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Sapnap had a sickly feeling that dwelled in his stomach as he looked at the haunting building in front of him. He’d seen it many times before as he’d passed by for resources upon multiple occasions but he never thought he’d actually visit it. And now, here he was, filled with anxiety as he stared at the stone button that would call upon the whole procedure. A cold button that resembled the atmosphere of the doomed building.
He wanted to turn back. He wanted to go home. He wanted to be reassured by Karl and Quackity that he was safe and no longer trapped under the clutches of Dream’s overwhelming lies.
However, Sapnap also wanted to let Dream know just how horribly he’d affected him. He wanted Dream to understand all the pain he’d been put through. Not just for him, but for George and anyone else he’d hurt.
And so, despite everything telling him not to, he slowly pushed the button in anticipation. Bad had asked him to come and he didn’t want to let his friend down, even if he was seemingly corrupted by the mysterious egg that plagued the lands.
“Sapnap,” a familiar voice asked, “Are you ready for your prison visit.”
“Yeah.”
The brunette watched as a couple of blocks moved in place and the nether portal lit ablaze.
“You can step into the portal,” Sam directed.
Reaching out, he touched the purple substance only for his hand to faze through it. He knew it’d happen, based on how many times he’d tried before, but it didn’t stop him from touching it out of curiosity. Once he stepped into the portal, his vision blurred and led way to a boxed room, purple particles floating around it.
“Come back through.”
“Okay,” Sapnap muttered, once again going through. When he reached the other side, he was amazed to see the lobby with Sam accompanying a centered table.
After they’d exchanged their small greetings, the one possessing a creeper mask began the procedure, making Sapnap read a book out loud and sign it.
“Is Dream deserving of his prison sentence?”
Sapnap didn’t hesitate, he knew the answer already. He had traumatized both Tommy and Tubbo over one measly disc because of his need for control. Sapnap could only think back to the moment they’d come to the kids' rescue. Moments before, he’d heard Tubbo saying his farewells to his long-term best friend. Even the thought of Dream separating them to the point of death -- which he knew of when Punz had sat him down and told him all of his former friend’s plans -- made Sapnap sick. When he had forced Dream away from the children, he’d made his decision there.
“Yes.”
“And what is your relationship with the prisoner?”
“Sam, can we skip-”
“Sapnap.”
Once again he wanted to shrivel up into a ball like he had as a small kid. He felt so small whenever he thought of how Dream had discarded both him and George like an empty water bottle: forevermore useless.
“We had a falling out,” he responded.
When Sam looked at the other, requesting more information, Sapnap didn’t budge.
He exhaled a loose sigh. “You can put your stuff in the first locker. Make sure you keep the key safe within your enderchest.”
After doing so, Sapnap went through the redstone prison, observing the insane doors and security measures Sam had installed. After going through two examinations, a tunnel of water, and a pit of fire, he’d finally made it to the last room. The only thing keeping him safe from Dream was the walls of lava.
“The bridge you’re standing on will move over to the cell. You must walk with it so you don’t burn to death.”
With a small nod, Sapnap watched as the lava slowly lowered and revealed his former friend. The mask, which had once been a reassuring sign of strength, was now haunting. It felt like a horrible evil was mocking him.
Before he knew it, the blond was standing right in front of them as the netherite blocks -- and his final protection -- lowered.
“Why didn’t you come to see me sooner?” The prisoner asked as if he actually had a reason to be angry, “I missed you.”
Sapnap rolled his eyes. Stupid to remain onto hope, to think that anything had changed.
“Where’s George?”
“You don’t get to ask where he is,” Sapnap answered, voice like ice, “You aren’t allowed to say you miss us.”
“We were friends, weren’t we?” Dream countered, his voice slithering it’s way as it tried once again to gain control, “Don’t you remember when it was us against the world.”
“That’s just a memory. It means nothing now.”
“When we met George for the first time, another lone survivor,” the blond ignored.
“Stop.”
Even with the mask covering his face, Dream’s smile was audibly noticeable, “When the iconic trio created the community house together.”
“The one you burned down!” Sapnap yelled, “We will never be the same again, not after you destroyed one of the most significant buildings. That was our home!”
“And when I needed you the most, where were you? Off with Tommy and his L’manburg,” the mask bore into his eyes. Sapnap knew he was safe. He was aware of the fact he’d respawn with Sam in the earlier room. And despite that, Dream felt so intimidating. Days before he was adamant about killing the other and now, alone with the devil himself, he felt so hesitant. Entrapped within the walls that swore to protect the world.
Dream’s advances, evidently filled with harmful intent, only made him angrier.
“Don’t try to guilt-trip me!”
Sapnap clenched his hand.
“Everything I did was for the both of you!”
Dream advanced forward, closing more space between the two. Even if the blond was only a couple of inches taller, it still seemed like much more, as if a wall was blocking him from ever escaping.
“You said you didn’t care about us!”
“If they thought of you guys as an attachment, they’d use you against me. Gaining power and control is what’s needed to recreate a happy family just like the beginning.”
“Everyone was happy, Dream! Sure, Tommy was chaotic at times, but he’s just a kid! That doesn’t mean you control him with something that is symbolic for his friendship. Y-you manipulated them. You’re trying to manipulate me! Trying to convince me that my feelings aren’t valid!”
“They’re not valid because you didn’t know the full story. Everything I’ve done has been you.”
Dream reached out and brushed his hand against the other’s cheek in a patronizing way.
The brunette slapped his wrist away. He didn’t want to be touched by the person he had called his friend and he was very sure that he didn’t want to be belittled.
“Don’t touch me.”
The smile tilted in a menacing way as the fire flickered to reveal the dark cell that surrounded them.
“Sapnap-”
“No. You don’t even know how much pain you’ve cost George!”
The masked man didn’t move, still in his movements. Even the limited motion intimidated him.
“Yeah,” he laughed, but it wasn’t lighthearted, “You know, after you dethroned him for the guy that betrayed us with our enemy.”
The silence only made Sapnap angrier.
“You know what happened when you were off terrorizing L’manburg? When you were pretending to be Tubbo’s friend and pretending to honor his nation just to get the discs?”
Sapnap stared directly at the opposing male, challenging him to answer.
“No-”
“He's gone!”
“What?” Sapnap couldn’t describe how badly he wanted Dream’s reaction to be genuine, but from the recent lying, he wasn’t sure he could trust anything coming from him. George meant so much to both of them, but he wasn’t sure the boy had a special place in Dream’s heart anymore.
“No one has seen him for weeks!” The brunette yelled, he felt his body becoming increasingly hot, “And when you blew up Mexican L’manburg, destroying the final idea of a home for him, I’m not surprised he left.”
Sapnap missed his friend. He missed the only other person that truly knew what he was going through because they themselves had gone through it as well. He wanted to leave, “You hurt so many people, even Quackity, and I will never forgive you,” he spat.
Dream moved ever so slightly, antagonizing Sapnap, “Everything is going according to plan.”
“How can you say that!” He yelled, rage filling his vision, “My best friend is gone, my fiances have lost multiple lives, and the children are traumatized.”
“It,” Dream started, giving up on his lies. This was a much better tactic for his plans. Getting closer to Sapnap, he continued to whisper in his ear, “Was fun.”
Suddenly, the room was a hundred times hotter and a new source of light came from the visitor. Sapnap’s body could no longer be identified as flames engulfed his figure. By now, Dream was on the opposite side of the room.
“Are you angry, Sapnap!” Dream yelled accompanied with a crazed laugh, trying to provoke him. He had known about the hybrid’s uncontrollable heat. Once it was provoked, only Karl or Quackity had ever been successful in stopping the flames.
The other could only see red, surrounded by burning fire. Despite being born from lava, the depth of the nether, Sapnap still had little control over the power. In the background, yelling could be heard as well as the shifty noise of pistons.
The masked figure watched as columns of fire ran from the sides, lighting the boxed room purple with multiple portals.
“Well, Sapnap,” Dream called out, a victorious smile under the mask, “It was nice seeing you again. Oh, and if George ever comes back, tell him I said hi.”
As the blond disappeared, only one thing remained -- burned -- within Sapnap’s mind.
:)