It's... kind of satisfying.

The peace is wonderful. But it feels off though, he feels- bored? It's different and he doesn't notice, but there's something off in his head. It's boredom, no one has gone against him and he's both relieved and a little disappointed. 

L'Manberg is holding an election. He wonder's what Wilbur and Tommy are doing for this, and he watches as it bites them in the ass. It's entertaining as Schlatt comes back.

On the night of the election, he feels something off. A near-violent shiver goes down his spine. what? what? George messages him. A portal and a masked man?

He finds him, Tommy. Theo. He speaks but Dream is only paying half-attention. he's wearing your mask he's wearing your mask There's something off, something wrong- no, something right? He can't tell, but Theo calls him friend. Mentions the Stronghold and Dream is startled when Theo throws him his netherite armor. Why? Did he want Dream to have it? keep it give it back He keeps it in his inventory yes no he'll give it back if Theo needs it. no yes

Theo is confusing. Dream doesn't know who he is. He asks and Theo answers. "I'm yours, Dream. Your tool, your weapon, your protege, your friend. What you need from me, you'll get. I will be by your side and I will do anything to help you." It sounds familiar almost as something hooks itself inside him, he doesn't know what or even notices but he's both elated and excited when Theo offers him his disc, it's familiar but different.

That's not right. 

No that's perfect.

"And the fact you somehow know that Dream is an Active descendant of the Admins? You still haven't answered that question." George prompted, snapping Dream out of his dazed thinking. His best friend was frowning, his brows furrowed and his fists were clenched on his lap.

The Warped Priest snorts, "I know, Overworlder, because I am the Warped Priest. Since young, I was blessed by the Blood God to see what others cannot see. To know what others do not know. To hear what others cannot hear. I am old, I am wise, I have seen my share of Legacies coming from the Overworld and few underwent Separation. However, this is my first, seeing one Fragmented early before the Separation was completed." He reaches for his cup, sipping water, "It has been voiced. You have one question left. Speak it now or save it. It matters not to me."

"Ender fucking- did you guys understand all that bullshit because I sure as hell didn't." Sapnap said, rubbing his face with some frustration, trying to make sense what the priest had told them. "We can ask one question left but now we have more questions. Fucking hell, what do we do?" He asked his friends, too annoyed. 

Dream sighed, "I don't know, not all of it at least? Look, I don't even know what question to ask- and yeah, I have a lot more questions now..." Ender, this was a whole type of strange that he never thought he'd be involved with. Fuck, everything's been so off-kilter ever since Theo and Toby came and... "Wait, you said that I was Fragmentedearly and that my Separation wasn't completed. Does it have to do with the fact Theo and Toby are here from the future?" 

The ancient mob narrows his eyes at him, "You are willing to use your last question for that?" He asked instead of answered.

"I... Yes, I am." They'll be able to get more questions later on right? Theo might know, he was the one who sent them here in the first place anyway.

The old priest huffs through his nose, nodding. "It has been voiced. Very well. Perhaps. There is a cause for you early Fragment, that cause may be them. I will give you free advice masked Legacy. Ground yourself. You are Fragmented yet undergoing Separation, you will be influenced, you will change, you might not notice but those around you shall in your stead." He stood up, grabbing his staff. "You have no questions left. Leave, Overworlders. Your time has run out for this visit. Leave now while we spare you."

They stood up as well, hesitant to leave- they still had questions, they still wanted and needed so many answers but if they didn't then they'd be attacked. They could defend themselves obviously but they certainly didn't want bad blood between them and this piglin faction. Not when it had answers, it was too risky. "Alright, we'll come back though." George says, Dream and Sapnap turning but he remembers something. 

"Oh right- Dream, your mask." Dream blinks from behind his mask before he gets what George was saying.

"Oh uh, okay." He takes a spare mask from his inventory and offers it to the Warped Priest who eyes is warily. "Theo told me to give this to you. I don't know if I should now but, he just said to give it along with the wither skull." He tells him.

The Warped Priest's eyes widened before they narrowed once more, hesitantly accepting the mask. "You are sure about this?" 

Dream shrugged, it was just a mask. He had plenty to spare. "Yeah."

"Hmm... You may come again, but not so soon. You will not be harmed by our faction. Next time, bring this 'Theo' with you." The Warped Priest told them before motioning them to leave, "Now go. It has been voiced."

The Dream Team left, leaving the old piglin in the room. He sets the mask down on the table, staring at the simple dots for eyes and carved smile.

they've gone. he just gave you that mask? suspicious. theo and toby, they seem to be the source of all this change. we should meet them.

"Mm." The Warped Priest hummed to himself, "... one of you is missing. Where are they?"

gone. attached to the champion. felt the change and left, joined the younger brood.

"Ah. That is good then."

there is change in the air. we need to prepare. i don't like this. the blood god is silent. he plans. we should as well.

"And we shall. It has been voiced."

it has been voiced.

Theo found peace in lava. Found peace in the burning liquid that could kill nearly anyone but specific nether-hybrids. He kind of wished he'd been born a Nether-hybrid just so he could enjoy it without the use of potions.

Theo floated within the lava pool of the End Portal Room. One of his favorite past times and ways to relax. It helped with a lot of things and he could practically feel all his stress and worries temporarily burn away from the magma as he laid there, afloat within the lava, staring at the ceiling, careful to keep conscious even though he so badly wanted to sleep within the normally scorching liquid. He was relaxed though and that was enough.

He minded the timer, uncorking another bottle of Fire Resistance before downing it just as the timer hit two seconds, resetting it to eight minutes.

Lava was heavier than water, it was easier to float on if you laid still on the surface. Not a lot of people knew about that, but then again not a lot of people appreciated lava like he did.

Why was he floating in lava when he should be getting more obsidian? The static had become unbearable earlier on when he let his worries get the best of him. Dream might be getting hurt right now, he should turn back. He should get back to Dream's side and- yeah. So Theo decided to dip into the lava pool, try to relax, reminding himself and quelling the static that Dream was with George and Sapnap with him. They'd keep him safe and where they were going, he wasn't allowed to go.

And, it had been a while since he let himself relax within the lava.

He sighed in content, closing his eyes as the warm liquid lazily swirled and bubbled around him. He'd get back to fortifying the Stronghold after a while, he just- he wanted to relax a bit longer. 

He wished he could take a nap in the lava, but Dream wasn't- he wasn't here. His Dream at least. This Dream didn't even know that he liked lava.

"You want to sleep in the lava?" Dream asked, baffled by his shy confession. Tommy's face burned as he looked down at the floor. "Tommy-" "I'm not suicidal." Tommy blurts out, wincing as he interrupted Dream. He didn't want to but, he just really- "I'm not. I swear, I just- if I have drink like, tons of fire resistance potions then maybe I can like- like take a nap in the lava pool?" "The potion only lasts eight minutes max Tommy." Tommy wilts, fidgeting with the sleeve of his red hoodie. "I know, but uh- even- I don't have to nap. I just, I wanna relax in the lava. I don't- I- it's stupid. I'm sorry Dream, it came into my head and I thought, I don't-" Dream interrupts him, "Okay you can sleep in the lava. You've been doing great so far Tommy and it is your birthday. You can sleep an hour in the lava." Tommy gives him a disbelieving look. "But-" "Don't worry about the eight minutes, I'll throw splash potions at you while you sleep." Tommy blinks but then he grins brightly as Dream ruffles his hair. 

Would this Dream splash him potions while he slept in the lava? Would it be weird to ask? What was he talking about of course it would be weird to ask but still-

"TOMMY?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING LAYING IN LAVA?!" George?

Theo opened his eyes and found Sapnap, George and Dream standing over him on the End Portal. Each looking wide-eyed, shocked and extremely concerned.

Blinking rapidly, he opened his mouth to ask what George and Sapnap were doing here- "I'm not suicidal. I just like lava." 

...

He'll- he'll just get out of the lava now.

Chapter Text

"Dude I can't believe you found the fucking Stronghold and you didn't even bother telling us!!" Dream winced slightly, smiling weakly after Sapnap smacked his shoulder, looking angry- he and George looked offended and Dream honestly can't blame them. "How long have you been hiding this bullshit from us?!" 

They were in the last room hidden within the Nether. The one and only portal that would lead to the Stronghold. 

After they had left the Warped Priest, left the piglin faction within the Warped Forest, they had planned to go back to one of Dream's bases, the one where Theo had left from and wait for them there.

That was the plan, but Sapnap had complained that Theo wouldn't be back until much later. Only a day had passed after all, and they had so many questions. Sapnap was impatient and suggested trying to look for him, George tentatively agreed, there was just so much they needed to cover and Theo had to be involved.

Dream hesitantly thought of messaging Theo. He would come if he asked, Dream knows he will. He had said so and Dream believed him.

Should he message him?

do it do it call him here he's ours he'll listen he always will
no no don't he'll listen just go to him don't he's not ours

It felt like icy water had been dumped on him as he considered his options, and there, in the back of his head. The tiniest whispers he's never noticed before but now? Now he noticed. He hears them, only just barely but there's two. In his head, from what little he could hear even from concentrating- they sound so much like him but at the same time not. One sounds so possessive, unnaturally so. While the other sounds worried, empathetic. 

Was this what the Warped Priest meant by Fragmented? 

"Dream?" Dream's shaken out of his thoughts by a concerned George, they were still in the Nether. Just a few blocks away from the Warped Forest. "Dream are you okay? You stopped walking."

He...

Was fine?

Why'd he stop walking? He'd been, thinking...

"I know where Theo is, we could go to him."

He doesn't know why he had kept the Stronghold a secret from his friends. He had planned to tell them, he really did. But he didn't. He hadn't told them when he came back from his search, he instead lied, didn't mention it anymore and focused on other matters. His SMP had been chaotic, and then L'Manberg came. He doesn't even think to tell them after the war was over. Even with him going back to the Stronghold time and time again, he doesn't tell them then.

But then Theo comes and everything around him seems to change- or maybe it always did and he was just noticing it now? 

When was the last time he had hung out with George and Sapnap? 

When was the last time, the three of them spent time with each other with no strings attached? He's been going back and forth from the Stronghold on his own, keeping an eye on L'Manberg with anticipation for- for something but when was the last time all three of them sat down together and just have a good time? Had he been pushing his friends away slowly? Things had been a bit strained after L'Manberg finally got its independence, Dream had been keeping an eye on it, waiting for something to happen.

Well, he got his wish.

Several things happened almost all at once and Dream finally noticed something was off with himself.

So he tells George and Sapnap about the Stronghold. How he had found it, how he made it his secret hidden base, how he'd gone there again and again on his own, made a secret pathway with portals in the Nether and Overworld.

yes yes tell them they're your friends
no no don't tell them they're just tools

Theo considered the Stronghold his home, he called it when they both got there but Dream never thought of it that way. Did he even have a home? A permanent one? 

...
...

"Dream, don't hide things like this from us anymore okay?" George asked, frown on his face, goggles on his head as he stared down his best friend. 

Dream took in a deep breath and nodded, "Yeah- yeah, I'll- okay." He'll try at least, he has no idea what was even going on anymore. 

Separation, Fragmented, The Crimson, The Egg, Toby, The Warped Priest, Theo-

He has no idea what's even going on anymore, but hopefully that was going to change.

Together, the three of them stepped through the portal and into the Stronghold.

The masked man laughed as he sees the awe and wide-eyed looks of his best friend as they looked around the place. "You guys should've seen how much of a dump it was. But don't worry, I fixed it all." He said, motioning to the stone walls, the floor- he doesn't have much on decorations. He never saw any point in them in the Stronghold, it was a place he regularly visited sure but he never thought to decorate the place. He fixed it, got rid of the mossy stone bricks and broken blocks and sealed it completely to prevent anyone or anything from coming in. Sure there were a few things here and there but that was about it. It still looked nice though and Dream was actually proud of it.

"Ender, this is so cool. We're in the Stronghold!" Sapnap exclaimed, grinning widely as he looked around. 

George glanced around before looking back at Dream, "You have so much shit to make up for Dream." He tells him with a smile, "Give us a grand tour after we find Theo, you said he'd be making his room?" Dream nods and he leads them to where Theo would build his room.

Right across the room that was technically his own he guesses, it's where he sleeps whenever he spends the night in the Stronghold. 

"Huh it looks like he finished his room." Dream notes, looking around Theo's newly finished room. Four chests tucked against the wall, an armor stand holding Theo's netherite armor, a desk by his bed along with a comfy-looking chair, an almost empty book case on the other wall. Dream and George smiled at the sight of the mask and quartz headband perched on the shelf. It was fairly normal even with the netherite armor. Dream steps closer and looks at the armor stand, sees glowing armor displayed.

take it he would give it to you if you asked
don't you've done enough it's his not yours

There's a hand around his wrist, that hand is George's. He looks at Dream with a look of disapproval and concern. "Dream, that's Theo's armor. You gave it back to him." He says carefully and Dream blinks and George lets go of his hand. Dream puts his hand down, away from the armor. "He's finished his room, so where is he? Did he already go back?" 

Dream shook his head, both to answer George's question and to clear his thoughts. "I don't know. If he did, he would've asked where we were through the comms." He pointed out, "Actually, we could use them to ask where he is." 

Sapnap looked up from where he was rummaging through Theo's chest, really? George stopped him but didn't stop Sapnap. "Sounds good! We probably should've messaged him in the first place- don't give me those looks, I wanted to see what he had in his chests! There's not much, just some spare wood and stone and ores. I'm not taking anything." He retorted to the looks he got from George and Dream- mostly George since Dream still had his mask on.

George rolled his eyes while Dream snorted and got his communicator out to message Theo. When the man had come, he had changed his communicator's ID and settings- he wasn't Tommy Innit after all. Not anymore. 

Dream messaged Theo: Theo? Where are you? George Sapnap and I are at the Stronghold.

The three of them waited a bit for Theo's message, frowning when Theo didn't message back. "Maybe he's a bit preoccupied for the moment." George suggested, though he was worried for him. The man could take care of himself, he and Dream had seen how he could fair against the Egg and if Dream really had taught him then he could deal with mobs and people as well.

"He should've messaged me back by now though." Dream replied with a deep frown. Hadn't he said he would be by Dream's side as soon as Dream messaged him to come back? He should be answering right now. Just what the hell was Theo doing that was more important than him?

No, no. George was right. He might be busy with something and couldn't look at his communicator at the moment. He was he was busy laying in lava he couldn't hear the ding of his communicator in the thick boiling liquid and was reminiscing of the past. 

Dream huffed, pushing his mask to the side and messaging his forehead. "He'll- he'll message back as soon as he can." He said, to himself and his friends. Shaking his head he looked back to them, "Want that tour of the Stronghold?" He asked making Sapnap grin brightly while George snorted.

"Yeah sure, why not."

He gives them the tour, leading them from Theo's room into the Stronghold's library. Dream gets smacked again as he shows off the books he had kept in the library, as well as the map that was showing his progress in finding the Dark Mansion- "You told us you weren't going to try and find it you asshole!" Dream laughs sheepishly and dodges the books that George and Sapnap throw at him. 

He shows them the small farm he has at the Stronghold, with crops and some animals just so he could have food in the place. He shows them the small basic kitchen and the storage rooms where he keeps his stuff. The training room he's just recently trying to build. Both his best friend rib on him for the lack of decorations and the amount of empty rooms that Dream hasn't thought about turning, they claim a room for themselves in lieu of this and Dream can't find it in himself to be mad at them because he's realizing just how empty the Stronghold is.

If Theo had a room here then so should his friends. In fact, his friends should've had rooms here anyway. Him not telling them about the Stronghold was a mistake, but thankfully now they knew and they were only a little mad at him. 

Finally, the best for last- he shows them the End Portal Room.

"The thing's busted," Dream tells them as they headed towards the End Portal Room, "It needs Eyes of Ender in the portal block frames but one of the frames is missing and I have no idea where it is or even how to make it." It's one of the most frustrating things he's ever been trying to research. He has no idea where the hell the last frame is or what even happened to it. The old library within the Stronghold didn't help at all, he's scoured through all the books- but then again, he couldn't understand half of them. It's a painstaking process, trying to translate the old books from the Stronghold.

He hasn't translated every single book yet.

Maybe it'd be easier if he had help.

Man, he was being an idiot for trying to do this all on his own wasn't he?

"Here it is." Dream motioned to the room. He's kept it mostly the same. He did of course get rid of the silverfish spawner, replace the mossy and broken blocks, mined out the iron bars and all that but that was it. It was pretty much the same as he found it, with the missing end frame portal and... "Is that my mask?" He questioned, stunned to see the mask on the staircase. 

"You didn't leave it there?" Sapnap questioned him, looking just as stunned as he was. 

"What? No- I wouldn't do that."

George frowned, walking up the steps to grab the mask and- "TOMMY?!" He cried out, startled to see Tommy in the lava- no, it was Theo. He had his eyes closed, he looked content in the lava. Immediately, Sapnap and George climbed the stairs with him to look and see Theo in the lava pool underneath the end portal frame. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING LAYING IN THE LAVA?!" George shrieked, having suffered a near heart-attack from the surprise.

Without his mask, with his eyes closed and looking so content- He really was Tommy Innit. But older, scarred and- and- 

Theo's eyes opened, looking confused as he stared up at them from the lava pool. And the words that came out of his mouth were, and any of them could quote word for word with a complicated look later on, "I'm not suicidal. I just like lava."

What.
What.
What.

"Dude, how long have you been in there?"

Theo sits up, trying to hide his disappointment as he shuffles to the side so he could leave the lava pool. "I've had three potions so far so about, about twenty-four minutes I'd say. Well four potions, but I just drank it like a minute ago- twenty-five minutes." He answered Sapnap as he climbed over the block, getting out through space of the missing portal frame.

The Dream Team hopped off the broken portal frame as Theo shook off some excess lava back into the lava pool. Careful not to splash the three as he awkwardly stood before him. "Why?" George questioned, looking a tad bit frazzled.

"I just- I like lava. It's not that different from laying in water y'know." Theo mumbled, feeling self-conscious at the incredulous looks he got from the three of them. "Can I have my mask back?" He swiftly took the mask after George offered it back, settling it back on his face and feeling relieved at the cover. Now if only he had a cover for his whole body language.

"Not that dif- you burn in lava, you die if you touch it." Sapnap points out to him.

Theo shrugged, "If you have Fire Resistance potions you don't- it's actually quite warm. And napping in lava is pleasant if you have someone you can trust to periodically splash the potion on you." He said, twiddling his fingers and glancing subtly to Dream who caught it.

"Really? I mean- if you do have the potion but like- still! Who naps in lava?!" George spluttered, trying to wrap his head around the concept- okay it's not that hard to get but really? What sane person wanted to sleep in lava?

Theo's shoulders slouched as he resolutely avoided looking at George. "I do. Well- I used to. Dream was always there to splash a potion at me before the timer ran out. I slept for like, a couple of hours in lava because of that." He sees George and Sapnap turn to the still stunned Dream and he quickly adds on, "My Dream. He uh- he did that. This, you- didn't know about that. Yeah." Fuck. This was severely awkward and Theo should've just continued mining obsidian.

"I did that? Or like- fuck, future me did that?" Dream questioned, sound just as incredulous as he looked. Theo wilted a bit in place, "Huh, well- that's- yeah I don't know what to say about that." Theo wilts a bit more and an awkward silence falls on them.

He should have really gone back to mining obsidian and fortifying the Stronghold. He should've- wait. "You took them here?" He asked, looking at Dream, motioning to George and Sapnap. 

Theo smiles a bit at the hesitant nod that Dream gave him- his eyes are leaves, Theo notes. "Oh that's good. You- uh, my Dream never showed them the Stronghold. It's one of the things he regretted not doing." Before he died, he doesn't say but they know it. Theo tilts his head as he thought more into it. "So, how did the visit go? You did find the Warped Forest from the coordinates I sent you right? Did you meet with the Warped Priest?" They did do that before they ended up here right?

At the question, the three of them perked and George grabbed his arm, looking serious. "You have a lot to explain Theo."

Theo sighed, nodding to him, "Yeah probably. Let's move to the Li-Library. Dream hasn't built the living room yet, library will have to do." It was better to talk there than to talk in the portal room. All three of them agreed and they moved to leave the portal room.

Theo gave the lava pool one last longing glance before following Dream, George and Sapnap out of the Portal Room and towards the Library.

It doesn't take long, and they all sit at the table, Theo hesitantly taking off his mask again. If only because Dream didn't have his mask properly on. And even with George and Sapnap here, he didn't feel like wearing his mask within the Stronghold. "Okay, I'm ready. Ask your question, I'll try to answer to the best of my abilities." He says but immediately winced when all three of them spoke at once. "One at a time! Ender, I can't answer all your questions all at once." He exclaimed, rubbing his ear.

"Dream, you go first." 

Theo ignores the 'of course he goes first' mutter coming from Sapnap and focuses on the leaf-eyed Dream. Keeping an eye on the shade of his eyes. "I- fuck. Okay. Why did you send us to that Warped Forest? To the Warped Priest? You could have told us yourself about the whole, Separation and Fragment thing- or did you not know about it and that's why you sent us there?" He asked and Theo cringes.

Dream with poisonous eyes and a tightly gripping hand on his wrist, leaned in with a deadly whisper. "You're not allowed to talk about that, you hear me Tommy? You're not even allowed to go back there- I forbid you." Tommy frantically nodded, wincing at the pain at his wrist. The poison recedes ever so slightly, "Good. Now come on, we're going home." 

"I'm... I'm not allowed, to talk about- about that." Theo says carefully, scratching the back of his neck, no pain. The static pulsed slightly in warning in his head. "And I'm not allowed, to go there. Where you went. I'm not allowed, but George and Sapnap are. Also you. I know what it is but- I can't talk about it." Theo mumbled, biting his lip.

George's brows furrowed, "'Not allowed'? Who- did Dream- your Dream didn't allow you to talk about the Separation or Fragments or even go to the Warped Forest?" He asked him and Theo gives a hesitant nod. Nothing happens- to him anyway. George just looks confused and a bit frustrated. "Why?" 

"He- he didn't like it there. And it-" Theo's lips thinned as his neck began to ache. "I can't talk about it. I'm not allowed." 

"Why not? We have to know- we are certainly allowing you to talk about it! Come on!" Sapnap urged, wanting to know but Theo could only wince and run a hand through his hear in frustration.

"I can't- Dream. Dream has to allow me, I can't talk about it unless he allows me." Theo snapped at him, he looked at Dream, seeing the leaves turn into grass in his eyes. 

"Why?!"
"Dream!" 

George and Sapnap exclaimed simultaneously, and Dream blinked while Theo sucked in a deep breath. "Dream's my friend- my owner. He told me not to talk about it and I won't, not unless he allows me- not until I have permission to talk about it." His eyes are grass green- they're actually a bit darker now. He's making things worse, he knew the risk when he came but he might be making things worse- no. George and Sapnap were here, they could ground Dream. And Dream's eyes- they weren't poison. 

Things were fine. Everything was going to be fine.

The mark on his neck, the blue that's stained him for years, it prickles and he aches while his head is surrounded by static. 

Loyal. Stay loyal. Don't stray from Dream. Stay Loyal.

He was- is still loyal to Dream, he is. 

This was all for Dream's sake.

George jabs at Dream, "Dream, give him- give him permission." His voice is strained, just like his face. The grass swirls and turn into leaves and Dream-

"You're allowed to talk about it Tommy. You're allowed to talk about anything, just answer our questions." Theo focuses on 'You're allowed to talk about anything, just answer the question' and it's-

It's a breath of fresh air. The back of his neck stops aching, the static calms and he takes a deep breath and opens his mouth. "Dream has two sides in his head. I call them My Friend and My Owner. Because to me, that's what they are. They're in his head, they influence him, they are him but at the same time they're not, they're his thoughts but amplified and separated. It's confusing but that's what they are. They're just- they're Fragments. Dream's Fragments, my Dream was Fragmented because of a lot of things and just everything that's happened and My Owner made him into a frankly terrible person but I'm still his friend and his tool. I'm Loyal. I was ever since he decided to take me in as his protoge, I'm his friend and student, I'm his weapon and tool. He's my Friend, he's my Owner. He's fucking confusing at times but it's okay, My Friend in Dream was kind to me even if My Owner wasn't really. Dream still cared, and he cared until he died. He was more friendly when he got infected because My Owner was the one who was fighting off the The Egg's influence the most in his head and he flipped a lot while he was infected but it was mostly My Friend Dream who stayed with me the last few months before he died."

"My Friend Dream was great, I miss him, he cared so much for me, he was great- not that My Owner Dream wasn't. My Owner Dream is still nice even if he's not most of the time, he cared. In his own, fucked up way. I think My Owner Dream fragmented again too because his eyes went from grass to poison and it was terribly confusing. My Friend Dream tried to give me permission by the way, he's cool but he was the weaker Fragment and important decisions weren't allowed by him unless it benefited My Owner Dream."

"Dream right now isn't as bad as my Dream was, there's time. His Separation isn't complete but I'm afraid I messed things up because now that I'm here he's Fragmented. His eyes turn from leaves to grass but it's not poison which means there's still time, I'm sorry I made you Fragment Dream but it's okay George and Sapnap are here and they'll help you. And I will too, I'll always help you, I'm Loyal. I'm your friend, I promised I'd help you and here I am helping you."

Theo pants lightly, it's the only sound in the room as the Dream Team stared at him in overwhelming silence.

Theo can't help the grin on his face, he- he said it. He could talk about it- He could talk about the Fragments and Separation! He had fucking babbled about Dream- his Dream, Friend Dream and Owner Dream. He could talk about them without worry- "Oh thank fuck." He says and to his as well as the Dream Team's horror, he hiccups. There's- there's something wet trailing down his face. "I- I couldn't- Dream I- it's been-" He hiccups and sniffs, quickly trying to wipe away the tears that were coming down his face.

This was both simultaneously amazing and horrible. 

Fuck.

Chapter Text

After the fight, Toby had remembered that he had been in a meeting with Quackity and Schlatt. He had just straight left them in the middle of the meeting and left with Techno and Phil to where Theo and the Dream Team were. 

Predictably they were very confused when Toby excused himself to visit them briefly. They wanted to know what the hell happened, why he had left so abruptly, what Techno and Phil were doing in L'Manberg- right, Quackity was still fairly afraid of the man right now- why Toby had bandages on his chin and neck.

The sun is setting and Toby resigns himself to telling Schlatt and Quackity about what happened. He messages the others that he would be kept busy for a bit.

"So you're telling me," Schlatt starts, eyes half-lidded and fingers threaded in front of his mouth with a serious look on his face. "That there's this evil egg thing out there, that causes the end of the world. You, along with both Technoblade and Philza, ran out to help Theo- the other time-traveling guy who may or may not hate me and who's also future Tommy- and the Dream Team because they were fighting this evil egg but it got away. And now there's an evil egg on the loose and there's this, shaky-ass truce between you and Theo." Quackity is muttering heavily in Spanish, a hard processing look on his face.

Toby huffed through his nose, rubbing his eyes, "Pretty much yeah."

"... Life was so much more easier when the future stopped being a pest." Schlatt swore, rubbing his forehead and desperately needing a drink. However was currently, much to his fucking horror, sober. And he would stay sober as long as Toby was around to threaten him into staying in the wonderful life of sobriety. "Is this Egg going to be a problem in the future?"

Toby gives him this deadpanned stare, "It's the Egg that causes the world to end- I'm pretty sure that yes; it'll probably be some kind of problem in the future." He replies, voice dripping with so much sarcasm Schlatt might slip on his ass.

"But you said the Egg thing didn't start being a real problem until like, what, a couple years from now? We got tons of time to scramble the fucker and make tortillas for everyone." Quackity pointed out. He had some doubts but this was Toby, Tubbo's future self that really didn't seem to be joking. The end of the world is caused by as enderdamned evil monster egg. Who knew?

Toby grimaced, "Six years- Possibly five. The... infected people it had in its thrall kept a good job hiding it until it couldn't be hidden anymore. It was growing everywhere and it spread into L'Manberg in no time." His fists clenched, "But the thing is, the Egg right now? Sure it's weak, and it's small- last I saw it it was the size of a fucking hill- right now it's the size of one block. It's all that but it escaped and we have no idea where it is, what it will do and fucking anything else that might happen in between. So the period for it to become a real problem, world-ending problem, might take a few years yeah but as soon as it's big enough it'll escalate and things will snowball right into catastrophe."

He looks at them and they shiver at the look in his eyes, the dark grimace on his face and just his eyes- they were so intense that they'd surely be dreaming about them tonight. "Four years. That's how long it took to almost completely take over the Overworld. The Tundras were the only safe places in the Overworld but when I left it was being taken over as well. Six years it was dormant and biding its time, and then the next four years were absolute hell. So many people were infected, so many people died. You have no idea just what it's capable of. Everyone moved to the Nether just to have a single hope for survival and even then, it was harsh."

"So we had to abandon L'Manberg?" 

Toby took in a deep breath at Quackity's innocuous question. "We had to, yes. Not only because it was entirely overrun by the Crimson, but because it was destroyed. Completely."

Theo and Dream had made sure of that.

"Tubbo?" 

Tubbo jolted up from his desk with a yelp, groggy and tired but awake. "Mm?! Yes?! I'm- I'm awake!" The young man blurted out, pressing the heel of his palm against one of his eyes, blinking rapidly to see who had called out his name. "Oh Ranboo, 's just you." He yawned, shaking his head and trying to get the sleep out of his eyes. 

The enderman hybrid smiled apologetically, "Yeah it's just me. Sorry for waking you so suddenly, but you look really tired. I think you should head to bed." He said, walking over to Tubbo's desk and laid a hand on Tubbo's shoulder. "You've been in your office for too long, you need sleep."

"I'll sleep when I'm done with the paperwork." Tubbo waved off, squinting down and groaning when he realized he'd smudged the ink on the papers- yep, there was ink on the sleeves of his suit. "Crap, now I have to start all over again." He sighed but resignedly inked his pen only to have a completely white hand to take the pen, setting it aside. "Hey-"

"You need sleep Tubbo." Ranboo insisted, hauling Tubbo out of his chair much to his protest. "Your paperwork can wait-"

Tubbo struggled but he just felt so tired- "No it literally can't-" He had to- he had to work. L'Manberg needed him, he had to continue working.

The two tussled but ultimately Ranboo wasn't as exhausted as Tubbo, and he was a hybrid so he overpowered the tired President and forced him into his bedroom. Ranboo also forced off Tubbo's presidential suit jacket off of him and leaving him in the white undershirt and his slacks. "Tubbo you need to sleep. Rest. You've been working too much." Ranboo scolded him, the hybrid scowling at Tubbo's stubborn rejection to the notion of sleeping.

"Ranboo this is treason-" Tubbo tried, just wanting to continue working. Those papers were important he swears they are, something something property damage? He'll- he'll remember if he just reads the paperwork and sees what was wrong. It was probably for those weird red plants that were popping up everywhere- they were seriously, growing everywhere. Tubbo could see a red vine peeking at the corner of his window. They were coming from the ground, a new plant? They were weird, they were trying to get rid of them all but it wasn't an easy process.

"Tommy wouldn't want you to overwork yourself Tubbo."

Tubbo's eyes locked into Ranboo's, Ranboo looked regretful but firm and Tubbo just looked hurt before he looked bitter. "How many times are you going to use that on me Ranboo? Tommy's dead. Doesn't- doesn't matter... What Tommy wants..." His eyes feel familiarly wet, it just adds to his exhaustion and he flops down on the bed to look at the ceiling. 

"He'd still want you to be resting." Ranboo replied quietly, now sitting down on the side of Tubbo's bed as Tubbo threw an arm over his face. Covering his eyes. "He'd nag you into resting, call you a stupid idiot and drag you to bed whether you wanted to or not." He said with a small sad smile on his face.

Tubbo huffed, a wavering smile on his face as well. "Yeah- yeah... he'd probably call me a bitch boy actually..." Tubbo closes his eyes and feels the exhaustion take over. His tired mind finally drifting off as he mumbled, "I miss Tommy..."

Ranboo watched go to sleep quietly, sighing and covering Tubbo with a blanket. "I do too." He whispered quietly, standing from the bed and taking out his memory book. He scribbled into it a bit before closing and starts to tiptoe carefully to leave Tubbo's room, he pauses as he sees the compass framed on the wall. One of Tubbo's most valuable possessions, one of the only things left from Tommy, he shakes his head and gets out of the room. He'd get Quackity to take over Tubbo's paperwork, their president needed a break. 

It's been almost a complete year since Tommy was exiled.

And it's only been three and a half months since he died.

Tubbo was still taking it hard, he'd been the one to see the dirt tower. He'd been the one to see all the items strewn about, the campsite had been destroyed- Dream and a lot of the others suspected that Tommy had did that because he'd had enough of exile. Just wanted to blow everything up before falling to his death.

Surely not.

Except there wasn't any other proof otherwise.

All of Tommy's possessions were either blown up or were just laying there on the floor right by the tower. The body was gone, turned to nothing like every other person who died on their last life. Tubbo hadn't visited early enough to see Tommy's dead body and he still doesn't know whether or not to be glad or sad about it.

"Can you give me everything you have Tommy? I'm not blowing them up this time I promise." Dream asked the huddled Tommy who was covered with layers of blankets near the make-shift fireplace that Dream had made. The blonde gave him an almost panicked but ultimately confused look.

" I- O-okay? But why-" He started to ask, dropping his things on the ground with shaky, cold hands but Dream interrupts him. "I said everything Tommy. Even the compass and pictures." Tommy froze, looking lost and panicked. Clutching Your Tubbo to his chest. "But- but it's my-"  Dream gave him a reassuring smile, eyes so very green- like poison Tommy thought idly in the back of his head beneath all the tired confusion and panic.

"Trust me Tommy, you don't need them anymore remember? You have me, I'll be here unlike Tubbo. He threw away his compass, it's time you threw yours too. I'll get rid of it for you, come on." Dream coaxed gently, and Tommy can't help but listen. Feeling so cold, even with the fire beside him. If Dream hadn't saved him from the cold, he'd be dead. Dream should be angry at him, for trying to run but he wasn't. He just took Tommy to his secret base and was trying to help him, gave him blankets, fire, food. He- he should listen to Dream. He knew what was best for him after all. And Tubbo did destroy... his compass... 

Biting his lip he hesitantly set down his Tubbo compass and the few pictures he had left on him. "... alright, here..." Dream picks it all up in his inventory, patting Tommy's cold head. Tommy smiles weakly at that and the way Dream made sure his blankets were securely wrapped around him. He could barely move with them on. The cold was receding. "Thanks pal, here, why don't you just relax, get warm, eat and listen to Chirp?"  He says and Tommy blinks, focusing on the mention of Chirp. "

"Chirp? My disc? But-" Dream sets down a jukebox several blocks away from Tommy who can't really move from his spot. 

"You can listen for now Tommy, you may have made some mistakes but you've been doing great so far. I'll be right back okay? Don't move from where you are, you still look pretty cold." Tommy watches him slip the disc in and the music starts playing, he's cold and tired and he's listening to his disc. His eyes start to droop but Dream was going somewhere, where was he going? When was he coming back?

"I am, when- when are you coming back?" 

"Soon Tommy, soon. Relax and listen to Chirp Tommy. I'll be back." Tommy watches him go, yawning and leaning against the soft woolen block that Dream propped him up against before the fire.

"O-Okay Dream, come- come back soon..." Dream chuckled underneath his breath and adjusted his mask as a sharp smile grew on his face and then he left. He returned to Logstedshire, throwing the items in front of the tower in a specific manner, scuffed the place up and left. This would give him plenty of time to train Tommy and solidify his loyalty. There's guilt somewhere, he can't find it and doesn't even notice, it's so deep in his head and he's so focused right now on his plans. It only flares out once very later on when he's back at L'Manberg and Tubbo screams at him about Tommy's apparent demise.

It flares before it's pushed down and Dream pretends to be shocked. And he starts to lie. 

Tommy is safe in one of his bases, not dead, he thinks to himself as he says otherwise, suggesting what happened. He would have to get him somewhere safer, somewhere more private- he'll move Tommy to the Stronghold then. Better to have him close and secure.

All Tubbo had left of Tommy was Tommy's disc Mellohi and now, Tommy's 'Your Tubbo' compass that always pointed at him. Mocking him in a way but Tubbo couldn't bear to part with it. He kept it in his house, in a single item frame within his room. Sometimes he'd take it down, put it in his enderchest with Mellohi if he couldn't bear to see it, but most of the time, it stayed in the item frame on the wall.

Tubbo had once tried to give the compass to Philza, but Philza had refused. Letting Tubbo keep it- "I've got plenty of pictures of Toms. I have some of his old things with me. You keep it Tubbo." Though the father was heartbroken from his youngest son's death, he refused the compass and let Tubbo keep it. The two shared a night together, weeping for the dead blond.

They held a funeral in L'Manberg. Everyone was invited, even Technoblade, who was silent and angry but he made no move against them. It was a funeral, he wouldn't cause a commotion on Tommy's funeral. It was only because of Philza's pleading that things had stayed peaceful. That Technoblade was able to attend with no violence and bloodshed even though the tension between him and Quackity had been suffocating. The failed execution was still fresh but put aside for this one, important funeral.

Nothing but mourning and grief happened during the funeral as it finished.

And nothing spectral came in the following days.

Tommy Innit died and stayed dead.

Tommy beams when Dream comes back, they've moved to the Stronghold- a secret place that apparently only Dream knew. And now Tommy! "Dream! Welcome back! How was- how was L'Manberg? Did you talk to Ranboo? Tubbo? Is everything alright over there?" Did anyone notice he'd left Logstedshire? Ranboo had to right? They were... friends, even though Ranboo hadn't been sending him letters lately even the month beforehand, before he tried to jump and run away. 

"I did talk to Ranboo Tommy, I offered to deliver whatever letter he had and gave him yours but he said was too busy. Looks like they were planning an event or something, it looked pretty important. Things seemed to be as normal than usual aside from that." Dream replied easily, as if he hadn't just attended the young man's funeral earlier on. He sees the way Tommy wilts, biting his lip and looking so heartbroken. He smiled underneath his mask and adds in, "Actually I saw Philza and Technoblade talking with Tubbo in L'Manberg though so there's that."

Tommy looked at him in shock, "What? But- But Technoblade hates L'Manberg, government and- and they wouldn't allow him into L'Manberg. He killed Tubbo! He spawned withers-" "Yeah, shocked me too. They were talking peacefully, looks like Tubbo really forgave Technoblade for everything he's done and Philza managed to get Technoblade to not do anything to L'Manberg in return." Dream interrupted with a shrug, watching Tommy's face cycle through a lot of emotions.

It settles on offended anger, "I... He just, forgave him? Let him into L'Manberg? After everything he's done? He- he blew up the country, he nearly killed Tubbo and I- He just forgave him while I'm still in fucking exile?!" Tubbo rescinded the exile with tears. Technoblade had been itching for his sword, Dream saw but unfortunately Philza stopped him. Quietly scolding him and reminding him that they were at Tommy's funeral. No violence on Tommy's funeral.

Dream hummed, nodding to him. "Yeah... You look angry, want to train?" Tommy's been doing great, when he puts his mind into it and wasn't being annoying. Tommy was already a good enough fighter, but after Dream was done with him he'd be the perfect tool. The perfect weapon. Somewhere in his head, a part of him screams against it but he doesn't notice as it's shoved deeper underneath his psyche.

"... Yes. I need- I need to get better, and let out some energy." Dream grins at the frustration and hurt on Tommy's face as he storms towards the training room, Dream follows him and thinks about the interesting little lead he's found during his private research time in one of the books. Tommy's been great so far, he's listened- there were a few times he was being annoying but Dream handled it. However just to be sure he had Tommy's complete loyalty- that book on tattoo'd enchantments would definitely come in handy. He needs to carefully research it some more though.

"Haha, sounds good Tommy."

Dream leaves for a month, disappears and no one knows where he went. Not even Sapnap or George who've been avoiding Dream for a while now. 

When he comes back, he has someone else following after him. Someone new joins the Dream SMP. 

Theo, seemingly short for Theodore.

He's a mute young man, extremely shy. He wears one of Dream's mask and dresses up like him, fights like him too actually- Dream had met him while he was gone. Apparently Theo had been a fan of him and followed Dream until he took him in as his protege, who was Dream to refuse? He'd been charmed and flattered and Theo was actually a good student.

"Here Tommy. Wear this, I'm letting you back in the SMP, also L'Manberg- but you're still exiled. So wear this and no one will know it's you as long as you stay quiet and act mute okay? Remember what we talked about." Tommy stared at the mask before nodding, strapping it to his face, grimacing at the weird feeling of wearing a mask but keeps the mask on.

"Okay."

Dream nods before he pauses and thinks of something. "Also I need to call you something, chose a name. I can't call you Tommy in front of the others."

Theseus, comes to mind and Tommy's face twists underneath the mask. Thankfully Dream doesn't see it, the mask is actually useful and Tommy starts to get why Dream wears it all the time. "Theo."

Dream tilts his head at him, "Theo huh? What's it short for." 

"Theodore." Tommy lies.

Theo follows Dream everywhere, trailing behind like a duckling, shyly keeping to himself and avoids everyone else. Theo was never seen by himself, he was either with Dream or was somewhere else where no one could find him. There was a weird moment though, just a week or so ago, when he one day stumbled unto Tommy's grave, straying from Dream's side for only a moment.

He had stared at it, for a long while until Dream dragged him away.

"T-They think I'm dead?! Wh- Dream why didn't you tell me?!" Tommy screamed at him, looking upset as he threw the mask away.

Dream frowned at him, "Someone must've finally visited Logstedshire, saw the pillar and assumed." "You didn't tell them otherwise?!" "I didn't even know the grave was there Tommy!" Dream lies but Tommy hesitates and it's enough for Dream to continue on. "I thought they thought you just ran away! No one told me that they thought you died or something! No one even asked me what happened!" It stuns Tommy and Dream smiles beneath his mask as Tommy staggers against the wall.

"They knew I was visiting you from time to time, but they didn't ask me about you. They saw the pillar and assumed- if they had a funeral then they certainly didn't invite me. But I haven't heard of anything about you being dead." When Tommy starts to tear up and cry, Dream is there to comfort him, lie to him and keep him by his side. He has to be a bit more careful from then on. He wasn't ready just yet, he was still messing the symbols up and he still needed to learn.

They see Theo less after that, they don't really notice anything weird. Too caught up in other things to notice Dream's new protege. 

Then weird plants started popping up everywhere, red plants that seem like nether plants but not- too bright red. Too unnatural. They came up from the ground, growing on blocks, walls- almost anything. They seemed harmless though but very weird.

L'Manberg was slowly being overtaken by the red plants, and it wasn't just there. Dream noticed them too and was trying to get rid of them as well. 

Then they finally started noticing Bad's strange behavior, and then Skeppy started to act weird- emotionless, aggressive to anyone who tried to get rid of the plants and Bad seemed to come back to normal and was suddenly warning them about a mind-controlling Egg whose plants were growing everywhere.

Not many people really believed it, not until Bad and several other people were acting weird, suddenly 'wearing' flowers and vines on them. Attacking other people, dragging them off into the Badlands either to never be seen again or to come back just like them. 

Everyone started to notice the red plants, the aggressive people 'wearing' red flowers and vines- until they finally realized that they weren't 'wearing' red vines or flowers. They were growing out of their skins.

"What the heck are these things?!" Tommy questioned aloud, glancing over to Dream. It's just the two of them- and the cooling corpse of a man who tried to attack them when they were trying to clear some of the red plants in Dream's land.

Dream narrows his eyes at the corpse, the wriggling plants on the dead body cause Tommy to cry out and step back. "I don't know, but they're dangerous... Fuck, L'Manberg's infested with these things along with the Badlands." It's only a matter of time before the rest of his lands will be filled with them. Just the thought of it makes Dream angry, but he takes hold of that anger and forces himself to stay calm- thinking with an angry head wouldn't end well.

"Dream, what do we do?" Dream thinks about it, and with cold, poisonous eyes.

"We'll get rid of it all... Come on Tommy, we need TNT. Lots of it." Tommy gasps but ultimately follows after him, but there's doubt in his heart. Dream knows there's doubt but that's alright, it's perfectly fine. He's almost ready- he's learned enough to grasp the enchantment and he's only learned one, very important enchantment to do. Tommy would stay by his side and be Loyal to him. Forever.

Later on, when Tommy speaks of his doubt, he tells Tommy. "It's for the best Tommy. Besides, what has L'Manberg ever done for you? You've given them everything and they've given you nothing in return. You were exiled. They gave you up. Most of them never visited and those that did only did it to mock you, make fun of you. Ranboo tried to be your friend but L'Manberg started taking his attention and he started to think like everyone else. That you weren't worth visiting, that you were a pest. Sure when they found out you were 'dead' they mourned, but they didn't say anything. They seemed to be doing fine before all of this, Tubbo started focusing more on L'Manberg after you died remember? He's the President and now that you're gone, he could put all his attention on his precious nation." Tommy's hands are fists and Dream smiles at him, calm, comforting and genuine in a way.

"Wilbur was right in a way- how he treated you was wrong don't misunderstand but L'Manberg isn't what it used to be Tommy. It was never meant to be." The words impacted Tommy and he stays silent, "Right now, those red plant things are dangerous. And hey, we might even get Mellohi back." At the mention of his second disc Tommy crumbles- he nods and helps Dream gather more gunpowder and sand. L'Manberg's been a thorn on his side for a while, and Dream hadn't forgotten a certain hitlist they had before their attention was taken over by these damn crimson plants. 

He'll knock out two birds with one stone with this.

Tubbo, Quackity, Fundy and Ranboo try to keep the panicking populace of L'Manberg calm as the plants start to grow more and people start to claim they've been hearing voices and screaming whenever they try to cut the flora. They panic more when the flora start to move on their own. They quarantine areas infested with the red crimson plants and try to keep things in tact. They're so busy they almost don't notice the fact that Ghostbur has disappeared completely. Almost. Phil notices and he tries to find the ghost of his middle child but he finds nothing much to his frustration and fear.

The Overworld slowly turns red and L'Manberg suffers through the Crimson Crisis as they're starting to call it.

The Badlands declare war and nothing seems to be going right. 

Until one night...

Tubbo was jolted out of his sleep when explosions suddenly shake the foundations of their city. "What?!" 

Fire and ash are in the air as a series of explosions start to come and Tubbo is scrambling into his armor, scrambling for a sword- he puts a certain compass into his enderchest and runs outside to see chaos. Destruction. One of his worst nightmares come to life as L'Manberg was blown to kingdom come for a third time.

"Tubbo!" He looks over and sees Quackity on the roof tops, in armor as well, "Tubbo what the fuck- L'Manberg's exploding!"

Tubbo grips his sword, "I can see that Quackity! But why?!" 

"Tubbo! Quackity!" Their heads snap to the side and on a pathway to see Ranboo sprinting towards them, he was extremely hurt and was making distressed endermen noises. "It's Dream! It's Dream, Punz and Theo they're blowing up L'Manberg!" Shocking them effectively. 

Quickly, they helped Ranboo, giving him health potions and some armor before they went off to either help the citizens or find Dream, Punz and Theo. 

"You!" Tubbo exclaims furiously from afar when he sees Theo, standing atop Tommy's grave. Tubbo's fury turns into panic when Theo starts placing TNT blocks, "No! No no no no! DON'T-" Theo lights one block and in seconds, it starts a chain reaction. Tubbo's shocked for a moment standing in place dumbfounded before it hits him all at once. L'Manberg was burning. Tommy's grave was destroyed. L'Manberg was exploding. Tommy's grave was desecrated. L'Manberg was dying. Tommy's grave was gone.

"GRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" 

With a thunderous roar, Tubbo flung himself at Theo, anger laced in his veins and fury burning in his eyes. He and Theo dueled, Tubbo trying to hit him, crit him- kill him because he was destroying L'Manberg and he destroyed Tommy's grave. 

Explosions continued to sound in the background as Tubbo and Theo clashed blades. Sword versus axe.

Tubbo tried his best but Theo was still Dream's protege. He couldn't go against someone like Dream before, how could he go against Dream's own protege? Someone who Dream praised regularly whenever he was mentioned. 

Still, Tubbo tried. His people were dying, his nation was falling and he was the President. He was going to make Theo, Dream and Punz pay for what they've done.

Shwing!

A stray explosion comes to Tubbo's favor as Theo tried to dodge Tubbo's sword but the explosion knocks him askew, giving Tubbo the chance to slice at his mask.

Tubbo grins near-ferally at his attack only for his face to fall into a look of stunned surprise seeded with growing horror as the mask collapses off of Theo's face. 

Tommy.

There's a giant slice wound on his face, and it's bleeding but it's undeniably Tommy.

"Tommy?" It's can't be. Surely- surely not? What-

Tommy was Dream's mysterious protege Theo? Quiet, shy Theo? Bright, loud Tommy was Theo? Tommy was blowing up L'Manberg with Dream and Punz?

"Hello Mr. President." Tommy says with an emotionless look on his face, though it was clear he was trying not to wince as blood dripped unto his hoodie and armor. Tubbo can't do anything but drop his sword as he was too stunned to do anything else whilst Tommy took a few steps forward, Tubbo started to raise a shaking hand towards Tommy who was so close to him now. He wanted to reach out, grab Tommy and hug him and Tommy- "And goodbye." Was trying to kill him. Tubbo wheezes as Tommy kicks him into the burning crater. 

He's falling, Tommy was watching him fall- he can't see his face, there's too much smoke but Tommy's just standing there watching him fall-

"Tubbo!!" 

Ranboo.

Ranboo saves him from crashing into the crater which was filled with fire and- and screaming plants? "Tubbo wha- Tommy!?" Ranboo stared with wide-mismatched eyes at Tommy who grimaces at the sight of them both. He sprints away from the crater and both young men cried out after him. 

"Tommy wait!"

They follow after him, they follow after him- they reunite with Quackity who stares as Tommy joins Dream's side. Pressing a cloth against his bleeding face. Punz hadn't known it was him, he was just as shocked as everyone else."Tommy? You're alive?!" Quackity shrieks and Tommy doesn't look at him.

"He is!" Dream says, laughing, "Everyone! Meet Tommy! My protege!" He exclaimed proudly, taking another mask from his inventory and handing it to Tommy. Tommy accepts. He thanks Dream quietly and downs a healing potion, the giant cut on his face heals- it scars though because of Tubbo's enchantments and Tubbo feels guilty about it but ultimately he's horrified as Tommy dons Dream's mask and stays by Dream's side. 

"What the fuck are you doing Dream?!" Sapnap screams, holding up an injured George. Dream tilts his head at them.

"Getting rid of L'Manberg of course. Finishing off Wilbur's work and making sure my SMP is safe. Those red plants there- can't you hear them? They're screaming. They're not supposed to that or start popping up everywhere! This was the best way to get rid of them and L'Manberg." Dream announced, Tommy stays silent but he nods quietly and it's- it's- "Good job Tommy, Punz. You both did great, you especially Tommy, let's go. We've done enough here. It's time we deal with the Badlands."

Ender pearls, they have ender pearls- "Don't let them escape!" Tubbo screams just as they pearl away.

There's a chase, right towards the Nether, the chase is harrowing but ultimately Tubbo screams as Tommy and Dream get away while Punz was captured and detained.

"I-I kicked, I kicked Tubbo into a crater. It was- It was fucking filled with fire and those screaming red fuckers." Tommy admits shakily and Dream grins at him. They were forced to retreat back to the Stronghold instead of going over to the Badlands like originally planned. That's alright, it gave them more time to prepare and restock on TNT.

"You did? That's great Tommy-" He starts to congratulate but Tommy shouts.

"It's not! I- I almost killed Tubbo, I wasn't thinking straight. I shouldn't have kicked him, but Ranboo was there and he should've saved him- and he did! Thank fuck but still! That was- that was fucked up! Dream I-" Tommy takes in a deep, shaking breath, "Dream I have to go back. I have to apologize. L'Manberg- oh Ender it's all gone. I- there must've been a better way to deal with those fucking plants Dream! So many citizens died! Tubbo almost-"

Dream silences him with a single look after taking off his mask, Tommy trembles as poisonous eyes focus in on him. Dream grabbed his shoulders, looking him straight in the eye,"What are you talking about Tommy?" He asks with a firm frown. "There wasn't anything else we could do. Yeah Tubbo almost died but he didn't," unfortunately, "We blew up L'Manberg for the greater good Tommy. Punz got captured but we'll get to him eventually. Right now, we have to focus on getting the Badlands and-"

Tommy shoved Dream away, briefly they were both stunned before Tommy shook his head, "No! I- I want to go back. I want to apologize to Tubbo and Ranboo, Quackity- everyone! L'Manberg shouldn't have been blown up! The Badlands shouldn't be blown up either! We could- we could think of something else. We have to go back Dream, everyone-" He tries, tries to change his mentor's mind. His friend, Dream would surely understand right? He'd listen and-

Tommy yelps as Dream slams him against the wall, hands gripping his shoulders and a scathing glare in his eyes. "You can't go back Tommy. You're not allowed to leave me, not allowed to go back. Even if you could go back, do you really think they'd take you back? They gave you up. They threw you away. You blew up L'Manberg with me, they won't accept you. But me? I took you in. I accepted you, I gave you items, trained you, kept you safe, gave you a home and gave you my friendship. To them, you're worthless, to me you're worth something." He can't let this stand, can't let Tommy leave him- Tommy was his. 

Tommy opened his mouth to reply by is instead surprised when Dream suddenly jumps way back and throws two potions at him. Instinctively he throws his arms up to shield himself but both potion bottles breaks and Tommy sways in place. "W-Wha-" Weakness and slowness potions his mind supplies before it everything seemed to slow down and-

"Damn, the witch was right. These potions are very potent." Dream comments as Tommy collapses, he walks over to him. He crouches, watching with amusement as Tommy sluggishly looks at him through dazed half-lidded eyes. "Luckily I was expecting this and prepared early." He scooped the poor, weak blond into his arms, going over to the Library where everything was prepared. "You're not going to betray me Tommy. You're not going to leave me alone, you're going to stay by my side."

He opens the door, sets Tommy on the table, taking off his chestplate, hoodie and shirt off and flipping Tommy on his front. Tommy groaned, protesting quietly as Dream got ready- He'd learnt enough for this. He had practiced on a pumpkins and watermelons just so he didn't mess up the symbols. He' had enough lapis and crushed them all for this and had enough levels for the highest enchantment. He grabs a certain old book and flips to a certain page, he moves the enchantment table closer and dips the needle in blue.

"Okay Tommy, let's get started. The Badlands can wait for now."

He grinned excitedly, shoving everything else in his head aside to focus on the task at hand. He couldn't afford to be distracted after all. This was a delicate process.

Loyalty III was a complicated enchantment to put on on anything else than a trident, even moreso on a living, breathing human.

Tommy was going to stay by his side, he was going to be Loyal only to Dream, Dream would have Tommy and that was that.

Tubbo returns to the encampment where everyone was with the others. Punz gets detained and Tubbo- 

Tubbo collapses onto Phil, crying out everything that's happened.

L'Manberg was gone- blown up a third and perhaps final time, the damage was too much to rebuild over easily. Tommy was alive but with Dream, he was alive but he tried to kill Tubbo and so many others while blowing everything to hell. Everything was wrong.

There's not much time for Tubbo or anyone else to do anything as the ground started to shake and inhuman screams started to sound.

The Egg had felt L'Manberg explode. It felt more threatened than ever. It couldn't bide it's time any longer.

From there, everything went straight to hell.

Chapter Text

It's one of the weirdest things to happen and see- but it's happening.

Theo has a crooked and wavering grin on his face as tears started falling down his cheeks, the bandages on his hands get soaked as he tried to frantically wipe the tears away. Hiccups coming from his throat, Theo gasped for breath between each hiccup, slouching against the table and burying his face in the crook of his arm as his he trembled and tried his best to hide in plain sight. Tried to muffle his crying, his hiccups and gasps, no doubt feeling humiliated for breaking down in front of three men. 

The men he swore to protect, the man he swore he was loyal to.

The Dream Team was horrified. By Theo's crying, by Theo's explosion of an explanation and by the reality of the situation.

It had been hinted at, The Warped Priest, though vague, had told them about it. It wasn't that clear but now? Now it was.

A lot of things cleared up and one of them was that Dream. Theo's Dream, he had broke Theo in an utterly fucked up way. That was the only explanation as to why Theo was like this, Theo was so unhealthily dependent on Dream, so obsessed with keeping by his side and helping him-

Dream felt light-headed, the words shook him to his core and now that he's aware of it- he could almost hear them completely.

you did this you did this you hurt him and he's broken help him
you did this you did this you hurt him and he's broken use him

If Theo hadn't pointed them out, hadn't said what he said- he might've missed them completely. But he hears them- they sound exactly like him. It's his voice, it's his thoughts but the tone their using is almost foreign and disturbing- the possessive voice being the one that disturbs him the most.

"Fuck." Dream rasps, hands on his head and a settling feeling of terror and dread mixed with elation and anticipation- he feels the conflict now. Acutely aware of the conflict in his head, the whispers that tell him to either help the crying blond man in front of him or to use him because Theo was practically on a silver platter. Theo admitted that he was Dream's and the possessive whisper in his head adores the thought while the empathetic whisper is so vehemently against it.

It's intrusive thoughts but worse. So much more worse.

He's never been so self-aware about the thoughts in his head and the lines between each other blurs on the edges. 

It's not the only thing blurring, because one minute he's in the library and the next he's in his room and he barely remembers being escorted out of the library and into his room. He and Sapnap were sitting on his bed where Sapnap was shaking him out of his thoughts with furrowed brows, looking concerned.

"Dream? Dream? Come on buddy come back to me here." Sapnap, his best friend not his tool shut the fuck up, says and Dream blinks rapidly, realizing with some embarrassment that he was crying- not as much as Theo had been but- 

"Where's Theo?" He couldn't help but ask, roughly rubbing his eyes, "What happened? I- fuck, I blanked out. Sapnap- Sapnap I can hear myself, those things, the fragments- Ender, I can't explain it but I notice them now." His breath gets shaky as he pressed his palms harder against his head, fingers digging into his skull. "I don't think I noticed them before- fuck, how did- Sapnap-"

Sapnap grabs his hands, forces them away from his head, a serious look on his face. "Dream chill." He says, as if it could comfort him as his look melts into a look of reassurance. "You're okay. It's- Okay I'm not totally one hundred percent sure on what the fuck is happening but George and I have you and Theo covered. Also don't you want to know what happened? You were pretty out of it when I took out out of the library to your room- George's idea by the way, he's with Theo back in the library trying to help him while I help you." He said, slowly letting go of Dream's hands.

Dream sucked in a deep breath, hating how fragile he felt like right now- he was one of the best fighters in the land. But the thought of his head being broken into unnoticeable fragments, having whispers in his head- it disturbed him greatly. That he was changing so subtly, that he hadn't noticed anything wrong with himself, that he ended up breaking someone- "What happened?" 

"Okay, so you know how Theo started crying and shit? He uh, I think you pretty much blanked out and straight up dissociated dude. We didn't really notice until Theo started to freak out even more when he saw how wet your eyes were and you were starting to cry a bit- not as much as Theo was but he was pretty freaked out. George and I had no idea what to do, Theo was crying even more, you both were fucking stressed that's for sure though. George suggested we put you guys in different rooms for now? So he's with Theo in the library while I'm here with you in your room." Sapnap explained, he frowned as he looked over to Dream. "You... I know it's stupid to ask since it's obvious you're not okay, but are you okay?" He asked hesitantly.

Dream couldn't help the snort that escaped his mouth, it's a bitter snort, "Oh I don't know Sapnap am I okay? I just found out that I'm undergoing this weird, Admin-shit bloodline thing called a Separation where my head splits into two. A guy from a very fucked up future came and confirmed that shit and basically told me I become one hell of a fucked up person- Ender, Theo called me, his me- whatever- Owner. He called me his friend and owner and- there's two voices that sound exactly like me in my head, wanting to either help the guy out and guilting the hell out of me while the other is a possessive asshole that wants me to use Theo. How do you think I'm doing?" He questioned irritably, though he regrets it when it ends because Sapnap is silent. Giving him a careful look and Dream just wishes this was a weird, fucked up dream. 

Hah.

Fucked up Dream.

Fuck.

Dream slouched forward to look at the ground, hand covering his face. "Nothing is making sense anymore, not since Theo came. A-And, I can't really blame the guy either. That'd be unfair because apparently this whole Separation Fragment thing was going to happen one way or another and I wouldn't have ever known. At least, not for a long ass time." He took in several breaths, "What the hell am I going to do Sapnap?"

"Well," Sapnap starts, sliding an arm around Dream's shoulder and leaning against him, "That depends. You want to end up like Theo's fucked up Dream?"

Dream jolted and shook his head, "No- I- Hell no!" He didn't! He swears he didn't, he doesn't want to break anyone. Turn anyone into his so called 'friend' which was only a top-label for fucking 'tool', weapon- people weren't objects. Sapnap had said so himself and Dream knew that. But there was a small sliver of himself that wanted it. He knows it now, he could hear it, he could feel it- though it was muffled. Barely noticeable now that he was away from Theo who just seemed to naturally trigger that part of him. 

"Good, because George and I would've beaten the shit out of you if you did." Sapnap replied, pinching his cheek making Dream squawk at the action. "So what do you want Dream?" Dream paused.

"I just... fuck, I don't know what Sapnap. I don't know." Was his answer, mind whirling.

What did he want? 

Peace.

That's what he wanted at first. Peace in his lands, for his friends to just settle, for things to just- be peaceful.

Was that what Theo's Dream wanted? Was that why he took Theo and broke him, remolded him into what he was today? 

Dream didn't know, and frankly he didn't know if he wanted to know. 

What did he want?

Control.

Control for his own life. Control over what happened to him. What he could or could not do. 

Had his want for control branched out to other people in Theo's damned future? That was a definite answer, looking just at Theo. 

Dream certainly didn't want that, at least he mostly thinks he doesn't. He can't deny the small part of him that wants it and he's honestly disturbed by it.

What did he want?

Power.

He wanted it, needed it. Power that would back his actions, his words. It had kept him alive and he wouldn't be able to be where he was without it.

Theo's Dream had power, enough to take Theo, break him, rebuild him and use him. Had power to make Toby hate him, despise him and so much more. 

Dream won't deny this, power was something he lived off of. He had the power, he just never thought of using it the way Theo's Dream had. He doesn't want to now.

What did he want?

Solidarity. 

Friendship, affection, love- everyone wanted it. He wasn't excluded. He had it, in his friends, his close friends. 

Theo loved him, platonically with a type of adoration that makes Dream feel simultaneously elated and dreaded. Because he now knows that that type of adoration, the camaraderie that Theo had with his Dream was unhealthy. It shouldn't exist in the first place and yet it did.

Dream doesn't know how to deal with Theo. He wants to make Theo leave him, it was unhealthy and probably for the best but at the same time he wants Theo to stay because of a lot of differing reasons. And some of those reasons aren't something he'd like to say. For the most part, what he wants...

Answers, to help Theo, a way to avoid the future and more.

"Sapnap, I want... to be myself."

The grin Sapnap gives him makes him feel a bit better.

George's head was going a mile a minute as he and Theo sat side-by-side in the library. It's a bit awkward as Theo tries to be quiet, sniffling to himself and trying to just hide in the hood and sleeves in his hoodie. Apparently very embarrassed by the emotional break down he had, right in front of Dream who just- shut down. Theo had been so panicked, asking through tears and stammering words if Dream was okay but Dream couldn't reply. So George took charge of the situation.

Sapnap had just left a few minutes ago with a dissociating Dream- it's been a long time since he's Dream actually do that, and cry during the dissociative moment. Not since-

"Dream? Dream- Dream are you okay?" George whispered, his best friend doesn't answer. Staring blankly ahead with tears silently trailing down his face. George cursed quietly before hauling Dream on his back, "Sapnap, we have to get him out of here. The hunters will come back any moment now-" "You don't have to tell me twice!" Sapnap hissed back, uncorking one of the invisibility potion they had managed to obtain. He carefully splashed Dream on George's back and helped George drink the next before drinking the third and last potion for himself. Holding George's sleeve tightly, the three young teenagers left the campsite.

Shaking his head, he coughed slightly, eyeing Theo's slouching and hiding self beside him. "Are... you okay?" He asked awkwardly, cringing at the question. It was very awkward and very clear that Theo wasn't okay but he literally couldn't think of any other question or whatever else to say in that moment.

Theo's shoulders shake a bit more, there's a shaky inhale that George can sort of hear before he sees the hood covering Theo's head nod and to George's surprise, Theo finally raised his head. Rubbing the palm of his hand against his red rimmed eyes. "I-I'm- I'm good. That- fuck, I didn't mean to fucking-" George can see the old Tommy shine as Theo grumbles to himself, cursing himself for crying in the first place. "I-I've held that in for a long ass fucking time. It's- relieving, to finally say it out loud." He says carefully, trying not to stammer as much.

"That's- understandable." It was. Being unable to say certain things out loud, holding it in, just bottling it up was entirely unhealthy. 

"Mmn..." Theo hesitates, "I... I don't know- what to do, whenever Dream- uh, whenever he did that." He mumbles and George has to blink at the admittance. "He doesn't- doesn't do that often. I've only s-seen him go blank, like, three times. The first was after Sapnap died, 'n he had your goggles a-and Sapnap's headband with him. He just- he was all blank and not responsive. I panicked when it happened because he got infected, he didn't come back until I was shoving health potions down his throat." 

George's hands clench at the mention of both his and Sapnap's death along with Dream's infection from the Crimson. "And the last two?" He asked hesitantly.

Theo bit his lip, "Second time, it was- it was a few weeks. After you both died. He put your things away, didn't want to see them. Made him too emotional 'n Friend Dream sad, Owner Dream didn't like that. Owner Dream tried to burn your things, Friend Dream didn't want to, Dream got blank and I hid your stuff from him and he went back to normal. He never told me what to do with them- Friend Dream thanked me though, for keeping them safe..." Theo sighed, "I don't have them right now. I left them behind when I came here. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." George replied, nudging his shoulder a bit, "I don't think I'd really be comfortable with the fact you have something from a dead future version of me. Or if you even tried to give me that something..." His face twisted though as he thought back on 'Friend Dream' and 'Owner Dream'. It was, hard to believe that his best friend would become something like that. And Theo- "When was the third time? What happened?"

"He... Just like, a few days before he died. I don't know what triggered it. He was fine, but he suddenly went blank for a few hours and then he was fine. Owner Dream was really angry though, Dream never told me what it was about. Not even Friend Dream." Theo answered, frowning to himself. 

George took in a deep breath, exhaling just as deep as he tried to process and think. For all the concern he has for Theo, Dream was his best friend and he really needed to know what happened to him. "Okay... I have to ask- I have to. What- what happened to Dream? Your Dream, he sounds so different from our Dream. My best friend Dream. Is this Separation and Fragment thing really that impactful? You said something about grass, leaves and poison and that you made him Fragment early. Mind explaining it to me or do you... do you need Dream's permission?" He asked with a grimace. 

For a moment, Theo looked thoughtful. A furrowed brow on his face, he seemed to be thinking hard. "Dream- Dream said 'our' questions. That includes you and Sapnap. I can- I can talk about anything, as long as I can answer your question." He said to himself, like it was a reassurance he needed. It made George squirm uncomfortably but he gave Theo his full attention when the man continued. "The Separation and Fragment- it's circumstantial. Dream adapts to whatever is happening to him, you know this, you knew how he grew up and how he had to learn and get stronger sooner than a lot of other people." George's breath hitched at Theo's words.

He knew Dream's childhood.

"I do." Theo replied, George realized he said that out loud and flushed a bit. "Four and a half years is a long time to spend with Dream. He told me a lot of things over the span, and some things I just kinda figured out after paying attention to him and piecing shit together. It... explained a lot when I figured out some things." Theo ran a hand through his hair, looks like he was finally over crying. His eyes were still kind of red but he looked better than before. "But back to the Separation and Fragment. Dream... could've avoided becoming the Dream I know. But he went through two wars, fought me and a whole lot of shit, saw his SMP going into chaos and more. In a way, he was like Wilbur but kind of worse. Wilbur spiraled into his insanity in just three years, but Dream- he made a slow, but intense glide into who he was for much longer."

"After the Fragmentation, you can tell which one influences him. There's a physical tell. I- his eyes... Whenever his fragment influences him, his eyes change color. No, actually they change shade. Friend Dream, or I guess normal Dream? I never saw his eyes before, but the kind Dream I know that kept saying sorry and kept trying to help me and get me to leave him had leafy green eyes. Y'know the healthy oak leaves under the sun kind of color shade? That's him. That's- yeah. But Owner Dream, his eyes are darker. Like grass underneath a tree shade kind of color." Theo hesitated before continuing, "I said that I think Owner Dream Fragmented again at some point. He has- he has two colors. The grass, that's his um, 'normal' shade? He gets really possessive. He's my Owner, I'm his Tool, that stuff but... his eyes can turn into the shade of poison. That's when- that's when he's really bad." 

"He's more- malevolent? I, he's really manipulative and worse than grass, even more possessive than him. He twists words and doesn't hesitate to hurt everyone, including me. He- he cares the most about me but not in the same sense that leave- Friend Dream does. He's hurtful, mean and manipulative about it. He's- he's also the reason why I'm so Loyal in the first place." Theo muttered with closed eyes, looking strained and resigned. "He... He's the worst side of Dream. Leaves are my favorite, and I can handle grass. But poison is the Dream that I... I want to hate him. If I could, I would hate him- but I can't. He's still Dream, and I can't hate Dream. Not really."

A chill went down George's spine at the resigned look on Theo's face. He opens his mouth, about to say something but Theo beats him with a happier, almost brighter look.

"But! Dream- this Dream, your Dream. His eyes are just leaves and grass, there's no poison. I don't think he's gone far enough for poison. He can- as long as you and Sapnap keep him grounded. Make sure he doesn't go too far, he won't end up like my Dream. As long as I get rid of the Egg, as long as I can keep all three of you alive, then your Dream won't end up like my Dream." Theo takes George's hand, clutching it with both hands as he looked at him. Pleading, desperate and all George can think that it feels wrong see Theo- Tommy's scarred face so pleading and desperate. "Please. Help me- no matter what, keep by Dream's side. He needs you two, more than he lets on. He loves you both, much more than he ever cared for me. Even poison cared for you, when I saw him that day, with Sapnap, he screamed Sapnap's name and his eyes were poison. I don't think I can help him without you two."

Theo's eyes were dull blue, pleading and desperate. 

George's mouth thinned into a determined line and he gripped Theo's hands in his. "Of course I'll help Theo. Sapnap too. We'll help you and Dream."

They would help both of them.

Honestly, where would these masked idiots be without them?

Chapter Text

After his meeting with Schlatt and Quackity, Toby comes back to Tubbo's house.

The night is pleasant and everyone goes to bed.

Everyone except Toby.

He can't sleep, or maybe he doesn't want to.

It's been a miracle in itself that he hadn't had any nightmares over the past few days- but of course they came back yesterday night, when he only had a handful of hours of sleep. Tonight, he doesn't sleep.

Instead, he climbs up the roof of Tubbo's house, looking at both the night sky and L'Manberg.

How long has it been since he's seen the starry sky so calm? No underlying atmosphere of tension and the need for survival. The trees and plants around him aren't any shade of red, and L'Manberg stood strong. Unbombed and young.

It was still strange, to see it like this. In it's 'prime' as to say. There's grass underneath them, not wood and stone pathways that kept them above water. The man-made lake would probably never come into fruition, Wilbur wasn't going to go insane and blow up L'Manberg any time soon and the walls were still up.

Schlatt of course, was going to announce the vote for whether or not the people of L'Manberg would like the walls to stay or be taken down. He had told Wilbur about it, and though Wilbur didn't want to take the walls down, he understood and would vote for the decision like anyone else. Whichever had the most votes, he would respect and let be. Even if he didn't like it.

Toby himself decided not to vote, he didn't want to sway the decision whatsoever. So he would keep neutral and stay out of it.

The citizens of L'Manberg would decide, they would get to choose what they want this time and Schlatt was going to listen.

The goat hybrid was going to be at least a decent and sober president.

The time-traveler sighed, idly watching his surroundings- he couldn't help but take his bow out and snipe a few hostile mobs from the roof from afar. His aim had certainly improved over the years, just like the rest of his combat skills. It was either that or die a horrible death. He kept a silent watch, gaze moving from the night sky to the dim surroundings.

Toby took in a deep breath, not even shivering at the chill night air that playfully nipped his skin- he's felt much colder within the tundras. The cold nights of L'Manberg could never compare to the icy nights and days of the Tundras. He spots a stray creeper in the nearby woods, close enough for him to shoot easily. 

He holds up his enchanted bow, draws the string-

toby! What's he aiming at? HIII TOBYY!! evening toby why are you on the roof? TECHNO TOBY'S ON THE ROOF! e e e e. he has a bow out and he's aiming at something! Not anymore I'm pretty sure he hears us now. TOBYYYYY!

He lets out a deep sigh and lets the string rest, putting down his bow and looking over just in time to see Techno climb up the roof. "Good evening Techno, Chat." He greeted with a slight smile, sitting back as the hybrid approached him.

"Couldn't sleep, Chat kept hounding me to talk to you, or at least find you." Techno grunted, going over to sit beside him. "Second time in a row." 

Toby chuckled, "I thought so, I can't exactly hear them normally like you can." He replied, shifting so he could sit a bit more comfortably. "I can only hear them when I'm around you, in the Nether, or when I'm either in a really dangerous situation or I'm in the middle of a fight. If I'm in the Overworld on my own, I can't hear them unless, again if I'm in a really dangerous situation or if I'm in a fight." He explained, answering the unasked question that Techno's had for a while now. 

"Huh, must be because you're human for that. Fully human I mean." Techno said thoughtfully, he snorted, "I'm kind of jealous. You don't have to hear them all the time. What I'd do for a day of total silence..."

MEAN! technomean! ahh that's so unfair i wanna anchor on hot future tubbo! He's fully human we can't. YOU LOVE US TECHNOBLADE DON'T LIE HAHA!! nah i'm pretty sure he hates us. He's fond of some of us! it'd be nice anchor on toby though. go into the nether and you can hear us all the time!

Techno sighed in exasperation and annoyance, "For the last time stop calling him Hot Future Tubbo." 

hot future tubbo. nope. HOT FUTURE TUBBO! i agree can the rest of you stop? We call it what we see it Techno Toby's hot. my ender you thirsty fucks stop. He is attractive we won't deny it.

Toby wheezed, covering his tinted face as Techno groaned. "Dammit Chat." He huffed, rubbing his face before glancing over to the quietly laughing Toby. "Are they like this in your future?" He couldn't help but ask and watches as Toby pulled himself together.

"Not really- I've certainly never been called 'Hot Future Tubbo' before." Toby told him, smiling weakly. "They- they were great though, even if sometimes they'd mock me- some of them were rude as hell and well, just generally they were Chat... I wondered, if they would follow me here. But with you around, I suppose that's not the case. They're just... back there, in my future. No one else will be able to hear them."

It felt strange, to feel sad over that. His Techno's Chat had tried to anchor themselves to him permanently after he died, he remembers them telling him that but since he was a full human, they couldn't do that. He had no connection to the Nether other than the mark on his chest and the bond he had made through the Trial of Blood. He did hear them constantly in the Nether, but not as loud as he could hear them now around Techno. Back then however, with how the world was, they were still able to pop in frequently whenever he went into the Crimson Overworld and were silenced when he was safe within the tundra. They kept an eye on his surroundings, kept him updated and fed his bloodlust during battles.

nooooo that'd be so boring! Wouldn't the priest still hear us? YEAH BUT HE'S NOT AS INTERESTING AS TECHNO AND HE'S ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY THE OLD VOICES! they're no fun! 

Both Toby and Techno blanched at the mention of the Priest, "Oh right, the old hog would be able to hear Chat." Toby said weakly, sighing before he straightened. "Wait, would he know I'm here?" He questioned with wide, realizing eyes.

The Warped Priest was a mysterious old piglin, despite having voices of his own, they rarely interacted with the voices that Toby was used to. And even then, he would've known other things as well.

Techno's eyes widened before they narrowed and he shrugged, "You know what, he probably does. I honestly wouldn't be surprised. He's the Warped Priest." He pointed out and Toby could only grimace and nod in agreement. "Real question is, would he recognize you as another warrior even if you came from the future? Or a future at this point." 

That was a good question.

Would Toby be recognized as another warrior? He had gone through the Trials after all. Survived and pulled through, it had been made official by the Warped Priest himself- but not the one in this timeline. 

Toby suddenly thought of something, "That is a good question. I've got another one though. If I am recognized as another warrior, would the alliance still stand despite me being in the past?" He asked and he and Techno shared a look as Chat discussed it.

No? MAYBE! you'd have to ask him personally. TOBY DID THE TRIALS SO IT COULD BE VALID! but this is the past the factions are all scattered. We have no idea. confirm with the priest and the faction leaders. It HAS been a long ass time since we saw the old pig. NETHER TRIP NETHER TRIP NETHER TRIP NETHER TRIP! the faction leaders wouldn't accept it. They could! you never know. BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! toby has the mark he's ours. 

"They've got a point Toby. If you really want to know, you're gonna have to consult the Priests and the faction leaders." Techno said with a grimace, something that Toby shared at the very thought.

Toby combed a hand through his hair as he sighed in frustration and thought. "Right. Fuck, okay- this might get more complicated than I thought. I'll- I'll plan for that then." He muttered with a cringing look. He hasn't dealt with all the faction leaders and the Priest all together in a long, long while and honestly hoped he wouldn't have to ever again. But unfortunately, if they could have the alliance going once more. Perhaps start the terraforming early just in case, and have the piglins on their side... "Ugh, well at least I went through this once. The second time should be a bit earlier yeah? I hope the alliance is valid, I'd- I'd rather not have anyone go through the Trials of Blood just to have to unite the factions and terraform the Nether again." He said quietly, he and Techno frowned.

He dearly hoped that wasn't the case.

For a moment they were both silent with the exception of Chat's well, chattering in their heads. Techno broke that silence, glancing over to Toby. "All the factions joined together and helping Overworlders- never really thought of that happening." He said and Toby had a rueful smile on his face.

"Yeah, neither did we. But we didn't have a choice. We couldn't afford any more piglin attacks or a war with them." Toby sighed, thinking back. He snorted, "Ender, I was so nervous meeting them first... I don't think I would've been able to even convince any of the leaders if it weren't for you Techno." He told the younger self of his mentor. The piglin hybrid looked surprised as he continued, "You- Despite everything that happened, between you and I, with you killing me once and you're an anarchist and me- I tried to kill you one time, it didn't work of course and I was the President of L'Manberg. You still helped me, probably because Philza asked and the Overworld was being taken over but still. You gave me sound advice and after the decision was made, you trained me."

"Keep your nerve. Don't show true weakness, they'll devour you the moment you do." Techno told him and Tubbo gulped, "Yeah like that. You can be nervous all you want Tubbo. But you need to stay strong, seem strong. You go in there, you're someone who needs to protect his people. You're going to stand in place and look them in the eye, think of your people Tubbo. Don't back down, stand your ground." 

Tubbo took in a deep breath, he can taste and smell the ash in the air and the feel the unnatural heat of the Nether all around him. He's not wearing a suit, not his usual one anyway, it's too hot for that. He, Techno and a few other piglin hybrids from the Overworld stood before the door to the meeting room of a specific Nether Fortress. Underneath the control over one of the piglin factions. They were in foreign territory, but they were there as temporary guests and peacekeepers.

And hopefully become future allies.

"Don't back down. Stand my ground." Tubbo repeated in a murmur, fists clenching- it hurts. He's hurting, Tommy's betrayal still stings but he can't focus on that right now. He wants to, but he's the President. He was chosen, by everyone to come and be diplomatic. "It's for everyone, they're counting on me." 

Technoblade nods quietly by his side, not wearing a cape nor a crown. "They are. Phil's waiting for us so we better get this done."

Tubbo has to smile weakly as he noticed the 'us' and 'we' that Techno used but loses the smile to form a determined grimace on his face. "Yeah. Let's do this." He nods to one of the hybrids who nods back and they open the intimidating red doors.

Immediately Tubbo feels like he's paralyzed, multiple sharp, predatory eyes pierce through him as he is reminded.

He is the only human in the room.

All of the major faction leaders were there, all six- no seven of them. Magma, Bone, Pearl, Blaze, Tears, Gold- Warped.

They were all here, and they were strong.

He was fragile, he was weak, he-

Technoblade's guttural snorts snap him out of his head. And Tubbo grits his teeth, and clenches his fists. He can't be afraid. He can't afford to go back empty handed!

"Pay attention Tubbo." Technoblade whispers to him as he escorts Tubbo to the middle of the room, the different piglin leaders and retainers keeping a steady gaze on him and he already wants to puke. "Stand your ground and don't back down." 

Look them in the eye and think of your people.

Tubbo could do this.

He had to.

Or else everyone would be in more danger than ever.

"You tried to kill me?" Technoblade mused, looking more amused then annoyed.

Toby nodded, chuckling, "Yeah- try being the focus here. You blew up L'Manberg after all, even though you retired, we sort of had a grudge against you. It was- unfair, we didn't have a trial. Went straight to the execution. Really shouldn't have but Big Q insisted along with a lot of other people, and I may haven't really forgiven you for killing me during the festival I planned so I was easily swayed... It didn't go as planned of course. You had an Undying Totem with you though, so you didn't die." He explained to him.

fair enough toby. RETRIBUTION! techno must've been pissed after that. It all seemed to work out though. yeah. TECHNOBLADE NEVER DIES!

Toby closed his eyes at what one of the voice's words. "Technoblade never dies..." A bold claim, and a false one. Toby knows.

"Everyone dies Chat, even me." Toby opened his eyes and Techno has his face propped on his hand looking over at him. "So? How did I die?" He asked, rolling his eyes at Toby's stunned look. "I can read between the lines here Toby. You're not really hiding the fact I died very well." He told him and Toby couldn't help the weak snort that escaped him.

Techno watches the way Toby's eyes fill with grief and pain, the grimace is telling. "I'm going to take a shot and say I didn't die of old age." He joked slightly, knowing very well that much was true. As a hybrid, he was able to live a lot longer than others and honestly dying of old age sounded nice. He often thought about it- he would either die fighting or by old age. It didn't matter to him.

Though dying by fighting would definitely honor his piglin and warrior heritage and status.

"Nope." Toby said with a weary smile, "You died- well, I'd say you died a hero." He laughed at the face that Technoblade made. A hero was something his mentor never thought himself to be. Good things don't happen to heroes, Techno would say and really. He was right. "You saved Tommy, from an infected Skeppy. I wasn't there but I know. I know you died a hero, saving him."

Techno's face softened slightly, "Good things don't happen to heroes." He said and Toby has to laugh again, this time it was more sad and wet.

"No. No I suppose not... But you died honorably, heroically- we gave you a warrior's funeral. Burnt you with soul fire. It's- it permanently kills the Crimson, so we should get some soul sand and soil soon." Toby murmured and Techno could only nod silently.

The two warriors shared a silence, and for once, the Chat was almost quiet. Murmuring in their heads- they have been since Toby revealed the fact that Technoblade could and had died. His Technoblade. His dear friend and mentor.

Not this time, Toby thought to himself. 

Never again.

"PHIL!" Tubbo screamed, he and Punz were struggling to keep Technoblade upright as they barged into the infirmary. The roots growing out of his stomach while Chat screamed bloody murder.

WRONG WRONG WRONG TECHNOBLADE HELP NO STOP YOU'RE NOT WELCOMED GET OUT STOP IT LIVE LIVE HELP WARRIOR WOUNDED WARRIOR HELP HE'S DYING HE CAN'T DIE HELP WRONG HELP HIM SAVE HIM STOP GET OUT YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM HE'S OURS HE'S OF BLOOD ABOMINATION YOU CAN'T CLAIM HIM DIE KILL KILL TECHNOBLADE CAN'T DIE STOP  

"'S so- loud-" Techno rasped as the panicked father came with multiple others. "Tubbo-"

"Stop talking! Save your strength!" Tubbo commanded, panting heavily, "Rumina! Rumina get these roots out of him!" He screamed as he and Punz finally laid the dying injured piglin on the nearby bed.

The female piglin with crystalized ghast tear earrings snarled at him, tone filled with worry and frustration, "They're too many-" The Tears Sage exclaimed.

"I DON'T CARE JUST HELP HIM!"

Phil and the piglin healers, sages and priests get to work. Enchanted shears cutting through root after root but it's no use. The growth is rapid and Techno is losing more and more blood as flowers and bugs started to bloom from his skin. Rumina pours potion after potion both into Techno's mouth and wound, the wound is easiest as Techno rasps and coughs- he can't eat golden apples his stomach was gone.

If the Crimson and Egg couldn't have someone then what was the point of letting them live?

STOP IT STOP IT HE'S OURS CAN'T DIE NO NO WRONG WRONG ABOMINATION DEATH TO THE ABOMINATION TECHNOBLADE DON'T DIE HE CAN'T STOP IT

Chat is still screaming as Tubbo hangs on to Techno's hand for dear life.

There's desperation in the air, it's palpable and sickening. 

Techno mumbles something and Tubbo leans in, trying to encourage his mentor to keep strong- keep living but he freezes when he listens.

"T..mmy... Come... home..." 

HOME HOME TOMMY TECHNOBLADE LIVE LIVE LIVE TO SEE TOMMY HOME HE'LL COME JUST LIVE

"Chat's right! Please Techno keep on- you'll see Tommy home! Just fucking live!" Tubbo breaks, sobbing and clutching Techno's hand tightly.

TECHNO TECHNO LIVE LIVE STOP DON'T DIE TECHNO TECHNO HOME TOMMY LIVE LIVE LIVE LIV-

Chat goes silent just as Techno stops breathing, his chest unmoving and Tubbo stares. The roots are still moving, they're wrapping around Techno's still body before they too, stand still.

"... He's dead." Rumina whispers and Philza falls to his knees. Screaming into the nether brick ground.

Tubbo is still and silent. Just like the Chat.

"... I will prepare the pyre. He will have a warrior's funeral." An old Priest, Magma? Whispers and Tubbo-

Tubbo lets go of the hand.

Chat stays silent as Tubbo stands.

He has another funeral to plan. 

A couple of days pass for everyone in both the SMP and L'Manberg.

It's been relatively peaceful, they think to themselves as they continued to mine through the stone.

Even with the appearance of the 'future duo' as people have been calling both Toby and Theo, it's been mostly peaceful.

No one has really seen Theo around though, they certainly haven't, not since the elections.

There were rumors that he'd appeared a couple of days ago but, they weren't there to see him.

Maybe they'll go see him at some point, they were curious about-

hello

"Huh?" They tilt their head, hearing the whisper.

hello hello hi 

"Hello?" They call out, frowning. They break another block and stop. "Well hello there." They greet quietly, entranced as red vines slithered out of the hole they just made. "What are you doing here?"

scared hungry scared lonely

"Oh well that's not good. Do you want to come with me?"

yes yes yes come feed hungry 

They smile, they feel a bit dazed but they were fine. They let the vines curl around their arms as they picked up the poor thing. "Okay, let's get you something to eat. What do you want?"

meat meat hungry listen obey hungry feed meat

"Okay, steak sounds good right now anyway. I can mine later."

They leave with their precious new friend.

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, things were peaceful on both sides.

Somewhat at least. Toby was definitely fairing better than Theo.

On Toby's side, at Wilbur's behest, he started bringing Wilbur with him to his meetings with Quackity and Schlatt. The four of them discussing what was best for L'Manberg- there were a few spats between Wilbur and Schlatt but Toby had gotten between them, mediating through their arguments and trying to keep them both in line. The vote for the walls were still being counted but it really did seem like most of L'Manberg wanted the walls down much to Wilbur's dismay but unlike the Wilbur that Toby had known before he died, Wilbur just begrudgingly accepted the vote and moved on.

Things were progressing fairly well, Schlatt was less of an asshole this time- though he was suffering a bit with some alcoholic withdrawal. Thankfully they weren't really severe since Schlatt wasn't as heavy a drinker as he was in Toby's future. Now that he thought back, Schlatt had really lost himself to drinking just half-way into the war. There was rarely a time that Toby had remembered Schlatt without a drink, either drinking from a flash, a glass or straight from the bottle like at the end.

Quackity was still unsure whether or not he wanted to stay vice-president, he didn't want to at first but he and Schlatt had been working just fine. He'd been surprised when Toby revealed the fact that he'd been president before and Quackity had been his vice- they weren't perfect at the top but they did what they could. He'd like to say they got better over time, getting over their mistakes and trying their best to overcome the problems. Quackity had matured to be a good vice-president, especially in the time of the Crimson. It gave Quackity something to think about. If he didn't want vice-presidency then Toby was thinking of letting Wilbur take it, he'll admit he hesitated on thinking it but with how things were going on now, he doesn't think it would be a bad idea.

Wilbur on the other hand just wanted to help, help his country that he had built and fought for. He didn't really care for presidency or even vice-presidency anymore. Admittedly he was still iffy about Schlatt being president but he trusted Toby's decision, even after the whole, 'Toby was President and he exiled Theo' drama. He... didn't know how to feel about that, he certainly didn't approve of Toby's choice but understands that what happened, happened. Course he got angry at Schlatt when he found out that Schlatt had thought of exiling both he and Tommy- he could've understood himself but why Tommy? 

He was indeed at Wilbur's side, helped him with his campaign and was aiming to continue to be Wilbur's right hand man but he was still just a teeanger. Why exile him?

"Your brother would have followed you anyway Soot, even if I said he wasn't exiled he would've gone with you regardless." That was Schlatt's reply and as much as Wilbur and Toby disliked it, they knew it was truth.

Tommy was loyal, he would've followed Wilbur into exile anyway. He followed Wilbur into war, much to his brother's regret now, and he would've followed him right into exile with or without Schlatt's verdict.

It pained Toby to think about that because Theo was still loyal, he just wasn't loyal to them anymore. He was loyal to the man who took him away. 

Meanwhile on Theo's side, he and the Dream Team have mostly been staying in the Stronghold and trying to think of ways to help Dream and Theo. The two masked men who were at the center of a lot of problems, including each other.

Theo showed them how Dream's eyes would change, it- it didn't end particularly well as Theo finally showed the three of them the blue on his back. But Sapnap and George could now definitely believe and understand Theo's 'leaves, grass and poison' analogy and description. 

"My eyes change color shade?" Dream questioned incredulously, glancing between George and Theo.

It was a couple of hours after Dream and Sapnap returned to the library to George and Theo, they were all calm again. No crying, no dissociating- they had taken a much needed break to recuperate but they had to get back into discussions. Theo had unpacked a lot of things and they had to go through it whether they liked it or not.

"Apparently yeah." George replied, snorting when Sapnap leaned in close to Dream to look at his eyes. 

Sapnap squinted at Dream's eyes as Dream gave him a deadpanned look, "How? I mean, I can agree with Dreamy's eyes being like leaves. That's actually a pretty accurate color for them now that I think about it, but still. Changing color shade?" He frowned then squawked when Dream finally had enough and shoved Sapnap away. "Hey!"

"I think it's a side effect from Dream's heritage? I don't know, I- I may have made it up. I don't know. I don't even know if other people can see his eye colors changing or if I've just been hallucinating it to accommodate Dream's change of personality whenever a Fragment influences him." Theo admitted quietly with his eyes aimed at the table. It could be possible, he's hallucinated worse things before. 

Dream scratched his head awkwardly, "Well, what if uh, what if you proved it? I kind of want to know myself now, if my eyes can change shade." Theo blinked at him, looking shocked while George and Sapnap shared a look. 

George crossed his arms, "Well... we could try? How would we even trigger the change anyway?" He questioned, glancing at the others. 

Theo hesitated but spoke up, "I uh... I might have an idea?" He offered, shrinking back a bit when all three of them looked at him. "I just- mmm, okay. This isn't going to be fun, but yeah I-I do... have an idea on how to trigger the uh, change." He just needed to provoke Owner Dream to turn his eyes from leave to grass. It really wasn't going to be fun, but if it could prove that maybe, Theo wasn't hallucinating the change of eye-color, then he'd do it. 

Proving his sanity wasn't really important as long as Dream was alright but it'd be nice to know whether or not he's been making up the colors all this time.

It wouldn't really change anything though, the Separation and Fragment was a real thing. Theo hadn't made it up, he hadn't even known until the Warped Priest told him and Dream about it.

"Can I-" Theo starts but Dream just gives him a nod. Theo felt apprehensive, this was stupid, this wasn't- this wasn't going to be great, he knew this. But he just- he needed to know. The blond took in a deep breath, looking regretful and hesitant before he spoke to Dream with George and Sapnap looking at Dream intensely, making him uncomfortable but he sat still, waiting for Theo to speak. "Dream, I-I- I'm not your weapon." He winces, the back of his neck sparks and the static pulses rapidly as soon as the words leave his mouth. "I'm not- I'm not- your tool- I don't belong to you-" You are you are his tool you belong to him you're worthless otherwise stay loyal what are you doing stay loyal stay loyal do not defy your owner he'll leave you alone friendless useless-

The effect was instantaneous, Dream's eyes sharped into a dark grassy color and to Theo's horror there were flecks of poison in his irises and Dream abruptly stood up, slamming his hands on the table, his frown turning into a sneer. George and Sapnap made startled noises, having seen the shift since they were staring so intensely. "What." Dream hissed in a familiar menacing tone, he hasn't heard it in months but it instantly triggers something visceral in him.

Theo's gave a shuddering gasp and he flinched back as the static screamed at him while his neck burned. He cried out, falling off his chair and trembling on the floor. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm sorry I was wrong Dream please I'm sorry you are my owner you are I'm your weapon, your tool I belong to you I'm loyal I swear I swear I'm sorry I'm loyal so loyal only to you!" He curled into a fetal position on his knees, hands behind and below his head, pressing futilely against the burning blue at the base of his neck, gripping at his hoodie tightly to the point of tearing the fabric a bit. "I'm sorry please please Dream don't leave please I'm loyal-"

Tommy scratched at the back of his neck, crying out as the burning sensation heightened. "Dream! DREAM! PLEASE I'M SORRY PLEASE COME BACK!" He screamed, the static scrambling his head, burning words into his mind. Loyal. Loyal. Stay Loyal. You are his Tool. You are his Weapon. You are his Friend. He is your Owner. He is your Mentor. He is your Friend. Without him you are alone. "DREEAMM!!" The Stronghold is silent, Dream had gone off in his anger, eyes burning and swirling with poison and Tommy suffered within the cell in the Stronghold. Blue mixed with red as he kept scratching, trying to somehow stop the pain while the static tried to drown him. 

He doesn't know when but he passed out, but when he comes to. The pain and burning is gone. The static is calm. And he's in his bed in his room on his stomach, his back hurt around the base of his neck. "Tommy? Tommy shit!" Dream? He looks panicked, regretful, his eyes are leaves Tommy can't help but think, feeling so tired. His entire body ached, especially his throat, his hands and his back. "Fuck fuck what was I thinking? I'm sorry Tommy, I left you-" "Don't leave." Tommy rasped, a shaky but desperate hand reaching out to grab Dream. His voice hurt but he had to say it, had to say it to Dream. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm loyal I'll stay don't leave me alone please I'll stay I'm sorry-" Dream's face contorted before it was wiped into a satisfied smile. Leaves turned to grass turn to poison. "Good Tommy. I won't leave you as long as you won't leave me." Tommy cries, Dream is kind enough to give him water for his sore throat and dehydration.

"Theo! Theo! Theo it's okay! THEO!!" 

The pain and burning ebbs away, the blue calming down along with the static. Theo sucks in a deep breath of relief, shuddering with inhale and exhale of breath that passes through his shaking lips. He's trembling, still curled on the floor- thankfully he's not crying. His eyes are wet but he wasn't crying like before. "Theo? Theo- are- are you okay?" Sapnap?

Tiredly, he glanced over to Sapnap who was kneeling beside him, looking concerned. "I-I'm good." He mumbled, slowly, he let go of his hoodie- it's torn. Shit. Not good. "I'm- I'm okay. I'm loyal. I didn't mean it, Dream, I'm still your weapon. Your tool. I belong to you." He mumbles to himself, just to make sure the static and blue are calm as he shakily got on his feet.

He looks up.

Dream and George look so very horrified and Dream's eyes are leaves. "Did you- did the colors change? For you two?" He asked both Sapnap and George. Hesitantly they nodded and he sighed in relief, he wasn't hallucinating it then. Other people could see the color shade changing.

"Yeah it- it did." Sapnap confirmed, though he looked very disturbed and concerned. "What- are you okay Theo? You were... It looked like you were in actual pain there. What happened?" He asked and Theo froze at the question. "It didn't look like a regular, y'know. Panic attack. It really looked like you were in actual pain. You kept clawing at your back- your hoodie is torn." He pointed out. It wasn't that bad, but he was right, there was a torn hole underneath the hood of his hoodie. Ripped apart by his own, aching hands.

Theo grimaced, "I'm gonna have to fix that later." He mumbled, scratching at his sleeves nervously. Should he tell them about the blue? Dream hadn't exactly said he shouldn't tell anyone about the blue, he didn't like telling anyone about the blue.

About the mark.

The enchantment.

The one thing that Theo suspects is why Dream fragmented early. 

The one thing that might make everyone lose it, he knows it's bad in a way. Dream had said so, tried to do something about it but had died and couldn't do anything.

"Theo?" 

He looks at Sapnap and George, then at Dream. They all looked so concerned, and Dream- Dream looked shameful. There's conflict in him, but the shame is familiar and a bit satisfying to Theo even if at the same time, he felt guilty for making Dream feel that way.

"I... You guys have to promise me something. I- no matter what, after I tell and show you this, you two," He points to both George and Sapnap, "Remember your promise to me. You won't leave Dream, you'll stay by his side. Dream- Dream, you, didn't do anything. Don't- don't throw me away. My Dream did this okay? He did this, you didn't. Don't- don't think about anything else but that. Please. Just-" He took in a deep breath and tugged his hoodie over his head. He lifted his shirt up, all the way up- he didn't take it off completely, unlike in Tubbo's house, he made sure the shirt was above his back, right around his neck. 

He turned around. Flinching at the shocked gasps that he heard from them.

Enchanting.

It was one of the most useful and powerful things to do in their world. Tools and weapons were much more powerful with certain enchantments. Everyone knew this and everyone used it. 

Everyone knew that some items could be enchanted while some other items couldn't. And some enchantments clashed against others so you can't put the two enchantments on the one item. 

Only inanimate objects and tools could be enchanted. Just swords, shovels, axes, books, hoes, armor- only inanimate objects could be enchanted.

At least, that's what everyone else thought. That's what he thought.

Sapnap stared at the glowing, blue mark on Theo's neck. It shimmered on its own, no doubt a real, actual enchantment. It wasn't just a tattoo of an enchantment, it was legitimately an enchantment. Written in enchanted script, it stared right back at him as he stared at it. Shock, awe and dread mixed together in his stomach as he watches the familiar shimmer and shine come off of the tattooed script. 

"What. The. Fuck." Sapnap says aloud and can only feel more dread as Theo flinched again.

Theo tugged his shirt back down, but he didn't turn around. "It's uh... Loyalty." Theo mumbled, "Loyalty Three."

A flash of realization came soon overtaken by fear and denial, Loyalty III. 

"Dream- he, ah, he really didn't want me to leave his side. Got really angry when I said I wanted to go back to Tub-Toby, to say sorry for blowing up L'Manberg. About, three and a half years ago. It was a good call though! Blowing up L'Manberg, there was- there was so much Crimson underneath the city..." Theo turned back, clutching his red hoodie to his chest, looking so unlike the teenager Sapnap originally knew him as. Or even the man he met just a few days ago. He was pitiful, shamed, quiet and submissive. 

Submissive.

Loyalty III.

Dream-

BAM

CRASH

"Theo don't!" Sapnap screamed as everything had moved so fast. Sapnap clutched Theo's hand still, trying to pry the netherite axe from his grip. Theo's other hand was pinning the wheezing George to the wall while Dream groaned on the side, clutching his cheek. Theo's eyes were wide and gone was the pitiful, shamed, quiet and submissive man just seconds earlier. There was a near-manic look in his eyes as he stared down at George.

The moment George had punched Dream in the cheek, Theo had charged him, axe in hand about to swing- Sapnap had gone after him.

George stared back at Theo, there was a little fear but mostly the look in his eyes was regret and sympathy. "Sorry Theo- I just- I couldn't help it. Dream deserved a punch." 

"Not this Dream." Theo replied tightly, but he let go of the axe. It clattered on the ground. "He didn't- he didn't do anything. My Dream- he was the one who did this to me. Don't, don't put shit on your Dream for shit my Owner Dream did... I could've killed you George. I could've- you can't hurt Dream like that around me. I'll kill you if you do." He whispered sadly as Sapnap carefully let go of his hand, it fell limp against Theo's side as Theo stopped pinning George against the wall. "I'll hurt and kill anyone who hurts Dream. I'd die for him."

Dream took in a deep shaky breath, getting to his feet. "And if I said you don't have to? If I said I don't want you to die for me?" He asked, his eyes shifting shades.

Theo shook his head, motioning to his back. "That won't work. If anything that'll just hurt me. I can't stay away from Dream for too long, I'll go insane- there's static in my brain and the blue starts to burn but not burn. It hurts... The months after Dream died were the worse months I've ever lived. Including my exile. I was useless. Alone. Ownerless- I can't live without Dream. I literally can't, not sane at least. The only reason I managed to get through those months were the promise that I'd see Dream again, the portal to the past was my only hope for living without going insane. Because I'm not allowed to die, Dream said so."

"Tommy. You're not allowed to die. You're not allowed to kill yourself, you hear me?" There's desperation mixed with anger in Dream's words and Tommy could only nod. Those words bite him in the ass after Dream dies and Tommy can't follow after him, alone within the Stronghold with nothing but his own mind and the static. Remember the plan. Philza and Fundy were going to make a portal to the past. Tommy could go to that Dream, be loyal to him. Dream was Dream after all. 

"I'm Loyal." Theo whispers and the phrase takes an entirely new take for the Dream Team. "I'm Loyal to Dream... And thanks to that, Dream's Fragmented. I think the blue triggered his Fragmentation early."

It was tense in the room before Sapnap broke it, "You know. I kind of wish your Dream was here." They look at him in surprise, "I'd love the beat the shit out of him. Knock some common sense into that head of his- Dream, you'd let me do that right?" He asked Dream who stared at him.

"... Yeah, definitely."

Theo didn't know how to feel about that.

"Uhh, which way now?" He asked with a confused tone. Looking around the forest they were currently in. "Pretty sure... Uh, hold on." He took out his book, flipping through the pages and sighing in relief when he found the page. "Okay, so... this way! I think. Yeah?"

'Yeah...'

He paused and looked at him, looking concerned. "Are you okay Ghostbur?" He asked, watching the transparent man float about. It looked like he was in a gloomy mood again. The trench coat was there and it was kind of bloody, which meant something. He flipped to another page- it meant that Ghostbur was remembering something bad. "What are you remembering this time?"

Ghostbur hummed sadly, 'I remember... hurting my little brother. I was- I was such a bad brother Ranboo. No wonder Tommy hated me.' He said quietly, ethereal blue liquid dripping down his eyeless eye sockets. They disappeared before they could even hit the ground.

The enderman hybrid frowned, "Maybe he didn't really hate you though, maybe he was just really really sad about what you did?" He asked back softly, closing his book and putting it away. "Tell me again about Tommy, you said he likes discs?"

Ghostbur perked, smiling a bit and the trenchcoat was looking a lot less bloody. 'He does! He loves them. He has two favorite discs, Chirp and Mellohi. He loved listening to Mellohi the most and as a child he'd always listen to me whenever I did Mellohi on my guitar-' The ghost prattled on, floating forward with the smiling enderman hybrid following after him.

They were getting closer to L'Manberg, Ranboo couldn't wait to get there. He's heard so much about it and the people from Ghostbur.

And he wanted to help his friend reunite with the people there. Or was it the past people? 

It didn't matter, Ranboo's objective was to get to L'Manberg with Ghostbur.

Chapter Text

"You know, this isn't that bad." Dream mused to his friends who nodded in agreement, Theo could only grin at them as he let himself bob up and down in the lava pool.

All four of them were in the lava pool, each having more than enough splash potions to last a while.

Things had been certainly tense over the couple of days ever since he revealed the blue on his neck. The Dream Team had been besides themselves while Theo was just hoping they'd stick together this time, he was also feeling guilty because he thought he was making things worse. Maybe he shouldn't have revealed the Loyalty enchantment? But then the revelation later would've had a different impact and Theo wasn't sure if that impact would've been a good or bad thing.

George and Sapnap had to be the ones to ground Dream, this Dream, their Dream because Theo knows he wouldn't be able to do it himself as much as he wanted to. The fact that the Loyalty enchantment had caused Dream to fragment early was bad enough, the knowledge that poison Dream was somewhere in him was terrifying and Theo would've probably made things worse if George and Sapnap weren't there for Dream.

"Guess you really need us now huh Dreamy-Dream?" Sapnap muttered once Theo told them that, he certainly felt complicated over the whole matter but one thing was for sure; he wasn't going anywhere. "You're really stuck with us now!" For all the disgust and dismay he felt for Dream, Theo had pointed out that his Dream, his best friend, had yet to do anything. Not anything drastic like what Theo's Dream had done at least. And Sapnap had to remind himself that his best friend wasn't the Dream that made Theo into who he was.

Their Dream actually had a chance to become better.

It was the same for George who apologized for punching Dream so suddenly, he'd just been so overwhelmed and the urge had been there. 

Dream merely shrugged it off, "I don't exactly blame you for it. What I- what Theo's Dream did was and is fucked up. I would've let you punched him if I could." He replied while pressing some ice against his bruising cheek. And honestly, Dream privately thought he deserved that punch because the moment he saw the enchantment, the 'possessive' side of him was so... disgustingly pleased. 

He didn't want to feel that.

So really, he felt like he deserved that punch regardless. It helped snap him out of that state to feel both nauseated and appalled at both himself and Theo's Dream. 

Himself for feeling so pleased at the sight of the enchantment and Theo's Dream for doing that to Theo.

No wonder Theo was so weird around him, and because of that enchantment, Dream had fragmented early. 

It had been awkward the following days afterwards, the Dream Team had been carefully trudging around Theo much to his irritation and annoyance. 

"Don't treat me like I'm fucking glass." Theo told them, finally snapping after Sapnap asked if he was okay for the nth time while Dream stayed on the far side of the room with George. "I know what I've been through, I know what the hell happened- I'm not some fragile fucking child. Give me some respect, I made it through the bullshit, I got here after everything that's happened. Sure, you can be careful all you want but treat me like the man I am. I've been through too fucking much to be treated like glass, it's just- it's disrespectful and honestly I want to punch your ugly face for that."

He wasn't going to break every time Dream was in the room with him, he wasn't going to end up crying. He was done with crying and he wasn't going to let it effect him in a bad way. It's insulting for them to assume that just because he'd shown them his vulnerability, he was liable to end up that vulnerable and broken time and time again.

Theo will admit, there will be times where he might end up like that again but he didn't need them to coddle him. He appreciates the sentiment but no. 

If they wanted him to be relaxed and at ease around them, if they wanted him to help them help Dream- they better give him the treatment he deserves and he certainly didn't deserve to be treated like he'd shatter the moment Dream does something offhand.

They can be careful, they can watch, what they can't do was make assumptions. If he ends up crying again or freaking the fuck out -something he will do his best to avoid- then maybe, and that's a big maybe, maybe they can ask if he was okay. 

He was fine.

He's actually never felt better in a long while.

Theo has taken steps to ensuring Dream would be grounded, now that George and Sapnap were by his side and helping Theo help Dream- Theo actually felt better from that alone.

Suffice to say, he got his point across after he literally kicked Sapnap in the ass, told George he was a bitch boy and a twat and stole Dream's diamonds from his chest, turned them into blocks and 'decorated' the Stronghold with them.

Of course he apologized to them afterwards, Dream especially as he quickly took down the diamond blocks and gave them back to him, but they got the point.

Theo was still Theo, he was the Tommy that came from a fucked up future, he survived wars, suffered through exiles, became Dream's property, fought against a monstrous Egg and ended up with them through hard damn work. He had been on his last life in the future and he has fucking survived. With help yes but he still managed to end up with them through blood, sweat and tears. He may be dedicated to the Dream Team and was Dream's tool, weapon, friend- but he still had some dignity and a warped sense of self-respect.

With that thankfully out of the way, the four of them settled back to how things were- somewhat. The Dream Team were still somewhat careful with him, but not in the sense of coddling him. George and Sapnap made sure Dream was aware of his words and were already doing a good job in grounding Dream and Dream himself was more careful with what he said or did to Theo.

He no longer asked for anything from Theo, not unless he really needed it. Like information. 

Theo still gave him things regardless but Dream at least rejected it half the time, only keeping it when Theo gave him reason to. Same went with George and Sapnap.

So things settled down between the four of them and today- Theo managed to convince them to relax with him in the lava pool.

He and his Dream had used to do it, back when Dream was uninfected and whenever he had leaves in his eyes. Sometimes he'd even have grass and he'd come stay with Theo in the lava pool for a while. 

Tommy felt ridiculously happy that Dream was joining him in the lava pool, seeing his mentor, friend, owner across from him looking relaxed- he wished they could just stay there and be at peace like this forever. Unfortunately the Overworld was getting worse and Dream was getting more stressed. At the very least, Tommy would treasure the moments of peace and relaxation like this.

Those were one of his favorite moments with his Dream. 

And then Dream got infected and he couldn't bear being so near to lava anymore- the roots were too sensitive. Even with the fire resistance potion. He still occasionally helped Theo nap in the pool though, but of course it grew infrequent as Dream's infection got worse.

And then Dream died.

And Theo was alone, with no one but himself.

Not anymore though.

"It really isn't." George agreed aloud with a content sigh. Feeling the warmth that surrounded him- it almost felt like a hot tub really. But kind of better? They weren't wet at all and could enjoyably relax in the usually death-inducing magma. 

Sapnap stretched leisurely, groaning as he sunk into the lava. "Okay I'll admit, we should've tried this earlier... It sucks that we have to use potions after like, eight minutes." He complained lightly and inadvertently reminded them of the time limit they had- which wasn't much. However Theo had them, he threw a couple of splash potions in the air which hit them all just in time. "Thanks Theo." He grinned as Theo sent him a thumbs up.

"No problem. I'm just glad I finally convinced you pussies to enjoy a dip with me." Theo replied with a smile, remembering their hesitance and protests just earlier on.

Dream snorted at that while Sapnap stuck his tongue out at him. George however, let his mind wander and a question came to mind that he couldn't help but voice. Couldn't help but ask.

"Theo do you want to go back to your family?"

The relaxed atmosphere freezes over completely at the question and George almost regrets asking.

Almost.

"What are you talking about Gogy? I don't have a family." Theo answers, sitting up in the lava and no longer floating in place. 

George frowned at him, "Theo..." 

"I don't." Theo insisted with dull eyes- they'd looked better earlier on. Brighter actually. But right now, the familiar dull eyes from when Theo first showed them his face was there. "Like I said, I don't have a family here. Both of my brothers are dead while my father and nephew are in a fucked up future- I don't even know if they're alive right now. And I haven't considered them family for a long time." He hadn't. Not since Ghostbur disappeared, not since he realized how fucked up their family actually was while he was with Dream.

Sapnap's lips pursed and he gave him a look, "I'm not really hearing a no from you..." He trailed off, watching Theo's face twist.

"No. There. Happy? No, I don't want to go back to my 'family'- they're not even my family. I don't get why you're asking this from me." Theo scowled, hands clenching tightly in his lap within the lava. "And before you even ask, yes Dream didn't allow me to go back to Toby and my family but he took it back days before he died. I could've gone back to them if I wanted to. But I didn't. So there." He declared, crossing his arms and giving them firm glares.

He really, could've gone back if he wanted to.

But he didn't.

It wouldn't be right and he didn't want to go back anyway. 

There was nothing to go back to, everything's changed and what would even be the point? Theo was Dream's anyway so he stayed, right where he was until now. 

Dream's lips thinned into a grimace, he shared a look with his friends as Theo stubbornly looked into lava. 

The three of them had discussed on what to do with Theo, what they could do to help him- one thing that came into mind was reuniting him with his family. And Toby.

The Dream Team could now understand why Toby seemed to hate Dream so much, and no doubt he'd told Techno and Phil what happened. However they did wonder if Toby even knew about Theo's enchantment, to which Theo had said no when they asked earlier on. Toby didn't even know about the Separation and Fragmentation. No one but them and the Warped Priest knew about it.

George, Sapnap and especially Dream, were hesitant and still unable to decide whether or not they should tell other people about the Separation and Fragments. It was rather personal and Dream was already feeling uncomfortable as it was acknowledging its existence and the fact he was going through it, and would they even believe it anyway? Maybe. Theo on the other hand didn't care, at the very least he thought Toby would still hate Dream nonetheless. 

"Well... Even so, it'd be a good idea to at least visit L'Manberg to see them. They're still our allies for the sake of the Egg." Dream pointed out carefully, reasoning with Theo. He wasn't going to order him to do it, but it seems like a good idea nonetheless to at least try to get Theo to reconnect with them in some way. "We still have to warn a few people about the Egg anyway- Bad and Skeppy need to know to stay away from it." 

They couldn't tell absolutely everyone in L'Manberg about it. They either wouldn't be believed or it'd cause a mass hysteria which is something they'd rather avoid. 

They were planning to tell their friends about the Egg- even planning to get more Soul-Fire Aspect books.

Which meant a whole fucking lot of soul sand and soil.

Theo grimaced but reluctantly nodded, "I... guess..."

"Theo... Do you- do you hate them? Toby and like, your family?" 

The blond turned to George, "... No actually." He answered, surprising them. "I don't hate them, I hate what they did. Maybe I hated them before- but I don't them specifically now. I certainly don't like them though. I don't need them and they don't need me. Toby-" He hesitated, taking in a deep breath and throwing some more splash potions in the air. "I don't like him. He's not my best friend anymore, and he hates Dream. He needs to get it through his thick head that I'm not coming back to him."

Theo could've gone back to him. To them. Within that future.

Be with them, and not be alone in the Stronghold.

It probably could've helped, they probably could've helped.

But he didn't. 

Why?

Hell if he knew. Maybe because it felt wrong to come back to them. Not just because he was Dream's, but because he was broken. He's hurt them. Time and time again, he's hurt them just as they hurt him.

Maybe he didn't come back because he felt like he didn't deserve to come back. 

Maybe it was because they hated Dream that he didn't come back.

Maybe he was tired of thinking he could go back to them in the past.

Maybe it was everything he just said, but it didn't change anything.

He didn't want to go back.

He'd rather stay where he was. He was done of thinking of going back.

He'd done enough thinking of it in exile, done enough thinking of it with Dream.

He was just done.

He just wanted to stay.

With Dream.

And now with George and Sapnap too.

But Dream had a point, Toby, for all he hated Dream, was still his tentative ally when it came to the Crimson and the Egg.

As long as Toby did nothing to Dream, then Theo would tolerate the visits.

It'd be just like before, during their Truce because it is their Truce. Only this time they weren't in constant danger in the Overworld.

L'Manberg so far has been pretty nice, Phil won't deny it.

Technoblade was behaving within the nation despite being an anarchist and Toby was doing a good job in reigning in the man who was suppose to exile his sons. Which Phil certainly wasn't happy about.

Techno didn't like the government but at least it wasn't a tyranny, if that had been the case then his hybrid son would probably have Schlatt's head as soon as possible. So now Schlatt had to watch out for another man possibly out for his life. 

Aside from that, he and Techno had finally decided to make a home- they didn't build it within L'Manberg though. Just on the edge, close enough to get to L'Manberg where Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo lived if they had to. They even offered to let Toby move in with them, it was the least Phil could do for Toby. Tubbo had offered the same but Toby wasn't sure who to accept, or if he should make his own house.

He used to just bunk with a man named Ranboo, an enderman hybrid that they would meet in a couple of years. Perhaps sooner if Toby can get in touch with him somehow.

Toby was still thinking on it, but for now, he took residence in Tubbo's guest room.

"We should make another house in the tundra." Techno suggested, having heard of his 'retirement' plans from Toby. He and Techno stood in their unfinished house, just having the frame of it finished. "It'd give us a base of operations where the Crimson won't be able to get to." 

Phil looked thoughtful, "Sure, but first we should finish this house. We can look for the tundra afterwards later, Toby should remember where the coordinates are." He said making Techno nod. It would do well to plan beforehand, having a base in the tundra would be beneficial. 

Also it kind of reminded Phil of when he and his boys lived in a snowy biome. He smiled sadly at the memories of his children playing in the snow, oh how the years go by...

Now his sons were scattered, with an alternate future version of his youngest being the furthest from him.

"I'm not your son." 

Phil sighed, feeling his heart ache from those four words alone.

"Phil." He glanced over to his son, wondering why Techno had called out to him. His hybrid son nodded out the window, looking tense and frowning darkly. "It's Theo."

Phil's eyes widened and he looked out the newly installed window, opening it to see that Theo was indeed outside their house. He was accompanied by Dream, George and Sapnap again but he didn't pay them any attention. Phil was heading for the doorway in an instant, only stopped by Techno.

"Techno-" "We don't know what they want." Techno interrupted, looking hesitant and reluctant to even face Theo. 

"I'm not your brother."

Phil gave his son a comforting hand on the shoulder, giving him a reassuring look. "Then we should go find out. They're outside, we can't ignore them." Can't ignore Theo. 

Techno frowned but sighed, nodding reluctantly. "I'll message Toby." 

Just what did they want?

Maybe to talk. They weren't wearing armor after all.

Phil opened the door, feeling a bit apprehensive as he sees them outside. His son, still wearing Dream's mask which made his stomach curl and chest ache but he gave him a warm smile nonetheless. "Theo."

Theo tilted his head in greeting, "Philza."

It's stoic.

It stings.

But Phil keeps his warm smile.

Despite Theo being different from the Tommy he knew. Despite Theo saying he wasn't his father.

Theo was still his son.

Chapter Text

Technoblade messaged Toby_: Theo Dream Sapnap and George are at Phil and I's unfinished house.
Toby_ messaged Technoblade: excse me WHAT
Technoblade messaged Toby_: Yeah theyre here, Phil let them in and now we're hosting them
Toby_ messaged Technoblade: im comign over
Technoblade messaged Toby_: Please do this is awkward as hell

This was going to be awkward as hell, Theo could already tell as he, Dream, George and Sapnap came through the doorway of the unfinished house. 

It was certainly bigger than Techno's old house in the tundra. 

He wonders if they were still going to make that house later on. At the very least, they should have a base in the tundra. It would just make sense, keeping a base in one of the places the Crimson and the Egg couldn't go. 

Hell, he wonders if Toby was going to reunite the piglin factions in the Nether again. It didn't seem like he had approached the Warped Priest any time soon, neither Techno nor Toby had really liked the old hog. They certainly respected him because of his rank as the oldest and most respected piglin in the Nether. But personally they'd rather avoid spending any unnecessary time with the Priest. 

Like how Theo wanted to spend unnecessary time here, with Philza and Techno.

Yet here he was, sitting down on make-shift chairs while Philza went to make some tea. Techno leaned on the wall not too far from them as he typed into his communicator, eyeing them warily, Theo tensed when he gave Dream a glare but was forced to calm down by Sapnap who sat by his side, nudging him when he noticed how tense Theo had gotten.

Philza didn't take long to come back with some steaming hot tea. It smelled great, he'll admit, but still. "So." Philza started, a pleasant look on his face as he gave them each a cup of tea. He smiled softly at Theo when he accepted it with a terse nod, it made Theo feel uncomfortable but he hid it well, moving his mask up a bit so he could sip the tea.

It tasted...

"Bleh!" Tommy exaggerated, sticking his tongue out at his father who laughed. "It's bitter! How can you drink this stuff?" 

Phil shook his head, exasperated and fond. "You get the taste for it. I have some more sweeter brews if you'd like Tommy." He offered, Tommy shook his head, stubbornly sticking to his tea cup. Phil laughed at his son's stubbornness, smiling sadly at Tommy. "Mm, Wilbur didn't like this tea either." Tommy froze at the mention of his now dead brother and he gripped his cup a bit tighter. "Techno though, doesn't mind." 

Of course, Tommy thinks quietly to himself. Obviously the reason why Phil called him over was...

"Tommy where did Techno go?"

Bitter.

Still, he kept sipping. Swallowing the bitterness with ease. Both from the tea and from the unexpected memory. He was used to it. It just reminded him why he didn't want to be here.

But he had to, because Dream- The Dream Team was here.

"What did you boys come here for?" Philza finally asked as he sat down with his cup of tea. 

Theo withheld a snort when he saw Sapnap's face scrunch at how bitter the tea was, "Oh! Well, we were just passing by and we saw that you were building a house here." George answered. He was telling the truth.

On their way back towards L'Manberg, they had seen the house through the trees and went to investigate it.

They certainly didn't expect it to be Philza and Techno building a house right at the outskirts of L'Manberg. Near the wall and such. Theo had immediately wanted to leave but the rest of them had seen this as an opportunity for Theo to be with Phil and Techno. A chance to reconnect if possible. Philza made it easier by inviting them in for some tea, but the Dream Team realized how difficult it was going to be to actually get their plan of helping Theo into action.

Techno was definitely still very wary about them, Toby must have told him about Dream which was not ideal.

At least Philza was being amicable. And he made them tea!

Honestly he could've been like Techno or worse but he was being polite. Which was good. And a bit terrifying because they had no idea what was going to happen from this man who they've definitely heard about before.

Philza had been one of the greatest adventurers out there, exploring the world, living on his last life- he's made some great achievements. His combat skills could rival Techno's, which in turn rivaled Dream's.

Provoking two combat skilled fighters wouldn't do them well, even though George and Sapnap were fairly good in combat and Theo was Dream's protege so he was very skilled himself. And was very willing to fight his former father if it came to it.

But thankfully it didn't seem like it was going to come to it.

Hopefully it would stay that way.

"I see." Phil hummed, "Yeah, Tech and I decided to live out here. Not quite in L'Manberg but close enough to visit the boys if we have to." He said, looking over at Theo who didn't react to the look whatsoever. "What about you Theo? Where are you staying?" He asked curiously.

Theo gave him a deadpanned reply. "With Dream of course." Phil frowned while Techno grunted in disapproval.

"And where exactly would Dream's house would be?" The hybrid questioned, giving him and Dream suspicious looks.

Dream sweated slightly and hesitated in replying, he still didn't like anyone else finding out about the Stronghold. Theo knew because he lived there now, George and Sapnap were his best friends, but Phil and Techno? "It's far from here." He told them, which wasn't inaccurate. It really was far from where L'Manberg and the SMP was. "Very very far from here."

Techno makes a face at that, for a moment, he looks distracted before he turns back to Dream, "Dream, do you even have a house? I've never heard of anyone saying anything about your house." He said and Dream goggles at him. 

"Wha- I do have a house. It's just really far from-" Dream started but Techno continues on, looking for too amused to the point of it being kind of vindictive actually.

"Are you homeless? Do you not have a house?" Techno asked, riling Dream up while George and Sapnap choked on either tea or air. Theo on the other hand sighed deeply.

"I'm not homeless I have a house!" The Stronghold counted as a house right? And he had other bases littered around the land, hidden away. 

But Techno didn't know that, and he was being an absolute asshole right now. "Do you sleep outside Dream? Is this- Does he even have a house George? Sapnap? Does he really? I can't ask Theo because he'll just agree, he's compromised-" Theo sent him his middle-finger which Technoblade snorted at. "Oh, oh, real mature. Well? Does he have a house?"

"I have a house! George! Sapnap! Tell him! You've both been to my house, we were just there!" Dream exclaimed to his best friend, feeling frustrated at Technoblade's accusations of him being homeless. He wasn't! He didn't have a normal house, but the Stronghold counted. Right? Theo had said he was living with Dream, and Theo lived in the Stronghold so it was now their house. Their home. That was- actually that was nice.

George couldn't help the snicker that bubbled from his throat, "I mean- yeah? It's not really a house but-" It was underground and secret. The Stronghold was like, the ultimate secret base for Dream. Could it be called a house? 

Techno grinned, "Aha! So Dream is homeless!" 

"I am not! George! What the hell! You were literally at my house-" Sapnap interrupted out loud, "Could it really be called a house though?" It was a legitimate question. "Sapnap!" The man grinned sheepishly at Dream's offended tone of voice. 

Theo couldn't help but slip his hand underneath his mask to press a hand against his eyes, he's mostly heard about this argument before. His own Techno had done the same.

"Do you even have a house Dream? Where the hell are you and Tommy living? I swear, my brother better have somewhere to stay Dream." Techno threatened during one mission. Tommy groaned as Dream took offense to the accusation.

Phil on the other hand was concerned, "Do you not have a place to live Theo?" He asked. Concerned about him- Hah. Theo could laugh. But he won't. 

"I have a place to live Philza. Dream does have a house- it's more of a base really but it's home." Theo replied testily. This was not what he was expecting at all when he and the Dream Team came in for tea. Had he known it would devolve into this- he'd forcibly dragged them to L'Manberg. At least Toby would be properly get through things. He had to wonder where the hell the man was, Techno should've contacted him by now right? Where was he?

"Oh yeah? Where is this house or base huh? Take us to it." Techno declared, wanting to see just where his alternate brother's home was. If it wasn't up to par then he shouldn't be living there. He shouldn't be living with Dream period.

He should be somewhere else, maybe even here, with he and Phil.

"We're not going to take you to my base!" Dream exclaimed, outraged and appalled. The Stronghold was a special place! He wasn't going to let anyone else besides Theo, George and Sapnap into the place he had found by himself and made into a home! 

Never mind the fact he hadn't even considered it a home until recently after he had spent more time there with his friends and Theo. 

"Phil this guy doesn't have a house-" "I have a house!" "He owns the land- he owns the SMP and-" "I have a house!" "And he never built his own house!" 

George and Sapnap at this point were laughing their asses off. Too amused by the banter and argument between two of the best fighters in the lands. Technoblade and Dream.

Arguing whether or not Dream had a house.

"All he does is be an ominous threat or something-" "I have a damn house it's just far away from here-" "Oh yeah you wouldn't know my house it goes to another school!" Techno roared with a shit-eating grin while Dream fumed at him.

Theo downed the rest of his tea, "Do you have anything stronger by chance?" He asks Phil who was watching everything with only some amusement. Phil looked apologetic but shook his head making Theo sigh as Techno and Dream continued.

So much for any serious talking at the moment.

"It goes to another school!" "Technoblade what is wrong with you?!"

"Ender make it stop my bladder-" Sapnap wheezed against the stoic, done Theo while George was badly trying to stop his laughter.

"You guys are the worst! Except you Theo, you did nothing wrong and I'm glad for that." Dream added, that- that made Theo smile. 

Techno irked at the smile, opening his mouth, about to either continue to say something else when all their communicators beeped together just as there was the faint distant sound of something. Theo froze at the sound, recognizing it easily.

All of them straightened and made startled noises at the messages their communicators provided. 

WilburSoot blew up
The_Eret blew up
Nihachu was slain by Toby_
Toby_ was slain by Nihachu

What the fuck?

Coughing, Tommy waved away the smoke, panting rapidly at the adrenaline in his veins. "Tubbo? Wilbur?! Toby!?" He called out frantically, looking around the blown up street. He was relieved to find his best friend groaning nearby. "Tubbo! Tubbo are you okay?!"

"I'm- I'm good!" Tubbo stammered only to wince after he tried to stand up, "No wait- my leg- I-I think it's broken!" 

Tommy cursed but scrambled to help his best friend up. "Where's- Where's Wilbur and Toby? Where-" He froze as he sees the amount of items on the ground. Heart dropping at the sight of them all.

Fuck.

He checked his communicator.

WilburSoot blew up
The_Eret blew up
Nihachu was slain by Toby_
Toby_ was slain by Nihachu

Shit.

Chapter Text

Technoblade messaged Toby_: Theo Dream Sapnap and George are at Phil and I's unfinished house.
Toby_ messaged Technoblade: excse me WHAT
Technoblade messaged Toby_: Yeah theyre here, Phil let them in and now we're hosting them
Toby_ messaged Technoblade: im comign over
Technoblade messaged Toby_: Please do this is awkward as hell

Toby had actually just been enjoying his day before Techno had messaged him.

Schlatt and Quackity were doing fine as they started counting the votes and discussing other things, Wilbur and Fundy were spending time together as father and son, Tubbo and Tommy were off being teenagers as they should be and he was-

Well, he was visiting an old place he hasn't visited in a long time. Not since the fall of L'Manberg. His L'Manberg.

He stares at the bench, stares at the jukebox that sat next to it and tentatively... He sits down. Feeling the oak underneath him, tracing the wood lines and filled with so much nostalgic pain he might just die from it alone.

It's just him on the bench, but if he pretends. If he lets himself imagine...

There's a certain blond sitting right next to him, smiling brightly and being loud. Tommy.

Tommy, not Theo. 

He's young, bright and cocky. He's the Tommy that Toby longs for, what he still somehow hopes to get back. 

Tommy who would blab and babble, being as loud as he could with his bright blue eyes and blond hair.

Tommy who would lean forward, laugh so hard he starts coughing and clutch his knees

For a moment, he's Tubbo. 

Tubbo, not Toby.

He's young, happy and content. He's the Tubbo that Toby had long forgotten until now, meeting his past self who he's envious of.

Tubbo who would smile back, beam and laugh at the loudness that got rid of the silence.

Tubbo who would lean back against the bench and gesture wildly to his Tommy, who gestures back just as wildly.

For a glorious, short moment.

Tubbo is happy. Tommy is there. And there's a painfully familiar song in the air.

The moment fades and reality sets in.

Tommy is Theo and he's gone.

Tubbo is Toby and he's right here, alone.

Toby smiles ruefully, pressing a hand against his face as he leaned back against the bench. "Ahh, this is pathetic." He mumbles to himself with his eyes closed. 

"What is?"

Toby jolts, opened his eyes to see both Tubbo and Tommy behind him looking at him curiously. "Ender's fuck!" He swears, pressing a hand against his chest. "When did you two get here?!" He exclaimed, trying to calm his beating heart. Had he been so immersed in his little fantasy he hadn't noticed the two coming up? Ender, his Techno would be so disappointed in him for not keeping guard.

He couldn't exactly help it though, things seemed so peaceful during this time. 

The Overworld was safe and unconquered by the Crimson, and Chat wasn't there to warn him about the dangers that lurked at every corner.

"Ah, we got here just about now! Sorry for startling you there Toby." Tubbo apologized, smiling wryly at him. 

Tommy on the other hand was snickering, "Oh man, that was priceless!" He laughed as he went around the bench to sit down. 

Toby immediately made space, going right at the edge so Tubbo could sit by Tommy.

They ended up sitting with Tommy situated right at the middle and Toby couldn't help but stare at them both as they got comfy on the bench. 

That.

That was what he'd been imagining about not even a minute earlier.

Tommy smiling brightly, Tubbo grinning contently, the two of them together as friends on this bench. All the jukebox had to do was play a song and it'd be complete.

It hurts.

To see them like this.

Envy nipped at his heart, a type of jealousy he's ashamed to feel as he feels like an outsider looking in to something he can't have- No. Something he had before but couldn't possibly have ever again.

He could easily imagine them in his head, young Tommy and Tubbo, best of friends just sitting together on their bench and listening to one of Tommy's discs. Enjoying a moment of precious downtime where they could just relax and almost forget about everything in their lives. A moment of private happiness between them where they were just Tommy and Tubbo. 

Tommy and Tubbo, best friends forever.

What he couldn't imagine was him and Theo doing the same.

He had tried before. Tried to imagine Theo sitting down beside him, on the bench with the jukebox. Tried to imagine himself sitting down with him, the two of them together.

Instead of a sense of relaxation and happiness, there's a tense air between them. They're not laughing, or talking. Just sitting down in silence, looking off into the horizon. 

Theo isn't smiling, or laughing or anything. There's a porcelain mask that covers his face with a carved a smile, the face of an enemy they had both sworn to be against in their youth and yet Theo wears it proudly. Obsessively really. But even without the mask his eyes and hair are shades too dull and he's wearing a hoodie that was too much like Dream's. He was Dream's in all sense that mattered and Toby hated it.

In his mind, the sit in silence that is far from peaceful and Toby can't imagine a peaceful air between them if they sat together on a single bench. 

He can't imagine them both sitting down empty-handed. They'd both be holding on to a weapon, him a sword and Theo an axe. 

He can't imagine them both sitting unarmored. They'd both wear enchanted netherite, ready for an attack either by each other by someone or thing else.

He can't imagine the peaceful surroundings. It'd be red instead of green. There'd be movement in the background and they'd both tense, ready for to defend or to flee.

He can't imagine them sitting unharmed or just clean. They'd both be scruffed or injured in some way, and their weapons would be smudged with ominous iron-smelling liquid. Blood. Something that Toby unwillingly craved in the throes of intense battle.

Toby can easily imagine the past, it's something he's done plenty of times before. It's something he craves to have. But he can't imagine the present, too embroiled with how things were. With how Theo acted and the things they both did and the lives they both lived.

He wants that to change though.

By Ender he wants it to change, he wants to be able to imagine him and Theo sitting together as adults. Smiling, laughing just like in the past. Wants to imagine it freely without it being ruined by something. Like Dream's mask and underlying presence that loomed over Theo like a permanent ghost. Like the Crimson that would shift in the background, turning the grass and trees red and threatened the peace by just existing. Like the blood that would stain them both, Toby especially as he is forever tied to battle in a way thanks to the Trials.

He wants it so much.

And it hurts to want. It hurts and he's scared to acknowledge the very real possibility that no, that that little fantasy of his will never happen and all he'll ever have is the faint golden memories of his youth and the envious scene of both Tubbo and Tommy sitting beside him living that memory but better because they will never have to go what he and Theo did. They will be better, they'll be great and he...

He'll be there.

Watching them and making sure of it.

He's envious, he's wanting, but he's determined and protective.

"Toby?" 

Toby blinks, seeing both Tubbo and Tommy give him peculiar and concerned looks and all he can offer them is a weak and empty smile. "I'm fine." He says, finally looking away, realizing just how uncomfortable he must be making the two of them. Just sitting besides Tommy, silently staring at them with whatever face he'd been making while lost in his own head. He shifts and moves to stand, "I'll leave you two here-" He starts, heart throbbing as he moves to leave their, not his not anymore, bench. 

They don't need an old warrior intruding them like this.

Except Tommy grabs his wrist, he stops him from leaving. His brows furrowed and a set frown on his face as he looks up to Toby. "You can stay. For a bit." He says and Tubbo looks hesitant but he nods, both teens now looking adamant.

"I-" Toby starts to protest but his younger self interrupts him. "You must miss this place. You can stay and sit down with us. It's your bench as much as it's ours." He says with a reassuring grin as Tommy tugs him to sit down again. 

And Toby finds himself too weak to protest anymore. He thinks he'll be too weak to say anything against Tommy and Tubbo now, which is funny because of how things were but seeing the brace-filled smile of Tommy and hearing his younger self's soothing words- he caves and just sits down. Perhaps it was very weird to anyone else but it seems that's just how things are now for Toby.

Weak to the past.

Or maybe that's how it always was for him, he's longed for the past so much, for so long- and now that it was here, now that he was here... he just can't help himself. 

So he sits down besides Tommy, a weak but happier smile on his face.

"Okay so I've got Chirp here we can listen to," Tommy said happily, the music disc appearing in his hand after he takes it out of his inventory. Toby eyes the disc, face scrunching in thought, "Toby? What's wrong?" The young blond asked him, "Do you... not want to listen to Chirp?" 

Toby hesitated before shaking his head, surprisingly though there's a small smile on his face. "No, not really. Hang on, I've got something better we can listen to." He said, suddenly placing his Enderchest down in front of him. Tommy and Tubbo could only watch as Toby rifled through the chest but they finally gasped as they see the item that Toby retrieves from the chest.

It's old, a bit scratched but it's unmistakable.

"Mellohi!" Tommy exclaimed with a wide grin and stars in his eyes. "You have it?!" His Cat and Mellohi discs were still in Dream's possession, Toby remembers with a strained thought but he gives him and Tubbo a warm smile and nod.

"Yeah- I don't have Cat though. Just Mellohi." He thumbs the black surface of the disc. "I... When Tom- When Theo was exiled, I was given Mellohi to keep. And I've kept it, by Ender I've kept it." It stayed in his Enderchest, even after Theo and Dream asked for it. He kept it away from them, unwilling to part with one of the only items he had left of Theo. Of his Tommy. Of the Tommy he had known before Dream took him away. 

One half of the reason for everything that's happened really. All from two little discs.

"Where's Cat?" Tubbo asks quietly and all it takes is the pained look in Toby's eyes for him to realize. "With Dream?" 

Toby sighed heavily through his nose, "Should be by now probably. Theo probably gave it to him now that he's with Dream." 

"That's just not fair!" Tommy shouts, fists clenched and eyes brimming with anger, "Why would he- why why- they're his discs- my discs why would-" He struggled to string together a coherent sentence, to incensed and emotional to construct a full sentence but Toby knew what he was trying to say. 

It's been a while since Theo had spoken like that, as far as he knew it anyway. "Because he's with Dream now. Of course he's going to give Dream one of his discs, he considers him his 'friend' after all." Toby spoke with gritted teeth but soon he shakes his head and offers the disc to Tommy, "It's been a while. Since I've listened to Mellohi- ages really. Was too busy to listen to it and too scared of losing it to pull it out of my enderchest. And since your Cat and Mellohi are... still with Dream. We can listen to the Mellohi I have." 

Tommy looks at the offered disc, sees how old it was- there's a few chips on the edges and it's just a bit scratched but it should be able to play with no problem. Carefully, he accepts it. Tubbo looking over his shoulder to look at the disc with him. "Thanks Toby." He said, grinning brightly at him and Toby smiles back, nodding at him.

The young male stands from the bench so he could quickly shuffle over to the jukebox that stood to the side, a grin on his face and his eyes bright. Toby, for all the strength he had in combat, couldn't possibly withstand that look on Tommy's face. Or the look that Tubbo was giving him, his younger self seemed to have- well, not exactly forgiven him for his actions but he's certainly not hitting Toby in the fact again.

Mellohi slides into the jukebox easily, the slow tune plays after a moment and Tommy quietly cheers before quickly returning to sit between Tubbo and Toby, leaning back against the bench to enjoy the familiar music that he hasn't heard since he gave Dream his discs. Tubbo tilted his head, closing his eyes as he too, listened to the tune.

Toby looked up at the sky as he listened, watching the clouds lazily float by.

It's a peaceful moment.

And it's almost perfect to Toby, almost.

He doesn't think about what's missing though. For now, he relishes in the moment, in just sitting on this familiar bench, in this familiar setting, listening to this familiar song and for a moment.

He's content.

Far more content then he's been for a long time.

It feels like ages until the jukebox finally stops playing, the disc sliding back up to either be pushed down to play again or be taken out of the slot. Though the three of them make no move to do anything. Just relishing in the peaceful moment.

"Ahh, I missed- Ender, I missed that song." Tommy says, breaking the silence and sounding wistful. "Wish we could listen to Cat too." 

Toby closes his eyes and he sets a new goal- well, a very old goal made anew actually. "You will one day." He says aloud and gains the attention of both younger males. "You're going to get both your discs back from Dream. I'm gonna help you get them back." It was them against Dream after all. It was about time someone went against Dream again. Theo wasn't going to do it, and like hell he was going to let Tommy go against him alone. Not again. Not anymore. 

They both gape at him before Tommy whoops, practically jumping from the bench. "Fuck yeah! I'm gonna get my discs back! Fuck you Dream!" He shouts out loud. Laughing into thin air while both versions of his best friend, both young and old have identical looks of exasperation and fondness on their faces. 

It's only then that he gets the message from Technoblade. He hears his communicator beep and he takes it out of his pocket, a startled noise escapes him at the message that Techoblade sends him. Beside him, Tubbo leans over and sees it as well as Toby frantically types back.

Technoblade messaged Toby: Theo Dream Sapnap and George are at Phil and I's unfinished house.
Toby messaged Technoblade: excse me WHAT
Technoblade messaged Toby: Yeah theyre here, Phil let them in and now we're hosting them
Toby messaged Technoblade: im comign over
Technoblade messaged Toby: Please do this is awkward as hell

"Theo, Dream, George and Sapnap are at Phil and Techno's house!" Tubbo exclaims to Tommy who screeches. 

"Whaaat?! We have to get there! Like right fucking now! Who knows what the hell they're up to!" 

Unknown to the three, Technoblade and Dream would soon start to bicker and argue about Dream's apparently lack of house with George and Sapnap absolutely losing it, Phil being amused but concerned and Theo just being absolutely done with everything and actually hoping Toby would come soon to end the nonesense. 

But right now, they had no idea what Theo and the Dream Team were doing at Phil and Techno's unfinished house nor did they know what they wanted.

"Toby, here!" Tommy exclaimed, grabbing Mellohi from the jukebox and handing it back to Toby who gave him a thankful smile. He places the disc back in his enderchest and soon enough, all three of them were leaving the bench.

Phil and Techno had told them where exactly they were going to build the house, right outside of L'Manberg's walls on the outskirts. Unfortunately between the bench and where Phil and Techno was- it was a long sprint there, since they were on complete opposite ends.

On the way however, Wilbur spotted them just as he had finished spending time with his son who had run off to do an errand. "Tubbo?! Tommy?! Toby?!" He called out as he ran after them, "What's wrong?! Why are you running?!" 

"Theo and Dream are at Phil and Techno's house!" Tubbo called back making Wilbur pale, and readily enough, he joined them in running towards where his father and older brother were supposed to be.

However as they ran, Toby suddenly skidded to a halt. Kicking up dirt as he forced himself to stop, confusing the three males who had been following after him and forcing them to stop as well. "Toby?" Toby's eyes were wide, eyes practically pinpricks as he seemed to have realized something. "Toby? Toby what's wrong now? Toby we have to get to Techno-" Wilbur tried but Toby didn't seem to be listening. 

Toby's head turned to the side and they turned with him just to see what he was looking at.

From afar on another nearby street, Niki and Eret were there, seemingly just talking to each other with pleasant smiles on their faces. It all looked almost perfectly normal.

Almost.

In Eret's hands was a bouquet of eye-catching and startlingly red flowers. All kinds of red flowers. But they were all a bright shade of red.

Red.

Toby knew that shade anywhere.

He's fought through a forest of that shade of red. Of those shades of red flowers, he recognizes that bright fucking red anywhere.

"To-" Tommy's sentence is cut off as Toby suddenly sprints once more- but not towards where Philza and Technoblade's house was supposed to be. 

No, he sprinted towards Eret. A look of grim determination on his face as he ignored the shocked shouts behind him.

The supposed King of the SMP was startled to see the time traveler running straight at him-

BAM

Toby knocked the bouquet out of Eret's hands and stomped on the flowers, causing the shaded King to cry out in shock and outrage. "My flowers-" He was silenced by the sudden sword to the neck.

Toby's eyes were menacing and dark as he aimed his sword at Eret who held his hands up, "Where did you get these?" He hissed, grinding his boot on the now ruined bouquet.

Underneath his boot, the flowers writhed unnaturally.

They weren't normal red flowers.

They were Crimson.

Chapter Text

They immediately ran out of the unfinished house towards L'Manberg.

Theo had no idea what the hell happened but the fact that Niki of all people had killed Toby- you can fucking bet it wasn't going to be good. 

The masked blond ran as fast as he could alongside the Dream Team and his former father and brother. The six men bounding past the walls, past buildings and people, sprinting through the streets while trying to find where the damage was and where the incident occurred.

Thankfully it doesn't take long to out where the explosion and apparent battle had happened, they find Tommy and Tubbo huddled together on the side of a street with a crater, Tubbo sitting on a wooden plank while Tommy was making a makeshift splint for Tubbo's broken leg. 

"Tommy! Tubbo!" Philza cried out, sprinting over to the boys. Tubbo's face was contorted with pain as he bit into a stick to muffle the pained noises he was making while Tommy dealt with his leg. "Oh boys- what happened?! Wilbur-" Had died. 

In a type of explosion.

Phil's breath hitched before he snapped out of it when Theo spoke, "What the fuck happened here?"

Part of the street was blown up, along with the side of a stray building, there was the smell of gunpowder, ash and iron in the air. Items were littered all over the ground, no bodies though- no one had been on their last life here. Not even Toby, he had all three lives back. Two now. Theo's fist clenched but he focused when Tubbo started talking after taking out the stick from his mouth.

"Eret and Niki-" Tubbo started briefly interrupted by a groan and flinch from the pain of his broken leg- He made a startled noise when a golden apple was thrown his way from Theo, he fumbled to catch it and cried out when it jostled his leg.

"Oi!" Tommy snapped at his older self, "Fu-" 

Theo was impatient and snapped back, "Eat the damn apple, we don't have time for your fucking pain here. What. The hell. Happened?" He stressed- didn't they know just how bad the situation was right now? Four people had died, two to an explosion and the other two to each other. And one of them had been Toby- he wouldn't just die so easily. 

Something had happened and they needed to know what.

"Whoops, I have to go. Got a few things to do dad." Wilbur smiled nodding to his fox hybrid son, "I'll see you later! Say hi to the others for me!" Fundy exclaimed, waving before jogging off to do whatever errand he had to do. 

"I will! Be careful Fundy!" Wilbur calls after him, watching him leave. 

He sighed, rolling his shoulders and stretching a bit, feeling- well, he hasn't felt this relaxed in a long while.

Wilbur really hadn't realized just how much stress and tension he'd been carrying since the start of everything. Founding L'Manberg, fighting for independence, gaining independence, starting an election, losing the election, time travel, Toby and... Theo... 

He'd really been running on fumes hadn't he? 

It was only when Toby forced him to slow down, to set down everything he'd been working for- not permanently, he doesn't think he can set them down permanently just yet- just to relax and ground himself in the present did he realize just how thin Wilbur had been stretching himself to be. Just how he'd been acting had been affecting everyone around him. He and Fundy hadn't talked as much ever since L'Manberg's independence, he'd felt so betrayed when Fundy tried to run against him but he realized that Fundy just wanted his dad back.

And Wilbur wanted his son.

L'Manberg was supposed to be a place that was safe for his family, granted it had started as a joke with him and Tommy brewing potions and calling them 'drugs' before things started to get out of hand. Especially when actual people started to flock to them and their camarvan, reinforcing the idea of creating a nation in their heads. 

Wilbur had been swayed by those ideas, by his own fantasies to the point he'd forgotten that Tommy and Tubbo were just children. Teenagers. They were years younger than him and yet he had accepted them into his side of a war that they shouldn't have even fought in. Ender, just what had he been thinking? He had roped his baby brother, his dearest son and his brother's best friend into something dangerous-

He had felt guilty.

Still did actually.

He doesn't think he'll be rid of that guilt but he can do nothing else but move forward and try to make amends.

So he listens to Toby, spends time with his son, promises to properly look after Tommy and Tubbo. 

He wasn't going to let Dream anywhere near his brother now. Not when Dream took both of Tommy's lives and the threat of the future, of Dream taking Tommy away permanently. 

"I'm not your brother."

Wilbur wasn't going to lose his brother.

Not Toms.

The green motherfucker can suck it.

Shaking his head, he started to walk back to Tubbo's house. 

Only he sees Toby, Tubbo and Tommy sprinting and at the very sight of them running he immediately sets off after them. "Tubbo?! Tommy?! Toby?!" He shouted as he ran, worry already clenching around his heart, "What's wrong?! Why are you running?!" 

Tubbo thankfully replied to his shout, glancing back, "Theo and Dream are at Phil and Techno's house!"

Wilbur paled- the implications alone were enough to get him running with them as well. Just what were they doing at Phil and Techno's house? What did they want? Did something happen? Was something happening? So of course Wilbur ran with them towards where Phil had said they were making their house, right outside L'Manberg. It was more for his brother's peace of mind Wilbur knew, Techno didn't really want to join L'Manberg or live in it but that was fine. They were close enough with them just living at the outskirts.

Wilbur's just glad they were here period.

Questions and theories flew off in his head but it all disappears as Toby suddenly stops, the older male skidding to an utter halt. With the man in the lead suddenly no longer in the lead, he, Tommy and Tubbo were quick to stop as well. "Toby?" Wilbur questioned, worried as to why Toby had stopped in such a crucial moment. "Toby? Toby what's wrong now? Toby we have to get to Techno-" Wilbur tried to gain his attention but the other didn't seem to be listening. 

His eyes were worryingly wide and a look of grim realization was set on his face as he straightened and looked back to the side. Wilbur looked with him.

Wilbur's own eyes widened at the sight of Niki and Eret talking together- What was Eret doing here in L'Manberg? And why was Niki talking with him of all people? Granted, she wasn't there for his betrayal but Eret was still listed as a traitor to their nation. He was the King of the SMP- a pretty figurehead for Dream- he was with Dream for fuck's sake! So why was he here in L'Manberg? 

He then noticed the startlingly red flowers that were in Eret's hands. They were red. Really, really red. An eye-catching type of red that Wilbur hasn't actually seen- it was a shade brighter and different than the red on Tommy's shirt. It would draw the attention of lots of people once it was actually noticed.

It was certainly noticed by Toby.

"To-" Tommy tried to shout only for Toby to suddenly start running, however it wasn't towards the direction they were originally running at. Towards Phil and Techno's location, but towards Eret and Niki.

"Toby!" They shouted after him, shocked as to why he was running towards them instead of running to where Theo and Dream supposedly were.

They followed after him and only stopped when they saw Toby smack the bouquet of the unnaturally red flowers out of Eret's hands. "Wha-" They watched as Toby furthered his actions with a cruel stomp, enraging Eret- but only for a moment. "My flowers-" He quickly held his hands up and quietened when Toby aimed his enchanted sword at Eret's neck, hissing in a tone so harsh with a face so grim.

"Where did you get these?" He hissed, the boot on the ruined flowers ground them harshly against the path and Wilbur would've protested because they were just flowers Toby why were you-

But then he notices the way the flowers were writhing. Petals wriggling weakly even after a few petals were detached from the flowers themselves, leaves were waving and stems crookedly moving against Toby's foot either to try to escape the harsh pressure or to wrap around the foot itself. The sight horrified Wilbur and faintly he hears Tommy and Tubbo gasp as they too, saw the state of the moving floral plants.

Toby's boot twisted against the ground as Toby growled at Eret who was certainly looking pale with the sword aimed at him. "Where?!" The man demanded, sounding just as angry whenever he mentioned Dream. If not maybe just a bit angrier. It was quite honestly hard to tell.

However Wilbur's gaze glanced towards the person behind Toby, the one other person that had been with Eret the entire time. Niki.

She looked horrified. Her eyes were wide, her jaw was set as her teeth gritted together- it was an angry type of horrified. Her gaze... were on the flowers. 

Why were they on the flowers? Wilbur could've understood the horror, but the anger- his eyes widened as a sword appeared in her hands- "Niki no!" He cried out, managing to interfere before the sword struck Toby in the back- her diamond sword collided with his iron axe and Wilbur gritted his teeth together as he tried to fend off the sword. He had a sword, unfortunately it was deeper in his inventory and he had to react fast, so he used his iron axe instead. 

"Niki?!" Tubbo and Tommy chorused together, stunned to have seen their big sister figure suddenly try to attack Toby who looked back with the same shock- unfortunately that costed him as suddenly Eret's own sword clashed against his- diamond and enchanted as well. 

Wilbur stood back to back with Toby, a bead of sweat sliding down his face as he looked at the enraged look on his friend's face. "Niki- why?!" He questioned, struggling against her strength- had she always been this strong? Or had he been laying off of his own training? Either way, diamond clashed with iron for Wilbur and Niki. 

"Those flowers were for Eret!" Niki exclaimed, her eyes flecked with red and shining and behind her ear, was one single red flower. "They're hurt! That man hurt them! You're hurting them! Stop hurting them!" She shrieked glancing down and Wilbur can't help but glance down with her- he was stepping on a few of the red flowers. The petals weakly tugging themselves underneath his shoes. He faltered at the disturbing sight of them and Niki took advantage of that, giving a furious yell while pushing against Wilbur who yelped-

Only Toby was suddenly grabbing his shoulder, tugging him away from Niki- the woman yelped as she and Eret nearly collided as Toby moved back towards Tommy and Tubbo with Wilbur. "Ender dammit, Niki?" Toby hissed roughly, eyes narrowed at the two before them. Niki glared at him but worriedly looked over the flowers on the ground. "Fuck how she- fuck!" He swore while Niki gently picked up the ruined bouquet, hushing at the flowers, cradling and caressing them as if they were either a pet or an actual baby.

"What's- What the fuck is going on?! Why is Niki- Niki why?! What the hell are you doing?!" Tommy cried out, he and Tubbo now wielding their own iron swords. Wilbur quickly switched his axe for a sword as well, gripping it tightly as he stared down his long time friend.

"What am I doing?!" Niki retorted angrily, "What about him?! He attacked Eret! He ruined my friend's poor flowers! They worked hard for these flowers! He hurt these poor sweethearts!" She cried out, pointing her sword at Toby who grimaced at her. In her hands, the bouquet of red flowers straightened and wriggled, 

Tubbo gawped, "Niki- wha- Niki those are flowers! Flowers that are moving! That's not right!" 

"These flowers are pretty, and they're alive. Why wouldn't they be moving?" Eret questioned, picking up a few petals that quickly attached themselves to a flower that was wrapped around his wrist. Had it been on his wrist the entire time? "You've hurt them pretty badly, I thought violence wasn't allowed in L'Manberg?" 

"Wh-" Toby interrupted Tommy through gritted teeth, "Don't bother trying to reason with them right now. They're both under the Egg's control- as long as they have those flowers they'll be unreasonable when it comes to those things. We need to get rid of them." As soon as he said that, both Niki and Eret looked furious. "Wilbur, here!" Wilbur was suddenly handed Toby's sword, much to his, Tubbo's and Tommy's confusion.

"Normal swords aren't going to get rid of the Crimson, you need specific a enchantment! Use my sword- I've got an axe with the enchantment to use for myself." Toby quickly explained as Wilbur gripped Toby's sword in his hands. Toby got out an enchanted netherite axe, now wielding it with serious look on his face.

"What about-" Tommy was just about to ask, what about he and Tubbo? They only had normal iron swords. However as soon as Wilbur had been handed the sword, both Niki and Eret had moved. Niki attempting to flee with the bouquet while Eret shot forward to attack. "Look out!"

Toby dodged out of the way, "I'll get Niki, deal with Eret!" He exclaimed before sprinting after the fleeing mind controlled woman. 

Eret snarled, about to turn after him but was forced to hold off Wilbur who swung at him. "I don't have time for you!" Eret shouted, using all of his strength to shove Wilbur back just so he could turn on his heel and run after Toby and Niki.

"Wilbur!" Wilbur grunted as Tommy and Tubbo were quick to catch him and set him on his feet. "Quick! After them!" 

With Toby's sword in hand, Wilbur shot off with Tommy and Tubbo right behind him.

run run run! CATCH HER TOBY CATCH HER! don't let her escape!! BURN THE FUCKING FLOWERS!!

Niki was a fast runner, Toby would give her that. Though she may be fast and was younger than Toby, Toby had been running for years and was far more experienced than her. Chat roared in encouragement as he was sprinted past her, gripping the axe in one hand he stopped and swung at the bouquet she kept close to her chest-

CLASH!

Only for it to collide harshly against Niki's sword which had unfortunately came just in time to protect those damned Crimson flowers. On the bright side though, Niki cried out as she stumbled back from the sudden action. Toby stood in her way of exit of the streets, glaring right at her. She glared right back, eyes dotted with red. Internally it made Toby cringe at the sight of his friend being mind-controlled.

Niki had never been controlled, not his Niki. She had stayed in the Nether, being in charge of the people alongside Quackity. 

His grip on his axe -he didn't like using his axe often, reminded him too much of Theo and Dream- tightened and he steeled himself for a fight. 

If he could just get those flowers as well as the flower behind Niki's ear, then things would be so much better.

Niki couldn't even put those flowers in her inventory. The Crimson was considered an 'entity' like the Egg, as long as any part of the Crimson was alive. You couldn't put it in your inventory. The charred and dead remains of the Crimson however could easily get into one's inventory.

And he was determined to make those flowers fucking burn and die. 

Coming quickly from behind, Eret, Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo were coming close. 

"Niki!" Eret shouted, running closer with Wilbur on his heels.

Niki's eyes gleamed and suddenly the bouquet went flying in the air. "Eret!" 

"NO!" Toby shouted, about to shoot forward only for Niki to come running at him. Diamond clashed with netherite as Niki started swinging rapidly at him, her movement agile and forward as always. 

BURN THEM! FUCK NIKI NO!! ERET STOOOP!! 

Behind her, Eret jumped to catch the bouquet, about to run off with them but unfortunately he was then surrounded by Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo. All three males glaring solely at him. "Eret," Tommy started with a wild grin, clutching his iron sword. "You fucked up."

"Come at me then gentlemen." 

Toby had nearly forgotten just how good Niki had been at sword fighting. Toby's Niki had busied herself with taking care of the people and staying in the Nether, she delegated with the piglin factions and typically left the fighting to the front liners like him, Ranboo and the others. He'd nearly forgotten that before all that, Niki had fought in a war and was very adept at fighting herself.

Their blades clashed together as Niki aimed to kill him with each strike, Toby was hesitant to kill her- she was Niki for fuck's sake. But hesitance was something he really needed to stop doing as Niki sliced a small part of his arm. Staining his sleeve red and taking first blood.

stop holding back and FIGHT WARRIOR!!! she has all three of her lives! FIGHT TOBY FIGHT!! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD BLEED FOR THE BLOOD KING! make her bleed.

Toby gritted his teeth and shifted his stance, breaking through Niki's skillful but rampant swinging and returned the slice she gave him for two of his own. 

Chat was right.

Niki had all of her lives right now, and he couldn't afford to hold back, not when she was under the Crimson's influence and was trying to kill him.

He had to take this seriously.

But before he could even try-

BOOM!

The shockwave of the sudden explosion almost knocked both fighters off their feet, Toby readjusted his stance and quickly looked to see the smoldering crater where Eret, Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo had previously been and his eyes widen in shock just as his communicator beeped.

WilburSoot blew up
The_Eret blew up

"Wha-" His shock was interrupted by a searing pain right through his chest and he looked down to see Niki's sword pierced right through him. Right by his heart. 

She smiled at him.

NO KILL HER BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD MAKE HER PAY KILL HER KILL HER SHE MUST PAY BLOOD FOR BLOOD DEATH FOR DEATH 

Fueled by a sudden influx of bloodlust and using the last of his strength, he jammed his axe right into her skull. 

His last thoughts before blacking out was how pathetic it had been, to be killed so easily.

Technoblade would've been so disappointed.

Nihachu was slain by Toby_
Toby_ was slain by Nihachu

"The flowers... blew up?" Techno repeated with disbelief after Tommy and Tubbo recalled what happened.

They along with Wilbur had been fighting Eret, along the way, Wilbur had managed to hit the bouquet with Toby's sword. The flowers burst into blue flames but shortly afterwards they just seemed to explode. The blast killed Wilbur and Eret together while Tommy and Tubbo had been knocked away, Tubbo suffering from a leg injury from hitting a block along the way.

Both teenagers nodded, looking grim and a bit shocked themselves. They hadn't expected it- no one did.

No one except Theo that is.

"FUCK!" Theo screamed, startling everyone as he kicked at a nearby lamppost. The wooden lamppost broke easily from his misplaced aggression. "I thought we had time I thought we had-" He let out an enraged scream.

Sapnap and George were quick to get by his side, "Theo! Theo- calm the hell down, what's wrong?!"

Theo clutched his hair in clear frustration. "The Egg made Pop Flowers. Of course it made Pop flowers because why not?! Fuck! This is way too early!" He shouted, about to kick something else before he was interrupted.

"Theo!" Dream snapped, silencing Theo in a heartbeat. "Calm down. You need- Please explain what the hell are Pop flowers."

Theo took in a deep breath and clenched his fists.

This was too soon. 

Had he really fucked things up by not being able to kill the damn Egg?

Niki cradled the Egg carefully, looking sadly over the wonderful garden that her friend had made. "We have to go. They'll try to look for us. For you. Come on." What a waste to a good garden.

hurry hurry protect protect me make new flowers hungry hungry bones flesh powder?

"After we find a new place for you, I promise I'll feed you."

good good yes hungry love obey protect me

"I will. I promise."

Chapter Text

When a person dies, loses one of their three lives, they disappear in a puff of smoke. 

A death message would come to everyone's communicators, everyone within a certain radius that is. People who have died too far from civilization will die without a message as they disappear from the world.

The items in their inventory drop to the ground and their body vanishes without a trace before it respawns in the last place they slept. Their most common anchor is their bed, but if the bed they had previously slept in was destroyed, they would appear somewhere else, the last place they had slept that was not a bed. Either there, or perhaps a respawn anchor if they had one and used one. 

Any injury they had, be it fatal or not, heal completely- but the fatal injuries have a chance of leaving a lasting scar, the chance grows if a person dies to an enchanted weapon. Previous scars stay before they die of course. Their body will be sore however, and they will be entirely sluggish for a set amount of time.

On their third and final death, their body lingers for a few hours before they disappear completely for one last and final time. 

During those few hours someone could retrieve the body and burn it to keep the ashes forever. It's what most people do, or at least try to whenever there is a body left after their final deaths.

Using an Undying Totem will not use any of your lives, but only if you have it on your person and not deep within your inventory. 

This was how death worked in their world, no one really questioned it, those that did had no answers as to why it was as it was. The knowledge was common and hammered heavily to every human and hybrid.

Because only humans and hybrids had three lives. No other mob had more than one life, but any mob could still use the Totem of Undying.

Without the Totem, a person only had three lives to live.

Three lives.

Once the two were done, your third was your final.

At least, that's what supposed to be.

Toby inhaled sharply when he suddenly woke up in a bed, staring up a wood ceiling with a sore body and an aching chest. 

His first thought is, why am I alive?

The answer came quickly as he forced himself to sit up; he was no longer on his third and last life. Traveling back to the past gave him two extra lives somehow and he had died. He used one of his lives.

A quick check to his wrist confirmed it. One heart was gone, two hearts were left.

The exhaustion that seeped from his bones was familiar, along with the ache. He's died a lot of times but was saved from a final death by Undying Totems.

Tubbo stared at the small chest filled with hand-sized golden figures with emerald eyes. "These are..." He trailed off, looking back up to the two masked men. His fists clenched as Dream nodded, a slight air of smugness around him.

"Undying Totems." The smug bastard replied, he motioned to the chest. "Consider it a gift, to our new... alliance. It wouldn't bode well if any of you died so suddenly when you're at your last lives, we need all hands on deck. But don't go too crazy with these things. If you use all of them up immediately- you won't get a new supply of them until about next month, maybe two. Getting these weren't easy and we have to save the rest for Tommy here." Dream said, curling an arm around Tommy's shoulders. Tommy said nothing and Tubbo wished nothing more for him to either say something or get Dream's arm off of him.

"Tubbo." Niki warned, looking so tired, understanding but firm. Tubbo inhaled sharply and exhaled deeply, reluctantly, he nodded. "Thank you Dream." She says and those three words were like grating noise in Tubbo's ears. "You and Tommy will no longer be targeted by us." 

Dream tilted his head and Tubbo just knows there's a fucking smile underneath that mask of his. "Great. Things will be much easier between us now that we have to focus on one crucial thing... survival. Isn't that right Tommy?" He asks, looking over to his protege.

Tommy immediately nods, "Mn. Fighting amongst ourselves with how the Overworld is right now is stupid. Enough people have died, we need to focus on surviving and living. We can't afford even more careless death anymore." Tubbo empathizes with Tommy's words. He really does. But the fact that Tommy only spoke after Dream asked a question- it's getting under his skin and he absolutely hates it. Hates Dream. Tommy would never stay silent until spoken to. 

Dream pats Tommy's head like he's a fucking dog and Quackity grabs his arm to stop Tubbo from doing anything rash. "Well said Toms." He called Tommy Toms that- "I think it's time for us to go. Message us if you need us for a raid or exploration or such." He says and he and Tommy turn to leave. Passing the 'borders' of their territory within the Nether, stone bricks turning into netherrack and soul sand.

Tubbo pulls his arm free, taking a step forward. "Wait! Tommy!" Tommy pauses, for just a split second.

"Come on Tommy. We're done here." He immediately continues walking and Tubbo stares as they leave, their speed increasing thanks to the enchantments on their boots and the soul sand and soil underneath him.

Niki and Quackity come to his side, looking pained and concerned. "Tubbo-" Tubbo cuts them off, turning on his heel.

"I'm going to check on Ranboo and then train with Technoblade. If there's a raid, tell me."

Fists clenched on the blankets at the sudden memory.

However it's pushed aside as he remembers something crucial.

"Wilbur." Toby breathes before he throws the blanket off of him, stumbling out of his bed and out of his room. His entire body protested against his movement, but that was familiar enough to ignore. "Wilbur? Wilbur!" He exclaimed, remembering that Wilbur had died and that his respawn point was within Tubbo's house from the fact he and Tommy stayed with Tubbo.

He barges into Wilbur's room, breathing roughly and he looks at the poor man on the bed.

Wilbur was pale and sweaty, curled on his side as he looked tiredly at his wrist. One heart. Wilbur was on his last life. 

The man's eyes glance from his wrist to Toby and he smiles weakly, "Oh hi Toby." He greets, trying to push himself up.

"Stay down." Toby replied firmly as he came to Wilbur's side. He dragged a chair with him so he could sit by Wilbur's bed. "Ender, Wilbur..." He whispered, seeing the new marks on Wilbur's body.

Burnt scars. 

On his palm and cheek, Wilbur had burn scars that were healed after he died. Wilbur had gotten the chance to be scarred by his death and the sight reminded Toby too much of his own scar that laid underneath his chin and covered his upper torso. His Wilbur hadn't had these scars, Toby thinks to himself. There had been a scar on Wilbur's back, from the arrow that pierced and killed him back during the elections.

He doesn't know if this was better or worse.

"I'm fine." Wilbur waved off, clearly not fine. His body was tired and he was now permanently scarred. Wilbur forced himself up, yelping when Toby forced him back down on the bed. "Toby! We have- Tommy and Tubbo are-"

"Alive." Toby interrupts him, fishing out his communicator. "We both died with Eret and Niki. No message about Tubbo and Tommy dying." He'd lost it if Tommy had actually died, not Tommy. Not this bright, life-filled Tommy. "You need to lay down and rest. You died."

Wilbur gives him a narrowed-eyed look. "You died too- you should be resting yourself." He points out and Toby snorts.

He was used to dying. Or at the very least, the exhaustion he felt was different from the exhaustion that dying with a Totem felt. This was legitimate respawning, something that he shouldn't be able to do anymore. Not when he was previously on his last life. Key word was previously here.

Toby sets down his enderchest, taking a few golden apples from the storage, "I should've gotten these out sooner. Probably would've helped." He muttered to himself, scowling over his careless mistake. He should've been more prepared. And he should've worn his armor. But he'd been so focused on getting to Theo and Dream with Phil that he hadn't thought about it much. "Here." He gave Wilbur one, biting into the shiny apple and feeling the effects of the apple already working on his sore body.

Wilbur looked into the apple and sighed, biting into it, groaning in relief when he too felt better thanks to the apple. He notices though, as Toby gets his enchanted armor set out of the chest and starts on. "Wha- Toby? What are you doing?" He felt stupid for asking, Toby was putting on armor it was obvious as to what he was going to do. "You just respawned- you can't go back out!" Even with the apple, Wilbur felt like total shit.

"Staying here is wasting precious time. I managed to kill Niki, but she'll still be under the Egg's control. Maybe Eret too- that explosion that killed you. It came from the flowers right?" Toby questioned with a severely somber look on his face. 

Wilbur paused and shuddered as he remembered- "Y-Yeah. I- Eret and I were fighting, Tubbo and Tommy were helping me and- they distracted him. I managed to stab the flowers but just as they were set aflame, I heard this hissing noise and then-" 

Finally! Wilbur thought as the enchanted blade pierced the bouquet- the tip dug into Eret's arm. He let out a pained scream, watching with horror on his face as the flowers burst into blue flame. Soul Fire. Toby had said his weapons had been enchanted to deal with the Crimson, this was what he meant. The flowers writhed in the blue fire and Wilbur sweated at the heat but stubbornly kept hold on the sword.

"YES!" Tommy cheered, he and Tubbo backing away from the seemingly victorious fight.

Hisssss

Wilbur's eyes widened at the familiar sounding hiss, and within the flames, several large flower bulbs grew twice as big before they-

BOOM!

"Pop flowers." 

Wilbur looked at Toby who held a sour, almost angry look on his face. "The flowers that were in the bouquet and exploded- we called them Pop flowers. It's a misleading name but, it was easier than to regularly call them 'bullshit exploding flower bulbs'. The Crimson, The Egg- sometimes it can make flora that can do just more than move about and infect shit. At some point it began to mutate, we think it's because it ate like, fucking gunpowder and creepers. The bulbs are living Tnt, or just very passive creepers until you set them on fire. It was something the Crimson tried to use to deter us from setting it on fire with Soul flames." Toby explained as he adjusted his chest plate and arm guards. He paused and clenched his fists. 

"It's too early for it to be able to do that though." Toby hissed through gritted teeth. "Niki- fuck, Niki must have accidentally fed it gunpowder or something. Shit. Shit."

Wilbur's heart dropped to his stomach, and he shifted on the bed, ignoring the aches to grab Toby's arm. "Niki- She- She and Eret- are they- fuck. Toby are they infected?" Even if it was Eret, he doesn't think he could bear with both of them infected. Niki especially. Toby's brows furrowed and he carefully pried Wilbur's hand off his arm as he answered.

"Possibly but not very likely." The time traveler replied carefully, looking thoughtful. "They're definitely under the Egg's control though. Niki especially- you heard her. 'Those flowers were for Eret'- she gave him those flowers. She had to get those flowers somewhere." 

The brown-haired male paled as he connected the dots. "She has the Egg." He whispered quietly, Toby's confirming nod. He bit his lip, "What do you mean, possibly but not very likely?" He couldn't help but question, the reply confusing him just a bit.

Toby sifted through his Enderchest before picking it up and putting it away. "It means that possibly the Egg hasn't infected her. Maybe it can't- not yet. It's small. Just one block. It had the opportunity to infect Sapnap, to infect George and- and Theo. But it didn't. Why?" There was a silver lining in everything Toby supposed, even if things were still incredibly shitty. But it didn't change the fact it was a silver lining that they'd need and would definitely take advantage of. "Maybe it didn't know how to yet. Maybe it's still learning. There was a flower, wrapped around Eret's wrist and a flower tucked behind Niki's ear. There's a good chance it doesn't know it can infect people yet."

Despite how hopeful Wilbur looked and probably felt, Toby could only feel apprehensive over that fact.

Because when would it learn that it could infect people? 

It only started infecting people just a handful of years ago for him. But right now, it was capable of creating explosive flowers, which was a flip from when it learned how to infect then create those types of flora. 

They were flying in half-blind into this whole situation here.

But one thing was for certain.

Toby had to destroy the Egg and save Niki and Eret.

"Wilbur!" "Wiilburr! Toby!" 

A muffled shout came from downstairs, both Toby and Wilbur recognizing it easily.

"Phil? Tommy?" Wilbur murmured as rapid footsteps and voices came quickly from downstairs to upstairs to right outside his door and-

"Wilbur!" The old man exclaimed once he barged into the room, looking relieved seeing his son having respawned safely. The father quickly came to Wilbur's side, looking over his son, cringing a bit at the sight of his burnt cheek. "Oh Wilbur- your face! Ender." 

Wilbur smiled reassuringly at his father, feeling warm at his concern. "I'm fine dad I swear." 

Toby smiled at the sight though he snorted when Tommy, Tubbo and Techno came into the room as well and with Techno coming Chat was quick to start shouting.

TOBY!!! TOBY YOU DIED! that's not good. Thank Ender you've got extra lives! almost convenient you could say. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A STUDENT OF TECHNOBLADE COULD DIE!! TECHNOBLADE NEVER DIES AND SO SHOULD TOBY!! TOBY NEVER DIES! calm down you guys niki got very lucky. The whole event was chaotic! 

Tommy brightening at the sight of he and Wilbur doing fine. "You're both okay!" He cheered, though he faltered a bit at the sight of Wilbur's cheek. "Well, mostly okay- but hey bro, manly scar there!" He said, trying to be supportive.

"We were scared for a moment that you'd be gone." Tubbo admitted to Toby quietly who chuckled quietly, "I remembered that you had one lift left before the whole, weird, extra lives bit." Toby had told them earlier on, him and Techno telling their theories about it before swiping it aside for more important matters. "I'm glad you're okay Toby." There's something nice, being comforted by your younger self. Though he noticed Tubbo's wrapped up leg.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly while Tubbo waved him off.

"I broke my leg, but I'm good! Ate a golden apple, it only just stings right now."

hot future tubbo definitely needs to be retrained. STOP CALLING HIM THAT! he died so he needs to get better! TOBY NEVER DIES! Ender damn that was intense though. A DEATH FOR A DEATH! at least he killed her before he died that was cool! He shouldn't have died in the first place. do better next time, another death would be disgraceful.

"You definitely need more training." Was Techno's words of comfort accompanied by the scoldings and heckling of Chat, Toby could only laugh sheepishly. "No student of mine is going to just die."

Toby kept his sheepish smile up until Tommy bounded up to him and offered him the things he had dropped after he died, he had already handed everything of Wilbur's. "Here! We got your stuff for you."

"Thanks Tommy." He thanked, ruffling the young blond's hair much to his protest. He laughed at the indignant look on Tommy's face and for a moment, it's a nice little reunion.

But only for a moment.

A loud, rough knock took everyone's attention. Toby glanced over and inhaled sharply at the sight of Theo at the doorway, also in full netherite. "Time to get serious. Good, you're armored and you have your weapons back. Let's go." Theo said stoically, motioning Toby to come with him. "We've got an Egg to destroy." Toby didn't see Dream behind him, but he just knew the man was nearby somewhere.

He grimaced but ultimately nodded, putting away his weapons in their slots. However his attempt to leave was halted by the protests of others. "Wait! He just respawned, he can't just leave to fight again- he should be fucking exhausted!" Tommy gripped his arm, trying not to look worried but failing. 

"Respawning takes a lot out of a person, even with golden apples, he needs to rest for at least a day." Phil agreed, helping Wilbur stand up right. 

Theo crossed his arms, "A day is all it takes for someone to escape completely. Niki is probably already making her move, Eret as well. We need to go. Now. The Egg has to be destroyed and whatever flowers it made- they need to be dealt with. Toby has died before- don't give me that look, he died with Totems. Multiple times. He can handle a simple respawn. Can't you big guy?" He drawled and Toby frowned but nodded. 

"I'll be fine." Toby reassured the others with a look, though he couldn't exactly find it in himself to smile. He'd be fine. Theo was right. He's died multiple times and survived with Totems, he had fought on fumes and drowned in exhaustion before. Respawning would be no different. "He's right, we have to reach Niki before she flees with the Egg."

"Then we're coming with you!" Tubbo chimed, looking determined with Tommy nodding in firm agreement.

"You're not." Toby and Theo chorused together, and it's surprising for a moment. There were still rare times where they would agree on some things and those moments usually made Toby just the tiniest bit happy. Like the time they both talked back to Schlatt when they first came, that had been funny. "Your leg is still healing. And Tommy you're on your last life like Wilbur and Phil. You don't have Undying Totems which-" 

Theo sighed when he saw Toby's look. "Dream and I will work on that. Our supplier doesn't exactly know us right now." Ah. That might be a chance for Toby to learn just where Theo and Dream kept getting their totems from. 

"But you can't just leave us here! So what, Dream, George and Sapnap are just going to be your back up?! I don't trust them!" Tommy declared, scowling at his future self who was, as expected, unaffected by his younger self's scowl.

Theo tilted his head, "You don't have to. But you can trust the truce Toby and I have with each other. It's been going on for years now, and it will be as long as the Egg still exists." He replied in a matter of fact tone. "Now come on Toby. We need to get moving."

Toby nodded, carefully prying Tommy's hand off of him. "We'll be fine. I don't trust Dream, George or even Sapnap but they're good fighters." He said with some reluctance. Everything had to be pushed aside for the sake of the future. Even his grudges and reservations for certain people. 

"Good fighters hm?" Techno questioned with an unimpressed tone, "Well they didn't seem to be much when we found them underground days ago." Theo tensed slightly at the reminder of his own failures.

"They weren't prepared and that's my fault." Theo replied with an even tone, forcefully relaxing himself as he faced his former brother. 

Techno narrowed his eyes at him, "Sapnap was easily taken over by that Egg, sounded like George was too. Better switch one of them out with someone who can really do some damage without worrying about the mind control." He said, staring right into the mask that Theo wore.

"Someone like you?" Toby questioned with a worn smile. Ah he should've known. Techno didn't want to stay behind and unlike Tommy, he had a good chance of coming with them really.

"I'm just saying, sounds more tactical and logical to bring me along."

Theo stayed silent before clicking his tongue in apparent irritation. "Fine. I'll talk with Dream and see who's staying behind. You can borrow their armor and weapons- borrow them. When we come back you're giving them back to their rightful owner." He said as he started to walk away from the room. "Should've gotten your own shit from the start actually. Way to be prepared Toby."

Toby sighed at the insult, but he knew Theo was right. He should've tried to arm Techno at least with Soul-Fire enchantments and such.

Either way.

It looks like they were finally going to go after the Egg together.

IT'S A TEAM UP! theo's still so mean. Do you think we could arrange a little something for Dream along the way?  there's still something very off here. theo might actually go nuts if we tried anything with dream. A TRUCE IS A TRUCE! make her pay for killing you toby. BLOOD! it's niki though! NIKI STILL KILLED TOBY! shiny. SAVE NIKI DON'T KILL HER! we won't kill her right. SHE KILLED HOT FUTURE TUBBO HOW DARE SHE. toby already killed her back for that though. NOT ENOUGH! 

That was actually a good question that Toby's been avoiding to answer. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to kill Niki again or worse.

Make sure she permanently died.

Chapter Text

"Whaaat?!" 

Theo rubbed his face underneath his mask at Sapnap's petulant tone. "I need one of you to stay behind and lend your armor and weapons to Technoblade. He's coming with us and he needs equipment." He tells him and George. "Don't worry I'll make sure he gives back your things. Worse case scenario, you might just get new armor and weapons in the end." 

Dream was unsure about the decision of having Technoblade join them but unfortunately it made sense- he was also immune to the Egg's influence. Thanks to Chat apparently. But they were already having Toby on board and Dream was healthily wary about that man who veritably hated his guts.

For somewhat good reasons. Not that Theo would agree with him on the matter.

Having both Sapnap and George there to buffer between them would've been ideal really, but Theo obviously didn't want anyone who didn't have enchanted netherite armor and Soul-Fire aspect enchanted weapons coming with them.

"We could just make him a diamond armor set for him to use!" Sapnap suggested, not wanting either him or George to be left out from this 'expedition'. He had some unfinished business with the damn Egg that controlled him after all!

Theo shook his head, "Waste of resources and time. We're already wasting enough time talking about this- I know it's not ideal. But at the very least if we bring only one of you with us there would be four immune people that can hold you back should the Egg try to control you. I don't think you'd like to be knocked out again huh Sapnap?" He questioned, almost snorting at the grimace Sapnap made and the way he grumbled and rubbed his nose. "I mean, you can come if George wants to stay."

George had a complicated look on his face, he cringed when they looked at him. "I..." He had been fully intending to go beforehand, but now that there was a chance that he could sit this one out...

Bright red vines wrapped tightly around his limbs, a voice distorting whispering in his head while George screamed, staring at the gaping mouths that were on the Egg, edging where the tentacles were emerging -help me save me obey don't let me die feed me love me keep me safe listen -

He'll admit, the Egg fucking terrifies him. That one encounter with it has him utterly afraid of it. But he couldn't let Dream and Theo go alone with just Toby and Theo and between them both, Sapnap was definitely the one who was more susceptible to the Egg's control. He couldn't let his best friend face the thing again only to be controlled once more. "I'll go." George replied firmly, giving Sapnap a certain look that has his friend tensing before deflating. "Sapnap, stay here- in L'Manberg at least."

Besides, having Sapnap be the buffer between both groups didn't seem like the best idea. 

"Ugh. Fine." Sapnap whined as he started taking off his armor, "This blows." He muttered, setting his armor aside as well as the enchanted sword with the Soul-Fire Aspect. He sets them on Tubbo's couch as they were all within Tubbo's living room at the moment. "Next time- if there is a next time, I'm so going with you guys." He declared, glaring at the three men.

Theo huffed through his nose behind the mask, "Hope there won't be a next time. Your want for revenge against the damn thing is understandable but it's for the best that we get this done and over with as soon as possible. But who knows, our luck's been shit so far. You might get your chance." He replied pessimistically. For as much as he hoped this would be the last time they'd go after the Egg, he knew better than to stake it all on this one encounter. He did that before with the Dream Team, he'd rather not do it again.

It was a 50/50 chance here, they could either be done with the Egg for good or the Egg could escape again.

If it escapes again...

"Not bad." Techno rumbled, adjusting the chestplate over his torso. "Could use some better enchantments but not bad."

Sapnap scowled at him, "I better get my shit back or else." He threatened, impatiently tapping his arm, annoyed that he couldn't go with the others. But unfortunately, he could see the logic of staying behind at the very least. And despite all his bemoaning on how he had wanted a shot at the Egg, he too hoped that this would be the last time they'd go after it.

"Or else what?" The hybrid questioned back, genuinely curious as to what Sapnap could possibly do.

The man opened his mouth but Theo was quick to interrupt, "Let's go. Sapnap you'll get your armor and sword back, if not then I promise I'll get you a new better set." Sapnap made a face but sighed, nodding reluctantly. "We need to leave. Now."

They had spent enough time in Tubbo's house, who knows where Niki was now.

"Be careful. All of you." Phil told them as they left, predictably Theo ignored the words while Toby and Technoblade reassured him that they'd be fine.

They met Fundy on their way out, the fox hybrid had seen Wilbur's death message in his comms and panicked. He messaged his father and was relieved to find that he had respawned just fine, however he heard the reason why he and Toby died along with Eret and Niki. He almost couldn't believe it himself, but unfortunately it was the truth. Fundy had a complicated look on his face when he saw the five of them but only nodded in greeting towards Theo, Dream and George before telling Toby and Techno to be careful and good luck before dashing off to meet with Wilbur, wanting to personally check on his father.

"Has Fundy asked to look at the portal yet?" Theo couldn't help but ask Toby as he watched the fox hybrid leave.

Toby looked surprised before he nodded, "Sort of. Wilbur said he was obviously interested, I'll let him check on the blocks when we get back." He was actually curious whether or not Fundy would be able to figure out how his future self and Philza made the blocks. 

...

He hoped Fundy and Philza, his Fundy and Philza were alright. It had been so chaotic in the lab...

"TOMMY!" Tubbo screamed, seeing the figure in red disappear into the hallway. He gripped his sword, about to run off when Fundy grabbed his arm.

The hybrid look panicked, "Tubbo we have to go!" Around them, the lab shook, a small earthquake happened right underneath their feet as the Crimson continued to try and force their way into the building. 

"But Tommy- I'm not leaving him! Go Fundy, you and Philza have to go- Tommy and I- we'll go through the portal!" Tubbo exclaimed, prying the fox's arm off of him. 

Fundy's eyes widened, "That's insane! We don't even know if it'll work properly or even what time you'll turn up!" He replied, he opens his mouth to scream more at Tubbo, try to convince him to leave with them but he and Tubbo stumble as the quake grew stronger and in the background there was the sound of something breaking- a wall. Tubbo doesn't waste any more time, he runs and Fundy screams after him. "TUBBO!"

Tubbo gritted his teeth together and ran as fast as he could. Sorry Fundy, but he wasn't going to let Tommy go. And if the portal worked, then like hell he was going to let him go back to the masked bastard again. 

Could Fundy and Phil get the portal working again?

"Let's go."

Toby shook his head, clearing his thoughts with a grim look on his face. That would have to wait because right now, he had to focus all he had on hunting the Egg down and getting to Niki. Eret could be dealt with later, Niki was the bigger threat right now since she had direct contact with the Egg. 

Together, the five men sprinted off towards Niki's bakery. It was the first and most obvious place to check for her whereabouts. 

Predictably though, she wasn't there. The bakery was empty, there wasn't even the smell of fresh bread or any other pastry that could be smelled in the air. It didn't seem like Niki had baked anything as of recently within her bakery which was odd because usually, there was almost something sweet within the air. Something delicious smelling.

But there was nothing, nothing at all.

"We'll have to check more later." Toby says as they exited the bakery, "She might've planted a few flowers here under the bakery but right now we're after her and the Egg. The flowers can be dealt with later, we go after the source first." He got nods of grim agreement. Later on, it would be confirmed that there was indeed, a horrifying red garden underneath the bakery.

"But where can we even find her now?" George asked. He was never that close to Niki and had no idea where she actually lived or if she made any bases anywhere. Dream was in the same boat, he hadn't really thought to keep an eye on Niki since she was usually a person he considered level-headed. She wasn't a troublemaker like Tommy had been and so she was completely off of his radar and he had no idea what she's been up to until now.

Nothing had to be said about Technoblade's side, he hardly knew who this woman was, only hearing mentions of her from his brothers.

Luckily however, they had two time-travelers who knew her very well. One of them being the Ex-President who stepped down from his power to let Niki step in as his replacement. "If there's one place she'll go, it'll be to her secret city." Toby said aloud, glancing over to Theo who nodded at him.

"Secret city?" Dream repeated dryly with a hidden narrow-eyed look. 

"Niki's been building her own secret city since before even the Pogtopia and Manberg war started." Theo explained to him, "Just after L'Manberg got independence, she started out digging out her own little city. It was her secret project just in case something else happened. By now, she's probably only got it started and it definitely wouldn't be as big as it was back in our future but it's one of the places she always went to when she had the chance."

"You made a secret city. Right under my nose." Dream stated, his face no doubt unimpressed and displeased underneath his mask. Tommy tensed by his side while Tubbo and Ranboo stared at her in surprise. The five of them surrounded a map that belonged to Niki.

Niki didn't even flinch at the displeased tone, she smiled wanly at Dream, "Yes. I did. It was my secret project just in case L'Manberg ended up not working out. It was hard and slow, but it was mine..." She took in a deep breath, her eyes hard and her mouth set. "The city is located here," She pointed at a specific place on the map. "Underneath the hills underground. It's stocked with supplies, food, blocks, ores- we need to get those supplies."

"That area is overrun with Crimson." Tommy can't help but point out, he glances at Dream who nods slightly at him- he relaxes and continues. "It's probably fully taken over by now."

"If there's a chance that we can get more resources in one go, we should take it." Ranboo argued, turning to Niki, "Just how much resources are there Niki?"

Niki's smile was full of teeth. "Enough for a small city. I don't have everything obviously, but I was preparing like mad for something big to happen and to unveil my secret project... It's a waste now, my beautiful city but we're not going to leave those resources at the hands of the Crimson. I have the exact coordinates for a good nether portal, with enough manpower and help, we can raid the storage area and salvage whatever we can from my city."

They had lost people during that raid, a raid that Toby couldn't even join because he had to train more for the trials. But they had gained so many resources, enough for them to stabilize themselves within the Nether. It hadn't been perfect but it was enough for them until they started properly terraforming the Nether.

"Since it's before the war then the city shouldn't be that big." Toby said as he tried to remember the coordinates for where the city had been, "Come on. We have to hurry."

EGG HUNTING! we're so gonna destroy the hell out of that egg! BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! DESTROY THE ABOMINATION! Save Niki while we're at it! egg. be wary warriors, do not let your guards down. BREAK THE EGG! BREAK THE EGG! are we going to stab dream afterwards? TEAM UP POGGG!! hot future tubbo and tommy together to save the future! You need to stop. FIND NIKI FIND THE EGG AND BREAK THEM BOTH! 

Technoblade skillfully ignored Chat as he and the others sprinted through the trees. It was easier to do thanks to the fact they had to focus on heading towards the coordinates of where Niki's secret city was supposed to be. Which was impressive considering Dream didn't even know it existed despite being the one to own the lands.

Dream himself was...

Technoblade doesn't know him personally. He's fought against the masked man before and won, he had respected him for his strength and the ability to adapt to his surroundings and was smart during his fights. 

Dream was one of the people aside from Phil who could easily match him in PvP, and he was definitely someone Technoblade had respected. However that respect goes down the drain when he learns that Dream prompted the exile of his baby brother and then brainwashed that alternate version of his baby brother into a man Techno could hardly recognize. That Dream had a hand in his not-actual-twin's insanity, goading and providing him with TNT. Now Technoblade knows he was never the best brother, he knows that Wilbur was far closer to Tommy than he ever would be but he was still their eldest brother, despite his reservations for familial affections and showing those affections directly- he still loved his family. His brothers. Phil, his father.

They were his faction. 

His family.

Dream messed with his family.

It was from a future that would never be now but the principle and fact still stood. Toby and Theo stood as proof to Dream's machinations, of the tyranny Dream had over them- Toby's understandable hatred and malice towards the masked man and Theo's unnatural loyalty to him in constrast. Dream had done something to them both, Theo especially.

If there was something that Technoblade hated absolutely, was a tyrant.

The only reason Schlatt and L'Manberg was considered alright in his book now is because of the lack of tyranny going on. Mostly thanks to Toby. Techno has opted to forgive Toby's past as a president and the unsuccessful attempt to kill him, it seemed fair enough from how Techno had killed Toby and destroyed L'Manberg the first time.

Technoblade believed Toby's claims of brainwashing. He believed and understood on a vague level on Toby's hate for Dream. It made sense, the Tommy they both knew wasn't the type to bow to the masked man, especially from how he's heard about their current relationship.

The hybrid hasn't forgotten the fact that Dream took both of Tommy's lives and was the sole reason why his brother was on his last life, living precariously on the edge like Phil. He was too young to be on his last life, only a teenager, not even an adult. Wilbur's sanity had clearly already thinned when he let their baby brother duel against a PvP warrior like Dream on his own, betting his second life and the independence of a nation that Techno didn't really care about.

Those factors alone, wracked some negative points for Dream in his books, enough to justify a stab or two. 

Theo on the other hand, was probably enough to justify a murder. Not that he would- not because it wasn't right or because he couldn't- he very well could. However Theo was compromised and wouldn't stand Technoblade attacking Dream. He'd defend the man with his lives, that much was clear. That protectiveness stretched on to both George and Sapnap, Techno noted. 

Techno believed Toby's claims of brainwashing, he disliked Dream to the point of possibly wanting to kill him but he didn't hate the man. Not yet at least. 

There were things that Techno's noticed, things that Toby was missing, either willfully as he was blinded by his emotions for the masked man or because he wasn't looking for it. 

Theo's loyalty to Dream was unnatural. Very unnatural. And he's definitely noticed the ominous warnings coming from that one voice that seemed far older than the rest. More matured, controlled. They had a point, things were more complicated than they were. That point was proven when Theo revealed a thread of why he was loyal to Dream; Dream saved his life from a parasitic monster vine egg thing. That could garner trust and loyalty. 

Or at the very least, a favor.

But the type of loyalty that Theo had was... fanatical. Complete and utterly subservient. If Dream told him to jump, Theo would already be in the air when he asked how high.

Technoblade doesn't know Dream enough to look at his personality and think, but he's noticed the way that Dream acts around Theo. Though his face was covered, his body language and the air around him told tales. Sometimes smug. Sometimes regretful. Dream had Theo on the palm of his hands and had no actual idea what to do with him. Theo was the one who was leading him and George at the moment even though, by all means and expectations, Dream would be the one to lead. To give orders. 

He wouldn't be complacent to the orders of a man who was so loyal to follow him. 

There was something more to this and Techno would learn about it.

At another point however, seeing as they were all busy with confronting Niki and the Egg.

"It's here." 

A hole in the ground and a small dirt tower. Surrounded by normal-looking flowers. Techno eyed the red ones warily, wondering if they were the 'pop' flowers that Theo and Toby had told them about. 

"Doesn't look like she planted any flowers above ground." Toby says, noticing the wary looks and giving him a reassuring look- it was ruined by the grim gaze Toby had as he looked down into the hole. "We'll have to be careful here."

"No shit." Theo snorted, glancing at him then to Dream and George. "On your guard. Run if you have to, but stay close for now. George, if you hear anything tell us." 

George looked pale, there was trauma in his goggled eyes, probably from his first encounter with the Egg. But he nodded, looking determined and clutching the enchanted sword tightly. 

Techno took in a deep breath, he and Toby ignoring Chat's loud murmurs as they descended into the hole.

It was time to see what the Egg was all about.

Chapter Text

Red.

That's the first thing that pops into Dream's head as soon as the hole they're in extends way out. Giving them entrance to Niki's secret underground city that Dream had previously no idea about. How dare she It's impressive really.

Red.

The man-made cavern was big, and almost empty if it weren't for the sprawling red overgrowth that spanned nearly the entire cave and whatever structure that was within it. The growth and unnaturally red flora only stopped right before where Dream and the others were standing. A twisted garden of red plans that swayed as if there was wind within the cave. There wasn't. They moved on their own, there was a faint sound of whispers in the air that came from a few of the sanguine plants. It almost smelled sickeningly sweet, but there was a scent of iron and ash in the air.

There were vines that hung off the ceiling and the sides of unfinished buildings, too many groups of red flowers were growing together, some groups whispered among themselves. Scarlet mushrooms, different from their normal red originators, were on the walls- they almost looked like eyes. Crimson shrubs and leaves decorated the windows of Niki's buildings, and Dream could even see a couple of red trees here and there. Growing out of place, but holding flowers and vines off its branches.

The amount of unnatural red flora within the cave was almost nauseating to look at. Even George could see how unnaturally red everything was despite his Protan colorblindness. It was just that red- it was almost maddening. 

Dream glanced at his best friend, just to see his reaction. Just to see how he was doing.

George is wide-eyed and pale, a look of pure shock and terror that Dream could easily see even with his goggles on. He jolts when Dream lays a comforting hand on his friend, squeezing his shoulder. George gives him a weak, shaky smile for the action but then he looks over to Technoblade, Theo and Toby. Dream does as well.

Technoblade certainly looked shocked as hell, whatever he was expecting from the 'Egg', it probably wasn't this. And honestly, Dream could relate. He hadn't expected this either. But then again he expected nothing that happened over the past week or so. Especially not the Egg. abomination 

Dream almost shivered at the slight whispers in the back of his head. If there was one thing that could get both his fragments to agree was the fact that the Egg, the Crimson, was that it was an abomination and shouldn't exist. Especially not after it tried to take his tools friends away from him. Especially after it did just that in a fucked up future that Dream was determined to not let happen.

While the piglin hybrid looked shocked at the unexpected sight, the two time-travelers that came from the future weren't shocked at the sight of it at all. They...

They both looked bleak. Grim. Whatever you want to call it- there was a haunting weariness in Toby's eyes that Dream knew Theo had as well underneath his mask as they both looked upon the 'sea' of red that grew within the artificial cavern. Both of them were tightly gripping their weapons, a new found sense of steel in their spines as they straightened them. 

This wasn't a new sight for them to see. Dream thinks somberly to himself.

This was something they had seen on the daily in their future.

A world of unnatural red that stained their Overworld, overtook it and kept taking. It threatened their lives, it took over his SMP- killed so many people like his friends.

Well, it wasn't going to do shit now.

"Theo." Theo turns to look at him, Toby as well- Dream cringes at the look of disdain on the man's face. "Are there any crimson plants we should be wary about?" Dream eyes the weird, eye-like mushrooms, the bulb-shaped flowers that Dream thinks are the Pop Flowers that Theo had told them about, the curling vines on the walls and ceiling and the small whispering flowers that were grouped together on the ground before them. 

"Oh I don't know Dream, why not all of them?" Techno drawled his answer, motioning to the fucked up flora that filled the cave. 

Dream frowned deeply at him, "Well yeah but- I'm talking about really wary about Technoblade. Shut up. There's exploding flowers in there in case you forgot but what else is in there? And where do you think Niki and the Egg are?" He retorted back at the hybrid. Annoyed by Technoblade's drawl, also he was still very much ticked by Techoblade's 'homeless' remarks earlier on.

He had a fucking home thanks very much. 

Dream had to wonder if it was just a family trait at this point, to be a certain kind of annoying. Tommy was definitely annoying, Wilbur had been a type of annoying with his want for independence and now Technoblade was a different type of heckling annoyance.

At least Phil had been polite.

"Do you really think they're here?" George added his own question quietly, gripping his sword tightly in his hand and looking wearier and wearier as the minutes passed. 

Toby frowned, "Technoblade's right. Just be careful with every red plant you see." He answered shortly and Dream wondered if he only answered that way because he was actually agreeing with Technoblade or because he didn't really want to answer Dream's question. It was probably a combination to both.

Arrogant.
Understandable.

Thankfully Theo was inclined to answer with a more thorough answer, "Those bulbs over there are Pop Flowers, be careful if you stab them with the enchantment. They'll blow up after a couple of seconds, use those seconds to get away or cushion the blow with water. With our armor on it won't be as bad. The vines will try to grab and either restraint you and or strangle you if you get close or you're distracted. Those flowers there are Whispering Riots, they'll try to tempt you to pick them up, ignore them. The eye-looking mushrooms are Vision Shrooms, or at least a prototype, doesn't look like they're the vision shrooms that Toby and I know yet. The flowers in the trees look like dewdroppers. They'll drop red sap if you get underneath them, it'll poison you. Everything else is just standard Crimson shit, they'll move and if you touch any of them you'll hear the Egg." He explained diligently. "There might be other plants here, but essentially yeah, you have to be careful with every red motherfucker you see growing out of somewhere."

He lifted his enchanted netherite axe, aiming for the patch of bright red flowers that was nearby them, "As for if the Egg and Niki... Let's find out." He swings it sideways, the blade of his axe cutting through the wriggling stems like butter and in the next second the flowers were set aflame.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Just like that, there was the sound of screaming. A cacophony of screams that they all could hear. High-pitched and many, the screams came from the Whispering Riots and a few other plants that writhed. However, among the screaming, there was a familiar screech that Theo, George and Dream recognized paired with a feminine scream that they all sans Technoblade recognized as well.

"NOOO!!"

The Egg and Niki were here within the secret city after all.

Toby smiles a harsh and gloomy smile, a look of bloodlust in his building in his and Techno's eyes while Chat cackled and chanted in both of their heads, encouraging and fanning the internal flames for battle, blood and violence. "Found them."

Theo rolled his shoulders, gripping his axe in hand. "Stab and slice every plant you can, be careful with the pop flowers. We're burning everything to the ground."

George took in a deep breath, trying to calm the trembling in his body. 

Dream squeezed his shoulder once before letting go.

Burn it all to protect what's yours.
Burn it all to protect your friends.

He couldn't agree more.

"Eww, what is this stuff?" Bad questioned with a grossed out face, examining the transparent red looking slime thing that was smeared on the wall. It looked both slimy and dry at the same time, which was very weird. "It smells nasty." It smelled like blood and faintly like rotten flesh that was set out in the sun to dry for months. 

Skeppy shrugged, looking around the small pocket of space that had been mined out. "No idea Bad, but this place gives me the creeps. Let's get out of here." He said with a frown, eyeing the black charred outline of something that was on the ground. Looked like something had been burnt very badly, whatever it was, it was long. 

The demon looked over to his human, tilting his head, "You were the one who wanted to check this place out Skeppy. You already wanna leave so badly?" He wasn't complaining or anything, he'd like to get out as well but Skeppy had been so curious about the coordinates that he'd badgered him into finding the area with him and checking it out. 

They'd both been curious about the whole, 'stay away from this place exactly' that Dream, Sapnap and George had said to them. Not to mention Theo who they still haven't met yet. They both wanted to meet him- they had seen Toby in L'Manberg and wanted to meet him as well but whenever they were in L'Manberg they either missed him or he was busy with something else. They had yet to meet either of the time travelers.

When they asked the trio about Theo they'd been rebuffed and told that Theo currently didn't want to see anyone else at the moment.

<Dream> Some things came up okay? You can meet Theo another time, he's not feeling to see anyone else right now.

It was incredibly disappointing but Bad didn't want to be rude and demand to meet Theo, he even kept Skeppy from stubbornly asking about the man. It seemed that whatever happened was important because George, Sapnap and Dream pretty much disappeared for a few days after that. Only answering a few messages at the time.

The coordinates were something that Skeppy couldn't get out of his head and was too curious for his own good, which lead them to now. In a weird mine that seemed to had its fair share of mysterious adventures. There were tunnels that lead to nowhere, a couple of them connected to each other but that was it. In the not-really large open space, there was that smeared wall of something as well as the char shadow on the floor, all in all it was very creepy and Skeppy's curiosity was more than satisfied now.

"C'mon Bad let's get out of here." Skeppy insisted, grabbing the demon's hand and tugging. He really didn't want to stick around anymore. There was just... something off about this place. He really, really didn't want to stay any longer than they've already had.

"Okay okay! Calm down Geppy, we're going." Bad soothed, squeezing his hand comfortingly as they both ascended through the only entrance and exit. "Are you okay?" He asked, worried for his bonded human and platonic soulmate. 

Skeppy shrugged, glancing back to the weird mine and then up forwards where they were heading. "Yeah- I just- Yeah, it's just really weird okay? I don't like that place. My curiosity's satisfied, I'm good, let's just go and never come back." It was weird, and Skeppy kind of felt embarrassed for feeling that way but being around that area just... It sets him off, triggers him in a way that he finds very uncomfortable.

It was like he was expecting something there, which was weird and disturbing but he and Bad hadn't really found anything which was even more weird and disturbing. 

It was a complicated feeling and he'd rather forget it entirely now.

"Okay, we're not going back down there ever again." The demon agreed, smiling reassuringly at his diamond-loving human. He too, felt like something was off. He doesn't know what or why, but he definitely felt like he'd been expecting to find something there. Maybe something important? It didn't really matter now, what mattered was that his precious human was feeling off and seemed to need his comfort. Bad was more than willing to give it, he cared for Skeppy and loved him with all his being. 

Skeppy sighed in relief, smiling back at Bad. He felt better now. Actually he felt even more better the moment they weren't underground anymore. "Whew." He stretched slightly, giving Bad one of his usual happy smiles. "Okay! Now that that's done, where do we go now? Should we head back home?" He hadn't really thought on what to do after they checked out the coordinates. 

Bad hummed in thought, "Maybe? Oh! We could stop by L'Manberg to buy a few things, I'm craving a bit for Niki's cookies." He admitted, smiling widely.

"Oh! Oh! And her cake! Yeah! I hope she's there this time." Skeppy replied, thinking back to when he and Bad had visited her bakery a couple of days ago. She hadn't been there and the shop had been closed unfortunately, it had been strange but Niki must have been out doing something important. Hopefully though, she was there now and they could get some of her baked goods to go. 

With that said, the demon-human pair set of towards L'Manberg.

The nation had been quite nice so far despite the war that had happened for its independence just months ago. Also the drama seemed to have mostly disappeared now that the elections were done. It was actually a somewhat peaceful time that Bad and Skeppy were starting to enjoy, minus the whole, travelers from the future and the time traveling debacle. 

It was certainly interesting and both wanted to know more at some point but ultimately, it wasn't entirely their business now was it?

On their way to L'Manberg however, they ran into something interesting.

Someone interesting.

Two someones actually.

Soul-fire was an interesting type of fire.

Only attainable by setting fire to soul sand or soil.

The blue flame acted like normal fire, however it had several attributes that not a lot of people knew of.

The most common attribute that most people knew however, was that piglins stayed away from Soul-Fire. Torches and lanterns made with soul sand or soil, that burned with the light blue flame were effective ways to keep piglins away and piglins rarely ever went or were even seen by Soul Sand Valleys.

Piglin hybrids were wary about the flame, but not to the extent of their fully piglin brethren. 

That was common knowledge.

What wasn't common knowledge was the reason why they avoided the soul fire like the plague. Running away the moment the flame appeared via torch, lantern or just a block of soul sand or soil set aflame. 

They knew the true dangers it held, this hauntingly beautiful blue flame that only made by the soil and sand made of souls. 

And instinctively, so did the Egg. The Crimson.

Surrounding Theo was a landscape of blue fire mixed with screaming crimson flora. The plants writhed in clear agony, trying to put themselves out from the harmful flame that was killing them all. The Whispering Riots were certainly living the last part of their name, rioting and no longer whispering, screeching just like the Egg now. The red grass underneath him contorted underneath his netherite boots. No doubt if Theo hadn't had his boots on, they'd sharpen into literal blades if they could.

Or maybe the Egg hadn't learned to do that just yet.

It was young, it had no idea what it was actually doing yet. And the thought made Theo smile.

Surrounded by a mystical flame that came from his and everyone else's weapons, by blue consuming red- Theo felt satisfied by the burning destruction of one of the most dangerous things to ever exist.

He's been waiting for a moment like this for a long time.

The Crimson in the future was so much stronger than the Crimson and Egg right now. It had felt pain with each burnt plant but it hadn't fallen apart like it was right now, it had powered through the pain, focused on its mission of consuming the world. It had the capability of putting out the fire itself with some of its flora, it would never be totally immune to Soul-Fire but it had manifested and grew ways to make sure it could put out its weakness. Not to mention its infected and controlled servants.

But right now, with the Egg young and inexperienced. It was so fucking small and weak. It couldn't infect anyone and only had Niki under its direct control right now. It was learning fast sure but it would mean nothing if they got to it first and burnt the fucker down to smoldering smithereens.

Theo could feel a hope growing in his chest, and for once he was hesitant to crush it.

Nonetheless, he does because he reminds himself that it wasn't over until the Egg itself was burnt to hell and back.

He stabs the ground with the tip of his sword, watching calmly as the red grass shriveled and turned black underneath the Soul-Fire enchantment of his sword. He steps back, switches from his sword back to his axe and swings- cutting the red vines on a nearby wall. Dodging the trembling and now fiery tendrils that attempted to reach out towards him.

He turns and throws his sword into a pile of Pop Flowers. Watching the bulbs expand and explode. The explosion is large, but he has a water bucket ready for himself and his armor is more than ready to protect him.

"You- really seem to be enjoying yourself." George comments from the side, him and Dream sticking by- Toby and Techno had gone another direction, trying to find Niki while spreading the Soul-Fire as well. Theo looks over to George, he seemed very pale and though he's been setting fire to a few plants, it was clear that the plants' screaming was really getting to him. Dream kept close to George's side because of that, and thus Theo did the same.

Theo nodded, "You have no idea how happy I am right now, seeing everything like this." He says with a smirk, arms wide and open as he gestured to the blue fire that surrounded them- they had no fear for the fire. Their armor was more than enough to deal with Soul-Fire, and Theo of course had fire resistance potions. He sets his arms down as he steps a bit closer to George and Dream, "Are you two okay? George, how's your head?"

George smiled weakly, pressing a hand against his forehead. "Filled with the screams. I- Ender, I'm going to have nightmares." He shivered, flinching as he heard a new set of screams and screeches within his mind. The clawing, desperate please that he tries to ignore - HELP ME HELP HURTS HURTS PAIN AAAAAA HUNGRY OBEY HELP HURTS BAD BAD HELP PAIN PAIN PAIN- to the best of his abilities.

"Better to have nightmares instead of being eaten or controlled." Dream joked, it was weak but it was enough for George who snorted at it. 

Dream and Theo could ignore the noise easily. Theo with practice and the static that surrounded his head and Dream with his fragments who aggressively protected his state of mind- if anything was going to influence Dream's head, it would be them at the very least. Toby and Techno had Chat who drowned out the screams with their own.

George was the only one vulnerable to the screams, and though he was capable of ignoring them, he could hear them clearly in his head.

Actually, scratch that.

There was one other person who was vulnerable to the screams.

"HOW DARE YOU?!"

The three men's head snapped up to see Niki on top of one of the unfinished buildings. Cradling the Egg in her hold, streams of tears going down her face with a manic look in her red-flecked eyes. She looked haggard and pained, entirely effected by the Egg and Crimson's screaming in her head and ears. 

Theo smiled underneath his mask.

"Finally, took you long enough to get out of hiding bitch."

The Egg writhed in Niki's hold, affected by the intense flames that was killing off the garden it made. Tentacle vines flailing about, mouths open and -AAAAAAAAAAAA PAIN PAIN HUNGRY HELP HELP BAD HURTS SO MUCH HELP ME HELP ME FRIEND HELP HURTS HURTS SO BADLY- screeching.

"There she is!" 

From the side, Toby and Techno came, apparently having followed Chat's directions to find them all.

Five men stood on the ground of a burning secret underground city, a woman holding a monstrous Egg stands atop one of the burning buildings.

It was time to end this. Once in for all.

Chapter Text

It's awkward within the house. Within his house.

Kind of.

It's all going fine, somewhat- Fundy had come to check in on Wilbur and worry on the fact that his adoptive father was on his last life with Phil. And together, they all worried for the men that went off to find Niki and the Egg. Tubbo, Tommy, Wilbur, Philza, Fundy and Sapnap.

Yeah Sapnap was in Tubbo's house again.

Though instead of being unconscious or half-dressed, he was fully conscious and was fully dressed. Thank goodness. As funny as that had been it was also awkward to remember that Sapnap had been unconscious in a bed within his living room and had been stripped of his shirt right in front of them all- not to mention he was friends with Dream, the one person that no one else in the room saw in a particularly good light at the moment.

"I'm staying here until they get back, easier that way." Sapnap had said after he went into the kitchen to get something to drink. "Just let me stay for a bit, I'll go as soon as they come back."

Now, Tubbo could have kicked him out. It was his house after all, and he could see how uneasy everyone else felt around Sapnap who was trying to hide how uneasy he felt around them in turn. It was a good effort but Tubbo was pretty sure he noticed it when Sapnap decided to just, drag one of his sofa chairs to the corner of Tubbo's living room, sit down and just read one of Tubbo's books from his book case. He also toyed and fidgeted around with his communicator from time to time, didn't seem like he was typing anything into it though so he wasn't messaging or talking to anyone. 

Not only that but Tubbo knew that Sapnap was just as worried as they were.

Worried about George, Dream and Theo.

So that was one of the reasons why Tubbo hadn't really tried to kick him out of his house. Which again, seemed to be very popular now. Phil, Wilbur and Fundy were sat on the couch, Wilbur looking far better than he did just hours ago after he respawned. Tommy sat by Tubbo, but was leaning towards where his father, brother and nephew were sitting, babbling and talking at them, feigning casualness to hide the fact he was just as worried about Wilbur as Phil and Fundy were. Tommy had even faked complaints as he stood up briefly to swiftly go get Wilbur's glasses from the room Wilbur was staying in within Tubbo's house.

Should he just offer Wilbur and Tommy to move in with him at this point? Tommy hasn't gone back to his base over the week, same with Wilbur. He had offered the guest room to Toby as permanent residence, the idea of living with yourself from future that won't be anymore was weird but Tubbo could make it work. He was both disappointed and relieved when Toby said he'd think about it, sounding just as unsure Tubbo had been when he made the offer.

Anyway, back to Sapnap.

Another reason Tubbo let Sapnap stay was...

Well because he wanted to talk to the man.

Sapnap was Dream's friend, and by proxy he was able to talk with Theo easily. 

Tubbo wanted to talk to him about Theo, and by extension Dream he supposes. Right now, Sapnap was one of his solid leads and direct connections towards the two masked and enigmatic men Dream and the now called TheoInnit. 

If Tubbo could find out more about Theo from Sapnap, or maybe even get Sapnap to let Tubbo talk to Theo himself-

"I'm not your best friend."

Tubbo gripped his pant legs slightly before he forced himself to let go. 

He wanted to talk to Theo.

He just-

"I'm not your best friend."

Tubbo needed to talk to him. He really did. He needed to know. He just- He needed to talk with Theo. 

When Sapnap stood up to go the bathroom, Tubbo waited a few minutes, chatting with Tommy before he stood up to 'get a few things' from his room. Excusing himself from the living room, Tubbo sought out the third member of the Dream Team. Waiting patiently outside the bathroom, an intrusive thought passes his head on how he should barge in for his answers but he quickly waves it off and continues to wait.

Thankfully it doesn't take that long for Sapnap to come out of the bathroom, "Sapnap." The man jolted at the sight of him, surprised to see Tubbo waiting outside the bathroom for him. 

"Uhh, hey Tubbo?" Sapnap greeted back awkwardly, scratching his cheek and no doubt wondering what he was doing and why he was there. "What's up?"

Tubbo opened his mouth to continue but was interrupted by some loud muffled knocking from his front door, he groaned, "Tommy can you get that?!" He shouted loudly, not wanting to leave without asking Sapnap his questions first. What terrible timing. Sapnap snorted as his shout, as well at the loud, "YEAH OKAY!" That came from the young blond that they both knew. 

"Sapnap." Tubbo said seriously afterwards, Sapnap's amusement shifted into weariness at that. "I wanted to ask you something."

Sapnap shifted from one leg to another. "What is it?"

"It's about Theo-" Tubbo started causing Sapnap to tense, wary for whatever question Tubbo would send him however Tubbo was once again interrupted. Not by a knock this time.

"AAAAH?! WHAT THE FUUUCK?!" 

But by Tommy's scream.

Instantly, both Tubbo and Sapnap were off towards the front door where Tommy should be. "TOMMY!?" Tubbo chorused with not only Sapnap, but Phil, Wilbur and Fundy as well. Fundy helped Phil steady Wilbur as they all hurried from the living room.

They all scrambled towards the front door, only to freeze at the sight before them.

George would say he was good at PvP. 

He had grown up with Dream and Sapnap, of course he'd be good at PvP. When they were younger, they'd spar against each other all the time with him and Sapnap visiting Dream and getting taught by Dream's mother on how to wield swords properly, how to use shields and axes. When they got older, they started fighting for real, especially after Dream lost his family. Had lost his mother, sister and father to extremist hunters who had sought out Dream's lineage as an Active Admin Descendant. 

Dream had never really been the same after the loss and threw himself into combat, to become stronger and to protect what was left of himself and his life. 

He'd fought, and fought, and fought and fought with both George and Sapnap fighting right by him. Supporting him when he needed them and cheering him on when he was on his own.

Dream adapted into his newfound life, his combat skills skyrocketing through the roof and suddenly Dream was winning championships and gaining a reputation. The extremist hunters disappear without a trace and George looks the other way when Dream throws the last of his past into lava, he and Sapnap comfort him when Dream breaks down afterwards.

George and Sapnap had their own reputations as well, they were Dream's friends, together the three of them were the Dream Team. The original trio. Bad and Antfrost had joined them briefly, they had become friends before Bad returned to Skeppy's side permanently and Antfrost went off to look for his own calling.

His masked best friend had only lost a handful of times in the last few years, and one of those times was to Technoblade in an official tournament. And Dream had lost to the hybrid piglin. It had been surprising to hear then, he and Sapnap had heckled on his loss and Dream took it in stride. 

After Dream managed to gain a big enough reputation, he came back to the lands his family had left him in their will. Taking ownership as he had deserved and invited them into his lands, where they could finally make a permanent home, somewhere safe and sound.

And then Technoblade's little brothers came through and settled down. Dream had been curious about them, and let them stay. 

The two brothers became the eyes of a hurricane no one saw coming. George found himself helping Dream with a war that slowly changed them all and from there it escalated like a small snowball rolling down a hill and gaining more and more snow. More traction. The war lasted for a year, shedding more blood than necessary and ending with a young teenager's two lives taken by his best friend and a new nation in Dream's SMP lands.

L'Manberg's first election goes tits up and suddenly time travel was involved. TommyInnit, the boy who tried to go against Dream head on was now a broken man who followed Dream like a duckling and was overly protective as him and Tubbo, the boy who loved bees and was Tommy's best friend was a scarred man that hated Dream with a burning passion.

Then the Egg happened, and that Egg despite being one block high had been scary. George wasn't ashamed to admit that, the Egg scared the shit out of him. Sapnap got controlled then hurt, Theo revealed the root scar he had and they all came back to Dream's base for reprieve... Only they immediately got into another clusterfuck as Theo called Dream his friend and owner. 

Then they went to the Warped Forest. Met the Warped Priest.

And then it's revealed that because of Dream's heritage, he was slowly going insane himself. He had the potential to turn into the Dream that made Theo scream with fear and pain and marked him down with a Loyalty III enchantment. To turn into the Dream that made Toby, who was once one of the nicest males in the land, despise him.

George wouldn't have believed it if he and Sapnap hadn't seen the way Dream's eyes had darkened into 'grass' with a few 'poison' flecks, using Theo's terminology. 

That had been both horrifying and terrifying to see for themselves, paired with Theo's pleas and the reveal of the enchantment...

He shouldn't have punched Dream, not his Dream at least but he couldn't help himself. Even with Theo nearly killing him, he felt both regret and satisfaction from punching Dream. Dream even forgave and consented, but George wished he could've punched Theo's Dream in the face. Preferably without Theo there to see him punch the man.

When Theo asked for help, George will admit. He almost hesitated. 

Almost.

But Dream was still his friend and like Theo had said, there was time. They could help Dream, prevent him from ever becoming the Dream that hurt Theo so much. They could help Theo heal.

They just needed to deal with a few things first.

Which brings George back to the present, to now.

The Egg. 

The fucking loud as hell monster Egg that created some sick twisted red garden that was all types of horrifying in its own right. A garden filled with moving plants in all shades of unnatural red, filled with plants that screamed as they burned, filled with plants that could easily kill or influence him if he let his guard down.

The Egg created the Crimson Garden, a garden of horrors that should've never been created in the first place.

And now it was burning, thanks to the special enchantment of their weapons. George has a new favorite flame-making enchantment, and it was called Soul-Fire Aspect. He was never going to lose or break this sword, he was going to keep it by his side at all times.

Around him, the Crimson Garden was lit aflame, screams of -HELP HELP BURNING HURT HURT BAD HUNGRY FEED HELP PROTECT ME HELP AAAA BAD BAD BURNING HELP- the Egg echoed in the cave and in George's head and it took all of George's will to stay still and just clutch his sword tightly like it was his last and only life-line. 

The voice in his head was horrible, shifting from a child to a woman to a man- it never stayed the same as it continued to beg and plea for its life. It bounced around in his head, clawing at his moral compass and humanity, slamming against his mind for access that George would not grant. He was both glad and regretful that he had come instead of Sapnap, on one hand there was a crazy fucking Egg trying to control him but on the other hand if Sapnap was here...

George made the right decision. No matter how traumatic it seemed to be.

"Whatever you do. Don't listen to anything it says George." Theo told him before he went wild and set everything red and moving on fire. "It won't hesitate to kill or use you the moment you let your guard down. You can hang back if you want, just stay alive for Dream's sake."

George was only there for support, to ground Dream and be the buffer. They didn't really need him in terms of combat, not with both Dream and Technoblade there paired with their respective future proteges. 

George could confidently say he was good at PvP. He's trained with Dream, sparred against him from time to time and has been through a lot of fights. 

But he could also say with no shame at all, that he opted to sit this one fight out and watch from a safe distance. Supporting from afar, and trying to keep his wits in a burning, secret underground city. Protecting himself from the begging and the screaming -AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- in his head and doing what Theo told him to do;

Stay alive.

That's all he had to do and by fuck was he going to do that.

So he stays back, he doesn't join the fight as instantly, the four men started speed building up towards Niki who quickly moved- she was dressed in enchanted diamond armor, her chest plate and boots were netherite though. The Egg shifted in her arms and suddenly it was no longer in her arms, but on her back. Clinging to her and if things were more sane, if things weren't as fucked, George would have thought Niki had a really bright red backpack on. 

But things were insane and were fucked all George can think when the Egg switches to her back is 'Fuck that thing needs to die soon.'

Niki jumps off the building, landing in quickly placed water on the ground, Theo, Toby, Dream and Techno were quick to follow. "BLOCK THE ENTRANCE GEORGE!" Dream shouts as he and the three men go after her.

George jolted at the shout before he rushes to do just that.

Sprinting through the fire, running past the screaming -HELP HELP BURNING HURT HURT IT HURTS PLEASE IT HURTS BAD BAD HUNGRY HELP- plants, George arrived to the small tunnel they had entered from and quickly mined some stone to block off the entrance- just in time as he sees Niki running at him full speed. "George!" She cried out maniacally, eyes wide and hair frizzled, a vine wrapped loosely around her neck. 

"Shit!" George yelped, about to run away just as Niki reached out for him- 

SHWIN-CRACK

Only for a netherite axe to interrupt, burying itself between him and Niki. Niki's boots skidded to a halt while George went off running- towards Dream and Theo who came from the side. "George! Are you okay?!" Dream quickly asked, stopping by his side even though Theo continued on. It was Theo's axe that had been thrown obviously. 

"I'm fine! Theo-" George started only to swear as he remembered Theo had thrown his sword into that pop flower patch- since it was netherite it wouldn't have been destroyed so easily but still! "THEO!" He shouted as the masked blond dodged the rampant swings coming from Niki, he was trying to get to his axe but Niki came swinging at him. The Egg was even contributing its help, swinging spare tentacles and screeching loudly that George was sure if it went any louder his ears would start to bleed. 

Theo kept on dodging, trying to get to his axe but unfortunately there's only so much a man can do when he's dodging not only the attacks of a mad woman but the lashes of vines from a monster Egg that was determined to catch him. Theo finds himself strangled once more by the Egg's vines, Niki lashed out at him and Theo choked as her sword clashed against his chest plate and tore his shoulder a bit. 

"Stay here!" Dream ordered George as he was about to charge in- only to stop when he heard twin war cries.

From almost out of nowhere, Toby and Techno arrived, wearing mirroring looks of blood lust and vigilance. With ease, Toby's sword sliced through the tentacle that was around Theo's neck while Techno's own blade made a gash on the Egg. The gash steamed as the starting embers were quickly put out by the Egg's own blood that gushed from the open wound.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

A blood curdling scream escaped the Egg while Niki screamed similarly but with horror and panic. George groaned, pressing his palms against his ears tightly in a futile effort to block the vicious scream. Theo gasped for breath, coughing violently while clutching his throat. Toby was by his side, hand on his back and seemingly trying to comfort Theo, Theo shrugged the hand off him, stepping away from Toby who looked disheartened by Theo's subtle but obvious rejection.

The Egg's tentacles lashed out randomly, dark red liquid seeping out of the gash Techno had made. It was no use though as Technoblade effortlessly sliced through each vine, causing more screaming. The vines burst into flames as they were each sliced off, falling to the ground and joining the rest of the burning crimson flora around them. 

George closed his eyes tightly, faintly he feels something wet stain his palms as well as someone holding him steady as his mind felt like it was being rattled. 

Niki was full on sobbing by now, clutching the now vine-less, screeching Egg to her chest protectively, unintentionally coating herself with the dark red ichor that came from the Egg. She had dropped her sword to completely hug the Egg, keeping it close, trying to protect it completely. "No no no no please- kill me if you have to but not it. It's good so good don't kill it! It's so hurt, can't you hear it screaming please please-" She begged, George cringed, hearing her only slightly from how loud the noise in his head was along with a ringing that felt like it shouldn't be a sensation.

"Niki. Let go of the Egg." Toby said quietly, stone-faced and serious. He, Techno and Theo have her cornered to the wall, it's honestly a bit disturbing to see three grown men cornering a woman, but said woman was clutching a monstrous screaming Egg all the same.

"No no no no-"

Theo pries his axe from the wall, "Let's just get this over with." He rasped, scowling underneath his mask. He raised his axe in the air only to have Toby grab his wrist. 

"We can't just kill Niki! She'll be on her last life! Chat please shut up, we'll get rid of the Egg but we won't kill Niki!" Toby hissed, both to Theo and the unheard Chat that only him and Technoblade could hear. 

"I'll admit, I don't see the merit of killing a crying woman. The screaming Egg is helping but she's crying pretty badly." Technoblade admitted, face scrunched as Niki hugged the Egg tighter in her grip. 

"Fine, we don't have to kill her. Sorry in advance Niki, you can still bake with one arm yeah?" Niki choked on her sobs, looking at Theo with wide, panicked eyes.

Theo what the hell.

"Tommy!" Toby snapped, looking horrified over what Theo said. 

"Oh shut the fuck up, this is our chance, what we've wanted from the very beginning! I don't care who dies, as long as the Egg is gone-" "Oh so you'd kill Dream or George if it would get rid of the Egg!" "Wha-NO! I would never-" "Then you're not killing Niki! She's just as important as Dream-" "No one is as important as Dream you take that back you motherf-" Toby and Theo were head-to-head, practically snarling at each other. 

"Enough!" Techno intervened, "Just get the freaking Egg already! Pry it out of her arms and stop fighting!" He exclaimed, "At this point she's gonna-" Whatever he said was interrupted by Niki's wild howl as she threw herself at Techno, surprising the hybrid piglin as she had let go of the Egg- it had finally grew out new tentacles, though they were thin and probably weaker than its original ones but it could move again thanks to the tentacles. 

"NO!" Toby and Theo chorused together, watching the Egg skitter along the wall again like the hell spider it was trying to be, trying to escape once more. Techno cursed as he subdued the woman that tried to futilely attack him.

escape escape hurt hurt ow aaa help help hungry esca-

SSFFFW-CRACK!

"NOOOOOO!!!" 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABURNINGBURNINGHURTSHELPHELPAAAABADMENBADNONONOHELPBADDYINGDYINGHELPMEHELPMEHUNGRYHUNGRYFEEDOBEYHURTSSOMUCHHELPDYINGI'MDYINGHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The Egg slid down from the wall, its bright red exterior cracked and lit aflame from the netherite sword that had pierced it. Dream huffed, an unconscious George collapsed by his side. Blood leaking out of his ears. 

There was silence in the underground cavern the held a burning, smoldering city. Three men stared in disbelief, one woman and one man passed out, while one man stared with satisfaction.

"That's what you get for hurting my friends you damned Egg."

And like that.

It was over.

The Egg was gone. The Crimson writhed in silence, no longer having a voice to scream with. No control over its actions without its source.

All of their communicators beeped at once as they processed what happened.

<Sapnap> yo guys youmight wanna come back rly soon like
<Sapnap> right now 
<Sapnap> hope ur all doing ok please come back safely

<TommyInnit> TOBY TECHNO GET YOUR ASSES BACK HERE ASAP THERE'S A GUY CALLED RANBOO HERE AND 
<TommyInnit> WELL YOU REALLY GOTTA COME BACK
<Wilbur Soot> I have no idea what's happening but you should probably come back.
<Ph1lzA> please be okay and come back soon
<Tubbo_> ghstbur is a lot diffrnt from what u said toby

Chapter Text

A lot of things have happened in the span of time that Phil has been staying within the Dream SMP and L'Manberg.

They met with the alternate, future version of his youngest son's best friend who informed them of a horrible future that involved a lot of things including a monstrous Egg plague virus thing, his youngest son defecting and denouncing his family ties and siding with a masked man who brainwashed him, his oldest son dying, his middle child dying by his hand and-

It's been a long week for Philza. A very long week.

And it's going to be even longer he realizes faintly as he stares at the ghostly counterpart of his middle child. 

At the Wilbur Soot who died by his hand. 

His future counterpart's hand- Phil has done nothing to Wilbur and he now very much will never will. He feels like destroying the sword he has in his inventory, like throwing away every sharp blade he owns to his name, even the nostalgic precious swords of his youth he had stashed away in their old home that was millions of blocks away.

There's a stab wound, in the middle of Wil-Ghostbur's yellow sweater. It's entirely blue, but it's still clearly a stab wound. 

Phil feels sick.

Ghostbur's face is soft, sad and dazed as he kept close to the uncomfortable-looking Tommy, a spectral hand on his shoulder as he floated on the side. His eyes are almost completely white, it almost looked like he had no pupils or irises anymore. 

Phil feels sick.

Wilbur is staring at his own ghost with wide eyes and the look in his gaze, the true, realization that another time. In another place. In a wretched future. Wilbur had asked Phil, his own beloved father, to kill him.

And Phil granted his request, killing him, taking his last life.

Phil has taken the last lives of many people over the years. It was inevitable, especially when Phil had been adventuring and some people were pesky pricks who tried to kill him first. But never before has Phil even considered, taking the last life of his own family.

Phil feels sick.

"So..." Finally breaking his gaze from the ghost of son's alternate future that will never come to be, he glanced to one of the other guests in Tubbo's house. An Enderman Hybrid. An honest to Ender, Enderman Hybrid. You don't see those everyday. He wore a crown, just like his Techno but instead of a fur-trimmed cape, Ranboo wore a suit with a red tie. The poor hybrid was nervously sitting on the sofa chair that Sapnap had previously been sitting in, the man now standing to the side, clutching his communicator after moving the chair back and letting Ranboo sit in his place.

The living room is feeling a bit cramped admittedly. With five humans, a ghost, a demon and an enderman hybrid.

"It's ah um- very nice to meet you all." Ranboo starts, smiling weakly with his hands fidgeting and twiddling in his lap. Poor man- no, he was a teenager Phil reminded himself, he was just very because of his hybrid status and enderman genetics, the poor teenager seemed so nervous. "Gho-mm, Ghostbur's told me a lot about you along the uh- along the way." 

Ghostbur seemed to focus back from whatever daze he'd been, smiling widely at the mention of his name. He finally left Tommy's side, drifting over to Ranboo. 'I have haven't I? I just couldn't help it, plus, this tall child asked me. And kept asking so I kept telling.' He said with a cheery look to his previously sad face, his voice was slightly echoey. No, not even the echo of a cave could accurately imitate it. A strange reverb, spectral and slightly ethereal? It sounded strange to hear, it was just Wilbur's voice but... very different. 

"I'm not a child." Ranboo protested instantly, but he looked fond. There's a dynamic here that painfully reminds Phil of Wilbur and Tommy, and Wilbur realizes it clearly, because he's glancing between Ranboo and Tommy. Tommy's just watching Ghostbur and Ranboo intensely, his hands clenched in his lap and a look in his bright blue eyes that Phil can't possibly discern.

Was it envy? Was it concern? Whatever it was, Tommy's hands relax and unclench and the look is gone. Instead, he looks curious.

Phil feels like he's unable to understand his youngest child anymore. Had he ever from the start?

"How old are you Ranboo?" Tommy asks and Phil holds back a snort of amusement. 

The hybrid looks startled for a bit before answering back carefully, "Uh- well- still a minor? But I'm definitely older than you though." He answers back.

Tommy splutters, "Why the hell am I still the youngest here that's just not fair!" Tubbo snickers by his side- he'd been looking tense just like everyone else, but at the amusing bit they couldn't help but just, relax slightly. The whole situation had been confusing and concerning from the start, from when BadBoyHalo, good demon probably the nicest Phil has ever met somehow, and Skeppy knocked on Tubbo's door, having met Ranboo and Ghostbur on their way to L'Manberg who wanted to see where Tommy and Tubbo were.

"Tommy can you get that?!" Tommy heard Tubbo shout, the blond frowned but sighed.

"YEAH OKAY!" He shouted back, standing from his seat in the living room to quickly jog over to the front door and answer whoever it was that was knocking. He didn't know who he was expecting at the door but he certainly wasn't expecting BadBoyHalo and Skeppy right at the door. 

The demon blinked and beamed at him, "Oh hello Tommy!" He exclaimed, waving slightly in greeting.

Confused, Tommy greeted, back, "Uh, hi Ba-" Suddenly there was a blur and an exclaimed 'Tommy!', the blond abruptly found himself being restrained- no he was being hugged by something transparent, his face smushed against something yellow and blue and somewhat see-through- "AAAAH?! WHAT THE FUUUCK?!" He couldn't help but scream, startled by the sudden action. Struggling against the other's hold, trying to escape the tight hug that he was suddenly subjected to. He didn't even notice Bad's exclamation of 'Language Tommy!' because of what was happening.

'Toms I missed you so much!' The mystery transparent person exclaimed just as there were shouts of his name and sudden footsteps.

Toms? Tommy thought to himself before he finally decided to look at who the hell was hugging him.

Wilbur.

It was Wilbur who was hugging him.

But he was all wrong- he was tinged grey and see-through, his eyes were so faded and almost looked like he didn't have eyes at all. He wore a yellow sweater with a blue mark on his chest. Wilbur's face was set in a happy yet somewhat sad smile. "Wilbur?" Tommy blurted out, staring at the face of his older brother who blinked at the name.

'Ghostbur actually.' Wil-Ghostbur corrected gently, his gaze going from Tommy to the very alive Wilbur that was staring at him in shock and was currently being held up by both Phil and Fundy. 'Easier to differentiate us that way... Hello Alivebur, you're looking a bit different than I remember, and Phil- you're here rather early.' He said quietly and around his shoulders- something seemed to form, the shoulders of a coat were now on him though they soon disappeared as Ghostbur looked over to Fundy. 'Fundy! My son, hello!'

"Er, hi? Dad?" The fox hybrid greeted back with clear confusion and shock.

"Uh..." An unfamiliar voiced chimed in nervously, a tall, Enderman Hybrid stood behind Bad and Skeppy, "Can we um- Can we come in?"

Of course Tubbo let them in after that.

Ranboo introduced himself after Sapnap gave his chair up to him, the man deciding to just stand at the sidelines, typing into his communicator- no doubt informing his friends about the situation. Though none of their messages have been answered just yet, which was making them lowkey worry a bit.

"I wasn't expecting Sapnap here y'know." Bad mentions after the humorous moment subsides, "Where's Dream, George and Theo? Also Toby? Did we just miss him from meeting with JSchlatt and Quackity?" He asked, curious as to where they were, another cursory look had him adding in, "Oh! And Technoblade?"

As soon as he was finished asking, there was a slight pressure in the atmosphere. Something that just made them all freeze as Ghostbur floated away from Ranboo a bit, taking attention as suddenly he wasn't only wearing a sweater. A coat appeared from out of nowhere on Ghostbur. Bloody, ragged and torn. His eyes seeming to sharpen and his smile thinned into a frown. There was something in his eyes, a swirl of dark emotions that made Wilbur shiver.

'Excellent questions Bad. Very excellent questions.' Ghostbur drawled, his tone of voice, his entire body language totally different from what it was before. 'I'd like to add my own. Philza you're here quite early from what I remember, Technoblade too since he's been mentioned and Alivebur, you and Tommy are here in L'Manberg which is still somehow called L'Manberg despite being run by that son of a bitch Schlatt.' Ghostbur spat out the goat hybrid's name like poison, the swirl of emotions in his eyes darkening briefly. Not even Bad chimed in to chastise Ghostbur's words. 'Also, you've got quite the scar on your face there Wilbur. My memory might fade in and out, but I definitely don't remember any of this happening... And Theo? Toby? I'm pretty sure I'm currently in the past and yet things are happening differently... What the hell happened?'

"That was fucking amazing Dream, well done!" Theo praised with a proud grin on his face, even with the mask obscuring his face it was still very obvious he was proud from the tone of his voice. "Is George okay?" 

Dream knelt down, feeling slightly apprehensive at the sight of his unconscious friend. He checked his pulse, sighing in relief at the clear sign of life he felt. "He's alive! His were bleeding but they've stopped." He informed loudly, rolling George onto his back, checking him for any other injury. Nothing, George was fine. He was alive and fine- his ears were bloody and he might get a headache after he woke up but he was fine.

Theo also sighed in relief, that was good. "Move Toby, we need to check on the Egg." He told the stunned brunet, breaking him out of his shock. "Make sure it's dead for real and for fucking good."

Technoblade watched both time travelers go and check on the burning remains of the Egg, awkwardly holding on to the unconscious body of Niki before deciding to lay her down on the ground. "Well?" 

The Egg's shell was definitely cracked and on fire, the sword blazing with Soul-Fire from the enchantment, buried into the corpse of the damned thing. The once newly-made tentacles twitched occasionally but soon enough they stopped moving entirely as the thin vines burnt into what could've been charred coal. No one could hear anything from it anymore, its screams died down and now it was silent, mouths open wide and staying open lifelessly.

Theo carefully pried Dream's sword out of the Egg, making a face at the dark red liquid that stained the flaming weapon. Not to mention the scent of burnt iron that now came from both it and the Egg's seared corpse. 

Toby prodded the scorched shell with the tip of his own sword, grimacing as he carefully separated the shell pieces and peering into the inside of it.

Within the leftover boiling sludge that was the Egg's blood or inner liquid or whatever. A small charred lump was curled tightly within it. A malformed lump, with tubes that connected to each mouth and tentacle that had been on the Egg's shell. 

It's a pitiful and horrific sight to behold.

"... Is that a fucking baby?" Techno asked, having walked over to see what Toby and Theo were looking at. "That- that's a burnt fetus." He stated with shock, staring at the lump within the sludge.

"What?" Dream said incredulously, carrying the unconscious George on his back. He too, walked over to look at the inside of the Egg. "... What the fuck."

"It's an Egg, what did you expect?" Toby deadpans, though his face was tight with anguish and anger. "Don't feel guilty over this thing- it's a baby. Yes, it's always been a baby, especially now but it's still a monstrous creature. It takes over the Overworld in years time, it's one block now but it would grow past fifty blocks the more it ate and took over everything."

Theo's fists were clenched as he looks down at the malformed fetus. "You should've seen this thing hatch." He whispered, "It was..."

Tommy stared from afar, grip deathly tight on his axe as the Egg cracked. It continued to crack until-

Mine.

Tommy choked on his saliva, the static screaming in his head but even then, he could hear the disorienting voice that sounded in his head.

This world. Is mine.

Tommy staggered back, watching with wide eyes as the humongous creature stretched, transparent red liquid dripping off of its new form. 

I want more. Everything. 

The blond scrambled to get away, a wave of pressure trying to drag him down. The Monster behind him roared, the Crimson and the infected rejoiced and was more enthusiastic than ever.

Give me everything. I want it all.

Tommy absconded, back into the Nether, not stopping until he was back into his empty Stronghold. Even with the pain of failure bearing down his back, with the static scrambling his head, he doesn't think he'll ever forget the Monster any time soon.

Phil and Fundy needed to finish that portal fast.

Theo stabs the fetus with Dream's sword. Toby isn't far behind, together, they light the corpse aflame once more.

They don't stop until the Egg was totally unrecognizable. A pile of rancid black char. Their netherite weapons durability have significantly gone down because of it but they feel both triumphant and not.

They've finally done it.

The Egg was dead. It was gone.

This Egg at least.

The future has been changed.

Both men panted lightly, uncaring of how they seemed. For a moment, they shared a bit of peace and camaraderie. Reveling in the death of an enemy they had both fought against for almost half a decade now. It was over. 

"Are you both done stabbing?" Technoblade asked carefully. It wasn't a mocking question, it was genuine and honestly filled with concern as he watched both men just repeatedly stab a flaming corpse over and over again. "Cause we still have some stuff that needs attention, like uh- Niki here? And the fact that the underground city is still burning? Also George is unconscious, there's that." He pointed out to them both.

And like that the moment ended as Theo looked back to Dream and George. "Right, shit. Dream, do you need me to-" He said, about to offer to carry George.

"No- it's fine Theo. I've got him." Dream replied, adjusting George on his back. "He's fine for now, but we should check on Niki." He said, motioning to the still unconscious woman on the ground. Toby and Techno were already on it, checking over Niki.

Toby suddenly swore out loud as he tucked Niki's hair behind her ear, "The flower's trying to root itself into her skin." It was indeed, the flower was convulsing, no longer controlled by the Egg and had no other purpose but still, the end of the stem had pierced the skin behind her ear. The skin contorted slightly as the stem tried to dig its way into Niki, trying to use her as its new source of anything.

"Oh that is disturbing." Techno murmured with a cringing look on his face. 

"That's nothing." Theo snorted, having seen and felt worse from the future. The root scars on his side proved that. "Well, get that thing out. You have your shears, use them." He said with clear annoyance. Like the situation wasn't that disturbing, and it probably wasn't to him. Again, he's seen and felt worse. 

Toby sent Theo an annoyed, exasperated look but nonetheless took his enchanted shears out. "Sorry Niki, this is going to hurt a bit." He apologized before he pressed the blade of his shears against the back of her ear. He made only a small cut thankfully.  He couldn't exactly pull the flower out from where it was, it might cut itself and leave a small bit of itself in Niki which would latch on to the skin and grow.

He's seen it happen too much before.

Thankfully Niki was unconscious and Toby was capable of holding her head down when she twitched and tried to turn away from the pain.

While Toby was dealing with Niki, Techno and Theo finally checked their communicators. "We'll have to check Niki's bakery again, and stop by Eret to get rid of the flower that's on his hand." Toby says, sighing as he snipped the slightly bloody flower in half after taking it out of Niki's skin, watching it burn.

"How badly do we need to do all that?" Techno asked quietly as Toby carefully cleaned up the blood from Niki and patched the small slice he made with his shears. "Like, do we need to do those things immediately or..."

"Well, Eret's flower might try to do the same as Niki did, but considering how slow the flower had been, I guess we could check on him later? If there are any crimson plants underneath Niki's bakery, they might try to escape or something. Without the Egg, they'll be disorganized. Uncontrollable. But they'll be slow in growth, if they escape we could always find them and get rid of them easily. Without the Egg, the Crimson is less of a threat really." Toby replied with furrowed brows.

They had done their research with the Crimson.

The Crimson itself was connected to the Egg, influenced, created by, all that- but without the Egg, the Crimson was much weaker and couldn't grow as fast as it did with the Egg and was utterly uncontrollable. The Egg could encourage the growth of the Crimson, making it grow twice as fast if it wanted- but not all the time. And the Egg had to focus. And without the Egg, the Crimson couldn't control anyone.

It took a lot of obsidian and careful experiments to figure out that without the Egg's influence, the Crimson was much more easier to deal with.

"So we can risk going right back to everyone else?"

Toby gave Technoblade a confused and lost look, "I suppose? But why-"

"Ghostbur showed up with Ranboo." Theo said tightly, clutching his communicator, staring at the string of messages that Sapnap had sent him.

Toby's eyes widened  while Dream showed his confusion with a tilt of his head. "What? Ghostbur and Ranboo? Who're they?"

Ghostbur is the man his father could have become.

That was a single prominent thought within Fundy's brain during this whole mess.

Ghostbur was a man that Wilbur Soot could've become in the future had things gone on naturally without Toby or even Theo's influence. 

He was...

'So Tommy and Tubbo went back to the past too? That's- hmm...' Ghostbur frowned thoughtfully, the bloody coat was- it wasn't exactly gone, but it was more faded now and less bloody and torn. 'Well, that's interesting at least! But I guess I shouldn't be surprised if Fundy made the portal! He and Phil are very smart so really, it shouldn't be surprising they're here I guess. They're the reason why I'm here too actually.' He said calmly, making Fundy and everyone else straighten at the information.

"What? What do you- Toby told me you just disappeared, just as the Crimson started spreading. He hasn't seen you for like, four years!" Phil exclaimed, confused on how on earth Ghostbur could be here.

Tommy chimed in, "And like, why are you here? How the hell did you meet Ghostbur?" He asked Ranboo who startled at the abrupt question.

"Well uh," Ranboo spoke up, suddenly he had a book in his hands and he was flipping through the pages. "I met him while I was wandering around the forest." He said after settling to a page, "There was a flash of light somewhere and when I went to check it out, Ghostbur was there. Just as confused as I was."

"A flash of light? Was it silver? Was there a portal?" Tubbo asked, remembering the silver portal that Toby and Theo had come out of.

Ghostbur opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by the BANG of the front door and rapid footsteps coming into the living room.

"Ghostbur?! Ranboo?! What the hell are you two doing here?! Just- how?!" Toby cried out through deep breaths, an unconscious Niki on his back. Technoblade stared at the spectral form of the alternate future version of his brother.

"George!" Sapnap exclaimed with worry as he instantly went to Dream and Theo's side, seeing George on Dream's back. 

Theo himself was silent as he looked at Ghostbur who looked back at him.

'... Hi Tommy... Did you miss me?'

Chapter Text

'... Hi Tommy... Did you miss me?'

Did he miss him?

Theo stared at the very familiar ghost floating in front of him, smiling a sad and gentle smile and his heart feels like its pounding in his chest. Wilbur floats in front of him, wearing that damned coat from their days in Pogtopia. His face may be soft but Theo could easily see the insanity that lied behind it in those near-empty fucking eyes. The sword wound on his chest, the transparency of his being and the fact he was floating was all Theo could hold on to to remind himself that Wilbur was dead.

"GHOSTBUR- ALIVEBUR- IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER! YOU'RE STILL FUCKING WILBUR AND I HATE YOU! JUST GO AWAY! I DON'T NEED YOU HERE! JUST GO AWAY WILBUR!""

Wilbur.

He was here.

Wilbur.

How was he here?

Wilbur.

Why was he here?

Wilbur.

"Let's be the bad guys."

"Tubbo." He finally speaks up, forcing his head to turn to the teenager, surprising everyone as he continued, "We need two beds. For Niki and George." He says as calmly as possible. Which is very calm. Very very calm. He was so calm, monks were jealous over his calmness. "You got any wool?" With that, he reminds everyone that they had two people unconscious with them who may or may not need further medical help. 

Getting two beds down in the living room was easy and quick. It served as a good distraction, however it was still unfortunately and painfully short for Theo as he, Dream and Sapnap stayed by George and his bed. Philza checked on Niki along with Toby, she'd be fine. She had been controlled by the Egg, was almost infected by the Crimson but she'd be fine. Niki was strong, she had two lives left. 

Say, wasn't Eret potentially going to be infected as well? Theo should go check on that. And the bakery, can't forget the bakery. But George was unconscious and Theo didn't want to leave him here for long. They should move him to one of Dream's bases. The Stronghold maybe, but that would take too long. 

"Oi, Technoblade! Give me back my shit!" Sapnap exclaimed, finally noticing the fact that Techno was still wearing his armor and weapons. It startled the hybrid who finally remembered as well.

"Oh, uh- right. Here." 

Theo was almost disappointed that Technoblade gave Sapnap his things without a fuss, he didn't have to interfere at all. Still, he didn't complain, at the very least Sapnap had his things back.

He shifted slightly closer to Dream when it seemed like Ghostbur was trying to get closer to him- he still hasn't answered the specter at all but thankfully, for once Theo could look at Toby at a more positive light as his- as the former president stood and addressed him. "Ghostbur. Just- how are you here? You disappeared, years ago. When the Crimson started spreading, you were just," He snapped his fingers, "Gone. And Ranboo, you're not our-er, my Ranboo. Don't get me wrong, it's great to see you but I wasn't expecting you here so soon." He told the hybrid, giving him a weary but ultimately fond smile. Ranboo was startled but returned it with his own anxious and somewhat unsure smile.

Ghostbur's attention finally diverted to Toby and Theo would thank him later if he could. Probably not, but still. 

"Little boy's angry at you Techno." Wilbur purred, smiling slyly at the hybrid while Tommy recoiled, hurt before that hurt turned into fury and he fumed silently. He- He was not a little boy! Wilbur knew that, he fucking knew that- he's been through a fucking war and they were in the middle of one right now- and of course he was angry. Techno killed Tubbo! Took his second life! His brothers- his brothers were acting like that wasn't a big deal! And Tubbo- he acted as if it wasn't a big deal either. What the fuck-

'That's certainly strange to think. To you I've been gone for years but I think I've only met and traveled with Ranboo for a few months now.' Ghostbur said, snapping Theo out of his memories. Why was he remembering he thought he was over it. Underneath his mask, his brows furrowed at the revelation. Just a few months? 'Right Ranboo? Or am I misremembering it again?'

Ranboo perked and flipped through his book, his memory book. "Uhh, no- wait yeah, yeah no you're right, yeah. We met like, about five months ago? 'While wandering through the forest trying to find some red roses for my tie, I met a ghost named Wilbur who calls himself Ghostbur. I met him while walking and noticing a flash of light in the trees. When I went to check it out, I found him there floating and just as confused as I was. He didn't remember what he was doing there or how, but he noticed me and called me by name. I have never met him before I'm sure of it but he knows me.'" He read aloud to them all.

'I didn't remember how I got there at first. My memory was pretty shit-' "Language!" Bad interrupted briefly though Ghostbur continued without problem, 'At the start but I started remembering everything slowly. It kind of fades in and out though but I've been getting better at keeping my memory. Some of it is thanks to Ranboo, he keeps track of what I remember as well in a separate book.' He said, giving Ranboo a thankful and happy smile, the coat around his shoulder faded slightly as the hybrid blushed and muttered something underneath his breath.

Theo has no idea how to feel about that.

"Everything?" Toby repeated with a hesitant look of alarm, "Do you really remember everything?"

'Not exactly. Most of it fades in and out most of the time. But again, I'm getting better at remembering on my own.'

Toby threaded his fingers together, a look of concern on his face but he took in a deep breath and shook his head. "Okay- okay. That's- mmm, okay." He took in another deep breath and he focused on Ghostbur, "Do you remember how you got here?"

"He mentioned something about me and Phil being the reason why he's here in the first place." Fundy piped in, frowning. "I think he means the future versions of us?" 

Ghostbur nodded, smiling at Fundy- the coat is gone. Theo finally feels like it was easier to breathe now. Which made no sense at all since nothing was impeding his ability to breath. He was fine. This was fine. Everything was fine. As long as he kept close to Dream, he'd be fine. 

'That's right. Yes I remember this, thankfully, so you see. I was just minding my own business, I was feeling sad over something but I can't really remember it right now when all of a sudden..'

He felt complicated.

Staring at the blue crystal in his hands, Ghostbur, formerly known as Wilbur Soot, felt complicated.

He felt sad. He can't remember why, his faulty memory and the blue having already taken the memory away.

Tommy's dead? No, that wasn't exactly right.

He couldn't remember why he was sad. But he knows he's been using a lot more blue than usual.

'Tommy? You're alive! Everyone said you were dead! I knew that wasn't the truth!' Ghostbur exclaimed, happy to see his brother who just looked at him with Dream's mask on his face. Why was he wearing Dream's mask? 

Dream himself, stood a few steps away with his arms crossed. He seemed to be anticipating something, Ghostbur was about to ask what before Tommy spoke up again.

"Go away Ghostbur." 

Ghostbur frowned, 'Tommy?'

"Go away Ghostbur."

'Tommy? Wh- Why are you telling me to go away? Did I do something wrong?' Ghostbur asked quietly, feeling hurt by the harsh tone his little brother was suddenly speaking to him with. 

Tommy scoffed, sounding painfully bitter. "You did but you probably don't even remember it." He said with clenched fists, confusing the poor ghost all the more.

'Well, i-if I don't remember it, does that mean it was when I was Alivebur? Did I- I'm sorry Tommy. Alivebur was-' "SHUT UP!" Ghostbur shrunk back at Tommy's sudden shout. 

"GHOSTBUR- ALIVEBUR- IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER! YOU'RE STILL FUCKING WILBUR AND I HATE YOU! JUST GO AWAY! I DON'T NEED YOU HERE! JUST GO AWAY WILBUR!" Tommy choked on a wet sob, something wet dripping off his chin underneath his mask. 

Helplessly, Ghostbur tried to float forward, reaching an arm out towards him. 'Tommy-' "Wilbur, I'll have to step in here." Dream suddenly said, pulling Tommy away from Ghostbur's reach. Tommy let him, shrinking behind Dream's back and trying to silence the choked breathing and sobs he was making, feeling utterly humiliated for crying in front of them both even if the mask hid his face.

Dream stood between him and Tommy and Ghostbur felt hurt and helpless, blue tears dripping from his almost empty eyes. 'Dream, wha-' Dream interrupted him again. "I think you should leave Wilbur. You're upsetting Tommy." 

It felt like Phil's sword was in his chest again. An agonizing pain that struck his torso as Ghostbur glanced between Dream and Tommy, a quiet, unheard part of his head hissed at the masked green man- something was wrong. He'd forgotten something. Something important. But he can't remember what. 

He needs- Blue.

He needs more blue. And to leave.

'I- okay. I'm sorry Tommy. I'm so sorry.'

He leaves quickly, looking back only once and was pained to see Dream hugging his shaking brother. He flees, runs back into the woods and leaves the two masked men alone. 

If Dream's mask hadn't been on, if Ghostbur had been more calm or was more like his old self, maybe he'd see how off this whole situation was and turn back.

Dream kept a firm but gentle hold on Tommy, a satisfied smile hidden beneath his porcelain mask. That should keep Ghostbur away from Tommy. "There there Toms. He's gone now. You did great- how are you feeling?" While Tommy had trained underneath him, Dream had coaxed everything out of the blond. Tommy had told him all about Wilbur's behavior in Pogtopia. Truly, he'd been quite disturbed at what Tommy faced in Wilbur's insanity, he had noticed how off-hinge Wilbur had been back then but he never really imagined the actual extent of it.

But Tommy's behavior made a lot more sense now that Dream knew. Tommy had been long traumatized before Dream even got to him, and by his own brother no less.

Dream didn't even have to do much for this outcome. He comforted Tommy, mentioned how fucked up it was- and it was fucked up. He wasn't even lying. Everything that Tommy has been through, shouldn't have happened. Tommy was just a teenager. He was on his last life- sure Dream had taken them both personally but that's because of how Wilbur started L'Manberg and Tommy followed after him with his stupidly loyal self.

Well. Tommy was loyal to Dream now. Not totally yet, Dream was still looking into his little project but he trusted Dream. And Dream would protect that trust, would cultivate that trust and loyalty.

Ghostbur was an unseen and unfortunate thorn in his side, he was someone who Dream couldn't kill off- he was a fucking ghost. But he could make Ghostbur stay away. Bringing Tommy into L'Manberg as Theo would be very difficult with that ghost around, he knew that from the start. Not to mention, Ghostbur had a very small chance of finding his bases and such. 

So the best solution, was to let Tommy deal with it. With his repressed trauma and emotions against Ghostbur, Wilbur, dealing with the ghost would be easy.

"... I feel like shit." Tommy whispered to him, sniffling, "I- I'm still so angry at him though. And- fuck, I still feel so angry but I feel bad for Ghostbur. He's not really like the Wilbur I knew and I shouted at him like an asshole. I don't- I don't hate Ghostbur."

Dream frowned but shook his head, "He's still Wilbur though. He just doesn't remember it all- and hey, you can always apologize to him later."  He wouldn't let it happen though. But in the end, it didn't matter. There wouldn't be a later. Because after that, Ghostbur seemed to disappear permanently. 

Tommy felt so guilty while Dream took advantage to it. And he did his best to relieve Tommy of his guilt.

So much blue. 

'Maybe- maybe I should head back... to L'Manberg... Phil might be worried now. How long have I been away?' Ghostbur whispered to himself, feeling lost as he tried to remember just how long it's been. He can't even remember why he left in the first place.

He heard Theo speak, he sounded so familiar, he followed after him and Dream.

Sighing, the ghost tried to remember which way L'Manberg was.

Until suddenly, there was a silver light that nearly blinded him. 

Ghostbur yelped, recoiling away from the light, feeling panicked at the sight of the bright silver-

"Dad?"

The specter blinked incredulously at the familiar voice. 'Fundy?' He questioned, watching with wide eyes as the silver light formed into something like- a circular portal in the air. It seemed rather unstable though, but he could see him. Fundy, on the other side of the strange light portal thing. 'Fundy is that you? What's going on?' He questioned only to gasp as he truly saw his hybrid son.

He looked older, much older- his fur had lost its healthy color, and there were a few scars he doesn't recognize on his son's poor furry face. Fundy looked at him in disbelief from within the strange portal, "Holy- PHIL! PHIL I DID SOMETHING! I THINK I DID GOOD!" He screamed off to the side, his eyes wide and grinning- despite his enthusiasm. It was clear that he was exhausted. 

Phil? Was his father there? 

'Fundy? What are- Fundy please what's going on I am terribly confused right now.' Ghostbur clutching the blue to his chest. 'Are you- son you look so tired. Have you been sleeping well? Are you okay? Oh your face, those scars-' He cuts himself off when he sees the sad, but nostalgic look on Fundy's face. 'Fundy?'

"I'm- I'm fine. Da-uh, Ghostbur. I'm fine I just-" Fundy sighed but perked when another voice tiredly joined in.

"Ghostbur? Fundy did you actually open a window into the past? Holy shit-" Phil lumbered into view and Ghostbur gasped once more, seeing his adopted father. He looked old. Older than he was, and there were definitely new scars on him. "Oh Ghostbur. I- this must be before you disappeared." Phil said with a sad smile before it dropped into a thoughtful look. "Why did you disappear in the first place anyway?"

'Disappear? What- I don't-' Ghostbur felt terribly confused, he wanted to ask so many questions but unfortunately he couldn't ask anything as the silver portal started to spark violently.

Fundy and Phil swore on their side of the portal, "Shit! It's unstable- No, no no no! We can't lose this opportunity! We have to keep this window open for everyone- Tubbo and Tommy might be there!" Fundy shouted desperately as he seemed to fiddle with something on their side. 

"I know- crap! The runes are overheating, shit shit shit-" Phil disappeared from view, but his voice carried on with cursing.

Ghostbur watched with worry, 'What's going on over there? Fundy?! Phil?!' They sounded like they needed help, with one hand he clutched his blue and the other he reached out towards the portal.

Fundy saw this and frantically tried to stop him, "WAIT! Dad no! Don't touch the-" 'But Fundy you look-'

Too late.

As soon as the tips of his fingers connected to a spark, Ghostbur suddenly was overcome with agony.

"You were never going to be president Tommy."

He doesn't register the screams in the air that came from his own mouth.

"SUCK IT GREEN BOOOOYYY!!"

He doesn't register Fundy's screams.

"NO ONE can have Manberg."

He doesn't register Phil's anguished screams joining Fundy's.

"Did you just call me Wilby?"

He's surrounded by colors that flash by so quickly he can't keep track of it all.

"L'MANBERG MY UNFINISHED SYMPHONY!"

Memories fill and leave his head so fast, he doesn't know who he is for a brief, terrifying moment.

'Tommy do you want some blue?'

He remembers who he is.

There's something more in his head, but he doesn't remember it later.

A fox screaming in agony, clutching his arm. An old man smiling sadly as he's covered in crimson. A portal glowing white. A man in red with a mask staring into poisonous eyes. A man with scars underneath his chin staring forward with disbelief. A pig aiming a sword at two nearly identical men with a young blond by his side. Scarlet vines curling around multiple people. A man in green with a mask stares ahead with clenched fists. Poison clashing with leaves. Blue fire covering a nation. A sad smile on an obscured face disappearing into the darkness.

Panting lightly, Ghost... Wilbur? Ghostbur? Who is he? No. He was Ghostbur. He... was? Wasn't he? He feels confused.

He looks around, confused as to where he was. Was this the same forest as before?

Where was he?

"H... Hello?"

Ghostbur? Looked over to see... an Enderman hybrid? Looking at him with wide and confused eyes. He knows him. He knows he knows him. Who was he? No wait, he knows- 'Hi Ranboo. What are you doing here?'

"U-Uh... what?"

'It took a while for me to figure out I was in the past. But when I did, I wanted to come to L'Manberg to see for myself. Ranboo came with me even though he didn't have to.' Ghostbur finished, glancing around the silent room. 

"W-Well, if I didn't then you'd probably not remember as much or something. Also, I uh... I really wanted to meet everyone." Ranboo admitted shyly, smiling weakly at the others. He'd heard so much about them from Ghostbur's stories and ramblings. He'd written it all down in Ghostbur's book. When the opportunity came, he couldn't help himself and joined Ghostbur in his quest to return to L'Manberg.

Toby was grasping his chin, looking alarmed but deep in thought. Had Fundy managed to make another functioning portal? Well, semi-functioning. It sounded very unstable at the end there- or had it been way earlier when Fundy and Philza had been testing it? No, it didn't sound like it, Fundy had mentioned what Toby was sure to be he and Theo at the end there. And Fundy and Phil would have told Toby about this, that they had met Ghostbur in one of their tests.

The future had been changed.

But at the same time not.

Toby had been quietly afraid of this, that despite the change they've made, their future still existed. He and Theo still existed when in one of Fundy's theories was that either he and Theo would cease to exist or continue for a multitude of reasons.

If their future still existed then...

Toby clenched his fist. Grim determination in his eyes, he would have to try and make contact with their future once again. This world didn't have the terror of the Egg anymore, they could rescue everyone and evacuate that future to here- he'd have to talk with everyone else about this choice but it was a chance. 

He needed Fundy and Philza to look over the portal that brought he and Theo to the past. 

A groan caught everyone's attention, it came from George who groggily opened his eyes and sat up the bed, clutching his head. "Ugh, what happened?" 

"GEORGE!" Sapnap, Dream and Bad exclaimed happily which made George wince.

"Ow! Not so loud! My head's ringing badly-" George complained but was interrupted by the hug that Sapnap gave him. 

Theo sighed in relief, seeing George wake up. And that easily meant- "This has been nice and all but the Egg is dead now." He said, nudging Sapnap, George and Dream. "We should get going now that George is awake." He wanted to go. He wanted to leave. "I'll take care of Eret and the garden, you guys- stay here and talk and shit. I don't particularly care anymore." It didn't matter, whatever was said here. They didn't need him, he didn't need them.

"Theo? What?" The Dream Team were confused as Theo helped George up, letting the colorblind man lean on Sapnap for support. "Theo-"

"Okay, let's go. We've got shit to do don't we? Mm, yes, much shit to do. Lots of it. Gotta get to Eret, he's probably freaking out about that flower of his." Theo was practically pushing all three men to move.

"Wait a minute!! First off, language! Second off, you guys just got here! And! Skeppy and I still have to talk to you four!" Bad protested, hands on his hips with a frown. 

"We can talk later, arrange a meeting and sh- and stuff. There I watched my language. But we really gotta go we-" Theo insisted, taking in deep breaths. His hands shaking slightly.

Dream unfortunately noticed and he turned to him, "Theo, what's wrong? Are you okay?" He asked quietly.

Stiffly, Theo nodded, "I am. I'm so fine, so very fine and okay. Let's just go. Let's just-"

'Dream.'

Everyone froze as the tense atmosphere dropped sharply and suddenly like an anvil. 

Ghostbur's figure flicked slightly, his coat suddenly around his shoulders, bloodied and torn and flapping in the non-existent wind as his face- Ender. It was furious. His eyes were no longer milky white and near-nonexistent. They were dark now. And swirled with anger and some familiar insanity. Theo's breath hitched as for a moment. It's not Ghostbur in front of him. 

It's Wilbur.

Wilbur smiled cruely from his place above, his gentle older brother long gone. "That is perfect, that is perfect." He laughed as Techno wiped at his bloody fingers. Techno muttered underneath his breath, "It stays in the pit." And Tommy is trying his best, not to tear up as he pressed a hand against his bloodied face- black eye, broken nose, bruised face, he thinks to himself, assessing the damage.

Insane Wilbur.

"WILBUR HELP PLEASE I'M STUCK!" Tommy shouted from underneath the pistons- it was stupid. So very stupid. But he had to do something, something that could make Wilbur laugh like before. Being annoying didn't work like it usually did anymore. Wilbur was just so angry now. "WILBUR! WILBUR!" Well he's done it. He's made him laugh. But he's stuck. And Wilbur's laughter sounds so skewed, not like before. "THIS ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE THIS ISN'T FUNNY-" All of them are laughing while he's trapped underneath the fucking pistons- Nonono Wilbur don't put down blocks he couldn't see breathe help help "WILBUR!"

Furious and paranoid Wilbur from Pogtopia.

"This is insane Wilbur, this is insane." They can't blow it all to hell. It was still L'Manberg underneath the bullshit Schlatt had done. They just needed to- they just needed to get L'Manberg back from the bastard. They had worked so hard for this. Tommy had given up almost everything for L'Manberg- he'd given Dream his fucking discs for this country and Wilbur just wanted to blow it up. "We can't!" Wilbur looks at him and Tommy freezes in fear at the insane look in his eyes. Where was his big brother?

'Dream I remember now.' Wilbur whispered, menacingly low and a snarl forming on his face. 'I remember what you did to Tommy. In his exile. I remember everything you did.'

Theo can't breath. Why can't he breath? Why can't he-

Wilbur moves and so does Theo. It's instinct. Theo moves because Dream was in danger and-

They lock eyes as Theo uses himself as Dream's shield -he was a good tool he could be a shield as well as a weapon he was good he was Loyal- as the ghost's iron sword is aimed at his chest.

'... Tommy, move aside.'

Theo doesn't realize how hard he's trembling as he whispers out a strained but firm, "No."

"Tommy let's be the bad guys."

"No. Wilbur. I won't let you hurt Dream."

Not his owner. Not his friend. Not the only person who's cared for him when his own family and friends casted him aside.

He didn't need anyone else, they didn't need him.

Dream.

Dream needed him and he needed Dream.

Wilbur hurt him and left.

Dream hurt him and stayed.

Tubbo exiled him and left.

Dream comforted him and stayed.

Phil left.

Dream broke him and stayed.

Technoblade tried to kill him and left.

Dream rebuilt him and stayed.

Fundy and Ranboo left with Tubbo.

Dream took him in and he stayed.

He stayed.

He stayed and Tommy would stay for him. He was Loyal. Enchantment be damned, he'd stay fucking loyal even without it he's sure.

Wilbur had no right to be angry at Dream. Not at this Dream at least, or even at Tommy's original Dream.

Not when Wilbur left. Not when he changed. Not when he died and left him alone.

He had no right.

None of them did.

Chapter Text

"No. Wilbur. I won't let you hurt Dream."

His voice was quiet, strained and Theo was shaking, Sapnap realized, watching the masked blond stand between Dream and Ghostbur. He was shaking- the man who's been quiet and solid in front of everyone else this entire time was shaking, like he was scared of something.

Someone actually.

And Sapnap couldn't blame him.

Ghostbur? Flat out terrifying right now. He didn't realize just how scary Wilbur could actually be, and neither did Wilbur himself it seems as he watched the entire thing with wide eyes behind large glasses. 

Ghostbur didn't wear glasses.

But even if he did, Sapnap doubts it would impede on the look of malice mixed with anger and something else Sapnap couldn't exactly tell just yet- he'll later find out it was actual insanity, Theo tells him that's what it was and Sapnap will be horrified to find out more about what happened.

"My older brother went insane, blew up the nation we built and died to my dad but came back as a fucking ghost who doesn't remember the bad shit he did."

Right now, Sapnap was terrified for Dream and Theo because that ghost looked downright murderous at the moment.

Ghostbur's eyes narrowed at Theo and Theo actually flinches at the small simple action.

He's not the only one to notice. Even Ghostbur notices and the ghost falters, his sword wavering from where it was pointing at Theo's chest and that's enough for Theo.

Theo just straight up, grabs the sword. Tightly. Uncaring of the sharp edges, uncaring of the way it cuts through the bandages that wrapped around his hands and then the skin- blood seeps from his cut palms and fingers, staining the bandages and the sword, alarming everyone around him. "Theo!" Theo didn't care and kept his grip on the sword.

"This Dream hasn't done anything." Theo says, to Ghostbur, to everyone, "You're angry for no Ender fucking reason Wilbur. Put this shitty sword away." Only when Theo tightened his grip and split more of his own blood does the sword disappear from Ghostbur's hand. Most of the ghost's anger melting away into concern.

'Tommy your hand-'

Theo backs away from him, his bloody hand clenched, "It's Theo now Ghostbur." He stresses, shy-well, not exactly shying away from Ghostbur's concern. He turns away from him, "If you want Tommy, the kid brother that you fucking know and love- he's right there. Right behind you. Right next to you. Right next to the sane Wilbur- Toby's at least done something right with this time shit. If you want Tommy, the loud child gremlin you won't find him with me." He mutters, turning back to Dream, George and Sapnap. "We're leaving. Like I said, I'll deal with Eret, message me when there's important shit to discuss." He nudges the Dream Team with his clean and uninjured hand.

"Theo-" Sapnap quietly said, looking at his injured and still bleeding hand. "Later." Theo interrupts with a slight hiss and Sapnap sees how tense his shoulders are. They're tense and shaking. 

Theo clearly really want to leave, to get away from the specter that was his brother who was looking less angry and more hurt and distressed.

So all four of them leave through the front door once again without a word, leaving behind the family that Theo claims to have cut ties with. It's a claim that Sapnap believes a bit better now, in the face of what happened- he doesn't understand everything yet. There are obviously things he's missing but Sapnap sees the way Theo seemed genuinely scared of Ghostbur, his body language betraying his fear, and his voice wasn't as strong as it should be.

Once they're a few blocks away from Tubbo's house- surprisingly no one stopped them from leaving. Not even Bad or Skeppy, Sapnap makes a note to talk to them later but it's probably for the best. Once they were away, just off the path and more into the woods towards the supposed direction of Eret's palace, George forces them to stop. He looked better, less pale and was now strong enough to stand on his own without needing anyone to prop him up. 

"Hold it hold it- Theo. Theo, your hand." George urged, taking Theo's injured hand to look over it- it was a mess. Blood stained Theo's fingers and wrappings, the scent of iron reminded George too much of the Egg and the surely burnt secret city- the man had to hold back a wretch and gagged instead. It was worse with the fact that the smell of ash and fire lingered around him, Dream and Theo. 

Theo laid his other hand on George's shoulder at that. "You okay?" He questioned quietly.

"Valid question but are you okay Theo? That was..." Dream trailed off, unsure on how to continue.

Sapnap finished for him. "That was rough." It's an understatement but essentially Sapnap was telling the truth.

It was rough.

"I'm fine." Theo retorted, taking his hand back from George. "Look I'll even-" He interrupted himself, taking a spare regen pot from his inventory and uncorking it, nudging his mask up a little to free his mouth, Sapnap cringed as some blood smudged against the side of the porcelain mask. Theo drank down the regeneration potion, and showed the Dream Team the healing effects. The cuts on his fingers and palms closed, but the blood lingered. "There. All better. Gotta brew more regen pots later on." The blond grumbled, unwrapping the cut bandages from his hand. He balled them together, wiping off excess blood while trying not to stain his other hand. 

Most of the blood was cleaned up, but his hand was still stained. "I'll clean up with water later. But there. All good?" 

It's a distraction. Simple as that. Theo was deliberately focusing on his physical wounds, though having his hand no longer bleeding was great and all but Theo was definitely distract them from what happened. Distract them from how he truly felt. And they all knew it.

"Theo..." 

Trying to help Theo seemed a lot harder now.

"I meant what I said, we should get to Eret and deal with his shit." Theo insisted, "At this point he might lose his arm-"

'Theo wait!' 

The masked man let out a swear at the interruption, clenching his newly healed fist. Behind them, Ghostbur appeared from the trees, he still had the coat on but it wasn't bloody nor torn- he was alone at the moment. Didn't seem like anyone else was following him so there was that, however the fact he was still here was definitely a problem.

"Go away Ghostbur." 

Ghostbur recoiled at the familiar words he'd heard from months ago. However, this time he replied with a sure and firm. 'No. I'm not- I'm not going away.' Not again. Not after last time. He'd left his Toms with Dream, that had been a mistake. A mistake he wasn't going to let happen again. 'I'm not going to leave you alone with him.' He growled, his coat flickered briefly around his shoulders- from clean to bloody and torn then back to clean.

Theo tensed at the growl, moving to use his body to shield Dream again. "Theo, Theo it's okay." Dream said, laying a hand on Theo's shoulder from behind him. 

"But it's not. Dream they- they're painting you as some psychopathic asshole!" Theo exclaimed angrily, fists clenched and eyes glaring through the holes of his mask. 

'That's because he is! The wanker- I remember, I remember what Dream did during your exile. He forced you to put things in an ender-damned hole and made you watch him blow everything up you worked for! I remember the bruises, I remember the injuries that were too precise to be caused by mobs or by falling down somewhere- I remember the insults- I don't remember everything he said but I can get the fucking gist! He was toying with you!' Ghostbur replied back just as angry. Both at Dream and at himself. His past state had been pathetic, he had noticed things but as soon as something else took his attention or it all seemed too much, he'd just end up forgetting. Things would be different now, sure his memory wasn't as good but he was getting better and Ranboo had a record of everything he said to him.

Theo's lips pulled into a snarl- his mask was still nudged up a bit to show off his mouth, "That was then, this is now- this Dream hasn't even done anything like that to me!" He willingly gave up his items to Dream and Dream didn't blow them up. Dream's even started giving back to him. 

'And just because that and because this Dream is fucking younger I'd trust him with you?! He hasn't done anything yet, like hell I'm leaving you alone with him.'

"Oi!" Sapnap couldn't help but exclaim, feeling indignant, "He's not alone- George and I are right here!"

'I don't feel any better with that fact- the last time I heard you and George left Dream's side permanently.' Ghostbur told him with a deep frown. Sapnap and George couldn't help but look away at that while Dream flinched. 'I'm staying by your side whether you like it or not.'

"No. No no no- don't you fucking-" Theo hissed through his teeth, jaw clenched and he was trembling again. Be it from anger or fear, it was hard to tell at the moment as he fumed at the determined specter. 

Then, all of a sudden. 

Theo's posture changed, his shaking stopped, his jaw unclenched and his back straightened. His fits uncurled as he gave Ghostbur a cold frown. Behind the ghost, it seemed like nearly everyone from the house had finally come- almost all of them looked furious, Bad and Skeppy looked hesitant. Techno, Phil, Wilbur, Tubbo and Toby looked ready to commit murder, Tommy and Ranboo were both grimacing- but Theo paid them no mind as he stared at the ghost of his brother.

His mouth opened.

And he began to sing.

THEOINNIT WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??? dude is it just me or is he scared of ghostbur? Theo step away and let Ghostbur stab Dream. STAB HIM STAB HIM STAB HIM STAB HIM! don't stab him!! toby toby help what are they doing this isnt the family i watched grow up toby whyyy. LMAO THEY'RE JUST LEAVING- stab stab stab! MAKE HIM PAY! guys chill you're being so loud. 

Toby watched Theo leave again with the Dream Team -his chest ached at the ultimately familiar sight of Theo's back leaving- his arms crossed tightly on his chest and trying his best to ignore Chat. At some point, Bad and Skeppy just quietly left as well, he wasn't paying either of them attention, too focused on other things.

He felt... admittedly he felt disappointed that Ghostbur was unable to get to Dream. But at the same time, there was a sense of relief and some understanding from the more logical side of his head- if Ghostbur attacked Dream then that would set off Theo who would try to attack Ghostbur, fail and just make things even more complicated.

'Tommy...' Ghostbur whispered quietly, sadly. There was a trace of Wilbur from Pogtopia there, mostly in the coat which was now clean and untorn. 

Honestly the sight of Ghostbur turning more into the Wilbur who blew up L'Manberg- it had made Toby so tense. So very tense as he remembered-

Tubbo felt so numb after he respawned and escaped into Pogtopia- well, somewhat. The twinges of pain from his very new scars underneath his chin and covering his torso was something but he felt so numb to everything. Shock? Was this shock? He doesn't know. But he tries to rationalize everything, even when Tommy rages on his behalf, he tries to calm his friend down. "It's okay- it's- there were too many people." He says that- or something along those lines. Technoblade had killed him. In front of the entire country. That was- it was fine. It wasn't he died he died and it HURT. Wilbur was saying something and he couldn't concentrate that well. Suddenly Techno and Tommy were in a hole. A pit? He moves to join Tommy's side, calm him down but Wilbur drags him back, "They need to sort this out Tubbo. Sit down." Wilbur's voice is soft, tinged with something Tubbo can't recognize but he can't help but nod. Wilbur knew what to do. He always did. He flinches at every hit Techno and Tommy do on each other, Technoblade having the clear upper hand. When it's over, he finally goes to Tommy's side after Wilbur leaves with Technoblade while laughing- it's disturbing, but he focuses on Tommy. He's crying, he insists he isn't and Tubbo says nothing but provides him a spare health potion. He still feels numb, but he's there for him.

One of the voices had mentioned that Theo seemed scared of Ghostbur.

With how Ghostbur had been, Toby actually couldn't blame him if he was. 

Still, the fact that even with that fear or something, he had still defended Dream-

"Ghostbur, are you okay?" Ranboo asked quietly, shuffling over to stand beside the quiet ghost. 

Ghostbur grimaced, 'I... no. No. I'm not letting him go. I'm not- not this time. Dream can't have him again, not after- after-' A look of frustration was on his face before he turned to Ranboo. 'Ranboo- I have to write- my memory book. I might forget this but I can't I- just in case, I need to remember everything I'm remembering right now. Every bad thing Dream did to Toms. Please.' 

Ranboo already had the book out along with a quill, he offered it to Ghostbur who frantically scribbled into the pages. Muttering underneath his breath. It didn't take long and soon enough he closed the book and gave it back to Ranboo, 'I'll- I'll come back later. I'll come back later Ranboo, I'm sorry. But I need to get to Tommy. Theo- whatever! My little brother. He's still my little brother, I can't let Dream take him away again.'

"No no! It's fine! Go, he- you should go to him." Ranboo reassured, smiling at the ghost who smiled back briefly before he was quickly gliding out the door. Trying to catch up with the group that just left.

The enderman hybrid sighed as he held Ghostbur's memory book- Ghostbur always gave it to him, letting him keepsake the memories and other things that he and Ghostbur would write into it. but yelped when a hand settled on his shoulder, "GAH! Ng-o-oh. Uh, hi? Tu-no, Toby right?" He questioned anxiously, smiling weakly at the man who had came up from behind him. 

Toby gave him a gentle smile, "Hello Ranboo. It's nice to see you again. Even if you haven't met me yet." He greeted, patting his shoulder.

Ranboo relaxed at the smile, his own getting a bit stronger as he nodded. It was weird, for someone to know you even though you haven't met them at all. Yet. He's looking forward to spending time in L'Manberg and getting to know everyone that Ghostbur had told him- and! He got to meet with Niki again. Even if Niki was, for some reason, unconscious in a bed within the living room right now. That was- that was concerning. But still, it looked like she was fine.

"Hey Ranboo!" The hybrid blinked as suddenly a boisterous blond was in his face. Tommy for once, looked serious. "Can I look at the book?" He asked, glancing down to Ghostbur's Memory Book. 

Ranboo spluttered, clutching the book tightly to his chest. "Wha- b-but this is- It's Ghostbur's memory book! I think- this is kinda um, private?" He said, the book disappearing from his hands and deeper into his inventory.

Toby's brows furrowed, "Tommy he has a point. This is Ghostbur's memory book. We can't mess with it." He said, remembering how personal Ranboo's Memory Book was. The enderman hybrid was very protective over it, and though this book was for Ghostbur, it still stood for the same thing. Suddenly Chat screamed loudly, making him and Techno wince.

read it. READ THE BOOK! Read the book it might hold good secrets! WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT GHOSTBUR REMEMBERS ABOUT DREAM DOING SHIT TO THEO!

"But we could find out what fucked up shit Dream did to me! Theo! HIM THE BASTARD WHO WE'RE TRYING TO SOMEHOW DRAG BACK TO OUR SIDE?!" Tommy exclaimed loudly. 

Ranboo winced, "Oh he was not kidding about you being loud." He muttered quietly to himself.

Tommy crossed his arms, "C'mon, it's for the greater good here big man! And! I..." He bit his lip, his volume getting a bit lower. "I want to know what he did." 

Ranboo hesitated, because of course he does- he has the backbone of a chocolate eclair. 

Toby had at first wanted to protest, to say no but... What Chat and Tommy said struck a chord in him. He didn't really know what Dream had done to Theo during his exile.

Ghostbur knew, Ghostbur remembered. He had been there, he had seen what Dream had done- a few times at least before he started visiting and hanging around L'Manberg more often.

"I... Don't know about this." Ranboo said hesitantly, nervously fiddling with his fingers.

Finally, after what seemed to be a long time. Wilbur spoke up, "If it matters, I wouldn't mind letting everyone look at it? Technically it's my memory book, in a way and..." Wilbur trailed off, looking at Ranboo who crumpled like wet paper. 

"Good one Wilbur." Techno complimented quietly, smirking at his younger brother who smiled back at him.

Ranboo, with the non-existent backbone he has, hands over Ghostbur's memory book. 

The first few pages were neatly written, a few paragraphs that depicted random memories or a few short sentences. Some were nice.

I remember starting L'Manberg, Tommy and I were 'making drugs' and it blew up from there. Started out as a joke, grew into something more very quickly. Tommy was so happy back then and so eager to help. He smiled a lot back then.

Some weren't as such.

I remember Pogtopia. Tommy being afraid of me. I wish I could go back and say sorry to that scared Tommy. I hurt my little brother. I'm a bad brother im sorry tomss

Tommy didn't have time to go into that trashfire right now. He went straight to where Ghostbur wrote, everyone gathering behind him to read over his shoulder.

It was messy and not written as properly as most of the other pages but it was readable.

cant forget dream hurt tommy. he prompted the exile then he forced tommy to put almost everything he owned and made in a hole and made him watch everything blow up. armor weapons food he blew it all up in front of tommy. dream hit tommy sometimes he had bruises and cuts. he made tommy rely on him and pretended to be his friend. he gaslit tommy, told him lies and manipulated him. dont remember everything he said but i remember some things. worthless, tubbo didnt need toms, he was a burden. all not true dreams a fucing liar. cant let tommy near dream. tommy was losing his color in exile. he was so bright like the tommy here but he dulled because of dream. dont forget again. dream hurt tommy dont let him take him away again.

The last two sentences was shakily underlined twice. 

kill dream time? THE MASKED ASSHOLE I KNEW WE SHOULD'VE KILLED HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! MAKE HIM PAY! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! oh dear. AAAAAH DREAM WHY???

"I'm gonna kill him."

Surprisingly, it was Wilbur who said that. His face contorting to the near identical murderous look Ghostbur had when he had been facing Dream down with a sword.

"Save some for the rest of us Wilbur." Techno growled, low and guttural. Philza said nothing, a steely look on his face. Tommy had gone silent, his face complicated but angry. Tubbo seethed quietly, gripping Tommy's shoulder tightly. Bad and Skeppy shared a skeptical look, they couldn't exactly believe Ghostbur's writing about Dream but...

Toby's fists clenched and a new fire sparked in his eyes, a dark scowl on his face. "That son of a bitch." He hissed- he knew it. He fucking knew that Dream had been- The exile- Fuck!

It didn't take long for them to sprint out to follow Ghostbur. Hoping to catch up, engrossed in their newfound protective emotions that were burning from the hastily scribbled paragraph in Ghostbur's memory book. Only Ranboo, Bad, Skeppy and Tommy were trying to calm them down. Yes, Tommy was trying to calm them down- shocking. Though he was still somewhat angry, he was trying to calm the rest of his family and both versions of his best friends down.

It didn't take long for them to find Ghostbur, Theo and the Dream Team. 

The only reason none of the furious were lunging at Dream who stood right behind Theo, was the bizarre fact that Theo began to sing.

"I heard there was a special place." Theo sang, the beginnings of a familiar tune. A familiar song. A familiar anthem. "Where men could go and emancipate." His voice was soft, but it rang loud into the sudden silence.

"The brutality and tyranny of their rulers." It's a shocking moment, truly shocking. However, something settled in the stomachs of those who knew the song. Wilbur and Ghostbur especially as suddenly, Theo's voice shifted from soft to hard and he sang different lyrics to the anthem and song they knew of. "That place was real but now it's gone!" He took a step forward and Ghostbur floated a step back. 

'Toms wh-'

"Theo went mad and planted a shitton of bombs!" Ghostbur's face was one of horror and denial as he floated back a step more.

'Tommy no-'

"IT'S A SMOLDERING PIT!"

'Please-'

"A VERY BLOWN UP L'MANBERG!" 

'No.'

"Bye L'Manberg."

'No, no you- you wouldn't-'

"Bye L'Manberg."

'Tommy plea-'

"Bye L'Manberg."

Ghostbur's gone silent, his face wide with horror and blue tears trailing down his face as Theo reached up to remove his mask. His face, stone cold and glaring. "Fuck L'Maaaanberg." He whispered, staring right into Ghostbur's eyes. 

Silence reigned the area and Ghostbur- he collapsed on to the ground, something Wilbur also did. The ghost however wasn't exactly touching the ground, just floating above it, but he was on his knees, looking at Theo with denial and disbelief. '... You didn't...' 

Theo gave him a stoic frown. His eyes, so dull they almost looked grey. "I did." He said quietly, and his eyes shifted over to Toby who had stopped breathing the moment Theo had started singing. "You can ask Toby. I continued the 'family tradition.'" He sneered before taking in a deep breath and closing his eyes. "... For the longest time, while growing up. I wanted to be like you. Wilby." Both Wilbur and Ghostbur made a keening noise at the nickname. "And I did for a moment. I was exactly like you when L'Manberg blew up for a third and final time."

With his eyes closed, he put his mask back on. "Listen up!" He says loudly, his head looking back to Toby once again. "If anything happens to Dream. I'm blowing up L'Manberg." 

A chill ran down everyone's spine at the declaration. 

"If anything happens to George. I'm blowing up L'Manberg."

Theo turned on his heel.

"Anything to Sapnap- you get the fucking gist."

He walked towards the frozen Dream Team. "I mean it. I've done it before, I'll do it again. And Ghostbur-" He paused and looked back at the ghost still on his knees. "Stay away from Dream and I and your nation will be safe. Or who knows. You can blow it up yourself. I don't care. Now if you'll excuse us, we have a king to check on."

Chapter Text

Eret had no idea what was going on.

They really didn't. Or well, maybe they did? Things were fuzzy- they respawned in their bed, losing their third life to Wilbur and an explosion that seemed to come out of nowhere. What the hell happened? All they remember is fighting Wilbur because of some flowers Niki gave them and then BOOM- they died. Respawned back at their castle with the flower around their hand.

It had been docile for a while. An underlying sense of panic had persisted though and they had started to prepare for- for something. 

And then the screaming came.

The flower screamed and something in the back of their head -HELPHELPDYINGBADHURTSBURNINGHELP- just seemed to snap and Eret had felt a pain like no other pierce their head for a good few minutes. It lead to them screaming in their throne room, dropping whatever item they had in hand as they clutched their head while the flower throbbed on their hand.

And then the screaming stopped.

The relief was only for a moment because suddenly the now, terrifying and unnatural flower started to move on it's own and they were really panicking right now.

The once-pretty flower that had been around their hand is now trying to dig in to their hand- the stem becoming sharp and starting to sink underneath their flesh. It was painful and fucking terrifying. 

How did Eret think that this flower had been nice? Had been pretty? 

It was in their skin, painfully wriggling underneath their flesh. Trying to grow against Eret's will. 

Eret screamed again, clawing at their hand, trying to rip the flower off their wrist to no avail. 

It was their screaming that attracted the attention of a nearby person who heard them and came running. 

"Eret?!" 

Sam had been passing by Eret's palace on his way towards L'Manberg, he and Punz had planned to meet there to discuss a few things. Just as he had been passing the castle, he had heard them scream- it was a pained scream. Agonizing. Usually Sam kept to himself, he preferred to be neutral. He may be part of Dream's side but he had been away during the whole L'Manberg war and even then, he probably would've wanted to stayed neutral nonetheless.

However even he couldn't ignore the scream that Eret let out and immediately rushed into the King's castle. 

He found Eret on the floor, curled up and clutching their bloodied hand- clawing at it, seemingly trying to get something out. "Eret- Eret what's wrong?!" He asked as he quickly came to the king's side- their shades had fallen off along with their crown, their eyes brimming with pain-made tears and their hands- fuck, it was covered in blood. Sam saw the mess on his wrist, his eyes widened behind hid creeper-mask at the sight of a red petal and stem that wriggled underneath Eret's flesh. "What the fuck-"

"S-Sam help it hurts-" Eret pleaded, one bloody hand, the one that was free from whatever the fuck that red plant thing was, shakily reached out and clutched his shirt. "Get it out! Get it out!" Sam's stomach churned and threatened to make Sam heave from the blood and the way Eret was begging- still, he swallowed down the threat and nodded.

"I'll- just hold on, I'll do something."

And Sam tries to do something. He does, he and Eret weren't best of friends but they were still casual friends or allies and Sam is not a heartless man.

He drags Eret to the little infirmary that Eret had in their castle, tries to cut the plant- the crimson red flower from out of Eret's wrist while occasionally splashing Eret with healing potions because of their declining health and the pain that the flower made for them as it stubbornly stayed within Eret, gradually growing and fuck Sam is getting more frustrated and panicked by the second. However Eret's potion supply was limited, and Sam had no idea how to cut the damned parasitic flower out of Eret- he was a redstone architect, not an enderdamned healer.

Throughout the process Eret was heaving, trying their best to power through the pain- the health pots help give him brief reprieve with their pain numbing side-effects but it doesn't last long and Eret was plunged back into the agony of having a flower stubbornly and horrifically grow underneath their skin. Going past their wrist, heading towards their elbow.

"Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck-" Sam cursed, hands stained red and shaking- normally that wouldn't be so bad. Red always made its way to his hands, when you handled redstone like Sam it was a commodity but this type of red was something else entirely. Blood. Blood stained his hands instead of redstone. It stained the cot that Eret laid in, stained the knives that Sam was using, stained the empty bottles that used to be filled with health potions, stained their clothes, the fabric- 

Blood was messy, almost like redstone but entirely different.

Sam was not a healer but he wishes he'd learned more beforehand as Eret breathed heavily on the cot, tears staining their face. "Sam." They moaned with pain, voice raspy and sore and their hand- Ender. Sam thinks he's just made things worse. The flower had kept moving from and in his grip, the petals wriggled and writhed and Sam has never dealt with anything like this before. When he pulls on the stem, Eret was in pain. When he tried to cut the stem up, the cut off parts would just start growing again and move underneath Eret's skin, causing more pain.

The creeper-themed man was unbelievably stressed as he tried to help the poor king who could only lay down and cry, clutching their arm fearfully as the flower just. Kept. Growing and moving.

"I'm- fuck, I'm sorry Eret. I don't- I don't know what to do!" Sam clutched at his hair, grimacing as he realized he'd just stained his own hair with blood. Fuck- "I need- I should've messaged someone else-" But who? Who could possibly deal with something like this? Bad maybe? George? Who was the most medically informed and experienced person in the lands right now? He can't remember. He's trying but-

"Sam- I can't, Sam it's too much-" Eret whimpered, gripping their elbow tightly, a sob escaping their mouth as they felt the movement underneath their flesh. Felt their skin bulge ever so slightly, and sometimes it would just- pierce through their skin, creating a new bloody puncture hole. They felt weak, they've lost so much blood and they think the health potions weren't working as effectively as they were before. Their few minutes of pain-free peace was getting shorter- at least it felt like it was. "Cut- Cut my hand I can't take it anymore Sam please." They couldn't let this thing take over them. And the pain from the movement was too much.

They couldn't take it anymore.

If they had to lose a hand, fine. Anything to just get rid of the flower and the pain.

Sam's eyes widened with shock and horror, "But Eret-" "PLEASE! I can't- I just can't- it HURTS!"

Sam's jaw clenched and he looked at Eret's hands- at the bulging, moving, vein-like pattern that were definitely not veins. "Fuck." He takes out his axe, bloodied hands shaking as he raised in the air. "Eret I'm so sorry."

Eret gives him a very strained but reassuring smile before their eyes clenched shut and they turned their head to bite at their pillow.

BAM

Sam jumped, dropping his axe at the sudden way the doors were forced open. A certain masked man striding into the room with three other men trailing after him.

"Wha-" Sam watched in confusion as the masked man that wasn't Dream, took steady but quick steps towards him and Eret. "T..heo?" He questioned, remembering the name that this time traveler went by now. Quite honestly, he had almost forgotten the whole 'time travel' debacle from Schlatt's election like a week or so ago already. He had certainly been curious but it was clear that the time travelers were going to do their own thing and Sam wasn't the type to butt in anyone's business unless it got really out of hand.

So seeing the masked time-traveler was definitely surprising. 

"Sam." Theo- wasn't he supposed to be Tommy? Ender he was curt and not cussing - greeted back shortly, glancing over to Eret. "Shit. Should've come here sooner- Sorry Eret, but a few problems delayed some stuff." He knelt by Eret's cot, the King panting heavily and looking at him with squinting, glowing eyes. "Ender's fuck Sam, you cut too much off. This is- Sapnap! George! Get some more regen and health pots, or brew some if there aren't!" He called back, snapping the two men who had looked worried then shocked into action.

"Uh- right!"
"Holy fuck okay."

Theo nudged Sam aside while both men scrambled to go through Eret's chests for more regeneration and health potions either that or the ingredients for them to brew more, Sam didn't hesitate to let Theo take over seeing as Theo seemed to know what the actual hell to do. A pair of enchanted shears appeared in Theo's hands, "Dream, can you please set the shit on fire as soon as I toss it aside?" The blond asked, rolling up his sleeves, his hands oddly unsymmetrical with one hand being bandaged and the other not. 

"Got it... Will Eret be okay?" Dream asked hesitantly and Sam looked at Theo who nodded as he looked down to the pitiful king.

"They will be. But Sam, Dream- I'm gonna need you two to hold them down if they start flailing." Sam gulped, but he and Dream shared a determined nod as Theo pinned down Eret's hand making them groan in pain. 

"Please please please just get it out I can't-"

Theo shushed them, "I will, I will. We're getting this shit out of you, you're keeping your hand. It's going to take a while, but you'll be okay."

The shears glinted in the masked blond's hand and Sam felt both relieved and apprehensive.

At the very least though, Sam wasn't cutting off the hand of a king who was his friend.

"Dream wouldn't do all of that." Bad started quietly, he and Skeppy back in their home after excusing themselves from Toby, Ghostbur and the others. Their minds still processing everything that had happened. "He wouldn't, he's a good guy- our friend. He wouldn't do all of that... Right?" He hated the hesitance in his voice, the small doubt that was planted from reading the paragraph from the journal, memory book of a dead guy from the future. 

Skeppy frowned and shrugged, "I don't know Bad. You know him better than I do." He pointed out to him, though he was disquiet. He wasn't as close to Dream as Bad was, but he did consider him a good guy and a friend. A great ally at the least, who wouldn't want to be friends with a powerful man like Dream? Unless that powerful man was a major asshole and danger to everyone around them.

Bad's brows furrowed and he frowned, sighing in frustration as he leaned against his bonded human, lacing their fingers together as they sat, cuddled on the couch. 

Today had been certainly hectic.

Visiting the mysterious 'forbidden' coordinates and getting bad goosebumps from the visit. Meeting Ranboo and Ghostbur, leading them to L'Manberg and Tubbo's house.

Unofficially meeting the time travelers from the future. A confrontation between a ghost and a Tommy that was surprisingly not as crass as his younger self was? Bad had definitely noticed the way Theo had corrected himself when Bad reprimanded him for his language. It was- honestly, it was both nice and kind of weird. Tommy almost never watched his language around Bad, if anything he purposefully swore just to get underneath Bad's skin. 

It was infuriating but it was a Tommy-type of normal. 

Theo? Not a Tommy-type of normal.

And that paragraph, Ghostbur, Theo singing L'Manberg's song in a very different way and his threat-

"If anything happens to Dream. I will blow up L'Manberg. If anything happens to George. I will blow up L'Manberg. Anything to Sapnap- you get the fucking gist."

It just wasn't Tommy. The swear aside -Bad had been too shocked at the moment to chide him unfortunately- the threat was just not Tommy at all. Tommy had been so loyal to L'Manberg, he gave Dream his previous discs for the nation and yet Theo...

"We definitely need to talk to Dream and the others soon." Bad decided, mouth thinned into a firm, determined line. "We need both sides of the story."

Skeppy hummed, nodding, "Alright. I'll message Sapnap later, I think they're kinda busy right now." Something about Eret? A flower? "Do you think they'll answer questions about the coordinates and stuff? I think we missed a lot of things." 

Bad snorted, smiling at his precious human. He nuzzled into Skeppy's shoulder, squeezing his hand gently and feeling happy at the squeeze he got back. "Yeah we probably did. I certainly hope they answer and explain everything, those muffins have a lot to say I think."

<Skeppy> Think we can meet up any time soon to talk about what the heck happened?
<Sapnap> yeha uh
<GeorgeNotFound> How does a day after tomorrow sound? Tomorrow we're kinda busy.
<BadBoyHalo> Sounds good! 
<BadBoyHalo> Uh so... Theo isn't really going to blow up L'Manberg is he? 
<Dream> well you heard him
<Dream> not unless something happens to sapnap george and i
<Sapnap> nah hes not going to blow up lmanbetg
<GeorgeNotFound> We'll make sure of that
<Skeppy> Tho i thought you guys didn't like l'manberg??
<Dream> things are complicated rn skeppy
<Skeppy> i mean obviously but still
<GeorgeNotFound> We'll explain later on in person

'Since when did you start drinking?'

Ice clinked against glass as Toby paused, the cup right against his lips before he sighs and puts the glass filled with amber liquid on the table. The ice clinks again and Toby glances over to Ghostbur, the literal haunting figure that stood at the doorway of the kitchen.

It's night. Very late at night and Toby was... drinking. Alcohol. His face was pleasantly flushed from the liquid, but his eyes were tired and only just a bit dazed. 

"Almost a year after becoming president, so just before I turned twenty-one." Toby admitted quietly, tracing the rim of his drink, "Don't worry. I didn't go completely drunk like Schlatt did- I saw what this did to him, I was more... controlled. And I didn't do it often." He wasn't an alcoholic, he controlled his drinking. He hadn't turned into Schlatt, Schlatt had been constantly drunk as time passed while Toby only indulged himself a few times.

Even though some of those times he was tempted to drown, just to see what Schlatt saw, what was so addicting to be constantly drunk all the time.

But L'Manberg needed him, and he had promised... That he wouldn't become the next Schlat. So he drank minimally. 

Ghostbur's face grimaced, 'I... can't remember if I noticed that before.' He whispered quietly, floating into the kitchen. 

Toby smiled crookedly at the ghost, "You probably didn't. I only drank at night in small quantities. Just enough- to get me tipsy. But not enough, to get me hard drunk." He lifts his cup, sips the burning liquid that smoothly went down his throat. "Honestly I don't know what my actual limit is. I've never been piss drunk before." And he never will. That was his own promise to himself. 

'I think I have been... before.' Ghostbur said slowly, face scrunched as he tried to remember only to sigh when he failed. 'Little things like that come and go. But I'm pretty sure I've drank before.'

"You have." Toby confirmed, closing his eyes as he leaned back against his chair. "Tom-Theo said, you're a sad drunk. Long time ago."

At the mention of the blond man, Ghostbur's face fell and his coat grew once more from his shoulders. 'Oh... Now I remember. Just a bit- To-Theo. Confiscated and got rid of any booze from... Pogtopia.' The smell had been horrid and Theo had had enough. During the first half of their second year of exile. He had managed to get some alcohol and downed it all in an effort to forget. Of course Theo had quickly dragged him out of that slump, however as successful as he had been, Ghostbur had just went head first into insanity after that.

Another regret to add to his growing list.

"Mhmm... He actually took a couple sips when you weren't looking. Stashed one of them away." Toby informed, watching the shock spread on Ghostbur's face. 

'Wha- He shouldn't have done that! He was a minor!' 

Toby snorted, "He was exiled and curious. Don't worry though, he didn't like the taste and threw it all away. I don't know if he drank or drinks anything now but, I have a feeling that's not the case." Theo had never seemed to be the type to drink liberally, and back when they were friends, Theo had expressed his disgust over it. Stressing on how he would never get drunk because booze tasted bad. 

Toby liked to think he stuck to that. He did, Theo never liked drinking and Dream never gave him any alcohol to try.

Ghostbur's shock melted into fondness, then to sadness. 'Ender... I was such a bad brother.'

Toby didn't look at him, didn't confirm nor deny. And that was enough for Ghostbur to smile a crooked little smile. 'You've changed Tubbo.'

"It's been four years Wilbur." Toby replied quietly, "Four years of fighting. Surviving. A lot can happen in that time."

'Like my Toms blowing up L'Manberg for a third and final time?'

Toby closed his eyes, breathing roughly through his nose. "Yeah." He replied quietly, though he opened them and looked at Ghostbur, a complicated look on his face. "But it wasn't just him. Punz had been there with Dream- Dream paid him for the whole thing. It wasn't just Theo. Dream was there, I'm sure he made the damn decision to blow up L'Manberg and Theo went with it." He clutched the glass in his hands tightly. "He- went with it."

"If anything happens to Dream. I'm blowing up L'Manberg."

Theo had been made to blow up L'Manberg then.

"Tommy?" Cold eyes. Explosions in the background. Blood staining his blade as Tommy's face bled from his attack.

Theo was threatening to blow up L'Manberg now.

"Ender. I just want things back the way they were. Tommy shouldn't be with Dream, he should be here! With us!" Toby gripped the glass even tighter. "Us versus him, from the very beginning it was us versus Dream. That's how it should be!" 

Crack

The glass in his hands cracked. It kept together, but it was beginning to leak from the cracks at the side. Toby stares down at the cracked glass, feeling the liquid slip through his fingers and drip down the cup. 

'But it's not. Unfortunately.' Ghostbur whispered bitterly, quietly, sadly. 

Two men from the future sat in silence before Toby raised his glass to Ghostbur. "Cheers." He downed the rest of the liquid from the cracked glass. 

He'll replace it tomorrow.

He gets a new glass and pours himself a new cup while Ghostbur watches him.

He didn't turn into the next Schlatt, at least he certainly hopes he hasn't. But he understands the man just a bit.

Maybe that's why he spared Schlatt this time.

Dream sighed, massaging his eyelids and the bridge of his nose- his mask was off for the moment as he leaned against the back couch, his free hand just laying atop one of the heads on his lap, a third head on his shoulder. He felt tired, but he couldn't find it in himself to sleep just yet, quietly reflecting on what happened today.

They had gone to one of Dream's hidden bases for the night, the trek back towards the Stronghold would've been too long and they were all tired. Sam had stayed back at the castle, promising to look after Eret who had passed out while Theo removed the damned crimson flower. It was now burnt to a crisp thanks to Dream, and Eret was now the proud owner of a new scar on their hand. Their hand was in a cast, they'd need to go through physiotherapy after letting it heal as naturally as it could now. 

Dream still felt uncomfortable as he saw the whole process, from Theo carefully cutting Eret's hand open, sliding the edge of his enchanted shears against the flower stem and petals, separating it from muscles, veins and flesh- "It hasn't dug deep enough to hit bone thankfully. Just started spreading around without actually rooting down." Theo had muttered and Sam had to leave the room to wretch when a blood vessel spurted out blood after Theo removed a petal from it.

It was the most bloodiest fucking thing he's ever seen and Dream wouldn't want to see it ever again.

Theo had hardly flinched at the face of it all.

He had kept calm- from the moment he forced the three of them towards Eret's Castle, to removing the fucking flower- Theo had been deceptively calm.

He understood the flower part, Theo had claimed to seen worse and from the scar on his side. Dream believed him.

Theo had been so calm and collected during the bloody event that Dream could have almost forgot what happened prior. Except he didn't and Dream waited for the drop. The slip. The crack.

It didn't happen until they were in Dream's base. Theo collapsing on his knees and wheezing, gasping for breath as he finally just slumped into the ground. Predictably they had all panicked at that as Theo began to cry- quietly this time. Just little gasps of desperate breaths, tears behind his mask and falling into a wordless mess.

They managed to move him to the couch, trying to figure out what to do- George had suggested Dream to leave and Dream was all for it, he didn't want to end up making things worse but Theo had clutched his hoodie like a lifeline. Quietly pleading Dream to stay.

stay he asked for you
... stay and comfort him

Theo actually asked for all three of them to stay, and after some time with George, Dream and Sapnap messaging Bad and Skeppy, it somehow lead to Dream's current sitting situation. He had George and Theo's heads laid on his lap with Sapnap drooling on his shoulder. They had all fallen asleep on him, he'd been turned into a glorified pillow. First a chair, now a pillow.

At least they were all on the couch instead of the floor.

...

Dream looked down to the messy blond head that was on his lap, facing outwards and leaving his back open to Dream. Hesitantly, he reached out to the spot where he knows the enchantment tattoo laid underneath the hoodie.

'And just because that and because this Dream is fucking younger I'd trust him with you?! He hasn't done anything  yet, like hell I'm leaving you alone with him.'

His hand flinched back and he sighed heavily through his nose, closing his eyes.

"... Thank Ender I'm not alone then."

The weight of three people sleeping on you wasn't easy to bear, but Dream was strong. He could handle it, even if his muscles felt stiff and Sapnap's drooling was annoying and disgusting. He'd pay Sapnap back eventually though, for now, they needed rest. He did too. So he gets as comfortable as he can and lets himself drift.

Today had been one hell of a day.

Chapter Text

It's a strange thing, facing your future self, meeting them in the flesh and finding out what they did either by someone else who knew them or by themselves.

A person can imagine their future all they want but it's different when they have to face that future.

Wilbur's thoughts on his own future had changed drastically ever since election night. Before hand he had imagined himself as president of the country he had built from the ground up, that he and his son had fought for and that his little brother had died for twice- L'Manberg was supposed to be a safe place for his family, a safe place for everyone to stay in. He had thought he would lead it to glory and a bright future.

But those were just fantasies of a hopeful man who had been stressed out of his mind after the war of independence with a certain masked bastard. 

The truth came to him in the form of two men coming from the future, Toby and Theo. 

Theo had immediately disappeared from L'Manberg while Toby stayed and explained what actually happens in the future.

It was a future that no one would have expected at all. Something that should have only happened in fiction, a horrific story for the masses. And yet it was truth. And that wasn't all.

The bright future that Wilbur had imagined would never come to fruition, at the hands of many people- especially his own.

The man who had started a country from the ground up went insane after being exiled and destroyed it.

Wilbur had wanted to deny it, at first he did. But that was swiftly crushed in the face of Toby's cold eyes and the stoic words given to him.

"I asked you yesterday. Your country or your family." 

Country or family?

That was the question and Wilbur had thought he would've answered immediately, but the thing was... he hesitated. He hesitated to answer- he didn't have an answer then and it forced him to look at himself. Look over his ideals, his actions, his morals-

He had been a man so blinded that he had let children fight in his wars. His little brother had contributed the most in the end, giving up his discs for the future of Wilbur's country. It should've been Wilbur. He should have done something. 

He was the older brother, he was the one who started it all and yet Tommy was the one who paid the price. In both timelines, Tommy had given everything for L'Manberg and in one timeline, Tommy had destroyed it.

In this timeline, Theo threatened to destroy it. That terrified him Tommy his Toms-

The path Wilbur had been on wouldn't just affect him, it would affect everyone around him. Fundy, Phil, Techno, Tubbo, Tommy- He had been so close to losing everything in the span of two years, but Toby had stopped it. Toby had made his own mistakes, seen it, experienced it and he stopped Wilbur from going down that path and he would be forever grateful for that.

Toby had been his only source of knowledge for the future and Wilbur could rely on him to know what was best. 

But now there was another source from the future.

Someone else who knew the path that Wilbur would have taken and that someone was himself.

Ghostbur. Formerly the Wilbur that Toby and Theo had in their future.

The mad man who blew up the country he had built and had hurt so many people in his wake. 

A ghost of his former self. A ghost of the Wilbur that Wilbur himself swore not to become.

How does one face the man that they swore not to become? Face the future that would never happen?

Wilbur found Ghostbur in the kitchen, early in the morning. He hadn't slept very well that night, the events of the day prior weighing heavily on his head. On one hand, the Egg was finally dead and they didn't have to worry about its mind controlling anymore, sure there might be lingering Crimson plants hanging around but without the Egg spearheading the doom of both the Overworld and the Nether, they would be easy to deal with.

But on the other hand Wilbur was on his last life, Niki was still unconscious after being mindcontrolled by the Egg, Ghostbur had come with Ranboo -Ranboo so far has been polite and nice, a nervous lad but he was good and Toby was certainly happy he was there- and Theo threatened to blow up L'Manberg.

Theo had sang a warped song of their nation and threatened to blow it up should anything happen to the Dream Team. Which was somewhat surprising, George and Sapnap were now officially underneath Theo's protection as well. Still, it left a sour taste in his mouth. A devastating taste as the older version of his little brother threatened to blow up the country he had once loved.

Again.

Because Theo had blown it up before. In Toby's future. A third and final time. 

Wilbur shifted from one foot to another, feeling very uncomfortable as he and Ghostbur locked eyes. "Um... Good morning. Ghostbur." He greeted awkwardly, nodding to the specter who smiled wryly and nodded back.

'Good morning Alivebur.' Was Ghostbur's greeting back and Wilbur couldn't help the small, quiet snort that escaped his mouth. 

Ghostbur and Alivebur.

What a pair.

Still, it was very weird to be referred as 'Alivebur' from your dead future counterpart.

They shared an awkward moment of silence before Wilbur shook his head and headed into Tubbo's kitchen- they've really just been living in Tubbo's house for a while now haven't they? They just can't help it and Tubbo had said he hadn't minded at all, even offering a permanent place for him, Tommy and Toby. At this rate, they might just take up on his offer, him and Tommy at least. Toby was still thinking on it. It just felt better that way. 

At any rate though, Wilbur went to make breakfast but found a cracked glass cup on the counter. He let out a small questioning noise at the cup, and realized it smelled somewhat familiar. Cautiously, he sniffed at the glass, smelling the lingering scent of something. Was that- was that scotch? 

'Ah. Toby cracked the glass, he'll replace it later.' Ghostbur piped from behind, scaring Wilbur into dropping it- both men winced as it broke on the counter. '... Whoops. Well, at least it was already broken in the first place?' 

"I-I guess?" Wilbur sighed, picking up the largest pieces of the glass and placing it in his inventory so he could get rid of it later but he paused. "Toby cracked the glass? It smelled- It smelled like Scotch. Was he drinking?" He questioned him- questioned Ghostbur incredulously, looking at the ghost. He hadn't thought Toby was the type of man to drink, especially since Wilbur knew Tubbo and Toby had forbidden Schlatt from drinking, forcing him into constant sobriety. It seemed a bit hypocritical now.

Ghostbur gave him a lopsided grin, 'Surprising isn't it? I didn't know either until I found him drinking last night. Don't worry, he didn't drink that much. He's actually not much of a drinker, says he only drinks occasionally and he always limits himself. He's never been full on drunk before. He had three glasses last night- he cracked that glass as his second, after his third he went to bed. Should still be asleep right now.' Toby had actually wanted a fourth glass but Ghostbur insisted him to sleep instead. Ghostbur didn't exactly know Toby's tolerance for alcohol, much less for scotch but he definitely wanted the man who he once knew as a sweet bee-loving boy to go to sleep instead of drinking more that night.

Wilbur let out a small 'oh' of understanding. Toby could control himself, he limited his drinking. Unlike Schlatt who indulged way too much and wouldn't stop as easily. It took to threatening his life to actually get the goat hybrid to stop drinking. "Well, that's good." He cleans up the rest of the glass, placing it in his inventory before throwing it into the trash once he'd gathered all the pieces. 

After that, he makes himself coffee and checks on Niki who was still unfortunately unconscious in the living room. Ranboo was also still sleeping in the living room as well, sleeping in the bed that George had been unconscious in. The enderman hybrid had no place for himself yet and Tubbo, ever polite and hospitable, let him stay the night. Ghostbur as well, though he had no need for a bed, unable to sleep or die.

Philza and Technoblade had stayed the night as well- Tubbo's house was cramped but no one really minded for the moment. 

While checking on Niki, Ranboo had woken up, a light sleeper apparently. 'Good morning Ranboo.' Ghostbur greeted with a warm smile on the younger male. 

The enderman hybrid yawned and Wilbur watched wide-eyed at the way his jaw unhinged. "G-ooo-od morning. Ghostbur." He said, yawning mid sentence. He blushed when he noticed Wilbur's staring. "Oh. Uh- G-Good morning, um Wilbur?" He greeted awkwardly, gripping his blanket tightly, embarrassed that Wilbur had seen him yawning. 

"Er- morning, Ranboo." Wilbur greeted back, feeling a bit sheepish for staring. "How did you sleep?" He asked, sipping from his cup of coffee.

Ranboo perked and finally sat up, stretching a bit, "I slept fine! It's- it's nice to sleep in a bed again." He admitted, smiling happily though his smile slipped as he looked over at Niki. "Is... is Niki going to be okay?" Finding out that your friend had been controlled by an evil Egg- something that Ghostbur had been talking about from time to time, wasn't fun. He had been worried for her and honestly it's half of the reason why he accepted Tubbo's offer of staying for the night.

That and he had nowhere else to go.

"She'll be fine. This is Niki we're talking about, she's strong. She'll wake up any time." Wilbur reassured him, finding it nice that Ranboo worried over a mutual friend. Though he had to wonder on how Ranboo even knew Niki. So he asked.

"Oh! Uh well, I think we might a couple of years ago. Our paths crossed while traveling." Ranboo said, getting out his memory book just to be sure. "Yeah, we met in a small village and I bought some bread and sweets from her. It tasted great. We spent some time in the village and promised to stay in touch when we both left. It's been a while since I heard from her though, she mentioned L'Manberg in her latest letter and when I met Ghostbur who knew where it was, I uh, I went with him." He had wanted to meet everyone and reunite with Niki. 

'Mhmm. And we talked all the way here. He suggested the memory book thing when I kept gaining and losing memories.' Ghostbur said, patting Ranboo on the head. Both Ranboo and Wilbur winced as they remembered yesterday with Ghostbur's memory book. 'Hm? What's wrong?' The ghost asked, noticing their simultaneous wince.

"Uh..." Ranboo chewed on his lip and guiltily admitted giving Ghostbur's memory book to the others. "I'm- I'm really sorry Ghostbur." He mumbled, ashamed to have given the book up so easily. 

However Ghostbur wasn't angry, if anything he just smiled at Ranboo. 'Hey hey! It's okay. Technically Alivebur was right- he is kinda me and he has the right to know too. I certainly would've wanted to know. I don't mind anyone else reading my book Ranboo it's okay. I'm not mad.' Ranboo sighed in relief, though he still felt ashamed. 

Wilbur was happy that Ghostbur didn't mind, which made sense but he frowned as he remembered Ghostbur's writings. The last written page specifically. "Do you... still remember what Dream did?" He asked the ghost cautiously, eyeing the specter. Ghostbur's coat wasn't torn or bloody and he wore a yellow sweater underneath. From what Wilbur understood and suspected, Ghostbur's form changed based on what he remembered or felt. 

And he'd say his suspicions were true as he watched holes appear on the coat, ghostly blood staining it as well- he cringed as he wondered just who's blood that was. Was it his? Or someone else's? It didn't really matter as Ghostbur scowled. "I'm going to take that as a yes." 

'Yeah. I remember what happened.' Ghostbur spat, crossing his arms and glaring coldly at the wall. 'I may not remember all of it, but I still remember the important stuff. Dream... I need him away from Toms. From Theo. He- I can't let him take Theo away again.' He muttered darkly and Wilbur nodded in agreement with his own grimace. 

"We'll think of something." 

"But if you do anything to Dream, Theo will blow up L'Manberg." Ranboo pointed out quietly making both Wilburs huff, "What could you even do to separate them? Theo seems really attached to him, and to George and Sapnap... I don't think he'd voluntarily leave their side." 

'We'll think of something.' Ghostbur repeated what Wilbur said, a cruel and slightly insane smile on his face that made both Ranboo and Wilbur shiver, 'The green motherfucker can suck it. He'll get what's coming to him.'

Ranboo shifted from where he sat on the spare bed, giving Ghostbur a look of alarm and concern. "You won't kill him will you? I mean, I know he's a bad guy or something but still..."

Ghostbur snorted, giving Ranboo a cold look only softening when he saw Ranboo flinch. 'He deserves it Ranboo. He's done so much to my Toms, he's wrought pain and suffering to him and Toby and the L'Manberg from my future is gone because of him. Theo may have blown it up but Toby told me that he did it with Punz AND Dream. Most likely under Dream's orders he was forced to blow L'Manberg up.' 

The hybrid chewed on his lower lip, "I don't think the Dream right now has done anything like that though? From the looks of things, he's just been hanging back... And Theo threatened to blow up L'Manberg on his own." He thinks, he hadn't heard Dream say anything during the whole thing yesterday.

"He still took Tommy's lives away." Wilbur pointed out, arms crossed and a deep scowl on his face. "He's dangerous. Ranboo, you've heard what Ghostbur has been saying. You're new here and you've never met Dream so you don't know yourself just how bad he can be." Memories came to him. Of the final control room, the way Dream had killed Tommy both times there in the room and in the duel, Dream's threat and demand for white flags and their surrender-

'Trust us Ranboo. I may have been a bad brother and father and was the bad guy and blew up my nation.' Ghostbur started, closing his eyes when he saw Wilbur's flinch at his words, 'But Dream helped me in doing that. I've seen him, he's manipulated and hurt a lot of people, Toms included and in the end, his very own best friends left him because of that. George and Sapnap were his very best friends but they left once they saw how horrible Dream really was. They haven't yet, but they will. I think we can get their help actually, if we can convince them to help us, we can get to Theo.' Ghostbur said with a grinning, thoughtful look on his face.

Wilbur brightened at the idea while Ranboo stewed in his own thoughts and doubts.

"You're asking me if I'm okay with you guys letting Bad and Skeppy know about the Stronghold and my enchantment?" Theo questioned incredulously with a tone of disbelief. "Why?"

The Dream Team exchanged some looks at the table, they were all having breakfast in Dream's base after waking up on the couch. Theo had apologized for falling asleep on Dream and for breaking down but they, Dream especially, reassured Theo that it was alright. Though Dream did nag on Sapnap for drooling on his shoulder. 

"Well, for one we trust Bad." Sapnap started, swallowing his steak, "And Bad trusts Skeppy so there's that. Having them both know about the Stronghold should be okay, they can both keep a secret." 

George nodded in agreement, "And Bad is a demon, so he should know a few things about the enchantment on your back." Theo tensed at the mention of his tattoo, "He might know on how to get rid of it- or at least break it. If not, then maybe the Stronghold's library can help him help us." The thought of breaking his enchanted tattoo was baffling, he frowned at the slight pangs he felt for even thinking about that. He was Loyal to Dream. Why would he want to break the tattoo?

"I personally don't mind Bad and Skeppy knowing about the Stronghold, and the tattoo. But it's still up to you if you want them to know- you live in the Stronghold and it's your tattoo. We don't have to tell them about both, but it'll be harder to help you and me if we have to hide it from them. I'm planning on telling them about the whole Separation and Fragment thing too." Theo held a complicated look on his face underneath his mask, his fists clenching on his lap.

"I... O-Okay? I don't-" The thought of somehow escaping the enchantment on his back or even breaking it made him feel... Complicated. He didn't want to break it. Or did he? No he didn't he was Loyal- But the bond from it was affecting Dream- Who he was Loyal to so no- "This is very confusing and my head's starting to hurt. Just- do what you want. I don't have a say in this. Please." He said, pressing a hand against his head.

The three men frowned at that but nodded all the same, they should've known that talking to Theo about breaking the enchantment would affect him- but at least it wasn't that bad of an effect. However, George still had to ask, "Do you remember what book uh, your Dream used for the enchantment?" 

Theo turned to Dream who nodded at him, gave him his consent. Dream had given him consent to answer any of George and Sapnap's questions- he could also not answer if he wanted but at this point it was just instinct to look at Dream for permission. "Somewhat. I think there was more than one book, but the main one is a blue book, very old- it was about enchantments I can't remember the title of it- I wasn't allowed to touch it or read it. Friend Dream tried to let me read it once but Owner Dream stopped that pretty early. It should be somewhere in Dream's untranslated and old books in the Stronghold. I don't know when he found it or how he used it though." He had no idea where the book had gone, Owner Dream had either hid the thing or destroyed it back in his Stronghold. 

The Dream Team discussed on what they were going to do, tomorrow they would meet up with Bad and Skeppy, tell them both everything and lead them to the Stronghold. They would try to find the book that Theo described and find out what they could to break the Loyalty III bond Theo and Dream had- Bad was a demon, he had lived a long time so maybe he had an idea or a solution. If not, they could still use his help for this. Skeppy was someone Bad trusted so they in turn, could trust him.

Plus, Bad and Skeppy could also help Theo himself in more ways than one. 

All in all, it was a good plan. A good start. 

"At some point, we should visit the old pig also." Theo chimed in, confusing them for a moment before they realized he was talking about a certain Priest. "I- I want to visit him, if Dream allows me. We can go visit him together. I've got some shit to talk with the old pig... hopefully get more answers on Dream's 'Seperation' and 'Fragment'."

The three males perked, "Oh right! You can get more questions out of him right? We uh, kinda used every question we had from him back then." Sapnap said with a sheepish grin.

Theo snorted, "Easily. The damned pig is weak to heads. Wither skulls especially. But with me there, I think we can get unlimited questions. I'm kin to two warriors after all." He said, somewhat bitterly. At least his connection to both Technoblade and Toby were useful. "In any case, we should visit him in the near future."

And they would.

Though they weren't the only ones to think of that.

Chapter Text

awesamdude messaged TheoInnit: thanks for yesterday theo
awesamdude messaged TheoInnit: from both eret and i she can't exactly type properly right now
TheoInnit messaged awesamdude: I'd expect as much, typing with one hand is fucking hard.
TheoInnit messaged awesamdude: Make sure she gets some rest in the next few days, when she starts feeling her fingers again try to get her to move them. 
TheoInnit messaged awesamdude: Curl them, make em twitch just anything to stimulate her nerves but not too much.
awesamdude messaged TheoInnit: right anything else?
TheoInnit messaged awesamdude: If you see any more red plants that move get the fuck out, message me and send me the coordinates but stay away from the moving red shit. Just run from it and stay away, don't let it near you, don't let it touch you, just stay. Away. From. The Crimson.
awesamdude messaged TheoInnit: THERE'S MORE OF THEM????
TheoInnit messaged awesamdude: Possibly. But don't worry, just message either me, Dream, George, Sapnap or Toby about the crimson and we'll deal with it.
TheoInnit messaged awesamdude: Actually if you find more shit in or near L'Manberg then message Toby. 
TheoInnit messaged awesamdude: He should be able to deal with that bullshit all on his own. But if you find any outside L'Manberg and within the actual SMP then message me or the others.
awesamdude messaged TheoInnit: uh okay

TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Have you checked Niki's bakery? We went straight on to Eret yesterday and dealt with her shitty ass flower. If Ghostbur hadn't stalled for time Eret would be feeling much better by now.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: I've quarintined the area the bakery was defintely infected. 
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: garden undrneath, Techno Phil and I purged most of it earlier this afternnon.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: Niki's fine by the wy she woke this morn. She's sorry for evrything.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: I never asked.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Most of it.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Some escaped?
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: I think so, we tried to get everyhing but cant be too sure. 
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: Think some escaped niki's city too?
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: It'd be dumb to think otherwise. Even without the damned Egg the Crimson can act on its own. It's not smart but it has survival instincts.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: You deal with the shit that pops in L'Manberg while I deal wherever else it pops out got it?
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: ...
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: you're not really ging to blow up lmanberg again are you
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Why the fuck are you asking that now bitch.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Were your ears filled with fucking webs or did you not hear me yesterday??? As long as the Dream Team are fine then L'Manberg can stand. 
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: I don't care about your stupid little nation Toby. As long as Dream is fine then I'll stay the fuck away from it whenever I can.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Look bitch boy, you can suck up your damn whatever the fuck you're feeling right now and focus on other matters.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: fine
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: Then what about t he totems? is the deal dtill on for that?
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Hold on.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: You're in luck Mr. President.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Oops I mean Mr. EX president.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: stop that
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: They said yes so the yeah the deal is still on. Question is, with the deal still on will you keep your end of the bargain for it?
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Course it'll have to be tweaked a bit. Gotta include Sapnap and George into the deal and make a new copy.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: You've quikkly gone attache to them.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: That's none of your fucking business.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: It is if it incudes them to the deal now.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: They're Dream's friends, which by proxy makes them my friends now. I'll care for them as long as Dream cares for them.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: of course how typical
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Shut it. Now. About the damn deal?
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: I'll relay it to Jschlatt, he's the president here.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Oh right that, you have the goat in 'power' he's totally the one who you have to go for this yeah.. 
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Fine, name the date and place and we'll come to the agreement.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: I'll send it to you later after i relay it to Jschlatt.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Yeah yeah whatever
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: By the way how did dear old Ghostbur react to Jschlatt?
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: ...
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: He went bonkers didn't he.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Has he lost one of his lives? Currently not in range to see any death notifications in L'Manberg.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: Where the hll are you then??
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Another thing that's none of your business.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: no Jscjlatt didn't die. Ghostbur WAS angry but we manged to calm him down.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Well that's a fucking shocker. Ghostbur not killing the goat, what will he do next?
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: I'm surprisd you even asked.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Ghostbur is a loose cannon, we both know this. 
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: If I wasn't the one who threatened to blow up L'Manberg it certainly would've been him when he found out Jschlatt was President again. Wonderful decision by the fucking way. 
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: He's gotten better. He's sober and hasn't doe anythgn bad yet and Ghostbur wouldn't blow up L'manberg again.
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Mmm love the smell of hypocritical bullshit pie you're serving me here Toby. Seems utterly, shittily great.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: What the hell are you talkng about?
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: If you can't notice yourself then that's a you problem fucker. 
TheoInnit messaged Toby_: Enjoy your day ex president bitch boy.
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: notice what?
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: Theo?
Toby_ messaged TheoInnit: ender fucking dammt theo

"So you have to follow whatever Dream says?" 

Theo sighs, nodding to Bad's question as he sat, topless on the bed. He was obviously trying not to fidget underneath Bad's scrutinous stare over his back, "Yeah. Whatever he says I have to do- well, it obviously has limits. If he orders me to like, fly or something that's obviously something I can't do. I could try but I'd probably just end up dead in the process- but if I was a ghost maybe I could fly so that would work out. Point is, there's limits to what he can order me to do. As long as I can do it, I'll do it, if I can't- I can't." He replied, grimacing underneath his mask at the careful touch to his back, right where his enchantment laid- his back stiffened underneath the touch and he resisted the urge to growl at the demon. "Can you- Can- Can you please not touch me? This is- This is weird enough as it is." 

"Sorry To-uh, Theo, but I need to at least feel the enchantment to see what I'm dealing with here." Bad apologized, giving him a wry smile that hardly did anything to comfort the poor blond man. 

To the side, Skeppy and Sapnap watched, keeping an eye on their respective males while Dream and George waited in the room across the Stronghold's potion room. 

It was the day that they had met Bad and Skeppy. Yesterday had been alright, Theo had gotten messaged by Sam who informed him on Eret's situation. She would be alright, she was conscious and her arm would heal in due time- she'd need physiotherapy and her hand may never be the same but at least she kept her hand. She was in a better situation compared to the other poor saps he had known who had been infected by the hand and wanted to stay sane and uninfected, uncontrolled.

Turns out cutting off the limbs before the infection spread to the rest of your body was pretty effective. But you had to be quick, precise and careful, or else you'd just get infected again or die from blood loss or shock. 

He screams in pain, clawing at the vines that were quickly trying to take over his arm as well as himself. "HELP! NO NO NO NO NOT NOW NOT AFTER ALL THIS TI-" Listen. He couldn't get infected. I can give you so much. Not now. Don't you want all your desires fulfilled? Live a life of happiness? Not when they were so close. Obey me and you will have everything you've ever asked for. Not when hope was just starting to flare and burn once more.

SHWING-SPLATTER

He screams in a new type of pain but the damned voice is GONE. "I got ya-" His mind felt fuzzy as a pair of hands quickly grab at him, "I got ya- hold on- fuck fuck fuck-" It's a blur as they escape, away from the screaming vines and infected creatures. He blacks out just as something shatters against his body and a searing agony overcomes him, forcing him to unconsciousness.

When he wakes up. They're back in the Nether. When he wakes up, he finds something missing. His arm. His arm is gone.

He sobs and a pair of arms wrap around him, fingers running through his fur, trying to soothe him and he tries to hug back, but he can only clutch at the fabric with the one arm he had left.

Brutal, but effective.

After that, Theo had mustered up the energy to message Toby first- a shocker indeed but he had to. They had left Eret and hadn't had the chance to check on Niki's bakery. He didn't exactly want to go back to L'Manberg so he made sure that Toby had checked it in his stead. He didn't have to worry about anything since Toby had remembered himself and had taken care of it himself.

He briefly wondered on what this younger Philza's reaction was to the Crimson before he waved it away, not his business, not his problem. 

At any rate, it seems that the Undying Totem deal would be renewed, meaning that as long as Theo could supply L'Manberg some Undying Totems, they would leave him and Dream alone. Also George and Sapnap now.

It would take a while, but hopefully his threat to L'Manberg would keep them all at bay until he could get to Foolish and set up a deal with him for totems. It wasn't really a dire situation anymore, the Overworld- this Overworld would never suffer underneath the Egg and Crimson's tyranny and take over. Neither would the Nether. 

"So. Do we have a deal?" Dream asked amicably, holding his hand out to the golden skinned man who hummed in thought. His literal emerald eyes glinted for a moment, glowing softly in the dim light before he sighed. 

"We do. I, Foolish Gae-Mer, accept the deal." Tommy watched as Foolish' golden hand clasped Dream's hand, both giving a firm shake. "Come back in a week, you'll have your totems then."

Theo would think of something. He knew what Foolish wanted, as long as he did that then Theo was set for totems and in turn, he and the Dream Team would be left alone by L'Manberg. By Toby, Ghostbur and the rest of the others.

Honestly it was a thin chance but Theo wanted the deal continued anyway.

It felt weird not providing totems to them, not that he'd ever admit it.

Even when Dream was gone and he was alone -alonesoaloneuselessfriendless- he had continued the bargain until the end.

Also, he had promised himself he'd help someone else as soon as he successfully helped Dream.

"This will be the last time you'll visit huh Tommy?" Tommy paused at the doorway, glancing back to the golden skinned man. "Not even going to say goodbye?"

Tommy gripped the doorway edge. "I'm not very good at farewells and shit like that. But I suppose it'd be unfair to not say anything and just leave you alone forever... I'm sorry Foolish." 

The emerald-eyed being scoffed, "Don't be. The world's gone to shit outside, it actually gives me a reason to stay inside now." He smiled bitterly, crossing his legs and the chains jingled lightly. "But hey, I'm not really alone. I have company." He motions to the fish, the sheep, the cow, the dolphins, the sharks- every little animal that he and Dream had painstakingly saved and gathered for him. He didn't feel alone anymore. "Thank you, Tommy. And good luck."

"Yeah. Bye Foolish. Thank you for everything and good luck to you as well." And with that. He left. The door seals itself behind him. He'd help him too maybe. In the past, he'd help him after he helped Dream. It was the least he could do. Plus, he'll need totems no doubt. He'll help Foolish in the past.

Foolish was waiting for them. For him. He didn't know it but Theo would keep to his self-made promise.

Anyway, just a couple of hours ago, they had met Bad and Skeppy. All four of them right outside the SMP borders, away from L'Manberg.

Bad and Skeppy had been a bit skeptical over everything that's happened, they had both informed them on what they had read from Ghostbur's memory book and Theo had to deal with the concern and horror from the Dream Team- yes that actually happened, no he was fine stop asking, he was over it, Dream it's fine he was over it, yes that's kind of the reason why he keeps giving Dream his armor and items also the Dream Team-

It was a mess as Bad and Skeppy were given the full explanation as to what was happening.

Egg included.

"That's why you wanted Bad and I away from the coordinates? Because of an evil Egg thing?" Skeppy said with disbelief, however deep down, he found that he didn't find it as disbelieving as he thought. There was actually a phantom sensation of, relief? Over not encountering the one thing that apparently ravaged Theo's future. It was strange but still.

Bad looked like he was actually one inch away from saying a swear word, Theo would've been so surprised if it actually happened. If Theo was still his naive, bratty younger self he would've tried to prod and get Bad to say a swear but he had matured and Bad was Dream's friend. He shouldn't aggravate one of Dream's friends- and he had matured. If Bad didn't want him swearing around him then Theo wouldn't swear. He would try at the very least. "Yeah, you were both the Egg's greatest pawns. It was damn hard to kill both of you back then." And Skeppy had killed Technoblade. Which would now, never happen. That was a good perk. For Toby and the others. Obviously.

Egg swept aside, Dream's time came and...

"He WHAT?!" Theo recoiled and instinctively got his axe out when Bad shouted, his eyes flaring white and the shadows of the room seemed to darken in Bad's sudden anger. 

"Bad! Bad! Calm down! Theo put the axe away!"

Bad did not react well to Theo's past and the fact that his Dream had basically branded him as property. Thankfully, unlike everyone else who were idiots, Bad recognized that Dream, the current Dream wasn't like his future counterpart and was on the road to never being like his future counterpart. Skeppy was a bit iffy and distrustful but he trusted Bad, who trusted George, Sapnap and Dream.

The demon and human pair were sympathetic when Dream revealed his Fragmentation and Separation. 

"I... think I've heard about that before. A long time ago..." Bad muttered, surprising them all. When they pressed Bad about it, the demon could only helplessly shrug. "I don't remember where I heard it from, as soon as I remember I'll tell you. I promise." It was disappointing but it was something. Plus, they still had the Warped Priest as a source of information, they'd visit him tomorrow.

But for today, Bad would look over the enchantment on Theo's back. Which was what he was doing right now. Just to be safe, they made sure Dream and Theo were rooms apart with George keeping Dream company while Sapnap stayed with Skeppy, Theo and Bad. 

Bad asked questions pertaining the tattoo and its effects and Theo answered to the best of his abilities.

"If I try to disobey without good reason, it starts to burn me- or it feels like it. And the static gets all weird and loud in my head." Theo informed Bad, trying not to squirm as Bad traced the markings on his back. It felt so uncomfortable and wrong to have someone else touch it but Dream had given permission. Dream had told him to listen to Bad for now. He had to listen. "I- sometimes I find loopholes in stuff and it'd be okay. Like the fact I wasn't allowed near the Warped Priest and his faction, I wasn't allowed to go but George and Sapnap were allowed. I told them where it was and I felt fine."

The demon hummed, "What a clever muffin you are Theo. And once they came back, Dream gave you permission to go which undid... your Dream's orders." Bad said sourly- he didn't like Theo's Dream. He was so unlike the Dream he knew now, knowing that the things that Ghostbur had written were true... "How are you feeling now? Am I hurting you by touching the enchantment?"

Theo's brows furrowed and he shook his head, "No- not really. I feel very uncomfortable right now. And Dream gave me and you permission, he told me to listen to you and here I am. Listening to you." 

Bad retracted his hand, "Hm. Well, we obviously can't disenchant this normaly. A grindstone definitely wouldn't help." He said with a frown, giving the tattoo that shined on the base of Theo's neck an actual scowl. 

"Trust me I know." Theo muttered, remembering his ridiculous attempts to press himself against the grindstone- roughly rubbing his back against it like some wild animal trying to mark its territory in order to try and get the enchantment off- it was a few times during the first few nights after Dream died. The pain and static had been so much and he had felt so desperate. It only made things worse though and he felt guilty for trying to do that now. "Grindstone is utterly useless. Can't cut it either. Physically and all that." There were scars underneath the tattoos. He had clawed at it, sliced into it, fucking used his axe as a back scratcher and probably would've almost died if he had continued- which would have been nice but Dream's explicit orders of him not to die conflicted against that so he didn't die in the end.

The relief he had felt when he had heard that Fundy and Philza had finished their prototype had been near euphoric, and the knowledge that soon he'd be with Dream again was enough to quell the static and pain for the following week and he had reveled in it and the growing excitement and desperation to see Dream again.

"But there has to be a way to get it off him right? Or at least like, break the thing between him and Dream?" Sapnap questioned, frowning at the possibility that they might not be able to help both his best friend and new friend with this very problematic issue that laid between them. Theo couldn't stay bonded with Dream, it affected them both too much and as much as Dream tried not to take advantage of Theo with their help, or even tried to use it to help Theo himself- it really couldn't be permanent in the end. Not if they wanted Theo to get closure and to heal himself.

Which was already proving to be quite the challenge. 

Bad sighed, rubbing his dark eyelids and holding his chin in thought. "Maybe? I haven't seen a tattoo'd enchantment in a very long time and even then, I'm not that knowledgeable over them. The only enchantments I've ever seen on a living being were a few used by a group of people years ago. Before any of you muffins were born. And even then, they were all the basic levels, one. Level two had only just been discovered and I think they were only able to put level one enchantments on back then but this? This is Loyalty three. I have never seen this enchantment on a living being, I don't know how it works or what Dream actually did or how he managed to get this high enchantment on Theo." He admitted with a tone of frustration.

"He's Dream. He's an Admin descendant and a prodigy and smart as he-heck. If anyone was going to figure out how to pull it off it'd be him." Theo said with a small smile, praising his friend and owner. 

Sapnap gave Theo a helpless look, "Not the time to be kissing Dream's a-butt Theo." Theo scowled at him but ultimately sighed, shrugged and went silent.

"I never thought that you could enchant a living person before- Bad, you never told me about that!" Skeppy exclaimed, now a bit interested in it even though the source of it all was a bit horrifying. 

Bad smiled wanly at his human. "You never asked." He joked before he shook his head, "Honestly I forgot it even existed until now. It's been so long since I've seen someone with an enchantment tattoo. I think the last time was when I was still, uh, well, an unbonded muffinheaded demon, I was kinda really mean back then. And I mean really mean. I ticked off a few nomads who had those enchantments, the ones with Knockback really packed a punch and the fighters with Piercing?" He shivered a bit, remembering how easily damaged he had been back then. "I guess the ones who knew how to really do it died out. Which unfortunately, makes this even more impressive since Dream probably just learned this on his own." 

"I know right?"

"Theo for Ender's sake."

"In any case, we definitely need to find that book you mentioned. Or any book that mentions enchantment tattoos." Bad said, nudging Theo his clothes and making the blond perk as he finally clothed himself once more- the prodding was over! "Also you mentioned the Warped Priest? You could ask him about it as well, he might have more information on it than I do."

Sapnap brightened while Theo sighed, "We'll try. We're planning on visiting tomorrow." 

Bad nodded, smiling as Skeppy returned to his side, "Can we come along?" Skeppy asked curiously, glancing between Sapnap and Bad.

Theo answered him promptly, "No." He snorted at the looks he got, "The Warped Faction is the smallest but also most well respected faction in the Nether, they keep to themselves and they're serious about their isolation and solitude. The less people who visit them in a group at a time, the better. Four is the right number, could be five but I doubt you'd want to visit without the other there. Unless someone else wants to stay behind." He looked at Sapnap who shook his head, they had been firm in their decision to visit the Warped Priest together. All four of them.

Skeppy frowned but sighed, "Aw fine. I guess I could stay with Bad and help him with his research..." He said with a mock tone of disappointment, giggling when Bad gently jabbed his side with a fake look of annoyance.

"Alright. Cool." Theo took in a deep breath, rolling his shoulders and trying not to think of the very real possibility of his enchantment possibly just... not being there anymore. Not that he didn't want it there it just- 

He doesn't know. 

Go with it Theo, focus on Dream and helping him. Focus on everything else.

Toby stood in front of the Nether portal, watching the familiar purple swirls and the purple sparks that sank in and out of the air and the portal. 

"Ready?"

Toby snorted, giving Techno and Wilbur a wry smile. "Of course."

It was about time anyway, that he returned to the Nether. He's been avoiding it for too long.

Chapter Text

Tubbo's fists clenched as he stood rigid in the middle of the room, surrounded on all sides by piglin faction leaders who sat in chairs. Technoblade stood by him, providing him some comfort just for being there and helping his current situation. 

"There would be no benefits with these continued attacks, we're all wasting resources and people." Tubbo argued, trying his best to get them all to see reason. Besides him, Technoblade grunted, translating his words to the seven piglins that sat in their chairs. "My people are recuperating from the Crimson that's invading the Overworld. We're sorry for involuntarily invading your areas but we had no choice. There is hardly any place for us and we are trying our bests to survive. I implore you, stop these attacks. We can work something out, we have supplies that we could gladly trade and there is much more important matte-" He and Technoblade were soon interrupted by the rough grunts and snarls by a piglin to his left- He was large and old but muscular and he was very scarred, he wore a scuffed but enchanted golden chest plate with skeleton skulls affixes to the shoulders. 

The large piglin's voice was guttural, growly and deep, he motioned to Tubbo, saying something in piglin speak before his hooved hands curled into a fist and he slammed it on the side of his chair. Tubbo flinched at the violent action and the piglin snorted roughly, eyes filled with mockery and disappointment aimed at the young president.

Don't show weakness, Tubbo's jaw clenched and he cursed himself for the flinch. 

"Leader Obero speaks on the contrary," A magma hybrid says from the large piglin's side. Obero, leader of the Gold Faction in the Nether. "If your Overworld is being overrun then perhaps you should reclaim it yourself."

Techno huffed quietly beside him, leaning over to whisper, "He also insulted you."

Before Tubbo could even say anything, another piglin spoke up- female, younger but still oldish, she wore a light red dress made of red vines and flowers- the color almost makes Tubbo cringe but he reminds himself that the Crimson was different from the red plants here. They weren't the same. From her earlobes, crystalized ghast tears swayed as she moved her head, tilting it to look at Obero. Her voice was lighter, less growling but still a bit rough as she spoke the language that Tubbo was clueless about.

Tubbo would have to do his best to learn piglish because this was getting more than annoying. 

"Leader Yuve is defending you, apparently her hybrid niece came back with us, she told her about the Crimson. You might just get an ally from the Tears faction." The hybrid standing by Yuve had seemed familiar, what was her name- He can't remember it but he somewhat remembered her. She had been part of the group of Nether hybrids that separated from them to return to the factions they had been born into. 

Tubbo takes in a deep breath, feeling slightly off-kilter- he was still not used to the heat in this part of the Nether on his own with no armor and such and even with his modified suit, it felt hot as hell. However Tubbo had to power through it, he needed this meeting to go well.

The meeting goes on for hours hours, with multiple breaks as Tubbo was forced to cool himself off multiple times with some water bottles and even a couple of ice blocks. Added in with the language barrier, Tubbo's feeling so very frustrated over the meeting. And desperate.

It's not looking very good for him however at the same time it's not exactly bad or worse. 

The Gold and Bone factions were against the alliance, only the Tears faction was willing to extend help but even then it seemed very tentative and temporary while Magma, Blaze and Pearl were neutral and very unsure about the whole alliance. No one knew what the Warped Faction wanted, it was apparently surprising enough to see the old piglin out of the Forest his faction laid in in the first place and then joining their meeting, however he did not say a single word. Since the beginning, he only watched silently, passively, he and the young piglin by his side said nothing in the face of everything. No one was brave enough to even refer to them. 

Tubbo actually felt a bit comforted at the fact that he wasn't the only one disturbed by his passiveness. Everyone was. Even the other faction leaders.

"I have no idea what the old hog is thinking or what the hell he's doing here." Technoblade admitted quietly during one break, glancing over to where the Warped Priest sat, still as a statue- you'd think he died on the spot but no. He was alive. Somehow. "But somehow, you're going to have to either bring him to our side or at least convince him to be non-violent. Because if he decides to go against you Tubbo- I'm sorry but, everyone will be against you."

Gulping down his third water bottle, he warily glances at the still piglin priest as well before looking back at Technoblade. "What do you mean? Is his opinions and decisions that important?" He asked with some confusion and shock. 

The hybrid grimaced and nodded, "The Warped Faction may be the smallest faction in here, but it's extremely respected."

"But why?"

Techno's face turned complicated as he rubbed the middle of his chest, "It's... a very long story that we don't exactly have time for... I wish I could help more Tubbo, but with this on my ear." His thumb brushed against the gold earring that pierced through one of his ears, "I have no say in faction business aside from translating for you giving you whatever information I can give. I've renounced that right when I left the Nether with this earring, even moreso after Phil adopted me. Not even my status as Warrior can really help." 

Tubbo could only give him a weary but reassuring smile to his once-killer. "It's fine Technoblade. You translating for me is enough for now." He sighed, wiping the sweat on his forehead away. "I just hope that this'll be a good outcome. We need this alliance Techno- we can't do anything while being under attacked and we've already lost people who respawned in the Overworld again." At least with this meeting, Quackity and the others would be setting up respawn anchors like crazy.

"I know..." The hybrid crossed his arms and sighed, "The problem here is that none of these leaders respect you Tubbo, Leader Yuve certainly appreciates the fact you brought her niece back into the Nether and let her return to her faction but that's pretty much it."

Tubbo chewed on his bottom lip, "How do I get them to respect me?" It was kind of a dumb question, he was hardly respectable as he was now. He was stressed, tired, desperate- he didn't even respect himself. Too much has happened in such little time, and he swears that if he didn't have multiple ice blocks and water bottles, he'd be having a heatstroke by now. 

How can you respect a very sweaty young man who was leaning against an ice block and chugging down water bottles like a mad man? His suit was soaked with sweat and water- it was getting very uncomfortable to wear it for long periods of time, and he probably smelled which wouldn't help him in being 'respected'. He probably ranked towards the hybrids and piglins right now. 

"I'd say challenge them to something and beat them," Techno replied but his mouth thinned into a frown, "But they might not think that challenging you would be worth it..."

The young president's fists clenched, "It's worth a shot though. We need their alliance, I'm willing to do anything as long as everyone can live in the Nether safely."

Anything.

Anything at all.

So he challenges them. Every faction leader, he proposes a challenge.

Every faction leader.

Which meant even the Warped Priest. There was a silent moment when Tubbo looked the Priest in the eye and said his challenge, Technoblade even stuttered a bit. The Priest once again didn't say anything and merely closed his eyes.

The moment passes and it's loud as Obero and the leader of the Bones faction- Thymu, a muscular young piglin male who wore bones all over his body, a cracked skeleton skull on his head- began to laugh and mock him in broken English.

"You go challenge us? That funny! You funny!" Thymu declared with a deep rumble, tusked smile wide and grinning mockingly at Tubbo who grits his teeth but keeps his head high.

Obero slaps the table in his laughter- they're not the only ones amused. The Pearl faction leader, a female piglin named Ednae who wore a black dress of what almost seemed like charred plants with an Eye of Ender necklace, was giggling to herself while the Magma faction leader, Pali,  a very old piglin female- not as old as the Warped Priest- who wore a deep red vine robe and had magma cream smeared on her cheeks and blaze powder covering her tusks, snorted in clear amusement.

The Blaze faction leader, a male hybrid- the only hybrid leader, Vorn was stone-faced and had his arms crossed unimpressed. Like the Warped Priest, he had blaze powder painted underneath his eyes however his arms were absolutely covered with blaze powder, painted in intricate symbols that Tubbo didn't recognize. 

Vorn rumbled something in piglish and the blaze hybrid translated, "What exactly would you challenge us in? You are in the Nether, it must abide by our standards and customs." His words made both Thymu and Obero stop laughing. Both leaders grunted and growled to the stone-faced hybrid who didn't answer them, all he did was stare at Tubbo who stared back at him, unwilling to back down.

"They're asking him if he's being serious. But he does have a point. You challenged them, in the Nether, you're going to have to face them in one of their challenges. Their trials." Technoblade whispered to Tubbo who grimly nodded though he still held his stare off with Vorn, "There's not a lot of trials you can face since you're an Overworld human, it'll differ with each faction if you get them to agree."

There's more back and forth within the room, Tubbo and Vorn's stare off is interrupted by the others- Tubbo was proud to say that Vorn had looked away first. Even though it was because of Pali who had caught his attention with something. Something about trials not being for Overworlders and how this was going to effect them all if they let it happen- Pali sides with Thymu and Obero, now against with allying her faction with the Overworlders.

Thankfully Vorn seemed up for it- as long as Tubbo won whatever trial he would face. Ednae was still neutral and once again, no one knew what the Warped Priest was thinking.

Until now.

"A challenge that shall be involving all factions... We, the Warped Faction shall issue this challenge and decide the trial it shall be."

The room goes silent at the raspy, old and deep voice that came from the Warped Priest. Besides him, the young piglin grunts, translating his words to Piglish.

Tubbo's eyes widen as the old piglin continues, "The Trial of Blood shall be the challenge."

Pandemonium. 

Utter pandemonium as the factions leaders start shouting- even the stoic-faced Vorn and the reserved Yuve were grunting, snarling and growling in rapid Piglish- Technoblade was gesturing to the Warped Priest, his eyes wide, shocked and frantic.

"Techno? Technoblade what is going on? What's- What's the Trial of Blood?" Tubbo asks, gripping the frantic hybrid's sleeve to gain his attention. Whatever it was, it didn't sound good at all.

Technoblade looked at Tubbo and Tubbo almost recoils at the near-feral look in his eyes, the hybrid takes in a deep breath in an effort to calm himself before he replies. "It's- It's a big deal of a trial Tubbo. The best warriors are chosen to face each other, it's a battle to the death and whoever survives becomes a Warrior of Blood. A true Warrior, it's an instant way to gain respect yeah but-" Technoblade cuts himself off, pressing a hand against his chest.

"Oh." Tubbo lets of his sleeve, "But what? Also best warriors? I- who's the best warrior in our ranks? Aside from you- wait does that me-"

"I can't be the warrior you chose Tubbo." Techno interrupted, looking away from the confused president.

The young man frowned, "Why not?"

"I've already been through this, as a Warrior myself, I'm not allowed to go through the trial again." His hands are balled tightly and shaking.

Tubbo was just about to ask him another question however he never got to ask as the Warped Priest silenced the room once more with his voice and words.

"The Trial of Blood will commence in time. You Overworlders shall join. Factions, ready your warriors, the Warped Faction shall prepare for the Trial." Every leader looked grim, but nodded in unison. However, Obero glanced over to Tubbo and he grunted at him with a look of ridicule.

Tubbo faced Technoblade who translated for him, "He's asking whether or not you'll be part of the Trial."

"I'm obviously not the best fighter we have, I'll as-" "You will participate."

Tubbo had been surprised when the old piglin interrupted him, even more so when he processed what the Priest said. "What?" "Heh?" He and Technoblade chorused, staring at the wizened creature who stood from his chair, the butt of his staff made a loud sound against the nether brick floor. 

"You shall participate in the Trial of Blood. You will fight on behalf of your people. No one else shall fight for you. It has been voiced." He said with a tone of finality.

Dread settled in his stomach as the meeting was loud once more.

Oh fuck.

"Toby? Toby? Tobbyyy hellooo?"

TOBY!! wake up. Just what are you thinking?? TOBY LOOK MAGMA CU- AH IT FELL OFF! you're distracted toby. NETHER NETHER WE ARE BAAACK. it's hot in here can we go back to the overworld? FUCK YEAH HELL!!BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD

Toby shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and ignore Chat as he looked over to Wilbur. The familiar heat of the Nether surrounded him and he gave the man a crooked smile, "Ah- sorry about that Wilbur. I was uh, quite a bit distracted." He admitted, looking around the hub of the community portal. It was definitely smaller than he remembered. He looks back at the portal, remembering how they had broken it in an effort to stave off the Crimson- preventing it from following them.

They had expanded the area before destroying it when signs of the Crimson were leaking through the portal they reignited. 

"I was remembering the first meeting I had with the faction leaders, and when I first met the Warped Priest." He admitted to him and to Technoblade who glanced back at him. He let out a deep exhale, "I was so nervous and if it weren't for some ice blocks and water bottles I would have overheated and had a stroke." 

Wilbur frowned, "Why? Weren't you wearing armor with cooling enchantments?" Like what they were wearing right now actually. At least, Wilbur was. Toby and Technoblade hardly needed it.

"I'm going to take a guess and say he wasn't allowed to wear any armor for that meeting of his." Techno deadpanned, snorting at Toby's hesitant nod of confirmation.

"They were already wary of me being- well, there. Some of them probably just wanted me to die from the temperature but jokes on them, I survived and became a Warrior." Toby joked, grinning to himself. "Who's laughing now Thymu?" Not that Thymu would even know him at this point.

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!! BONE LEADER! who? Tiam chose Thymu as her successor? disappointing. WHO THE HECK

"Who's Thymu?" 

Toby smiled, shaking his head. "Later. Right now, let's head towards the old pig and his faction."

TO THE WARPED PIG! The Warped Priest have some respect. OLD PIG OLD PIG OLD PIG!! oink oink. oh my ender you guys. It's going to be nice to see them again. AAAA I DON'T WANNA HEAR THE ELDERS THEY'RE OLD AND BORING!! rude.

Technoblade snorted. "Well said."

The three men went on their way towards the specific Warped Forest where the Priest and his faction lived in. 

The reason it was the three of them was simple enough. As much as he had wanted to avoid the Warped Priest, Technoblade would stay by his warrior brother's side in meeting the old pig- it was practically his job really as the senior warrior between them, never mind the fact that Toby was currently older than him. Technoblade had been warrior for far longer and was senior Warrior. 

Wilbur on the other hand was too curious for his own good and had wanted to learn more about the Nether after he heard both Technoblade and Toby talk about it to each other recently, originally Phil wanted to go with them but someone had to be the responsible adult back in L'Manberg. Ghostbur definitely did not count and the three teenagers- yeah no. 

Toby hard core rejected Tommy and Tubbo from coming, three people were enough thanks and even then, having Tommy and Tubbo come along would be too chaotic in the end. 

It was bad enough that inevitably, the Warped Priest would be interested in Tubbo because of Toby. Toby had become a Warrior, that meant Tubbo had potential.

If there was anything else besides the Egg, Crimson and losing Tommy that Toby didn't want Tubbo to go through, it would be the Trial of Blood.

He and Technoblade were simply curious if Toby's alliance with the Nether worked in this timeline because of his status as a Warrior. If it didn't, then it was disappointing however not unexpected. It would've been nice but now that the Egg was dealt with, they didn't exactly need the Nether Alliance. Even though it would be nice to have the Nether united like in the future.

Maybe Toby could still do that, it was a chance that he could make at least. However if it needed another Trial of Blood...

...

He'll deal with it somehow.

Chapter Text

The Nether is as hot as he remembers it. However it's nothing compared to the Nether he remembers.

The man-made pathways were missing, certain areas had yet to be built, Nether Fortresses that had yet to be conquered and repurposed as either a living space or something else- there was a lot of things that Toby had instinctively expected to see within the Nether but couldn't because it hadn't been built yet.

The Nether was a sprawling, hellscape that had yet to be terraformed into a safehaven for recuperating Overworlders. An isolated peace between piglin factions that didn't have them all united into working together with them. 

Even though Toby had been busy in the frontlines, trying to get Theo back and find a way to either beat the Crimson and the newly hatched Egg or help Fundy and Philza with their time travel project, he had spent enough time in the Nether to be familiar with the structures that had been erected after he had stepped down from presidency.

"It almost took a full year for the factions to all be united. I had to train for two and half months. Techno put me through the wringer during those two and a half months. It's not a lot of time but it was enough for me to face Dorma, the Tears faction warrior." Toby told Wilbur and Techno along the way, his face wistful but nonetheless grim. " When I fought her, I was half-sure I was going to die."

There's roars and snarls all around him- he can't tell if they were cheers or jeers. And it was hard to focus when you had someone's dead body pinning you down to the hot, netherrack ground.Tubbo takes in a desperate gulp of air, choking at the taste of ash and blood in his mouth as he heaved the body off of him. The female piglin's body rolls to the side as he forces himself to sit up, trembling underneath the effort as well at the weight of death on his shoulders. He killed her. He killed his opponent- as he should have, but she was a piglin. Piglins don't respawn. Mobs don't respawn. Only hybrids could. He permanently ended her life.

"The Overworlder as won!" A familiar rasping voice declares, and Tubbo's head tilts up, his vision blurry as he sees the Warped Priest stand on the pedestal above him. He can hardly make him out, black spots starting to overtake his vision. "The Tears Faction has lost!" That's all he hears before he slips into unconsciousness. His entire being exhausted, his body broken, injured, bloodied and bruised.

But he did it.

He had won and lived.

"But you didn't." 

Toby smiled and shook his head, "No. I didn't. I won, time and time again... But just because I won doesn't mean we should let Tubbo experience what I did." He finished quietly, looking off into the distance, spotting a ghast flying behind a singular falling pillar of lava. "It would be nice, to have the factions united again- to have a stronger peace within the Nether, to have piglins not attack anyone who visit the Nether and for a chance to help the factions and ourselves. But if the cost of it is to have Tubbo or anyone else go through the Trial of Blood... It's not an affordable cost. Not now at least. The Egg is gone and the Overworld is safe- there's Crimson lingering around but we can deal with it." 

Technoblade nodded in agreement while Wilbur just looked deep in thought, "Besides, you could probably try to do another trial to gain alliance anyway." The hybrid mentioned and Toby cracked a smile at that.

"Yeah. Yeah I could." He was knowledgeable about the trials now, he didn't know all of them but he knew enough that if Toby's achievements as Warrior of Blood from the future couldn't unite the factions in this time, then maybe going through the faction's trials individually would instead. 

The trek to the Warped Faction is long but certainly not boring as Toby tells Techno and Wilbur about a few things of the future- the brighter side of the future. Where piglins and overworlders worked together, on how no one was attacked for not wearing gold anymore and on how things were. It hadn't been easy, the Nether was not an easy realm to terraform and there had been many problems along the way but they had managed. They adapted, they survived, they lived.

L'Manberg may have died, but its people had moved on. Migrated with so many others into the Nether and they all gathered to survive. There had been idiots, who were self-centered and didn't want to work with piglins but it was either that or try to survive themselves in the Crimson Overworld- the tundras might have been safe but it was still a harsh environment to live in and it wasn't permanent either.

Techno's future house in the tundras had turned into an Overworld campsite and base, a hub for people to come back to the Overworld to get supplies. It could have been their home but the tundras couldn't accommodate that many people, and the Crimson was still a threat as long as there was untouched land. Especially after the Egg hatched, the tundras were no longer safe as the Crimson adapted to the temperature and started encroaching the snowy lands and icy seas.

Over the journey, the scouting piglin groups are wary of them and stay a respectful distance away- mostly because of Technoblade. As a piglin hybrid- even if he chose the Overworld, they give him leeway, and since Toby and Wilbur were travelling with him they were given leeway as well. So long as Wilbur and Toby don't try to interact with them, they wouldn't do a thing even though neither wore anything made of gold on them.

SCREEEEEEEEE!! stop screeeing! oh my ender can we just turn back now? E E E E E E E E. toby toby what else happens in the future? Look a zombie piglin! BLOOD! POGGERS THERE'S A GHAST TECHNO KILL IT FOR ITS TEARS! humina humina humina humina. set fire to everything its not hot enough. I WANNA GO BACK TO RANBOO AND THE OTHERS! stay in the nether and burn. BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! we're close. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. it's going to be nice to talk to the elders again! IT'S NOT! POG. i wonder what philza is doing. TOMMY TUBBO GHOSTBUR AND RANBOO TOO! Can we please just calm down here it's more chaotic than normal! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. hot future tubbo going on a journey with technomenter and brother soot! STOP CALLING HIM HOT FUTURE TUBBO THE JOKE'S OLD! never stop calling him that it's still funny. ENDER'S FUCK WHY.

Chat of course does it's best to drive Techno and Toby up the wall like always throughout the journey. Only just a bit louder for Toby who follows Techno's lead and just ignores most of them for now. Technoblade at the very least was enjoying the fact that he wasn't the only one who could hear the voices anymore, it was nice to have someone else suffer with you from the onslaught of nonstop nonsense that Chat usually liked to babble about.

It was always worse within the Nether for both warriors, it was there that the voices were the clearest and almost constantly energetic after all. They live out their namesake the best in the Nether, chattering away about whatever the hell they wanted.

However, to Toby and Techno's relief and somewhat perturbation, the closer they got to the Warped Forest, the calmer Chat began to be.  

A relief because the noise in their heads were no longer as loud, but they were always perturbed whenever Chat wasn't as talkative as it usually was. To Toby it always reminded him of the silence after Technoblade's death.

When they finally arrived at the edge of the Warped Forest, they began to hear them.

The Elders.

The 'Chat' that the Warped Priest had.

he comes. they come. two warriors. the young brood as well. hello. 

Elders. FUCK YOU! oh my ender shut up. BLOOD? no blood just elders. greetings. hold up there's an elder with us? RECORD SCRATCH.

you notice only now? they joined when they felt the disturbance. how are you?

it's been entertaining. GASP! oh crap. NO WONDER YOU FELT SO STRANGE!!! no wonder you were so ominous i thought you were a try hard. SAME! rude. we're sorry. No we're not.

"Mmm, not liking that." Techno muttered, rubbing his forehead as the voices mingled.

Toby smiled wryly at him, "Well, that explains a lot." Wilbur gave both men confused looks.

"What explains a lot?"

"There's an Elder in Chat- our Chat at least, we never really noticed much until now." Wilbur's confusion only grew and Toby realized that Wilbur wouldn't know about the Elders. "The Warped Priest also has Chat, he can hear the voices too but his voices are... different."

Techno snorted, "They're more mature but a lot more vague than our Chat."

TECHNOMEAN! We're mature! EEEEEEEEE! Most of us at least. TECHNO'S NOT POGGERS! half of us? BLOOD FOR THE GODS! some of us. AT LEAST WE'RE NOT THAT VAGUE ON STUFF! mmm cake. WHERE'S THE CAKE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! the younger brood is very entertaining and i've learned a lot in my time here. you were spying on us??? 

will you return?

i think i shall stay for now. NO PLEASE DO LEAVE WE DON'T WANT OLD GUYS IN THIS HOUSE! what house we don't live anywhere. I think they meant it metaphorically. STAY PLEASE JOIN THE SANER SIDE! 

"It has been a tiny bit calmer with you around." The hybrid admitted to the one Elder voice in their Chat. "Ender I can't believe I haven't noticed until now."

The time traveler besides him laughed, patting his shoulder. "Well to be fair, a lot has been happening." He pointed out to his young mentor who conceded to his point.

then stay if you'd like but you are welcomed back any time. do tell us on whatever is happening. he waits for you three, come.

very well. NOOOOOO. YEAAAAAAH POG. oh ender. OLD PIG OLD PIG! give some respect it's the warped priest you utter buffoons.

From the teal woods, a pair of piglins emerge. Together, they grunted and motioned them over.

The three visitors shared a look before walking over, following the pair towards the settlement of the Warped Faction. 

Between the three of them, only Wilbur is looking around with wide-eyes. This would be his first time entering any kind of faction settlement. "This is the faction that's the most respected out of the seven major ones?" He whispered to his brother, taking in the root-made tents, the warped-log shacks that held children and a few other piglins. In a cursory view, it just seemed like a normal, if a bit poor, settlement.

"Don't judge the look Wilbur." Techno whispered back, keeping his face stoic as they followed the leading piglins. "It's just the surface, and the faction is the smallest out of the major seven." But just because it was the smallest didn't mean it couldn't pack a punch- there was a reason they were the most respected faction in the Nether. And that reason was the history of the Nether as well as the old pig himself that was waiting for them in front of the open cave.

The Warped Priest stood at the mouth of his cave, looking just as Toby and Techno remembered him. Neither knew just how old the piglin was, he looked the same nonetheless and it was hard to imagine any time when he wasn't wrinkled, hunched over and using a staff as support, dressed in nether and warped roots and a cyan crowned wither skull atop that ancient head of his.

Both Toby and Techno bowed their heads in sync, muttering their greetings in piglish. Wilbur could only awkwardly follow them even though he didn't have to.

The Priest snorted, "Your Piglish is horrible." He told Toby and Wilbur, surprising the latter with how well his English was- even with the slight accent and the way his voice was rough and raspy, Wilbur had never heard a piglin being so fluent in English. "Come in, it is about time you came to me. Warriors." He said before turning and hobbling back into his cave. 

"Well, he's right about one thing. Your Piglish is horrendous." Techno murmured to the humans beside him, smirking at Wilbur's pout and the exasperated sigh Toby made.

"The human voice box is not built for Piglish." Toby replied before they followed after the piglin into the cave. Really almost nothing has changed from his memories of the place. The Warped Priest had rejected any renovations that were offered to his cave, though he didn't reject any stronger builds in their faction- granted only a limited people could come to the area at a time.

Chat murmured in the back of their heads, quieter now that they were in the presence of the Warped Priest and the Elders.

they're here. they brought an extra. kin to the blood warriors. someone important? instability lingers around him. something is off about him.

His name is Wilbur Soot. Brother Soot, Techno's adopted brother. his fate has been changed, that is the instability. He's not going to become insane anymore! well there's still ghostbur and he's pretty unstable in the head. 

"Don't remind me Chat, it's why I had Phil follow him around today and make sure nothing bad happens." Toby said quietly to himself- Ghostbur was indeed a loose canon. For how much he wants to believe that Ghostbur wouldn't blow up L'Manberg, he knew that Theo was right. Ghostbur was someone unpredictable and unlike Wilbur, Ghostbur would be a little harder to keep grounded. Not to mention he's seen how much time Wilbur has been spending with Ghostbur who's been wearing that trench coat a bit too much lately, maybe that's why he's letting Wilbur come with them right now. 

He's uneasy about Ghostbur, unused to Pogtopia-like Ghostbur that managed to frighten not only him, but Theo as well.

"Toby?" 

Toby glanced over to Wilbur, who gives him a questioning and concerned look. He searches Wilbur's eyes, looking for something- he gives Wilbur a slight smile of reassurance back, waving off his concern. 

Soon enough, they enter the Warped Priest's main room. The Priest sits down on one side of the low table, motioning the three to sit on the opposite side. "Sit, it has been voiced." He even says and they do. Wilbur sits on the middle, with Technoblade and Toby flanking his sides.

As always, the young piglin children- his students, the future priests and sages of their respective factions- come to provide drinks and leave promptly afterwards.

"You come seeking answers." The Warped Priest says, setting side his staff to gingerly hold his cup of water. "Answers that I may or may not have. I shall give them to you, and you shall give me my own answers in return. Information, for information." He says, his gaze steady underneath the wrinkles of old age.

"Information for information." Toby confirmed, not touching the cup- he wasn't thirsty at the moment. 

"It has been voiced."

Techno huffed at the familiar words, and here he thought he was done with the Priest after he had left his faction for good. "We were wondering if Toby's challenge would be considered fulfilled in this timeline despite being from the future." He tells him, he's not even phased by the fact that the Warped Priest hums and doesn't ask about the future part- the old pig just knew things he shouldn't, the Elders probably told him after finding out somehow- the Elder in his Chat probably told the other Elders who then old him.