Passing On the Crown

The room was cold and the air was stale. Only the sound of two people breathing could be heard. One boy's breathe was alive and full, the other's was weak and dying, being coughed out and gasped in instead of the steady inhale and exhale of the first's.

Ranboo didn't know what to do. His mentor, his role model, his friend, his brother, was dying. Lying there on the bed barely breathing. His hands were shaking. Ranboo tried to hold them still but his own were shaking too much to help.

He looked at his two-toned hands, highly contrasted against the pink of his brother's skin, now pale with illness. Soon those hands would be cold and lifeless and there was nothing Ranboo could do to help.

"Ranboo." the man lying down choked out, barely above a whisper but deafening in the near-silent room.
"Tomorrow," the person continued, his monotonous voice clear despite it being laced with sickness. "Tomorrow I wish to give you something. But I fear I will not be here when you receive it."

"Then give it to me now." Ranboo replied. He was just glad his brother was talking. He had been silent all week. Both boys knew that the sickness that infected one of them could not be cured. There was no denying that. But Ranboo could savour every word he said until the very end.

"That's not how it works, Ranboo." The ill man fell back down on the bed, chest still rising and falling ever so slightly.

Ranboo stayed. He wanted to be there until the very end. He would stay by this bedside, in the silence, on the very uncomfortable chair, even if it killed him.

"Ranboo." The man started again. He was interupted by a coughing fit however. After a few minutes, he composed himself and continued, "Ranboo, you know, in all the movies, the mentor always died after teaching the apprentice. I guess I've taught you everything then, huh." Ranboo was clinging on to everyone sentence his mentor choked out. Each word was clearly a struggle for him as he didn't even open his eyes, too focused on making sure he was talking properly.

"No, no you haven't finished yet. You can still teach me more. Please!" Ranboo begged. He begged for his friend to be spared. He begged to have more time with his mentor. He begged to not have to experience the grief of a loved one. "Please, you can't leave, not yet." He begged some more. He needed his friend to cling to life. He needed his hero to survive this fight just like he had all the others. He needed his brother. "I need you." He whispered.

And the sick man smiled, and let out a final breathe before falling into a peaceful sleep he would never wake up from.

"No!" Ranboo cried. "No, no, no you can't be gone. Please come back. Come back please I need you." And Ranboo cried until he had no more tears to cry. His face burnt, sizzling with each tear that fell, leaving deep scars on his face so he would never forget this moment.

After Ranboo had run dry of tears and even longer after that, he finally said, "Rest in Peace, Technoblade. I'll miss you so much."

- - – – — — – – - -

The doctors had taken Techno's body away during the night, after Ranboo had gone to bed and the rest of the family got to say a final goodbye to the beloved prince.

The next morning, Ranboo was greeted with a beautiful pink sunrise. And he knew that his mentor was still watching over him.

The servants helped him get ready for the event. The Crowned Prince had just passed away but the family is never given time to grieve.

This isn't the first time the Crowned Prince has passed before being crowned King. However, this is the first time Ranboo has been there to experience it. Prince Wilbur died before he was born. But he is told that Wilbur's spirit still resides in the castle, leaving blue marks and blue flowers around the grounds.

Once he is ready, Ranboo will be escorted downstairs to the throne room, where he will take his place to be crowned Crowned Prince and be next in line for the throne. But he can't move. Not when his brother died the night before. He needed time to process the loss and grieve.

He couldn't move. Not until he felt a slight nudge from behind him, urging him forward. He turned around but no one was there. The servants had already left him. Moving his gaze to the floor, Ranboo saw a red flower petal laying on the carpet. Red was Technoblade signature colour. His eyes were red, his Prince uniform was red to match his eyes and pink skin.

Picking up the petal and placing it gently on the side table, Ranboo was filled with determination and confidently walked through his bedroom doors towards the throne room. He knew his brother was watching over him.

- - – – — — – - -

"I know crown you, Ranboo, as the Crowned Prince of the Antarctic Empire." Ranboo saw Phil standing next to the throne in all of his winged-glory. A true King. He could never live up to that.

He saw Tommy in the crowd, his younger brother. The last in line for the throne. Tommy was crying, he knew Ranboo was never meant to be crowned, not that he believe Ranboo couldn't do it or didn't deserve it, but because Technoblade should still be here, getting ready to rule a Kingdom.

Ranboo saw Tubbo in the crowd, his best friend and the son of the chef. Tubbo had tears in his eyes but was giving Ranboo a reassuring smile despite them.

Ranboo saw his other friends as well, all giving similar reactions. But he didn't see the one he was looking for. He didn't see Technoblade. Technoblade was gone. Ranboo was holding out on this being some sort of joke or test. But Techo's absence proves that that is not true.

Ranboo wanted to curl up and cry again. He did not want to be in front of this loud crowd, kneeling on the cold tiled floor. He did not want to be in the spot that Technoblade should be in right now. But he felt a caloused hand on his shoulder, firm and reassuring. He turned to look at it but nothing was there. Once again, there was a red flower petal in the place of a person.

Technoblade was still here, in spirit, watching over Ranboo. Ranboo will learn soon that Techno is watching over Tommy as well. Ranboo continued collected red petals. One day he starts seeing more and more blue petals as well, Wilbur is hanging around more.

- - – – — — – – - -

"Will you ever stop helping them?" Wilbur asked me one day while Tommy was having a difficult time learning the piano.

"Never." I responded, plain and simple.

"Me neither." And then Wilbur left to go help Ranboo out of a panic attack.

We agreed that as long as they needed us, we would be there to help. Wilbur less so, he didn't know them as well. But I think I convinced him.

I don't want to leave them. I don't care if I'm not there physically. I can still touch them, I can still talk to them – even if they can't talk to me – and I can still be there for them.

For I am Technoblade, and Technoblade never dies.