Through It All ~ Dream Team SMP ✅

->Twenty-Five<-

I blinked slowly, away from the pulsating above me. It took some time to adjust my previous sealed eyes to the intensity, but I managed.

I wasn't dead.

By some miraculous act, I was, in fact, alive. I tried to sit up, only to find my midriff swathed in bandages. I winced in pain as an aching fire spread from my ribs. From where Dream had shot me.

Dream had shot me...

We'd lost...

I could hear Wilbur, Fundy, and Tubbo talking a few rooms away. I longed to call out, to be coddled by their arms and assured we'd be okay. But that was weakness. I wasn't going to be weak this time.

Slowly, but surely, I pulled myself into a semi-comfortable sitting position, reaching for my bloodstained coat that was draped over a chair. I searched inside the lining, sighing when I felt it. Mellohi.

The thing that had got me in the stupid mess. The thing Dream was willing to torture me over.

Wait a motherfucking minute... Did I still have a chance at independence?

If Dream cared so much about this object, surely I could exchange it for our freedom? It was a lousy deal, but if the King was so obsessed with it, surely it was powerful and important. Holy shit, this might just work.

Standing up was awful. It took all my strength not to yell out in discomfort as I did so. I couldn't let the others know what I was doing. They'd never let me. I slowly trudged to the ajar door of the small room I was in, peeking around. The coast was clear.

Even progress through the corridor was slow. I stopped for a minute, reaching the door that I knew my friends were behind. I ducked below the frosted glass, scared they'd seen me. I risked a look at them. My heart broke.

Wilbur sat with his head in his hands, shaking. Fundy was rubbing his brother's back, trying to help. But my eyes fell resolutely on Tubbo. His face was tracked with violent tears, eyes brimming with melancholy. I'd done this. I'd done this to them. They were hurting because of me.

I couldn't face them.

Once I got into the swing of walking, it was easier. I exited what appeared to be a small cottage.

Where the fuck was I?

We weren't in L'manberg. Had we been banished? You could still see the walls from here... It was beautiful. The long grass tickled my knees and wildflowers sprung about underfoot. Bees were everywhere. Tubbo must love it. I pulled my jacket around myself and set off. If my eyes served correctly, I had quite a bit of walking to do.

I'd barely reached the walls before I was detained and brought before the King. It appeared, despite Eret's promised position, Dream was still in charge. He glared down at me with contempt.

"What brings you back? You should be enjoying your last happy days with your pitiful friends right now, Tommy Innitson, but instead, you are here. Why?" The mask-wearing man levered at me from his wrought-iron throne, daring me to contradict him.

"I have something of yours. Something that might convince you to give us our independence." I Bowes my head slightly. If I seemed humble, I might have had a better chance.

"So your little duel didn't go to plan, so now you attempt to bargain with useless artifacts? I am not a materialistic man, I'm not deterred." He waved me away.

"Oh, I think you'll want to see it." I countered, pulling Mellohi from my jacket.

It was the first time the King hadn't retorted any of my statements with sarcasm or threats. He stared at me intently from behind his shield of white. He was speechless.

"You don't even know what you're doing with that. You have no idea the power it holds-" He hissed.

"Exactly," I agreed, twirling the slim disc-shaped item between my fingers, "Which is why I'm here. Grant L'manberg independence... Or I break it. Snap it in half. It seems rather fragile, shouldn't be hard." I shrugged. I had the upper hand. And by god would I use that to my advantage.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, wouldn't I?" I pretended to drop Mellohi, catching it just in time. I knew I was getting cocky, but that was the plan. I'd come to realise something. Dream and I were alike. We both were stubborn to no end. And we hated being mocked. He pushed me to my limit with his scathing words and actions. It was time he had a taste of his own medicine.

"You give that thing here or I swear to the Heavens-" He was getting angry.

"Ah, ah, ah! Not without your end of the bargain. Independence. That's all we want. Not too hard, eh?" I smirked. I was enjoying this. I couldn't tell what Dream was thinking. I never could. I guess that was the point of his mask, but all the same, I could tell he was considering it.

"You have yourself a deal, Thomas." I cringed at the use of my full name.

I'd done it. I'd got independence! Wil was going to be so proud of me!

That was when I made my fatal mistake. As I handed Dream his prize, I bowed lowly, mocking the man. A stab of pain coursed through me. I yelled out, clutching my middle. I'd strained my wound.

"No, no, no, no, no..." I whispered. I had to make it back to the others.

The King, caring not for my predicament, had me escorted out the edge of the walls. I could barely remember my way back to the cottage my friends were in, but I'd have to try. I had good news after all.

It was fruitless. Every step was like a fire in my stomach. Every fleeting moment was a torrent of fresh hurt. Unable to stop myself, I fell to my knees, tears pricking my eyes. I carefully lifted my shirt, biting back a cry of despair at the clear hue of blood soaking through the bandages.

The sky wept with me, as I knelt there, unable to move. It was too much.

I collapsed backward, letting the blood leave me.