Chapter Text
To say that Eret wanted all of his friends to die would be a lie. Then again, they have lied a lot in her life.
Either way, the Final Control Room did not end in a way she particularly expected it to.
The night was cold when the deal had been made. It was about a month into the war when they had messaged Dream.
{ The_Eret whispered to DreamWasTaken: Meet me at the Community House. I want to talk. }
{ DreamWasTaken whispered to The_Eret: Oh? I'll meet you there. }
She walked quietly out of L'manberg's walls, desperate to not wake their sleeping comrades. Child comrades, child soldiers. Wilbur had children fighting his war. Something between calmness and unease rested in their gut as they thought about it, thoughts bluring into the steps she took down Prime Path. They had to end the war, before these kids lost everything, before it was too late to go back. Eret loved them like family, had helped raise Fundy and watched their nation bloom.
And yet she was willing to throw away their trust to keep them safe? Yeah, they suppose so.
The community house made it's way into their view, tired white eyes cascading over the scene. It looked so odd to see the place so late at night. She could hear mobs disturb the silence in the distance.
Dream stood quietly outside, looking patiently towards the path Eret was arriving from. His mask reflected no real emotion, leaving his thought a mystery behind the cruel black smile painted on the dulled white plastic. Eret's footsteps slowly quieted once they were face to face.
"So, what does the gracious deity Eret wish to speak of with me? Finally sent out to declare surrender for L'man-child-berg?" She visibly grimaces at the words, but turns them over in their head nonetheless.
"Eh.. kind of. I'm here to talk about.. betrayal." They can almost imagine Dream's eyebrow quirking upwards as his head tilts ever so slightly to the side, intent on hearing her out. "L'manberg.. I love it. Dearly. The people there mean everything to me. Which is why it isn't right for me to let it continue. They're just kids, Dream. I can't let them keep suffering through this awful war Wilbur has put them up to. I will do anything, as long as it brings the war to a conclusion for them, where they get to continue peacefully living afterwards." When they finish talking Dream lets out a noise she can only point to be between a sigh and a laugh.
"That's very.. interesting. I'm willing to hear you out on this. But why do you need my help?"
"You and the other should destroy everything," She pauses, gauging Dream's reaction "I'll trap them. Keep them locked underground in obsidian until you're done. Then you, George, Sapnap, and Punz will go through and wreck everything until they have nothing left to continue the war. It will force them to surrender." The masked man nods as she explains, seeming to actually consider the words coming out of someone else's mouth for once.
"Okay. And what do you get out of this?"
"Nothing. I want nothing."
"Hm.. okay. Deal. When shall we go through with this?" Eret actually feels the shock wash through her spine. Maybe they shouldn't be too suprised, it's Dream afterall. He wants nothing but the downfall of L'manberg.
"The twentieth. It should give me time to prepare and them enough time to drain of resources so they'll be desperate for a final escape. I'll message you when I'm ready, and my exact coordinates as proof. You seem like you would ask for something like that, needing a final closure that I haven't somehow pulled together one last 'gotcha', hm?" They chuckle, feeling a bit better about this ordeal now that she's actually spoken with Dream on the deal. The man only nods and turns away with a simple 'goodnight'.
The date comes around much quicker than Eret expects.
Every aspect of the plan is ready. The control room is set up, empty chests designated for each member of the army labeled as if waiting to share a stash of suprise materials, a button in the center with redstone wiring that connects to the entrance so she can seal L'manberg away from the ruin. It feels so dreadful to think about, but it's for the better. Tommy, Fundy, and Tubbo will be safe. They won't have to train for a war that the adults refuse to seek actual help for.
Eret prepares for the battle ahead. She'd recieved a message from Dream that there would be one final battle before they should lead their friends away, just to make they had absolutely no resources and would need to believe that Eret actually had a backup plan from the get-go. She begrudgingly agreed to let the fight happen, wishing the poor kids wouldn't have to face so much more bloodshed before they have the rug pulled from beneath them.
They pace by the enterance, watching as the others slowly rise and realize that the Dream Team was stood outside, armed with swords and arrows. They all imediately scramble, gathering their materials to find out what the fuss is about. Everyone begins fighting, wandering away from the border and into the towers further along Prime Path. Eret follows carefully, trying to make the enemies weaker effort against her more seamless to avlid suspiscion.
Eventually, they find themselves lacking in resources and retreating back into their walls. Eret clears her throat once the army is back in the Camarvan.
"I have a suprise for you. One last trick up our sleeve, to end the war for good." Everyone seems elated and excited, turning all attention onto them. "Follow me, boys."
They exit the van and begin towards the Final Control Room, hidden beneath the lake. Everyone stares in awe as they walk down the steps, closer to an independence-free future. Eret tries to act normal. As the army gathers round and waits for her instructions, she sighs.
"Welcome to the Final Control Room..." They wait, looking to her with starry eyes and hope. They can only sigh, pressing a button on their communicator behind her back. "Down with the revolution, it was never meant to be." She watches confusion and horror set in as their hand presses into the button, the entrance to the room snapping shut quickly with heavy netherite doors that had been expertly hidden into the frame. Then, before Eret realizes what's happening, she watches a pickaxe slice into the room.
They are being invaded.
Slowly, unable to help, each of Eret's friends is picked off by the Dream Team. The canon life count drops to two on each of their death messages. She opens her mouth to scream, maybe it comes off as a smile, maybe it doesn't even happen at all. Wilbur gives them a look of utter betrayal and hurt and pain before he poofs away in a cloud of smoke and items.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Is the first thing Eret screeches at the people left within the room. Dream starts laughing.
"Did you really think I would pass up the chance to give them all the punishment they deserve?! HAH! The second I knew you would isolate them I realized the perfect opportunity!" He grabs her hand as they reach for their communicator, tsking and shaking his head. "Ah ah ah, no. You don't get to play unfair with your stupid magic here. How about a compromise? I'll crown you king, yeah? Will that settle you?" Eret pauses at the words, wavering at the offer. A chance at ruling? Maybe even a chance to change something on this Prime forsaken server? After a few moments of consideration, and quite a bit of ignored protests from George, she nods.
Because what else do they have to lose, now? Surely nobody from L'manberg will ever trust them again. Not after losing lives. Maybe devoted subject could fill the void. Just maybe.
Eret walked away from that day with nothing but hurt and regret. Her crown quickly became meaningless. Dream was still in control, despite whatever make believe say Eret had in any matter.
Maybe it would have been better to help those kids soldier on...