Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eret's never been one to give up on what he wants. She's always been driven, prideful. And yes, that led them to betraying people they thought of as friends, but there's more to it then the story tells. 

Eret is Pride, and Pride is Eret. L'Manburg and betraying L'Manburg was a mistake Pride made. Making up for it however he could, waiting for as long as the others needed, was Eret's best choice ever. 

If you knew Pride, whether through the stories or because of Voyeur, then you knew that, just like most gods, she's a little… unaware. They all are really, of humans and their thoughts and feelings and everything. It's hard for Gods who were made by humans to understand humans. 

The one thing they do understand though, is that without humans? They can't exist. Without humans, Pride is nothing but the crumbs they're fellow Gods feel. Pride is nothing without those who feel pride, who horde it like it's money, who lorde it over each other. He is nothing without pride. 

When she had first arrived in the strange place, she had been… confused, but fed well. But then, then they had met the owner, a prideful man named Dream. Pride had felt so full. And it was when the idea of Eret was conceived by Pride. 

Eret was a mortal with eyes white to match those of their father, Herobrine, or so everyone told. Eret was a prideful being who craved success and was always on the winning side. Eret was a person who cared deeply for his friends and never wanted to hurt them but couldn't get over his flaws. Eret was not straight or cis (because Pride was neither, so why would Eret be?), and she fought for those who couldn't fight for themself. 

Eret was so undeniably human that they made Pride feel human. Even if Pride missed their face marks, and their eyes which had been altered in the process of moving here, they still had their crown and they still had their platforms and extravagent outfits. And now he had friends as well. 

Humans, mortals, were fickle things, Pride learned. But they could be so nice, and caring. And funny! Hotdog and Hamburger were funny, but humans were different, akin to Indifference but so different as well. They were also hella smart yet so dumb. A 17 year old found out how to make nukes, they could make potions and enchant weapons and armors in a purple hue that had so many affects and yet… 

They sent children to war and couldn't come up with resolutions. They destroyed the Earth and citizens and places with TNT, traumatized each other on a daily, killed each other. It was… honestly scary. A different type of scary to Pride than the thought of no Chaos and no existing.

Pride knows how some of her fellow gods would feel. Life would be dissapointed and scared, Day would be appalled. Hamburger and Hotdog would be scared and confused. Conquest would be thriving, Guilt as well, same with Fear and Meloncholy and Mammon. The Master of Ceromonies would be in shambles, Night thriving with how little sleep the humans got. Hate would love all the hate that conspired in the place (as much as Hate can). Joy would try to continue being joyful, trying to find the tiny moments of joy the others got. So much and so little. 

Pride sometimes felt sick at how much pride these people felt in what they do, how they hurt each other. Pride isn't akin to getting sick, he's a God afterall, but…

The worst bout of pride she's ever felt was when Dream killed Tommy and then brought him back. That… that felt so wrong and sick and twisted. It felt ugly and dark.

They used to be able to thrive off of all sorts of pride. Pride needs the pride to survive afterall. But Pride isn't just Pride anymore, he's now also Eret. Eret who gets sick at thinking about how the kids here get hurt. Eret who's the king of the Dream SMP, and is allianced with Snowchester, who has a Pride Palace that she named herself. Eret who fought Sam because he stole a child, who would've killed Dream if he could as a God, who has a best friend who is also a God but abides by so different rules it makes his head spin. Eret who is a human, or at least a God hiding as a human, who became a human, adopted their tendencies and couldn't imagine going back to what she used to know, who she used to be. 

Because Pride is still Pride, and Eret is still Eret, but Pride and Eret are one in the same. 2 very different people, 2 very different ideas of people, that became 1 because of the experiences they were forced to go through by themself. 

Eret is Pride, and now Pride is Eret, but Eret is also fire and brimstone and so much more. Eret is fluid movement and bitter words spoken in a deep tone. Eret is hateful glares and red blood that flows when a foe is struck. He is love and hate and joy and meloncholy. She is no longer just Pride, she is now also all the gods mixed into one. 

They are a human , a mortal . Its hard to deny, especially when he's a God. But… there's no denying it at this point. 

In the Dream SMP, Gods seemed to be defined by their powers, akin to how hybrids are defined by having parents that are not the same species, or demigods by how they are half made of a God. Gods are called Gods because they are powerful, All Mighty, and help the world go round. Where Eret's from, Gods are powerful, yes, but thats mostly because of humans. Some gods, like Night and Day, can exist without humans. But a majority of Gods cannot exist without humans or humanity. They become Forgotten Gods, Gods that no longer hold power because they don't exist anymore. 

Like Fertility? They were forgotten when the last kid was born and no one was ever fertile again. Pride couldn't even remember them until that wretched meeting, where they voted on whether or not to bring Chaos back. If they hadn't spoken up, no one would've remembered them ever. 

All in all, Eret or Pride is like Foolish; a human God, a God who seems more human, acts more human, isn't spiteful, doesn't act like he is better than eveyrone else because he is a God. She is not quite fully a God anymore, but she'll never be truly a human. 

So they sit in their castle and they be a King. He helps Tubbo and Techno get revenge against Sam for killing Ranboo and stealing Michael. She talks to Puffy, helps Niki in her underground city and spends days just having random fun with Hbomb, one of her knights. They avoid George and the prison at all costs, cut back at the red vines that slither too close anytime they walk anywhere and help Tommy with anything the kid asks, no matter how big or small. He talks to Ghostboo, helps Sapnap get the courage to knock some sense into his fiances, and avoids Quackity like the duck hybrid has the plague. She grows a garden, helping the plants live and grow, singing to them, moving them, giving them to others. They train with a sword and an axe and even a pickaxe everyday, pulling Hbomb with them so they can spar with someone. He avoids pride thats toxic, like that of being prideful of hurting someone, and draws himself to pride thats healthy, like being prideful of who you are and taking pride in accomplishing something cool or hard. 

Eret lets herself exist as Eret instead of Pride hiding behind Eret. And it's nice and fun. 

It doesn't last though… 

It starts like this; Tommy is walking down the Prime Path, looking for Tubbo or Ghostboo, or even the new prick (whats their name, Amy? Aimsey?), when he runs into the only person he never thought he would have to see again. 

"What the hell are you doing here Dream?" He asks, furious, discreetly trying to text someone for help just in case. 

His brain gets mushy sometimes around Dream, trying to convince him that the man is a friend. He knows thats not true, but its always nicer to have Tubbo or Puffy or even Phil there to help. 

"Nothing much, Toms," a new voice speaks up, and Wilbur slinks out of the shadows, a grin on his face. 

Tommy automatically takes a step back, muscles siezing. This is even worse, he decides. Wilbur and Dream, two men who lied to him and hurt him and he was supposed to be getting better but this is making it all worse. 

"Oh, Tommy," Dream says, voice full of fkae sugar and saccharine. "You didn't think I'd stay in that place forever, did you?" 

Tommy scowls, arms going to hold himself. "I sure as hell hoped you would!" He exclaims in return.

"Is something happening here?" A new voice speaks up, and Tubbo walks up, all casual. He's not wearing his jacket, just a white tank top covered in grease and brown pants with the ends tucked into brown boots that look like a mix between combat and snow boots. His hair is shoved aside, showing off his scarred eye where the pupil looks like a nuke symbol, and his normal blue eye. 

"Ah, Tubbo! My old friend! Would you mind coming with me to talk about stuff?" Wilbur speaks up, trying to get Tubbo away. 

Tubbo just glares at Wilbur. Gone is the innocent boy with a mischievous glint in his eyes that loved technology and bees, and in its place is strong, hard and cold Tubbo who protects what is his no matter the cost. 

"What are you 2 doing?" He asks in reply, moving to stand slightly in front of Tommy. 

"We just want to talk to the gremlin child," Wilbur half lies, giving a grin that laced with poison. 

Tommy bristles, his ears and tail twitching.

"I'm not a fucking child! Im 18 for Prime's sake!" He exclaims in reply, mouth pulled back into a snarl, canines being shown off. 

"Tommy, shut up," Dream says, voice cold and hard. 

Tommy's mouth clamps shut and he takes another step back in fear, scars and old injuries aching at the memories of disobeying Dream. 

"I heard someone was out who shouldn't  be?" A deep voice speaks up, and the 4 of them turn to see-

"Eret! Techno!" Tubbo greats, turning to smirk evily at Wilbur and Dream. 

Tommy relaxes. He trusts Eret and he knows now that Techno would never hand him over to Dream even if he doesn't trust him fully yet. And Tubbo brought them, so they're okay. Better than the 2 in front of them.

"Techno! My old friend!" Dream says with a smirk, the man had lost his mask a long time ago. 

Techno grunts in reply, a look of disdain on his face. 

"Dream," he greets. 

"Techno! Eret! It's so lovely to see you 2! Can you tell Tubbo that we just want to talk to Tommy?" Wilbur says, voice dripping venom and fake sweetness. 

"I don't think we will, right Techno?" Eret glances at Techno, arms crossed over their stomach. 

Techno nods. "Never," he agrees. 

Tommy starts to relax. Eret notices and gives Tommy a warm smile and places a gentle hand on his shoulder. Tommy leans into it, he's learned to trust Eret again and it's nice, she's always been comforting for him. 

Eret is glad Tommy trusts him. They failed him before, betrayed him and Tubbo and Fundy and even Wilbur. She will never ever do that again. Ever. Especially not after what happened in his own world, especially Kollok. 

Dream sighs. "I didn't want to have to do this. This is your fault Tommy," he speaks up before pulling out his comm. 

Tommy stiffens. If he had a diamond for every time Dream (or anyone really) had said that, he would be rich. That doesn't change the fear it sparks in him though, and never will. 

"What are you doing?" Tubbo asks, pulling out a Netherite sword, on edge and in front of Tommy in an instant. 

"Calling in my brother," Dream replies at the same instant the other person Tommy never thought he'd have to see again pops up. 

" What do you want?" DreamXD asks, floating beside Dream, its golden rings spinning. 

"Tommy, get me Tommy," Dream demands. 

The God turns, staring directly at Tommy. The blond freezes, raccoon ears pinned down against his head, tail sticking straight out. Tubbo is frozen too, he knows if he tries to fight a God, there's no way he's winning. 

Techno doesn't move. Don't get him wrong, he calls himself the Blood God, but he's more like the God's vessel. He can die, it's just harder for him. And it can't be from blood loss. This fight is not 1 he will win, and he knows this. He can't just run with Tommy either, DreamXD is the God of the server, it knows everything. 

Eret scowls, moving to stand in front of the group. Dream grins, and XD sighs. 

" Fine, but you owe me ," the god speaks up. 

"Duckling!" A new voice cuts through, and Puffy comes running up, sword in hand, Niki on her heels and holding an axe. Niki smiles nervously at Tommy, and Puffy cups his face as soon as she is close enough. 

"Duckling, are you okay?" She asks softly, sword in her inventory for now so she doesn't hurt Tommy. 

Dream seems to grow angrier, a scowl on his face. 

"XD," he says, voice hard. 

XD nods, sticking a hand out. Lime green magic surrounds Tommy and suddenly the 18 year old is floating. 

Tommy screams in surprise at first, before staring with wide eyes at his friends as the God hold hims upside down.

Pride's eyes widen, everything around them forgotten at the sight of the God holding onto Tommy like he's just a object, a thing to be taken, traded, and used like profit. 

"XD!" Puffy exclaims, angry, sword appearing again. 

She's no God, but she's an angry mama and papa, which could rival one in a battle. 

" Here you go brother, " XD says, moving Tommy closer to Dream. 

Tommy himself can't breathe. He doesn't like this, he can't control his body, and he's being given to Dream and Prime, when did it get so hard to see? 

" XD, give him back, now , " Eret's voice cuts through the cacophony of noise like a knife to butter. 

It's different, a bit deeper, powerful, more demanding. 

This is Eret, but it's not just Eret, it's Pride . 

" Or what? What can a puny mortal like you do?" It asks in reply, seeming to laugh, the distortions making it sound creepy. 

And Eret fades away as Pride takes her place. 

His hair grows longer and curlier, his face marks (more like forehead marks, technically) materializing. Their eyes are still white but their black sunglasses turn into pink tinted, circle, rose tinted ones. Her outfit changes as well, a sparkly gold top with an orange symbol on the front and a circle hole in the back that shows off her back replaces her gray shirt, her pants turning sparkly as well, shining different colors in different lights, and her shoes get replaced with sparkly platform boots that shimmer. A pink feather boa adorns his shoulders, and the crown shifts to being more of a tiara. 

" This 'puny mortal' can do so much more than you could ever imagine ," Eret replies, feeling the Earth as it quakes slightly at their power that they've kept hidden for so long.

Everyone stares with various levels of shock on their face. 

"Eret?" Tommy asks, confused and a bit scared. 

" Names Pride, " Pride replies with a grin. " And I'm here to handle this one, " she gestures at XD. 

" What are you? " XD asks, confused. " You are not Watcher made, " it states. 

" That's right, I'm not, " he replies. " I'm something much worse. " 

XD seems to scowl, hard to tell with the way its face is covered by an XD mask. 

“ You don’t belong here, ” it states, sticking out its arms. The Earth twists, reaching up to grab Eret by the ankle and knocking the humans back. 

Eret kicks, pink energy flaked with gold coming out and turning the Earth that touches it into dust. 

“ You made a mistake, XD, ” they say with a grin, their energy surrounding them. “ You left a portal open, you gave me power . ” 

XD attempts to contain Pride again with the Earth and the blocks surrounding it, but it can feel the strain on its powers. Its admins still hold some of its power, and the Watchers do not care for this conflict, it knows, so its powers are weaker than normal.

“ What are you talking about? ” It hisses.

“Has Eret always been a god?” Puffy asks in surprise. She’s never heard of Pride. 

“Yes? No? I don’t know Puffs, sorry,” Niki replies. 

“She said she’s not like XD and XD is Watcher made, so yes? I think that means they’ve always been a God,” Tommy speaks up, still shocked. 

“How do you know so much about Gods?” Tubbo asks, surprised. 

“He lived with Phil and I for a bit,” Techno explains. “Both of us are vessels and right hands to God, Phil to Kristen and me to the Blood God.” 

“This is very confusing, but I think we should focus on the fact that they’re fighting over Tommy,” Puffy cuts in. “We need to get him somewhere safe.”
Tommy shakes his head. “No, we can’t. Cause then XD could just leave the battle to find me, we have to pray that Eret can win.” Tommy looks over, paying more attention to the battle at hand. 

“ My powers rely on the Pride those in my domain hold. With the portals to the other servers open, I can draw power from everyone who feels pride. That means I am more powerful than you will ever be. ” Pride replies with a sadistic grin, sticking their arms out. 

Her energy flows out and towards XD. XD stick its own hand out quickly, using a quick teleportation command. It appears behind Pride, grinning behind its mask, but before it can do anything, Pride is turned, head tilted, a wave of energy already flying towards it. 

XD attempts to use a teleport command again but fails, and it goes flying backwards. It feels weak, too weak. It sighs. 

" I cannot fight this battle for you, Dream, " it states before teleporting away. 

It does love its brother, but keeping the server alive and well is infinitely more important than getting a boy for his lost brother. 

"XD!" Dream calls desperately, before turning to look at Pride with a nervous smile. 

"Eret, we can talk about this," he begins nervously, but Pride cuts him off. 

" I told you, it's Pride. Get out of here or you will suffer worse than XD just did, " Pride replies, still floating, eyes ablaze. 

Dream nods, pulling up an admin screen and teleporting him and Wilbur away. 

Pride sighs, floating back down, and turning to face the other 5. They get down on one knee and bow, eyes closed, eyes downcast.

"Eret?" Niki asks quietly. 

Pride looks up, giving a sad smile. 

"My real name is Pride, the God of Pride to be specific," he replies, letting his God voice slip away. 

"Why are you here? Why did you help us?" Puffy asks, confused.

"I got sent here a long while ago, right after a very important council meeting. I'm not sure how or why, my door could've sent me here for a reason, anything could have happened really. All I know is being here, being Eret, taught me how to be human. And I understand if you want me gone, but know I will always do my best to protect you no matter how far we may be from each other," Pride explains, still bowing, but looking up at them this time.

"Why would we want you to fucking leave!?" Tommy asks, hands on his hips. 

Pride chuckles, standing. "Where I'm from, we left the humans to burn basically because our high God left us, so humans don't like us much." 

"Thats dumb. Some of you were trying your best, yes?" Techno speaks up, voice monotone as ever. 

Pride nods. Some of them were, some weren't. 

"Then that's not your fault," he insists. "Sometimes things are beyond our control, even if we are Gods or higher beings." 

Eret nods, thinking for a moment, before nodding again. 

"So, I stay?" 

"Definitely boss man!"

Chapter Text

Important question!!!

Do any of you want a sequel?? 

Cause I have some ideas if you do, and I am going to write them, but I'm not sure if yall would like to read them

Let me know in the comments!! Or dm me on Discord (can be found in my Actor series or through my Discord server), or Insta (servernotfound). 

Bai!! 

- Server

Edit; Just know what I will have altered the events of the DSMP slightly as well as not base any of the conversations based off of the canon ones for I do not have the time or the internet access to go back and watch the conversations at the moment. The writings are based off of canon events but I do not conform to those canon events. I.e, the dethroning happened and for the same reasons, but not in the exact same way as canon. 

Bai!! 

- Server