Warning: Slight mentions of torture again, please skip to the first paragraph break (the little row of "~") if you don't want to read it. Nothing gory, but just in case.

Hope you enjoy. This one is a sad one. 

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Techno refused to break.

He knew pain. It was as familiar as life to him. Certainly just as difficult. Perhaps even a little softer.

He refused to bend.

He remembered everything. In vivid detail. The chains. Cold as ice, they pinned him to the wall, hard and tight around his wrists.

The arrow. The smirk on Jschlatt's face as he released the bowstring.

The knife.

The blood.

It wasn't the first time either. The first time had been days ago. Time was difficult in the shimmering expanse of grey nothingness, and he had completely lost track about two days in.

But he had taken pain before. He had once been so careless with pain, with life, with respawing, he had played all the most dangerous games.

They had called him the King. He had been victorious in everything he threw himself into. Games that started with sixteen players, and ended with four. Games that started with one hundred and ended in five. Games that started with twelve and ended in one.

He had been so successful, that people had started to say Technoblade never dies.

But that was false. He hadn't started at a champion. He had fought his way to the top, cleaved a path with his sword to the highest rank. A path of blood. A lot of it his own.

He had died more times than he could count. Dying was an odd thing. The first time was the worst. And slowly, they lose meaning. Most players didn't want to make that sacrifice. To be comfortable with death was a scary thing to them.

Techno knew death. And through death, he had known pain.

Jschlatt and Ex had wanted information. But also, he knew that they wanted to break him. To watch him shatter. To see his sanity crumble.

And he wouldn't give it to them.

Out of spite, if nothing else.

He cared for his friends. He would do anything to keep them safe. But every time Jschlatt had led him into the room, the simple thought of the victorious look that would cross the ram-horned man's face was enough to make Techno snap his mouth shut and take it.

Take whatever happened.

He curled his fingers into a fist, feeling his admin powers pulse, shiver against his palm, warm and cold at the same time. He was definitely becoming more capable with his powers. He didn't know if it was good enough, if he was good enough. He was exhausted.

True, the pain they inflicted upon him wasn't as detrimental as they would have hoped, but it had taken a toll on him, along with practicing with his powers every spare moment he had.

Even farming potatoes, for days without sleeping, he had never felt so utterly drained. He guessed that it was partially due to him being tired in magical, admin power way, instead of just regular fatigue.

Footsteps. His keen ears, trained to hear every little sound even in the roar of a battlefield, did not fail him. He could tell who it was, from the briskness of each step, and the sound of their shoes against the mist. The grey nothingness, he knew from being taken across if several times, was actually two types of matter. One that made up the ground that felt thin and crisp, and another that was a thick fog that hung in the air, throughout the entire bubble.

"Ex." He greeted coldly, before the other had even come into view.

Ex smiled humourlessly, his eyes gleaming brightly like rubies. "Sharp as ever, Techno."

Techno didn't bother responding. He would be told why he was being fetched.

Ex rubbed his hands together, then took a small silver key from his pocket. "Today's the day."

Techno didn't respond, but didn't struggle as Ex unclamped his chains from the wall and led him into the fog. His legs were sore and cramped from sitting in the cell, and he was relieved to be able to stretch them. Although he had to admit that perhaps knowing he was likely walking towards his own death might have also increased his appreciation of the activity.

For his still sore legs, they seemed to have stopped all too soon, in a clearing. The fog seemed to avoid it, leaving an empty pocket of clarity.

In the centre, gleaming and humming with power, was a command block.

Techno had seen them before, even used a few before when Dream taught him about them. But this one was different. It radiated a feeling of wrongness, like its very existence was flawed. It pulsed with trapped energy, flickering and glitching through the lines of code, the layers of the world.

He sucked in a breath. Was this how their little power transfer would be completed? With whatever monstrosity that was?

He waited in silence. He and Dream and Xisuma had a plan, but he didn't know if it would work. Anxiety churned in his stomach, and he took a few deep breaths to calm himself, hoping he had developed his powers enough.

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Footsteps.

Techno tensed, and Ex also turned to face the source of the noise, just as Jschlatt emerged from the nothingness, Dream and Xisuma by his side. Techno winced at how battered the two looked. They weren't as used to pain, used to coming back from the very edge death as he was, and he could see that it hadn't been good for them. He barely managed to stop himself from calling out to them, relief of knowing they were alive swamping over him.

Dream met his gaze, green eyes gleaming faintly with hope, but he didn't dare say anything. Techno noticed how tired his expression was, noticed the new scar that ran down the left side of his face, crossing slightly with his old scar, and he felt a surge of violent anger towards his captors. Xisuma was staring at Ex, his lips set in a firm line, his entire body tense, his eyes sharp chips of violet that seemed to glow in the colourless grey around them.

Ex smirked. "Ready?" He was speaking to Jschlatt.

The ram horned man narrowed his eyes. "We need to wait for Tubbo first." His voice was cold, but held a sharp edge of elation, the same way a new, shiny blade was exciting.

Ex rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure."

A heartbeat later, Tubbo stepped out from the mist, beaming, his expression radiating golden warmth. "I'm here!"

Ex scowled, fingers tracing the edge of previously Techno's sword which was currently strapped to his side. "Took you long enough. Ready?"

Jschlatt breathed in deeply. "Oh yes." He smiled unpleasantly at Dream, glaring at him through slitted eyes.

Tubbo smiled. "Look what I managed to find for the occasion!" He placed down a beehive, the bees instantly popping out and buzzing around, their wings a shimmering grey blur. Honey dripped from the edges of the hive onto the ground.

That was the signal.

Tubbo shot Techno a glance heavy with meaning, and Techno curled his fingers into fists, admin powers surging through his system. His shackles snapped, sharp metal fragments clattering to the ground around him. At the same time, Dream and Xisuma's cuffs also opened, the weight clanking to the ground. That was Tubbo's doing, just hours before.

Jschlatt gave a hoarse shout of anger, sending a burst of power streaking at Techno, but instantly Dream was there, deflecting it and sending one right back. The two faced each other, prowling back and forth like wolves, rancour shining brightly in their gazes, each one furious and unwavering.

Xisuma was crouching, his brilliant purple eyes narrowed in concentration. Across the clearing, Ex was doing the same, the struggle between the powers of the two Voidwalkers shaking the entire bubble. Cracks and patches appeared in the once smooth grey, and darkness could be seen outside.

Techno grimaced, pulling from his energy supply and focusing it on the beehive. It was a solid block. Tubbo had done his part well, and Techno refused to fail his own.

He already felt drained, but he kept going, pulling slightly from Dream and Xisuma's power supplies that they gave him, using their power to pave a way through the code. He tried to pull mainly from Dream's reserves as he could, as Dream didn't have a good connection to the world, meaning that attacking with admin powers couldn't be his main defence. Xisuma, on the other hand, needed every ounce of energy he could collect, to fight Ex and later sustain the bubble.

Lines of code swam past him, and he could dimly make out what was going on around him, yet at the same time he was immersed in it, his senses all sharpened, his view spanning the entire world, the bubble he was in about as significant as an anthill in a mountain.

He fell to his knees, his strength giving out. The beehive cracked and shuddered, spilling out purple light into the colourlessness, and the wonderful shade of violet filled his senses, the last thing that filled his gaze, before the entire world seemed to shift and he squeezed his eyes shut, shutting out everything.

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Xisuma saw Techno fall into a crouched position, eyes closed firmly, and he could see the beehive shuddering and starting to crack, fragments collapsing in on itself. The portal was slowly coming into being.

Ex was attacking his mind violently, and Xisuma barely had time to deflect each strike, to stop Ex from tearing into his code.

Tubbo yelled something, and Xisuma raised his head dully to see the young boy standing over Ex, as pair of cuffs in his hand. He had made them with the help of Dream and Xisuma to match Ex's and Jschlatt's powers, using their own weapons against them. Tubbo reached for Ex's wrists, and the Voidwalker suddenly seemed to realize his presence, retracting his attacks on Xisuma and reaching for the sword at his side, but Tubbo grabbed his arms forcefully, snapping the shackles on.

Ex snarled, suddenly releasing his control over the void and the bubble, and Xisuma felt it clearly within him, the sudden lack of energy pulsing through him meant that the bubble was going to melt into nothingness, and they would all be ejected into the void.

"If I'm going back into the void, you're all coming with me!" Ex spat venomously, and Xisuma could suddenly see, clear as day, how much fear, how much horror and loneliness that Ex's banishment to the Void had brought upon him. It had broken him, fed whatever twisted fury that burned in his soul and made a monster, a reflection of only fragments of who he once was.

Xisuma gritted his teeth, using his own energy to keep the bubble from crumbling, holding it together with willpower. Spots danced before his gaze, pain trembling through every fibre of his body, and he took a deep breath, swallowing air like a fish out of water. It must have taken Ex a long time to be strong enough to sustain something like this, and he felt a strange sense of respect and pride for his brother.

Through slitted eyes he could see Tubbo grappling with Ex, trying to keep him from reaching his sword, using short bright burst of admin power that lent him strength.

Dream had managed to get his hands on a sword, and he was caught in a duel with Jschlatt, a duel he couldn't win because the latter had full access to his admin powers. But Dream didn't have to win, only to hold Jschlatt off, keep him busy, and Dream could do that.

Techno was still opening the portal, his hands trembling, his steely gaze fixed on the beehive. Slowly, lavender light spilled into the Void bubble, intoxicatingly beautiful.

Xisuma panted for breath, his powers weakening with every passing moment. The portal was almost open, and there was just one last thing left to do. They had to cuff Jschlatt as well, to stop him from coming back.

Ex suddenly managed to grab his sword, and swung it wildly, barely missing Tubbo who jumped back, out of its range. Ex hissed in delight and rose to his feet, the hilt of the blade resting heavily in his hand, the diamond edge catching the flicker of light from the half formed portal. He advanced towards Xisuma, but Tubbo stood in his way, a gleaming sphere of energy protecting the Voidwalker.

Ex bared his teeth. "Step out of the way. This is between my dear brother and I." Venom laced his words, cold and deadly.

Tubbo glared at him passionately. "Well unfortunately for you, no."

Ex lunged forwards, and Tubbo summoned a burst of admin powers, colliding with Ex's blade, and he swung again, this time his sword meeting the barrier Tubbo had created, and it flickered wildly as it connected, Tubbo flinching in pain.

Xisuma tried to help, but his powers were completely and solely dedicated to keeping the bubble functional. He had no energy to spare, and even then, he was running out.

Tubbo whirled and in one smooth motion, tossed a set of cuffs to Dream, who caught them and leaped forwards, instantly snapping them around Jschlatt's wrists, leaving the ram horned man no time to think.

Xisuma could barely breathe, the Void too strong. He wouldn't be able to hold for bubble open longer. Tubbo glanced at him, then at Techno who was in the final stages of opening a portal, crouched, focusing on feeding it power. He opened his mouth to speak just as Ex swung is blade at him, and he jumped out of the way.

Now that Jschlatt no longer had admin powers, Dream took him easily, leaving him wounded at the far end of the clearing, eyes smouldering with hatred, hands pressed against a deep cut along his side. "You'll regret this." He growled, but Dream ignored him, crossing the clearing in a few quick strides and grabbed Xisuma, letting the exhausted Voidwalker lean on him and deposited him at the mouth of the portal.

Xisuma took a shaky breath. "I- I can't hold it open much longer. Hurry." He managed to croak to Dream, and the latter nodded, raising his sword at Ex who eyed him a warily, evidently unwilling to fight him.

Two things happened at once.

Techno opened the portal, letting brillant purple light flood into the clearing, rippling and flickering with exhilarating clarity.

Xisuma slumped to the ground, his power spent, the casing of the bubble cracking, being pulled outwards into the blankness of the Void.

Dream's lightning fast reactions saved him, and he jumped backwards just as the patch of ground where he was standing dissolved into nothingness. Tubbo dove towards the portal, past Ex who was facing Dream, but the Voidwalker reached out, grabbing the back of Tubbo's shirt, pulling him back, a triumphant smile carved across his face.

The Void ate through the edges of the bubble, leaving rapidly widening gaping holes of true blank emptiness stretched out as far as the eye could see.

Dream yanked Xisuma to his feet, bunching him and Techno together, Xisuma barely able to keep himself standing, supporting a half conscious Techno. Dream stared at Tubbo, Ex with his blade against Tubbo's throat, his back to the hole into the void.

No.

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Dream refused this outcome.

When he and Tubbo had talked out the plan, he had promised.

Promised to get Tubbo home.

Promised.

Tubbo smiled at him for a moment meeting his gaze, lively blue eyes swimming brightly with tears. Ex had grabbed him, seeing no need to kill him but was simply keeping him clasped to himself. The message was clear: if I die, he's coming with me.

Dream couldn't allow that, and Ex knew. The Voidwalker smirked.

"Take me through." It was hardly an order, more like a reminder of his only option left. Dream stared at him, meeting his smug ruby red eyes.

He reached out, hands shaking, knowing that Ex would stab them all in the back as soon as they arrived but he couldn't see what else he could do.

He was out of options.

Tubbo screamed furiously, cursing, tears streaming down his face. "No! Don't!" He thrashed furiously in Ex's grip, unable to free himself. "He's going to kill you all! Dream!"

Dream ignored him.

And Tubbo reached out. His hands met Dream's, and he placed something into his palm, folding Dream's fingers gently around the small object. "For Tommy." He whispered hoarsely, then kicked backwards.

Ex gave a shriek of horror. "No! What have you done!"

He wavered at the edge of the pit for a moment, and Dream jumped forwards, desperate to keep him from falling, to keep Tubbo from falling, but he couldn't reach them in time, and he fell to his knees at the edge of the pit, eyes fixed numbly on the two figures as they tilted precariously backwards. Ex thrust his sword desperately at Dream, and it cut deep into his side, beautiful crimson blood seeping onto the ground, but Dream didn't feel it, couldn't feel it.

Tubbo cast a gentle smile upwards, his eyes meeting Dream's for a single heartbeat, gaze filled with a lifetime of regret, and then vanished into the darkness.

No.

His gaze blurred with tears, his face burning and he let out a choked sob. Nothing felt real.

His heart felt like it had shattered into a million razor sharp fragments, slicing him into pieces from the inside, and he couldn't breathe, couldn't tear his gaze away.

He staggered back, grabbing Xisuma and Techno, his heart feeling like it had fallen into the darkness with Tubbo, tears pouring down his face. His side was drenched in blood, and Xisuma made a soft noise of concern, but he could tell by the blank look in the Voidwalker's eyes that he was in shock, numb, unable to believe what had jus happened. His arm was around Techno who was just awake enough to keep the portal open, so exhausted that Dream feared he might have permanently ruined his admin powers, not conscious enough to have seen and processed the events that had just played out.

The bubble shuddered, nearly spilling them all into the Void, and despite the agony that felt like a knife to his heart at leaving without Tubbo, he took a step back, pulling Xisuma and Techno with him.

Into the portal.

They were going home.

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Tommy's not going to be happy :/

Welp, hope I made you feel at least a little sad, see y'all in the next one. We're close to the end now! :D