Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Three different hybrids, sitting in the back of an overworld government van.

A strange sight to see for sure especially with two of the beings coming from a completely different dimension.

An elegant endarian, with clothes more expensive than most overworld houses. Short hair framing their horns and a gold crown adorned on their head, clearly royalty of some kind, the royal-esque garments the hybrid is wearing are contrasted by the rusted silver cuffs around their wrists and paws. they’re facing away from the two others in the truck, arms, legs and tail tucked into themselves so as to not even come close to the hybrid sitting next to them.

A shulker hybrid, short in stature wearing a large coat that covers most of their body including their arms, their wearing cargo pants and boots over what would be bug type legs, both beings from the end are covered in purple but at the same time it's clear they’re from separate states of class, the shulk’s coat is covered in what seems to be oil and dirt.

And finally sitting across from the two.

a being from the overworld. Blonde hair that fades into bright red and light brown feathers that travel past the wings on their head into the flap like wings that trace the underside of their arms, clear signs of an avian, their wearing a white tank top and brown cargo shorts that cinch at the knee of their digitigrade legs. bandages are wrapped around their talon adorned feet and hands which in turn are being covered by metal mitts attached to cuffs. the silence is cut short by the avian “Soooo- you both from the end? Or i suppose you could be from the nether- but i've been there they don't really dress like you” they point at the enderian, who scoffs and turns their head further away “ok-? Well im tommy! I'm CLEARLY and elytrian!” he begins once more “ i know YOU'RE an enderman-” they scoff again

“Enderman? Is that what you.. Peons on this wretched plane call us? Disgusting-”tommy ignores them

“But I don't know what you are- i dont think ive ever seen a hybrid like you?-”Tommy's attention is towards the shortest of the three.

The enderian rolls their eyes once more at the interaction “i'm a shulk. Tubbo is my name- and typically we are from the end but-”

“-But we didnt want you there anymore.?” the endarian mumbles the question as , tubbo, who was previously relaxed stiffens .

“NO! I left on my own fucking accord!” The air is tense in an instant, the shulker hybrid huffs “I've been living in the overworld for upwards of 5 years now, i’ve been moving around though,” he crosses his arms. The silence from before continues now, Tommy never really liked conflict but it seemed to follow the teen everywhere he goes. The truck ride is bumpy, somehow hitting all of the dents and potholes in the road, it only gets worse when they come across a dirt road. “Sooooooooo-” Tommy says again “what’re you guys in for?” a bit cliche he thinks “i stole some things… I stole a lot of things” his feathers fluff in aggravation “ only because i had to!” In an instant Tommy stands and bangs on the window between him, the others and the humans on the other side “do you hear that you Pricks! You fucking assholes you- you-” the others watch him, the enderian with judgment and tubbo with confusion, tommy continues banging on the window before collapsing on the seat once again with a huff, feathers ruffled and fluffed up.

“Uhh- well i built- illegal things! For fun! Humans do NOT like bombs ill tell you that, i thought they where cool though, my own designs and everything!” Tubbo shrugs, the both of them look at the royal, who rolls their eyes once more.

“I, did nothing wrong.” they look at the others “they claimed i ‘commited manslaughter’ and ‘murder’ “ their voice box warbles a sound only coming from endermen “ i did no such thing! It was self defense after all, they looked me in the eyes.” tubbo rolls his eyes and tommy, tommy simply nods

“I get it” the royal and tubbo look at tommy “i hate it when people look me in the eyes! Murder is a viable choice” it takes the others a minute to realize that tommy is being completely serious.

“Okay?- do either of you know where we’re going?” tubbo looks around, there are no windows they could see out of except for the one looking into the front seats

“Prison probably!, though” tommy looks through the window to the windshield “ im not recognizing anything here so it could be anything”

“Prison?! I can't go to prison! I need to get home. To my mothers and siblings. This place is punishment enough, surely SOMEONE. Has realized my value and-” they try to stand up but their horns knock against the roof, knocking them to the ground, a piercing headache rings throughout their skull.

“Hey, it's fine! I'm sure someone will come and bail you out! Your royalty right? It's a bad image that another royal is in prison!” Tommy states as if it's obvious. The enderian nods as they pick themselves off of the ground using their tail to dust themself off.

“You're right.. Mother loves to keep appearance-” the van stops sending the enderian to crash into the wall of the van they hiss in pain, cuffs jingling a bit as they attempt to get up again. The back of the truck is bathed in sunlight as the two large back doors are opened, Tommy goes to make a run for it but his plan is thwarted by one of the officers who grab the young hybrid by his tail feathers. Tommy thrashes around enough for his feathers to rip out of his body, he falls to the floor instinctually chirping from the pain.

The royal, once they’ve regained their bearings and stepped out of the truck, go to throw an ender pearl. But nothing happens, the cuffs around their wrists blink a garish red colour. One of the guards grab at the chain between the cuffs to pull them along “UNhand me you fiend!” The three hybrids fight against the humans, tubbo’s strength gone, Tommy merely as fast as the typical human, and the enderian unable to teleport the three are no more powerful than the average human. The human guards, unimpressed, usher the three towards a large door to a round dome-esque building unlike the three have ever seen.

The three hybrids are being held by one guard whilst the other types something on a screen. The enderian royal is spouting off about disrespect at being held captive by humans, and how they are going to regret this, tubbo is silent, plotting surely, and tommy, well tommy is shaking, weather its from fear, or anger is hard to tell, his wings are fluffed up and chirping noises are escaping from his mouth.

Three scared hybrids, children in their own right.

The door is finally opened by a guard only to reveal, not stark concrete and terror, but flora, a beatiful landscape of a oak and birch forest, another hybrid, similar to tommy lands. He has large beautiful wings, taken care of, pristine, the man is blonde and rather short for his species. on his digitigrade feet is something similar to an ankle monitor, he has a kind face, “ah- i assumed this is what that was about-” the man is cut off by the guards practically throwing the three inside, tired of their struggling the man does his best to catch them, crow-like wings shielding them from the grass.

The older blonde takes a good look at them, and has one thought.

“Children? You're bringing children here now?! Do you people not have ANY sympathy?” the guards just huff stepping forward with a key, handing it to the older hybrid

“They are your problem now.” they go to close the door but the winged hybrid steps forward

“Wait. you cant-” the door is shut and locked from the outside. The hybrid sighs turning to the teens taking them in “hh-okay, this is fine.” the wings fold behind the man's back, Tommy is in awe at the sight of them “how about we take those cuffs off of you all, I know they can't be comfortable.. Especially the mitts they've got you in mate,” he reaches towards tommy first, slowly and tommy happily gives up his hands to the man

“What IS this place?” tubbo pipes up finally, the man sighs

“The humans are calling it the ‘Overworlds most humane prison for hybrids’ . Never in my life did I think they’d bring kids here though..” he sounds somber

“For something meant to be humane you sound rather upset about this predicament” tubbo is quick to reply, cogs turning in their head, phil chuckles

“Humane to them just means putting us hybrids that misbehave in a spot where they don't have to think about us… as upsetting as it is” he moves to the cuffs around tommy’s feet now

“It's more than that though isn't it..”as quick as ever tubbo speaks back.

“Of course, but we have someone who can explain it better at the pub”

“THE PUB!?” Tommy exclaims jumping up happily, his feet are at last a bit free, one of the cuffs stays though, sol doesnt ask. The man laughs, moving onto tubbo who, like Tommy, gives the man their hands of his own free will. “Your wings are so cool! You're an elytrian right?? So am i! Obviously!” Tommy is back to being talkative.

“I see you've noticed them,” the man flexes them, letting the three take a gander at them.

The royal speaks up for the first time getting inside “those are NOTHING compared to one of my mothers.” they're looking away, “they're bigger too, my mothers wings.” the man smiles.

“Ah, they are, I met her once, if it's who i'm thinking of, though i think i prefer my own more.” the enderian gapes .

“You've met my mother?! But they’d- they hate the overworld how-?” they are truly confused by the winged mans laughter.

“ I met them a long time ago. Eons ago maybe, definitely before you were made” he finishes up with both of tubbo’s cuffs leaving half of a cuff on one of his boot-clad feet. He moves over to the enderian who equally moves away. “Mate, you gotta let me take those off of you” reluctantly they comply, keeping their hands as far away from touching the man as possible. “After this we’ll go to the pub, meet the others, and get you guys gear.. Oh and explain everything as best we can”

“How many people are here ?”tommy inquiries, still admiring the elytrians wings

“Hmm well, there's me, and you three now, and…seven others at this time” the others react in their own way. The enderian flexes their wrists as phil moves to their paws.

“Oh prime..seven others huh..just like us..”Tommy's voice cracks “did they also…”

“Break the human’s arbitrary laws? Yup, well ok honestly mate most laws are just..”

“But we had to do it to survive?.”the avian hugs into himself

“Some of us, yeah, not all of us,, whether it's instinct or lack of morals, or survival, it doesn't matter To them. To the humans, we are dangerous” he stands up with a stretch cracking his back “okay. Let's get on then, follow me.” The walk isn't very long especially not with the enderians teleporting and Tommy's own feet carrying him faster than the average hybrid but the three stop suddenly at the sight. A building floating atop an island in the sky, a waterfall cascading off of it into a beautifully kept river, a rope ladder sways in the false wind generating inside of the circular building they're inside of, to the enderian and tubbo it feels familiar, something like their homes in the end, floating islands throughout the stars of the end, though tubbo would call this even more beautiful than the city he comes from and the royal…it makes them miss their home even more, tommy is screaming with joy, booking it towards the building past the strange man tubbo follows in suit wanting, no needing to get to the top. The royal stays still… Just staring at the island, the winged man waits for them patiently.

And when they start walking again the man waits still, until they've caught up and he starts walking again as well the quiet from before is cut off suddenly with a whisper that almost carries inn the false wind “what was my mother like when you met them” the question comes across more like a demand, the man complies.

“Well… they were… territorial. Ready to fight for their kingdom, their people. It makes sense of course.. A dragon, enderian hybrid, both are territorial and protective species, going to the end was an accident for me, i didn't expect to be surrounded by guards at the other end of the portal.” the elytrian keeps his gaze forward watching tommy and tubbo frolic

The enderian doesn't say anything after that, staying poised and proper, they got their answer, they don't need anything else.

The two of them reach Tommy and tubbo at the bottom of the rope ladder “ so.” the man claps his hands together “who wants to fly?” Tommy squawks as a cheer raising sols hand high into the air tubbo seconds that with enthusiasm. The enderian walks past them to the ladder throwing a pearl and clutching onto it. The man grabs the two remaining under his arms. Before taking off into the air. Tommy is whooping and screaming in joy as the man flies into the air towards the pub landing perfectly even with the two extra weights. The enderian is up soon after with a puff of purple particles.”Now, while they are expecting new inmates… you all might come off as a surprise, so before anything, I apologize for how they act.” The man laughs while opening the doors.

The inside is even prettier than the outside, its homely, the smell of stew and flowers, warm light cascading onto the teens as they enter, any conversation is halted by their entrance in a flash the teens are surrounded, questions are being thrown at them as the elytrian is pushed away by a ghostly hand, but he stands his ground taking a deep breathe. He whistles. Just as fast as the other inmates surround them they back away

“Phil these are kids!” a feminine voice coming from a sopping wet women

“Dude what the fuck.” a man as small as a mouse pipes up

“Phil you're kidding right?!” the ghostly presence whispers

“What the fuck why are there more tall people.” a humanoid fox mumbles

“Maybe your just short-” a being radiating heat teases

The man, phil? Whistles again and the pub goes quiet he sighs “ok first of all, give them some space mates. Niki go back to your tank you're going to dry out. Fundy. Go sit down.” he shoos them all away giving the teens space he sighs “okay!” he claps his hands together “introductions first. My name is phil, i'm an elytrian as you know, and to get it out of the way, i committed war crimes.” he points to the ghostly figure, who straightens their posture.

“Jeez get right into it, why don't you, my name is Wilbur, phantom. I'm sure phils said something of the sort, i stole government papers, and sold them to third parties” the ghost, phantom? Is tall, and is wearing a large brimmed hat, a veil cascading over its face, the hat is decorated with flowers similar to the ones on phils, apart from a large wither rose, bright green haunting eyes staring into the teens, a trenchcoat barely covers a dull yellow sweater. Phil nods and points at the girl in a tank full of water she steps out briefly

“Hii '' her voice is gentle “im niki! I'm a merling, specifically of the axolotl variety, ” she smiles showing off large sharp teeth, her skin is pink and teal and she's wearing some sort of variety of a swimsuit, a see through shawl wrapped around her waist, she's adorned with beautiful pearls and shells. “And i…”

“She committed cannibalism!!”

Phil and niki’s heads whip around to look at the person the voice came from, a man sulking in a lavafall. Niki, with foe anger rushes back in her tank getting water in her mouth, then back out in one swift motion, simply to spit water at the man on fire, the enderian hisses and backs away out of instinct, no one bats an eye.

“AH! WHAT the fuck niki!?” the man cowers, as niki laughs

The man flips her off with one of its floating fingers and looks at the teens “I'm jack. Blazeborne. And I didnt fucking do anything.” He's got a shaved head and is wearing a striped blue and black hoodie with the sleeves cut off to make room for his arms, he's wearing camo cargo shorts, clothes absolutely not gained from his life in the nether. “You make us do this everytime Phil its-'' Phil ignores him pointing at a humanoid fox, he waves.

“Fundy. I'm sure you could put two and two together.'' The fox, while he's a usual hybrid to see in the overworld, is dressed strangely, a hat is placed between his ears, and he's wearing a black jacket covering a white t-shirt, along with typical black pants. “Iiii borrowed some things. For life.” phils pinches the bridge of his nose pointing at and even shorter creature on the counter, its dripping with slime

“My names charlie! I'm the goopiest of guys of course, the slimiest and grossest of fell-” phil stops him before it can continue pointing at someone even smaller? The bug nods his head

“Sup, im sneeg- moth inchling and me and charlie hereee stole stuff together! It was great-'' Charlie takes a chunk of himself and globs it on the inchlings head, the moth is wearing a cloak type thing it blends into the beings wings you can't see anything else except for the pattern on the cloak, a spade symbol. Phil points to the remaining person in the pub, someone sitting in the corner with a glass of gross looking brown liquid. An arachnid.

It smiles lazily and gives a wave “you wanna know who i am?” the entire pub except for the teens groan as the spider stands sprawling its six arms outward “ I am fragrenceman!! Arachnid if you couldn't tell, real life bonafide priest” it winks half of his eyes

“The fuck kind of name is fragrenceman?” tommy speaks what the other teen where thinking

“Schlatt stop bullshitting them” the phantom throws a glass at the arachnid, it misses and shatters against the wall “you got arrested for impersonating a priest and scamming people”

Fragrenceman or schlatt? In turn throws the bottle it was holding towards the phantom, it phases through him and clatters against the floor. Phil rubs his face like a tired dad.

“Okay, you three, you can follow the pattern we did, or something different, it really doesn't matter” phil shrugs, tommy happily stomps his food talons clacking against the floor

“MY NAME IS TOMMY INNIT, and I'm an elytrian! Like phil! Obviously”

.

.

.

The pub bursts into laughter, Tommy squawks out of anger stomping sols foot “YOU PRICKS I AM!”

“Mate… i'm pretty sure your an avian, we’re different species, our wings are different”

“Yeah your more like a chicken then a crow-” the ghostly voice get cut off by a large black wing phasing through him

“There's nothing wrong with being an avian tommy. All of us have our own strengths, and that's because of our hybrid ancestry “ behind phil the fake sun projected in their spherical prison is setting, Tommy just shrugs before looking at tubbo.

“Oh! Uhhh, ‘m tubbo! Shulk, from the end- sort of- anyhow, I made nuclear weapons. Humans hated them though” without room for question they look at the royal, the others eyes follow to look at them as well, the end of their tail twitches uncomfortably

“My name doesnt matter, you wont need to refer to me, my mothers will get me out.” they are very confident in that fact, tubbo rolls his eyes.

That's ok, you don't need to say your-” phil starts before being interrupted

“But we can't just call you nothing while your here” tommy pipes up

“Surely you can try calling me, your highness” the ender retorts

“You're not exactly a royal in here b-'' tubbo starts but is smacked in the face by the enderians tail. Tubbo swats it away “just give them something. Anything” the adults(plus Tommy) watch as the two bicker, tension raising in the air. Tubbo is staring daggers into the enderian’s eyes, whos looking away, eventually they scoff

“Whatever, you will call me…ranboo.” tubbo is.. Confused by that but doesn't say anything, ranboo bows “i'm an enderian, royal. I only acted in self defense.”

“They straight up murdered people!” tommy points at ranboo laughing

“Self. defense! I will not say it again.” “they stomp their foot”

“Okay okay you two, wilbur?” phil looks at wilbur who nods before sprawling out its arms trench coat flowing behind him

“WELCOME TO THE WORLD'S MOST ‘humane’ PRISON!” He uses air quotes for the word humane''. Basically the humans found us too dangerous to keep in a normal prison, because of our abilities, but because we’re hybrids a lot of backlash comes from normal prisons as well, we are the humans trial run to the most humane prison. Obviously I don't have the documents anymore but if this prison is successful… then all other types of prisons, in this region at least, will be void.”

“I mean- it's beautiful here though, is that truely a bad thing?”

“It can be. Depending on the situation, we’re left here to fend for ourselves in the rawest way, building our own houses, killing our own food, fighting our own battles inside the sphere. Some aren't cut out for that, that's why we come from villages, and kingdoms, and dungeons” Wilbur sighs and floats up holding its hands behind his head laying on his back “buuuuut you three and anyone else are in luck! Because here at the pub, we have some rules to try and keep things as civil as possible, phil.”

“That was great thanks mate, the rules…are bendable, of course, but one is set in stone, as we are trying to prove ourselves, we are making a community, that doesn't mean that you can just take things from people, or that privacy doesn't matter, because that's not what i mean, asa community we expect, everyone to help out, so farming cleaning, community building, none of that's required but” he claps again “it'd be great help” stomps his feet excitedly, talons clacking against the wood floors.

“I can farm! Only if I can keep 90% of the farmage! I am amazing at farming!”

Phil smiles “we can figure all of that out later, for now let's eat and figure out sleeping arrangements.” phil looks over to jack, who gets up from sitting in in the lava flowing from the ceiling disappearing behind the bar “now most of us already have places to sleep, for instance i have a bird house i built for myself, wil lives in a haunted house, jack sleeps here in the pub, which i think is where you guys will stay”

“But you just said blaze boy stays here?”

“He sleeps in this area near the fake portal. There's a loft upstairs and one very small room-”

“I call the room!” ranboo is quick to claim it “i deserve it after all” they cover their desperation with entitlement, no one bats an eye

“Me and tubbo can share the loft!”

Tubbo gasps “hell yeah!” they high five, it's awesome.

It doesn't take long for jack to come back up to hand out food, its some stew, surprisingly already without the use of meat, the dinner goes well, ranboo stays quiet from all of it, but tommy and tubbo get well acquainted with the rest of the group, talking loudly about anything and everything, despite everything the pub s filled with laughter and warmth as the sun sets.

Chapter Text

Tommy can't sleep.

He’s been laying on the blanket pallet made for him and tubbo for hours just… staring at the ceiling, dissociating. The space is open, the only amount of decoration being a small altar in the middle of the room resting above tommy and tubbo’s homemade blanket bed. Growing bored of just laying in place sol, slowly, as to not wake the shulk next to him, sits up, looking outside, the smell of fresh rain wafting through the air. Tommy stands slowly, tip-toeing his way to the edge of the building ,sitting down with his legs dangling over the edge. There's a lot to think about, he means, he’s been to prisons, in dungeons, jail cells, and now..he’s here in prison?... he doesn't know if that word describes this place, he guesses that's why they call it a “humane” prison. The rain outside is comforting, even if its not truly real, he doesn't know how that works actually, sol leans forward to look at the ‘sky’ he can't immediately tell if anything has changed, it just… looks like the sky. he wonders if anyone has tried to escape, surely that phantom…wilbur? has tried, or tommy thinks it would've tried, but clearly it didn't work? Or perhaps the ghost never HAS tried and Tommy has misjudged him!

Everyone here is…nice. He’s met plenty of nice people in these situations before, other hybrids, humans, but the hybrid’s here are different, Phil, is different then the adults he’s met. Tommy wonders if they have an escape plan, if they'll bring sol with them, if they do he’s going to have to bring tubbo. And ranboo too, but what if they don't WANT to leave this dome? Sphere? It's nice, he thinks it's nice anyways. No rules. A whole retry. He’s pulled from his slightly self deprecating thoughts by someone sitting next to him.

“Are you alright?” Tommy looks at the person, it's tubbo! Their not wearing their coat though despite the chill in the air

“OH yeah i'm all good king, yup” tubbo isn't convinced by his new friends answer, but they say nothing, looking outside, they stay quiet for a while just starting out towards the forest. “Did I wake you up?”

“Oh uh- no you didnt. I've been awake” tubbo laughs quietly

“Wow you're a really good fake sleeper!” tommy looks to his new friend smiling

Tubbo laughs a bit louder “your not”

Tommy gapes dramatically “i am VERY good at fake sleeping thank you very much!” They both laugh together, Tommy looks back to the field below them “how do you think they got this island in the sky?”

“I'm not really sure” tubbo sways their legs in the air, the wind ruffles the tactile-spines on his legs “I mean I have a theory! Because this place is nothing like the end, I think Phil used magic! He said he was super old! Old enough to know the queen before their kids were made so maybe he has access to REALLY old magic!”

“Oh! Can you.. Tell me about the end? “ tommy sounds fascinated

“ Uhh, sure, it's not gonna sound great from my perspective though.”

“That's fine.”

“Ok well, it was ruled by two queens, the royals where pretty secretive but, the longer running queen was named ⋮ᒷᔑリ” tubbo speaks a language tommy doesn't understand “ they had three kids, the eldest, gave their name willingly, ∷ᔑリ, the middle child is…our…ranboo” he hesitates saying their name “ us ‘commoners’ learned their name due to one of the queens having an outburst towards them, and the two youngest… we never learned their names? That doesn't matter though i didn't live on the main island”

“Islands? Is the end an ocean? That sucks for ranboo-”

“No no, wow you really know nothing about the end.. Its uhh islands in space, like how this island is floating in the air”

“Oh.” tubbo laughs at that response

They rifle through one of the pockets on their jeans pulling out some yellow stone? “This is endstone, it's like the cobblestone here” he hands it over to tommy, who holds it gently “ i lived on one of the outer islands, in one of the cities, us shulks… we were basically built for heavy work, like construction, or bodyguards, lucky for me i was never really interested in that-'' tommy goes to question that but sols cut off “that was sarcasm, it was not lucky for me, i was met with ridicule, pretty much, and i finally had enough.”

“By the way ranboo wants to go back i kind of thought the end would be- good at least!”

“They want to go back because they got whatever they wanted, us shulk weren't so lucky though!'' Tubbo laughs it has no humor behind it “anyways when I had an opening I left. As soon as I could , I went to the main island and into the palace and I went through the portal. I think i saw ranboo before jumping through, i don't know they might remember it differently”

Tommy hands the rock back over “do you prefer it here then? Like in the overworld?”

“Uhh, yeah! Probably, i didn't really have a friend in the end so” tubbo shrugs

“We’re friends?”Tommy looks down, Tommy has always been bad at telling when someones his friend.

“Uh..i thought so yeah?” tubbo follows tommy’s gaze down to the planes below, they worry hes doing this wrong

“Awesome.”Tommy smiles. The two stay awake talking, bonding, laughter can be heard throughout the sphere from the two

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Ranboo hates the rain.

They've also decided they hate this room, the overworld, these scratchy covers that are matting their fur, they hate everything about this place and this situation, what's even worse is that they're starting to doubt their mothers are coming to get them. What a terrible feeling, doubt, the feeling bubbles up in your gut, jealousy is even worse, and they have tons of it, jealous of their siblings for getting the love they feel they don't have, jealous of tommy and tubbo for adapting so quickly, jealousy of the rest of these…peons, these commoners, these, these, inmates. Hybrids that are so different from themselves but just as forgotten. They scoff at themselves, disgusted. They can't believe that their stooping to projecting onto these strangers. Obviously they ARE better than them, they are not a criminal. They had to punish those people, you simply do not look and look them in the eye! Not to mention they are royal! Biological proof of their betterment!

The thunder booms outside and they jump in fear, yelping and scrambling to hide under their covers, kicking the wall on accident, they exclaim out of frustration, can they not take a fucking break! They're more than just annoyed, they are pissed off, they want to go home. Lay in their bed. They miss their silk sheets. And their mothers. And even their annoying siblings to an extent. And now they’re crying, steam lifts from their face, they warble, their acid tears burn holes into their cheeks, the purple glowing of their fresh wounds feels like poison to their eyes.

Ranboo hates this place.

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The next morning, tubbo, despite staying up most the night is up bright and early, making their way down to the main area, jack is already awake, cursing to himself as he writes something down in a leather-bound book, it doesn't seem he’s noticed tubbo, so the shulk makes his way over to the blaze “hey man, what're you doing?” jack screams at the “sudden” appearance of the shulk hybrid, he groans closing the book,its titled ‘stop breaking things you fucks’ jack is looking at the floor.

“I burnt the fuckin,” defeat is present in his voice “wood floors again, im writing it down so that phil can fix it” he places the book on the bar scuffing the burn a bit with his magma-esque foot “why’re you up so early? Usually it's just me” tubbo just shrugs

“If i'm being honest, it might just be because this is all new! I'm sort of excited!” Tubbo sits at the bar drumming their hands on it as Jack moves behind it.

“Yeah that's fair, I didn't sleep when I first got here too, you want some coffee?” Tubbo nods his head enthusiastically as Jack disappears down to the basement.

The inmates, commune? He remembers Phil calling them that, it's a little cultish in his opinion but he’ll go with whatever! are all asleep, or most of them are, tubbo thinks, they wonder what their gonna be tasked to go here. Hopefully something to do with building he likes building! He sways his legs, the cuff is still around his leg, he wonders how it stays on,his legs aren't like the others here, and he was wearing boots but it's still on! They’ll have to check that out. Their getting giddy just thinking about getting their hands on some tools, taking the cuffs off of everyone, mainly himself, is the main priority right now. Even if it's off of them they don't think they’ll leave. Maybe they will! He doesn't know at this moment that's a crisis for future tubbo to figure out! A cup is placed in front of him, it looks handmade, painted with pinks and teals, niki maybe? Tubbo thanks Jack and they drink their coffee in silence, tubbo doesn't want to reveal his plans just yet, over the morning passing more people enter the pub, phil first, he smiles.

“G’morning you two, i know jack is, but it's nice to know we have another early riser with us” jack retrieves a cup of coffee for phil, the cup is painted green and white like the hat he wears often “we have a full itinerary today, once everyone is up” phil says simply, jack coughs sliding the book over to phil, in an instant the morning person looks as if he wants to go back to sleep, he leans back to look at the floor his wings flexing back, spotting the burn he groans “oh goddess give me strength- jack we talked about this mate” he runs his hands over his face only now is tubbo noticing a wedding ring on his finger.

“True! But also I was not listening when we had that conversation!” Jack raises his voice, defensive, it's just banter of course. Phil sighs heavily, opening the book.

“Did you make that book?” tubbo asks suddenly

Phil smiles “nah, wil did! He helps with a lot of the sewing and stuff”

“What do you think I'll be doing?”

“We'll figure that out later tubbo, for now let's enjoy this morning, jack what are we thinking on food?”

“Well i was gonna say eggs, but i think” jack points up stairs “ might find offense to that”

Phil wheezes out a laugh “maybe, but also avian, have a vegan diet, so that might be an issue as well”

“Do you guys have oats? Why not just make oatmeal or something! And people can add whatever they want to it”

They adults take that into consideration, eventually phil smiles and stands up, stretching his wings “i like that idea, thank you tubbo” phil pats the teens head “surely we have that, right jack?”

Jack scrambles to find the list of their stock

“Uhhhh- yup a barrel full actually” he hands the paper over for phil, who looks at it briefly before placing it back down.

“Tubbo if everyone else wakes up before tommy and ranboo, can you go and wake them up?”

“Uhhh, I mean I can? I don't think little mx. Royal will appreciate that though '' tubbo practically sneers when talking about ranboo, Phil is ever so patient.

“It’d be greatly appreciated if you could. Me and jack are gonna start cooking” tubbo just nods their head picking at the wood of the bar as phil turns to round the corner of said bar, disappearing with jack down towards the cellar. Tubbo lets his head fall onto the surface before them. It isn't long before the others start arriving, niki is next, tubbo and her have simple small talk, then wilbur joins, with sneeg in tow dangling on the back of the apparitions coat, then charlie, fundy, and late into the morning, the smell of cooking food wafting throughout the sphere, schlatt joins as well. The final person, not including the other teens. Leaving tubbo to sigh. He is NOT excited to wake the remaining people up,contemplating just waking tommy up and forgetting about the royal, they don't exactly want to upset phil though, the man is nice but something inside of him is afraid of the consequences

“Why are you sighing so much man?” tubbo looks to the tiny man the voice belongs to, sneeg, tubbo just shrugs

“Phil asked me to wake up tommy and ranboo” sneeg just nods

“Holy shit phil used to ask me to go wake up niki when she first got here!” a ghostly head pops up from the middle of the bar, angry bubbling noises could be heard from the tank “she was NOT easy to wake up i think she tried to eat my face the first time” the phantom laughs and niki pops out of the tank water dripping onto the floor

“I was VERY stressed out wilbur! And YOU are even more terrifying underwater!” the phantom laughs loudly sinking back down, and niki goes back into her tank, wil in an instant pops back up in front of the tank tapping the glass, fully corporeal now, teasing the axolotl happily, tubbo laughs

“My only advice” wilbur looks back at tubbo “just do it, hyping yourself up and making excuses, isn't going to help you in the slightest” he goes back to tapping as she acts more and more distressed, tubbo nods their head again getting up, he has a game plan. Wake up tommy. And at least TRY to wake the royal up, maybe he’ll make Tommy wake them up, he seems to at least tolerate the royal. With another sigh he heads back up the ladder, his scaled/exoskeleton type fingers making a tapping noise against the ladder.

Tubbo grabs their coat, fastening it before kneeling down to Tommy, his only friend so far, tubbo grabs the boy's shoulders and shakes him, to which Tommy wakes up suddenly flapping his arms out of fear, tubbo steps back, as Tommy has… THAT reaction.

Tommys breath quickens and he covers his face, he's felt this before and it DIDN'T end well, sol is shaking violently and his ears are ringing. He opens his eyes and.. Everythings okay, he’s in the pub..tubbo is sitting next to him “what the fuck man!”

“Oh shit I'm sorry! I didn't know that-” tommy sighs

“It's fine! What's up, did something happen?”

“Uhh no, phil asked me to wake you and ranboo up, for breakfast and stuff,” tommy breathes out heavy

“Okay. good! “ another breath “i am hungry, starving even” he sits up popping his back as tubbo stands up.

“I guess I'll go wake them up too then…” Tubbo feels terrible, Tommy turns to rummage through sols stuff to get ready for the day. “Sorry again tommy.”

“It's fine! You didn't know its alright'' tommy pulls out a clothing item “go wake up ranboo, king”

“right - yes- “he sighs turning towards the room ranboo was given, a small office with an equally as small bed, tubbo knocks on the door, no response, they knock again, another no response, they turn around walking away from the door when finally it opens, the royal looks, well terrible to say it nicely. Their fur is messed up, their crown is crooked and among all of that, their eyes are drooping in a way that makes it obvious they didn't get any sleep, or any good sleep at least, they look at tubbo as if he’s the scum on the earth.

“What do you want.” they demand

Tubbo sighs rolling their eyes “phil asked me to wake you up”

“I don't need the likes of you waking me up, i would've gotten up about now anyways.”

“Well he asked me to anyways, sorry im not one of your fucking maids.” he bites back quickly, the royal rolls their eyes

“You think I don't know that?” their voice is full of sass “ my maids dressed better than you do.”

“Ohhh i see, because your so high and mighty up in your little castle your better then me”

They laugh out a scoff in response “please! even if you were of higher status you’d still dress like crap”

“Fuck you, ⏚⍜⍜! You think you're so-” he’s cut off by a harsh slap to the face, ranboo is seething, their mouth unhinging, purple mist emitting from their gaping maw.

“Do Not. Do NOT call me that.” scales bloom from tubbo’s cheek where it was slapped, he looks up at them eye twitching

“What the fuck! You slapped me?!”

“I told you my name. When I told everyone else. You will only call me that name. Got it?”

“Why, so is this a little escape for you? A vacation?.!”

“Of course not! I'd never choose a place like THIS.”

“You're such a privileged asshole!” tubbo is challenging ranboo, staring them directly in their eyes. “No wonder, everyone arcrossed the islands fucking hated you!” Tubbo's holding his face, it's stinging from the slap “well news flash for you ‘princess’ no one likes a spoiled brat!”

“You think I care about that crap?! I. don't. Care. about how you likes of you. Feel about me!” by this moment the both of their voices has raised to the point of causing a scene, niki’s head is poking up the gap in her tank, and wilbur is off to get phil, from all corners of the pub people have poked their head in to listen to the drama, tommy grabs tubbos arm, hesitantly pulling him back a bit, tubbo looks at his friend. Tommy looks terrified, his eyes are darting back and forth between the shulk and enderian, he can feel sol shaking, he looks stressed, like he's trying to mentally tell tubbo ‘it's not worth it, just stop’ but tubbo won't stop. They can't. Everyone's heads twist around to look at the newest person entering the room. Phil walks up to the two rather calmly. With one quick look everyone who was peaking on the two ducks away, the pub stays silent though.

“Would you both like to explain.” the crow leaves no room for arguing the two start speaking at the same time

“They started it! They’re so spoiled! They think they're better than all of us! When they AREN'T.” the two of them are looking at phil now

“He does not have the RIGHT to speak to me like that! I AM A ROYAL! And I demand respect.” they look back at each other, seething

“Of course you DEMAND respect, that's all you ever do, demand demand demand” at every word the two of them get angrier.

“It's only what I deserve! It's what MY TITLE-”

“That's what your title entails! Is that what you were gonna say? That's BULLSHIT here.”

“It shouldn't be! Whether or not I am a royal! It doesn't matter if i am here or in the nether or in the end.” ranboo bears their teeth at tubbo

“You're just pissed you can't have what you WANT.” Phil pinches the bridge of his beak, Wilbur floats behind him whispering something, ranboo opens their mouth to speak again but Phil beats them to it.

“This isn't getting anywhere. Let’s eat, and then discuss this later.”he leaves no room for argument, so the two of them separate with a passing glare. “Good. me and jack made oatmeal, with plenty of things to add, we also have drinks if you're thirsty, go on down.” phils voice is stern, sort of like a dad not like either of the end creatures would understand what that feels like. Ranboo teleports down in an instance leaving the four left up there in a puff of purple particles. Tubbo growls, going down the ladder. The pub stays quiet at their decent.

Finally Tommy lets out a sigh of breath he wasn't aware he was holding in, Phil turns to him, concerned “you okay mate?” the crows voice softens complete contrast to the harsh voice used towards the two end beings, tommy simply nods his head

“Are THEY going to be okay phil?” wilbur is half phasing through the floor when it asks the question. Phil smiles

“They will be, just need to give them time.” Phil heads to the ladder “join us when you're ready mate,” Phil is looking at Tommy, nodding his head again. Phil goes down to the ground floor of the pub, the atmosphere is stuffy, awkward, no one is speaking. Phil heads to the basement to help Jack bring the food up.

Tommy sits down, still trying to calm down from watching the altercation between ranboo and tubbo. Wilbur still hasn’t left the room, the ghost goes invisible, observing tommy. Tommy just lets out another sigh before standing up, hyping himself up before he takes a running start jumping and floating down to the main floor of the pub, will follows and with his arrival breakfast can start, the conversations start up again, with ranboo and tubbo across the room from each other the meal takes longer than it should have but when everyone finishes phil stands to his feet.

“Okay so-” the talking from the other inmates continues” phil clears his throat, and yet the talking continues, finally phil whistles loudly, the pub silences Ok so, i’m going to go over what everyone’s jobs will be today” phil takes out a leather bound book, different from the one before “niki, and myself will focus on animals, breeding, and butchering stuff like that”

“Doesnt fish girl drown in the air?” tommy speaks up, phil looks at him

“Yes, that's why niki is getting fish and such”

“Oooh” the hybrids snicker at tommy

“Tommy, sneeg, charlie, fundy you four will be doing cultivation, planting and harvesting of our crops'' sneeg and charlie highfive, tommys eyebrows furrow, fundy is growling but with no objections phil continues “wilbur, and tubbo, you both will be doing building, such as helping repair houses. Tommy tubbo and ranboo the three of you can focus on building your own houses later on, for now i'd like us all to focus on getting along.” phil looks at tubbo and ranboo specifically, “now moving on, jack and ranboo, if possible i need the two of you to try to get the nether portal wo-”

“So you DO have an escape plan!!” tommy shouts jumping from sols seat

“Not exactly, we have suspicions, that may turn into one,”

“Tell me tell me tell me!!” tommys talons tap excitedly on sols pants

Phil sighs exasperated “we think the portal may be our way out, only issue is that it won't seem to light. Now moving on-”

“But why isnt it lighting?”

“Tommy..” phil runs his talons over his face “we don't know-”

“Ooh! It might have to do with the dome!” tubbo interrupts

“We think it's a sphere actually”wilbur pops up in between tommy and tubbo, phil clears his throat again the three of them look at phil

“Anyways.-”

“Wait, why do I have to help with the nether portal? I'm not from the nether? I've only ever been there once!” ranboos arms are crossed, phil sighs again turning to them

“You're from a place with a portal, it doesn't matter if the help you provide doesn't work, it's just good to try anything we can. Now.” he's tired of the hybrids interrupting him ” Schlatt you're the last one left, I'm trusting you to help out wherever is needed.” the spider gives him 6 thumbs up.

At phils say so, the hybrids jump into action, everyone going to their different places.

Tommy, Sneeg, Charlie, and fundy all jump off the edge of the pub’s island, landing on the ground smoothly, except for Tommy, he loses his balance and slowly falls to his face while the three others laugh at him.

“Fuck you guys that landing was awesome! Exactly what I wanted to do!” Tommy stands wiping solself off “you guys suck” he’s joking of course, the three hybrids guide him to the farms, they're looking a bit shit if Tommy's being honest passable at most “who…keeps up with this?”

“Everyone!” Charlie's big now it's smiling at Tommy as they rip a ball of slime out of their body and clumps it onto one of the plants, Tommy cringes.

“Everyone? You all use the same… technique though? Right?”

Even Sneeg is judging Charlie with its methods “uhhh no, slime is that what you’ve been doing?”

“What! It's fertilizer! All natural too!” the others all have disgusted looks to their faces

“So NO ONE here is doing the same thing? How do we even know if what anyone is doing is working?”

“Huh, I guess we don't? I mean the food is still good dude!”

“But it would be better if done consistently, if everyone is using different techniques, then they may be over watered, or over pruned! Or.. ‘fertilized’ every hybrid has a different way of doing things” tommy neals down focused “even humans, because we all thrive on different things! Like niki being a cannibal!”

“I think she prefers carnivore?” fundy speaks up

“Either way, I know plants! Tell me what all you've done.”

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“Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” ranboo drags out their groan “what are we even supposed to do? If it doesn't light it doesn't light!” jack rolls his eyes

“Because the old man calls for it, this is our only way out, and if the humans are stopping us from lighting it, then clearly they haven't put a dome or whatever in the nether! And also I kind of want to get back home!” his head lights on fire because of his outburst, jack uses it to his advantage to try to light the portal.

It flickers, purple particles trying its hardest to create the doorway to the nether, and Jack stumbles back to watch. blaze rod fingers tap together repetitively in anticipation, thumb to index to middle, to ring, to pinkie over and over again as the wisps of particles dance together until it fickles out. Instead of disappointment like ranboo expected, he jumps with joy

“yes! That was so close!” ranboo squints their eyes at Jack, confused “of course! Hybrid magic outweighs the charms and spells that humans have!” his head bursts into flames again.

“I don't understand why you're celebrating. It didn't work?” ranboo’s turned their body towards jack

“It almost did though! Why have I never thought of that!?” he’s overjoyed at this he rushes to the bar to write this discovery down in a book

“I suppose it makes sense that your blaze abilities would be useful for this task, our portals are opened from our eyes” they reach their hand to their chest, a preserved ender eye is a brooch on their tie, they touch it gently keeping their claws away from the coating on it. Jack looks at them

“Wait so ender eyes are your ACTUAL eyes, thats fucked up” jack is still writing

“Blaze rods are literally your fingers?”they’re baffled he’d even question this

“Yeah but we don't go around preserving them!” he slams the book shut, despite the meaning behind the action being lighthearted, ranboo takes it negatively

“We preserve the eyes of loved ones that have passed, not for no reason. Not to mention, We have to go through a whole process. That, might I add, has to do with ten things that YOU. possess” they cross their arms once more, making a point, jack is unphased

“So do they act as an extra key?” he continues to pry, ranboo can't read his expression

“That's none of your business.” jack groans at that response

“C’mon man! It's fine!” jack shrugs “Fire” a pause “should be my extra key”

Ranboos fur puffs a bit, they aren't sure what pisses them off more, the blaze trying to relate to them, or being called a man “it's not an extra key. I would need multiple other eyes to even think about trying to go through the portal”

“So you get eyes from pearls?”

They scoff “yes.”

“But the eyes are your eyes just preserved?”

“I don't need to explain myself to you!” they stomp their foot

“Fine, fine!” his head is smoking now “let's try again i think i have an idea.”

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“Soooo why is your house fake abandoned?”

“Because i'm a ghost” wilbur is standing under his doorway away from the sun

“...is that like.. A rule between ghosts?”

“Nope just a me thing, but i do have some inconvenient….holes.. that i need to fix”

Tubbo laughs “that was so ominous for no reason-” they go to enter the house

“The water tunnel for Niki is leaking into Sneeg’s portion of the house and it asked me to fix it up for him.” hes visible now floating towards the tank “You and sneeg live together?”

“Yup! We have an agreement!” wilbur leaves it at that before sinking through the floor

“Ah- wait wilbur what am i supposed to……do.. Ok that's fine.” his voice cracks a bit, they plop down on the floor lifting their leg to look at the cuff, there are no immediate things to note about it, on parallel sides of the cuffs are what seems to be seams, a small green light to the right of one of said seams but that's really it, and he STILL doesn't understand how this cuff fits on both his leg and over his boot! If it's magic he definitely doesn't recognize it. He looks around on the floor for a loose screw of some sort of metal, but all that's found is dust and debris, they don't even think the wooden floors are screwed down. They stand again and move to look through wilburs chests, hoping to find anything that could help with his endeavors of taking that damned cuff off.

“Books, pencils, food, nothing!” Tubbo closes the chest and goes up stairs to start looking around, the more he finds nothing the more frustrated he gets, and the more frustrated he gets the less he cares about putting things in its proper place.

He can't find anything that would be useful! No pieces of scrap metal, no tools, nothing even remotely sharp!

He's so busy trifling through wilburs stuff they don’t even notice the phantom floating right behind them, making the air in the room cold.

Tubbo turns to go back downstairs in defeat only ro be face to face with the phantom, piercing green and teal eyes stare into tubbos own, the teen screams falling backwards. Wilbur bursts out laughing.

“Why were you looking through my things man?” tubbo’s body instinctively started building a shell over tubbo’s skin, they sigh “I was hoping to find something to try and break the cuff, i thought id find something before you came back up” wilbur laughs harder

“Oh yes it only took me that long to finish patching the holes , no less!” tubbo gapes

“You were here the whole time!? And you didn't say anything?”

“I could’ve” wilbur shrugs “c’mon we have more work to do” it phases through the floor, as tubbo goes down the ladder

“Do you just watch people constantly?” wilbur shrugs before going invisible

“Maybe I do!” The incorporeal voice echoes through the wind, tubbos not really surprised considering what wilburs crime was.

As the day goes on everyone continues with their tasks, phil brings them together for lunch mid-day then its back to work. By the time dinner rolls around everyone is exhausted, except for schlatt of course who didn't really do any work. Everyone convenes back at the pub at phils say so, sitting in their usual spots. Phil claps his hands and speaks.

“Ok mates, from what i hear everything went well but how about we go over our accomplishments today, starting with jack and ranboo” he looks over to the two

Jack stays quiet for a moment, for dramatic effect, and then “IT ALMOST WORKED!!” the hybrids cheer “i used my head!” on que it lights on fire, wilbur floats next to him

“You used your head? That's a first!” the ghost snickers disappearing before jack can do anything, ranboo rolls their eyes .

“We deduced that because the blaze had used his head, its his hybrid powers that make it work” they bring their hand to their brooch just like earlier in the day “just like how eyes of ender are used to open the ends portal due to the magic imbued into them” they look at their claws, showing off just a tad, celebration continues, ranboo relishing in the cheer.

Phil claps his hands, the cheer silences

“Great job you two, we’ll expand on that later on then, next, cultivation, how did that go?” Tommy stands instantly.

“You guys sucked at farming!” boo’s and disagreement from the inmates, tommy mayy have worded that wrong, sol retries “i mean,when your not coordinated, your farming sucks! Everyone was using different methods! So the plants were being over everything-ed! Charlie was using their ACTUAL slime to ‘fertilize’ “

“That's how we did it in the swamps” it frowns, tommy’s wings puff

“We aren't in the swamp though! The climate is completely different”

“Yeah but-?”

“Nope nope we aren't continuing this argument! I'm right anyways!!” Tommy crosses his arms ``anyways- we collected what was ready and then filled in the empty plots!” Tommy smiles proudly, the rest of the pub /minus ranboo/ hype Tommy up cheering, making him feel proud.

“Good job mate, tubbo? Will?”Phil pats Tommy's back before looking at the two, Tommy looks at Phil, something about that gesture makes him want to call Phil dad.

“Well for us,” wilbur starts “i finished up Niki’s tunnel and the puddle under my house for Sneeg, grabbed materials for charlie's house like they asked, and we did just general fixing” he floats on his back

“It also scared the shit out of me!”

“Will. what have i told you about scaring people for no re-”

“He was stealing from me”

“I was not! I was just looking!”

“That's what a thief would say-” “You stole government documents!?!?” phil is getting tired of the two arguing

“Ok ok quiet down you two, thank you for the help, me and niki were able to get nearly a month and a half's worth of meat, including with our different portions and meal sizes we need.'' More celebration from the pub phil smiles, the rest of the night goes off perfectly, no more fights like how the day started, as the hybrids finish their dinners they leave the pub, ready to return to their homes . Phil is the last to turn to leave, in the middle of saying goodnight to everyone left ranboo interrupts.

“I need a new blanket.” This isn't a request. “Oh? Sure mate, is the other one bothering you?” “Yes. the fabric was knotting my fur far too easily “ phil just grabs them a new blanket, its longer than the other one they were using “hm.. Thank you.. Phil.” in one motion they turn and go upstairs with a teleport. “Goodnight phil” tommy’s leaning over the balcony

“Goodnight tommy.” and when phil finally leaves to his bird house, tommy and tubbo lay down changing into their preferred sleeping clothes, the picture on the shrine above them watches over them in their slumber. Ranboo retreats into the room curling up with the new blanket, it's a quilt lovingly made.

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It's late into the night when they wake up, they stand, sneaking quiet as a mouse into ranboo’s borrowed room, entering just as quietly, sneaking to the pile of their clothes they had worn the previous day, gingerly they pick up the brooch stuffing it in a pocket and leaving the room swiftly, closing the door quietly.

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In the morning, when everyones already woken up a loud ear piercing scream rips throughout their quiet prison, the enderians voice echoing throughout.