The huge boom made time reach normal speed again.

People were screaming, one much louder than others. It was full of heartbreak and anger.

It was slightly overwhelming to be in control again. To have my senses back, but I didn't let myself dwell on it. I whirled on Schlatt who was grinning crazily at the scene, running towards him.

He didn't sense my new freedom, just turning as I stood in front of him. He grinned at me, but it dropped when he saw my arm pulling back. His eyes flashed a moment too late, my fist making connection with his face.

His eyes rolled into the back of his head, collapsing to the ground. I felt satisfaction fill me, not caring about the bruise already forming on my knuckles. It was worth it to see the man get what he deserved.

I turned away from the man, returning to the awful scene. As I rushed over to the box, I prayed that I had moved the arrow far enough away from Tubbo's heart.

When I rounded the corner, Tommy was now standing on the podium. He was arguing with Techno, tears spilling down his face. He kept glancing at the inside of the box, more tears following his actions.

I ignored the two, removing the blocks that had formerly kept Tubbo in. My hands were shaking, exhaustion creeping in. The new control was tiring, I wasn't used to it.

I shoved it down when I was finally able to see the damage.

It took everything in me not to throw up at the scene.

The boy was crumpled on the ground, red blooming across his body. There was so much blood I couldn't even find the source. His skin was too pale, his breathing too shallow. I needed to get him out of here now.

I reached in to grab him, but my hands were slapped away. I looked over to see Tommy, glaring at me, "Get away from him." His voice was rough from screaming and emotion. His hands were shaky, the sword wobbling that he held at me.

Techno was hurtling into the sky behind Tommy, gripping a trident. Quackity stood off to the side, pale, glancing between Tubbo and Schlatt.

"Tommy, it's me." My voice sounded warm and smooth once again, causing Tommy's eyes to soften slightly. "I'll explain it later, but I need you to trust me right now."

He nodded, his eyes going to his best friend again. I scooted past Tommy, carefully scooping the boy in my arms. I forced myself to become numb to my feelings and sleepiness so I could get Tubbo out of here. Blue eyes tracked my every move.

"Tommy grab onto me." The boy complied, gripping my sleeve tightly. I grasped a pearl in my hands, handing it off to Tommy, "Throw it towards Pogtopia as hard as you can."

He threw it, our eyes tracking as it fell in the distance. Before we disappeared, I glanced at Tubbo. His breaths were becoming shallower.

Suddenly the ground disappeared below us. A nauseating feeling filled me, the black void encasing us. And as soon as it was gone, the ground was back.

I hit it running, Tommy next to me. I called wind, pushing at our heels. It made us move faster, winding through the forest. I was careful to not bounce Tubbo too much, but I could feel my arms becoming tired.

Just as I felt like I would collapse, I saw the oak door. Tommy reached it, throwing it open for me to run through. I dashed down the stairs that led down into a ravine. I didn't stop to gaze at the sight, letting Tommy's voice guide me, "To the left! There are beds over there!"

I followed his directions, arriving at a small area that had two beds and a lantern. I placed Tubbo gingerly down on a bed, sitting down on my knees next to him. I turned to Tommy, "Go get bandages and disinfectant." The boy hesitated, his eyes trailing to Tubbo, "He'll be fine, but you need to get those things." I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible. Tommy nodded, running away.

When Tommy left, I placed a hand on Tubbo's, trying to ignore his wheezes. His eyes were closed, but I needed to find the wound, "Hey Tubbo. It's me, it's gonna be alright." My voice shook slightly but I stamped down on it, focusing on his wounds.

I was using every ounce of magic I had left, pulling on invisible threads. I reached into his mind, searching for the source of pain. It was coming from his chest, inches away from his heart.

I had moved the arrow inches away.

Tommy rounded the corner, Wilbur on his heels. They were both carrying supplies. I backed away, creating space for them. They hesitated, looking to me, "His chest." My voice was raspy, sleep trying to pull me into slumber, but I worked against it.

They got to work, wiping away the blood, placing bandages around the boy. I felt like I was in shock, everything felt numb. Even when I allowed my senses to come back.

I hadn't processed that I had beaten the darkness. And I wasn't willing to yet. Not until Tubbo was okay.

After what felt like forever, the two backed away. Tubbo was asleep, significantly less bloody. Bandages wrapped around his chest and several other places, but some color was returning to his face. Good.

Tommy turned to me, his expression mirroring mine. He was in shock.

I reached out to him, taking his hand, "He'll be okay. Just breathe." Tommy had a faraway look in his eyes but he nodded.

Footsteps came from behind us, causing the three of us to turn.

Technoblade froze as our eyes landed on him, Niki pausing behind him.

"You BITCH!" Tommy snapped out of it, rushing towards the man. Anger was coming off of him in waves, "You were going to kill him!"

Techno took a step back from the boy, not saying anything.

Tommy continued yelling at the man, but I turned to see Wilbur, smiling.

It struck something in me. It was quite disturbing to see him smiling at violence.

"-yeah thanks to y/n!" I turned back to Tommy at the sound of my name. All eyes were now on me, and I became all too aware of the blood that covered me. I pushed down the sickening familiarity of it. I didn't want to think of the nightmare, not now.

Techno's eyes hardened when he recognized me. He tried to step towards me, I took a step back. But Tommy stepped in front of him, "You two can talk later. We are having this conversation, right now."

Tears were streaming down his face as he shoved both hands into the taller man's chest. He didn't move though, even when the boy began throwing his fists into him. Techno took it all, not saying a single word.

Tommy's sobs filled the room, sadness rising up in response. It overwhelmed me, Tommy's cries were so broken.

When his fists began to slow, Techno gently pulled his arms away. Tommy looked him right in the eye, "You were his family, and you did that? As my brother, you should know how much he means to me!"

Confusion hit me, brother? I had known that Tommy and Wil were brothers but this pink-haired man was too? I left the lingering questions for another time.

"Why don't you sort it out in the pit?" We all turned to Wilbur, his voice soft but somewhat disturbing. When no one responded he continued on, "C'mon Tommy, I know you want to fight him."

Tommy didn't say anything, just glancing at Tubbo before turning and walking towards a pit. It was in the corner, I hadn't noticed it before. Then again, I hadn't had the chance to truly look around.

Techno looked at his brother in concern, just following the other into the pit. He shrugged off his cape, tossing it into the corner.

Tommy wiped his arm across his face roughly, drying the tears. I didn't think this was a good idea, but I knew there was no stopping it. I just went and stood next to Niki, who glanced at me warily.

I gave her a small smile, her eyes warming. She grasped my hand as we both stared back into the hole.

"Tommy, are you sure you want to do this?" Techno's monotone voice sounded grave. He didn't want to hurt his brother, but there was something else compelling him to go through.

"You tried to kill Tubbo," Was Tommy's only response. I had never seen the boy like this before. He seemed so distraught. Without another word, he launched at his older brother. He swung but only met air.

Techno moved out of his swings, not hitting back. After a minute, Tommy was already growing tired but didn't stop throwing punches. Techno knew there was no other way to end this.

He swung, connecting with Tommy's cheek. The boy's head snapped to the side, falling to the ground. I knew that Techno hadn't hit him with his full strength but it was enough to get the boy to stop. He crouched down to Tommy, "Tommy the thing is, you're using words,"

Tommy stared up at the man, clutching his cheek. It was red, but no blood blossomed from it, "but the thing about this world Tommy is that the only universal language is violence."

Techno stood, climbing back up the ladder. Tommy watched from below as the man finished, "And we've had the conversation. We've spoken that language in the pit. Yes, I was peer pressured into hurting Tubbo, but I can't change that."

Techno moved to stand next to Wilbur, looking the man in the eye while speaking to Tommy, "It's over, Tommy. Onto a new day, a new plot, to destroy Manburg."

He pushed past Wilbur, walking into a room on the other side of the ravine. The silence that followed his words was deafening. Wilbur beckoned for Niki to follow him towards the stairs. She squeezed my hand once before leaving.

I climbed into the pit, offering a hand to Tommy. He looked up at me, an indescribable emotion in his eyes, pausing. He took my hand after a moment, wincing as he stood.

I tunneled into his mind, spilling earth power into him. The bruise faded from his face quickly, but not without consequence. I felt myself hit the bottom of my magic. It told me I needed sleep, I needed to replenish it.

But I ignored it, helping Tommy out of the pit. He glanced at a still sleeping Tubbo, his eyes staying there, "Thank you."

His words were quiet, but I heard them. I nodded, not having enough energy to even speak. He turned to me, "I think you should go get some sleep. You look like shit."

I laughed weakly. He didn't look any better but I didn't say that. He told me some coordinates where he last saw Dream and George.

I waved him goodbye, forcing my weak legs to go up the stairs, towards home.

-

I couldn't feel my legs anymore. I felt like I had walked a thousand miles.

The sun was beginning to set, bringing a close to this bittersweet day. It was awful what happened to Tubbo but it felt amazing to be back in my own body. Well, besides the heavy exhaustion that was weighing my body down.

I glanced at the compass in my hand, making sure I was still headed in the right direction. I was walking through a plains biome, getting further away from Pogtopia. Dream truly didn't want to be found.

I dragged a hand across my face, willing my eyes to stay open a little longer. I needed to get to a bed soon or I would fall asleep standing up. And I truly did not want to pass out in a field, exposed to danger. I knew that as soon as I fell asleep, I wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.

Just as I was about to give up, I noticed movement ahead. I could see three silhouettes, chopping down trees in the distance.

I couldn't call out to them, I couldn't even run. I pushed myself, drinking in the last droplet of my magic. I called a light breeze, sending it their way. I whispered, "Turn around," into it, letting the words get carried off.

It reached them, causing all three heads to snap in my direction. I wanted to sprint to them, to tell them that I was alright, but my body physically wouldn't let me. It was taking everything out of me to even be taking small steps.

All three then sprinted towards me, one reaching me before the others. They stopped a distance away from me, staring at me as if I were a ghost.

"Y/n?" Dream's voice came out quietly. I smiled a small smile, something lit in his eyes. He gasped, closing the distance between us.

He scooped me into a tight but comfortable hug. I felt his warmth radiating through my clothes, straight into my heart.

Sapnap and George ran over, joining the hug.

It was the most amazing thing I could ever experience.

That's when I finally let my emotions take hold. I started sobbing, my body shaking violently.

I had longed for this moment for so long, trapped inside my own mind. I had been broken over and over again, and yet, I was here. I had defeated the darkness in my mind and heart.

I could breathe again. I would explain it all to my friends when I could. For now, I just held them tightly.

My tears slowed, allowing me to lean back and look at them. They all had wide smiles on their faces, but tears were pricking their eyes. I laughed weakly, watching as their grins just grew happier.

My mind deemed it safe to fall asleep finally, my eyes closing. I felt someone pick me up and carry me. I opened my eyes a crack, to see the colors of the sky melting away. The stars began to show, dancing in celebration. I smiled at them, closing my eyes once more.

I was home.

~~~~

anddd villain arc is over lol

ngl that last part made me happy :)

I hope u enjoyed, new chapter will be out soon. ily all, have an amazing day or night