Tears Come From Cracks in Her Weak Skin

Chapter Fifteen

She straightened her tie, securing the pin in the middle of the knot, which was snug against her neck. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her tired eyes were gone, her face had filled, her hairline was covered by thin pieces of hair curled to swoop across her head. She stared at the thin scar that peaked out from under the faint curls.

She would make them proud today.

"You're going to make a monumental president." Said Eret as he sat on the bed.

"I know, but will I make a good one?" She donned her jacket, absentmindedly touching the L'Manburg patch she had sewn on there the night before.

Eret came closer until he was close enough to daintily twist the curls that cascaded down her shoulders into place. He placed his hands on her shoulders, looking at her through the reflection in the mirror. "This nation doesn't need a good leader right now, they just need one that wouldn't side with Dream when given the chance. And you definitely check that box, your kindness and courage will only harmonize with your character and leadership. Trust in yourself, and you will be a great leader."

"Thank you, Eret," she whispered, smiling.

"I'll be downstairs if you need me, the preparations are almost complete. Just let me know if you want anything else for the ceremony." She nodded and watched as he left the bedroom.

As soon as she heard his footsteps quiet and disappear, she grabbed her shoes and tied her hair back, escaping the room and out the back of the castle, careful not to let anyone see her. It wasn't like she was running away, she had a task to complete before she could become president. She followed The Prime Path until she came across an empty space in the land, a clutter of iron doors masking a small opening in the hill.

Dream's home.

She cautiously crawled through the tunnel until she approached the threshold of the room. Just like Tommy had described to her long ago, back when he would tell 'war stories' of the earliest moments of his and Tubbo's life in the SMP. It was cramped with chests full of Dream's most valuable items, stuff too important to carry on his person, but not enough to put in his ender chest. As she shuffled through the items, she couldn't help but feel like she was disrespecting the dead, but then again, it was Dream she was debating the worthiness of respect for, and he deserved none of hers.

At the bottom of the final chest, under the armor and weapons, a fake bottom, a piece of wood that had been painted to blend in with the rest of the chest. She took one of the swords and gently pried it open, placing the slab on the bed beside her. Underneath was what she had been looking for for weeks: Tommy's discs: Mellohi and Cat. There they were. Carefully wrapped in black cloth, virtually unharmed. There they were, the cause of so many conflicts, so many deaths. But she couldn't help but be happy she had found them. They belonged with Tommy, not wasting away in a hidden chest, forbidden to see the light of day.

She rewrapped the discs in the cloth and carefully tucked them away in her coat, returning to the tunnel she came in through. The sun was almost in the middle of the sky now, she had to hurry if she wanted this visit to have sentiment. She crossed The Prime Path, past the towers, and found herself in front of the entranceway of Pogtopia. Tommy's, Tubbo's, and Techno's graves had already been moved to L'Manburg, but remnants of memories still remained, the horse hole, the hidden entryway, the trees that landmarked their temporary home. She wondered what memories they made here without her. She wondered what memories they made here because of her.

The sun was higher now, almost midday. The ceremony would be starting soon, they would be looking for her. As if she summoned him with her thoughts, she heard Karl's footsteps behind her, "There you are! Eret was just about to send out a search party! Are you okay?"