"-what's stopping him from taking everything else?"

I walked up next to the group, following the side of the lake around to where Tommy was giving a speech. He stood on top of one of three chests, looking down at each of the people in the group.

People in the group shouted in agreement, and to my surprise, Punz and Sapnap nodded their heads. Both had always fought with Dream, but things seemed to be changing.

I took stock of the group, seeing my friends and ones I called family. Netherite armor had been handed out along with weapons, but still, I knew it wouldn't be enough.

Dream always had some way of accumulating powerful weapons out of thin air, sneaking off in the night to obtain them. Even if L'manberg had strength in numbers, Dream would find a way around it.

"We're out of time!" Tommy's words drew me out of my thoughts. "You've gotta bring everything you've got."

Admittedly, Tommy was good at striking a spark of hope in people. A quiet murmur of patriotism and unionization spread throughout the group like the start of a wildfire.

Even I, who hated the government yet wouldn't call myself an anarchist, felt moved.

Niki, who wore a striped sweater with her hair down, pushed her way to the front of the group. There was a look in her eye that I hadn't seen since Schlatt was around.

"It's all your fault!" She shouted, her delicate face turning hard. "You burned George's house, blamed someone else, and now you've blown up the Community House!"

Tommy stepped off the chest, coming up to her. There was a pleading look on his face as he looked down at her.

"Niki, please. Although it looks like something I would do, it wasn't me."

Before anyone could argue, I stepped forward. "He's right. It wasn't him." I placed a hand over my heart in an honest gesture. "You have my more reliable word."

Tommy cast me a grateful look, Niki's face softening just a tad. But still, anger simmered in her balled fists and raised chin.

"None of you saw who Dream really is, besides y/n and I," Tommy continued, more to the group. "He's the most messed up person I have ever seen if you even consider him human."

Tommy muttered the last bit to himself, only a few people able to hear him. I had forgotten the teen was one of the few people that knew DreamXD was really the one in control.

It was time to change that.

I stepped up beside Tommy, Tubbo on my other side. It was a strange feeling to have more than ten sets of eyes on myself, but it wasn't the worse thing.

I willed my voice to be steady, carrying across the different heads of the small army trying to be recruited.

And to be honest, I had no idea what I was doing or whose side I would join yet, but this bunch needed some honesty before going to war.

"Listen up, some of you may know what I am, but for those that don't, I'm a goddess." Curiosity and shock appeared on those peoples' faces. "You don't have to believe it or you can call it a bunch of shit, but you need to know what you're up against tomorrow."

Now I had their full attention.

"Dream isn't who you think he is. The real Dream, the one who would support us no matter what and the one who would drop everything to help you, is locked inside his mind. Do you all remember when I was?"

Everyone nodded, a dark look passing over their faces. It hadn't been a fun time for anyone.

"The same thing is happening to him. A dark god is controlling Dream, using all of you as his puppets, pulling on invisible threads."

"Why don't you just free him?" Ponk shouted from the back, his red, black, and yellow mask barely poking out behind the group. I found his dark eyes in the crowd, having to stand up taller to see.

"I can't. At least not yet." I saw several faces fall and I quickly continued, trying to be positive, "But, if you all fight tomorrow, we could weaken him, giving me a better chance at saving Dream."

"Will you be fighting with us, y/n?" Quackity asked towards my right, watching me contently with his good eye.

I had hoped this question wouldn't come up, but here it was.

Ever since the beginning, I had been fighting to destroy L'manberg in hope of living freely and equally with my friends. Government would only get in the way with that, starting wars and unnecessary problems.

My ideals and beliefs were definitely not as strong as Techno's or Phil's, but I still had a bad experience with the L'manbergian government.

I sure as hell didn't want to fight all these people, not when they were fighting for their hearts and for the future of the Dream lands. I loved these people, most were my friends.

The options clashed, a storm brewing in my heart. Every single part of me called to just choose a side and lose friends on the other.

But there was that little voice, the one that brought comfort and joy. The one that sounded familiar and was warm like the sun.

Do what your heart says, my dear.

I almost physically gasped from her voice, but there was no doubting it was Noemi. Somehow, she had reached through the chains of the afterlife to talk to me.

So I raised my eyes, finding Quackity in the crowd, who was patiently awaiting my response.

"I will not be fighting with you, but I won't be against you either. It is not right for me to fight for a nation that has hurt me so badly." I spread my hands to all the people. "I do not want to get in your way though, I do not want to strike you down."

Thankfully, I didn't see Tommy's face fall with defeat or loss. In fact, no one even seemed angry with me.

That's how I knew I made the right choice.

"I will be there with you all tomorrow, and I will be on hand for any fatal injuries." A smile quirked my lips. "A healer if you will."

A few laughs arose from the crowd, completing my little speech. I moved out of the center, allowing for Tommy to take control again.

Chaos erupted within minutes, people scurrying to get weapons, armor, and supplies. Amidst it all, Tommy directed people and spoke to them like a true leader.

It was hard not to get teary-eyed when Quackity began humming the old anthem and Tommy led his people.

I saw Wilbur there, standing in the middle of the group with his L'manberg coat flapping in the autumn breeze. Pride shone in his eyes, his words of wisdom coming easily.

He looked up at me, smiling with his lips closed and nodding his head slightly.

And when I blinked, his brother was smiling back at me, in the middle of the group. Who knew that almost a year later, Tommy would be the spitting image of Wilbur, leading a nation.

That's when I realized what today was. It had been exactly a year since all of this had started, since the L'manberg war.

So much had changed in such little time.

The first day of winter would be tomorrow, the end of fall coming faster than I had expected. It wouldn't be for a couple of months till the snow arrived though.

I wiped my teary eyes and walked up to a nearby ender chest, opening it with a burst of purple shards. When I stood straight from it, my arms were full.

People brushed my shoulders as I passed, parting to let me through to the chests. All three were open, revealing the little supplies that had been so far collected.

Tommy gaped at me, surprise in his eyes.

I dropped stacks of diamonds and iron into one chest, almost filling up the box. Next, I walked back to the ender chest, returning with several sets of enchanted diamond armor.

I smirked at Tommy, lowering my voice, "A good tip to getting rich is to fall in love with one of the most powerful people on the server."

Tommy stared at me for a moment, before bursting into loud laughter. Tubbo, who had also heard what I said, doubled over.

It was true, Dream had always had more diamonds and ores than he could keep track of. There was more than enough to be given to me, Sapnap, and George.

Dream's strange lack of the need for sleep had him out at night, mining away for riches we didn't need any more of.

I shook the memories from my mind. People began bustling around me again, running in every direction for anything they could lend to the war effort.

As a good luck token, I fished the two items I had also grabbed from the chest out of my pocket. They were cool and smooth, dark in the afternoon light.

I took each of the teens' hands, pressing a netherite ingot in each of their palms. They stared up at me with smiles.

"You got this under control, Tommy?" I asked, standing in front of Tommy and Tubbo.

He nodded, pride exploding around him like fireworks. "Yeah, we do."

Tubbo nodded, his dark eyes trailing back to me. "We'll see you tomorrow?"

I smiled, dipping my head. "You sure will. See you on Doomsday."

They waved goodbye to me as I left them, on my way to sort things out with Techno.

-

Tommy pov

She disappeared into the crowd, consumed in seconds by the army. She was probably on her way to talk to his brother.

How the hell did she manage to face DreamXD, take his acts of betrayal to Techno, and manage to round up a group willing to fight?

Tommy longed for that leadership in this time of war. But something inside of him took control and helped words of encouragement come easy.

They would lack without y/n, but they would have to do.

Tubbo waited beside him, his eyes glued to his black boots. The hem of his presidential pants was wet with mist from the waterfalls coming out of the Community House.

Shame, betrayal, and loss all swam inside his mind, trying to overpower each other. More than anything else though, he missed his best friend.

"Tubbo, can I speak to you?" Tommy asked, getting a meek nod in return.

He nudged the shorter boy, gesturing for them to walk. It was a quick and awkward walk to the place, but both knew this would only be right on the bench.

Excitement and awe flooded Tommy's heart upon feeling the smooth wood of the oak bench under his palms and the brush of the tree's leaves against his neck.

It felt like coming home.

Before starting, Tommy peeked at Tubbo. He was watching the horizon, his face neutral.

Tubbo had always been good at masking his emotions and putting a shield in place. The feelings were pushed below the surface, where no one could see them.

Except for Tommy and y/n. But now, he was on guard, no longer revealing himself.

Tommy took a deep breath, working up the courage to break the tense silence.

His voice came out a bit wobbly, "I know it's been a while. I-I..."

He stopped, completely giving in to his guilt. Forcing his eyes to meet Tubbo's, he continued, "I'm sorry. I know you had to exile me."

Tubbo was quiet for a second, and then to his surprise, guilt appeared on his face as well. "I'm sorry too. We could've tried other routes..."

"No, Tubbo. We all make mistakes but I'm the one who messed it up. I chose to side with a violent anarchist who wants to destroy the thing I would sacrifice my discs for."

Tubbo hesitated for a moment before placing his hand on Tommy's arm. It sent a jolt through them both, the longing for a hug suddenly too intense.

"It's okay though. Techno is our family, and he always will be. Don't forget that, Tommy," Tubbo said gently.

Tommy knew that, and it made it hurt even more. He knew that Techno was hurt by what Tommy had done and that he may very well destroy L'manberg tomorrow, but he wished he could've stayed with his brother.

Maybe one day things could heal again.

As long as they all didn't die to DreamXD before then.

The undertone of forgiveness wafted between Tommy and Tubbo, waiting to be accepted by both. It would take a lot of work to heal their wounds, but maybe they could heal together.

Tubbo sighed, a small smile forming on his face. He opened his arms, the black president's suit wrinkling. "C'mere, big man."

Tommy wrapped his arms around his best friend, sensing the forgiveness and rekindling of their friendship. He had waited for too long to hug his brother again.

When he pulled back, he had to blink rapidly to stop the tears from spilling over. Tears weren't an option at the moment, not when they had an overpowered god to fight.

Tommy sniffed, standing from the bench. "We have shit to do, my friend."

He held out his hand, Tubbo taking it and standing. As he stood, Tubbo's dark eyes trailed down to Tommy's side, underneath the light blue cape.

"What's that?" He asked, pushing the cape aside.

That reminded Tommy that he would change back into his red and white t-shirt a bit before he had to get back to helping get supplies. The Antarctic outfit would stay safely folded in his ender chest.

He looked down, seeing that Tubbo was pointing at his new sword.

Tommy's pride took hold, pulling his sword from the sheath and cradling it like a prized possession. The golden grip sparkled in the sunlight, the rubies glowing blood-red like the color of Tubbo's tie.

Somehow y/n had made the sword grip fit perfectly in his palm and the weight wasn't too much or too little. The feeling of Tubbo's shirt wrapped around the hilt grounded him, the scrap having gone through exile with him.

"Where'd you get that from?" Tubbo asked, lightly gliding his fingers across the silver blade.

"Y/n and ... Techno made it for me last night," Tommy said, hesitant to mention Techno.

"You still have that?"

Tommy looked to where Tubbo's curious eyes were set on the green cloth. It was dirty and frayed at the edges, but he had worked hard to keep the bandana from ripping.

"Yeah, I thought it would look good on the sword."

Tubbo nodded, keeping the relief hidden behind his mask. Tommy didn't know it but Tubbo had snuck into Tommy's house one day and stole a scrap off of a red-and-white shirt.

Now the red piece of Tommy's shirt was tucked into his pocket for comfort.

"The best part though is the guard. Somehow y/n got the wings to be the exact feather type as my own." Tommy angled the sword so Tubbo could see the design.

Tubbo looked up at him and then at his shoulders. "Where are your wings?"

Tommy turned around in a circle, acting like he had no idea where his wings went. He mentally did as y/n had taught him, pulling something up from deep inside of him.

"Hmm... I don't know-" He pulled his wings out, making his cape fly wildly around. One wing bumped Tubbo lightly on the side of his head in a playful way. "Oh, there they are!"

Tubbo laughed, his eyes closing in joy. It had been so long since Tommy had heard his best friend laugh that it felt like a piece of him was falling back into place.

Memories of the past lingered in his mind, rising to the surface with Tubbo's high-pitched giggle. Ones where they made the best of living in a ravine, or when they had stayed up late to brew potions in a camaravan.

Everything was so different then, that long year ago.

When Tubbo recovered from his fit, he looked at the wings once more. They were tucked under Tommy's cape, poking out to his side slightly.

"Did y/n teach you how to retract them?"

"Yup, I can do it all on my own now. They just appear and disappear with a poof when I want them to."

On command, the wings disappeared, tucking back into their strange place in his mind. They vanished from sight, one moment there and the next gone.

The two began walking back towards the base of operations, the silence more comfortable now than it had been in a long time.

It would take some work, but one day, Tommy and Tubbo would hopefully be as close as they used to be.

Before the wars, when L'manberg had kept them safe with the large black and yellow walls, friendships had been so much easier. Life had been easier.

But now, they had to fight for those easy days.

"Do you think y/n would make me something when things are normal again?" Tubbo asked as they walked.

"Definitely, big man. She could probably incorporate these somehow."

Tommy pointed at Tubbo's horns under his brown hair. While he had been exiled, Tubbo's hair had grown much longer, now almost fully covering his forehead.

The small stumps of his horns were no longer humps but instead were short branches. There was a slight curl to the end of them, but they didn't seem like they would get any longer.

Tubbo giggled again, making Tommy's own loud laugh erupt. Any remaining tension eased and Tommy could feel themselves falling back into their old rhythm.

As long as they got through tomorrow and whatever lay ahead, plenty of days of sitting on the bench listening to music were awaiting them.

~~~~

awww i love their friendship sm

BRO IF I SEE ANYONE ABOUT SHIPPING THEM I WILL NOT HESITATE TO DELETE UR COMMENT AND BLOCK YOU

anyways have a wonderful and amazing day, all you lovely humans. Make sure to stay hydrated and safe!