Where Is Your Rider (OFFICIAL WATTPAD UPLOAD)

Chapter 27

L'Manberg might've been in shambles, but they managed to regroup just fine.

The second Punz landed the helicopter at the airfield, Velvet lunged out with Antfrost in his arms, to meet a medical truck being driven by a wild-eyed Sam, Ponk—who was missing an entire arm, somehow—and Corpse sitting in the back, both cursing him out for his reckless driving. Luckily, most of the Manberg soldiers in the town had surrendered after their moving city had been blown to bits, so the fighting had mostly stopped. Some had even ditched their weapons and were helping with wounded civilians.

Even though the town was still literally in flames, Tommy felt good.

"Can we get a medic over here!" Ranboo yelled, waving Corpse over to the helicopter. "We've got injuries all around! 'Specially this guy!"

That drew a tired giggle from Tubbo.

Tommy himself laughed, cackling and slapping his thigh. Tubbo didn't look too bad for a guy who'd literally died for a hot second back there, so there wasn't much for him to do.

Instead, he wandered over to where some civilians were trying to put out some of the fires.

The rest of the morning was a blur after that, of helping pull together medical teams and repair and damage control crews, assessing what could be salvaged around town and what needed to be rebuilt altogether. The total damage was... slightly bleak, Tommy thought to himself, by the time they reconvened in front of the charred pile of debris that had once been the Community House. It was surrounded by massive craters in the ground, created by bombs dropped from attacking Manberg fighters and the resistance alike, which were beginning to fill with river water.

"Uh," Ranboo said, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot. "So... now what?"

"Well, your town's been reduced to one hell of a shit sandwich," Purpled grumbled, which drew a few halfhearted laughs.

Tubbo—who was leaning heavily on Ranboo due to his acid-scorched feet—giggled, gazing out at the wreckage with a strange melancholia in his eyes. "The land is still here. Solid foundation. We can rebuild."

"We're gonna need a shit ton of flex tape for this bitch," Tommy remarked, and Ranboo and Tubbo stared at him like he'd sprouted a second head.

Tommy burst out laughing.

"Oh my god, you're such an idiot," Ranboo snorted, and smacked him on the shoulder. "But... well, you're an idiot I'm proud to call a brother."

Tommy's mouth dropped open in astonishment, and he forced himself not to scream. "Really?"

Tubbo's eyes light up like a spotlight.

Ranboo buried his face in his hand in dismay.

"Aw, Boo!" Tubbo giggled, hugging him tight. "Oi, Tommy, get your arse in here! You too, Purpled!"

Tommy burst out laughing and joined the group hug, and Purpled shrieked in protest as he was dragged in alongside him. Unfortunately for Purpled, he couldn't do much more than squirm in frustration, given that Tommy and Ranboo were at least twice as strong as he was.

"Boys!"

They all turned.

Phil jogged up with Niki, Bad, and Techno in tow, looking haggard and exhausted and dragging his battered elytra. "Oh my god, you three scared the shit out of me! Tubbo, you're supposed to be in medical—"

"That can wait," Tubbo cut him off. "Where's Wil? And Quackity?"

Phil froze, his tentative smile crumpling.