Tubbo couldn’t force his eyes off of Dream, the king fighting with everything he had. The axe in his hand swung with powerful force, knocking the people attacking him back. Tubbo wanted to fight the man, the man he once was loyal to. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to, which angered him greatly. Ranboo was still up above with the other archers, firing away and hoping to hit the enemies below. He knew the hybrid was aiming for the ones attacking him, which made him feel better. It made him feel like he was still fighting alongside the other, even if he wasn’t right next to him. He swung his sword, lodging the blade into the soldier's arm, a cry of pain flying out of the Dreamer knight's mouth. 

The Goat hybrid snarled, ripping it out and once again hacking it back into his arm, the arm he needed to fight. The axe in his hand was held with purpose, his whole being wishing to see the blade lodged in Dream’s body than his random goons he had brought with him. He was angry, he was frustrated. He had waited forever for his moment, his moment to take revenge for his now-dead father, and he now knew getting that revenge would never bless itself upon him. He wanted to curse the gods, but knew that would also be futile. So, he did the next best thing, swinging his axe behind his head, he let it fly, slicing the soldier's head clean off. He heaved for breath, green eyes crazed as he watched the body fall. 

Even if he couldn’t kill Dream, he’d fight off the soldiers, hoping to at least see the king fall. That’s all he asked for, to see the man who killed his father fall to his knees, while he watched with a sickening grin. Please, God of death, let me at least have that. He heard flapping of wings, his now calmed green eyes bouncing over to the noise to see Tommy running at him, sword swung back and ready to attack the goat hybrid. Tubbo was surprised at first, eyes lingering on his best friend, before he realized his situation and quickly threw his axe in front of him, shielding himself from the first blow. When their weapons clashed, he could see his friend's eyes, clouded and confused. He was confused. Tubbo faltered, but seeing the other grit his teeth he quickly pushed the other back, fear filling his soul. 

It was no secret around the castle that Tommy was a beast in battles, even if he hadn’t officially been in any. The guards had seen the young boy fight, they saw what the young prince was capable of. Tubbo was afraid, hands shaking but eyes focused on the avian. He needed to break Tommy out of whatever trance he was in, even if that meant losing a life in the process. “TOMMY!” The teen yelled, getting the others' attention. He paused, slitted blue eyes traced on him. He knew he was looking for a weak spot, but he just wanted to get through to his best friend. “TOMMY PLEASE! THIS ISN’T YOU!” He saw the boy's wings slouch, the confused look on his face as the other spoke. “PLEASE! SNAP OUT OF IT!” The blond only gritted his teeth, swinging his sword at the other and slicing through his right arm. 

Tubbo howled in pain, backing up, but keeping his eyes on the avian. His heart was racing, tears threatening to fall. “TOMMY PLEASE! THIS ISN’T WHAT YOU WANT!” 

“SHUT UP!” Tommy’s voice was shaky, he again swinging at Tubbo who only swung back and knocked his sword to the side. Pleading green eyes met angry blue. 

“I can’t shut up, Tommy! This isn’t what you want, you don’t want to help Dream!”

“I SAID SHUT UP!” He shot forward again, Tubbo having no to time to react. Pain filled his senses, his vision blurring, and then darkness filled his sight. 

+ + +

Ranboo yelled, tears streaming down his face at the sight before him. He shook, green and red eyes wide with tears streaming down his face, a sizzle filling the air around him. Eret, from beside him, was pale, his own eyes wide and mouth agape. He didn’t do anything, he let Tubbo fall. He didn’t protect Tubbo, he had let tubbo down. Why was he so useless? Why couldn’t he keep his promises? Why? WHY?! Ranboo didn’t wait to be told to go down there, jumping down and scrambling towards Tubbo, yelling his name in pain. He abandoned his bow, scooping the male into his arms, as he cried. “No, no! Tubbo!” He held the body closer, sniffling as he buried his head into the side of the goat hybrid's neck, like he had done many times before. “Please, please wake up, don’t leave!” He never asked the other how many lives he had, he just knew the teen had lost some before. He didn’t want to lose Tubbo- he didn’t want to love someone he loved. A gasp of air filled the air, making the ender hybrid look at the hybrid's face to see Tubbo’s green eyes staring up at the ceiling. Ranboo smiled, sniffling as he hugged the goat hybrid closer. 

“R-Ranboo?” The tall hybrid sniffled pathetically at his name leaving the boy’s mouth, smiling as he nodded. “Ranboo? What’s- oh.” He let out a shaky breath as realization hit him. “Oh, I see.” 

“Please, don’t scare me like that again.” Tubbo smiled, giggling softly as he looked into Ranboo’s eyes. 

“I’ll try not to.” Already, the injuries the smaller teen had were healing, the goat hybrid slowly got up, leaving the ender's arms in the process. Ranboo didn’t like it when he picked up his weapon, Ranboo didn’t like it when he made his way to the fight. He launched forwards, latching his hand onto Tubbo’s wrist to stop him. The other teen stopped, looking back to look at the other male with confusion. Ranboo only desperately shook his head no. “What’s wrong?” 

“I-I don’t want you to go out there again.” He says, red and green eyes staring behind the goat hybrid. Tubbo looked behind himself as well, his eyes holding conflict. “I don’t want to see you get hurt again- or die again, Tubbo.” 

“I-” 

“I care about you, Tubbo, I care more for you than I think I have anything else in this world. If you die, it’ll break me. I can’t p-protect- I can’t figh-” Ranboo didn’t know how to say how he feels, but he knew he didn’t want Tubbo to go back to fighting. The goat hybrid looked at Ranboo, eyes sparkling. 

“I love you too, Ran.” Ranboo paused, a smile soon growing on his face. “I can’t stop though, I need to help.” The ender teen was quick to once again demand he didn’t, but the brownette intervened before he could. “But, I want you at my side this time.” Tubbo wiggled his way out of Ranboo’s hold, his hand moving to hold the half and half’s own. Ranboo nodded slowly, looking towards the fight. 

“Ok, let’s do this then.” Ranboo quietly says, pulling his sword out of the sheath he’d had it in. Tubbo let go of the other’s hand, both hands now wrapped around the axe’s hilt. Ranboo knew they needed to look out for one another, since they still were inexperienced compared to some they were fighting. 

+ + +

Tommy dodged another attack, moving behind the blaze hybrid he had been fighting and quickly stabbing his sword through the man, hearing the choked cry slowly leave the other. He huffed, reaching for breath as he yanked his weapon out of the now dead body. “Tommy?” His slitted blue eyes looked behind himself, seeing someone who almost mirrored him stare back, the wings were ruffled out of nerves, his brown eyes too in slits, and his own sword held tightly in his hand. He looked much like Tommy, except for his eyes. “Tommy, what are you doing?” His voice was soft, and even with the crazed look Tommy had to have on his face, he neared the other avian. This was the man he had those memories with, his blue eyes softening at the thought. This was his father, someone he had few memories with, yet they still impacted him greatly. “Oh Tommy, I’m so sorry-” His eyes glittered with tears. “I didn’t follow through with my promise, did I?” He chuckled. 

Tommy only stared forwards, unknown tears flying down his one face as he stared at the man before him. 

“Did he ever actually c-care about me?” Phil was startled by Tommy’s question, his hand pausing its motions as he looked down towards the younger avian. 
   
“What?” The prince looked up at his father with teary eyes. 
   
“D-Did he care about me? Or did he just want to use me to get those s-stupid crystals? Was that the only reason he kept me a-around?” Tommy sobbed, pressing himself further into Philza, who now was hugging the other tightly with both his arms. “Why? Why do I care about him? Even after learning all this shit? WHY DO I STILL CARE?!” Philza didn’t know the answer, he didn’t know Dream’s intentions with his son. He didn’t know why Dream had taken him, what he planned to do with Tommy fully. He didn’t know if the king cared about Tommy, he didn’t know what to say. 
   
“I don’t know, Toms. I don’t know the answer, I wish I did though. I can tell this is eating away at you, I can tell you're hurting.” Tommy still cried, Phil holding his youngest son close as he did. 
   
“I don’t know how to feel about this whole situation anymore. My life was a lie! Phil, my w-whole life was a LIE!” 
   
“I know, I wish I could go back in time and change all of this. I wish I had been there to save you that night. But I can’t go back and change it. As much as I wish I could, I can’t. But I won't let anything else happen to you, I won’t let Dream use you again, ok?”
   
Tommy dropped his weapon, hand covering his mouth as tears fell down his face. He sniffled, more memories entering his mind rapidly. Before long, he understood what was happening, what he was allowing to happen, what he was helping happen. He shook, blue eyes wide as he shook. Phil was inches away from his son, gently pulling the other into a much needed embrace. “I’m so sorry, Toms. I’m so sorry.” Tommy vigorously nodded, shaky arms wrapping around his father. 
   
“I-I didn’t know.” He whispered. “I didn’t know- how didn’t I know?” Phil only hugged him closer. “D-dad, I was so scared. I was scared, and confused. B-but Why did n’t I show that? Why didn’t I show my fear? What happened to me? What-” 
   
“It’s ok Tommy. It’s ok. Your back, that’s all that matters.” Tommy buried his head into his father’s chest, letting sobs leave his mouth as he cried. Philza only stood, himself emotional that he finally had his youngest back. “You didn’t mean to do what you did, Tommy. No one will blame you.” 
   
“I’ve killed so many, dad. I-I killed so many innocent p-people. I took their lives, I killed- I took lives- I-” Philza shushed the other, as if the raging war around them wasn’t happening. 
   
“You're fine, it’s ok now.” Tommy wished he could believe him, but he knew he never would.