Tubbo still marched on, eyes fixed on the compass in his hands as they walked. He didn't care that the sun was setting, he didn't care that they should be making camp before the mobs started spawning. Tommy, the Tommy that had always been there for him, was out there somewhere in Dream's clutches. 

He didn't want to waste another moment by sitting around. He didn't want to wait until the last minute, afraid that if he stopped Tommy would disappear from existence as he had a year ago. He wanted his Tommy back, the bright and happy Tommy that would always make him laugh. The Tommy he wanted was on the other side of this compass, just in reach now.

"Tubbo." A hand was placed on his shoulder. They all paused, Tubbo looking back towards Karl who looked worried. "I think we should take a break." His voice was quiet like he was trying to keep Tubbo calm. "We'll pick up when it's morning, but we really need to rest." Tubbo didn't want to stop, he didn't want to risk Dream getting to Tommy before he did. But he also knew they needed to rest. They've been traveling since they found the compass, which was some time ago. So with reluctance, he agreed. 

He gave a stiff nod, green eyes traced on the ground as the others started moving around to make camp for the night. Karl still looked at the goat hybrid in concern, but his hand was lifted off of his shoulder now. "It's going to be okay Tubbo. We're gonna start traveling again in the morning, I'm sure we'll find him before Dream can."

It was like Karl knew why he was afraid, a sweet smile forming on his lips as he smiled towards the other male. Tubbo had to believe Karl because he didn't know what to believe anymore. He had started believing Tommy was dead, his long trips he'd take to look for his best friend becoming rarer and shorter every time.

"I hope you're right, Karl." With this, Karl smiled brighter.

"Now c'mon Tubs, we have a camp to make before monsters start spawning." Tubbo smiled himself, quickly chasing after Karl to help. He had to believe everything would turn out fine, that he would get his best friend back and that everything could go back to how it was before Tommy disappeared.

= * = * =

Tommy ran through a field, a huge smile on his face and laughter filling the void that was silence. There was another voice too, another pair of feet chasing after Tommy. Tommy's bright blue eyes looked behind himself to see a happy goat hybrid meet his gaze. He looked young, horns barely poking through his wild brown hair, green eyes looking bright and innocent, unlike the version Tommy remembered. 

His face was smooth, unscarred and a healthy pigment color, other than the white dead-like skin tone his normal Tubbo had. He looked free, like nothing in the world mattered, like none of the things that ripped the two apart never happened, like the goat hybrid didn't hate the other for existing. "Tommy! Wait up!"

"Race you to the river!" Tommy yelled, smiling so freely that at this point it felt foreign to the white-haired male. He hadn't smiled in so long, let alone feel happiness like this. His feet thumped against the ground, laughing and useless banter flowing between the two kids. The river came into view, Tommy racing for it as Tubbo started yelling about himself catching up with him. Tommy made it to the river first, turning to face a still smiling Tubbo as he skidded to a stop, both kids trying to catch their breath.

"One day.... I will beat you." Tubbo announced, pointing towards Tommy as he spoke. Tommy only laughed, blue eyes turning to the river's surface. He paused, eyes taking in the figure staring back at him. He had curly blond hair, bright blue eyes, unscarred skin, and an innocent look in his eyes. He looked like a child, one that had not known the battles of war, how it felt to lose everyone he thought cared about him, to be alone and scared, to have no place or somewhere to call home. 

He looked young, youthful, and ready for whatever the world threw at him. He looked happy, uncaring. Tommy felt his smile slowly slip as he kept staring. But even if he himself thought his smile left his lips, the figure staring back at him still smiled as he ran his unscarred fingers through his silky blond hair.

"You say that every time Tubs, and every time I beat you." A laugh came from behind him, himself looking away from the river to see a very happy-looking tubbo. Tommy wished he could stay here forever, a form of sadness overtaking him as he realized that things like these can never last forever. And as if on cue, this fantasy world slowly started leaving his vision, making the poor white-haired male yearn for what could have been.

When Tommy woke up, he was in his bed, dead gray-blue eyes staring up at the Stoney ceiling. It was quiet, lonely. He was alone like he always was. He blinked as he noticed his vision getting blurry, understanding that tears were leaving his eyes but not caring. He knew his emotions were broken, and even if he was crying, he knew he'd never feel the sadness that brought those tears to his eyes. 

He was broken, a shell of what he used to be. But then again, it was better this way. He couldn't feel his fear anymore, or sadness for that matter. He may miss the feeling of happiness, how he used to laugh at the littlest things. But he knew that the freedom of negative feelings came with a price.

He did miss his friends, the ones he had before he realized they thought he was nothing but an annoying waste of space. Maybe in a way, he wished he could see them one last time to know that they were doing great without him. He turned to his side, letting his blank-looking eyes stare at the stone wall instead of the ceiling. He had Dream though, he knew that he cared about him. Maybe his way of showing his care and love was different, but he knew that the masked man did. 

And he cared for Dream just as much. As long as he had Dream, he would be fine. He just needed Dream. If Dream was to die, or leave Tommy, the male didn't know how he would react, what he would do with the information.

He didn't need anyone else, especially people that didn't care about him. He sighed, crawling out of the bed to start another lonely day. Dream should be back soon though, and then he wouldn't be alone. He just had to last until then. 

Afternoon. . .

Tommy sat on the living room couch, gray-blue eyes scanning over book pages as he tried to kill time. It was peaceful, a nice day outside too. He had gone outside earlier to check on their farm. He had soaked up the sun while he watered the plants, listening to the nearby birds as they sang in the morning air. So now he sat curled up on the couch, book in hand, and coffee slowly being sipped as he waited for Dream to come back. 

He heard the secret door open, his eyes zipping over towards the door as he put his book away. He stood, ready to run into Dream's arms and hug his older brother as he entered the house, but stopped when a different face met his gaze.

Their green eyes widened, mouth agape, his already pale-looking skin turning even more white. "T-Tommy?" for once, Tommy felt the piercing pain of fear. Why was Tubbo here and not Dream?