Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Michael had a simple life. He lived in a house, in a snowy place. His dad's would visit him, Dad the most. Papa visited less, but he was ways so happy to see Michael.

Papa was funny. He was tall, and had two different eyes just like Michael. Papa would laugh, and give him gifts, and talk to him even if Michael didn't understand the words. Michael liked his Papa.

Dad was different. He was short and laughed a lot. Dad had hooves like Michael. Dad lived in the downstairs house where Michael wasn't allowed, but was always really protective of Michael. Michael liked his Dad.

Time moved slowly. Michael didn't realize it at first. But eventually his bed was a little bit too small. His dad's hadn't visited in a little too long. His chicken was a little too ripped without repairs. That's when he realized.

He was alone.

That's what lead him here. Staring down at the trapdoor that his dad's would normally come up. Wondering what was down there. Would Dad be there? Or Papa? Or maybe the funny fox man and the man with the wings? Carefully, slowly, Michael lifted the door.

"Dad?" He called down in a soft voice, "Papa?"

Michaels only response was silence. The little piglin gripped his chicken tighter. Where were his dad's? Michael needed to find out. So he reached one little hoof down into the first rung of the ladder and froze.

Nothing happened. Michael took another shaking step. He wasn't supposed to be down here. His dad's would be mad. But Michael was scared. He wanted his Dad to hug him, and his Papa to let him play with his tail, and he wanted to be a family again.

Before Michael knew it, his hooves hit another trapdoor. The little piglin looked up to find himself in the first floor of the house. It was dark. The windows shuddered in the wind outside. The door locked shut. Dust settled on long forgotten cobwebs in corners of the room.

But no Dad. He just wanted his Dad. Michael sat down next to the ladder, tears welling in his eyes. He hugged his knees. What should he do? Should he go outside? Outside is dangerous, but he didn't want to be alone.

The choices twisted in Michaels stomach. The want to find his dad's wrestling with his need to stay safe. But if his dad's could survive out there, could he? Maybe he could find his dad's out there. Hidden in the snow and ice of the little town. What else was out there?

Michael slowly stood up, chicken held close to his chest, and approached the door. It was colder down here, and colder by the door. Michael shivered. Whether from the temperature or his own fear, he would never know. As his hoof hovered over the icy lock, Michael deltas though he was entering something big. Something more. A new adventure.

The door creaked open. Light shone through, an odd mix of warm and cold on Michaels face. And how bright it was! The snow so white, the sky so blue! The smell of the sea drifted in, clean and fresh. Michael wanted to see all of it!

He stepped out onto the wood patio. There was a chest next to the door, right in front of some stairs. Michael opened the chest. Inside were three books and a very dead, dried pink tulip. 

He picked up a book and opened it to. Almost immediately, Michael started tearing up. His Papa's looping handwriting was neatly written down the pages. He didn't recognize any words except one. Tubbo. His Dad. Papa wrote about Dad.

Michael gathered up the books, tucking them safely away in his chicken. Chicken would keep them safe. Gingerly, he picked up the flower. Dad said it was his favorite. Michael carefully put it in his pocket. He'd give it to Dad when he found him. But he'd have to brave the snow first.

Michael squealed and jumped back as his hoof hit the snow. It was cold! He didn't like the cold. It made his feet and nose and ear hurt. Michael shivered heavily as he stepped out again. He had to find his dad's. He could deal with a little cold.

The little piglin trudged through the ankle deep snow. Within a few steps, he was absolutely freezing. He hugged his chicken tighter. It would be so easy to go back inside where it was warm. To give up and continue waiting for his Dad's. To stay and never go out again.

But Michael marched on. If he didn't go now, he would never leave. So he had to. Michael would find his dad's. He swore on it.

The deep snow started thinning as he found a broken down bridge. It was stone and glass, with water pouring out of it. Glass shards covered the top, glimmering in the sunlight as snow melted around it. But it looked stable enough to walk on.

Michael pulled himself up onto the stone bricks. It was much warmer on the sun heated stone. Maybe the search wouldn't be so bad. Michael smiled slightly as he carefully maneuvered around the broken glass. He could do this! It was easy!

The Piglin entered a shadow. Looking up he could see a huge black building. Moss and vines hung from the edge and reached all the way down to the water. He wondered what it was. Maybe Dad and Papa could tell him. Michael turned back to the bridge. He could see the other shore at the end. Michael smile, starting to run. He was going to find his dad's!

A sharp pain shot up his hoof. Michael squealed, falling off the bridge into the water. The piglins eyes went wide. He didn't know how to swim! Michael thrashed around, trying to reach the surface as his lungs burned. Deep down he knew he wouldn't be able to get out of this. Michael closed his eyes. He really thought he'd be able to see his dad's again...

Someone grabbed his collar, pulling him up onto soft, warm sand. Michael coughed water up onto the ground. He felt a hand on his back. Looking up, Michael saw a woman with long, fluffy, white and brown hair. It reminded Michael of Papa.

The woman said something, but Michael couldn't understand the words. Michael reached for his chicken, only to find it gone.

"Chicken!" Michael cried, frantically looking around.

Michael saw his chicken floating in the water a few meters from the shore. The Piglin tried to scramble twords his plush. His Papa's books were in there! He couldn't lose them! But the woman jumped in, grabbing the plush and swam back.

She handed it back to him with a smile. Michael didn't understand a single word of what she said, but took his chicken back anyway. The woman watched Michael carefully as he inched back.

The woman hummed, pointing at herself, and in shakey piglin said, "Puffy. Who is you name?"

"Michael." The Piglin said, astonished that someone knew his language, "you look like Papa! Have you seen my Dad's!? I'm looking for them! I need to find them!"

The woman put up her hands, gesturing for him to slow down. Michael stopped. He watched the woman- Puffy- think for a moment.

"You look for Dad's?" Puffy asked, "who Dads?"

Michael blinked, "Ranboo and Tubbo. My Papa and Dad."

A look of hurt crossed Puffys face. She nodded, standing up and holding a hand out to the child. Michael took it, holding his chicken close.

"Um, find Technoblade." Puffy told him, pointing west, "go through the portal and go straight left. You find second portal to the Arctic Empire. Okay?"

Michael nodded, "thank you."

Puffy held his hand a moment longer, "Be careful."

Michael nodded again, hugging his chicken tighter. Puffy gave him a smile and a pat on the head, which was slightly awkward as Michael was as tall, or maybe taller than her. With that she walked off, heading toward the big black building.

Michael watched her go. She really reminded him of Papa. Michael look toward where Puffy was pointing before. She said someone named Technoblade could help him. So Michael started walking.

He passed many buildings, all in various states of disarray. A big red building, crumbling down into itself. An abandoned hut in the side of a hill. So many places he had never seen before as he walked down a broken wooden pathway.

Eventually, Michael came across a beautiful building in the middle of a lake. It looked like it was kept up by someone. The walls were repaired and the bushes trimmed. Michael looked around in awe. He had never seen anything so beautiful. Michael wondered if his dad's ever came here.

Someone shouted behind him. Michael turned sharply, seeing a man dressed in green and black with ebony feathers stretching from his back. The man held a sword in his hand as he stared at the piglin.

Michael took a step back. Swords were dangerous. That's why Dad dulled his toy one, so he didn't hurt himself. But this man's sword was sharp, Michael could see if from where he was standing. So Michael did the only thing he could think of. He bolted.

The man shouted something else, but Michael ignored him in favor of running toward the portal. The purple swirls reminded him of his Papa. The saw his particles would dance around him and whisper his name. Michael missed the little particles.

The Piglin stumbled through the purple rift, finding himself in a completely new place. Michael looked around with a wide eye. Everything was red, and lava flowed from broken cliffs. And it was warm. Oh how warm it was! Michael loved it! He never wanted to leave!

But the man with the sword came out of the portal right behind him. He should something again, and same as last time Michael couldn't understand. Michael ran, following the directions Puffy gave him. To the left she said. A portal would take him to the Arctic Empire, where Technoblade was.

Michael risked a glance behind him, seeing the man right in his tail. He ran faster. He has to get away! Technoblade would help him. Another portal shimmered in the distance. That had to be the one Puffy told him about! Michael was starting to run out of breath. Was he even going to make it to the portal? Would he be caught my the man with the sword?

Michael ran through the portal. Immediately we was hit by frigid air and snow. He stumbled back a few places at the biting wind. The piglin wasn't expecting it to be so cold... It was colder than his home. A gust of wind nearly knocked him over.

"Michael!" The piglin heard someone call his name over the snowstorm.

Michael turned slightly. It almost sounded like Dad... Another wind blew by, ripping the chicken plush from Michael's grip.

"Chicken!" Michael yelled, running after the small plush.

Drifts of snow came up to Michaels knees as he searched for his chicken. He had to find it! It had his Papa's books! He couldn't lose his Papa's books!

The wind pushed him down a hill of snow. Michael rolled down the freezing landscape, landing harshly on a frozen pond. The little piglin slid across the ice until he hit something cold and hard. Michael looked up, seeing an enderman trapped in ice staring back down at him.

Michael shivered violently. He was so cold and tired of running. His hooves ached. Maybe he could just take a nap...

Warm arms wrapped around him. Michael felt himself being lifted into the air, above the clouds and wind and snow. The arms held him tighter as he shivered. It was so warm. Michael opened his eye, seeing ebony black against white.

"P-papa?" Michael whispered.

The person carrying him said something Michael couldn't understand. Michael didn't particularly care however, as long as he wasn't hurting or cold. Hopefully the person would take him somewhere warm. But he also had to find Technoblade.

"P-put me down..." Michael struggling slightly, despite feeling them already rushing towards the ground, "I h-have to find Technoblade..."

"Technoblade?" The person asked, landing in a much less stormy area. 

Michael nodded, leaning into the person as he shivered. He felt himself be swiftly carried inside somewhere warm. Oh how warm it was. Michael sighed. He liked the warmth.

Michael heard people talking. He didn't recognize the words or the voices. Until there was a name. Techno. Was that Technoblade, he wondered as he was layed down on a bed.

"Technoblade?" Michael said out loud.

The voices stopped. Michael opened his eye slowly, seeing a tall piglin and the man with the sword. The man didn't have his sword this time. Michael was is such a panic last time, he didn't recognize him. It was the winged man his Papa and Dad introduced him to. What was his name?

The piglin turned to him, saying something in a different language. Michael backed away. He was scary. But maybe they knew where Technoblade was, or Dad and Papa!

"H-have you seen my Dad's?" Michael asked, looking between the two, "or Technoblade?"

Michael instinctively reached hot his chicken, only to not find it there. His eye widened. Michael sat up quickly, searching everywhere for his chicken. He forgot he dropped his chicken! His Papa's books!

The tall piglin knelt in front of the bed, placing his hands on Michaels shoulders, "calm down. Why are you looking for me?"

Michael felt tears pooling in his eye, "I want my Dad's! A-and my chicken! I need my chicken!"

The tall piglin turned to the winged man, saying something in the strange language. The winged man nodded. He pulled out the chicken plush, taking a moment to examine the large rip. The winged man pulled out a book.

Michael squealed in distress, grabbing the chicken and book before running away into the far corner, "don't touch my Papa's book!"

The winged man looked surprised, glancing at the tall piglin. The tall piglin sighed. He walked over to Michael, getting down to his level.

"You're Ranboo's son, huh?" The tall piglin said.

Michael nodded, "Papa left his books... I'm gonna find him and Dad and give Papa his books back."

"Papa... and Dad?" The tall piglin tilted his head, "who's your Dad?"

"Tubbo." Michael said, "do you know them? Can you help me find them!? Or-or help me find Technoblade!?"

The tall piglin glanced up at the winged man. The same expression Puffy had crossed both of their faces.

"I'm Technoblade." The tall piglin said, standing up, "I can't help you find your Dad's."

"W-why not?" Michael took a step forward, "Puffy said you could-!"

"They're gone!" Technoblade yelled.

Michael flinched, holding his chicken tighter. Technoblade sighed.

"They're gone." Technoblade said in a softer tone, "200 years ago. Tubbo died. Ranboo can't be found, I've tried. You won't find them."

Michael fell to the ground, tears welling in his eye. Dad was... dead. Papa was missing. They left him. Michael hiccuped. He just wanted his Dad's. He wanted his Dad to hug him, and his Papa to let him play with his tail... But that was never going to happen now.

The winged man wiped the tears from his face, gently shushing him in that strange language. Michael threw himself in the winged man's arms. He didn't care that he spoke funny. He didn't care that he wasn't his Dad's. Michael just wanted someone to comfort him as he cried.

"Michael," Techno said, "You're going to stay with us. Phil said we can't leave you alone."

"I-" Michael hiccuped, "I want my Dad's!"

Techno sighed, "I know."

Michael curled up in the winged mans- Phil's- arms. He was tired. He wanted to finds his Dad's. But even more right now, he wanted to sleep. So sleep he did.

Chapter Text

Michael looked up at Techno. The tall piglin had told him he would be staying for at least a couple weeks. Until he was able to survive on his own. 

Currently, the two were out collecting wood. Techno had given Michael soft, heavy furs to keep him warm in the snowy biome. The snow storm had died down, leaving clear blue skys as far as they could see. Michael almost enjoyed walking through the deep snow. With Techno there, it almost felt like the walks Papa took him on...

"Alright, that's enough." Techno said, heaving a large bundle of wood over his shoulder, "let's head back."

Michael nodded, picking up his own bundle of wood.  The two piglins started walking back in silence. That was something Michael picked up pretty quick. Techno was a very quiet man. He didn't speak much and stayed in his house unless he had to farm, hunt, or get other supplies. 

As they walked, Michael felt a sharp pain in his hoof. He winced, but it wasn't too bad, so he continued walking. The little piglin figured it was just from walking around so much.

Techno gave Michael a glance. Something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what. He glance behind them at their footprints. Two sets of tracks in the deep snow. Techno frowned. There was blood in the snow.

"Stop." Techno said, making Michael freeze in his tracks.

Michael looked up at the taller piglin, "wha-"

"You're bleeding." Techno dropped the wood he was carrying, "drop your stuff."

"No no! I-I can still help!" Michael said, wincing as he took another step.

Techno shook his head, picking up Michael without another word. Michael squealed and threw his arms around Techno, dropping his wood in the process. Techno started walking back to his house. Michael tucked his head into Techno's chest. His feet hurt a lot more than he realized once they stopped being frozen. He whined, shuffling in Techno's arms.

Techno held him tighter as he pushed open the door. He set Michael down on the bed, immediately moving to grab an instant damage potion and some bandages. After he got the supplies, he settled down by Michaels hooves.

One was bleeding pretty bad, and looked like it had something lodged in the soft part of the hoof. The other was was slightly better, just blue and raw from the icy snow.

"Techno?" Michael winced as the taller piglin carefully dabbed damage potion on his hoof, "how did Dad die?"

Techno paused, "he, um, he was killed. Now on the count of three I'm gonna take this thing out, it's gonna hurt."

Michael nodded, gripping the sheets.

"One, two," Techno pulled what ended up being a shard of glass out of Michaels hoof.

Michael squealed, trying to pull his foot back in panic and pain. Techno held his hoof gently, but firmly. He poured more damage potion on the wound, watching to make sure it healed properly. Techno then carefully wrapped both of the little piglins hooves.

"There. That should help." Techno said, standing up, "try not to walk around too much."

Michael nodded, "thank you Techno."

Techno shrugged, "I'm going to collect the wood. Stay here and rest, Phil is right across the deck if you need anything."

Michael hesitated for a moment, "T-Techno? I-I have one more question... About Dad?"

Techno paused, giving the little piglin a small nod.

"Who killed him?" Michael asked.

Techno froze at the question, though he couldn't say he wasn't expecting it. He just didn't want to say it. Because saying it would make it real. He didn't want it to be real.

"I'll tell you another time." Techno said, walking out the door.

Michael watched as Techno left. Another time didn't come for the next weeks, or months, or years as Michael stayed with Techno and Phil. He learned English from Techno and Phil. On clear days, Phil would fly around showing Michael tricks and sometimes taking him up to fly with him. Techno trained Michael to fight for himself and bandage his own wounds. And on Michaels third year with them, they gifted him his own mask, similar to the one Techno wore in battle. As well as an emerald earring that matched Phil's.

Michael's sword sparked as it bounced off Techno's. The two were sparring after a particularly disappointing mining trip. Phil sat off to the side, sipping tea as he watched them.

Techno swept a foot under Michael, causing the other piglin to fall back. Michael looked up to see the point of Techno's sword in his face.

"Nice job Michael." Techno gave him a rare smile, "you did well."

Michael smiled as he took Techno's hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. He hadn't realized it before, but Michael could now look Techno in his eye without looking up.

Phil walked up to them, food in hand, "here mates. Good spar."

"Thanks." Michael said, taking the steak Phil handed him.

Michael went to sit down on the sidelines. He grabbed his chicken, pulling out one of his Papa's books. Carefully, Michael opened the pages, reading down his Papa's loopy handwriting.

He's dead.

One page read. Michael never figured out who 'he' was. The pages stuck together, he didn't want to risk damaging the fragile pages to separate them. But today, the pages fall apart. Michaels eyes widened as he saw the frantic scribbles, still in his Papa's handwriting, but almost unrecognizable.

TOMMY IS NOT MY FAULT.

WHAT HAPPENED TO TOMMY WAS SAM'S FAULT.

SAM IS RESPONSIBLE.

Tommy? Who was Tommy? Michael closed the book. He stood up, book in hand, and walked over to Phil and Techno.

"Phil? Techno?" Michael shuffled his feet, "w-whos Tommy?"

Phil's wings seized closer to him as he tensed. Techno gripped his sword tighter as he looked away.

"Tommy..." Phil sighed, "I haven't heard from him in..."

"200 years." Techno said through grit teeth.

Michael took a step forward, "Who is he?"

"Tommy was a friend of you father's." Phil said, "he was as close as a brother to Tubbo."

"Really!?" Michael's eye went wide, "how did they meet!? Can you tell me!? Can we have a story time!?"

Phil chuckled, "okay, okay. Sit down, I'll tell you about Tommy and Tubbo."

Michael ran over to his chicken, sitting down and hugging the plush tightly. Phil walked over, sitting down next to him as Techno started putting the practice weapons away.

"Alright." Phil smiled, "to start this story, you have to know a few things first."

Michael nodded, eager to hear everything.

Phil gave him a sad smile, "I have two biological sons. Wilbur... and Tommy. Techno came to us when Tommy was born. He and Wil we're both seven. Techno just ended up staying. A few years later, Tommy was four, Wil and I were out on a walk, and on the side of the road was a box. Wil ran over and was like 'Dad! Dad! There's a baby in here!'. So I walked over, and there was little Tubbo, wrapped up in an oversized green shirt with a little bee plush. Obviously we took him home and introduced him to Tommy. And from them on they were inseparable."

Techno scoffed, "Until they started L'm-"

"Techno!" Phil yelled, "that's enough."

"If you're going to tell him, tell him everything!" Techno shouted back, "tell him how Wilbur created L'manburg! Tell him how he brought Tommy and Tubbo down with him! Tell him about Schlatt! And the festival!"

"You mean the festival where you took Tubbo's second life!?" Phil stood, flaring his wings.

Techno grit his teeth. If looks could kill, Techno would be dead a thousand times over. The Piglin turned sharply, leaving the training arena.

Michael stood up slowly, "Phil? Did... Did Techno really kill Dad?"

Phil sighed, "yes. It... It was a long time ago."

"What happened?" Michael asked, hugging his chicken.

Phil sat down again, "Wilbur, Tommy, and Tubbo created this place called L'manburg. There were many wars over it, but L'manburg won, becoming an independent nation. On their first election, there were four parties. Pog 2020, which was Wilbur and Tommy. Swag 2020, which was a man named Quackity and a man named George. And then Wilbur's son, Fundy, and Niki made Coconut 2020. Then Schlatt came along. He made his own party. But he knew he couldn't win on his own. So when George didn't show up, he made a deal with Quackity to combine their votes if both of them lost."

"Who won!?" Michael asked, his eye wide.

Phil gave him a small smile, "Pog did. At first... But between Schlatt and Swag, Schlatt became president."

"No!" Michael cried.

Phil nodded, "his first decree as president was to exile Wilbur and Tommy. They went off and made Pogtopia to fight what was now called Manburg. And to help them, they called in Techno. Unfortunately, Wilbur... His mental health deteriorated quickly. And he planned to blow up L'manburg."

"What?" Michael whispered.

"Schlatt set up a festival, telling Tubbo to decorate it." Phil continued, "but what Tubbo didn't know, was that Schlatt knew he was a spy for Pogtopia-"

"Dad was a spy!?" Michael gasped.

Phil chuckled, "of course! You didn't think he'd abandon his best friend?"

"No!" Michael smiled.

Phil nodded, "so Schlatt knew Tubbo was a spy. Tubbo was tasked with a code, that when he said the code during his speech, Wilbur would press the button to blow everything up. But the button was disconnected to the TNT. Schlatt outed Tubbo as the spy, trapping him in a box. He and Quackity called Technoblade up onto the stage and told him to execute Tubbo. And he did, taking down Schlatt and Quackity, and many others along with him."

"Wow..." Michael whispered, "what happened next?"

"Tommy took Tubbo to Pogtopia." Phil continued, "ever since then, Tubbo had scars all over the left side of his face and shoulder. Eventually, everyone got sick of Schlatt being president, and they teamed up with Pogtopia to take him down."

"Did they!?" Michael asked.

Phil nodded, "yeah. They cornered Schlatt in the camarvan... And Schlatt died of a heart attack. Then Wilbur snuck away... And blew up L'manburg."

"What!?" Michael gasped, "he actually did it!?"

"Tubbo was named the new president." Phil continued with a nod, "he rebuilt L'manburg with Ghostbur and Tommy. Actually, that's when Ranboo came along."

"Papa!?" Michael smiled.

Phil chuckled, "yeah. He moved into L'manburg right next to me. Tommy almost moved in below him but... Dream told Tubbo to exile Tommy for burning down George's house."

"But he didn't! Right?" Michael asked.

Phil sighed, "he did."

"What!?" Michael gasped, "but-but they were best friends!"

"They were. Tubbo regretted it immediately." Phil told him, "but it was too late. Dream threatened to completely destroy L'manburg if Tommy continued to live there."

"That's so mean!" Michael huffed.

Phil nodded, "Dream hurt Tommy during exile. He hurt him really bad. So Tommy left and came to live here with Techno. But Tubbo thought Tommy had died. So when they saw each other again, Tubbo revoked Tommy's exile."

"Knew it!" Michael giggled.

Phil chuckled, but it quickly turned to a frown, "but then Dream found out. Tommy left Techno to go back to Tubbo. They teamed up and blew up L'manburg. And I helped."

Michaels eye went wide, "really?"

Phil nodded, "after that, Tubbo built Snowchester. Me and Ranboo moved up here with Techno. Then Dream was put in prison, and we thought it was over."

Michael shuffled closer to Phil, "what happened next?"

"Tommy went to visit Dream, as a final goodbye." Phil said, "but something happened... And Dream killed Tommy. For good."

"But Papa wrote 'hes alive'." Michael opened the book, pointing to the passage.

Phil nodded, "Dream had something called the revive book. He used it to bring Tommy back to life."

Michael nodded, "what happened next?"

"Tommy got out." Phil shrugged, "he met up with Tubbo and Ranboo again, by that time they had you, and the rest is history."

"But... What happened to Dad and Papa?" Michael asked, looking up at the winged man, "how did Dad die? And... Where did Papa go?"

A pained look crossed Phil's face, "no one knows where Ranboo went... Well, Tommy might know but-"

"But what?" Michael asked.

Phil shook his head, "no, Tommy wouldn't help. Not for the right reasons at least."

"It's worth a try right!?" Michael stood up, "if he can help me find Papa-!"

"Drop it Michael!" Phil snapped, then sighed, "Tommy won't help find Ranboo."

Michael nodded, starting to walk off towards his room, "I'm... I'm going to go to bed..."

Phil sighed heavily, "Michael, I'm sorry-"

"It's fine." Michael said, "I'm just tired."

Michael walked away without another word. He passed Techno on his way to his room. The older piglin was leaning against his polar bear, Steve. He looked up as Michael passed.

"Hey, wait a moment." Techno said, standing up.

Michael stopped, turning to the other piglin, "why?"

Techno sighed, "you have every right to hate me right now, I won't blame you. But... I want to show you something."

Michael nodded, following Techno as he walked past the farm. The younger wondered what was over there that Techno wanted to show him. Techno stopped in front of a cliff face. Michael watched as Techno shoveled snow away from an iron door, taking another moment to uncover a button.

"This was Ranboo's house." Techno said, "it hasn't been touched in 200 years, but I think you should deserve to see it."

Techno motioned for Michael to press the button. Michael took a hesitant step forward, his fingers brushing over the cold stone of the button. He pressed the button.

The iron door creaked open slowly. The interior was dark, the torches long burned out. Michael stepped in. It was surprisingly warm inside, considering how long it has been abandoned. Techno stepped in, lighting the torches.

The room was small. One wall had tool tables piled up, the opposite wall had stone stairs leading up. The floor was split with red and green carpet. A crying obsidian block layed in the center under a post that held a chest. Behind it was a hole with a ladder leading down.

Michael moved to the stairs, taking each step cautiously. The upstairs was a bedroom. There was a simple bed under a tattered picture of his Papa with the words "Ranboo my beloved" on it. Michael teared up as he saw his Papa's face for the first time in over 200 years.

"Papa..." Michael whispered, brushing his fingers over the old paper.

"He was a good man." Techno said, "Tubbo too."

The two heard a small meow. Michael jumped back as a black cat crawled into the bed. Techno tilted his head.

"I didn't know Ranboo had a cat..." Techno hummed, "what's their name?"

Michael pat the cats head. The cat purred, pushing their head into Michaels hand. Michael smiled, looking at the red collar.

"Enderchest." Michael said.

Techno rolled his eyes, "definitely Ranboo's cat."

Michael laughed, picking up the cat, "hey Techno?"

The older piglin hummed.

Michael turned to him with a serious expression, "I want to talk to Tommy."

Chapter Text

Two piglins walked out of the portal. One had long, pink hair, his face covered by an ornate, gold, pig-styled helmet. Gold and emeralds hung from his ears and the thick furs he wore. Scars decorated his skin like precious jewels decorated a king.

The second piglin was smaller, though he still reached the hight of the first. He wore a similar mask on his head with an emerald dangling from his ear. His furs were newer, cleaner than the others. Less scars littered his pink skin.

The two piglins walked down the path. It was about midday as they passed by decrepit buildings. The sun warmed the gold masks, making the smaller piglin sigh.

"Here we are." Techno said, stopping in front of a small hut in the side of a hill.

Michael nodded. Techno knocked on the old wooden door. There was silence in response. Techno hummed, pushing open the door open. The inside was dark. A half burned torch simmered on the wall. The other wall, up by the ceiling, was eight red eyes staring at them.

"Tommy?" Techno called softly, taking a step in.

"Maybe he's not home?" Michael suggested, following Techno.

Techno shook his head, "Tommy hasn't left his house in a hundred years."

Michael nodded, moving to look at the spider in the corner of the house, "Shroud..."

Techno hummed, "he always had a strange taste in pets."

Michael smiled, placing a hand on the glass. Shroud nuzzled the glass where the piglins hand was. Suddenly, the iron door next to them slammed open.

"Get away from Shroud!" A boy yelled, waving an iron sword around.

Michael jumped back, readying his own sword for a fight. The boy had blonde hair with a white streak in it, dirtied from being unwashed. He wore a red and white shirt, as well as a red bandana around his neck and a green one on his arm. The boys eyes widened.

"Techno..." He whispered.

"Over here Tommy." Techno sighed, leaning against the chests.

Tommy jumped, looking between two piglins, "who's the other guy?"

"I'm Michael." The piglin said, "I'm Ranboo and Tubbo's son."

Tommy's eyes went wide, angry, "W-what do you want?"

"We want to know if you have any idea where Ranboo is." Techno said.

"Why?" Tommy growled, "why do you want to find... Him..."

"He's my Papa." Michael said, pulling out a book, "he wrote about you in his book, see?"

Tommy glanced over the pages Michael shows him. He flinched back, turning his head as if the words physically attacked him.

"I just want to find him." Michael sighed, "he's all I have left after Dad die-"

"Tubbo's not dead!" Tommy shouted.

Techno sighed heavily, taking his helmet off, "Tommy, we've been over this-"

"No! He's not dead!" Tommy yelled, "if he was dead, he would be a ghost! I've looked everywhere for him! There's no fucking ghost!"

"You didn't come back as a ghost." Techno said.

"I wasn't killed by someone close to me!" Tommy screamed, "Tubbo was killed by... By him!"

Michael gasped, looking between the two, "W-what?"

Tommy turned to Michael, "you didn't know?"

Michael shook his head, tears filling his eyes, "Papa... Killed Dad?"

"Michael, I didn't want you finding out like this-" Techno took a step towards the younger piglin.

"Why didn't you tell me before!?" Michael cried, taking off his mask, "I-I've spent all this time! Thinking that maybe I could find Papa, and we could be a happy family again! Techno I-! I thought I could trust you!"

"Michael wait!" Techno yelled as the younger threw his mask on the ground and ran out the door.

Michael didn't know where he was going. He just didn't want to go back to the Arctic Empire. The piglin ran the opposite way. Away from Snowchester. Away from the Empire. Away from everyone. His tears blinded him as he ran down old stairs. He didn't stop running until the ground ran out from under his feet.

He fell down vines and plants, landing in a pool of water at the bottom of a giant hole. Michael looked around with bleary eyes. Sheer cliffs surrounded him. Giant mushrooms sprouted from the bedrock. And behind him, was a large flag. Black, yellow, red, blue, and white.

Michael curled up by the base of the flag, sobbing into his knees. Why didn't Techno tell him? Papa killed Dad. That didn't make sense to him. Papa loved Dad, he wouldn't hurt him! But then again, he thought his dad's would never leave him...

"Hey! You piglin from five years past!" A voice echoed down in piglin.

Michael looked up, seeing Puffy standing on a bridge above him. His eyes went wide. Had it really been five years? It felt like 200...

"Puffy!?" Michael called back, standing up.

The woman placed water on the bridge, creating a waterfall for Michael. Michael swam up. The piglin climbed over the fence post, breathing heavily.

"Thank you." Michael said.

Puffy blinked, then smiled, "you learned English?"

"Oh! Uh, yeah." Michael shrugged, "I guess last time we met I only knew piglin... Thank you for that by the way."

"It's no problem!" Puffy laughed, "I assume you found Techno?"

A look of hurt crossed Michaels face, "yeah..."

Puffy frowned, "hey, what's wrong?"

"When I found Techno, he told me Dad died..." Michael said, "he didn't tell me who killed him, and I never really asked but- I-It was Papa who killed him! Techno never told me! He just-! He encouraged me to find Papa, but I-I don't know-!"

Puffy pulled Michael into a hug as he cried, "it's okay. Did he tell you what happened that night?"

Michael shook his head, "I-I kinda ran out..."

Puffy chuckled, "okay, sit down. I'll tell you what happened."

Michael nodded. He sat down on the bridge, tucking his knees to his chest. Puffy sat down with a sigh.

"Alright." Puffy started, "Ranboo... He was a good kid. A lot like you actually! Nervous, sweet, friendly to everyone he met. No one knew at the time, but he would sometimes go into what he called the Enderwalk. His eyes would glow purple, and he would talk in a different language. He acted differently, more confident, more decision making. And one night, Ranboo entered the Enderwalk. He went to Snowchester, he tried to get into your room, but Tubbo stopped him. Then Ranboo killed Tubbo."

Puffy let out a sigh, "the whole SMP could hear Ranboo scream when he came out of the Enderwalk. My son, Foolish, was there at the time. He ran over and found Ranboo panicking over Tubbo's body. Foolish tried to help, but Ranboo went into the Enderwalk again. He chased Foolish away from Tubbo and Snowchester. By the time anyone could get into Snowchester again, Tubbo and Ranboo were gone."

Michael was quiet as Puffy finished the story. So that's what happened. Papa went into the Enderwalk. Maybe that's why Techno didn't tell him.

"Michael!" Techno shouted as he ran down the bridge, Tommy following close behind.

"Techno!" Michael jumped up, throwing himself at the other piglin.

"Michael!" Techno sighed as he hugged the younger, "I'm sorry. I should have told you, I-"

"It's okay." Michael said, pulling away slightly, "I get it now. Puffy told me."

Techno looked at the sheep-hybrid, "thank you."

Puffy nodded, looking to Tommy, "hey kid, it's been a while."

Tommy shrugged, "yeah. Nice to see you Pussy."

"It's Puffy." The sheep-hybrid corrected, but there was no real bite to her words, "it's nice to see you again."

Tommy's cheeks tinted red as he turned away. Puffy smiled, patting the boys head.

"I have to get back to Michelle now." Puffy said.

"Michelle?" Tommy asked.

"My daughter!" Puffy laughed, "she's a zombie piglin like Michael. You should come meet her some time!"

Michael nodded, "okay."

Puffy paused for a moment, looking at Michael and Tommy "you know, if anyone can find Ranboo, I think it would be you two."

"What?" Tommy asked, "why us?"

Puffy shrugged, "he loved both of you."

With that, Puffy walked off. Tommy gave Michael a quick glance before the blonde boy turned away. Techno stepped toward Michael, pig-mask in hand.

"Michael, I don't know if you want this back but..." Techno held out the mask.

Michael took it carefully. One of the tusks had broken off and the right side was dented and scratched. Michael gripped it tighter.

"I'll keep it." Michael said, tying the mask to his belt.

"Are you actually going to look for hi-... Ranboo?" Tommy asked, biting his nails.

Michael nodded, "I have to find him."

"Even after he..." Tommy shut his eyes.

"Tommy." Michael looked at the boy, "that's why I have to find him."

Tommy sighed, "okay. Then... Um... Ranboo had this... Place he went to. I think he called it the panic room? A-anyway, he might be there."

"A panic room?" Techno raised an eyebrow, "Tommy, we searched his house. There's no secret room there, and no Ranboo."

"It's not in his house!" Tommy huffed, "he went there during- during..."

Tommy glanced at the crater below them. Techno's eyes widened in realization, then flashed with guilt.

"A-anyway, one day I saw him sneaking off towards my summer home." Tommy crossed his arms, "that's all I know."

"Thank you Tommy." Michael said after a moment, "are you going to come with us?"

"No." Tommy gripped his arms tighter, "I... I'd rather be alone."

Michael took a step forward, "are you sure? I-I know how it's feels to be alone... It's not nice..."

Tommy looked up at the piglin, "yeah. I'm sure."

Techno sighed, "alright. Michael, let's go."

Techno placed a hand on Michaels back, leading him away from Tommy and L'manburg. Tommy watched as they walked away. So that was Tubbo's son. He reminded Tommy of Tubbo.

Tommy curled up on the bridge over L'manburg. He didn't want to be reminded of Tubbo. It hurt too much. But at least one good thing came of Michael showing up. Tommy smiled at the sun hitting his face. Michael got him outside for the first time in a hundred years.

Michael looked forward at the almost untouched landscape ahead of them. Mountains dove straight into the water. A broken railway extended into the sky, almost reaching a decrepit house on a hill.

"There it is." Techno sighed, "Ranboo's panic room might be around here."

Michael nodded, flipping through his Papa's books. There was nothing in there about any panic room. And no hints on where it might be. Michael sighed, closing the book.

He flopped down on the sand, "this is pointless."

"Heh?" Techno turned to look at the smaller piglin, "why's that?"

"We have no idea where Papa's panic room could be!?" Michael cried, "and we don't even know if Papa will be there!"

Techno sighed, kneeling down as the sun started setting, "Michael. You've never given up this easily. You got Tubbo's stubbornness to thank for that. What's going on?"

Michael hugged his knees, "I just... I want to remember Papa like how he was when he visited me... He was always so nice... I-I don't want to think that he killed... What if he's still like that?"

Techno placed a hand on Michaels shoulder, "I don't know what Ranboo is going to be like when we find him."

"What if... What if he doesn't remember me?" Michael whimpered.

"Then we'll remind him." Techno pulled Michael into a hug.

Michael nodded, crying into Techno's shoulder. And Techno let him. The older piglin couldn't imagine what the younger was going through. 

Michael looked up, seeing a light purple glow from the ocean. His eye went wide as he tapped Techno's shoulder.

"Tech-Techno." Michael whispered, "look."

Techno moved away from the hug to look at where Michael was pointing. His eyes went wide as well.

"Techno, do you think?" Michael asked as Techno stood.

"It could be..." Techno whispered, "helmet on. It has water breathing."

Michael nodded, putting on his dented, scratched mask. The two piglins walked closer. The glow was so faint, it probably couldn't have been seen unless you were right on the beach. Michael dove into the water, following Techno and the glow. To their surprise, the glow came from a hole only a few feet under the surface.

The piglins crawled through the narrow opening. They came out in a small obsidian room, only lit by the crying obsidian on the ceiling. In the opposite corner was a figure, covered in the glowing slime of the obsidian.

Techno walked over to the figure as Michael looked around. He could hear their breathing in the dead silence of the room. He knelt down in front of them. His eyes went wide.

"Ranboo..?" Techno whispered.

The figures chest stopped moving as they froze. Then with an unholy screech, the figure lurched toward the two piglins.

Chapter Text

"Get out!" Techno yelled, shoving Michael out of the panic room.

Michael squealed as he was plunged into the water. He turned to see a dark figure trying to get out, but they seemed to be burned by the water. Michael swam up to the surface, gasping for air. Techno surfaced soon after.

"W-what was that?" Michael asked, treading in the water.

"I don't know!" Techno said.

Michael gasped, trying to stay afloat, "Techno!?"

"Were ok-!" Techno suddenly plunged under the water.

"Techno!" Michael screamed.

The younger piglin dove under the water. He watched as Techno struggled against the figure, though it was hard to see through the bubbles being stirred up. Techno surfaced with the figure. It was too dark to see who exactly it was Techno was fighting. Techno then threw the figure onto the shore. Michael swam over, crawling out onto the sand. His eyes went wide when he finally got a good look at the figure.

"Papa..?" Michael whispered.

The figure turned sharply to Michael. The purple eyes glitched, red and green briefly coming through. The enderman fell to the ground, holding his head as a loud screech came from his throat.

"Papa!" Michael tried to run towards him, but was held back by Techno.

"Hold on." Techno said, holding Michaels arm.

Michael growled lightly, yanking his arm out of Techno's grip, "I've waited two hundred years to see Papa again! You're not going to be the one to stop me when he's right in front of me!"

Michael ran to his Papa, kneeling in front of him. All the purple had been washed off. Steam rose from his skin as the water came in contact with him. He was curled up on the ground, shaking slightly with his arms over his head. Michael carefully reached out, placing a hand on his back..

Ranboo looked up, unfocused red and green eyes gazing up. He squinted at Michael, his eyes coming more into focus.

"... Tubbo?" Ranboo's eyes widened.

"Papa..." Michael teared up, taking off the mask, "it's me..."

Ranboo's eyes went wide, "Michael!"

Ranboo pulled his son into a tight hug, wrapping his tail around the two of them. Michael sighed, sinking into Ranboo's arms.

"I... How..?" Ranboo pulled back, looking at Michael, "you look so grown up... You speak English! What happened?"

"It's a long story." Techno said, standing behind Michael.

"Techno!?" Ranboo stood quickly, but almost immediately fell over, holding his head.

Techno caught him, holding him up, "come on Ranboo, let's go home."

Michael stood. Ranboo wrapped his tail around Michaels wrist, an old habit from their walks when Michael was younger. And Michael didn't mind. The three were silent until they reached L'manburg.

Ranboo's eyes went wide, "wh-what happened here? Everything is..."

"It's been over two hundred years Ranboo." Techno sighed, starting to cross the bridge, "things have changed."

"Two hundred..." Ranboo held his head, "I..."

"You were in the Enderwalk ever since..." Techno let his voice drift off.

Ranboo stopped, "ever since what?"

"Ever since Tubbo died." Techno finished with a sigh.

Ranboo's eyes went wide, "T-Tubbo- wha- how!? N-No! I was just talking to him! I was..."

"Papa?" Michael grabbed Ranboo's arm, "it's okay."

Ranboo let out a small laugh, "look at you... I can't believe you're all grown up..."

Michael looked away, a small smile on his face. Techno continued walking.

"Come on. It's night, we don't want to get caught by mobs." Techno said.

Michael nodded, readying his sword. Ranboo jumped when he saw the weapon.

"Michael! Be careful!" Ranboo yelped, "you could get-!"

"Papa, I'm fine." Michael smiled, "Techno and Phil taught me how to fight."

"Phil's still here?" Ranboo asked, looking at Techno.

"Still here and old." Techno smirked, "he's waiting back at home."

Ranboo nodded, "what about everyone else? Tommy? Niki? Wilbur..."

"There here too." Techno said, starting toward the Arctic Empire again.

Michael followed. Ranboo ran to catch up with their quick pace. Everything was so different now. The things Ranboo thought he knew were all gone. Everything except...

"The community house." Ranboo smiled, "it hasn't changed."

"Puffy and Sapnap have been keeping it up." Techno told him as they walked through towards the portal.

"Sapnap?" Michael asked, "I've never heard of Sapnap?"

"You didn't need to." Techno said, "he stays in Kinoko most of the time. I haven't seen him in years."

Michael hummed, taking out one of Ranboo's books and flipping through the pages. Ranboo glanced over and smiled.

"My memory books..." Ranboo whispered, placing a hand over Michaels.

Michael jumped slightly, "o-oh, yeah!  They were in the chest outside the house in Snowchester."

"Snowchester..." Ranboo ears dropped slightly as he took his hand back, "it's probably abandoned now, huh?"

Michael nodded, closing the book again, "I was the last one to leave."

"How-how long did you wait?" Ranboo asked.

"Two hundred years." Michael said, walking through the portal after Techno.

Ranboo frowned, but followed the piglins into the nether. Even the nether was different. The paths were cleaner, made of cobblestone and obsidian. They weren't as winding, leading straight to the other portals.

"I'm-I'm sorry... That you had to wait that long." Ranboo sighed when he caught up to them, "at least- at least Techno and Phil found you."

"I left on my own." Michael told him, "I was looking for you and Dad..."

"Oh..." Ranboo whispered.

He passed through the portal into the Arctic Empire. The enderman smiled as the cold air hit his face. He didn't realize how much he missed his home. The way the snow crunched under his feet. Michael smiled softly at seeing his dad so happy.

"Is my house still there?" Ranboo asked, his eyes shining.

Techno smiled, "yeah. Michael moved in yesterday though."

Ranboo laughed, "am I being kicked out of my own house!?"

"No no!" Michael cried, jumping towards his dad, "we can live together! O-or I could build my own house-!"

Ranboo placed a hand on Michaels cheek, "Michael, you can live in my house for as long as you want. You're still my son."

Tears sprang to Michaels eyes. He threw himself in Ranboo's arms. Ranboo held him tightly. Despite how much Michael had grown, he was still shorter than Ranboo. The top of his head reaching just under Ranboo's chin.

Techno smiled softly, "so are we just going to stand here or..?"

"Sorry." Ranboo chuckled, releasing Michael from the hug, "let's go see Phil, it... Has been two hundred years after all."

Techno nodded, already making his way to the cabins. Ranboo wrapped his tail around Michaels wrist again as they walked through the snow.

"Do you have any of your stuff still?" Techno asked as they approached the first trident pool.

Ranboo shook his head, "no. Nothing in my inventory."

Techno hummed, tossing a trident to Ranboo, "here. It'll be faster if we fly over."

Ranboo flinched slightly as he caught it, "wait, isn't... Isn't this Phil's trident?"

"Yeah, he doesn't use it anymore." Techno shrugged.

"W-why!?" Ranboo asked, stumbling after the two piglins.

Michael gave him a look as he readied his own trident, "he can fly? Duh."

"What!?" Ranboo gasped as Michael and Techno flew off.

Michael laughed as he landed in the next pool, "Papa's so weird! He didn't know Phil could fly!"

"That because when Ranboo knew him, he couldn't." Techno said.

"What?" Michael asked.

But Techno had already leapt to the next pool. Michael frowned. Why was he always left with so many questions? Michael shook his head lifting is trident to fly to the next pool.

Soon, the three landed by the beacons lighting up the sky.  The moon was high in the sky now, with the stars shining brightly. A door opened from Phil's cabin. Ranboo turned, seeing the winged man staring at him with wide eyes.

"Uh, hey Phil?" Ranboo gave a small wave.

"You actually found him..." Phil whispered.

Before anyone could say anything else, Phil spread his wings and flew at Ranboo. The winged man tackled the enderman in a hug, causing a huge gust of wind as he wrapped his wings around Ranboo. The enderman hugged Phil back.

"You've been gone for so long..." Phil said, still hugging Ranboo tightly.

"It feels like only yesterday for me..." Ranboo admitted.

Phil pulled away, holding Ranboo by his shoulders, "you haven't changed a bit."

Ranboo chuckled, "y-you can fly now."

Phil laughed, fluffing his wings, "yeah, I can now."

The two laughed, Phil's laughter dying sooner then Ranboo's. Phil looked at the ground with a sad smile.

"Do... Do you know about Tubbo?" Phil asked.

Ranboo's ears and tail drooped as he nodded, "y-yeah... Is he really... dead..."

Phil nodded, "do you remember anything about his death?"

Ranboo shook his head, "the last thing I remember was coming home from visiting Michael..."

The enderman gave his son a quick glance, before looking at the ground again. His tail flicked the snow as silence settled around them. Snow started falling softly around them, startling Ranboo.

"Oh, it's snowing." Ranboo smiled, catching a snowflake on his hand and quickly wiping it off before it melted.

Techno chuckled, "did you forget it snowed?"

Ranboo laughed, shaking snow away from his skin, "no. I-I think I'm going to go to sleep now."

"Oh!" Phil startled back, "y-yeah of course! It's probably been a weird day for you."

"Yeah, waking up from the En- sleepwalking is always a little jarring..." Ranboo rubbed the back of his head.

Phil sighed, "Ranboo, everyone knows about the Enderwalk now."

Ranboo's eyes went wide, "W-what?"

"Foolish saw it first." Techno said, "after Tubbo died. He spread the word."

"Oh..." Ranboo whispered.

"Papa?" Michael stepped forward, "it's okay."

Ranboo nodded, "I'm-I'm going to bed..."

Phil and Techno watched as Ranboo walked off toward his house. Michael followed him after a moment. He followed Ranboo into their house. Ranboo smiled softly, seeing everything untouched. A small meow came down the stairs.

"Enderchest!" Ranboo smiled, scooping up the cat, "hi."

The black cat purred loudly, pushing their face against Ranboo's. Ranboo chuckled, petting the soft fur. Michael watched from the doorway. It had been so long since they had seen each other. Michael had changed so much and Ranboo... Hadn't...

"Hey Michael..." Ranboo started.

"Y-yeah?" Michael took a small step forward.

Ranboo turned, smiling at the piglin, "I'm proud of you."

Michael turned away with a smile. Ranboo motioned him upstairs. The piglin followed him, finding Ranboo sitting on the bed, petting Enderchest. Michael moved to sit next to him.

"So... What have you been doing since I've been..." Ranboo shrugged.

"Nothing, for a while." Michael tucked his knees to his chest, "then about five years ago, I left Snowchester. I met Puffy and she told me to find Technoblade. So I did. And I've stayed here ever since. How... How do you know Phil and Techno?"

Ranboo smiled lightly, "I met Phil after the L'manburg explosion, do you know about that?"

Michael nodded, "yeah. Wilbur blew everything up- and Dad was a spy!"

Ranboo laughed, "yeah, but that was before I came here. Tubbo was president of new L'manburg. I met Phil here, and he told me there was an empty house next to his. I met Techno when I moved to the Arctic Empire... After L'manburg was blown up by Dream."

Michael shuffled closer to Ranboo, "how did you meet Dad?"

"I just told you." Ranboo laughed, "Tubbo was the president of L'manburg. He gave me a tour around the SMP when I first came here."

"Oh. Well, what about Tommy?" Michael asked.

Ranboo smiled softly, "I met Tommy in the Nether. I accidentally punched him trying to give him an allium."

Michael giggled, snorting in laughter. Ranboo smiled down at Michael as he yawned. He wrapped his tail around his son.

"Were you-" Michael yawned, "were you, Dad, and Tommy all friends?"

Ranboo sighed, "yeah. We were called the Bench Trio."

"You must of had-" Michael yawned again as his eyes fell closed, "a lot of fun..."

Ranboo paused, "I wish we did..."

But Michael was already asleep. Ranboo gave him a small smile, tucking him in under the sheets. He was pretty sure he has a spare bed in the basement.

Chapter Text

Michael woke up to warmth and sunlight. The sheets of his bed pulled up to his chest, just like they were when he was little. The piglin curled up in the soft blankets. He wanted to close his eyes and imagine that things were like they were back then. With Dad cooking breakfast downstairs and Papa coming through the door. Michaels ear flicked as he smiled. How simple those days were.

He heard the color slowly open, and quiet footsteps leading to his bed. A soft kiss was placed on his forehead. Michael opened his eyes. His Papa was standing over him with a smile.

"Hi Michael." Ranboo smiled, "time to get up."

Michael smiled back, sitting up and stretching, "hi Papa."

"So, what are you doing today?" Ranboo asked.

Michael swung his legs over the edge of the bed, "I think Techno and I were going to train today. Do you wanna watch?"

A look of panic briefly crossed Ranboo's face, but he smiled anyway, "Uh, yeah! Of course!"

Michael smiled and giggled, "Good! You can sit with Phil!"

"Huh-!" Ranboo nearly fell as Michael grabbed his sleeve and dragged him downstairs, "o-okay!"

Michael laughed as he dragged Ranboo all the way down to the training room. He gave a small pat to Techno's polar bear, Steve, on his way. Ranboo's eyes widened when he and Michael got to the training room floor.

Phil turned from where he was talking to Techno, "Ranboo! Are you joining us today?"

"Uh, I guess?" Ranboo shrugged, "isn't... Isn't this the Syndicate training room?"

Phil's face fell slightly, "it used to be."

"It doesn't matter. You're late." Techno said, tossing a sword to Michael.

Michael snorted, "as if you don't look like you just got out of bed!"

Techno smiled and readied his sword, "don't start showing off just cause your dad's here now."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Michael smirked

Phil gently guided Ranboo back to a couple seats at the edge of the grounds. A moment after, Techno and Michael lunged at each other. Their swords clanged, the sound painfully sharp compared to the dull metal. Sparks flew as they jumped away. The pattern continued, each piglin looking for an opening.

Ranboo tensed at each sudden sound of metal against metal. A particularly loud clang that three Michael backwards made Ranboo's tail go straight up. Phil took notice, chuckling at the anxious enderman.

"Calm down mate," Phil chuckled, "Techno's not going to hurt him."

Ranboo crossed his arms with a pout, "he hurt me plenty during our training."

Phil took a moment, "Techno's not going to seriously hurt him."

Ranboo put his head in his hands, "that's not any better!"

"Michael is fine." Phil smiled, "he's a good fighter. Watch."

Ranboo managed to pry his hands away from his face. Michael was easily holding his own against the older piglin. He even had a smile on his face as he swing his dulled sword through the air. And Ranboo thought he looked happier than he'd ever seen him.

"The first time Michael was hurt because of Techno, they were gathering wood." Phil said, a soft grin on his face, "it was the day after he showed up in the Arctic. He had a shard of glass stuck in his foot. Techno noticed and carried Michael all the way back. Didn't let him walk around much for the next week. Ever since then, Techno's always been careful to not hurt Michael."

Ranboo looked up at Phil, focusing on his voice rather than the fight.

Phil chuckled, "if you ask him, he'll say it's because damage potions are a pain to make. But I think he sees himself in Michael."

Ranboo turned back to the two piglins. Michael was advancing on Techno, his swings careful and precise. Techno was having difficulty holding him off. Until everything switched. In a moment, Michael was flat on his back with Techno's sword at his throat.

"Michael!" Ranboo jumped up, but was stopped by Phil.

Michael laughed, moving the point of the sword away.

"You got cocky again." Techno told him, letting the younger up, "and when you get cocky-"

"I swing to wide, I know!" Michael smiled, "but I almost had you that time!"

"Almost." Techno placed a hand on Michaels head and smirked, "but Technoblade never dies."

Ranboo sat down with a sigh as Michael laughed and headbutted Techno in the chest. The enderman wrapped his tail around himself, hugging his knees. Phil hummed to himself.

"What's up mate?" Phil asked softly.

Ranboo shrugged, "I... He's all grown up. Without me... Or Bo... I always... I always thought that we'd be there to watch Michael grow up."

Phil sighed, placing a hand on Ranboo's shoulder, "I know how you feel."

"Really?" Ranboo whispered, looking up.

Phil nodded, "Tommy was young when he followed Wil all the way to the SMP. When I came, I thought he'd be the same energetic child he was when he was little. But by the time I saw him, he was basically an adult. He had gone through multiple wars, and I wasn't there to protect him like I said I would."

"Papa!" Michael called as he ran over, "did you see me!"

Ranboo smiled, "I did! You did great!"

Techno scoffed, "he does better than you."

"Or maybe you just got better at teaching." Ranboo shot back.

Techno laughed, "Niki was better than you."

Ranboo felt his cheeks heat up, "y-yeah, well Niki's been in wars so-"

"Wait!" Michael gasped, "did Techno train you!?"

"A long time ago, yeah." Techno smirked.

Ranboo smiled and stood up, "it wasn't that long ago for me."

Techno gave him a side glance, "do you want to test what you remember then?"

Ranboo held his hand out for a sword. Techno smiled, tossing him one. The enderman flicked his tail as he caught the weapon. Michael watched with a wide eye as Ranboo walked into the area.

Ranboo and Techno stared at each other for a long moment, neither moving for what felt like an eternity. Techno lunged forward. Ranboo expertly blocked, rolling under and getting behind Techno. Before Ranboo could land a hit, Techno whirled around and blocked with his sword. Techno moved the sword around, trying to create an opening. But Ranboo was ahead of him. He blocked every attack with quick  precision.

"I've never seen Techno fight like this..." Michael whispered, "when I fight him he's always defensive!"

"That's because you always go on the offensive." Phil told him.

Michael pouted, "cause Techno's offensive is so hard to block!"

Phil laughed, "Ranboo's always been able to block well. He calls it his main character energy."

Michael snorted in laughter. He turned back to the fight. Michael had never seen Ranboo so focused. He never knew he was such a good fighter.

Eventually, the fight finished. Techno and Ranboo stood facing each other, chests heaving from the effort. Techno's sword was at Ranboo's neck. And Ranboo's sword was at Techno's.

"Woah..." Michael whispered.

Techno moved his sword, "you didn't land a hit."

"You didn't either." Ranboo smirked, lowering his own sword "rusty?"

"Not a chance." Techno scoffed, walking back towards Michael and Phil.

Ranboo smiled softly, following Techno. Michael almost immediately jumped into Ranboo's arms.

"Papa! That was amazing!" Michael gasped, "we have to spar sometime!"

Ranboo chuckled, "um, maybe."

Michael squealed in laughter, hugging Ranboo tightly. Ranboo held him back.

The four of them heard shuffling at the ladder. A string of curses in a British accent echoed through the room. Phil quickly pushed Ranboo behind one of the archery targets.

"Wha-!?" Ranboo asked, "it's just Tommy?"

"Ranboo, trust me." Phil said, looking more serious than Ranboo had ever seen him, "Stay. Hidden."

Ranboo nodded silently. Phil turned around just in time to see Tommy turn towards them. The entire room went silent. Tommy looked at the ground, holding the green bandana on his arm.

"It's been a while." Phil smiled, "how have you been Tommy?"

The boy shrugged, "alright, I guess."

"This is the first time I've willingly seen you out of your house in a hundred years." Techno told him.

"I just..." Tommy shuffled his feet, "I want to say... Thank you. For... Getting me out yesterday. And I'm sorry."

"For what?" Michael asked.

Tommy sighed, "everything. Everything since before L'manburg to yesterday. I-I'm sorry."

"Tommy, it's okay." Techno said, "it's over now."

"No, it's not!" Tommy yelled, "I understand why you felt betrayed when I went back to Tubbo after exile. And I'm sorry for lashing out at both of you yesterday. I didn't know you hadn't told Michael about Ranboo killing Tubbo."

Ranboo felt everything stop. He... He killed Tubbo? I-is that why Phil and Techno didn't tell him who killed Tubbo? Because it was him? Ranboo stood shakily, stepping out from behind the target.

"Y-you're lying..." Ranboo sobbed, tears running burning paths down his face, "I-I wouldn't- I couldn't kill Tubbo! There's no..."

Ranboo fell to his knees, his breathing picking up. Tommy was frozen in place. They actually found him. Tommy grew angry, furious.

"You bitch!" Tommy yelled, "you killed him! You fucking killed him! Your own husband!"

"Tommy!" Techno roughly grabbed the boys arm, pulling him away from the panicking enderman, "that's enough."

Tommy winced, tugging the green bandana out from Techno's grip, "be careful."

Techno let go of Tommy much more gently, "Ranboo doesn't remember anything he does in the Enderwalk. This Ranboo, your friend Ranboo, isn't the same one that killed Tubbo. He's mourning the loss just like you, just like Michael, just like everyone else in the SMP."

Tommy flinched as Techno said friend. He looked at Ranboo, who was being comforted by Phil and Michael. Tommy knew about the Enderwalk. But just seeing Ranboo's face hurt when he knew he was the one who killed Tubbo.

"Tommy, you can't stay angry at him for something he doesn't remember he did." Techno said.

Tommy squeezed his eyes shut and grit his teeth, "it hurts so much Techno..."

"I know." Techno pulled Tommy into a hug, letting the boy cry.

"I just want him back..." Tommy cried, clinging to Techno's shirt.

"I know." Techno sighed, "but I think Ranboo is the only other person who will understand."

Tommy shook his head, "I still can't believe he's dead."

"Because you haven't found his ghost?" Techno asked, continuing when Tommy nodded, "you know, Ranboo knew him too."

"W-what are you saying?" Tommy looked up.

"Ranboo can help you find Tubbo's ghost." Techno said.

Tommy looked at Ranboo, who was still crying. Trails of steam rose from Ranboo's skin. Techno was right. This Ranboo was his friend, and he should be there for him. Tommy walked over to Ranboo, falling to his knees in front of the enderman.

"I'm sorry..." Tommy sobbed, hugging Ranboo, "I'm so sorry!"

"I killed him!" Ranboo cried into Tommy's shoulder.

"He-he has a ghost." Tommy told him, "I-... Help me find him?"

"B-but I-" Ranboo stuttered, "I killed him..."

"I-! I know that." Tommy pushed Ranboo away to look at him, "but please... I looked for his ghost for so long... You're the only person who can help me find him... Please?"

"Tubbo's ghost?" Ranboo looked up at Tommy.

Tommy flinched when he saw the fresh scars on Ranboo's face and hands. He forgot water hurt him. Tommy took the green bandana from his arm, using it to gently wipe away his friends tears.

"Tubbo was killed by someone close to him." Tommy said, "he should have a ghost. But I haven't found him."

Ranboo grabbed Tommy's hand, pulling it away from his face, "Why me..? I ki-"

"If you say that one more time I-!" Tommy took a breath, "you knew him too. Please, help me find Tubbo."

Ranboo nodded, "okay. Okay, I'll help."

"Papa?" Michael hugged the taller, "it wasn't your fault."

Ranboo didn't say anything, just held Michael closer. The guilt felt heavy and uncomfortable on Tommy's shoulders.

Michael looked at Tommy, "I want to help find Dad."

Tommy shrugged, "okay."

Tommy then turned to Techno and Phil, "Are you coming with us?"

Techno chuckled and shook his head, "nah. I'm retired."

"I've got to keep him in check." Phil smiled.

Techno scoffed. Phil sighed and stood up.

"If you three are leaving, then at least take the rest of the day to prepare." Phil said, "we have spare armor and weapons. Take whatever you need."

Tommy smirked, "okay!"

"You're not taking another efficiency five pick." Techno sighed.

"But Techno! I need it!" Tommy whined, "please!?"

"No." Techno put a hand to his head.

Ranboo laughed lightly, "you haven't changed at all Tommy."

"Shut up, Ranboob!" Tommy shot back, making Michael fall back in laughter.

Ranboo sighed heavily, "I thought we were over this..."

"Ranboob!" Michael squealed, "Thats so funny!"

Ranboo chuckled lightly, "mhm. I'm still your father and I'll still ground you."

"Hey! That's no fair!" Michael yelled, sitting up.

"Yeah! His uncle Tommy says thats not fair!" Tommy smiled.

"I'm gonna have to deal with this the entire time, aren't I?" Ranboo sighed, looking up at Phil.

Phil nodded, "he's your problem now."

Michael smiled as Tommy bickered back and forth with Ranboo and Phil. He wondered if this was what it was like back then. Michael sighed. Maybe he'd find out soon.

Chapter Text

Three boys walked out of the nether portal. One had messy, dirty, blonde hair. His eyes were dulled with time, but a new spark was recently lit. A green bandana, carefully repaired and cared for, was tied around his arm.

The second boy, taller than the other two, walked carefully. His tail wrapped around him as he put a slight distance between him and the first boy. He seemed tense, unsure of everything.

The third boy walked with confidence. A damaged gold pig mask was attached to his hip. He was the shortest by a little, but walked in front of the other two.

"So, where are we going first?" Ranboo asked.

Tommy hummed, "Snowchester was his home. We could start there?"

"I was there for two hundred years." Michael said, "I didn't see a single person, or ghost."

"We can still check." Tommy said, starting off towards Snowchester.

Ranboo sighed, placing a hand on Michaels shoulder, "don't think too much about it. He's always been this stubborn."

Michael nodded. Tommy had gone ahead, already a ways down the path. Ranboo curled his tail around Michaels wrist as they started walking. It was a mockingly beautiful day to search for a ghost.

The young piglin felt his breathing hitch as he approached the place where he almost drowned five years ago. He felt Ranboo's tail tighten around his wrist.

"Are you okay?" Ranboo whispered.

Michael nodded quickly, "y-yeah. I'm fine."

Tommy scoffed, already on top of the soul speed tunnel, "Fine is the bullshit word."

Michael jumped. He didn't know Tommy was listening. Ranboo placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Michael, did something happen?" Ranboo asked, concern etched into his features.

Michael shook his head, "no! No! I-its nothing. I just- almost drowned here five years ago... But I'm fi- I'm okay!"

"You almost drowned!?" Ranboo shouted, "Tommy, I might pass out..."

"Papa! I'm okay!" Michael said, "Puffy saved me."

Ranboo sighed and sat down, holding his head in his hands. Tommy rolled his eyes.

"Are we going to get to Snowchester or not?" Tommy snapped, tapping his foot on the bridge.

"Just give me a minute Tommy." Ranboo rubbed his eyes.

"We don't have a minute Ranboo!" Tommy yelled, "we have to find Tubbo!"

"I just found out I killed my husband and now I find out that my son almost died!" Ranboo screamed, "give me a little time Tommy."

Tommy sighed sitting down on the top of the bridge. Michael curled up next to Ranboo, placing his head on the taller's shoulder.

"Papa, I'm okay." Michael said softly, "we're gonna find Dad. And then we're all gonna be okay. And I'll get to be with you and Dad and uncle Tommy. A-and then we can be a family again, and we'll never have to leave each other."

Tommy turned away, his cheeks slightly pink. He's only known Michael for a few days, and the child already considered him family. Michael was more like Tubbo than he thought...

"Thanks Michael." Ranboo sighed, standing up, "let's go."

Tommy stood up on the stone bricks, "alright. Let's go find Tubbo."

Michael smiled, taking Tommy's outstretched hand. Ranboo climbed up next to them, walking side by side with Tommy and Michael as they made their way to Snowchester. The air around them grew chilly. Snow piled up on the bridge.

Tommy jumped down into the fluffy snow, "Tubbo!"

Michael and Ranboo jumped down as well, looking around at the snow covered landscape. It looked untouched by time. The mansion stood tall, still as beautiful as it was two hundred years ago.

Ranboo walked up to the door, gently brushing his fingers over the frozen wood, "it's exactly like I remember..."

Tommy sighed, walking over, "this is the one place I couldn't search. The doors are frozen shut."

Ranboo hummed, fishing a key out of his pocket, "or it was locked?"

Michael laughed as Ranboo pushed the door open. Tommy's ears and cheeks tinted red.

"Yeah yeah, okay." Tommy huffed, stepping into the mansion, "Tubbo!"

Ranboo sighed, gesturing Michael into the mansion. Michael stepped in, his eyes widening at the beautiful interior. Large wooden stairs curved up to the second floor, and massive chandelier hung from the ceiling.

"It's... Amazing..." Michael whispered.

Ranboo chuckled, "it's also unfinished."

Michael looked up at his father with a wide eye.

"Tubbo was going to put farms in." Ranboo told him, "completely automated, he was a genius at redstone."

Michael giggled, "I would have loved to see it."

"Maybe someday you will." Ranboo smiled.

Michael threw his arms around Ranboo. The enderman hugged his son back.

Tommy stomped down the stairs, "He's not here!"

"What?" Ranboo looked up.

"Tubbo's not here!" Tommy yelled, tears filling his eyes, "I thought-! This was the only place I hadn't looked!"

"Tommy, it's okay." Ranboo started, reaching out to the boy.

"No it's not!" Tommy sobbed, "Ranboo... I thought we were going to be a family again..."

Ranboo pulled Tommy into a hug, letting him cry into his shirt. Michael gently headbutt Tommy's shoulder.

"We can still be a family." Michael whispered, "we are a family."

Tommy pulled Michael into a hug, "thank you..."

Michael smiled, sinking into the hug. This was all he wanted. Even if they never find Dad, just being happy with his family is all he needs.

"Tommy?" Michael asked, "W-when we get back home, can you tell me more about Dad? And L'manburg?"

Tommy smiled softly, rubbing the child's head, "yeah. Yeah I'll do that."

"Then why don't we stop at L'manburg on our way back?" Ranboo said, "see firsthand what happened."

Tommy laughed, "yeah! We can reenact the wars!"

"O-or we don't..." Ranboo chuckled, "the bridge is pretty narrow..."

"Oh come on man!" Tommy smiled, pulling Ranboo and Michael out of the mansion.

Michael laughed, running alongside Tommy as they sped off to the L'manburg bridge. Ranboo didn't think he ever saw Tommy this happy since they robbed George's house. He didn't think he'd ever see Tommy that happy again.

Tommy slowed as they reached the middle of the L'manburg bridge. He turned around to face Michael with a smile.

"So!" Tommy grinned, "you want to know the history of L'manburg!?"

Michael nodded, sitting down by the railings and pulling Ranboo down with him.

"Alright!" Tommy laughed, "L'manburg started with me and Wilbur. This dumbass comes up to me and asks me if I wanted to steal all the brewing stands on the SMP and start a drug empire! And we did! We took them from Fundy and Tubbo and we tried to take them from Sapnap, but he turned into the police!"

Tommy sighed softly, "after that, we got Tubbo and Fundy on our side. Sapnap, George, and Dream told us we couldn't make a drug empire here, so instead Wilbur and I built a nation! A nation for only Europeans! We called it L'manburg!"

Michael watched Tommy make grand motions as he continued, "Dream didn't like us having a nation. So we build walls, grand walls to protect us! But Dream gathered George and Sapnap and attacked us! Laced TNT in our base and blew everything up! And he told us this-"

Tommy stood up straight, puffing out his chest in a mocking way, "I want to see WHITE FLAGS! Outside your base BY DAWN! or you are DEAD! NO MERCY!"

"But we never surrendered!" Tommy leaned down, "we fought! We brought Jack Manifold and Niki and Eret! And we fought back against the Dream team! And we were winning! But then, we found out there was a traitor. And then Eret blew up L'manburg!"

"No!" Michael gasped.

"Yes!" Tommy grinned back, "but it's not over yet! See, I had these disks. My most prized possessions. And Dream wanted them! So after we rebuilt, after the fighting had escalated, I gave up my disks for L'manburg's independence."

"Wow..." Michael breathed.

Tommy chuckled, "but I didn't just do it for L'manburg. I did it because Wilbur was on his last life. Tubbo had lost one already, so did Fundy. It was time for peace."

"After that, Wilbur came to me telling me we were having an election!" Tommy smiled, "Wilbur was running, I was the vice president! But then Big Q wanted to run as well. He wasn't even part of L'manburg! But we had to let him. So we set up an election! Fundy and Niki ran against us as-"

"Coconut 2020!" Michael gasped, "Phil told me about that!"

Tommy laughed, "yeah?"

Michael nodded, "he told me about Schlatt, and Dad's execution, and Wilbur blowing up L'manburg! And-and exile and Doomsday!"

Tommy hummed, "so you know the rest of the story, huh?"

Michael nodded, "I hadn't heard anything before that though. It was really cool!"

Tommy chuckled and sat down, "yeah. L'manburg was pretty cool."

"You we're really cool." Michael smiled.

Tommy blushed, "okay, no need to get sap-PY!"

The fence broke. Tommy fell back into the crater, landing with a splash in the water.

"Tommy!" Ranboo gasped, immediately jumping down with him.

Michael followed. He fell through the air, passing the great L'manburg flag, and into the water.

"Ranboo! What the hell are you doing!?" Tommy yelled, "get out of the water!"

"Okay okay!" Ranboo yelped as he was pushed to the nearest shore, "you know I'm fine for a little in water!"

Michael pulled himself up next to his father, "why can't you go in water?"

Ranboo chuckled, flicking water off his tail, "it's my enderman half. Don't worry about me."

"Ranboo you idiot!" Tommy huffed, climbing out of the water, "I was fine! I landed in the water!"

"I'm sorry." Ranboo sighed, "I panicked. I didn't want to lose anyone else."

Tommy groaned, leaning back against the stone cliffs, "it was still stupid."

"I know." Ranboo whispered.

Michael sighed, shuffling closer to Ranboo and Tommy. Ranboo's tail wrapped around him. Tommy rested his head on Ranboo's shoulder.

"I miss him." Tommy said, "Tubbo was my first friend here... We thought we were going to take over the SMP together... I wish I could see him one more time to apologize."

"Tubbo and I never actually had a wedding ceremony." Ranboo shrugged, "we, um, we said we might eventually but... He thought just flipping a coin was enough. He was kind of right, we did get married for tax reasons. But still..."

"I wish I could have spent a little more time with Dad." Michael admitted, "I-I really miss him..."

"I wish I could have been there for all of you..."

The three jumped at the new voice, their eyes widening in recognition. There was no possible way...

"You know, I really miss you guys... Even if you are just voices I'm hearing in my head!" There was a very familiar laugh, "but it had to be this way..."

Tommy stood up, his eyes fixed on the bush separating the shore. He crept up to it. There was no way, he thought as he pushed the bush away.

Tommy's eyes filled with tears, "Tubbo..."

Chapter Text

200 years ago

Tubbo stirred the mushroom stew boiling on the stove. Michael was asleep upstairs, and Ranboo had left for the Arctic Empire an hour or two ago. It was a peaceful night. Not many things happening. He and Tommy wondered around the SMP with Ranboo, causing minor chaos.

The door opened again. Tubbo turned to see Ranboo standing in the doorway. His eyes were glowing purple and he held an unfamiliar axe in his hands. Tubbo sighed. He was Enderwalking again.

"Hello Boo." Tubbo smiled.

Ranboo gave him no acknowledgment, save for an ear twitch. He moved towards the ladder that lead to Michaels room. Tubbo sighed, moving to stop Ranboo.

"Boo, you know you can't see Michael when you're like this." Tubbo said.

Ranboo gripped the axe tighter, "move."

"I can't do that Boo, you know the rules." Tubbo crossed his arms.

"One of you has to die." Ranboo told him, "it's you or Michael. Please don't make me kill you..."

"Who told you that?" Tubbo asked.

Ranboo shook his head, "move."

Tubbo sighed, taking a totem out of his pocket, "if you're going to kill anyone, kill me. This will work, right?"

"You have to be gone... Forever." Ranboo said, "so please! Move!"

"I'll disappear." Tubbo reached up to make Ranboo face him, "I'll use the totem and disappear. Whoever is making you do this will never know the truth."

Smoke trails rose from Ranboo's cheeks, "I'll hate myself when I stop Enderwalking."

"I'll find you again." Tubbo gently headbutt his husband, "I promise. I'll make you know that it wasn't your fault."

Ranboo nodded. He took the ring off his horn, placing it in Tubbos hand.

"I don't deserve this." Ranboo whispered, "for what I'm about to do is unforgivable."

"Then I'll give it back when you're forgiven." Tubbo smiled, pulling away, "it's okay Boo, I'm going to be okay."

Ranboo raised the axe, tears falling from his face, and swung.

Tubbo turned midair to give the two a wave. It was a long two hundred years. Seeing people again after so long felt insane. But so very needed.

Fundy was out on his porch, petting Yogurt who was curled up on his lap, when he heard something he hadn't heard since L'manburg. He looked up to see four boys running through the dense trees.

"Wha-wha-wha-!?" Fundy stammered, "T-Tubbo!? Ranboo-!? Tommy!?"

"Hey Fundy!" Tubbo laughed.

Tommy grinned at him, "hey fur boy! Don't tell Big Q you saw us!"

Ranboo slowed a step or two, "we'd really rather not be exiled for theft... Again...."

"Hurry up Papa!" A young piglin laughed.

Ranboo ran to catch up the the rest before Fundy could get another word in. He smiled to himself. It felt like old times.

"Hurry up Ranboob!" Tommy called, "we're almost there!"

Ranboo laughed, "Enough with the name!"

Michael snorted in laughter, "Were they always like this?"

Tubbo rolled his eyes, nodding, "ever since they met."

Tommy slowed to a stop, shushing the rest, "we're here."

Michael looked over the river in front of them to see a desert with massive buildings and lights. A bright, flashing sign with the words Las Nevadas shone brightly in the darkening night. And Michael could just see a water fountain in the center.

"It's beautiful..." Michael whispered.

"It's loaded." Tubbo smiled, "and since I'm pretty sure Ranboo and I were both fired from our burger jobs when we disappeared, we're not getting in trouble for anything!"

Tubbo grinned, dragging Ranboo and Michael down to the river. Tommy followed excitedly.

"We tridenting in there?" Tommy couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"Obviously." Tubbo chuckled, "now come on. Quietly."

Tubbo launched off, Michael following close behind.

Ranboo sighed fondly, "nothing like getting your son into the family business of stealing."

"Don't worry, his Uncle Tommy will teach him how to do it right!" Tommy grinned, flying off over Las Navadas.

Ranboo shook his head with a smile, "that's what I'm worried about."

And then Ranboo followed the other three into Las Navadas. They snuck into the casino, into the bank where the diamonds were held. An alarm went off. The four boys loaded their inventories as quickly as they could, barely making it out before a shocked Quackity could stop them. They laughed at the close call.

Far away, locked behind redstone in an obsidian cell surrounded by lava and an elder guardian, a masked man smiled.

Chapter Text

Michael laughed as he stumbled through the portal into the Arctic Empire. Tommy fell into the snow next to him, barely able to breathe through his laughter. Tubbo and Ranboo walked out of the portal. A few emeralds fell out of Tubbo's hold and into the snow.

"That-" Michael laughed, "was so much fun!"

Tommy rolled onto his back, "did you see Big Q's face!?"

"He looked so surprised!" Tubbo gasped, nearly falling over.

Ranboo chuckled as he caught Tubbo, "he did basically see a ghost."

"Let's-" Tommy smiled as he got to his feet, "let's hide these before Big Q comes after us."

The for boys laughed and talked as they made their way through the snow. Tubbo got excited when he saw an enderman trapped in ice, then spent the rest of the way to the cabins talking about how he and Ranboo named the enderman Oobnar. Ranboo interrupting only once to mention that it was entirely Tubbo's idea.

Tommy stumbled through the fences as Tubbo pushed him, "hey! What was that for!"

"What do you mean what was that for!? I saw you steal one of my emeralds!" Tubbo shouted back.

"No!" Tommy smiled, walking towards the cabins, "you're hallucinating. I don't have a single emerald."

Ranboo sighed, "Tommy, stop trying to gaslight Tubbo." 

"I'm not gaslighting!" Tommy countered, crossing his arms.

Michael giggled, "I also saw you steal an emerald."

"Hush Michael." Tommy told him, "this is how it works! Tubbo! Recite the rules!"

"Oh my god, Tommy-" Tubbo sighed with a smile on his face.

"Rules Tubbo!" Tommy smiled.

Tubbo rolled his eyes, "rule one: Tommyinnit is never in the wrong. Rule two: speak when spoken to. Rule three: fuck rule three. Rule four: give me things."

"Precisely it, my friend!" Tommy laughed.

"Oh my god, you're such a pain in the ass." Tubbo sighed.

Michael smiled, catching sight of Techno who was by the farms. The boy ran over to the other piglin.

"Techno!" Michael gasped, slipping, and nearly falling, in the snow.

The older looked up with a smile, "you're back sooner than I expected. A-and you have diamonds?"

Michael giggled and nodded, "we robbed Las Navadas!"

"We-?" Techno looked up.

The piglins eyes went wide when he saw the three boys in the distance throwing snowballs at each other. The hoe dropped from Techno's grip.

"Techno?" Michael asked.

Tubbo looked up to see the piglin starting at him. He waved, a large smile plastered on his face. Techno couldn't believe his eyes. Tubbo was alive.

"Hey Techno!" Tubbo shouted, "where's Phil!?"

Techno blinked quickly, "um, he-he's out..."

Tommy threw a snowball at the side of tubbos head, breaking the conversation. Michael giggled, grabbing Techno's arm.

"Come play with us!" Michael pulled the older piglin towards the boys.

Techno sighed a soft smile on his face, "alright."

Michael squealed in excitement before a snowball hit the back of his head. He shook the snow off of his head. Tubbo was snickering, hiding behind Ranboo.

"Dad!" Michael yelled, picking up a handful of snow.

Techno smiled, kneeling down and whispering to Michael, "aim for his right side. His can't see very well on that side."

Michael smirked, "Thanks Techno."

"What are you telling him!?" Tommy yelled.

Techno threw a handful of snow at the boy, "quiet child."

"Hey!" Tommy laughed.

Tubbo laughed, leaning out from behind Ranboo.

"Now!" Techno whispered.

Michael threw the snowball, directly hitting Tubbo on the side of the head. Techno laughed, falling back into the snow. 

"Direct hit!" Tubbo gasped, falling to the ground, "my own son! How could he! Bleh!"

Michael squealed in laughter. Ranboo rolled his eyes as Tommy started coughing from how hard he was laughing. Techno looked up at the sky with a smile. As he layed there, it almost felt like Pogtopia times.

Until a ball of packed snow hit him in the face. The laughter stopped as Techno slowly sat up. All four boys looked at Techno, completely silent. Techno wiped the snow from his face.

"It was Tommy!" Tubbo shouted, pointing to his friend.

"Tubbo!?" Tommy yelled.

Techno stood up, gathering a handful of snow, "Tommy... You're lucky I don't have a potato!"

"Too soon!" Tommy laughed, running from the piglin.

"What do you mean too soon!?" Techno smiled, throwing the snow, "it's been two hundred years!?"

Tommy slipped as the snowball hit the back of his head. He fell face first into the snow. Tubbo burst out laughing, having to cling to Ranboo to keep from falling over.

Phil was flying back from collecting supplies when he heard it. Laughter. He smiled to himself. Tommy, Ranboo, and Michael must have gotten back. It sounded like they had good news. But Phil nearly fell out of the sky when he saw four boys and Techno running around in the snow. 

Tubbo was the first to notice Phil flying above them, "Phil!"

The winged man landed clumsily in the snow, "you're alive..."

"Phil watch out!" Techno laughed as a snowball was thrown at his friend.

Phil let the snowball hit him as he stared at Tubbo. Everyone went silent as Phil walked towards the boy. Warm, dark wings surrounded Tubbo as Phil pulled him into a hug.

"Um..." Tubbo started.

"Just accept it." Phil whispered, "we thought you were dead..."

Tubbo chuckled lightly, "I kinda... faked it..."

"I can see that now." Phil chuckled, pulling away and looking at the other boys, "well don't stop on my account!"

"Actually," Techno stepped in, "if we're going to have a proper fight, we need snow forts."

"Yes!" Tommy cheered, jumping in the air and almost slipping.

Phil laughed, "okay! Two teams! Techno and I are the leaders! For my first pick, I chose... Ranboo."

Ranboo smiled, walking over to where Phil was standing.

Techno chuckled, "alright. Michael! You're on my team.

"Tubbo." Phil wrapped a wing around the boy.

"You made a mistake." Techno smirked, "Tommy's one of the best strategists I know."

Tommy smiled widely as he ran over to Techno.

Phil shrugged, "alright. Half an hour to build a fort. Headshots don't count, hit three times and you're out. Got it?"

"Who's going to be a decider if there's an iffy shot?" Ranboo asked.

"Like a ref?" Techno said, "you think we need that?"

Ranboo shrugged, "it's possible..."

"Well lucky for you, I showed up."

Wilbur stood by the fence, smirking lightly.

"Wilbur!" Michael gasped, running to hug the man.

"Michael-!" Ranboo and Tubbo shouted, both reaching for their son.

"Wil!" Phil smiled, "it's been a while! How are you?"

Wilbur chuckled as he and Michael walked over, "well I saw four gremlins running out of Las Nevadas with armloads of diamonds."

Techno nodded, "and your sessions with Puffy?"

"Attending all of them." Wilbur put his hands up, "and according to Puffy, doing very well."

"Sessions? What sessions?" Tommy asked, slowly moving behind Techno.

Wilbur gave him a small smile, "therapy sessions, Tommy. Phil, um, forced me into them after Tubbo die- er, disappeared? Honestly I'm not sure what happened there..."

"I faked my death." Tubbo shrugged.

"Okay..." Wilbur nodded slowly, "well, to catch you up on the past two hundred years, Big Q and I talked after Ranboo and Tubbo disappeared, well after a few therapy sessions, and I took Tubbo's old job at Las Nevadas."

"That's really cool." Ranboo smiled, "what happened to the van?"

"It was integrated as a part of the drive through." Wilbur told them, "though I can't say I'm surprised you didn't see it as you were running."

"Wait, why were you running from Las Nevadas?" Phil asked, turning to the boys.

"We robbed it." Tubbo smiled.

"You what!?" Phil's wings flared.

Wilbur laughed, stepping in, "Big Q is okay with it! He's relieved that Tubbo and Ranboo are alive. Everyone on the SMP is. The place has never been so alive!"

"What do you mean?" Ranboo asked.

Wilbur sighed, "after Tommy locked himself away... There was no reason for people to interact anymore. Everyone kept pretty much to themselves and their places. Kinoko Kingdom is completely isolated. No one visits Las Nevadas. The prison is nearly falling apa-"

"What!?" Tommy gasped, staring wide eyed at Wilbur.

"Tommy, it's okay. The prison is still secure." Techno was quick to reassure the boy.

"But-but-" Tommy's breathing started picking up.

"It's okay. You are safe." Phil said, wrapping a wing around the shaking boy.

Tommy looked up at the adults, "Wha-what is D-Dream gets out? He's going to come after Tubbo! A-and me! And-and maybe Ranboo!"

"Tommy, that's not going to happen." Phil told him.

Wilbur and Michael walked over to where Tubbo and Ranboo were standing.  The boys pulled their son a bit closer to them.

"I think we're going to postpone the snowball fight." Wilbur whispered, guiding the boys into Phil's cabin.

"Is this about Dream killing Tommy?" Michael asked once they were all inside.

Wilbur sighed. Tubbo pulled Michael into a hug.

"Yes." The shorter boy said, "Dream beat Tommy to death in the prison. It was... Very traumatic for him. Dream threatened to kill me once he got out."

"Is he gonna be okay?" Michael asked.

Ranboo placed a hand on his back, "of course Michael. Tommys going to be okay."

Wilbur took a seat across from the three boys, "I can tell you're worried about my feelings towards Dream. I want to reassure you that, after therapy, I... No longer idolize Dream."

"Oh." Ranboo said, "that's... Good?"

Wilbur nodded, "Puffy helped me gain the memories Ghostbur had. I remember everything now. Exile... Doomsday... Everything Dream did to Tommy."

"What exactly did happen in exile?" Tubbo asked, "Tommy never told... Anyone really."

"Well there was the typical manipulation that everyone knows." Wilbur started, "but... Dream forced Tommy to give up every resource he had accumulated between each visit. He forced Tommy to drop them in a hole and blow them up. Then he started beating Tommy, claiming it was for his own good. It escalated each visit. Then Tommy started stockpiling a secret stash of supplies. Dream found out, and he blew up everything Tommy and Ghostbur built. Then Tommy came here."

"What about the tower I saw when I went over there?" Tubbo asked.

Wilbur shrugged, "Ghostbur wasn't there the entire time."

The door opened and Techno walked in, Tommy sleeping in his arms. He went up the ladder as Phil sat at the table.

"He's okay." Phil said, "his panic attack escalated, so when he calmed down he fell asleep."

"When's uncle Tommy gonna wake up?" Michael asked.

Phil smiled softly, "a couple hours most likely. Maybe in the morning, it is late."

"How come I'm not an uncle!?" Wilbur smirked.

Michael giggled, "cause Tommy's more fun!"

Wilbur scoffed, "so you rob one place with Tommy and he's the fun one?"

Michael nodded, "mhm!"

Wilbur laughed. Ranboo gave a quick glace at Phil. He seemed relaxed around Wilbur, but Ranboo wasn't too sure.

"What, um, what did you and Michael do?" Ranboo asked.

Wilbur sighed softly, "I... Taught him how to grill burgers... It's lame, I know."

Michael snorted, "you burnt most of them! No wonder Papa had to cook at the van!"

Tubbo barely managed to choke back his laugh.

"What?" Wilbur asked, "I cooked all the time in L'manburg!"

"And it was awful!" Tubbo laughed.

"I have to agree." Ranboo smiled lightly, "your cooking was... pretty bad."

Phil laughed, "okay, okay, let's not be too harsh on him."

"Thank you Phil." Wilbur sighed.

"But your cooking is bad." Phil said.

"No!" Wilbur cried, setting his head on the table.

Chapter Text

Michael woke up with two pairs of arms around him. It was quiet in the small house in the Arctic Empire, the only sounds we're that of deep sleep and an arctic summer. Life was good. Michael was content.

A snowball hit the window.

Michael ignored it in favor of staying in bed with his Dad's. Another snowball hit. Then another. And another. Tubbo groaned.

"I'm gonna kill Tommy..." Tubbo mumbled, rolling out of the bed and throwing open the window, "What do you want!?"

Tommy grinned up at his friend, his cheeks tinted pink in the cold, "Snowball fight! You still down!?"

Tubbo shut the window. He crawled back into bed, mumbling something about too early. Michael sighed softly as Ranboo's tail curled around all of them.

"Guys!" Tommy whined, coming up the stairs, "we were going to have a snowball fight!"

"Fuck off man." Tubbo sighed, "Ranboo and Michael haven't even woken up yet."

Tommy crossed his arms, "Niki started baking again. Wilbur brought a batch of fresh cookies."

"Really?" Tubbo sat up.

Tommy smirked, holding up one of the still warm sweets, "Winner gets the batch!"

"You dickhead!" Tubbo shouted, chasing Tommy, "give me a goddamn cookie!"

Ranboo woke up just in time to see Tommy and Tubbo dart down the stairs. He sighed heavily.

"I guess it's time to get up." Ranboo rubbed his eyes, "Michael?"

Michael sighed, "five more minutes..?"

Ranboo chuckled, "come on. I think I heard something about cookies?"

Michael shook his head, "I don't want cookies..."

Ranboo frowned, placing a hand on Michaels forehead, "are you feeling okay?"

Michael just shrugged. He felt fine when he woke up, but now he didn't want to get out of bed. The piglin wanted to curl up under the covers. He wasn't even looking forward to breakfast or cookies.

"Michael, you're burning up." Ranboo told him.

"I don't feel good..." Michael whispered.

Ranboo nodded, "okay. Stay here, I'll get some mushroom stew ready."

Ranboo walked downstairs. Tubbo was sitting on Tommy's back, munching on a cookie. Ranboo sighed softly.

"Hey Boo." Tubbo smiled.

"Ranboo!" Tommy yelled, "get him off of me!"

Ranboo laughed lightly, "I'm actually getting soup for Michael."

Tubbo frowned, "is he okay?"

"He's sick." Ranboo sighed, "fever, no appetite. He doesn't want to get out of bed."

Tubbo got off of Tommy, "okay. I'll go see if Techno and Phil have any mushrooms they can spare."

"Both of you go." Tommy told them as he got up, "if they don't have any, you'll have to go searching. I'll stay with Michael."

"Are you sure?" Ranboo asked, "I-I'll stay back! You don't have to!"

"I want to Ranboo." Tommy said, "I... I want to get to know Michael more."

Tubbo hummed, "alright. Tommy, make sure Michael is okay."

Tommy nodded. Tubbo motioned Ranboo out the door. The blonde teen ran up the stairs to where Michael was resting.

"Hey Michael, how you feeling buddy?" Tommy asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Tommy?" Michael whimpered, looking up at the boy.

"It's okay!" Tommy smiled, "Tubbo and Ranboo are getting you mushroom stew right now."

Michael managed a small smile, "I like mushroom stew..."

Tommy nodded, "I like carrots best, I think."

"Ew..." Michael giggled, "hey Tommy?"

"What?" Tommy asked.

"What was your favorite adventure?" Michael asked.

Tommy thought for a moment. His favorite adventure...

Tommy took a breath, "one time, when Tubbo and I were little, Phil had gone to the Nether. Me, Tubbo, and Wilbur were still to young to go with him and Phil told Techno to babysit us. Well, Tubbo and I decided that we were not going to stay in the house the whole day, so we hid Wilbur's guitar. Wilbur ran to Techno and begged him to help find it. And then Tubbo and I ran off!"

"Where'd you go?" Michael asked.

"We ran off to a woodland mansion!" Tommy laughed, "we wanted to find a totem. So me with my wooden practice sword and Tubbo with his bed plush wandered into the mansion."

Michael giggled.

"The mansion was massive." Tommy smiled softly, "there were so many rooms. So many dead ends! Tubbo and I got so lost! Then night started falling. We were low on food. Tubbo and I couldn't kill an animal so instead we found carrots and beetroots in a chest. We started a little farm in the middle of the mansion. We were so proud of ourselves."

Tommy sighed softly, "then Phil came to find us. He was so mad! He lectured us about how dangerous it was and how if he didn't already loot that mansion we would have been killed! But he was also happy we were okay. He took us home and Techno and Wilbur were also so worried. Wilbur made us the worst hot chocolate! But we drank it anyway cause he was basically panicking. Later that night Techno snuck us some good hot chocolate."

"Techies hot chocolate is good." Michael mumbled, leaning on Tommy's arm.

Tommy could feel the fever through his sweater. He frowned. That wasn't a good sign.

"I'm going to be right back." Tommy said, "I'll only be gone a second, I promise."

Michael nodded as Tommy placed his head on the pillow. Tommy walked out of the room as calm as he could, but once he was out of sight he sprinted outside. He pulled the green bandana from his arm, filling it with ice and snow.

"Tommy? What's wrong?" Tubbo asked, swiftly walking over.

"His fever's gone up." Tommy told him.

Ranboo's eyes went wide, "how bad is it!? Should we get him a damage potion!?"

"I-I don't know!?" Tommy stood up quickly, "this is an illness! Not a stab wound!"

"Both of you calm down." Tubbo said, "use the ice for now. If his fever doesn't come down, then maybe we could talk to Techno. He might know something."

Tommy nodded. The trio went back inside. Michael had his head tucked under his blankets. Tommy placed the bandana full of snow on his forehead.

"Hey Michael." Ranboo smiled, sitting on the bed, "we got you some soup."

"'m not hungry..." Michael whispered.

Tubbo held a bowl of mushroom stew out to Michael, "just a little?"

Michael shook his head slightly. The boys sighed. Phil walked into the room, smiling lightly.

"Is he being stubborn?" Phil chuckled.

"Yeah..." Ranboo sighed.

"Don't feel bad." Phil told them, "he hates being sick and will absolutely refuse to do anything about it."

"I think I know where he gets that from." Tubbo smirked at Ranboo.

Phil laughed, "Tubbo, you're not any better! Neither are you Tommy."

The blonde boy deflated, "Phil!"

"Is there anything that can help?" Ranboo asked, his tail flicking.

Phil shook his head, "you just have to wait it out."

"His fever's getting worse." Tommy frowned.

"He's also from the nether." Phil said, "His normal temperature is higher, and his tolerance is higher too. He'll be okay."

Ranboo gave a sigh of relief, "oh yeah... So this is a normal fever for him?"

Phil placed a hand on the piglins forehead, "it's a little higher than it should be, but it's nothing to worry about."

"You know a lot about how Michael is when he's sick..." Tubbo said quietly, "did he get sick a lot?"

Phil laughed lightly, "no. But Techno used to get sick a lot. Zombified or not, piglins are prone to the same illnesses."

"Techno?" Ranboo asked.

"Yeah, when he was young." Phil smiled softly, "overworld sicknesses affected him badly before he built up an immune system against them."

"I don't remember Techno ever getting sick." Tommy crossed his arms.

"That's because it was before you were born." Phil placed a hand on Tommy's head.

Tommy huffed, crossing his arms.

"Just let him rest and he'll be alright." Phil told them.

Ranboo sighed,"I feel like a failure as a parent..."

"Boo..." Tubbo grabbed his husband's arm.

"Why's that?" Phil asked.

"I was gone for two hundred years." Ranboo said, hugging himself, "I abandoned him and I don't know anything about him! He grew up without me..."

Phil sighed, "you couldn't control it. Both of you did what you did to protect Michael. I don't know anything more parental than that."

A loud boom shook the walls. Tubbo gripped onto Ranboo. Phil just barely managed to catch Tommy before he fell.

"What was that!?" Tommy yelled, gripping onto Phil's wings.

"I don't know." Phil said.

Techno ran into the room, "you four need to leave! Now! Get somewhere secret and far away!"

"What!? Why!?" Tommy yelled.

"Dream is out." Techno said.

Chapter Text

Tubbo lifted Michael a bit higher on his back as the four boys marched through the snow. The boys had left as soon as they could, heading away from the SMP. Techno and Phil had told them they'd hold Dream off as long as possible so they could get somewhere safe.

Ranboo walked up to Tubbo, "how are you doing? Do you need me to take him?"

Tubbo shook his head, "no, I'm good."

Ranboo nodded, turning to Tommy, "what about you? How are you holding up?"

The blonde boy shrugged, "I-I'm scared... If Dream finds us, he'll kill all of us..."

"He's not going to find us." Tubbo said, "we're going to get far away from there and we're going to be safe."

Tommy gripped his arms. He wanted to believe that, but there was a feeling in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't shake.

"It's getting late." Ranboo said, "we should stop for the night."

"Are you sure?" Tommy asked, "What if Dream find us here!? We're not that far-!"

"Tommy." Tubbo interrupted, laying Michael on the ground, "Dream is being hunted by everyone on the server, he's not going to get here for a while. Plus he doesn't know where we are."

Tommy sighed, sitting down on the ground. Ranboo sat between him and Michael, worrying over his son. Michaels fever hadn't come down. Tubbo was starting to worry. If his fever didn't break soon, it could be bad...

Tubbo distracted his busy mind by building a small hut around the four of them. They'd stay there for the night, and in the morning they'd continue forward.

Michael cracked his eyes open slightly. His Papa was kneeling my him, a hand on his head.

"Papa..?" Michael whispered.

"We're here Michael." Ranboo smiled back, "we're going somewhere safe."

Michael nodded slightly, closing his eyes again. Ranboo sighed softly. With Michael this sick, if they didn't find somewhere safe soon then he might not get better.

Tommy sighed, leaning back against the walls of the hut. The chill of the arctic set into his bones. What he wouldn't give for a warm place to stay, like his tunnels under the SMP. But with Dream hunting them, would they ever be safe?

Morning came and the boys headed out again. Michael was being carried by Ranboo this time, allowing Tubbo to fall back with Tommy.

"How you doing boss man?" Tubbo asked quietly.

Tommy closed his eyes with a sigh, "Dream is going to find us no matter where we go. We're just putting off the inevitable."

Tubbo frowned, "he can't hunt us forever."

"He can!" Tommy cried, "unless we kill him."

Tubbo's eyes widened, "you can't seriously be thinking of taking him on!?"

"What other way is there!?" Tommy asked, looking at his friend.

"He'll kill you!" Tubbo nearly shouted.

"He'll kill all of us!" Tommy yelled back.

Ranboo looked back at the noise, noticing his friends had stopped in their tracks. The two boys were staring each other down. It fell eerily silent.

Tubbo sighed, "I can't lose you again Tommy..."

Tommy pulled Tubbo into a tight hug, "you're not going to lose me again. I promise."

Tubbo gripped Tommy's shirt, "just stay a little longer..."

"Okay." Tommy sighed softly.

"Now come on." Tubbo smiled softly as he pulled away from the hug, "let's get away from the SMP. Let's start again."

Tommy smiled back, holding his friends hand, "okay."

The boys walked up to where Ranboo was waiting. The enderman wrapped his tail around Tommy's other wrist.

Snow dissipated into desert. Sand was cut off by sharp cliffs. Nights and days blurred together as the boys made their way across the uncharted territory. Biomes would sometimes blend into each other. Other times there would be sharp cutoffs. But the boys kept going.

Then they approached a sprawling plains biome. Tommy tensed as he stepped into the tall grass. Memories of exile flashed in his head. Explosions, manipulation, Dream...

"Tommy?" Tubbo could only nudge the boy as Michael was on his back, "are you okay?"

The blonde nodded frantically, "I'm fine! I'm fine!"

"Are you sure?" Ranboo asked, "we can stop if you need a break-"

"No!" Tommy shouted, "I want to get out of here as soon as possible!"

"Okay," Tubbo nodded, "let's go th-"

"I'm afraid I can't let you leave."

The boys turned sharply to see a masked man sitting on a horse. The mask was cracked and bloody, barely showing the man's sadistic smile.

Tommy felt his breath stop. He pulled out a diamond sword, stepping in front of his friends. The mask tilted slightly.

"Don't pretend like you can beat me." Dream laughed.

"Run." Tommy told his friends, the sword shaking in his hand.

"No... Tommy don't you dare-!" Tubbo gasped.

"I said run Tubbo!" Tommy yelled, "I can at least hold him off..."

Dream laughed loudly, "such a selfless, useless, sacrifice! A death wish isn't going to atone for everything you did!"

Tommy flinched but stood his ground, "I'm done listening to you! Ranboo! Get them out of here!"

Ranboo hesitated, looking into his friends determined eyes. They weren't going to change his mind. Ranboo closed his eyes tightly, whispering a quiet apology to the blonde boy. He grabbed Tubbo And Michael and started running.

"No!" Tubbo screamed, struggling to get out of Ranboo's hold, "Tommy! Don't do this! Please! TOMMY!"

The blonde boy ignored his friend, focusing on the white mask in front of him. He reached into his pocket. Soft purple petals brushed against his fingers. Tommy smiled softly. He wished he'd gotten to spend a little more time with Ranboo, he was a good friend.

Tubbo pushed Ranboo off of him once they stopped in the middle of a dense forest.

"What did you do that!?" Tubbo screamed, tears falling down his face, "we could have helped him!"

"What about Michael!?" Ranboo yelled back.

Tubbo took a step forward, "I could have helped him!"

"And then I would have lost both of you!" Ranboo cried, smoke curling from his skin as he fell to his knees, "I can't lose both of you..."

Michael stirred, looking up to see Tubbo walking away and Ranboo curled up under a tree. But no Tommy. Where was he?

"Papa?" Michael whispered, "where's Uncle Tommy?"

Ranboo didn't answer him. That's when Michael noticed his eyes glowing purple. Something had triggered his Enderwalk. Michael crawled over, resting his head on his dad's shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, sitting in silence until Michael fell into a fever induced sleep. Tubbo came back. Tear tracks stained his red cheeks. He paused when he saw Ranboo staring at the ground with purple eyes, but sighed and sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry..." Tubbo whispered, leaning on his husband.

The next morning, Tubbo woke up on the ground next to Michael. At first glance he couldn't find Ranboo. He felt a spear of panic shoot through his veins.

"Ranboo!?" Tubbo gasped, sitting up quickly.

"I'm here." Ranboo knelt down by his husband.

Tubbo sighed, pulling Ranboo into a hug, "I thought you were gone..."

Ranboo shook his head, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Tommy's gone... Isn't he..." Tubbo whispered after a moment.

"No death message has popped up yet." Ranboo told him.

"We should get going." Tubbo said.

Ranboo nodded, pulling away from the hug, "I'll carry Michael."

The three boys started walking through the dense forest. It was quiet. The forest seemed to shift, making it seem like the trees were infinite. Michael's sickness thankfully hadn't progressed, but his fever had yet to break. Ranboo and Tubbo feared that if they didn't get him help soon, they'd lose him.

"What are we going to do?" Tubbo whispered, "there's nowhere to go..."

"We'll find a place." Ranboo said, "or we'll make a place. Remember the Cookie Outpost?"

Tubbo huffed out a small laugh, "yeah. Lot of good that did."

Ranboo tail flicked, curling around Michael's wrist. He could feel the heat of his fever on his shoulder. But the fever hasn't gotten worse.

Then the forest started clearing. A perfect circle of trees opened up around them. In the center, was a stone alter, big enough to place a house. A large swirling portal sat on top of it.

"Is that..?" Tubbo took a step forward.

"A nether portal?" Ranboo gasped softly, "why would one be here?"

Tubbo lit up with an idea, "maybe if we take him to the nether it'll help!"

Ranboo sighed, "I don't think that will work."

Tubbo's shoulders dropped, "we have to try. It'll at least get us away from Dream."

Ranboo hefted Michael higher on his back, "fine, but if it becomes too dangerous we're leaving."

"Agreed." Tubbo nodded.

The boys slowly approached. It seemed no different from a normal nether portal, but what awaited on the other side wasn't the fiery landscape they expected. No, before them stood a large sandstone castle in the middle of a grand desert.

Chapter Text

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"what is this place?" Tubbo whispered, running a hand over the sandstone walls.

"I don't know." Ranboo said, hefting Michael further up on his back, "it feels... Strange here. Different."

"I felt it too." Tubbo turned to him, "the moment we walked through that portal."

Ranboo looked up at the palace door, his tail flicking, "should we... Should we go in?"

Tubbo shrugged. He walked over to the door, giving it a gentle push. The door creaked open softly. Inside was dark, but clean. As if someone was supposed to move in soon, but hadn't quite gotten there yet.

"Hello?" Tubbo called, his voice echoing in the empty halls.

There was no answer. Tubbo looked at Ranboo. They shrugged at each other and moved inside. Tubbo started lighting the torches while Ranboo explored. The walls lit up with sandstone and royal red carpet. On the furthest back wall was a large portrait of a Piglin in royal blue clothes.

"Is that...?" Ranboo stepped up to the painting, "Techno?"

Tubbo walked up behind them, did footsteps echoing, "it says... Cyberknife? Who's that?"

"No clue, but I think they abandoned this place." Ranboo said, "we could probably stay here for a while?"

Tubbo smiled softly, "as long as we're together I think it'll work."

Ranboo smiled, his tail wrapping around Tubbo's wrist, "let's find a room for Michael then."

The boys started exploring the mansion. There were many rooms, all empty. Some looked like storage, others like offices. But none seemed like bedrooms. That is, of course, until they found the main room.

The room was lavishly decorated with red and gold. Another portrait hung above the large bed, a different angle of the mysterious Cyberknife. Wa wardrobe sat in the corner, mirrored by a dark oak desk on the other side. Large windows were covered with red velvet curtains.

Ranboo set Michael on the bed. The piglin stirred lightly, opening his eye.

"Papa?" Michael murmured.

"I'm here Michael." Ranboo smiled softly, "we're safe."

"Where's dad and Tommy?" Michael asked.

Ranboo's tail flicked, "Tubbo's here, Tommy... He-he's on his way."

Tubbo hissed at him, "Ranboo!"

"We have to believe that he's not-!” Ranboo cut himself off.

"Dad?" Michael tried sitting up a bit, "I'm hungry."

Tubbo sighed softly, then smiled, "I'll get some mushroom soup."

Tubbo walked out, leaving Ranboo and Michael. Ranboo sat on the bed, running his hand through Michael's hair. Michael leaned into the touch. His fever had gone down some.

"Where are we?" Michael asked, "smells different."

Ranboo hesitated for a moment, "I'm not sure... But I know we're safe."

"Safe?" Michael looked up at his father, "What about Techno and Phil?"

"They're..." Ranboo sighed, "they're not here. It's just us, for now."

Michael paused before speaking again in a soft voice, "are you and Dad going to leave me again?"

"What?" Ranboo gathered his son up in his arms, "No! No, we're not going to leave you."

"What if you enderwalk again?" Michael sniffed, "what if Dream comes and kills Dad? What if I can't find Techno and Phil again?"

"That's not going to happen." Ranboo told him.

"How do you know?" Michael cried.

Ranboo opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Tubbo walked in. He smiled, carrying a bowl of steaming soup over to the sick Piglin.

"Here you go Michael." Tubbo said.

"Thanks Dad." Michael took the bowl, starting to eat.

"Why don't you get some rest after you're finished." Ranboo told him, "Dad and I will be right outside."

"Ranboo, wha-?" Tubbo asked as the enderman dragged him out of the room.

Ranboo closed the door behind them. Tubbo was about to tell him off, until he saw the look on his face.

"Boo? What's wrong?" Tubbo asked.

"I think Tommy was right." Ranboo said.

Tubbo shook his head, "what do you mean?"

"Michael is terrified that he's going to lose us again." Ranboo sighed, "he's scared that Dream we will force me into the enderwalk again and then kill you and he'll be alone again."

"Wait-" Tubbo shook his head, "Dream forced you-?"

"That's not the point." Ranboo said quickly, "the point is that Dream needs to go. For the sake of not only the server, but our son."

Tubbo paused, then nodded, "okay. As soon as Michael is better we'll go back. We'll find Techno and Tommy, and Phil. Maybe a few more as well. Then we'll take down Dream."

"Agreed." Ranboo nodded, "but for now, we should rest."

Tubbo nodded too, his shoulders dropping as if he just realized how tired he was, "I have some spare beds we'll sleep in Michael's room."

Ranboo slowly pushed upen the door. Michael was fast asleep, the now empty bowl sitting on the table next to the bed. Tubbo smiled, reaching out to feel his sins forehead.

"Fever's finally going down." He sighed with a smile, "I think he'll be okay."

"Good." Ranboo smiled softly as Tubbo set up the beds, "maybe he'll feel better tomorrow."

"Hopefully." Tubbo stretched out on his bed, "maybe we will too."

Ranboo hummed as he also laid down, "goodnight."

"Night."

The next morning, Tubbo was woken by doors slamming. His grip tightened on his axe. Ranboo and Michael were still sleeping. Tubbo quietly slipped out of bed, his hooves hitting the carpeted floor. Slowly, he crept twords the door.

The noise seemed to be coming from the floor below. Tubbo careful walked down the stairs, trying not to make much noise. Then he heard a voice. Deep, gravely, and pompous.

"There was someone in my palace." Then the sound of a sword being drawn, "I intend to find them."

Tubbo let out a breath. At least it wasn't Dream.

"Who are you?" Tubbo jumped out, leveling his axe at the... Piglin?

The person standing across from him was indeed a Piglin. He looked almost identical to Techno, but dressed in a blue suit and far less scarred. Tubbo thought he looked familiar, and not just from the similarities to Techno.

"I'm Cyberknife." The piglin said, "this is my palace. What are you doing here?"

"My family and I are on the run." Tubbo told him, "we thought this place was abandoned."

"Well it's not." Cyberknife snarled, flicking his cape back, "I suggest you leave before I have to hurt you."

Tubbo laughed, "go ahead and try you pompous prick."

The piglin charged. Tubbo blocked, rolling away once Cyberknife drew back his sword. Tubbo then attacked, but Cyberknife locked his sword in the curve of the axe and threw it to the side.

"Now," Cyberknife smiled cruelly, pointing his sword at Tubbo's chest, "in the name of the imperial government, I will exterminate the vermin in my house."

"Did you say government?" A voice said as a sword sprouted from Cyberknife's chest.

The piglin coughed up blood, falling to the side to reveal another piglin. This one however, was decorated in red and gold jewels, and a fur lined cape.

"Not a fan." Techno huffed.

"Techno!" Tubbo smiled, "I've never been so glad to see you!"

"Likewise." Techno helped him to his feet, "Phil is still in the Arctic, are the rest here?"

Tubbo's smile slipped off, "Ranboo and Michael are here. Tommy... He- Dream was following us... He went to face him. We don't know..."

Techno sighed, placing a hand on Tubbo's shoulder, "it's alright. Tommy can handle himself."

"But Dream-!?" Tubbo started.

"Dream doesn't want to kill Tommy first." Techno said, "he wants to make him suffer."

"So then where is he!?" Tubbo asked, "and how did you get here?"

"I've known about this place for a while." Techno shrugged, "there's tons of interesting materials here."

"Okay, but where's Tommy?" Tubbo said.

Techno sighed, "I don't know. We can look for him later, but for now let's reconvene and form a plan. Where's Ranboo and Michael?"

"Upstairs." Tubbo told him, starting to move twords the red carpeted stairs, "this way."

Tubbo lead Techno up to the room they were staying in. Ranboo and Michael were up now. Michael was sipping on some more soup, but was sitting up and talking to Ranboo who was perched on the side of the bed.

Techno smiled softly, "nice to see you're feeling better."

Michaels eye went wide, "Techno!"

"Hey kid." Techno leaned against the doorway.

"Hey Techno." Ranboo smiled, his tail waving, "Is-is Phil or Tommy with you?"

Techno shook his head, "Phil is still in the Arctic, Tommy is currently missing."

Michael gasped, trying to get out of bed, "then we have to find him!"

"Michael!" Ranboo cried, stopping his son from getting up.

Tubbo rushed to his side, "We are going to find Tommy."

"And kill Dream." Techno said, walking into the room, "once you're fully healed we'll venture back to the greater smp. We'll find Tommy, get back to Phil, and take down Dream."

Michael smiled, settling back into bed, "sounds like a plan."

Chapter Text

Dream seemed to be waiting for them as they stepped out of the portal. Michael was given new netherite armor from Techno, a long with a new boar mask that had decorations of explosions on the right side.

Tubbo was also in netherite, welding an enchanted axe. Techno and Ranboo were much the same, with Ranboo holding a netherite sword.

"Well well," Dream smiled through his broken mask, "Who do we have here? Tubbo! I-I thought you were dead!"

"I got better." Tubbo shrugged as Dream laughed.

"Where's Tommy." Techno demanded, stepping forward.

"He's..." Dream twirled his sword, "around. Not dead if you're wondering."

"He's not that intimidating." Michael whispered, raising his sword, "I say we take him down now."

"No." Ranboo curled his tail around his wrist, "Dream is a lot stronger than he looks. He makes you think you can win and that's when he takes you down."

"Michael." Dream turned his gaze to the young piglin, "Don't listen to them. They've only fed you lies."

"No we haven't!" Tubbo yelled.

"Don't listen to him Michael." Techno growled.

"Or do listen to me!" Dream grinned, "I know the truth!"

"N-no." Michael shook his head, "you made Dad exile Tommy. You blew up l'manburg!"

Dream laughed. He laughed long and hard, leaning on his knees and wheezing.

"I didn't make Tubbo do anything!" Dream gasped for air, "He exiled Tommy all on his own!"

"That is not true!" Tubbo said.

"And l'manburg?" Dream scoffed, "Tommy broke exile! He destroyed the community house! And I warned him! I warned him that L'manburg would fall if he ever stepped foot in the greater smp! The only thing I'm guilty of is keeping my promises."

Michael shook his head, "wha-what about the prison? The whole server put you in there!"

Dreams smile fell. He glared at the piglin. Then the corners of his mouth flicked up.

"It was all part of my plan." Dream said calmly, "if I'm imprisoned, then no one would suspect that I'm the one pulling the strings. Who do you think wanted you and Tubbo dead!? ME! Who has someone under their control to execute it? ME!"

Ranboo flinched back at his words.

"But no one would suspect me!" Dream continued, "and then when all of Tommy's little friends were dead, I'd break out, and he'd have no one to run to, no one to protect him. He'd be all mine."

"Yeah, that's a bit too creepy for my taste." Techno stepped forward, his axe glinting in the sunlight, "Get to the Arctic, find Phil. I'll catch up."

Dream laughed, "You're gonna fight me alone!?"

Techno shrugged, "I beat you before. It's not that hard."

"Techno..." Michael reached out to him.

"Go kid." Techno told him, "I'll be alright. Technoblade never dies."

"Come on." Ranboo pulled his son through the nether portal.

"But Techno-" Michael started, running though the nether pathways.

"He can handle himself." Tubbo said, "he's probably spawning withers right now."

Michael huffed out a laugh, "that sounds like Techno."

Ranboo slowed to a stop, breathing heavily, "Michael? Are you okay?"

"I-I..." Michael sighed, looking at Tubbo, "Was it true? What Dream said?"

Tubbo hesitated for a moment, "I-its difficult to explain... A lot was happening, Quackity was hunting Techno, I was just put in charge of l'manburg by a dead man, Dream was trying to convince me to exile Tommy for burning down George's house-" the boy dropped down on an outcrop of netherack, "I just caved under the pressure."

"Tubbo..." Ranboo kneeled next to him, "it wasn't your fault, and it wasn't entirely Tommy's either... I helped burn George's house..."

"You burned George's house?" Michael sat down.

Ranboo laughed lightly, "we didn't mean to. We just tried to rob him, non valuable stuff. But Tommy accidentally started a fire... He took all the blame for me."

"Tommy's a good friend." Tubbo said, standing up, "so let's get to Phil so we can search for him."

"Sounds like a plan." Ranboo said, also standing.

"Yeah!" Michael jumped up, "besides, back home is where all my really cool stuff is."

Ranboo and Tubbo exchanged a worried glance at their son's wide smile. But then Michael started running off to the portal, forcing them to catch up.

Michael took a deep breath as he stepped out of the portal. It seemed like forever since he smelled the cold air of the Arctic, but it had only been a few days. The piglin was tempted to run off into the snow, but was brought back to reality by a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't go running off on us just yet." Ranboo laughed lightly, wrapping his tail around Michael's wrist.

"Yeah, is rather stick together for right now." Tubbo said, taking Michael's other hand.

"R-right." Michael nodded, "I'm just excited to get back home."

"Then let's go!" Tubbo smiled, pulling the other two to the first trident pool.

Ranboo and Michael laughed, summoning their own tridents. Soon, the Beloved family was flying through the sky, headed towards their home. For a moment, everything was right in the world.

Michael was breathless when he landed in the Arctic Empire. The familiar sight of the cabins was a comfort he thought he'd never miss this much. Ranboo and Tubbo landed next to him. That's when he realized just how quiet it has gotten. Not even a breath of wind stirred the trees.

"Ph-" Michael started.

"Sh." Ranboo hushed him quickly, bringing out his sword.

Michael looked up at his father. He'd never seen his so serious. The sound of an axe being summoned made him look at Tubbo.

"Dad? Papa?" Michael whispered.

"Something's not right." Ranboo said quietly.

"Boo, you stay with Michael." Tubbo told them, "I'll check."

Ranboo hesitated, but sighed, "be careful."

"I always am." Tubbo gave him a smirk.

Ranboo rolled his eyes as Tubbo crept up to the door. Slowly, he pushed open the door. Tubbo paused.

"TOMMY!" The boy dashed inside.

"Tubbo!?" Ranboo shouted.

The enderman ran in, closely followed by Michael. Inside, sitting on the couch, was Tommy and Phil. Tommy was wrapped tightly in a blanket, his eyes red and watery. Tubbo was attached to him, hugging him tightly.

"Tommy!" Ranboo cried, rushing forward to hug the blonde boy.

Tommy winced slightly as Ranboo hugged him. His gaze landed on Michael, who was hovering by the door. Tommy rolled his eyes.

"Come here." Tommy sighed, "close the door on your way, it's cold."

Michael wiped tears from his eye, slamming the door behind him. He joined the group hug.

"What happened!?" Tubbo asked, pulling away slightly, "where did you go? What did Dream-!?"

Tommy flinched at the name. Tubbo stopped in his tracks.

"S-sorry." Tommy took a shakey breath, "Dream he- he let me go."

"What?" Ranboo said.

Tommy shrugged, "he just... I don't know... He told me it's not my time, that I'm not ready... And then he turned around and left."

"Thats... Strange." Tubbo said.

"Not really." Ranboo told them, "it makes sense. Dream wants you to suffer before he kills you."

A shudder went down Michaels back. Tommy pulled him closer, wrapping him in the blanket.

"Hey, it's okay." Tommy said, "Dream isn't going to kill anyone."

"I-I know!" Michael squeaked, "Techno is on our side! No one beats him!"

"It's true." Phil smiled, walking out with a tray full of hot chocolate, "I don't think anyone on this server could take Techno on alone."

"That's cause Techno is the best!" Michael smiled.

"Hey," Tubbo wrapped an arm around Ranboo, pulling him in close, "when we teamed up with Big Q and Fundy, we did kill Techno. Sort of..."

"You WHAT!?" Michael gasped.

"I was still very new to be fair..." Ranboo said, his tail flicking.

"It was mainly Quackity's idea." Tubbo shrugged, "Dream was right about him being more of a president than me. But that's all behind us now! We're best buds, Techno and I!"

"Well, he still doesn't like you being the government of Snowchester..." Ranboo laughed lightly, "wasn't that the reason we kept Michael a secret in the first place?"

"Yeah, well," Tubbo stammered, "I died so I think Techno and I get a restart!"

Phil and Tommy broke down laughing. Then Michael joined in while Ranboo just rolled his eyes.

"Mate, I don't think that's how it works." Phil smiled.

"Sure it is!" Tubbo said, "resurrection and all that stuff. New life, new me!"

"Oh my prime Tubbo, I missed you so much." Tommy wheezed out, "never disappear for 200 years again."

"I'll try not to." Tubbo laughed lightly.

"Wait! Wait!" Michael giggled, "can we go back to the killing Techno story!?"

Tubbo nodded, "ah yes, the good old days of new l'manburg..."

"Hold on, did this happen during exile?" Tommy asked, "cause I don't remember any of this."

"I think, I think it did actually." Ranboo said, "sorry Tommy."

"No, no it's fine." Tommy crosses his arms, "nice to know my best friends hunted down a pig rather than try and save little ol me."

"Oh my gods Tommy, shut up!" Tubbo groaned, "it was Q's idea! Blame him!" 

"Maybe I will!" Tommy huffed, but was quickly hushed by Michael.

"It's story time!" The little piglin whisper 
-yelled.

Phil laughed lightly, settling his wings behind him. Tommy got quiet, a small smile on his face as Tubbo began to speak.

"It all started when-"

The door slammed open in a flash of lightning.

"And I said 'I have this pickaxe, AND I'LL PUT IT THROUGH YOUR TEETH!'"

Michael and Tommy screamed, diving under the blanket. Ranboo jumped nearly to the ceiling. Meanwhile, Tubbo, Phil, and Techno laughed.

"That was way to early man!" Tubbo gasped between breaths.

"Techno!" Michael yelled, appearing from under the blanket, "that wasn't funny!"

"It was a little funny." Techno smiled, hanging up his cloak.

"What-what happened to Dream?" Ranboo asked once he climbed down from the rafters.

Techno shrugged, "we fought, I was about to kill him, then I guess he had a stasis pearl. As soon as the sun set he disappeared."

"So he's still out there?" Tommy pulled the blanket tighter around him.

"Yes." Techno sighed, "but he's hurt. That buys us a little more time to come up with a plan."

"But that's a tomorrow discussion." Phil interjected, "for now you four need to rest. You all look exhausted."

"Yeah, I supposed I am a bit tired..." Ranboo admitted.

The rest nodded in agreement. Phil smiled softly.

"Stay here for the night." Phil told them, "I'll bring out some extra beds and blankets."

The boys made mumbled agreements. By the time Techno and Phil got back, the four of them were fast asleep.

Chapter Text

Today was the day. Michael took a deep breath, polishing off the last spot on his mask. Today was the day they were going to kill Dream.

"Hey." Tommy leaned against the doorframe.

Michael looked up, "oh, hey Tommy."

"So, last time there was a big battle, Techno-" Tommy sighed, "Techno gave me this axe. It's fully enchanted, really powerful. A really gorgeous axe-"

"Your point?" Michael asked.

Tommy held out his hand. A shimmer of light flashed as he summoned something to his hand. A netherite axe appeared. It shimmered with enchantment over the worn surface. The blade was sharp as a razor.

"I'm giving you the Axe of Peace." Tommy said, "just like Techno gave it to me."

"Wait- what!?" Michael stood quickly.

"Technoblade thought I was worthy of having this axe." Tommy continued, "but I'm not. I let my best friends disappear for two hundred years. I couldn't even stop Dream." Tommy sighed, "you should have the axe, not me."

"But-" Michael shook his head, "Tommy, this was a gift from Techno-"

"And now it's a gift to you." Tommy handed the axe over.

Michael stared in awe at the axe in his hands. The wooden handle was smoothed with time, perfectly worn finger marks in the leather grips. The weight was perfectly balanced.

"Tommy, I-..." Michael gripped the axe tightly, "I won't let you down."

Tommy smiled lightly, "I know you won't."

Michael nodded, putting the axe into his inventory, "Let's kill Dream."

The two boys walked out. Phil, Techno, Tubbo, and Ranboo were standing around the table sorting potions and equipment. Phil and Techno had made everyone full enchanted armor the other night. They'd also gone to the nether and gathered soulsand and wither skulls.

Phil looked up and smiled softly, "Hey mate, are you ready?"

Michael glanced around the room. Both his dad's, his uncle, his caretakers. His family.

Michael nodded, "I'm ready."

"Then let's kill this green Teletubbie bitch!" Tommy cheered.

The rest cheered in unison. Then together, they marched out of the cabins, heading towards the greater smp.

Dream was waiting for them on the other side of the portal. His netherite sword glinted with enchantment, and his armour seemed to suck in all light around him.

Dream tutted behind his mask, "Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. I told you to come alone."

Tommy shook his head, "I'm not going to let you separate me from my family. Not anymore Dream."

"Not even for..." Dream pulled out two disks, "your most prized possessions?"

Tubbo's breath hitched, "Tommy-"

"It's okay." Tommy gave him a small smile before turning back to Dream, "I don't care about the disks anymore."

"What!?” Dream yelled, "Since when!?"

"Since I realized that my friends, my family, were more important." Tommy said, summoning his sword, "those disks? They don't mean anything. They're just representations of memories. And guess what? I can make new memories. Memories with my family. My best friends." Tommy pointed the sword at Dream, "you've lost."

"No!" Dream screamed, throwing the disks to the side. They skittered on the stone.

The masked man charged, but to at Tommy. He aimed for Ranboo. But the enderman just smiled. Ranboo expertly blocked, flinging Dream back

"Wrong choice." Ranboo smirked, flicking his tail.

Techno swung his axe down on Dream. The masked man sidestepped, but was hit with another axe. Tubbo got under Technos attack and managed to uppercut Dream.

Dream stumbled back. His mask cracked in half, showing a glowing green eye. Blood dripped from his forehead.

"Clever." Dream sneered, "but do you really think I wouldn't have prepared for something like this!?"

Dream placed a button down, "I HOPE YOU LIKE TNT!"

"NO!" Tubbo and Ranboo shouted, jumping twords Michael.

Phil grabbed Tommy, wrapping them in his wings. Techno smashed down regeneration potions.

But nothing happened.

"What!?" Dream slammed the button a few more times, "this doesn't make sense!? There were stacks of TNT buried there!"

"I know." A new voice said, "it took us forever to dig it out."

Out of a hole in the ground crawled out Wilbur. His face was streaked with dirt and gunpowder, but a smile was set on his face.

"Wilbur!?” Tommy and Dream shouted at the same time.

"Not just me." Wilbur grinned, helping Niki and Jack out of the hole.

"There was a lot of TNT." Niki giggled.

"Tubbo!" Jack yelled, "where have you been the last two hundred years!?"

Tubbo smiled and shrugged, "just faking my death."

Dream growled, "it doesn't matter. I can still kill you."

Dream grabbed TNT out of his inventory. But before he could do anything, a flaming arrow shot through the sky and ignited it. The TNT blew up in Dreams hand

"You actually found them." Puffy smiled from the hilltop, crossbow in hand, "good job Michael, Tommy."

"Puffy!" Michael gasped.

"Come on!" Puffy waved two more figures up the hill, "let's fucking kill this guy."

"Language!" One figure screeched while the other, a blue diamond humanoid, laughed.

"Bad? Skeppy?" Ranboo whispered.

"NO!" Dream screamed, "THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!"

"It's too late Dream." Tommy walked up to him and drawing his sword.

"Tommy wait!" Michael ran up to him. He held out the Axe of Peace, "you've earned this."

Tommy grabbed the handle, "Together."

"You can't do this!" Dream swung out with his sword.

Suddenly Ranboo was there, purple particles swirling around him. He blocked cked Dreams sword.

"It's over Dream." Tubbo leveled his axe at him.

Michael and Tommy lifted the Axe of Peace, then brought it down on Dream. The masked mans body disintegrated into dust. It was silent for a long moment.

Then the cheering began. Everyone had come out too see or help, but was now celebrating.

Techno walked up and drew the boys into a hug, "you did good."

"Techno..." Michaels eye started watering.

Phil wrapped a wing around them, "let's go home."

"Actually," Quackity walked up to them, "I'd like to invite you to Las Nevadas. We can have a celebration there! Everyone is invited!"

Another wave of cheers sounded from the crowd.

"I-I don't know..." Ranboo said.

"Come on Papa, please?" Michael begged.

"They have a pool." Tommy nudged the enderman.

Ranboo gave him a look, "that's a reason for me not to go."

"Come on." Tubbo smiled, "I'll cook, no offense Wilbur!"

"None taken!" Wilbur laughed.

Techno shrugged, "I don't mind, as long as it's not another plot to kill me."

Quackity laughed, "Technoblade! You are so funny! No, you'll be safe in Las Nevadas. I promise."

"I'll hold you to it." Techno smiled.

"PARTY AT LAS NEVADAS!" Quackity shouted.