Chapter Text
Sparks flashed as metal struck metal in a deadly dance across the stone and carpeted floors. Pushing back and forth and circling like vultures against each other. Each step matched, each strike met. Blood soaked armour and cold sweat running down his face. Tommy grimaced and stepped forwards. Schlatt grinned and stepped back. Confidence radiated from the Tyrant King. Not a moment went by that smile was lost. Not a second of doubt. Not an inch given to the boy who faced him. Sympathy a foreign concept in whatever twisted world he lived in.
Deafening screams and shrieks and clashing of metal and thud of footsteps and scraping on stone- echoing around the hall and world outside the palace. Filling Tommy's head. Narrowing his focus on the blade of his opponent. Vision blurred and ears ringing as he was shoved backwards, gripping his sword with both hands, pushing back against the King's wicked blade.
Dropping back again only to be assailed again. Forced backwards until he hit a wall. Rolling to the side as the King embedded his weapon into the marble pillar. Steadying shaky hands and lunging again, steel blade glanced off of dark armguard. A nimble step to the side avoided a graze to his side becoming much worse as fabric tore and skin split. A split-second swing upwards met the oncoming downwards strike with a crash.
"Damn it.." he hissed, forced away and into the open. The King only pushed harder, cackling manically as Tommy's foot caught the carpet. A hard shove to his chest, and the boy was on the ground. A crash and a roar and Phil was thrown to the ground as well. A massive Fractal dragon had him pinned, thrown by Kristin, who was in turn attacked by the ice dragon's twin.
Tommy cried when his hand was kicked and stomped on, his sword thrown across the floor, the King pressing the tip of his blade to the boy's neck. One foot planted firmly on his wrist, looming over the child who dared threaten him. Who dared try to take what was rightfully his.
"Well, this was certainly a valiant attempt." the tyrant spat, looming over Tommy, glowering down at him, crooked grin plastered across his face in false amicability. Tommy grit his teeth and struggled, then screamed as the King bore down. Something snapped in his pinned left wrist, an agonising jolt stabbing through his arm to his elbow and hand. The King laughed. A twistedly gleeful cackle. ""What were you expecting! You're a child! I've been ruling this Empire for decades!"
Tommy forced air into his lungs past waves of pain emanating up his arm. Twisted his head away from the blade pressed to his skin and swallowed back tears burning his eyes. Closed his eyes and tensed his jaw and listened to his dragons. To the fighting outside. To the heart beating in his chest. To the Tyrant King's mocking words. To the burning hatred boiling over in his heart- memories buried of vicious mockery at the hands of his peers- of sharp pains at the hands of strangers- pain and suffering endured at the hands of poachers.
Blood on his hands, blood in his veins. Rushing from his mind, blurring his vision, choking his attempts at mercy. No- not mercy. No mercy was shown to the innocents who lived in fear of this tyrant, who begged for help only to be shunned. Who were struck down and left battered, beaten and bloodied in the streets for daring to express their thoughts. No mercy for the dragons covered in scars and chains. For the wyverns branded and burned and beaten, chained and defeated, forced to comply to the will of a monster.
Blood pricking at his neck. Stinging pain across his skin as warm blossomed from a growing wound. Warmth blossoming from the ring on his hand. A pale blue flash and the fury-filled scream of a child forsaken by his home. A scream and a splatter of blood. And the removal of pressure and jumping to his feet, wiping blood from his face and adjusting the scimitar in his hand.
The King's longsword clattered to the ground. Blood coloured the, running in a stream from his wrist. Stumbling away and crying out, clutching the half-severed limb in place, face paling and smile falling away to furious eyes and bared teeth. Eyes wide and breathing shaky now as Tommy righted his blade and lunged two-handed despite burning agony seeping through his wrist.
The King brandished a dagger from his hip, swinging around Tommy's strike. Clumsy now. Exhaustion wearing weary on both side's movements. The king snatched up his longsword from the bloodied ground, meeting the scimitar with a harsh impact and sliding down to the cross-guard. Tommy pulled away as the longsword caught his fingers, and the King's crooked grin returned, faulty now, but wicked as before.
Steel met steel in repeated traded blows. Unsteady footsteps across the carpet and floor, circling and pushing towards the throne. Tommy's eyes stayed lock in his opponent's movements. Erratic and unsteady now, desperate to end a life built to take his. Blood spilled at the corners on his mouth. Welled up and ran thin down his chin. Tommy struck out and felt his blade meet skin, sinking shallowly into the tyrant's arm.
Pulling away and striking out again. The king toppled, gasping and choking and gagging as blood spilled past his lips in nothing Tommy had done. He spat red to the carpet and lunged forwards again. Hot pain flashed across Tommy's throat. He stumbled backwards. Then threw himself forwards, screaming past the agony ebbing in his arm. The exhaustion in his bones. The hot red spilling forwards from his neck.
Pushed forwards, driving his scimitar forth. Watching blood run down Schlatt's armoured chest. Watching his eyes roll, lips part and blood spill out. Watching him fall against the throne and driving the blade home through his chest. Hearing the crack of his spine and the gargled cry for help. And hearing the silence that followed.
Stepping away and watching the body fall limp. Bloodied and broken now, yet seated in that throne like the Emperor he believed himself to be. Hair falling limp and loose from the crown sat crooked on his head. Stumbling forwards and lifting the bloody silver band from the hanging head. Wiping the blood dripping down his chin, holding the crown in bloodied hands, breathing hard and heavy against the burning exhaustion seeping into his limbs.
Stumbling away, turning and dropping to his knees. Coughing and hacking as blood flowed from his sliced throat. Clutching at his wound, pressing her neck in futile hopes to save himself. To hold back the red river flowing down his shirt. Pooling on the ground as his broken wrist gave out and he fell. Dropped onto his front on the floor, watching blood run across crimson carpet. Watching lights flicker and fade and the world grow dark and silent.
...
...
...Sunspot?
Sunspot?
Tommy?
Tommy?
"Tommy- shit- Sam! Quick- quickly! Tommy- Tommy, oh Gods- fucking help him!"
Eret sprinted across the room, tripping on their own boots as they skidded on their knees beside the bleeding boy.
"Eret?"
Tommy whispered into a silence that he thought had been forever. A dark expanse of nothing and nowhere. How fitting. He floated in the nothing, blinking slowly at the void that enveloped him. Shadows of voices echoed around the nowhere. Whispered words without meaning. Distant echoes of people he thought he should know.
Sunspot?
"Eret?"
He turned again, watching a star blink in the nowhere. In the distance, as far as the night sky from Earth. "Eret? Where am I?" he tried to call out, but his voice refused anything louder than a hoarse whisper.
Safe, Tommy. You're safe.
Eret sounded scared. He thought he could hear Sam as well. And Niki somewhere in the background- and Techno snarling and growling, angry and afraid. Why? If Tommy was safe then why-
"Where are you?" he asked, watching the star blink out. "Eret?" nothing. "Sam?" no one. "Niki?" nowhere.
Something cold struck his chest. Something sharp and jagged made him try to scream, silent in the nowhere. Something sharp and cold tore at his throat. Something choking his screams. Something ripping at his skin. He clawed at it, screaming into the nothing. Tearing at the icy daggers that pierced his flesh.
"Tommy? Tommy, it's okay- it's okay, I know it hurts, you'll be okay."
Sam. The nothing echoed the familiar voice. Stars blinked to life around him. Pale green and emerald and soft sapphire nebulae lighting the night sky that suddenly surrounded him. Something warm reached out from the galaxy. Four solid hands that lifted up under him, eyes blinking in the dark against the living night sky. A soft smile on a face he had only ever seen behind a mask. Sharp teeth stuck over the lower lip, the mage's mouth splitting the lower half of his face in a jagged, bony grin.
"Sam- Sam, where am I?" he asked, reaching up as two hand came forwards. Two remained beneath him, cradling him gently, the two others came down and cupped his cheeks gently.
"You're hurt, and you needed time to recover." Sam answered, too far away and too cold.
"I- m-my neck hurts." he whispered, ducking his head and holding his throat. He could feel a ridge running along it. A rough edge of a wound now healed.
"Mages can do many things, Tommy." Sam told him softly, suddenly much closer, much warmer. Tommy looked up. He was sat in a field. Sam was sat in front of him, smiling softly, though this face was still split by a jagged tooth-like ridge up both cheeks, and an extra set of arms sat on his torso. "I scarred your wound so you could come back, now you have to wake yourself up."
Tommy touched his neck a again. A scar. That's what he was feeling. "How do I wake up?" he asked quietly. Sam's smile faltered. He shook his head, sighing and shuffling closer. Tommy threw himself into the mage, clinging to his friend. "You can't help me?" he whispered, tears beginning to burn at his eyes,
Sam wrapped him up in all four arms, tucking Tommy's head down into his shoulder. "I wish I could. Healing is one thing, but waking you up is another entirely."
"...Am I dead?"
The question was almost too quiet to hear. The words shaky, but the answer clear. Too clear, in the Sam tensed up. The silence that lingered deafening in the air of the field. The shaky sigh that the mage breathed out, and the tears Tommy felt run down his face.
"Wake up.." Sam whispered, his voice breaking. He pulled away from Tommy, and the boy reluctantly let him go. Tears glistened in Sam's eyes, though he refused to let them fall. "Please- please, don't stay here." he pleaded, clutching Tommy's hands and shoulders.
Tommy tried to speak, but Sam was gone. An icy chill settled in his place, and Tommy let out a choked sob as he bent over in the grass, tearing at the green stems with his fists and screamed. And looked to the sky and screamed.
The sun seemed to scream back. An echo of his own voice. The pained sobs that ripped out of his chest. The agony tearing at his throat and pulsing through his fractured wrist. The tears that ran in streams down his face and blood that he spat into the grass.
You Did Not Fail
A voice rumbled. A soft voice, emanating power beyond the Earth. Trembling the ground with its very presence.
The sun and moon rested in the sky overhead. Solaris and Selene. The sun dragon, a colossal wingless serpent with a hundred taloned legs along his serpentine body, and a glowing crest of feathers and horns and fire and smoke crowing his head. The moon dragon, glistening pale silver, body twisted and laced by a thousand feathered wings speckled with dark eyes and craters.
Make A Choice, Mortal Sun. Selene purred, soft and securing. Gentle night-time breezes and soft silver moonlit streams and fireflies dancing across meadows and plains.
Stay Or Return, Matters Not To Fate. Solaris rumbled, warm and comforting. Singing birds and warm summer sunlight bringing flowers and forests to new life.
"I can't stay here! I can't- I-I don't want to-" Tommy gasped, swaying to his feet. "I-I don't want to die.." he whispered, lowering his gaze.
All Mortals Die, Mortal Sun. Solaris rumbled, lowering his head closer to the ground. The grass and ferns withered and bent away from the heat that radiated from his scales. Is This Your Choice?
"I don't want to die." Tommy said again, firmer now, straightening up and clenching his fists. "Send me back to my friends. Please." the Gods raised their heads, rearing upwards, and leaning away.
Live Your Life To The Fullest You May. Return When You Have Lived. Selene purred.
Tommy winced at the blinding flash that followed. And suddenly he was nowhere again. Floating in a void of nothing. Except now he was floating in front of a dragon. Smaller now than they were before, but still so familiar as the galactic dragon Eret appeared to him as all those months, maybe years, ago.
Tears burned in Tommy's eyes as he reached forwards. Eret flapped their wings once and shot forwards, colliding with him and making the world turn white.
"-mmy- Tommy!" Techno's voice reached him first. Through a haze of dull pain and blurry vision, he made out the shape of a bulky white-scaled dragon, curled horns and short tusks and pale blue-lavender eyes. Warmth pulsed in his chest as the dragon butted against him, pushing hard into his torso in an aggressively affectionate way.
"Tommy? Oh, thank the Gods." he heard Sam breathe an exhausted sigh of relief, and cracked his eyes open a little further. Sunlight streamed into the throne room of the Empire's palace. Eret held him off of the floor, laughing and crying at the same time as they tried pushing Techno away a little.
"Tommy!" Niki gasped, appearing over Eret's shoulder with tears glistening in her eyes. Techno growled as Eret pulled Tommy up into a hug. A second wave of warm relief and love burst in his chest as Kristin appeared over Eret's other shoulder, nuzzling him gently before he was pulled away by a now very upset Techno.
Pulled backwards by his shirt collar, then wrapped in the dragon's front leg and wings protectively. He reached a hand upwards, tapping Techno on the cheek gently. Techno looked at him. Tommy smiled weakly, and Techno let out a high whimper, pushing his face into Tommy's chest and shoulder and wrapping him up and refusing to let go.
Tommy laughed at this, wrapping his arms around the dragon's head, then shoulders, tears running down his face. Sam was next to pulled him aside, lifting him off of the ground, laughing tiredly as he held the boy between four powerful arms. Tommy clung right back to him, sobbing and laughing into the mage's shoulder.
The sun was rising as he was finally released from the bombardment of hugs and tears and relieved laughter and words. Phil was the last to join the group, limping off of his hind leg slightly, but trilling happily as he wrapped his neck around Tommy in a hug and received one in return.
Sam lifted the bloody silver crown from the floor, carrying it as Tommy led the way out of the throne room. Back through hallways marred by blood and burn marks to a sunlit balcony overlooking the city far below. Tommy stepped out onto it, blinking against the dawn light streaming down from the sky.
Sam and Niki took their places either side of him. Eret stood proudly beside their sister, all three stopping as Tommy stepped up in front of them. His dragons loomed up behind him, taking their places in a line at his back. Far below, the streets were crowded by civilians, soldiers, dragons and drakes. Bloodied, battered and beaten, but the rebellion had breached the palace gates and swarmed the road leading to the palace.
Wyverns perched on buildings, walls and lay dead in the road amongst scattered smaller bodies. Dream had found a perch upon the gatehouse tower, stood proud and noble, if a little crooked on his mangled leg, watching Tommy with a faint smile.
"King Schlatt is dead!" Tommy announced, his voice carrying far more than he had expected, echoing across the city. In response, the people of Manberg broke out into raucous cheers of victory. Dream let out an echoing shriek, and the wyverns took to the air, carrying their wounded and dead in their talons.
Swarming the palace and flying beyond it. Dream flew up in front of Tommy, then above him, turning and perching on the roof above his head, roaring again and bowing to the young boy with a sure smile.
Tommy couldn't keep the smile off of his face as he ran through the palace halls. techno bounded along behind him along the deep blue carpet freshly in place. Golden rings glittered on the dragon's three remaining paws and curling horns, wings capped in indigo silk shawls and thin golden chains.
"Your Majesty! Please, try to maintain some level of dignity!" Sam called out jokingly, and Tommy spun around to flip him the bird before continuing his sprint through the palace, hearing Sam gasp behind him.
He skidded to a stop outside of the throne room- Grand Hall, as he was now calling it. The massive chamber was already alive with conversation and dragon chatter. Dream sat waiting outside the door, rising to stand with a respectful huff as Tommy reached him. Tommy walked right up to the noble wyvern, brushing the dust off of white steel chest plate the beats now wore, hiding the mark left by the Tyrant King.
"Tommy, for fuck's sake, kid, stop running everywhere." Sam panted, catching up finally. Pandora galloped up behind him, picking dust off of his suit and shaking herself down.
"Please." she huffed, and Tommy chuckled, dusting down his own formal attire. Deep blues and soft whites were the new normal for palace staff to wear, especially the future King.
Sixteen years old, adjusting the lapels of his coat and the cuffs of his shirt, and the chain that sat over his chest. Making sure his sunstone necklace was on full display, and adjusting the two crown-shaped rings on his right hand, one silver, one gold and mirroring the only ring on Techno's right horn.
"Your subjects await." Techno rumbled, nudging the side of Tommy's face with his cheek. Dream stepped aside, and Sam went ahead, opening the grand doors and announcing Tommy's arrival.
Walking up the carpet in the centre of the room was nerve-wracking. Nobles from all over the Empire and its neighbouring kingdoms, as well as faces who had assisted in his claiming of the throne, were present. A teal-haired elf and his husband, the Kings of Rivendell. A brunette not much older than himself, the princess of Kinoko. Lords and Ladies and Dukes and Duchesses, not upset to see him, but certainly curious about the young blond teen ascending the steps to the throne.
Jack stood by the throne itself, joined by Sam as Tommy took his seat. Niki and Eret stood on his other side, all four of them assigned places within his court. An elderly woman followed afterwards, tailed by Dream and another of the royal wyvern flock. She carried the crown upon a cushion in her bony hands, shaking with every step she took. The woman who crowned the Tyrant King, now placing the crown upon a new brow, something she swore up and down she'd never get to do again.
The nobles and civilians gathered to witness rushed to seats and standing positions that had been set up within the hall. Watching with eager, curious eyes as Tommy stood, bowing to the elderly woman, who bowed back graciously.
"Thomas Simons of Manberg, with this crown, you swear your life to the Safety of the Empire. To the Security of its people, and the Sanctity of its land. To this, do you swear, for so long breath enters your lungs and blood runs in your veins?"
"I swear, so long as I breathe, so long as I bleed, The Arctic Empire shall forever know peace under my hand." he had recited the words a million times in the past year, it seemed, and now, his heart thumped out of his chest as he bent to one knee and bowed his head. As the court elder delicately placed the silver crown upon his head and proclaimed him King.
As he rose to stand and faced his people and allies. Bad and Skeppy in the first row. Ponk in the back. Foolish off to the side. Eret and Niki and Jack and Sam at his side. His dragons gathered behind his throne, and Dream dipping his head to the crowned king.
It was a lot of pressure, as his name was cheered in the streets. As fireworks lit up the night sky as he sat amongst his friends, his family, sharing cake and picnic snacks and listening to Skeppy recount an exaggerated tale of his travels that Bad made far more believable with sarcastic remarks and slightly snide comments.
"Happy birthday, Sunspot." Eret smiled, pulling him into a side hug. Silence had fallen over the group, watching fireworks light up the night sky above them. Flashing coloured lights and deafening explosions over a city alive with laughter, music and celebration.
Tommy chuckled, leaning back against Techno's side.
Nobody from Nowhere to King of the Arctic Empire.
He was finally there. Finally happy.
Finally home.