Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Long before there was a time, long before there was a player, a void filled the world thick like tar, black and unmoving. And at the very beginning, there was nothing until there were stars. Of gas and color, of light and hope. Red, green, and blue they shined and glittered through the void. And it wasn't until much more time passed that they grew bored. Slowly they started to play with the void of the universe. Creating what would become a world full of colors and beings. A place of hope and peace. They formed with their powers a luscious landscape filled with wonders. And as the world grew more and more intricate with their visions they grew too. Known to mankind as the three, as the founders, the old ones, the gods of the overworld, the neather, and the end. With many names attached to their ever-changing appearances. But to most of the living, they will be known as XD, SD, and HD. Harmony was present for a long time as they created and connected their realms in a beautiful mingling of colors and nature. And they kept creating, kept playing and soon enough each of the founders had created themselves a court. A trusted group of Gods with all sorts of powers and importance. The highest known to player kind and often falling synonymously to talking about the realms and founders are the goddess of death, the god of demons, and the god of humans. Death, Halo, and Herobrine roamed the new lands and began exploring to their creator's intent. And more and more gods lesser or greater got created as time went on. Everything was blooming and growing. But as history says " All good things must come to an end".

With Herobine at his side, XD proceeded in creating a more intelligent life in the world. Life  known as humans. Interesting beings with emotions and keen minds yet utterly terrified by their kind if aggravated. The other two founders weren't fond of his new experiments with life…  as they saw those meek humans start to rip at their land, taking and taking for what their hearts desired. One day HD had enough, his trusted court had started to become fond of the humans. His highest offspring had found interest in those tainted, greedy beings and the worst of all they kept grabbing more and more of his precious creations, going as far as killing his creatures for sport. To say a war between gods would be devastating would be an understatement, two centuries went by while the three fought. What once were stars burning with passion together side by side were now enemies lit by fury and anger. Death and destruction rained upon the lands with no end in sight. The courts were devastated but devoted to their creators. The humans got rallied into the fight with their easy lives, fighting for their right to keep it, fighting for their land. The word didn't end with an understanding, didn't end with a truce but rather with the death of a God. 

The world shed tears as SD fell, in his flamed glory trying to put an end to XD and HDs anger. Trying to keep the former friends from gripping each other's throats. It wasn't one…  it wasn't XD's sword piercing his heart alone and neither was it HD's Trident plunging into his heart. At one time since the beginning of the war they worked together again if unintentionally, they harmed their closest friend in a way that not even gods can undo. Mourning fell over the mountains, the fire pits, and the woods. The gleaming lights of the neather once fierce and bright like their creator now flickered in tones of blue and cold. The land cried. Seven years on end. Broken by guilt and fury HD called in his retreat, shutting himself away in the end and closing the bridges. Slowly worlds once seamlessly connected by rock, obsidian, and, Redstone were torn apart. Ripped like paper and shoved as far from each other as possible. That even the other gods couldn't travel from one place to the other easily. XD on his side also shut himself out. Giving the land and the reins to his court. Vanishing from his own land to mourn a death of a friend. Growing colder and colder in his tone until this God of creation was nothing but a dark calculating being known in legends. 

Time flew by and the overworld? It healed slowly but steadily evolving on itself. Life kept flourishing even after the war. The absence of their god made the court part ways. Most fled upwards to the godly realms, while others stayed at the side of humanity. Unbeknownst to the Mortals, they lived their life's beside them building, laughing, and teaching. Empires rose from the group and fell with the wind. Gods got forgotten over time and centuries until just whispers of some remained. Borders of worlds were crossed but only in a view of unfortunate instances. And each time the fury XD rained upon the trespassers was harsh. Luck, not all were caught, and not all were punished. Lucky like one warrior who hailed to a newborn neather God of blood. But his story is not the one we tell here. At least not this time. While the world healed and grew so did Herobrine. The prophet and God of mankind watched his subjects flourish, with a kind hand he helped them create villages, homes, and temples. He was beloved and respected by all. But something was missing. You might think they're a God with beloved followers, a world filled to the brim with beauty. What could they want more? 

Love. 

Like living beings, he carved love. 

Love is a cure for an aching heart.

Love that comes in many shapes or forms, may it be bound by praise, by touch, by kindness. May it be directed to a friend, a lover, or a brother.  Love can bloom in all shapes and colors even though not everyone might be able to see em. So Herobrine longed for something selfish. Something loving that he didn't have to share with the world. He did what his creator had forbidden her to do since the war. Creating a new life for themselves. Yes, sure the humans were allowed to thrive and populate the world as much as the animals. But the gods were forbidden of that since the last creation had resulted in a catastrophe.It was a starry night when it happened. The whole village was fast asleep as the God hushed around.  With determinant steps, he walked the stairs up to the temple. Small candles lighting the room. His subjects had built it as thanks. And even though they built it for them the temple was as much theirs as it was his. He needed to act fast and clean for the sake of himself and his society. He had to be quiet. Just a wrong whisper would spread rumors. He needed to keep the secret from XD at all costs. As she reached a small room, reserved for the priest, she breathed. It was now or never. Intently they grabbed one ingredient after the other and started their ritual. It had been ages since their last attempt at life creation and still, the words fit their tongue like a handmade glove. They gathered slowly all of their power into a singular flame. Bright it would shine as bright as the stars. This was their wish. And he put all his love into the flame with the longing for giving it life. All of his wishes and dreams for a purpose, a kinship, a family. Shimmering the flame flickered lightly. Spinning in an ever-moving transformation. Bursting into shards of light. Tainted by the green hue, Herobrine opened her eyes. Upon her lap, where moments before had been a flame was now a newborn child. Glowing still with a tint of green it smiled a little at the sight of their mother. In awe, the God had stared at a creation of love all to their own. With barely a word she rocked the child in her arms. Tears broke free from her eyes. Herobrine now had created a child. A being their own to love and care for. Made out of longing out of a dream. And that should be the name of this unique little infant. 

Herobrine called their son "Dream".

For a few years, They both hid up in the mountains between dark trees. Herobine did their best to give his children a home. It wasn't much and far beyond the means of what he could do as a god, but they had to be discrete. A simple wooden House barely big enough for the two had to do for now. Hidden from the prying eyes of the people and hopefully those of the Overworld God. Every day was full of wonder and to his own perplexity, Herobine kept learning new things from his child. She learned how to be a mother, a human being reliable on nature and their own skills to make do. Taking care of dream thought em patience and love and so so much more. With time passing Herobrine didn't even know he could change this much. And not only did they change, dream did too, slowly and as to their Knowledge far far slower than any human infant but he did. Most noticeable was his hair. Locks of golden brown sprouted from his head, framing the start-touched face. Constellations danced across chubby cheeks and, love and wonder gleamed in those emerald-like eyes. Herobine thought the child was beautiful, even more so than the overworld. So they lived from day to day with the resources the world gave em and the challenges each day bought them. On a rather rainy day, it happened for the first time. Someone knocked on their entrance door. In a hurry, Herobrine hid his son and grabbed his wood ax for safety. It was more out of habit than of need, they were a God after all. Fear settled in their heart, if someone found their way up here it wouldn't be long until they'll found his son. He needed to protect what was his and pray to all Gods and creators that XD would never hear of this. She knew deep down that she could never earn their forgiveness, not in this life. With a careful hand, he opened the door ready to persuade or attack. In the end, they didn't need either. At their front porch knelt a giant lady clattered in black flowy robes decorated with flowers. In front of her was Standing Lady Death herself with a warm smile gracing her lips. "Greetings Herobrine. I wasn't expecting you to be the hermit living in the mountains? Why? Don't you have a home and place with your people?" The goddess asked kindly. "Good day to you too Death. If I were a mortal I would be concerned about death knocking at my door. I have grown fond of the mountain sights. The village can grow without my immediate presence. "He hoped that she believed his easy lie. He begged that this would not be his doom. " Dear friend… you sure are a deceiver " She knew, pausing in his step while letting her. Say what you will about her, death was smart. Now he just had to hope she was as good of a friend as she was a lie detector. "You claim your fellow God to be lying death? Enlighten me, what would I be lying about? " Bold, a move made to let her put it to rest. To just leave this discovery be and never question him again. They were a God, they knew how to play the authority role. They hardened their face as the obsidian-like eyes of the taller women scanned him. She didn't seem intimidated, which was fair. Gods don't need to feel inferior to other gods. Just as she was about to open her mouth to give Herobrine a stern reply and counter a sound rang through the small house. (Unverkennbar) the wail of a small baby that needed taking care of. The play for authority was swiftly forgotten as they rushed to the side of their son. Swiftly rocking the infant back and forth in their arms. "Shhh… Shhhh it's okay. I'm here. It's okay dream I'm here." Death's eyes rested on them both. "I know how this looks Death but hear me out. Haven't you ever had the desire to be like them? To have something they have forbidden us from having? Haven't you ever dreamed of love? Of being… human… " The pleading in his voice was apparent as he waited patiently for the other God to answer. He expected furry, expected disappointment, even disgust to find a home in her face but none came. A warm hand was put on his shoulder. Far warmer than he imagined Death's hands to be. She smiled. "Herobrine, what's the name of your child?" This couldn't be surely this was a setup to get every evidence needed to then bring the information forth to XD. Surely this was the beginning of telling him that his dreams and desires for a child were foolish. Even brought further by giving the creation a name. A name just for them to own. Surely…  But sometimes even fate wasn't a sight so clear.

"I named him dream. " Herobrine answered, trying to keep rising emotions at bay. "A lovely name for a beautiful-looking child. But dear he doesn't want rocking I think he might be hungry my friend." Hungry? Of all the things to point out? Yes, they hadn't thought of that in all the hurry of the situations but what by the founders was going on here? "Oh…  I see. But.. Death? What is this? Deception before unavoidable doom? If you have to rain your judgment down on me let me feel the drops with full force. Please give me your honesty."  Slowly the woman squeezed his shoulder to then bring her hand under her robe. Hidden in the sea of black fabric she revealed a pendant on a simple leather necklace. It was mediocre craftsmanship and showed a carved wooden heart with two decorative shapes etched in it. They almost looked like hands reaching out for each other. He had never seen this symbol in all his time on the planes. Herobrine watched as Lady death stroked the pendant with such care, such fondness that he started understanding. "My honesty? My honesty is that a desire for love can never be put out. Once lit the flame stays and the more you feed it the harder it grows to extinguish. Especially in us that have never known it the way humans do. Your secret dear friend is safe with me if mine is safe with you." They never imagined that this wish he had was shared by others. Had she too created to love? Or had she found it? Probably the latter judging by the fond look the goddess wore while drawing her eyes off to the distance. But they were sure now, death understood. "Thank you." Bowing his head to her he finally started smiling again. That day two gods formed a strong bond over their shared desire. Their desire to love in the human way and to have something to share their love with. A dangerous game in a world seeming so peaceful. And as days pass and nights haunt so does change. 

Hidden in his mighty palace creating and tinkering with new designs the God known as XD grew cold. Where once was a heart that could love its brother gods with a warm hand was now a creator hiding and turning bitter. Like a rose that once bloomed beautifully among others but now lost all its petals. A poisonous God that developed a resenting tone when talking about player kind and his court as well. But even a major God like him had duties. Duties to check on their subjects from time to time. That time was one calm autumn day. That day was the birthday of a young three-year-old so full of curiosity about the world. Herobine was set on a small bench in their garden watching over his little Fletchling. Being this. Being a parent filled the minor God with such purpose, such warmth that his Godhood never had. They adored their son, the way he came running back with wide eyes in his mud-covered hands a flower. "Dada, what is this? Does it have a name? Tell me!" "It's a daisy, some people might regard it as nothing more than a weed, but it has its own kind of beauty" His son smiled and pressed the flower into their hands. "It's for you dada! Disy for dada!" In the eyes of a child, everything is so simple so radiant, and full of beauty. This gift was nothing if you compare it logically to all the gifts and offerings Herobine had received over the years. But they treasured it. A lot of time was spent in the garden. The birthday boy had wished for it. He loved nature, the adventure it held. It reminded their mother of their own first days on this earth. Maybe it was a somewhat inherited trait. As they watched their child play, clouds started covering the sun. Maybe they needed to head inside soon. "Dream?… dream we should head inside." All of the sudden the garden was quiet. The young boy was nowhere to be seen. "Dream?!? "  Like a tight grip panic curled around their throat. "We can play hide and seek later okay? But let's head inside now." The garden was empty there was no sign of the child. Where was he? Had he run off chasing a butterfly? Wouldn't be far-fetched for him that much is sure. Minutes passed when Herobine went looking three the trees and grasses for his son. To his relief after what felt like way too long, the blond-haired boy rushed into their arms cradling something in their tiny hands. "Dada I found something! It's a sneeek!" A what? He looked down and oh yes his son had fascinatingly found a snake. A tiny white thing sitting rather calmly in his palms. "That is astounding Dream. You are wonderful little Fletchling are you?" Proudly she squeezed his shoulder smiling. "Your Fletchling? " Time seemed to freeze. No breath escaping her mouth. That voice meant nothing but doom. Out of the gardens, just a few meters behind where Dream emerged was hovering XD. The founder had taken a nearly humanoid form if not less intimidating. Still, white wings protruded from their head and back. A mask covering their face and halos of gold crossing atop their head. In fear, she quickly shaved Dream behind her. "XD, what an unexpected pleasure to have you here on the overworld." There was no time to run to hide from the major God. This was it wasn't it? XD glanced down at them. "Unexpected I see. You have betrayed me Herobrine there's no need to talk around it. My sense are clear." She felt the fear of her child behind her and the beating of her own pulsing heart. What do you do in the face of certain doom? Where there's no way to run or to hide anymore? When you have to lose things that keep you alive? Weaponless, defenseless in the face of a more powerful being than you? 

It's not fair it never was, and never will be. 

On that day with those words, Herobrine knew that this judgment would not be kind. Anger the heavens and they may reign hell upon you. 

She did all she could to convince the major God that her child had no right to be held to the same account as him. She begged. Begging and bidding for forgiveness and mercy. Down on her knees clutching the robes of her creator. "Please be human, please give us a bit of mercy" She pleaded. XD let all of them know. All his court was there for the trial of a traitor. Judgment was made. Herobine was given their punishment. The founder decided that three punishments would be in order. The first for creating and breaking the rule set up by the major God. The child was taken from them and placed to live with humankind. Its memories erased with ease. So it wouldn't ever know that it once had a mother. Sobs of a mother could be heard at the end of that day. Wailing in chains. That day they learned the other side of love the pain that came with it, the utter loss when it gets ripped out of your grasp. 

The second punishment for deceiving XD to think they could blind their creator. Herobine was stripped of their Godhood, their name, and their sight. If they wanted others to not see their lies and secrets they shouldn't be able to see for themselves. Gruesome the golden sword had dripped with blood. Painting holy halls once more with fury and wrath. That day they understood that things would never be the same, that all things on this earth came with a price. 

The third punishment was for betraying, for dishonoring Godhood, for selfishness, you might say the third punishment was for love. Not even the tiniest bit of comfort was granted to them. At least it took away the pain in their acing heart, took away the longing to hold to see their child. At least… No not at least. The feeling of something being a miss but never clearly knowing what it was felt far harsher than the longing. Stripped of their child, their eyes, the memories, and Godhood, Herobrine was banished to a life on the overworld, forever searching and never knowing what they needed or who they were. 

That day judgment was made. Herobrine was punished for his betrayal. Eret was set free in an unknown world with an unknown purpose and a child they didn't know were theirs.  

Chapter Text

Even the mightiest of Warriors fall. Everyone gets challenged sooner or later and loses. But no he hadn't lost. He hadn't! He couldn't. He had been so so close to everything being back to normal again. So sweetly close to getting everything under control again before it got out of control. Sure he had prepared to go to prison. He should have been prepared for all this, for the cold, the loneliness. He was better than this wasn't he? He should have been out by now. Like it was planned. Sir shouldn't have come… or should he? Sir was a visitor at least. He cared. Yes yes, he cared he did he came back every time. Sluggish he opened his eyes and glanced down at his strings. He had tried to cut them again and again but they stayed… at least some of them stayed. They all seemed the same but he knew they were different. Each one of them represented an attachment. A connection to something else, something living. A disposable decoration. And a constant reminder that he still wasn't perfect. He still couldn't let go. At least not of all. No matter how much they kept strangling him internally. Sometimes he tried to think back. To the simple days when he just played tag with Sapnap and George. We're they were just kids running around the forest and chasing invisible dragons. Laughing and rolling around the grass until they needed to catch a breath. He remembers having friendly duels with Pandas while George kept playing judge. He remembers that they once pretended to be knights and kings of their own world. That they did in the end if not less happy and stable. It wasn't a mistake to be angered by an annoying kid that burned his friend's houses, was it? It wasn't a mistake to seek revenge? Like everyone got what they paid for, and there're rules there always have been. But did that mean this was what his price to pay? A cold obsidian box without a window, without a bed, locked up like an animal. Huh… Kinda funny if you think about it, the one person that commissioned the building now wasn't allowed to leave it.
The lava before him kept sizzling and crackling, it took him a few steps to get to it. His mind was still a bit hazy he purposely placed his hand against the melted substance. Warmth enveloped his hand. Hot burning that he'd slowly gotten used to. If he closed his eyes he could almost imagine George being that warmth… holding his hand. The light blue string stung as he did. Since that day in the vault, the blue and orange strings had pained him. It wasn't long before they felt limp like the other end had released the tension on them, had possibly cut them. They were his best friends and still they had abandoned him in the end. Discarded him like a broken Toy. Even the lava flowing over his hand couldn't imitate the laughter and memories of his best friends.
He waited a bit before letting himself fully fall into the orange mass.
Dream tried to swim in lava.
Barely a flash before he respawned back in the corner of his cell. Fresh scar tissue around the Hand that stayed longer. At least this one washiss own creation. Sometimes he wondered what the others thought. Reading the messages. Maybe the Warden fed them a different lie each time. At least he knew that didn't care. Not anymore. It was better to have a clear mind. Better to know who hates you than to speculate who doesn't.

Soon enough the lava rose once more. He knew what they meant by now. And no he couldn't hope anymore for Bad, Sapnap, or even Tommy to visit him again. It wouldn't surprise him if the warden didn't let anyone else in besides his Torturer. It wouldn't surprise him if no one even wanted to visit behind him. It didn't take long for the silhouette of the casino owner to appear. A small figure, a pawn once nothing but a pawn, a tower maybe at best, but now way too late he had realized the other had become a Queen putting him and his crown in checkmate.
"Oh Dream? Is today finally the day you cooperate? " He gave a small chuckle. There was one promise he made to himself. That he never would falter and give up the only thing keeping him alive. No matter the punishment.
His head was janked up roughly
"I asked you a question, scum. Answer me. Or should I loosen your tongue with some entertainment?" Quackitys ideas of entertainment and his were far different.
"I won't give you the revive book sir… " He was determined to keep his promise.
"You are a stubborn bastard. Oh, I will get it out of you, and if I have to tear you apart bit by bit and put you back together fine by me? You are underestimating me dream, you know. I'm the only one visiting you so be grateful and quiet"
He was sure some strands came loose as his head was dragged up again. He was used to this treatment. Looking into mismatched eyes filled with disgust he could feel that today was not a good day. First came the sheers. He hated them the most. In a means of seconds, his back was exposed and cut in over and over and over again. Like he was some crafting project. His skin was itching with pain, blood soaking the remaining clean pieces of his overall. And there was nothing he could do about it. He had tried and tried so many times to fight back, but this fight was one he couldn't win. More resistance always meant more pain, if he was good the other would grand small parts of mercy. He remembers that once he had been even offered a radish if he was good enough. Yeah, he was still somewhere the strong, calculating fighter but if the vault gets to you it gets you good. At the end of the section, he was a panting mess on the ground. Pathetic. Why wasn't he better than this?
Sir didn't let him rest long before he was yanked upright again. "Did that get your tongue lose? I bet the others would love to see you like this all cut up." Spit landed in his face and he hissed up at the shorter male. "No… I'm… I-Im not giving you t-the book" His strength was failing him. He needed to work on that. "I didn't want to do this you know dream." He felt rope being tied around his hands. That was new. Why would sir need him tied up? "But you leave me with no choice" He was pushed into an upright kneeling position. A hand was on his cheek warm and human. If he let his eyes close he could picture George or Sap holding him. A crucial laugh dragged him out of the short illusion "oh you are enjoying this? The great Villain of the Smp kneeling in his own filth and entranced by the touch of a hand??! Oh if you could see yourself right now. Nothing more than a dull sword." A broken toy, a dull sword, a discarded friend. He shook it off " D-don't… need your p..p-ity" Another sharp jank at his hair. Surely he must have lost some of them by now. "You don't deserve some anyway. Now, where was I? Yeah you leave me no choice scum. You brought this upon yourself."
A glass bottle was pressed to his lips, a hand on his nose. With no choice, he started swallowing. His body tingled, the substance slowly moving deeper into his body. He felt like he had run for hours, his bones heavy and pulsing. His breath came faster and his legs itched from the exhaustion that had hit him. A potion of weakness. Wasn't he easy enough to handle already? Was Qua… Sir really that depending? He couldn't stop himself from letting a small smile slip on his lips. He needed a weakness potion to tame him. He was still somewhat afraid of what he could do. He still had some power.
For a split second that's what he believed, what kept him smiling. A fleeting moment of pride that was cut by a simple iron blade. Sir held him tightly by the hair keeping his head steady. Like a river the blade carved into his skin. His breath rattling in realization. "SAM! SAM!!! PLEASE ANYONE! NO PLEASE… please sir. Please don't.. D-don't! I need… I still need.." He never thought he would beg and still, his mind kept surprising him again. Would it have been like this back then in the bunker? If it wasn't for the revive book? Would he have begged more than convince when Tommy had hovered over him the Axe of Peace in hand? Maybe, the only certainty was that he was begging now and for a good reason. A blade closer to his vision than he would've liked, like a guillotine ready for the blow. There were few things dream had cared for. Or like still cared for. Not Attachments just…Human wants. Yeah everyone has them to some extent. Those were his greatest treasures and seemingly his biggest downfalls. His mind. His freedom. And his sight.
Right now he was losing the second of them as metal pressed into his irises and hot deafening pain erupted in his head. "Doesn't taste good, does it? I know how it burns like your whole head is on fire. Don't worry it'll leave a nice scar. Huh then we match isn't that funny? Like friendship bracelet dickhead." Everything was black, hot pain. It hurt worse than the lava than any arrow or sword wound He had suffered over the years. It hurt so much more because he knew that this would be irreparable. In battle a wound could mean everything in the heat of the moment, maybe just a scar, maybe more but there was always uncertainty, always hope. Under these circumstances, there was barely any. He didn't even notice himself stop screaming or passing out. The flame of pride distinguished fast with the blade of a pickaxe and a matching scar that ran over his eyes. Once green embers were now milky and bloodied. He didn't open them for the first hours. It hurt so badly that he had a hard time not passing out again. And even if he wouldn't be able to tell would he? For now, his world was shrouded in darkness. Maybe forever.

He didn't expect the storm of mail he would be receiving in retirement. Seems like writing is a new hobby everyone had picked up. At least this one wouldn't lead to another nation, another war. Or so he thought as a simple letter arrived at his House in the Arctic. The crow wasn't Phils. Huh… maybe it was from Niki or Ranboo? I mean they could just wait until the next syndicate meeting duh, but maybe there was something important. Maybe they wanted to plan a secret birthday party for phils 1000 000th. Old people don't really know how to celebrate surprise birthdays so it would make sense. The anarchist picked up his reading glasses. On the envelope written was a single smile face. Oh, so this was from him.
Techno hadn't heard from his rival since doomsday. Tommy hadn't come by as much and he hadn't visited the main Lands in ages. "Dear Technoblade, my friend. I was thinking that we haven't seen each other in a while. I'm currently compromised with visiting you in the Arctic but you can visit me. I'm locked up in Pandora's vault but there are visiting times. Please come and visit me. I need a favor. Greetings Dream." Weird, the nerd never addressed him so formally. Where were the quips? The sarcastic comments. There was something clearly wrong with this. So the Teletubby was apparently in prison if he were to believe the contents of the letter. Maybe that much was the truth. He had to ask Phil. If this was really favor related he had to take a view precautions to not totally run into the trap. That's why this was an obvious trap. But by whom? Dream himself? Nah if he wanted a rematch as badly he would ask differently. Apparent was that someone on the server wanted him to be in that prison. One person came to mind that held a deep grudge against him, a certain capitalist. But he had to prove that.
The preparation was quickly done. A stasis chamber was ready and Phil informed. The old man wasn't super excited about his planned visit to the green villain. Getting Sam to let him into the prison was easy. Soon enough he found himself with just the clothes on his body in front of a rising lava wall. Time to chat with the nerd to figure out what was going oo… on.
The red substance gave way to a figure cowering in the back of the cell. Heh? Had they brought him to the wrong cell? Who was that? It couldn't be. Could it?
"It hasn't… It hasn't been a day has it… Sir I can't I won't give it to you no. NO, YOU'LL KILL ME YEAH!?? YOU KILL ME IF I GIVE IT TO YOU!! I WON'T I WON'T!!" That was against all odds the voice of his rival, far scratchier and rougher like he hadn't really used it much lately and drank sand rather than water. Wilbur had done that once when they were children. Phil had been so mad. "Nerd? What are you talking about? Aren't you happy to see me? I thought I give you a visit in your new house" His head snapped up but kept staring past techno. Nearly not audible and far too soft came a "techno? Technoblade?" The piglin took a step closer, eyeing the blond questioning. "Who else would it be? There are not really many people with pink hair on the server." Still no eye contact. "No… oh no. You shouldn't be here you should! YOU IDIOT!!! WHY ARE YOU HERE!!! The warden will never let you out… And if you are not out, I won't get out. You stupid bacon!!!" That was more like it. Some fire in the voice of his rival finally. For a second he thought he needed to think about how to be concerned. Like how to show that. Another crisis was avoided. Good job.
Angry cat blobb
Eeeeeeeee
Techno techno can we adopt him he's so small and feral!
Adopt
Adopt
Adopt!
Stupid Teletubby thinks we don't know about the trap. Lmao
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Oh hell yeah
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E
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"Chat be quiet I'm trying to figure stuff out here!!!" Carefully he approached the other male "Dream, I know this is a trap like don't think I'm stupid. I know the letter wasn't from you and I'm here to figure out who did it." He lowered himself a bit beside dream to sit. The other flinched at the sudden noise and curled in on himself a bit, his head moving in all sorts of directions. What was with the Teletubby? In the irangt light of, the lava he could see more scars than he had the last time. He had assumed that it was a prison uniform the other was wearing, but it was hard to tell with all the holes and stains on it. Dreams hair looked even worse, partially white that littered the brownish curls, chunks were missing and it seemed like animals could live there. Wow, he never would have thought that dream would look like this, a truly stinky homeless blobb. "You are still here, no matter if you know this was a trap you are still here. This box is made out of Obsidian for fucks sake!! You stupid bacon…" His voice was slowly losing malice as he drew his knees closer in on himself. "You were my chance of freedom techno. Now I never get out… Not like this." It was the first time the piglin got a good look at dreams eyes. He was used to just looking at that stupid smiley mask when they fought or spared. The last and second time he had seen the others face had been after doomsday. In a fit of joy and absolute Confidence, the shorter male had taken off his mask to watch as fire reigned down from the grid. He had smiled at techno like a child that just got the best birthday present. The glimmer in his green eyes rivaling emeralds. Objectively viewed dream was a nice person to look at. At least he had been. Now techno realized that all light had left dreams eyes as a nasty unclean cut ran from his ear over both his eyes in a horizontal line. Someone had blinded the Teletubby.
Blind?
Blind?
BLIND??
BLIND TELETUBBY OMG?!
Poor dream :'(
He looks so spooky with those eyes
Oh that means he couldn't see us ahhhh
That is problematic for a breakout guys is it?
Okay now we have to help him he's homeless and blind!!
ADOPT
ADOPT
TECHNOADOPT
TECHNOADOPT!
HE'S LIKE A STRAY CAT JUST HUMAN SIZE!
TECHNOADOPT
TECHNOADOPT
TECHNOADOPT
Chat was going like wildfire in his head. Dream was blind. "Ey don't let your head drop roomie. I have a plan to get out of here and who knows if you're nice enough I take you with me may haps" He chuckled and lightly patted the others shoulder awaiting a reaction. "Oh, I… I hope you do. You better! You own me after all techno! So you better repay the favor gratefully." If still quivering some spark seemed to be left in him. Thank the gods, techno didn't know what he would have done if dream had lost all his wit and sarcasm. He knew the other warrior didn't want his pity. Better not point out the obvious and treat him like always. "Alright alright Teletubby I have to admit not my first choice but it seems like you finally have a house. Although the cleaning needs some work." Teasingly he settled in, his hand retracted and a few feet away from dream. "It's not my house dumbass. It's just a temporary living space of sorts. You know I don't have much time for cleaning with all the… stuff I can do in here!" It was light-hearted it almost felt normal. "Oh stuff I see, you have let's see… a cauldron, a chest, and a lamp, and… are those potatoes? JEEEZ DREAM?!! That smells awful. How long have they been laying there?" Those poor saplings! How could he treat such a good vegetable that way? "Oh yeah, I don't smell them anymore. The Warden keeps sending them. Haven't really felt like eating though." The other looked rather thin, with no sight of the usual muscle the speed runner had possessed. Potatoes, okay okay he could work with that for food if his visit here was already extended. "Do you cook 'em?" The Teletubby blinked slightly in his direction "what?" "I asked if you cook 'em? Like do you have any herbs? A pan? A plate? Something?" "Ah… no. I just gave up after burning a bunch in the fire. I used to eat them just as they come '' Techno huffed he was living off of that. The Nerd was apparently not only homeless but useless in the kitchen as well. After some protest techno made do with what they had and made the potatoes somewhat digestible. Sure some nice herbs and sauce would be nice but this was no five-star hotel.
He settled in, Dream seemed to more and more like his presence. Most of the time they were just sitting around chatting. There wasn't much entertainment in the cell after all. "You know you seem awfully vengeful for such a small nerd. Like I understand the whole blowing up a nation stuff yadayada and everything else is not really my business but still, we're roomies so why did you do it? Betray your friends? Hurt some teenagers? Become the big bad? I mean you look kinda cool doing it slightly less cool than me but why?" no one was listening in h could be honest. That is if the nerd wanted to. "I… I just could. I wanted to, for power. I wanted to control it all. Maybe it's in my blood to be like this." "bruh that is bullshit, you have that bullshitting look on your face." The man beside him self-consciously hugged his knees closer. " Why...w-why do you wanna know so bad? It's not like it matters does it? We are similar, you know, hated by people we cared for once, hunted, being viewed as the bad guy." "We are not nerd. You and I are different people. I have friends you know. And I have morals. Yeah I've done things that could. Be considered a crime by others but I didn't them out of my own rules. And at the end of the day, I too do them for my family." The other went quiet, maybe Techno had overstepped it. With Dream you never knew, that man sure did like his mysteries. Between the boiling lava and the cold Obsidian, the former warrior seemed more open and almost vulnerable. "I once wanted that too, a family just peace and a family." the piglin almost couldn't hear the mumbled words but as he did he knew that they weren't a lie.
They kept talking back and forth over everything and nothing, eating a bit or just throwing rocks into the lava. At least techno did, Dream kept staring at the bubbling substance a lot of times, like a child looking at a candy jar. Time passed, and he didn't know how fast or slow. The Nerd had told him about a clock he once had and how he kept burning it to get Sam's attention. Even though he didn't call him Sam anymore, instead using the Creepers title. Maybe that was prison policy, he wasn't sure. They slept partly. At least the other male seemed like he wanted to. "Nerd I can see you struggling to keep upright. Don't you wanna sleep" "Don't need to" Came a stubborn mumble. "Oh sure, sure, you know you could, I watch the lava or whatever, count if any new food gets dropped '' There was a lot the other wasn't telling him. Since he came in, they hadn't touched the topic of the person that lured techno here, the person he suspects to be responsible for dreams blindness, the shake of his hands, and probably also the scars on his skin. The man beside him was just a shell of his former glory. His brownish hair was tangled and greasy, his frame thinner than it should be. He had been thrown in here for a long time it seems. Techno couldn't imagine him getting many visitors, at least not after taking over everything and destroying l'manburg stuff. He himself was the best example with a few trusted friends and a sea rich of enemies. His roommate huffed and shuffled a bit. "Fine, but if you kill me in my sleep I'll… I'll haunt you! " He waited as dream slowly settled his head on his knees and started trying to fall asleep. It didn't take long for soft albeit rattling breaths to fill the room. Techno just stared at the lava a bit more but his eyes kept drifting to the other. Phil's knowledge of scars and medical stuff was far superior to his own but he knew that most of the marks on dreams' body that were visible were not from battle. Not an honorable battle, a battle it might have been to restrain and weaken the villain of the server but not an honest one. To get him small enough that tools could pierce his skin. To harm him without humanity. An uneasy tossing ripped him out of his thoughts. The man beside him had fallen to the side and was turning and shivering. "I'm not…No no, I won't give it to you..please! Please!" Carefully without a thought, Technoblade placed his cape on top of the nerd. The piglin gazed at his roommate slowly grabbing the makeshift blanket between his fingers and finally losing his turmoils. A broken person finds comfort In the smallest things. In an odd way, it reminded him of Tommy. Laying there was the great villain of the SMP looking like a human being, peaceful and asleep. His scars telling tales of what had been done to him and his reputation for what he had done.
TECHNO SOFT??
Dude…. Dude, is that really Dream sleeping a few feet from us?
Now we can kill him!
Kill kill!!
Wait didn't we adopt the blobb!?!
Nah that's phils job
Little baby dream
Eww stop
Lmao he look kinda dumb
He shushed the voices but they would keep going. At least dreams presence if annoying kept them entertained.

The days passed and they settled into a routine. Techno would try to cook, dream would try to explain the prison layout so eventually techno could get em out. They started a new hobby recently mining obsidian. Truly grateful. You just punch that shit for hours with your bare hands. "Is that all nerd? Where's your strength I can punch twice as hard" His roomie hissed at him and kept punching a stern expression on his face. Nice, his quips were working keeping that fire alive. There was a faint click somewhere he would have missed it if he hadn't paid attention. Dream seemed to have heard it too. His punching stopped as they both listened to the mechanical noise of the platform moving. Someone was coming. Maybe he would finally get the answers about whom had sent him here. Half emerged in the water his roommate was rigged. His breaths came out sharper than usual. "Dream? Hey Dream?? Are you expecting someone? Come on up here gonna know otherwise" He half pulled the other up. He sat dream down leaning against the wall while he places himself in front. When had he decided to do that? The lava was rising as a scared male trotted in with a confidence you usually wouldn't place in a man if his statue. I'm his hand glistening a netherite ax. "Did you miss me? " "Quackity! I knew it!" So it had been the casino owner sending him the letter. "Don't celebrate, today will be my day to celebrate technoblade! I mean look at him! Look at this!! The two most powerful people on the server are locked in a prison, bare without anything. Under my grasp. Here is what's gonna happen I will repay you techno for the little trinket you gave me. That is if the scum doesn't give me the revival book. How does that sound Dreamy?Techno's eyes wandered from one to the other. So that's what quackity wants. Dream seemed not amused by the offer, if possible he seemed to be shaking more and more. " I've been trying to get this revive book for the longest time dream and today is the day you're gonna give it to me! " With calmness the duck hybrid focused on his roommate... I told you I won't give it to you, you'll kill me…" Oh wow the other sounded nearly as unsteady as when Techno first entered the cell. "Yeah! And besides you see my friend here can just revive me if you go for the kill!! Yeah he's a cool Necromancer!" The mocking seemed to enrage Quackity further. Fine, he just needed to buy some more time, maybe frustrated the duck hybrid enough that he gave up fully. At least for now. He would have rather not get a pickaxe dragged through his skull. "THEN LETS FUCKING TEST THAT! I'LL KILL YOU BOTH IF I HAVE TO! " he spat as he began approaching em. Okay, certainly not ideal. He had no weapons at hand but that had never stopped him. "You want a rematch? Last time I didn't need more than scrubs to defeat you!" Confidence is key, if he played it right maybe the other would falter. War was not won with swords all the time, sometimes it was won with words. The fury was emitting of, of the raven haired male the fists clenched tightly around the handle of the pickaxe. "Oh I'm gonna enjoy this a lot" In fast movements he began chasing Techno around the cell. Stone splintering in small bits when metal his it after a trying swing. This was was everything but good. "This is meaningless he'll just revive me!!" The piglin taunted in an attempt to distract Quackity and gain more time to plan. His roommate didn't seem to have any ideas, instead he was pressed against the wall seemingly in a frozen state of fear. The pickaxe swung and swung as he ducked away dodged to the best of his abilities. A diet of just potatoes had increased his usual strength. Sure he still kept it up by exercising a bit. But the body needs more then just calories to work properly. Another swing grazed his chin. Blood dripping down on the obsidian. Fuck. He was losing. "LAST CHANCE SCUM GIVE ME THE REVIVE BOOK OR YOUR ONLY WAY OUT PERISHES!! " The Steal shimmery in the glow of the lava. The Casino owner covered in sweat and anger pressed the ax closer and closer to his face. Was this gonna be it? Nah not for him. He heard the voices in his head chanting until they became one giant mass. Blood for the blood God! Lighting up the flame of bloodlust inside his body. This man had the audacity to challenge him, this man had treated him, this man had hurt one of his now friends. Dream was hesitantly opening his mouth. Was he really gonna give it up for Technos life? Maybe just for the favor. Red tainted his palms as he pressed them against cold steel. Fighting was in his blood till the end. Technoblade never dies. He was ready for the push, for the pain, ready to put his strength in a shove and he shoved as the world went white with a noise. Failure? He blinked, getting used to the brighter light and the silhouette before him. There was no obsidian, no Quackity, no Dream. Bloodiehanded, in nothing more than his shirt, pants and boots he was standing in the Syndicate stasis chamber. The voices were quiet.
"Welcome back Mate!"

Chapter Text

So this is not a chapter guys just a quick update!
Chapter 3 is in the works and I've written like a 3rd of it but Christmas came around and now I'm back at university with a bunch of stuff on my plate. So I'm pausing for now. If I find time and headspace for it I will continue. I still have lots in mind for this story.

Chapter Text

If gods can bleed, gods can die - plan (the OG titel of the fic)

1. Chapter World Creation and Backstory to Dream Being Eret's Son

2. Second chapter being dream in prison, torture session aftermath and seeing the
strings of his attachment, thst remain like one for his unknowing connection to
eret, two intertwined slowly fading attached to sap and gogy, one red growing slowly
when techno comes in. (Not bold yet) techno comming in, they bond a bit (leading
him the cape, "you know you seem awfully vengeful for such a small nerd. Like, I
understand the whole blowing up a nation stuff yadayada and everything else is not
really my business, but still we're roomies, so why did you do it? Betray your friends?
Hurt some teenagers? Become the big bad? I mean, you look kinda cool doing it
slightly less cool than me, but why? ", "Do you have family? Don't tell me your en
Orphan dream cause that would change our arrangements quite a bit if you know
what I'm saying," techno stasis chamber stuff. " Maybe you should try friends without
betrayal?"

3. Dream/Quackity chapter. Sam stuff, claiming he's the bad guy. Dream getting
Blinded by Quackity

4. Meanwhile, techno and Phil have a plan to convince the others that Dream
needs to be put on trial cause he never got one.

5. Trial time, lots of back and forth. Eret is silencing the trial before it gets out of hand.
Until a decision is made, Dream will be staying at the castle chambers and will receive
treatment for his wounds

6. Eret chapter, reminiscing about having dream there and their current knowledge of all
of that, foolish keeping him cool and telling him not to visit the prisoner in his
recovery

9. " Why shouldn't I blow it all up?!? There's nothing left!! Until there's no one left! I can
be God! I don't need the revival book for that! I just blow it all up! Make my own
freedom… I just revive myself afterwards, yeah! just fucking watch me!! " Scared
shaking hands clutched Flint and steal. "Do you really want that.. Fletching. You have
been hurt, and you have hurt a lot of people. This won't change things, dream. It will
just make you more lonely than you already are. Please listen to me, you don't have
to be alone, we can work things out so that they go back to a better a peaceful
overworld. I have lost you once my son. I won't lose you again."

(You can see my plans changed slightly even for the first few chapters lol)

Other Ideas for Eremophobia:
• Little tap tap communication between techno and dream
• "I think I understand now, we are different techno. You have something to return to, I don't anymore. I'll set us free once and for all. I'll be without chains. I will let them make me their villian."
• "Are you two done bickering, or should I close the door again? " The tall piglin huffed as his gaze fell upon George and Sapnap.
• "How did you do it, Phil? How did you forgive him? He hurt you and everyone here a lot. How did you look past that? "There had to be a trick, surely, was it just devotion,
" The thing is, Eret, I didn't look past it. Wilbur wasn't in his right mind, but he still did those things; that is a fact. But when he begged me, when he stared at me so desperately, I could hear the broken voice of my little son. I made mistakes with him that I can't undo, and he made some mistakes of his own. But I can't let him go. Even if he's the way he is, he's still my son. And I will never not love my children. No matter how hard they try to make me. It's the nature of being a parent, you shape 'em, you scold 'em, but at the end of the day, you always always love them."

Snippet of chapter 3:

Milky tears

Trigger warning: violence, blood and gore, torture, gaslighting, emotional manipulation

A smile bright like stars. "Come, mama! Out out!" A tiny hand grabs his, trying to drag him somewhere. Swiftly, his gaze fell on a window showing a decreasing snowfall. Frost was knocking at the door. Had he given the child enough clothes to feel warm? The urge to protect was growing in his chest. Another tug, green eyes flickered up to him. There was no face. Not one that could anchor itself into his mind. "Please come on! The snow, mama, the snow!" Mindlessly, his hand brushed threw the small child's hair. This was their child, wasn't it? He was blinking and standing outside. She felt him laughing and dancing around with a tiny being in his arms. Noses tipped red, but smiles warm enough for both of them. Why was he seeing this? A child he couldn't place in his arms that seemed to be his own, filling her heart with something foreign yet painfully familiar. Like someone was showing him a part that he didn't know was missing from the full picture. His chest ached as he watched the small boy play so happily. This was how it was meant to be, wasn't it? This was what she was seeing was like nothing else, maybe it was a future, a desire he hadn't known about. Wait? They were seeing. How was she seeing this when he, for all eternity, had been sightless? They're hands reached up to their eyes as tears stung a face lit by moonlight. Awoken in the dead of night, sitting in their castle.

At first, he hadn't noticed. Hadn't noticed to sudden silence over everything. No more hurts and sarcastic quips. And then sir did scream "THE FUCK!" Techno was gone as he soon began to realize. Oh, how he wished the pain would finally stop, but it didn't, not for him, never for him. Sir had been so mad. In a fury of swears he had searched the cell bare. He had