Chapter 16: Together We Stand
The dawn of the final battle came quicker than anyone anticipated. It had been weeks since the night Tommy and Tubbo faced down Technoblade and the Syndicate leaders, and despite their best efforts to negotiate, it had been clear from the start that peace was never going to be an option. The Syndicate’s forces had regrouped, larger and stronger, and now they marched toward L’Manberg with a single goal—destruction.
Tommy stood on the walls of L’Manberg, his heart pounding as he watched the distant figures approach. The entire camp was a frenzy of last-minute preparations—soldiers arming themselves, medics readying for the wounded, and leaders discussing their final strategies. But Tommy couldn’t focus on any of that. His mind was on Tubbo.
Tubbo had insisted on standing with the rest of them, despite still being weak from his injury. He had returned to his position as president, determined to lead L’Manberg through what would either be their final stand or their greatest victory. Tommy had argued, of course. He didn’t want Tubbo putting himself in harm’s way again, but Tubbo had been firm. He wasn’t going to let anyone fight his battles for him.
As Tommy’s eyes scanned the horizon, a familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts.
“They’re close.”
Tommy turned to see Tubbo standing beside him, his expression calm but focused. He was dressed in his battle armor, the same one he’d worn during their many conflicts in the past, but there was something different about him now. Something more resolute.
“They’re too close,” Tommy muttered, his stomach churning with anxiety. “I hate this. I hate waiting.”
Tubbo nodded, his eyes fixed on the approaching enemy. “I know. But we’re ready. We’ve done everything we can.”
Tommy glanced at him, feeling the familiar pang of worry gnawing at his chest. “You sure you’re up for this? You’re still healing.”
Tubbo shot him a small, reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Tommy. And we’re going to win this.”
Tommy wanted to believe him. He wanted to hold on to that hope, the hope that they could come out of this in one piece, that they could rebuild and finally have peace. But deep down, he knew the odds were against them. The Syndicate was strong, and their forces were relentless.
But Tubbo was right about one thing—they had done everything they could. And now, it was time to fight.
---
The battle began as soon as the Syndicate’s forces reached the gates. It was chaos from the start—arrows flying through the air, swords clashing, explosions echoing in the distance. Tommy and Tubbo fought side by side, just as they always had, their movements in sync as they pushed back wave after wave of attackers.
Technoblade was there, of course, cutting through L’Manberg’s forces with terrifying precision. He was a force of nature, unstoppable and relentless, and every time Tommy caught a glimpse of him, his blood ran cold. But they couldn’t afford to focus on Technoblade alone. There were too many other threats, too many enemies to fight.
Hours passed, the sun rising higher in the sky as the battle raged on. The ground was littered with debris, smoke rising from the remnants of destroyed buildings, but still, L’Manberg stood. They had managed to hold their ground longer than anyone had expected.
But it wasn’t enough.
As the afternoon wore on, the tide of the battle began to turn. The Syndicate’s forces were relentless, and L’Manberg’s defenses were starting to falter. Tommy’s muscles ached from the constant fighting, his vision blurring with exhaustion, but he refused to give up. Not when Tubbo was still standing beside him, not when they had come this far.
It was then that Tommy saw him.
Technoblade, standing at the heart of the battlefield, his eyes locked on Tubbo.
Time seemed to slow as Technoblade moved, his sword gleaming in the sunlight as he charged toward Tubbo. Tommy’s heart seized in his chest as he realized what was about to happen.
“Tubbo!” Tommy shouted, his voice hoarse from the battle.
But Tubbo had already seen him. His eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his weapon as he braced himself for the inevitable clash.
Tommy’s legs moved on instinct, pushing him forward, but he knew he wouldn’t make it in time. He could only watch as Technoblade’s sword came down toward Tubbo in a deadly arc—
And then, with a sudden, blinding speed, someone else stepped in.
Philza.
The angel of death himself, Techno’s oldest friend, had moved between them. His sword clashed with Technoblade’s, the sound echoing across the battlefield.
“Enough,” Philza’s voice rang out, calm but commanding.
For a moment, the battlefield fell silent, everyone frozen as they watched the scene unfold.
Technoblade’s eyes flicked to Philza, surprise flashing across his face. “Phil—”
“This isn’t the way,” Philza said, his voice soft but resolute. “We’ve done enough, Techno. This war… it’s over.”
Technoblade’s grip on his sword tightened, his eyes blazing with defiance. “They’ll never stop, Phil. L’Manberg—”
“They’ve already stopped,” Philza interrupted, his gaze shifting to Tubbo, then to Tommy. “Look around. There’s nothing left to fight for.”
Tommy’s heart raced as he looked around the battlefield. He saw it now—the exhaustion, the broken bodies, the destruction. Both sides were on the brink of collapse. No one was winning this war.
Tubbo, standing beside Philza, lowered his weapon. “We don’t want this, Techno,” he said, his voice quiet but steady. “None of us want this.”
For a long, agonizing moment, it seemed like Techno would refuse, that he would charge forward and finish what he had started. But then, slowly, his shoulders slumped, and he lowered his sword.
The battle was over.
---
The aftermath of the war was bittersweet. L’Manberg had survived, but at a great cost. The Syndicate disbanded, its members scattering to the winds, and L’Manberg’s citizens began the slow process of rebuilding. There was still so much to do, so many wounds to heal, but for the first time in a long time, there was hope.
Tommy and Tubbo stood together at the edge of the new L’Manberg, watching as the sun set on the horizon. The air was cool, the sky streaked with colors of orange and pink, and for the first time in months, there was peace.
“We did it,” Tubbo said quietly, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and exhaustion.
Tommy glanced at him, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. We did.”
They stood in silence for a while, the weight of everything they had been through hanging in the air between them. But it wasn’t a heavy silence—it was one filled with the unspoken understanding that, no matter what happened next, they would face it together.
“What do you think happens now?” Tommy asked, his voice soft.
Tubbo looked out at the horizon, his expression thoughtful. “I think… we start over. We rebuild. And this time, we do it right.”
Tommy nodded, his heart swelling with a mixture of relief and anticipation. They had survived the worst, and now, they had a chance to build something better. Something stronger.
Together.
As the last light of the sun faded, Tommy and Tubbo turned away from the horizon and walked back into the heart of L’Manberg.
The future was theirs.
---
The End.
