Chapter Text
King Wilbur’s death was tragic. Taken in his prime by a sudden heart attack was jarring for the kingdom, but no one felt Wilbur’s death more than Fundy. He spent days in his room, never emerging but for food on very rare occasions. The only person who was allowed to see him was Dream.
Dream was the only thing that kept Fundy from going insane in the days after his father’s funeral. Fundy lost his mother young, but his father had always been there for him. Being without him was completely unlike the day his mother died. Rather than barely remembering her face let alone the death itself, Fundy knew that he would remember watching his father clutch his chest suddenly and fall to the ground for the rest of his life. Sometimes Fundy would feel a stabbing pain in his chest and briefly wonder if he too was dying, only to realize it was just the pain of heartache.
After all that had happened at the wedding, Fundy thought things would finally be normal. He was married to the love of his life and Dream had assured him over and over again that he had no idea why George would have done such a terrible and misguided thing. Fundy believed him wholeheartedly, and gladly went to his own chambers to get himself collected. He met Dream at the ballroom of the castle for the reception, and things were going swimmingly. He danced with Dream, all his friends were at the reception rather than the wedding itself and it was just incredibly enjoyable.
King Wilbur was in the middle of his speech when it happened.
“My son, my boy. How the time has flown! Only yesterday you were sneaking into the kitchen to fox the sweet rolls, and now here you are, married.” Wilbur smiled warmly, his glass of champagne raised slightly in a toast. “When these two first met, I remember the first thing Fundy said to me after was, ‘Dad, I think I just met my soulmate.’” Everyone laughed as Fundy looked embarrassed. Dream was surprised that he had captivated him so early. “Dream, every time I have met you since, you have seemed like one of the nicest people. But I do have a warning for you. If you hurt my son in any way shape or form…” Wilbur’s smile faded into a hard look, though it was undercut by a bit of a wince. “I will ensure my entire army hunts you down to make you pay.” Wilbur said, rubbing his shoulder with his free hand. “Here is to the happy couple! May they-AGH!”
Wilbur clutched his chest, his eyes going wide as he suddenly dropped the glass of champagne. He staggered, then collapsed to the ground as people rushed him, but first to him was Dream.
“King Wilbur!” Dream said, trying chest compressions immediately. “Stay with me, sir, stay with me.” Dream insisted, but he watched with well hidden glee as the life left Wilbur’s eyes. Dream leaned down, acting as if he were checking for a pulse. As the last few breaths left Wilbur’s chest, Dream whispered into his ear.
“I win.”
The body was taken from the hall as Dream held Fundy in his arms, the Prince’s sobs echoing off marble walls.
The funeral was long and grandiose as any King’s deserved to be. The entire town of L’Manberg seemed to be there, all grieving their King.
Prince Tommy stood beside Fundy as they both held a torch to light the body and send it off to the ocean, watching the King’s body drift away from the shore, his pyre ablaze. Dream stood off to the side, watching the two mourn their loved one.
During the funeral, Dream wondered (not for the first time) about the love people had for each other. Dream had two people in his life that he felt this way for, but people like Fundy, people like Tommy made room in their hearts for so many. Why? Why make room in your heart for people when they are so easy to be lost? Dream’s loved ones were as tough and ruthless as he was, so he was unafraid of them being harmed. But these people were so… soft.
Things were starting to get complicated and Dream didn’t like it.
According to what he had heard, with King Wilbur out of the way, he was supposed to become Queen alongside Fundy becoming King. However, now that Wilbur was actually dead, there was debate on whether Prince Tommy should become King instead. He was theoretically the next one in line, but Wilbur had insisted on Fundy being the next to rule after him.
Because he was not crowned yet, he couldn’t kill Fundy yet either. So he had to go on the damn honeymoon.
Honestly, there were worse things in the world.
A week in paradise alone with a man who adores you isn’t exactly torture.
Fundy and Dream went to a snow-filled wonderland called Snowchester, where the guard commander Tubbo originally came from. In fact, Fundy and Dream stayed in Commander Tubbo’s mansion there. Dream was surprised by the lavish mansion, but it was clear the place was well-loved. The commander and his husband lived permanently in L’Manberg, but the paintings of the two of them were everywhere.
Dream hadn’t met the commander’s husband yet, but from the paintings, Dream could tell there was something off about him. Something about his eyes wasn’t quite… right. He wondered what that was about.
Dream realized, though, once they arrived that part of marriage was not just the marriage part, but… the rest of it too. Well, if Dream had to keep things underwraps, he had to keep playing the part.
As soon as they arrived, Dream took his mask off and put it in one of his bags. He didn’t want Fundy snooping at the mask and seeing his other wedding ring and asking questions (though he could answer them if needed), so he kept it all away and decided that he would keep his mask off during their honeymoon, something that Fundy immediately melted over.
Then the night came.
Things went… fine. Dream performed his wifely duties with as much gusto as he could while thinking about who he wished was on top of him.
It was a good thing Fundy much preferred cuddling in the warm house while watching the snow outside. Dream had to admit that he almost enjoyed himself. When this was all over, he was definitely going to have to bring George back here.
It was nice to have a time where Dream could just relax for a little bit. But it also gave him time to think about what to do when they got back.
Dream spent the week convincing Fundy that he needed the throne. That his Uncle wouldn’t be able to do what his father wanted. Wilbur seemed to know something they didn’t if Tommy wasn’t meant to be the King.
Then Fundy revealed a little something to Dream one night while in bed together.
“You know… my father once told me that there are explosives set around the perimeters of the country.” Fundy said very quietly. Dream looked up at him suddenly, frowning in the darkness.
“Explosives? What?” Dream asked in shock. “Where are they?”
“I don’t know .” Fundy insisted. “I’ve asked people to go look, but they say they haven’t found anything. I don’t know if he was lying or if he was just the only one who knew about it… he always said my grandfather knew about it.”
Now this was interesting. If Wilbur was king, why did he have a father who had abdicated the throne?
Fundy went on to explain as Dream asked about this grandfather he had never heard of.
“Well, my dad is actually the one who founded the nation, so he became King immediately. My grandfather’s name is Philza, but everyone just calls him Phil. The stories say that he and my dad got in a fight not too long after the nation was formed, and Phil left L’Manberg for good. He hasn’t been back.” Fundy explained. “But I think their fight was about the explosives. I think the only people who knew where they are, were my dad and Phil. I don’t even think Uncle Tommy knows where they are. Or even knows about them.”
Okay, that was a lot of information. First there was all the talk about these explosives, now there is some random guy out there who could potentially have a claim to the throne?
Maybe Dream didn’t need the throne after all. Maybe he just needed to figure out how to detonate the explosives…
Getting back to the castle was all business. After a week of vacation, Dream was ready to enact his next plan. He needed to find this Philza guy and detonate the explosives. With L’manberg a pile of rubble, Dream could easily expand his empire over this land and the people would go with him willingly. He would be seen as a welcome person who could bring peace to a suddenly torn apart place.
The explosion would have to kill Fundy and Tommy so there was no chance for them to take the throne, but he could certainly make that happen. Things were getting bloody quickly, though. Dream decided he needed to consult Sapnap and George about this before he continued, though. Once they were back and Fundy was back in his depression, Dream left for a few days.
“So there are just random explosives everywhere?!? And you’re still there?” George demanded once Dream explained the situation.
“They’re not… everywhere. But they are in enough places to cripple the city. I don’t even know why the stupid King put them there.” Dream grumbled. “I’m almost wishing I left him alive to ask.” Dream said as he thought about the man’s death for not the first time.
“Well we can’t go back and undo it.” Sapnap insisted, looking back at Dream. “What’s the next plan then? Continue trying to become King? Or do you think these explosives are a good next step?”
“If we use the explosives, then both Fundy and Tommy would need to die. Its not impossible to do, but its starting to get the body-count higher than I’d like. If we continue with the original plan, then just Fundy needs to die.” Dream explained. “The problem is that no one knows where the explosives are. Sapnap, I want you to find this Philza person. He’s supposed to be the father of the late King and he might know where the explosives are. Find him and ask, and if he doesn’t tell, bring him to me.” Dream said with a smirk. The other man smiled back and left to get his weapons while George continued standing near Dream.
“You’re still wearing his ring.” George said quietly, looking down at their joined hands. Dream looked down and saw the diamond ring Fundy had given him.
“Oh, so I am. I forget I’m wearing it sometimes.” Dream admitted, twisting it off to slip it into his pocket.
There was a long pause.
“You slept with him, didn’t you?”
“George, I had to. I’m sorry.” Dream insisted, turning and taking both of George’s hands in his. “I tried to keep putting it off, but I was getting suspicious. You know my heart only belongs to you.” Dream said. George pulled his hands away.
“Apparently that’s the only thing that belongs to me.” George mumbled.
Dream pulled George’s face back to face him and he kissed him with all the love he had for him.
“If you truly believe that, you’re as dumb as a rock.” Dream said softly, letting his hand drift through George’s dark hair.
George melted, and for not the first time, he was glad that Dream’s eye thing never worked on him. They were both pretty sure that it was because George couldn’t see the proper color of Dream’s eyes, so he wasn’t susceptible to the power of them. But he knew that Dream could have easily manipulated George into not being angry anymore, but George knew his mind was safe from his husband.
They kissed once more as Sapnap entered.
“Ugh, gross. I’m going to find Philza and I will get back to you as soon as I can with the information.” Sapnap assured them both. He hugged George and Dream, and left the pair.
Dream still didn’t know what to do until he met him .
As it seemed in L’Manberg, Dream came across the most useful people by accident. After a meeting with Commander Tubbo about some guards who had been caught sneaking out at night, Dream was almost bowled over by a man who was easily 6 inches taller than him as the man hurried to speak with Tubbo.
“Woah, who…” Dream started before seeing that the tall man was whispering to Tubbo before looking at Dream.
When Dream spent time in the castle, he kept his mask on, only letting his eyes show. He didn't look in people's eyes often, but when he did it was normal to see them immediately bend to Dream's will. But to meet the same green eyes as his was startling .
Especially when there was only one.
The other eye was this vivid red that Dream had never seen. One eye was the exact same color as Dream’s green eyes, but the other was red. That’s where he had seen the man. Tubbo’s husband from the painting. What was his name again? Ryan? Ronaldo?
“Ranboo, its such a pleasure to finally meet you.” Dream smiled at him, extending a hand. The tall man shook his hand, his eyes not looking at Dream’s, keeping his gaze towards the floor, or other parts of Dream than his face. “Thank you for allowing the Prince and I to use your home for our honeymoon.” Dream said.
“Oh! Oh, yeah of course. I… well, yeah I wanted you guys to have a good time. I told Tubbo that we never use that old place anymore, but we’re both just so attached to it, you know?” Ranboo said, still never looking at Dream. “I’m sorry for interrupting your meeting, I thought it was over.” He apologized.
“Don’t apologize. We were done.” Tubbo assured him, standing up, showing that the two men were easily a foot apart in height. “Your emergency is more important than this meeting anyway. Thank you for your time, Prince Dream. I will speak you about it more tomorrow.” Tubbo said, bowing to him before going off with Ranboo. “You Walked again…”
Dream needed to speak with Ranboo. Alone. He needed to see what was going on with this man, because he could sense… something within him. Something that Dream could either use or something that was a threat and needed to be eliminated.
His chance came within the week. He finally found where Ranboo spent his time, and it seemed to be meditating in the garden. Dream looked around to find no one around them, so he sat beside the man.
“You are very loud.” Ranboo said, his eyes still closed.
“You are very observant.” Dream commented back.
“Why are you here? Really?” Ranboo asked suddenly.
Dream was taken aback by the question, but reigned in his response. “What do you mean?”
“Why are you talking to me? I am not anyone to speak to, yet here you are.”
Dream sighed in relief. “You are someone. I didn’t get to know you that well earlier this week with Tubbo. I like getting to know everyone in the castle. I’m surprised we haven’t talked before this.” Dream said honestly.
Ranboo’s eyes opened and he turned to face Dream, his eyes looking more around Dream’s chest and the bottom of his mask.
“I don’t like dealing with politics. If I had my say, Tubbo and I would be back in Snowchester, you know? You were there. Its just so… peaceful. No politics, no guard that Tubbo needs to control: just the two of us. I miss those days. You know Tommy asked him personally to come to L’Manberg and help build it. Obviously he wasn’t related to them and able to be part of the royal family, but he is essentially Tommy’s right-hand. I couldn’t ask him to leave his best friend alone in this. Especially so soon after the King died.” Ranboo was turning out to be a flood of information here. Dream didn’t know that Tubbo had helped make L’Manberg what it was.
“I get that. If I could take Fundy back there, I would today.” Dream agreed. “Okay, I know this sounds incredibly rude, I’m sure… but why don’t you look at people directly?”
Ranboo suddenly started fidgeting, looking down at the grass instead of looking in Dream’s direction. “I… uh, no reason!” He insisted quickly. Dream’s eyes narrowed.
“No reason? Then look at me.” Dream challenged.
“I-I can’t-!” Ranboo insisted before Dream grabbed Ranboo’s chin and yanked his face to look Dream right in the eye.
The change was instantaneous. Instead of the green and red eyes, Ranboo’s eyes bled into a deep purple shade, his back straightening and the man was now staring at Dream’s green eyes as if in a trance.
Dream widened his eyes and waved his hand in front of Ranboo’s face a few times, but nothing happened. “Ranboo?” Dream whispered.
Ranboo opened his mouth, and a number of unintelligible words escaped it, words that sounded like a different language all together. And it certainly wasn’t one Dream had ever heard.
“Ranboo, can you understand me?” Dream asked, and with a few more of those words, Ranboo also nodded. “Will you do as I say?” Dream asked after a moment more. Another nod.
“Ranboo, stand up and go to that tree.”
The tall man stood, never hunching over like he did in the halls walking around to keep his height almost hidden from people, and walked to the tree.
“Ranboo, touch your toes.”
Every order Dream gave, Ranboo followed with no hesitation. It was like he wasn’t himself. After a little bit of playing with it, Dream gave a final order.
“Ranboo, wake up.”
The purple started fading from his eyes, and once the purple was gone, Ranboo closed his eyes and passed out on the grass.
This changed things. This changed things a lot. Ideas raced through Dream’s head as he thought about what he could have Ranboo do. But first…
“Ranboo! Ranboo, wake up!” Dream shouted, shaking the man’s shoulder quickly.
Ranboo groaned, rubbing his head as he started waking up. “Wha…? Dream? Sir, what happened?” Ranboo asked.
“I came out to speak with you and I found you asleep on the ground. I couldn’t really wake you. Are you alright?” Dream asked.
“Oh… yes I was just meditating. Sometimes things happen when I meditate.” Ranboo said, though he was clearly a bit confused, but never said anything else.
“Do you… remember me speaking to you at all?” Dream asked.
“You were speaking to me? I thought the last time we spoke was at the meeting?”
Perfect.
All Dream needed was to know where the explosives were. He had someone to trigger them and blame it on. He knew that Tommy would likely also die in this plan, which Dream was okay with. Then there was Fundy. His little betrayed face would be so cute. Dream decided he would kill Fundy after the bombs went off, and it would be easy to say he was a casualty from the terrible explosions.
The longer that Sapnap was away though, the more he worried. He knew Sapnap could take care of himself, but he had no idea what this guy was going to be like. Philza could be some crazy old man who knows nothing, or he could be a real threat.
It had been three months since the wedding by the time Dream heard something. He was in his room with his mask off. Fundy was in a large meeting with the council and Dream decided to take some time to himself. His door was locked and he was reading some interesting books about the language Ranboo spoke while he was in his trance. According to the book, it was an ancient language called End Speak, and what he did was called Ender Walking. An ancient species called Endermen would use this language and they had the ability to teleport themselves, but they could also read minds. And the minds of humans often angered them. But they could only read minds when they made eye contact. It was possible Ranboo was descended from one of these ancient beings and he maintained the ability to make eye contact and read minds, but it sent him into a state of vulnerability. He found through asking questions that Ranboo only listened to Dream in the Walking state. He had a feeling it was because of his eyes. He also found that his mask’s eyes caused it too.
“So you’re Dream.” A voice spoke from behind Dream. It was incredibly unusual for anyone to sneak up on him, especially in a locked room, so Dream whipped around in shock, grabbing his dagger from under his pillow to brandish it.
There was a man about a dozen or so years older than him standing in the middle of the room. He wore a striped hat and wooden shoes, and his face was very familiar. Dream made a move to grab his mask when the stranger laughed.
“No need to put that on. It doesn’t work on me anyway. Neither do those eyes of yours. So no need to try.” The man said, stepping forward more. There was a black, cloak-like thing dragging behind him as he walked.
“Who are you? How did you get in here?” Dream asked, standing up and keeping his dagger in his hand tightly. His ax was hidden in his closet, and that was across the room. He tried to figure out how he would get there.
“You sent one of your dogs after me.” The man said, throwing Sapnap’s headband at Dream. There was a stain of blood on it. Dream fell to his knees and took it in his hand.
“You are Philza.” Dream said, his voice even but his mind reeling at the thought of his best friend in the world being dead. “You… did you kill him?”
“I’m not like you, Dream. I don’t kill people in my way. I talk to them. And if talking to them doesn’t work, a good hit to the forehead is normally enough to stop anyone.” Philza said easily. “You killed my son, didn’t you?”
“You know how things are.” Dream said, standing back up and tucking the band in his pocket. “When people get in your way, you get them out of the way.” Dream shrugged.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with. I would suggest keeping that tone of voice to yourself.” Philza warned in a low, dangerous voice. “But I’ve come to make a deal with you. If you let me take Fundy and Tommy away from L’Manberg, you can have it. All of it.”
Dream raised an eyebrow, clearly interested.
“I’m listening.”
“Tommy has lost his brother, and he thinks he is stronger than he is, but he isn’t. He couldn’t rule in the best circumstances. And Fundy? Fundy is just a child. If you didn’t kill him, the heartbreak would. Let me take them to my homeland. You can even blame me for it. L’Manberg will be yours.” Philza insisted.
Dream considered it. It was incredibly tempting. He wanted to have L’Manberg, and no more deaths were enticing. He could have the land and the people for his empire (which he had been away from for too long already) but he had one qualm: the explosives.
“I like your offer. I do. But there’s just one thing: the explosives. As soon as you get out of range, you’ll just detonate the town and try to kill me in the process.” Dream insisted.
“The dynamite isn’t connected to the button anymore. I disconnected it myself.”
So there was a button?
“It was too powerful for anyone to have, not even a King. Once Wilbur told me about it, I told him we couldn’t have that. It was what forced me to leave. Perhaps had I not left, you would have never infiltrated the place, so I blame myself. But there is nothing I or you could do with the explosives.” Philza insisted.
Dream didn’t buy it still. “But you could reconnect it. Until you show me the explosives, I won’t agree to that.”
It was Philza’s turn to consider things.
“I will show you, but on the condition that I can immediately leave with the boys.”
“Deal.”
The meeting was set for an early morning a few days later. Dream had three people with him. Sapnap, who was angry at Philza for winning the fight between the two; George, who wouldn’t be found anywhere else; and Ranboo, his eyes purple and ready to follow orders if Dream dictated so.
Philza arrived on a horse, a second man with him who stayed on the horse and just watched. Philza came down the hill to the rendezvous, looking at the four men. Dream had his mask tied tight around his face, plate armor on and an ax on his back.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you’re here to kill me.” Philza said, humor in his voice. It was clear he didn’t think they could.
“Who's your friend over there?” Dream asked, pointing at the man who seemed incredibly bored.
“Just a friend to help me out.” Philza shrugged. “The explosives are placed every mile around the perimeter of the town. But the button to trigger them was here.” Philza led the way to a cave nearby, moving some vines aside to show some copper wires that were frayed and not connected to anything. Dream examined the area, seeing that it was clear that nothing was connected and that it wouldn’t do anything without a power source and a button to trigger things.
“You were right. There’s no way this is going off.” Dream agreed, stepping out of the cave with Philza. They stepped back out of the cave and back towards their horses. “The deal is settled. You will take the two Princes, I will take the kingdom.” Dream decided. He held his hand out for Philza, and the man looked at it, then shook his hand.
“I will go get them now. You still stay away from the castle until we are clear of the town.” Philza nodded.
Dream watched him go back to the horse, speak with his friend, then ride off into the distance.
“Ranboo?” Dream said idly as the man looked at Dream.
“Fix the button. Once it's fixed, push it. Then I want you to forget everything. Forget my face, forget I was ever here. Forget what I had you do. Find your way back to L’Manberg and you may be released from the Ender Walk.” Dream said.
As Ranboo went to do that, George watched.
“Why still use the explosives? You have the town, you have the people, so why use them?” George asked. Dream removed his mask.
He pulled the simple gold ring out of the eyehole. The diamond ring that had been on his finger for so long now felt heavy as he pulled it off. Dream looked at the ring for a few moments before he tucked it in his pocket. He pulled his true wedding ring on and made a tight fist.
“I always win. That Philza thinks he’s so smart and kind giving me a “chance”. No one slights me and gets away with it.” Dream said, his eyes full of anger and fire. “This way, I win. I get what I want and I don’t bend over and take it from Philza of all gods damned people. I am Dream. People fear me, people do not make deals with me. I control this world. And Philza needs to know that.”
Mechanical noises came from the cave, and finally, a distinct sound of a button being pushed.