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Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter One [Techno]

Every story told always seems to begin with a hero, a valiant do-gooder, or a bringer of justice; even the three famed heroes of old are described as such. These heroes battle as the forces of good against unspeakable evils, until at last they rise triumphantly to fame and riches that soon follow.

But this particular story does not quite begin in that way. It does not begin with a hero from a prestigious family, or a hero who wields spectacular magic, nor with a hero gifted in brilliant warfare...This story begins with a farmer, a pacifist who seeks nothing but food in his belly and uninterrupted solitude.

With a hoe in hand and muddy overalls clipped almost too tight over his broad shoulders, this simple farmer raises his hoe high above his head before bringing it down to the earth to till the fertile land. And at that moment, my listeners, the ground crumbles and the earth gives way, sinking deep into an undiscovered pit--bringing our pig with it.

Deep beneath the surface, Techno lay, for a moment not breathing due to the wind being knocked out of him from the impact with the cavern floor. He groaned, his hoe still gripped tightly in his hand. Above him was the light of the morning sun, but it did little to shed light on his surroundings. Techno slowly pushed himself up to a sitting position and groaned. His back ached slightly with pain due to the fall, but the pain would soon pass, Techno thought.

Around him, he was surrounded by what felt like an encroaching darkness. He saw no immediate way out as he scanned the area with his red eyes half-narrowed. If there was a god, Techno would be seriously contemplating giving the unidentified being a stern complaint. In all the years of living here, he has never once broken through the ground into a pit beneath his home. He didn’t even know such a pit existed! 

“Hello~” His voice echoed, but there was no response. Techno grumbled and stood on his feet; he didn’t bother to brush the webs and dirt off his overalls. He was, however, at least a little grateful that no bones were broken during the fall. He would now need to think about how to get out of here and what to do about his farm above that was surely destroyed by the collapsed ground. 

Techno looked around some more as his eyes adjusted to the dark. The center of the cave appeared to have a massive engraving in it. The light from the sky above illuminated it, however, he couldn’t read what it said. He could make out a peculiar shape about 50 blocks in front of him, though. The slow dripping water from above created little plinking sounds on metal. He approached cautiously with his hoe held up in a defensive position in front of him. As he neared, he recognized the shape of an old and rusted shield laying abandoned beside a staircase. Large rocks had fallen and covered the entrance of the staircase so if not for the air that brushed past Techno and descended even deeper into the cavern, he wouldn’t have known it existed. Perhaps this place was a forgotten dungeon. 

The cavern room was massive, other than this stairway and the engraving; however, he could not see anything else of note. 

A majority of Techno’s senses were uninterested in the discovery and wanted nothing more than to return to the surface and continue on with his day’s work. But there was a small portion of his brain that urged him to go deeper. Like a lure that promised him something worth his troubles. Techno pushed aside the large rocks with ease. They clattered and thudded to the side.

“Anyone home?” He shouted down the stairs, but once again received no response. After much contemplation, Techno pulled from the deep pockets of his overalls a flint and steel and a carefully wrapped, unlit torch for emergencies. And now would be what he considered an emergency. He lit his torch and pocketed his flint and steel.

He descended quietly and cautiously as the warm glow of his torch bounced off the walls that almost seemed to suffocate his big build. Techno was by no means small, but he didn’t really consider himself big either. Sure he towered over most humans in almost a hulking manner, but that was just genetics and no fault of his. But at this moment, he truly began to question his own size. He could barely keep his back straight as the tufts of his little bit unruly fluff on top of his head brushed against the staircase ceiling.

For about 15 minutes, he walked and wondered if he should attempt turning back and heading home. But on second thought he wasn’t sure if this staircase could handle him trying to turn around without reaching the bottom first. Just as he thought so, however, he reached the last step and walked out into a wide and tall room. He exhaled a breath of amazement and nearly jumped when the room was suddenly lit with lights. One by one, in a line, the torches along the wall sprang to life as a gush of stale, but warm wind brushed by him. Surely a miraculous enchantment of sorts, but what interested him more was the almost glowing waterfall at the end of the room. 

Techno took mesmerized steps forward as the crystal blue waterfall crashed quietly into a pool of glowing water below. And yes, he knew how contradictory that sounded, but it was exactly as he described. At the center of the pool was a small mossy island. And on that island was an old and rusted chest.

Now would be the time to trust that growing unease in the back of his head telling him that anymore steps forward and he’d have a world of trouble on his hands. But it was hard to ignore the instinct in his blood that desired treasure. The chance of glimmering gold and precious jewels was hard to resist as he waded out into the water. The water was hardly that deep for a guy his size. Techno left his hoe behind on the ground before the foot of the pool and his torch was dumped uselessly in the water. No light was needed in a place this bright

“Come on, if there ever was a god or gods, I’m praying to you now! Please let there be treasure,” Techno walked up onto the mossy island, he took a moment to shake the dripping water from his hair as he approached the rusted chest.

In 3…2…1–Techno reached out and opened the chest. His eyes sparkled for a mere moment before glowering in disappointment. Nothing . Nothing save for an old and dusty book. All this trouble for little more than a scrap of paper. There were no words to truly describe the immense disappointment he had. He took a moment to kneel down; was it even worth looking at the book?

Techno reached out and grabbed the book, plumes of dust shot up into the air and he let out a sneeze. He opened the book, and in writing half faded with age it began:

"To the one chosen by fate itself to restore balance to the world. I beseech you to take upon your shoulders the weight of justice and blah blah blah, nah --" Techno snapped the book shut and regretted it as more dust exploded into his face. Techno sneezed. He could tell that whatever was in the book was not going to help him in any way. Just as he was about to toss the useless book back into its rust bucket a flash of light blinded him and a loud and panicked cry resounded around him.

"WAIT!" Techno could not see who said that, but he immediately sprang up to his feet. As the bright light faded from his eyes; he saw in his face was another face, a mere 3 inches from his. 

"What the--" Techno was interrupted by the other suddenly screeching and literally flying backward before disappearing into the waterfall. Techno didn’t have a chance to get a look at the figure that suddenly appeared in a flash.

"M-m-monster!" The voice said, "Oh by Eon’s mercy, just what have I done to deserve this, please grant upon me your forgiveness and summon a hero to slay this foul beast!"

"Whoa! You’re the one who told me to wait you know," Techno responded, he was a bit annoyed at whoever was suddenly spouting such nonsense and only the tiniest bit offended.

"Well, that was before I saw what you were! I thought a grand hero had finally woken me but instead, I was met by the grizzly face of a foul monster."

"Pig."

There was a brief silence before a face poked out from the cascading water. It was then, Techno got a proper look at his would-be-screecher. And the fellow was a rather peculiar guy with curly brown hair and round spectacles upon his nose, but the most defining feature was his see-through nature that allowed Techno to see the glowing shimmer of the water through the man's rather delicate face.

"Well, I suppose you do have a bit of a porcine appearance, but even a beastfolk wouldn't have such a bulking or monstrous frame such as yourself. I mean just look at your glaring eyes and huge tusks!"

"So I'm a little bigger than most other pigs," he shrugged in response.

"Most other?" the man fully floated out of the waterfall, and might he add, Techno could see the peculiar nature of the man was his entirety of being. A transparent and floating man, a ghost you could say. Or perhaps a phantom. The dainty-faced man was dressed from head to toe in some outfit Techno couldn't really fathom, all he could tell was that it looked fancy. It had those unnecessary frills that rich humans tended to add to their clothes often. The man looked Techno up and down before adding, "I think it's a little more than most others," he frowned but continued to stare intently.

Techno shrugged, "Details…well anyways, nice chatting with you–" he made moves to place the book back in the chest but the man swooped down, right up to his face, and stopped him. He frowned and held out his ghostly hands to stop Techno. Except his hands passed right through Techno’s arm. The ghost momentarily faltered in shock before looking at Techno and speaking.

"Hold it! You can't!"

"Why not?" Techno should've trusted that gut feeling from earlier. He was experiencing that world of trouble now.

"B-because you're the hero I have been waiting for!" The man flew back a few blocks and outstretched his arms in a grand manner. His lips curled up into a twitching, nervous smile.

Techno’s face betrayed little belief in the phantom ghost man and remained deadpanned. "Mmm hmm…You just called me a monster like 3 minutes ago."

"Details, details! Look I think we got off on the wrong foot–hoof?" the ghost took a moment to stretch out his transparent hand, "I am Wilbur and that book is your destiny."

"Uh-huh…," Techno reached out to grab Wilbur’s hand but as crazy as it seemed the first time...his hand went straight through his. A true shocker. Wilbur chuckled nervously.

"Ehem! You see, I have been waiting for a brave and valiant hero, such as yourself, to awaken me from my slumber and complete a mission of grave importance to the fate of the world."

"And fate has decided that you, in all your um, muscles, are that exact hero. I mean just look at you," Wilbur flew closer to Techno’s face and narrowed his eyes, "that tough and muscular appearance is surely the build of a pig who has knocked a few heads, am I right?"

Techno sighed, "Look let me explain this briefly. I'm just a simple farmer with no interest in your grand delusion." Techno tossed the old book into the chest. Wilbur gasped but Techno turned around to wade back through the water. He stopped as Wilbur flew in front of him. 

"Look, please, maybe we can work this out. Isn't there something you want? Money, fame, title?"

"Mmmm, a new farm?"

Wilbur blinked, "A what--no, never mind that. If that's what you want, I have plenty of land I can give you for that. I think ," that last bit was spoken softly before quickly he added, "You could have a hundred farms if you wanted, so at least take my book with you. I don’t think I can leave here unless you have it on you."

Techno stood still in the water for a moment, it honestly felt like more trouble than it was worth, and he didn't come down here to bring home any ghosts.

"Nah, nevermind, I'm good," Techno continued to wade through the water.

"Wait! Please! At least help me--" but the voice stopped following him. Techno did not see Wilbur fly past and get in front of him anymore. He paused for a moment as if to truly contemplate his choice once more, but in the end, he didn't look back and he kept on walking.

Now listeners, before you holler or whine about his seemingly poor decision, I must digress as your guide through this story that Techno was a farmer. A simple pig with a simple life. He did not want for glory or for fame, nor for blood or for violence. No matter the instincts that dwelled deep in his blood, he lived a quiet life of solitude deep in the woods.

So our simple farmer turned and left the lonely ghost behind and returned to a normal life. Or at least what he decided was normal, but fate is a fickle being, and it is never as simple as one or two.

Word Count: 2336

Here is the cover I made for the story for fun!

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Two [Techno]

Techno didn’t really feel guilty about leaving the ghost behind. He didn't think it was really his responsibility to look after the lonely ghost nor did he think he should feel obligated to be some hero he was not. He was quite content with his life and there was no reason for him to go about changing things now.

By the time Techno made it out of the cavern, it was already midday. It's not like he started the day's work any later than usual, but he must have been in the cave longer than he thought for so much time to pass. There was still, unfortunately, a gaping hole in his farm and it would regrettably have to stay that way for now. He would worry about plotting a new farm elsewhere on another day. Along with making sure it wasn't over some idiotic cavern that could cave in at any moment. For right now he would need money and supplies to do so. So Techno decided to gather up whatever game he had caught in his traps he set the night before and then trek to the nearby village just a few hours east. He probably wouldn't earn much today, but if he seriously set traps for the next few days and scavenged for herbs, he might be able to make a pretty penny or two. At least enough to get him by until he could set up a new farm.

Techno sighed, it would not be enjoyable for him in the least to visit the village. He could handle the stares, but that didn't mean he wasn't annoyed by the obvious hostility and the hushed gossip.

Techno adjusted his dusty overalls and gave them a thorough pat-down to get rid of the grime. He left his ruined farm and walked the distance to his cabin. From there he grabbed a sack and packed a lantern, some camping essentials, and whatever else he thought of. He was sure his excursion would carry on into the night given his late start. So he wanted to be sure he had some supplies just in case, though he didn’t anticipate the need to camp out. He was comfortable walking all night long just to return home; the monsters that roamed the night wouldn’t be much of a bother to him.

Techno started heading east, his mind already past the day’s earlier events and the unexpected encounter. As he walked he picked up whatever game was trapped in his traps and packed them into his sack. It wasn’t much though, only about 5 rabbits, but it would have to do. As he began heading for the village he gathered small bundles of herbs he knew would also sell well.

It was late afternoon by the time he arrived at the village. He noticed it immediately when the chatter quieted as he walked by and the whisper began. Villagers on the streets would hurry past him, shut their doors and close their windows, but still, he felt their eyes on him through the cracks. The streets were cleared and that gave him plenty of space to walk. He wasn’t bothered though nor was he really offended. He understood their sentiments in his own way. Even he would look at humans and think to himself, what small and fragile creatures they were. So he couldn’t exactly be bothered by their scornful eyes. All he could do was keep walking and make his business quick. Once out of here, they could do nothing else but gossip.

“Ah, Techno, is that you?” Techno stopped in front of a shop building just as he was going to knock on the door. The small building was old with time, apparent by the crooked door and the cracking foundation. He looked to his left and saw an older human hunched over as he hobbled towards Techno, at least he believed this was what humans referred to as old. Given his even frailer than normal appearance and gray to white hair that shot up sparsely from a nearly bald head.

“Afternoon old man,” he was blunt in his greeting.

The man chuckled and Techno moved aside as the old man pushed open the crooked door, “Come in, it’s a little tight as always, but show me what you have today.” Techno nodded and in he squeezed his large frame through the doorway. The shop was always dimly lit with candles that he was careful to not tip over; the strong smell of dried meats and herbs wafted thickly into his nose. 

“You should come by more often you know, I’d like to play another round of chess against you dear friend.” The old man shuffled behind the counter and Techno kneeled in front and pulled out his sack. 

“You know it’s not that easy to do,” Techno said. He pulled from his sack, 5 rabbits and several bundles of medicinal herbs. It was a shame because he was looking forward to cooking rabbit stew for dinner, but given his circumstances…he needed the money. 

“Bah! Who cares what those hoodlums think, you’re just like any other beastfolk I’ve met!” The old man waved off his comments and brought out a pair of spectacles that he placed low on his nose. Techno placed the items on the counter. Unfortunately, for the old man, his eyesight was poor, and even with those glasses, Techno was sure the old man’s view of him was rather misguided. For Techno was not like other beastfolk, far from it actually, he wasn’t even one. But still, he was happy to hear such words from him.

“Hmm, these are some fresh rabbits, whole ones too. You normally bring in the scraps after taking what you need.”

“Mmm, I just need some money,” Techno shrugged.

“Ohoho, honest as always,” The man leaned back as he laughed, “well, I’m not complaining. Right, let me get you what I’ll pay you for. 50 coppers for the rabbits and 1 silver for all the herbs, that alright with you?”

Techno nodded.

He waited as the old man bundled up the rabbits into a tarp and carried the herbs to the back of his shop. After a few moments, the old man returned with a small pouch of jangling coins, “Make sure you count ‘em alright? My eyes aren’t what they used to be.”

“Will do, thanks old man,” Techno took the pouch and shuffled carefully out of the shop. Once outside he walked as he counted. With this much, he could buy some crops, some fertilizer, and perhaps some new tools. He might as well take this chance to expand his crops from just potatoes, he had been meaning to do so for a while now. Better now than never he supposed.

Techno did his business quickly, and it was nothing exciting to really get into. As much as humans tended to scorn him or judge him, the old man he sold stuff to was a very respected guy. So as much as people didn’t like him, he caused no trouble to the old man, therefore the rest of the village folk begrudgingly would sell to Techno. And he had the money to pay them too, he wasn’t an asshole.

In his sack, he had all the necessary resources for a new farm and about 60 coppers left. He quietly pocketed the money into his overalls. 

The sun was setting and the moon would be rising by now. He didn’t really want to camp out if he could avoid it, so if he could he would make the long trek back home and scrounge up whatever food he had stored for a late dinner. He quietly walked through the shrubs and roots along the forest. He didn’t take the trodden paths through the forest, it was easier for him to avoid trouble if he avoided people. And given the general consensus on his appearance, it was for good reason too. Just think about that ghost who was scared witless by his appearance. That was a common occurrence for Techno.

He wondered briefly how that ghost was getting on, maybe he was a little too insensitive to the guy, but he was still not interested in any good versus evil cliches. A pig, like him, didn’t exactly have the hero look. He considered visiting the ghost, the guy might appreciate a conversation partner. However, if he tried to convince him to go on an adventure he would seal the cave back up himself.

There was rustling ahead, Techno paused. The lack of light made it impossible for him to see what lay deep in the forest. A moment later, 8 glowing red eyes peered through the darkness at him, he relaxed. It was just a spider. He paid it no mind as it scurried by, it was likely headed to the village behind him, but the guards would surely be able to handle it.

Monsters didn’t mind him and he didn’t mind them. Though of course, this was because he was really no different from them. 

Techno continued his hike, only stopping every now and then to the noises of growls and grunts. Monsters would pop out from the shadows and head towards the village behind him. However…it only took him 5 minutes to stop walking altogether and take notice of the large number of monsters streaming out of the shadows past him. This was unusual.

In this world, there were 3 main categories of “intelligent” species, though it could be argued either way on how intelligent they were. For as self-entitled as humans were, Techno has seen them do the stupidest shit in the name of their humanity or something along those lines. 

There were humans, beastfolk, and monsters. Humans and beastfolk generally got along well, though, there will always be their cultural differences, but for the most part, the two coexisted harmoniously. As for monsters well…, a majority of them are hostile. Call it instinct, even though he wasn't sure how to actually describe their hostile nature. 

Most monsters lurked in the night and preyed on the defenseless, so this was seemingly no different from their normal nightly excursion. What was abnormal, however, were their sheer numbers.

Techno turned around, back in the direction of the village. At that moment he heard an explosion, he jumped ever so slightly. This was dangerous. For whatever reason, these monsters were larger in number than normal and all on a crash course for the village. But it wasn’t his problem…not really. The monsters didn’t mind him, and he didn’t mind the monsters, just in the same way he didn’t mind humans. It was of no concern for him to get involved…

Techno dropped his sack of purchased goods. He sighed ever so loudly and started running towards the village. As he broke through the forest and into the clearing he saw the growing flames of the houses on fire. There was screaming.

For what reason did he even come, he couldn’t–no he wouldn’t fight. He was a pacifist. All he could do was maybe try and carry a few people to safety.

“Old man?!” Techno shouted, he ran into the village. He wanted to find the old man first, for as much as the man had done for him, he owed him this. Monsters stumbled past like men on missions. Techno felt his heart sink the moment he laid eyes on the old man’s shop. Burnt nearly to ash and collapsed like a pile of rubble. The only guy kind to him. The only guy who was eager to make conversations with him. The only guy who helped him on his feet when he first moved out here.

Techno sank to the ground, “Old man!” He pulled burning planks off the ground and tossed them to the side. Rocks and rubble were also easily tossed away. He didn’t care about the embers that danced around him like fireflies or landed on his coarse fur like kisses. After a moment he saw it, the soot-covered form of a man long dead. His glasses crushed a few inches away from him

Techno stood abruptly and stumbled back. It's not like he was overly attached to the man…but even he had no excuses for why he felt the need to return to the village, or for why he hoped the old man had lived. The old man, whose name he never bothered to remember but the man never seemed to mind, was now dead–lifeless on the ground. Just an hour ago he was well, and now his death left a painful throb in Techno’s chest.

Behind him, he could hear the crying and the screaming, and all around him, he saw the monsters. Why were they acting like this? He has never seen such a large outbreak of monsters before, to the point, not even the village guards could fend off.

"Ahhhhhh!" Techno turned in time to see a human with tears in their eyes and blood all over them rushing at him with a hoe raised. They swung at Techno and he stumbled back to avoid the blow.

"Wait, I don't mean any–" Techno dodged as the human continued to persist all while wailing piercing cries. He stumbled backward and crashed into the rubble of the old man’s shop. Techno raised his arms as the human swung down his hoe. He caught it with ease and pulled it out of the human's grasp who fell forward at his strength. Techno pushed himself up, he took one last look at the ruins of the shop before running to the forest.

There was nothing he could do, he told himself.

The humans wouldn’t even want his help anyway, he added.

He ran, his sack of goods forgotten somewhere in the forest. He ran, stumbling past the monsters that ignored him. He ran, home to where it was quiet, where he was alone.

He wouldn't be able to stay now. He would need a new place to live. But how long would it take to gain the trust of even one human? How long would it take before he could settle down without some would-be adventurer assuming the worst of him? He got lucky here, but now it seemed his luck has run out.

Techno stopped, his breathing weighed heavy in his chest. He remembered the ghost, oh that annoying ghost who spouted nonsense. Didn’t he mention something about needing a hero? A hero for what? This? Was this the ghost’s doing? Everything was normal until after he found that book. 

Techno didn’t jump at the sound of another explosion behind him. Instead, he shook off the chill deep in his bones and kept running.

Word Count: 2456

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Three [Wilbur]

Wilbur was left alone after that pig just left him behind without even so much as a second thought. It already felt like another eternity had passed since the pig left but there was nothing he could do. After sleeping for so long he’d forgotten everything but two things. The fact his name was Wilbur, and that he was waiting for a hero to save the day. 

As for why he was waiting for a hero, even he didn’t know. He was sure the answer would be in his book; Wilbur floated down to his abandoned book in the chest. He reached out, but of course, his faded fingers passed right through the worn, leather cover. There was no way he could access the answers to his problem given his current disposition. 

Wilbur sighed.

He floated down to the surface of the water and sat hugging his knees just above the surface. He wondered how long he would have to wait before someone finally found him again. He wondered if there was any way to go back inside his book because at least there the passage of time felt sweet. This was not how he imagined returning to the land of the living. 

Wilbur sank beneath the surface of the water, he wished he could feel the cool temperature of the water or feel what it felt like to get soaked. All were feelings lost to his memories. He didn’t even remember what air tasted like, or the feeling of rain on his skin.

A noise came from the stairs that could barely be heard beneath the water’s surface. Wilbur peeked his head just above the surface of the water. His eyes widened in surprise as he shot out of the pool of glowing water, “Pig!”

A familiar, and at this very moment, a very welcomed figure emerged from the darkness of the staircase, “It’s Techno,” the pig, Techno, halted at the edge of the pool of water and dropped a large sack at the foot of the pool. Wilbur couldn’t be more glad to see the pink hairy monster and his muddy tan overalls. 

“Techno! I can’t believe you came back, you might actually be the her–”

“No,” Techno held up a hand to stop the ghost from speaking. Wilbur frowned in response but held his tongue, “Let me make this clear. I am not your destined hero or whatever, but you did offer up some land, so , I will help you look for your chump–I mean hero, and then you give me a quiet place to live in return.”

Wilbur didn’t need to think about it very much, anything to leave this cave he’s dwelled in for long enough, “Sure thing my friend!”

“Not friends, barely acquaintances,” Techno responded. He began to wade through the water towards the little island before reaching the rusty chest his book was tossed in. 

Wilbur simply nodded and smiled as he floated beside Techno’s hunched form. He watched him with eager eyes. He was a bit tall, maybe over 7 feet, so seeing him slouching over the tiny chest, just to grab his book was a little hilarious. “So why the change in heart by the way?”

Techno grunted, “Just because.” After grabbing the journal, Techno began to wade back to the other side.

“Careful with that, don’t get it wet. You need to be able to read it later.” Wilbur nervously watched as the book neatly skimmed the water’s surface as Techno’s arms swung side to side.

“What for?”

“For your mission of course! We need to know what to do or where to go,” Wilbur breathed a sigh of relief as Techno made it to the other side. Though he was beginning to wonder if it was actually better to wait for a different hero than this guy who just haphazardly threw his book into his sack and slung it over his shoulders. No, never mind, it was now or never. He couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

“You mean you don’t know what you’re even doing? Sounds like a pretty shit ghost doing a pretty shit job, if you ask me.”

“Well it has been a really long time since I was probably placed here, you can’t exactly expect me to remember everything ,” Wilbur rolled his eyes; he could do without the pig’s banter though. He followed the pig up the cramped stairs to what he assumed would be the surface. Wilbur chuckled internally watching the massive pig squeeze his way up the cramped stairs with a little torch held in front of him.

“I don’t know,” Techno snorted, “if it’s your only job to be annoying and shout about destiny, then I would expect you to know what that destiny crap is.”

Wilbur furrowed his brows, but before he could make a retort they arrived at the top of the stairs and he saw it. The sky above, the distant sight of trees, and stars that shimmered in the blackening night. High above them was a large cavern opening with a rope dangling above. Oh, how he wished he could feel again the cool breeze of the night air and smell the fresh scent of a forest so green. He was almost too stunned for words to notice Techno nearly at the top of the hole using the dangling rope.

“Are you coming Ghostie?”

“It’s Wilbur!” Wilbur turned his attention back towards Techno.

“Uh-huh–” Wilbur saw Techno stop, though not at what. But after a few moments, Wilbur saw the glowing eyes and heard the rattling bones. From the sky above monsters crowded around the edge of the hole and fell without care down below. They piled up in swarms in front of Wilbur.

“Ack! Monster!” Wilbur shrieked and flew up and behind Techno in response to the growing swarm falling through the hole in the ceiling to their cavern below.

Techno glanced back at Wilbur while holding onto the rope, “Is this going to be your response every time we come across a monster because I’m seriously contemplating leaving you here instead.”

“Just go!” Wilbur tried pushing the massive pig up, but of course, his ghostly hands had no substance to them. Techno climbed the last few inches up and together the both of them noticed they were surrounded from above also.

“Shit,” Techno looked around. Wilbur saw his eyes widen as an arrow was shot from above and he slid down a few feet. Techno hissed at the rope burns.

"What do we do!" Wilbur panicked.

"How should I know, monsters aren't supposed to be attacking me. Unless you have a magic trick up your sleeve we’re a bit cornered right now,"

Magic . 

Suddenly, Wilbur remembered something. The first time he had been here, it wasn't a cave. At least not like this, drab and grey. Before the cobwebs were thrown in and moss and vines had climbed the walls, this cave was carefully formed by a great fire, controlled by a talented mage. There used to be pillars shaped by waves of lava and the floor used to be pristine and almost glass-like. It was shaped to be a grand home but was repurposed to be secure, and if there was one thing that mage had told him numerous times, there was always an escape plan for emergencies.

"Go down!" Wilbur pointed down to the ground.

"What?! There's a swarm of monsters down there!"

"Trust me," Wilbur flew down, he looked up waiting for Techno who faltered. Wilbur waited, he could see the hesitation, and he didn’t think it was because of fear. After what felt like a painstaking minute, Techno descended, and with good timing too. More arrows were shot down at him and a spider launched itself into the pit, just missing the top of Techno’s head and passing straight through Wilbur.

“Where are we heading?” Techno jumped the last 2 feet to the ground as Wilbur flew forward and waved him over.

“This way, I remember being told about this hallway just to the left of those stairs.” As the monsters stumbled towards them, he and Techno made their way to the left, “Help me find the false brick, one of these you should be able to push in,” Wilbur led Techno to the wall. It was impossibly dark, Techno no longer had his torch since he had disposed of it at some point between climbing the stairs and climbing the rope. It had surely been trampled on by the slowly approaching monsters by now. But Techno complied. 

Wilbur watched their backs as Techno pressed and hit the wall, “Come on, come on!” There was a click and the wall, with a great groan, slid down into the ground revealing a glowing passageway.

“Why are they always tight!” Techno squeezed himself into the hall as the wall slid back up. Wilbur waited until the door was closed before phasing through the wall. That was one perk of being dead, he supposed. The sound of monsters smacking into the wall behind them sent shivers down his nonexistent spine.

He didn’t have time to look as Techno grumbled as he squeezed his broad body through the tight hallway, Wilbur flew through him to the front. The halls were glowing a faint green due to crystals embedded into the surfaces of the walls, floors, and ceiling. At the end of the hall was a room that opened up. The room was lit brightly with these crystals and Wilbur could see the carvings of intricate runes in the center of the floor.

Techno pushed himself out into the room and nearly stumbled onto the floor, “How is this an escape? We’re trapped!”

“O-one moment,” Wilbur grasped strands of his ghostly hair as he stared at the floor. He was desperately trying– praying to remember what was mentioned in the past. What was it? Who told him?

‘So, the important thing to remember about magic, it’s like a living being. It lives and breathes like an animal and is all around us–at least that is how I imagine it,’   Wilbur couldn’t quite make out who was speaking, only a shining smile as the person moved their hands in and out like they were pulling the air with every move. ‘You can push it and pull it and shape it at will.’

‘Magic can transform into anything, it is the user of magic that must transform it.’

The ground beneath him felt solid, he saw shoes shined to perfection and then noticed the trickles of fire that began to carve their way into the stone. He jumped, fearing he would get burned. That only earned him a snicker from the mystery man beside him. The fire left behind grooves and marks in some indecipherable language, ‘Is this sort of precaution really necessary? This place is being built in the middle of nowhere.’ Wilbur recognized his own voice.

‘Ask me that when you suddenly need a quick escape, you can never be too careful. If I’m going to live here, I want to be prepared.’

‘Haha, you’re more cautious than you act, fGcTnR.’

Wilbur only heard garbled nonsense as he spoke the mage’s name. Who was it? Why could he not remember their face or their name? He urged the memory to continue and reveal whatever would help them escape. 

‘To activate it, you just need to say Where the Wind Blows…’

“The Fire Burns!” Wilbur sprung up. The memory dissipated and he lost the sense of his feet on the stony ground.

“Huh?” Techno remained confused, but that didn’t matter.

“Come on, get in the center,” Techno reluctantly stood in the center of the runes as Wilbur floated beside him, “Where the Wind Blows the Fire Burns!”

The ground rumbled and the runes began to glow a fiery red before flames shot up from the ground straight into to ceiling. Wilbur squeezed his eyes shut, fearing Techno would be screaming because he made a mistake.

“What the fu–” Techno was cut off as the burning fire disappeared and what was once a glowing cave room was now a dark abyss. Wilbur heard Techno cough and shuffle his feet along what sounded like a padded floor before Techno exclaimed with loud grunts. There was a crash and a thud, “Where did you take us!”

That, Wilbur, didn’t know. Since he couldn’t remember who had told him about that room, he didn’t know where the spell would even end up. But wherever it was…it was dark, and by the amount of sneezing, very dusty. Guess that was another perk of being a ghost.

Word Count: 2101

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Four [Wilbur]

Wilbur heard a ‘Skrich Skritch’ noise as Techno struck something together. Sparks flew and soon a small fire was lit on a torch Techno must have pulled from his sack. The torch burned low for a moment before erupting into flames. The torch was swung out and away from Techno’s face and the dark abyss was beginning to look a little less abysmal. Wilbur could see now where they were. But he still didn’t know where exactly they were, just the surroundings became slightly clearer.

"What is this? A dumpster?" Techno waved the torch around as their surroundings became clearer to them. One thing was certain, it might as well be a dumpster, Wilbur thought. He didn’t know if it smelled like one though and when he glanced at Techno to gauge his reaction, he saw no signs of discomfort. He figured he was either really good at hiding his emotions or there weren’t enough bad smells to affect his big piggy nose.

Beneath their feet was the fading glow of runes on a stone brick floor, this must be what the ones from before connected to. However, they were surrounded by towers of junk, covered in a thick layer of dust. The rest of the floor had a red rug that sent dust into the air every time Techno took a step. Wilbur floated near a tipped-over bookshelf, with books still in it might he add. He could tell by the untouched dust, that these books might not have been read in centuries. That was probably an exaggeration, but they were definitely untouched for a really long time.

"Are we supposed to know where we are?" Techno turned around in circles, the torchlight spinning with him.

"Umm…honestly, no clue, my memory didn't go that far, unfortunately."

"Great." Techno clambered over a broken desk and past a fallen suit of armor, "At least the only thing that could possibly jump out at us, is probably another ghost. It looks so abandoned here."

Wilbur himself was not keen on meeting any more ghosts. And just because he was one himself, didn't mean he wasn't terrified of them. He didn't have a strong liking towards any monsters actually and Techno was no exception. Techno was just a little bit “easier” to get along with…That and he didn’t have much of a choice if he wanted to leave the cave. Besides, he was sure Techno didn’t trust or like him either, so he didn’t feel particularly bad about his opinions of the pig.

As Wilbur and Techno wandered the cluttered halls of wherever this was, Wilbur took the chance to look around. Well, only at what he could see, Techno’s torch did little to shed light on most of their surroundings, but given how plush the rug underneath Techno’s feet was, Wilbur had to guess they were somewhere of high value. Even if all the junk lying around was mishandled and hardly cared for.

Wilbur paused on a painting that hung on the wall, “Hey wait a moment Techno, look at this,” Wilbur pointed and Techno brought his torch over. Wilbur winced as the bright light reflected off the painting's surface, but his eyes widened at the figures depicted in the painting. 

“Who are they?” Techno mused.

“I…I can’t really remember, but I know them, I think,” The painting was damaged. There were three–no four people depicted, but the fourth was the one with the worst damage. Whoever was in charge of looking after this painting had done a poor job. Wilbur could make out with a little more ease the other three. Wilbur’s eyes were drawn to the bottom left of the painting where a man with charcoal black hair, slight stubble on his chin, and eyes like fire smiled cheekily. Wilbur felt certain that this man was the one from his memory, the smile looked almost exact to what he saw in that memory. Above him was a man with clear green eyes and a scar over the bridge of his nose which concealed some freckles that dotted his face. Lastly, on the bottom right side of the painting, was a man with a strange set of spectacles on his head and clear eyes, one blue, the other brown. The eyes were barely visible beneath a mop of messy brown hair.

“Well they probably can’t help us out since you look like you were alive like ages ago, so let’s keep trying to find a way out of here,” Techno said as he moved away and the light faded from the painting, Wilbur looked up at the top right of the painting. The portion of the painting that was burned, torn, and ruined by gods knows what. The only sign that there was even another person in that portion was the hand that stretched out from the side of that blackening darkness and rested comfortably on the green-eyed man’s shoulder. Wilbur floated closer to that charred hole in the painting, but nothing would suddenly appear from that gap, he knew that.

“Hey Wilbur, come on, I see a staircase leading up this way,” Wilbur turned away to see Techno a few feet from him. He reluctantly left behind the painting and flew to catch up to Techno. He followed quietly behind as they climbed the stairs, he was still wracking his brain on those three figures. He was becoming more certain that the man from his memories was the one with fiery eyes, it felt right to equate them as one. Too bad he couldn’t remember his name.

At the top of the stairs, after Techno pushed open two large doors, everything became a lot brighter, but not by much. Wilbur could see sunlight barely peeking out behind closed curtains as they found themselves in another hallway. The hallway was wider and more spacious with far less clutter than the one below, but it was still empty and still dusty. It seemed as if no one had been through here to clean it. Or perhaps this place was no longer inhabited. Just like his cave. 

But it was clear to Wilbur what kind of place this was, they were definitely in a mansion of some sort. A big one too. They must have come out of the basement and this floor was likely the main floor, or at least a hallway on the main floor.

“Who are you!” Wilbur and Techno turned to see a figure cast in shadow, but Wilbur couldn’t mistake the pair of wings on their back. Large and black–no, one of the wings was damaged. Feathers were burned and sparse and the wing could only open less than half of the span as the other. The man before them drew a sword from his waistband and held it on unsteady feet, the man slurred, “What are you doing here,” or at least that was what Wilbur figured he said.

“A-Are you ok sir?” Wilbur floated towards him, “You seem a little unsteady on your fee–” Wilbur yipped as he ducked under a crude swing that nearly caused the man to stumble forward. Thoguh, Wilbur realized after that the sword probably wouldn’t have hit him, he still didn’t want to find out. 

“I think he’s drunk,” Techno pointed out. Wilbur could see that as plain as day, but he chose not to retort back. The man glared at Wilbur with hazy eyes, his long blonde hair was messy and unwashed and hung in thick clumps past his shoulders. For a man to be so inebriated so early in the day was a little shocking to Wilbur, but he wasn’t going to judge a man so clearly down in the dumps. Wilbur noticed another peculiar detail, the man’s right arm rested in a sling tied over his shoulder. It was on the same side as the damaged wing, but the wing’s injuries looked old and already scarred over. As for the arm, Wilbur was uncertain how old those injuries were.

“Just what the hell are you doing in my home?”

“Oh, this is your home!” Wilbur smiled, this would make things easier, “Let me explain,” Wilbur flew in front of the drunken man. The man still held the sword uneasily in his left hand. Wilbur pointed behind him to Techno, “My name is Wilbur and this is my good friend Techno!”

Techno, who was a little ways away from Wilbur interjected, “I don’t actually know him by the way.”

“Hey!” Wilbur panicked, he turned back to the stranger and chuckled nervously, “Don’t mind him. He’s actually a hero chosen by fate itself to save this world from impending doom!”

“I didn’t agree to that either,” Techno raised his hand in protest.

“You!” Wilbur cried out, before turning back and facing the drunk stranger. He flew forward straight through the sword held by the man. The man flinched. Wilbur might’ve forgotten about the sword, but he was a ghost so who cares, “Please help. Actually, I’ve barely known him for 20 minutes and he’s the first person I’ve met in probably centuries and I can’t take it. Hero my ass, he’s completely apathetic.”

“Hey,” Techno responded, “I just had my entire home destroyed and the one good guy I knew died by monsters. I only agreed to travel with you so I can get a new place to live, I didn’t agree to be your hero.”

“Still,” Wilbur turned and faced the pig, “You could at least go along with what I’m saying. This man obviously lives here, maybe he knows something about what I’m supposed to do since the cave was connected to here of all places!” He fumed and crossed his arms in annoyance. The sword, still pointing harmlessly through Wilbur’s stomach, was slowly drawn back. He heard the sword quietly sheathed and a sigh erupted behind him.

“I must still be dreaming…” The man groaned and clutched his head.

“Oh you’re not dreaming,” Techno said.

“Sorry about him,” Wilbur regained his composure and turned to the man who stumbled towards a wall and leaned against it, avoiding his injured wing, “We didn’t come here because we knew we would end up here. We were trying to escape from some monsters and we used a spell made to teleport us, and we wound up on the floor below.”

The man flinched and looked at Wilbur, “You mean you were downstairs?” Wilbur nodded. The man buried his face in his hands and groaned, “Did you touch anything?”

“I tripped over a shelf,” Techno said. The man breathed a sigh of relief.

“Right, I think it’s time you both leave. I’m very tired and I’m afraid I don’t want to deal with this anymore, so while I am being nice, I will escort you two out,” the man pushed off the wall and teetered for a bit before walking on his feet and shooing Wilbur back towards Techno.

“But we actually need your help, Since we wound up here, I thought you might know about the people in that painting downstairs. And maybe you would have information on where I’m supposed to go. I was awoken for a very important purpose, but I don’t have that much informat–” The man held up a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Sorry, no, no clue. Time to go now,” The man continued to shoo them, and Wilbur had no choice but to float backward as he and Techno were guided, more like shooed, down the hall. They exited into a spacious open entryway with a set of curving stairs heading higher up on their left, large double doors heading out on their right, and another hallway just opposite of them. They didn’t have time to take in the rest of the details as the winged stranger practically pushed them towards the door. 

“But, I–” Wilbur raised a finger just as the man opened the door and Techno and Wilbur clambered out. The door was slammed in their faces before Wilbur could finish his sentence.

“Well,” Techno smiled as Wilbur frowned at him, “I would say that went well.”

“You just never stop, do you,” Wilbur said. To which, Techno smiled more in response.

Wilbur cried out before flying through the door, “Please sir, just help me out this once. I really can’t stand that, that pig!” The man, who was already slowly walking away leaped up and yelled loudly before falling hard on his bum. He glared at Wilbur before shouting.

“Out! OUT! Get out!” the man screamed as Wilbur hurriedly flew back out through the closed door and pouted.

“I think we need to have a serious talk about etiquette,” Techno said as the two of them descended the steps of the large mansion.

“I don’t want to hear that from you, pig.”

“Oh, so we’re resorting to nicknames now, Ghostbur,” Techno shrugged as they walked down the large path through an overgrown garden towards large black iron gates.

Wilbur hoped he would meet the fated hero soon, so he could quickly say goodbye to this awful and uncooperative pig.

Word Count: 2181

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Five [Techno]

Techno could see what poor spirits the ghost, Wilbur, was in. But it wasn’t his place to go around forcing strangers to cooperate with him, “Come on Ghostbur, let’s go find a nice bookstore I can sell you too. You might meet your fated hero there or whatever. Maybe you can become a librarian or something” 

Techno closed the large black, iron gate shut behind them.

“You’re not serious are you?” Wilbur floated through the bars and in front of Techno, he stopped him in his tracks. Techno shrugged in response and walked straight through Wilbur, “Come on, please tell me you aren’t actually going to do that.” Techno could hear the visible panic in the ghost’s voice.

Techno noticed the mansion sat atop a hill, and down below was a bustling town, far bigger than the meager village his cabin was once by. Techno thought about the old man again and frowned. He didn’t really believe in life after death, but he hoped the kind-hearted old man found some peace.

“Oh look Wilbur, a town, maybe you’ll find your hero down there,” Techno pointed.

“Ha, ha,” Wilbur flew down the path ahead of Techno without glancing back at him. 

Perhaps it wouldn’t be all too bad traveling with the ghost, at least he provided decent entertainment. But he wasn’t looking to make the journey a very long one if he could help it.

It took them about 10 minutes to reach the town at the base of the hill. Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to go around town with the way he was. But they didn’t have much of a choice, and in the end, he could deal with the stares. It’s not like he posed a serious threat since he lacked all armor and weapons. But he doubted that would ease the human’s hearts.

The town was bustling and full of life. It seemed the mansion’s path led straight into a large shopping district. The street was wide and was lined with colorful shops. Techno could read signs for armor, weapons, flowers, and even a cafe. He remembered the pouch of money he had in his overall pockets from yesterday evening’s excursion. There was no use moping over the past, but if he had known his life would get turned upside down like this, then he wouldn’t have spent all that money on farming supplies. Especially since that sack of supplies was lying somewhere near a probably still smoldering village. Which did remind him…he should figure out exactly where they ended up.

“Excuse me,” Techno stopped in front of a small human man who flinched at Techno’s voice and size. The man shivered before slowly craning his neck up at the massively tall pig.

“Y-yes?” The man hiccuped. Techno noticed the way the man’s eyes shifted left and right and avoided direct eye contact with him. He couldn’t help that the sun was behind him and his towering body casted a large shadow over the tiny human.

“What town is this?”

“U-uhm, this is Crowle. Just northwest of Yuden Port.”

“Thanks,” Techno nodded and the man scampered away with haste. He turned to Wilbur, “Let’s look for some supplies, I have about 60 coppers, but we should be able to manage.”

Of course listeners, our simple farmer was not familiar with the abhorrent prices of rich and affluent towns in the slightest, and would very soon be shocked. A little village like the one he had come from was dirt cheap in comparison to this town.

The two began to wander through the town, but it would be of no interest to you listeners to hear me remark on their abysmal shopping endeavors today. Instead, it would be of more value to fast forward half a day. When the sun hung low but did not quite touch the horizon yet. And after coming to the realization that 60 coppers was indeed not enough to buy even basic supplies, Techno found himself sitting on the side of the road, thoroughly annoyed.

“You know, we could always try knocking on the bird man’s door again. He’s definitely related to our quest in some capacity, so we should at least get some information from him.”

“Mmm…no, I don’t think so. It's your quest and the guy is clearly off his rocker and probably still very drunk. Plus, anyone willing to help a pair like us is probably stupid or insane.”

Wilbur frowned and sank low to the ground. He stared Techno in the eyes, Techno stared back. They existed in silence for a moment until Techno broke the quiet.

“If you’re trying to pressure me with your staring, it’s not going to work. I’m used to judgmental staring.”

Wilbur sighed and slouched. He floated down beside Techno who leaned against the side of a building where he sat on the side of the road. Wilbur imitated the posture despite not actually being able to lean against the wall or feel the wall for that matter.

“Why are you just so grumpy?”

“Well, my home is ruined,” he replied bluntly, “And the village near it burned to a crisp…plus the one nice guy I knew also died. But if you’re wondering why I’m grumpy then that’s probably just me.”

Techno could feel Wilbur staring at him intently, “I don't buy it."

Techno didn't really have a response to that, so he let the ghost be and sighed. Techno watched quietly as people passed them by on the streets. Occasionally some would stop, almost eyeing them with pity before looking at Techno’s face and scurrying off in a frightened manner.

"So how long are you planning to just sit here?" Wilbur asked.

"Well, to be honest, we don't exactly have the funds for an inn today. Not even sure how much they would charge for a ghost," Techno pointed out.

"I thought you said we would be fine with 60 coppers?"

"That was before I found out everything here is disgustingly over-priced,” Techno buried his face in his hands and uncomfortably pulled and stretched at his skin with the pads of his fingers. He took back what he thought earlier about the ghost being decent company for entertainment value. He was not used to having to explain every little bit of his intentions to another person. He truly preferred the solitary lifestyle he used to have.

Techno really wasn’t sure what to do at this point. He used to live far out in the middle of nowhere for many years now, he never needed to think about living expenses in this regard. He could set traps on his own, farm on his own, he could even crudely mend his beaten-up overalls on his own. But having to be so reliant on these gold-robbing towns has put Techno at a loss of what to do next. 

“Oi! Try me asshole!” Techno glanced over into the alley where he sat. Some people that weren’t there before were standing in the alley. He noticed two smaller humans in ragged clothes being backed into a corner by 3 bigger humans.

One of the smaller humans looked like some kid with messy blonde hair. He stood defensively in front of the other small, brown haired guy. His scrawny, twig-like arms spread wide like a shield and his face contorted into a mean glare as he looked up at the other humans. He snarled like a beast and glared. Techno had never seen a human snarl before like that and he almost laughed out loud given the funny appearance.

Instead, Techno decided to ignore them. He stood up and grabbed his sack of supplies.

“Wait, we should help them,” Wilbur floated to block him as he pointed back into the alley.

“Nah, sounds like trouble,” Techno waved and turned away, “We should just leave and maybe find a quiet place to sleep outside.” But Techno didn’t get much of a chance to walk away before he heard Wilbur shout.

“Hey, bozos! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size,” Techno’s face swiveled around to face Wilbur. His hands went up to Wilbur, and boy did he wish he could grab that ghost’s scrawny little neck. But he was a pacifist. He promised to never shed blood. But maybe that wouldn’t apply to a bloodless ghost. Techno turned to see the group in the alley looking at him.

“I didn’t say th–”

“You picking a fight tough guy?” One human, a burly man with a scar just barely peeking out from underneath what Techno could only assume was meant to be a shirt. More like a sack with holes. Even the two short humans looked slightly better in their rags than this guy.

The man shoved the two teens aside as he marched over to Techno with his chest puffed out. He stopped just in front of Techno and glared up at him, “Think yer all that just cuz yer’re a little tall, buttercup?”

“Well, I am pretty tall,” Techno said. He was pretty tall, what could he say?

The man didn’t really like that, Techno could see that in the way the man’s face scrunched up before he launched a fist straight for Techno. Now a reasonable person would simply dodge the punch, but for Techno…it was not that he wasn’t reasonable, but just that the human was awfully weak. Though, listeners, I would argue that our farmer was just much too strong for most humans, even the muscular ones.

Techno didn’t flinch as the punch landed softly against his face, like being tapped by a kitten, “I’m really not interested in fighting you, if you want to go back and bully those orph–”

“Whooo! Yeah!” One of the orphans shouted as they jumped up and down, fists pumping into the air. The shorter one, he believed, as he glanced over in their direction for a moment, “Go get ‘em!” the child added.

“Yeah Techno! Show them what you’re made of! Show these guys how strong you are!” Wilbur added to the cheering. Techno blinked; he looked behind him to where Wilbur used to be and then back to where he was currently. To see Wilbur floating beside the two brats and the other two thugs made him groan. That was it, he was getting rid of the ghost the first chance he got. A troublemaker he was, for sure.

“Oh wow, this guy’s trans…transporant,” said the short one as he looked over to Wilbur.

“Tubbo, I think the word is trans-patient,” The taller one corrected.

“Oh.”

If only Techno had never fallen in that cave or found that book. He wouldn’t be in this predicament.

“Got yerself a little cheer squad, don’t ya.”

Techno didn’t dodge the punch again, “I’m genuinely not with them–” he stopped talking as the guy continuously threw punches into Techno’s stomach and face. The man growled in frustration before pushing against Techno only to stumble backward himself as Techno didn’t budge an inch.

“The fuck are your two doing!” The man spun around and yelled at the other two thugs, “Get yer asses over here and kick this fucker’s ass!”

“But Boss, what about–” one of the other idiot thugs started to speak.

“Fuck ‘em, they can’t run far even if they tried!”

The thugs shoved past the brats who stumbled into each other. The blonde one glared, but he was held back by the brown haired one.  To Techno's surprise, instead of fleeing, the two brats remained beside Wilbur.

“Oi, pigman! Don’t let these losers kick your ass, kay!” Techno rolled his eyes as the taller blonde child shouted at him.

Techno was somewhat surrounded. He wasn’t sure how to get out of this predicament without throwing a punch. He watched the thugs carefully as they sneered and taunted him. Slowly they closed in until the one on his left threw a punch and Techno backed away. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as another punch flew in from behind. He easily deflected. He leaped to avoid a low kick. The three thugs were timing their hits and driving Techno further out onto the street. Which seemed more beneficial to him than to them, but they were very likely to be idiots anyways.

Techno tossed up his sack, which caused two of the idiots to pause and look upwards. The third, the boss, wasn’t fooled as he rushed for Techno, “Whoa!” Techno stumbled out of the way as he kicked out his foot and caused the man to trip and skid across the dirt ground. He caught his bag and leapt over the other two idiots who attempted to catch the sack but instead knocked into each other. 

Techno took this chance to run back towards the alley.

“Come on Wilbur, we’re leaving and you have no choice because I have your book,” Techno pushed past the two brats as he ran out the other side of the alley. He heard shouting and footsteps following behind.

“Hey wait for us!” Techno looked back to see the kids following.

“Not a chance, they really want you, not me!”

Techno breathed heavily as he leaned against a wall. He managed to lose the 3 thugs, but couldn't quite shake the two kids, and after a while, he gave up. 

"Aha ha ha ha!" the blonde kid lay on the dirt rolling around as he laughed wildly clutching his sides, "Whoooo! Hell yeah!"

The other kid was right there with him laughing or perhaps wheezing, or probably both.

"We sure showed them Tubbo!"

"We sure did Tommy!"

"No!" Techno coughed, "You literally did not," Techno pounded against the wall in frustration. It was just one annoyance after the other.

"See Techno, I knew you had it in you," Wilbur clapped his hands together and smiled, which earned him a glare from Techno.

"This is literally your fault." 

Wilbur smiled and floated down to the giggling annoyances, "So what were you two doing to wind up in that mess anyways?"

Tubbo, Techno believed he was called. The shorter one with moppy brown hair that crowded over his eyes, sat up. "Oh you see, Tommy and I snuck into their hideout," Tubbo reached into his pockets and pulled out a small pouch, "and we stole some of their money," he grinned.

"Oh…wow…” Techno saw the ghost’s smile quiver and almost fall, “I'm pretty sure that's bad," Wilbur slowly floated backward.

"Ha! Not if they stole it from someone else first and we stole it back from them!" Tommy, the other annoyance shouted. He was incredibly loud.

"So you're planning to return the money to the victims then?" Wilbur tilted his head.

"What? No of course not," he responded.

Techno spoke, "See look at that Wilbur, these little 'angels' of yours are nothing but common thieves. We should have minded our own business and avoided the whole trouble in the first place."

"But being the good guy and helping others out is what a hero should do," Wilbur said.

Techno picked up his sack, "Then it's a good thing I'm not the hero. Maybe you can ask one of the thieves if they are your hero." Techno turned to leave now that he had caught his breath. It would be good to find a safe place to camp out and stay hidden from those thugs. Knowing that the two brats had stolen money from them would surely make him a target if they believed they were working together…wait.

Techno looked back at the kids and then patted his own chest where his pouch of meager coins was stored.

"Just how much did you steal…by the way?"

Tubbo and Tommy looked up from their shared pouch of coins, "No clue, neither of us can count."

Techno marched over to the two of them and snatched the money from them.

"Hey!" Tommy shouted and jumped up but Techno kept him at bay with just one hand.

He held the pouch by the opening and peered inside. His eyes widened and he let go of Tommy before pulling the pouch shut, "You know what Wilbur, I'm suddenly feeling very nice." He turned to the kids, "Just this once you can follow me and I'll show you how to really use this money well."

“What?” Wilbur’s eyes widened in concern, “I don’t think that is a good idea. We shouldn’t be using someone else’s hard-earned money.”

Tommy and Tubbo looked at each other before smiling and marching behind Techno in an almost triumphant manner. His big shadow practically buried the two brats, but neither seemed to mind. Wilbur, however, looked at Techno skeptically. His concerns went ignored and he had no choice but to reluctantly float behind the three of them. 

Word Count: 2797

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Six [Wilbur]

Wilbur watched in mortified awe as the two orphans practically inhaled their food in vast quantities. Techno was not that much better, other than the fact he ate with slightly more decorum but he still consumed just as much as the two orphans combined. Though given he was a rather big fellow and he actually hadn’t seen the guy eat for almost a day now, he could understand him being extremely hungry. And, yes, he knew the others were very likely orphans, but they were in public with a whole inn of people staring at the four of them, and for once it wasn't because of Wilbur and his peculiar appearance. And he had certainly seen enough of those people throughout the day to know when people were directing questionable stares at him.

Still…Wilbur almost felt embarrassed as Tommy and Tubbo continued to shovel food into their mouths. He noticed many of the inn patrons staring either in disgust or shock or some mix of both at the four of them. And given how the three of them were eating, he himself felt embarrassed to be around them too. He no longer felt like the oddity amongst them. 

“Holy shit, Tubbo! This is the best fucking meal I think we’ve had in forever!” Tommy jumped up from his seat and placed one foot on his chair while holding up his fork; a slab of meat was stuck to the other end of the utensil. The child heartily laughed with food spilling out of his mouth. Wilbur was kind of glad he was a ghost at this moment, he could genuinely just sink down into the ground and disappear from sight. He, in no regard, wanted to be associated with the utter pigsty the three of them incurred as they ate, and that wasn’t meant as an insult to Techno…being a pig and all.

“G-guys, maybe you should slow down before you all choke on something,” Wilbur proposed.

“Nah, I think we’re all good–” Tubbo started to say with food in his mouth before inhaling sharply and keeling over into a fit of coughs. Techno didn't stop eating as he gave the child one sound slap to the back and instantly the child was freed of whatever he nearly choked on, “Whooo! Thanks, big guy!” 

They continued to eat at a rapid pace, even the innkeeper had halted their business and stared at them vehemently. Regardless of the business, they were surely gaining due to the amount the three had ordered, no cook would be happy to see their food so abhorrently devoured and savored very little. 

Wilbur was starting to lose his patience, “ALRIGHT!” Wilbur floated up and planted his ghostly feet on the table. (Well, as planted as they could be given he could feel nothing.) The entire inn quieted immediately. Tubbo stopped reaching for a buttered biscuit and Tommy halted on chewing on his steak. Tommy slowly sat in his chair; his eyes never leaving Wilbur’s angered face. Even Techno seemed to awkwardly hold his glass of water right before his lips in his hands.

“I’ve had it!” Wilbur turned to Tommy and Tubbo, “You two are going to explode at the rate you’re eating, not to mention the blatant disregard for simple courtesy. You don't need to know etiquette to realize there are other people here trying to eat." Wilbur glared at the two of them, he saw Tommy struggle to swallow his steak before setting down his fork. Tubbo just quietly fiddled with his thumbs and his eyes flitted around in every direction but Wilbur’s. 

Wilbur then turned to Techno, "And you , you're encouraging them. It's bad enough the money we're using isn't even ours, but the fact that you won't even stop them from making a scene is terrible. You really have no regard for others do you? It's an embarrassment to me to be around the three of you like this!" Wilbur crossed his arms angrily. He didn't care that his ghostly feet were standing on the table, it was the only way to get the three of them to stop and listen to him.

Techno brought his glass of water the rest of the way to his lips and gulped down big portions before opening his mouth to speak.

"You know, if you were hungry for some ghost soup, all you had to do was as–" Tommy and Tubbo gasped as Wilbur launched himself at Techno. And much to everyone's surprise, Wilbur made contact with Techno and the two came crashing down to the wooden floor. The chair under Techno snapped into two.

It came to no one's surprise when the four of them found themselves berated by the innkeeper and kicked out onto the street. The bill paid, the room refunded, and the four sitting on the road seriously contemplating all that had led them to this moment.

After a long and awkward silence, Wilbur broke the quiet.

"Sorry…" Wilbur said. He slouched on the ground with downcast eyes, "I just got really, really upset with you all. It was uncalled for for me to act with such disgrace…"

"Aw, come on now," Tubbo said. He reached out to pat Wilbur on the back, but whatever force had allowed Wilbur to tackle Techno did not allow for Tubbo to pat him. So the boy's hand passed straight through Wilbur with each pat, but Wilbur felt comforted nonetheless, "We don't blame you for that. Honestly, it was rather fun to see you tackle that big guy to the ground and start pulling at his ears." Tubbo chuckled.

"Yeah! Besides, the food was real good, the best meal since forever. I have no regrets other than not getting dessert," Tommy chimed in.

Wilbur smiled, "Thanks."

Wilbur looked over to Techno, who remained silent. Techno stood silently, brushed off his overalls, and picked up and tossed his sack of stuff over his shoulder before turning to face away from the rest of them, "Sorry," he muttered so softly Wilbur almost missed. He ignored the urge to egg him to speak up, what mattered was that he apologized. 

He was quite shocked but happy to know the pig was able to apologize to others. He thought a little better of the guy.

“Right!” Wilbur floated up, “We should look for a place to stay since I doubt this place will ever serve another ghost, pig, or orphan again,” Wilbur laughed.

“Even though this money was stolen?” Tommy said.

“Well," Wilbur pauses, "just this once it should be fine. If you thought the meal was good, just wait till you try sleeping in a bed for a change, and maybe taking a bath too.”

Tommy and Tubbo’s noses curled up at the mention of a bath, but they followed silently behind Wilbur and Techno as they walked down the quiet streets of the sleeping town.

The evening was bright, Wilbur looked to the night sky to see the bright moon cast light down upon them. The low-burning lanterns that lined the road could not compare to the serene and elegant light of the full moon. Wilbur wondered if he’d ever truly make any headway on his quest, but for right now he could handle the quiet night. He only really woke up for the first time in 300 years yesterday and he had a lot of questions that needed answering. 

Wilbur looked over to the mansion on top of the hill. In the distance, he could see the faint glimmer of lights on in the mansion.

Wilbur was startled when Techno stopped walking as he partially passed through him before backing himself up to get a better view of what had happened. Techno held out his arms, “Shit,” Techno muttered.

Wilbur floated up to see a group of six armed thugs blocking their path. Wilbur recognized two of them as some of the thugs from before.

“Oh no…,” Tubbo said. The boy quietly stepped back and hid behind Tommy..

“They’re back,” Tommy glared, “Let me at ‘em, I’ll show them who–” Techno backed up towards the rest of them.

“Run.”

“Wait, Techno–” Wilbur said.

“Run!” Techno turned and began pushing the two orphans back in the direction they came from. Wilbur looked back to see the thugs giving chase with torches raised. He hurried to fly after the others. Unfortunately, their escape was cut short as they were cut off by 6 more thugs. They were cornered on both sides and were left with no choice but to funnel down into an alley. Wilbur hoped this one had another exit like the one from before.

But he was sorely disappointed. They were cornered into a dead end. Techno spun around to the front where armed thugs filed in with snickers and malicious grins. Some began pulling out weapons from daggers to bats, to metal rods gleaming in what he once thought as beautiful moonlight

“Looks like we got you lot backed into a corner.” One man stepped forward, the scarred man from before stepped up with a bat in hand. He rhythmically tapped the bat to the ground in a menacing way. Wilbur began to quiver. What could they do in this situation?

“T-Techno, what do we do?” Wilbur floated beside him.

“You take the left, I’ll take the right,” Tommy placed a hand on Techno’s side, but he was pushed back by Techno’s hand that shooed the boy back behind him.

“Stay out of this before you get killed,” Techno didn’t glance in Wilbur’s direction but he knew what Techno said next was directed to him when he dropped his sack to the ground, “I’ll hold them off…when there is a path open take this bag and run with the others. Your book is in there so you can get one of the brats to hold it. You should have no trouble escaping.”

“Wait, what about yourself–” Wilbur reached out, but again he could not recreate what happened before as his hand passed straight through Techno’s shoulder. Techno walked forward towards the crowd, the torches they held danced wildly around. Techno’s shadow grew larger and enveloped the three of them as he continued to stalk forward. All the three of them could do was stare at his wide shoulders. 

“Let me help!” Tommy protested.

“No,” Wilbur flew in front of them, he knew it wouldn’t do any good given his corporeal form, but he still blocked the way anyways, “The best thing we can do is find an opening to leave and get help.”

Wilbur flinched but didn’t look back as he started to hear the noises of someone or something being hit. He just hoped it wasn’t Techno, “Tubbo," the boy flinched as his name was called and his eyes flicked over to Wilbur's, "I need you to grab the book that is inside the bag and hold it close."

Tubbo shakily trembled as he knelt down and rummaged through the bag. Wilbur grimaced every time he saw Tubbo flinch from the noises behind Wilbur. Wilbur tried to block out the shouting and the screaming, he didn't want to know who was making the noise, especially if it was Techno.

"Tommy," Wilbur turned to the other boy. He could see him itching to run in there, but he also noticed how his knees shook and hands trembled, "carry the sack. We'll look for an opening together, ok?” Tommy reluctantly nodded and picked up the bag after Tubbo had grabbed the book. Wilbur turned back and looked to see Techno still blocking all the attackers. To take on what looked like 12 guys was impressive, but he felt no relief when watching Techno hold up his arms in defense as they swung bats and planks and rods at him with deafening cracks.

“You better be ready Ghostbur!” Using that stupid nickname at a time like this! In that moment, he wished he had a retort, but the kind that would promise everything would turn out ok. 

Techno was low to the ground before suddenly rising up with such force it sent the thugs tumbling back. In both hands, Techno held a majority of their weapons which he tossed to the side and out of reach, “Go!”

“Come on, let’s go!” Wilbur hurried to get the boys running as they zipped out of the alley and past the thugs. The two orphans ran, each carrying their respective items. Wilbur looked back for a moment at Techno before feeling a tug as the book he was attacked to grew farther away. Wilbur had no choice but to leave…

He regretted it. What an awful person he was. So quick to judge the hulking pig as nothing more than a scary face with an apathetic personality. He could hear the sounds of fighting resuming from behind them. A loud yell echoed into the night.

"Dammit!" Tommy screamed but kept running as he squeezed his eyes shut, his heavy breathing evidence of his frustration.

The three of them managed to make it far enough away from the noises of fighting before the two boys slowed down and panted heavily. Tubbo collapsed to the ground. Wilbur noticed in front of them a figure, he tensed up before realizing who it was.

“Another bad guy!” Tommy tossed the sack to the ground and got ready to charge, “I’ll hold this guy off–”

“Wait, he’s the drunk guy!” Wilbur flew to the front and stopped Tommy.

“W-what? The who?”

His question went ignored before Wilbur rushed forward, “Y-you, please. Help us, they’re going to kill him. He won’t fight back, even though he could. Please, you have to save Techno!” Wilbur was close to bursting into ghostly tears. Never again would he judge a book by its cover. To be so self-sacrificing, he wished he could have taken back all the awful things he’s said or thought about the pig. He really wasn’t a bad guy, just a snarky one.

“Where is he?” was all the stranger spoke before Wilbur pointed with a trembling hand back to where they had run from. The stranger was gone in a flash, zipping right past the three of them with such speed he might have never been here in the first place. Wilbur looked back as the man became nothing more than a dot in the streets. He prayed. He prayed and hoped he’d make it there before it was too late. 

Word Count: 2406

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Seven [Techno]

He could feel it, the bruising to his arms. He couldn’t believe what he was doing. He was just supposed to be a simple farmer, nothing more. He didn’t want to go on some grand adventure, and he didn’t want to be some hero. But here he was, defending against some idiotic thugs while letting others get to safety. Since when was he a charity? Since when did he care that much about the lives of strangers he barely knew.

Techno grunted as another guy slammed into him, he was doing all he could to deflect the potentially harmful weapons like daggers and knives, as long as he could avoid losing blood, he would be fine. The bruising made his flesh feel tender and sore.

"Looks like your pals left you for dead, porky, guessin you feel pretty beat up, huh?" It was the same guy. The same loser who kept chiming in to taunt him. The one with the scars over his chest.

"Hey, Boss, why don't we just beat him down then go drag those brats back over here. Make him watch what happens when you mess with the Diamond Gang."

"Wait, hold on," Techno interjected and winced, "You guys call yourself the Diamond Gang ? That's like the least intimidating gang name ever," Techno laughed in between pained breaths. He might as well be just as foolish, always looking to say a snarky retort. Now really wasn't the time, but he couldn't help it. The gang stopped attacking him for a moment, "At least name yourselves something scary like Cat Barf , or something."

"You think this is funny? You making fun of our gang?"

"What can I say, guys, I'm just not that scared of a group who calls themselves the Diamond Gang ," Techno shrugged. He could see the angry glares of the other guys, but before they could jump back on him again, a hand was raised.

"Hold it, let's not get ahead of ourselves. He's alone now, let's off him nice and slow," the man snapped his fingers and the crowd dispersed to surround Techno. He wasn't sure if this was better or worse for him. The ring of people around him each pulled out a knife or a dagger and pointed their blades toward the center of the circle. Yeah…this was looking pretty bad for him. But there was no off switch for his mouth, he couldn’t help his responses sometimes.

Their boss, if he could be described as such, entered the ring with a dagger in hand, "Enough playing around, pig. This is where we kill you."

"Heheheh, why don't we talk about this? You see, if we're being honest, I don't really have anything against you guys. So why don't we call it even–" Techno redirected the guy's stab by pushing the arm that attacked him in another direction, "No seriously  let's talk–"

Techno jumped out of the way and nearly stumbled back into the ring around him with knives jutting out. He was doing everything he could to avoid getting stabbed; he feared the consequences.

"Tch," Techno clicked his tongue. He didn't know how he was gonna make it out of this one. He could handle all the beatings, but he had to avoid blood being drawn at all costs.

"Come 'ere you–" the man launched himself at Techno and Techno sidestepped. The fight was in full swing now. He ducked under a swipe and carefully rolled away. Someone from the crowd kicked him in the back, he gritted his teeth and pushed back the growing rage in his stomach. He was in control. He was fine . 

It was getting harder to move as all his limbs ached and screamed against each of his sudden moves.

"Let me be real for a moment, you don't want me to get angry, so let’s quit this while we're ahead," Techno stumbled to his feet and held out his hands cautiously. Every step was beginning to feel like fire. Look at what trying to be the good guy got him, a world of pain and no escape.

"Bah ha ha ha!” The man laughed at him loudly while clutching his stomach, "You really think yer in a position to negotiate?"

Techno didn’t sense the swing coming. From behind, he felt the impact on his head. He fell forward and crashed to his knees, his head was pounding.

Drip .

Hot, red blood splattered to the ground.

No .

“Ha ha! Looks like you do bleed, don’t ya porkchop!” All Techno could see was the man’s feet as he slowly inched forward. But that was the least of his problems.

Techno curled further into the ground, his lips were drawn back into a strained snarl. Fight it, he pleaded with himself. The blood continued to drip down the side of his skull. A fire was beginning to burn within him.

Listeners, I warn you now. As touched on before, there are three main species that interact on this land. The humans, the beastfolk, and lastly the monsters. Deep within a monster’s heart is an instinct, a hostile rage. Some monsters are always in a rage, always ready to attack, and some monsters grow fearsome under different conditions. But all monsters, no matter the kind, are bloodthirsty.

Listeners, what follows is not for the faint of heart. Our simple and pacifist farmer cannot control what lies deep within him. It is the part of him he has done much to carefully conceal and hide. 

 Where you see this sign again is where I mark for you, the end of poor Techno’s rage. Read on if you are willing but should it ever be difficult, just skip ahead. 

⚠ ⚠ ⚠ ⚠ ⚠

“Whats say you, men? Shall I put the poor pig out of his misery?” The crowd was filled with chuckles and snickers, but they fell on deaf ears for poor Techno.

He couldn’t see it as his head was still pressed to the ground, but no longer because he was in pain. Above him, the boss stopped just in front of Techno’s head. He kicked Techno who immediately jumped up and launched himself at the man. The man cried out in surprise.

Techno could not hear. He could not see. To him, everything had grown red and hazy, like a bull on a rampage. The instincts that dwelled deep inside him grew to a ferocious roar inside his head and he was filled with only thoughts to retaliate. To bludgeon, to maim, to end all in his path.

His hands gripped tightly around the man’s wrist. There was a snap and deep guttural screams ripped through the night air. His knife fell forgotten to the ground.

“Boss!” The men around them shouted and leaped into action. All with knives out, all aiming to bring the pig down.

There was no pain to Techno who let knives slash him as he turned to thrash his other attackers. With one swing of his arms, he slammed several heads to the ground with thuds heavier than thunder. His hands reached out and grabbed heads before knocking them together with loud cracks . What was once 12 men ganging up on one pig turned into what would look like a massacre to the rest of the world. 

At the entrance to the alley, unbeknownst to Techno, was the winged man from earlier this morning. He stared dumbfounded by the scene in front of him. If Techno could see him as more than a red splotch in his vision, he would have seen the uncertainty and slight fear in his eyes. They were the eyes of a man not sure who he was sent here to rescue.

"T-Techno?" The winged man slowly stepped forward, one arm raised, the other still in his sling. Techno turned, teeth bared and hot steam shooting from his mouth. His eyes were red. He dropped from his hands the potentially dead or unconscious thugs, "H-Hi mate. We met earlier, remember? Your friend–" Techno charged. The man had no choice but to leap back, he glided unstably with one wing back to the ground several feet away. 

"Hold on, look" The man raised his arm higher, he winced as he slowly drew out his other arm. The one in the sling. It was scarred and covered in burn tissue, at least from what could be seen without his sleeves covering, "See, I'm not here to fight. Your ghost friend, uh…Wilbur, he sent me here to help you.” It was no use, the man’s words fell on deaf ears. Techno picked up one of the bodies of the thugs and threw them in the man’s direction. The man caught the person and fell back on his bottom. He winced in pain.

Techno charged.

The man pulled out his sword with his left hand and held the flat edge of the blade to his defense and Techno pushed back with ease. The man brought his injured arm out and used it to push back against Techno using the flat edge of his sword blade, but it would be clear to anyone who had the upper hand here. The towering 7-foot pig beast or the small winged half-ling with one good arm and wing.

The man was losing. Techno continued to push down the sword. The man strained with everything he had and with a great surge and a yell he pushed back, he swung his sword clumsily and blood was drawn as a deep gash sliced its way through Techno’s hands. 

“Look mate, I don’t know what happened, but you need to come to your sense. I’m not here to fight you, I came to help you,” The man slowly raised his sword. He held the hilt with two hands now, “If you keep at this, I will have no choice.”

Techno seemed to pause. His head tilted. He peered down at his hands and only saw red. He looked back at the man and saw red. His vision was painted entirely red. The only thoughts in his head were to annihilate all living enemies.

“Techno!” His ears heard a voice, but he saw nothing in the area had changed, “Stop this! I thought you were a pacifist!” Techno stared at the winged man who hadn’t moved. In the background he saw two more figures approaching, they looked…familiar?

⚠ ⚠ ⚠

Techno took a step forward, but he felt an invisible force. A small pounding on his chest, but there was nothing–no one there, “You stupid, stupid idiot ! If you’re going to act like an apathetic asshole the whole time, don’t suddenly gain a change of heart and sacrifice yourself like this. Look what it’s lead you to!” Techno stepped forward, but still, that force was there. What was it? He couldn’t see it or smell it, but he could hear it as plain as day. An enemy he couldn’t vanquish?

The winged man just a few feet in front of him raised his sword higher in defense. The other two figures far in the background were huddled together, watching them as the events unfolded.

Techno took another step. He felt the invisible force pound hard and faster into his chest. Like tiny fists throwing a tantrum, “Listen to me! If you’re just gonna act like a monster, then fine! But take it all back! You made me worried! I thought they were going to kill you!”

The whiny voice was irritating, Techno swiped at the air. He felt his hands make contact with something that fell to the ground with a thud. The pressure was gone from his chest. He marched forward and the man raised his sword, ready to swing, “Shit!”

Techno snarled as his head was pulled back by something grabbing his ears. He reached up to grab the thing. 

“Pacifist my ass! Great big hypocrite. Stupid! Stupid pig!”

“Would you shut up you damn ghost! You whine too much!” Techno pulled the invisible figure off his head and held them in front of him. The red in his vision began to clear away and the once invisible figure slowly appeared in his view. The ghost had tears in his eyes as Techno grabbed them tightly, he frowned with displeasure, “Why did you come back, I thought I told you guys to run!”

Wilbur phased through Techno’s grip as he loosened his hold on him, “How am I, in good conscience, supposed to leave you behind! You were about to kill the one here who came to save you too!”

“What?!” Techno snapped. That’s when he noticed it. The area around him. The winged man, with his sword still raised and his body still tense and ready for action. The two brats in the background, scared and trembling. And the bodies on the ground, the faint cries of pain and agony around him. He even noticed the eyes of frightful folks in the windows above, quietly observing from their homes.

Techno’s eyes widened and he stumbled back. He raised his hands to see his blood and wounds. No, no, no! Not again! He sucked in a shaky breath.

“I-I…I didn’t mean to–I,” Techno looked to Wilbur, his lips quivered and his eyes held a deep sadness and pain for him. Techno gulped as he squeezed his hands into a tight fist, the blood continued to drip the pain was stinging now.

“Stop that mate,” The man sheathed his sword and ran up to Wilbur and Techno. He grabbed Techno’s hands and pried them apart, “You’ll make the wounds worse.”

“I’m sorry, I–”

“It’s alright, you were just defending yourself,” The man spoke softly.

“N-no I–”

“It was self-defense. 12 against 1, that’s not a fair fight.” Techno stopped trying to argue.

Wilbur flew in and wrapped a tight hug around Techno’s neck, “Stop trying to work alone. You’re a snarky asshole, but we’re in this together…remember?”

Techno quietly nodded. He drowned out the pained noises behind him as Wilbur calmly patted his back, and the winged man tightly held his hands. He looked up to the sky above. What a pretty moon, he thought.

Word Count: 2356

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Eight [Techno]

It was quiet, at the mansion. After the night’s earlier events, the thugs were reported to the local guards and Techno was cleared of any evil intent due to the winged man, whom they all learned was called Phil. Phil led them up the hilltop to his abode. The mansion was now brightly lit and the two kids lay on a plush lounge chair fast asleep. The idea of a bed was forgotten to them. They had knocked out before Phil was even able to offer them a room. Wilbur hovered by an open window and looked outside while Phil carefully tended to the wounds that adorned Techno’s body. His overalls were ruined with blood and he had many gashes from where knives had slashed him, not to mention the sword wound on his hands from Phil. The pain was numbing to him now.

The silence was thick amongst them as Phil carefully disinfected and wrapped his wounds. Techno had a lot of thoughts running through his mind as they quietly sat on a different lounge chair from the one the two kids were sleeping on.

Techno had a chance to properly get a better look at Phil. From this morning’s encounter to just an hour ago, both were times that were difficult for him to properly see Phil. To be honest, he looked tired, his hair was long and unkempt, his clothes were ruffled and not to be rude, stained with an assortment of colors and smells. And Techno had a pretty big nose, he knew a bad smell when he smelled one. Phil was up there in bad smells with the orphans probably on top, but then again those two were orphans whereas Phil had access (probably) to clean water.

It wasn’t really his place to judge him. Given the state he and Wilbur found him in this morning half-drunk and delirious…the man had probably something worth causing him to be in that state. He glanced over at Phil’s right arm as it trembled with each attempt to carefully disinfect his wounds. Techno could only guess what kind of reasons would lead a man to act the way he did.

"Thanks…for the help," Techno said at last to break the silence.

"No problem mate…to be honest…I was actually looking for you two, but I didn't think I would find you two so late at night."

"What for?"

Phil paused his work, "I ended up doing some looking around after kicking the two of you out. I really did think I had hallucinated you two until I found this journal in my father's old study."

Wilbur turned around at the mention of a journal, he floated back towards them, "What did it say?"

"Well," Phil looked away with a sheepish look, "It's mainly indecipherable. I could only pick up on a few things," he cleared his throat before tying up the bandage on Techno’s hands. Techno felt the padding and slightly flexed his palms before wincing just a little bit. It would be annoying to get used to, but the sooner they healed the better.

"That's ok!" Wilbur grinned, "We can just try to figure out the rest of the text,” He pumped his fists into the air.

“Um…,” Phil scratched the back of his neck and looked away, “That’ll probably be impossible,” Phil stood up and beckoned for the others to follow him. Techno limped behind Phil and Wilbur floated closely behind. Techno glanced back at Tommy and Tubbo as they quietly slept before exiting the lounge and softly closing the door.

The three of them traveled quietly down the hall until Phil stopped in front of a large spruce doorway. He pushed it open to reveal a spacious study, the only place Techno could see that actually looked tidy and clean, unlike the rest of the mansion that was still layered in dust. Techno realized when they had arrived at the mansion earlier that Phil lived alone with no servants. And given the size of his home, he was surely someone massively rich enough who could easily hire the staff to care for such a large mansion, but as for why he didn’t…Techno didn’t pry. Everyone had their reasons.

The study had bookshelves on either side of them covering the entirety of the wall with books in every available space. The back wall was a dark red with a painting hung high on the wall, the painting depicted a family. A younger Phil with black wings tucked neatly behind him as he stood at the forefront of the painting with his right hand comfortably resting on the hilt of a sword attached to his hip. Behind him were who Techno figured were his parents, a kind-looking couple with green eyes and average looks. There was nothing particularly striking about the couple.

A pristine desk of smooth oak stood further into the study in front of the wall with the painting. Techno noticed a book lay on the desk.

“Come in,” Phil said. Techno hadn’t noticed he was still standing in the doorway. He limped into the study, Phil closed the door behind him. He walked over to the desk and pushed the book Techno noticed earlier in their direction, “This is the journal I was referring to.” Wilbur reached out to it but his hands passed through it. He frowned.

“I wish I could consistently touch things, it doesn’t make sense why sometimes I seem to be able to and other times I can’t,” He sighed.

Techno did the honors instead and opened the green journal, “Pft–” He clapped a hand over his mouth and winced with the jerky movement.

Phil hung his head and sighed, “As I was saying before…it’s mainly indecipherable.”

The journal was covered in drawings. But not fancy illustrations that were done by a skilled artist with careful hands...Nope. Instead covered in drawings of obscure and colorful random squiggles that could have only been done by a child. Techno flipped through the journal and noticed that every page was covered in the same way.

“No!” Wilbur panicked, “Who could have done such a terrible thing!” Wilbur desperately tried to grab the journal but to no avail.

Phil coughed and looked away, “I’m afraid this was probably my doing…I was quite an illustrious child when I was first brought to this house.”

Wilbur collapsed to the ground and mimicked pounding the floor with his fist (since there was no audible noise of a fist hitting the floor), “We were so close to some answers. If only I could just remember something!”

Phil dragged the journal closer to him and flipped through the pages, “As I said before, there are some bits I did happen to catch that may be of interest,” he stopped on a particular page that was dog-eared. He spun the book towards the two of them and pointed to a particular line on the page. Wilbur and Techno leaned in.

Thanks … … gen…sity … … va… …fa…tor, … Wilbur, … … to … sea temple … … great ease.

“Th-that’s me!” Wilbur looked up and pointed at the book excitedly, his earlier panic discarded in favor of joy. He smiled at Techno and Phil, “At least I think it is–no, it has to be me.”

Phil nodded, “That’s what I thought since it mentioned your name but this was recorded over 300 years ago.”

“300 years ago? By who?” Techno asked, “Who wrote this,” he added.

Phil walked over to the shelf on the left and scoured the shelves, his fingers trailing across the bindings of the books before stopping on a dark blue book. He pulled it from the shelf, “How much history do the two of you know?”

“I’ve pretty much forgotten my memories and they would probably be about 300 years out of date even if I did remember.”

“I don’t really care much for human affairs.”

“So not much,” Phil sighed and brought the new book over and placed it on the desk after opening it to a specific page. The first thing Techno noticed was the illustrated portraits of three figures. Techno recognized them faintly as the people from the painting Wilbur had looked at in the basement of the mansion.

“These three are core figures in the Aschen Empire’s history. Little over 300 years ago, the three of them were selected to slay a terrible beast that threatened danger upon the kingdom at the time. The three of them made a name for themselves due to their immeasurable skill and accomplishments over the course of their adventures.”

Phil pointed to the first portrait. The man with green eyes and sandy hair, “Dream Cryft, recorded as a brilliant strategist and expert marksman at the time,” Phil pointed to the one next to him, the black-haired man with fiery eyes, “Sapnap, a man considered to be the most skilled mage recorded in history with a specialty in fire magic,” Phil moved on to the last figure, “And George Myre, a talented knight, master in sword skills and defense.”

“Does it mention me anywhere?” Wilbur asked.

“Not from what I recall,” Phil shook his head. Phil turned back to the journal, “This journal was written by Dream, or so I’ve been told. Actually, this is the family house passed down to Dream’s descendants after he was awarded a noble title and territory for his accomplishments.”

“Then you’re his descendant,” Wilbur clapped.

“Well, actually, no, not technically. My parents couldn’t have children. I’m adopted,” Phil flexed his wings slightly, “Part avian as you can see.”

Techno quietly stroked his chin. He could piece a bit of a theory together with what he’d learned, “So these three guys are some legendary heroes that knew Wilbur as hinted by Dream’s journal,” He snapped, “Perhaps they killed you!” Techno turned to Wilbur who frowned and stared at him with an unamused face, “What? It could be a possibility,” he shrugged. He was only half-serious.

Phil picked up the journal and the other book and beckoned for the two of them to follow him. They left the study behind and returned to the lounge. Techno noticed Tommy had shifted his position, his foot was now propped on top of the lounge chair and his hand laid across Tubbo’s face. Tubbo’s brow was furrowed uncomfortably, but neither seemed to move from their slumber as Phil closed the door behind them again.

“You have a journal of your own right? I remember your friend Tubbo carrying a book on the way here. He mentioned it was yours,” Wilbur nodded as Phil walked over to the lounge chair that the two kids were sleeping on. Techno took a seat at a small table. He held in a sneeze as the dust was disturbed from the table.

“You really should consider hiring a maid if you’re gonna have guests like this,” Techno rubbed his snout.

Phil chuckled softly as he found the journal Tubbo had been holding on to, still clasped in his hands. He gently pried it from the kid's hand before making his way over to the table with Techno and Wilbur.

"So what did this journal say?" Phil asked.

"A certain someone didn't actually read it," Wilbur gave Techno a pointed look who chuckled in response.

"Guilty," was all he said.

Phil opened up Wilbur’s journal which crackled with age. The three of them peered over the book and its message. Phil read it aloud.

To the one chosen by fate itself to restore balance to the world. I beseech you to take upon your shoulders the weight of justice and right the wrongs of the past.

When you read this, I know not, but I only hope it will not be too late. Take with you the company of our trusted friend and help him as he helps you. 

Retrieve what has been carefully stored and defeat the sleeping evil. Assemble a team for which you can trust. Your journey will be long and arduous, but we have faith you will be able to defeat what we could only stall.

     - The Dream Team

Phil turned the page, but it was blank, and so were the following pages after.

" Heehhh ???" Techno said. He leaned closer to the book, only pausing to wince at his momentarily forgotten injuries, "That's all that's there?? Couldn't they be more specific?? Bunch of lousy, lazy heroes or whatever can't even tell us what we're supposed to stop!" He sat back in his chair and groaned with displeasure. 

Phil sat and hummed to himself while stroking the stubble on his chin. He opened up the history book and flipped through it quickly. "When I was a kid I read every book about them. I aspired to be like them and go on adventures across the kingdom like them and though these three have mainly faded into myth and legend now, they are still considered to be important to the prosperity of our kingdom,” he stopped flipping on a page detailing the heroes' adventures and famous tales, “But I've never heard of an enemy they didn't defeat." 

"See here," Phil pointed to the page, "The legend that got them started as heroes was the quest to defeat the Ender Dragon, as it's now called. During this time, the kingdom was threatened by tremors and quakes as a foreign dimension began to invade our world. It was some phenomenon that was theorized to be caused by stars aligning and the two worlds nearly merging on a dimensional line scale.

“The main power source of the world was the dragon that lorded over that dimension, so several teams were selected to vanquish her, but only the Dream Team, as we know them now, succeeded."

Techno nodded and pretended to understand the stuff about dimensional lines and stars aligning. Sounded like mumbo jumbo to him.

"However, following their success they were awarded titles or elevated in existing status since George was already from a noble family at the time. The team took on more quests as requested by the royal family then. Their conquests included: the Guardian of the Ocean Monument, defeating grand witches, conquering dungeons that dwelled deep in the earth's surface, battling hellish monsters, and more.”

"But all of those tales are told to be victorious. There is not a single one that is mentioned as undefeated or anything of a similar nature."

Phil turned to Wilbur, “That would leave you then, mate. As mentioned in your journal, you must have been a friend of theirs, so it’s possible only you could know what evil they are referring to.”

Wilbur quietly floated. He peered down at the 3 books all on the table, his messy, curly hair was curled around his fingers as he pondered in silence. Techno could see how his brows furrowed and his lips were gently abused by his teeth. His eyes flicked from one book to another in slow succession.

“I…I don’t know. I don’t know why I can’t remember anything. I know had a faint memory come back to me yesterday about the mage Sapnap. He was showing me the escape spell he cast, which is what lead us here, to you. But other than that I haven’t had any more flashes.” Wilbur slumped forward and ruffled his hair in frustration.

“It’s all right mate, we could start with the other part mentioned in your journal,” Phil said.

“The things they stored?” Techno said. The journal mentioned something stored away, but it didn’t describe what they were.

“Yes,” Phil flipped through the history book again, “I have a theory. After defeating the Ender Dragon, the royal family of Aschen awarded more than just titles to the three of them. Money, land, and weapons one could only hear about in legends were also given to them. The weapons were specially crafted and enchanted, then blessed by The Church of Eon. They are highly treasured, unique items.”

“So then you think we need their weapons then in order to defeat this ‘sleeping evil’ or whatever. Right?” Techno said.

Phil nodded, “From what we’ve gathered so far, I believe so. Dream was gifted with an axe forged in hell fires that was hardened to be stronger than diamond. Sapnap was gifted with a staff designed by The Church of Eon; it was able to wield all magic types. And George was gifted a sword sharper than steel and a shield stronger than obsidian, it was taken from the royal treasury.” 

Phil paused and then cleared his throat, “The issue then becomes getting these weapons… A lot of time has passed since they were alive. The Staff of Eon, which is Sapnap’s artifact was formerly passed down to the Head Royal Mages over time, but it was stolen several years ago,” Phil faltered for a bit. Techno noticed the slight flinch of his wings and his right fist clenched ever so slightly. 

He blinked and continued on, “All efforts to recover it have failed. George’s artifacts, the Sword and Shield set of Duality were returned to the royal family by George’s wishes after he passed. He instructed for them to only to be given to a knight worthy of them. And Dream’s Axe of Valor was passed down in this family until about 70 years ago I believe, in my grandfather’s time. It was sold discretely.”

Techno was impressed by Phil’s knowledge. He wasn’t sure where he had gathered all this information from, but he wasn’t going to question him either.

“What!” Wilbur shouted, “Why would he ever do that! To sell something so priceless!”

“Our family been on the decline for generations. Honestly, since the Dream Team’s era, there have never really been any other remarkable people to appear, not even from their descendants. They say strength is born from hardships, but Aschen has been very peaceful for the past 300 years since their time.

“The pressure to produce strong and talented people weighed heavy on this family and as those skills seemed to decline the struggle for influence and power grew,” Phil sighed as he closed the history book.

“See, that’s the thing that’s wrong with humans,” Techno said, “Always trying to be better than everyone else and fighting over useless things like status.”

“Techno!” Wilbur looked over to Phil with concern.

“He’s right though,” Phil clutched his right arm, his thumb running over the scarred skin, “It’s like a plague that consumes humans and beast folk alike.”

“Look, um, let’s just think about what we can do now,” Wilbur floated in between everyone and held out his arms calmly, “Maybe you know some information about who the axe was sold to. Since the axe seems like the easiest one to obtain right now.”

Phil nodded, “Yes, however, I think this should be a topic for the morning. It is getting very late into the night. I think it will be best to sleep for tonight and continue the discussion in the morning,” Phil stood up from his chair.

“Of course!” Wilbur responded, “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the boys, “I don’t think I’ll need sleep.”

“Techno,” Phil gestured for Techno to follow him, “I’ll show you to a guest room you can use.”

“Thanks,” Techno slowly stood from his chair, the bruising and the cuts were really beginning to hit him in full swing.

“Oh, and Techno,” he paused to look back at Wilbur, “Thank you for your help so far, I know I kind of forced this all on you, but it really means a lot all that you have done, I know I can count on you now, and I’m sorry for ever doubting you.” Wilbur smiled warmly at him.

“Heheh, yeah, no problem,” Techno half-heartedly smiled. He hoped it didn’t appear obvious, but it didn’t seem Wilbur noticed, or if he did he didn’t show it as he continued to smile warmly at him. A part of him felt burdened by the ghost’s kindness, he didn’t feel deserving of such words.

Wilbur looked down at the books still on the table and clapped once with a huge grin.

“Finally! We have a real lead! Make sure to get lots of rest you two, tomorrow we head out and I want you in your best condition!” Wilbur pointed at Techno and Phil before flying somersaults into the air, “I’ll keep trying to remember a memory or two so that maybe we can learn a little bit more of what to do.” 

Techno heard the sound of the two orphans shifting and murmuring and Wilbur quickly slapped his hands to his mouth, “S-sorry, hehe,” his laugh came out muffled, but the excitement could not be contained as it practically spilled from the way the ghost quivered in the air.

“Come on Techno, you must be tired,” Phil waved for him to follow and the two quietly exited the lounge as the night continued to drift slowly by.

Word Count: 3495

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Nine [Techno]

It was silent as they walked down the halls. Techno was slow as he walked, limping due to the bruises, but Phil accommodated him and matched his pace. Phil broke the silence, “You’re a monster, right?”

Techno froze. It’s not like he actively attempted to hide it, but most people assumed he was a scary-looking beastfolk and he let them. But Phil outright said it, he decided to test the waters, “What of it?”

Phil chuckled and shook his head, “I don’t mean anything by it, I can just tell. You don’t live and train as an imperial knight for all your life and not pick up on these things,” Phil was back to massaging his right arm, “If you were really a threat, you wouldn’t be so compromising with Wilbur or so attentive to those orphans. So I know whatever circumstances you have you aren’t a bad guy.”

“Hmm, well you can say that I am,” The answer was yes, but even though he didn’t actively hide his identity, he didn’t actively reveal it either, “But an imperial knight, huh. Then in human terms that makes you the enemy of monsters,” he said casually.

“I was an imperial knight. I left many years ago.”

“Then I’m going to assume you’re a raging alcoholic because of whatever made you leave and whatever gave you those wounds, huh?” He was pushing it, and he knew that. This was more than being his normal blunt and often abrasive self, this was him purposely egging the winged man on. You can never tell what kind of person you’re dealing with until you’ve made them angry. If push came to shove and Phil was lying to him about his intentions he could leave, easy as that. He didn’t have Wilbur’s book on him, and now Wilbur was surrounded by plenty of people who would probably be willing to help him.

Techno stopped walking. It really was that simple, huh, he could actually leave. He didn’t actually need land from the ghost. If he was being honest with himself, the moment he decided to flee from his little cabin in the woods, he brought the ghost with him on a whim simply because he pitied the guy. But he was plenty capable of finding his own place to settle down on even if it would be a pain to make peace with the other residents in the potential area.

Techno was startled from his thoughts by Phil’s loud laughter, he wheezed and doubled over, “I can’t blame you…for being very distrusting,” He said in between gasps, “But, you’re not wrong. Even now nothing would be more calming than a bottle of whiskey to drown my regrets away. The only reason I’m not doing that is that the moment the two of you showed up, it felt like something had changed here in this lonely place.” 

Phil straightened himself and turned to look at the walls of the hallway. Techno looked with him. A portrait of his family. Different than the one in the study which had Phil as a young adult. This was Phil as a child, held in the lap of his mother, with a gentle-eyed father behind the two of them.

“This house has been empty for a while, being home in a quiet and empty place like this as the failure that I became…” Phil’s eyes softened, “I hated every minute of it. But I couldn’t in good conscience leave this place either. This is home, a place of comfort but also of heavy expectations.

“When you two showed up, the air here felt a little less stuffy. That’s the best way I can describe it. Now I feel like I have a way to make up for all the years wasted.”

“Well, if you plan to make things right, I have a suggestion for you.”

“Yeah?” Phil glanced at him.

“A very hot shower.”

Phil blinked. He glanced down at his clothes and broke out laughing again. He coughed to clear his throat, “I can see why Wilbur said you were aggravating, but yes, I will be sure to do that before you wake in the morning.” Techno wondered when the ghost had the time to share ill will of him to the birdman, but he didn’t ask.

Phil started walking again and Techno followed behind him. The man had nerves of steel, nothing seemed to bother him. Techno gave up, all in all, he guessed he was a good guy.

“Here we are,” Phil pushed open a door, “It’s a little dusty, but you can use this room.”

“A little?” Techno crinkled his nose to hold in a sneeze. He walked slowly into the room.

“Oh, and Techno?”

“Hmm?” He didn’t turn around.

“While I don’t believe you have bad intentions, I also don’t have a clue what your intentions are in the first place. The kind of journey you’re going on…it will be impossible for you to avoid fighting. I can’t force you to change, but if you care enough, you should reconsider your priorities.”

Techno stiffened, but he neither turned nor replied. The door was quietly shut and he was left in darkness. A room without candlelight and where all the curtains were drawn closed so not even a beam of moonlight could sneak through. He was alone in this darkness.

He knew what Phil was saying made sense. He knew he was acting difficult, but could you blame him? Knowing full well of what he was capable of, he didn’t want to risk his life. He didn’t want to be misunderstood and hunted like a dog simply because of the blood that ran through him. The day he left his home was the day he put it all behind him to look for a quiet and more meaningful life beyond carnage and bloodthirst.

Every monster held the innate desire for bloodshed, for anger, and for hostility. It was in him as much as any other monster. To fight would mean to give in to those desires. To potentially lose all reason and lose himself to the battle. In doing so, would he even be a “hero?”

Techno slowly walked in the dark. He found the bed frame and slowly sat on the edge of the plush comforter. His bandaged palms and exposed fingers sunk into the fabric. It was soft and comfortable.

Techno could still clearly remember the time he was nothing more than a monster. He wandered the hot wastelands lived purely on the desires that dwelled in his blood and pumped from his heart. The bloodshed and the carnage that followed. His kind was a kind that only attacked when provoked, but that made no difference to humans and beastfolk alike who lumped all monsters as one and the same. To clarify, he, in no way, felt bad for those that lost their lives. It was simply that he was tired of living that way.

Which is why he left. Burning wastelands were left behind for a quiet farm in warm and pleasant weather. But that too was gone now.

Techno slowly laid in the bed. He didn’t bother to get under the covers. 

Sleep would be a long way off for him, and so would be the choice he would have to make regarding the future.

Word Count: 1222

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Ten [Wilbur]

"Wilbur?" Wilbur shifted from his floating position by the window, where he stared and watched the slowly rising town at the base of the hill. It was morning now. He looked over to see Tubbo rising from the lounge chair rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He yawned and slowly clambered over Tommy who was half hanging off the lounge chair now. Wilbur hadn't noticed that Tommy had shifted so drastically from his position on the chair; he must have been staring outside for a very long time without realizing it. There isn’t much he could do as a newly awakened ghost incapable of sleeping so he spent his first real night just watching the night pass by.

"Oh good morning Tubbo!" he smiled at the child.

"You're awake so early?" Tubbo mumbled back at him.

"Mmh hmm, can't sleep actually, what about you, I don't think anyone else is up yet."

Tubbo stretched out his body and lazily scratched his stomach, "I normally wake up this early. I'm in charge of breakfast, Tommy is in charge of dinner." 

"Oh, I see." He quietly watched Tubbo walk over to Techno’s sack that lay on the floor. Wilbur tried not to laugh as the boy knelt down and rummaged through the bag before pulling out a pouch. The boy opened it and peered inside before closing it up and throwing it onto Tommy who was startled and slipped off of the lounge chair in shock. 

"What–oh what's this?" Tommy grabbed the bag off his stomach.

"Breakfast," Tubbo yawned again. Wilbur found it incredibly hilarious how quickly the boy rummaged through Techno’s stuff like it was also his to lay claim to. Though he doubted Techno would do anything if he found out, just this once Wilbur decided he would stay quiet. Though he did not condone stealing in the slightest. It was just funny.

Tommy quietly munched on what looked like jerky of some kind while sitting on the floor, not bothering to wipe the crumbs that fell to his shirt. Tubbo on the other hand walked over to Wilbur and looked outside. Wilbur turned back to the view as Tommy quietly ate behind them.

"So what's it like? Not sleeping or eating and being dead and all?" Wilbur wasn't expecting a question like that. The day before the child was energetic and chipper, but it seemed he was not an energetic one in the mornings. He seemed slow and sluggish, or perhaps yesterday's events had tired him even into today.

"Well, honestly," Wilbur glanced down at his hands. He held them to the rising sunlight and winced as he saw the rays through his intangible flesh, "I can't remember what living felt like. But I would like to. As for death…,” he wasn’t sure if this was what death felt like. He didn’t even remember how he died.

“Rise and Shine–Oh, you’re already up,” Phil walked into the room looking cleaner than ever. Beard trimmed to a nice stubble, hair clipped to medium length, and clothes clean and firmly pressed. He was looking like a new man.

“Whoaa! Are you even the same guy?” Tubbo exclaimed.

“Mmph?” Tommy looked up from a mouth full of jerky with curiosity.

“Very funny, it’s your turn now.” Phil walked in and lifted a confused Tommy from the ground, who in turn dropped his pouch of jerky on the floor, “I’ll be taking Tommy with me, Tubbo you're next. Techno said he’ll be ready in an hour.”

"My jerky!" Tommy whined.

“Ok!” Wilbur waved.

Tommy took a whiff of Phil and wrinkled his nose, “Wait, I don’t wanna smell like flowers!” But resistance was futile as Phil dragged the boy away. Tubbo snickered. 

Wilbur looked back out the window, the sun was slowly rising. He felt a longing to feel the warmth. What did warmth feel like, he couldn't remember? Just another thing added to the list of things he couldn't remember and longed for.

Wilbur sighed.

"What's up?" 

"Nothing much, I'm actually really excited. We actually made a lot of progress last night while the two of you slept and I feel closer to whatever purpose I’ve been awakened for…but," Wilbur stopped. Down at the town below he saw the morning risers beginning their day. Carriages being drawn, baskets being carried, the slow rising smoke from the buildings below.

"But I'm still missing something important," he turned to Tubbo, "You guys were asleep, but I found out I knew 3 heroes of legend from 300 years ago. Your era refers to them as the Dream Team, but there was no mention of me in that history. So I still have no clue who I am or what I did before or where I belong."

"Well I think that's ok," Tubbo smiled, "Me and Tommy are orphans. We've been together for as long as I can remember, but I don't have any memories of a family, not like Tommy. He’s the only one who has some memory of where he came from. But, even still, we have each other. Isn't that like how you and Techno have each other?"

Tubbo pointed down at the town and Wilbur turned to look. He didn't seem to be pointing at anything in particular, "To be honest, I really hate this town and I hated this mansion that always sat quietly on this hill casting shadows in the early evening over the town even more. Before, there has never been a place where I felt I belonged until I think about 2 years ago."

Wilbur quietly listened to Tubbo. Wilbur, who had only seen since yesterday a carefree boy, was now a calm young man with a steady smile and sad eyes. He could only imagine what kind of life a boy would have to lead to be so mature. 

"It was one of the harshest of winters I can remember; there wasn't any food we could scrounge up or any place to take shelter. Tommy got really sick, he's always acting like the older one of us. Always trying to be the tough guy, to carry the burdens and I always let him. I always rode life by his side aimlessly, wondering when I'd die, never really trying. That's how it is when you're a gutter rat. But on that night, that cold, dark, and moonless night when Tommy wouldn't wake up and had coughing fits every minute…I ran away.

"I remember stumbling in the snow, shivering down to the core of my bones, trying to think of a way to get a meal, trying to forget about Tommy." Tubbo gripped the stone railings of the terrace. His brows furrowed with discomfort. Wilbur almost wondered if he should stop the boy from recounting anything that pained him, but Tubbo let out a sigh before relaxing his shoulders and continuing.

"This is a world where people die all the time, you're not supposed to get attached when you barely have the means to survive yourself. At least that was what I’ve always thought. I thought it'd be no different with Tommy, I thought I could run off and forget him and have one less worry. I just stuck with him because that's all I knew. but it's not like I needed to. That's what I told myself at least.

"I recall, at some point after leaving Tommy, laying in the snow beneath a lit shop window, a blanket had been tossed over me and two small loaves of frozen bread by my face. I don't know how I ended up there or when I had arrived, but as I greedily tried to gnaw on the hardened bread…I remembered Tommy. Alone, cold, sick, and hungry." 

Tubbo looked at his calloused and scarred hands, "There had never been a place I belonged to until I realized that place had always been beside Tommy. Without him, there was no home, no warmth, no life. Running back in the cold, covering Tommy with that paper-thin blanket, holding his hand tight. I prayed to Eon, I hoped I could make up for my stupid greed. I hoped I wasn't too late." Tubbo rubbed his palms together, his hands were almost clasped like a habitual prayer form.

"And?" Wilbur quietly said.

Tubbo grinned, "The next morning I was woken by Tommy shouting into my ears about how he had the best night's rest ever. He was right as rain and only a minor sniffle in his nose. A damn miracle honestly, and there I was the complete opposite, but I couldn't help but laugh right there with him. I was just glad my prayers had been heard."

Wilbur looked down at his hands, he clutched them tight into fists. To hear the plights of such a young boy, he understood why he woke so early. Perhaps he wanted to ease the burden of the friend that had cared for him, or perhaps it was the guilt and fear of wanting to make things right. Wilbur closed his eyes. He heard a fearful cry.

"Please, Eon, by your grace, spare this child. He is not at fault, let him live and take me instead." 

"Wilbur, stop, you need to get some rest," a hand touched his shoulder. The sudden touch made him flinch. Hands grabbed onto his arms and tried to lift him from his kneeling position by a large and lofty bed.

"No! Unhand me! I have to be here! This is my fault! My foolishness has caused this!"  Wilbur wrenched his body away from their grasps. He fell forward onto the bed. His body burned with unbelievable pain with each movement and tears brimmed in his eyes. He coughed. Heavy and heaving coughs, but still, he did not leave. When the fit subsided, he slowly craned his head to look at the pale and sweating form of a young, blonde boy. Swaddled in blankets with a wet towel laid over his forehead. The boy breather low and raspy, clinging onto dear life. 

Wilbur’s eyes were threatened by tears, his fists were clenched so tight and his teeth chewed heartlessly into the flesh of his cheek.

How could he have been such a fool? So relaxed that he had let something like this occur.

Wilbur heaved and coughed, black blood splattered the white sheets.

"Wilbur! You're getting worse, please you have to take care of–" 

"Silence!" He screamed and struggled to push himself off the bed into a staggering standing position where his hands weighed heavy on the blanket and supported his full body weight. More coughs wracked his body as tears were falling from his eyes and staining his cheeks. Each droplet plopped heavily on the blankets. He could die for all he cared, but he would never forgive himself if his dearest brother died. Because of him he… 

Wilbur gasped, his senses were flooded with a whirlwind of smells, sounds, and feelings before fading as quickly as they had come. He was back in the mansion, alone on the terrace. Wilbur quivered, his hands wrapped tightly around his arms, tears pricked at his eyes.

"T-Tubbo?" Wilbur looked around in a panic. His eyes settled on a pink, hairy figure laying on the lounge chair. The figure looked over to Wilbur.

"Welcome back," Techno said.

"I-I, um…what happened to Tubbo?"

Techno slowly sat up, "He's taking a bath. As for what happened, I walked into seeing Tubbo panicking as you wouldn't move or respond. I told him you were fine and that's when Phil walked in to take Tubbo."

"Oh…"

"So, did you remember anything?"

Wilbur looked up, "How did you…?" He was still hugging himself tightly. He let go. He tried to calm his racing nerves, but he still felt the lingering sensation of thick wads of blood coating his lungs.

"You had the same look in the cave when we were trying to escape. Though this one was more intense, it must have been a big one. Anything about what you have to fight?"

Wilbur shook his head, "I…I had a brother…and I think I was really sick." Wilbur reached for his own throat. He still remembered, even though it was just a memory, the feeling of the intense burning throughout his body. To think the him in that time could ignore that kind of pain and think only, instead, of the boy who lay unconscious. Now, he could only tremble at the thought of that kind of pain that he only barely glimpsed in fractions.

The door burst open and in walked Tommy, Tubbo, and Phil.

"Look who just walked in, boys! The newest lady-killer on the block!" Tommy shouted as he strutted in wearing a somewhat loose-fitted but clean and casual outerwear. It was a two piece, a thin outer jacket with a clean, white undershirt buttoned just below his collar. Definitely an upgrade from the rags before.

"I'm surprised my old clothes fit that well," Phil chuckled. Tubbo trailed behind quietly laughing at Tommy’s strut. The two were nearly matching, with Tubbo’s outfit a darker green and Tommy’s a duller red.

"Please tell me you're giving Tommy another bath," Techno covered his nose.

"What? You jealous of my cologne! Phil says it's what all men wear to impress the ladies ." The boy grinned and puffed out his chest with a sense of pride. Phil casually looked away as Wilbur saw Techno shoot him a glare.

"He poured it on himself, it was too late," Tubbo shook his head. He clasped his hands together in an almost silent and solemn prayer.

Techno let out a pained sigh, "I think that's our cue to leave and get outside where the air is fresher!" Techno pushed off the couch slowly and grabbed his discarded sack from the ground. Given his injuries, Wilbur was surprised he could move so well, was it the perks of not being human? Just remembering the pain he had felt, he couldn't imagine the kind of pain Techno must feel with every step.

"Just let me grab my things!" Tommy ran into the room. Techno did what he could to steer clear of the boy with his snout upturned in a different direction.

"What do you mean Tommy? We don't have anything," Tubbo said

"Shh Tubbo. It's a saying, it's for the ambiance of the trip."

"And what makes you think you're going with us? It's bad enough I have a nagging ghost but if I have to travel with two bumbling orphans I might die," Techno said.

"Hey!" Wilbur frowned.

Tommy turned to Techno, "Well of course we're coming, you need us!"

"I really don't think I do. Last I checked neither of you has money or anything to offer."

Tommy pondered for a moment, "The ladies."

"You're single, Tommy," Tubbo said.

"I meant the ladies we'll meet along the way!" he glared at Tubbo.

"Rejected," Techno turned and left.

"Oh come on," Tommy ran after him and disappeared into the hall. All they heard next was Tommy shouting, "Philllll!" And Phil heaved a sigh before he ran off to chase them.

Tubbo and Wilbur snickered. Wilbur could feel the growing pull as Techno traveled farther away, but he stayed a little longer.

"Are you feeling better, Will?" Tubbo asked.

"Thank you, and yes, I am. What you said earlier…really helped me sort out a few things."

“No problem, man," Tubbo smiled warmly at him. Wilbur couldn't resist the growing pull on his body and the two quietly left the room, with Tubbo closing the door behind them. Outside he saw Phil trying to separate the agitated pig from the unruly teen. Tubbo quietly laughed and Wilbur felt a growing smile on his face. The place he belonged to now was beside the people he met; he was satisfied with that for now. But he wouldn’t give up on learning more about his past. Wilbur floated over to the others and Techno and Tommy stopped arguing for a moment. 

Wilbur saw in Tommy a familiar figure, though they were different the resemblance was warming to him. From his memories, a quiet and unconscious child but here in front of him was a rambunctious teen. Their only similarity was their golden locks, with Tommy’s a brighter sheen than the boy from his past. He wondered if in time he would remember that boy’s name, the brother of his from the past. Wilbur reached out to the boy who flinched for a moment in surprise. He paused, before reaching out and feeling soft and freshly washed, fluffy golden hair between his ghostly fingertips. He was only surprised for a moment before he gave the boy a pat on the head and then turned to Techno.

“It wouldn’t hurt to bring them along.”

Techno groaned and rubbed his face with bandaged hands, “Whatever, let’s just go rent that carriage or whatever Phil. The kids can ghostsit or something, I guess they can be useful for something,” he rummaged into his bag and tossed out Wilbur's journal, to which Tubbo hurriedly caught it. Wilbur’s frown was only slight, but he outwardly laughed at Techno’s grievances. 

The five of them descended down the hillside to the bustling town below.

Word Count: 2868

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Eleven [Techno]

Techno and Phil sat rather uncomfortably on the front of the carriage. He knew that if anyone who knew Phil, saw this scene would probably pass out in shock. He knew that by human standards it was odd for a nobleman to pull their own carriage but Techno was against the thought of hiring a coachman. If they added one more human to their posse; he was going to die of an aneurysm. And yes, technically Phil was only half-human, but beastfolk were just as bothersome. They looked like a traveling circus.

“Tommy, sit down, you might fall out!” Techno glanced behind to see that Tommy had opened the window to the horse-drawn carriage, the wind blew through his hair. Thank god that the smell of that overbearing cologne was blown the other way. Inside Tubbo appeared to be trying to pull the excited brat back in.

“Look at this Tubbo! We’re in a carriage, like those posh upstarts that always strut around town!”

Techno shook his head. Not that someone his size would fit on the inside of a human-made carriage, but he was glad he was out here. Wilbur must be having a field day with those two. And he wasn’t being sarcastic.

Phil chuckled. It was afternoon, the sun was reasonably warm as it shone down on them, but he was used to hotter so he didn’t mind. Phil wore a green and white striped hat that shielded him from the rays, but Techno wasn’t sure if it counted as fashionable. Though he was no expert on human fashion. 

They were currently on the road south of Crowle. Phil believed that the last place Dream’s axe was located was in the port town south of them. The port town of Yuden. It would take them 3 days to arrive, so until then Techno would have to put up with the growing number of people beside him. 

He was getting used to Wilbur, but he was actually fine with Phil. That question he asked him the night before still weighed on his mind, but outside of that he was pleasant company to be around. At least Phil didn’t bother him with useless chatter like Tommy or nag him like Wilbur. Tubbo…well he was making himself useful holding onto Wilbur’s journal.

They packed lightly. Enough supplies to eat and rest, but nothing more than necessary. Techno had a good nose, so he wasn’t worried about finding resources. If they really needed anything then he would help track it down.

“W-whoa!” Techno turned around and reached out as Tommy nearly fell out of the carriage, “Whoops…” Tommy awkwardly grinned while hanging uselessly by his collar in Techno’s grip, half hanging out of the carriage window. Techno frowned and let Tubbo pull the teen back into the carriage. Tommy made no moves to lean out the window again.

“Well, at least you don’t hate them,” Phil mused.

“What?”

“The orphans,” Phil gestured with his head to the back of the carriage, his left hand held onto the reigns, his right arm was back to sitting in the sling. 

“Hmph,” Techno snorted, “I’m not really fond of them, either,” Techno looked over at Phil.

“Maybe so, but you also didn’t let them die last night either. That must count for something.”

“I think you’re giving me too much credit, I’m not sure if it's the human in you or the birdbrain in you, but those kids would have been in the way if they stuck around. All I did was get them out of the way.”

“Sure, sure, but you also had no plans to fight either. For a guy who says he doesn’t care, that was a pretty self-sacrificing act.”

Techno took it back. Maybe they wouldn’t get along as well as he thought. He knew he should’ve left last night. He could’ve let Phil handle all of Wilbur’s hero business. Though, even though he berated himself for that, he knew he wouldn’t have left. He would just berate himself for not leaving and leave it at that.

“Hey Techno! Hey Techno!” Wilbur flew up and out of the carriage before flying right beside Techno as the carriage continued to move, “Guess what!”

“What?” Wilbur swung at him and lightly punched him in the shoulder. Techno stiffened, “Ow! What was that for?”

Techno clutched his shoulder. It didn’t actually hurt that much, the ghost had no power behind his punch, but he was battered and bruised so it hurt more than it should.

“I can touch things now. I can control it at will now! That means you can leave some of the fighting to me!” Wilbur smiled. Phil snickered beside Techno. 

“That’s great Will, give me a little warning before you hit me. Injured pig here, remember?”

“Whoops, sorry. Anyways. Tommy and Tubbo have been helping me practice, so now I’m a little less ghostly!” 

Wilbur stayed outside the carriage for a bit. Techno closed his eyes as Wilbur and Phil chatted beside him. He could hear Tommy and Tubbo loudly laughing in the carriage behind him, the body of the carriage rattled only a little bit but settled down fast. He dozed off.

When he woke, he was nearly thrown off the carriage as it came to a rumbling halt. He groaned as he caught himself from falling. It was early evening, the sun had not quite set yet.

“Sorry there, mate. The boys in the back want a bathroom break, and it’s getting late so I thought it best to stop here for the night and start setting up camp to avoid the monsters.

“That’s fine,” Techno slowly slid off the carriage. He walked to the back where they had stored the supplies they had bought in town earlier. He chuckled for a moment when he remembered the shocked face of one shop owner as they stared up at him in all his bandages and glory. 

“Let me help!” Tubbo hopped out of the carriage and ran up to Techno. Techno handed the boy their bundled sleeping bags. Tommy came up to him, and Techno handed him a small crate. Inside they had some of their food supplies. 

“Oh, I wasn’t–” Tommy quieted when Tubbo nudged him and the two left with their things. Techno himself gathered up some of the heavier things like the tents and more of the food.

“Over here Techno,” Phil gestured for Techno and he brought the items over. Phil began working on the tents and Techno left to grab tinder for a fire. The sun was low to the horizon and cast dark shadows over the hilly terrain they traveled through. There weren’t that many trees in the area, mainly shrubs and bushes, so he was left to gather meager amounts of wood. As Techno walked further he could hear a faint noise. His ears twitched slightly and began to pick up the sound of voices.

“H-hey fellas! Come on, why don’t we just go our separate ways–oof!” There was a pause, “A-alright, you got me there fellas! Good punch so why don’t–”

“Shut up, just hand over your money while we’re being nice.”

Techno climbed to the top of the hill and saw on the other side a group of 4 people, 3 of them appeared to be standing over the 4th as they pulled from the individual their bag while tossing out items from the bag.

“Careful fellas, I kind of need those.” Techno thought for a moment and then turned away. He couldn’t be bothered.

“Hey! Mister Pig Monster! Help!” Techno stiffened and looked around. The four figures were now looking up at him, with the man on the ground waving to him. Techno slowly turned away again. Just keep going, he couldn’t handle another–

“Oi! Hand over your things!” The three men were slowly walking up the hill, hands slowly reaching for their weapons.

“If I ask you to nicely go back to beating up the other guy, would you?” The men yelled and pulled out their weapons and charged up the hill to him.

Techno sighed, “Of course not, it’s never that easy. Since when do humans reasonably listen?” Techno threw down his gathered twigs at them, which sent one man fumbling and stumbling as he tripped and rolled down the hill. Just to clarify, Techno didn’t consider that fighting. He looked back behind him, in the distance he could faintly hear his comrades, should he call for them? Techno shook his head. What were two kids, a barely tangible ghost, and no offense, half a man-bird gonna be able to do in this situation? These bandits were armed, and unlike the last time help came running to his aid, they were not unconscious in a pool of their own blood. 

Techno ducked under one swing. At least one of them was taken care of by chance. Techno glanced down at the bottom of the hill. He didn’t see the traveler that they had attacked; of course, the bastard had probably already taken the chance to flee…leaving him with the armed assholes. Techno hissed in pain, he was pretty sure he just felt one of his cuts open up as the flesh tore under his bandages. 

Keep it together, don’t lose control. 

Techno reached out and grabbed one bandit’s sword before ripping it out of his hands and using his strength to fold the cheap weapon like a piece of paper. The bandit faltered and took a step back before running away in fright.

“Look man, I don’t care to fight you,” Techno tossed the origami sword to the ground and kicked it down the hill. 

“Hmph, can’t blame me for making an honest living,” The third bandit shrugged.

“This is literally the least honest thing you can do, heh??” Techno said. The man snickered and shrugged. He raised his sword.

“HaAH!” someone yelled, but it wasn’t the bandit. Instead, the origami sword Techno had thrown away was raised and swung behind the bandit until it connected with his head with a thunk . The man tumbled down unconscious and instead, a new stranger stood in his place.

Square glasses, brown hair, and a very toothy grin. He had a satchel around his shoulder at his waist. He was the traveler Techno had thought had run off, “Well, look who’s getting robbed now!” The man clapped before bending down and rummaging through the bandit's pockets.

“That’s pretty awful…” Techno said as he looked down at the stranger who pulled out a jangling bag of coins.

“What?” he looked up, “Are you going to stop me? It’s honest work.”

Techno waved the man off, humans were stupid off. He walked past him as he picked up his tossed tinder for the fire, “Yeah…I don’t care that much.” After gathering up the wood, the man stood at the top of the hill waiting.

“Thanks for the help friend,” the man held out his hand to Techno, and he reluctantly took the hand. It was sweaty, and their smile was overly friendly. Reminded him of a certain friendly ghost.

“The names Charlie! What’s a monster like you doing roaming these parts?” Techno stiffed and hugged his twigs close.

“What are you talking about, quit calling me that.” Earlier before the start of their journey, Phil had discussed with Techno that in the interest of traveling, it would be best to not reveal his nature to outsiders. Instead, he was supposed to pose as a regular beastfolk, though he doubted many people would believe him at first, “I’m just a normal pig folk…”

The man laughed at him, but not in a way Techno found funny, “What? There’s nothing wrong with being a monster. So am I, well sorta,” he tilted his head.

“Hey Techno! You have that firewood yet?” In the distance he heard Phil calling for him, he stood on top of a hill waving to him.

“Oh, are those your friends? Cool, I’ll come and say hi!” Charlie made moves to head over but Techno reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

“What do you mean you’re a…” Techno sniffed the air surrounding the man. It smelled human…but also not . It was something so subtle he wouldn't have noticed if the man hadn't said anything.

The man looked at him, “Don’t look so shocked man, you’re not the only muck around living on the down-low. Us monsters gotta stick together, right?” Techno didn’t stop the man as he started running over to his comrades, “Hi!” he shouted, “I’m Charlie! Your pal Techno just saved me, I hope you don’t mind me joining you. 

Techno slowly began to walk back behind the man. Monster huh? Sticking together… Techno sighed. The real issue was how he was sure his group was growing, mainly with annoyances. He knows he thought he would die if another human was added…he didn’t expect a loophole to that…

As Techno arrived, he noticed the tents were pitched and a small fire was already burning. The area of their campsite, carriage, and horses included, were surrounded by a ring of monster warding lanterns. Basically what the lanterns did was they could conceal the area somewhat from a monster’s senses. Phil was waiting with an unlit lantern to allow for Techno to walk in, but after the two of them entered the lantern was lit. To Techno, now on the inside of the ward, the world outside of their camp appeared a little hazy. It was good they beat the sunset before the monsters began to rise.

Techno deposited some of his tinder into the fire and the rest in a pile beside it. It looked like Tubbo was already beginning work on a pot of stew. He was surprised the boy knew how to cook.

“Hey who’s this chump?” Tommy narrowed his eyes and puffed out his chest as he looked down at the man.

“Down boy, down,” Phil walked up and placed his hands on Tommy’s shoulders. Who reluctantly glowered and started to slouch.

“I’m Charlie, I was in a bit of a pickle just over there and your friend here saved me,” Charlie pointed at Techno.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! See I knew you were a good guy,” Wilbur clapped.

“I was dragged into the situation against my will,” Techno said, “Oh Phil, you mind taking a look at this wound? I think it opened up again,” Techno pointed to his side where a slowly growing splotch of blood was seeping through his bandages.

“God mate! What did you do!” Phil rushed over and dragged Techno to the fire before sitting him down on the ground.

“Uh…bandits,” Techno looked away as Phil gave him a look, “I didn’t fight them if you’re wondering. Just scared them a little.” He winced as Phil removed his bandage. Charlie sat down by the fire and Tommy sat across from him, still shooting the stranger untrusting glares.

“Would you like some rabbit stew?” Tubbo dished out a bowl of stew.

“Thank you–” Charlie noticed Wilbur floating just over the fire peering down at the stew curiously, “Hey! That’s a funky ghost you got there!”

“Nice to meet you, Charlie, you can call me Wilbur.” 

Techno said a quick thanks as Tubbo handed him a bowl of stew. The smell was tantalizing, and the taste, better than he imagined. Maybe at least one of their new members had a good use here. 

“H-hot!” Tommy shouted and nearly spilled his stew. The stew dribbled from his mouth back into the bowl.

“I told you to blow on it Tommy,” Tubbo shook his head and Charlie laughed opposite of Tommy. Tommy turned slightly red. Phil only chuckled before tying up Techno’s new bandage.

“All set mate, try not to strain yourself again. Call for us if you get into trouble, you can trust us,” Techno watched as Phil slowly tucked his right arm back into his sling and placed the bowl of stew given to him from Tubbo on the ground. He used his left hand to spoon the food into his mouth. Wilbur looked down at the group eating and chatting, Techno could see the sort of despondent look in his eyes. He looked at his half-eaten serving, he honestly felt bad for the ghost. 300 years and no memory of taste or smell or touch.

“So what brings you fellas out here?” Charlie said.

“Wouldn’t you like to know–” Tommy started.

“We’re heading to Yuden!” Tubbo interjected. Tommy frowned.

“Hey me too!” Charlie pointed to himself.

“Well you’re welcome to join us, Wilbur said, he snapped out of his daze and floated down beside Charlie with a cheery grin.

Charlie grinned, “Thanks! I think I’ll take you up on that. I have to take a ship at their port, but it’s hard traveling alone. So I’m glad I ran into you guys.”

“So what do you do, anyways?” Phil asked. Techno perked up, he was also curious what a strange guy like him would be doing, traveling alone, spouting nonsense about monsters sticking together.

“Oh, nothing much. I just like to travel, meet new folks, see new sights, and so on,” Charlie set his bowl down and clasped his hands together, “I’m searching desperately for rare treasures for my love!” he fluttered his eyelashes. Techno gagged but didn’t show it.

“That sounds romantic, they must be a really lucky person to have someone so dedicated like,” Wilbur said, his eyes shining.

Charlie laughed, “Oh stop, you, it’s just a silly nickname. They’re just a collector of rare items, and the nickname grates their nerves so I use it for fun. I don’t mean much by it.”

“Oh…” Wilbur looked a little less starstruck.

“We’re also looking for something rare, an axe–” Tubbo was stopped as Phil interjected.

“An axolotl, Techno here wanted a, um, rare golden pet axolotl, so we are traveling…to get…one…” Phil trailed off.

Techno was very close to physically face-palming but he resisted the outward urge to shame Phil for his impeccable lying skills. To use him of all things for the excuse and to do it so poorly; it ticked him off. He held it in though.

“Really? That sounds great. Axolotls are pretty cute, and if you’re going down to the port town of Yuden, I’m sure you’ll find some good ones.” It seemed Charlie didn’t hear what Tubbo had almost said. Tommy yawned and in turn, Tubbo followed, “Looks like it’s getting late, thanks for the meal. I can help clean up if you don’t mind.”

“Thanks, mate, I appreciate that,” Phil started grabbing bowls with Charlie helping.

“Let us help Phil,” Tubbo yawned again.

“Don’t worry about it, just go get some rest in the tents.” The two boys nodded and quietly left to enter the tent.

“I’ll keep watch,” Wilbur flew up into the sky. Techno added more twigs to the fire. It crackled and sparked and the embers flew lazily into the night sky above. Techno ate the last bit of his stew before walking over to Phil and Charlie and adding his bowl to the pile.

“I can wash these up, I’m afraid we don’t have a spare sleeping bag, but…”

“Oh don’t worry about that, I prefer sleeping without one,” Charlie waved the gesture off. 

“I’ll stay up for a bit and keep watch with Wilbur,” Techno interrupted.

“Sure thing, just wake me in a few hours and we’ll switch.” Techno nodded and left to sit back by the fire. He was doing this partly because he didn’t know Charlie and wanted to be sure the man was as friendly and as nice as he seemed. By the smell of him…he was still a monster so he still could have that instinct buried in him. Techno didn’t want to see anything happen just because he decided to ignore the nervous feelings in his mind.

He still hadn’t decided whether he would be a fighter or a pacifist, but he could still keep watch over the others, just to be on the safe side.

Word Count: 3342

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Twelve [Wilbur]

It was about midday on the 3rd day when they arrived at Yuden. Wilbur peeked his head out the top of the carriage in amazement to see how large the city was. It was significantly bigger than Crowle. Most buildings here were made of stone and the oceanfront was mesmerizing as it practically glittered under the sunlight.

“Wow!” Wilbur gasped.

“You should sit back down before someone spots you like that,” Techno said, he was currently in charge of the reins as Phil sat squashed next to him quietly sleeping. Techno gave him a slight nudge, “We’re here by the way, where should we stop?”

Techno was free of most of his bandages now, except the ones on his hands from Phil’s sword.

Wilbur ducked back down into the carriage as Phil woke up. They could deal with that. Tubbo and Tommy leaned, faces practically squishing against each other as they each tried to take a look out of one window. Both of them stared out towards the sea.

“Wow! I’ve never seen so much water before, Tommy look! We’d never go thirsty if we lived in a town like this!”

Charlie, their newest addition to their group, laughed, “You can’t drink that water, it’s filled with salt.”

Tommy looked back at Charlie, “Who’d be dumb enough to put salt in all that water?” The morning after they rose the first day of their journey, Tommy had still displayed distrust to their new friend. But those feelings quickly dissipated as the two hit it off rather well on the carriage ride later that day. Wilbur kind of saw it almost like a kid looking up to an adult, Tommy had this certain admiration for the traveler who recounted numerous tales of his travels and the people he’s met and the things he’s seen. Now any time Charlie said anything, Tommy would follow it up with questions of why? Or what happened next?

The carriage came to a halt and Wilbur saw the carriage rock. He peeked out to see Techno had gotten off followed by Phil.

“We’ll return this carriage here to this carriage stop and find an inn for the night. After we do that we’ll stop by some of the places my grandfather could have sold the axe to and see if we can dig up any records or testimony of where it is now,” Phil spoke quietly to Techno. Wilbur felt bad about keeping it a secret from Charlie what they were actually doing, but he trusted Phil to make wise decisions so he wouldn’t argue about it.

Charlie, Tommy, and Tubbo exited the carriage.

“Welcome to Yuden, boys! Home of the finest seafood and even finer sights,” Charlie winked at Tommy, “If you know what I mean.”

“You’ll show us around, right?” Tommy said, “You have to show us some of those places you mentioned earlier.”

“Yeah,” Tubbo added, “I want to know why they put red lights in a district, it sounds a little funny to me.”

“ WhAT? ” Phil’s head swiveled towards their conversation and Charlie awkwardly coughed. Wilbur placed a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter. He wondered if Phil was part owl because he turned his head an uncomfortable angle to look at the 3 boys.

“Sorry guys, maybe some other day when you’re older. I’m sure we’ll see more of each other again in the future,” Charlie placed his hands on Tommy and Tubbo’s shoulders, “The world is a lot smaller than it seems.”

“Wait,” Tommy’s smile disappeared, “You're not leaving are you, come on, why can’t we stay together with you a little longer. You didn’t even finish telling us about when you went to Loreia and the monsters you encountered or how you survived against them,” Tommy whined.

“Sorry, we’ll have to save that story for another time, I have a prior engagement here that I have to take care of. But the next time we meet, I’ll be sure to finish the story,” Charlie fixed his bag around his shoulder and took a step back from the two boys. Tommy frowned and looked away grumpily but Tubbo waved to him. 

Charlie turned and looked at Phil, “Thank’s again for the ride, you really helped save me a lot of time,” Charlied reached into his bag and grabbed a couple of coins, “It’s not much, but I hope this helps cover some expenses.”

“Isn’t that…” Techno started before shaking his head.

“Oh no problem mate, don’t be a stranger if you see us around. I hope you have safe travels.” Charlie waved to them before leaving the group and walking further into town. Wilbur would miss the guy, he was funny.

“Alright everyone, from here we have to carry out supplies to the inn, I’ve already returned the carriage so their folks will be coming shortly to take it back. So everyone needs to grab something, there’s an inn just a few blocks from here where we’ll leave our stuff at.”

Techno headed to the back where all the supplies were fastened. Tubbo and Tommy each took a crate that he handed them. Phil gathered up their outdoor sleeping gear, while Techno carried two crates, their tools and utensils, and another bag of supplies.

“Let me help,” Wilbur floated over to Techno.

“Uhm, can you even carry anything?” Techno asked.

“Well I can touch things now, so probably,” he shrugged. He hadn’t actually tried it, but if he could touch things then he could probably carry things, right? That’s probably how that worked.

Techno looked at him for a moment before rummaging around and handing the ghost a spoon. Wilbur looked at it and frowned in displeasure. He snatched up the spoon, “See!” The spoon remained suspended in Wilbur’s fists before suddenly falling to the brick road. Wilbur and Techno looked down.

“What’s the hold-up, these are heavy, let’s go,” Tommy whined.

“W-wait, I can do it,” Wilbur flew down and grabbed the spoon. It was nudged slightly by his ghostly hands but he was unable to keep it suspended in the air. Wilbur sulked.

“Just keep practicing, you’ll probably be able to do it eventually,” Techno bent down and grabbed the spoon before walking to join the others as they walked down the road. Wilbur huffed and ruffled his hair. The tugging of his journal grew stronger and he reluctantly floated behind the group. A few people would pause and stare at their strange group before hurriedly moving away.

Wilbur shook his head, it was ok! He was making progress. He would remember more things in time and if he kept practicing as Techno said, he might be able to lift a whole boulder! That’ll show that pig!

Wilbur smiled and nodded to himself before flying faster to race after them. 

“Did you see those pricks faces when Techno glared at them, Tubbo?” Tommy hopped onto one of the beds and laughed, “Yo, this is comfy as hell! We’re living like kings now!”

“Yeah, they were eyeing all of our things as we walked into the inn, but one look from Techno and they ducked like ducks!”

“I wasn’t glaring, that’s my normal face,” Techno said.

“Alright guys, it’s time to get serious with the reason we’re here,” Phil closed their inn room door and locked it. 

“So what are we doing here, Phil?” Tommy rolled around on the bed. It looked to Wilbur that the boy was enjoying the plush comfort of the bed, The inn room was surprisingly spacious, but he supposed Phil was moderately rich. There were four beds, one for each of them.

Phil shook his head, “We’re looking for Dream’s, the hero, legendary axe. It was once owned by my family, the direct descendants of Dream, but in my grandfather’s youth, it was sold. From the little information I have, it was sold here, in Yuden. We need to figure out where and to whom may have it now. To do that, we’ll split up. Into two teams.”

Tommy raised his hand, “I call Tubbo–”

“Tommy, you will go with Techno and Wilbur. Tubbo is coming with me. Both Tommy and Techno looked at each other. Wilbur saw in Phil’s eyes that he was set in his decision, “I have here two places that we will start with. The owners at the carriage rental were kind enough to give me directions.”

Phil walked up to Techno and handed him a slip of paper. Wilbur floated to his side, The Dancing Maid , was written at the top and a set of directions below that.

“The main square fountain that we passed by is where we will meet, an hour before sundown.”

Tubbo walked up to Techno and handed him Wilbur’s journal who then tossed it to Tommy, “Hold that for me, will you.” Tommy frowned but complied. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he held it in.

Wilbur thought it odd that Tommy was being quiet all of a sudden after finding out he was paired with Techno and him. Did he not want to separate from Tubbo that much?

It’s not like Tommy hated Techno, Wilbur actually got the opposite impression from the boy. All throughout the carriage ride, he recounted to Charlie all of Techno’s daring fight against 30 armed thugs. Except it was only 12, and Tommy didn’t actually see the fighting portion of the battle, but Wilbur didn’t bother to correct the boy as he excitedly told Charlie the tale.

And even then, Tommy asked Wilbur a number of questions whenever Techno wasn’t around, ‘how long have you known him,’ ‘how much weight do you think he can bench,’ ‘who would win in a fight Techno or Dream if he was brought back to life?’

To Wilbur, Tommy seemed quite taken with the large and muscular pig. When Techno wasn’t looking or wasn’t around, Tommy even rummaged through Techno’s bag, probably looking for something cool. The look of disappointment on his face was a little hilarious. Perhaps it was the kind of admiration one would have for their hero, he did basically save the boy’s life. 

Despite Wilbur’s original fears and reservations against Techno, he would have to admit he was wrong. Techno was not the potentially dangerous monster he was forced to stick with, and he wasn’t as uncaring as he seemed to act. So, as Wilbur began to notice Tommy’s admiration for Techno, he was a little happy for the pig. He thought it would do the pig well to have a little admirer.

But Wilbur did find it odd that the boy seemed hesitant to actually approach him. Given his normally loud and boisterous nature, he was being quite reserved.

“Well this is it,” Techno looked down at the map and then up at the sign labeled The Dancing Maid which depicted a mermaid tail under the lettering. Tommy quietly fidgeted with a slight glare in his eyes. Wilbur was beginning to wonder what was up with the boy. What had him so on edge?

Wilbur also wasn’t sure about this place, he flinched when something collided with the wall from inside the building. Techno pushed open the door and the three of them entered the building. It was dimly lit, tables were smashed or barely standing. One person was unconscious against the wall next to where they entered. Probably the culprit of the loud thud from before.

“Whoa!” Tommy exclaimed in giddiness before slapping a hand over his mouth and resuming his quiet glaring posture. He frowned deeply and Techno shook his head.

“Oh, are we sure this is right? It looks more like a bar,” Wilbur hid behind Techno as they were given mean stares from some of the patrons who sat at some of the rare few tables still standing. Tommy continued to glare back.

“Welcome to the Dancing Maid! What’ll ye have?” A woman leaned over the counter, with a pint of beer in one hand and the other hand on her hip.

Techno walked up to the counter, “I’m here looking for some information about something that may have been sold here, about 70 years ago, maybe,” Techno took a seat on a barstool and Tommy imitated him. He then placed Wilbur’s book on the counter.

The woman’s eyes flicked from Tommy, to Techno, and then to Wilbur before huffing and leaning back against the shelving where a wide range of alcohol was stored.

“You ain’t customers, are ye?” A loose strand of hair fell across her face and she blew it lazily aside.

“Uh, not really,” Techno said.

“Then I’m ‘fraid I have nothing to say,” The woman turned away.

“One pint over here missy!” A new patron entered the bar and took a seat at a table.

“Comin’ right up love!” The woman busied herself with prepping the other man’s drink.

“I’ll take a glass of water,” Techno said.

She looked back and frowned, “We don’t serve water ‘ere.”

“Then toss a little umbrella in it to make it fancy,” Techno stressed. Wilbur and Tommy watched as the two of them stared each other down before she huffed and turned away. She gave Techno that glass of water with an umbrella in it and then walked over to give the pint to the other man.

When she returned she leaned back against the shelving, “One gold coin,” she said.

“That’s a bit high for some fancy water.”

“It’s for that information ye want, I’ll charge more depending on what else ye ask about,” she flipped out her palm, waiting for Techno to pay up. Techno grumbled and rummaged around in his overall pockets before dropping a gold coin in her palm.

She grinned and pocketed the money, “So what’re ye looking for. We’re a bar, but occasionally we deal in the sales of difficult-to-sell items. Ye said 70 years ago, right?”

“Can I get water too?” Tommy interjected. The woman shot the boy a look before huffing and ignoring him. Techno slid his glass to Tommy who looked at it a little sadly.

Techno nodded and carried on the conversation, “It’s an axe,” Techno glanced around the bar, Wilbur noticed many eyes were on them. He leaned forward, “A very well-known one, but it hasn’t been seen since it was sold, Dream’s Axe of Valor.” 

Wilbur saw that the woman didn’t flinch, instead, she pushed off the shelving. Techno and Wilbur flinched as she yelled, “Holden! Get yer ass out here, you have guests!”

Tommy’s glass of water tumbled as he knocked it away in shock, “Oh…sorry.”

In the background another person responded, “The fuck you yelling for Lisa!, I’m not deaf you know!”

“Ahh, quit yer complaining, just take care of these bozos, will ya!” Tommy stumbled out of his chair and even Techno stood up, as out from the shadows walked a man almost of similar height and build to Techno. Actually, the man was a little shorter but he looked a lot more muscly, he was covered in hair and had two little round ears poking from the top of his head, The man pushed past patrons who attempted to clamber aside as he walked by them. This bar was simply not big enough to house a man so big, Wilbur thought.

Wilbur wasn’t sure if they’d make it out of this situation.

“Take care of em, will ye,” Lisa, the barmaid said as the large and muscular Holden stopped in front of the three of them.

“Right this way folks, it seems you have an inquiry, right?”

“I’m sorry what?” Techno responded.

“That’s what I was called for, right?” Wilbur just nodded and the man smiled. Before turning around and beckoning for the three of them to follow. Which they reluctantly did.

They were led to the back of the bar through a door and then into a small room. It was cluttered with crates and scrolls propped up against the walls and a small table at the center. The rather large man took a seat at the table. It was almost too comical to see the man’s knees practically rise high above the table’s low frame. Techno took a seat on the other side.

“Pft,” Tommy clapped a hand over his mouth and turned around, his shoulders shook. Both Techno and Holden were way too large for such a little table, and he was glad that someone else found it funny.

“Sorry folks, it ain’t much, so what do you need,” The man, Holden, was a lot nicer than Lisa who served them out in the bar. It was just his appearance that was misleading.

“We’re looking for something sold, potentially here, about 70 years ago. Dream’s axe of Valor. It was sold by a relative of an associate of mine.”

Holden stroked his chin in thought, “Hmm, I think I know that one. My brother, I think mentioned a sale like that, may his soul rest peacefully with Eon,” Holden bowed his head and Wilbur did so too, out of respect. Tommy looked to Techno who did not bow.

Wilbur was beginning to piece together what the boy was doing now. It really was quite comical. The silence, the glare, and doing everything Techno did. Tommy was trying to mimic the grumpy pig.

The man twisted his body a bit and reached out for a book, which he pulled out of a crate and it slammed heavily onto the table. The man flipped open the book.

“So what’s folks like you doing, looking for something so rare? If you’re looking to get it returned, I can tell you now that it ain’t possible,” The bearfolk continued to flip through the book as he said that.

“No, we’re just looking for where it might be now or who owns it. That’s all,” Techno responded.

Holden nodded quietly. They sat in silence as he flipped through the book. After about 5 minutes he stopped, “Hmm, I do have a record of something like an axe being sold here around that time, but as for where it may be…” Holden closed the book, “It’s gonna cost you.”

Techno rummaged into his overall pocket and pulled out some coins, “5 gold coins?”

“Make it 10,” The bearfolk gave him a very toothy, a little bit intimidating but overall friendly grin as Techno pulled out 5 more coins. He placed the coins on the table.

“The ones who currently have the axe is unknown–”

“What??” Techno stood up; Holden held up his bear paws to stop Techno.

“Hold up, let me finish, what I mean by that is that our record of selling it has no buyer’s signature. It was bought about 5 years ago, we only have dealings with one group that never signs. I can’t tell you who they are since its to do with a client's identity, but I can tell you how to find them.” 

Techno sat down.

“If you take the ship, the SS Rose, heading towards Loreia, I can guarantee you will meet the one who bought the axe, here,” Holden stood up and walked to a corner of the room with a little chest, “Take this.”

Holden returned with a mermaid’s tail pendant, “Wear this and the one who bought the axe will recognize you as an associate of ours. They should approach you themselves.”

“How do you know they won’t just ignore us,” Techno said.

Holden smiled, “They aren’t those kinds of folks, they’ll be interested in doing business with you if they think you’re here to strike a deal with them.” Techno nodded and put the necklace around his neck. Holden escorted the three of them out of the bar. It was getting close to the time to meet up at the meeting spot. 

Techno and Holden exchanged firm handshakes as they passed. Wilbur noticed Tommy stop in front of the muscular bearfolk that towered over him, the boy held out his hand, and Holden, with a surprised look on his face, exchanged a handshake with him too. Wilbur winced as he saw Tommy practically jostled up and down before finally being released. Tommy chuckled wryly before hurrying to follow behind Techno, his other arm massaged his poorly abused arm.

“Sooo…,” Tommy jogged up to be beside Techno, Wilbur’s journal tucked under his arm, “What’s the plan once we find the axe?”

“Huh?” Techno said without looking at him.

“You know, it was sold on the black market, so some shady guys probably bought it. Are we gonna beat them up, or maybe you plan to steal it from them. You must have a badass plan in place, right!” Tommy looked up at the pig in eager expectation.

“I liked it better when you were imitating me, at least you were quiet,” Techno said.

“W-what!” Tommy shouted, “I was…I wasn’t imitating you! That’s how I always am! I’m always stoic and badass!” Tommy scrambled to clutch Wilbur's book as he flailed his arms out, he jumped in front of Techno who had to stop walking to avoid trampling the child.

“Uhhh…sure,” Techno said. Tommy was turning red and he had a deep and embarrassed frown on his face.

“That’s not very nice to say Techno, Tommy is just trying to be like you because he looks up to you. You could at least try and be a little empathetic,” Wilbur placed a hand on both their shoulders. Funnily enough, they both shrugged his hands off simultaneously.

“I didn’t ask for that,” Techno walked around Tommy and continued towards their destination, “And to answer your question, the plan is just to talk to them. No battles or thefts or whatever schemes you’re cooking up right now,” he waved the thoughts off. Tommy chased after him.

“But that’s boring! You’re supposed to be strong and badass, you beat up on the thugs and bandits!”

“Yeah, well, who’s fault is that? I don’t want to fight, I could care less about getting involved in other people’s problems when it has nothing to do with me.”

“But you saved me and Tubbo! You fought off the thugs twice in one day. You beat them down to a bloody pul–”

Techno turned to Tommy, “I didn’t save you, I didn’t care then, and I don’t care now. I’m not some warrior of justice ok,” Techno’s voice grew low. It felt forced and strained as he stared down at Tommy who shrunk back in fear, “I’m a monster. Bloodthirsty and dangerous. Nothing good will come of making someone like me fight. I don’t need a kid idolizing me for stupid reasons he doesn't understand.”

Wilbur didn’t know what to do. He looked to Tommy who just sort of stood there, dumbfounded and shocked, and then he looked at Techno who straightened his back and turned away from the two of them. 

“Let’s just hurry up and meet Phil–” Tommy turned and ran before Techno could finish.

“Tommy!” Wilbur reached out for the boy but his fingers only grazed his shoulder. But before he could even panic or tell Techno to chase after him, Wilbur felt his body getting dragged back down towards Tommy’s direction. He phased through surprised people as he was forced to follow behind the running boy carrying his journal. 

He saw Techno watching the two of them, Wilbur reached out as he continued to get dragged further and further away. It was almost like a silent call for the pig to come after them. But Techno just stood there. 

Why?

Why was he not following after them?

Wilbur turned away, he searched for Tommy as he continued getting dragged along. As he spotted the boy just a few meters ahead he flew towards him.

“Tommy! Tommy stop this,” Wilbur tried to keep in front of the boy, but he wouldn't stop running.

“Quit following me!” 

“I can’t, you have my journal,” Wilbur said. Tommy looked to see the journal in his hands, he slowed down.

“Oh…” Tommy looked at it. He stopped running. The people on the street watched the two of them in curiosity, “Sorry.”

“Hey, hey, Tommy, don’t be sorry,” Wilbur stood in front of the boy, he was only a tad taller than him; he realized, “You haven’t done anything wrong, why don’t we just talk?”

Tommy dropped down his arms and hung his head, “I’ve screwed up…haven’t I?”

Wilbur faltered, what could he say? 

"No, no, you haven't," he paused, "It's just, Techno…is not an easy guy to get along with," Wilbur began. He pressed his lips together as Tommy continued to look down at the ground forlornly.

"You know what we are doing will be dangerous right?"

"Yeah…" Tommy mumbled, "But so what. I'm just a fucking orphan, I ain't never done nothing cool in my life–" he looked Wilbur in the eyes, "I just wanted to be a part of something!

"Techno is cool, isn't he? But maybe I'm just a burden…" Tommy knelt down in the road. He curled his knees into his chest and hugged himself tight. Wilbur panicked as he looked around, people were starting to stare more. There was just a child sitting in the middle of the road with a ghost floating over him.

Wilbur silently motioned and tried to shoo the people off; who, when seeing Wilbur's somewhat aggressive actions, hurried to scamper off. Less people were watching as he floated down to Tommy’s level.

"You're not a burden Tommy, you have plenty to offer, like…um," shit. Wilbur didn't know where to go with this.

"You know…a few years back…I remember getting sick. Sicker than I ever had before. The kind of sickness you don't come back from."

Wilbur stopped as Tommy talked quietly.

"It was over, and I knew it. I remember lying, weak and shivering on the ground in a dark alley using trash to keep myself covered while snow poured in around. I remember in the haze of my fever dreams, Tubbo walking away. And I remember thinking, don't go .

"I wanted to cry out to him and beg him to stay, but I couldn't…or more like I didn't."

Wilbur knew this story. It was the one Tubbo told him a few days ago, but this time from Tommy's perspective.

"I knew I was useless and helpless and a burden to Tubbo. He was better off without me, I just got us into trouble. I'm worthless as the older one– hell – I don't even know if I'm older. Tubbo always got things done, and I would mess them up. So I couldn't blame him for wanting to leave. Whether in my dreams or not.

"When I woke up fine and saw Tubbo beside me sleeping…" Tommy paused, "I remember cursing Eon. Why did he keep me alive…why was someone like me still here as useless deadweight?"

Tommy looked at Wilbur, his eyes pleading, "I don't want to be a burden. I just want Techno to like me. If Eon really is some god worth worshipping, then he kept me alive for a reason, right? 

"It really feels like a weird chance of fate when I met you lot, and more than anything I want to stay with you guys. At least Tubbo can cook, but what good am I?" Tommy held up Wilbur's journal and waved it around, "A bookshelf?"

Wilbur swooped in for a hug, he couldn’t feel Tommy’s warmth, the proof that he was alive, but he could feel Tommy, “I truly believe you are just as important as any one of us. You keep us smiling and always on our toes. All throughout the trip here you have been the rock that’s keeping me grounded, both you and Tubbo.”

Wilbur released Tommy, who looked at him, “Techno is not an easy to approach guy, and he probably has his reasons. But I don’t believe for a second that he hates you or thinks you’re a burden. You’re doing plenty just being yourself and with time I’m sure Techno will come to appreciate that.”

“You think so?” Tommy asked.

“Of course, just think of Tubbo. He’s stuck by you because he cares. You aren’t a burden to him or to any of us. You’re wonderful company Tommy,” Wilbur floated into a standing position. He held out his hand for Tommy who looked at it for a moment before reaching up and grabbing his hand. Wilbur pulled up.

It did not work.

“O-oh, right…” Wilbur looked from Tommy to his ghost hand, he forgot he was incapable of lifting anything. 

“Puh ha ha ha!” Tommy’s voice cracked as loud laughs wracked his body and he staggered to stand in between waves of laughter. He wiped a tear from his eye, “Thanks Will, can I call you Will?”

Wilbur giggled and nodded, “Come on, let’s go back. I’m sure Phil and the others will be worried.”

And then the two set back the way they came. There they saw Techno, still standing and waiting in the street. Wilbur was flabbergasted to see the pig still there.

“You waited!” Wilbur said.

“Mmm,” was all Techno said in response. Wilbur grinned, he really misjudged the pig, he supposed even monsters have hearts. The three of them walked and from the corner of Wilbur’s eye, he caught Techno giving Tommy a quiet and almost unnoticeable pat on his back. Just one. And there was no comment as they continued to walk, but he saw Tommy’s face, he grinned from ear to ear.

Wilbur enjoyed that peace between them.

“Ok…but here me out,” Tommy started. Techno groaned and Wilbur couldn’t help but laugh at how quick the boy was to jump back into the swing of things. That was certainly his talent, his tenacity and wit were everlasting. The days would never be boring with Tommy around.

Word Count: 4968

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Thirteen [Wilbur]

At the fountain in the town, the three of them saw Phil and Tubbo waiting. Phil’s face didn’t seem very happy. The man stood uncomfortably stiff by the fountain with his arms crossed and his brows furrowed. Tubbo sat on the edge of the fountain. The clear water that reflected the setting sun obscured Tubbo’s face from view as it splashed down into the basin of the fountain.

“Guys, how did your search go, ours did not go so well,” Tubbo stood up and waved to them as they approached. 

“We have a lead, sort of,” Techno said, he fiddled with the pendant around his neck, “The beastfolk I talked to said that the one in possession of the axe would approach us if I had this on while riding on a ship called the SS Flower or something.”

“Rose,” Wilbur corrected. He shook his head, it wasn’t a hard name.

Phil pondered for a moment, “We’ve only just gotten this inn room, but if the axe can be found just by taking a ship then we should do it. I'll inquire about the fare for passage on the ship, the rest of you should return to the inn and get some dinner.”

The 5 of them split up again, with Techno leading the four of them to the inn and Phil heading towards the port. Wilbur was relieved to see Tommy smiling alongside Tubbo as they chatted, he was glad the boy was in better spirits now.

Wilbur wondered if he should explain to Tommy and Tubbo what exactly they were doing. To be honest, the two of them unintentionally got roped into this quest of his simply because they happened to be at the wrong place and time. And though Wilbur loved their company he was worried if it was right to keep them along when this journey could very well risk their lives. 

He thought back to Tommy’s concerns. The concerns of a child who didn't want to be thrown away. Perhaps this journey gave the boys a sense of belonging or a home amongst others. Here the two orphans wouldn't have to worry about food or warmth again. In other words, they were rather lucky to have met him and Techno, but his concerns still remained. Wilbur would never be able to forgive himself if they got hurt on his account.

All that the three of them really knew was that they were searching for Phil’s family’s heirloom, Dream’s axe of Valor. But they didn't really know much about why or what was to come after that. It didn't feel right to Wilbur to keep them in the dark for too long, but it seemed neither Phil, Techno, or him knew how to break the ice.

How do you tell two boys that they were unknowingly embarking on a potentially dangerous journey against an unknown enemy?

They arrived back at the inn before Wilbur even knew it. His thoughts were interrupted as they were surrounded by the bustling noise of the inn's dining space.

Techno turned to the two boys, “Don’t leave the building, don’t cause trouble, and go get yourselves something to eat.” Tubbo caught the coins that Techno pulled from his pockets and tossed to him. Both boys eagerly looked at each other before the two scurried to place their orders. "We'll be upstairs ok, come up when you're done," Techno shouted to the two. The two boys barely gave much acknowledgment, but it was clear they had heard him. Techno and Wilbur climbed the staircase to the inn's 2nd floor and entered their room. Tommy still had Wilbur’s book, but since they were just the floor below he could handle the distance.

Upon entering the room, Techno flopped on his bed. He sighed in relief, "I'm taking a nap," he muttered. Wilbur felt sorry for the pig. He must be tired.

Wilbur decided to leave the pig be. He could busy himself with exploring the room and waiting until Phil got back.

Wilbur looked up to hear the door opening. Techno was snoring loudly on his bed. Wilbur was floating over some of their supplies. He had been attempting to practice picking things up, but with no success. He'd only manage to nudge a spoon out of a bag and onto the floor. But it practically remained glued to the floor, the weight of gravity too much for the ghost to counteract.

“I’m stuffed!” Tommy exclaimed.

“I hope we can eat like this every day!” Tubbo added. Phil chuckled behind the two as the three of them entered the room. Phil carried in a bag that looked like it was filled with stuff. He set the bag on the floor by the door. Techno woke up with a start and sat up.

“You’re back,” he said. He wiped the drool from his mouth and rubbed his eyes.

“Yes,” Phil said. He pulled from his pocket 4 slips of paper, “I got us 4 tickets on that boat. They depart tomorrow morning so it looks like we made it just in time.”

“Good.”

“Hey Phil, so what do ships do?” Tubbo asked.

“They are large vessels that carry people over the water from one place to another,” Phil said. He walked over to a small table and placed the tickets there. Phil took off his shoes and sat in the chair.

Tommy and Tubbo each took a seat on a bed, “Do you have to swim? Because I can’t swim,” Tommy said.

Phil chuckled, “No you won’t have to worry about that. Think of it like a carriage but on water.”

“So do sharks pull it?” Tubbo jumped up, “Like how horses pull carriages?” Wilbur snickered and Phil shook his head, but he too had a smile on his face. Techno, at this point, had already laid back down and passed out once more. His snoring ripped through the room.

“Alright, enough questions. The two of you should get ready to sleep. We’ll be waking up by dawn this time, we can’t be late, ok?”

“ Fine ,” they said in unison. 

After about 20 minutes of stalling and taking their sweet time, the two boys inevitably passed out in their beds. Which left him and Phil as the last two remaining awake. Not that he would be going to sleep at all. Phil yawned, but the man didn’t get up from his chair to prepare for sleep. He cleared his throat.

"Aren't you going to sleep Phil?" Wilbur asked.

"Yeah…in a bit, I just needed to think for a bit," Phil closed his eyes. Wilbur watched him curiously.

"So what will you do after this?" Wilbur asked. Phil opened one eye.

"After sleeping?"

Wilbur shook his head, "No, after retrieving the axe." At this point, Wilbur had fully stopped messing with the spoon. Phil opened both eyes and sat up straighter.

"After this…," he glanced over in Tommy and Tubbo’s direction, "I plan to head back to Crowle. I only planned to help you and Techno retrieve what should have been carefully stored for your use, in any case, I won't be much help in a real battle so it won't do any good to stick around after," Phil’s eyes glanced away. 

Wilbur noticed Phil quietly shift in his seat. He thought back to the fact Phil had packed his sword amongst their supplies, but since traveling, has not worn it around his waist once. At least not since Wilbur last saw it on him, back when he went to go save Techno. The sword remained untouched in their supplies, only once disturbed by Tommy’s curious and grabby hands. Though Techno had quickly stopped the boy while on their journey here from playing around with it.

"Can I ask how you got hurt?" 

"Mm…" Phil faltered, "You could say I flew too close to the sun. My hubris was the cause of my own ruin; my greatest regret and my harshest reminder."

Wilbur could tell he wasn't going to get any specifics from Phil and he wasn’t going to pry any deeper. He respected the guy, and if he wanted to share he would when he was ready. Wilbur quietly nodded to Phil.

"To be honest, I would still be greatly honored and happy if you stuck with us even after this is through. Knowing you are here is enough comfort to me, and you're dependable too, plus," Wilbur glanced in Techno’s direction and smiled, "I think you're the only reason Techno is remaining so agreeable and easy to work with."

Phil chuckled, "Thanks mate, you're a good lad, Wilbur. And I'm sure you were a fine young man when you were alive too, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about either." 

Wilbur smiled, he hoped Phil would stay with them even after this. But he also wouldn't force the man either, only time could tell what would come in the future. 

Phil yawned and stretched, "Alright mate, I will get some shut-eye now. Wake me if anything happens," Phil got up from the chair and walked to his bed. Wilbur nodded to the man. Phil blew out the candle and the room was lit only by the glow of the moon outside the window. Wilbur turned to the window.

The night would be quiet now. He would be alone with his thoughts.

He heard Phil shift in his bed and a sigh under his breath. Wilbur basked in the moonlight that streamed in and closed his eyes. He wished he could sleep like everyone else. Time would pass sweetly for him if he could. Just like when he was in his book. At least then he didn't even know 300 years went by.

Wilbur frowned for a moment, to think that much time had gone by when for him it barely felt like anything…

Sapnap must have been an amazing mage to create a spell such as the one that bound his soul to that book. Though he didn't know if Sapnap was the one who actually cast the spell, he assumed he was. Still, he hoped that soon he would discover the reason why his soul was here. What had happened to him to lead to this course of events?

Wilbur once again wondered just what kind of relationship he had with the three heroes. Was he some untold comrade that died and never made it into the history books? Or perhaps he was just some bloke they saved and then befriended.

Wilbur remembered the memory he had, the one where he cried over the sickly form of a child as he himself heaved blood onto the sheets. The voices and the hands that tried to pry him from the bed were recognizable to him as the three heroes. Would he ever discover just who he was to the three of them?

He hoped so.

Wilbur opened his eyes. He sighed.

Techno's snores continued to rumble into the night.

"Right! I think we are all packed, it was good of me to buy these backpacks after getting the tickets," Phil smiled as he buckled up Tubbo’s bag on his back, "This will make it easier for when we aren't in a carriage."

Wilbur waited for everyone to get ready. The sun hadn’t started rising yet, but Wilbur could no longer see the moon.

"Oi, does this bag make me look fat, Tubbo?" Tommy frowned as he spun around, "It's a bit lumpy, innit?"

"No, you're fine, I think it's just filled with stuff," Tubbo responded.

"Well, I figured that, I just think Phil gave me all the lumpy bits."

"Mmm, no I don't think he has. My bag is lumpy too, see," Tubbo turned his back to Tommy to show him his bag.

"Yeah, but mine is lumpier," Tommy responded.

"Is this really the topic of your argument this damn early in the morning?" Techno walked in between the two boys to gather his things, Tommy and Tubbo were forced to separate, "Are we good Phil?"

"Yep!" If we head to the docks now we should be fine before the ship departs," Phil tucked the tickets into his pocket.

"What about breakfast?” Tommy asked.

“We’ll eat when we get on the ship. Come now, let’s start heading over,” Phil responded.

Tommy grumbled but the five of them still left the inn without any trouble. Wilbur was surprised how much of their travel supplies Phil managed to squeeze into the new backpacks. But he was sure the others were glad to not have to carry everything by hand now. Especially Tommy.

The streets had few people on them, perhaps not as many early risers here, Wilbur thought. The walk to the port was not as long as Wilbur thought it would be; though, of course, he was just flying. When they got to the ship, however…

Tommy, Tubbo, and Wilbur waited at the sides as Phil argued with one sailor. Techno stood behind Phil in an almost menacing way, but the sailor was unphased despite being slightly smaller than Phil.

“What do you mean? I have four tickets that I purchased from you lot yesterday,” Phil frowned.

“Aye, but you have an extra traveler,” The sailor pointed in Wilbur’s direction.

Phil looked back, “He’s not even riding, Wilbur, come here,” Wilbur floated towards Phil. He did wonder last night why Phil only bought 4 tickets, but then again he was dead, and tickets were normally for the living, “Look,” Phil swiped his hand through Wilbur, “Do you have a fare for ghosts?”

The sailor faltered, “Well…no, but–”

“So there is no issue, 4 tickets, 4 living passengers. Wilbur here won't even touch your ship so how can you expect me to pay a fare for him?”

The sailor sighed. He stepped to the side allowing for room on the boardwalk. The 4 of them walked up the plank as Wilbur floated. He looked back at the sailor who only frowned in displeasure in Wilbur’s direction.

“Wouldn’t it have been easier just to get 5 tickets?” Wilbur asked Phil as he flew closer to him.

“Potentially, but we’d be getting ripped off if we did that, I wouldn’t trust a sailor and their stingy ways with my life. Money grubbing thieves,” Phil muttered the last bit. Wilbur felt like he was stating the obvious, but Phil must not like sailors very much. 

“Guys?” Wilbur looked up, he saw a familiar face sitting on the deck of the ship as other sailors hurried about.

“Charlie!” Tommy shouted, Wilbur could see the wide grin on the boy’s face as he and Tubbo hurried up the boardwalk. They narrowly dodged a sailor carrying a few barrels on his shoulders as they bumbled past them.

“Hey, there kiddo!” Charlie stood up as the two boys tackled him into a hug, “Oof–”

“Hey Charlie,” Wilbur floated to him.

“Oh Wilbur, the funky ghost, how’s it hanging, or floating I suppose.”

Wilbur chuckled, “Good, man.”

“Who thought we would see each other so soon after saying our goodbyes,” Phil set his bag down and took a seat beside Charlie on the ship’s deck. Tommy and Tubbo climbed off the man, but Techno kept back. Still in close proximity, but he did not join them on the floor.

“Who’d have thought, did you find the axolotl you were looking for?”

“The wha–” Phil caught himself, “OH, that…er, not yet. So we’re hoping to catch our own?” Phil’s voice became strained before he coughed and smiled at Charlie. Wilbur noticed Techno slightly shake his head but say nothing in response, “And you? Did you complete what you came here for?”

“Oh not yet, I needed a ship to take me out to sea, first.”

“Well, now you can finish telling us the story!” Tommy interjected. The boy was practically squirming on the floor with excitement.

“Yeah! And you still haven’t explained why there are red lights in that district place–”

“OH-ok, right, how about I just finish the story from before and we leave it at that,” Charlie coughed as Phil gave the two boys a stern and questioning glare, to which they were oblivious of. 

Wilbur watched as the sailors worked. As Charlie recounted his tale and the sun slowly began to rise, the ship was off thirty minutes later. The gentle wind that rippled through the sail looked calm and welcoming. If only he could smell the sea breeze and feel the wind, then this moment would be perfect.

It was finally beginning. Now, Wilbur thought, he could finally make some headway into his quest. Soon, he hoped, he would remember more of his past to prepare for the future that was unfolding before him.

Word Count: 2786

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter  Fourteen [Techno] 

"HU uu ueeGhh," Tommy heaved over the side of the ship as Phil calmly patted the boy's back.

"Just let it all out mate, don’t hold it in,” Phil held onto Tommy as he practically leaned body first over the side of the ship.

Tommy lifted his head and turned to Phil, practically green in the skin, "But…the lunch…it was so g–" he turned back and hurled another wave over the side of the ship.

Techno watched the poor guy get hit with an onslaught of seasickness. It has not been an easy day 2 for the boy. Wilbur floated over the side of the ship looking down at Tommy. The ghost seemed to jitter in worry as he anxiously floated to and fro over the kid. Wilbur wrung out his palms and dug his nails into his ghostly skin. The way his brow furrowed into a tent on his forehead was enough to make Techno believe the ghost would pop if he grew any more concerned.

They had been on this boat for two days now, or at least this was day two. Yesterday, after boarding, things were uneventful. They remained above deck most of the morning, and when the sun became too hot they were led below deck to what Techno thought was the grimiest and smelliest place on earth. Their room had two rows of 3 hammocks hung along the pillars of the ship. He supposed this was what was meant to be their sleeping quarters as guests on the ship.

"Phil, Phil , is there anything I can do?" the ghost asked.

"Perhaps you could…" Charlie interrupted and paused as Wilbur turned to him expectantly, "lend a hand," Charlie cracked a smile. Phil looked at the man and Tommy gave him a very sick and queasy but still annoyed stare, "Oof, tough crowd. Probably not the time I guess," Charlie took a seat on the deck and Wilbur returned to frantically floating over Phil and Tommy. Techno saw Charlie busy himself instead with a book and pen from his satchel.

"Guess the lad doesn't have his sea legs, ay?" a sailor walked over to the group. Something Techno soon realized after they set sail on the SS Rose was that this was certainly not a commercial ship of any kind. He didn't understand why Holden told them to ride this ship, it was simply a cargo ship. The crew was constantly busy manning the ship and carrying large cargo into the hull. There was not a single other passengers other than them and Charlie. And their seats consisted of the deck stained with seawater and empty and unused crates and barrels shoved up against the side of the ship. and tied down by ropes. Not to mention the state of where they were made to sleep as he recounted earlier. 

They had to provide their own food or at the cost of their own coin purchase from the sailors, but thankfully they had their own supply, and they needed to keep out of the way of the sailors at work. Which was easy enough since they sat in a small corner on the deck.

"Mm," was all Techno said to the sailor. The sailor frowned in displeasure at Techno's unenthused and uninterested response. The man soon left the quiet pig and his poor compatriots and returned down below to do whatever he was doing. Why bother with them when the guy could be doing his work.

And if it wasn't obvious, Tommy was not coping well on the ship. As giddy and as excited the two orphans, Tommy and Tubbo, were about riding their first ship and seeing the sea for the first time…It seemed only Tubbo could handle the waves. Tommy on the other hand was stuck feeling nauseous and dizzy for two days now.

“I’ll be right back guys, I want to ask if anyone has any medicine for seasickness,” Tubbo stood up. Phil gave him a nod of acknowledgement and the boy disappeared down below deck.

Techno fiddled with the little mermaid tail pendant around his neck. He really wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be waiting for…It was even possible he was just scammed and there would be nothing to wait for. But back to the topic, he wasn’t sure if someone on this ship was meant to reach out to him. Simply waiting was bothersome and irked him. He was not used to just waiting for something to get done.

Techno looked at the crew, he couldn’t imagine any one of these humans or beastfolk having the means of acquiring a legendary axe like Dream’s legally or illegally. Unless they stole it. But they didn’t look that skilled.

The crew was made up of sweaty humans and beastfolk with pudgy bellies and mops of ragged, greasy hair. There wasn’t one thing about the crew here that really stuck to Techno as “Dream’s axe owner”.

Techno noticed Tommy finally sit down, the boy probably had heaved up the last of his lunch and then some. He leaned against Phil and groaned, “When are we getting off this bloody ship, Phil?”

“We have another 3 days until this ship docks in Loreia.”

Tommy groaned, “Ships are stupid.”

“Just try and rest up, we can move to below deck if you like?”

Tommy shook his head, “Here…is fine…” The fresh air was probably better then the musty cramped space they called rooms down below.

Wilbur floated down to Techno. It was obvious by the way his brows furrowed and the way he chewed on his ghostly lip that the ghost was still worried. Though since the heaving fits had come and gone, there was not much Wilbur could watch over. 

Tubbo had gone below deck, Tommy was resting on Phil’s shoulder, Charlie was writing who knows what. Techno decided to grab the history book out of Phil’s supplies. It was the same book Phil had referenced before this journey began. He didn’t know much about human history, (and frankly he didn’t care that much) but there was literally nothing he could do on a boat that sailed quietly by with the waves occasionally crashing into the side.

Tommy woke up at some point while Techno was reading. Phil had scrounged up a simple porridge, easy on the stomach for the boy, who begrudgingly ate the bland food with his nose upturned. After Tommy had finished and drank his fill of water he spoke.

“By the way, where’s Tubbo?”

Techno looked up from his book. Wilbur’s eyes widened. Even Charlie, who Techno thought was napping, sat up.

“Uh, he went down to get medicine,” Techno said. Phil paused for a moment and glanced at the sky.

“That…that was a few hours ago.”

“Oh gosh!” Wilbur shouted, “I’ve been so focused on Tommy–I should go look–” Techno held up his hand to stop Wilbur from phasing through the ship’s floors.

“Yeah, I don’t think it will do you any good flying around and surprising people, just sit tight."

"But…" Wilbur slowly sunk back to their level dejected.

Phil stood up, leaving Tommy to lean against a barrel, "I'll go down below and check. It's a ship so he couldn't have gone far.

"Unless he fell overboard," Techno added as a joke, but he paused. He looked at Phil, then suddenly stood up, "On second thought, I'll come with you." For some reason, the joke felt poor in taste. Given the trouble the two orphans brought upon him, he was certain such a thing could happen to the troublesome boy. And Tubbo was the better behaved of the two, but Techno was still certain it could happen.

"Wilbur, Charlie, I leave it to you two to watch out for Tommy. We'll be quick."

"Sure thing!" Charlie smiled and waved. Techno wasn’t too keen on leaving Charlie in charge. This was only because despite how friendly Charlie was, Techno was not an easily trusting person. The man was still part monster, even though he wasn't sure what kind. 

And he knew better than anyone here, that a monster…was still a monster. 

But there was little escape on this boat, he held slight comfort in the fact that Charlie wouldn’t be able to do anything if he tried. Plus, Tecno had seen how weak and fragile Charlie was, probably no better than Tommy, just with slightly more meat on his bones. So if anything, it was Charlie that was harmless. Tubbo could probably do more damage than him.

Techno and Phil shouldered by a sailor as they squeezed down below deck. Well, Techno squeezed, Phil just tucked in his wings and walked down with ease. 

They walked the cramped hall to the room that their hammocks were in, Phil peeked his head in, “He’s not in here,” Phil turned to Techno, “The ship is not that big, I can’t imagine he could get lost that easily.”

“We could ask the first guy we see if they’ve seen him,” Techno suggested. Phil nodded. They weren’t privy to much access to the ship, just above deck and the room in which they rested. As for bathrooms he wasn’t keen on sharing where their business had to be done. Techno was really not fond of this human method of travel that was riddled with such filth.

Still, the two walked further down the hall. Two “guards" if you could call them that, stood at the part of the hall that they could not go further to. Techno towered over the human and ratfolk easily.

“Yeah?” the rat man huffed as he looked up at Techno.

“Have you seen a boy, about yay tall,” Phil measured out Tubbo’s approximate height with his left hand, “He came down a few hours ago looking for some medicine for our other comrade, but he hasn't returned.”

“Nah, ain’t seen nothin’ like that,” The human spoke in a dismissive way. He snorted a slight grin on his lips. 

Techno frowned, “Well he never came up, so he’s down here somewhere,” Techno hissed.

“Yeah, well he ain't, maybe he fell overboard, the sea’s probably eaten him by now. Shoulda kept a better eye on yer kids,” The sailor waved him off. Phil’s wings flared up in such a tiny space and Techno had to stumble back to give the half-birdfolk room. But before Phil could start anything the ship rocked abruptly and heavily as something impacted it. Techno stumbled straight into the wall and Phil almost fell back if not for Techno catching him.

The “guards” had fallen backwards into the hallway and groaned.

“What the hell was that!” Phil shouted.

And almost like a destined response, someone came thundering down the stairs from above deck shouting, “P-PIRATES!” Techno and Phil watched as shortly after an arrow lodged itself into the sailors back and he came tumbling down the steps in pain.

For a moment the two of them stood still as they looked at each other, dumbfounded, but the feeling of another object impacting the side of the ship jostled them back to their senses. Phil squeezed past and ran back up the deck and Techno hurried to follow.

"Tommy! Will!" Phil shouted. Techno had to shield his eyes from the glaring sun. He saw the fallen bodies of sailors bleeding out onto the deck, the sail was burning above, embers and ash falling like snow all around him. 

"Fuck you, you bastards!" Techno saw Tommy, he held in his hand Phil’s sword, his grip was shaky as he swung the blade around with little aim. Given how sick he must feel Techno was surprised by the amount of gusto the kid had to wield such a heavy weapon.

Then Techno saw Wilbur, kneeling over Charlie, "Charlie hang on!" Wilbur shouted. He could see through Wilbur’s body, the collapsed form of Charlie, an arrow piercing his chest. The man seemed to be struggling weakly.

"Techno, look out!" Techno turned back, he saw Phil trying to help up a few sailors who were struggling to escape. A small figure came running for Phil and swung a blacked axe.

Techno ran forward to shield Phil. It was more instinct, he wasn’t sure what came over him as his hands reached out and caught the blade just short before it embedded itself into his stomach. He didn’t know where these intruders came from, there was not another ship in sight.

What stood before Techno as he held tightly onto the blade of the axe, careful to not draw any blood was a woman, petite in frame but endowed with well-defined muscles that flexed beneath a flashy coat gilded with gold threads. The large and overbearing hat with a feather tucked into a sash tied around the hat blocked his view of her face. Techno’s nose twitched as the feather swayed in front of his snout. He could see her long billowing brown and white curls beneath her hat as the wind carried them with its flow. 

“Aye, mighty strong grip ye have there lad!” The woman freed her axe from Techno’s grip and leapt back across the deck. The woman tipped her hat before lifting her head. Her face retained characteristics of a sheep, a softened nose, fluffy face. She almost looked doe-eyed, and in human terms, probably very cute. But Techno was not fazed, the glint in the woman's eyes displayed confidence and bloodthirst. She was not someone to be messed with just because of her fluffy features appeared somewhat innocent and docile.

Techno glanced over to see Phil had taken the chance to try and get to Tommy, but he was blocked by two more beastfolk. A fox and a cat.

"Keep em at bay boys! I got the big one," the woman smirked as Techno looked back at her. What was his best choice, to throw her overboard?

She zipped towards him and swung her axe low. He lept up to dodge the attack. It would probably be impossible for him to actually do that. She was much too small for his size and nimble too; he would never be able to catch her. 

"What are ye doing? Fight back you lily-livered coward!" The pirate berated him, she frowned in displeasure.

"I'm a pacifist," he attempted. It was true, but he doubted she would believe him.

She let out a boisterously loud laugh, "And I'm a monarch!" Against idiotic humans he could win. Against an opponent who knew how to fight and had size and speed advantages over him…he didn't think he could, not unless he broke his creed. If he fought back, he didn’t fear for his chances…Techno thought back to that night, barely a week ago. The scene of all the unconscious and broken bodies… He felt sick in his stomach.

Techno tensed up, anticipating another attack. Was he ready for that? Could he really fight back? What if he lost control again? In such close quarters with the people who trusted him, he did not believe he’d be able to spare them if he lost control.

“Boss! I found them!” Techno turned around, he was shocked to hear a voice come from behind him. He never even knew someone had slipped passed him and gone down below deck. When Techno looked back he saw a lanky human with a bald head come up from below deck. He wore strange, red and blue glasses that sat crooked on his face. 

“What have I said about the way you speak Jack!” The sheep lady huffed.

“Oh right…sorry, Capn’ I found the um…scallywa–do I really have to speak like this? It’s a bit embarrassing with so many people watching.” The bald human adjusted his glasses and glanced at Techno and the others as they watched him with baffled faces.

The sheep pirate shook her head and sighed. She pointed without looking with her axe and said, “Fundy,” the axe was flicked towards Tommy’s direction. Before Techno could move the axe was pointed back at him, “Don’t move or the boy gets it. We show no mercy to you criminal scum,” whatever accent she had put on dissipated. Fundy, he assumed was the fox, easily disarmed Tommy and held the boy hostage. 

“You, bastard, let me go you fucks!” Tommy wriggled and screamed. Phil remained frozen, Techno could see how frustrated he was. He was sure the man didn’t want Tommy to get hurt so he quietly complied. Wilbur pounded at the back of the fox with his ghostly fists, the fox gave the ghost a quizzical look but remained unphased.

“Bring them up, Jack.” 

He nodded and beckoned behind him, “It’s alright guys, you’re safe now.” Techno watched as a stream of humans and beastfolk came up. Their faces were gaunt, their limbs were frail, Techno’s eyes widened to see chains dangle painfully at their wrists. He flinched with each jangling sound. Was this normal? Did humans and beastfolk just do this naturally to their own kind.

“What is all this?” Phil was dumbfounded.

“Feigning ignorance for you crimes huh?” The catfolk said, “Nice try.”

Techno turned to the sheep woman, “We don’t know what this is, we only bought tickets to get passage to Loreia,” Techno flared up.

“Guys?” A familiar voice said.

Techno looked back to see Tubbo come up with the group of chained individuals. He was not in chains, thankfully, but Techno was now piecing together what likely had happened. Somehow or another, Tubbo had wound up imprisoned without them knowing.

“By the way Captain, we have an extra, not in the report,” the human, Jack, pointed at Tubbo.

“Tubbo!” Tommy shouted. 

“Tommy!” Tubbo ran up and completely disregarded the pirates that held the rest of them hostage. The ship was at a standstill as the pirates paused.

“Wait, you know this guy?” The sheep pirate said.

“Like Techno was saying, we’re just passengers, we had no idea any of this was going on,” Phil interjected. The sheep pirate paused as she stared at Phil. Her eyes seemed to scan is face, there was a glimmer in her eye; Techno had to guess she was contemplating. After a moment she lowered her axe, and in doing so Fundy released Tommy. Tommy and Tubbo hugged.

“Alright, I’ll bite, if you’re really here as passengers, what’re you doing heading to Loreia? Tell me something to convince me that you aren’t partnered with these scumbags,” the sheep kicked an unconscious sailor by her foot who groaned back.

Techno glanced at Phil, he nodded. It was best to be honest, he guessed. This was surely the last time he would trust some back alley information gathered in a cramped storeroom of a bar. It may have been his first time, but it was certainly his last.

Techno slowly raised his hand to his neck and lifted the mermaid tail pendant, “Some guy gave this to us and told us that riding this ship would let us meet someone who could help us.”

The sheep pirate’s eyes widened before she relaxed her tense shoulders and sighed, “That cuddly bastard, what’s he thinking sending civs on a trafficking boat…” She muttered under her breath, but Techno with his sharp hearing still heard her. Is that what this smelly, awful ship was? A trafficking boat, he didn’t even know what that was. Was he just that out of the loop of human affairs?

Techno looked at the frail humans and beastfolk who now sat on the deck huddled together. Jack was slowly removing the chains, and each cuff clanked heavily onto the deck floor. He could see the look of relief in the eyes of those people. Techno frowned, he didn’t understand why humans would do such a thing to their own kind. And they called him a monster.

“Alright, boys! Let’s get these people home! Fundy, escort these civs onto the ship, Ant and Jack help those who can’t walk!” The pirate turned to face the open sea, “Foolish, release the illusion!” Techno was taken aback as suddenly like a curtain had been lifted, a ship appeared out of nowhere. 

The ship that suddenly appeared towered over their boat like a giant to an anthill, the sudden shadow cast over them forced Techno to squint his eyes as he adjusted to the change in lighting.

“Oh God, not another boat,” Tommy groaned. 

“Wait! Charlie!” Wilbur shouted, he flew back to where Charlie lay. With the pirates no longer trying to fight them, they let Techno and Phil regroup with the others. Charlie lay propped against a crate, his eyes closed, red blood oozed from a wound that the man tightly clutched with his hand. The shaft of an arrow hugged in between his fingers on the right side of his chest.

“God mate! He needs medical attention, Charlie, can you hear me?” Phil leaned over the man who moaned but kept his eyes shut, “The arrow is piercing his chest, it may have even pierced his heart. Without a potion, the chances are…slim." Phil frowned.

“No…he took that arrow for me, Phil…we have to help him!” Tommy protested.

Techno looked down as the sheep pirate pushed past him. She knelt down beside Phil and narrowed her eyes.

“He’ll be fine," she said at last after a few tense moments of waiting and watching her. She stood up and dusted off her clothes. The blackened axe she wielded was strapped to her back.

“What do you mean he'll be fine you heartless bastards!” Tommy shouted. He glared in her direction. 

From the large ship beside them, several large planks were lowered to this ship, Techno saw as the catfolk, named Ant, and Jack started escorting people onto the ship. The sheep pirate didn’t turn back as she too began to walk towards the planks, she did however respond to Tommy’s shouts, “He’s faking it, that’s not real blood,” she waved her hand before disappearing up onto the ship.

Everyone turned back to Charlie who had gone silent and had quit moaning. One eye opened and everyone crowded over him, “Oh hey guys. He sat up and opened both eyes. Charlie pulled the arrow out of his chest, “Guess she figured that out,” Charlie dropped the arrow to the deck floor before standing up. Phil’s mouth hung open agape.

“Wh-what…but, you got shot,” Wilbur pointed to the red-stained wound on Charlie’s chest, just above his heart.

Charlie pointed and chuckled, “Oh this silly thing?” Charlie made a funny face as he puffed out his cheeks and strained. The red blood that still oozed from the flesh wound was slowly drawn back into his body. Techno grimaced, it was a little unsettling seeing the blood flow backwards, “I did get hit, but I’m pretty resistant,” The wound closed itself up, Charlie patted his chest and smiled a goofy smile. There was a moment that Techno noticed a translucent sheen to the area Charlie had been pierced. But the shine disappeared and looked like normal flesh again.

“Huhhhh? Why would you fake that you bastard?” Tommy pounded light fists into Charlie’s side, Techno could see the boy was still cautious of Charlie’s right side but still exhibited an exasperated face.

Techno had figured it out. While Phil still looked shocked and Wilbur very confused, and while Tommy practically shouted angrily at Charlie for worrying him and Tubbo laughed at the situation, Techno had realized what Charlie was. 

A slime.

He didn’t know how, but he realized Charlie was somehow part slime. While he was certain that in some regards, Charlie was still part human, he was certain now that the slight monster stench that emanated from the man was that of a slime. He was not too familiar with them, however, because again…he didn’t mind monsters and monsters didn’t mind him. He’d never really spoken to any monsters either since he moved to the human and beastfolk lands, and he wasn’t sure how many of them could speak. He was only really familiar with his kind. Plus, given he was taught to speak human tongue by the old man of the village, he doubted many monsters could even speak like him too.

But slimes were that one species of fairly harmless monsters that Techno had seen and passed off as nothing more than a simple infestation like mice. They hopped and blobbed around, but were inconsequential and kinda just these background gremlins he hardly knew were there.

And as weak as they were, Techno recognized the unique self-shaping regenerative ability that Charlie displayed.

“Hey, are you guys done? We should get on the ship now,” the group was silenced and Tommy stopped punching Charlie’s shoulder who only laughed and weakly defended against the boy. The foxfolk pirate, Fundy, had interrupted them and pointed to the pirate ship, “The Captain is waiting…so like…let’s hurry before they sink this ship.”

Phil shook his head, was he really that shocked? Well, Techno was the only one who knew he was a monster, he hadn’t exactly shared that detail yet.

“Right, everyone, pack up and gather up your things, let’s get moving,” Phil pushed Tommy and Tubbo away from Charlie who gathered up his own items. Techno helped out and Wilbur floated just above them. It was a good thing Phil encouraged them to keep their bags with them at all times, leaving them in their “room” was risky with such boorish sailors. So this made packing up easy.

Fundy, who waited patiently for them, motioned for them to follow him as he led them up the boardwalk to the other ship. After they had safely landed on the ship, Techno watched in interest as the planks slid upward onto the ship by themselves like magic had been cast on them. They stacked neatly along the side. He did not see where all the people that had been escorted had gone, but he saw the sheep pirate standing with her hands on her hip and a crooked smirk on her lips as she waited.

“Welcome lads, to the Hyperion!” She raised up her arms with flair, “I’m your Captain, call me Puffy!” She turned and her jacket flapped in the wind dramatically. Beside him, Phil flinched, his wings folded further in.

“Alright, let’s get this show started!” Puffy shouted and Techno glanced towards where she pointed at a man in a dark green cloak who stood at the wheel of the ship. A quiet fellow who Techno hadn’t even noticed was there, “Foolish, hard to port, take us out to the open sea,” Puffy turned to Fundy, “Fundy, go help Ant load the cannons. Let’s sink that foul ship!”

Fundy scampered off and Techno felt the breeze through his scruff as the boat was turned and began to sail off. He watched and felt as a loud rumble echoed beneath his feet in quick succession. The SS Flower, or whatever the hell it was called, was hit 3 times. Wood splintered off the ship and the mast, now burning due to the sails that had long turned to ash crumpled and crashed into the ship’s hull. The ship slowly began to sink beneath the waves as the Hyperion sailed off.

“Right, why don’t you follow me, we have a lot to discuss,” Puffy drew Techno’s attention back as she waved for them all to follow her. Techno could see Phil’s hesitance, but as the others quietly followed, he too soon trailed behind them. Techno was the last to go as Puffy led them into a room just below the wheel of the ship. It was cramped as he ducked and squeezed into the doorway. 

Techno grunted as he wedged himself into the room. This really wasn’t going to work out for him.

Word Count: 4623

Chapter Text

Rose Tea

Chapter Fifteen [Techno]

"Alrighty lads, let's get down to business, shall we?" Puffy set down her axe against the wall of the room and climbed up onto a cushioned chair that was raised extra high. It gave her the added height to sit behind the mahogany desk with elegance and poise. Puffy leaned back into the chair and propped her boots onto the desk, "It seems you have something to talk to me about," Puffy pulled from beneath her frilled blouse a pendant of a mermaid tail around her neck.

Techno’s eyes widened, "Hold up! You mean, you are who we are waiting for??" Techno marched forward, he face-palmed and groaned, "Why the hell did that bear tell us to ride that damn boat then if we just needed to meet you."

"Exactly, you lot nearly killed us," Phil added.

Puffy tucked the necklace back underneath her blouse, “Well, he probably did it only because he knew we were going to attack it,” she shrugged. Techno sighed, but he just let it be. They had, in the end, found who they were looking for, even if it almost cost them a limb.

“Take a seat,” Puffy gestured to some mismatched chairs in front of her desk. Tommy and Tubbo took the two on the right, and Charlie sat on another. Techno and Phil remained standing, there were only three chairs, besides, he doubted either of them would fit. Puffy turned to Phil, “I’m surprised you haven’t even tried saying hello, I think we both know I’m not just going to play dumb just because you’re too bitter.”

Phil flinched, “I am not bitter,” Phil started but he sucked in a breath and slowly let it out, “I’m just not interested in talking to a person who’s turned to a life of crime ,” Phil finished. His tone was calmer, but Techno could still see the way his feathers seemed to bristle.

Puffy laughed, “Wait, you two know each other?” Tommy said.

“Oh we grew up together and worked together, as knights about 6 years back. Left around the same time too,” Puffy glanced over to Phil. He remained silent. That must be why, Techno realized, he saw Phil flinch when she introduced herself. He was surprised if they knew each other, however, that it took him that long to recognize her. But then again, humans did not have noses like his, and perhaps she had changed so much she was unrecognizable.

“Well,” Puffy waved it off and everyone turned back to her, Phil’s brooding silence forgotten, “that is a story for another day. You there, pig man, what is your purpose in seeking me out.”

Techno cleared his throat, he glanced in Tommy and Tubbo’s direction. They only knew the bare minimum of information, so was now the time to hear the whole story. Then there was Charlie, Techno glanced at the man, he was just here for the ride. He wasn’t really a part of the journey, but he had jumped in and saved Tommy, so perhaps he could begrudgingly admit the guy was alright.

“Tubbo, can I have Wilbur’s book?” Tubbo nodded and he pulled from his bag Wilbur’s book which he was in charge of holding. Techno motioned for him to hand it to Puffy. She sat up straight, her feet no longer propped on her desk. She took the book with interest and opened it. Techno assumed she was reading what was written. When she put down the journal a moment later she broke out laughing.

“Is that really all that is written?” She said after a moment. Charlie leaned over the desk in curiosity and also gave the book a read, "You really don't have much to work with, do you?"

Wilbur floated down to Puffy’s eye level, “Unfortunately, that is all we have to work with. That was the book I was sealed in for about 300 years, and in that time I’ve forgotten pretty much everything so we don’t have much information to go off of either. We just know that there is something dangerous and we need to stop it.”

Puffy nodded as she listened. Phil chimed in, the irritated look gone from his eyes, “We are looking for my family’s axe, it was sold about 70 years ago. But it is the first of the heroes’ artifacts we thought would be easiest to recover.”

“Oh, you mean that one,” Puffy pointed to behind her where the blackened axe she wielded earlier leaned against the wall.

“Huh?” Techno said.

Phil pushed past him and stood in between Tubbo and Charlie as he leaned against the table in shock, his eyes wide.

“That’s Dream’s legendary axe?” Tommy asked. Puffy nodded. Tommy looked at Techno and then back at the axe, “It’s a bit small innit?”

And Tommy was right, the axe was incredibly small, at least for an average-sized human to wield. For someone of Puffy’s size it was probably just right. Techno couldn’t imagine that some legendary hero who killed a dragon was gifted an axe so…minuscule.

Puffy cackled with laughter, “OH come on Phil. Don’t tell all the years you said you would one day reclaim your family’s axe and you haven’t even remembered one of the key blessings placed on it by the Church of Eon.”

Phil looked into Puffy’s eyes, a little glimmer of excitement just behind his expression, “You don’t mean it actually changes sizes based on the wielder?”

"Did you think it was just a myth?" 

"Well I've never seen the axe and it hasn't been publicly used since Dream’s time. Things could have been fabricated," Phil defended. The way Phil's fingers pressed harder into the wood of the desk and his shoulders seemed to quiver with excitement, like a child told they could buy a new toy.

Puffy turned in her chair and picked up the axe with ease. She tossed it between her hands, "That's not all. It's a perfect weight no matter who holds it, never grows dull no matter what you do with it. It really is a marvelous weapon, though I'm not sure I'd want to part with it…" Wilbur opened his mouth to protest, his eyes wide in panic. Puffy held up her hand, "I never said I wouldn't, calm down."

She set the axe back down and leaned it against her desk. Wilbur closed his mouth. Techno understood his frustrations, if they had traveled all this way for nothing he'd also be upset. Techno thought back to the wiles of a child, Tommy, who told him he needed to coolly get the axe back. But he wasn’t interested in making enemies of a boat that they were currently riding on. So he shelved the slight notion of throwing the sheep overboard like a sack of potatoes.

"Let's say I give you the axe, what are your plans after this?"

"We'll get Sapnap’s staff and George’s shield and sword," Wilbur said.

"Right, suppose you do manage that…and then what? You say you have some dangerous evil you need to fight, with who will you fight with? This pacifist behind you?" She pointed at Techno, "The knight who can't even hold a sword?" She glanced at Phil, "A couple of scrawny kids?"

"Hey!" Tommy shouted, but Tubbo pulled the boy down as he tried to stand up. He shook his head at Tommy.

Wilbur sank, he didn't speak.

"Your cause is surely noble, but you don't have the means to follow through. Besides, do you even have any leads on where the other two artifacts are?"

Puffy leaned back in her chair and shrugged, "Knowing Phil, he won’t sink his teeth in too deep. Once it gets too hard he’ll up and leave.”

“That’s not nice!” Wilbur shouted, he flew towards Puffy’s face. She waved her hands through him as if to shoo him off.

“Tell me I’m wrong Phil. I would say I know you rather well, remember when we were kids…You tried learning Dream’s axe-wielding style, but you gave up when you couldn’t do it. Jumped to sword fighting instead. What was your excuse back then? You weren’t even his blood relative so it was hopeless to even try?”

Phil remained silent, his feathers bristled, his lips frowning. Gone was the childlike fervor he displayed just moments before. Puffy continued, “I guarantee you’re only here for the axe and after that, you planned to just leave. Probably, thinking that you’ve done enough, I bet your excuse for this is something along the lines of ‘I’m no good anymore, woe is me, I can’t even fight anymore’.”

“And how are you any better!” Phil’s wings flared open, Techno stumbled back as he was smacked by Phil’s black wings. This is why he didn’t like getting into human and beastfolk affairs, “Do you know what the first thing I heard about after I woke up in the infirmary after that attack? I heard you just left, turned in your sword, your crest, abandoned your family, and became a pirate. A no-good, money-grubbing thief. Every bit of honor you had washed away by the waves. Every bit of history we had dissolved like it was nothing. Like we weren’t even friends.”

“I couldn’t stay,” Puffy said.

“Bullshit. You just didn’t want to face your mistakes.”

“Ha!” Puffy stood up and walked around the desk to meet Phil face to face. Though the half bird man towered over her significantly, neither backed down, “And what did you do? Wallow in self-pity downing your worries every morning and night with a bottle of whiskey. What makes you any better? At least I’m doing something. You know those people my crew and I rescued, they’re victims with families. What are the knights doing? Nothing. ” She jabbed her finger into Phil’s stomach, “What have you done these past 6 years? You think suddenly marching around like a sensible adult and dumping your family’s axe on them when you are done is enough to atone all the years you’ve sat by and done nothing?”

“With all your preaching about honor and history, you haven’t done anything since that day. You don’t even have enough self-pride to carry your own sword. That kid has more guts and honor than you,” She pointed at Tommy without looking, “He’s just a child and he still took a stand with your sword in the face of pirates.”

Phil faltered. Techno could see the way his left fist squeezed tightly into a ball, his lips pressed tight into a thin line that quivered in anger. Phil turned abruptly, his wings smacked into books and decorative bottles with ships in them that came crashing down and smashed to the floor. Phil stomped out and slammed the door shut.

“Phil!” Wilbur flew after the bird, leaving the four of them quietly in the room with Puffy. Puffy sighed and knelt down to pick up the shattered glass.

“Here, let me,” Charlie left his seat and started to help her pick up the pieces.

“Thank you,” She dumped the pieces into a bucket in the corner. Techno couldn't believe she had gotten the mellow bird-man to crack. When he had tried, all the mad did was chuckle at him. But then again, he supposed the two shared enough history that she probably knew all the right buttons to press. She could push him in ways a stranger like him wouldn’t be able to do. 

Puffy took a seat at her desk again, “Your name was?” She looked at him.

“Techno.”

“Right, Techno. I’ll give you guys the axe, but on a few conditions.”

Back to business, it seemed, “First, convince Phil to stay with you guys. Regardless of what he thinks of himself, he’ll be invaluable on your journey. Even if he’s not able to fight, it’ll do him some good to stay out of that house. He loves the place very much, but it’s also a place of great sorrow for him, if he goes back after this he’ll just get drunk again.”

She paused, “Second, I have a task I need you all to complete. Call it a prophecy, if you’d like. There’s a place I need you all to visit, I have reliable information that something will happen there and I think you people are the ones who’ll get the job done.”

“And what is this job of yours,” he asked.

She shook her head, “That I’m afraid was not told to me, but I have very reliable information from a good source. If you can do these two things for me, then I will let you have the axe.” Puffy intertwined her fingers together as she sat expectantly at her desk. Techno narrowed his eyes, reliable my ass, that was basically a whole lot of nothing to go off of.

Techno paused to contemplate. He was not a fan of just agreeing to things without a better grasp of the information. But if there was one thing he picked up on, it was that this sheep pirate cared for Phil. If he gathered anything from humans and beastfolk, it’s that they are selfish. A person only interested in themselves wouldn’t spend the time checking up on a friend they never spoke to. How was it that Puffy, who probably spent all her time on the seas, knew that Phil was drinking himself into a stupor? Unless she kept up to date on how he was doing. How she did that, Techno didn’t care, but the fact she knew is what was important.

It sounds like a lot of effort that wouldn’t be needed if she truly cut him off, so he understood to some extent that she had his best interests at heart when she asked for that favor. Then there was the issue of the other condition. She offered very little information about what he would need to do, it was open and unknown to him as Wilbur’s memories were to him. They’d be going in blind.

Techno sighed, they needed the axe, “Fine.”

Puffy smiled, “Great, as for the first condition, you have until you complete the second condition to fulfill it. But don’t tell him I put you up to this, alright boys?” She looked over the four of them. Everyone nodded. “Then let’s get you guys comfortable, we have a bit of a journey before we get there.”

Techno walked behind Tommy and Tubbo and Charlie as their cloaked escort led them down below deck. The ship was bigger than Techno thought, it looked big on the outside but felt way bigger on the inside. And this place was significantly cleaner than the other ship. 

After leaving Puffy’s office, she called for this guy named Foolish to escort them down to a room to stay in.

“Why do you wear that cloak, isn’t it hard to see?” Tubbo asked.

The man chuckled and kept leading them down the hall. He held out his arm and rolled up his sleeve, “I attract a bit of attention.” Techno’s eyes sparkled for a moment before he blinked and shook his head. Damn instinct. What had grabbed his attention was the glimmering gold of the man’s arm beneath his sleeve. With the heavy green cloak, long sleeves, long pants, and gloves he never even would have noticed.

“Holy shit, that's cool, you born like that?” Tommy asked.

Foolish shrugged, “You could say that.”

"So how do you be a pirate?"

"Oh honestly, not sure. I'm just here for a bit because they saved my life when I was washed ashore. But I don't have many memories from before so Puffy and her crew were kind enough to give me a place on the ship until I can sort myself out. I'm thinking of leaving the next time the ship docks though, I would like to find out more about who I am." His light and cheery voice sort of rang through Techno’s ears. Though besides his strange appearance, Techno was also curious about his smell. If he thought Charlie was strange, then this guy was even stranger. It wasn't human, or beastfolk, or monster even. It was kind of murky, like a heavy fog.

"That's a lot like our friend Wilbur," Tubbo said, "He's a ghost with no memory of anything, he says he was alive 300 years ago, though," Tubbo added. 

"Really? That's cool, I hope he finds what he is looking for then," Foolish turned to face them, Techno could only see the unassuming smile beneath the cloak. Foolish stopped walking. "Here we are." 

Techno had to stop himself before he crashed into Tubbo as Foolish stood outside a doorway, "These are some of our best rooms on the ship." Foolish pointed to 3 different doors in the hall, "Two beds in each. Go ahead and take your pick."

Foolish pointed to a sign nailed to the hallway, "If you follow these signs they will take you to the shared mess hall, dinner will be at sunset."

Foolish nodded and smiled to them before heading down the hall and leaving them to their business.

“Well, guys, I think I will take a nap, it’s been a hectic day. I’ll see you guys later,” Charlie waved, Techno nodded and watched as he entered the room farthest down the hall of the three Foolish pointed to. Techno opened the door immediately to his left and walked in. He dumped his bag on the floor. Techno paused.

He turned around to see Tommy and Tubbo had walked into his room, “You know there are only 2 beds in here…right?”

“Yeah,” Tubbo said.

Techno paused. “So….”

“Well, Phil isn’t back yet so we figured we could just hang with you until he gets here or until dinner.” Techno was about to protest and send the two boys into the next room. But the two boys placed down their bags and jumped into the bed opposite the one Techno was going to choose. They sat on the bed. Techno was forced to hold his tongue. Sure, why not, make yourselves at home. He had hoped for a quiet moment to himself.

“So, why didn’t you tell us?” Tommy said. Techno looked at the two boys, “You couldn’t trust to tell us about your grand mission or something? I mean I did think it was odd you guys only told us about searching for the axe, but not why…still me and Tubbo are trustworthy. Didn't we do a lot for you?”

Technically no, but was Techno really going to argue with a child about that. Techno bit back his growing sigh, he felt like he did a lot of that since meeting Wilbur. But he could feel now wasn’t a good time to respond with a sigh. 

Techno took a seat on the bed. It was low to the ground and felt like it would buckle under his weight if the frame hadn’t been built into the floor of the room.

He certainly was not good at this comforting sort of thing. Techno considered himself a rational guy, though everything since meeting Wilbur felt like the least rational course of action he could be taking. But besides that, if it were him he wouldn’t have brought Tommy and Tubbo on this “adventure” as they called it. He was against it from the start.

“We didn’t tell you because the journey would be dangerous. There’s no reason a couple of human kids need to get involved in that kind of mess.” Which was true, again if it was up to him those two would still be back in Crowle out of this messy ordeal. But due to Wilbur’s insistence, the two orphans were here. It was Phil’s idea to withhold information from them for the time being.

“So what were you going to do with us?” Tommy frowned, "Tell us to sit quietly in a room while you and Wilbur fight monsters and shit?"

Techno scratched his head, where were Phil and Wilbur when he needed them for all this human emotion stuff. Phil did mention one morning when Techno was very tired and hardly paying attention, “I think Phil mentioned taking you guys back to Crowle or something.”

“What! We don’t want to go back to that fucking place, what about our opinions? We can be useful, I’ll take on all the thugs, whatever fuckers you gotta fight, I’ll fight a 100 of em!” Tommy leaped up in defense, he pointed to Tubbo, “And Tubbo can heal…sometimes.”

“Yeah, only sometimes though, mainly tiny cuts and scrapes though. It’s not very strong. It kinda happens more on a fluke.”

Techno blinked, “Wait, hold up. Rewind for a bit, You can heal, Tubbo?”

“Oh, did we not mention that?” Tubbo said. The boy scratched his head and his eyes wandered as he thought. Techno just stared him dead in the face, “Well, to be honest, it’s a pretty weak ability so I guess we forgot.” Tubbo added.

Techno decided not to ask more, at least right now. He would absolutely bring it up at a later date given that this kind of information is just a tad bit important. Probably.

“Yeah, Tubbo’s got a bit of magic or what not, but it's one of those things that just kind of happens. Happens a lot when he cries–” 

“Hey!” Tubbo punched Tommy in the arm, “You’re the crier, you hate pain. Every time you get a cut you come to me you asshole.”

“When Phil and Wilbur get back, I’ll have Wilbur explain to the two of you what’s going on,” Techno changed the topic. “There isn’t much he can say, however, given his memory loss. You can bring it up with them about what you want to do from there.”

"Yeah sure, pass it off to Wilbur." Tommy scoffed, "Oh by the way Tubbo," Tommy glanced at Tubbo, "how did you end up with those other guys. I've been wondering that for a bit, yeah?"

"Oh easy," Tubbo clapped his hands together, "When I went down to find you some medicine, some guys saw me and just escorted me into a room with all of them. I wasn't quite sure what had happened but all of them were pretty nice to me." Tubbo said nonchalantly.

"Buh, wh-what?"

"That does remind me, shouldn't you be groveling in sickness? We are still on a boat." Tubbo brought up a good point.

Tommy looked down and patted himself. He laughed, "Holy shit you're right Tubbo!" Tommy leaped up, "I'm cured! Tubbo, come on! Forget everything else, we're exploring the ship. These guys are pirates, they must have treasure!" Tommy pulled Tubbo up and off the bed.

"Uh…" Techno watched as Tommy and Tubbo ran out of the room. Maybe he should have told them it probably wasn't a good idea to go snooping around on this boat. But oh well.

With a moment finally to himself again, Techno laid back on his bed. He looked up at the ceiling of his room, the boat was surprisingly smooth. Maybe that’s why Tommy didn’t feel sick. Even to Techno, the boat hardly felt like it was moving, but he knew for a fact it was.

He thought back to what Puffy had said to them. Who was Wilbur supposed to “save the world” with? Their motley crew of outcasts? He held up his hands above him, a thin bandage still wrapped around his palms. But the wounds were just about all healed now. Techno untied the bandages, they fell to the side. He took a look at the scar that remained on his flesh, a reminder of him losing control once more. If not for the ghost, he could have killed an unrelated person.

On this journey of theirs, he would surely face many more obstacles, ones where it would be impossible to run or hide. He was likely the only one among them who could fight, yet he chose not to.

He would need to make that choice now. Would he run or would he fight? Was it worth fighting for these unlikely comrades of his, who despite knowing what he was still stood beside him? He was still the same as a zombie or a spider or even a creeper, he was one of them . 

Techno remembered 6 years ago when he first journeyed to the overworld. He had tossed aside his weapons, a refusal to fight buried deep in his heart. He knew nothing of the world of the creatures he used to mercilessly defeat, he couldn’t even speak their language. His understanding of their tongue was crude at best, yet in all that haze he still managed to make a friend.

Could he call the old man that? The one he couldn’t save, the one who gave him food and shelter and taught him to speak. He hoped the man wouldn’t mind him viewing him as a friend, even if all this time he never bothered to learn his name. It was a small comfort to him, a guilt comfort.

Could he call these people friends? Wilbur, Phil, Tommy, and Tubbo? Could he lean on them? Was he worthy of that kind of humane kindness? He knew the majority of the world did not view monsters as friends. He was their enemy…and who knew how long these four would be by his side too. If they really knew him…really saw him for what he kept buried…Techno was not sure they would remain by his side.

When it came down to it, could he fight for them even though he could lose control?

He heard a knock at the door, and a moment later Phil walked in. Wilbur floated behind him.

“Hey there, mate,” Phil said.

“Welcome back,” Techno sat up. He pushed aside his worries and doubts for now. They stared at each other for a moment, Phil took a seat on the bed.

“I’m sorry for that terrible display earlier, it was not very mature of me.”

Techno almost responded with his usual passive and uninterested retorts. He bit his tongue and held back. “I am…just glad you are…ok?” He tried. His attempt was awful, he knew that. Playing human with others felt foreign and strange to him. To care for others was not something that came easy to him, not all the time at least.

Wilbur and Phil stared at him.

“Pfft,” Phil cracked.

“Are you ok??” Wilbur asked.

Techno stood up and frowned, “I’m going to explore the ship!” He stormed out of the room. His cheeks felt hot. Damnit! Forget them. See if he tried that again!

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