How to take down an empire with voices in your head

13. The Badlands

The four followed the map to the Badlands, talking of a plan.

"So, first off," Tubbo started, "Are we all egg free?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means the egg won't control us, duh Techno."

"Oh," Techno nodded, "Yup, been around that weird thing twice and nothing happened. So I would assume so."

"I think I've been around it once," Phil popped in, "Nothing happened as well."

Tubbo nodded and turned to Ranboo, "What about you?"

"Uh," Ranboo tried to think back, "I think I've been around it yeah."

"So we're all clear?" Tubbo smiled, "That's great!"

"Now none of us are going to go all 'betrayal' on each other," Techno added.

Ranboo nodded, "Tubbo what happened when you went around the egg?"

"It made me cry," Tubbo stated, "It was me and Tommy. Tommy's immune to the egg somehow, but it said awful things to me."

"Aww, sorry mate," Phil placed a hand on Tubbo's shoulder.

"Man, we're going to be high school bullies and beat up the egg," Techno pointed forward, "That egg is going to be scrambled real soon."

"It's not the egg we're heading to," Ranboo told him, "We're heading for the Badlands."

"Oh, forgot."

"That's more Ranboo's thing," Tubbo teased, making the others laugh.

"He is quite forgetful," Phil nodded, "Don't know why, but he just is."

"It's alright man," Techno elbowed Ranboo, "I'll just start forgetting things as much as you do and then you won't be alone."

Ranboo chuckled at their jokes, "Yeah, I don't know why I'm just always forgetting things."

Tubbo's laugh faded out as he pointed to a broken sign, "Looks like we're here."

They all turned to see the sign, "This is the Badlands"

"There's a note on it," Techno ran up to the sign.

"Congrats, you've made it."

"Wow, they're so dry," Tubbo sighed, "Thought it would be something spooky and mysterious ya know?"

"I did too Tubbo," Techno agreed, "They never really put that much effort in being a cool and spooky villain team."

"So," Ranboo shifted to look at the rest of the lands, "Do we just go in farther?"

"I mean it's the only thing I think we can do," Phil said.

"Then let's go," Techno and Tubbo walked off.

Ranboo and Philza felt the same about Techno's and Tubbo's eagerness yet wierd calmness about walking into the territory.

"I think they're fine," Phil said but it more sounded like he was trying to assure himself.

"Weird thought, but maybe they miss all this."

"All of what?"

"The war, the fighting," Ranboo carried on, "That's what it was like back then. Maybe they miss the adrenaline and the sense of being when your fighting on a team. Even if there was fights and all that, times were simple back then."

"Maybe it's not such a weird thought," Phil nodded his head as they watched the sun in the sky.

Then they watched as Techno and Tubbo seemed to be exploring around the Badlands with much fun.