The curtains are thrown up with enough force that a chilly air circulates through the room alongside the dawning light. Tommy grumbles unhappily, throwing an arm over his face to cover his eyes. The last dredges of sleep cling to his mind, and he feels as if he were floating between two states. This sensation is made unbalanced by someone tugging on his blanket. Tommy is unable to grab it as it is pulled entirely off the bed. The cold air hits Tommy like an electric shock. He hisses, tilting his arm to look at the source of his annoyance. Jack is folding the blanket in his arms, a cheeky smile on his face as he glances at the prince. "Good morning, Your Highness."

"Let me go back to sleep," Tommy orders, turning onto his side to avoid the light and Jack's face. He curls into a ball, wrapping his arms around his knees to huddle together. He feels the warmth of his body reflect onto him, creating a small bubble of protection only broken by Tommy's shivering and Jack waving the blanket around.

"I apologize, Your Highness," Jack says, but he doesn't sound sorry at all as he grabs Tommy's hands. Jack pulls, unfolding Tommy's body. He tugs hard enough that Tommy sits up in the bed. He slowly opens his eyes, glaring at Jack as the knight pulls Tommy's legs off the side of the bed. When his feet touch the cold tile, Jack pulls Tommy's hands, getting the prince onto his feet. Tommy feels the cold run up his body like a slithering beast, making a home in his chest where his heart should be pumping warm blood throughout his body. Tommy closes his eyes, wrapping his arms around himself. He fights the urge to fall back onto the bed.

"Here you are, your highness." Strangely enough, with his eyes closed, Tommy can delude himself into thinking that Jack's words are enough to warm his entire body. Tommy opens his eyes, noticing that Jack has placed some clothes in Tommy's hands. Jack has one hand on top of the settled on top of the folded clothes, but the other one is underneath where Tommy's hands are. As Jack steps away, Tommy sees the red and blue coloring of Jack's arm tattoos turn back into silver. Jack doesn't seem to notice this as he smiles at Tommy. "I will come for you when you are finished changing."

Jack leaves the room, the door clicking shut behind him. Tommy stares after him, at the closed door, but he doesn't manage to call out for the knight. Whatever happened with his arm was weird, but Tommy was too tired to pay it the attention it deserved. He'll just have to ask Jack about it later. Or maybe he'll let Jack deal with his cursed sword. Tommy hasn't decided yet. The answer is entirely dependent on why Jack chose to wake Tommy up so early.

Tommy walks over to the changing curtains, standing behind the folds to change his clothes. Jack prepared a set of comfortable clothes for Tommy. Although they are of fine quality, they seem more apt for a merchant than a prince. Tommy moves his arms, testing the flexibility of the material. As he does, he notices that the design isn't similar to that of the Antarctic Empire even if the blue color is fairly similar. Tommy wonders when Jack found the time to go shopping in Alfheim, or why he would purchase something for Tommy when the prince didn't ask him to. Did Jack use his own coin or the funds allocated to the expedition?

Tommy shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. He only messes his hair up more. Tommy grumbles in frustration, marching to the other side of the room. Tommy plops down at the vanity, reaching for his hairbrush. As he runs his fingers through his hair, he is reminded of how long his hair has gotten. Tommy pulls at the strands, feeling the pricking of pain in his scalp. Tommy sets his hairbrush down. He puts his hands in his palms next, massaging the skin with his fingers. He sighs out of his nose, looking up to stare into his reflection.

He no longer looks sick with grief like he did when he was mourning Wilbur and Shelby, but there are remnants of it lingering around the edges of his face. Tommy reaches a hand out, pressing his entire palm against the cool glass of the mirror. He takes out one of his eyes with his palm, but the other one continues staring back at Tommy like the reflection knows what Tommy has done. Tommy glares at the reflection, and it seems to smirk back at him. Tommy brings his hand back, closing his fingers into a fist to break the dishonest mirror.

Tommy is not stopped by a sudden burst of rationality but by a gurgling noise like a fountain coming to life. Tommy turns his attention away from the reflection to see the water familiar spinning in fretful circles. Tommy's eyes slide right past the water familiar to see the green-feathered bird sitting in its golden cage. Those lifeless eyes stare back at Tommy, unbothered by the prince's temperamental nature. Tommy snarls, pushing past the water familiar. He grabs the bars of the cage, feeling more like the prisoner than the familiar of the Air Elemental King who stares right back at him. Tommy leans in close, but the bird never looks anywhere else when something is near it. Tommy growls out, "I will fucking kill you."

Again, Tommy's murderous impulses are not stopped by his own intentions. The knocking on the door snaps Tommy out of his dangerous thoughts. He looks over his shoulder as the door pushes open a sliver. Jack peeks his head in. He smiles at Tommy so brightly that his eyes close, stopping him from truly noticing what Tommy is doing. Jack calls out, "Are you ready, your highness?"

"This better be important," Tommy murmurs. He sends another glare to the puppet bird as he pushes the cage. It clatters to the ground. The bird flaps its wings to land on the ground, but it doesn't look particularly disturbed by the new position. Tommy would kick the cage, but he turned his back to the creature. Jack gives Tommy an odd look, but he doesn't make any comments about his prince's behavior as he opens the door fully. Tommy steps into the hallway, pulling at his hair one last time.

As Jack leads Tommy through the hallways, the prince takes a deep breath. If he thinks about the air familiar, he has the sudden urge to kill it again, but the farther he gets away from his bedroom, the better his mood is. Tommy looks down at his hand. A few scars are littering the pale skin, steadily growing redder with Tommy's blood pumping underneath. Tommy flexes his fingers one after another, wondering what exactly about the bird upsets him so much. It was a gift from Sneeg, and it is there for Tommy's protection and happiness. He should be grateful for the mimicry, but ever since he received the bird, he's wanted to destroy it feather-by-feather. The only other time he feels like this is when he looks at his wings, but Tommy, at least, knows why he hates his wings.

"Your Highness?" Tommy halts, looking over his shoulder. Jack has stopped by the dining room doors, but Tommy has kept going, unaware that Jack had even stopped. Jack is giving Tommy a half-smile, but there is something worried in his dual-colored eyes. Jack nods his head toward the dining room. Tommy opens his mouth to explain, but only silence falls from his lips. Tommy settles for a sigh, turning back to step into the dining room.

The room is empty save for Niki, and she has her back turned to the door. She stares up at the paintings that show the outside world, but she turns around when Jack coughs into his fist. Niki is wearing a bright smile, beaming with positivity. She is wearing her regular uniform, like Jack, but there is an apron thrown over the ensemble. The reason for this apron is apparent when Tommy sees the cake in her hands. It is a two-layered cake frosted red and white like it was made for Valentine's Day. There are, however, no anatomically incorrect hearts, and Valentine's Day isn't a holiday in this world.

Niki sets the cake down on the table. She waves Tommy and Jack over with a gloved hand. Jack nudges Tommy, acting more like his friend than a guard who should fear for his life. Tommy can get a half-thought formed about how Jack would have never acted like this in The Ender Prince when he is delivered right in front of Niki. Tommy raises an eyebrow at her excited expression. "What is going on with you two? Why have you made a cake for breakfast?"

Niki and Jack share a look. The smile on Jack's face completely drops with his confusion, but Niki's smile shrinks as worry fills her eyes. She tilts her body, lowering herself to look up at Tommy as if to make sure that he is awake right now. She takes a deep breath, her smile growing even wider. "Your Highness, it was on this day sixteen years ago that you were born."

Tommy's mouth parts in surprise. He turns his body, staring down at the cake instead of looking at either Niki or Jack. Tommy knew distantly that his birthday was in the spring, but the Antarctic Empire isn't efficient at making the seasons feel any different from one another. Tommy isn't able to look for reminders in nature. In any case, Tommy hasn't celebrated his birthday in years, not since Wilbur and Shelby died. There was an attempt the first year, but Tommy shut that down with such ferocity that no one tried to plan a celebration or deliver a gift again. Tommy was content to let his birthday wash away with the waves of time. If he wanted to go to a party, he would attend one of the nobility's many gatherings. If he wanted a present, he could buy it himself. If he wanted a treat, he needed only to ask the chefs in the kitchens.

"You should try the cake, your highness," Niki declares. She reaches out to cut the cake, setting it down on the plates she brought with her from the kitchen when she came to the dining room. She gives Tommy a silver fork as she puts the plate in his hands. Niki waits patiently as Tommy gets a forkful of the cake. The cake is sweet and warm, a little spongy but the frosting evens out the texture.

"You better enjoy it, your highness. Niki and I got up really early this morning to make it!" Jack says, the pride shining in his tone. Niki reaches over to hit his shoulder, muttering something about propriety. Jack argues back with her, and the two are no longer aware of their prince or the door as someone else enters the room.

"What's going on in here?" Deo asks, still wearing his nightwear. He rubs his eyes, careful to pull the blindfold down before anyone can look into his eyes. He yawns, stretching his arms over his head. "It is too early for all this."

"Today is his highness' birthday. We are celebrating together with him," Jack explains, crossing his arms over his chest. His tattoos are as gray as tarnished silver metal, but Jack pays them about as much attention as when they are glowing.

"Why is he crying, then?" Deo asks, pointing at the prince.

"What?" Jack snaps, turning around. Niki looks away from Deo, too. Her hands instantly come up to wipe the silent tears off of Tommy's face. The prince stutters out a breath. He didn't realize he was crying, but now that he does, the tears keep pouring down his cheeks, as warm as the blood inside his body. Tommy sets the plate down as the crying builds up into a sob. Niki sets a hand on Tommy's cheek, sympathy coloring her face. She pulls his head down into her shoulder, patting his back. She whispers directly to him that he can let it all out. As much as Tommy wants to remain respectful, he does exactly as she tells him.

Tommy is burning with dozens of emotions. There is lingering grief and guilt over Wilbur and Shelby's death. There is a loneliness that Tommy has brought with him from his time in the other world. There is the sorrow that settled heavily in Tommy's chest for the years he spent without his family by his side. There is the longing for the people he left behind in L'Manberg and the two who left him without a word. There is ever-increasing dread over the apocalypse and the anxiety over Ranboo's coming appearance. But alongside all of that, Tommy feels so much gratitude for the people who have stuck with him all these years, even the ones not currently here with Tommy. He feels the weeds of happiness that Tommy has been trying to uproot for the longest time but that keeps coming back with a tenacity to match his own.

Most of all, however, Tommy feels love. He feels a love so deep he fears it will break him. He is terrified that it will be his undoing, that he will let it be. He is scared that it will become a weapon against him because it is so integral to his person that tearing it away would utterly destroy him.

"This couldn't be why he's upset," Deo says with something in his mouth slightly muffling the words. Tommy lifts his head from Niki's cheek to see Deo sitting on the table with Tommy's fork in his hands. Another bite of the cake has been taken, and Deo looks ready to go back for a second bite.

"That is his highness' cake," Jack reprimands, hitting Deo in the shoulder. Deo lifts his hands like he's innocent in this entire exchange. Jack tries to steal the fork back for Tommy, but Deo pushes against Jack's face and lifts the fork high into the air to keep Jack from taking it back.

Tommy finds himself laughing. It bursts from his chest like a fearful shout, but there is nothing but pure livity in the way he cackles. He wraps his arms around his stomach, trying to keep a breath inside his lungs as the laugh breaks open the thousands of walls Tommy put up. He laughs like he used to, back in the other world, when he wasn't fearing the end of the world. He is laughing like he did when Wilbur and Techno would argue with one another. Like when Tubbo would throw himself into Tommy whenever they were apart for more than a day. Like when Kara would perform a cool trick with her witchcraft. Like when Fran would lick his face or tackle Sam to the ground to lick his face. Like when Philza and Sneeg would play games with Tommy. Like when Orion would make a particularly fun joke, usually at Jack's expense.

"You're right. It wasn't the taste that made me cry," Tommy agrees when his laughter has dwindled into a strangely large smile that makes his cheeks hurt. The smile is so odd that both Deo and Jack give Tommy a weird look as they stare at it, momentarily ceasing their conflict.

"Do you feel better, your highness?" Niki asks, reaching a hand up to wipe his tears away with her hand. The material of the gloves is soft against Tommy's cheeks, and he lets Niki wipe away as much as she can. His face still feels warm, but his smile doesn't grow any smaller.

"A little better," Tommy admits truthfully. His head feels much lighter now that he's relieved himself of all the tears.

Someone runs into the dining room. Jimmy slides to a stop, his wings spreading out to create enough drag to keep him from hurtling into the table. He slams his hands on the table, staring at the others. "Something is wrong!"

"He doesn't mean dangerous," False is quick to assure as she strolls into the room behind her companion, much calmer without any explicit emotion on her face. "Jimmy only means he's forgotten something. This happens from time to time because he's an Oracle."

Jimmy scans the room. His eyes settle on the cake. He pushes off the table. He snaps his fingers, pointing at False. "A party!"

Scott rushes into the room next, slamming his hands on the doorframe to look at every one. "Why are we yelling so early in the morning?! Is anyone hurt?"

"I've forgotten to throw a party, Scott. I've forgotten about it for three years!" Jimmy complains, rushing over to grab onto Scott's shoulders. He says the words with such heaviness that anyone else would think he was talking about having forgotten something important to save all of Rivendell.

"It's been three years since I've last celebrated," Tommy notes, thinking about the last time he had a party. It was a party. Every member of his family was there. They were still close during the party, but Tommy could already see that their family was drifting apart. Some part of Tommy thought he could fix everything, but he didn't have a single idea to bring everyone together even as he went back to his bedroom after a long night that stretched into the morning. Philza and Techno were gone by dawn, and Tommy remembered thinking that they would never return this time.

"That's why I've had this feeling," Jimmy snaps his fingers again. He nudges Scott to the side, darting into the hallway. He yells over his shoulder, his voice echoing in the hall and into the dining room. "I have so little time!"

"Happy birthday, princeling," False calls as she turns on her heel, following Jimmy out of the room. Scott gives them an awkward smile, bowing his head slightly. He goes after his teacher and... whatever Jimmy is to Scott at this point.

"I do not think a party is necessary," Tommy notes, crossing his arms over his shoulder, amused with the exchange that happened in front of him without feeling particularly attached to it despite it being about him.

"Too late to stop Jimmy now," Jack notes, flopping into one of the chairs around the dining table.

"Is this why I couldn't make plans for today?" Tommy asks, glancing over at Niki, remembering the conversation they had in the library the day prior.

"It is. Today is a day for relaxation, as ordered by his imperial majesty, Tsar Philza," Niki declares. She reaches into her uniform's pocket to pull out a stack of letters tied together by a ribbon. She places it in Tommy's hands, folding his fingers around it. "His imperial majesty thought we would be on our way back by now, so he assembled these letters for your gift. We should eat the cake before you read them, though. You need time to get your tears back, your highness."

Tommy chuckles, setting the letters down on the table to keep the temptation away from him. "Cut the cake, Dame Niki. I want to share it with all my friends."

"Let's go!" Deo cheers. Instead of waiting for another slice, Deo takes the plate with Tommy's slice. The blonde glares at him as he reaches to cut another slice for himself. Jack and Niki share a look as Tommy starts eating his slice. Jack shrugs, getting a slice for himself. Niki is the last to cave, but she eventually does.

As they are eating, Andor wanders into the room. He frowns, tilting his head to the side curiously. His wings flatten against his back, and Tommy pointedly looks away from them. "Am I missing something?"

"It is his Highness' sixteenth birthday," Jack explains again between mouthfuls. Niki kicks Jack, and he jolts like a frightened cat.

"Oh! Happy birthday, Your Highness! I'll have to prepare a gift for you," Andor decides, tapping a finger against the side of his chin as he thinks about what he should get the prince.

"That—"

"That is a good idea!" Deo interrupts Tommy. He sets his empty plate back on the table. He swings his legs over the side of the table, jumping off the wooden surface. He dances over to Andor, throwing an arm around the elytrian's shoulders. "I'll go with Andor. We're going to get you something wonderful!"

Deo leads Andor out of the room before Tommy can argue against the prospect. Tommy sighs. Niki sets a hand on his shoulder, gathering his attention and she smiles at him. "Sir Jack and I will go help Jimmy with whatever he needs. In the meantime, his Highness should go to his room to read the letters."

"I will entrust these affairs to the two of you," Tommy agrees. He takes the stack of letters with him as he leaves the dining room. As he walks back to his room, Tommy undoes the ribbon. He reaches down into his boot for a knife that keeps on him at almost all times. He uses the knife to open the envelope, pulling out a parchment. Tommy unfolds the parchment, reading the first few lines of the letter as he enters his temporary lodging.

To my beautiful Theseus,

Happy birthday, my son! May this letter find you in good health and high spirits. If it does not, may this letter share with you the love your Mother and I hold for you so that it might heal your wounds and lift your eyes toward the glorious sun.

Sixteen years ago, you came into this world. I remember the first time I saw you because it almost felt as if I were looking into a mirror. The eyes that stared back at me from your little face were like my own, and the wisps on top of your head were as blonde as my own. Well, I jest. They were as pale as the spun webs of arachnids, but I knew that you would have hair like my lineage. While I adore the raven hair of your mother, I was happy to see that I had imparted something of my lineage to my children. Although my father did not have blonde hair, the most influential figures of the Craft bloodline have had golden hair.

This fact includes you, Theseus. I know that these past few years have been difficult for you. Ever since you were a baby, your eyes were bright with wisdom and understanding. I knew that it would become a burden for you, knowing so much about the world from a young age, but I knew that you would be strong enough to stand despite the burdens on your shoulders. And you, my son, have done more than survive. You have proven time and time again that you are capable and strong, built from mental fortitude and internal strength.

I promised myself when I was younger that I would love my children in a way my father never held for his own. I know in my heart that I have always loved you. I know rationally that you may never know the true depth of that love, but forgive this old man for attempting to make you understand anyway. You are my son, one of the lights of my life. You are my precious boy, someone I will trade the entire world to protect. No matter what happens to you, no matter what you do, you will always find your home in my arms.

Your mother concurs with my words as she reads this over my shoulder, though she is under the assumption that she loves you more than I. She is laughing at me now, and I only wish that you were here to laugh with her. You two always had similar laughs. Even better would be to have your brothers. I wish we could have celebrated the day together. I pray you understand why I had to send you away, my son. I only do what I believe is best for you, as any parent does, but I acknowledge that we are often wrong.

With all my love and pride,

Your Father and your Mother is here, too

Tommy smiles as he traces the signature of his mother underneath Philza's signature. Tommy sets it down beside him, reaching for the next letter.

Dear Theseus,

Father asked me to write this letter to you for your birthday. As customary, I should begin by congratulating you on this momentous occasion. Sixteen is many years, and as far as I'm aware, you have lived them well. You have studied dutifully, and you have mastered the spear school from the Badlands. You have led L'Manberg for the past three years in our brother's place, and I have personally seen how prosperous the capital has become.

Wilbur is sitting with me now. He is staring at a blank piece of paper. There are many papers around him. I believe he is following the same command from Father I am with a lot less efficiency. I can see the frustration on his face, no matter how different his appearance has become. He does not know what to say to you. Frankly, I do not know what to say, either, but at least I have gotten through an entire paragraph. That makes me better than Wilbur, does it not?

I fear that Wilbur will never finish this letter. If he does, it will be filled with meaningless ramblings that he shoved onto the paper when dawn breaks and the hour of your departure is upon us. Since that will surely be the case, I will say what he cannot do on his behalf: he loves you. Those three tiny words are eating him up inside. He feels as if he cannot say them, that he has no right to. I know this because he can barely say them to me even when I look him right in the eyes. Wilbur has always been troublesome in that regard, I suppose. He will run circles around the words he wants to say. I am no better at talking about emotions than he is, but I believe that I am superior in the fact that I say what I need to. Wilbur will never finish writing that letter.

But the words he wants to say are no different than the words I wish to say. Your elder brothers love you. We want what is best for you. We will support you in any of your ventures. If those statements mean nothing to you, I will resign myself to the fact that Wilbur should have been the one to write this letter. Nevertheless, I am the one writing it, and I have said what I felt is necessary. Do not falter, dear brother. No matter what undertaking you attempt, you will have my full support. No matter what sins you commit, you will have Wilbur's adoration. It is simple. Do not overcomplicate or misconstrue it as Wilbur would.

Love,

Techno and Wilbur

Unlike how Kristin signed the letter from Philza, Wilbur did not sign this letter from Techno. Tommy doesn't mind. He only shakes his head, torn between amusement and the love he feels poured into every swooping article of this parchment.

The other letters are from Tommy's friends and teachers, even the jester. A few of them are collaborations, like the one from Gemini and Fwhip, but other people have their separate letters. Philza must have used his power as the tsar to get all the letters done in time, and Tommy can't help but cry as he reads through each one. Most of them are little more than congratulatory statements and praise for his character, but Tommy can feel the admiration and respect, if not genuine love, everyone in his life holds for him.

Tommy sets the letters down beside him as he finishes with the last one from Tubbo. He looks over at the air familiar sitting in its sideways cage, the water familiar hanging around it. Tommy reaches a hand out to lift the cage open. The familiar hostile intent flares in Tommy's chest, but the tears on his cheek and the words from his loved ones in his mind keep Tommy from smashing the cage. Tommy coaxes the water familiar over to him, even though it feels safer away from him. "Give your masters my gratitude and tell them to pass it along."

Tommy puts the familiars back on the stand beside the vanity. He forces his hands away from both of them, bringing himself to the mirror. The others are outside, setting up for a party. Tommy smiles at them, reaching a hand up around his throat to grab onto the lapis lazuli wrapped around his throat. He closes his eyes, imagining Theseus' innocent expression in his mind. Tommy whispers into the open air, "Happy birthday, Theseus."

A knock resounds in the room. Tommy frowns, walking over to the door. When he opens it, Martha is standing there with her staff in her hands. She gives Tommy a big smile. "Andor told me that it was your birthday! I come bearing a gift and an easy way to pass the day."

"What—" Martha touches Tommy's forehead with her snap. He closes his eyes.

He opens his eyes as she removes her hands. His eyes quickly adjust to the bright sunlight as he sees a picnic prepared just for him. She giggles in his ear, flying around his side to float right in front of him. She grabs onto his hand, pulling him forward. His laugh falls from his lips as he joins the others. She goes to sit by her Celestial, the horse lying in the grass. Her thumb-sized apprentice crawls onto her shoulder, already eating a crumb. His other friend sits on his knees on the other side of the picnic, poking at the food with little understanding of it. He laughs, unable to calm the weird amusement bubbling in his chest and the oddity of this occasion.

As he settles down, part of him wishes that the rest of the group was there with them, but he understands why they wouldn't be. Even without them, though, he feels his heart brighten with happiness and contentment. They grab onto his arms, telling him jokes and sharing stories with him that they only dare talk about because it's his birthday. He usually doesn't care about his birthday— immortals rarely do— but these people have become like his family. He wouldn't begrudge them if they wanted to spend one day celebrating him.

"Hey, Zero, pay attention. Are you going to visit—"

He opens his eyes slowly. Exhaustion clings to him even as he stares at the roof, and it takes even longer for him to come into himself than it usually does. His sense of self sinks into his body, and he realizes that Helgrind is sitting by the bed. The man glances over at Tommy when he realizes that the prince is awake. Helgrind sighs, putting his hands on his knees as he stands up. "I apologize for Martha. She usually does what she wants without asking other people for permission first."

"I don't mind. I had a pleasant dream," Tommy whispers. But he doesn't think it was a dream. It felt real to him, even as the details were fading away from his mind. It was Zero's memory. And it was one worth remembering.

"Right. You had a life before all of this happened," Helgrind notes, looking toward the wall with a stern expression. His shoulders fall as he glances down at the floor beside the bed Tommy is lying on. "I suppose we all did."

"Do you know who I am?" Tommy asks, sitting up. He swings his legs over the side to get a better look into Helgrind's eyes. The man no longer refuses to look away from Tommy, but the expression there isn't one Tommy wants to look at again. It is as deep as a well and twice as dark. It is as somber as a banshee's keening.

"I know what you are. I knew who you used to be. I'm still trying to figure out who you are now," Helgrind answers. Tommy swallows, trying to cling to the happiness of Zero's memory. "But all of this will have to wait. The party is waiting for you."

Helgrind starts to leave the room. Tommy waits for a moment, but he eventually follows behind the regal old man to the garden where Jimmy and the others have set up a party for Tommy.