Running Out of Time (Tommy Timetraveler AU)

Chapter 3

Walking into his bedroom, Tommy flopped into the mattress, exhausted from today's work. Wilbur had found him a few hours after he finished the festival decorations and pulled him on a tour of L'Manburg, listing out problem after problem to him and putting them all on Tommy to take care of. He didn't get a moment of rest, and to top that off, he had to come up with a plan to ensure his survival during the festival.

"You can't ignore destiny," Technoblade had once said, long before the end of L'Manburg, right after Tommy had escaped exile. "If you could, I would've been free of my voices- of my chains- long ago. The sword is my destiny. I must embrace it. Whatever life has in store for you, embrace it."

Tommy prayed it wasn't true.

His body felt heavy, limbs turning to lead and he sank further into his bed, wishing with all his might that he could sink all the way in and never return.

Why was this happening now? Why, when he had finally escaped Dream, when he had finally freed Tubbo, when he had finally found a home on the SMP?

Was he doomed to relive the pain all over again?

He stared out his window at the setting sun, his eyelids drooping...

A knock at the door made him jump, now fully awake. He looked towards the door, drowsy eyes blinking as he heard it creek open.

Fundy's head peeked into his room. "Tommy? Sorry to intrude your house, but the festival is in an hour. Please be ready." With that the fox hybrid's head was gone and the door was shut, leaving Tommy once again in silence.

Tommy looked up and toward the window. The sun was now high in the sky and he realized with a jolt that it was almost noon. He struggled to his feet and rushed to the closet. A suit hung on a hanger with a red tie and L'Manburg flag pin, as if waiting for him. He pulled it off the hanger and rushed to the bathroom to put it on. Once he was done he walked out, mentally preparing for what was to come. Maybe he could just run off the stage before his execution could take place? Or, even better, he could just skip the festival all together!

But despite the tempting options, he still felt tethered to L'Manburg, to Wilbur- he had to see the festival all the way through.

He soon found himself rushing for the woods. The festival was in an hour; he had to see Schlatt and the others.

When he made it back to the ravine it seemed that they were getting ready themselves, Schlatt and Tubbo talking to one another, cloaked and armed. The others were scattered around, sharpening blades and stocking up on food and arrows, clipping cloaks around them, polishing armour, hemming hoods... Tommy could tell that if anything went wrong, they'd be ready to attack.

"Tommy!" Schlatt suddenly called, noticing the boy hiding behind a tree. "C'mon out, I'll explain the plan."

"Schlatt?" Tommy asked quietly. Schlatt's face dropped.

"What is it, Toms?"

"What if-" Tommy's voice broke and he tried again. "What if... Wilbur knows? About me. What if he kills me today? He's always been a fan of public celebrations."

Schlatt cocked his head before sighing. "Trust me Tommy. Nobody's gonna hurt you, I promise. If anything goes wrong we have your back."

For some reason, a weak, desperate part of Tommy believed the ram. If only he knew how this festival would end.

⏳️

"Tommy?"

Wilbur's voice snapped Tommy to attention. They stood in the wings, about to step onto the podium where the president would announce the beginning of the festival. Wilbur adjusted his tie, nodding to the teen. "Are you ok, Toms?"