Through It All ~ Dream Team SMP ✅

->Twenty-Two<-

"We can't stay here." I wasn't aware I'd actually woken up until Wilbur's voice sounded from the right corner of the black room. I'd been drifting between states of consciousness for a while, never quite asleep, never quite awake. I felt Tubbo stir next to me as Fundy gave a sleepy sigh. They both seemed exhausted, but I was wide awake again, unable to truly relax.

"I agree. We have to move, we can get out of L'manberg, my family owns a farm in the Outer, they'd look after us-" I replied, excited at the thought of seeing my parents again. Finally, I could offer some actual help to Will.

"Will there be bees on the farm?" Tubbo asked excitedly. Despite all odds, I chuckled a little, ruffling his hair.

"There's so many. In the summer, all the flowers are swarmed by them." I recount, brought back to when Tubbo was chasing the bee in the field. It felt like years ago.

"Awesome!" I could hear the smile in his voice.

"No. No running, no farm, no bees. We need to surrender." Wilbur's words caught me off guard.

"You can't be serious-"

"My brother is right. We can't run. We are not cowards." Fundy said quietly.

"Fundy, have you gone insane? Do you know what they'll do to us?!" I cried.

"Then maybe we should endure it. Face it, Tommy. We failed. We need to atone for that."

"I will go and speak to Dream myself, negotiate the terms of surrender. Tommy, I want you to come with me." The brunette spoke carefully.

"Me?" I wasn't quite expecting the responsibility.

"You've done nothing but sacrifice for this cause. I'm forever grateful for your support and service. You're the best right-hand man I could have asked for." His words humbled me, quelling my rage at his command of surrender.

"I'll go," I whispered.

"Come on then."

We found Dream easy enough, reinstated in the Palace, lounging on his throne. I wish I could see the emotion behind his mask as we returned, sorrowfully walking up to greet him.

"Wilbur Soot and Tommy Innitson. I'd say it was a pleasure, but as I told young Tommy so long ago I don't tolerate liars." Dream snickered. Beside him, Sap and George shared a smirk.

"I'll get down to business. We surrender. We're here to negotiate the terms with you." Wilbur spoke in monotony and I could tell it was taking a lot of self-restraint not to rebuke the man.

"So you come crawling back like spineless cowards to beg my forgiveness? You revolutionaries are like bugs. I will crush you!" The King hissed.

"We've sacrificed so much to be here! Our friends, our family, the promise of safety! Does that mean nothing to you?" I cried, unable to stop myself. Wilbur turned to me sharply, eyes imploring me to back down.

"You lost those things on your own terms. It was your own pathetic fault you lost such things. Your own fault you watched countless friends die in front of you. Wouldn't it be a shame if the small one, what's his name, Toby? If the same fate befell him?" Looking at the grin peeking out from his mask threw me over the edge.

He knew he was pushing me. He knew I would explode. Wilbur gripped my wrist tightly, already foreseeing the outcome. But I couldn't help it. I snapped at that moment.

"YOU BASTARD! IF YOU SO MUCH AS TOUCH A HAIR ON HIS HEAD, I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD-"

"Tommy!" Wilbur yelled, but I couldn't be stopped.

"You know what, you fucker, why don't we fight? Yeah, one on one, bow duel. Too scary for you? I dare you, I fucking dare you!"

"Tommy? TOMMY, CALM!" Wilbur's hand touched my shoulder and he pulled me to face him.

"Wilbur, I-" I tried to apologise, but I wasn't sorry. I couldn't let Tubbo get more hurt.

"I know." Was all the beanie-wearing man said, his voice cracked with emotion.

"I like the offer. A duel. If I win, your friends hand themselves in and are subject to whatever I please. And if you win, which you won't, I will grant you independence. Leave L'manberg to be run as a separate state. Deal?"

Staring at his white mask was like staring at the face of death. The innocent smile like a gaping cavern, the black eyes like the abyss, calling for me.

"Deal."

Wilbur didn't try and protest. He knew me well enough to know I wouldn't back down. I respected that.

"The bridge, at dawn." I nodded, not trusting myself to further insult the man and make my friend's punishment worse.

"Tommy, we need to talk," Wilbur said quietly. The King nodded his approval and we met in the corridor, the revolutionary solemn-faced. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it in shock, as a mop of familiar brown hair bobbed past us.

"Eret..." He whispered, the memory of his betrayal a fresh pain.

"Gentlemen." The man with the deep voice greeted.

"Why? Why would you do this?" Wilbur's voice scared me. It sounded weak and vulnerable. If I knew one thing, the day Wilbur Soot was weak was the day hell would freeze over.

"I think victory is preferable to death, do you not? So I chose the victorious side." He smirked. I couldn't handle their stupid smirks. All of them. Dream, George, Sap, Eret. It was like they were deliberately taunting me, targeting my insecurities and fear.

"Eret, listen to me, and I mean this in the nicest way possible. You fucked up." I growled, furious with the man.

"Tommy, I am sorry you know." I didn't trust the attempt at sincerity in his voice.

"We don't want your lies. Leave us alone." Wilbur whispered, words barely audible. The man nodded, complying and walking in the opposite direction.

"Tommy... Why would you challenge Dream to a duel?" His eyes were on mine, staring into me with empty brown irises.

"Because it gives us another chance. I'm not throwing away our shot at freedom. I needed something that he would disregard. He sees this as another boost to his ego. That's why he said yes." I explained my reasoning.

"And you thought you could win?!" I flinched. Wilbur had never raised his voice with me before. The words were like a cold, stinging slap to the face.

"Will, I-"

"Are you really that naive?!"

"No, I just-"

"This isn't a game! This is war!" The revolutionary yelled.

"Then tell me, Wilbur! Tell me what you want me to do..." I bowed my head in shame.

"Tommy, I want you to do whatever your heart says you should."