Archive of Our Own ^beta

In a restless search for new opportunities and new ways of living

The mystery and the promise of distant horizons

Always have called men forward

“Good day, Eret!” A sonorous voice shook Eret from their thoughts as they stood in the wide open space of their newest project, picturing how they wanted to lay it out. 

The First President of L’Manburg strode between those tall white pillars they spent hours arranging to look just perfect, wearing a long brown trench coat over a buttercup yellow sweater. His wild chestnut curls were stuffed beneath a poppy red beanie, coffee eyes hidden behind golden frames. A gold-gilded emerald hung from his right ear, a matching piece to the one the Ruler wore through the same lobe. Though Wilbur gave a wide smile, Eret could still see the hesitance in those liquid depths.

The Monarch of the server was dressed down today, preparing for the hard work ahead, in a simple black button down with a high collar and blue jeans. They had pulled their similar shade of chestnut curls into a low ponytail beneath their heavy crown, resting down their neck to brush the top of their shoulders. Thick black glasses meant their gaze was permanently shaded, a preferable look as to not scare the others with their ‘ghastly’ eyes. Choosing to leave the cape behind today they wore black boots with a thick sole to protect their feet as they built today.

The build the pair now stood in was going to be a physical history for everyone to reflect upon, the being had spent months constructing the structure and now it was time to fill the wide open space. Deciding to start where most of their stories began, pieces for the Camarvan in a chest beside the tall Ruler.

“Greetings Wilbur, I hope the journey here went well.” Eret heard the forced warmth, flinching internally at how awkward it sounded with them trying to mask the guilt that hung from their mind’s walls like a mocking banner. When they originally extended the invitation for Wilbur to come help with this exhibit they had this whole speech about forgiveness planned but now that the even taller man stood beside them it left their thoughts at a high speed. “Enjoying your time with Philza and Technoblade?”

“I am, they have been more than welcoming.” Wilbur seemed perplexed by the concept as he spoke, Eret could relate to feeling like an outcast among those they once considered comrades in a cause they felt passionate for. “Gods, it's been so long since I built this van, are you sure this is the first thing you want to have in here? It was so ugly too, like what was I thinking?”

“Wilbur you built a drug van, I didn’t expect it to be pretty when I heard about it then stepped inside.” Eret teased, before waving off the worries. “Hush you, it was the first thing I felt a passion for, of course it deserves to be the centrepiece of our history I wish to transcribe upon these very walls.”

Flipping open the chest lid Eret draws out a few stacks of items and splits them down the middle, Wilbur taking half of the supplies. The Ruler also draws out a furnace and some coal, beginning to heat the cobble so it becomes smooth stone. The pair still work well together dancing round each other to begin the placement of the exhibit, years after they first teamed up when Eret saw passion in those coffee eyes and helped him and his accomplices escape imprisonment.

That same fire was barely a spark now, but deep within Wilbur’s gaze it still flickered. The fire Eret would give anything to help reignite by adding their own fuel, they had felt the incredible warmth of his kindness and the biting burn of his spite. They reflect on how it felt to be cared for so deeply while singing their silly hearts out together over that campfire protected by the first walls that Eret built in service of Wilbur. They reminisce with sadness on seeing the betrayal on his face while Dream sliced a sharp blade through Wilbur’s pale throat, spilling deep red down the front of his betrayer.

Now, both had matching scars around their neck from Dream, Eret had spoken about it to only one person of the punishments for refusing to listen. Rubbing at their throat they shook their head, the Ruler turning to where Wilbur was stacking the black concrete Eret had prepared this morning. “Did I make enough?”

“I believe so, yeah.” Wilbur said, moving to the last wheel.

Eret pulled out the smooth stone that had been smelted and moved to the wheels Wilbur had formed, beginning to build the frame of the Camarvan. Time passed with small comments passed between them, Ruler and former President of a fallen nation teaming up to create the first history point once more. 

The light moved from directly overhead to below the horizon as they put the finishing touches on the iconic piece, both ending up laying on the top side by side. A few torches were placed here and there to keep the monsters away, Eret placing down a temporary lantern where they relaxed to allow a bit of light to see one another now that the piece was completed. Putting up temporary doors protected them from the outside mobs, allowing the pair of souls a chance to enjoy their creation.

Though the talk had been light all day, there was this underlying current of unresolved pain between them. Eret had come to realise just how much Dream pulled the strings in their betrayal through talking with Foolish and the shark offering impartial judgement, but the Ruler couldn’t help the sadness that rushed through them remembering that box of black stone painted crimson with the lifeblood of the ones who trusted them.

Wilbur’s face was so peaceful as they stared at the great black night sky with twinkling stars, the moon at its fullest tonight. Eret cleared their throat, deciding to throw caution to the wind and just say what they had been biting back all day. Finally revealing the words they had scripted for months through thousands of situations to be heard by the one they once called a brother-in-arms. Laying bare their sins of old to the judgement of the jury they wished would forgive them the most under those stars they loved. Speaking directly to the fiery masses above, they prayed with every fibre they had that this would be well received. 

“I’m sorry.” Their deep voice was weak, Wilbur turning his gaze to them with an inquisitive then hesitant look as he realised what they meant.

“Why did you do it?” Wilbur’s voice held no anger, only desperate curiosity to understand what happened. “Was the kingship truly worth it?”

“No, not the cost I paid, let alone the lives I bargained with that weren’t mine to give.” Eret shook their head, tears trickling down high cheekbones to the polished diorite slab beneath. “Dream spoke of peace and harmony, of stopping the conflict by scaring you all into submission. He underestimated your determination to gain independence and I played right into the role he assigned me.”

“It always leads back to him doesn’t it.” Wilbur pondered with a faraway look before returning his gaze to Eret’s. “Hey, look me in the eyes after you take the glasses off, just this once.”

Eret paused, sitting up while Wilbur followed the position change as they knot their fingers together. “Wil, I don’t want to scare you.”

“My dear friend, that has already happened yet I still sit here.” Wilbur implored, reaching a hand out to cover their fidgeting fingers. “I won’t run away from you anymore.”

Taking a deep breath, Eret closes their eyes before removing the safety blanket between them and the world, closing the arms in their palm after Wilbur removes his long, thin hand. The Ruler takes a few more breaths before opening them ever so slightly, preparing internally for the look of disgust and horror they always got.

Wilbur just gives them the most patient look, his pupils flicking between theirs encircled in moon-white, nearly glowing under the reflection of light at night. “Look, I am still here. All I see is a hurt soul in front of me who has been hidden for far too long, some of that being my fault. You were villainized for years with my heavy encouragement, I should be the one apologising here.”

“Wilbur, I said yes to the plan of your death to freeze a call for freedom. How am I not at fault?” Eret’s voice cracked, their nose beginning to clog from the emotions that ravaged them each night. No matter how often Foolish held them and told them it wasn’t their burden to bear anymore, it cemented itself as their biggest sin in their heart.

“Who was the one who approached you with this scheme?”

“...Dream did.”

“Then this is all Dream’s fault.” Said so simply, Eret didn’t believe it, even as Wilbur parroted the words many people had told him. “Your guilty conscience is all because of someone else's manipulation then I just piled on top of it, eager to have a scapegoat to blame. We both did stupid things, Eret, but I can attribute my blame to myself where you have nothing to do that with as this was not your fault.”

That last sentence had such certainty to it, it began to fall the foundations of the pain Eret internalised. They drew their gaze away from Wilbur before sniffling once more, their mind remembering the thin white line the President wore with pride, compared to the disappointment Eret felt whenever they saw it. Rubbing at their throat, Wilbur caught their wrist and brought their attention back to him.

“Do you believe me?”

“Can I blame Dream for this?” Eret felt so stupid asking for validation but Wil’s was the one they wanted to hear the most.

“Absolutely.” Wilbur nods, reaching up to pull his collar down to show the scar. “This was not done by your hand Eret, my eyes have been opened to just how many puppets he has in play. I was so enraged at the time I did not see your deception but you were only doing what you thought would bring peace. So was I.”

“That’s the crux of it all, isn’t it? We were both doing what we thought would bring harmony but instead only stained our hands darker red with the blood of enemies and allies.” Eret grabbed Wil’s hand, lacing their fingers together and allowing the connection to be made.

“There’s a lot of parallels between us, my Queen.” Wilbur said in a soft tone, Eret tightening their handhold briefly.

“There really is.” Eret decided something then, turning more towards Wilbur he watched with an eyebrow raised but copied so they were now sitting across from one another. “It feels good to talk like this again, can we do it again soon?”

“I would love that.” Wilbur gave a wide smile, Eret’s mouth stretching to match, then the brunette continued with shining eyes. “Next time, please bring alcohol though. I miss your wine stash in the castle and haven’t been sure how to approach this conversation but now that we have had it…”

“It seems rather silly we never had it ages ago, huh.” Eret teases, Wilbur nodding once more. “Anytime, just send a crow to me. I know you have an affinity for your father’s murder of Goddess-touched birds.”

“I will.” Both lay back on the top of the place where they began to speak, a lot lighter than the beginning of the day.

In a far off dimension, a Goddess of wither bones and roses placed one chess piece on a board. A full set of night shaded pieces stood across from the one bone white King with a large crack through its body, before she took the raven Queen to place beside the lone damaged Monarch. Once separated by sides, no fields of battle or transgressions lay between them anymore. The first step towards healing had begun, housed in the pain of the past two broken souls bonded once more.

We are the lost and the silent

We are the shackled and small

We're looking up at the giants

We're going to watch when they fall

The next part they planned took longer to put together, having to traverse the most popular places of the word to get the exact placements of builds for maps to coat their walls. On one of their extensive journeys they ended up running into Fundy, a fox hybrid young man who was out causing mischief, his usual antics really. After an offer to protect the young boy had been miscommunicated, it lay as a sore spot that had festered for many months. Surprising both of them, out of boredom Fundy offered to help with their quest after hearing about the museum plans.

The gathering had gone significantly quicker after that, ending each day at one of their places so Eret could take both sets of maps back to where they intended to frame them. Soon, they accomplished the task, the Monarch offering for the boy to come help with the final placement. They weren’t sure what inspired that urge but they missed seeing the fox, Fundy accepting immediately.

Now they stood in the same place his father and the Ruler did only weeks ago, Eret eyeing up the grey stone bricks to decide where to place them. Fundy had offered to bring a needle and thread to begin stringing the fabric together, taking the stack to lay out on the floor in the orientation to mend them together. The redhead had taken his black cap off and wore his usual jacket with a colourful line across the chest.

Fundy had quickly strung his needle and the redhead was now bent over his work, beginning at the opposite corner of Eret to begin stitching together the overall server map. It was several blocks wide and long, taking up a good chunk of the floor behind the Camarvan which Eret caught Fundy tossing sorrowful glances at. His blue eyes held this deep brokenness each time he looked around in paranoia, Eret felt worry rush over them at the poor teenager’s scared habits.

Muttering curses Eret stabbed themself in the finger a few times before Fundy gave a perfectly arched eyebrow, looking up from the square he held. “Having trouble, Ruler?”

“Damned string won’t go through the tiny hole.” They let the cursed things fall into an open palm as Fundy gives a small chuckle, gesturing them closer.

In less than a minute Fundy expertly strung the needle and beige thread together, Eret sitting down beside the lean fox boy, avoiding his flicking tail. “Admittedly, it has been months since I have sewed anything, can you show me the technique again?”

Moving slower, the redhead shows the Ruler how he intended to connect the pieces, going over the spot a few times to ensure a stitch that would stay for many years. Once Eret feels they have the hang of it, Fundy lets them work on their own square while he quickly attaches a few together.

“How do you do it so neatly?” Eret asks with a light tone, the fox offering a tiny smirk.

“Niki taught me while she sewed the original L’Manburg flag and our uniforms, she showed all of us but you were too busy wrangling Tubbo and Tommy with Wilbur to really pay attention.” Fundy said with a heaviness attached, a faraway look in those ocean orbs. “When I picked it up quickly she often asked my help if she needed it for larger orders, I spent many hours being fed pastries to mend her projects because she always took on more than she could handle.”

“I know how that feels.” Eret said, their crown sliding down while they leaned over their square containing their castle, which they reached up to adjust.

“It’s a little crazy to look back on.” Fundy says quietly, his elegant face falling. “Those days the biggest worry was Tommy instigating something while Wilbur tried to keep the place from blowing up.”

Eret couldn’t help but laugh with his phrasing, the fox’s cheeks reddening as he realised what he said before continuing. “Alright well I never said that lasted per say, we both know how L’Manburg burned under his button press echoing you of all people.”

Eret’s own mind helpfully supplies him from remembering Phil recounting the tale before he killed his son, an ancient grief upon a weathered face of a broken father. Reminding the Ruler just how much death had been caused on this server, their chest compressed in a vice grip once more. Though Wil’s words echoed the thoughts parading their opinions about the Monarch’s betrayal for kingship, it wasn’t a thought pattern that could be broken overnight. Another example of one caused pain by their choice sat in front of them, a far cry from the joyful boy who ran around those open green fields of early L’Manburg.

“I never meant to start such a destructive chain of events.” Eret said bitterly, regret making their hands tremble as they reminisced on what was caused. “I only wanted the fighting to end so we could return to the carefree days of our own choices regardless of factions.”

“I knew something was off the moment George killed me.” Fundy responds, Eret freezing at that. “Sure, I was pissed that you had made that decision but I saw how Dream looked at you before he shoved his sword through my heart. With such pride and warmth, ages later I recognised that look as a master approving his pawn for doing the right thing and that scene made so much more sense. I was on the receiving end of such a look from Schlatt when I infiltrated Manburg and did his bidding.”

The hard tone of someone defensive came out then, someone deeply hurt by people in their past. Eret raised their shaded gaze to the fox who seemed to be thinking things over, his copper ears twitching before he stopped pulling the thread through the tapestry. “There is not a fucking thing we can do about our actions of the past now though.”

“Other than talk to those who relate.” Eret coaxed gently, the young boy giving him a tentative look.

The Ruler was reminded just how young some souls were on this server then, even after everything Fundy was still searching for someone to protect him. “I may not have followed through on my original offer but I intend to do so now; come move in with me Fundy, if you want to still. You will just also have to deal with Foolish who comes by frequently but I think we both would sleep a bit better with someone watching our backs.”

“Really?” Fundy sounded so small, Eret gave what they hoped was an encouraging expression.

“No backing out our cancelled plans this time, hell, move in tonight. Let’s not let distance get in our way anymore, I want to continue making memories with my favourite fox in the world.”

“Favourite fox? I am one of two foxes on their server, that's not a large sample pool.”

“I have literally never met Seapeekay and until I do, you are firmly in the top spot.”

“That seems like an answer with some bias attached to it.”

“And?” 

Fundy seemed stumped before shrugging, a happy smile on his face. “I suppose I can accept that. As a marking of rekindled friendships, shall we go pull a prank on someone?”

“Foolish’s pyramid has been looking rather dry lately.”

“He literally lives in the desert, I certainly hope so.” Fundy says in a dry tone which Eret giggles at, finishing the square he was attaching before speaking once more. “What are you thinking?”

“We water the entire thing.”

“I am so in.”

In that same faraway dimension of mycelium and soul lanterns, the Death Goddess adds one more piece to her game board. Placing a white Knight in the square near the Queen, an open one between. The other side of the board was slowly losing pieces as she added to the bone white, leaving the game to attend to something else for the time being. Slowly the Queen had separated themself from those causing them pain and had started finding friends with those they once went against, a beautiful start to the ending of a storyline strife with bloodshed and loss.

Do you hear me?

You're a Goliath to me

I'll be there when the bombs unfurl

'Till the war is over

Lay your burdens on me

I can bear all the weight of the world

With you on my shoulders

The next exhibit would require someone with personal experience for half of it, so Eret called on the help of an immortal avian who resided in the Northern Arctic of this world. The Ruler and the crow got along well, a similar friendship with the ancient warrior's partner, a piglin hybrid called Technoblade. 

The Monarch met Technoblade first as he arrived a good while before his partner did, helping the crow’s son with his revolution Eret had outcasted themself from. The piglin could be harsh and ruthless, but that just covered a soul with an obsidian will with a desperate need to protect those he saw as his friends. He had an issue with governments but for some reason, had made an exception for Eret and protected their position.

Upon the crow’s arrival he had also taken up the challenge as well, Dream taking a far step back when they stated their position firmly at Eret’s side. Though the worst of the controlling nightmares were over since Dream had been locked up, Eret had heard since that the bastard had escaped. They were glad themself and Foolish were so close now, the shark had some tricks up his sleeve and a determined goal to protect the Monarch from any threat to their life.

The blonde middle-aged man strode into the space as Eret reflected, startling a bit as he suddenly stood at their side facing the biggest map Eret had crafted.

“Mate, this is incredible.” Phil’s accent echoed long ago, his kind voice awed. “This must have taken so long.”

“Thank you. Luckily, I had the help of a good friend to complete it.” Eret replies, realising with Fundy and Wilbur helping before they had accidently gathered three levels of generations to build exhibits with them. “I travelled to every place people have mentioned, Gods some have such nice energy then there are places that hang heavy with sorrow like morning dew upon a withering leaf.”

Their eyes land on Logstedshire, shuddering as they remember how it felt to be there. The evil that permeated from that soil of an abandoned soul left alone for far too long with a madman, they turned away with a sweep of their long red cape from the wall.

Looking at Phil they notice he was in his usual travelling clothes of forest green robes under a brown cloak, white and green striped hat covering his blonde hair. A long braid hung from behind his left ear with five beads on it; rose pink, daffodil yellow, leaf green, blood red and indigo purple. The only jewellery the crow wore was a gold-gilded emerald draped from his right ear and glimmering amethyst pendant. Light sky blue eyes with a kind light shone out from the avian’s tired face, only one crow-feathered wing was folded close to his spine now.

This server had left such permanent marks on everyone who woke up here; some internally and some externally. Physical scars coated the once clear skin of youth and adults alike, so much conflict born upon this soil. Phil had lost his ability to fly protecting his son from the collapsing hill over the exhibit Eret had requested his help with, before then losing the left appendage to save another young creature.

Eret felt their agony shattering their soul in the dead of night, haunted stares glaring at him in those terrors that tormented them. Both people standing in this vast hall had lost so much, yet somehow they stood tall beside one another remembering what was.

“I understand that, when I draped L’Manburg’s grave in greenery there was such a permanence to the death of hope there. I may have been part of the reason it got blown to bedrock but most days, I regret it.” Phil shudders, before rolling his shoulders back and meeting blue eyes to Eret’s sunglass covered ones. “Where did you want to construct the Control Rooms?”

“Over on the right wall I think is the best place.” Eret points to the empty corner near the front of the structure. “I am thinking about doing this whole L’Manburg exhibit on top along with bookshelves spanning a second level I haven’t built yet.”

“I can show you how to make the lanterns Ghostbur hung if you would like when that time comes?” Phil smiled as he mentioned the sweet soul, the remnants of Wilbur’s most happy memories. 

“That would be lovely.” Eret walked over to where they intended to build the stone rooms that had been the ending of eras in their own right. “If you don’t mind giving me a hand I think I will build the one I constructed first before we move onto Wilbur’s?”

“It’s your place, mate, I am just the labourer.” Phil joked before catching Eret’s shaking hand as they unlocked the chest with the materials needed, his voice dropping to serious. “I am here for you and I admire your dedication to telling all stories, even the painful ones.”

Eret, unable to speak, just nods as they draw out a stack of blackstone bricks. Handing it over to Phil, they straighten up and take a deep breath.

“One step at a time.” Phil comforts, moving closer to the spot they pictured in their mind. “How wide was it?”

The next hour passes with them building the outside of the room that held Eret’s worst betrayal, a box of pain being brought to horrible creation under shaking hands. Soon the outside cube is finished, leading to them placing the chests inside. Crafting five wooden boxes, Eret and Phil place two by each wall then one across from the door. Attaching signs to the front of each, the Ruler also draws out a signed book to place in Wilbur’s chest, letting the lid fall with a heavy crash.

The final part cradled in their palms, an oak button to be placed in the middle of the floor. Eret felt a tear leak down their face as they gazed down at the offending item, innocent until it was placed down with malicious intent to spill blood.

Their mind drags the memories that plague them to the forefront of their mind; leading three children and a leader who just wanted freedom from oppression deep into the earth to where Dream and his friend’s waited with sharp weapons. 

Their own voice echoing back at them in that claustrophobic box of a decision that would change the direction of the world forever, leading to four deaths of people who believed in Eret. 

“Down with the revolution boys, it was never meant to be.”  

Those damned words left their full lips before the walls spilled open with destructive ideals, a deal with the devil for a crown that ended up being an illusion of control.

Punz, George, Sapnap and Dream emerged with weapons drawn, surprising four of the five who walked into that tiny place. All their friends being tackled and held down while Dream gloats to Wilbur over his defeat; calling for his companions to be executed one by one before the First President’s horrified gaze in his last moments.

Sapnap killed Tubbo first, the small blonde boy with goat horns slain through the middle of his chest with a vibrant sword. Punz murdered Tommy shortly after, in the same fashion as his best friend with the mercenary’s own blade, laying side by side as the pair died they grasped hands. Two blonde teenagers who only wanted freedom, fell hand in hand on that cold black floor with youthful blood pooling beneath them.

Then, George eliminated Fundy, who was barely more than a child, by slitting his pale throat. Crimson spilled down his front as he choked, the statuesque brunette letting him fall to the ground as he clutched his separated neck. Adorned in the pastel uniform the fox pain-stakingling sewed with Niki’s help, life essence soaking the fabric once worn in pride as he collapses to the ground.

Alone in a room surrounded by the corpses of those he rallied, Wilbur was slaughtered in the same fashion as his son while Eret stood frozen in shock. Five had entered this blackstone tomb alive, only one of the original group still stood listening as one by one their comrades stopped breathing.

All for the sake of an empty kingship Dream piloted with threats and punishments after refusing to listen.

Phil shook their shoulder, breaking them from those blood-stained glimpses through a remorse heavy heart. “Hey, come back to me.”

Eret shook their head, trembling fingers tracing the edge of the button that was the start of the worst decision they had ever made and spent years making up for. It was a lifelong shackle at this point, whenever they saw the ones who died deep in the grounds embrace it tugged at their heart remembering their agreement to the terms Dream laid out.

“How do you move forward with the chains of regret around your neck?” Eret asked, their deep voice cracking as they questioned the one who may understand. “When I stand here I remember how I felt watching the ones I cared about die, due to my own decisions. For many, that's years in the past yet my thoughts bother me each day with the blood stained repetition. Watching the light fade from dear one’s eyes as the one I sold my soul to executed the only people who ever listened to me.”

Phil’s face grows pensive as he thinks, silence growing before he finally speaks, standing in a replica of the place where his son died first. “We will never be able to go back to undo what we chose.”

A finality rang there before Phil continued on. “I am sure I am going to be feeling a similar response when we rebuild my son’s mark left upon the world. The only thing we can do now is reach out to those we hurt, offer apologies and move forward proving we learned from such experiences. I have only heard second hand of what went down in this room of blackstone brick, but I know the person I stand in here with now is much different then the first iteration of Eret.”

Eret takes a deep breath, allowing the words to absorb into their heart. “It changed the trajectory of history forever.”

“Some decisions do.” Phil shrugs, some of his jaded immortality coming out as he responds. “It's how you use those pivotal moments to improve yourself is what matters, it’s easier said than done, I know that. The blade I wield is the one I used to end my own son’s life, I remember that fact every time I grasp the handle that the first time I held it was for that purpose. No matter how much I wish I could, there is no way to go back there and undo the crimes I committed. I have to learn to live with my choices, know I made the decisions I did for a reason and now to do my best to help out my fellow man in this world.”

Eret reached up to place their free hand where Phil’s aged one rested, before kneeling down to place the button on the middle block, the crow letting his hand fall back to his side. The crow waited as with a hesitant touch, Eret pressed down the button as they placed it. Their ears rang with ancient screams as they depressed the wooden rectangle, letting themselves be immersed in the pain they caused one more time.

“Maybe in some alternate reality, it was meant to be.” The Ruler’s voice was soft as they resumed standing.

“Perhaps, yet time cannot be changed. Now then, my friend, this is when I will need your support.” Phil’s face falls as they leave the small area, Eret drawing out the stone to build Wilbur’s Control Room. “I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to help but that doesn’t stop the emotional agony.”

“I understand.” Eret gives a sad smile, straightening up with the blocks needed. “History should always be preserved so we can warn the young of the mistakes of our past, or they will be doomed to repeat it. That doesn’t make the act of showing your innermost regret to the whole world any less painful.”

“You are a good soul Eret.” Phil compliments, surprising the Ruler. “You have the wisdom of one who is wise beyond their years. I agree, I have always held that idea close to me also. If stories are all we leave behind, we should tell the full scope to allow others to draw their own conclusions. So shall we get to the building?”

Outlining the room Wilbur built while in the depths of his Pogtopia mindset, the walls scrawled with an anthem once of hope then a battlecry of a fallen cause. Both Ruler and avian have to take moments to recover as they immerse themselves in the task, Eret bolstering the crow when he needs it. 

Eret catches themself tracing over the sign they scrawled while Phil told him what they said, the one where the anthem was changed to exclude the Ruler. So many cracks in once ironclad relationships they once held dear, watching the blonde crow struggle to hold himself together as he stared at his own tormented button.

“All I feel is my son’s agony within these walls, even if it's only a recreation of the original.” Phil announces, turning to where Eret hangs the sign they carved. “I hear the desperation in his voice as he tosses his sword to me, only moments after my arrival, begging for his doom to be given. My wing aches with the explosions I protected him with when my wingspan was complete, breaking hundreds of fragile bones while stone fell like rain above us. I see the horror in everyone’s eyes as I slide the blade through his heart, shattering mine in the process.”

“I know.” Eret comforts, the crow’s cheek wet with tears that run from those sky eyes.

“We both did regretful things, Eret.” Phil comments, moving to leave the space now that it has been completed.

“Isn’t that the truth.” They reply bitterly, before they straighten up now that they are outside the tiny room. “Thank you for coming to help today, I couldn’t have done it without you and it wasn’t fair of me to ask you to relive your regrets.”

“Mate, I deal with them everyday, I was not going to allow you to be the only one who painted your pain upon these walls.” Phil looks around at the exhibits built so far, nodding to himself before facing the Monarch. “Please let me know when it’s all complete, I would love to have a tour from a skilled historian of this world.”

“I will.”

The Ruler waves the crow hybrid off as he leaves shortly after that, a crow with purple particles dancing through its feathers perched upon the Camarvan at Phil’s insistence. The avian or piglin often sent the mystical creatures to keep an eye on those they held affection for, in case of emergency they could send the bird for help. The sun was setting over the horizon, streaks of orange and red glowing against the white clouds and grey-blue sky of the evening. Spending the day with the avian was a refreshing view, that one so wise to the ways of the world shared similar pain to the Ruler. A gut-wrenching connection, but one Eret would treasure dearly.

The Goddess adds one more chess piece to her game, a bone white Rook standing beside the Knight, raven Queen and cracked King piece. Slowly the Queen was gathering allies once more after spending years among those they didn’t belong around. Their ideals were swept up in the grandeur of the greater good, curtains drawn away to show the blood that fueled that dream. One relationship at a time, the Queen was healing with the support of others at their side.

We won’t just fall away

We weren't just born to fade

Our stories are past the horizon

We're chasing the sun till we find them

Goodbye to what we made

No matter anyway

We're climbing until we transcend

Higher, higher

To where the skies end

Three exhibits had now been completed; the Camarvan stood in the midst of two others within the museum's walls, the Control Rooms off to the right and a large map hanging from the far wall across from the entrance. Eret and Foolish had spent a while constructing sections for the building, adding a second floor of spruce to the right wall for the important books and L’Manburg memorial. Phil had sent the design of the lanterns to be hung, they had spent weeks gathering materials to begin the next step of their project.

Today, a few more old friends were coming to help. Technoblade and Niki had heard from Phil about their work and immediately sent messages offering their hands. They had arranged to come over on this rainy day to do their part, Eret planning to display the two versions of L’Manburg’s flags on either side of the door to the museum. 

“Hello Eret, wonderful to see you!” Niki’s musical voice greeted them when the woman and piglin arrived, both striding up to where they stood staring at bare walls. 

“Just the Ruler I wanted to see!” Techno also had a wide grin on his face, showing both bottom tusks of his piglin blood jutting up behind his lower lip. 

The piglin wore his usual armour shimmering with many enchantments where the woman was dressed in more casual travelling clothes of a plain black shirt and brown slacks. Wearing a bark-brown coat that looked distantly familiar, both had their hair tied back away from their faces. Techno’s hip length lily-pink hair was tied in a tight braid where Niki’s was done in a high ponytail, blonde strands dancing in the light breeze.

Woman and man both had matching emerald earrings, a widespread marker of being under the Goddess’s protection. Foolish had explained the significance of the jewellery one day to them when they had asked, the Ruler awakening here with a similar piece. It was something given to the ones She watched over, sending her Blade and Angel to avenge anyone who fell while wearing it. It was a fate the Monarch wished upon no one, reflecting on Techno’s bloodlust while in the midst of conflict. He was never afraid to stand up for what he believed in, no matter the odds stacked against him. His partner Phil was just as capable of dealing wide-spread destruction, but the crow held more hesitance while Techno would jump in head first if the situation required.

A matching will hid behind Niki’s caramel eyes, both souls cut from the same cloth of inner strength. Eret offered their own happy smile, embracing Niki and shaking Techno’s hand before the piglin surprised them by dragging them in for an awkward hug.

“Thank you for coming!” Eret mentions as they step back, the pair’s eyes widening as they take in what had already been finished.

“This is impressive.” Technoblade compliments the Ruler, Niki’s face falling upon seeing the Control rooms before she returns her gaze to Eret.

“Where did you want me to work on putting the flag?” She asked, following Eret’s gesture to the bare wall they stood across from.

“If you want to put yours there, I will work on Fundy’s if Technoblade doesn’t mind spotting us to make sure it’s even?” Eret asks, the piglin nodding his assent. 

Giving the woman a bunch of scaffolding, they climb to the ceiling to begin placing the obsidian and magma blocks. Niki had offered the spare flag she made of the scraps of fabric from the old one, but for this exhibit they had crafted concrete of the iconic red, blue, white and yellow shades. The work goes quickly as both work their way down, once the pattern is laid out the rest goes without a hitch.

Soon the trio stand at the bottom of the pieces, looking at the two wildly different contrasting copies of the symbol of a bygone nation. One of colours and hope, the other tinted with shades of change and hellfire.

“When I sewed the original it was with Wilbur’s direction.” Niki’s soft voice brought them back to reality. “I can still hear him explaining each part as I mended the strips together based off that sketch he made on the back of a scrap of paper; ‘the blue stripe stands for freedom and liberty, the white stripe stands for peace, and the red stripe commemorates the blood that was spilled while fighting for our independence. The yellow and black accents are to denote the walls of L'Manburg.’”

“The walls I built then destroyed.” Eret comments, their eyes catching on each part as Niki describes them.

“There is no one to blame but themselves an’ the government they trusted.” Technoblade adds, fiddling with his emerald earring. “All they did was use people then outcast them if they didn’t follow their direction. Each person is an independent section of the universe that surrounds us, we weren’t created to be under the lead of power-hungry corruption.”

“My Wil’s L’Manburg was built for peace, not the wildfire that burned it to the ground.” Niki comments, dropping her gaze from her creation.

“Shall we move onto the books I have collected?” Eret asked the two at their side, eager to move on from remembering the events they had allowed themself to wallow in for years. His friends gave their agreement as they turned their back on the newest additions to these walls to walk up to the new second level where empty shelves lay.

Technoblade started their task by crafting a number of lecterns from the supplies Eret had placed in a chest on the second level. Walls lined with empty bookshelves they intended to fill when they got the time, for now it was just going to be displaying important scriptures to their history. Niki and Eret sorted the books into how they wanted to display them, taking the few that survived L’Manburg’s destruction and setting them aside for the other exhibit Eret intended to craft.

“I had no idea so many volumes were donated.” Niki said, awed by the stacks around them.

“Many people have come by to drop off items they wished to give, when I put out the call for historically important objects I truly didn’t expect so many to flood in.” Eret was grateful for all that had been given, far blowing their expectations out of the water.

“People love their stuff.” Technoblade laughs, finishing up with his task. “It’s nice to feel you are a part of something larger though by giving up something important for others to see, makes you feel connected to the greater picture.”

“That is something our server has been desperately missing, companionship you can trust and comradery for the greater good.” Niki says in a wistful tone. “It’s hard to feel so alone even when surrounded by so many. Differences lead to divides I am not sure how to bridge anymore.”

“I hear you.” Eret says quietly, tracing a finger across the book they clutched. 

‘A Spy’s Diary’ was engraved in the cover, written by a scared fox hybrid when he struck out on his own with a terrifying task, to take down Schlatt’s Manburg from the inside. Eret was one of the few who knew Fundy’s true plans, though Wilbur, Tommy and Tubbo had distanced themself from the now Ruler, the fox had still trusted Eret. Something he shared before breaking their connection for both their safeties in case Schlatt or Dream ever found that knowledge out to live on his own under a tyrant.

“We lost so much Eret.” Niki said sadly, leaning into their shoulder where they both sat against the railing surrounded by books of all different eras.

“So much broken trust.” They mumbled, Techno clearing his throat so both looked at him.

“You may have lost things in the past but you have also gained a lot since then.” The piglin showed his considerate side as he kneeled before the two, offering a small smile. “You will never be alone again, for you have at least myself and Philza on your side an’ I know there are many more who would add themselves to that list. We will come whenever you call for help an’ even if I dislike a lot of people on here, I am fond of you two.”

Holding out both his hands the pair take them, allowing the strong piglin to pull them into a standing position while still holding theirs in a steel grip he meets both their gazes. “No matter the situation, friends are here to pick each other up an’ push ourselves to be our best. We all might have ousted ourselves from our original factions but through that, we found one another. Now I know the people I have at my side are reliable an’ peaceful, which is all I want from this point forward.”

Eret’s chest warmed under the piglin’s blood red eyes, no malice, only kindness deep within those depths of crimson. “Agreed, my friend.”

The Ruler squeezed their hands before Techno huffed, pulling back as all three faced one another. “Now, enough mush, I can’t let my bloodthirsty reputation be struck down so suddenly.”

“You are a big ol’ softie and you know it.” Niki accuses with a light tone, the piglin narrowing his eyes playfully.

“You will never speak a word of this to anyone.” He demands in a teasing tone, Niki holding her hands up with a joyful smile.

“Of course, I only know Technoblade the Blood God. Not Technoblade who enjoys soft, knitted blankets and cinnamon buns fresh from the oven.”

“Hush you.”

Eret chuckles at the banter, placing down the book they clutched as the two traded barbs filled with love. As they slowly let their guard down around those they once weren’t sure of anymore, they saw the light each soul contained and it drew them closer like a moth to a flame.

The Goddess’s chessboard grows more full as each connection is repaired, adding a bone white Bishop to the cracked King’s side and a Rook to the other side. Six pieces now stood against the army of night shaded pieces, still missing a Queen and now with a few more empty spots in the opposition. Slowly the ratio of pawns to others had increased; the raven side only contained one King, two Knights and several pawns. As one side grew stronger the other fell apart, forging new friendships giving them more power compared to the abuse of a mad King.

These aren't the dreams of our fathers

There'll be no wishing on stars

We are the sons and the daughters

Let them come test who we are

The next part they planned to replicate held a different type of guilt to the Ruler, one of a life sacrificed instead of their well deserved death. Staring at the blocks of shimmering crimson red lying deep in the chest beside the glass outline, Eret remembered that night of joyful reunion that turned into bloodshed of the one they felt closest too.

Foolish, the shark totem hybrid who was a later addition to the server, had spoken up against injustice and that action led him to dying at the end of Badboyhalo’s sword. The shark was the first one to attempt to break down Eret’s years old walls, succeeding through persistence until the Monarch let him in. That terrible guilt of his first death was fresh now that the pair stood near where the Egg replica was going to stand, Foolish rubbing his chest while Eret’s heart ached.

“It was my choice, you know.” The shark’s voice held a rare serious tone, correctly guessing the look of sadness on Eret’s face, waiting for the Ruler to acknowledge what they heard before forging forwards. “I would do the same thing again, even if I had prior knowledge of my death.”

“But why?” Eret’s voice cracked, holding a stack of the blocks they intended to build out of today.

“You are worth it, Eret.” Foolish’s steady voice assured them. “You are a kind, neutral and empathetic Queen, one who deserves to make decisions long into the future.”

“But I have been the catalyst for so many ugly intentions here.”

“You have, but you have used those choices to make more informed decisions as you moved forward.” Foolish reaches out his hand, the Ruler places their free one in it before the shark grips it tightly. “Beside me I see someone who is truly regretful of their past, which means you learned from it. Not all people who go through what you did would come out the other side still worried about their intentions, even moons later. You were worth my death, Eret, so others could rescue you all from those indoctrinated Eggpire members.”

Eret’s mind flashes back to the horror of watching Bad yank the sword from the fresh-fallen shark, his crimson blood spilling across the floor where he fell. Just as Bad moved to demand the next death, Quackity broke into the Egg’s sanctuary backed by his two biggest enemies; Technoblade and Purpled. The Eggpire grew distracted with fighting them so the Monarch rushed to Foolish’s side while the others battled.

Pulling the shark into their long arms, the totem choked out laboured gasps as the sword had pierced his lungs and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. Eret’s eyes filled with tears while they cradled the one who had given his life on their behalf, holding his muscular body close.

Coughing, Foolish gestured Eret closer to his bloody lips, drips of crimson falling down his golden-tanned skin. “Leave…me. Get out of…here. Be free, Eret.”

“I can’t just leave you to die alone, Foolish!” Eret begged, the shark’s laboured breathing growing shallower. “I should be the one lying here bleeding, not you.”

“Learn to…live again.” Foolish’s normally cheerful voice was so quiet, his body starting to give into the damage wrought by the blade of one they once trusted, coughing up more blood before settling heavily into the Ruler’s embrace.

The shark’s eyes slowly closed, Eret mumbling their affection and desperation as the one they counted on the most breathed his last. First chance robbed away by ones hungry for power, a deadly cycle that kept happening on this Goddess-forsaken server.

Eret’s mind returned to the present as Foolish climbed into the glass enclosure, beginning to place down the base for the Egg. Watching the totem draw his long silver robes away from his feet as he puts down the first blocks, Eret gathers their own supplies for the exhibit. The shark had bound his raven tresses back in a tight braid today, golden chains running through those night-black strands. An emerald earring hung from his right ear, the marking of another Goddess-blessed being that roamed this server. 

“It’s a little wild that we are choosing to rebuild the Egg, eh?” Foolish asks in a light tone, chuckling. “Thank goodness it's from different parts, we don’t need a repeat of the Eggpire.”

“You can say that a thousand times over and it would never be enough.” Eret says ruefully, joining their companion in adding the next layer.

“We should hold a banquet again.” Catching Eret’s surprised face the shark waves his hands, chuckling. “Not a Red Banquet, no sacrificing at this one, but just a gathering of people who just want their fellow man around them. There are so many people on this server who exist so independently of others and have for moons, let’s arrange a gathering of like-minded people for a night to be filled with friendly memories and new connections.”

“It’s not a bad idea.” Eret muses, thinking back to the monthly balls they used to host where many world members would attend, the tradition stopping a while ago when aggressions between the population grew.

“What about as a celebration when you finish creating your museum? You could hold an opening tour then we could have a feast.” Foolish offers, finishing the third layer to the Egg. “We could start sending out invitations as the time grows closer, I know for a fact we could at least convince Fundy, Niki, Phil and Technoblade to come.”

Eret wondered how it would be for them all to interact once more but then realised their want for connections overrode those concerns. They would warn Fundy ahead of time who planned to attend to allow him to make his own choices, but it wasn’t a bad idea.

“I have missed hosting social events.” They comment, the shark’s night eyes shining above sharp, golden-dusted cheekbones. “We would have to prepare a bunch in advance but my heart loves the idea of seeing them all again in a more relaxed setting then here, where we have been reliving our biggest regrets.”

“In a place meant to hold history there will also be many emotions tied to said events.” Foolish replied, drawing out scaffolding to build the higher tiers. “I have noticed a theme of everyone on this server having heavy pasts, I think it’s time you all grow closer because of that similarity.”

“The divides happened for a reason.” Eret responds, following the shark's lead with scaffolding.

“Long ago, yes.” Foolish said, tilting his head and waiting for the Ruler to meet his gaze before he continues speaking. “But you all need to either bond over it or you will all fall apart due to that separation. As a world, we could be a lot stronger if everyone banded together instead of separating when things get difficult.”

The Ruler was used to the shark being a fun-loving, joyful soul, so they were always surprised when the shark pulled out these gut-wrenching lines they would replay in their memories for years.

“You worry constantly over the next threat to rear its head, yet if you had more eyes on it that means you would have more hands when it got ugly.” Foolish returns to the building as he speaks, knowing the totem has the Monarch’s attention. “Eret, these memories and regrets are years old. There is only so long you can dwell in them before you become stagnant, stuck in the same loop of paranoia and depression. Take what you learned and move forward, it’s time to stop drowning in those thoughts. I am reaching my hand out, as would many others, to help pull you out to walk into the future together.”

Eret paused, thinking over the others who had come to help them in the past few days. There were a few more souls the Ruler was now determined to talk things through with, encouraged by the words of their partner and biggest defender. “You are right.”

“I normally am.” Foolish said with an arrogant but teasing tone.

“There’s a couple more people I want to talk things out with, but yes, let’s plan a dinner with everyone. I agree, to become stronger we must lay our past transgressions to rest.”

“I can guarantee everyone who has arrived here has evolved into a much different person, it’s time to bond with those souls now compared to then.” Foolish completes the middle layer, twinkling eyes meeting Eret’s. “I can start putting plans together while you finish your creation, let's host a dinner after your grand tour.”

“Alright Foolish, let’s do just that.”

Another piece is added to the Goddess’s chessboard with her wither-bone hand, a white Bishop to stand on the raven Queen’s side. A total of seven pieces lay on the side of the ones she gave her strength too, gathered around the catalyst for many events. As the dark side’s numbers fell, the others grew stronger through allies and friends, even if blood stained their paths or they came from different backgrounds. As the night-shaded side weakened, the mismatched pieces of white and raven grew stronger. The divisions faded as each relationship was repaired or mended, the Queen held up by those they once betrayed.

Can you hear me?

You're a Goliath to me

I'll be there when the guns break out

'Till the storm is over

Lay your burdens on me

I'll be there when your fate runs out

You'll be on my shoulders

For the fourth exhibit Eret reached out to someone who had betrayed them in the past, a turn of events from the usual. This was the first time they had laid eyes on Sam since his escape from the prison they, Tubbo and Technoblade threw him into, they didn’t expect how strong the rush of anger would be seeing the creeper hybrid once more.

They took a deep breath as Sam walked into their museum on his four, muscled legs, towering well above everyone on the server. Eret took a moment to compose and remind themself this was going to be a tough conversation but they were done with worrying about the past. Foolish had driven it through their thick skull since they built the Egg, daily even, to work on mending once close friendships and to stop dwelling, move forward with what they had learned since then.

The former Warden had wound tight bandages across the right side of his face, only one eye visible to the outside world. Adorned in a golden chestplate, the bottom half of him remained unarmoured, allowing his legs more freedom of movement. His circlet was unpolished and dingy, dented and mangled like the rest of him. He moved with none of the confidence he used too, a tentative nature surrounding the once formidable warrior. With a gas mask affixed to the bottom half of his face and his raven hair messy, the Monarch had a hard time getting a read on his emotions as he entered the space.

“Hello Sam!” Eret greets, noticing how Sam jumps slightly at being addressed before offering the smallest smile.

“Good day, my Ruler.” Sam’s formidable voice was a ghost of what it once was, sorrow ringing through his gaze as he looked at the crowned Monarch. “I brought what you asked for, plenty of regular and crying obsidian.”

“Good, good, I was planning to build it over here.” Eret led Sam over to the empty space between the Egg and the corner of the Community House they had reconstructed. “Did you bring any pictures or measurements?”

Sam tapped his temple with a bitter laugh. “Only the ones in my mind, but I will never forget how it looks or how big it was. Hours of drafting plans will cement it there forever.”

“I get that.” Eret says quietly, letting their emotions run through their mind at spending time with the creeper hybrid and former Warden of the prison. “There are some places on this server that haunt my nightmares each night reminding me of what happened in them.”

Sam nods with a heavy expression, opening his glowing inventory panel to draw out a stack of the nearly-impenetrable black mineral with hints of deep purple formed of lava and water. “When did things get so violent, Monarch, what happened to the days of light-hearted fun while we built whatever we wanted?”

“I believe we happened.” Eret responds, the silence growing after that. “And Dream pulled a lot of strings to cause the chaos he craved.”

“Dream.” Sam hissed out, his left eye narrowing as both reflected on the first one to arrive in this world. “I had hoped to keep him locked up for the rest of our natural lives, then that damned piglin broke him loose.”

“Sam he’s too conniving, he would have found another way out besides Technoblade even if you had stopped that plan through your mad means of doing so.”

“I thought with a hostage I could.”

“That's the root of our problems, we make bargains using other people’s lives.” Eret replies, cutting Sam’s line of thinking short with that similarity. “You and I have both made that mistake and it only leads to more death and bloodshed.”

Sam stops putting down his line of obsidian, making Eret pause on the parallel wall they were constructing. “I never thought about it that way.”

“Also, how do you know Dream didn’t plan for you to lock Technoblade up as he knew that hybrid was one of his chances to escape?” Eret straightened up, meeting Sam’s eye. “I have had several people drive home just how much we can’t change the past, it's impossible. Everyone on this server has a hand in someone's demise, the only way we can show we have changed is to prove it through our actions.”

“I wish we could.” Sam’s voice dripped with regret, Eret knew the tone well.

“Same, but we cannot.” Eret repeated firmly, leaning down to put another block of the dense material. “I don’t forgive you for using a child’s life to bargain, I don’t know if anyone ever will. Just like I most likely will never be forgiven for being the cause of the original L’Manburg’s demise.”

“We are rather akin to one another with our guilty consciences, aren’t we?” Sam asked in a small voice, which Eret decisively nodded too.

“We are.” Eret sighed before continuing to construct their newest exhibit.

The rest of the build went quickly, with small talk exchanged about the placement of blocks as they completed the prison cell that once housed Dream. Standing at the entrance of the tiny room, both were quiet before Eret broke the silence.

“There is another similarity between us, Sam.”

The former Warden cocked his head with a questioning look before Eret finished speaking their thoughts aloud.

“We both spent far too long listening to a certain green-eyed bastard.”

“That I can agree with, wholeheartedly.”

“There’s a number of similarities between us coming to mind now; we both caused the death of the younger generation and we were both manipulated by Dream.”

“Manipulated?” Sam seemed confused before his left eye widened. “I never put it together, but I suppose I was kept under his thumb even as I held the key to his shackles.”

“I wore his crown after he talked me into turning my back on my former countrymen.” Eret taps their golden headpiece, before reaching a hand out to the creeper hybrid. “I am done feeling the dragging weight of past sins, I want to take your hand and move forward into whatever we face next. Agreed?”

Sam paused, looking deep into a replica of the cell that held many people over its lifespan. “I can still hear Tommy’s screams, even when my mind tried to block them out yet my heart rushed to save him. I let a child die when he should have been under my protection, all for the sake of someone who escaped anyways. I was the one who carried his frail body out of that cell, away from Dream’s blood soaked hands after he beat the teen to death.”

“I know.” Eret said simply, their chest clenching at the pain Tommy went through time and time again, waiting with their olive branch still extended. “We have both let down the generation who comes after us. I cannot waste the energy I need to move forward on drowning in the past, neither can you. We still have histories to record and battles to fight, for the good and longevity of this world. Take my hand Sam, and let’s work on saving the future together regardless of what came before. Let’s leave a good legacy instead of a painful one, one that we learned from our choices and worked towards making things better.”

“Okay.” Sam folded their thin hand into his scarred, both taking one last long look at the place neither of them ever wished to see again. “Let’s do just that, Eret.”

A marker of a failed containment stood within their museum, a place for others to reflect on tactics that would never work. No one on this server was above another, they should never use such a power imbalance to protect the server again. Sam mentioned how he planned to decommission the prison soon, once they drove the wasp from his nest where Dream now resided.

Another exhibit created a place on the timeline of pain this server held, one contained within the walls Eret built a second time. As the sun set overtop the lone Ruler, their mind started to accept the words they had preached to Sam today after the hybrid had left.

A new fire lit within the Monarch that night, one to finish speaking with all of those they hurt so they could create a network they could rely on. The next exhibit they planned would test this new resolve, but it was a conversation that was years overdue with two blondes that used to look at them with adoration.

In her dimension, the Goddess’s chessboard grew more unbalanced but this time, in the other side’s favour. Placing a raven Knight between the cracked King and white Rook, another contrasting piece to the rest of the board. Slowly, the raven side had become bare, some pieces missing and others throwing their lot in with the opposition. The raven King had lost control over his army, his underlings snapping the strings from round their necks to finally stand alone, under their own decision and strength. There is only so far one can be pushed before they rebel, especially if ones once hurt by the King share their experiences and band together. The Death Goddess gave a small smile as she adjusted the board, glad her Queen had begun to find their footing once more. Her son did his job well in encouraging the Ruler, allowing them to forgive the past while still using that knowledge to improve their kingdom.

We won’t just fall away

We weren't just born to fade

Our stories are past the horizon

We're chasing the sun till we find them

Goodbye to what we made

No matter anyway

We're climbing until we transcend

Higher, higher

To where the skies end

Laying out the platform of grass blocks, Eret prepared the next physical manifestation of the server’s history well before the best friends showed up. This was something they expected, Tommy and Tubbo were easily distracted and were probably hyping each other up to come even after accepting the invitation to come make sure their bench was perfect.

The Ruler was doing the same thing, giving themself a pep talk and reflecting on the past few visits. Between speaking with Wilbur, Fundy, Philza, Niki, Technoblade, Foolish and now Sam, they had a clearer understanding of the current state of the world. One could only lock themself away for so long before something came smashing through the gate. They spent far too long alone in their castle when they should have been out here recording history and staying educated by being among others.

“Tommy you can’t just say shit like that.” Tubbo’s voice came long before the boy, the young men engaged in yet another argument.

“Why the fuck not?” Tommy fired back with his famous snark, both walking through the entrance as he said that. The curly haired sunshine blonde wore his famous red and white shirt where Tubbo wore a heavy forest green jacket over a lighter shade shirt.

“Dream could be nearby, listening. We are not ready to fight hi-” Tubbo cuts himself off as he realises where they were, staring with a worried expression at Eret.

“I’m not on his side anymore Tubbo.” Eret assures, holding their hands up. “Though I was once, I will never be again. I swear that upon my soul.”

Tommy freezes, tilting his head as he considers what the Monarch said. “How do we know you aren’t lying to us?”

“You don’t, I suppose.” Eret shrugs before coming closer to the boys, hand pressed to their white shirt over their pounding heart. “But I implore you to hear I have seen the error of my choices and wish to never repeat that mistake again. Turning against you was the worst thing I have ever done and I will strive everyday to reconcile for my crimes. I apologise for the pain I caused and I will never stand on his side again.”

Tubbo and Tommy trade glances, before the shorter dirty blonde with brown goat horns takes a hesitant step closer to the tall Ruler. “Do you promise?”

Eret nodded before he even finished speaking, adjusting their shirt nervously as they awaited the boys to hopefully believe them. Tommy’s sapphire blue eyes followed their hand, Eret taking a deep breath before deciding to lay it all out for the boys. To tell them just how far Dream went when they refused to do his orders, the Ruler had only ever told one person before about this. Too ashamed they were put in their place so many times before they finally broke their marionette strings, eventually free of the spider's web they were encased in for years, they hid the only major scarring they had.

Fingers trembling, they slipped the first few buttons out of their holes and tugged the collar down to show the choker of scars their neck had carved into it. Remembering how it felt to have the steel bite through flesh, Dream’s painful grip tight on their brunette curls to hold them and that cursed golden crown in place as they attempted to escape. The brief void of limbo in an empty castle devoid of any emotion besides paintings of their bloodiest sins, alone as they always were, but this time painfully aware of it. Waking up to feel their head attached once more but their clothes stuck to their skin, dried blood flaking as they sat up from where their corpse fell hours before.

Dream’s cruel emerald eyes as he smiled that terrifying grin to ask if they learned yet, if they knew just how beneath the blonde they lay. How much they were tugged into place to be a figurehead, knowing no friendly companionship, only what action Dream forced them to take next. He would often wait hours to revive them, allowing both the mental torment to take place after the vicious death.

They remembered piling wooden fuel on stained clothes again and again before igniting them, scrubbing crimson from their golden throne they hated more with each day. Waking up each morning wondering what depraved thing the bastard had thought of today, their soul urging them to run away but their heart wouldn’t let him do this to someone else if he discovered they went missing.

“I will never be swayed to his side again.”

“Eret, what did he do to you?” Tommy’s loud voice was soft for once, Eret trying not to visibly wince feeling both their stares on the marks.

“After he got what he wanted by separating myself from you, each time I rebelled he would kill me. Usually beheading, depending on how much I pissed him off he would do it quickly or he would draw it out.” Eret let their hands fall, looking down to the floor beneath to compose themself before looking at both the boys' shocked faces.

“Similar to you two, I have been damaged by this world we exist in.” As Eret says this their glasses-covered gazes trail across the right half of Tubbo’s face, thick with scarred tissue from a close range firework explosion. Tommy’s were less extensive, but the distance behind those once bright blue eyes spoke volumes about what he held internally.

“What a fucking dick.” Tommy curses, finally meeting Eret’s vision. “You didn’t deserve that torture.”

“Nor did either of you.” Eret bowed their head slightly, their shoulders falling as emotions crashed through them like a tidal wave.

As the older one in these situations, they should have done their best looking out for the two before them. Along with Fundy and many others, their goals should have only been leaving a better world behind, not a worse one filled with conflict and war. Remembering the proud look in Dream’s face when they agreed to the betrayal plot, they thought they were doing just that.

Until the bastard revealed his true intentions through his actions and Eret saw with horror how they were on the wrong side of history. But the damage had been done, made clear by the two dim stars before him, once bright like the sun and moon. Now, only a remnant of what was that passion lay behind their blue eyes.

“Fuck the past.” Tubbo surprises both of them, before continuing forward. “I am sick and tired of feeling sad over it. I want to do what’s best for myself and the world now.”

Reaching out his scar-coated hand, he grabs Eret’s. “Let’s start over and be the best people we can become.”

Holding his free one out to Tommy, the taller sunshine blonde grabs it with a wicked smirk, his gaze dancing with blue flames of excitement now. “Fuck the past, let’s become even better versions of us.”

“We can never deny what happened though.” Eret hated to damper the joy, but they knew how important preserving was so they could make informed choices going forward.

Both blondes nodded, a solemn tone to Tubbo’s voice. “No, we cannot forget what has been. I no longer want those emotions to colour my current judgement of you though.”

“Gods know you have probably blamed yourself for way too long.” Tommy has these rare moments of insight Eret always admires, the boy guessing the other people’s thoughts well before they reveal them. “But let’s finish talking about that unpleasantness for now. I heard you wanted my help with the best new display for your museum, where it all began.”

“Technically that would actually be the Camarv-” The Ruler shuts up when Tommy looks with a raised eyebrow.

“Where it all started.” He confirms the Monarch giving into his notions.

“I mean, we planned a lot of our decisions on it.” Tubbo admitted, walking to the chest where Eret stored their supplies.

“It’s the best damn place on this fucking server.” Tommy affirms, following his best friend.

“Okay Tommy.” Eret gives in with an affectionate grin, getting the sapling they had just found from their inventory.

Between three sets of hands, the construction went quickly as it was a much smaller project compared to the others under this roof. Sandwiched between the prison cell exhibit and the Community House, it was a glimpse of the happiness that was also found on this server.

Tommy and Tubbo collapsed onto the bench first after its completion, Tommy even going to retrieve one of his discs from the enderchest in the Community House replica. Sliding ‘Mellohi’ into the jukebox Eret had made, they shuffle from foot to foot where they stand before Tubbo pats the bench beside him.

“Come sit down.”

“...okay.” Eret’s heart mends just a bit more as they settle down beside the two they didn’t expect to speak so positively with ever again.

Facing the Camarvan in the fading light of the approaching night, the Ruler allows the warmth from the comfort of forgiveness to melt into their bones. Tommy hums along to the song as he leans into Tubbo, the smaller boy between him and the Monarch.

“I am grateful you heard me out.” Eret said, feeling their tense back melt away finally.

“Anytime, bossman.” Tubbo pats their jeans-covered knee.

“It feels good to know where you stand.” Tommy admits, which Tubbo agrees with by nodding.

“At your side, for whatever you need.” Eret responds, both boys giving matching smiles.

The Death Goddess’s chessboard is adjusted once more, her gentle hands adding two bone white pawns to stand in front of the cracked King and the raven Queen. A mix-match of players from all different backgrounds, uniting against their common enemy through forgiveness. A beautiful contrast to the blood that usually soaks their soil, companionship bloomed from the decay of past choices, using the nutrients to show the most brilliant growth. The mad raven King had lost many of his allies now, standing only with one Knight against the ones he harmed. 

We left our chains

We left them below

We are all rising above

We were not born to stay low

Show me your strength

It's more than you know

You'll never know what you're made of

Until you set foot down the road

We knew this day

Was set long ago

And when the sharks smell the blood

They will all see it's their own (Own, own, own, own)

The final pieces to ‘The Royal Archives’ were ones they wished to place alone, the last parts of the story they wished to convey and remember. It was a task that held bittersweet energy, when these were completed there was nothing more to add to the build, for now.

The future was ever changing after all.

Carving a hole out of the skylight of their structure, they built a copy of L’Manburg air balloon that hung over the grave of its nation. Somehow, even through it all, the symbol of what once was still floated proudly in the air. Eret remembered Captain Puffy showing them one day her creation and through all the destruction, there it remained.

The whisper of a nation born from a desire for freedom that fell because the one who controlled all had enough.

Eret let themselves sit in the basket for a while, staring up at the clouds above and laying to rest their concerns. Their heart felt much lighter since they had spoken with everyone, a much better ending was had during all reconciliations then they ever pictured. Each memory dripping in blood still caused them pain, but it was a step towards healing since speaking with everyone affected as they didn’t cut as deeply as before.

Daydreaming for far too long, they climbed to the roof once more to build the sign above to declare what was contained below.

‘The Royal Archives’ had a really nice ring to it.

Sweating, they climbed up and down scaffolding for the rest of the afternoon making sure to place the blocks in the right spots. Having to drag a stonecutter to the roof, they carved the pieces needed to get the smoothest display.

Standing at the base of those white quartz pillars, they admire the shining sign standing proud above their best work. Tapestries of maps and times past hung from the walls, hundreds of photos plastered between the art of various factions that had risen and broken. Several exhibits were houses under that grand roof, many important pieces to the tales one could tell about this world. They intended to complete the lower levels with portraits of each member but for now, the main floor they intended to show was finished.

Taking a deep breath of the fresh air; Eret allowed the guilt and regret to consume them once more before balming the sting with friendly words of those hurt before walking inside their masterpiece in the evening light.

The Camarvan remained at the centre of their build, the establishment of independence and freedom from Dream’s rules. Where everything kicked off, Eret remembered the joy in Wilbur’s eyes when they revealed they wanted to help him instead.

The Control Rooms to the right, where that joy drained away to flaming anger as they were tugged into Dream’s schemes. Watching the four they swore a nation's oath with breath their last under the swords of malicious intent.

The Community House in the left front corner that had been through several versions, another catalyst for many important battles. Eret reminisced on seeing Tommy and Tubbo screaming in the middle of the destroyed structure, water pouring down the walls as Dream watched with glee.

The Egg in the far left corner that more people had died over, a point of their timeline that still made Eret shudder. Watching the friends fade away before their very eyes to become shells for that otherworldly thing to control.

The prison cell replica that stood as a reminder of what not to become consumed by.

The bench where two best friends planned several things as well as relaxed upon, all while listening to two iconic discs. Tommy had even donated copies of the originals he had stumbled across, which the Ruler had framed and affixed to the oak tree behind the bench.

This was a place that now contained the legacy each of them left behind, all contained in the Ruler’s mind and shown through these physical copies of the real locations. They would spend time over the coming weeks scribing all they knew to scrolls, intending to store them in the empty shelves of the second floor. Soon they would put out a call for all to come and tell their points of view of battles of the past but for now, it was complete.

It was crazy that this project they put years into had come so far, but the Monarch couldn’t be more proud of how it came out. Now also containing the best memories they have had in a long time, each of the conversations they had with those who helped build it to heal ancient cracks in their heart.

The Royal Archives now stood as a reminder to not allow the past to define you yet not to forget it either. Each piece contained was important to the entire machine that this story was and would be far ahead.

There was no more important role to the Monarch of the Dream SMP than recounting the stories survived, to allow others to draw inspiration from them when making their own decisions. To take that knowledge into their own accounts when making important choices, as they would forever more be doing.

In the Death Goddess’s dimension, the raven King piece’s crown fell with a thud while the eleven white pieces stood proud. Eleven versus two, the odds were looking more in the raven Queen’s favour by the day since they sought friendship more than power now. She had a feeling upon seeing Eret in this world that they would achieve great things. Watching them go through the trauma they did hurt the Goddess, she ached for their poor soul. She could not interfere directly, but through tiny nudges and their own strength, they had begun to turn the tides of war once more. Evermore a catalyst, the Monarch stood at the head of a plot once more. But this time, one of teaching the past while fighting for those who cannot.

We won’t just fall away

We weren't just born to fade

Our stories are past the horizon

We're chasing the sun till we find them

Goodbye to what we made

No matter anyway

We're climbing until we transcend

Higher, higher

To where the skies end

The Ruler paced with anxious energy as the opening day of the The Royal Archive occured. Now, everyone who had come to help promised their arrival. It was about to be a whole mess of tangled memories about to unravel but all were aware of who was coming and agreed anyway.

Foolish had done his best to calm them but soon gave up, taking his place at the front desk to get them to sign the arrival book while Eret marched back and forth.

“Everything is going to be fine.” The shark tried one last assurance, night eyes shining in the bright sunlight of the early morning.

“Foolish, nine people are coming, all who have fought one another in the past a couple times over. Why did I think this was a good idea?” Eret tugged at their braided hair, crown heavy upon their brow.

“They all said yes, some even expressed excitement over today. It will be fine.”

“You don’t know that!” Eret stopped pacing to look at the shark who just raised one side of his mouth.

“I don’t but I have faith in those I surround myself with. Do you?”

Eret opened their mouth to respond before shutting it, losing their train of concern as they admit. “Yes, I do.”

“There you go.” The shark stated things so simply, cutting their overthinking off easily.

“Hullo Monarch!” Technoblade’s gravelly voice boomed as he entered with a dramatic flair of his rose-red cape, Phil rolling his eyes beside his partner.

“Greetings gentlemen!” Eret replied with a wave, Phil pulling them in for a hug when he gets close.

“Good to see ya, mate.” Philza pats their back before releasing them, Techno pulling the Ruler in for an embrace too.

“Hey, where’s my hug?” Foolish teases, Phil drawing him in where the piglin only gives him a handshake while smirking. “I see how it is, you like Eret more than me.”

“Yes.” Techno agreed with Foolish who huffs, not entirely wiping the joy from his face as he throws his hands up raising his voice slightly in exasperation.

“What do I have to do to get you to like me?”

“I have tried that method, doesn’t work.” Tommy joins them with a joking tone, eyeing up the piglin who gives a good natured sigh.

“Generally shouting at me is not a good way to gain my favour.” Techno grumbles before Phil nudges him in the side.

“If you don’t like them, why did you spend an hour grooming yourself while mumbling concerns aloud to me of how today was going to go and what the others thought of you?”

Foolish lets out a loud laugh, drawing the attention back to himself as the Monarch blushed. “That sounds familiar.”

“Good morning everyone!” Niki announces as she enters the group standing in front of the desk, a basket of good-smelling baking hooked over her right elbow.

Fundy stuck close to her left side, anxiously glancing around at the others. Eret watched Phil and Techno’s faces soften at seeing the scared fox, he had fallen so far into paranoia, at a dangerously close level to where his father resided during his Pogtopia era.

“That smells delicious.” Tommy immediately zeroed in on the food she held, which she laid a hand over the lid.

“Ah, ah, ah, these are for the dinner Eret is hosting after if that is still a go?”

“Yes, everyone is invited to my castle when we complete the tour.” The Ruler nods, one of their last guests walking slowly into the building.

Tubbo and Technoblade immediately clocked onto the creeper hybrid, his hesitance kept him quiet as he stood by the wall, far away from the others.

“Hello Warden.” Tommy muttered, Sam flinching at the coldness in the teen’s tone.

Foolish made a deliberate move to go stand at the large hybrid’s side, daring anyone else to say something.

“We are not here to fight.” Eret cautioned, drawing the attention back to themselves. “We are here to reflect on our combined history to create a more united front to face the future with confidence. I told you all who were invited and you chose to show up.”

Tubbo laid a scarred hand on Tommy’s white-knuckled fist, gazing up at the creeper hybrid who already looked ashamed. The sunshine blonde stares at him for a few more nail-biting seconds before relaxing, taking Tubbo’s hand.

“You are the reason my Boo is dead.” Tubbo says so quietly to which Sam winces.

“I am.”

“You also used my only child like a bargaining chip.”

“I…did.” Sam’s head fell, breaking eye contact as he moved to kneel before the two teens who looked at the hybrid with wide eyes. “I don’t have any right to ask your forgiveness nor do I deserve it, but I vow upon my broken heart I will never do it again.”

“You swear?” Tommy’s voice leaves no room for arguments as the creeper places his large hand over his golden chestplate.

“Upon whatever you wish for me too.”

“You have learned your lesson about using people’s lives?” Techno accused, coming to Tommy’s side who lets a tiny bit of awe cross his face while the piglin made his stance known. “If you haven’t, so help me Goddess, I will break into that prison just to throw you around again.”

“I don’t live there anymore but I will give you my new coordinates happily if I ever do something like that again.”

“Wait, who lives there now?” Tommy questions, to which Sam closes his uncovered eye as he responds.

“Dream.”

“That rat bastard!” Tommy shouts, breaking out of Tubbo’s hold to grind his fist into the palm of his hand. “He broke out only to return to living there? What the fuck?”

“I don’t think any of us can guess his intentions.” The Ruler broke into the conversation with that, their voice steady. “I wish I could so we could take him down, but not yet. Today is about reflecting on the past and creating new ties between us.”

“Agreed, mate.” Phil steps beside the Monarch, gesturing with his hand. “If you are ready, I would love to get the tour?”

“There’s one more yet to join us.” Eret worried, glancing at the clock on the wall just as Wilbur strode into the place.

He wore a similar expression to Sam, one of hesitance as he glanced at the other ten standing there. “Hey guys.”

“Hello Wil.” Eret greeted him with a smile before facing the group once more. “There’s the last guest. Now I am ready to begin, shall we?”

Though the event began walking on eggshells, Eret found it was much easier for them all to talk over mutual experiences with each event they recorded in this room. Echoes of the past followed them through each stop but there wasn’t that soul-crushing regret drenched over them anymore.

Each space had its time and place, many combinations of conversations happened as they moved through their histories. Wilbur, Fundy, Tommy, Tubbo and Eret stood inside the Final Control Room as they exchanged apologies, the walls of death changing to mean one of reunions even moons later. Father and son eventually discussed their problems, turning into a family discussion when they moved to Wilbur’s Control Room.

Every place they stopped inspired the spark of forgiveness, from tiny to years old wounds, many things were talked about on this tour.

Tommy and Sam took a moment alone inside the copy of the prison cell the teen died in, coming out looking on much better terms. No more glances were traded between the pair, a tentative peace that would only grow stronger with the right sort of nurturing. 

A private moment happened between Ruler and shark totem when they approached the Egg, the Ruler gave themself the grace of the words the shark had told them time and time again, it was time to let go of the regret.

Each exhibit passed in much the same fashion, the people most affected discussing their experiences and talking about thoughts they held for years. When they stood in front of the desk once more, the tour completed, tension no longer crackled in the air.

Comradery had been forged among these broken soldiers who stood before them, each put through their own personal hells in their time spent here. The Ruler felt the lightest they had in years seeing the fire ignited in so many souls once more. 

This is what stories were supposed to do, to bring others together to listen to others words. To share wisdom and morals, to learn from what happened in the past and move forward into the future. Looking at each face gathered, Eret draws comfort that even through it all, they had said yes to coming today.

Their quest for forgiveness had picked up some extras but it had become this butterfly effect of kindness. The youth of this world had been through so much, but so had the old generation. Through pain they found companionship, fired by deceit the metal of these bonds had been made stronger through anguish and power struggles. 

“I believe it’s time for dinner folks, if you will join us at our Monarch’s castle?” Foolish raised his voice above the chattering, all nine of their friend’s voicing their agreement and hunger.

Taking Foolish’s elbow, they begin the journey to their home for good food enjoyed by brothers-in-arms once more. Technoblade, Wilbur and Tommy were trading barbs while Niki, Phil, Tubbo and Sam talked about baking recipes. 

Eret now held hope this would become a regular occurrence, seeing everyone get along brought a smile to their face. If there was a new story to tell, the Ruler manifested it would be a good one with the beginning being the tour they conducted. It had brought so many people together, the first time in ages and it was such a nice feeling.

In a search that has continued for centuries

Some far distant view

With this promise of the unseen

And it's promise of the unknown

Has forever fathered the impulse

To seek for new things in new places

New horizons

The Goddess’s game had one final move for her to play, eleven mismatched pieces stood against only two. She advanced them forward to stand at the middle of the board, preparing to fight the very small raven side. An uncrowned King with a crack through its torso stood with a lone Knight, loyal to the very end. The bone white side had finally gained the advantage through allies, even ones found once on the enemy team, to face their oppressor once and for all.

Though their ending had not been told, the Death Goddess had a good feeling about their odds. Watching through her crow’s eyes upon the feast the Monarch held, she saw the friendship strengthen between all gathered. Laughter and tears were shed as all shared their thoughts, stars brightening in this constellation formed through reconciliation. All gained energy through being around one another, a family born through strife is the strongest bond of all.

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