As it turned out, the first and last nukes had freed everyone from The Egg, while the second one blew it up. Ranboo had managed to eradicate the entire Eggpire, but had sacrificed himself in the process. Little had he known that he would be his own savior as well. On the night of the first fire, Ranboo had used a totem of undying to save Tubbo. And due to the magical process of time travel, Ranboo had possessed that very same totem in his blazer pocket when he'd died. It was like he'd never used it.

"So, we knew you'd come back eventually, or at least end up in limbo," Tubbo said, "but Techno didn't like that very much."

The piglin had decided that he wasn't waiting several days to see his brother in-law- he was going to see him now, no matter what the cost. The Underworld may only be accessible to dreamons, but Technoblade was no ordinary mortal. The warrior piglin had charged down to hell, bust down its gates, and demanded to speak to the head demon himself. As a favor for all the orphan blood he'd spilt, Technoblade had requested the return of Ranboo's soul.

The dreamons had put up a long, brutal fight, but in the end, it was the demons that gave in to the hybrid. Evidently, the Blood God really did have a pact with the demons; they were more than happy to hand over the enderman. After having been fed by the hybrid's bloodlust for years, it was the least they could do. And so, Technoblade carried Ranboo back from hell, and brought him back to The Syndicate.

"You were asleep for three days, you know," the goat hybrid finished. "We weren't sure you would ever wake up."

Ranboo didn't know what to say. He was overjoyed to have conquered The Eggpire, thankful that his family had lived, and...touched that his brother in-law would raid hell just for him.

The enderman was moments away from crying, when suddenly, the door flew open, revealing the piglin himself. "Hey, Tubbo. Dinner's ready if you want- Oh. Hey, Ranboo. How do you feel?"

"Uhm, hey, Techno," the enderman responded. "Good, thanks." With a few grunts in pain, and a careful hand from Tubbo, Ranboo was able to turn his body to face the Blood God, and say, "Listen, Techno. I really can't thank you enough for saving my life back there."

"It was nothing," the hybrid replied. "Besides, it's not like I did it alone. That Slimecicle guy from Las Nevadas knew the way. Said it was a hop, skip, and a jump away from his birthplace or something."

Both Ranboo and Tubbo stared at Technoblade, a mixture of shock and amazement, painting their features. Huh, Ranboo noted. That slime really is something else.

"Well, anyway, I'm gonna go," Technoblade started, drawing Ranboo out of his thoughts. "You two catch up." And with that, the door swung shut, leaving the platonic couple alone once more.

The enderman cleared his throat. "Tubbo, I'm really glad you're alive, but next time you're feeling down, or- I don't know, explosive, just talk to me, okay? You don't have to face it alone. You have me."

A watery smile formed on Tubbo's lips, and with a small sniffle, the goat hybrid threw himself into Ranboo's arms. "Thank you, Ranboo. I- I will. I promise."

"Oh, and Tubbo?"

The goat looked up into his husband's eyes. "Yeah?"

"We really gotta do something about that dreamon."

Tubbo giggled into his partner's shoulder. "Alright, boss man. We can do that." A peaceful silence fell over the two hybrids as they held each other close,...only to be interrupted by the door slamming.

"DADA!! PAPA!!"

Little baby piglin feet hurried across the floor, and launched the child onto their parents. Ranboo fell against the bed covers with a sound "Oof!", with Tubbo not too far behind. "Michael, be careful!" Tubbo scolded with a laugh. "You'll hurt Papa!"

The piglin gasped, pushing himself up to meet his father's eyes. "Papa! Papa okay??"

The enderman chuckled, finding his child son absolutely adorable. "Yes, Michael. I'm okay."

Michael broke into a wide grin, and laughed. "Cuddles! Cuddles!"

Ranboo and Tubbo scooted away to allow the enthusiastic child some room between them. Michael snuggled up next to both his adoptive parents, rubbing his cheek against Ranboo's shoulder. He sighed in content. A warm feeling of content washed over the small family. Three hearts beat as one as their sense of home was restored.

Ranboo yawned as the soothing atmosphere lulled him back to sleep. The return to familial peace had been a long and arduous battle, fraught with scandal, politics, heartbreak, and more. But, seeing how it all turned out, the enderman didn't mind the pain.

With his platonic partner and adopted son wrapped up in his arms, Ranboo sighed. He wouldn't have it any other way.

https://youtu.be/SsnNbZoJV80

And that's a wrap!!! :DDD

I'm so grateful to you all for joining me on this writing journey. I want to thank the DSMP content creators for making such amazing lore, and you- the readers! for all the votes, comments, and everything in between. Y'all are lovely people and I am eternally grateful for all the support. 

I originally thought this story would be the first two chapters, but things happened and now we have a full-fledged novel!!

We'll be entering this fanfic into The Watty's, so who knows?? Maybe the DSMP community can represent this year! :DDD Either way, I'm glad to have completed this book. 

Thank you all again for everything, and I hope to see you in the next book! 

~Zym <333

[Image Credits] "Home Is Where the Heart Is" (Cropped Slightly, Vignette Added) by Hey Paul Studios (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hey__paul/6473991155/in/set-72157625618509092)