Chapter Text
Dream knew the second he opened his eyes that morning that something was going to go wrong. He could feel it in his very bones, this server was his after all, no matter the infection that was spreading through it. He was connected to the ground, rivers and oceans existed on this server. When he had blown L’manberg to bedrock it had physically hurt him, as the egg grew stronger he felt his own mind become twisted, his anger at Tommy exacerbated by the infection that was spreading slowly through his land.
It got to the point, as he stood before Techno hidden Wither vault that he could no longer distinguish his own feelings from those of the egg’s. The Egg was ancient, powerful, powerful enough to challenge the admin and send him into a destructive downward spiral of madness. But the prison, while no doubt infuriating him, allowed him to recuperate, allowing him to hear his own thoughts again without the interference of that thing. Everyday had been the same for weeks. Dream hadn’t seen sunlight with his own eyes in so long, he just started at his clock, sometimes provoking Sam into coming to talk to him.
But Dream hadn’t been unaware of the actions going on on his server, he could still feel the river and ground, could feel himself getting weaker as the egg took over more land. He felt each one of his friends' interactions with the egg, Tubbo’s sadness, Bad’s devotion, Fundy’s disgust. But the main way Dream saw what was going on was through Ranboo.
Through Ranboo’s eyes.
Dream had to admit it was quite the shock when he woke up one morning seeing through the boy’s eyes. He had assumed that their connection would be severed or at least dulled like his connection with the egg had been. Through Ranboo, Dream had watched the struggle against the egg.
How predictable, they all thought they had got rid of the big villain, and yet here they were once again creating sides and conflict, in anything worse than the conflict he himself had caused. Despite Dream’s own desires to escape the prison he knew it was impossible. Not even the Blood God would be able to do it, he had chosen Sam for a reason. But then again, the logical side or Dream, the one that was always planning ten steps ahead pointed out that it wasn’t safe for him to be let out. Now more than ever, outside his connection to the egg and its control would be reignited.
How much destruction would he reap this time? When the server was more divided than any other point in its history? No, the dark, manipulative side of Dream that the egg brought out had each piece of the chess board exactly where he wanted to cause the most destruction.
Tommy. The egg wanted Tommy dead. In his last few days of sanity Dream had ensured Tommy’s exile, away from the egg. Safety in disguise of hatred. Dream had known of Tommy's immunity for months. But the egg found its way to Tommy in exile and Dream had almost broken his charade as Tommy leapt onto the red rot, declaring it was an addition to his constructed girlfriend. And yet nothing had happened.
He had seen through Ranboo’s eyes Tommy’s immunity. Now in the silence of his own mind he was unable to separate his own anger at Tommy and the Egg’s evil, manipulative intent towards the boy, driving Dream to hurt him to such an extent that Dream knew their friendship would likely never recover.
When he woke up that morning the very air seemed still, it took Dream three second to realize that it was pain that had awoken him, throbbing, burning agony coursing through him. There was fighting on his server, the destructive, earth-shattering kind. Dream sucked in shallow breaths, feeling as though his lungs were being dissolved by lava. He forced his eyes open but instead of the obsidian roof he saw blue sky, red vines twisting in the air. His ears were filled with sound, shouts, cries and the clang of netherite on nethrite. His limbs seemed longer, lankier, he was moving far more clumsily than if he was in his own body.
Ranboo’s body pitched forward, tumbling to the ground.
Dream felt everything. Saw everything. Heard everything. Anything Ranboo experienced so did he. A sword titled up his chin, both Ranboo and Dream looked up into the red, blank eyes of Punz. Dream wanted to scream at his friend to snap out of it, to fight it and at the same time he wanted Ranboo to run, to get away. If he was away from Punz he wouldn't be killed.
Dream screamed inside Ranboo’s head, now more powerless than he had ever been, even when surrounded and ridiculed by Tommy he had some speck of power. Now he was a passive observer. Dream knew Punz, and he unfortunately knew Ranboo’s totally average PVP skills, if he engaged Punz, Punz would win. Every Time.
‘MOVE, RANBOO!’
Ranboo jolted backwards, a hand coming to his head. "Dream?" He muttered. Punz faltered for a split second. Dream’s heart thrummed in time to Ranboo’s racing one... could he influence Ranboo... to get him out alive. The netherite sword swung downwards.
‘ROLL LEFT.’
To Dream’s surprise Ranboo did, stumbling to his feet, backing away from an advancing Punz.
‘Raise your shield.’ Dream commanded.
Ranboo did just in time. He lasted ten seconds longer than he should have against Punz due to Dream’s help, but Dream could only tell Ranboo what to do, he couldn't fight for him. The shield went clattering to the left and down a deep hole. Punz stepped forward again, blade cutting a shallow gas into Ranboo’s neck. Dream felt the boy’s pain, felt Ranboo panic, felt him freeze.
No. Dream screamed. He wasn't going to let anyone else die. Especially not a child. The blade flashed in the sun reflecting Punz’s soulless red eyes. Ranboo and Dream flinched together, ready for the deadly blow.
That never came.
Punz was thrown backwards as a pale Sam shoved him into a hole to their left. "Are you ok Ranboo?" He asked as soon as he checked Punz was unconscious. Sam’s hands grabbed Ranboo’s wrists as the boy brought his hands up to clutch his head.
"He’s speaking to me"
"Who Ranboo?"
"Dream!"Sam looked surprised and opened his mouth to say something but was cut off but a horrifying scream...Tubbo’s scream.
"TOMMY!"
Ranboo turned and Dream felt his blood run cold. Tommy stood in front of the egg, the tentacles wiggling excitedly. To Dream’s horror one of the tentacles had impaled Tommy, the blonde boy glanced down in shock and surprise to the tentacle protruding from his chest. Dream was running in Ranboo’s body, then the world folded inwards as darkness consumed them for a second before the word reappeared, Ranboo stood next to Tommy, catching the boys as he fell forwards.
Ranboo had teleported.
Sobs filled Dreams' ears as Tubbo reached them, his hands running over Tommy, pulling his head into his lap, while Ranboo knelt next to his torso.
"Phil!" Ranboo was yelling looking around at the rest of the server that had frozen across a chasm, watching the three children. Phil had tears in his eyes, his white wings flapping behind him, but Dream knew with increasing dread that Phil would never fly again not after the first L’manberg explosion. He assessed the situation through Ranboo’s eyes, over the chasm, no one would reach them in time.
Dream screamed, and Ranboo’s flinch told him he must have heard him through their connection. He couldn't let them die, he just couldn't.
"Tommy. No, please don’t leave me" A quiet sob made Ranboo spin his head back to look at the two boys next to him. Tommy’s blood soaked the ground, his once energetic blue eyes that sparkled with mischief now looked tired and full of pain. Tubbo was stroking his head with one hand the other clutching Tommy’s hand weekly. Dream realized that both Ranboo’s hands were pressed onto Tommy’s chest, the blood spilling from between his fingers and down his arms.
"Toby..."
"Don't go! Don’t leave me here alone!"
"You have Ranboo." Dream had never heard Tommy’s voice so soft, Tommy squeezed Tubbo’s hand and placed his free one on both of Ranboo’s. "Look after him for me, Memory Boy. Promise me." There was a pleading seriousness to his voice, one Dream had never heard before.
"I promise." Ranboo’s voice came out choked and torn, Dream’s vision blurred with Ranboo’s tears.
"What am I without you, Tommy?" Tommy chuckled at Tubbo’s words,
"Yourself."
Dream tried to return to his body but Ranboo held tightly onto the connection, on their link, but what Dream now noticed was that it was done purposely, the boy was aware Dream was there.
"A wise... a very wise person once told me that." Tommy smiled sadly at his best friend.
"Dream, help me, please!" Ranboo begged, out-loud. Tubbo whipped his head to him but Ranboo was still pressing on Tommy’s wound, tugging desperately at their connection.
"I’m sorry Ranboo. I can't. I'm trying’!"
It was true, Dream had dug into himself feeling his connection to Tommy through his admin powers, but the boy was slipping from him quickly. Tommy’s life was draining as through it was sand that dream held in his cupped hands.
"YOU HAVE TO!" Rambo screamed back.
Tommy’s hands tapped Ranboo’s elbow. "It’s too late for me, Memory boy." He coughed blood trickling from his lips, "Promise me, Ranboo." He nodded desperately, his tears falling and mixing with Tommy’s blood.
"Build Snowchester for me Tubbo, build it to be the best country on this server. Make it better than L’manberg ever was. Be better than Wilbur was. Better than Schlatt was. Better than I was. Live for me, eh Toby."
Tubbo nodded frantically. Tommy smiled, looking up at his best friend, Dream watch but also felt the last life slip from the boy, watched as the blue eyes glazed over to stare at nothing.
Tubbo screamed.
Dream tumble out of Ranboo’s mind, forcefully shoved out. He was panting, sweat dripping down his neck and back. "No.No. No. NO!" He yelled to the walls. Tommy couldn't be dead. Dream had so much he wanted to say to the boy. To apologize. He would explain his manipulation from the egg and how it drove him to manipulate the server but he would not beg forgiveness. No he would beg Tommy to let him rot in here. Dream would rather beg to Tommy on his knees in front of the entire server than let Tommy or anyone else on his server die.
Dream threw a punch at the wall cracking his knuckles, his own blood splattered on the walls. The server was still, his connection thrummed with vile death, his head spun as he felt every member's emotions. It was all too much. Dream collapsed to his knees, letting darkness enclose him.
Dream had no idea how long he had been unconscious when he came to, but what he realized pretty quickly was the stillness she felt within his chest, the server was still...as if waiting with baited breath. But for what?
His answer came seconds later as the lava flooded away, looking across the pool, Dream met red puffy eyes.
Tubbo stood on the platform coming towards him.
Dream backed away to the wall, watching the boy. He didn't miss the shaking hands, red eyes, blood stained hands and clothes. Dream knew the look of a wild animal, wild animals were dangerous, unpredictable. Like himself.
Tubbo stepped into the cell. "Tommy’s dead."
Dream assessed Tubbo carefully, "I know." He whispered quietly, his voice was torn from his screams. Surprise flashed in those brown eyes. "I’m going to let you free, Dream." Dream opened his mouth to protest, but Tubbo continued.
"Your freedom for Tommy’s life."
Dream hesitated. Half of him wanted to jump for the freedom Tubbo was suffering him but the other half, the half that had fought against the egg’s control for months, made him hesitate. Would he be able to fight himself to save Tommy.
Tubbo held out his hand for Dream. Dream knew this was his one opportunity to gain his freedom once more. His connection with Ranboo although highly useful was in the end not enough to break him out, and even if he did, Dream didn't want the boy to bear the blame for Dream’s actions, it was why he had protected the boy when he was first imprisoned.
Nor would a thousand favors from Techno be enough to get him out. Sam was too good a builder. His prison was indeed impossible to escape.
"You can bring him back, with the book Schlatt gave you." Tubbo begged, "Please. I can't lose Tommy. Anyone but Tommy!" Dream looked at Tubbo’s outstretched bloody hand, Ranboo’s own bloody hands flashed before his eyes.
"Your freedom for Tommy's life."