Work Text:
Dear Philza Minecraft, I am going to the prison to visit Dream and make sure he's alright. If I do not return in a few days activate the pearl. I left it in our book club's meeting room.
That's also what he told him before he left. Open the will in a few days... only that Philza thought it was supposed to be three months. And when he finally realized it was already too late.
The news hit him like rocks. He was about to head to the Syndicate room to bring his friend back when Ranboo came to him. The state he was in was shocking. He had cried, no. He was still crying so much that blood mixed with his tears and fell down his scared face. Philza knew it hurt him when cried. So why was he crying. He was about to ask when the taller man crushed him into a hug. With a shaking voice filled with sobs and hiccups, Ranboo finally said.
"He's gone Phil... he's gone.. Technoblade is dead.."
It took him a few minutes to process what he just heard while Ranboo tried to explain what exactly happened. All Phil remembers he heard was that Quackity killed Techno before Sam could interfere. He killed him with a pickaxe... just like his old friend had done after he tried to execute him. But this time, there were no totems to help him. And for Technoblade, a man born cursed with only one life and eternity, respawn was never an option.
He recalls the tears that fell down and the tight hold he had on the boy's suit jacket as realization hit him. His oldest friend was gone... he was no more. Technoblade was no more. All because of him. It was his fault. He should've listened to the Crows and read the will earlier. He should've listened more carefully to Techno. But he didn't... And so he cried with Ranboo till there were no tears left.
If the pearl is gone well, it was nice knowing you. Look after the others when I'm gone. Please keep Steve and the foxes well-fed. The wolves can be released into wilderness
Philza watched the pack walk away. Slowly, reluctantly, always looking back at him. Some lingering, some refusing to go, some waiting for their owner to come home and take them back home. The wolves looked confused for why they were pushed towards the forest as he stood and watched them. But that's what his friend wished for.. for them to be free. And Philza will make sure his last wishes came true. This was the last thing he would ever be able to do for Technoblade. And so the man stood by and waited till the last wolf left... and he never saw the pack again.
When he got back to the house, his house, a house that will forever be empty now, he went to check on the foxes. Philza made sure they had everything they needed. But he also noticed they now stopped moving around and were now sitting down in a corner, curled up in eachother quietly. They knew it. They knew he wouldn't come back anyway.
It was the same with Steve. The polar bear refused to eat or drink or even move. He was sitting down in the snow in front of the stairs leading to Techno's house, looking in the distance. He was waiting for his owner to come back. And so Philza sat down next to him and softly pet his head. "He ain't coming home mate..." he wishpered softly feeling a fresh tear ran down his face as the man as old as time let himself be consumed by grief and guilt once again. It was all his fault. And he will forever carry this guilt in his heart.
I left my valuables in the barrel hidden in the top floor's ceiling and a chest under the stone in a corner of that one weird room unde the house with pistons. Distribute them as you see fit. Tell Niki and Ranboo that they're stronger that they know.
Ranboo didn't tell Niki. He let Phil do it. When Niki came to him after hearing the news she was already in tears. But she was also in denial. She didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to believe that Technoblade had died.
"Philza please... please tell me it's not true! Please tell me they're lying! That Sam is lying! That Quackity is lying and that Techno is alive and he will come home... he will come back! He will not abandon us! Please.." her voice was broken and it broke the man too as he pulled her into a tight hug. Niki had been abandoned, overlooked by a lot of people. And when Techno asked her to join the Syndicate, to live with them, she felt wanted. She finally felt like she belonged... and now the man that offered her safety was gone. All because of his mistakes.
"I'm sorry Niki... I'm really sorry.." Philza could only apologize as the woman held onto him like a lifeline while crying her eyes out and screaming that it was all a lie. But he couldn't... he had no tears left to shed. Instead, he held her and tried to comfort her as much as he could. But he knew he didn't deserve to be the one to do it. Not when he also played a part in his friend's demise. Even so, he couldn't leave Niki alone so, just like he had wanted, he will take care of them. And will watch over them just like he used to watch over Techno. Just like Techno used to watch over him.
When it came to his valuables, Philza didn't kept anything. He didn't feel worthy. So he split them equally amongst Ranboo, Niki and... Tommy.
Tell Tommy that I hope he finds what he's looking for, whatever that is.
He didn't expect the boy to have this reaction. Apparently, Tommy had been oblivious with what happened and when Philza broke down the news, he thought he was joking. But when he saw the look on the man's face, his laugh stopped, his usual smirk dropped and he only looked into Phil's eyes.
"No... no.. this has to be some sort of sick joke right? Techno can't die.. he can't. He wouldn't. Dream.. Dream would help him! He could revive him right? He could! He will.. he will! Phil... Technoblade isn't dead! No!" Tommy denied as tears fell down like waterfalls. The boy kept denying and denying, claiming that he will come back alive just like he did. That Dream will revive him just like he brought him back... just like he brought Wilbur back.
Phil pittied him as he broke down in front of him. Tommy had done some bad things, but he wasn't a bad person. After all, he was a child who was forced to fight, to sacrifice and to betray. His judgment was messed up because no one guided him on the right path. Well, Wilbur did at the beginning, but his son chose madness above family. And perhaps it was his fault he let that happen. He should've been there more for Wilbur. He should've accompanied him on his journey... maybe none of this wouldn't have happened.. maybe.
"He can't be dead Phil... I... I didn't even got to say I'm sorry... or give back the axe of peace." Tommy had said between sobs and all Phil could do was kneel down with the boy and hug him as he mumbled apologies after apologies... ones that Techno wouldn't be able to hear, for the revive book doesn't work on those cursed with eternity.
Philza also told Wilbur. His son seemed shocked at the news at first, but then he just nodded and left. He knew he wasn't the type to show emotions, not even to his own father especially after revival. So Phil let him go and mourn Technoblade alone. Despite everything, he had been Wilbur's close friend, maybe closer than he had ever been. He remembered when they used to spar together when Will was younger. Such memories... too bad they were just memories now.
Tell the rest of the SMP that having abolished all governments of men, I have ascended to heaven to take on the Kingdom of God.
Phil chuckled at that as he closed the book. Only Technoblade could write something like that. Only he could make you cry and make you laugh in the next minute. He sighed as the book disappeared from his hand while in the other he held a flying green latern with a red heart on it. An idea Niki came up with to pay respects.
Most of the SMP hated Technoblade and will most likely mock his grave if they ever made one. Just like Schlatt's. So she came up with the idea of flying laterns. Respects for his soul. It wasn't much, but it was something. So while Niki, Ranboo, Tommy and Wilbur gathered somewhere else to release their laterns, Philza wanted to do it from home. He only felt like it was the right place to do it. For his best friend, his oldest friend.
The man smiled sadly when he saw 4 small lights in the distance flying up as he slowly let his go. It softly followed the others, letting the wind carry them God knows where. Maybe he would see them from up there. Will he like them? Yes. But Technoblade being Technoblade would probably say that he expected something more grand for someone like him.
Phil, I'm glad I met you in this life.
A tear fell down.
"Technoblade never dies, ey mate?" Philza asked looking at the sky and at the now five lights going up. But as the next tear fell he quickly remembered.
Gods can die too...