Chapter Text
In L’Manberg’s national anthem, it speaks of its people rising like a phoenix. Tommy feels that now. The fire in his lungs is fuelled by the sharpness of the winter air. Cold invades his body but it melts away. Child-like glee makes him grin the same way he did way back when. Exile burnt him when he thought he was fire-proof. He crumbled down to ash. Like L’Manberg, he rises from the grave they buried him in.
Phil pours tea for them inside his cabin. Near Techno’s, three more houses have risen up. Phil’s is the most aesthetically pleasing, Tommy figures it could use a garden out front. They tied up the horses outback, the younger boys buzz with silent excitement when they enter and look around. Charlie stays firm in wanting to wait outside, his eyes never leave the scabbard on Phil’s hip. Tommy coaxes his eldest inside with the promise of warm green tea and that he can hold the baby. Shifting uncomfortably, Charlie stands in the corner of the room with one hand on Clementine and another very loosely gripping his cup of tea. Tommy can tell that the second something mildly negative happens the tea will be replaced by a firm grip on his blade.
Icarus, on the other hand, can barely wait until Phil’s poured the tea to start chirping and fluttering about. His wings puff up as he stares down Phil’s wings. Tommy realizes they’re practically the same colour and he knows Icarus is dying to ask about them.
Tommy pats his back and whispers to him, “It’s okay big man, go ahead.”
Giving a hesitant nod, Icarus takes a big breath and loudly exclaims, “I have wings also! I’m super good at flying!”
A bit of tension leaves Phil’s shoulders because he can’t help but smile, “How old are you, mate?”
“I’m ten! Will my wings get as big as yours? Can you fly super high? Can you teach me?”
“Maybe, yep, and...well, you’ll have to ask Tommy about that one.”
Icarus’ eyes go wide with excitement, “Dad!”
“If Phil’s not busy and Charlie can supervise, he’d probably lose his head if I left you alone with big man Philza Minecraft.” Chuckles Tommy, gently poking fun at Charlie.
Phil looks over to the teenager, who nods in agreement. He wonders what exactly he’s done to warrant such a reaction from the child.
He hums to himself, sitting and answering Icarus’ hundreds of questions. He learns all the children’s names, what they like, why they like Tommy so much, and a billion other anecdotes about their life. Though Charlie looks much too similar to Tommy at sixteen, Icarus is a chilling portrayal of what Tommy was like as a boy. Whether he likes it or not, his long-lost-son is a man now. A man with responsibilities and overgrown blonde hair brushed back into a ponytail. A man wearing a long brown jacket that he recognizes in an instant. A man who hung a red and white cape up when he entered the door. More than anything, Phil wants to reach out and touch him to make sure this isn’t some crazy fever dream, because Icarus is what Tommy was. Excitable and defiant, while also being observant and loyal without fault. They look worlds different, but the fiery sparkle in his eye is the same.
He never gets a good look at Clementine and doesn’t speak a word to Charlie. Percy spends most of the time warming up to Phil very gently. While Icarus entertains Phil with wild stories and slashes pretend monsters in the air, Percy sits in Tommy’s lap and undoes his ponytail. On occasion, Phil’s eyes drift towards the pair. Tommy looks effortlessly kind, Percy works his hands through his father’s hair and makes shoddy attempts to braid it. Charlie starts to calm when they get closer to the hour mark, he lets himself hold the cup with both hands. Phil tries to make conversation.
“You alright, mate?”
“I’m fine.”
Tommy gives Phil a look across the table that tells him he won’t be able to make strides with Charlie for a long time.
He sort of pieces it together when the door swings open and his cup immediately hits the ground. The boy’s got a fierce grip on the handle of his sword and an even fiercer one on his little sister. Instinctively, Icarus moves to stand by him. The younger runs his fingers over his older brother’s clenched fist. Phil watches the oldest child map escape routes in his mind, eyes darting to every possible exit. When they share a glance, he watches Charlie’s eyes fill with fear.
“Phil, did you get new horses?” A deeper voice calls from the front door, there are sounds of him taking off his cloak and then...a pause.
“Do you have guests?”
“Techno, you might wanna come in here, mate.”
Phil watches Charlie completely freeze at the mention. Icarus scrambles in his pocket for a piece of blue fabric and he pries it between his brother’s fingers. Percy notices the shift in his sibling’s behaviour and floats over to join them. Tommy stands and directs the children into another room. The door shuts behind them just as Technoblade enters.
“Tommy?”
Spinning and giving the best smile he can, Tommy grins nervously at his older brother, “Eyyyy! Hello Blade!”
It’s not even a moment before Techno rushes him. For a second Tommy is scared, completely petrified. Until he realizes he’s not being crushed to hurt, but being absolutely destroyed in a hug. Techno’s always been massive compared to him. He’s a piglin, for christ’s sake, but now he feels dwarfed by him. Tommy is engulfed by the first hug he remembers sharing with Techno since he was very little.
“Techno, you-you’re crushing me! I know you miss me but-”
“Tommy, shut up.”
He listens, god, for once he listens. Because when Techno eases up, he takes the back of Tommy’s head and cradles it into his shoulder. One hand holding his head, the other directly over where his heart must be. Tommy sees his ears twitch, it clues in. He’s listening to his heartbeat.
“You’re alive,” Mumbles Techno, much less confident-sounding than Tommy had ever heard.
“I’m sorry. Techno, Techno I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to I just-You-He-I couldn’t-” Tommy’s breath shakes and his eyes well up, how long has it been since he’s been treated this gently by his family?
“It’s fine, Tommy. It’s…” Techno stutters and his breath falters too, “He said he’d killed you.”
“That...that must’ve hurt like a bitch.”
“Yeah. Something like that.”
Techno pulls back and takes Tommy’s face in his hands.
“What in the world were you doing for five years?” His older brother reprimands, teasing and giving a small smile.
Tommy shrugs, “Eh, picked up some art, did some real zen shit! You know, I lived on a mountain Technoblade, and it was taller than your shit mountain behind your house!”
“He also picked up four children,” Phil says from his place at the table.
Techno immediately turns on Tommy, “You what?”
Tommy laughs and pushes himself free of Techno’s hold, “It is true! I am a real dilf, as the kids say!”
“Tommy I love you, but if you say that again I will kill you.” Deadpans Techno.
“Agreed!” Phil follows, despite trying not to laugh.
“You two are still not very funny! Gimme a sec, I’ll see if the oldest will graciously allow me to borrow his siblings.”
Tommy pops into the other room for a moment and returns with two small children. Phil notices their dynamic has changed. The second Percy sees Techno he makes a beeline for him, Icarus stays back and offers a small wave. Percy floats all around Techno excitedly, making a multitude of soft ghastly noises. Techno, despite being good at most things is never good with kids. He can only wave and smile awkwardly at the small child who is making plenty of noise.
“Pig! Pig! Pig!” The little boy screeches, he turns and looks at his brother, “Nether! Home!”
“Percy, you know who Technoblade is! Of course he’s a pig!” Icarus storms over to Techno, stands defiantly in front of him, and extends a hand.
“My name is Icarus and that’s my little brother Percy. We have a big brother named Charlie, but he hates your guts, and we have a baby sister named Clementine but Charlie won’t let you see her.”
Techno’s eyes go wide at the names, and after shaking Icarus’ hand, stares at Tommy blankly.
“You named your kids Icarus and Percy? Icarus and Perseus!?”
This sends Tommy into a very familiar angry rant that makes Phil and Techno beam, “They came with those names you massive fucking dickhead! By the way, fuck you so hard for calling me Theseus! Theseus is such a fucking prick, if I saw Theseus in a dark alleyway past nine pm GMT I would shank him! He is a wrongin!”
The front door slams open and fast footsteps come rolling in, “Why the fuck is it so loud over here Philza Minecraft!?”
The newest arrival shouts as they enter, “I am trying to write music Philza Minecraft, you can’t-”
When Tommy comes face to face with, what appears to be, a living breathing version of Wilbur his heart stops.
“...Tommy?” Techno moves and sits by Phil at the table, Percy follows suit, and Icarus stands and stares.
He’s as tall and lanky as he was years ago, with the same fluffy brown hair, the same wire-rimmed glasses. His skin is not grey, his eyes aren’t white. His eyes are brown. Brown.
“Wilbur!?” Tommy nearly crumbles, because this wasn’t expected.
He knew he’d see Tubbo, He knew Techno would be there, everyone would be there but Wilbur. For years he lived with the fact that he’d never really see his older brother again. His eyes water and after a few sniffles he begins to cry.
Wilbur takes a few swift steps and gives Tommy a gentle hug. Tommy grabs onto Wilbur’s soft yellow sweater and takes a deep breath.
“You’re alive,” Tommy whispers, Wilbur chuckles.
“Yeah, so are you! We’re both shocked!”
“Wilbur-” Tommy shakes a little, Wilbur pulls back and looks at Tommy with a smile.
“Tommy, take a deep breath, I’m fine, hell! You’re fine! You’re all healthy! And living! You look like Philza, dude!” The pair both laugh, Wil wipes the tears from Tommy’s cheeks.
“I do look like him, don’t I? Quite stupid if you think about it! He didn’t even make me!”
“Hm,” Wilbur reaches forward and ruffles Tommy’s long wavy hair, “You’ve got to let me braid your hair dude, it’s getting in your face.”
Neither of them notices Icarus standing next to them until Tommy feels him yank on on his jacket. Tommy looks down and sees his son genuinely shy for the first time.
“Wh-Oh. Oh.” He realizes why Icarus is nervous and chuckles, “You nervous to meet your hero, big man?”
“Uh-Tommy-That’s a child-Who’s his hero?”
“I’ve got kids now, man!” Tommy smiles and Wilbur tries to process that as quickly as possible, “Icarus, go on hun.”
With a large breath, Icarus tries to get it out as politely as possible, “Uh-Well-Excuse me, are-uhm-are you President Soot?”
Wilbur’s eyes go wide, Phil and Techno both become taken aback. Wil takes a knee and gets down to Icarus’ level, giving him a smile.
“President Soot?” Wil asks, Icarus can’t meet his eyes.
“Uh-Uhm...You know...The President of L’Manberg! I-Uh-Dad had a flag above his bed, and I asked for-Uhm-I asked for a flag, and I got one! Me and-Uh, Me and Charlie play L’Manberg all the time! Since...Uhm-Well, since you’re so cool and strong, I always play you! And we win! Because L’Manberg is about good and happiness and being together! But...well...you know that...because you are him, right?”
Wilbur is teary-eyed by the end of Icarus’ nervous speech, and Tommy has to hold back a verbal “awe”. Phil and Techno stare at the boy from the kitchen table, sharing a solemn look.
“I-Yeah, I-I made L’Manberg.” Mutters Wil, looking shocked and disbelieving.
Icarus fiddles with his shirt, looking guiltily at the ground, “Sorry...It’s probably weird…”
“No! No, no no, it’s okay! I just-It’s...Nobody’s called me that in a very long time.” Wil reaches out and takes Icarus’ hand, Icarus finally looks up and they make eye-contact.
“Icarus, that’s your name, right?” Wilbur asks, and Icarus nods.
Looking at Tommy for permission, Tommy has a feeling he’s missing something so he queues Wilbur to speak, “Buddy, L’Manberg is gone.”
Tommy takes a second to breathe because somehow he knew this was coming. It’s not that much of a surprise. Dream wouldn’t just let him leave like that.
Icarus becomes confused and stares blankly at Wilbur, then looks around to each adult, “But it’s...It comes back! It’s in the song!”
“Bad people took L’Manberg, they made it different. A bad guy took L’Manberg away just after your dad left. I’m sorry.” Wilbur says it so carefully, and Tommy gently puts a hand onto Icarus’ back.
Icarus takes a huge deep breath, his eyes brim with tears, and he shouts for his older brother, “Charlie!”
The door to the other room whips open and Charlie rushes to his brother, strong grip on his now unsheathed weapon. He grabs Icarus away from the adults and swoops him into a corner.
Sleeping Clementine rests against his chest, Charlie keeps his sword hand extended near the adults, his free one holding Icarus around the middle.
“What’s wrong? Who did it?” The adults all stare, save for Tommy, who moves to stand near his sons and watch over them.
“L’Manberg is gone!” Icarus cries, the first few tears rolling down his face.
Charlie scoffs, wiping away the tears, “Wh-Well, yeah. L’Manberg is about the past.”
“But it’s real!” Sniffles Icarus, wiping his cheeks with his hoodie, getting a sigh from his older brother.
“And from a very long time ago. Icarus, of course L’Manberg is physically gone.” Charlie tuts, keeping a safe hold on the upset boy.
With a loud scoff, Icarus becomes stubborn, “What do you mean physically gone?”
“It’s in your heart, dumbass. L’Manberg is a metaphor in a story about heroes, just like Icarus.”
“Icarus was a story about not doing bad things though…” Icarus pouts, nearly making Charlie crack a smile.
“So is L’Manberg. If it’s gone now, it’s about…” Charlie pauses, thinking for a second, “It’s about growing up.”
“How?” Whines Icarus, Charlie pinches one of his feathers for the whiny tone.
“Because when it’s little, it’s like Clementine or Percy. It’s all about being good and happy. But when you’re old like us, things start being sad or angry. Bad things start to happen.”
Another bubbling pouty tone fills the space in the room, “But...bad things are bad!”
Charlie gives Icarus a squeeze, “And what would Percy say to that, huh?”
“Being sad is good, and it makes you grow…” Sighs Icarus, moving to gently pat Clementine on her head.
“Yeah. Exactly.” Charlie moves his arm and ruffles his hair, raising his voice to argue “Now don’t scare me again like that, I thought you got hurt!”
“I did! Emotionally!” Icarus shouts back gently smacking Charlie’s shoulder.
Laughing, Charlie pinches his brother’s cheek, “You are such a little shit, you know that?”
Phil watches this, and he stares. It hits him, in an instant, that his twenty-one-year-old son is a better father than he was. His oldest, even with a sword and a terror in his eyes, is gentle and sweet. The younger, even petulant and wild, calms when he’s shown a very personal kindness. The sword-wielding eldest is the one Tommy trusts the most with the children as young as infancy. The excitable and childish younger with a thousand questions is trusted more than Tommy was as a war veteran. They love each other and it’s not a question. The second Icarus was upset he called for his older brother and he came. He came and he made it better. And even then, Tommy knows he can trust his children to help each other. He watches them and makes sure they can get help if they need it, he’s there. They’re safe. Things are strange and new, they’re surrounded by strangers, but they rely on each other. Something in Phil’s heart aches and wishes he could go back. It’s not a new feeling.
Wilbur, always the charmer of the group, is the first to make a move towards the boys.
“You can come to see the crater if Tommy says it’s okay,” He smiles kindly, and Icarus smiles back.
Charlie, however, stares up at the man and is taken aback, “Are-Wait-”
The eldest stares between his father and his younger brother who both nod, “Holy fucking shit.”
In an instant, he’s stood at attention like a soldier giving him a small salute, Icarus follows after. Over at the table, Percy salutes too. Tommy laughs, more than used to the antics of his children, but something in Wilbur aches at the sight. Charlie looks eerily similar to Tommy, and it sends him reeling. They look like little soldiers.
Wil can’t really comprehend how viscerally disturbing the idea of children “playing L’Manberg” is. Even more so, the young boys giving him a salute reopens the hole in his heart where L’Manberg used to reside. These children pretend to play what was a real war. Whether Tommy intended them to become this attached or not is anyone’s guess, Wilbur thinks it was accidental. Passion and genuine care for the beautiful corpse of L’Manberg lie gently in the eyes of another set of children. Even after they know it’s gone. And Wilbur, himself, the man who was driven insane by his own creation, is their hero. Even after everything, Tommy taught them about the kind and passionate leader. Tommy told them about his older brother, Wilbur Soot, President of L’Manberg. Not exiled and deteriorating Wilbur. Not overly cheery and entirely too hurt Ghostbur. Wilbur. Wil. His older brother, a kind man with a yellow sweater and a dream. It is an expression of love that he cannot comprehend after what his brother’s been through at his hand.
“You can’t keep saluting me! Or calling me President Soot! Wilbur’s fine! Or Uncle Wilby, if you’d like.”
The four adults sit together at the table for the first time in years. The four children play together in the next room, they can all hear Icarus giving orders as if he were a general. It’s been so long that they’re each worried about what to say for far too long. They’ve never been great at communicating just how much they care about each other. Tommy knows that, and for today he’s patient. He sits across from Phil and Techno, but right beside Wil. Wil is silent, tightly gripping Tommy’s hand and running his thumb over the scarred skin. To everyone’s surprise, Techno breaks first.
“Dream’s in jail. Has just one canon life left.”
Tommy nearly flips the table out of rage, “Why didn’t you just take them all?”
“I took one, Tubbo took one, the last one’s yours. Well...In spirit. I guess.” Techno shrugs, staring daggers into the table wood to avoid eye contact.
He calms instantly at Tubbo’s name, “Tubbo. How-He’s alright, yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. I mean, grief aside, Tubbo’s fantastic.” Techno replies, happy to change the subject.
“I’m glad to hear it! Tubbo’s a big man, figured he’d handle himself alright!” Smiling, Tommy throws his free hand in the air to celebrate.
“Well…” Continues Techno, and Tommy freezes.
“Well, what?”
“When Tubbo...When Dream-He-Well, he told us, y’know...He killed you. He blew up the community house, he blew up L’Manberg...Tubbo and I-”
Phil cuts in and continues for him, Techno seems thankful for it, “Techno and Tubbo went fucking mental. Ended up teaming and beating the shit out of the green bastard. Nobody else even dared to get close. Tubbo was more brutal than Techno was.”
Finally looking up, Techno meets Tommy’s gaze, “He got one life, I got one, then Sam dumped him in the prison.”
For the first time in a while, he feels childishly angry, because if anyone deserved to die it was Dream, “Why let him keep the last life!? Throw him to the dogs, why don’t you!?”
“Because he could resurrect the dead.” This makes Tommy double-take, and he stares Wilbur dead in the eyes.
Wil continues, using a thumb to trace numbers up to ten into Tommy’s skin, “Ghostbur didn’t take your ‘death’ well, Tommy. Blamed himself something fierce. Practically threw himself in front of Techno when Dream said he could bring people back. Yelled and screamed and begged to have me brought back.”
The numbers allow Tommy to think. One to ten. Simple. He takes deep breaths and calms as best he can, trying to make sense of what the world’s become. He takes comfort in the gesture.
“What’s this got to do with Tubbo? I mean, you turned out alright! You’re okay looking! Is Tubbo okay?” Asks Tommy, still raising his voice.
Phil reaches across the table and takes his free hand, Tommy doesn’t pull away, “Mate, Tubbo made nukes. I mean, they proved useful, but damn if it didn’t shock us all. Funnelled all his time making...these huge explosives. We didn’t really think it was all that healthy.”
Wil’s tone moves to a whisper, comforting the best he can, “He got a little obsessed. I think I actually managed to help him out of it. Shared experience and all.”
Techno ruins Tommy’s calm immediately, “He’s better now. Has his own little area, calls it Snowchester. He barely stays there though, he mostly stays with Ranboo in the house out back.”
“Wait you-You mean Tubbo’s here!?” Shouts Tommy, ripping himself away from his father and brother.
“Mh...Maybe?”
Tommy’s flung himself from his seat in an instant and out the back door, he races to the little house and bangs on the door furiously.
“Tubbo!” Tommy shouts, his feelings overwhelming him again, “Tubbo answer the door!”
From an upstairs window, someone peers out, “Why are you shouti-Oh my god-”
Taken aback, the young man stares down at Tommy and tries to take it all in, his red and green eyes bore into Tommy as if trying to make out if he’s real.
“Ranboo, get Tubbo! I need to see Tubbo!” Tommy shouts at the young man, who looks basically the same as he did when Tommy left.
Ranboo stares into the room behind him and then there’s a commotion. Tubbo peers through the window, recognizes Tommy, and vaults out the window and down the side of the house. Scrambling through snow, the pair grab for each other frantically and hold for dear life. It takes forever for them to even pull back enough to look each other in the eyes. Tommy grabs a hold of Tubbo’s head and plants a kiss on his temple. Tubbo looks different too. His once shaggy hair is now short and well-kept, he’s got more burn scars than Tommy can count. Once upon a time, his best friend had worn a green button-down for nearly every occasion, now he dons a red and green winter sweater. Tommy’s fairly sure it’s a Christmas sweater but he couldn't care less about that. Right at the ends of his fingertips is someone who he thought he lost such a long time ago.
“I’m sorry,” Is the first thing that spills from Tommy, tears follow shortly.
Tubbo is equally as choked up, “You should be! You’re supposed to be dead! What are you doing here!? How are you here!?”
“I ran away, Tubbo, I’m sorry,” Tommy is muttering, their dynamic feels so different because he’s the one apologizing, it’s so long overdue.
Tubbo’s grief-stricken face gives it all away, a sweatered hand winds back and hits him in the chest, “I searched for you! We went fifteen thousand blocks in every direction! There wasn’t a trace of you anywhere! How the fuck did you survive!?”
After Tubbo’s shouting, Tommy gives him a moment to breathe before he begins to recount his years, “I was forty thousand blocks out, I was just...I was far. I settled down and shit Tubbo! Built lots of nice-looking buildings, started doing art and shit, became a father like Philza Minecraft, I've done so much Tubbo. I-God I missed you-”
Still grasping Tommy tightly, unwilling to pull away, Tubbo smiles sadly, “Who’s the clingy one now, huh?”
“Still you, big man.”
Ranboo joins them quickly after, hugging Tommy almost as tight. They talk as long as time allows. Ranboo and Tubbo explain all the antics they’ve gotten into across the years, Tommy shows them his journal full of drawings and they marvel at his skill, they laugh like they did when they were children. They feel that way again somehow. Nothing is broken, nothing is breaking. Tommy is okay, Tubbo is okay, Ranboo is okay. They’d not hung out with all three of them very much pre-exile, Tommy realizes how much fun it is to have them both there. Even when they’re just talking, Tommy is in stitches. Tommy does end up telling them about his children, and both call his bluff.
That is, until Tommy takes them into Phil’s house and introduces them to all the children. Clementine, now awake, is obviously Tubbo’s favourite. Percy seems to be Ranboo’s. Icarus finds them both very cool, and Charlie takes to Tubbo enough to let Tubbo hold the baby. While Tubbo and Ranboo bond with the kids, Tommy messages every single person on the server save for Dream and tells them to meet him at the L’manberg crater tomorrow. He helps Phil make dinner, Percy insists on helping with anything he can. Techno sets the table with Icarus who asks him all kinds of questions. There isn’t technically enough room at the table for the entire family but they just pull up chairs and let it be. Almost everyone seems to get along well, but Charlie still sits in the furthest corner of the room. Tommy hasn’t had the need for a family table this big ever. It may just be about time to invest in making one.
Until Tommy can make himself a house, they separate and sleep in different houses. Charlie takes Clementine and stays with Tubbo and Ranboo. After lots of compromise with the over-protective oldest, Percy is allowed to stay with Tommy at Phil’s during the nights. Wilbur gladly takes Icarus to his little cottage and promises to tell him all about what really happened at L’Manberg. It’s not the mountain, Tommy knows that. But this place, over-crowded and filled with happy energy, is home. He’s home. He will raise his children here. It is safe. Before bed, he mutters his mantra to the ceiling.
“My name is Tommy Innit, I am twenty-one years old. I am home and I am safe. Things will be okay.”
When he meets with everyone the next day, they show up as a unit. It’s a momentous occasion. Big Q and Fundy lose their minds, hugging Tommy hard and shouting to the rooftops. Karl and Sapnap celebrate alongside them, happily offering swift hugs and pats on the back. Puffy and Niki arrive holding hands, and rush Tommy when they see him, hugging him and sharing how grateful they feel that he’s alive. Bad arrives with Skeppy, and he expected to be a little more apprehensive about seeing Bad considering how much he used to tease the man. He’s surprised when Bad cries about how much they all missed him. Ponk, Punz, Lazar, Purpled, Antfrost, and Callahan all celebrate accordingly, welcoming him back a little gentler but still just as pleased. HBomb and Eret are sweet and attentive to not only Tommy but the children, who Eret ends up playing L’Manberg with. George showed up late, but still gave Tommy a smile and a kind greeting. There are even some new faces who come to greet the man of legend. Foolish and Hannah are wonderful. Hannah kicks his ass in PvP, and Foolish is a legend in building. Pictures of his summer home send them into a rant about architecture that nobody expects.
None of these really surprise him. It’s what he expects. Except for Sam. Now, Sam’s always been friendly with him. It’s no surprise that he’s emotional. Tommy doesn’t expect him to cry. Sam hugs him and apologizes for not helping. He mentions more than once that Tommy was just a kid and no kid deserves that. They end up talking about building for so long that Tommy nearly forgets other people are around. Sam offers to build Tommy’s new house. Tommy only accepts the offer after insisting he gets to help design and build the thing. It’s nice to come back to this. To everyone caring. To people emotional about his disappearance. They talk and party and have fun until the sun starts to set.
While the party winds down, the world quiets. It’s calm. There’s no conflict. Talking is at a low level, loud noises could be heard fairly easily. As if from nowhere, the beat of a drum begins. It plays a familiar tune and all adults stop their words and look. Sitting and dangling his feet over the edge of the crater, Icarus plays his drum. He stares out into the pit and sings a tune.
“I heard there was a special place,” Heads snap over to stare at the boy on the ledge, eyes widened at the song many haven’t heard in years.
“Where men can go emancipate, the brutality and the tyranny of their rulers,” Wilbur takes a few steps forwards, as do some L’Manberg soldiers, letting the boy sing.
“Well this place is real, you needn’t fret,” Icarus becomes aware he’s being watched and his song dies down to a beatless whisper, “With Wilbur, Tommy, Tubbo, fuck Eret…”
“It’s a very big and not blown up L’manberg,” Wilbur continues for him, “My L’Manberg, My L’Manberg.”
“My L’Manberg, My L’manberg,” Icarus whispers out, eyes watering from a mixture of sadness and embarrassment.
Moments after, Quackity starts the second verse, “For freedom and for liberty, our nation sought to build on these. A victory for all under democracy.”
“Well the darkness came, and then it went,” Niki and Eret join the chorus, Wilbur picks up singing again.
“We built a home and watched it sink,” Tubbo and Fundy sing along, all the L’Manberg residents move closer to the crater.
“And from the rubble, there emerged L’Manberg.”
The chorus is sung by every adult who fought for L’Manberg, regardless of status. Icarus is quiet but beats his drum, Charlie watches his brother from further away.
After a silent moment, Tommy starts the third verse, “With bloodied hands and weakened knees, our people rose like the phoenix. Our empty fields and canals ‘round L’Mantree.”
Anyone who knows the words joins and music swells throughout the area, “With sweat and tears, we armed our ranks. We laid foundations in our lands. And from every lip from here up to infinity-”
The sun sets softly over the hills above the crater, casting gorgeous golden light onto the people of Dream SMP. Everyone, regardless of where they stood in the war, sings the last chorus.
“We sing L’Manberg, We sing L’Manberg, We sing L’Manberg”
It is beautiful and devastating and inspiring and all too much. For a child who is grieving L’Manberg for the first time, everyone sings. There is unity in the SMP. For one moment, no grudge ever existed. There is only music, only voices and the steady beat of a marching drum.
“To our L’Manberg,” The adults finish, and it is quiet, there is something final to it that crushes the spirits of everyone quietly. The sunlight on the snow reflects tragedy in the moment.
Everything changes in one moment. Guiding Percy through the crowds, Charlie makes his way to Icarus. He’s stopped drumming, tears rolling down his cheeks. He stands and thinks that will be it, they all think it’s over.
Cutting through the silence is Charlie’s trembling whisper of a voice, “Though I have not stood here before,”
The fourth verse starts. Wilbur forces back tears, as do many other L’Manberg residents.
“I know the men who walked your floors,” Tommy feels himself weaken as Charlie’s voice gains strength, his son’s plum sweater rustles with the soft winter wind, he stares.
From his pocket, Charlie pulls out a piece of fabric that unfolds into the L’Manberg flag, “And I’ve seen your flag, flying high above”
“Inspiring us with hope and love” His voice raises, hoisting the flag into the sky and keeping a firm grip.
Icarus flaps up, holding onto Charlie’s closed fist with one of his own. Percy grips on tightly to Charlie’s other hand, smiling brightly and humming out the melody.
“So though you’re gone, the children sing L’Manberg!” Shouting across the crater Charlie unknowingly starts a brand new era.
Maybe it can never come back. Maybe it will never be the same. But L’Manberg will be something. The adults can try all they want to rid themselves of it because for them it is tainted. L’Manberg is fighting. It is war. It is pain. For the children who are hoisting its flag now, it is hope. L’Manberg is a promise that things will get better, even if they fall apart. It drives Tommy to tears.
“Our L’Manberg,” Charlie shout-sings, loud and clear amongst the quiet.
“Our L’Manberg,” Icarus chips, letting his voice carry easily as if it’s meant to be heard.
“Our L’Manberg,” Percy manages, it is soft and gentle, but there is a clear effort behind it that cannot be ignored.
“Our L’Manberg,” They chorus, all three young boys.
Wilbur, Tommy, and Tubbo recognize the silhouette it paints against the setting sky. One fearless leader, dead set in his mission, yelling at the world like it will come for them and just daring it to face his wrath and try. One passionate head-strong fighter, bringing life to the leader’s vision through simply wanting it enough. And one so constantly underestimated standing strong next to them, proving his merit without putting it all on the line, putting in worlds of work just to make their vision a reality.
Before bed that night, Wilbur takes Charlie aside and asks him why he did it.
All he says is, “Icarus needs it more than I do.”
Wilbur holds the gently sleeping Percy on his hip outside the cottage, “Don’t you deserve something to believe in?”
“It’s more for them than me. They need to know...I need to teach them that there’s something worth fighting for.” Charlie shrugs, leaning forward to brush Percy’s hair away from his eyes.
Chuckling, Wil adjusts Percy so Charlie can take off his glasses, “Pretty sure they’ve already got something worth fighting for, mate.”
Gently sliding the frames off his little brother’s face, Charlie lets his guard down a touch and smiles softly. Wil just watches, but the pair end up standing and staring at each other. Obviously, something is on the boy’s mind, Wilbur makes the move to reach and grab it.
“That crater’s pretty ugly, you think we should do something with it?”
Despite the dark, Wil can tell Charlie is blushing in embarrassment, “...I did have one idea.”
“Atta boy!” He cheers in response, patting Charlie on the shoulder gently.
Charlie doesn’t flinch.
Sam asks Tommy to the prison the next morning. The boys decide to spend the day with Wilbur, and Tubbo offers to watch Clementine so Charlie can have fun. Tommy watches Charlie explain how babies are meant to be held to Tubbo, then he leaves. Clementine already adores Tubbo, Tommy assumes it’s a bee-to-Tubbo mental link. It’s a nice image to think of when he’s waiting in that huge obsidian box. It terrifies him. He’s allowed to bring in a sword for the final blow, and The Friendship Sword is perfect. Cracking jokes with Sam doesn’t work on the way in, so he resigns himself to counting to ten. He tries to trace the numbers into his hand like Wilbur did to calm himself down. Sam lowers the ocean of lava and Tommy comes face to face with Dream. He counts to ten, he takes ten steps. Across the bridge, into the smaller obsidian box, and then shrouded by lava.
“Tommy,” Dream begins.
“No. Nope. You are a sick green bastard, I’m not here to talk, Dream.”
“Aw, but you’re so much fun, I missed you!”
Tommy throws the first punch. He feels sixteen again. His hair comes loose from the shitty attempt at a braid he’d tried.
“Wait-Tommy! Tommy! I’m-I’m your friend!”
Tommy snaps back at Dream in an instant, “You haven’t been my friend in a long time. Five years, five! I got away from you for five years! I haven’t been your friend in longer! You didn’t have power over me anymore so you just fucked it all up for yourself and now you wallow in this little obsidian box!”
“I don’t wallow-” Dream starts, but Tommy hits him again.
“And I don’t want to hear it, you’re done Dream. Any final words?”
Instead of fighting back, instead of fleeing, Dream chuckles, “Shit! Tommy, you finally grew some balls! I never thought I’d see the day!”
Tommy grabs Dream's face in a bruising grip and stares him down as he laughs, “Dream hasn’t been here in a long time, Tommy.”
“You’re batshit, you are.”
Laughing still Dream continues, “Remember when Tubbo and Fundy tried to exorcise me? How they theorized that they kept the Dreamon and ditched the Dream? They were right, y’know. Imagine the look on their faces to know that now!”
Taken aback Tommy lets him go, eyes widening, “Wh-Shit! Shit!”
“Doesn’t that scare you, Tommy? Sure, you could kill me, but you’ll just be killing Dream’s body. Even if you kill me, you’ll never-” The Dreamon’s babbling is cut off by Tommy’s jovial laughter.
“Yeah, cut the shit dumbass. If you are a dreamon, that means you were never my friend! You just made this a cakewalk, shithead!”
Tommy draws his weapon, “See this? This blade represents everyone who cares about me. I’m not just gonna leave them behind! I’ve run away too many times, this is it. I win, you lose. Our fighting is over.”
The Dreamon tilts its head, if its body had facial features Tommy’s sure he’d be smirking, “What if someone brings me back?”
“Yeah, over my dead body! Tell JSchlatt to suck it when you get to hell, bitch!” With one final shout and a slash to the heart, the Dreamon dies.
Sam is supposed to be serious in the prison, but when Dream doesn’t respawn, he cheers along with Tommy.
Somewhere, in the middle of the snowy woods, someone materializes. Icarus watches the figure flicker into being, grey-tinted slime-like skin without any features. His hoodie is bright lime green.
“Hello!” Icarus calls, waving to the man.
The man turns, tilts his head at Icarus, and without having a mouth shouts “Uh-Hi?”
Flying over, Icarus extends a hand to the man, “My name’s Icarus! What’s yours?”
Dream shakes the boy's hand as best he can while semi-corporeal, “I’m Dream...Where are we?”
“Right by Technoblade’s house! It’s just that way!” Icarus points, knowing well enough that his name would offset any bad ideas the man might have.
Trying to make sense of it all, Dream begins to pace, “Since when-Nevermind. Doesn’t matter. It’s fine. Kid, do you happen to know a guy called Tommy Innit?”
“That’s my dad! Is he your friend?”
Never has Dream had a faster and more lethal dose of whiplash hearing that Tommy Innit, who he last remembered as around fourteen, was a father, “He...He was...If he’s your dad it was probably a long time ago?”
His breathing picks up and his grey form starts to flicker, confusion is clouding his judgement more than anything.
“Dream? Are you okay?”
“I’m-uh-I’m kind of freaking out? This doesn’t make any sense-”
Icarus thinks, then smiles, “Take a deep breath! Repeat after me!”
“Okay…” He takes a large inhale, the boy giggles, most likely because he has no visible nose or mouth.
“My name is, now say your name,”
“My name is Dream,”
With a hum, the boy grasps the space around where his hand would be, “I am not alone, I am safe,”
He repeats and tries to will his hand into being, “I am not alone, I am safe,”
“Things will be okay!” The boy cheers, because it works, and he pokes Dream’s skin in curiosity.
“Things...Things will be okay…” Dream mutters, watching the child stare in wonder at his skin.
Sun beats down through the pine needles, Dream stares at his now grey skin. Why he can’t remember much is beyond him, all he knows is he needs answers. The desire to find them is lessened slightly by watching a little boy stare at him in wonder.
“Dream, you look so cool! I think you need a smile, though. We could get you a mask!”
Dream laughs and just nods along, listening as the boy begins a tirade about masks and how it’s so cool he doesn’t have a face. He really is Tommy’s kid, isn’t he?