Aurora Borealis | Dreamnoblade

【Ｅｎｄｅｒｌｉｎｇｓ】

✧ Chapter 12 ✧

【Ｅｎｄｅｒｌｉｎｇｓ】

"Why did you choose to hide?" Tubbo questions, genuinely bewildered and perplexed at X-Dee's existence as Dream.

They hum, a light sheepish grin tugging at the corner of their mouth revealing sharp canines, "I wanted to experience the world as...as a mortal would, I suppose is the best way to word it."

Tubbo shuffles Michael, who was far more occupied with his Enderman plushie, and nods. He could understand that reasoning, but there was still something that bothered him, "Why didn't you go on to tell anyone like Sapnap or George before...uh, before your friendship fell apart?"

X-Dee frowned, "I can't answer that, not with the state of my memories, sorry."

Tubbo shook his head, "It's fine, I forgot about that."

"But," they continued, "...With memories involving others like Eret and Punz...I just...wanted to experience a normal life, that included hiding what I was until one day they caught on that I wasn't ageing like them or something else happened. Even then only my hybrid statue as Dream would be revealed unless otherwise stated."

A pause where X-Dee tilts their head, a thoughtful expression tugging at pale brows.

"I mean, Ranboo and I never outright told anyone about our familial relationship, nor that I knew Wilbur and Techno prior to them arriving..."

Tubbo can't help but come to realise that the Minecraft family, Dream, Ranboo and even Puffy, Sam and Schlatt all have a...different outlook on life. As if...Tubbo doesn't want to use the word game, because that's not right, just...less in tune with the world. As if they saw the world around them differently and Tubbo supposed that was true.

Especially the older ones, Sam, Philza, Schlatt and Puffy.

All four were older than they appeared, had known each other longer than simply the kids meeting. X-Dee (so Dream) and Ranboo had been introduced to the Minecraft family via Puffy and became close to Wilbur and Technoblade as a result.

At least that is what Tubbo had been able to gather since moving to the tundra.

Puffy had admitted her and Schlatt's elongated life was a gift from Foolish, with who they were very close. The Life god having practically raised the duo, which Tubbo finds hilarious because Puffy had taken to occasionally mothering Foolish if he spent long periods of time building since he often forgot to take care of himself when in that mindset.

Sam had yet to reveal the reasoning behind his long life, but Tubbo suspects there's more to it than outside assistance like Puffy and Schlatt.

Hybrids naturally lived longer than humans already, so Tubbo had already subconsciously accepted the non-hybrids he had become close with, bonded with (such as Tommy) would likely die before him, either of old age or another cause.

(Unless Tubbo was killed prior to any of that happening of course.)

"How—why did you come to the Overworld?"

X-Dee chuckles, "Mother, the dragon that rules of the End that is, wished for Ranboo and I to experience the other Realms beyond the End. It's very lonely there, a dark and endless place filled with the remains of a long-gone civilianization of which Ranboo is the last remaining member off."

What the fuck.

Ranboo had never told Tubbo this. Sure, he had made off-handed comments about his time prior to coming to the Overworld but they were far and few between. Only that it wasn't anything like the Overworld.

"How long ago did these people die off then?" Tubbo frowns, "How is Ranboo the last of his kind?"

"I can answer that!" Said Enderman hybrid (was he a hybrid? Or another species altogether?) appears at the door, scooping up an eager Michael who made grabby hands. Ranboo pressed a kiss to Michael's forehead, then one to Tubbo's cheek, "Enderlings, which is my species, aren't born the same way as Overworlders. I hatched from an egg. Dee found my egg one day while exploring."

Tubbo blinks hard several times as he absorbs the information, which draws a laugh from X-Dee and Ranboo.

"An...an egg?"

"Yeah," Ranboo looked down at Tubbo with such fondness it wasn't hard to see the love in his gaze.

"It's like birds," X-Dee smiles before squinting thoughtfully, "But, uh, they didn't lay the eggs, they just sort of...appear one day and only hatch when it is their designated time? I think it might have been Prime's work, for it created everything that exists. The Enderlings weren't sure either, just forever grateful for the bestowed eggs when a Flock became unified."

"Flock?" Tubbo was slowly getting more and more confused as the duo explained, "Like...a group of birds?"

"...Uh, I never met another of my kind so I can't answer that," Ranboo chuckled sheepishly.

"But I can!" X-Dee beamed, "I lived among them for a time before they Fated out."

Fated out?

"You see, Enderlings aren't like the average human or hybrid, they have no reproductive organs," X-Dee began, Tubbo's cheeks warmed but kept his embarrassed stutter for X-Dee to stop to himself, "Nor do they feel sexual love, since, as stated, they have no sexual organs for said drive. The term humans use is asexual, they love freely and over time come to form Flocks, or prides or whatever word you would use."

Ranboo nods, curling his fingers with Tubbo's, who squeezes back.

Tubbo had known Ranboo was asexual but hadn't known that he didn't—well, he didn't have anything down there. It almost made Tubbo jealous, being apothisexual. Anything remotely sex-related in regard to himself made him feel icky and vile. That also included—

Anyway, now that was over with, Tubbo could ask what had cause his attention, "What did you mean by Fated out?"

"When a species dies out, it is predetermined long before the decent starts," they explained, "The Enderlings had noticed the gift of Eggs had slowed, and so began to piece things together as they were always more in tune with the universe and Prime itself."

"Wow..." Tubbo isn't sure what to make of it.

There was some clattering from the other side of the house, along with some cursing that sounded like Technoblade.

"Dee? Could you come help?" Technoblade called.

X-Dee laughs as they stand, "If you have any other questions, I'd be more than happy to answer."

Then they left the room to assist Technoblade and whatever he was grumbling about.

"It's a lot to take in, isn't it?" Ranboo smiles nervously.

"Yeah..." Tubbo breathes, squeezing his hand again and returns the smile. His gaze drops to Michael when he yawns widely.

"...I think it's bedtime for someone," reaching out, Tubbo lightly pinched Micheal's cheek. He giggle which is cut off with another yawn.

"Definitely someone's bedtime," Ranboo muses, nuzzling his nose into Michael's hair when he snuggles close.

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*Prime is an entity that bears no corporal form and thus is often called it/they/or other neopronouns. It depends on the person. This also spans to the godlings, X-Dee is naturally genderless but can shift their body at will. Foolish took a liking to a male's body etc.

*Also, if not already realised, Ranboo/Tubbo is romantic but both on the ace spectrum, neither of them feeling anything remotely sex-related. I hope everything in the chapter in regards to that is portrayed correctly and if not, please let me know!