TWs from prolouge! They are TWs for the whole book, so if you read this far with being fine, then I guess you'll prolly continue to be. If not, leave now!! This is not a joke!!
Enjoy!
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After several hours, maybe 12 or more, Tommy had enough iron for iron armour and tools.

It was not fun.

He barely took breaks to sit down and energise, but the blond did what he had to.

It worked out in the end though. Tommy even acquired a diamond pickaxe and found a lava pool underground. The moment he did his hopes went up even more and gave him enough motivation to finish what he has begun.

After putting cobblestone in his furnace and smelting it back into stone, the blond packed everything he had left. He put his Pictures of Tubbo into his enderchest that survived the explosions and proceeded underground while blocking his path with different stone types to match the surroundings.

That was quite some work the blond managed to do.

He wished he could lie down, sleep without any nightmares and wake up knowing that the entire day was a lie. A simple nightmare he had.

Maybe then he'd get enough courage to sleep at all to not end up asleep without any memory of it.

But this nightmare of a life was too real to be a simple lie.

With a heavy sigh he arrived at the Lavapool, taking a minute to take in the bubbling brightness in front of him.

The lava looked so comforting that day.

The blond smiled going near the lake and crouching in front of it. The heat didn't bother him. It was strange how it didn't, but he wouldn't question it.

All he knew, is that he liked the warmth. Tommy stayed like that gor some time, staring into the bright liquid, while admiring it.

But he didn't have the time.

Reluctantly he stood up and built a special construction that would allow the water to flow in a certain way, that would help make the portal.

Building a portal without mining the obsidian first and placing it in a frame-like construction was weird for him.

He had a pickaxe and could mine the obsidian, so why go through the trouble?

Simply because the blond felt uneasy the whole time. Mining the obsidian takes a long time. He didn't want to mine it while being on edge.

Especially not when every noise coming from the cave makes him jump.

The fact that he saw other people do it  this way before definitely helped.

Prime, was he happy he did it first try.

He lit the portal.

Finally. Finally he could see those purple swirls again. Finally he could feel the warmth the portal emitted.

Finally he could flee.

He stared at it in awe, taking in every big swirl that makes up the surface. The little particles danced out from the portal, floating around the blond before disappearing.

Tommy grinned brightly.

He felt relieved.

He finally felt relieved and happy after such a long time.

It wasn't the relief he had whenever Dream came, when he felt alone. Too lonely to even care that it was the devil himself that visited him.

It wasn't the relief that he had, whenever Dream didn't notice him being genuinely hateful towards him.

It wasn't the relief he felt before.

It was the relief that he had finally outplayed the man. The relief that he had a chance. The relief that made him feel free. The relief that he had finally made a good choice.

He felt so relieved.

Tommy couldn't hold his tears anymore. He checked his inventory one last time, making sure, that he had enough food and resources to survive the nether. At least for a while.

He did.

He took a step forward, the purple swirls consuming his vision and body until he felt the hot air hit his face. He was finally in the nether.

It will be the place, that will hide him from the overwordly, corrupted people.

He felt a lot lighter as if a weight he carried was lifted from him. Or maybe it was the fact he felt a bit lightheaded from the transportation in dimensions.

The blond looked around at the strangely familiar surroundings.

Did the portals connect to his new one? He was sure the green hooded man was already there to destroy it. To block off any contact with any future visitors.

Maybe the rule was temporary?

He quickly shook his head at the thought.

Dream was a bastard and he would most definitely not let the blond get visited without his consent he would never give.

The blond pondered whether to destroy it or not.

If the man goes through he will see the portal on the other side. He would notice that his puppet fled from him.

Wait, did he even flee?

What if he anticipated Tommy to 'flee'? What if this was all his plan?
What if Tommy was already hooked up on the strings connected to the mans fingertips, dancing on the game board that is the world?

What if he was doomed to be that mans puppet for eternity?

Tommy's breathing quickened without him noticing. The warmth of the air burned his lunges, making it hard to breath. His tears from before dried up, from the heat, but he could feel them coming again, drying the moment they left his eyes.

Did he flee?

Was he safe?

He cut his strings connecting him with his fingertips, right?

Tommy noticed the upcoming panic attack and quickly tried calming down.

He had to get farther away from him.

He had to make a distance from him.

He had to hide from him.

He was safe for now.

He only had to continue to get away from that man.

Tommy didn't break the portal. It would take too long. That man would surely come back to destroy it. Tommy was sure of it.

The blond ran away from the portal with his fast feet, making sure not to trip like last time.

He made his way towards the bridge he built so other could visit him easier.

Back then, he was filled with hope. But he soon noticed that the distance he lived at wasn't the problem.

They all hated him, didn't they?

Shaking his head, he ran and ran and ran far, far away.

He ignored all danger and just ran.

He just had to run.

Just run.

Curse his thirst.

He got thirsty after a while of running.

He didn't know where he was.

But he knew he was not far enough. He had to run farther away.

But he was thirsty. Too thirsty to run for the while being.

Luckily, one can bring water in special glass bottles, one can easily make, in the nether, so he could drink.

The blond mined a little room into the wall and took a break to breath and drink.

He was so exhausted from the days activities. (The explosions, the argument, the visit from him,) the mining, the running.

A break definitely helped to recover a bit of his stamina.

The water cooled him a bit. It was a good thing that it didn't get that warm.

Those magical glass bottles were such a life saver.

After that little break he mined the walls and left to run further away from the people, haunting his nightmares.

The mobs all around him probably just stared in confusion.

Not that Tommy noticed.

The blond suddenly stopped. He had been running for a while now, thinking about getting away from everyone and everything.

There was a nether fortress. A huge one as well. Did he want to go there? There could be some useful materials he could use. Gold, coal, resources in general.

But they are dangerous.

And he only had 1 life left.

Tommy stood there for a while, taking in his surroundings while making sure nothing attacked. At least no ghasts or magma cubes. He made sure to make some gold boots after all.

Only idiots would go in the nether without gold on them.

The blond looked at the blue forest near the fortress.

He could build his base there. But he felt like he wasn't safe at the moment.

He should run some more, shouldn't he?

Tommy shook his head. He was only paranoid. He was safe. He was far away from them. He was safe.

He was safe...

Right?

The blond made his way to the blue forest.

Warped forest. It was a fitting name. It looked so out of place, like it warped from another dimension. Not only that, but the dimension travelling endermen lived or lurked there.

Piglins and Zombie Pigman all looked at him but never attacked. (Why would they, he wore gold, so he was safe) They seemed to talk to each other about something, but the boy didn't pay attention. (It's not like he could understand what they said.)

At some point, he reached the warped forest and digged into a wall of netherrack to take a brake or make a base.

After eating the nicely gifted steaks by Dream( which were the only thing he was grateful for) he mined a room for him to chill in. It wasn't like he needed one desperately, but it gives him the feeling of a place, that he could return to at any time. A place that welcomed him. A place like his dirt house he lived in before. A place like home.

It wasn't the most beautiful, but it was ok. He was happy. This was an amazing feeling to him. A fresh start. That would be the name of his life's new arc.

It will be his fresh start into a new life. A new routine. A new lonely time.

He shook his head again.

He needed therapy.

Afterward, he made an Armour stand and put his armour on it, but something bothered him looking at it.

There was his iron helmet, iron chest plate, iron pants and iron boots.

Wait, iron boots?

He didn't wear gold on his way through the nether?

Was he an idiot!?

The blond stared at the armour before him in disbelief. He should be dead. Or at least injured.

Tommy was beyond confused. This didn't make any sense to him. The blond quickly put on golden boots and went to a table he built to eat and rest a little bit.

He didn't sleep. It is one of the most important rules of the nether. With a good reason. No one wants to be blown up in their sleep.

Sometime later, maybe a few hours or so, he put on the rest of his armour and brought the few gold ingots he mined with himself. The lone boy went out to trade with the piglin and get adjusted to his surroundings.

It took some time to reach the forests edge. Maybe he went a little deep, but that just made his hideout even more safe.

He just needed to remember where his base is.

Tommy approached a few piglin and pulled the gold ingots out. The piglin stared at the human as he held the shiny material.

The piglin seemed very sceptical about the blond.

"I only want to trade, no evil schemes or stuff, just a friendly neighbor wanting to trade.", Tommy tried to explain. He wasn't sure whether they would understand or not, but at least they would hear his voice.

His voice didn't show malicious intent or any indication of wanting to hurt the few piglins in front of him.

The piglins began talking. "He is the one, right?" one of the piglin asked another. Tommy froze. He must've imagined it, right?

"Looks like it, he has the aura. What do you think, is he worthy?" the other says. "What? Why can I understand you?" Tommy thought out loud. He never knew about humans suddenly understanding other mobs without learning their language.

It was absurd. Either he was having one weird dream/nightmare or he was going insane.

Both sounded unsettling.

"You don't know?", two of the piglin ask in unison. "What am I meant to know? What the fuck is going on?"

The blond stared at the piglins in front of him. The idea of him being asleep right now seemed very real.

Wait, no! He would be dead if he slept in the nether!

"Sir? Are you alright?" Tommy snapped back into reality, or dream, or something. "Umm, I think? Am I dead?", he asked n one in particular. Maybe himself. Maybe some god. Maybe the piglins in front of him.

"PFFFFFFTTT- HAHAHHAHAHHHHHHHAHAH", the piglins started laughing, grunting, and wheezing.

Tommy flinched at the laugh. The wheeze made him tense up.

He wasn't safe.

He should run.

Hide.

He has to hide.

Hide hide hide hide hide hide HIDE!

Tommy looked around him in panic.

(Come back, Tommy. You really are a BAD FRIEND, aren't you TOMMY?)

RunrunrunrurnrunrunrunRUN!

Tommies breathing quickened.

He couldn't see Dream.

But he heard him. He was sure of it.

It wasn't in his head.

It wasn't.

"Uhhh, are you alright?", Tommy snapped out of it.

After a moment or two, Tommy eventually asked the obvious. "So I am not? But I never learned piglin."

The piglin, stared at the blond for a bit, their black orbs taking in the blond in every detail. "Yes, you are alive, but you have no clue, do you?", one of them finally answered.

"What do you mean?",Tommy asked for them to elaborate. "The nether seems to accept you as its protector. At least a candidate. Do you know what that is?", one said with a grunt at the end.

Tommy took a few seconds to think about what they said. "What?", he said after a while, "Do you mean like those beings, that protect their realm and get chosen by the people od either realm? I heard the story a lot when I was a kid. I never thought it was a true story. More like a fairytale with a lesson." Tommy was surprised. Phil told him that everyone can decide if they believed in certain stories. Said man believed that it was folklore with a lesson. Seems like they were both wrong.

"But it very much is. Did you never realize anything, cause it seems that your bond with the realm itself is strong enough to let us converse?", one of piglins asked.

"Not really. I know, that I always liked the nether, but this is another level. Wait, now that I think about it, I didn't get attacked by the nether folk the last few times I visited."

Tommy was looked at the nether around him. There were a few things that made somewhat sense to him now.

No one attacked him here. At least no mobs. The heat was bearable. He didn't sleep much, but had enough energy to make it through the day. At least somewhat. And he didn't like the water that much. It didn't burn or hurt or anything.

It just never felt right.

"Well of course. Why would we attack you when you are one of us? You're someone very important, to be honest. The last person the nether deemed worthy was a few hundred years ago. At least, that's what the elders say. Ooops, I'm talking too much again. My bad.", a piglin said. They were nervous and excited as far as Tommy could tell. "It's alright. ", the blond said. An awkward silence filled the air.

"You wanted to trade, right?", a piglin asked. Tommy nodded in response. "I brought some gold ingots. I kind of just hoped to acquire more food, but I didn't expect much, since your kind normally gives whatever in return." "It's easier since we're able to communicate." The piglin responded kind of happy.

Tommy and the piglins began trading. They conversed a bit about random stuff, like the overworld or the warped forest. Tommy asked after a while. "Will I get attacked in the nether fortress over there? I wanted to explore a bit."

The piglins looked thoughtful. They seemed much more human than certain people the blond knew. "The nether fortress? Well, I never went in, so I wouldn't know. Most of the inhabitants in the nether are peaceful, as long as you don't aggravate them and are one of the netherfolk. Just don't steal or ask permission to do whatever if needed I guess. Just ask if you can have certain stuff.", the oldest piglin said in the bunch as it turned out.

"I see. So they won't attack as long as I don't fuck up. Got it. I think I'll head back to my base now. See you around, I guess.", Tommy waved and began walking away. The Piglin grunted a goodbye in response and soon left as well.

Tommy entered the warped forest, seeing a few endermen. Of course, he didn't look them in the eyes. Having to kill his new neighbors would be sad. Ender pearls might be useful in the nether, but that would be cruel. He did kill them in the past, but he avoids it now. He experienced death two times now and, oh boy, it was no fun.

He didn't wish such fate for anyone.

That was a lie, there were many people he wanted to see dead.

None of them were Endermen, though.

Tommy walked into his home and looked around. His cave was small but big enough for one person. He took off his armor, walked up to his chest, which he dedicated for food only, and placed his raw pork inside, which he got from the trading.

He would need to try to find a way to make his food lasting. Or something.

He put his food into an oven and cooked it, later he sat down at his table and ate his last few steaks from Dream. After those, he could finally start forgetting him. Or accept the fact, that he didn't control his life anymore. The blond most definitely had everything in control now.

He was in control.

He was.

Not him.

Well, at least he could move on. That's for sure. After that Tommy took a rest. He laid down on a makeshift couch out of wood with a few blankets and cushions on it. He took out some oak wood and began carving. His mind drifted away as he relaxed.

His mind wondered a bit. What was he going to do now? He was a bit shocked about the news of his standing in the nether. What were the chances of that happening to him?

Before he could think about that any further he looked at his chests. He needed to survive. He needed to make sure that nothing goes wrong.

He had enough food for a while. Water, not so much. He would need to make a portal to the overworld for that.

He did not like that idea.

The chances of him ending up anywhere near that man were too high.

Or someone else finding out about his hideout.

Tommy took a break from thinking and concentrated on the wood for a bit. He didn't pay it much attention before, but it seemed like he was carving a flower. He doesn't know what type, just that it looked like one. Suddenly it hit him.

Don't the piglin trade fire resistance potions on occasion? One needs water for those. That meant, that they had an income of water.

He could simply ask them about it.

Worst case scenario he would need to drink fire resistance potions for the rest of his life. (Or go to the overworld.)

Tommy disliked Fire resistance potions. At least they were useful, but their taste was so dry.

His mouth felt so disgusting after drinking one.

After concentrating again Tommy decided to ask the piglin the next time they crossed paths. He got up and placed the oak flower on his table.

It looked somewhat alright, just not finished. He could finish his work later. Right then, he wanted to explore more. He put his armour on and walked out of the cave, his home, with his cooked pork and some other tools he always had in his inventory. Sword, axe, pickaxe, the usual stuff with a stack of blocks.

He was never able to be this prepared for any kind of danger during exile. Zombie attacks? Hide. You tripped and fell a few blocks down? Take the damage and walk like nothing happened. You're hungry? Beat some animal to death and eat the flesh raw.

It was not a healthy and happy way to live life.

It made him happy to think he had survived that time and could take a breather for who knows how long.

Hopefully for forever.

Tommy approached the clearing he was at before. The piglin weren't here as they were before, but he could see the nether fortress.

He pondered on going there. He just settled down. He just got away. He shouldn't go there yet.

But he could meet new mobs. Make new friends. See if he could get a few things.

Tommy was too curious for his own good.

The blond walked towards the nether fortress slowly while taking his surroundings in. The lava level was maybe 50 blocks down with a few striders running around.

Maybe getting a saddle wouldn't be so bad.

He arrived at the entrance of the fortress and took in the sight. He was at fortresses before but never went in. Phil used to tell him about the dangerous mobs inside. He has seen blazes roam around before but never saw an actual wither skeleton. Only in books. Tommy took a few seconds until he finally decided to take a step inside and look around.

He didn't see any mobs inside but took notice of the occasional chests lying on the side of the road. He looked inside the first few he passed and saw some stuff inside like magma cream, gold, or iron ingots as well as coal, armor, and tools. He left everything in the chests though as to not anger anyone. He doesn't want to make enemies right off the bat as he did with Dream.

He didn't need any more conflict for the time being.

That sounded so wrong coming from him. That most definitely is not the same blond as the one from a few months ago.

As the young boy walked through the fortress, exploring it, he heard some noise behind him. It was the familiar sound of bones crashing against each other. He quickly turned around and saw two black skeletons with swords approaching him.

He quickly got into a fighting stance, but something told him, that they meant no harm. His tense shoulders relaxed a bit and he stood straight, still ready to block any attack that could come his way. The skeletons stopped a few blocks away from him and seemed to look at him.

Well, they don't have eyeballs anymore, so can they even see?

Tommy asked wearily, not fully trusting the situation yet, "Do you need something from me? Can I help you?" The two skeletons rattled with their bones in response.

Tommy didn't understand them, but suddenly a voice spoke, "Are you our new lord?", the voice sounded rough and like that of a man. It came from everywhere, which startled the blond. He looked around in confusion.

"Do not fret, young boy. We wish no harm as your soul cries our melody. Tell us, are you our new lord?", a new voice spoke. It sounded gentler and female but still demanding.

Tommy sat his gaze on the black-boned beings in front of him. Telepathy? "What do you mean with 'new lord'?", the boy responded with a hint of confusion. He slowly let his guard down, as his instincts started acting up again.

He was safe.

"Rumours about a new lord spread the nether.", the male spoke. "Someone worthy arrived in this realm.", the other continued. "Your cries are heard from everyone in hell. One can easily recognize who it comes from. So, let us ask you again. Are you the new lord?", both of them finished.

The boy took a moment to understand his situation. He was asked if he was the new lord.

Was he?

He didn't know, but he knew one thing for sure. "I don't know if I am your lord or not, but what I do know, is that this realm sees me as its protector. I think you should decide if you see me as yours or not since I can't really just say I am. I would probably accept your trust, though.", Tommy responded thoughtfully.

To be honest, he liked the idea of having a castle with subjects. He liked the idea of being a king or prince. He liked the idea of being important.

But he knew that that was just selfish.

Not only that, but he can't just force people, mob or not, to obey him.

And he knew that being a leader like that can drive one crazy...

He didn't want to end up like his brother.

But the thought of him being important, loved and cared for made him feel nice.

But that was just him being selfish.

Dream said so anyway.
That manipulative bastard.
Never trust his words, but they still damage ones beliefs.

Especially if you're named Tommy, are an annoying blond teenager and bring chaos wherever you go.

Tommy snapped out of his trance. The clattering got louder. It sounded like there were more skeletons as well. It came from everywhere and more and more whither skeletons approached the blond. It would have been scary if Tommy didn't understand what was going on.

The clattering sounded rejoicing as if happiness and laughter filled the area.

As the noise calmed down another, different female voice spoke, happiness and shame in their tone, "We are sorry we had to do this. This was a test to see if we can trust you. We do not wish for history to repeat itself. But we are happy, that you understand, that you can't claim us as your subjects without our consent."

A wave of apologies filled Tommy's mind. It hurt a bit, but it was nothing compared to his past experiences. He was a bit confused in the beginning but quickly understood.

"It's alright. No one wants an asshole as they're lord. I've been through there so I know.", he laughed with them. It sounded so surreal for people speaking to him so nicely. So apologetically.

He felt so warm.

"Thank you for understanding.", a skeleton kneeled down. "It's alright.", Tommy grinned at the skeletons. He was overwhelmed as the other skeletons soon knelt down as well. Only then could the blond see the masses that filled the halls around him.

"Could you please give us your name, Milord?", one voice sounded through his head. His eyes widened and reality hit him.

They accepted him as their protector and lord. He opened his mouth to answer but closed it soon after. If he was going to live here, then he might as well start anew. Tommy was fine since his mother gave him the name Tom. He didn't want to be called Minecraft, though.

That family brought him more pain than happiness in the end.

But who needed a last name?

"I go by Tommy. I have no last name anymore.", he responded calmly. "Of course. We are happy to help you anytime, just try and contact any of us"

Tommy nodded as he felt genuinely happy at the thought of people accepting him.

He felt so happy in the midst of hell.

How ironic.

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A/n:

CHAPTER FINISHED!!! WOOOOO!!!
And tell me, people on Wattpad, HOW TF DID YOU EVEN FIND THIS STORY???!!!!

*cough cough*
Soooo, ummm I think it's okay for the first chapter? I mean.. it's alright.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, everyone! I put quite some effort into it, when editing. It was fun. (And it's long..... haha)

So, I don't know whether I'll continue this much more or not. I'll see, but I might just make a few more chapters. If I feel like it of course and when I have the time. So yeah.

Also, How am I supposed to make a good cover art? Should I draw something digitally? On paper? Or just do that lazy stuff like I did with the other books? ...I am at a loss.

Oh well, cya later people of this world!
Til next time!