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Chapter Text

   It was a beautiful day in the Enderfield Empire, the sun was shining and the birds came out of there nests singing a tune to wake up the sleeping ender folk that lived near.

In a big room on a big bed was a boy, no not a boy, a prince in deep slumber.

Paper scattered all over the bed and a crown slumped on his face. He worn the clothes of yesterday. He fell asleep worrying about the empires problems that the Empresses never seemed to notice.

The prince looked oddly peaceful maybe even comfortable in such an awkward position. There were three knocks on the prince's door signaling the maids were here to give the prince his clothes to wear and then get him ready for the events of the day.

"Prince Ranboo? Are you awake yet-" the maid pauses and lets out a chuckle and lays the clothes down.

"Ranboo fall asleep doing work again?" Giggles the other maids "seems so" the maid smiles and gently shakes the prince "Prince Ranboo it's time to get up".

The prince grumbles and steadily sits himself up causing papers to fall off the bed frightening Ranboo. "Oh dear I must have fallen asleep while working late again my apologies"

"It's quite alright prince Ranboo" the maids said in unison while they bend down to pick up the fallen paperwork.

"Sir Dream was looking for you he said to meet him in the garden". The maid got up and put the paperwork on his desk. Ranboo cleaned the mess on the bed, grabbed his clothes and gave her a nod then left to change.

When he came back he fixed his crown and sat down so the maids can do his make up and fix his corset. He could never understand how to tie it correctly so he let the maids do it.

He started to think about what he was studying last night before he fell alseep grabbing one of the papers off his desk he started to go over the notes he left.

'The more my parents ignore the problems in the empire the more the people see them as unfit to rule. At this point if they don't get their act together they might as well give up'

"Prince Ranboo? Prince Ranboo! We are done you can leave" Ranboo snapped out of his trance and stood.

"Oh, thank you ladies. I best be going I will see you later" The maids hesitated.

"Don't you need a escort sir?"

"I am not a child. I can walk by myself thank you"

Ranboo wasn't trying to sound upset but by the way the maids bowed immediately and the fear in their eyes he could tell his voice was harsher than what he thought.

"O-oh yes! We are so sorry prince Ranboo we didn't mean to step over your boundaries forgive us please!"

"Do not let it happen again, if Sir Dream or my mothers were here you would be in deep trouble" he said in a empathic tone that sounded harsh like an arrow tip but not to hard to leave a mark.

Then he walked out his room.

As he walked to the door to the garden Ranboo felt kinda bad for what he said to the maids but he was right if Sir Dream or his mothers heard the way the maids questioned him they would be publicly executed.

That's what happened to his last maids after they questioned his ability to make choices for himself, Sir Dream overhead and the maids were executed that very day.

Ranboo felt bad but he was right one day Ranboo would be emperor and if people stepped over him now it'll be worse then.

In the garden Ranboo saw Sir Dream sitting on the bench reading a book from the royal library.

'Strange Sir Dream is a knight he shouldn't have to read'. Ranboo quietly walked over to dream who sat in the Bailey. 

"Sir Dream! I'm here sorry for the delay I had a late start"

"Sir Dream? Last time I checked you were 17 not 4. You are allowed to call me Dream." Dream put the book away and ruffled the prince's hair. 

"Why Don't we go for a nice long walk. I heard the Minstrel is here today" Dream offered.

Ranboo's eyes brightened. The minstrel was a funny man named Charlie. He came from another kingdom but travels to others.

Ranboo smiled and nodded and followed Dream.

Ranboo looked up to Dream, Dream always listened to anything he had to say. Ever since Ranboo was a kid Dream would watch over him. They grew very close over the years until his mother made Dream his very own knight.

"Ranboo, I have some bad news" Dream sighed

"Nothing can be as bad as having to sit and watch ladies dance to impress me" Ranboo chuckled but stop when Dream didn't laugh along.

"It's bad..we are having a ball and every royal family. I think Your parents want you to choose one of their kids so there'll be a treaty between our empires. Make it safer i suppose."

Ranboo stopped and turned to look at Dream. The happiness sucked out of his gaze.

"Oh! Oh..oh that's not good is it.." Ranboo said In a very panicked tone.

"I told you it was bad news" Ranboo let out a deep sigh

"when is it" Ranboo played with his ponytail causing strands of white and black hair come from it.

"they'll be staying for a few weeks before the ball so I assume this week or the next." 

"For the love of XD" Ranboo goaned which caused Dream to laugh hard enough to wheeze.

Ranboo sat at table for a late lunch with his mother, Empress Athena, and his mom, Empress consort Ophelia.

Athena ruled the empire with an iron fist. To many it was perfect. Better than anyone else. To Ranboo it was annoying and stupidly funny but he did not dare say that to his mother.

Ophelia didn't do anything really, she helped the poor and went out weekly to visit the orphanage she came from a very poor family, she only became an Empress because she was Athena's mistress.

Ranboo came from her frist Marrige to his father. He has heard many time by many people that they preferred his father than Ophelia. Ranboo never met him so he was just nod and walk away. 

Ranboo was zoned out playing with his food. Dream had taken him into town to eat at Mrs.Niki's bakery, it was more of an excuse to see one of his mothers which made Ranboo laugh to himself. 

Athena cleared her throat which made Ranboo break out of his trance. Then he remembered he didn't want to talk to his mothers right now so he just kept playing with his food.

The tension in the dining hall was horrible the only sounds to be heard were of forks gently hitting the plates.

Athena shift in her seat and cleared her throat again. "Ranboo dear, how are your studies coming along?"

Ranboo simply looked over to one of the butlers and talk to him as if his mother had not had spoken at all.

"Dear, your mother asked you a question." Ophelia spoke with a very apathetic tone.

"Sorry Oliver I will get back to you later. Ophelia I was in the middle of a conversation it was quite rude for you to interpret"

Ranboo never looked down at Ophelia for not being from a rich family but Ophelia should know better, she took the classes all royals do she isn't a foolish child. 

Ophelia looked taken aback maybe even a little hurt that Ranboo had such a rough tone with her.

Athena started to look annoyed and took a sip of her wine. Ophelia looked at ranboo a grim look knowing Athena would get onto him.

"Is that wis-" Ophelia tried to warn Ranboo but he cut her off

"So. Mother" Ranboo finally made eye contact with Athena. Both knew this conversation would end with words that should not be said.

"This ball that is coming up, is it so you can see your "friends" or an excuse for me to make a treaty with one of the other empires?" Ranboo smiled a very fake smile.

Athena dropped her fork on her plate "How do you know about that. We have not told you that. I haven't told you that."

"Dream told me." Ranboo crosses his arms.

"He isn't the messager now is he. If he want to tell my plans I will execute him in front of everyone in this empire." Athena slammed her fist down on the table causing Ranboo to let out a laugh.

"Do it and I will run away and you'll lose your only successor to the throne. But then again you might find a poor girl or boy to take my place right?"

Ranboo gave a bitter smile to his mother. Knowing that the comment lit a fire he dared not to lit if he wasn't in such a mood. 

"Answer my question mother. What is the ball for? So you can use me again?"

"Ranboo it's not like th-" Ophelia tried to jump in but Athena gave her a look that made her shut up quickly.

"Then what is it like. I am just a pawn in this game of chess and you two clearly aren't going to lose if you sacrifice me. You can replace me like you replaced my father so why should I even care at this point!" Ranbpoo hissed and stood from his chair. Digging his nails into the table it left marks.

"Do not use such harsh words and harsh voice to your mom! We are trying so hard to help you but you just won't cooperate! Why are you so fucking difficult like your father?!" 

Ranboo never got to met his father. He passed away from a sickness when Athena was 4 months pregnant. Athena got with Ophelia when she was 8 months pregnant.

Maybe it was the bringing up his father or the protectiveness over her wife other than him that made him mad but Ranboo became pissed.

"Cooperate?! All I do is cooperate! I study what you want, I say what you want, I love who you want me to love! Replace me for all I care! Kill me. Hurt me. Is that cooperative enough? Do I simply have no choice in my live?"

A prince and a Empress fighting over a simple spark in a even bigger flame that would suffocate a house and cause it to fall.

An uncomfortable silence fell on the hall. Ranboo slams his hands on the table and pushes the chair back so he could leave.

"Thank you for the food but if you excuse me I have planning to do. Thank you for this lovely and insightful conversation."

Ranboo sighed and walked around the castle it was very quiet and peaceful. Ranboo undos his hair letting it fall. It was a mess anyway. 

As ranboo made his way around he stopped0 to look at the paintings of his parents and the Empresses and emperors before them. He let a sound of disgust. 

"When I'm emperor I'm taking those down." He said in a hushed voice hoping no one heard.

Ranboo touched the painting of his mothers and him It was dusty and old but still looked so beautiful and fresh. The enderfield empire was known for its artwork and they took pride showing it off.

Ranboo painted this. He remembered it was a gift for Athena, now he hated it. They looked so happy. So forced. 

One day ranboo would have a painting on the wall of him and his future partner, a child or two aswell. A smile crept on his face, Ranboo had fallen in love with the idea of falling in love, but not the fake planned kind. The wonderful ones you see in fairytales read to you as a child.

he pulled his hand away and kept walking, counting the tiles on the floor as he did. He always counted the floor tiles, if he didn't he was left with this bad feeling so he counted them.

Without realizing it ranboo walked right into the ball room, it was empty and silent, the only thing that made noise was the clicking of ranboo's boots.

Looking around the room you soon realized that this was one of the if not the most beautiful room in the palace, white pillars held up the second floor of the room and at the end of the room was a beautiful huge glass painting of a single alluim, ranboo's favorite flower.

Ranboo let a small smile creep onto his face as he imagined all the people that will be dancing here I just a few weeks, some will be good at it, others not as much. Some will he younger than Ranboo, most will be older. Different empires coming together in one huge ballroom. 

He could already smell the alcohol that would be served. Ranboo scrunched up his nose in disgust, he never liked the smell of alcohol let alone the taste. 

He pushed that thought away and thought of how funny it would be to watch the drunken people dancing around, slipping and falling but laughing and standing back up. Then getting scolded by the maids for being so clumsy and even though they were royalty they would apologize and help clean up the mess. 

Then something dawned on Ranboo, he would get to see his good friends. One was named Tommy minecraft from the passerine empire and the other was Tubbo underscore from the weeping-bee empire. 

Ranboo had a strong bond to both of them, they kept in touch by sending letters to each other. It took a couple of days but they didn't mind at all.

With that last thought ranboo swiftly made his way to his quarters, he had to start planning the ball, thinking of his friends possibly coming gave him the determination to make it the best he could.

When he got into his quarters he saw Dream reading on his bed. 

"Dream what are you doing here?" Ranboo stopped and stared at Dream. Slightly annoyed that Dream was laying on his bed with his shoes on.

"You had a letter, I came to give it to you but you weren't here so I wanted to wait." Dream put the book down.

"Why? And take off your dirty shoes!" Ranboo scoffed and walked over to his desk to check out the letter. 

"It was from Tubbo! I wanted to hear it aswell" Dream smiled and stood up taking off his shoes and going to stand by him. Ranboo had completely forgot that dream was related to Tubbo. They were first cousins if he remembered correctly.

Ranboo nodded his head and opened the envelope and read it out loud. 

"My dearest, Ranbo-" 

"My dearest, ranboo? What is this a love letter?" Dream cut him off and Ranboo slapped him with the paper. 

"Oh hush you." Ranboo smiled while Dream laughed.

"Sorry sorry continue."

"My dearest, Ranboo,

I heard from my father that your parents were hosting a ball and that we were going to attend, I can't wait to see you, Dream, and tommy again. Speaking of Tom, I saw him recently and mate he grew. By the time you get this we have already left but we will see you soon!

Love, your dearest,Tubbo

P.S. Hi dream. I know your reading this."

"He knows me too well" Dream laughed and went back to sitting on the bed petting a black cat 

"I see enderchest has finally come out from hiding under my bed?"

"She just likes me more" Dream smiled a very cocky smile

"Sure she does" Ranboo sat down at his desk and started to write down ideas for the ball in his journal

For about 2 hours Ranboo and Dream had talked while Ranboo did his planning. It was the only peaceful moment of the day Ranboo had and he was grateful to finally let loose.

The duo has moved their way from talking in Ranboo's quarters to walking around the Bailey. They talked about random things that popped into their heads. 

"I don't understand this whole situation. You're telling me like this guy from the Redstone empire that you see constantly but he's your bestfriend so you won't ask him for his hand?" 

"Oh XD it's not hard to understand! You and sapnap are the same. You don't g-"

Dream was cut off by the sound of feet running at them which caused Dream to grab his sword in case it was someone who meant to hurt the Prince.

They both turned around to see one of Athena's messengers, but the grasp on dream's sword did not loosen.

"What do you want?" Dream said in a cold voice. Colder than Athena's gaze.

"Athena wishes to speak to prince Ranboo" the messenger bowed to Dream and Ranboo 

"Hm, of course she does. Dream can be my escort. You can go do whatever you want you have the rest of the day off" Ranboo smiled at the messager.

"Thank you so much." The messenger smiled and ran off.

Dream started to walk towards Ranboo's mother's quarters with Ranboo following swiftly.

"Empress Athena" Ranboo said crossing his arms and standing in the door way. His voice went back to a very sharp apathetic voice.

"Ranboo! Take a seat. Sir Dream you may leave." 

"Dream take a sit beside me please" Ranboo's tone softened like a feather.

Dream took a seat and smiled swiftly before going back to having stone face while looking at the Empress.

"Ranboo, he doesn't need to be here, this is a family matter." Athena voice quivered as she tried to stay impowered in the situation.

"He does need to be here. I don't feel comfortable alone with you" Ranboo smiled

Athena let's a fake smile creep on her face as she dusted off her kirtle and sat down in her chair. Pulling herself into the table just enough to have her feet perfectly in the gap. 

"Ranboo I do not appreciate the words you used to me and your mother this afternoon. You talked back, yelled, interrupted your mother and you left your things a mess" 

"Well mother, I was doing what you told me to do. Be strong, don't hold back that's what a good ruler does" Ranboo did not believe the words that left his mouth.

Ranboo wasn't one to be rude or mean to people but if you pushed the right button a more rude and sassy side of him. Athena knew this side all to well.

"Ranboo. You can't be like that, you have to be nice aswell. You would ruin your reputation with the people no?"

"Your reputation."

"Pardon?"

" I would ruin your reputation. Not mine. But that's besides the point. The point is I'm rude? But I'm never rude to the people in out empire or Dream and hardly rude to you only sassy."

"You're rude to Ophelia and yes you're rude to me."

"For one I thought we don't respect the poor according to you ." Ranboo raised an eyebrow and Dream couldn't hold back the laugh that bubbled in his chest.

"It seems like you two are the negative factor in this equation." Ranboo shrugged and laughed.

"Watch your tone Ranboo you know better than to speak like that to the Empress."

"I'm only speaking truth. I'm sorry you don't like tha-" 

In a swift movement Athena raised her hand and slapped Ranboo across his cheek leaving a red mark.

Ranboo flinched and hissed as he grabbed his cheek. The stinging feeling felt so familiar to Ranboo but still shocked him each time.

Dream swiftly got up and stood in front of the prince grabbing his sword and putting his body between to the two blocking Athena from Ranboo.

"Do not hurt the Prince because you lost an argument. He is right you are wrong, suck it up Empress. "

"Sir Dream you forgotten your place. You are a knight you server me."

" I am Ranboo's knight actually. I swore that I would protect him and if you hurt him again I will strike back I do not care if you are the Empress or if you were a toad on the side of the road. Keep your hands off Ranboo."

"Dream leave please before this escalates I will be okay on my own".

"I can't do that Ranboo. She is a threat to y-." Dream stood his ground like a guard dog. He wasn't going to move.

"That was an order Dream" Ranboo said In a harsh but soft tone.

Dream looked hurt but left the room, standing by the door in case Ranboo called for him.

"Ranboo, my sweet little ranboo. mommy is so sorry she never meant to hurt you" Athena touched the place she struck him. 

"Don't touch Me. Don't fucking touch me." Ranboo flinched and pulled away. He knew what was going on. The manipulation. The empty promises. The control.

Ranboo pulled away and Athena grabbed his wrist. Digging her nails into the faded burn and cut marks. 

"You hurt yourself didn't you. Why would you hurt yourself hunny" Athena sounded concerned but a thick lace of carelessness was clear to Ranboo.

"Leave me alone. Play family all you want Athena but I'm am not your son. You know I'm a pawn. I know I'm a pawn. Stop pretending to be my mom"

Athena dug her nails deeper. Drawing blood from Ranboo's skin. The red on the white was clearer than a sunny sky. 

Ranboo's eyes started to let tears fall. The pain was unnecessarily unbareable even thought Ranboo had done worse to himself.

"You don't really mean that. That's not true" Athena's voice quivered 

"I'll keep up the public image but behind the royal gate me and you only share our surname. That is all" ranboo pulled his wrist away getting scratched by her nails. Causing him to whince loudly causing Dream to rush in.

Dream grab Ranboo and held him from Athena.

"I have a ball to plan. You go back to doing whatever you were doing before goodbye Athena." And with that Dream walked Ranboo to his room to help him clean his wrist.

Chapter Text

 Ranboo isn't one to be bored regularly. He is always up to something, so it was a big surprise when Ranboo was sitting in his room bored out of his mind.

 Ranboo sat down at his desk humming a tune he was bored with. he had been at his desk since dawn trying to finish up plans for the ball.

Dream left on one of his trips. He would be back in 2 days but without Dream, Ranboo didn't have his entertainment source, he has to do something or he would simply die of boredom.

Standing up from his desk ranboo put his quill down in the ink and pushed in his chair. He pets enderchest and makes his way to the door of his quarters. Opening the door he was greeted with a messager causing him to jump.

"Prince ranboo your mother wants you to meet her and your other mother in the throne room. We have our first guests" 

Ranboo's face lit up instantly. Was it tubbo? Had he finally got here? His fight with Athena was 7 days ago, he got tubbo's letter the same day so it's possible. Ranboo thanked the messager and swiftly made his way to the throne room looking more happier than he did a week ago.

"Ranboo, you look in a better mood. you excited to see who our guests are?" Ophelia took ranboo into a hug which ranboo accept.

"Oh Ophelia I've been so busy I forgot the guest would be arriving any day now!" Ranboo laughed with Ophelia.

In all reality Ranboo was very close to Ophelia. She was very sweet but she always pushed her way in places she didn't belong in.

Athena remained silent as she sat on her throne. It was hard to tell her expression, it wasn't anger but it wasn't pleased either.

Ranboo didn't care one bit, he wasn't going to let Athena get to him. Sitting down on his throne next to Ophelia he excitedly waited for the guests to walk in. 

"Empress Athena, empress Ophelia and prince Ranboo your guests from the Weeping-bee empire are here."

"Emperor Jschlatt, Eral Quackity, Prince Tubbo, and Princess Lani."

Ranboo looked at tubbo, he looked so much older than before, his hair was covering his eyes and his horns were much larger than the last time they met. The huge "birthmark" on his face was hidden behind the hair as well.

Ranboo got out of his seat and bowed to the guests in front of them. "Welcome to the Enderfield empire. Make yourself at home." 

Jschlatt smiled and bowed back "thank you prince Ranboo. How about you show tubbo around while the adults talk?" 

"Oh! Of course! I wouldn't mind!" Ranboo held out his hand for Tubbo and Tubbo took it.

"Prince Tubbo" Ranboo nodded and smiled

"Prince Ranboo" Tubbo laughed as they both walked away. 

As they turned the corner tubbo immediately hugged ranboo. They haven't seen each other in a year but it felt like a decade since they finally got to hug. 

"It's been so long hasn't it ranboo? I missed you." Tubbo spook barely below a whispers

"It has, hasn't it? I missed you so much." they just stood there before pulling apart and heading to the Bailey.

"I heard Tommy is on his way here, we'll be all together again and then we can cause some chaos" Tubbo kicked a stone into a tiny pond.

"I have to plan for the ball so I'm not going to be doing much other than staying in my room all day" Ranboo sat under a tree reading.

"Me and tom can help you! I've planned an event once it's easier than it looks!" Tubbo leaned against the tree with a cocky smile.

Ranboo laughs. "You sure your not going to just distract me with your beautiful smile"

"Aye! calm yourself we're- we're in public" Tubbo pretend to be shocked. 

"I know, but why should I hide my love for my best friend?" 

"Best friend? Best friend!? Wow I thought I was more than that to you" Tubbo hissed and crossed his arms. 

"Wait- wait tubbo it's not like that!" Ranboo grabbed his hand and bent down.

Ranboo couldn't hide his smile if he tried but he had to stay in character for a bit. Ranboo and tubbo had done something like this before but it was over letters and not in person. 

"Then what is it like Ranboo beloved?! I'm just not good enough to be anything but your best friend" tubbo ripped his hand away from him and pretended to walk away. 

Ranboo couldn't hold back anymore and burst out in laughter and applauded Tubbo's performance.

"Thank you, thank you. I'm here all day every day" Tubbo turned,  bowed and laughed along with Ranboo. 

It was going to be a great few weeks for the duo.

It was almost dusk when the two royal families were having dinner. It wasn't in the dining hall where the argument broke out 7 days ago. It was much bigger and suitable for a least 5 more royal families.

Ranboo made sure to be seated right next to tubbo and far from his parents so if ranboo was to comment under his breath only Tubbo would hear it. 

Emperor Jschlatt had already been on his 5th glass of wine and getting drunk which was clear to see by the way he was being much happier and louder than earlier that day.

That and his words were slurring.

Even though it was hard to see from afar Ranboo clearly saw that Tubbo wasn't the most comfortable with his dad drinking. Emperor Jschlatt was a nasty drunk before Princess lani was born and sadly Tubbo had to deal with the abuse that came with it. Jschlatt stopped when Lani was born but the "birthmark" on Tubbo's face never let Jschlatt forget the mistakes he made.

Ranboo is determined to cheer tubbo up or at least make him feel somewhat better so he leaned toward Tubbo and whispered

"I bet you at least 8 Diamonds that the maid right behind your dad is either about to cry or pass put as soon as she leaves the dining hall" 

Tubbo smirks and whispers "I bet you 10 she does both right now"

"In front of the Empresses? No way" Ranboo scoffed.

"It would be quite funny" Tubbo leans back in his chair causing the two front legs to come up

"You know what's funnier" Ranboo takes a sip of the water in his cup side-eyeing Tubbo.

"What?" Tubbo's face lit up as he quirks an eyebrow Tubbo loved jokes.

"You falling" 

And as if Ranboo saw into the future Tubbo falls back slamming down causing everyone to gasp as Ranboo laughs and spits out the water he drank as his hand flings itself to his mouth in a sad attempt to catch the water. 

Everything went quiet except for Ranboo's very loud laughter.

Tubbo's face is a shade of pink as he just lays on the floor in pure shock. He looks up at Ranboo and makes eye contact with him for a second before Tubbo wiggles his eyebrows causing Ranboo to laugh harder and tubbo to go into a laughing fit along with him.

Ranboo and Tubbo had tears streaming down their faces as their contagious laughter coated the room with an uncommon happiness. 

Ranboo tries to recompense himself but every time he's close to calming down Tubbo does a stupid face at him and he ends up laughing more.

Athena was fuming but everyone else had started laughing with the two boys.  After 15 minutes Ranboo and Tubbo had finally got the laughter out of their systems as Ranboo helps Tubbo up off the floor and picks up his chair

"You looked like a beetle stuck on its back" Ranboo smiles and sits back down by the prince. Dusting off himself

Tubbo flicks off dust off himself and smiles "did I look cute?"

"Far from it" Ranboo teased as he patted tubbo on the back and laughed to himself.

Everyone seemed to all calm down as the parents went back to conversing over laws and other empire things that the two teens didn't dare get involved with. 

"Laws are stupid we should get rid of them" Tubbo hissed under his breath as he ate his food

"I rather not be able to get killed" ranboo looks at Tubbo from the corner of his eye

"Oh yeah-" Tubbo says as he looks out into the distance completely dumbfounded "I- I forgot about that one-" 

Ranboo snorted and continued to eat his dinner. He felt Athena's gaze burning into him. Ranboo knew that his burst of laughter embarrassed her and if they were to be alone anytime soon she would make sure he knew she didn't approve of it. 

Quackity looks at Athena then Ranboo and back to Athena. He could tell the tension was getting thicker so he blurted out "so Ranboo! How is your first ball planning coming along?"

"Oh! Just wonderful! I finally finished mapping out ideas for the decor this morning. I think it's going to be a swell ball but I'm stressed it might not be as good as the ones before mine" 

"I remember how nervous I was when I first planned a ball all by myself. I'm sure you'll do wonderful" Jschlatt gave Ranboo a comforting smile which Ranboo have him a smile of gratitude.

After everyone was done eating Ranboo and Tubbo headed to Ranboo's quarters. They wanted to have more fun before dusk hit.

It was about 3 to 4 hours before the sun would be going down and Tubbo would be sent to the guest rooms so he could rest.

Tubbo jumped onto Ranboo's bed and laid there as Ranboo took off his crown and laid it down on his desk as he made his way to the balcony. Tubbo turned his head to look at Ranboo. He finally got to take in the appearance of the Enderman.

His ears were pierced and had multiple gold earrings hanging from them. Ranboo had bags under his eyes and his hair was about up his waist. It was put up in a ponytail. Speaking of tails ranboo had two tails one black and one white.

Ranboo's outfit, mainly because of the corset he was wearing, made him look more feminine, that was how Ranboo preferred his clothing and Tubbo wished he could pull off a corset just as good as Ranboo did. 

Tubbo knew Ranboo knew Tubbo was staring at him, taking in the beauty Tubbo never noticed before. The way Ranboo shifted as he undid his hair, Tubbo knew that this wasn't something that was very..respectable to do.

Ranboo sighed loudly which brought Tubbo back into the real world.

"You good Boo?" Tubbo got off the bed and walked over to him and leaning on the balcony rail 

"Yeah, I'm good. I'm just- just bored you know?" Ranboo looked over at him and gave a grim smile before looking back at the sky. 

thinking of something to do Tubbo looked around. There wasn't much to do at this hour. Everyone was in their rooms. Doing..doing nothing.

The two both brainstormed ideas but each time one of them didn't like it. 

"We could go to the pond in the Bailey" Tubbo huffs as he sits down by Ranboo 

"And get mud on me? No thanks" Ranboo rolls his eyes and laughs

 Tubbo lets out a loud whine "Why Don't you like any of my ideas!! They're- they're good ideas!!" 

"Sure they are. " Ranboo plops himself down next to Tubbo. Ranboo ran his fingers into his hair unstressing some of the tangles.

The two gave up on trying to find something to do and just sat there for a good solid 20 minutes in silence.

Tubbo suddenly jumped up and looked down at ranboo. 

"I have an idea"

"Where are we going?!" Ranboo huffs as Tubbo is practically dragging him across the castle to the outside wall.

"Somewhere" Tubbo says nonchalantly as if he was too lost in thought to never comprehend what Ranboo just said.

"Tubbo..I'm scared. What are you doing?" 

"My idea" Tubbo's brain is going crazy, thinking of a hundred things in one Second, but the loudest one is Ranboo is going to love this. His brain chanted it over and over again as if it was reassuring him that it was truly a good idea. 

"Ranboo is going to love this" Tubbo mumbled to himself. 

Ranboo cocked an eyebrow. He never saw tubbo act like this before, was it a bad thing? Maybe. Ranboo knew Tubbo would never hurt him so at least he didn't need to worry about that.

Ranboo was out of breath by the time he and Tubbo got to the Bailey wall. Ranboo had his hand on his knees and was trying to get even just the smallest bit of air back into his lungs

"J- jeez Tubbo! Slow down a bit next time" he laughed softly.

Tubbo was staring at the wall not paying attention to the dying Enderman behind him

"Ranboo, we are going to jump the wall" he said as he turned to face the other prince. 

"WHA-" Tubbo covers Ranboo's mouth with his hand. 

"Shh!! You don't want to get us caught!" Tubbo said in a hushed voice 

Ranboo rolled his eyes and moved away from Tubbo. Tubbo flashed him a toothy grin as Ranboo crossed his arms in a very disapproving way.

"Tubbo are you crazy!?" Ranboo yelled in a whispered voice. 

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not, but everything we do in the castle walls is boring! We'll hop the wall, have fun, come back, I go to my room and you go to yours!" Tubbo's thought process was not in the slightest planned well but it somehow comforted Ranboo slightly. 

"And if we get caught going back to our rooms?" Ranboo let a smile creep onto his face. 

"We lie! Say I got lost on my way to my room" Tubbo grins and grabs Ranboo's hand "Better yet let's say you started sleepwalking" 

"That sounds worse than saying that you got lost" Ranboo teased

"Ranboo I'm better than getting lost" Tubbo said with a fake pride

"Fair" Ranboo shrugged "let's do this then"

"Tubbo hurry up or you're going to break my back" Ranboo was currently on his hands and knees as tubbo used him as a stool to get over the giant wall in front of them.

"Stop complaining I'm almost there" Tubbo jumps on top of the wall gaining his balance. he slowly turns around and holds out his hand looking into Ranboo's eyes. if they weren't busy tubbo was sure he could get lost in them he wouldn't even mind it.

The wall was very uneven with a lot of loose rocks, but it was sturdy enough for Tubbo just to kneel onto it. the wall was made years ago. Ranboo did wish they could simply use the gates, but then again they were heavily guarded all day and all night to keep the royal family safe from anything.

"Grab my hand and let's go" Tubbo smiled down at Ranboo, Ranboo just gave a grim smile, a sad attempt to hide his worry.  

Ranboo gives Tubbo a look of hesitance. He wasn't ready for whatever came next after leaving the garden they could get in trouble, they could get kidnapped, killed, or hurt. 

"what's wrong? Just grab my hand I'm strong enough to hoist you up here, you aren't heavy you know" Tubbo quirks an eyebrow in confusion, Ranboo never acted like this before.

"Tubbo-... Tubbo I'm scared" Ranboo's usually confident voice quivered in fear as Ranboo looked down and as tears started to build up in his eyes, taunting to fall down his face if he blinked.

Tubbo sat down on the wall as his gaze softened. "ranboo come here" he said in a tone almost unrecognizable.

Ranboo walked over to Tubbo and put his head onto Tubbo's leg, letting the tears run down his face. his heart started to beat faster, he couldn't do this, he couldn't. he was too afraid of what was going to happen once over that wall he didn't want Tubbo to get hurt, he couldn't let Tubbo get hurt.

His mouth went dry, every time he spoke came out in a broken sob, his legs were daring to give up and let him slip, the only thing keeping him up was Tubbo, Ranboo could feel him, Ranboo knew Tubbo was there, he was so close yet so far.

Ranboo didn't feel like he was there, he was watching himself and Tubbo on a stage.

It was a Play that he always watches, it was familiar in a bad way. Ranboo was in the middle of a panic attack. 

Ranboo started to feel sick. it was rare for ranboo to get this far into a meltdown, usually, he would calm down by now, but everything was flooding back.

The fight with Athena and the argument at lunch. he was letting it all out, and Tubbo wasn't shaming him, Tubbo was just simply there, gently patting ranboo's head and wiping his tears so he didn't burn his skin more than he had to.

"I'm right here Ranboo. I'm not going to leave okay? let it all out, I'm right here" Tubbo said in a hushed but soft voice reassuring Ranboo that Tubbo wasn't going to leave. 

"Remember the time we went to the lake by my home? we were only 10 years old, you used to be shorter than me. it was a beautiful day and you and your mother Ophelia came to visit us, Tommy was there already and we all went to the lake, you couldn't swim with us so we decided to just build sand castles so you can have fun as well" Tubbo held Ranboo's hand. 

'Ranboo's panic attack started 20 minutes ago. I rather go back than force Ranboo to do this for me. we can do this tomorrow night anyway I just want him to rest. he passed out at least twice now.' Tubbo's mind was racing. Tubbo was trying to focus on the matter at hand but his worry ate at him.

"Tubbo...I think I'm ready." Ranboo pushed off Tubbo as he felt Tubbo put his hand on Ranboo's cheek. Ranboo put his hand on top of it holding the hand there.

"I promise we will be quick, just come have fun for at least 10 minutes, if you don't have fun we can do whatever you want tomorrow" Tubbo's voice was hushed and soft catching ranboo off guard.

Tubbo was a nice person, yes but he never had such a soft and sweet voice, it was always rough and sarcastic.

Ranboo looked back at the castle and then back at Tubbo. Tubbo hand was there waiting patiently for Ranboo's hand to grasp it.

'Tubbo would never purposely hurt you remember that tubbo cares for you, you care for Tubbo.'

Ranboo grabbed onto Tubbo's hand and jumped. 

Tubbo held onto Ranboo's hand with both of his, hoisting him up and Ranboo was able to get his balance. Ranboo's heart was beating loudly he swore Tubbo could hear it. 

Ranboo watches as Tubbo jumped down onto the other side of the wall and then followed. 

"You did it Ranboo! You did it!!" Tubbo cheered and hugged Ranboo. Picking him up and spinning them around.

"Never- never again" Ranboo hissed and hugged him back. A smile was planted on his face even if he sounded pissed off.

"Oh but we have to get back to the castle don't we?" Tubbo smiled an evil smile

"Oh god no we are using the gate" Ranboo sighed.

Tubbo grabbed Ranboo's hand in they ran off to enjoy their night together.