So apparently after that whole incident during the festival a few weeks back that included a lack of a button- Wilbur lost any and all trust for anyone. Which wasn't big news, because you already knew that, but that meant he started just... letting people into Pogtopia? Only one so far, but specifically the one who had jailed you.

Wilbur still wanted 'Manberg back, but the explosion was tucked in his back pocket like a trump card? That was also a thing.

You didn't know what to think about that, so you focused on trying to do menial tasks around the ravine.

Even with the added face.

Wilbur said he was open to every person who wanted to join, because now? He didn't feel he had a reason to safety monitor who wanted to or not.

It made sense why Quackity showed up. You'd seen how he got treated, but it felt weird to converse with him.

He was still strange and half friendly towards you half not, and he was definitely humbled by something, but you just....

It was off for you.

Tommy brought him in one day, and you overheard something about the white house getting destroyed- and it was important to Quackity?

It certainly wasn't the fire you started- because fire can't demolish stones, but something happened to it.

You didn't pay too much attention, doing your drone work and racking in all the materials people might need.

Things were speeding up incredibly fast, and you were trying your best to keep pace with it.

The only people who permanently moved into the ravine was Tubbo, everyone else came and left but had beds and bases elsewhere. Techno came around every once and awhile (You were positive he was just skipping sleep entirely), as did Wilbur and Niki, and Quackity.

Which was nice- less of a crowd let you enjoy a morning of peace with your warm drinks, but after a week of both Tommy and Quackity trashing your nook and not cleaning it up after searching for stuff to eat, you were... a little fed up with how many people came to roam the area..

Techno had been gone for... almost a week now?

He was doing his usual supply run type things, but from how long he's been off in the unknown, you assumed he's preparing for something big.

So that left you primarily either entertaining the two teenagers, or scavenging materials in the mines.

Which wasn't the absolute best, but at least you had some form of company.

However much Tommy's pestering counted as company.

But you guessed you were still here, and in this ravine- doing things, and sleeping. So that had to count for something.

When you woke, it was just another day.

The lack of calm energy told you Techno still wasn't back yet, leaving Tubbo and Tommy to run rampant with chaotic energy. You could tell they were already up and chatting to each other somewhere in the ravine, mere whitenoise to your tired ears after hearing their chittering for so long.

That left you to blearily rub at your eyes, splayed out on your bed and staring directly up at the stone ceiling.

Very bland stone ceilings, that radiated a chill that only a cave could.

Brr- chills-

Cursed temperature-

Regardless, you eventually rolled out of bed, leaving the warmth of your blankets behind in favor of walking to the entrance of the bedroom.

True to the noice you heard while sitting around, Tubbo and Tommy were meandering around, rooting through chests and chatting about the most random of topics.

Tubbo was the one doing the searching for once, while Tommy was seated atop a chest.

"Hello Tomethy-child-Innit-" you smile in greeting, before turning to Tubbo and saying, "Good day sir-"

Tubbo laughed, shooting a cheeky grin to Tommy, who grumbled before straightening his posture and grumbling out a, "Yeah, yeah- whatever-" he flipped his head in your direction, "Good morning to you too 'mum'."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment, and not as an insult to my need to coddle others." You shot one last grin at the begrudging look on Tommy's face before meandering to your nook to start the warm drink process. It was clockwork at this point.

"Tea or coffee?" You called over your shoulder.

"Tea!" Tubbo yelled, Tommy smacking him over the head and yelling, "Coffee!"

You just chuckled and shrugged. You wanted tea more at the moment, so that's two votes. Sorry Tommy.

Setting the pot on to boil, you stoke the coals a bit before looking back over at the two boys, Tubbo still rummaging around for something.

"What are you guys looking for?" You ask, figeting with ingredients.

"Tubbo wants to practice more of his boring redstone-" Tommy barely got to continue before Tubbo but in.

"And Tommy wants to go build a boring tower."

You snorted at the two, "Have fun deciding what to do."

Tommy just shot you another look, crossing his arms and saying, "Oh yeah? And what are you going to do??"

"Nether."

He looked taken aback, "Nether? I thought you like- hated the nether??"

"Hate's a strong word. Mildy uncomfortable fits better."

The hissing of the kettle made you glance back at it, taking it off steaming to dump the boiling water into three cups.

"Wait-wait-wait-" Tommy sped walked over to you, "If you're going to the nether can I come too?"

The squinted look you shot him told him exactly what you were thinking, and made him sputter for a second before he gathererd ground and said, "I won't be stupid about it- Come ooon!"

"Mmmm-" you looked him in his whining face, contemplating, but ultimately the puppy face he was giving you completely cracked your will.

"Ah- whatever you can come. No chaos though- I gotta job to do."

Putting a tea bag in your own drink you look to both boys and ask, "What kind of tea?"

To which Tommy groans, and Tubbo let's out a cheer before running over to pick his own tea bag out.

Once everyone had their cups, Tommy much more begrudging about drinking, you settled at the table long enough to finish the tea before standing up to start getting ready for the trip.

Tommy was on your heel the moment you stood, bouncing with excitement, muttering a bunch of things to you that went right into one of your ears and out the other.

When you walked into your bedroom to gather your supplies up, you had to plop a hand on Tommy's shoulder to get him to stop chattering and tell him to go prepare himself.

The nether was a tough place.

And you didn't need this kid loosing his last life because of something dumb.

You watched him until he walked to his equipment chest, turning to go to your own and start loading up.

Silk touch pickaxe? Check.

Fire resistance potion for Tommy? Check.

Rope? Check.

Did you not have any weapons to defend yourself? Of course you didn't.

You really needed at least something to fight back with in case something bad happened, but you didn't get any. Like Tommy said awhile ago, something bad happening seemed to be a repeating pattern.

"Tommy you have a shield?" You questioned still rifling through your stuff.

"Yes. Who doesn't have a shield?"

You look back- catching Tommy in full diamond armor, shield at the ready- sword in hand-

Aww- he looks all grown up with that on.

He'd curse you out if he heard you say that aloud, so you just smiled fondly in his direction before saying, "Glad to see the materials I mined went to good use-"

You walked up to him and eyed the craftsmanship. A bit rough looking- like whoever made it didn't properly know how to form the chest plate, but it was usable. Better then nothing.

It definitely wasn't Technoblade who made this.

Technoblade's crafted items are incredibly noticeable, as his craftsmanship is beautiful- both in strength and design.

Not nearly as rough as this.

Glancing up at the lanky kid you ask, "You make this yourself?"

"Yes- yes I did." For once you didn't doubt his proud tone.

"Good job kid-" you took the opportunity to harshly ruffle his hair before turning around before he could yell at you-

"I'm NOT A KI--" he froze to take in your retreating figure before continuing to yell, "AYE- GET BACK HERE WOMAN-"

You weren't sure whether it was the tea you drank, or the fact that you had a good night's rest for once, but walking out of the ravine with Tommy felt nice.

The genuine nice- where you feel hopeful, and happy.

A good feeling that swirls in your head and makes you feel content.

That feeling stayed, even as you skipped yourself over to the main hubs nether portal.

The ominous, flaking purple was all too familiar, but you shrugged off any unease and merely thought of the current moment, and who you were with.

You let yourself dip into the purple mist.

The both of you enter in about the same time- you coming out the other end first to be greeted with the scent of burning. The platform the nether portal rested on was very high above the ground level lava, yet heat still reached up here, and it felt nice for so much heat to surround you.

The first thing Tommy questioned to you when he comes out the other side is, "Good to be home?"

His teasing tone was obvious, and you could only shoot him a blank look, "Don't patronize me."

He gave a laugh, but tried his best to drop that topic, instead looking out over the field of lava you were suspended above and saying, "So why'd you wanna come here today?"

"Gold. And lots of it." You took a moment to rummage through your bag, brandishing your silk touch pickaxe and tossing the fire resistance at Tommy while you were at it.

He fumbled with catching it, cursing when it nearly fell, just barely getting his two hands around it, "Why so much gold? We have enough gold back at the base ya know."

"Wellll-" you drag your word out, just a little embarrassed about the reasoning.

When you didn't continue after your first word Tommy glared and says, "So help me if you have another mystery to add to your mysterious persona I will go feral."

You couldn't help but laugh at his serious tone of voice, waving him off the best you could and quickly muttering, "I thought I'd get something for Technoblade."

Tommy paused at that, conflicting emotions sprouting onto his face.

He....

Tommy still hasn't dropped his mistrust of Techno.

You don't blame him, it is hard to trust people when they do something as extreme as killing, but you were kinda over it. It still sucked it happened. But...

Techno's a stressed dude even if he doesn't look it- stressed by the voices, by his duties- and stressed especially with being a normal emotion ridden person.

He's his own character, one who you don't mind trusting.

But Tommy...

You glance at his face, staring you directly in the blue hue of his eye, clashing emotions bubbling up.

Tommy has a hard time forgiving.

He finally settled with, "Why?" A mask rose to the surface of his face. A facade, that covered what he was feeling.

You didn't like when Tommy got like this. You knew something was bothering him, but regardless, you started walking to the bridges to find gold, gesturing the teenager to follow.

"Why?" You mumble in question to yourself, looking up in thought for a second before saying, "Well, he saved my skin on multiple different occasions, and he made me armor. I feel like people don't recognize the stuff he does- so why not do something nice in return?"

"He made you armor?! What the hell?! Why didn't I get any!" Tommy crossed his arms, huffing and pouting to himself and shooting you an accusatory look.

"Haha- don't worry- I think he forgot to give it to me, sooo... it kinda doesn't count." Dropping off the bridge to stable netherack, you start your hustle to find gold.

"Still- what the fuck Techno- I need armor too." He glanced at his diamond armor and then to you who had no armor on, "Kinda."

The pace in his steps increased, a cheery little skip to them making you very suspicious.

His grin entered your peripheral, "Heyyy (Y/N)....??"

You squinted not pausing your walking, "Yesss...?"

"Can I have a peice of your armor...?"

You looked him fully in the eye, groaning and saying, "Techno is right- you're a little raccoon-" you made a shooing motion with your hands, "Scram- find more unessesary armor elsewhere-"

"But (Yyy/Nnn)...!"

"No- scram-"

Tommy let's out a huge laugh- wheezing out a guffaw so loud he had to pause walking just to put his hands on his knees.

He begs one more time and you shoo him one more time a bit more seriously before he rapid fire looks back up and begs, "Nonono- wait wait wait- we can talk about this!"

You pause your walking, raising an eyebrow at Tommy's sputtering before rolling your eyes and saying, "Alright- you can stay- but you're on thin ice."

The gremlin takes it in stride, running to catch up before walking in pace with you.

You felt a lot better having company in the nether.

Just... having someone to spend time with in and of itself made a warm happy feeling rise in you.

A friend.

You glanced at Tommy, smiling a small gentle smile and he shot you a confused look.

This little goblin was your friend- what a turn of events.

"What are you smiling about?" Tommy sassed, pausing with you when you started mining some gold ore.

You could only shrug at him, swinging your pickaxe and tucking any gold you got into you bag, "Ah, it's nothing-"

"No- you looked at me and then did that weird soft look- what were you smiling about-" Tommy again sassed you, genuinely curious and crossing his arms as he looked at you.

You didn't respond, and with another swing of your pickaxe, the rest of the gold vein was gone.

Almost hesitantly, you looked back at Tommy, and the look he gave you was one that said he'd pry your reasoning out of your cold dead hands.

You sigh and climb out of the hole, standing next to the kid and saying, "Nah- I just thought about how unlikely it is that we're friends-"

"Unlikely?" Tommy pursed his lips.

"Like- the odds of us meeting and having nice conversation hinged on me joining Pogtopia- and I almost didn't." You tucked a hand into your pocket, thumbing over your pocket watch.

"Oh." He murmured, "Why'd you smile if you thought about grim odds?"

The fact that Tommy didn't deny the fact that you were friends made you grin- this silly little goblin child-

Why did you want to smother him in motherly love-

"Well- I thought about how we were buddies- and that made me smile."

At that moment, he seemed so small. You scratched the surface of his cheeky gremlin facade, and tumbling out came the young, caring, and emotional side of him.

His eyes went just as soft as yours for a second- a glisten tell tale of tears, before he harshly rubbed his face, "Shit- come on man- you can't say shit like that- it throws off my groove-"

Regardless of his tears, you tug him into a quick hug, patting his back before turning to look for more gold, "Come on - we've got a mission!"

"Psh- alright- fine fine-"

"Tommy adventure!" You yell, nudging him just to get him to laugh before quietly adding on, "Just a mum and her sun-" as a tease towards the time he mocked you for mother henning.

"Please no- the last Tommy adventure we had ended horribly." He laughed, and with a grin you realized he didn't correct you for saying mum.

Grinning silently, you didn't comment.

You needed more gold.

Speed walking to the next vein you saw, you let Tommy follow, mining it out as fast as you could before rushing to the next one.

It was a simple process, and having Tommy ramble to you about things was nice.

You couldn't help but feel he was pondering something though.

It looked like he had something on his mind, and not having a way to be sure bothered you-

Every once in a while he would pause talking to you and just- contemplate something with a grim look. Grim looks didn't suit Tommy you decided.

You weren't going to push though, so you both went along your merry way in the nether.

You had a stack and a half after the eighth time Tommy paused, and you couldn't take it anymore.

"Is something on your mind?" You asked, tucking the last of yet another gold ore vein into your backpack.

You tried to sound as casual as you could- no pressure, and no confrontation.

When you turned around to look at him, the grim face was there, only instead of being pointed into the distance it was directly aimed at you.

"Can I-" Tommy's voice was quiet, "Can I tell you something? Since you're my buddy and all-"

"Of course- I don't mind listening." You throw out some of the netherack you collected before closing up your backpack and throwing it back on.

"A few days ago... Wilbur... talked to me and Quackity about something."

You had a horrible feeling about this. Lately Wilbur in general gave you a horrible feeling.

"He took us to L'manberg, and to this little hillside, and he had this... little room that he really wanted to show us-" Tommy took an uneasy breath, "I've been thinkin about it for a real long time- and I just- Wilbur wanted to blow everything up."

Did he take them to his detonation room? Is that what this was? Did he want to show off what he planning to do?

Tommy scratched at his arm, avoiding eye contact in favor of looking off into the nether's landscape, "He was going to blow it all up- but- me and Quackity got him to stop by threatening to stay and get blown up with it."

Your hand flew over you mouth as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Holy shit-" you muttered, "Tommy your on your last life- you can't just-"

"I know!" He paused after the shout of his voice, "I know I am... but Wilbur was going to do it and I freaked out- I had to do something!" He crossed his arms over his chest and went silent, so you did the reasonable thing and pulled him in for another hug.

"I'm glad you're okay- but that was reckless-"

"I know-" he grumbled, hesitantly returning the hug, "I just- really wanted to get that off my chest."

Patting his back you huff, "Do you feel any better?"

He hummed in thought, "Uuuh... I guess a little."

"Good. Any improvement in mental health is good."

Releasing the hug, you give him a harsh head ruffle before sighing.

He didn't slap your hand away that time, and you could still tell the Wilbur situation was wearing on his nerves.

"So yeah. Wilbur's just- I don't know- he's been acting really weird. I don't like it." Tommy finally says, and you could only agree.

Wilbur is plunging too far into the depths-

And by gods is the depths a hard place to pull yourself out of.

You have to talk to Wilbur.

Glancing around you see another gold vein.

Right after you get a gift for Techno.