we can all learn things(just maybe in different ways.)

in which hunter and hunted are one and the same

"I've known you since you were very, very young, Clay." The voice continued. "You thought you were brave, and strong, and worthy. You thought you could help your friends, that you would do anything to save them. But I know all that is just a mask.

"The truth is that none of that is real. It's not who you really are. The truth is that you're weak. You're weak and scared and pathetic. You're not willing to do what it takes to protect the kingdom that has given you everything you've ever known."

"Set George and Sapnap free." Dream growled, daring to let his hand curl into a fist. "Now."

"Who do you think you are? You're no knight, no honorable warrior defending your kingdom. No, you're a traitor, a weakling, a scared little child who failed to eliminate the threat to the throne that raised you, that took you in and trained you to fend for yourself!" Techno could hear the sneer in the voice and even he flinched backwards at the ferocity.

"No!" It was the most raw and vulnerable scream that Techno had ever heard come out of Dream's throat, rasping slightly as he rose to his feet, his hands curling into tight fists. "No! You can't do this! I did what you said! You have to let them go!"

And for a millisecond Techno realized that they were one and the same, that they were both struggling to save someone they loved, even if he didn't know who Dream was fighting for. He recognized and shared the raw pain and emotion in Dream's voice, even if it was for different people. So, for just a nanosecond, a lick of sympathy curled in his chest.

Instantly he pushed it away. No. Dream was getting what he deserved. He deserved to go through the pain of losing loved ones, the pain and fear and guilt of knowing that he could have saved them, could have done more, could have been stronger. The pain that was shattering Techno right now, weighing him down and piercing his heart and his head, worming inside his brain.

"Pathetic." The voice echoed, and for once Techno had to agree.

"Please." His voice was raspy with raw pain and loss and tears pricked at the corners of his eyelids.

"I've heard enough from you. You will watch the execution tonight at sundown. Your friends will die knowing you could have saved them."

Techno waited for the scream of rage and pain but instead only heard his breath hitch. Suddenly, Dream's still body fell to the ground, his mask tumbling from his hand to the cool floor. His expression of pain and loss twisted into one of neutrality.

By the time Techno realized that this probably meant that he was up next for the sleeping potions, it was too late. He felt himself being dragged under and his eyes fluttered shut as he slumped to the ground next to his worst enemy.

~

Tommy's eyes burst open and he jerked upwards, inhaling huge gulps of oxygen. Sweat beaded on his forehead. "Shit." He rasped, his eyes widening as he remembered what had happened.

Fuck, he had failed again, hadn't he? He had just fucking stood there and watched as his oldest brother was taken away, evaded Dream's attacks like a goddamn coward while Tubbo had been splashed, and then had been dumb enough to get caught as well. Goddamnit, why was he always screwing up? Why couldn't he just save his family like he had set out to do?

He reached up to rub his eye before realizing that only one of his hands would move without resistance. Blinking multiple times in an attempt to force the world to focus, he squinted down at his right hand. His wrist was bound in thick rope that chafed at his skin, tied up and linked to another.