A fortnight passed since the huge rivalry between Tommy and Techno. Things seemed to go back to normal, the two older brothers' anger slowly dissipating toward Tommy. His cheek was reduced to a small light bruise which still hurt to the touch.

It was on a rainy day that everything went downhill.

"Tommy," Tubbo said, stacking mud up against a tree like a child. "Have you noticed that Phil has been acting weird lately?" His small red blanket was lying on the ground beside him, a bit stained from the brown slush of mud that was under it.

Tommy sniffed, watching the slightly older boy play with the muck. The days before had been full of rain and now it came in a shallow sprinkle, dotting Tommy's hair and skin lightly. He wore his signature hoodie. Tubbo was wearing a hoodie as well to protect himself against the weather. It was a drained green, soft in color. "Tell me about it," Tommy said. "He keeps looking at me with a weird expression. Fuckin' weirdo."

Soft tree bark was against his back as he leaned against the drenched tree. Tubbo, who never really cared how dirty he got, was sitting on his knees on the water-ridden ground. He was messing with mud, trying to cover the roots of a tree that protruded from the forest floor. "What if something bigger is going on?" He asked. "I've never seen Phil so worried."

Tommy shrugged. "You're worrying too much, big man. Phil would tell us if something was happening."

Tubbo was about to take his hand through his fluffy hair before seeming to remember it was covered in mud and lowering it again. He looked up at Tommy, his kid-like cheeks having small drops of water on them. He acknowledged him for a moment before looking down again. "I guess you're right," he nodded, rubbing his cheek. A smear of brown dirt followed where he touched and Tubbo tried to rub it off with his sleeve.

"I wish it wasn't raining so much," Tommy said. Often the weather matched his mood unintentionally, so the past few days he had felt below average.

"I quite like the rain," Tubbo replied. "It makes me feel all calm and stuff."

"Of course it does. Why are you covering the roots with mud?"

"I like it. It's fun," Tubbo smiled, holding his hands up. "Look! It's mushy."

Tommy looked down at him with a skeptical face, making him laugh.

He heard a loud knock come from the direction of their cottage. They were three consecutive ones, demanding an answer. Both Tommy and Tubbo looked toward the house, their faces turned in confusion. No one visited so far into the woods.

They were in a part of the forest beside the house, just shy of being able to see it. "C'mon, let's go," Tommy said, beginning to walk toward the small house. "Who's knocking? Do you think Wilbur's playing a game?"

Tubbo ran up beside him after shaking his hands off, mud flying everywhere. "I don't know," he said, padding beside him. "It's probably nothing."

The sun was going up as it was early in the morning. Not that you could tell, though- clouds covered the sky. They ranged in colors but most of the rain had already fallen, making most of them a moody light grey.

Tommy gazed at the house, his light blue eyes taking in the scene. Four... soldiers? Why were there fucking soldiers? Four soldiers stood at their door, each consisting of a large blade and armor.

Tommy grabbed Tubbo's sleeve, stealthily guiding him to the back door of the house. The smaller boy managed to grab his blanket off the ground in time, seeming to hold it for reassurance. They walked in quietly, maneuvering their way and peeking around a corner just in time to see Phil open the door.

"Hello?" Phil asked, looking at the soldiers in front of him.

"Hello, sir," the first one greeted, orange hair poking out from under his helmet. He didn't look that strong, but Tommy supposed he was a bit tall. "We were sent here after you disagreed with the terms we have sent you by letter. We are sent by the Maerd Kingdom, here to escort or, if need be, take Tommy Innit by force."

Tommy could feel Tubbo's gaze shift toward him. Tommy froze, blinking. Him? Why were soldiers here? What was the Maerd Kingdom? Why did they want him?

They would take him by force?

"Ah... I see," Phil looked troubled. "Let me get my sons and explain what's happening. Is it alright if I close the door for a second?"

The soldier nodded.

Phil closed it, immediately leaning against the door. A look of such distraught on his face sent shivers down Tommy's spine. What was happening?

Phil straightened himself, turning around. Tommy stepped out, feeling Tubbo do the same from beside him.

"What's happening?" He asked, trying to ignore the fear gathering in him. "Phil, are they going to take me?"

Philza looked over at them, realizing they were there. "Go sit down on the sofa, Tommy. You too, Tubbo. I'm going to go get Techno and Wilbur."

After a few long minutes, everyone was smushed next to each other on the couch except for Phil, who stood in front of them.

"Listen," Phil began, his gaze serious. "The past two weeks I have received several letters from the Meard Kingdom, asking... um, if they could take Tommy."

"Tommy? What did he do?" Wilbur asked. Tommy's three brothers cast untrustful looks at him, even Tubbo. 

Tommy snarled at them. "I did nothing!" He insisted.

"Listen," Phil said, catching their attention again. "Tommy didn't do anything. None of this is his fault. It's something about a rumor that's been going around... an old prophecy. I don't know what the prophecy is, but it demands Tommy be handed over for... for military reasons for the Kingdom. They think Tommy can kill people by looking at their eyes and willing it."

Everyone burst into laughter. "What? That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Techno snickered, his voice still managing to be monotone. "Tommy? A prophecy? Hah!"

"Why Tommy? Techno would make way more sense. And by looking? That's so stupid," Wilbur said, smiling.

Tommy found himself a bit annoyed. "Hey, I'm important. None of you were even mentioned."

They laughed more.

Phil cleared his throat, and eventually, the brothers all quieted down, including Tubbo, though he was still snickering lightly. "Listen, this is a real thing. Magic actually used to exist, and they believe Tommy could be a hope for the future of their Kingdom. They're going through a terrible war, and they want to put Tommy on the front lines of it. If we let them take Tommy, he will die."

This made everyone realize what was happening. One of the most powerful Kingdoms wanted Tommy.

Okay, Tommy always knew he was important, but that important? Nah.

"What do we do?" Tubbo pipped up. "We can't let them take Tommy."

Knocks came from the door. The knights were getting impatient.

Techno sat up, on guard. "Phil, this isn't good," he said.

"You think?" Phil asked, exasperated. "I don't know what to do! Okay, okay. We need to keep Tommy safe. If we stay here and kill their guards, they are sure to attack us with more soldiers. We have to leave."

Tommy felt his heart thump through his body, watching his family consult what to do about the situation. He was going to make them move. They were going to be hunted down by soldiers.

"What if I go?" He asked. They ignored him.

"I say we kill these knights and get a headstart," Techno said, his voice deep. "Leave more soldiers to come here for nothing. They will have to track us."

"What? I don't want to leave!" Tubbo said, alert. "This is where I grew up! This is where everything I own is!"

"Would you rather Tommy die?" Wilbur deadpanned at him as Techno and Phil spoke. Tubbo shook his head and looked down quietly.

"Of course not," he murmured. "Just saying."

"They'll kill everyone if you don't hand me over," Tommy said, his voice quiet. This was a Kingdom of trained trackers and hunters. The family wouldn't last long. Shit. If he went with the soldiers, he could figure out a way to escape by himself. After all, he was Tommy, an escapist pro! 

Besides. If he didn't go, everyone would probably die for him. The soldiers would catch up eventually.

Tommy looked at Tubbo, meeting his dark eyes that were wide in fear yet turned in determination. "I know what you're thinking. Stop."

Tommy gazed at him for a second, his jaw clutching. "Whatever," he muttered, his gaze flicking back to Phil, Wilbur, and Techno.

Knocks came more vigorously. "Open up!" A soldier demanded, their voice strong. It was a different soldier than the one who spoke before. "You're taking too long!"

"Just- give us a moment!" Phil called.

"I can just leave," Tommy said, ignoring what Tubbo had just said. "It'll save everyone else."

No one seemed to hear him.

The door bust in, hitting the inside of the house viciously. The soldiers were suddenly inside the room, looking at the talking family. A tall one with a weird smiley mask stood at the front instead of the red-haired one, his sword flashing in his hand.

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