ꜰᴀʟʟᴏᴜᴛ (ᴅꜱᴍᴘ) (ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ)

𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖓

𝔄𝔠𝔠𝔢𝔭𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢

A day came and went, as did another and another. By the end of the week, the makeshift family had been traveling nonstop, and everyone was exhausted. But, on the final day of travel, some strange occurrences began to appear, some which entertained the group, while others brought a sadden realization to one member in particular.

***

It was early morning, mere minutes after the group of four had packed up their belongings and began on their way once more, when Tubbo realised his bee from the first couple days of travel had once again returned. The bee, buzzing in the air happily, flew around and beside Tubbo, occasionally venturing out towards Ranboo, who had become more comfortable around his friends following the past few days. No other incidents had occurred during the group's travel, which everyone, but especially Ranboo, was grateful for.

The bee, however, began to act strangely as the day progressed. At first, Tubbo believed he was going insane, hearing voices, bees speaking to him. He kept the whispers to himself for a while, but as the sun continued to rise and the words continued to float through his ears from the small bee which would not leave, Tubbo decided he could only tell one person; the enderling with the voices in his head.

"And you can hear this bee?" Ranboo asked, as the two walked side by side. The bee flew in circles around Ranboo's head, almost like it was taunting him.

"Yeah, it's like whispering to me, telling me things," Tubbo said, "it reminds me of Tommy".

"The bee?" Ranboo asked, Tubbo nodding in response. "Why are you coming to me about this? You think I know anything about bees speaking to people? I mean, I'm going to help, but why me?"

"Because of the voices in your head. You do have voices in your head, right?" Tubbo asked, fearing that Ranboo didn't know anything about voices in someone's head.

"I hear voices, yes, the voices of my ender side," Ranboo said, relieving Tubbo of his fear, "But all my ender side tells me to do is really violent things like murder. What is this bee whispering to you?"

Tubbo raised an eyebrow in question at Ranboo's first statement, but decided not to push it. He knew that Ranboo's ender side was anything but kind, and he knew better than to question it. "I'm not really sure, sometimes I can't understand the bee well, other times it says things that sound like 'I'm sorry' and 'Don't feel bad". It's not Tommy, right? It can't be, he's dead".

Ranboo glanced over at the bee, who had settled itself on Tubbo's rucksack. "I mean, it could be," Ranboo said carefully. He didn't want to give Tubbo false hope about Tommy being able to communicate with them, but he also didn't know the limitations of the spirit world...if there even was a spirit world. In truth, Ranboo knew nothing of the situation, so he tried to be careful with his words. "We don't know about death, so we can't really be sure, now can we?"

"But does this not prove that something happens afterwards? Like, bees cannot talk, we know this. Animals can't talk. But I am hearing whispers. What if he isn't actually dead?" It seemed the one thing that Ranboo was hoping to avoid, getting Tubbo's hopes up that Tommy isn't actually dead, had just happened.

Things were not going Ranboo's way. "That's not what I meant," He tried, "I'm just saying you shouldn't keep your hopes up that it's Tommy. Or if it is, I think you should listen to him. He said that he was sorry, right? But also not to feel bad. I think he wants you to forgive him for dying". Ranboo had changed tactic halfway through, wondering if using Tommy would get to Tubbo better than not using him.

"Forgive him? For dying?" Tubbo questioned, before the realization of understanding hit him. "You think he's mad at me for wanting to bring him back?" Tubbo asked defensively.

"No! I just don't think he wants you to bring him back if it means hurting yourself in the process. Dream is dangerous, and we are days away from the SMP; it would take days to get back, and then you would have to get through Dream. I don't think Tommy would want you to harm yourself, and others, because others always get hurt when Dream is involved, just to bring him back. Let him rest, Tubbo. He deserves it".

Tubbo went silent for a few minutes, before sighing with defeat. "If I stop trying to bring him back I'm giving up on him. I won't give up on him," He said, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke. Tears pricked at his eyes, but he refused to let himself cry. He was stronger then this.

"Giving up on him and letting him be are two different things," Ranboo said kindly, "I think Tommy wants to rest now". Tubbo looked sadly towards the bee, which had settled happily on the canvas bag he carried.

"I don't want to let him go," Tubbo said quietly, "I have to let him go". Ranboo grabbed Tubbo's free hand and squeezed it to comfort his friend; Ranboo didn't know how to comfort people, but he thought he was going alright.

The bee stayed with them a while longer, but as the sun began to disappear behind the mountain peaks, it took it's leave. Tubbo watched it until it disappeared into the forest, a single tear escaping from his eyes. Wiping it away quickly, Tubbo hurried over towards where Ranboo was, collecting firewood. Neither one of the boys said anything to the other, just worked in silence to collect firewood.

***

It had grown darker now, the fire illuminating the faces from the friends. The stars were splashed out and on display above their heads; Schlatt felt strangely at ease. His little bee friend was long gone. It had served its purpose, but Schlatt was positively exhausted now. Manipulating animals was tiring work, but he had completed what he had set out to do. Tommy and Will were no longer at risk for being resurrected, Tubbo had found peace in Tommy's death and was on the road to moving on. Schlatt had done what he had set out to do. Now, he could rest. 

****

(1060 words)

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