Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Morning Abuelo!” Niki slid down the stairs. She started setting the table before getting startled by some children.

“Hey, when is that gift happening?” One very excited girl asked. Niki recognised her to be Tubbo’s younger sister, Lani.

“The ceremony is tonight.” Niki giggled as she continued setting the table, a wide smile on her face. She really adored being a part of this family, just to see the smiles on the kids’ faces as she explained the family. Just to see the happy, thriving community she could help.

“What’s his gift?” Skepina excitedly asked.

“We’re going to find out!” She continued to set the plates on the table, glancing at the children every few moments.

“What’s your gift?” Lani asked, a goofy grin on her face. Niki scrunched up her face in a childish expression, Drista giggling at sight, putting Skepina in laughter as well.

“Who’s asking?”

“Us!” The children exclaimed, all at the same time. Niki giggled, raising her eyebrows and pupils so they would be looking at the top of her head. 

“Well, ‘us’,” She mocked playfully, “I can't just talk about myself. I’m only a part of the amazing Crafts!” She pointed to the painting on the wall, with her family tree, dropping the plates on the table.

“Who are the amazing Crafts?” The children asked, once again, simultaneously. Niki smiled at the excitement. It made her giddy to be a part of a family that brought everyone so much joy.

“Ah, you’re not going to leave me alone, are you?” She asked with a sigh, “Casita? Help me out,” She pointed exaggeratedly, making Drista and Lani giggle. “Drawers!”

At her command, the drawers opened, one by one. She hummed, running into her hallway, “Floors!” The tiles on the floors moved, making her off-balance which she giggled to. She really did love casita.

 “Doors!” The magical doors lit up, each one with a different family member on it. “Let’s go!” Niki pointed in the direction, running while staring at the entranced children.

“This is our home! We’ve got every generation!” She knocked on the doors with the rhythm of one of Wilbur’s happier songs. “So full of music, a rhythm of its own design,”

“This is my family!” She opened her youngest brother’s door, Tommy’s, “A perfect constellation!”

“So full of stars, and everybody gets to shine!” She ran over to her older brother, Techno, who was running on the moving tiles. She lost her balance and Techno caught her expertly, before going back to running. She giggled. She then walked to her abuelo, Dream’s, door as he walked out.

“But let’s be clear, Abuelo runs this show!” She stated, “He led us here so many years ago!” All the grandchildren danced in rhythm to one of Wilbur’s songs which casita was playing in the background. “And every year our family blessings grow!”

They walked out the front door, Niki being left behind as they left to do their day-to-day chores. “There’s just a lot you simply got to know, so!”

“Welcome to the family Madrigal!” Techno ruffled her hair fondly before leaving, Wilbur giving her a second glance as he left. “The home of the family Craft!” She danced, in rhythm to Wilbur’s song once again. “We’re on our way!” She ran into the town, the children all following her.

“Where all the people are fantastical and magical!” She gave a final wave to Casita, running into the crowds of people. “I’m part of the family, Craft!”

As the family walked by, Niki at the very end, the children all gushed over them.

“Oh my gosh, it’s them!” Drista cupped her cheeks in her hands excitedly.

“What are the gifts?” Skepina remarked.

“I can’t remember all the gifts!” Drista and Lani exclaimed.

“But I don’t know who is who!” Skepina cried. 

“Alright, alright, relax.” Niki instructed, waving her arms downwards. Skepina looked disappointed, almost agitated.

“It is physically impossible to relax!” Skepina’s eyes scrunched close, her nose scrunching up in anxiety.

“Tell us everything!” Drista exclaimed, “What are your powers?” She pointed. She looked more excited than nervous, happy and basking in the moment.

“Just tell us what everyone can do!” Lani shouted. The children stared at her carefully, Niki taking the cup.

“And that’s why coffee’s for grownups.” She remarked.

They were now at the board where the Family Craft was drawn and painted. Niki pointed to her aunt, Minx. She had a decent relationship with her.

“My tia, Minx! Her mood affects the weather. When she’s unhappy-“ It started to pour. Niki looked up, Wilbur offering an umbrella which she gratefully took and held over the children, making sure they didn’t get wet. “Well, the temperature gets weird.” She swayed back and forth, the street bands and musicians playing music which people danced and swayed to.

The rain stopped as she dropped her umbrella. She pointed to the middle person, a large grin on her face as she pulled her leg up, shifting from side to side. “My tio, Eret-“

“WE DON’T TALK ABOUT ERET!” The whole town stared at them before resuming their activities. The children and Niki stared for a moment before she resumed her happy persona.

“They say they saw the future!” She kept her eyes widened playfully, hands held up and she kneeled down. “One day they disappeared!” Drista gasped.

“Oh!” She cupped her cheeks, before wearing a wide grin again and pointing to the last man in the row. “And that’s my dad, Sapnap! Here’s his deal!” She ran to her father’s shop, 

“He can heal you with a meal!” The man fed people some arepas, their various wounds instantly healing. 

“His recipes are real remedies!” The man yanked his daughter into a hug, “If you’re impressed imagine how I feel-“ He kissed her cheek as she scrunched her nose up in affection and embarrassment. “Dad!” She said, falsely exasperated. He spinned her around by her hands, as she ran back to the painting.

On the way there, she continued to explain her family. “Welcome to the family Craft!”

“The home of the family craft,” She ran through the crowd, “Hey, coming through!” She pulled her skirt up, spinning around as she engaged in a small dance with various people. “I know it sounds a bit fantastical and magical, but hey! I’m part of the family Craft!”

“Two guys fell in love with the family Craft!” Skeppy and Karl were walking through town behind her, as they engaged in the dance with their lively daughter/niece. She giggled as Skeppy spun her around playfully, while her father, Karl, ruffled her hair. 

“And now they’re a part of the family Craft!” The two ran off to their respective wives, showering them in affection.

“See, Tio Skeppy married Minx!” They kissed, Niki watching fondly as she pointed to her mother, who was kissing her father.

“And my dad married Sapnap,” The family lined up as a pathway for their abuelo/mother, “That’s how Abuelo became an Abuelo Craft! Let’s go, let’s go!” Niki clapped as everyone got back to their duties, except her, who continued to explain the family to the children.

“Wait, there’s so many people!” Skepina exclaimed.

“How do you keep ‘em all straight?” Lani asked.

“Okay, okay, okay, okay! So many kids in our house, so let’s turn the sound up! Yknow why? I think it’s time for a grandkid roundup!”

“Grandkid roundup!” The children exclaimed, repeating after Niki.

“Cousin Ranboo, he can hear a pin drop!” Niki smiled, ruffling the boy’s hair as he giggled.

“Wilbur can control you with his words,” She pointed to Wilbur who was calming a crying baby, “Hannah gets her gift today.” She pointed to Hannah and Dream, her dress being brushed off by him.

“My lovely brothers!” She held her hands up, Tommy behind her right and Techno behind her left. “Tommy,” She raised her right and lowered her left, “and Techno!” She held her arms up, straining them so her muscles could be seen. Techno laughed and held up a thumbs up sign, winking at her.

“One strong,” Techno walked away, resuming with his duties, “One graceful!” She pointed to Tommy, “Perfect in every way.” She rolled her eyes, trying to keep that smile on her face as Dream guided Tommy, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“Tommy!” The children exclaimed, humming.

“Grow a flower, the town goes wild!” She said, exasperatedly. She really despised him. He spun around, flowers growing all around him.

“Tommy!” They repeated.

“He’s a perfect, golden child!” There was jealousy in her eyes as Dream watched him with pride, Tubbo staring at him fondly, like that of a best friend’s gaze.

Techno picked up the bridge Niki and the children were standing on, as they started singing.

“Techno! Techno!”

She giggled.

“And Techno’s super strong!” He placed the bridge down, giving his sister a final head ruffle as Abuelo called his name, making him run off. “The beauty and the brawn do no wrong!”

“Breakfast is ready!” Abuelo called his name.

“Coming, abuelo!” He ran off.

“That’s life in the family Craft!” Niki jumped onto the sides of the bridge, the children following her. She turned to face them, “Now you know the family Craft!”

“Wow!” Drista sang.

“Where all the people are fantastical! And magical!” She ran into town, “That’s who we are in the family Craft! Adios.” She got ready to run off, Skepina stopping her from doing so when she appeared in front of her.

“But what’s your gift?” She asked. Niki opened her mouth to speak, a sheepish expression on her face as someone threw her a guitar. Not being able to speak, she made up an excuse.

“Aha, well I gotta go! The life of a Craft!”

She ran through town hiding in every place she could. “But, now you all know the Craft family!”

“I never meant this to be autobiographical…” She mumbled to herself, hiding behind a house when the children found her. She sighed. “So let’s just review the family Craft!”

“But what about Niki?” They all followed her.

“It starts with Abuelo, and then tia Minx, she handles the weather-“

“But what about Niki?”

“My dad, Sapnap, can make you feel better with just one arepa!” She jumped onto the back of a wagon, as the children did too.

“But what about Niki?”

“My dad, Karl, well, he’s accident prone, but he means well!” She pointed to him who had just chopped into a beehive. She ran through the town.

“But what about Niki?”

“My primo, Wilbur, won’t stop until he makes you smile today!” He used his words to shift into different people.

“But what about Niki?”

“My cousin, Ranboo, can hear the song chorus a mile away!”

“Niki!” The children pleaded.

She looked around, spotting Tubbo as she dragged his arm.

“Look, it’s Tubbo! Hey, you can marry my brother if you wanna, between you and me, he’s kind of a prime dona- oh wait, I said too much,” She waved to the children, “and thank you but I really gotta go!” She ran off.

“Niki!”

“My family’s amazing!” She shrugged, walking backwards.

“Niki!”

“And I’m in my family, so!”

“Niki!”

“Well…” She mumbled sheepishly as Dream called her name.

“Niki!” She turned around slowly, still frozen in her stupid position. “What are you doing?”

Chapter Text

Niki stared at her family taking a photograph.

"Don't be upset or mad at all." She reminded herself for the hundreth time this year. They're your family, you're closest friends. She reminded herself like she had done so many times before. Her eyes shifted to the floor, her gaze sad.

"Don't feel regret, or sad at all." She told herself.

"Hey, I'm still apart of the family Craft...!" She mumbled. She didn't know if she believed herself. Her monologue.

"And I'm fine, I am totally fine." She started to pace, biting her nails, a nervous habit she tried to hide in public.

"I will stand on the side as they shine...!" Don't be selfish. Be grateful. She told herself. Is it selfish to want love to be shown?  She wondered. Tears built in her eyes as she buried her face in her hands, "I'm not fine! I'm not fine!" She had ran by the repetition, tears falling on the floor.

"I can't fight a battle alone," She touched her brother's hand, a tear dripping onto his index finger.

"I can't make the world my own." She touched Tommy's flowers, the flower dying at her gentle finger. She wept into his curls.

"I can't take another night up in my room," She stood in the shadow of her family, hugging herself as she bowed her head down, letting out a choked sob, "Waiting on a miracle!"

"I can't heal what's broken," She hugged her father's arm, his muffin rotting. She wept into her aunt's shoulder. "Can't control the morning rain or a hurricane," She stared at Techno. "Can't keep down the unspoken invisible pain." She started to run.

"Always waiting on a miracle, a miracle!"

She walked down the stairs slowly, staring at the photos in the hall as she wept silently in her shoulder. "Always walking alone. Always waiting to soar."

"Like I'm still at that door longing to shine," She twirled before her gut filled with a twinge of determination, "Like all of you shine!" She ran down the stairs, each step fast and diligent.

"All I need is a change!" She hugged her chest, "All I need is a chance! All I know is I can't stay on the side!"

She imagined Dream, his mask off as his tired face was exposed to the world. "Open your eyes! Open your eyes! Open your eyes!"

"I would move the mountains!" She twirled, "Make new trees and flowers grow!" Her gut twinged with sadness as her voice broke again.

"Someone please just let me know, where do I go? I am waiting on a miracle, a miracle!"

"I would heal what's broken, show this family something new!"

"Who I am inside, so what can I do?"

"I'm sick of waiting on a miracle, so here I go!" She ran to the roof, hugging her chest as the fireworks shot up.

"I am ready!" She said, determination on her face. "Come on, I'm ready!"

"I've been patient, and steadfast, and steady!" She counted on her fingers.

"Bless me now, as you blessed us all those years ago!" She begged. She had begged before, pleaded, bargained. She denied it at first; for the longest time, she believed he did have a gift. "When you gave us a miracle!"

"Am I too late for a miracle?" Her hands fell to her sides as she fell to her knees, tears pouring onto the floor.

Chapter Text

“I’m the strong one,” Techno rubbed the bridge of his nose nervously as he cursed under his breath, “I’m not nervous.” He turned, anxiously biting on his nails, but Niki didn’t need to know that. “I’m always of use, ready for service.” He easily picked up a boulder as it fell hit his skull, the rock cracking at the contact.

”Uh... okay?” She questioned herself.

”I move mountains, I move churches.” He explained, sending a sharp glance in her direction. “And I glow because I know what my worth is.”

"Right- of course, I mean- Hey, where are you going?"  Niki turned her head anxiously as the donkeys behind her whimpered and moved back. Techno snorted before he went back into character.

"I don't ask how hard the work is," Niki nodded as he kicked a rock, crushing it. He stood on the pieces of it, turning back to look at Niki. "Got a rough, indestructible surface," Niki frowned when Techno pulled out his sword. "Diamond armor, netherite, I crush it out of spite. I take what I'm handed, fight if it's demanded..." He swung his sword at a tree, effectively chopping it in half. It crashed on his skull, as it broke into pieces.

Suddenly, his voice changed. They were in Techno's bedroom, a place full of books and fencing equipment. His bed was bare, a blanket being the only detail marking it. There were tear tracks that marked his face, as he sobbed into his knees. "BUT! Under the surface," 

"I feel useless, killing, pretending I'm fucking ruthless." Niki flinched as she watched Techno fight. She had heard stories but she never knew he ended up so hurt. She supposed it made sense, fighting an army as one man couldn't be easy.

"Under the surface!" A scene with Greek mythology played, but this time Techno was Erinyes, "Was Erinyes ever like, 'Yo, I don't wanna hurt the hopeless',"

"Under the surface!" Techno paced around, biting on his nails anxiously. Niki had always looked up to her older brother, it hurt seeing him so helpless. She never imagined Techno could be scared, he was always such an enigma. "I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service!"

"A fall or a crack, a break or attack- What breaks the camel's back? What breaks the camel's back!?"

"It's pressure like a drip, drip, that'll never stop, woah-oh," 

"Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip, till you just go pop, woah-oh-oh-oh!" Techno balanced Niki on one side, and a large variety of hunters and government officials in the other as the pressure slowly started to strain him with every increase.

"Give it to your brother, your brother's older! Give him all the heavy things you can't shoulder," Techno fought an army, taking a few glances back at Niki to make sure she wasn't hurt. Despite his words, there was no resentment in his voice. "Who am I if I can't run with the ball?"

"If I falter..?" Techno's imagination showed casita breaking, being attacked by outsiders. "To pressure like a grip, grip and it won't let go!" Suddenly they were stuck in a box, Tommy panicking due to his claustrophobia. Techno took one look at him before breaking the box open, taking the two siblings out safely.

"Woah!" He carried the two through volcano eruptions, making sure they didn't get hurt. When he accidentally dropped Tommy, the scene changed. "Give it to your brother, your brother's stronger!" They were suddenly dangling off a cliff. "See if he can hang on a little longer,"

"Who am I if I can't carry it all, if I falter.." They fell. Luckily, before they hit the ground and Niki's panic could kill her, they came back to the town. They were, this time, in the hills where Techno trained. "Under the surface, I hide my nerves and it worsens." As attacks came from Wilbur; Abuelo Dream instructed him to be stronger despite the fact Techno had won each time. He looked back to glance at Niki, "I hide my nerves and it worsens, I worry something is going to hurt us."

"Under the surface, the man doesn't budge, who's he to judge of just how large the grudge is?"

"Under the surface, I think about my purpose!" Niki's glasses fell, stopping Techno in his tracks as he fixed them, before glancing back at the threat, "Can I somehow preserve this? Line up the dominoes!" A hurricane started to knock every door of the family members of casita, "You try to stop it toppling but on and on it goes!"

"But wait- If I could shake, the crushing weight of death and threat," Niki took the peaceful atmosphere as time to collect her thoughts. She was horrified. She had no idea Techno felt so much pressure. She knew he loved fighting, but maybe he didn't want the threat attached to it. "Would that free some room up for, joy? Or changing? Or simple pleasure? Instead we measure-"

"-this growing pressure." Aaaand the nice break was over again. Time to listen to Techno's darkest thoughts in a thought bubble, because magic was cool like that. "Instead, we measure this growing pressure.... Keeps growing, keep going, 'cause all we know is-"

"-pressure like a drip, drip, drip, that'll never stop." Techno carried a large boulder atop his head, shield in hand as he was ready to defend his family, even with the stress that came with it. "Woah-oh."

As the weight increased, so did Niki's headache. "Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip, till you just go pop! Woah-oh-oh... Give it to your brother, it doesn't hurt!" Techno gave her a very un-convincing, confident look as the weight increased. His shield dropped to the floor. "See if he can handle every family burden! Watch as he buckles, and bends, but never breaks." Casita crushed her brother. Niki felt horrified. Her home was very literally killing him. "No mistakes!" He sprung back, lovely as ever but more determined. "Just, pressure like a grip, grip, and it won't let go! Woah-oh,"

"Pressure like a tick, tick, tick till it's ready to blow! Woah-oh-oh... Give it to your brother and never wonder! If the same pressure would have pulled you under? Who am I if I don't have what it takes?" No cracks. No breaks. No mistakes! No pressure."

Chapter Text

“But what if you didn’t understand what they saw?” Niki asked her uncle, Skeppy. Her eyebrows were scrunched together.

”Then you better figure it out, because it’s coming for you!” He said, dramatically, mirroring Wilbur’s theatrics. Niki resisted the urge to roll her eyes, before Minx interrupted the conversation.

”We don’t talk about Eret! No, no, no!” She waved her finger in Niki’s face. She frowned in confusion. ”We don’t talk about Eret, BUT!” Niki raised an eyebrow, as the scene changed. An outdoor party of some sort? “It was my wedding day!”

”It was our wedding day!” Skeppy repeated.

“We were getting ready, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky!” She spun around, arms waving as she looked so happy. Niki observed the environment carefully.

”No clouds allowed in the sky,” Skeppy waved his finger.

”Eret walks in, with a mischievous grin,” A frown on her face as she sang, her eyes darkening. It started to rain, Minx carefully gave her an umbrella. She wouldn’t want her favourite niece to get wet, afterall.

”Thunder!” He emphasised, once again, mirroring Wilbur’s flare for the dramatic, ever the theatre kid.

”You telling this story or am I?” Minx asked sarcastically. Everyone knew that their marriage was arranged, and while they had a decent relationship, it wasn’t the best it could be.

”I’m sorry, Mi Vida, go on.” Skeppy said, a hint of distain in his voice. He generally was nice and playful with everyone, but it was just Minx who he didn’t love particularly, due to her stormy personality.

”Eret said it looks like rain!” Minx explained, dramatically. Niki could swear this whole family was full of dramatic fucks, you had Wilbur, the theatre kid with edgy songs, Ranboo with his identity crisis, Minx with her storms - metaphorical and literal, and Skeppy with his dramatics. Well, at least Hannah was pretty okay.

”Why did they tell her?”

”In doing so, they flood my brain!” She fell into her husbands arms dramatically. Niki happily waved at her tio, she didn’t remember them much.

”What a joyous day, but anyway!” Skeppy hummed happily.

”We don’t talk about Eret! No, no, no!” She repeated. “We don’t talk about Eret!”

“Hey!” Ranboo greeted. Niki waved at the tall boy happily, she really loved Ranboo. “Grew to live in fear of Eret stuttering or stumbling, I can always hear them muttering and mumbling.” He whispered, his gift made it hard to be loud. Niki had sympathy for the boy with his awful gift. She had already pieced together that Eret was here, how else would those pieces be in casita?

”I associate them with the sound of falling sand,” He pressed his finger up to his lips, “Ch, ch, ch!” She followed his motions. “It’s a heavy lift with a gift so humbling, always left Abuelo and the family fumbling... grappling with prophecies they couldn’t understand, do you understand?” He asked. Niki didn't, not really, she just understood that Ranboo could hear Eret and that they could tell the future. Both of which she already knew.

”Seven foot frame!” Wilbur explained, “Rats along their back,” He was playing a hologram with his words because his gift was cool and she hated that it was, but she did love him, so it was all good. “When they call your name, it all fades to black!”

Jeesus, was Tio Eret a horror book character? They didn’t look that bad back at the wedding. “Yeah, they see your dreams! And feast on your screams!” And suddenly Niki was falling in the air. She yelped when Wilbur caught her, because that was a horrifying experience. Thankfully, her much taller cousin dropped her gently, so that was good and all.

She was now walking through a tunnel where everyone gushed about how awful Eret was. I mean, their job was to predict the future, wasn’t it? Not to- like, create it? That seemed like a useful gift in all honesty, but okay, she supposes.

”They told me my fish would die, the next day? Dead!” Purpled said dramatically. Niki stared, like, okay. Wasn’t that good though? He had time to like, plan a funeral, or whatever. She really didn’t understand why everyone in this town decided to cosplay as Wilbur for like, half-a-song, but pop off, she guesses.

”No, no!”

”They told me I’d grow a gut, and just like they said!” Some random middle-aged man Niki had no care for, cried.

”No, no!” 

”They told me all my hair would disappear, now look at my head!” Jack, Niki’s best friend- second to only Wilbur, exclaimed. And don’t get Niki wrong, she loved Jack and all, but he was an idiot. Like, yes, your hair disappeared because I shaved it off at your request?? 

“No, no!”

”Your fate is sealed when your prophecy is read!” Niki yelped. God, these people needed to give her a warning when they fucking screamed in her face. At least Wilbur apologised after he scared her.

“He told me, that they said the life of my dreams would be promised and someday be mine.” Tommy was born after Eret’s disappearance, but she did recall many of the adults telling Tommy how Eret blessed him like it was in the poor person’s control about how people’s futures would be like. Niki rolled her eyes, at least it was endearing when Skeppy or Wilbur were dramatic. Tommy just made it annoying.

”They told them that my power would grow like the grapes that thrive on the vines!” He smiled, as he regally jumped off the swing he had fashioned with vines. If only the townsfolk knew how chaotic he truly was.

“Oh, Tubbo’s on his way!” Abuelo announced. Niki wouldn’t have noticed it, but there was dread and happiness both building on Tommy’s face. She would later learn it’s because he saw the other boy as his best friend, not a romantic partner. 

Ranboo spun on the balcony, reaching out longingly, which concerned Niki. “I heard, about me, that the man of my dreams would be just out of reach! Betrothed to another! It’s like I hear them now,”

“Hey, sis,” Tommy approached Niki, grabbing her arm tightly which bruised her wrist. She winced. “I want not a sound out of you!” He let go of her hand, Niki observed the scarring on it.

”I can hear them now!” Ranboo sang in the background.

“Um, Eret...” Niki mumbled. “Yeah, about that Eret!” She straightened her bag, determined to succeed with her mission, despite her bruised wrist. “I really need to know about Eret, give me the truth and the whole truth, Eret!” She ran forward. 

”Tommy, your best friend’s here!” Wilbur announced from the front gate. Somewhere else in her beloved casita, it was “time for dinner”.

Over a great amount of people speaking, talking over eachother, Niki pieced together the pieces of the vision she had found. They were in a lilac. As she pieced them together, it formed her, at the heart of the casita dying.

”Why did I talk about Eret?” She weeped into her hands. She loved her family, she didn’t want to hurt it. “I never should’ve brought up Eret!”

Chapter Text

“You can still marry that chaotic little shit!” Niki yelled, being dragged away by Tommy’s vines.

“I never wanted to marry him! I was doing it for the approval!” Tommy shouted back, not caring who heard. Niki’s eyes widened as did Tommy’s, when a cactus grew. He bent down to inspect it, freeing his sister.

”Tommy, oh my gosh, that’s a very serious confession. Alright, bring it in.” She sighed, closing her eyes and opening her arms. She frowned, opening her eyes again when no one reciprocated the hug. She looked down to see Tommy absolutely entranced by the cactus. Had he never grown one before?

”I just made something unexpected.” He poked the plant, getting stung as he smiled at his—now bleeding—finger in joy. “Something sharp, something new!” He softly blew on the wound, licking it to stop the blood flow before looking back at the cactus. “It’s not symmetrical, or perfect, but it’s beautiful!” He stood up. Niki followed him as he ran off, “What else can I do?”

”Bring it in, bring it in! Good talk!” She smiled weakly as he continued running. She sighed, following him. "Bring it in, bring it in!"

"What else can I do?" Tommy ignored her voice completely, making her sigh in frustration.

"I grow rows and rows of glowberries," He spun as he walked, a variety of perfect flowers (including glowberries, roses, lavender, moonflower, and more) growing around the room. "Flor de mayo (Flowers of May), by the mile." Niki looked in surprise at the genuine seriousness in Tommy's voice. He was never serious, she thought bitterly.

"I make picture practiced poses," He sung, approaching a statue of himself he had used as a mirror. "So much hides behind my smile!" He chopped the sculpture of his head on the statue off, making a perfect cut. The body part landed in Niki's hands as she panicked, throwing it away—then feeling bad for doing so; it was a really nice sculpture.

"What could I do if I just grew what I was feeling in the moment?" He sung, running off. Niki ran after him, the cramps already developing in her chest.

"Do you know where you're going— Woah!" She yelped when she tripped over a vine.

"What could I do if I just knew it didn't need to be perfect?" He sung, Niki seeing her brother happier than she had ever before. "It just needed to be? And they'd let me be!" He screamed with elation, eyes lit up as he grew new things at a rate faster than Niki had seen before.

"A hurricane of jacarandas! Strangling figs!"

All Niki could think about was how tall the plant Tommy grew was as he climbed it. She blurted her thoughts. "Big!"

"Hanging vines!" Niki suddenly got pulled on a large mushroom. Huh, Tommy always did like mushrooms, would be her thought process if she didn't have a fear of heights—and if she wasn't mortified in that moment.

"This is fine!" She yelped as she tried to convince herself that it was, indeed, fine.

"Palma de cera fills the air as I climb and I push through!" Plants filled the room, as the plant Niki was climbing on disappeared. She hung onto her brother's mushroom for dear life, her fear of heights definitely not helping her be calm. "What else can I do?" Thankfully, he turned around and noticed her. He interlocked his hands with hers carefully, pulling her up. "Can I deliver us a river of sundew? Careful," He turned back around. "It's carnivorous, a little just won't do."

"I want to feel the shiver of something new!" He declared, sighing in annoyance. For the first time, Niki understood as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sick of strong, I want something to be wrong—don't you?" He flapped his hands as he turned his head briefly to look at her.

"It just seems like your life's been a dream since the moment you opened your eyes," She murmured.

"How far can these roots go down?" Tommy stared at the ground under them. Niki focused on her voice, not wanting to scare herself.

"All I know are the blossoms you grew, but its awesome to see how you rise!" She encouraged, supportively. She really understood now. She understood the insults, the loud persona, the two-faced personality, she understood. As Tommy, her little brother, looked back at her, he held her hands tightly—her heart filling with warmth.

"Through the roof, to the skies!" His eyes shone in the light as he excitedly giggled.

"Let's go!" She encouraged, again.

"A hurricane of jacarandas!" He sung brightly, beaming grin marking his face as his vines pierced through the opening Casita quickly made.

"Woo!" Niki encouraged.

"Strangling figs!" They slowly made their way around casita.

"Go!"

"Hanging vines!"

"Grow!"

"Palma de cera fills the air as I climb and I push through," For the first time—there was no restraint in either of the siblings. There was pure, sheer happiness and personality shining through.

"What else? What else?" Niki asked excitedly.

"What can you do when you are deeply, madly, truly in the moment?" Tommy asked.

"Seize the moment, keep going!" Niki encouraged as he smiled and nodded, a silent appreciation shining in his eyes.

"What can you do when who you wanna be is imperfect?" He asked. That made Niki want to cry, but seeing the endearment and joy on his face—he clearly didn't realise the weight of that sentence. She was sure her face looked affectionate beyond belief, but her brother's happiness really did bring her joy. "But I'll still be okay!"

"Hey, everybody clear the way!"

Not known to either of the siblings, Abuelo Dream was, infact, watching the encounter with disappointment and surprise. 

"I'm coming through with tabebula!" Tommy said with a hum, colors splashing his sweatshirt.

"He's coming through, to Korea!" Niki agreed, using the Geography knowledge that Wilbur thought her to good use—a song! 

"Making waves!"
"Making waves!" Niki repeated.

"Changing minds!"
"You've changed mine!" Niki agreed.

"The way is clearer now that you're here and well..." Tommy flushed, Niki resisting the urge to coo at him as she pulled him into a hug. "I owe this all to you..." He said, voice muffled due to her sweater, but she couldn't care.

"What else can I do?"

"Show them what you can do!" She encouraged her little brother, feeling like a proud parent at their child's basketball game.

"What else can I do?"

"There's nothing you can't do!" She basked in her little brother's happiness.

"What else can I do?" He extended the last note, giggling once it finished. She ruffled his hair as they landed on a flower bed, made by him.

"You're a bad influence." He joked. Niki giggled.

"Oh yeah? Look at yourself, sweetheart." She hit him right back.

+Argument Scene

"What are you talking about? Look at our home! Look at your brother!" Abuelo Dream shouted at her, clearly livid. Niki shrunk under his intimidating gaze,.

"Please just- Tommy wasn't happy, and-" Niki tried to defend herself, feeling like someone in a court-room framed of fraud.

"Of course he isn't happy!" Niki felt an anger inside her. She had created serotonin in him, she helped him be happy. He wasn't happy, he was now. He was happy after he discovered who he truly was. She could see it on his face, how he basked in the plants, the mushrooms and vines. "You ruined his proposal and-"

"No, no! He needed me to ruin his proposal and then we did all of this" She emphasized, "and the candle burned brighter, and the cracks-" She spoke a mile a minute, desperate to not only defend herself, but also create a happier future for her brother.

"Niki-" Abuelo Dream tried to interrupt.

"That's why I'm in the vision, I'm saving the miracle!" She insisted.

"You have to stop, Nikita!" Abuelo snapped. She shrunk as Casita suffered, cracks appearing on the walls. She noticed a concerned Techno entering the room and standing by Tommy, placing a hand on his shoulder as he wept.

"The cracks started with you. Eret left because of you. Techno’s losing his powers, Tommy is out of control, because of you. I don’t know why you weren’t given a gift, but it is not an excuse for you to hurt this family!" He yelled, Niki flinching at the screams. Tommy's sobs only grew in volume as he started crying into Techno's shoulder instead, who wrapped an arm around him.

She heard her parents' footsteps enter as she teared up, staring at floor—realization marking her face. "I... will never... be good enough, for you. Will I," She whispered lowly, an expression of hurt marking her face. The question was more of a confirmation. When she didn't get an answer, she scoffed as the tears built. "No matter how-how hard I try," Her voice broke as she stared at her parents and brothers.

"No matter how hard any of us tries." She looked at her older brother.

"Techno will never be strong enough." She decided. "Tommy won’t be good enough- Eret left our family because you only saw the worst in him-"

"Eret didn't care about this family!" If Niki wasn't so hysterical, she would have noticed the hurt on her adoptive-grandfather's face.

"He loves this family - I love this family! We all love this family! You’re the one that doesn’t care! You’re the one breaking our home!" Hurt and realisation spread over Niki's face as she cried, tear tracks streaming down her face, the sore, red, puffiness and black circles concealed by makeup being realised by everyone in the room.

"Don't you ever-!" Abuelo tried to argue. Niki puffed up her chest, trying to look confident as she met his eyes.

"The miracle is dying because of you." She stated as a crack tore both of them apart. Niki looked at it in horror as casita started to shake.

"No- No!" Minx's voice marked when the house tore apart, another crack wrecking the house apart.

Chapter Text

"Look at this home, we need a new foundation," Niki declared as everyone stared at her. Tommy and Hannah tilted their heads in silent confusion. "It may seem hopeless, but we'll get by just fine." She decided. Skeppy and Minx stood next to Wilbur, who slowly stepped forward and held Niki's hand tightly-as to say, "you're doing great."

"Look at this family, a glowing constellation." She smiled softly at the gesture, squeezing back. "So full of stars, and everybody wants to shine." She parted hands with her cousin, taking a deep breath. "But the stars don't shine, they burn. And the constellations shift." She pulled Tommy and Techno's hands with hers softly, "I think it's time you learned... You're more than just you're gift." She looked back to the rest of her family.

"And I'm sorry I held on too tight," Abuelo Dream apologised as he squeezed Techno's shoulder, a silent apology. "I was just so afraid that I'd lose you too..." He inhaled. Niki was sure he was thinking of George. "The miracle is not, some magic that you've got..." He looked over to Eret's shadow-y figure. "The miracle is you, not some gift, just you." He pulled Eret's hands into the ruins of the house as the family gaped at him like he was a precious gem.

"The miracle is you, all of you, all of you." Niki and Abuelo sung in sync.

"So, we gonna talk about Eret?" Wilbur asked, to no one in particular. Niki grinned, a small giggle escaping her.

"That's Eret!" Hannah exclaimed.

"Yeah, there's a lot to say about Eret." He laughed nervously, "I'll start, okay!"

"Minx, I'm sorry about your wedding! That wasn't a prophecy, I could just see you were sweating." He apologised, "And I wanted to let you know that your brother loves you so," He chuckled. "Let it in, let it out, let it rain, let it snow, let it go!" Eret declared.

"That's what I'm always saying, bro!" Skeppy interrupted.

"I have a lot of apologies I got to say,"

"Hey, we're just happy that you're here, okay?" Sapnap interjected, Niki smiling at her father.

"But-" Eret tried to apologise as Minx shushed him.

"Come into the light!" She acknowledged.

"But-" He tried to interrupt agian.

"The triplets all reunite!" Karl happily smiled.

"And no matter what happens we're going to find our way!" Sapnap decided, leaving no room for argument as they hugged.

Suddenly, Wilbur started to speak. "I knew he never left, I heard him every day!" He nudged Ranboo's shoulder as the younger winced.

As drums started to bang, Abuelo Dream turned his head in confusion. "What's that sound?" He asked, confused.

Hannah walked up to the front yard, "I think it's everyone in town!" She rightfully pointed out.

"HEY! LAY DOWN YOUR LOAD, LAY DOWN
YOUR LOAD, WE’RE ONLY DOWN THE
ROAD, WE’RE ONLY DOWN THE ROAD, WE
HAVE NO GIFS BUT WE ARE MANY AND
WE’LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU!"

"It's a dream when we work as a team!" Niki hummed happily.

"Yes, but sometimes I cry." Techno said apologetically. Niki frowned.

"So do I!" The younger siblings hugged their older brother tightly.

"I may not be as strong but I'm getting wiser,"

"Yeah I need sunlight and fertilizer!" Silently, Niki mumbled that Tommy was quite literally the sun. She tugged on his sister's arm impatiently, yet with a smile. "Come on! Let's plant something new and watch it fly!"

"Straight up to the skies! Let's go!" The siblings sang, Niki getting squeezed in between the taller two, not that she minded.

"Would you watch our little girl go?" Karl asked lovingly.

"She takes after you," Sapnap acknowledged softly.

"Hey, Tubbo, why so blue?"

"I just want to make my parents proud," He mumbled softly. Niki sighed apologetically.

"Y'know, I've got this cousin too.." She hummed, "Have you met Ranboo?"

"Okay, I'll take it from here, goodbye!" Ranboo interrupted, pushing Niki away softly. She giggled but left to go hide behind a barrel of hay. He took Tubbo's hands tightly, grasping them in his own. He flushed at his own initiated touch.

"You talk so loud, you take care of your mother and you make her proud." Ranboo mumbled gently, "You write your own poetry every night when you go to sleep, and I'm seizing the moment so you wake up and you notice me!" He said, eyes squeezing shut at the volume of his voice.

"Ranboo, I've seen you." Tubbo mumbled to the taller boy.

"And I hear you;" He said with a small sigh.

"Yes!" Niki flapped her arms excitedly, as Tommy high fived the older girl with a quiet 'pog!'.

"all of you, all of you!"

"all of you!"

"Home sweet home, I like the new foundation!" Niki stared at their new home, content with the building.

"It isn't perfect," Abuelo Dream rightly pointed out.

"Neither are we." Niki hummed.

"That's true," He agreed. "Just one more thing before the celebration?" Niki made a small 'hm' out of surprise.

"What?"

"We need a doorknob," Eret interrupted.

"We made this one for you." Hannah whispered gently, a doorknob being placed into Niki's hands as she stared at it, a large 'N' on it.

"We see how bright you burn," Wilbur placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"We see how brave you've been." Techno placed his on her other shoulder.

"Now see yourself in turn." Her parents whispered, as Sapnap kissed her hair.

"You're the real gift, love, now let us in." Eret ruffled her hair, a wet giggle escaping her as she slowly walked up to the door.

"Open your eyes," Abuelo hummed. "What do you see?"

"I see..." She stared into her reflection carefully, letting out a happy sob. "Me." She screwed it on gently, as the door brought the rest of the house back to life. "Hola, casita." She waved to the house, it waved back.