Tango tugged the zipper of his vest, waiting for the doorbell. A couple days ago, Scar had sent him and Impulse a letter.

Dear Redstoners

You may or may not know, but I was pranked, and very severely. I could have been killed in the trap. I am in need of your help.

Sincerely,

GoodTimesWithScar

Now, Tango awaited the arrival of the dear mayor. He was nervous. He didn't know what Scar wanted him and Impulse to do.

Ding!

Tango's heart leaped to his throat as he went to get the door. "Hello, Scar." He said, greeting the suited hermit.

"Tongo! Impulse!" Scar replied, clasping the redstoner's hands. "How are you doing?"

"Pretty well." Impulse said. "I fixed up my melon and pumpkin farm. It was flowing into a wooden base inside mine. I got it linked up to the storage system."

"Nice." Scar said as Tango invited him to sit down. "So I'm assuming you got my letter." Impulse nodded, prompting the mayor to go on. "I've come to ask you for help. Would you two please build a trap for my prankster?"

Tango and Impulse exchanged a look. "What kind of trap are we talking about here?" Tango asked.

"Hopefully something that will capture but not kill the prankster." Scar said. "It should be secure but safe."

"I've got an idea." Impulse said. "Tongo, should we go with the good old obsidian box and net?"

"It should work well... and we'll have enough space. AND DON'T CALL ME TONGO!" Tango exclaimed.

Scar snickered. "When are you coming to build...?"

"We have time now, I think." Impulse said. "And it won't take that long. You up for it, Tongo?"

"Fine." Tango said, annoyed with his new nickname.

Tango crouched behind a barrel. "Ready, Impulse?" He called.

"Ready!"

Tango watched as his friend came into Scar's treehouse. They were doing the test run for the contraption they had made. Impulse stepped onto the wooden pressure plate and continued walking - into air.

Impulse fell with a splash into a shallow puddle of water below as pistons removed the blocks in front of him. As he was fumbling to get up, the water was removed as a fishing net was cast over him, trapping Impulse inside.

"Perfect!" Impulse called. "I think we're good!"

"Are you hurt at all?" Tango asked, peeking over the hole.

"Just a little bruised. But I'm completely stuck in one position." Impulse replied.

"That's what we're going for!" Tango said, smiling. After about two or three hours of hard work, especially grinding the obsidian, they had finished the contraption. Tango pressed a button on his controller, and the net loosened. "Now we just have to guard it."

Impulse was about to doze off when the creaking of the door snapped him awake. It had been three days since he and Tongo made the trap, and they had been spending shifts guarding it, just in case someone visited. Tonight, it was his turn, and it seemed like he had a visitor.

Impulse resisted the urge to peek in front of the barrel he was hiding behind. If the prankster fell for the trap, they would know eventually.

Click.

Impulse's heart beat spiked at the sound of the pressure plate being stepped on.

Whoosh.

Impulse called Tongo, Dream and Scar as he heard the retraction of the pistons.

Splash.

Impulse jumped out from his hiding place as a splash of water signalled that someone was in the trap.

Thump.

Footsteps caught Impulse unaware as he gazed down at the person trapped inside the obsidian box.

"Impulse?"

Impulse ignored his friend's question as he jumped down into the box. They hadn't prepped for him.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Impulse hesitated. Should I really do this?

Dream beat him to it. The slim fighter leaned down and wrapped his hands securely around Ranboo's neck. "If you try to teleport, I will choke you." Dream hissed.

Impulse was surprised and taken back by the green boi's aggressiveness. He must be very protective of Scar. Impulse realized. But how could I think things like that... ugh. He had the same thought as Dream, but just didn't put it into action.

Tongo jumped down to join them and loosely tied Ranboo's hands behind his back. He nodded towards Impulse, who released the net.

The half-enderman stood up groggily. Impulse rushed forwards to help Dream and Tongo contain Ranboo.

He froze as he stared into Ranboo's purple eyes.

I thought Ranboo's eyes were green and red...

On Impulse's thought, Ranboo's eyes turned red and green. "What...?" He rasped. I must be hallucinating. Impulse decided.

"Was it you?! Why did you do it!?" Dream barked, shaking the tall boy.

"Dream..." Scar stepped forwards, but Impulse watched as Ranboo's eyes turned purple and he lunged towards the mayor.

Impulse watched as Dream whirled with inhumane speed, blocking the boy in his path. With a shing, Dream unsheathed his sword and pressed it to Ranboo's neck. "Stop." Impulse's heart thumped painfully at the amount of power in Dream's voice.

Ranboo's eyes turned green and red as he collapsed, crumpling to the floor.

Dream leaned down and tied Ranboo's hands tighter behind his back. "I'm putting him on trial." The green-clad man hissed, voice furious.

"Dream, there's something wrong with him." Tango argued. "You can't-"

A single look silenced the redstoner.

"I'm. Putting. Him. On. Trial."

~~~

Impulse watched, nervous for the young boy. Tango was right. There was something wrong with him. The way his eyes flashed purple...

Impulse shivered.

"You did it." Dream said, as if he was stating the truth.

"I didn't!" Ranboo protested. "I blacked out! I didn't know what I was doing! If you'll just let me explain-"

"Stop trying to deny the truth!" Dream roared. "You set the house on fire the first time!"

Doubt flashed in Ranboo's eyes. "I-"

"You are the culprit." Dream hissed. "And you will be punished-"

"Stop." A single, shaking voice cut through Dream's speech. Eyes turned to land on a single figure, clutching his sword tight to his chest.

"Ranboo didn't do it, it wasn't him."

"It was me."

------------------------------------

originally published April 9th 2021

'edited' on Jan 23rd 2022