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Fundy arrived at the crest of the hill with Yogurt in one hand and a picnic basket in the other. It was a warm day, with clouds the pure colour of Yogurt’s fur and a gentle breeze that weaved through the trees. And Fundy was feeling hopeful.
Yogurt let go of his hand and raced down the hill, to the community of picnic blankets that had already been laid out. He barrelled into Purpled, who had been sharing a cake with Punz. Purpled made a show of annoyance, rolling all his eyes, but ultimately hugged him back. Punz, sitting next to them, smiled and offered him a slice of cake.
Fundy took a moment to survey the rest of the clearing. On one purple-and-black chequered blanket, was Eret and Foolish. Eret had a crown of flowers instead of one of gold, each petal vibrant. Their normal kingly attire was gone, replaced with a white shirt and a green skirt the shade of jade. Their sunglasses sat by their side, their blank eyes crinkled in laughter. Foolish’s shone gold next to them, their marble teeth digging into an apple.
A few steps from them was Niki, approaching with a cake. Her pink hair was braided and decorated with emeralds, a style that whispered Technoblade. Jack trailed behind her, hands shoved in his pockets.
Next to them was Sapnap and Karl and Quackity. The three sat almost on each other more than their blanket, their legs intertwined. Sapnap and Karl were pressing their heads together, while Quackity held Sapnap’s hand. Both hands had matching twin rings. Quackity’s golden tooth, revealed by his smile, glinted under the sun. Slime sat on his own little rug, right next to them, playing some game with Quackity’s card.
Off to the side, almost at the edge of the clearing, was Callahan, chewing on a carrot and watching.
Laid out on a bright blue blanket were Bad and Skeppy and Hannah and Ant and Ponk. Bad seemed to be cooing at Skeppy, swiping at his face with a napkin. Ant was serving up a cake. Red velvet, by the look and smell. Ponk was helping him, their metal arm newly polished. Hannah seemed content to sit back and speak to her roses.
Sam was on his own, picking at the threads of his blanket, while Puffy and HBomb weaved through the groups, talking and grinning.
The final group was on opposite ends of the clearing from Quackity’s, and was the loudest. Tommy and Technoblade were yelling over something – Tommy more than Technoblade – while Philza was sipping at his drink, looking on. Tubbo sat with Michael in his lap.
And Wilbur. Wilbur was playing the guitar, his voice rising above the arguing and the talking and the laughter till it filled the entire clearing.
Fundy stepped forward, hesitated. Kept watching.
There was tension in the air. George was nowhere to be found, along with Connor and Michael. Quackity had his back to Technoblade. Tubbo was holding Michael tight and sat at the edge of the blanket, the furthest he could from Technoblade without touching grass. Sam kept looking at Ponk and Ponk at Sam. Occasionally Tommy would flinch and Wilbur’s fingers would stutter. Eret would glance at Wilbur as if they wanted to talk to him, while Wilbur would glance at them like he wanted to punch them.
Every person here had someone that they hated or feared or had a score to settle with. But that someone was also loved by someone else here, and that someone else was loved by the person. And in the end, their love mattered more than their hate.
Foolish stood up from his blanket. Went over to Ponk, and then together they headed towards Sam.
It was a spider web attaching them together. Strings made of experiences and feelings instead of silk. A past that could never be fully reclaimed, but that maybe could serve as the foundation for a future.
For a single, Fundy thought he glimpsed something in the corner of his eye. A green hoodie, a white mask. But then it was gone.
“Fundy!”
He looked behind him and saw Ranboo, pushing a cart. It was old and battered, its paint peeling.
“Is that—”
“An ice-cream cart? Yeah,” said Ranboo. “I found it just sitting around. Crazy, huh?”
Fundy looked at it, where the words ‘Fundy’ and ‘Ranboo’ had faded to nothing. Remembered their ice-cream shop. A plan made at midnight, brains frozen with too much snow, to go mobile.
“Do you know how to use it?” asked Fundy.
“It can’t be too hard,” answered Ranboo.
“I had an ice-cream shop, once,” said Fundy. “I could show you the ropes.”
Before Ranboo could give an answer, a different voice called out, “Hey! Dude! What are you doing standing up there for?”
Fundy looked back at the clearing, and Eret was waving at them. Niki and Jack were eating cake.
Fundy hesitated. Looked over at Wilbur and his guitar. Then he set off to Eret, Ranboo and their ice-cream cart behind him.
He could always go over to them later. He wasn’t not choosing his family. How could he?
In some way or another, everyone here was family.