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It is a universal truth that, once dead, you cannot bring someone back to the living. It is something we just have to accept— but Technoblade simply refused to.
Contrary to popular belief, Phantom Wilbur Soot was not always a phantom and Bunny Technoblade was not always best friends with Philza Minecraft. It is the consequence of an awfully tragic accident, one where Wilbur tried to fly to the moon — emphasis on tried, unfortunately — and simply never made it back— not as a human, at least.
Phantombur, who he is known more commonly as now, came into existence then and Technoblade absolutely hates it. His brother shouldn't be a phantom, he shouldn't have even gone to the moon in the first place, and he wouldn't have if it wasn't for Technoblade's sheer desperation for immortality.
Maybe his guilt is karma for his selfishness. So be it, he supposes, he has to try again. Not for himself this time but for Will— Elixir of life, they called it, it has to be the answer.
It's the only way to get his brother back.
The journey from their small town to the community they're in today wasn't without its troubles (It pained Technoblade to admit it but his brother was slowly fading away) but it wasn't without its successes, either. The phantom and the bunny encountered Philza Minecraft, The Crow Father, as he's more commonly known, in their travels and have stuck together since. It isn't surprising that, when Technoblade asked him, Phil agreed immediately to help go to the moon to get the elixir.
But that was decades ago and now, Technoblade stands on the launchpad created by Philza, preparing himself for the moment he will land on the moon (he will, he has to). From high up in The Pube, he looks down and sees the community they now live in, the community that they've helped build; farms, cottages, tourist locations— structures they helped build to fit into a place where they have no desire to live once Wilbur's back.
"Are you flying today?" Said phantom's voice cuts through Technoblade's thoughts, the abruptness of it causing the bunny to flinch slightly. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
Technoblade doesn't miss the foreignness in Wilbur's voice. "Yeah. Well— trying to, at least," he responds, turning to face the phantom. "Is it not exciting?
Unexpectedly, Wilbur is not smiling. Dressed in his regular yellow sweater and dark pants, red beanie and glasses positioned perfectly on his head, Wilbur Soot is not smiling. In fact, it looks like he's trying not to show any emotion with the way his eyes aren't opened properly and his lips remain in a straight line.
"Not particularly. What if something were to happen to you?"
The conversation was far too foreign for either of their likings but Technoblade still laughs a half-laugh, a confident grin growing on his face. "Nothing's going to happen, Wilbur, you worry too much."
"That's what I thought and look what happened." Wilbur gestures to himself.
"Yeah, but you didn't spend decades of planning before your first attempt."
"Still, you don't know what's on the moon— What if something hurts you there?"
"I can handle myself, Will."
"What if you get stuck there forever?"
"I'll jump off the moon, then."
"Technoblade, stop!" Wilbur raises his voice this time. "I tried to do it, it won't work— I don't want you to die and end up like me." He's pleading now, his eyes wide with urgency as he looks down at Technoblade. "Please don't do this."
But the bunny is too stubborn for his own good. "It's okay, Will. Either I bring you back or I join you; there is no bad outcome of this. Trust me." Technoblade smiles ruefully, a bittersweet smile crossing over his lips. The look of concern doesn't disappear from Wilbur's face, the phantom still caught in the same self-doubt he was in decades ago.
Wilbur stalls, "What about Phil? You do realize you'll have to leave him, right?"
"Phil understands, Wilbur. He—" Technoblade hesitates, "He understands."
It is at this moment the crow chooses to land dramatically on the edge of The Pube, Philza's large dark wings fluttering behind him as he appears in the fading moonlight. The smile on his face is encouraging to Technoblade, whatever doubt that had risen during his conversation with Wilbur fading away almost immediately at the side of the bird hybrid.
"Hi mate," he greets the two of them, cheerily. He hasn't sensed the tension that was in the room moments before and, even if he did, he clearly didn't want to give it attention. "Peter Rabbit, ready to go to the bloody moon?"
Grinning slightly, Technoblade hums. "Yeah." His eyes study Wilbur's reaction, trying to see if he would say anything to Phil; the phantom doesn't react even then. Technoblade clears his throat, "Yeah, — er —, we just need to splash me with the potions and pull the lever and it should work. Unless, of course, something goes wrong."
Wilbur's eyes narrow at him and Technoblade throws him an apologetic smile. Even Philza gives him a look that clearly says to "shut up" causing the bunny to snort a laugh. To be fair, it is a bit funny.
The sun seems to rise faster then, the three of them sitting in silence as they prepare to send the bunny into space. Occasionally they'd look at each other, Wilbur not bothering to hide his disapproval of what's about to happen but Technoblade's far too invested in it to back out now. Neither of them is putting any effort to understand the other's perspective— one of them lost a brother and the other doesn't want him to die as well.
It's rather disappointing, Philza Minecraft remarks to himself.
Time flies after then. They gathered more potions, made sure no one was near The Pube that morning (if anyone asks, it's under mass construction), and re-read over the legend on which their mission is based. The Elixir of Life and Immortality, Wilbur Soot fears, will grant him immortality. He doesn't want to be revived— not if there's even a slight chance Technoblade could end up dead instead.
"Okay," Phil calls out from where he's stood behind an intricate contraption, "Techno, stand on the launchpad and when I say 'go', jump as hard as you can."
Technoblade doesn't say a word, moving to stand on the launchpad before giving Phil a thumbs up. He turns to look at Wilbur, the phantom staring back at him uncomfortable while his figure appears more translucent than before— or is he imagining it?
"5," Philza calls.
Technoblade positions his legs firmly into the ground.
"4."
He crouches slightly.
"3."
He looks at Philza, the man who's helped him for the past decades just to reach this place.
"2."
He looks at Wilbur once more; this can very much be the last time they see each other.
"1."
Potions spray Technoblade from every direction, the bunny's veins being filled with chemicals unimaginable. His legs feel stronger than they did before, his vision and smell being enhanced by tons, confidence oozes through his senses violently.
"Go!"
The bunny's legs launch him into space, the force causing him to almost lose his balance if it hadn't been for the strength potions Phil had injected in him. He soars fast through space, passing trillions and trillions of stars — he almost gets distracted by some interesting constellations before he reminds himself what the purpose of this is — and it isn't until he sees a glowing speck of something that resembles a very familiar satellite.
It isn't until he gets closer to the place, to the moon, does he see the volcano from which the Elixir pours. The red color blinds his eyes yet Technoblade can only see hope— he sees fulfillment, excitement, and closure. Finally, he thinks, he'll have his brother back.
He lands on all fours, taking a moment to balance himself before he launches himself towards the volcano once more. There is no air that blows around Technoblade as he sprints for, what feels like, his life; it's a calm environment, far homier and peaceful than life on earth. He pokes his head into the volcano, the strong scent overtaking his senses.
The elixir looks as rich as blood and as venomous as poison.
The journey back isn't necessarily exciting; he passes by comets, meteors, constellations— all the things you think of when you picture the higher dimension. None of it matters to him, though. He's got the one thing that can bring Wilbur back and that's enough for him to continue on.
He doesn't realize he's back on the premises of the Earth until he feels himself being hit with a strong gust of wind. The sight of the snowy hills that surround The Pube made him inwardly sigh, excitement flowing through him as he sees Phil and Wilbur waiting for him.
"I got the elixir!" Technoblade laughs loudly, joyfully, sounding more alive now than he's ever before. Phil grins widely at the sight of his best friend and Wilbur's even smiling at the news; he's just glad Technoblade didn't die.
It's like sonic the way Phil sprints to the bar to get a huge glass to fit the elixir in. They've waited too long for this.
The elixir flows a bit too much like blood when they pour it into the glass, it is something they would have taken into consideration had they not been more concerned with getting Wilbur to drink it before things went wrong.
"Drink, drink, drink!" Technoblade chants, excitedly. He can almost taste the success.
Wilbur grins at him, taking a small sip of the Elixir. Then another one, then another one, then another, and another. Slowly, he almost finishes the glass of Elixir, the strength from the elixir merging with his own blood. He waits a minute, then another, and one more.
Nothing happens.
There is a kind of silence that burns at the realization of failure. The kind that screams volumes yet pains in the strongest of lonelinesses. Technoblade's face begins to grow paler, Philza's head falls into his hands and Wilbur Soot simply doesn't react. Maybe part of them knew it wasn't going to work, maybe they convinced themselves it could work just so they could avoid accepting the truth. The Elixir could never grant someone a second chance at life, simply extend their first one to points of no return.
But Technoblade still stares at Wilbur's figure that doesn't change transparency in denial, his eyebrows furrowing in disappointment. "What? Why isn't it working, Will— drink some more of it, maybe it's not enough."
"Techno," Phil tries, sorrow seeps into his voice. It isn't working. They were wrong.
"No, Phil, it'll work— it'll work, Phil— Phil, please," Technoblade seems to age 10 years in the span of 2 minutes, his voice getting shakier with each word.
Wilbur shakes his head, solemnly. Technoblade can't do it without Wilbur, he needs Wilbur to survive.
"Mate... sit down, yeah?" Phil says, voice soft as he gestures to the chair that's kept near the bar but Technoblade doesn't say anything, his eyes not leaving Wilbur.
Tears stream down Wilbur's face yet he smiles at Technoblade."It's okay, Techno. It's just as we've always known— you simply cannot bring back someone from the dead."
The bunny doesn't respond, simply staring at Wilbur's fast-fading figure.
Technoblade eyes widen with fright, desperation gripping in his whispered voice. "Will, you're fading away..." He steps closer to the figure, Philza Minecraft right behind him, as they stare at the sight in shock. "...Wilbur?"
He's gone.
This is the bad outcome Technoblade never thought of— the only outcome that was ever possible in the first place. Wilbur Soot is dead and there is nothing Technoblade can do about it.