"Promise me you'll look out for him and yourself. You fight like hell to come back. Fight for the discs, fight for L'manberg, fight for Will, and for Tubbo. Whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes," He echoes back.

When he pulls back, he shakes his head and dries his eyes. This was it. "Thank you, everybody. See you all when I get home," He said before quickly correcting himself. "When we get home."

"When we get home," Tubbo repeats.

"Okay, Tubbo. It's just you and me now. This is it," Tommy turns around, gazing back at the community house in the distance. He wants to take it all in one last time. He may never come back. His fate might've already been decided for him at this moment. The universe may have had his death written long before he was born, and he wouldn't know till it happened.

"Goodbye, Dream SMP," He whispered.

Tubbo frowns. "I'm not ready."

"I'll see you when we get back."

"I'm really not ready. I don't want to go."

"We can check our stuff one last time, then. But then we have to go."

"Okay."

Tommy's covered in netherite armor. His chest plate is strapped in at his side, and his leg guards reach up to his knee. Both his forearms are covered in the metal, a chevron pattern engraved in it. The Axe of Peace and his sword are strapped at his sides. His shield and bow were hanging on his back. His backpack is filled with food, potions, and a tent for their journey there. Dream had instructed it was a two-day journey, and there would be a boat awaiting them. He also said not to bother with phones as there was nothing they could do wherever he was.

You'll know it when you see it.

"I have no concept of how far away this mountain is," Tommy said, swinging his backpack over his shoulder. "But we need to get going now."

"Do we have a strategy at all? Any strategy?" Tubbo questions as they draw further and further away from their home. He tries not to focus on that and instead on the journey that lays before them. Two days only to meet their doom. Would he walk out of this alive or buried under a mountain with no one to mourn him?

"All I know is that he said for only us to show up, and we'll get the discs. That's all he said."

"Did he say we have to be unarmed?"

"No, he didn't. All he said was me, and you go meet him. And then that's it, but if we don't, he'll burn the discs. And you remember how he just like blew up all of L'manberg, right? And gave the whole speech."

"It's kind of crazy," Tubbo whispered. "I mean, that was what? Two years ago?"

Tommy nods gravely. "Yeah, two."

To both of them, it felt like months, maybe even weeks.

"We're on our last borrowed time, Tubbo. We have to get back the discs tonight."

"It's gonna be awesome to have them in our possession again," Tubbo said, pushing past a tree branch.

"No, no, no, Tubbo," Tommy shakes his head. "Please, okay, I want to be real with you for a second. Seriously."

Tubbo jogs up to him, making sure to match his pace better. "Okay, continue."

"I need to be real with you. And please, just don't cut me off cause I know this is gonna be hard to hear. I know that."

Tubbo nods, and Tommy continues. "I know that me and you kind of have a tendency to — especially you — always look on the positive side of things, and that's really cool, right? And I think everyone really appreciates it and always loves us — loves you especially for that and how positive we always are. I know that there was such a long time on the server where it was Tubbo gets pushed around by Tommy the psyche, but tonight Tubbo, we need to be self-aware, and we need to be honest. We're going to fight for the discs tonight, and we're going to fight well, but we're both... let's not lie to ourselves."

Tommy takes a deep breath. He wasn't nervous, not yet. But he knew when the time drew close when he had to face Dream again, his anxiety would be through the roof. "We might die tonight. And if we die, that's it. There's no coming back. So please, I know that you keep going 'yeah, we're gonna get it back today!' Please think smart. We have to do what's right tonight because Tubbo, I need someone to get back and tell my story. Because I don't know who's going to live and who's going to die. Tonight is going to be the night where we don't have any other choice but to win because if we lose Tubbo, we've lost everything." He looks to his best friend, "Do you understand that?"

"Yeah."

"What are you thinking right now?"

"Concerned," Tubbo answered. He wasn't much of a talker, never was. When Tubbo gets nervous, he's at a loss for words. Right now, his mind was considering every possible outcome. They die, one of them dies, they live, they don't get the discs, Dream dies... it was endless.

"Well, that's good. That was wanted I wanted you to say after that speech," Tommy said sarcastically, checking his compass once more. It pulls him toward the left a bit. He follows it, the taste of saltwater on his tongue. They were nearing the ocean as the sun dipped below the horizon. Tommy knew they should have left earlier.

"Yeah, you're trying to fill me with fear and psych me out," Tubbo said, eyeing Tommy up and down.

Tommy chuckles. "For a guy named Dream, he certainly is a nightmare."

"It's kind of ironic, isn't it?"

"That's probably the point."

Tubbo hums in agreement. They can hear the crashing of waves in the distance as the sky begins to paint itself into hues of gold, indigo, and orange. It's one of the last ones either boy might see, and they let that fact sink in. Death was near, and they could feel it crawling up their backs like a spider waiting to take the fatal bite.

...

"I didn't know you were back."

"I'm not."

"No?"

"No."

Punz leans back in his chair, the eye of ender bouncing against his chest when he does so. "So then, why are you here, pretty girl?"

It had been a while since you heard that nickname, and you chuckle a bit at it.

"What? Don't tell me you're here to visit me."

"What if I am?"

"You're not."

You lean against his doorway, arms crossed. "I'm not," You agree. "I'm sure you know what's been going on."

Punz quirks an eyebrow. "No, please do tell."

"Tommy and Tubbo are going to fight Dream one last time."

"Oh, that."

You want to slap that cocky smile right off his face, but alas, you settle for an eye roll. Punz was always a mystery to everyone. He came and went as he pleased, switching sides whenever he felt like it. And yet, he was one of the best warriors. His skills were unmatched. Rumor had it he was a competitive Speedrunner.

Speedrunning was a sport up north based on the competitor's ability to kill the dragon in the fastest time possible. Judging by the eye of ender around his neck, the rumors are probably true. People could get killed during the match, but it's still popular. Many came home severely injured, but the compensation you received for surviving was incredible. The first person to survive the sport had been Illumina — or something like that. No one knew what happened to him after, and he never returned to take back his spot in first.

"Tommy left a message for you."

Punz dips his head. "He did."

"And?"

"And?"

"Are you going to accept his offer? His payment?"

Punz hums, playing with the chain of his necklace. He sits in his chair like he's some sort of king. He knows he has influence over what happened tomorrow. He's toying with you, knowing that his decision is the difference between Tommy and Tubbo living or dying.

"Money does talk," He said. "But... does it scream loud enough for me to betray Dream?"

"Dream's never paid you that generously."

"No," Punz sighed. "He hasn't."

"I could still kick your ass if I had to."

Punz grins. "I'm sure you could, but do you really wanna do that?"

"I will."

Punz grabs a small dagger from the table next to him, tossing it at you. It misses and lodges your shirt into the stone wall behind you, locking you into place.

He stands up, strolling towards you at an agonizingly slow pace. He grabs the dagger from the wall, smirking at you.

The tiniest hint of butterflies explodes in your stomach as he leans in to whisper in your ear. "But you won't." He yanks the dagger free and steps back. "Not when I'm helping you, at least."

You scoff, looking away from his daring blue eyes. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, pretty girl. We have a lot of preparing to do."

"Where do we start?"

...

The two boys awake with the sun. For a moment, they forget everything and feel at peace with the sunrise and the sound of the ocean. But then reality settles in, and they pack up their stuff. Tommy climbs into the small boat first, pushing his hair back as he gazes at the horizon. Would today be their final day?

Tubbo climbs in after him, making sure all their stuff is secure. He nods at Tommy to confirm it is, and the blond begins rowing. He glances at the compass every few minutes, ensuring he's still on the right path. When he looks up again, fear clutches his heart. A gasp leaves his lips, and the compass clatters onto the floor of the boat.

"What?" Tubbo shouts, hand on his sword.

Tommy squints in the distance before shaking his head. "Okay, sorry, sorry. I thought this was where I was exiled, Tubbo. And I still, you know I'm getting good at this, but there are still some little things from my exile that really get me, you know."

"Plains biomes, especially," Tubbo joked, and Tommy cracks a smile at that.

"I'm kind of okay. It's like it was the... let me think. The, god, the hole stuff really gets me. Seeing him being nice to us. Seeing him being all nice and cocky," Tommy said. Exile had been three years ago, and somehow it was still fresh in his mind. All the little things got to him. He was lucky he didn't have to deal with Dream on top of that — or so he thought. "I still do get traumatized, Tubbo. But I've got to be self-aware about my weaknesses tonight."

"Yeah."

"God, seriously, I know every time I ask you how you're feeling it's concerned or okay! Come on, man. Please just tell me how you're feeling," Tommy sighed. "If you don't tell me how you are feeling, we won't have another chance. Please just tell me. How are you?"

"I'm feeling optimistic. Worried that, you know if we both die, then no one will know what happened today. And you know, like if no one knows what happened today, there's honestly no point. If we both die, it would all be for nothing. Everything would be for nothing," Tubbo said quietly.

Tommy blinks. He wasn't expecting that. "Yeah. Well, then let's stay alive."

Tubbo nods. "And not kick the ye old bucket."

After a brief second, Tommy repeats the phrase. "And not kick the ye old bucket, yes." He wrinkles his nose up at that. "You are so fucking from down south, holy shit."

"What did that — what do you mean?" Tubbo asked, holding back a laugh. "I don't see how that has anything to do with this!"

Tommy grins, turning around to face him briefly. "Hey, Tubbo, say the word bath."

"What's the catch?"

"Just say bath."

"Bath."

"Hey, Tubbo, say the word: I met some people."

"I met some people?"

"Some people go Pee-pole like that. And I go what the hell? They say it like a pole you would pee on—"

"Say grass, say the word grass!" Tubbo cuts him off.

"Grass?" Tommy said. It rolls off his tongue in a harsh manner.

Tubbo howls with laughter. "Grass!"

"You're stupid, okay?" Tommy said, face flushing.

"That's what you sound like! Grass! Grass!" Tubbo mocks him, clutching his stomach.

When both boys settle down, Tommy smiles. "This is nice, you know. We've had a really good time."

"Yeah, yeah."

"I know I haven't always been the best, but thank you for sticking with me."

Tubbo shrugs. "You've been all right."

"Thank you for everything," Tommy said sincerely. If these were his last moments with Tubbo, he wants him to know how much he meant to him. Tommy could've come here alone. Tubbo didn't have to be involved in a fight for his discs, but he was. Because he was Tubbo. He was Tommy's best friend — his brother. And in the end, they would end up both alive or dead.

Tubbo doesn't know what to say, so he settles for a playful punch to the back of Tommy's armor. "Are we there yet? Like, come on, man."

As soon as the words are out of Tubbo's mouth, an island comes into view. Hills rise and fall in the distance and the place is mostly deserted, save for the few acacia trees. Small tufts of green grass poking out from the sand.

"Shit, wait, wait, stop!" Tommy yells.

"Woah woah what?" Tubbo asked, leaning out of the boat to get a better view.

"Acacia biome. Huge mountains are usually around here, so be careful. Just be on guard."

"I'm on guard! Shield up, you know?"

"Okay, let's get out," Tommy said as he pulled up to the shore. He grabs the rope from the boat, tying it around a low branch from the tree.

"Which way is it pointing?" Tubbo asked, pointing to the compass.

"Still dead straight," Tommy replied. "We can walk for a bit and see what happens."

"Alright."

It was much hotter here, and the mid-day sun was beating down on their backs. Sweats formed on Tommy's forehead as he trekked further. He resisted the urge to take off all his armor. Anything or anyone could be waiting to attack them. It was a necessary risk. Even if it meant he was melting.

Five minutes later, he turns around.

"We're going back," He grumbles.

Tubbo looks up from his shoes. "Oh, oh was this not the — well, I guess I'll drive this time."

"No, I've got the freaking comp — look out!"

A green creature crawls up behind Tubbo. Its four legs move fast, and it opens its mouth, hissing. Tommy doesn't hesitate and goes to shoot it, but misses.

"Ow! You just shot me!" Tubbo screeches, grabbing his sword and plunging it through the Creeper. It drops dead to the ground. He then pulls the arrow from its place in his armor. He was lucky it hadn't pierced him.

"Just get the boat!" Tommy shouts as more creatures come crawling towards them.

Tubbo unties it from the tree, hopping in. "I'm driving. Get in the back!"

"I have the compass!" Tommy protests, firing an arrow at another creeper.

Tubbo grabs both oars. "Just lead me!"

"North!" Tommy shouts. "Forward!"

Tubbo rolls his eyes. "I know directions—"

"Forward!"

"I'm going forward!" Tubbo said, turning around to face Tommy. "You just shot me!"

"I didn't mean to in my defense," Tommy said. He looks down at the compass, and the arrow seems to be moving. "Oh wait.."

"Is it this way?"

"No, keep going forward."

"I think we go around," Tubbo suggested, sneaking a look at the compass. There was another island obstructing their path.

"No, you go dead straight! See, this is why I should have driven," Tommy said bitterly.

"Yeah, well, you shot me!" Tubbo retorted.

"Okay, keep going forward, I think," Tommy instructed. "What is it you want to do? You don't have many things that you need to go over? You're being pretty relaxed."

"I'm not relaxed. I am just unable to comprehend," Tubbo corrected.

"No plan, nothing? C'mon man, this could be it! Any minute now—"

"Tommy..."

"Cause like this is it—"

"Tommy—"

"And I know—"

"Tommy!"

"What?" The blond shouts.

"Do you not see that big thing yet?" Tubbo practically screamed, gesturing wildly to the mountain that lay in front of them. It looked to reach the heavens, water and lava cascading down it. The sun was starting to set once more, and a few stars winked at that from above. If this wasn't their death, Tommy might've said it was pretty.

"Tell me this isn't...," Tubbo trails off.

Tommy checks the compass as they make landfall, and its arrow points back towards the mountain.

He looks to Tubbo, who shares the same scared look.

"This is it."

Tubbo's lips part as he takes in the sight before him. "Oh my god..."

"Oh, fuck... If we end up — oh, okay... let's go up this," Tommy said. He unzips his backpack, grabbing a pair of gloves, and taking a sip of water. It was already late at night, but neither could afford to wait any longer. The climb would take hours. He takes the first jump, hooking the heel of his foot into the mountainside. He looks back at Tubbo, nodding. "Okay, okay. Here we go."

Tubbo follows suit, clinging onto the same rocks as Tommy.

"What's the plan?" Tommy asked aloud, swinging himself to the next pair of available rocks. He wants to distract himself from something other than the ground slowly disappearing.

"Plan, plan, plan!" Tubbo mumbles. When had they come up with a plan?

"Okay, listen, listen, listen. All we need to do is get the disc of him, and then put it in the ender chest, alright? All we—"

"Dream might not even be here yet!" Tubbo says hopefully.

Tommy furrows his eyebrows at that, grabbing a rock above him. "Okay, listen, why would he not?"

"Sorry."

"Okay, listen. Please! Just lis — Oh my god. I'm - I'm- Tubbo, you — sometimes, man, I am really clever, and I feel like you don't let me... annihilate." Tommy takes a deep breath. Already, his oxygen was depleting, and his chest grew tighter. Or maybe he was just nervous. Probably both.

Tubbo deviates from the path and grabs the rocks to the right of Tommy. "Dominate and destroy if you will."

"Dominate and destroy," Tommy echoes.

"Yeah!"

They climb the rest of the way in silence. Except for when a rock tumbles and a yelp leaves their lips. Tommy only focuses on the rock before him. He doesn't look up, and he doesn't look down. His arms were sore, but he had to push on. He had never scaled a mountain before, and he didn't want to ever again. One slip, and it would end before it even began. Tommy's hands grab onto a ledge. He uses his feet against the stone to push himself up onto it. Tubbo clambers up after him, letting out a loud huff.

"Okay, just stop here for a sec," Tommy sighed.

His eyes slip shut for a second before being warmed by the rays of the sun. Tubbo shakes his shoulder and points to it.

"Woah," Tubbo said. "Oh my god, the sun is rising!"

"This might be our last sunrise." Tommy frowned.

"Aw..."

"Let's just take it in. Okay, Tubbo?"

"Okay, Tommy."

From their place on the ledge, they can see the sun rising. It casts the ocean into an orange glow, making it look like waves of fire. It tints the sky with all the colors Tommy wants to remember. Below them, the mountain hides in the shadows, and the fog begins to creep in. The sun gives the two boys extra strength as it cups their faces in its heat, basking them in the warm glow.

"Here's what we do," Tommy said, taking a deep breath. "Okay, all we have to do is if he — if he shows the discs — I have no idea what his fucking plan is, but if he shows the discs, we get them off him, okay?"

Tubbo nods. "Okay."

Tommy glances to the top of the mountain. "If he shows the discs, we get them, and