Chapter Text
It was loud. Dream liked when it was loud. When there was cheering and screams of joy.
When it was for him at least.
He stared up at Technoblade, a man so huge, a mountain that had never been conquered, blood red eyes peering down at him, huffing breaths and unkempt hair. He was meant to take him down. To defeat, to conquer, to destroy this monster of a man. And here he was, collapsed to his knees, watching the man past his own blood that dripped into his eyes. Breathing caused his torso to scream in pain, but he hardly noticed past the adrenaline and building rage. He was a winner, a champion .
How could he lose ?
Dream had hurt him, there were cuts littered over his body, torn fabric and skin, blood oozing over it all, dyeing everything a pale pink. And yet he stood, tall and strong, no slack in his stature, his shadow covering Dream in a thick blanket of shame.
The crowd drowned out everything, everything except Technoblade’s low voice.
“This is over, Dream.”
“No it’s not,” he gritted out, blood dripping off his lips.
Techno turned away from him.
How dare he . No one turned their back on Dream.
This man thought he could further humiliate him, make him look a fool, a coward . Dream wouldn’t have it.
Dream hissed and screamed until the stadium was silent. His smile strained when he saw his own blood filled spit land at the man’s hooved feet, and saw the light going off his blade when it was raised to strike.
The pain of Technoblade marking his face with his blade was nowhere near the embarrassment that screamed in his ears as he lay in the arena, onlookers slowly making their ways back to their homes.
Punz had guided him from the arena, back to their fortified obsidian home. His husband took great care in wrapping his injuries, gentle hands, kisses ghosting over his skin, and silence. Taking care of Dream had been difficult for Punz. Dream was bitter and angry, and though it was never at Punz, he had lashed out, causing his injuries to reopen
“Dream,” Punz said sternly, grabbing the man’s face and forcing eye contact even when Dream hissed in pain of his fingers digging into the wound on his face. Punz held his gaze with a hard glare that slowly softened. When he spoke again, his voice was gentle. “You need to stop.”
For the first time in many many years, Dream allowed himself to be weak. He hated being weak. But he knew Punz would never judge him or think less of him. They were soulmates, after all.
So he gave into the pain and anguish he had felt since the match, since he lost, and he allowed himself to cry, laying his full weight on his husband, who was strong enough to hold him for as long as he needed.
___
“I can help, Dad!” Tubbo yelled to Sapnap, grabbing his shoulder and trying to get the burning man to look at him.
“No! You need to stay here, keep everything locked down, go to the panic room if you need to, but you have to hide and stay safe!”
“But Dad! I swear I can help!” Tubbo yelled back. His ceremony clothes were covered in blood and had been torn to shreds from his scrap with Dream. Upon Sapnap ushering him back home, he had changed, putting on his heavy arctic jacket and gathering supplies. That was until his dad had stopped him, barricading all the doors and windows, putting their home on full lockdown.
Sapnap put his hand on Tubbos shoulders, careful to make sure his blazing palms wouldn’t burn his son, holding his gaze, putting every ounce of honesty he could into the look.
“You have to stay safe, Tubbo. Once Dream is captured, we’ll need your help to locate Ranboo.”
Tubbo looked like he wanted to argue, but couldn’t. Instead he huffed, stomping his hoof into the floor.
“But what about you?” He said quietly, “What if you get hurt?”
Tubbo had already lost two parents. One had been an alcoholic, impeding his role as a father. But Schlatt had still been his dad. Then Quackity had found Sapnap, and life had been great. Sapnap was honestly a much better father, and always reassured Tubbo that he was his son even if they weren’t related by blood. And then Quackity had gone missing. Others always said he was too curious for his own good. Tubbo had already lost two parents. He couldn’t lose Sapnap.
“I promise you on Quackity’s soul, I will be ok, and I will come home to you,” Sapnap reassured, brushing Tubbos hair back so he could see his eyes. “I promise .”
Tubbo swallowed past the tight feeling in his throat and nodded. He trusted Sapnap.
“Ok. I’ll wait for you here.”
“Thank you Tubbo. Make sure to keep your communicator on, ok?”
“I will.”
“And lock this door down as soon as I step out.” Sapnap instructed, grabbing his axe.
Sapnap gave Tubbo one last tight hug before leaving through the front door, the only one not barred. As soon as the door closed Tubbo did up all the locks and picked up a heavy piece of furniture, easy for him to lift, much much harder for others to even begin to move. He set it down, pushed against the door, and took up his own axe, waiting for anything to happen.
He ended up not having to wait long at all.
___
Sapnap returned from patrolling no more than an hour later. With him he had his parents, Bad and Skeppy, who had just finished traveling in from the Badlands. His fathers both wore crowns, as the founders of the cavernous city of rockan earth and lava. Skeppy watched from his place on Bad’s shoulder. Sapnaps father Skeppy was small, very small, a living piece of diamond.
As for Bad, it was a good thing people were locked away in their homes, as Bad tended to make people uncomfortable. looking at him was as though the void of space was staring into someone with eyes of star light. Bad was tall, towering over even those like Ranboo and Sam, he was of equal height with the mammoth of a man, Foolish. But he was lithe and made up of far too many joints, allowing him to distort his body in ways most not born in the Badlands often found disturbing.
“ I knew we should have left sooner! ” Bad whisper-yelled to the diamond on his shoulder, trying to quietly argue with his husband. Quiet in the hopes to not upset their son.
“Ok, yes, you're right! Are you happy now!” Skeppy responded.
Sapnap rolled his eyes at his parents' antics, glancing at them before his eyes landed on his home.
Sapnap could have screamed when he saw his home.
The doors and windows were all broken, some with just small cracks, others completely destroyed. Wood chips and broken glass mixed on the ground in a sparkling display in the lowering light of the sun. Bad was quick to pull out his blade and rush into the home, Skeppy nearly flying off his shoulder in the process. Sapnap made his way in slowly, his axe hanging at his side. His steps crunched over the mess littered through his home, and as he made his way inside specks of blood appeared in the mix of glass shards and wood scraps. There were some that were a shimmering gold, Punz; some an electric green, Dream. Sapnap was almost hopeful until his eyes fell on a large puddle in the center of it all, a deep green. Tubbo.
White noise filled Sapnaps ears, blocking out his fathers frantic clicks and the crunching underfoot as Bad investigated the house thoroughly. Sapnap stared at the large puddle of blood, a deep fear and dread filling his whole being. The same feeling that took him over when his husband had gone missing.
This time, Sapnap did scream.
___
Pain surged through Techno’s leg with each step, yet he refused to falter. His strides were long and fast, not allowing himself to limp. Blood still oozed in a slow drip from the deep gash Dream’s sword had left in his leg. Ponk and Phil both had pestered him, trying to get him to relax, to let them care for his wounds, to not stress his body. But Techno didn’t need that. He needed to find Dream. He needed to keep his child safe .
As he strode through the streets, Awesam joined him. The large man wasn’t able to hide his pain as well as Technoblade, a hand pressed to his side where a blade had been stabbed into him.
“Why are you not resting?” Techno asked in a commanding voice. Sam may have been the head of police, but Techno was of a higher class than him. On his order, the man would have to leave.
“I can’t be resting now, not when you're out searching,” he responded, a low hiss in his voice. At Techno’s concerned glance, the man added in a lighter tone, “I can’t let you make me look bad. Not in front of the others.”
Techno snickered at the response, giving Sam a light pat on the back. “Sam, you’ll always look bad next to me.” The other man laughed and pushed Techno away. They both were done joking though as a group of armed soldiers went past, sweeping the area. Civilians were locked away in their homes, waiting for news on Dream and Punz.
Attacking a bonding ceremony. Harming the head of police, a grand champion, the top medical practitioner, an heiress. Dream and Punz had gone and made themselves into terrorists.
“There’s a worldwide manhunt for Dream, every territory, above and underground are searching for him and Punz.” Sam informed, walking swiftly with Techno as he picked up the pace.
“Good. Find him.” Techno said.
“Techno!” Both men turned when they heard the ragged scream. Sprinting towards them was Sapnap, disheveled, dark smoke rolling off of him and his face steaming from the tears that rolled down his cheeks against his burning skin. Both men took off to meet him. Sapnap all but collapsed into Techno’s arms.
“Sapnap, what’s wrong? What happened?” Techno asked, concern lacing his voice.
“Tubbo is gone! They took him!”
Sapnap was a mess, distraught and seemingly inconsolable. His palms burned Techno’s skin and hair where they touched. “They took my son!”
Techno growled, a low angry sound in the back of his throat.
“At the ceremony, the last thing Slime did was make sure Ranboo and Tubbo finished bonding. We could have found him because of it but… so can they. They can use him to track Ranboo just as much as we can,” Sam said. His voice was flat, almost uncaring, but there was a hiss that revealed itself and Sam's true emotions. Anger and even fear.
“They went off planet,” Techno added, the menacing growl growing.
“I’ll send a group out after him,” Sam said, about to turn away, but was stopped by Techno.
“No. The aliens that inhabit that planet are unpredictable. We can’t risk a large force being seen. Phil and I will go.”
“If that’s what you command.” Sam saluted Techno. Before walking away, he clapped Techno on the shoulder, “Just tell me anyway we can help.” Techno nodded a thank you and dismissed Sam.
“I’ll come with you.” Sapnap said, his voice strained from crying.
“Sapnap-”
“You and Phil don’t speak the language. Worst case scenario, I can translate. And I will destroy Dream for touching my child.” Sapnap said, anger filling his broken voice. Techno gently removed Sapnaps hands off him, his palms now red and radiating heat. His eyes looked like hot embers and his hair was lit with fire, drifting up in red and yellow tendrils coming off of his black hair.
“Very well. Be ready in an hour.”
Sapnap was clearly ready to go then, still prepared from his journey out in search of Dream. But Techno had to get Phil ready and hopefully give Sapnap time to gather himself mentally.
Techno made his way back home, the light from the setting sun guiding him, breathing in the cold fresh air of the arctic commune.
Icy puffs of breath filled his vision as he gritted his teeth, baring the pain and carrying on. Techno allowed the biting air and mind-numbing pain to draw out memories, holding them in the forefront of his mind, up to the sky to be examined and pondered.
The day he beat Dream. He hadn’t felt good that day.
Techno grimaced as one of Phil’s claws scratched him.
“Don’t be a baby,” Phil playfully chastised as he finished patching up his best friend.
“It wouldn’t be so bad if you would file down those damn claws.” Techno muttered only to be met by chirping laughter. With his wounds all taken care of, Phil flopped down in their family nest, spreading his wings out and flapping them ever so slightly to get a nice stretch.
“You did great today by the way.” He said, fully relaxed in the soft furs and blankets of the nest.
“Hmm.” Techno responded, the small noise giving away his uncertain feelings. Phil caught the note, head tilted, watching his husband with sharp eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Dream hates losing.”
At that Phil snorted, “Well yeah, no one likes losing.”
“He’s a good fighter.”
“You're better.”
“But-“
“If he didn’t want to lose he shouldn’t have challenged you,” Phil stated firmly.
“It was too harsh…”
Phil sat up and grabbed Technos face, not bothering to keep his claws from piercing the man’s skin. “Look, I know you hate marking. But it’s tradition. Dream knew what he was signing up for, don’t feel bad for that.”
Techno didn’t respond, rather he let his eyes wander from his partner's intense gaze to his hands. They were stained. The tips of his fingers still showed the electric green blood that had spilled across the stadium by his sword. He hoped Dream was ok.
He was strong. He would be able to get through it.
Hopefully.
___
Wilbur was on his phone as he drove like a maniac down the road. It was a miracle they didn’t get pulled over. Or get into a crash. Tommy kept a frantic watch out the windows, pushing Ranboo down any time he tried to look up, still worried about people seeing him.
“George- yes George I know this sounds crazy but I need your help! Meet us at the back of the building! And bring a blanket!” was the last thing Wilbur said before hanging up the phone.
He took a sharp turn and Tommy slid off the seat to the floor of the car, cramped and tangled up with Ranboo and his long limbs.
“Wilbur!” he screeched as he tried to pull himself back up.
“Sorry!” Wilbur called back to them as he continued the wild ride.
Tommy was able to get back in his seat where he took crazed deep breaths. Eyes still swiveling around through windows, afraid of seeing Dream again, it took Tommy a moment to realize Ranboo was hyperventilating. The alien was taking sharp short breaths, fast enough it seemed he could pass out at any time.
Prying his eyes from the streets, Tommy focused on Ranboo.
“Hey, it's ok. It's ok, just take a deep breath.” He instructed, taking Ranboos hands, getting the other to focus back at him. Ranboo stared with wide eyes and tried to slow his breaths, causing them to become hiccuped and stuttering.
“It’s ok, here, just,” Tommy started counting in a soothing voice, getting Ranboo’s breath to slow with his voice. “One, two, good, three, four, five, it’s gonna be alright, six, seven…”
Ranboo was able to finish the count to ten with him. They took one deep breath together, not relaxed but both better than they had been. A part of Ranboo’s tail was loosely wrapped around Tommy’s wrist as he moved to keep watching out the windows.
“Wilbur-“
“We’re almost there, don’t worry.” His brother made eye contact with him in the rearview mirror. Even with their own spark of fear, Wilbur’s eyes were a comfort.
Tommy was able to breathe easier for the rest of the drive.
When they reached the back of the apartment building George and Karl stood waiting, the latter having a blanket neatly folded over his arm. Wilbur let out a relieved sigh. He parked the car and hopped out. When Tommy moved to follow Wilbur spoke.
“No, just wait here a second.”
“But-“
“Tommy,” Wilbur said sternly. “Wait for a minute.”
Tommy sighed but pulled his hand away from the handle. Wilbur gave him a soft smile before leaving the car to approach his friends.
“Can I come up yet?” Ranboo asked, still stuck in between the seats on the floor.
“Uhhh…” Tommy looked out the windows again, gazing around. The only other people around were Karl and George. “Yes?” He replied, drawing out the ‘e’ as he moved to help Ranboo.
Tommy took their hands and pulled hard, getting them up from the floor and hunched in the seat next to him. Even hunched over, Ranboo’s head was grazing the roof of the car. Looking past his inhuman friend Tommy could see the older three gathered, speaking to each other. George glanced over, double taking when his eyes passed over Ranboo. Tommy smiled awkwardly and waved.
Wilbur looked back and seemed to be trying to calm his friends down when they both saw the alien in the car. Wilbur took the blanket from Karl and walked to the car, George and Karl slowly following behind him.
When the car door opened, Ranboo leaned into Tommy’s side.
“Ranboo, step out and stay under this as much as possible.” Wilbur instructed, unfolding the blanket and holding it up. Ranboo nodded and scooched out of the car. As he stepped out, Wilbur put the blanket over his head, keeping a hand on his shoulder to keep him hunched over.
“Wilbur I don’t think this is as subtle as you think it is…” Karl said, watching the whole thing with a look of confusion and slight awe. Tommy got out of the car right behind Ranboo, his tail still wrapped around his wrist.
“Oh I’m sorry, do you have a better idea?” Wilbur asked Karl, sarcasm thick in his tone.
“No…no I don’t think-“
“That’s what I thought. Now we need to get into your apartment.”
“Alright…” Karl said, still staring at Ranboo, now poorly hidden under a blanket.
Karl and George led the way up. They got a few strange looks from other tenants they unfortunately passed in the halls, but no one audibly questioned it, which was the point. The blanket covered a good portion of Ranboo, and the group surrounding him helped to cover his paws and tails.
It just looked like they were carting some weirdo under a blanket. Not an alien.
Hopefully.
They were already dealing with a murderous alien and his husband, Tommy was sure he would have an anyrusm if the police were called.
After far too long of a walk in Tommy’s opinion, they made it to the apartment. Inside Wilbur ran to the windows and closed all of the blinds. Once no one could see inside the apartment Tommy pulled the blanket off of Ranboo, tossing it aside.
“Hey, you ok?” he asked, looking up at Ranboo, holding eye contact.
“Yeah…yeah I think I’m ok.” Ranboo replied.
“Uhhhhhh…” Tommy heard George’s voice behind him.
“Is something wrong, George?” Tommy asked, and now Ranboo looked confused.
“What did you say?” both George and Ranboo asked at the same time, immediately looking at each other in confusion.
“Can you…do you two not understand each other?” Tommy asked.
“No.” They both responded.
Tommy turned to Wilbur.
“Ok! Tommy, you and Ranboo go hide in George’s bedroom,”
“What?” George started, clearly about to argue.
“We’ll get you guys something to eat, just wait there for now ok?”
Tommy had several questions he wanted to ask. But in the end he knew Wilbur wouldn’t answer them, so he grabbed Ranboo’s hand and pulled him off to George’s room.
___
Ranboo followed Tommy’s lead and plopped down on the nest in another strange room. Tommy was quick to close all of the windows in this room before settling on the nest, sitting on the edge, one leg bouncing up and down nervously.
A part of Ranboo wanted to provide comfort to Tommy, but the other part of him was far too stressed to even attempt to. He had almost died. Again . Tommy had almost died.
It was his fault.
Dream had followed him; he didn’t know how but he had, and that had almost cost Tommy, his new friend who had only tried to help him, his life.
Ranboo wasn't even sure if Tubbo was alive. Before Sapnap had pulled him away, Tubbo had tackled Dream, defending Ranboo.
Tommy had done the same thing, tackling Dream, putting himself in grave danger, for Ranboo.
Ranboo’s breath picked back up as he tried to choke the tears that filled his eyes. He didn’t want to cry again, but it seemed there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Why was he so useless ?
Through blurry vision, Ranboo saw the fabric of his borrowed clothes grow damp as his tears fell. He tried to hold in the little hiccups and sharp breaths, but couldn’t stay silent for long. Balling his hands in the fabric, he clamped his eyes shut, hoping to everything that Tommy would just ignore him. He didn’t want to be more of a burden.
Without a word, he felt a hand touch his own balled fist, simply laying on top of his, not trying to pull or guide him to do anything, just a presence of comfort. Tommy’s hand was much smaller than his own with the start of rough calluses on his palms.
It was a long moment before Ranboo did anything, just holding in his tears with little success, and Tommy’s hand laying on his own. Eventually though, he was able to let go of his grip on the fabric and instead take Tommy’s hand into his own.
Ranboo couldn’t say how long they sat like that. With the window blocked out he had no way of telling time, but it felt like hours of quite comfort. Slowly his tears stopped and his breathing returned to normal. They really didn’t have time for this. He could cry as much as he wanted after he knew that everyone was safe. Maybe then he could get away with happy tears.
“It’ll be ok.” Tommy murmured quietly. Ranboo gave short clicks in response, not yet trusting his voice.
It’ll be ok.
He could believe it from Tommy.
And if he didn’t really believe it, he could pretend to.
___
“Can you…do you two not understand each other?” Tommy asked.
“No.” They both responded.
Tommy turned to Wilbur.
“Ok! Tommy, you and Ranboo go hide in George’s bedroom,”
“What?” George started, clearly about to argue.
“We’ll get you guys something to eat, just wait there for now ok?”
Wilbur could see the questions swirling around in Tommy’s mind, but thankfully his brother just grabbed Ranboo’s hand and left the room. Once the door to George’s room was closed, his friends both turned to him.
“Wilbur, what the hell is going on?” Karl asked.
“I can explain.”
Both his friends stared at him, clearly waiting for him to do so.
“Ok, maybe I can’t explain but I can summarize. That’s Ranboo, he’s an alien-“
“Oh really? He is? I’m shocked,” Karl stated sarcastically.
“Shut up. Anyway there’s this other alien trying to kill him so we brought him here to hide.”
George’s eyes looked like they might pop out of his head they were open so wide, while Karl just shook his head.
“So you're trying to bring a murderous alien to our house?” Karl asked incredulously.
“No, I’m trying to hide my brother and his alien friend from a murderous alien at your house.” Wilbur clarified.
“Wilbur, what the fuck?” George asked. “How does something like this even happen?”
“Are you guys not gonna address the fact you just found out aliens are real?” Wilbur asked in an attempt to distract them.
“That’s not super surprising, honestly,” Karl said while George just shrugged.
“Huh, ok.” Wilbur said, before shaking his head and refocusing. “Look, guys, I just need your help. I need to get these two somewhere safe to hide.” Wilbur walked to the small apartment kitchen, letting himself look through the fridge and cupboards for anything he could feed his brother and Ranboo.
“Ok but are we gonna address the elephant in the room?” Karl asked, following Wilbur into the kitchen.
“I feel like we just did?”
“No the other elephant.”
“How many elephants are in this room?”
“Way too many. Anyway, the fact taht you and Tommy speak…alien?”
“I don’t think that’s what the language is called Karl. That honestly sounds kinda insensitive.”
“Oh well sorry I don’t know the name of an alien language you and your brother for some reason speak.” Karl said, his voice again dripping in sarcasm.
“Can we please talk about this later,” Wilbur started, voice almost pleading.
“By that he means never…” George muttered, standing just outside of the kitchen, eyes darting between his room and the kitchen.
“I just want to keep them safe.” Wilbur said earnestly.
Karl let out a deep sigh before joining Wilbur in a search for what to feed the two teens, the subject dropped for now.
___
Inside the room Tommy could hear the other three talking. If he had to guess, Wilbur was telling them how this had all started with Tommy and Ranboo meeting.
“Tommy! You guys can come out!” Wilbur called. Ranboo’s ears flicked at the sound and he looked at Tommy, not sure what to do. He must not have been able to understand that then.
Had he really been speaking a different language? Tommy wasn’t bilingual, he couldn’t even tell the difference between the two languages and besides, Ranboo was the first alien he had ever met, there was no way he could know a different language.
Tommy’s head was hurting from thinking about it so he chose to stop. He stood from the bed, hand still interlocked with Ranboo’s, and pulled the tall alien from the bed. As a pair they walked out the door to meet with the others.
Almost as soon as they were in the living room George grabbed Tommy’s shoulders looking him dead in the eye with so much guilt.
“I’m so sorry my nap put you in danger, Tommy.” He said in a completely serious voice. He pulled Tommy into a hug, squeezing him tight. “I’m so sorry Tommy!”
“Yeah, ok, it’s fine George,” Tommy replied flatly, patting George on the back awkwardly with his free hand.
George was sobbing on Tommy’s shoulder until Wilbur pulled the man off his brother, handing him off to Karl.
“There’s food on the coffee table for you both.” Wilbur said, pointing at the steaming bowls sitting in front of the couch.
“Thanks Wil.” Tommy said, hoping it was in English. By the looks shared between Karl and George he had to assume it wasn’t.
Tommy led Ranboo to the couch, both of them sitting before finally releasing each other’s hands so they could eat.
On the low coffee table sat two bowls of ramen, both hot and steaming. One had no broth in it and Tommy pushed that one to Ranboo. He watched him pick up the fork and take a bite, hoping that the noodles cooked in water wouldn’t be a problem for him. When he took a second bite just fine Tommy picked up his own fork and started eating.
Wilbur, Karl and George moved back into the kitchen, voices low murmurs. Tommy tuned them out, not really wanting to hear whatever they had to say.
If he had to guess, they would be staying the night here and then finding somewhere else in the morning.
“Hey Ranboo?” Tommy started quietly.
“Yes?” Ranboo responded, voice barely a whisper.
“How did Dream find you? Like, back at the house?”
“I’m not sure.” Ranboo said, taking another bite of food. He wasn’t even blowing on it to cool the boiling hot noodles. “He shouldn’t have been able to.”
“Why?”
“I think he was tracking me but…”
“But what?”
“He shouldn’t be able to. The only one who can track where I am without a physical tracker is Tubbo, and only because we’re bonded.”
At that Tommy paused. “Bonding makes it so soulmates can track each other?”
“Yes, your souls become connected so…”
“Ok. Thanks Ranboo.”
Ranboo nodded and turned back to his food, continuing to eat the hot noodles without a problem. Tommy mixed the food around but didn’t eat. He had lost his appetite.
He wouldn’t say it out loud, he didn’t want to put the idea in Ranboo’s head if he wasn’t already worried about it, but Tommy had a feeling that no matter where they went, they wouldn’t be able to get away from Dream until they were dead.
___
Techno, Phil, and Sapnap met at the teleportation bay, prepared for their journey. Bad and Skeppy came as well to see them off.
“Are you sure you don’t need more help?” Bad asked. He was so kind and clearly wanted to help but-
“We need to stay subtle, Bad. You are the opposite of subtle.”
“I’m much better at hiding than you seem to realize, Technoblade.”
“It’s fine, Dad. Just stay back here.” Sapnap said, stepping between the two leaders.
“Alright. I’ll speak to the other rulers across Essempii; at least those I can contact at such short notice, and see what can be done about Dream. Of course Ranboo and Tubbo are your top priorities, but we do need Dream returned as well.”
“What will happen to him?” Phil asked. They had all been friends with Dream and Punz at one time. Even though it was clear those times had long passed, there was still a hint of worry in Phil’s voice.
“A suitable punishment, I assure you.” Bad said, not reassuring any of them in the slightest. For Bad that could either mean prison or a much more gruesome fate dealt by his own hands, or teeth rather.
The three nodded, concerned yet accepting of the answer. Dream and Punz would answer for what they had done. Bad would see to it.
With one last hug to Sapnap and wish for good luck and safety? Bad and Skeppy left, the small gem person still sitting high atop Bad’s shoulder. Sapnap watched his fathers leave as Phil and Techno spoke.
“I’m not sure how we’ll find Ranboo, that was why we needed Tubbo. Without him, we have nothing, and no idea what from our planet the transport pod would have locked onto.” Phil said, deep in thought.
When going to a planet that was less advanced than Essempii, meaning a planet that didn’t have transport bays, the pods would just lock onto something with the same reading signature of things and people on Essempii. That meant that they had absolutely no idea where any of them could be. There was a chance they could all be together. And a chance they had ended up on different sides of the planet if there was more than one signature.
“Dream has the biggest advantage right now, he knows that. If we don’t find them soon, both Ranboo and Tubbo will be in big trouble.” Techno responded.
Sapnap took a deep breath. Dark smoke puffed out of his mouth on the exhale. His eyes were still glowing like hot coals and he knew his hair had a lick of flames in it, presenting because of his still wild emotions.
“Alright,” Sapnap sniffled, finally turning back to his companions, wiping his nose before speaking, “I almost forgot in my panic earlier but,” he pulled out his communicator, typing away at it for a moment until the screen changed. It was no longer logs of past conversations and was instead what appeared to be a map. “I put a tracker in Tubbos communicator.”
Phil and Technos both smiled. “Mate, that's brilliant!” Phil squawked.
“But why did you put a tracker in his communicator?” Techno asked. Sapnap could see the thoughts in Technos head. It was useful, yes, and Techno was clearly grateful for it, they all were, but Sapnap had never seemed the kind of parent to track their child.
“Quackity.” Was all Sapnap said in response. It was all he needed to say
“Of course, how could I forget…” Techno muttered sympathetically.
Sapnap’s late husband and Tubbos father had gone missing. Left the planet one day and never returned. It had seemed like a normal trip for him, too curious to sit in one place for too long, but after he stopped responding on his communicator teams of police had been sent to search for him at his last known teleport destination for weeks. Every serch had come up empty.
If he had put a tracker on Quackity he wouldn’t have lost him. People can only be bonded once, and as his second husband Sapnap didn’t get the privilege of being bonded with him. That had always been something he hated.
But that didn’t matter at the moment. The only thing that mattered was going to the planet earth and finding their children.
“Alright. We’ll find the kids, get Dream and Punz, and get everyone back home.” Phil clarified, making sure all three of them knew the plan. He tossed his cloak over his back, securing the tie around his neck, covering his wings. It wasn’t much of a disguise, none of them could really look like humans. Maybe if he got his emotions back in check Sapnap could look the most natural, but certainly not while he was still ignited.
Phil also pulled a striped hat on over his head, probably hoping to draw attention away from the black feathers growing on the sides of his face. Then he popped open the pouch at his hip and pulled out three opaque orbs.
Since Earth didn’t have transport pods that meant they were forced to use travel crystals. Small spherical crystals that when crushed would let out the same energy released by the transport pods, dragging the holder back to the planet they were harvested from. Travel crystals could be finicky and were rather unpredictable and untrustworthy, but unfortunately were the only option in regards to a planet like Earth.
“Everybody has their crystals?” Phil asked.
Techno held up two others, while Sapnap pulled out two from a pouch that held several more. Backups. Just to be safe.
Phil carried the ones for the three of them. Techno carried the ones for Dream and Punz. And Sapnap carried the ones for their children. He wrapped his hand around the crystals, holding them close to his chest. He had extras, he wouldn’t risk not bringing anyone home, couldn’t risk it really. He would not lose another family member, he would not lose another person he loved.