Tommy stumbled over a root as the rain beat down on him. His chin scraped the coarse ground, and he cried out, biting his tongue. Why was he so clumsy? After the detonation and explosion of the TNT, Techno's "betrayal" (that wasn't really a betrayal, more of a justification for being misled), and the Wither attacks, Tommy felt his clumsiness was just because of the mental stress put on him by them. Ghostbur, who had been walking alongside Tommy, kneeled at his little brother's side, offering him a hand.

"Are you okay, Tommy?" Ghostbur asked as Tommy took his hand.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he huffed, getting to his feet.

The pair reached the small campsite they had created, Tommy going to sit next to the Prime Log, whispering something under his breath. Wilbur went inside one of the tents he had set up to rest and wait for the rain to stop.

Tommy leaned against the log, shutting his eyes. A wicked headache pulsed in his head, and he groaned. The rainfall suddenly stopped, and he slumped down. A nauseating feeling took him over, and he tipped over.

"Wilbur?" Tommy's pitiful voice squeaked from the ground. He lay curled up in a ball, hugging his knees to his chest as he quivered in the short grass, tall logs towering over him.

"No, this Ghostbur," Ghostbur said politely, peeking out the tent, slightly confused and tilting his head.

Tommy tightened his hold around himself, trying not to cry too loudly. Tears streamed down his face as he struggled to breathe. "Please, get Ph-" he stopped in the middle of his sentence. There was no way Phil would come to help him. Tubbo was still upset at him for just being who he was- Tommy- so he wouldn't help either. Ranboo came to mind, but Tommy didn't want to lean on him too much, and he still wasn't sure if he was to be trusted since he wasn't a member of L'Manberg (not that L'Manbergians could even be trusted...). Not even Quackity would help him because he still blamed Tommy for Dream's threat. And none of them came to his beach party...

Taking a shaky breath, Tommy looked to Ghostbur with pleading eyes, "Please ask Techno to help me, please."

"Oh, of course! Techno is one of my best friends!" Ghostbur cheerily replied before turning to leave for Techno.

Tommy didn't have the strength to thank Wilbur as the life slowly drained out of him.

-

As he lay in the soft moss, Tommy wished the real Wilbur would come back. He didn't care if Wil was still strict, he was sure that his brother would toughen him back up and give him the words he needed. Tommy knew Wil had made mistakes- heck, he made some pretty bad ones too. That made him think: maybe Tubbo's words weren't true. Maybe Tommy would die just like Wilbur after making mistakes, and maybe Tubbo had become just like Schlatt- or a kinder version of Schlatt. So, now that Tubbo was like Jschlatt, Tommy would be like Wilbur.

A tear slid down his face as he shook with every emotion that he had kept bottled up. Feeling a weakness overtake him, Tommy passed out, coughing up something black that burned his mouth and tightened his chest.

~~~~~

"Hello, Technoblade!" Ghostbur exclaimed, smiling brightly as he approached his brother.

"Oh," the pink-haired one remarked, tying up Carl, his horse, to a fence. "Hey, Wil... Oh- Ghostbur." Techno missed the old Wilbur, but he was glad a part of Wil remained.

"Tommy wanted to see you. I can bring you to him," Ghostbur offered. Techno looked at him skeptically, thinking about what he could possibly do to get back at Tommy. He smirked.

"Yeah, sure. I'll come."

-

Techno arrived with Ghostbur at Logsteadshire, taking careful note of the land and water they crossed. He had been there before with Lazar and Vikkstar, but he still enjoyed looking at the scenery. His eyes landed upon Tommy's small frame laying on the grass. Techno was a little disconcerted, but he still was going to follow through with his gloating plan.

"So, your precious government turned out pretty well, huh," Techno jeered as he entered the entrance of the site. The site smelled of dirt, fresh-cut grass, and wood, and it was located in a quiet meadow- a perfect place for a vacation or, in Tommy's case, exile. Techno lay his eyes on Tommy, curled up next to a log and a sign that pointed to it with indecipherable words scrawled on it. Ghostbur and Techno waited for a snarky or bold reply from the young blonde, but they didn't receive one.

Techno was perplexed, but he was gloating right then, and he wasn't going to stop because Tommy was upset- that never stopped him before. "Technoblade was right!" He shouted, referring to himself in third-person, then erupting with uncontrollable laughter. There was still no response from the boy, so Techno cautiously stepped towards the boy to see his face. Techno dropped to his knees next to him at the sight of Tommy's almost unmoving figure.

"What..." he whispered, carefully scooping him up in his arms. Ghostbur came up next to him wonderingly.

"What do you mean?" Wil asked Techno, a genuine look of innocence on his face.

Tommy's eyes opened, half-lidded, and he whimpered on seeing Techno in front of him. Maybe it was a mistake to have requested him there. Tommy willed himself to move, but an intense pain flooded every part of his body, and he shut his eyes tightly, tears finding their way down his face.

Techno had never seen Tommy look as helpless as he did now. Well, no, actually he had- and it was when he was dying. He held the boy in his arms, and Tommy's head hung limply. Techno panicked as he set Tommy up on his horse. Tommy wasn't dead, but he certainly seemed close to death. Techno raced his horse to L'Manberg, not worried at all about the welcome party that would come, only worrying about Tommy on the back of the horse. As they entered L'Manberg, Techno and Tommy were met with Ranboo, Quackity, Fundy, George, Sapnap, a defeated, bitter looking Tubbo, and Dream with a triumphant look plastered on his face that lay below the smug mask. But Techno didn't care what was going on. Sliding Tommy off the horse and into his arms, he rushed toward them. Tubbo, seeing his friend, widened his eyes, looking to Dream.

"Surely, this doesn't bring consequences to L'Manberg now that he's here," Tubbo asked Dream cautiously.

Quackity stared unbelieving at Tubbo, and seethed. 

"How dare you."

Tubbo glowered at him but turned his attention back to Dream, who was smiling demonically at Technoblade and Tommy.

Ranboo immediately rushed over to Tommy, looking at Techno fearfully. "What happened?" Techno shook his head, tears threatening to spill out his eyes. Ranboo offered to help, and Techno leaned Tommy against Ranboo, who held Tommy up.

Dream let out a short chortle, pushing his mask to one side of his face to reveal his devilish lime green eyes. Still holding a piercing stare at Tommy and Techno, he spoke to Tubbo.

"You know what this means, Tubbo." Dream spun around to smile wickedly at the president. "I'll be adding to the walls today."

Tubbo stepped backward.

"No! You can't!" He shouted.

"Oh, yes I can, Mr.President. You're powerless in this situation." Dream spat out Tubbo's title like it was distasteful, then turned his attention back to Tommy. His expression changed into a look of irritation.

Tommy didn't move.

"Why is he not saying anything?" Dream questioned angrily, glaring at the boy.

Techno fumed. "I don't know! That's why I came here!" Tommy shuddered in Techno's arms, lightly tightening his grip on Techno's cape.

"C-cold," Tommy muttered with a hint of pain.

"What?" Techno asked softly and fearfully, returning his attention to the boy.

"I'm c-cold," Tommy murmured, burying his face in Techno's arm. He coughed, something like black saliva getting all over the part of the cape his face was in. Techno, Quackity, Ranboo, and Fundy all gasped, terrified at what was happening to Tommy.

Dream's look of annoyance grew into a slow-growing smirk. He wheezed as he laughed, spiteful tears falling down his face. "You-" Dream exploded into another fit of laughter as he pointed to Techno. "You know what wither sickness is, yeah?" Dream asked Techno, trying not to break into more laughter.

"Yeah, I know what wither is, wh-" Techno stopped short. No. No, this could not be his fault. But it is, his mind reminded him. He had spawned those Withers, and he couldn't exactly blame Tommy for being in the middle of the chaos. Techno slowly moved his tormented gaze down at Tommy. "No," Techno breathed.

"Yes," Dream giggled maniacally, fixing his mask back over his face and getting out his ax.

Quackity and Fundy both looked at each other, then at Tubbo. Their president stood, crossing his arms and looking away from them and to L'Manberg like he didn't care what was happening to Tommy. They made up their minds, leaving Tubbo and marching over to where Techno stood. Ranboo gently handed Tommy to Quackity, and Ranboo and Fundy equipped their armor, pulling out their weapons. Techno pointed Quackity and Tommy toward a safe spot away from the fighting.

Ghostbur arrived with Philza, and Phil rushed over to Techno.

"What's going on, Techno?" Phil asked, putting a hand on Techno's shoulder.

"I'm going to kill him," Techno said grimly, tightening his jaw. He pushed Phil to the side and pulled out an ax. Philza looked at him worriedly.

"At least tell me why, first," Philza pleaded, trying to get Techno to think before he acted.

"No."

~~~~~

Hahahahaha. I made a cliffhanger. The next part will probably be shorter, and there will only be two parts. I hope you enjoyed the story so far. Thank you for reading <3