Chapter 18

Tommy and Techno are standing in the cave when I enter through the door. Tommy stands there in armour nearly as powerful as Techno's, and a dangerous looking crossbow in his hands.

"And then you-" In a second Techno has a knife out, pointing at my heart. "oh, Hey Will." Techno says, I'd obviously interrupted a teaching session and I slowly put up my hands and give him a bored look. In actuality my heart is skipping too many beats to be healthy. I'm glad that he is on our side.

"Hello, did I interrupt something?" I ask as Techno puts the knife back in his scabbard. I throw him a dirty look as he smirks.

"Uh, just getting ready to take down the government." Techno says. Tommy steps to my left and reaches into a singular chest. That chest had been there for a long time and it hadn't been opened until now.

"Finally got the balls to open it?" I ask Tommy as he pulls out a small book. Nothing good ever came from a small book. When Techno had found the chest one day, he had told me not to open it. He had said that it was a gift from 'god'. I figured that the only person who is worthy to be called a god by Techno was Dream.

Tommy passes me the book, saying that he hadn't read it and he had waited until we were all here. I open it and read that it's addressed to Tommy.

"Dear Tommy, and others of Pogtopia," I read aloud, "I knew this time would come. When it was you, the L'Manburgians in power with no armour, weapons, or any protection it was bearable. Schlatt does not follow these same principles. Schlatt is powerful and ambitious. He wants to expand into my land. I am willing to help and support you, but only from the shadows. I can't be caught breaking a peace treaty, even if the people I made it with are no longer involved. I give you my crossbow along with other stuff to help you. Be safe. - Big D."

I feel a tug of nostalgia from the name, but I resist the urge to return to that place, the past that cannot be changed and cannot help me now.

"Well, this is helpful." Techno deadpans and I grin up at the two other men.

"It is!" I'm filled with a hope that has a bitter after-taste but is still sweet. "Tell me, Blade, have you seen Man- L'Manburg recently?"

Techno shakes his head in response, and I propose that we go there and see it. I'm aware that Techno doesn't care about L'Manburg, stating many times that he is just here for anarchy and to help his 'baby' brother, but maybe if he sees it… I'm not even sure what I expect to gain from this.

We trek our way through the forest and stand on the outskirts of Manburg, in a valley. The dark flag looms above us and we chat about it and about all the things we'd like to do to Schlatt.

"Hello gentlemen." A voice travels across the river at the bottom of the lake and, like we had summoned him, J Schlatt stands there in his ugly suit. "Why are you here? You're exiled you know?" Quackity stands behind him nodding solemnly, blinking his uneven eyes slowly.

"This isn't your land." I call. It's true, we are stood just out of reach; I would know I created that territory.

"We're expanding." Schlatt says smugly. "And I'm pretty sure you've used your visa."

The people of Manburg had given us a visa for one hour into their country. That little meeting Schlatt and I had had, had deducted from the visa, leaving it useless.

"No, we haven't," Tommy says confusedly.

"Yes, you have." Schlatt says, looking directly at me.

Schlatt and Quackity walk down to a shallow part of the river to cross over to our side. Quackity slips on a slippery rock but somehow saves himself from falling completely. Tommy bursts out laughing and Quackity glares at him.

"Is that the visa there?" Schlatt asks, pointing at the book in my hand. I panic for a second, the visa book and this book from Dream were identical. There was no way that Schlatt or Quackity could see this book, it would destroy any hope we had of getting back our power. "Might want to give it back, it's worthless now."

"Well, no it's a completely different book." I assure him waving frantically and putting it in a pocket on the inside of my coat.

"Well, actually, it looks pretty similar." Schlatt says calmly, advancing menacingly. I back up subconsciously, guarding the spot where the book sits. 'You wouldn't be lying to me, would you?"

"I- uh, Technoblade! Operation JFK!" I yell, turning and running into the forest. I turn around briefly and see Techno with his skull mask on, pig ears down in concentration and sword pointed up at the pair. I run all the way home, tripping in my haste, and put the book in my Ender chest. An ender chest is a chest where you can put objects in, like a normal chest, but when you open them you can only see what you've put in. It's the best way of keep your belongings safe.

Techno and Tommy burst in the door and Techno immediately takes off his royal cape, throwing it to the side, rolls up his sleeves and walks down the steps, grunting as he goes. Tommy stands there, grinning and rubbing his fist. Mischief glimmers in his eyes.

"What did you do?" I snap, worried that something bad happened. "Why are you so happy? What happened to your hand?"

"I punched him." Tommy states simply, shrugging his shoulders slightly. But he still smirks,

"Who?" I demand, glaring at the child before me.

"Schlatt."

"You what!?" I yell. "Operation JFK was a peaceful threat! You punched him?"

"Whatever." Tommy huffs, following after Techno down the stairs. I instantly follow right behind him, questioning him.

"Where did you hit him?"

"Why did you think that that was ok?"

"Is he ok?"

Tommy groans, giving me no attention. Such a stupid kid! Can't he understand that things like that can jeopardise our mission? We walk pass an opening in the wall and I stop badgering Tommy to talk to Techno.

"Why didn't you stop him?" I growl, feeling like more of a father figure than I would have liked. Techno ignores me, continuing his gardening. He had made a farm underground and I didn't understand how things grew down here. He said it was an ancient technique and would tell me no more.

He adjusted the dirt around one of the plants. For once he looked like he actually cared for something. He then sighed and stood up from where he crouched and turned to look at me.

"You're supposed to be the responsible one, you know?" I sigh as Techno dusts his hands and steps towards me. Then looking over my shoulder with a bored look his eyebrows raise suddenly.

"Never take your eyes off that kid." He says and turns to keep farming. I spin around in time to see a tall, blonde child shoving one of our few diamonds into the wall.

"What- TOMMY!" I yell running up to him. I yank the diamond out of the wall and turn to talk to Tommy, "WHAT ARE YOU-"

To my surprise the child is halfway down the ravine, arm full of diamonds shoving yet another one in the wall. He looks over at me angrily,

"I'M DECORATING!" Yelling right back at me, he is so temperamental! One minute he's smiling and the next he's having a tantrum with MY DIAMONDS.

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN-" I look around and horror fills me, like a cold glass of water poured into my veins. Diamonds glittered on the walls everywhere, winking at me from places that I could barely reach.

I run around frantically, searching, and removing diamonds from all over the ravine.

"How was I supposed to see this one?" I shout over my shoulder, reefing a shiny jewel out of crevasse I didn't even know was there.

"That's not even the worst one!" Tommy yells with glee, running over to me. His arms are empty. I puff,

"What do you mean?"

He grins up at me and points to a hole not far from where we stood. It's level with the ground, so I crouch down and peer in.

"There's one in there?" I ask, standing and trying to breathe calmly. "Well? I can't get it; my shoulders are too manly!"

I look at Tommy and he looks unphased. I jab a finger at the hole, and he rolls his eyes and gets down on the ground. He wriggles, very reminiscent of a worm, into the hole.

"Got it!" He cheers, muffled by the dirt walls surrounding him. He then starts wiggling backwards and that's when it happened. He stopped, unable to go any further. His upper back and everything above were still in the hole. His legs shook, trying to free the rest of him but he was trapped.

I began to laugh, it started as a chuckle and evolved into and all-out ab-cramping belly laugh. I laughed until I couldn't breathe. Techno came out of the farm room to see what all the noise was about.

He came into the ravine to find me doubled over in a laughing fit and Tommy, in a situation of his own creation. Techno chuckles, grinning widely.

"GUYS?" Tommy screeches, panic evident in his voice. The wriggling had ceased,

"Hey guys-" Tubbo calls out, climbing down the stairs. He stops abruptly and begins to laugh loudly, which made me start laughing again. Tears fall from my eyes and I feel lightheaded.

"Tubbo?" Tommy's muffled voice drifts through the wall. "Wilbur? Techno? CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE?"

"What can you offer me in return?" Techno chuckles, tilting his head slightly.

"Women! I know so many women!" Tommy shouts, wiggling again. Tubbo gets to us and pokes Tommy's leg, promptly getting kicked in the shins.

"Don't come too close! I bite!" We all stay silent and Tommy goes still, listening.

"Guys? GUYS?"