Teeth.

Teeth is the first thing he registers-

So many teeth-

All the size of knives and all bare as the lips of whatever is looking him down has pulled a snarl so intense and so far back that the angry dark-purplish blue colors of its gums flash at him-

His heart hits his stomach- the intensity of whatever stood before him made him feel weak-

He wanted to run- no he needed to run- some base instinct he never had to experience flared up inside of him and-

It flared even harsher when he noticed the blue color flashing through the... scales of its neck-

Heat seaped off of it- its jaws unhinging and all he saw was the intense neon blue of soul fire exploding out of its mouth-

Something grabbed his arm.

Techno barely registered what happened- head reeling as he battled to stay somewhere in the radius near you and not run off into the unknown- but it was hard to stay near you when it felt like the heat of a dying star was wafting off of where Techno had once been standing, and where you were standing now with an arm held forward and dividing the harsh blast of soul fire that was now scorching everything around you.

Good gods.

You grabbed him- and swung him backwards- right before he became a literal porkchop.

And now that he was backed up, just the miniscule of amounts, he got even more of an image of what just tried to fry him-

Large horns, following the base skull frame backwards- scales- intense blue eyes- the sweeping motion of a long and scaly tail was littered with agitation- like a poked lion- and the folded and hagard looking wings that held its upper body up with the claws coming off of it were telling.

....dragon....

This is not a normal nether mob.

This is nowhere near being a normal nether mob.

"Oversized lizard." Is the first thing Techno can even manage to say. A quip at humor to try and settle the flipping feeling in his guts, but all his words manage to do is draw attention to himself- the large entity before him angling its large head back into his direction and vibrating the air around him with its displeasure.

The sheer pressure exerted through eyecontact alone made Techno feel like keeling over.

This- whatever was in front of him- was a predator- dangerous-

The voices tell him of Techno's untimely death. That this was the moment.

Techno is immediately frozen again.

"Tiny peice of flesh-" it snarls at him- claws extending like it intended to tread closer to him- until your little figure is stomping your foot and yelling at it.

"BACK UP-" You yell, "I'm here for you, and you are not here for my friend."

It's head snaps to you- the intense blue glow coming from between its neck scales flicker out- before it really seems to take in what's yelling up at it.

The slanted and intense eyes widen and stare at you, tiny little you- right in front of its jaws, standing in the aftermath of soul fire, and still patting out some of the clothing that couldn't handle the heat.

A part of the scaly lizard still seemed to be buried in soul sand, only the upper portion of its body making an emergence (back legs buried and part of the bottom of its chest still fitting snugly in the soil), which left its noggin eye level with you.

Its eyes didn't leave you as it thought to itself, and Techno wanted to move so badly but he was all but glued to the ground. It felt like if he even breathed that open maw of teeth and fire would be staring him down again.

It made a noise- some kind of clicking chattering rolling noise-

Acknowledgement.

"I thought you said you'd never come back." It rumbled- venom leaked out of its tone of voice and seemed to echo endlessly through the nether.

You deeply inhaled.

"Well." You squinted, "You said you'd 'smash me like the little bug I am' if I did- and yet-" you spread your arms out in an exasperated motion, "Here we are."

It growls.

Then takes a sweeping look at the surroundings, especially taking note of Techno, before zoning back in on you when you awkwardly shuffle.

"Give me one good reason not to follow through with my end of the threat."

You shrug, "Because somewhere in there you care about me as much as I care about you...?"

Ah.

One can only assume that the massive, scaled, winged, horned, and deadly mob in front of them is who you came to visit, but the words spoken only confirm who Techno was looking at.

Your brother.

Something that, true to your word, immediately tried to kill him.

You'd think you'd be aware of your own brothers tendency to hide in sand, but he'd ask you about that after he's done holding his breath and fighting everything inside of himself.

The voices cried out- all the same, singular word of chaos.

Which wasn't helping the situation.

The beast flashed its teeth- growling- nostrils flaring at you in agitation. Blue light once again peered out from behind the scales of its chest.

"Unbearable." It flicks it's head in aggression. The scoff that shot out of its nostril was all smoke, the soul fire in its chest extinguishing itself.

"Petulant little brat-" it snarls and shakes itself out of the sand it was laying in, properly getting on its hind legs and clawed wings.

It reeled its head into the air, glowering down at you with the saltiest look a serpant could make.

You move, wiggling your arm at Techno, and he tilts his head at you, "I'd step back- he's about to throw a temper tantrum-"

Before Techno can ask you anything the dragon before them is fuming- blue light shining from behind all the scales in its chest and throat- "Tantrum?" It's entire mouth is lit up- but flames have yet to seep out-

It lurches forward, slamming a wing down beside you and hissing as it made it apparent just how much larger it was.

"I'll show you tantrum." its eyes flicker as it looks at Techno, and the rest of it body moves with its gaze, jumping and landing harshly in the soul sand between you and Techno. The movement made Techno stumble backwards, nearly falling.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE-" Techno hears you shout from the other side.

But your brother wasn't listening to you, merely twisting his neck and body to get a better glance at the piglin hybrid.

" 'Temper Tantrum'." The dragon mutters, and the atmosphere around it leaves Techno standing stock still.

A hot wave of breath hits Techno, the blue light not leaving its mouth as it flashes its teeth.

"He smells like you." The dragon grumbled to you, before muttering more to itself, "And he reeks of death. Planning to be one of Kristen's angels hmm...?" The dragon takes an even deeper breathe- pressing it's teeth directly against Techno, shoving him with a bit too much force, "Hm- no- you have a different patron in mind don't you."

The voices scream their answer-

"So help me- If I get to where your oversized face is- and you've done anything to him-" Your voice comes from somewhere Techno can't see- and the dragon flicks his tail- the sound of something getting thrown into the sand made Techno scrunch his face up.

The blue slitted eyes narrow.

Techno has a feeling he isn't going to like what's about to happen.

"If you want him so badly-" the dragon snarls- wings reeling into the air.

"Come and get him-"

It pushes off the ground with a harsh blast of wind- one of its hind feet reaching forward and latching onto Techno- effectively snatching him off and into the air.

Techno felt sick- the sudden force of being dragged up into the nether sky sent his head reeling, and his arms clutching onto the closest thing near him- which happened to be the set of claws currently toting him around like a juice box.

Everything was spinning- the ground skyrocketing away from vision- your figure chasing wildly after both him and your brother-

You're too slow to catch up.

.

His field of view is cut from you as the claws holding him release- dropping him undignified onto the ground, air rushing past him as your brother's wings claw into the ground.

Techno runs his hand up to his head, pulling the bone mask back onto his head from where it was threatening to fall off- and before he can stand or speak- or do anything- the snap of teeth close in the space next to him- so close he swears they grazed the skin of his arm.

"You don't have a patron yet-" is the rumbling voice that comes from behind the teeth, "You're chasing power aren't you-"

Techno dumbly stares at his reflection in the spit threatening to drip off the dragon's chin.

"Well, that's rude- you could at least offer me some refreshments before interrogating me." Techno purses his lips- all the voices frantically telling him to stop, "What kind of low grade kidnapping is this?"

"You're right- I do need a refreshment-" it growls, "Your blood will suffice-"

"Not cool-" Techno says, the big jaw that started to open slowly inching closed as Techno spoke.

A distraction?

Maybe that could work.

All Techno knew was that he needed to get the dragons attention off of him.

Techno started getting to his feet and awkwardly tried inching away from its teeth, "The least you could do is offer me yours."

"You'd like that wouldn't you-" it scoffs with a sinister understanding, maws following the movement of his body, "All dolled up in the scales of our kin, blood dripping down your throat- tell me, how loyal are you to the thought of power?"

Without warning the dragon swings its clawed wings at him, pinning him to the ground between talons the size of his chest-

This was not a distraction- great job.

All its attention was placed on Techno.

The longer it stares at him, the angrier it gets- eyes narrowing and narrowing- lips slipping up its snout to bare its fangs- chest igniting with an ethereal blue glow. A monster of monsters

"Do you know what fear is...?"

.

.

Teeth-

Teeth teeth teeth-

So many-

The voices are louder then whatever base human he was-

His arm wrenches itself out from off the ground. His hand swings his netherite sword out and stabs upward, directly where the open maws of your brother started to part- sword sinking into the soft palette of your brother's gums.

Techno wasn't himself-

He was living-

Survival made flesh and blood-

The screech that came from above him loosened the talons on his chest, and he spun away- jumping to his feet and shattering potions at his feet faster then he realized he had dug into his pouch-

His vision felt red-

The second set of talons sweeped at him and his sword connected with the scales lining its palm to block it-

All the momentum sent him flying across the soul valley- which gave him a much better view of what was happening.

A serpants head reeled back- blue blood splattering across its once pearly teeth- spit dripping and spraying into the air as it flung its injured head in every direction it could.

Wings reeled back- an airborn body of scales connected by an igniting neck as soul fire shot directly at Techno-

He stood directly in its path- raising his head defiantly as the flames dissipated around him.

Fire resistance.

He is alive.

The voices chanted and chanted- an audience all their own- like a soldier in a coliseum-

The dragon didn't stop, flying directly at him the air of its wings sending him flying again as it glided across the ground towards him-

He readied his sword, outward, enchantments gleaming-

"STOP-"

Your voice is like a drop of clear water into a pan of oil-

The voices are sent reeling away from their grip on his head as he cranes himself to look at you-

Making a mad dash towards the battle- like always.

Teeth crunch into the netherite around his body- snapping the armor and letting blood gush-

Ouch.

Techno sorely thinks.

That hurts.

A fast sinking pressure that cuts into him in a way a paper shredder might.

"STOP."

The tense jaws holding Techno up freeze- and if they hadn't of stopped- he would have surely felt them completely rend his body in two.

From his position, head hanging down the side of a large chin, he can see you- all covered in what he can clearly see as scales- two dark horns sharply jutting from your skull.

He's never seen you look as angry as you did- even with half his vision blocked out as the blood from his torso leaks into his eye.

Gods your wrath was lovely.

"STOP." You repeat- teeth nearly as bared as your brother's.

A strange chittering noise is in the back of your brother's throat- and Techno can feel it vibrate the teeth that are sunk into part of his legs and chest.

An airy chuffing comes from you- followed by the same puttering noise- before the glare on your face gets more intense.

Scales begin to flake off your face.

One moment he's held between teeth, and the next his body is dropped like a rock to the ground.

His chin clunks heavily into the soul soil, as does the rest of him.

Despite the wet squelch of blood, he attempts to peel himself off the floor, hands pressed to the ground as he shakily anchors his top half off the ground.

Your hands are around him- grabbing his face- swiping at the blood and sweat plastered all along his temple and chin and eyelids.

He clenches his jaw, tongue flicking out to try and catch the blood that dripped past his tusks- but he couldn't stop it.

"Come on big guy-" you say, soft hands rolling him over, the back of his head in your lap- your fingers are digging at the potions strapped to the side of his belt, "You got this."

The taste of melon sloshes past his tongue, and he quickly discerns the taste as a healing potion- choking it down fast- and immediately attempting to sit back up-

He let's you wipe farther at his mucked up face.

Looking up he can see your brother staring down- eyes all wreched up in confusion, mouth finally shut for once- no teeth on display.

As soon as Techno can stand, he does, clutching at his abdomen and staring up at your brother. The feeling of your hands grabbing at him registers, helping him fully stand as the wounds are quick to fully finish closing.

That's gonna leave a lot of marks, and Techno is painfully aware of the fact that his armor is busted.

Your voice is behind him- "You good...?"

His red eyes flick to you, watching as you lift his bone mask up to him.

Somewhere along the way he must have lost it, and some where along the way you must have found it.

He goes to speak, voice cutting out for a moment before he clears his throat and says, "I can handle worse."

It hurts.

It really hurts.

The sallow ache of a freshly healed wound is in every new scar- as is the intense itchiness that comes from the scab phase of healing.

Your eyes scan over him one more time, and your hands poke and prod at everything that has blood on it- and finally after thorough inspection, do you relent.

Your eyes slid to your brother.

Who flinches at your gaze.

Like he wasn't expecting it.

"What was that." You ask.

The serpant didn't respond.

"I ask you to not hurt him- and you proceed to fly off with him- and then almost snap his body into three different pieces with your mouth. Do you not respect my wishes at all?"

Slitted eyes quickly narrow at your tone, but still nothing is said.

A noise is in your throat- displeasure- followed by the sweeping motion of your eyes looking at the blood all over the area.

Both the dragons, and Techno's.

"I'm glad you're both... safe." You finally grit.

The dragon scoffs.

Techno purses his lips.

The voices read his train of thought before he speaks, but he ignores any words they say, "Sooo- I'm gonna assume your brother throws tantrums often...?"

Just a small witty comment-

The dragon's eyes flare with hate, and it's maw immediately unlatches to snap up Techno's body in its jaws, but Techno is prepared this time, grabbing your arm, ducking forward and making a frantic dash under the dragons body- all the while your brother wildly twisted around, throwing soul sand and soil all over the terrain.

"I'LL GRIND YOUR MORTAL BODY INTO DUST-" He roars, finally locking onto your running forms- head anchoring back like a snake before lurching forward to catch Techno in his maw again-

Which is when you jump forward and get yanked backward instead-

And-

With Techno's death grip on your arm-

You both end up hanging in the air- most of your body caught in your brother's mouth, while Techno dangles just below eye contact.

It makes a disgruntled noise, jaw immediately dropping open in an attempt to spit you out, but you catch onto the lower set of teeth with your free arm, stubbornly wrenching yourself there.

"WHAT'S WRONG!" You yell, "Afraid to hurt your own kin??"

The dragon doesn't answer, hot breath spilling all over both of your forms as soul fire builds in the back of its throat.

Techno is the one that let's go- free falling and landing on the ground feet first. A brief shiver runs up his spine, "Feather Falling, if you were a person I would marry you-" he mutters under his breath- taking off to get out of direct line of sight of your brother.

Your obnoxiously large, and bloodthirsty brother.

He glances back to see both of your arms holding onto his bottom teeth, soul fire scorching air as he wildly swings his head around to throw you out of his mouth.

"Insufferable!" The dragon snarls, "Disgusting goblin- get your gross human flesh arms out of my mouth-"

"Only when you comply to my terms-" you snarl back- and Techno watches as something akin to mischief flickers onto your face.

You're... enjoying this.

You're bantering...?

Very passive aggressively- but, somehow you seem to be talking him down.

"I never comply and I never yeild-" the dragon flicks around- throwing the back of its head into a portion of soul valley mountain- and Techno watches you nearly loose your grip- but you merely find a way to wedge your leg against his top teeth.

The effect was instantaneous, your brother gags- immediately slamming himself into the ground and leaving his mouth as wide open as possible.

"Out. Now." The dragon growls, silent before tacking on a small, "....I'll listen."

You hum, standing there upside down, both legs wedged to the top of his wide open mouth, two hands all but dug into his dark blue gums.

You're contemplating if his word is truthful.

"Fine." You say, "No take backsys."

With that, you release, tumbling out and standing yourself upright. Slobber is all over your arms- and parts of you are once again lit with soul fire, which you pat out. Again.

You'll need a new cloak. And a new shirt.

And pants.

One of your boots is missing. All things Techno is already planning out how to replace in his head.

Techno awkwardly shuffles back over to you, standing behind you and nudging your hand to draw your attention.

"Sooo- is this normally how family reunions go for you?"

You laugh at him- genuinely amused, ready to reply before a growl cuts you off.

"Explain why you came back. Now. Or I'll tear your little friend to ribbons." The dragon slams it's claws into the dirt around the both of you- head lowering to stare intently at you both.

The bared teeth never dropped, and the subtle heat that radiated off its mouth never faltered. Sheer anger is coursing through the serpant.

The splattering of Technos blood down its chin isn't helping.

In front of Techno, you seemed agitated by the brute force being displayed.

You huff.

.

A rude interruption.

But you know your brother is... untrusting of strangers. And you know that Techno being anywhere near him is pushing what little patience he has.

So you collect yourself and stare at your brother.

Your brother.

Kin- the warmth in your chest blazing out of control over this piece of your past sitting before you- alive- and just as full of fire as before.

"I missed you."

You say simply, watching as your brother squints at you, feeling Techno linger awkwardly behind you.

"I missed you, and I wanted to come back and apologize to you. Because... I said some very hurtful things.

You both did.

He scoffed.

Head twisting around to look away, taking the heat of his mouth elsewhere.

His tail tip was twitching in contemplation.

"Recently I've been thinking about death, and if I somehow lost you without being able to see you at least one more time, I'd never be able to forgive myself."

The tail twitching stilled.

As did the head that twitched over thoughts.

Dirty brown scales puffed up for a moment, the sharp and long spikes all over his back flexing upward as he inhaled, before he huffed.

The anger that was in him faded, similar in manner to dropping hot iron into a bucket of water

The snarl dropped, and he fully pulled his claws and muzzle away from the two of you.

"I assume you'd like to visit mothers grave." Is all he says, tilting away and slowly crawling farther into the soul valley.

There's a certain coldness that radiates off his words, the kind of coldness that is reserved for strangers.

You haven't seen him in ages, you haven't talked to him in ages. It's to be expected, but it still hurt for him to be dismissive.

Better dismissive then angry, and knowing his temper, it wouldn't last long.

You grin at Techno despite the unfortunate mention, nudging him once before trotting after your brother's lumbering form.

You're quick to catch up and leap upwards, trotting directly under his neck- jumping to tap at the scales there.

Your arms were a bit too short to fully reach, but you managed, childishly tapping him a few times. You were allowed to. You haven't gotten to in a long time.

Before you get much farther, your brother halts, twisting his head to look at you upside down, snarl vibrating in his chest, "Your pig stays behind. No arguments."

You immediately swing yourself forward and punch him in the jaw (he doesnt flinch), "Noooo- you guys are already acquainted, he gets to stay."

It feels off.

To try to interact in such a familiar way with him.

Your brother growls. Before shaking his head, and angrily continuing his walk. He relented so quickly. Which is out of character for him.

He's been... very patient with you. Almost too patient.

Maybe there was truth in the fact that you both missed each other.

Very quickly you realize that keeping pace with him was tedious, so you slowed, walking under him as you fell out of pace with his walk.

Looking up you see the scales of his chest, the blue core of power burning inside of him making heat sweep through his scales.

If you stretched your arm you'd just barely be able to reach his chest.

He was big.

But not as big as mom.

No one was as big as her.

.

.

Finally, his pace overtakes yours, and you fall into line with Techno, watching your brother lumber over the valley, tail lightly dragging on the dirt behind him.

You can tell Techno is watching you. You can feel his stare.

"Never told me you have a family of dragons." He says.

"Never had the courage."

"I guess I finally know what all those big fossils laying around are."

You squint at him.

And Techno winces, "Dead family. Right. Not the best mention on my part." He pauses before leading the conversation elsewhere, "Thought you said your brother would kill me?"

You nod, "I did. He defintly tried." You wince, "I'm... surprised he yielded so quickly."

Your eyes soften, "Gives me hope that he's grown more as a person."

Techno tilts his head, "Was he not a good person?"

"Its... not that he wasn't a good person... just-" You look at his form in the distance, "He is very rooted in what he thinks. And out of all of us he has the biggest temper. It's his downfall- makes him think slower."

Techno continues walking with you after you finish, doing his best not to drag his feet in the sand. He bumps into you with his shoulder, turning his eyes forward, "Even though that was a near death experience, I'm glad you let me tag along."

"Oh really...?" You sarcastically ask, "Was almost being chomped in half not enough to scare your ego back in place?"

"Technoblade never dies." He boldly declares, the barest of smiles on his lips.

Techno didn't add the part about how seeing you briefly look so happy about being reunited made his chest feel a rush of fluttering sensations.

You grin at him, and utter a simple, "I'm glad you came."

Which makes the fluttering ten times worse.

Willing sharing of the most intimate parts of your life.

A show of trust.

Techno could get snapped up in your brother jaws and feel content.

He glances up as the halting of your brother allows the two of you to catch up.

The overwhelming sinking feeling that had been getting stronger the farther you both walked into the valley was so incredibly intense.

The source was just in front of them, just over the bend of the hill they were on.

Stepping around the wing of your brother that blocked field of view, Techno set eyes on the largest fossil he'd ever seen.

So, so large.

Parts of it were buried in soul sand, arms and legs hidden, parts of its massive rib cage sinking into the sand below.

But it's heads... it's heads were still above ground- and intact.

Three skulls- horned and decrepit- teeth lining every edge of its maw.

Gods.

This thing- whatever this thing used to be, it was a monster.

One head alone looked like it could consume a city.

It made your brother look like a pup.

Which, Techno supposed, he kind of was. Assuming that that thing, is your mother. Was your mother.

You sidle up next to Techno, and when he looks at you, you just nod in silent confirmation.

That is your mother. This is where she died, and this is her grave.

"Careful, you're sinking." You say, looking at Techno's boots, and sure enough, he had been sinking.

"It... it might actually be safer for you to stay farther away. The soul sand effect gets a lot stronger when you stand under her."

Techno can only nod. Letting you tap his knuckles as he turns around and starts scowering for a safer place to hang out.

You look to your brother, who already had his head facing you.

Knowing.

Listening.

.

You both were in perfect sync.

.

Funny how some things don't change.

.

Silently, you walk up to his lowered head, hooking a hand around one of his horns, and bracing yourself as he pushes off, spreading his wings and gliding down into the valley.

As you reach the edge of your mother's rib cage, he reels back and beats his wings once, slowing to a complete stop and letting his hind legs touch down first before his winged claws take comfortable residence in the sand.

You release his horn and merely stare up at the bones.

"Old familiar face." He grumbles at you, slinking past the outer ribs and into the ribcage itself.

You stare for longer then you need to.

It's been awhile.

You rub at your eye, the wetness there wasn't fair.

You follow your brother.

Inside he's heading for the center of the chest. To the source of the intense soul sand effect.

Walking and walking until you reach it.

Your brother quickly lays down in the sand, coiling around it protectively and staring at you.

"I've been defending it." He says, "You know this."

You purse your lips, unsure on what to say.

"All these years."

You walk closer, awkwardly walking over his tail, and going straight to where his head put its chin on the ground.

You listened.

"Anything that tries to get close-" he snaps his teeth.

"Nothing can get to mom." You finally say.

A hum vibrates his chest.

"I missed you." You reiterate, setting a hand on his snout and watching him let his eyes squint shut.

"And I, you." He finally grumbles.

"Has anything changed?" You ask, placing another hand on his face and running your fingers up to the scales of his brow. You ask this question in more ways then one, but he only seems to catch on to the physical aspect.

"No. Aside from the fact that the hunters died out." He huffed, "We won in the end."

"A very broken victory." You say.

"Victory nonetheless." He says, before flicking your hands off his head to stare properly at you, "It's been empty for years. But something is happening in the world right now. Gods are gathering where God's shouldn't be."

You grimace.

You grimace because you know that.

You've been ignoring it, but it was true.

When gods stir, the world moves with them.

"There was something lurking here recently." Your brother says, "After so long of no one daring come close-"

"Lurking?"

"Yes. Someone entered the outskirts of this soul valley. They left almost as soon as they entered."

"That.... doesn't sound suspicious at all."

A chuckle came from your brother and his eyes finally slide open, "If they came any closer I would have fell them- nothing but burning bones and ash."

You let out a snort, "Oh yeah? You mean after hiding in the sand for five hours straight to make a dramatic entrance??"

He puffs hot air at you, "It gets boring just swooping in at things."

You laughed, "Dramatic bitch."

He growled, snapping his teeth at you but making no real move to injure you.

"Drop the disguise and then we'll see who's dramatic." He growls.

"Hah- you know I don't... like being like that anymore." You pause your lips, "If you wanna tussel you gotta play human style."

"Nasty." He scoffs.

"Not really- it's so much nicer to just- exist- and not be overwhelmed with stupid stuff-"

His eyes flicker at you.

The flame of anger for something not quite forgotten flares, but he quells it.

Attempts to.

You still catch onto it and know it's there.

"Being 'carefree' and existing is what got mom killed." He almost hisses.

You're quiet.

Anything you say could start a fight- you are walking on eggshells.

And with that thought, you're harshly reminded on why you left.

Not because you're scared of speaking your word, but because you know your opinion isn't respected.

"It also let me make great connections and friendships-"

A loud laugh barks out of him, his teeth flashing as he grins, "You mean like the pig?"

You nod, "He's been a great companion."

"I feel like you don't even know who he's associated with." He sets his head back on the ground, smugly keeping eye contact, "And you would know if you stopped pretending to be something that you're not."

"I mean yeah, I don't know who he's associated with, but I respect his privacy, and don't feel the need to just 'Be aware of it' the way you are." You hum.

"I know because it's safe to know." He says with an air of finality.

He's scared.

He's been scared.

He's protecting himself, and he would like to protect you too.

Unhealthy.

Glancing down, you stare at the soul sand he was coiled around.

Deep in the dirt you could just barely make out a blue shine.

Idly you kicked your bare foot at the sand.

"I'm sorry I left you here to protect her alone."

He hums again.

"And I'm sorry for all the things I said."

A bit of steam leaks from his nose.

"So you'll stay?" He asks, almost more a statement then a question, confident that you, his family, now reunited, would have no reason to leave.

You bite your tongue.

His temper flares quickly, but he also holds his words- chest lighting up.

Lighting up in much the same way the soil at your feet was.

Our mother's core, too resilient to dissipate the way our kins did.

The concentrated power of a god.

"You'll stay. Right?" He repeats the question.

You nervously flicker your eyes around, "I can't."

You try to hold eye contact- but his silence is overwhelming.

"I can't because I have people I care about. Back at home."

Home.

You wince at the way you worded that.

Home is your family.

And no where else.

Who is your family if not your kin. Your brother. Who is in front of you. And very sensitive and angry.

It's against everything in you to leave.

But staying feels wrong.

"Back at home..." He growls, "Tell me why this reminds me of way back when."

"Don't start this." You say.

"Way back, when you just couldn't stand it anymore."

"It wasn't you, or our siblings and you know that."

"HAH- you betrayed us. No kin left behind- we stick together through thick and thin and you LEFT US." His throat is filled with snarls and he starts pulling himself off the ground.

"I couldn't take being filled with hate! I couldn't take constantly attacking and killing- and striking out over something that couldn't be changed!"

He roars, slamming his claws on either side of your peripheral, head raised high above you.

Refusing to meet you at eye level.

"We are harbingers- where we go, death follows. We speak and our lunges breath chaos. Devourers. When will you remember that."

"I see you're still grieving." You glower, "When will you move on."

"Says the person that ravaged the world just as I did. The person that would watch with contentment as our kin did the same."

"I was the only one who woke the fuck up and realized that hurting people...? Taking vengeance over something that's already been done...? Doesn't change anything." You hug yourself, stepping backwards to get away from the overwhelming anger coming from him.

He matches your backward walking, for every five steps you take, his claws take one, "It's thanks to us that mom's legacy is safe right now- if it wasn't for us, they would have got exactly what they wanted!"

You know that right now nothing would make him stop, but that doesn't keep you from arguing, "ITS OVER- When will you realize you'll be happier if you let it go!"

"Oh you stupid cunt-"

"Fucking asshat-"

"Meet me eye to eye, coward- hiding in that form makes you look weak."

"I'd rather be weak and happy, then throw big stupid tantrums like you!"

"I am protecting myself, I have every right to lash out."

"You are unhealthy. You're mind is still stuck on when we dragged mom's dying corpse home- please just- look at the here and now you stupid self absorbed dick!"

"OH THAT IS IT- I WILL TEAR YOU AND YOUR WHORE PIG TO SHREDS-"

This time, when his head swooped down, it wasn't Techno who was his target to snap between his jaws, it was you.

Bloodthirst directed at you. Kin.

Soul fire unintentionally leaked everywhere with his open, biting mouth- anger spewing out as he wildly snapped and tried to find you through all the fire he was spreading.

Anger made him dumb.

It made him slower, and more importantly, easy to run from.

You took off, in a different direction from Techno.

If you bring your brother anywhere near Techno he will kill him, you currently have no sway on his mind.

You bring up your communicator and shoot a text to Techno.

'RUN.'

Fire hits your back and the wayward snap of teeth catches your cloak, gnashing with such a force that it instantly cuts the fabric into two separate pieces.

'Why run? What's wrong??' Techno texts.

You panic out a short, 'GONNA KILLYOU'

You tuck your communicator away even though you hear the ping of another few messages go off.

You swerve your running pattern, veering to the right and looping under your brother as he wildly thrashed at you.

You duck under his tail, hearing the tell tail sound of scales cracking behind you as his jaws sunk into his own flesh.

Good gods-

You're sprinting as fast as you can through your mother's skeleton, veering out of it to scan the terrain for some kind of nether crevice that you can slink through that your brother can't.

Most of the terrain was a valley, with high encompassing nether ceiling mountains, but near where part of her tail curled inward was a tunnel that started big and got smaller the farther it went in.

Perfect for you.

Halfway there and harsh gusts of wind came from the air, fire raining down and scorching the earth.

Pure rage. He knows fire doesn't hurt you, but wrath is clouding his judgment.

You breech the entrance of the tunnel, and you can feel him swooping in behind you- faster faster faster- you glance back just in time to see his wings catch on the walls, effectively clothes hangering himself, and all the momentum he carried with him.

You'll get away.

And you did.

One final blast of white hot soul fire kissed you as you wriggled through the smaller tunnel, which led into a divide of many smaller tunnels.

You did it.

...

.

.

Leaving. And never coming back.

.

Something in you ached, your chest heaving for oxygen, catching your breath after booking it the way you just did.

You need to... find Techno.

Shaking your head, and ignoring the loud bellowing and growling and roaring coming from behind you, you kept walking.

Even when the roaring turned into howling.

And even when howling turned into wailing- turned into the sad and extinguished noise of a crackling yell-

Pure anguish echoed in the noises.

Noises that you refused to turn around for.

Even when you felt the very same anguish.

Eventually, the noises turned into the mere echo of silence- fading out the farther you traveled.

And you tried to let the same happen with the thoughts in your head.

You had patted out the rest of what was on fire, but now that you could focus more you actually checked the damage to your attire.

Which.

Hm.

It was all kinda scraps now.

It was holding together, but only by string, and your clothes were nothing but modest.

Pulling out your communicator you checked Techno's messages, sliding your hand against the wall as you took a turn.

There was a string of frantic texts from Techno.

'Kill me??'

'What happened???'

'I can hear a lot of commotion'

'Are you okay??'

' I'm gonna head where we came from and try and regroup with you- give me your coords asap.'

You start your own message before you realize you've reached the end of the tunnels, coming out to... as expected, more soul valley.

You stop.

A deep sigh exiting your mouth as you drag one of your hands across your head.

.

Typing your coords in, you glance around and spot a skeleton scurrying away.

With leather pants.

Fuck that skeleton in particular-

You start chasing it.

"Give me your pants!"

The skeleton looks scared shitless- which, for not having organs to shit with, is impressive.

It runs faster at your yell.

.

.

It took a bit for Techno to show up at your coords, but when he did you were sitting there, a new set of leather pants and shirt on.

He seemed inquisitive as to how, but he mainly seemed worried, he had you stand up, scanning you every which way for injuries.

Large teeth marks were left along your torso and legs. From when your brother accidentally snagged you instead of Techno, and you were covered in odd scrapes.

Techno fretted over all of them, before finally narrowing in on your face, a hand grabbing your chin and tilting your head every which way.

His eyes widened when he made eye contact, before he swiped his thumb along your jaw and instead pulled you into a big hug.

"It's alright." He said to you.

He said as he pressed your undamaged face to his very damaged and blood soaked armor.

The chest-plate was more shirt and flesh then netherite because he was injured.

And you're not injured.

So he should be the one getting a hug and being soothed.

You don't know why he hugged you.

Surely you didn't look sad or hurt.

You defintly didn't feel sad.

At all.

Nothing there.

Absolutely.

Your eyes were wet.

With sweat.

And when you rubbed your head in his chest, his shirt was wet.

With sweat.

Honestly, you're kind of numb to it at this point.

You've lost so much, and you seem to loose it so often.

What's one more piece of your history gone.

You feel his hands peel away from you, grabbing both sides of your head and forcing you to meet his eyes.

"It's alright. I've got you." He scans your face again, before moving his hands to your back and legs, forcing you to kneel when he kneeled. Effectively he made you sit down.

Of your own volition, you grab him back into a hug.

"....The book." You say.

Techno makes a confused noise.

"You can read that book." You squeeze him, "The one that Dream gave you. I don't care anymore."

Techno grunts at you.

And grunts again when you pull away, crossing your legs to fully take a seat on the ground.

Techno is kneeled in front of you.

"Why don't you care anymore?" He questions, "I don't want to act on momentary feelings. I want to know you're absolutely sure it's okay."

You nod, "It's okay. I just... you've already seen so much. With no explanation. You deserve it. And I'd like you to know." You bite your lip, "I... I trust you."

You have to.

You officially cut ties with your brother for Techno. For Tommy. For the people you've found yourself caring so much about.

He should know.

In your surprise, he slides the book out of his satchel.

He already had it on him.

Seeing your confused look he explains, "I didn't trust Tommy not to dig into it somehow. And I wanted to keep it safe for you."

"....thank you.."

.

.

Techno thumbs over the book, looking at you and analyzing your face. Pulling apart your features for doubt.

All he reads from you is exasperation. So fed up with something he doesn't fully understand.

The red in your eyes is sadness- eyes irritated with the tears leaking out every odd moment.

Your hair was a mess- frazzled every which way-

But you still looked like you.

And his chest liked to tell his head that he liked to see you.

"You sure?"

Your nod is enough for his fingers to finally spread the book open, sliding across the cold front cover and revealing the sections on the front.

He purses his lips as his eyes intake what the sections were divided into.

He frowns when he flips a few pages in.

Then a few more pages.

His eyes glance over a potion diagram, and then a few battle strategies and grounding tactics.

Farther in and there's... very detailed instructions on how to try to harness power.

It's unfinished. Most of it was- some of it ripped out- but when he skips forward again- he gets a date and time of when a confirmed kill takes place. The first of many.

More and more flipping, more and more failed attempts at trying to... do something-

He's barely reading- just glimpsing- flipping over a page with a news headline, and a diagram of a wither farther down-

He freezes- at a page near the end- one of the three headed dragon-

Your mother-

Of the mass destruction left in her wake.

.

The book is a hunting log, a detailed encyclopedia, passed from generation to generation of hunter.

Of which.

It seems your mother is the target.

And by extension, you.

It makes sense.

He abruptly closes the book and looks at you, dumbfounded at how he hadn't pieced it together first.

The pieces click in his head.

"You're a god." He says.

You wince.

He's wrong in his assumption.

"Only a fragment of a god." You correct.

He tilts his head in question and you elaborate farther, "My mother is a God. The rest of us... are just pieces of her."

Techno is once again analyzing you. Picking you apart for your emotions.

You squint at him, brow dipping inward.

Your lips are pursed.

Your eyes seem to be lost in the soul soil near your leg.

Gently, slowly, Techno reaches out, encapsulating both of your hands into his.

Your words are unsteady, "You've already pieced stuff together-" You flinch as though to retreat, but his hold on you is caging, "I don't know where to start-"

"Your moms a god." Techno says, and when he falls silent, the unspoken words are loud.

It's alright.

I'll listen.

.

.

You take a deep breath in.

And start.

"She was." You confirm, "One of ruin. A harbinger of Chaos. Corrosion."

He slids his hand up your arms, locking them around your elbow and rubbing his thumbs in a soothing motion.

"She was also lonely. All gods are lonely in their own way. They can't really just- settle down and have a family. My mom especially couldn't view mortals as equals." You grin at Techno, "She would've considered you a hamster."

"Rude." He tuts.

You laugh at him, squinting softly at his worried face.

"You're not a hamster to me." You say fondly, and he squints back at you.

"Charmed." He says, squeezing your hand to continue.

"She was so desperate to feel... not lonely, that she made the nether." You purse your lips, "Which didn't work. She didn't feel better."

Some parts of you remember what she felt. Somewhere deep in your mind you you remember the grip of emotions yanking at your heart, and you're glad you don't fully recall it.

"So instead, she scraped parts of herself off, and we formed from what she cut off."

To make us she had to have a sacrifice-

She tore at herself for us. She pulled, and dug, and scraped at her very being, poked a weakness into her unbroken defenses.

She poked holes into everything that made a God flesh and blood-

She was dumb.

You took a breath in, settling your thoughts.

"It made her weak." You laughed, "She made herself vulnerable- in exchange for a bunch of arguing dummies."

Techno is still attentive to your words, refusing to interrupt.

"We were all fractions of what she was, and we were all longing to be whole. A swarm of confused and aching shards- That's what kept us together." You pause.

"I don't think you understand how important family is. To us. To me and my other me's. I am a piece of glass that gained consciousness after a full mirror broke..."

You frowned, "And then she got killed. And we got vengeful- and then I was the only one of us who looked around, and saw graveyard upon graveyard of dead kin, and woke up."

"That's why you're so against my revenge plans." Techno mutters.

"So you admit it's revenge!" You exclaim, trying to point a finger at him, but finding you couldn't with Technos hands locked around your elbows.

Techno snuffles, "No more questioning my motives, it's lore time."

"Nonono- We're discussing this." You say.

Techno deadpans.

You deapan back.

"Whatever. Im hounding you later." You roll your eyes, "I failed to convince my siblings, but I'll convince you."

"Likely story." Techno snuffs.

"Yup." You nod, "Very likely." With a roll of your eyes you tack on, "So incredibly likely."

Techno bonks his forehead into your forehead, nearly touching noses, "Lore time, continue your story."

"Fine! Fine-" Your face flushes at the proximity, and you flick your head away as you relent to him, "I ended up leaving my siblings. And when I did there was a huge argument with my brother. Because leaving any of us behind is completely against our nature. It was like a betrayal of the highest tier."

Techno puffs at you, "Ya know- your weird family stuff sounds kinda like the weird piglin stuff."

"Not so far fetched considering my mother made them." You roll your eyes.

"Weird- I don't like knowing that something out there was so powerful it could make an entire ecosystem." Techno freezes, "....Can you make an ecosystem??"

A loud laugh flies from your mouth, "Me??? Haha! Nonono- I do not have that kind of power. I can go big mode and smash stuff, but if I want to do any kind of creating, I'd have to take up the mantle our mother left behind." You squint, "And it's not like she made it entirely herself, all creating is done through the God of life. It has her signature, but in the end it was two hands molding everything."

Techno's eyes flash with recognition, and the words your brother spoke come ringing back to mind.

"You... have a patron?" You ask.

You know there's a lot of gods out there. Maybe not as intense as your mother. Or Kristen. Or... life...- but surely you'd have some kind of knowledge.

Techno's eyes widen, and he tilts his head away from you, "Kind of. Not really a patron though..."

You raise an eyebrow, "You recognize... the idea of taking power though..."

"I am aware... that there is a cycle to gods- and that eventually, a dead God will have something fill their roll."

You are all too aware of this cycle.

No God is ever just 'dead.'

Maybe dormant, but they never die.

"I won't push you if you're sensitive to it." You say.

Techno puffs at you, sliding his arms away from your elbow and back down to your hands.

It seems like Techno wants to say something to you. Merely finding the right words in silence.

You take the time to run your hand up his arm, pushing up his sleeves to thumb over where his lines were.

Red lines.

Which you stare at.

Just two red lines, carved into his flesh.

Two.

You freeze.

Techno freezes.

You both seem to notice it at the same time. The fact that one of them was missing.

"Uum." You dumbly say and look back at Techno, "Is that supposed to be like that...?"

Techno is still staring at the lines.

"I was starting to think I'd never knock one of them down." Is what he supplies you with.

You tap the lines with your fingers to try and get his attention, "Uuhhh- Slash positive??"

"Strangely enough... yes." Techno says.

You sigh, unraveling at the seams.

Techno squints at you.

You squint back.

An amused noise comes out of him before he sighs.

"I'm tired." He admits.

You nod.

Agreement.

You are exhausted.

And also still in the radius that your brother checks for intruders.

Which means you should leave.

"Home?" You question.

Home, your chest aches.

A different home then you are used to aching for.

"Home." Techno says.

.

.

.