The sixteenth was upon you faster then you would've ever liked.

Your peaceful night of sleep was interrupted, and here you were, being tugged along by Tommy, to meet up with the entire group. 

Because that's what tonight was. 

The sixteenth.

You were rubbing sleep out of your eyes, walking through the woods towards a tower as Tommy discussed things with all of them over the coms. Wilbur was trailing behind both of you, walking calmly but voicing the fact that he knew you didn't like violence. He thought you shouldn't come, because it was going to be the discussion of a battle, and you didn't want to fight.

You didn't comment, merely choosing to ignore Wilbur in favor of getting tugged along by Tommy.

Just because you didn't like fighting didn't mean you didn't want to be informed. Knowing what was going to happen is good.

The call was chaotic, everyone talking about things, updates on when they'd reach the tower, and what they were doing at the moment. Too many different voices with too many of their own thoughts.

You weren't in the call.

And you were too tired to really care at that moment.

The sun wasn't out- and the moon wasn't sunbathing material, so you crossed your arms for warmth and followed Tommy all the way to the tower- where a surprising amount of people had gathered.

The familiar figures of Techno and Tubbo caught your eye immediately as you and Tommy sidled up to them.

Tubbo was sounding off hellos at everyone who came, sounding cheerful despite probably being as tired as you.

Techno caught sight of you first. Always on the alert, head flicking to your ragtag group of three the minute you stepped out of the tree line.

"Aye, its Tommy." Techno says, before flicking his eyes to you and giving out a snuff, "I'm surprised you're here."

"Hello Techno." Tommy softly said, to which Techno nodded, before catching Wilbur at the back of the group.

Techno grumbled a happy, "Wiiilbuurr-" 

The brown haired male trots up to the group, very relaxed looking. He doesn't return Techno's greeting, merely going straight up to Techno and saying, "Real quick, real quick- Techno, what's your opinion on me blowing everything up?" He looks Techno dead in the eyes, "Just for posterity."

Everyone calms, watching the interaction.

"That sounds pretty pog." He deadpans- and before Wilbur can smile and agree, Fundy screams out a no- and everyone else starts loudly yelling as well.

You took that as your Que to check out of the conversation.

People arguing with each other made you sink into yourself for absolutely no reason. Just-

It made no sense arguing when you could be smiling with them instead.

Not that they argued for too long, but there was certainly a back and forth going before Wilbur asked Techno for arrows.

Which made everyone start to try and take stock of their weapons, just in time for Niki to come walking up.

You silently took in their interactions, shuffling idly as Niki settled in beside you to watch as well.

Still waiting for people, as it seems, and you give a glance to Wilbur. Armorless. Fearless. A spiteful ball of negativity. He looked very excited for the coming battle. Hopeful for the failure of it.

"Hey Niki?" You ask quietly to her.

She turns her full attention to you, eyes looking worn and eaten out by thoughts.

"Are you holding up okay...?"

You knew enough about her to know she was close to Wilbur... and with what he is now...?

She follows your line of sight to Will, sighing and scrunching up.

"I... genuinely don't know." 

"You and me both." You reply.

Most of the prep went over your head.

You didn't plan on fighting.

But you were definitely considering coming to the battle.

You wouldn't be able to handle it if something bad happened without you there to help out.

Maybe you'd be a field medic?

Kinda?

Maybe?

You'd figure it out.

Dream briefly showed up- and that was a fright- but with only one other person with him, the massive group you'd accumulated scared him off.

And after a brief moment in the ravine where Quackity for some reason started stripping, you were now- currently- following Technoblade.

A whole group of people, rallied and ready- following to a 'supply'- as Techno so aptly put it.

Whatever he had been working on for all the time you've been around was going to be revealed, and after a brief trip down into his little secret base, and a lever switch with a ladder- everyone was standing awestruck at an armory.

Netherite armor was hung along the armor stands, always so eloquently crafted, shimmering as everyone ran to piece together the inventories they needed.

You stood at the back, letting them take what they needed, because again, you didn't need armor,and you really didn't plan on going toe to toe with anyone. Worst case scenario, you'll need to cover for someone, and you've got a deadly netherite sword attached to your hip for coverage.

Wilbur hung back with you. Not directly, but after grabbing arrows, he walked to the ladder to lean there and wait. You idly set your eyes on him, calm exterior frightening.

He glanced over, his soft brown hues making eye contact. Not so soft anymore. Not so brown. Just inky, and twisted.

He opens his mouth with a, "It's hilarious how visible the turning of gears are in your head."

And now, he had your full attention.

When you go to speak, he cuts you off with a laugh, "Look- look at that little face of yours- look at those little brain cells working-"

"This is the second time someone's pointed that out." You deadpan at him.

"With just cause. You stare at people a lot."

You sputter for a second, "You little!-" You clench your mouth shut when you find you don't have words, "...That's just the way I am..."

He lets out another laugh. And the fact that he was finding humor in this wasn't at all believable. From the way he squinted you could tell he was trying to pick at something bigger.

After a moment of silence, and his laughter subsiding back into nothing, he glances to everyone grabbing materials before saying, "You can't stop me."

The glare you fix on him is quick, but he continues.

"I know you've already come to a conclusion about what you think I'm going to do- and I want you to know that you can't stop me." The tenseness in the air is palpable, almost choking you where you stand.

You don't make a comment, only looking at all the happy people still sorting through all the chests. 

No comment, means no argument.

No argument, means less stress.

A figure emerges from the crowd a moment later, tall and broad, pink hair swaying as he walked up to the two of you, glancing idly between the both of you before saying, "Wilbur- you have no armor." 

Techno stood before the both of you, hands on his hips.

"I don't need armor." Will firmly says in response.

Techno pauses, looking at him, glancing at you, before looking back, "Okay." with a small slouch... he almost looks... disheartened, "I mined all that netherite for nothing."

For a brief moment, Wilbur's eyes flash- back into the soft brown hue and he waves a frantic arm around, "Oh- nononono- Techno- It's not that I don't appreciate it- I do appreciate it, it's just I-" He pauses, "I don't want netherite man." 

"It's fine. I understand." Techno says, giving Wilbur one last look, before turning his head to you. 

Slow, deliberate-

You tried to keep a straight face, before smiling when he tilted his head. You were almost positive you knew exactly what he was going to say.

"I don't know what you could possibly be smiling at." He says, in his monotone, grumbly voice- yet you hear the eyebrow raise.

"Oh nothing- you know me, just exercising my face." When you see him give a little smile back your grin widens, "I can assume you're doing the same."

Before he can reply Wilbur laughs, shaking his head and making eye contact with the both of you, "You guys are so soft it's sickening."

"No." Techno says, shrugging off Wilbur's comment before stiffly gesturing you to follow him. Over to a small gardening room, sugar cane and netherwart planted along the sides.

He's wordless for a bit, merely shuffling into the room and meandering up to a chest.

He brings both hands to the lid, resting them there before pulling the chest open and gently reaching in.

The chest plate to an armor set was pulled out, and he turned back and handed it to you.

You glance- wide eyed- between Techno and the armor. So this is where he's been keeping the armor he made you.

He pulls the rest of the armor out and sets them down, before looking at you and tilting his head.

"Do you know how to use armor?" He questions.

"Uuuh- I can try." You only get to fumble with it for a moment before he sets the leg plating down and reaches for the chest plate, give it a few taps.

"Do you know what a harness is?"

He glances at your pursed face- before sighing. Incredibly bemused sounding. Borderline questioning life.

"Sit."

With no qualms, you sit. Awkwardly seated on a chest, watching as Techno kneeled down with the netherite leggings and grabbed your ankle to position your leg properly.

Once deciding your leg was well enough placed, he grabbed the first side of the netherite leggings, lining the plates to your thigh and shin before grabbing the straps between them and tugging them on tighter.

His hand burned-

In all the best ways- the feathery light touches as he pulled straps taut making you lean into the warmth.

There were a surprising amount of straps- one went around your waist, and when he silently leaned in, wrapping his arms around you to tug the waist strap tight you went ridged.

His heat was overwhelming- but pleasant- and you didn't want to be a weirdo- so you just sat there and let him tug everything on.

Once the legs were done, he stood back up, gesturing for you to stand as he grabbed the chest plate off the floor.

"Put this on." He hands you an undercoat of sorts, and you give him a strange look.

"What is this...??" You lifted the fabric up, closely staring at it under the light.

"It's a gambeson."

"I'm going to pretend I know what that means."

He chuffs at you, "Unless you want the netherite to rub your skin raw- You'll want to put it on."

You take one last glance at it before pulling it over your head, wiggling and pulling it down and standing awkwardly with this oddly poofy undershirt- gambeon?? Or whatever he said it was, on.

You smile unsurely- feeling strange with such a padded shirt on.

Clearly he thinks the same, when his lips quirk up- before he forcefully flattens the smile.

He looked at you- before grabbing your forearm and flattening it in the air. Kinda like a T-pose. But only one side at a time.

"Hold position-" he murmers, starting on your right, tugging the plates up, knotting them and tying them around your arm.

The whole experience felt... strangely intimate.

This piece of his history- that he had practiced so often was now being shared with you. He was quick with the knots, like he had done them countless times before, and the sound of fabric against fabric was dull against the air.

He motions your arm down before pulling a few pieces onto your shoulder.

When he tugs the netherite chest plate on, your whole body lurches forward- a single foot stepping into his personal bubble, to keep yourself stabilized.

He remains unaffected, still studiously pulling everything onto you, but your heart just about beat itself out of its cage-

His hand reached near your collar bone, pulling the undershirt up a bit more to keep the netherite off your bare skin- 

He was so passive about it-

You could feel yourself flush at his proximity- try as you might to remain unaffected.

With one final tug and tie, he pauses. Hands still holding onto the knot he finished, hands directly under your chin.

Techno became silent. Still bent over to properly look at what he was doing-

He tilted his head up- and you swore you caught the gleam of his red eyes under the mask-

With a start, he dropped his hands, straightening back out to his full height-

God you felt so tiny next to him.

Without a word, he grabs the helmet, handing it to you, before puffing up defensively.

"Do you know a proper battle stance?"

You give him a blank stare, and he runs a hand over the top of his mask in exasperation.

"You know what? Just stick close- you'll be fine." He shakes his head for a brief moment, before freezing and looking back down at you, "Unless you're not going. I heard Wilbur say something about you not going."

You huff, "I'm going."

He nods, before reaching into his pockets with a few splash potions. His hand extends out, "Here- regen- in case you need them."

This dude.

How generous was he going to be??

Armor, sword, regen potions- you felt guiltily spoiled, and absolutely itched to return all his help in some way.

You take the regen potions, glass tinking together as you stow them on a satchel at your side.

"Thank you. Techno. Really." You send a glance to the mask- before looking down and lifting your hand to thumb at the netherite armor, "I feel like you don't get thanked enough."

For a moment, the atmosphere is silent. The cold chill of bedrock seeping through the armor as he stands wordless in front of you.

You're scared.

Scared something you said was horribly wrong, but when you glance up at him, and catch the red flush of his ears, you immediately feel better.

He takes a bit more to respond, humming first- a hum that rumbled with an almost purr like quality, "No problem."

This entire moment was so oddly intimate.

"Hey lover birds- everyone's almost done suiting up."

Fundy-

Holy shit-

You startle- nearly jumping at the interruption- not at all focused in on reality-

Techno jolts as well, swiftly spinning around and brute forcing his way past Fundy with a, "Good."

You're left there, standing in the middle of the room with a burning face, and Fundy looks at you with a grin and raised eyebrows.

"No." You say immediately, following suit in Techno's footsteps and scurrying out of the room, ignoring Fundy's cheeky look.

Back in the main room it was just as Fundy said. Most people were almost done getting on all their new armor sets.

War would be upon all of us.

Most people were done- only a few people lagging to keep sorting through chests.

You decided to head up the ladder first, feeling strangely heavy with all the armor on. You didn't like how much weight it had and how much it pulled you to the ground.

You'd get over it though. Most things you can get over.

Tommy comes up after you, all his armor on, looking truly confident now that everyone was so geared up.

He makes eye contact and grins.

"We're gonna make it." You say. Only to sooth him- because you didn't at all believe Pogtopia is gonna win. Something's going to happen.

Before Tommy can say anything, Techno climbs up the ladder next, swooping around the young boy and heading right towards a chest, still preparing and sorting it seemed.

Tommy sends Techno a look, of tentative acceptation-

You're not sure if they apologized yet- not at all.

You hope they did.

"We're gonna fucking win." Tommy finally says.

And everyone else swarms into the cramped room.

Following after Tommy, all of you head into the water elevator, thrown into startlingly cold water, before being shot up on the other side. The warmth of the sun was a harsh contrast to the cold water you were drenched with, and you shiver as you take a few uneasy steps around. There was no pause, everyone heading straight for where the fight would take place.

"Hey everyone-" Tommy pipes with a smile, "If we all go humana humana humana it would sound funny-"

Que every single armed adult yelling humana humana in a mesh of different beats-

Armed. Adults.

You laughed in your spot near the back of the group, watching Tommy run ahead and turning to grin when Techno said, "All right- everyone give me your armor back you don't deserve it-"

For people about to head to war- the tone of the fight was unnaturally cheery- not that you would complain. Morale was high.

Wilbur took it upon himself to drop morale, reaching the top of a hill- looking around at all the laughing, turning to watch Tommy approach him.

"Tommy, you know the rules- If we fail- It's going up-" Tommy's smile drops as he stares at Will.

"Let's not fucking fail then-" He walks away, looking a little more puffed up then before- almost defensive looking as he goes ahead to start building a small road to the railway.

Everyone else clusters around Wilbur with a mass of voices- clearly trying to reprimand him for saying that- but one voice cuts through everyone else's.

"Yeah but Will, Will, Will- we have The Blade." Fundy's voice is clear, and confident, as he gestures a hand towards Techno, "We have the gear." He gestures to all of their armor, "We're so ready!"

You glance at Techno, and almost like he felt your look he moderately turns his head to return the eye contact. You had no idea why you both turned to each other, but it happened, and you looked away so as to not start staring.

Rather then stick in the small group, you head forwards with Tommy, climbing up the little pathway he made to the rails, standing at attention when you got up.

What Fundy said rallied everyone's morale again, the jokes and the laughing coming back as the rest of the group set foot on the rails.

Quackity asks who the traitor is. No one answers, obviously- they speculate- but then you all head down the rails. Like crusaders on their long wrought journey-

Something about being a piece of such a massive group felt right inside of you. Being a part of a larger whole, the comradery- the blazing emotions of all of them-

It felt good.

Even if it was temporary- and who knows if the actual fight would tear people apart.

Walking in a crowd of people made you feel powerful.

Reaching the end of the railways was the beginning of the fight.

No time to properly think-

One moment you all reach the end, and the next there are arrows raining down from above-

"They're in THe Tower!" Someone yells- who knows who- and all of you charge- climbing the ladders as fast as you could- dead set on cornering down whoever was up there.

The moment you all got up, whoever was there scattered, flickering away with pearls, and all but letting your group take the tower.

You didn't have a bow- so you couldn't shoot- not that you wanted to. Instead you watched as everyone else did-

Some hits hitting, some missing- if any stray arrows came your way it was easy to anticipate where they would land and dodge them.

"Oh God- I'm hit- I'm hit I'm hit--"

You whipped around to look at Wilbur- an arrow had pierced his left shoulder, and he was bent over clutching the wound-

Shit-

You rush over, placing a hand on his back to help stabilize him before whipping your bag around to dig in it-

"You are so fucking lucky Techno gave me stuff for an occasion like this-" You mutter, prying his hand off the wound and shooting him a look. A few other people come over, mainly Techno and Fundy, who quickly pass off even more healing supplies before turning back to the fight-

Wilbur huffs an uneasy breath, eyes wide with a crazy look as he clenched his teeth together, and you don't ask him to do anything, taking a look at the arrow that was lodged into his shoulder and wincing.

"I'm gonna need to take it out before you can take the potion- Okay?"

He nods, squinting at you in mainly confusion.

"When I take it out, apply pressure to the wound so you don't loose too much blood-"

Another nod-

With no time to waste, you snap off the arrow head, making sure there's no splinters on the broke piece before smoothly pulling it. His hands clenched the wound, and you threw the arrow away and plucked a healing potion out of your bag.

"Take it, I'll apply the pressure-"

His hands pull away, and you replace them, clenching the wound as he chugged the potion- the bleeding almost immediately died down, and you released.

"You good?" You question thumbing over the new patch of scabbed skin.

"Just peachy." He squints at you- muttering a confused thanks before standing right back up to rejoin the arrow standoff.

"Should we go down there and fight them?" Quackity chimes, another arrow flying past his head when he turns to look at everyone.

The agreements are quick, and Tommy is quicker to jump off, falling much faster now that he has netherite on, but landing in some water down below.

You follow, as does Tubbo, and most people- either landing in water or pearling down.

You're not sure who to follow when you reach the ground, staring at everyone scattering- catching sight of Techno's figure and being completely taken aback.

One moment he's Techno- good ol' normal Techno- and the next he's just... not.

Like a shark catching scent of blood- in his place is a boar- breathe wild on the chase as he ruthlessly charges at Karl.

He was carving the path for everyone- A blade slash against Karl sending blood splattering everywhere-

Karl just barely pearls away when his second slash comes down on air-

Techno heaves a breath, fur puffing up, and the chase hasn't ended- immediately he's onto someone else like a rabid animal- He fires fireworks and the sizzling and booming is bone rattling.

You would be scared shitless if you were on the opposing team.

The battle wasn't even a push and pull. It was overwhelmingly obvious which team had more strength, everyone on the opposite side constantly on the run, barely escaping death with every personal sword swing.

It wasn't long before Dream sent a mass message out on the communicators-

He wanted to talk.

Specifically to Wilbur-

And after everyone pauses their fights, and everyone meets outside a pink house, weapons drawn, you all watch as he and Wilbur both trade words. Tommy is busy taking pictures, laughing about how, 'he was finally on the other side-'

Techno was taking pictures too- picking jokes at how they were suddenly listening to the enemy, but you were focusing more on Wilbur and Dream.

They were serious looking in their body language.

You startle when Techno leans in next to you, communicator held up as he took a very quick selfie with you.

"What-" You start to question, but he puts a bloody hand on your lips with a shush.

"Don't question it."

Tommy buts in a second later with his own communicator, taking a selfie with both you and Techno, and in your confusion you laugh.

"Were we not just fighting a war?" You ask.

"PSh- Didn't Dream just surrender??" Tommy quips back and you squint.

You supposed.

With a shrug and a roll of your eyes you gesture to the communicator, "I wasn't ready the first time- take another one-"

He laughs, grinning his grin and raising the com again to take another picture- this time Fundy jumping in on Techno's side with a silly look smeared across his fox face-

Niki jumps in another second later-

And Quackity's in his underwear again- oh god- not again-

You glance at Wilbur and Dream, still having a serious conversation-

While all of you take selfies in the background.

This isn't how you remember war.

You like the change of pace.

Finally, Wilbur turns from Dream, and the two of them walk to the group. When everyone raises their weapons again, Wilbur commands everyone to put them back down- and they do, with a bit of hesitance.

There's a silence, and Dream clears his throat.

"We would... like to surrender. And its because Schlatt is an idiot." He pauses, "And I have to show you something."

With a wave of his hand, everyone follows after Dream, step for step along the pathway as he leads all of you to a very broken looking drug van.

Huh.

You squeezed your way in after everyone else, eyes landing on Schlatt, sitting on the floor with a bottle clenched in his hand.

So that's where he's been.

More people are trying to get in, so you sidle into a corner to make room, silent as you watch people question what he was doing. Schlatt was drunk, eye's bleary as he looked around at everyone-

He wasn't even questioning what everyone was doing in here, just doing pushups on the ground- heaving out a breath so harsh. He didn't sound healthy at all- he sounded worn out and deprived.

Fundy was the first to berate him-

Then Wilbur, and Quackity-

Everyone takes their turns picking at him- and he picks back at them back, a push and pull of words, before he shatters a bottle on the ground and swings it at anyone who comes close to him.

A bitter laugh comes out of him when people start chanting for death- a cacophony of voices chanting- Wilbur telling Tommy to put the crossbow between his eyes.

"You know-" Schlatt begins, heaving for breath as he sends a sour look to everyone who would meet his gaze, "If i die- this country goes down with me-"

"No it doesn't Schlatt-" Was Tommy's reply.

Another laugh comes out of the horned man's mouth, almost delirious sounding, "OhoOHo- you don't even want to know Tommy-innit-"

He chugs another bottle of alcohol in his free hand, spilling everywhere before huffing out another breath, "I had everyone turn on me in my time of need-" He punches Quackity, "Your fucking fat ass left-"

It was pitiful to watch him try and punch Quackity- his fists were bleeding, because punching netherite does that to someone-

Schlatt coughs.

The chanting starts again- words asking for his death thrown into the air, Techno's cutting through the noise with a resounding, "Kill Him!" The room swirls-

Schlatt's coughing grows worse- heaving breaths, descending into a gasping messy noise as he tries to drink even more-

He was spilling everywhere, and it was sickening to see how unhealthy he was-

"Schlatt...?" Fundy asks.

A quiet had swept over the entire van.

Harsh puffs of air come out of Jschlatt, before he clenches his chest and collapses.

Silently-

A pitiful thud of his body hitting the floor- no blaze of glory or gruesome wound forcing him to his knees.

Just...

Death.