They Won the War

What do we do?

"Independence or death. If we get no revolution, we want nothing. We would rather die than give into you and join your SMP." Wilbur announced solemnly.

They stood just inside the walls of L'manburg, staring out at Dream SMP after escaping the 'control room'. The betrayal of Eret had shaken everyone to the bone. They had barely managed to escape, fleeing to the safety of the Camarvan, yet they couldn't believe what happened. Even now, as they stood with their heads held high, their eyes kept wandering over to the traitor.

Dream tilted his head to the side and shrugged, "Suit yourself."

He raised his flint and steel and slashed it down on the lone TNT in front of him. Wilbur spread his arms to the side and gently pushed his friends backwards.

"Stand back gentlemen," Wilbur sighed, "don't let this hurt you."

Dream too had retreated; quite far actually.

The flashing of the dynamite suddenly exploded into a blinding white light. The ground shook violently as chunks flew everywhere. The holes revealed piles of more TNT layered underneath. Wilbur barely registered yelling out to run before an immense detonation blasted under his feet. He felt light, weightless. Everything was in slow motion, but he couldn't think.

Then he was engulfed in ice. The change was so sudden, juxtaposed to the flash heat he'd felt from the bomb. Water rushed into him and filled his lungs. It burned and he flailed his arms in panic, hoping to escape the crushing pressure of the water. Which way was up? Where was the surface? Where was the air?

Rough arms grabbed his chest and started to tug him up. Wilbur kicked his legs to help thrust them up. Once his head broke the surface, he coughed violently. He glanced at the pair of arms that had tried to lift him up which were now just using him as a floaty. Tommy was breathing raggedly next to him as he inhaled all the air. Tubbo and Fundy were a few meters away from them, clinging onto each other as the harsh waves of the lake splashed over everyone.

"Follow... follow me." Tommy gasped out in between breaths.

He started swimming towards the place where the Camarvan once stood. Wilbur signalled for the other two to come before swimming behind his right-hand man. Once they reached shore, everyone's legs felt weak, but they forced themselves to continue. They knew the Dream Team was just outside the walls, maybe even inside.

Tommy dipped down into the large crater and everyone's eyes widened when he disappeared down a hole. Wilbur ushered Fundy down the hole, then Tubbo. He quickly glanced around L'manburg, taking in the erupted ground, the broken walls, the stray debris of their home. He jumped down the hole.

---

Tommy limped down the stone tunnel he'd built a few days ago. Who'd known they'd need it now. He tried to hide a wince when a particular uneven rock caused a spike of pain to run up his leg. He must've injured it in the explosion. The sounds of others panting behind him echoed down the dim tunnel. The end was pretty far and at the pace they were going, it would take a while to get there. However, no one wanted to break the silence yet. Not until they knew they were safe. Not until they could relax. The dripping sound of water or blood, the damp moss on the cobble walls, Tommy suppressed a shiver at the gloomy atmosphere.

After a while, an entrance to a cold obsidian room came into vision. Inside, there was an ender chest and crafting table in one corner, a bed in another and a small table in the middle. A dim lantern hung from the ceiling casting a shadowy blanket on the swirling purple Everyone piled into the small room before Tommy blocked off the entrance with some spare obsidian. Sighs of relief left everyone as they settled down. Tommy and Tubbo took the bed whilst Wilbur and Fundy sat on the two chairs under the table.

"Okay, any last words?" Tommy chuckled nervously; his hands trembled inside his sleeves.

Wilbur noticed this and couldn't help but grimace. Things weren't looking good. Before they were low on resources, now they had nothing. And it was his fault. Dream had warned him about exploding their base, but he hadn't believed him. He'd scoffed at his face. Now that he knew, Dream's smug smirk infuriated him more than ever.

He observed his comrades. Fundy was nursing his broken arm, eyes cast downwards. Half of Tubbo was covered in crimson red, blending in with the leftover mud from earlier and Wilbur wasn't sure how much was Tubbo's. He wrung his hands together, looking around the room in what he could presume was paranoia. Wilbur didn't blame him. Dream could be in the walls.

Lastly, his eyes landed on Tommy. The teen was sitting stoic on the bed. His hands gripping his knees stiffly and if Wilbur focused long enough, he could make out small tremors wracking his knuckles. Was it from the cold, the pain, or his nerves?

Wilbur gave a deep sigh before straightening up. Everyone glanced up at their leader and Wilbur felt a mix of pride and guilt form in his stomach.

"Gentlemen," he coolly spoke, "we have fought hard in this war."

Bruised faces stared back at him.

"We have fought hard for our freedom, for our liberty. L'manburg was formed originally to sell drugs. But now, we fight for the freedom of our nation. L'manburg has been a sanctuary for all of us. We have built our home within its walls. We have bonded together as brothers and have stood side by side in the face of adversary."

Everyone was hanging onto his words.

"Today, we have suffered a great loss. We have lost a comrade, a brother, a friend."

He watched as Fundy ducked his head.

"We've also lost our refuge, our haven from this war. We have been forced to flee our land and leave the place that once sheltered us from the raging storm outside. And I admit, we are outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered and outplanned. Dream SMP has backed us into a corner and our only options are to surrender or die fighting. I don't want to see any more bloodshed; I don't want to lose another friend."

Tommy opened his mouth to protest but Wilbur held up a hand.

"I believe we should surrender. But remember gentlemen, L'manburg still thrums deep within our veins. We may have lost our house today, but we will never lose our home. Our home runs through the blood of our brothers. Through us. And as long as we stand side by side, with our heads held high, L'manburg stands behind us. Dream SMP may take our land and freedom, but I wouldn't let them take away my devotion to L'manburg and to us."

Fundy looked up and made eye contact with Wilbur, "I won't let them take away my loyalty to L'manburg and to us."

Wilbur broke out into a watery smile.

Tubbo nodded after a bit of hesitation, "They can't take my friendship from you guys."

Tommy shook his head, "Wilbur, we've fought for so long. Are we really going to surrender to the green bastard? This would've been all for nothing then!"

"No, Tommy. This wouldn't have been all for nothing. L'manburg has brought us all closer together than ever before. It has lit a fire in all our hearts, and we should be proud to be members of L'manburg. They could beat us down, take away our possessions and strip us of our freedom, but at the end of the day, we will get up off the ground with a smile. They'd push us back down, but we'll keep standing up. We will keep going. Right now, we are in no shape to fight back. Fundy's broken an arm, Tubbo's bleeding and you can barely walk. Our best option is to surrender. I brought you all into this mess and I swear I will get you out of it too."

Silence filled the room. The lantern casted shadows down over Wilbur's face, highlighting just how broken he was, how everyone was. Tommy gazed down at his hands and slowly clenched them into fists. He looked up with determination shining in his eyes.

"I won't let him take our bravery from us."

Wilbur grinned in pride and ruffled his second in command's hair as Tubbo roped into a one-armed hug. Fundy stood up and joined the hug.

"For L'manburg." Tommy whispered.

"For L'manburg."

---

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