Heavy is the Head that Wears the Solemn Crown

Forty-Six - The Masters We Serve

Tommy

Despite the fact that it spanned across the continent, the western half of L'Manberg is not that different from its eastern counterpart. Gilded Helianthia might be the most different from its neighboring areas, but that is mainly because the forestry had been cleared away for farmlands. Pixandria, Pato, and Schlatt are all very similar to Mythland, Pogtopia, and the Crystal Cliffs. The forests are composed of similar trees, the grass is just as green, and the architecture consists of the same arches and materials. With all the emphasis placed on the divide between L'Manberg, Tommy was expecting so much more than what he got to see.

Or, maybe, there were many differences. Maybe there were plants unique to the western half of the nation. Maybe there were animals that could only thrive on this side of the Elton John River. Maybe there were slight nuances in the architecture, and perhaps it would be more visible in the larger cities that the group was purposefully avoiding. Maybe there were differences in the clothing that people wore or their accents. There could have been a thousand types of trees over here and the grass could be slightly darker or paler in color.

Tommy didn't notice a single thing because he was looking for threats, not beauty.

"I think I'm going to puke," Tubbo's voice filtered out of the carriage behind Tommy. It had been decided before they left that Tommy was going to be the one to drive the carriage. Tubbo couldn't be in the front in case someone important saw them. Ranboo had volunteered to sit on the bench, but Tommy kicked him into the carriage after the first day of traveling. Ranboo wasn't bad company; he was just talkative. Tommy normally could out-talk both of his companions, but he didn't have the heart or energy to pretend that he cared about anything more than the end of this war. All his creative flair and dramatics was buried in that empty grave meant for his sister.

"Me, too. I'm so scared. What if we mess up? What if I forget something?" Ranboo responded. Tommy wondered how he could hear either of them with the way the horse was huffing and slamming his hooves on the trodden path. Tommy's eyes shot to the side when he noticed slight movement, and he noticed something he had been speculating about since the beginning of the journey: his senses were getting sharper. He was constantly searching for prey, it seemed.

"No, I'm not worried about my father. He's a drunk bastard. I could trick him with my eyes closed. It's this damned carriage. They've always made me sick," Tubbo responds. Tommy pulls on the reins of the horse to slow their movement a little. He can't do much since they have a schedule to follow, but he doesn't want to make this journey any more demanding than it needs to be.

Several days prior to now, Wilbur had entered into his tent. Tommy had been staying in Wilbur's tent, so it wasn't a surprise that he was there. It was surprising when Tommy noticed that Tubbo and Ranboo were flanking the king. Wilbur sat them all down with a worried look in his eyes. He explained to them all in soft terms his plan. Tommy and Tubbo agreed to the plan immediately when Wilbur stopped talking, and Ranboo joined in once he realized that this was something his friends wanted to do. Wilbur silenced them with his hand. He went over every danger of the plan with excruciating detail. Tommy didn't care, relaying that he wanted to complete Kristin's last wish. Tubbo reminded Wilbur that he had already devoted himself to the cause, and he would do anything to put his father out of commission. Ranboo refused to leave his friends, muttering something about half-memories of abandoning someone else. Wilbur really seemed hesitant to let them leave, but he eventually gave them his blessing- in a quite literal sense considering they now all possessed the blessing of the fledgling god. Wilbur held Tommy that night, and he was there to wish Tommy luck when the blonde left in the carriage to take his friends to hell.

Techno was there, too, at the end. He pressed Tommy's head against his chest as he explained that he would be in Pato and the Badlands. Tommy was reassured that if he needed anything- especially a rescue- to call for Techno. Tommy remembered Techno's promise about Techno keeping Tommy alive. The promise warmed his heart, and he told Techno that if he needed something, Tommy would be in Schlatt. Techno humored Tommy's words, and they parted with determined expressions.