Dream SMP Short Story: Tommy's Nightmare

Tommy lies awake in bed under his white tent, willing for sleep to come. His thoughts have been racing since night fell, and he hasn't been able to get comfortable since he laid down several hours ago. Gradually, he is able to still, and his tired eyes relax as he at last achieves some sense of comfort. However, his peace doesn't last for very long. His eyebrows furrow and a nervous frown distorts his face as he fidgets and mutters in his sleep. It is obvious he is dreaming about something unpleasant.

In his dream, he opens his eyes. He realizes he is standing just outside L'Manburg. The spruce buildings, the floating lanterns, the flags... he's home, he's finally home! Joy threatens to make him burst as he dashes straightaway onto the wooden path, basking in the sight. At once, he spots his friends gathered in a group on the central platform. His friends! Tubbo! He hollers in joy, finally seeing his besuited best friend and nation for the first time in weeks, and pounds towards them. Tubbo's back is turned, talking to everyone else.

"Tubbo!" Tommy practically screams his friend's name, excitement and happiness pouring out of him. "Tubbo, it's me! I'm here! I'm home!"

But Tubbo doesn't turn around. In fact, nobody does. He's focused on a pleasant conversation between him, Fundy, and Ranboo, evidently oblivious to the fact that Tommy is yelling his name. No one else seems to hear him either; they all seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, in fact. Confused, Tommy slows and approaches his friends more cautiously. "...Tubbo?" he asks and, when his friend still doesn't turn, places a steady hand on his shoulder.

Tubbo turns to look at him, and Tommy's eyes brighten. "Tubbo, I'm back! I'm home!" Tommy can't help but give a genuine, toothy smile, unable to hold still while he waits for his friend to respond.

But Tubbo's eyes are blank. He tips his head to one side, looking concerned. "Wha... who... are you?" he queries.

"What... Tubbo, it's me! Tommy! I—I'm home...!" Tommy stammers in confusion. What is going on? He leans forward. "Don't—don't you recognize me...?" But no light of recognition sparks in his friend's eyes, only ominous blankness. In fact, the emptiness seems to be being replaced by... something Tommy has only seen once before.

Threat?

The rest of his friends slowly turn their attentions to Tommy, expressions vacant. Tommy takes a nervous pace back, eyeing his friends in puzzlement. "Guys, what's going on? Surely I haven't been gone for so long that you've all forgotten me, right fellas?" he laughs lightheartedly. But his friends' expressionless stares unnerve him; his voice quivers and he becomes disoriented.

All at once, the sky darkens. Startled, Tommy looks up. It was just midday; what happened to the sun? He immediately freezes in alarm when his eyes land on the gargantuan, rising obsidian walls that had just appeared around the nation, blotting out the sun. The walls are growing and growing at an impossible rate and Tommy stares, dumbfounded, as they approach the block limit. The country falls into darkness, and it seems almost as though the walls themselves are emitting an eerie, frightful ambiance. Alarmed, Tommy returns his gaze to his friends, but they have completely vanished. Instead, a single man stands alone where his friends had moments before. His green cloak billows beneath scathed netherite armor, and a sickeningly familiar white mask smiles cruelly at him.

Now silence grips the landscape, broken only by the low howl of wind high above the encased town. Terror rips through Tommy, but he stands his ground, allowing hate to seep through him. This green bastard has caused enough pain as it is; what was he doing here now? Mustering his courage, Tommy clenches his fists. "What did you do?" he demands. "What did you do to my friends?"

Dream doesn't move. "I think the better question, Tommy..." he drawls, "is what did you do to your friends?" But before Tommy can respond, his masked enemy vanishes in a cloud of purple particles; he must have pearled. Immediately, burning frustration scorches through Tommy and, furiously, he withdraws his iron sword.