Lavender Snow

Pushing Buttons

Wilbur knew he was going to lose this fight from the moment he saw the number of guards coming for them. Still, he managed to hold out for quite a few minutes, but in the end there was one of him and dozens of magic-wielding bastards, and he was forced to surrender.

"You're not going to find him," Wilbur said, leaning against the wall. "He's long gone."

One of the guards stopped peering into the vent for a moment to glare at him. "We're not concerned about finding the Enderian, we're just making sure it doesn't come crawling back here to try and rescue you."

"It is a he," Wilbur spat, "and he's smart enough not to come back. He knows there's no way for us to escape together. I'm as good as dead."

"Not yet, you aren't. The emperor wants to speak to you before he decides what to do with you." The guard said.

Wilbur grinned. "Great. I've got a lot of words I've been saving for him."

"Good luck with that," another guard muttered. "You don't talk much in front of him."

"Yeah, you don't," the first guard laughed. "You get scared and freeze up!"

"Shut up, Quackity!" The guard yelled, flushing. The other guards chuckled.

Quackity stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked over to Wilbur, staring up at him. "You put up a pretty good fight. Where'd a magic-less boy like you learn to punch like that?"

"I was the Enderian's protector. I had to fight of people like you—"

"Oh, you're Soot!" A guard interrupted. "You're the one that keeps capturing our soldiers!"

Wilbur puffed up a little with pride. "Oh, so you've heard of me?"

"Yeah, we've heard of you." Quackity pulled a knife from his belt, spinning it around on his fingers. "The Enderian queen's little pet. Not an Enderian or Elytrian, something new entirely. We were very curious to see how you'd fight without magic."

"You want to see more? Untie me," Wilbur said, leaning forward. "I'll put you on your ass. Come on, duckman, don't be a coward!"

"What the hell is a duck?" Some guards muttered.

Quackity hummed, putting the knife away. "As entertaining as that would be, I think it's time we get you to the emperor. We don't want to keep him waiting."

"I'll stay here with Oeca to make sure the Enderian doesn't come back," a guard volunteered.

Quackity nodded, yanking Wilbur away from the wall. "Okay. The rest of you, come with me. And someone go find the general. I swear, if he's gotten into trouble, I'm going to punt him straight into the void."

"Too late for that," Wilbur said. "He's on Earth."

Quackity stiffened. "You're lying."

"Why would I?" Wilbur challenged. He raised his eyebrows. "You're really concerned about him, aren't you?"

"Shut up!" Quackity marched ahead of him, lips drawn in a line. "Someone find the general!"

Wilbur grinned. And let the mocking commence!

✿❀✿❀✿❀✿

Dream didn't turn on his mask when his guard shoved the intruder inside the throne room. He let the room stay completely dark, silent and ominous.

The intruder was Soot, of course, although on Earth he was called Wilbur. Dream should have expected him to cause trouble, after all the inconveniences he had caused in the Enderian city.