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Sun was shining calmly over the grassy fields of the SMP. Most people would be happy about sunny days like these.
Not him though. His combat boots trampled a yellow rose. Shame.
Dream shielded his eyes from the sun. The year in that dark, damp cell had not done anything good for his body and the sun was burning his eyes. If only he had his mask… but no. The stupid duck had taken that from him as well in the prison.
Quickly Dream kept going, if he could reach a forest the sun would be less cruel to his eyes.
In very far hindsight, maybe he shouldn’t have let Sapnap burn the forest around L’Manburg. It would have come in handy now.
Eventually he was able to find cover of some trees. But not even a few steps into the forest something interesting caught his ears. Children laughter. There hadn’t been children on the server in a while now. Tommy and Tubbo were adults by now. Or at least almost.
Careful Dream walked over to where the sound came from.
There on a clearing in a forest he saw two kids. They were young, maybe 5 or 6 years old.
One was clearly a spider hybrid with the crazy amount of arms that Dream could count quickly.
The other seemed to be a piglin, but one eye socket was empty and the skin around it was wrong. Must be zombified.
What took Dream the most off guard was that they talked. And good as well. Most mob hybrids can say one or two words in English at best.
Eventually Dream decided to just leave, they weren’t a threat to him and he wouldn’t gain anything from hurting them. He turned around and started to walk away until his ears caught something else.
“Shroud, come on. We have to go home before Tubbo and Tommy get worried about us.”
Immediately Dream stopped dead in his tracks and turned around on his heels. He hid behind a tree and continued to listen.
“Michael… Dad never lets me play outside! For the first time in forever we were allowed to play alone in the forest. Because your dad said that the danger hadn’t been seen in weeks.” The spider said. Dream assumed that was Shroud, and then the piglin was Michael.
“Tommy will get worried. You know your dad doesn’t like us playing alone. I am just sad he doesn’t tell us why.” Michael said.
Dream’s eyes widened. Shroud was Tommy’s kid? Oh, this could be interesting.
He stepped out of his hiding spot behind the tree. Immediately the kids jumped in fear and walked backwards a bit.
“Don’t be afraid. I am just a traveler. I just overheard your conversation. Your dads don’t let you guys play outside normally?” Dream asked.
Shroud shook his head. “Dad is scared of something. So he doesn’t let us play. Only in the house.”
Dream knelt down, so he wasn’t as intimidating to the kids. “Don’t they teach you kids self defense?”
Michael and Shroud looked at each other and then shook their heads.
“Tell you what, come with me. I can teach you how to fight. You could surprise your dad.”
Shroud’s eyes, too many of them if you asked Dream… it gave him the creeps, started to sparkle with joy. Michael just seemed to shy away.
“Dad said to not talk with strangers. W-we should go Michael.”
Dream put his arm out in front of Shroud. “I am an old friend of your parents. They trust me. They won’t question it. I will send them a message.”
Shroud jumped up. “Yes, please! I always wanted to fight.”
Dream stood up. “Well, come on then. Follow me. I will take you two to my trainings bunker.”
Tommy stared at the letter in his hands. Shroud had been missing for about a month now. Michael as well…
And now there was this letter.
‘
Dear Tommy,
I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. I have been going around the SMP again recently. Much has changed. I heard about what happened to your kid. Awful shame. Would have loved to meet the thing. Hope your discs still give you the same joy as before.
See you soon.
Your friend,
Dream :)
’
Tommy threw the letter away and let his hands go to his hair. Dream had Shroud… He knew it.
Oh god, by now Shroud was dead. It had to be. His poor kid.
He let himself fall to the ground.
“Shroud… I am so, so sorry. I-I c-can only hope you died quickly.”
Tommy was at Tubbo’s place talking about the letter he got, when suddenly he heard footsteps outside. He rushed out the door and immediately stopped when he saw Dream.
“Greetings Tommy. Have you missed me?” His enemy taunted.
Tubbo stepped up behind Tommy and also glared at Dream. “Where is Michael?!”
“Michael? Oh, poor little Michael had an… accident. He didn’t make it.”
Tubbo stared in shock and stumbled back, tears welling in his eyes.
“WHERE IS SHROUD?! WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?” Tommy shouted.
Dream grinned and stepped closer.
“You will see.” Suddenly Dream snapped his fingers and Tommy heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and there, dressed in his own small netherite armor set, was Shroud.
Tommy could cry when he saw his kid. The joy had left Shroud’s eyes, he looked broken.
“Don’t you like my new soldier, Tommy? Purpled and Punz trained him for me. I taught him how to listen and behave.” Dream said proudly. “Shroud, make sure Tommy and Tubbo can’t leave.”
Before Tommy could even do a thing his feet were stuck to the ground by spiderwebs.
Tommy looked over to Shroud.
“Shroud, buddy. This is not you. FIGHT HIM! He is not your friend! I am! Listen to me, kid.”
“SILENCE! You always go on and on. Can that mouth of yours never stay shut for five minutes!” Dream snapped as he stepped forward and grabbed Tommy’s chin roughly. “I am going to have fun breaking that mind of yours again. I can reshape you all over again.”
Dream let go of Tommy and stepped towards Shroud. He knelt down next to the kid and let his fingers go through the kid’s hair. “You did great, my little spider.”