Until L'Manburg's Destroyed and Gone | Book Two of Love is a War

Chapter 1: Lover Boy

Y/N POV

I feel unnecessarily anxious walking through the portal back into the overworld. Especially since I should be more worried about the fact that I am following a pig-man, the so-called Technoblade, to his hidden base, alone. When I get through the portal, the sun shines directly in my eyes, causing me to momentarily go blind. The nether is so dark, I forgot how bright the sun could be. Looking around in awe, I missed the scenery up above. The oak trees, surrounded by bees and flowers. The bustling villages, full of shopkeepers ready to buy and sell anything for a decent emerald. I missed it all. "Are you just gonna stand there, or are you going to hurry up and follow?" Technoblade asks, interrupting my thoughts. I nod, and we walk towards his base, hidden in a mountainside, far away from all civilization. "Perfect" I thought, glancing down at my necklace. It stopped spinning ever since I exited the portal, so I have no idea how much quiet I have until someone tries to kill me. Let's hope it's at least 3 days. I need as long as I can get.  

The next few weeks felt like a blur. Every day, dawn till dusk, he trains me. Morning, he makes me harvest his potatoes with him. At lunch, we read Art of War, do strategies, and discuss what we'd do in certain situations. Between those, sleeping, and meals, we fight, and fight, and fight, and fight. He says I'm getting better, improving faster than anyone he's ever seen, but it feels like I'm worse every time I fight. Or that could just be me being tired. "Y/N, can you repeat what I just said?" Technoblade asks, annoyed. "Uhh, you asked what the best strategy would be?" I guessed. "For?" he prompted, and I sigh. "Listen, you've got the skills, you just lack the knowledge, and understanding. You need to pay attention." Technoblade lectures, and I nod. "I was talking about the Greek myth of Atalanta. Have you heard of it?" Technoblade says calmly, and I shake my head. Technoblade smiled a bit. He loved Greek myths more than anything, and loved even more to share them. "There once was a kingdom called Arcadia, in Greece. The king of the kingdom wanted a son to carry on the royal bloodline, so when his wife had a girl, he was not happy. He abandoned her in the woods to die. However, she was rescued and protected by a she-bear, until a group of hunters found her. They raised her to be a huntress, she became one of the best. She killed the Calydonian Boar, a demon boar sent by the goddess Artemis to terrorize a town. She killed centaurs in honour of Artemis. Until her father came back into the picture, demanding her to get married. She agreed, on the condition that her suitor must beat her in a footrace. Every time someone tried, they lost, until Himmomenes" Techno described, me sitting on the edge of my seat. "Why did he win? How?" I ask, causing Techno to chuckle. "Well, he went to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, for help as she gave him 3 irresistible golden apples. During the race with Atalanta, whenever she was close to catching up, he dropped an apple, causing her to stop, and go pick them up, making him win." Techno explained with a shrug. "And how does that help me with fighting?" I ask, and he gives me a sly smile. "You tell me." he says cryptically, walking away. "By the way, I need you to go to the village, and use these emeralds to get a woodland mansion map." Technoblade orders, throwing a bag of emeralds at my feet. I nod, getting on my horse, and riding off to the village nearby. 

The village was small and quaint, as well as beautiful to look at. Although, I had to be extra careful, since it was technically part of the SMP, and I wasn't ready for Dream to know I'm here. Thankfully, he never checked up on villages, so I was probably safe. I quickly went to the cartographers, giving him the emeralds and getting the map. That place always bored me anyway. Instead, I wandered around, taking my time looking through every shop window, listening to all the latest gossip, until one piece of gossip sparked my interest.

 "Hey Jared! Did you hear the news from L'Manburg?" 

"No Chiffon, I haven't been up-to-date with it recently." 

"Well, I heard their Presidents going crazy! From his girlfriend's disappearance to the start of other nations, people say he's lost his marbles!" 

I tune out the rest of the conversation. Wilbur? Crazy? That's practically impossible, And what do they mean, 'disappearance'? He exiled me, and must've lied about it to his people. That jerk. I look at the sun. Still early in the morning, and my curious self won't let me leave without seeing if Wilbur's really gone crazy. Not for any other reason, obviously. I get on my horse once again, riding off into the distance, towards L'Manburg. 

Wilbur POV

I sit down on the hill. The spot that was ours. Now mine. I open my guitar case, and grab my guitar. I close my eyes, trying to come up with lyrics to the melody I wrote. They tell you to write what you know, play from the heart. So I think of her. I take a breath, and start singing. 

Lover boy
What're you gonna do
Lover boy
When the dogs come after you
You're not strong
Quite weak in fact
And I won't deny
Where I lack

I think of when I was helpless to Dream. I couldn't help them, I couldn't help her. I was weak. I still am. 

You all want the best in every situation
No one should ever be able to question
Your power
You want
Me to cower

I think of all my friends from L'Manburg. They don't know the truth, no one does. They want the best, and I tried my best to get them what they deserved. I think of Dream, the most powerful man on the server, her brother. No one should question his power. I did, and look where it got me? Pain, and suffering. 

What're you gonna do
Lover boy
When the dogs come after you
A guitar and a dream
Doesn't have a spot on the team

I begin to play the bridge, when I see something rustling in the bushes. It's probably nothing, but, continuing to sing, I get up to check. 

Maybe I don't wanna play your gamе
Maybe I think things should change
But who listens
Who listеns to a lover boy

I sing, checking the bush. No ones there. Is anyone ever there, truly? I'm tired of playing everyone's games. I just want peace. But deep down, I know, that's something we'll never get. No matter how much I asked, and still ask, no one listens. No one ever did, except for her. Wow, I really am heartbroken. I see Tubbo and Tommy walking at the bottom of the hill, talking about how they plan on getting the discs back. Stupid children, but I could work with this. I think back to the start of L'Manburg. 

Tommy wants to make trouble
And I
Want to prove that I'm more than your humble boy
So let's deploy
My perfect plan
I've gotta camavan and an idea

I close my eyes once more. Feeling everything inside me explode. Everything's my fault, why should I come up with more when the rest already end in disaster? Why- 

Lover boy
What're you gonna do
Lover boy
When dogs come after you
I'm gonna maximize
On their greedy eyes
I'm gonna sell
What they want

I take a deep breath, ready to end the song with a line that I hope connects to people, and inspires them to prove their worth, since when I tried, boom. 

This lover boy's gonna prove he's worth his lot

I finish the song on a D major chord, letting it ring for a few seconds before it dies out on its own. Suddenly, a twig snaps, and I jump. Someone was there, someone was listening, who? I run towards where I hear the noise, but no one was there, at least, not anymore. I sigh. This must be a sign to pack up, and get back to work. I pack up my guitar, and head back to my office in the camarvan, for another long day's worth of, well, work. 

 Hello everyone! Welcome to the first chapter of the new book! I'm so glad you made it! If any of you wanted to know, the song is Lover Boy by Ian Has Opinions on YouTube, and it's a part of the Dream SMP Musical. I've been learning to play it on guitar and obsessed, and wanted to reference the musical in this anyway, so I added this song. Anyway, if you have any suggestions/things you want in the story, comment, and I'll try to incorporate it into the story. Stay safe, drink lots of water, eat, and remember we care about you <3. Thank you so much for reading, and I can't wait to see you in the next chapter!

Word Count: 1566 words! :)