Aaaaand now, the emotional rollercoaster you've all been waiting for!
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The Pogtopians were gathered.
Tommy stood on a table, taking charge. "If anyone has any extra resources, we have to use them now," he said. Then Techno stepped forward. "I have the resources. Everyone, follow me." He turned and started up one of the stone stairways.
Tommy considered not following, but curiosity got the better of him and he trailed after everyone. Techno led them out of Pogtopia, across the plains. Where is he taking us?
Techno stopped at a lake. "Everyone, down into the secret base." He swam under the water, and they all followed, swimming down a hatch into a tiny room that was cramped with everyone crammed inside. Bookshelves lined the walls. It didn't look like anything special.
Then Techno reached out and pulled a hidden lever. A hatch in the floor swung open, revealing a ladder leading downwards. "Now this," he said with relish as they all descended, "now this is the vault."
Tommy stepped off the ladder, skeptical. Then he saw what awaited them.
Suits of armor were assembled, ready for the taking. Chests of swords and supplies lined the walls. "I am ready for revolution, boys!" Techno crowed. His statement was a bit undermined by Tubbo racing by, his arms full of stolen emeralds.
"Is that necessary, Tubbo?" Techno asked. Tubbo nodded as he dumped all the vault's emeralds into his ender chest. "Completely necessary. Don't ask questions."
As everyone dressed in armor, Tommy sought out Tubbo. "How are you feeling, Big T?" he asked. Tubbo shrugged. "Nervous. Excited. Hopeful. Scared. Same as everyone else."
"Look, Tubbo. No matter what goes down today, this all started with us and the discs. If L'Manburg is blown up, if we lose everything today— it all comes back to me and you. Us against the world?" Tommy held out his hand.
"Us against the world," Tubbo agreed, taking Tommy's hand without hesitation. They shook on it, and then Tubbo pulled Tommy into a hug. "Don't die," Tubbo ordered.
Tommy gave him a grin with as much confidence as he could muster. "I don't plan on it," he responded. But Tubbo didn't look reassured. "No one plans on dying. Keep yourself safe. Please." "I will if you will," Tommy proposed. "Deal," Tubbo agreed.
They pulled out of their hug, and then Tommy had to leave his side to lead the group onto the battlefield.
Please, he thought. Please, universe, keep Tubbo safe today.
***
They met Manberg's forces head-on, the battle making its way to one of Eret's towers. Tommy and Tubbo fought side-by-side, their blades blocking every attack.
Glancing over at Tubbo, Tommy was surprised to see a glimpse of happiness, wild and fierce, flash across Tubbo's face. He's scared, but he knows he's doing the right thing. We're fighting for our country. There is some joy in that— and leave it to Tubbo to find it.
As the fighting raged on, suddenly Tommy found Tubbo was gone. He glanced around, panicked, but everyone looked the same at a glance— netherite armor and swords aimed to draw blood.
Suddenly Dream stepped up. His hood was pushed back, the tips of his blond hair stained red with blood. Based on his lack of scratches, it must've been someone else's blood. It could be Tubbo's, Tommy thought with a sickening pang.
"We would like to surrender!" Dream shouted over the din of the bloodshed. He raised his arms, and his soldiers fell back. Tommy stared, uncomprehending. Surely not. Dream never surrendered. He fought to the death... his enemies' death, usually.
"Surrender?" Wilbur stepped forward. He was wearing no armor, lacking a sense of self-preservation. "What do you mean?"
"Schlatt is an idiot," Dream said bluntly. Took you long enough to figure that out, Tommy thought as Dream went on, "He's not even fighting in his own war. He's hiding... and we can take you to him. Follow me."
Wilbur and Tommy exchanged dubious glances, but they followed Dream anyway, stepping carefully in case it was a trap. The Pogtopians followed, and Tommy felt a crushing sense of relief when he spotted Tubbo among them.
They entered the Camarvan, only to see Schlatt sitting on the floor, a shattered bottle of alcohol on the floor next to him and a full one in his hand. "Is this a surprise birthday party?" Schlatt croaked, staring around.
Tommy glared at him hatefully, drawing his bow and aiming at Schlatt's face. This time, I won't hesitate.
"Anyone smell toast?" Schlatt continued, taking a long swig of whatever was in the bottle. Wilbur snorted. "Do it, Tommy. Kill him."
"You know, if I die, this country goes down with me," Schlatt claimed, despite his pathetic state. Fundy stepped forward. Tommy was startled to see claws slide out from under Fundy's nails, and the fox's teeth were bared.
"You had a dream and I followed it! But you brought it all down. You— you ruined it!" Fundy shouted in rage. Schlatt glared up at him. "You know what, Fundy? You know what I am? I'm what you're not. I'm a real man!"
"That's it!" Wilbur snarled, his eyes flashing with fury. "Do it Tommy. Do it now." With a nod, Tommy readied his bow. This was it. He would be the one to bring down the great tyrant.
Suddenly, Schlatt began to cough, his body shaking erratically. "Schlatt?" Wilbur asked quizzically, stepping back. Then Schlatt fell to the ground, limp and lifeless.
"Did— HE JUST HAD A HEART ATTACK!" Tubbo's cry of shock rang out, sending the Camarvan into a state of triumphant disbelief.
"He's dead!"
"Did he have a stroke?"
"WOO! WE TOOK THE L!"
"Yay, we killed an old man with heart problems!"
Suddenly Tommy felt Wilbur's hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Wilbur staring at him with warmth in his eyes.
"Tommy," Wilbur said. "Tommy." He shook his head in disbelief. "Tommy, I know you never expected to hear me say this... but TommyInnit, why don't we make our way to L'Manburg and have you take your rightful place on the podium? Or, should I say, President Elect TommyInnit?"
What? Tommy stared around, shocked to his core. "I—" he stammered, unable to speak. He glanced around, expecting objection. But no one did.
"I— Wilbur, this means more to me than I can ever say, I—" Tommy could barely speak. He threw his arms around Wilbur, squeezing him tighter than he ever had in his life. And Wilbur hugged him back.
Everything was going back to normal.
But... something felt wrong as they made their way to L'Manburg, as he placed his feet on the stage. And when Tommy stepped in front of the microphone, he knew, in his heart, what he had to say.
"I'm extremely honored to have been chosen," he began, searching for the right words, "and I'm grateful. So grateful. Wilbur, Tubbo, after everything... it was meant to be." Tommy waited for the cheers to die down before he went on. "But. I can't be president. Until I've got those discs back, I'm not done."
Tommy watched as the full impact of his words landed on the crowd, then turned to Wilbur. "Wilbur... come take your rightful place."
Tommy watched an expression of shock and honor cross Wilbur's face. The scratches he'd given himself were gone, thanks to Tommy's insistence he drink a healing potion. He was standing taller, his eyes brighter. He looked like the old Wilbur.
A leader.
Wilbur stepped up to the stage without hesitation. Taking the microphone as Tommy walked off, he began, "I'm honored and all, but let's get to business. First of all, our country is called L'Manburg, and our flag is yellow, black, red, white, and blue!"
Everyone cheered at that.
"But," Wilbur continued, "I too cannot accept the presidency." Tommy froze at that. What?
"But there is someone who deserves to be president." Wilbur's gaze traveled around the crowd, resting on Fundy for a long moment. Then his eyes turned to the boy by Tommy's side. A small boy with fluffy brown hair and ice-blue eyes.
Tommy's best friend.
Tubbo.
"Tubbo, you're a good kid and an even better spy. Come up here and take your rightful place!" Wilbur stepped off the stage, and Tubbo stood frozen at the back of the crowd. Tommy pushed him forward, beginning to cheer.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Tubbo bounded forward and climbed onto the podium, leaning upwards on his tippy-toes and lowering the microphone to his level.
"I— I don't really know what to say," Tubbo began, his face flushed with excitement and happiness. "I'm gonna be honest... I don't really know what a president does." That elicited a laugh.
"But I promise I'll do my best," Tubbo continued. "Our nation has been scarred. But I hope that if we all try, we can heal. Together."
As he cheered with everyone else, Tommy's heart was full.
It was meant to be.
***
Wilbur watched, backing away from the crowd. They were all cheering for Tubbo.
But Wilbur couldn't, not just yet. There was somewhere he had to go.
Something he had to do.
Was it still there?
He trudged through the hills until he found it.
The room he'd carved into the hillside.
The room of which he'd written lyrics to the L'Manburg national anthem on the walls.
The room with the button.
Stepping into the cave, Wilbur saw it.
The button was still there.
A smile spread across his face. Not the warm smile he'd just given Tommy and Tubbo and all the others.
A crazy smile.
"Chekov's gun. Chekov's gun."
Chekov's gun. The rule that if an element appears, it must be used.
"If I'm ever going to do it, it's now."
He found himself speaking out loud.
"I've been thinking about the song... it says there was a special place. Not there is a special place."
He wondered if the button still worked.
"The thing I built this nation for doesn't exist anymore!"
He found himself shouting, venting his feelings.
"The thing I worked towards doesn't exist anymore!"
A certainty rose inside him.
"It's over."
"What are you doing?"
Wilbur froze. It was a voice not his own, a huskier, less deep voice, a voice he knew well...
"Phil?"
***
Meanwhile
Tubbo beamed as the people of L'Manburg and the Dream SMP cheered together.
Cheered for him.
Tommy was at his side, ruffling his hair, hugging him close.
"It was meant to be!" Tommy crowed, and Tubbo hugged him back, screaming with delight. No one even heard him over the din of celebration.
They pulled apart, and Tommy stepped back, still smiling.
Then Techno rushed forwards.
Knocking Tommy away, Techno whirled to face Tubbo.
Tubbo stared in confusion as Tommy groaned in pain from the impact. "Tommy, are you—" he began.
Then he saw the crossbow Techno was holding. It was loaded with a firework arrow.
And it was aimed at his heart.
***
"What are you doing?"
The words echoed in his head, a question spoken by a voice he hadn't heard in months.
Wilbur turned, and standing at the threshold, there he was.
Philza Minecraft.
His father.
Phil's glossy black wings spread out behind him, gorgeous feathered apparatuses that had caused a younger Wilbur to think Phil was an angel.
"Hello," Phil said evenly. Phil gave Wilbur a look, the kind he used to get for stealing Tommy's stuff. Wilbur felt a sudden urge to explain himself.
"Do you know what this button is, Phil?" Wilbur began, treading cautiously. Phil nodded. "I do." "Well— I— I just made this big point, about how in the song, it says there was a special place, but it's not there anymore."
"It is there." Phil's voice grew gentler. "You've just won it back, Wil."
"I know, but— Phil! I'm always so close to pressing this button, Phil! I've been here— like seven or eight times I have been here," Wilbur blurted, tears streaking across his cheeks. "Phil... I've been here so many times."
"And you want to just blow it all up?" Phil's voice was gentle and curious. Wilbur heaved a sigh, leaning against the wall with his head in his hands. "I do. I do."
He did.
He wanted to blow it all up.
***
Tommy struggled to get to his feet, a panic overtaking him.
Keep yourself safe, Tubbo had said.
I will if you will, Tommy had responded.
Deal, Tubbo had agreed.
And now here Tubbo was, an arrow aimed at him. I made him promise to keep himself safe, Tommy thought, but if he can't, then I'll do it for him.
Tommy drew his sword and charged for Techno. Instantly he knew it was a mistake. Fear made him weak, and Techno easily kicked him away again.
Landing hard on the ground, he hit his head this time. Tommy winced in pain. I have to fight, he thought dizzily. He forced himself to his feet again. I have to save Tubbo.
But he was too late.
"You think I'm going to let you just build a new government!?" Techno shouted. His eyes were trained on Tubbo, but his words were for the whole group.
Techno continued, "I did not spend weeks planning this revolution, giving you guys gear, for you guys to go in and replace one tyrant with another!"
Tyrant?
Tommy felt fury rise inside him. How dare Technoblade call Tubbo a tyrant— how dare he threaten Tubbo's life— he would pay— Tommy would make sure of it—
Tommy's eyes drifted back to Techno just in time to see him release the bowstring.
"NO!" Tommy lunged forward, a wild scream building in his throat. A resounding boom and a flash of color, Tubbo collapsed to the ground in a puddle of blood.
Tommy raced forward, crouching by his side, putting pressure on the wound— but it was too late. Tubbo's slick blood coated Tommy's hands, mingling with tears that dripped off his cheeks.
Tubbo fell limp in his arms.
And his body didn't vanish, ready to respawn.
They had a word for this, when someone died and didn't respawn.
A canon death.
It was what had happened to Schlatt. Why he'd died and not come back.
Tommy had lost two lives before. He had always come back.
But they didn't know how many lives a person had.
And Tubbo showed no signs of coming back.
"TUBBO!" Tommy screamed, horror and grief filling him until he could hardly breathe. "Tubbo."
Then it happened.
Tubbo's closed eyes began to glow green, opening slowly. A shimmering green haze spread across his whole body, then dissolved.
Tubbo sat up.
He was okay.
Tommy's gaze traveled to Technoblade, who had reloaded his crossbow.
Tubbo wasn't dead.
But they weren't safe yet.
Tommy gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to fight.
Then Dream spoke.
"You know, Tommy, there was a traitor among you."
Tommy nodded. "We know, it was Technoblade, he just killed Tubbo—"
"No. The traitor was Wilbur."
"What?" Tommy stared, uncomprehending. His eyes traveled over the crowd, and a sickening realization settled over him.
Wilbur wasn't there.
"Where's Wilbur?"
***
Sounds of fireworks echoed faintly, far above Wilbur's head. In L'Manburg. Undeniably Techno's rocket launcher.
"They're fighting," Wilbur breathed. "They're fighting."
There was no peace.
"You've fought so hard to get this land back," Phil reminded him, arms and wings enfolding his son in a hug. Wilbur didn't pull away from the embrace, instead staring over Phil's shoulder at the button.
"I-I don't even know if it works," Wilbur spoke as if in a trance. "I could press it and it might not work. I could press it..." Almost unconsciously he began to reach out with a trembling hand.
Phil pulled his arm back. "Do you really want to take that risk? There is a lot of TNT potentially attached to that button."
There was.
Was that a good thing?
Wilbur couldn't tear his eyes away from the button. It was strange. Such a tiny thing could cause so much destruction and pain, if he so chose.
"Phil..." Wilbur pulled away from their hug, sighing. "Phil..." He laughed slightly, a somewhat insane chuckle emerging from his mouth. A laugh that came from the certainty of a choice decided.
"There was a saying, Phil."
At Wilbur's words Phil tilted his head, ready for Wilbur to go on.
"By a traitor, once part of L'Manburg."
Wilbur was so close. So close to the button. So close to betraying his friends and family.
"A traitor... I don't know if you've heard of Eret?"
Wilbur watched as Phil tensed, his relaxed expression growing worried.
"He had a saying, Phil."
Closer. Closer. Closer to the button. He reached out a hand and lightly stroked the wood.
"It was never meant to be."
His fingers pushed down on the button ever so slightly. A drifting, delicate, simple touch.
Such a light press of a button.
And it brought their world down.
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AAAAAA WE'RE IN THE ENDGAME NOW