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The day had been set. Tommy took in a deep breath, he didn’t want it to happen. Neither did Technoblade, or Phil, or anyone, but it had to be done. He stared at the large oak doors ahead of him. Shakily, Tommy readjusted the heavy cloak upon his shoulders. Not that it took any weight away. The metaphorical weight of being king made him shudder.
Think of the food, think of the food, Tommy told himself. Just think of the mushroom stew and that cooked steak the cooks made especially for me, Oh Prime I love being a prince...king. He begrudgingly self-corrected himself. Tommy sighed.
This was his coronation.
A stupidly made decision really, but Technoblade and Phil thought they were doing what was best for the kingdom. Was making a seventeen-year-old a king the smartest idea? Probably not but neither of the elders dared to contest. There was magical mayhem going on at the empire’s northern borders that required their assistance. The amount of time they would be gone had forced them to decide that Tommy would be king of the Arctic Empire for the time being. He, the seventeen-year-old prince, who snuck out at night, who hardly attended lessons, who had less emotional range than a teaspoon, would be king.
“Whenever you’re ready, Big Man,” A cheerful voice said from his left. It was Tubbo, Tommy’s personal knight since he could remember. The two practically grew up together so Tommy never found the urge to correct him. Tubbo’s armor gleamed the golden candlelight. His growing ram horns poked out from beneath his dark fluffy hair. The two teens smiled at each other cheekily.
“That’s My King to you, good sir,” Tommy playfully bantered back. He needed something to distract him from the immense responsibilities being dumped upon him. Tubbo bumped Tommy’s shoulder. The cold armor nearly making him jump.
“You’ll always be Big Man to me so don’t get too high and mighty.”
“Oh yeah, what are you gonna do about it? I’m the king, bitch.”
“Well, soon to be king,” Another voice interjected from the side. The two turned to see the tall lingering figure of Ranboo. He was Tommy’s other knight, by special request of Phil. If Tommy were to be alone, even with Tubbo watching over him, who was to say they would actually do what needed to be done? Phil had hired Ranboo to both watch over them and protect Tommy in case of dire emergencies. Tommy laughed and jokingly glared at the enderman hybrid.
“Shut up, bro.”
“Oi, don’t tell him to shut up or I’ll just tell everyone about the time you let a creeper into the castle and it was you blew up that section of the west wing.” Tubbo threatened. The blond prince gave him a horrified look, his eyes wide. Tubbo cackled at this. It was not long before noticing Ranboo’s red and green eyes glowing with concern, making him laugh more. The two soon joined him nervously. No matter how small or sweet Tubbo was, everyone knew never to take his threats lightly. It was one of his many strange ways of showing protection. Suddenly, Tommy stood up tall and straightened his scarlet waistcoat.
“By order of the soon-to-be-crowned king,” Tommy took in one last deep breath. “Let’s do this, boys.”
On that command, Tubbo and Ranboo opened the ominous doors in front of them. Tommy took a step forward from the trio. He walked into the hall and held back his gasp. It looked beautiful. White and red drapes cascaded from the high ceiling and pillars. Golden candelabras and braziers adorned the sides and smaller podiums. Out of the long french windows, one could see the glimmering gray of the snowy empire. Piers upon piers of people sat in anticipation. Townspeople, Tommy’s teachers that he barely knew, special people in their lives, and the respective families of Tubbo and Ranboo.
As Tommy, wordlessly moved along the carpet he saw a particular person among the piers. A woman with long ginger hair. Next to her sat a fairly small boy with matching ginger hair and small flickering fox ears. Tommy shivered at the sight, he knew who it was. Why had Phil invited her? Her name was Sally and the boy next to her was her son, Fundy. He could see a frightening resemblance in Fundy’s eyes to his father. Tommy bit down whatever he wanted to say, Fundy was, by all means, his nephew.
Moving further along the aisle, Tommy stared ahead. In his peripheral, he saw his older brother and mentor, Technoblade. The piglin hybrid’s long pink hair was pulled back into a formal braid under his crown. Techno gave his little brother a comforting smile, a rare sight, but Tommy kept his eyes in front of him. An identical pair of blue eyes stared back at him. The fairly short but intimidating figure stood before the crowd. The emperor himself, his father, King Philza Fucking Minecraft. Upon reaching his father, Phil cleared his throat to address his son.
“Prince Theseus,” Phil acknowledged him with a slight nod. Prince Theseus, the name sounded so foreign even now. Only Technoblade called him Theseus but even then it was a rare occurrence. “, is His Majesty, willing to take the Oath?”
“I am willing,” Tommy unsteadily replied.
“Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the Antarctic Empire, and of your Possessions and the other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?”
“I solemnly promise to do so.”
“Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?”
“I will.”
“Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of Prime and the true profession of the T.O.S? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the Antarctic Empire the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of Church Prime, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in the Antarctic Empire? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of the Empire, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights, and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?”
The long drawl of complicated words and expectations drowned Tommy. He zoned out, trying to focus but found himself blocking the words away. Tommy felt a million miles away. Someone cleared their throat forcing Tommy to refocus. He met Phil’s gaze once more, he must have really zoned out because Phil was waiting for Tommy to speak. Tommy swallowed anxiously, Now or never...
“All this I promise to do.” Tommy finished. He could feel the gazes of everyone upon him. They were putting their faith in a child.
By Prime, I hate this but I will do what I must. Lowering his gaze from his father, Tommy placed his gloved hand upon the Holy T.O.S. He felt the cold of the leather cover seep through his gloves. They were silk gloves, of course, they were useless. “The things which I have here before promised I will and keep. So help me Prime.”
“Then from this day, I crown you, King of the Antarctic Empire,” Phil declared. Tommy kneeled before his father, waiting patiently. Phil raised the hefty crown off his head and placed it on that of his son. It landed with great ease, that was not to say it was not heavy. As though it represented the actual weight and responsibility being placed upon him. “Now rise before your people as the King.”
“You can’t boss me around, I’m the king now,” Tommy muttered. Phil let out a light chuckle. The father and son knew no one could hear them.
“Oh, I’ll always boss you around, son.” Phil placed a hand on Tommy's shoulder. Tommy almost wanted to sag under its weight. He was so tired and hungry. He didn’t know why but blamed it on the obvious fact that he was a teenage boy king. He momentarily locked eyes with Technoblade. His brother was proud. The brothers felt a mutual twinge of sadness but brushed it off. It was a big day after all and not a time to wallow in sadness.
The crowd ahead rose in applause and praise for their new king. Cheers echoed across the hall’s quartz walls. Tommy let out a hearty laugh at his friends. Ranboo’s tall figure was half hunched over and weeping silently into Tubbo’s shoulder. Tubbo was trying to comfort him but was more focused on giving Tommy the most enthusiastic thumbs up. Not that it went unnoticed but Tubbo had first flipped him off. Tommy had flipped him back instantly, making it unnoticeable to the crowd before stopping. The crowd continued cheering for their king.
A loud bang shocked the crowd into silence. Technoblade, Ranboo, and Tubbo jumped into action, retrieving their swords to protect Tommy. Phil moved forward, instructing Tommy to get behind him. Tommy refused and pushed forward. All eyes on the oak doors that had been thrown open. Everyone’s eyes went wide in a swell of anger, panic, fear, and confusion. The slender figure in the doorway smiled at the sight.
“Awe, you started the coronation without me.” They knew that voice. It was one that hadn’t been heard of for years. One that had been rumored to echo in caves and ravines, leading people to their death. A voice that once sang songs of happiness. A voice that once praised and motivated the kingdom. One that belonged to someone long believed to have been dead.
“Did you miss me?”