Through It All ~ Dream Team SMP ✅

->Eighteen<-

I think this might have been the longest silence I remembered. It wasn't uncomfortable or a strangling silence. More peaceful. Of course, my mind had little appreciation for such things right now, as we were at war with a King. Tubbo and Eret had gone to retrieve the supplies they had amassed in the past few days. Fundy, I'd seen pacing the corridors, stressed out of his mind. Wilbur was in the same room as me, pouring over war plans with Niki, who I guessed was probably more scared than she let on.

I leaned back in my armchair, picking at my nails. I had yet to solve the mystery of who Eret was so keen to send a letter to, but I decided not to mention it to Wilbur, it was probably nothing.

"Tubbo and Eret will be back soon, I'll go to meet them." Wilbur finally spoke up, voice shattering the perfect glass of our blissful silence. I nodded absentmindedly, still pondering over the sunglasses-wearing man's behaviour. It certainly was odd. Borderline suspicious.

Who was I kidding, I was just paranoid. Wilbur trusted Eret with his life, what reason would he have to betray us?

I barely noticed that Wilbur had left the room until I felt Niki's eyes upon me. I looked up at the small blonde woman, grinning sympathetically.

"You're scared, aren't you..." I frowned.

"Terrified. But I'm more scared to let it show... I can't let Wilbur down. He's counting on me." Niki sighed. I walked over to her, smiling sadly.

"He'd understand, there's a lot going on right now-"

"I have to be strong," She cut me off, "This war is real, we have no choice. We have to win..."

"We will, Niki, we will," I assured her. We'd do whatever it takes to come out victorious. I opened my mouth to further comfort the older woman, but several shouts and clangs of metal resonating from the entrance to the Palace drew our attention. I shared a confused look with the blonde woman before we immediately raced downstairs, hearing Fundy a few paces ahead of us, already on his way.

I gulped as we reached the gate. Facing outwards with their back to us, were Wilbur, Tubbo and Eret. Our various soldiers were dotted around too, standing to attention. On the other side were Dream, George, Sap, and their army. Tubbo was pressed into Wilbur's side, the brunette man resting a protective arm around him as the green-shorted bot clutched at his shoulder, a faint trickle of blood issuing from a gash. Fundy got there first.

"What happened?" The younger Soot's voice rang out through the courtyard.

"They got the supplies," Eret replied slowly, bowing his head. "We couldn't get away in time, they had a tip-off. Someone betrayed us." The brunette explained. I joined the party of three and faced off with our enemy.

"Tubbs, are you okay?" I asked my best friend, staring worriedly at his injury.

"It's fine, it's just a shallow cut." He assured me, managing a weak smile.

"What is the meaning of this?" Wilbur hissed between his teeth, seething with unquenchable rage.

"You gave no surrender. We are here to reclaim our Palace." Dream sneered. I stared at his mask, unable to read the emotion on his face.

"This is not your land! The people who live here are dying under your rule, we're setting them free!" I protested ardently. Wilbur rested a hand on my shoulder, calming me.

"Consider this your last warning." George's smooth voice split the air.

"Surrender now, or face the consequences." Sap added, smirking.

"We will not surrender. We will fight for this land, for our freedom! We are few in numbers, but our hearts beat collectively. Our passion and camaraderie will be our weapons and we will win this war!" Wilbur yelled, raising his fist in the sky.

"For L'manberg!" I screamed. Many others took up the chant, until the whole Palace echoed with our soldier's voices, showing their support.

"SILENCE!" Dream commanded. "Is it true you will go through with this?"

"Without question." Fundy spat. Niki nodded in agreement. Tubbo clenched his fists, Eret smirked and I placed a hand on the hilt of my sword.

"Very well. I thought this might dissuade you, but your goal seems set. Bring him out!" The King demanded. And just like that, my passion for victory faltered. I felt Tubbo freeze next to me as they dragged a semi-conscious man in front of Sap.

"Phil?!"

We'd assumed he'd perished in the fire, but here he was, the man who saved my life, in front of me, prisoner of the King. I saw the blonde man raise his head weakly and regard Tubbo and I with confusion.

"Tommy, Tubbo? What are you doing here?" He croaked.

"Phil I-" I had no response.

"We're sorry-" Tubbo tried to apologise, a destroyed look on his face.

"Enough. If your so-called passion is truly your weapon, then you placed it on the wrong thing. Your desire for victory is clearly more important than that of your friends. Sap, get rid of him." Dream inclined his head. I caught onto what was happening a split second before my friend.

"NO!" I screamed as the head of the Kingsguard drew his sword.

"PHIL!" My best friend shrieked, as though he was in pain. Sap grinned mercilessly and plunged the gleaming iron through the blonde man's chest.

My lungs seized up, unable to gather air. No one moved, save for Phil's body slumping to the floor. I saw the look of horror and disbelief on Tubbo's face as he watched the man who cared for us take his last breath.

Next to me, Eret bit his lip, glancing down at us guiltily. Why was he acting so weird?

"W-why?" I choked out. Even Wilbur, Fundy, and Niki who didn't know him had tears in their eyes at our expressions. The blonde woman wrapped Tubbo in a hug, whilst Wilbur stared at me apologetically.

"We'll avenge him." The beanie-wearing man mouthed to assure me. I had no response. My brain was numb. They'd saved him from the fire just for this. To destroy our mentality before they struck down true blows against us.

"What next, Dream?" George asked mockingly as if he already knew the answer.

"Well George," The King grinned maliciously, "I suggest these pitiful revolutionaries start running. Because. This. Is. War."