Chapter Text
Tommy didn't leave Tubbo’s side at all for the upcoming weeks.
They were two birds of a flock, one could not be found without the other. Phil put a second bed in Tommy’s room after the kid protested against splitting Tubbo and him up. They still slept together in the same bed. No one knew how Tubbo found himself in the prison of the bastion and if he or Tommy knew, they kept it to themselves as Phil didn't want to press for any details. The kids would tell him when the time was right.
Speaking of him, Phil was sitting in the garden outside, watching the kids play while Technoblade came up to him, sitting down on the bench next to him.
“You still owe something, the promise you made.”
Teachnoblade had been resting a little more after the whole event, his body running on adrenaline for the whole day and night before he passed out from exhaustion.
Phil hummed softly, locking eyes with his charge.
“And what may that be?”
Techno huffed, looking away and on the ground, his confidence fading just a little bit.
- Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not let the enemy’s will be imposed on him
Technostrong!
EEEEEEEE
“And here I thought you were trying to help me.”
He looked up, just getting it over with, determination burning in his eyes once again.
“I want to fight the general of your army.”
After the initial shock and Technoblade’s embarrassment after Phil laughed a little, having thought it was something bad, the piglin got a pat on the shoulder and was pulled from his position.
“Well, I know my army could use a little training. How about you work through my foot soldiers up to the general?”
His eyes glinted, arms crossed and wings splayed out in a semi imposing manner. Techno was never one back down from a challenge.
“Alright.”
Though at this exact moment, the two halves of a whole decided to come over, Tommy jumping up and down and Tubbo’s wings buzzing in excitement.
“Phil, Phil! Look! The nice lady that we saw at the bakery was at the park and showed us how to make crowns!”
Only now did they notice the small flower crowns perched upon their heads, a beautiful mix of red shades on Tommy’s and blue one’s on Tubbo’s head. They held more crowns in their hands, looking a little bit unsure at their faces.
Tubbo spoke up.
“We made one for each of you too…”
The kid was rather shy but tried his best, Tommy’s personality rubbing off on him a little. They both got Phil and Techno to kneel down and placed a purple crown on Techno’s and a mixed one on Phil’s head, blue, red, yellow and purple being mashed together in it. Niki knew what she was doing and Phil chuckled to himself.
The winged hybrid decided to pick up the kids, both of them laughing loudly in surprise.
“Thank you so much, but what about that last crown?”
Tommy puffed up his chest, holding the last crown gently in his hands.
“It's for Wilbur! He also needs one, so we all match!”
That got a laugh out of all of them as they left the garden to go to the training arena, Wilbur sitting at the side of the field while he sketched out the soldiers who were training, humming to himself. Tommy decided that this was the right time to jump out of Phil's arms and call out to WIlbur with a smile, running straight over the field and interrupting several training sessions in his rush, even tripping some of the soldiers themselves.
- Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.
Techno suppressed a laugh as the soldiers fell like domino bricks.
“Wilby! Look!”
With a jump he landed in the arms of his brother, Tommy having decided that for him. Wilbur didn't mind, Techno had the same opinion.
A weight settled itself on Wilbur’s head and the small kid laughed when a petal fell into his face, getting blown off.
“Thank you, Toms. Did you make this yourself?”
The frantic nodding only confirmed it and he gave Tommy a hug, making him squeal slightly. Around the two of them, the training stopped. Most soldiers were still shaking from the sudden attack and any others were shocked at the open display of emotions their prince showed just like that.
To say it was weird was a very big understatement, at least for them.
Wilbur picked the kid up and came face to face with the army he was supposed to lead someday, lips in a thin line while Tommy just looked at them all with interest, wiggling out of his brother’s arms and dropping onto the ground once again, running over to the next best soldier who donned a white mask.
“Oh, you look cool! Is that a netherite sword? Aren't these really hard to make? Oh why are you wearing a mask and why do you all look like you've seen a ghost?”
He giggled to himself, endless questions coming out of his mouth before Phil arrived with the others, every soldier immediately kneeling down, which in turn, made Tommy only more confused.
“Well, I see you all have officially met Tommy.”
A laugh came out of his mouth as he beckoned them all to stand up again, most of the soldiers nervous but also very interested in the pink haired kid next to their king. Technoblade scanned the crowd, eyes falling on the masked man. He drew his blade out, pointing it into his direction.
“You are the general, I assume?”
Blood blood fight fight challenge
“Techno what did I say? First the soldiers, then the general. Also yes, that is Dream, head general of my army and another one of my strategic partners, next to you.”
That had the attention of the whole army, all of their eyes falling on the kid who could be barely thirteen. Their looks were returned, blood red eyes making shivers run down their spines.
The kid only huffed, sheathing his sword and walking over to Tommy, picking the kid up and bringing him back to Tubbo, both of them talking to each other instantly.
“I have one thing to say though Phil.”
The man’s head perked up in curiosity after giving Wilbur the little one's.
Techno grinned.
“To even the field, I'm fighting all of your foot soldiers at once.”
And with that, he stormed into the group, getting his sword out once again and knocked the first soldiers out before the others could even get their weapons out.
- Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
Technostorm! Blood for the blood god! Pog!
To say that Techno breezed through crowds was really not what anyone watching would say. He slaughtered them without drawing blood, bodies falling without a single drop spilled until no one was left standing, only the blade himself, slightly out of breath. He grinned and looked over to the only remaining foe there was.
“Can I fight your general now? Or is there another silly test I gotta go through.”
Everyone stared.
Techno felt anxiety well up, looking at Phil to see if he had gone too far. He’s been going soft.
But seeing the amazement in Phil’s expression only matched by Wilbur’s and miles back from Tommy’s and Tubbo’s matching grins, the former shouting words of encouragement towards his brother. It made him more proud than ever before.
His eyes met Dream’s and he could feel the smirk growing under the opposite man’s mask.
“That's very promising, I never had a match before but his majesty himself.”
Techno wanted to punt that smirk off of the other's face.
- O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy’s fate in our hands.
Techno loved a good challenge.
He held his sword up and waited for his opponent, both of the circling each other after they got the other soldiers off of the field, most of them awake and watching the battle with excitement.
Dream did make the first move, running and jumping the first slash which Techno instantly dodged, rolling to the side and retaliating, swords clashing against each other as they continued, almost in a dance. The hybrid loved it, this person was almost as good as himself, a good sparring partner. But that's what he was.
Almost.
Dream began to get cocky as he got some blunt hits in, letting his guard down. Techno swung his sword at his face and was immediately deflected yet that left Dream’s legs open which he kicked, the blonde falling to the ground, a blade to his throat and blood red eyes looking down at him menacingly. This time, he spoke.
“11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need to do…”
He put the sword away and grabbed his hand, pulling him up.
“Is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.”
Tommy cheered while Dream raised an eyebrow and only crossed his arms, contemplating something.
“I think you would make a good general.”
Techno blinked.
- So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike what is weak.
He ran.
Tommy was worried.
After the fight he thought he could have fun with his big brother, show him how to make these nice crowns. But seeing his fear, like he had never seen before, not on Techno’s face, Techno was strong, Techno feared nothing.
Yet, he saw it and so did the others, Wilbur already running after him as Tubbo and him were held back by Phil. He didn't know when he started crying but Phil soothed him, telling him that his brother needed space.
Tommy cuddled into Tubbo, tears running down his face, lighting up every time they touched the other hybrid.
Phil was confused.
“Tommy, let's get you two inside and… Talk about something, ok?”
They all just nodded.
At the last moment Phil turned around and threw the confused and worried Dream a grin.
“It's ok, he is upset but you didn't know. Collect yourselves and settle down for today. I will see you tomorrow.”
They all saluted, Dream giving him one last look before he turned around, ushering the others off of the field after they cleaned up.
Inside, the kids were brought to Phil's bedroom, snuggling into each other as more of Tommy's tears lit up against his bee friend's skin, making the man frown just a little bit. While sitting down on the bed, holding them in his lap, Phil started with some questions.
"Tommy, you do know where Tubbo came from, do you?"
The kid would have been shocked if he hadn't already foreseen that the hybrid would find out, looking up at him with glassy eyes. He nodded.
"You don't have to tell me just… Do you know what your tears are?"
He nodded again and looked at Phil before deciding something. His mouth went to his tiny hand and he bit it, drawing blood. Phil wanted to tell him to stop before he noticed the tears getting rubbed on the skin, the torn tissue healing immediately.
"There was a reason why I was in that fortress."
Meanwhile, one the other side of the castle grounds.
Techno wanted to get away. Everything reminded him of his past. The glinting weapons, the uniforms…
Technoblade anarchy!
No general!
EEEEE
It was bad to come here, he should've never done that. This was a mistake, mistake, mistake!
He ran towards the stables, subconsciously, and found himself against Carl, breathing heavily. The horse neighed in response, sitting down and letting him press his face into his soft fur while he shuddered. Techno could only hear the words of chat as they let them both communicate, the horse trying to soothe his friend.
When footsteps were heard, the hybrid didn't look up, only pressing himself further into his friend. He listened as they came closer and then stopped, a soft thud echoing through the room. Nothing else was said as they both sat there, Technoblade was starting to feel better, breathing into the horses fur, and slowly emerged from his place, looking right into the soft expression of Wilbur who leaned against the wall of the stables interior.
"So, you wanna talk about it? No problem if you don't just…"
He awkwardly tried to start up a conversation, cutting himself off midway while trying to not pull Techno in a hug then and there.
Said hybrid just sighed, leaning against Carl and staring at the ground.
Then, he talked.
"There is a reason I hunt down fortresses."
Phil and Wilbur both looked at their talking partners, be it in different parts of the castle, with slight concern and confusion.
"The pillagers are a cruel folk. Cruel enough…"
Techno started.
"...To kidnap children and use them for their gain."
Tommy continued, looking more serious than he ever had.
Wilbur's eyes were wide for a moment and sighed, wrapping his wings around himself while Phil did the same, both leaning back into their respective places, far away from each other but speaking the exact same words.
"So you too?"
Tommy and Techno blinked.
"I was never completely honest with you as well, Techno. I… Phil did find me at the edge of the kingdom, but… only after he raided a pillager base, the same base that held me captive."
Techno stared at him, a revelation coming to his mind.
"They wanted to enslave you and sell you for your wings, didn't they?"
"Just as you were held captive, I assume, so was I. My whole family slaughtered, brothers and sister fallen, while I was kept for my gift to be sold away."
Phil looked down at the scars on his arms, usually covered by gloves. He didn't want to tell this to a kid, the only other one who knew was his son and only that was by accident. But maybe it would give the kid some closure.
- Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
The strength of all of them was high, that they all knew, but…
As Techno leaned against Wilbur, telling him of his time as a weapon under the pillager's hand's, being told the same words that Dream had told him today.
As Tommy leaned against Phil, telling him about the magic potential he had, about him desperately trying to heal his bee with tears in his eyes, only to wake up to Tubbo next to him in the cell, finding out his magic had awakened.
Their weaknesses showed, but to the right people. To the people that had given them shelter, a place to stay and live.
A place to be safe.
And this time, Tommy and Techno wanted to believe it.