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Chapter Text

All in his direction were the deep spruce woods. The same woods he and George first spawned in the start of his new legacy in Minecraft history and to prove those that doubt his dreams and aspirations. These were also the trees that surrounded his new friends and enemies as his world grew and expanded. 

Dream felt his heart beating in his chest pain and his legs burn from the over-stimulation of running. Why was he running like a lunatic in the forest? The life around the first question; he escaped his worst nightmare, Pandora’s vault. Thanks to Wilbur’s dedication to the man and Tommy’s naive trust in his insane brother.

Additionally with the loud screeching alarm that Sam added with the help of Callahan to the code of the server if he stepped foot on the traps all around the prison. 

His footsteps were becoming sloppier and the shouts of his old friend were getting closer. Your pride is going to be the end of you; Sapnap used to advise him during every war they went through together and against.

Dream snorted at Sapnap’s comment as he leaned on a tree nearby L’Manberg’s walls. “Don’t exaggerate, Pandas.” He rescued the other man’s arm and pulled him away from the tree and pointed to the tallest person of the group that exited out of the walls, “Pride’s first victim will be their leader.”

And he wasn’t wrong, the man blew up his chance of getting his nation back literally when he gave him the bait of the dictator’s death and the distraction of a celebration. Pride was the death of every leader and person of power, weakness, and greatest enemy and now it's his turn as he nearly tumbled down the hill when a hand yanked him by the orange uniform.

 Dream wheezed painfully as he was manhandled to the fought grass of the hill and turned with a handle of an ax to his attacker's face. More of them appeared around him and limited his escape routes as they circled him. The leader and the holder of the familiar enchanted ax pushed the handle deeper into his chest.

Sapnap glared at him with such frustration and sorrow that it nearly brought Dream into tears. Losing his head to power over his people and friends still kept a piece of empathy for those that stayed a bit longer. But the people around Sapnap held deeper and clear anger than a mix of sorrow.

Sam had an emotionless face and monotone eyes that missed the tinkering glint he first had when they met in the same woods. Next to Sam, Halo just looked disappointed at him. Even with the control of the Egg, his usual white eyes turned red and held the same parental spark he had when they first met at the community house with his platonic soulmate.

Punz and Antfrost were identical to Halo with disappointed and emotionless expressions. But the one person that brought an internal fear was Quackity's hysterical look and behavior. He stood bright and ready in front of him for any sudden move and a kill.

Dream nearly screamed in fear when he held the man’s ax rugged deeper into his chest which brought another wheeze and a harsh flinch.

"You're a goner Dream. There is no more running! No more escaping your fate!¨ Sapnap snapped his gaze up to Quackity who lifted the enchanted diamond sword of his other hand and raised it high, lining his chest.

Dream closed his eyes as he watched Quackity swing the sword higher and back t its past position until a loud crash between two blades avoided his neck. 

Dream opened his eyes and saw Quackity’s face twist into frustration through the opening of Sapnap´s ax protecting him. Quackity deflated From his high stance and yelled at Dream´s defender.

¨Sapnap! What the fuck was that for!¨ Sapnap held his position and grabbed his shield in front of him and between the gambler.

¨What do you mean what I'm doing? Nobody fucking told me we are going to kill him or put him back!¨ Sapnap snapped back. 

Sapnap glanced around the other hunters, ¨Are we going to kill the man or take him back to prison?¨ It was quiet and motionless until Punz pulled out his shield and faced Quackity.

Sam, Halo, and Antfrost pulled out thief swords and faced either Punz or Sapnap. Two against four to protect the green man that was watching everything go by quickly when an ax blade hit a shield.

“Why are you protecting a murdered and a manipulative son of a bitch!” 

Dream flinched at the sudden attack of Quackity hitting Sapnap´s shield. Chaos has reawakened as they fight between his defenders and enemies, balancing a shield, swords, and axes dance for and against him.

As the fighting went on with Antfrost´s and Halo’s defeat from Punz, Dream sneaked himself away from the battle and hid against a tree. Quackity caught a glimpse of his escape and pulled out his shield to defeat a swing from his ex-fiancé and struck Punz in the back who was distracted by Sam.

Once the blond was knocked out cold by the creeper hybrid, Sapnap was left against Quackity and Sam near the cliff. 

Sapnap grimaced at the scene of the battle; Punz, Halo, and Antfrost were on the floor passed out from the hits and Dream were nowhere to be found in the bloody decorated grass. 

“Your bullshit is done Sapnap. Dream is a dead man when we catch him again. What don’t you understand! He deserves this!” Quackity shouted as he pointed his sword towards Sapnap.

Sapnap flinched as the tip of Quackity’s sword nicked his neck when he backed away dangerously to the edge. “Nobody deserves to be tortured for the fucking revive book! Especially for your dead husband of a dictator!” 

Quackity moved closer to the man at the edge and removed his sword from Sapnap’s neck to his chest, “You have no right to add more to this conversation. Help me find the bastard or lose your first life.”

Sapnap glared at the sword and back to his ex-fiance, "I do have rights as your ex-fiance and friend who wants nothing but for you to be safe!" 

Away from the commotion, Dream fidgeted nervously with his hair as he watched Sapnap argue with Quackity. He had to do something before the diamond sword Quackity had on Sapnap’s. He glanced around his surroundings and spotted Punz’s sword laying near his tree.

 He glanced back at the three men near the edge and sneakily crawled to Punz’s sword and reached for it. He slowly stood up, took a deep breath, and ran towards them with a scream.

Quackity swiftly turned in Dream’s direction and moved out the way as soon as Dream made contact with Sam’s chest. The creeper hybrid fell to the floor and dissolved. 

Awesamdude was slain by Dream

Sam was killed but he miscalculated the last equation as he ran to Sapnap and felt the air take both men off the cliff. Dream couldn’t tell who screamed both between himself and Sapnap as they were falling.

 In the few seconds, both men had before their deaths, Dream gripped Sapnap’s shaking hands. The man turned to him with tears streaming down his bruised cheeks. Dream felt his sliding down his hollow cheeks but ignored them as he wiped his friend’s away and mouthed his last words,

“I’m sorry.” 

Sapnap let out a heart-wrenching sob and clung to him before their bodies hit the hard surface of the ground and Lady Death took them to her realm. 

Sapnap fell from a high place

Dream fell from a high place whilst trying to escape Quackity

Quackity looked down at the dissolving particles and turned to the awakened men reading the new messages of the world’s communicators. “Our work is done here, boys.” 

When his soul made it to her realm, she knew it was time. She was between deciding to check another world that had a calling for her help when two souls landed on her domain. One she knew was not gonna stay for long and the other straight for respawn.

 She picked up the bright green orb from the void’s ground and held it back to the void with a small prayer and wish. She let it float in her domain after her words and let it disintegrate into the void into an orange light.

And sat back on her throne.

Until it’s time…

Dream cringed at the bright lights of a saturated sun shining between the leaves of the taiga forest trees. He breathed in the fresh air of the forest and fully opened his eyes ahead to a large misty forest.

The environment brought tranquility into his body as birds chirped up ahead the trees and a nearby river swayed with the harsh winds passing. Dream noticed a dirt path in front of him and followed it with ease seeing that there was nowhere else to go.

He arrived across a clearing with berry bushes and numerous foxes munching on the fallen ones. He smiled at the sight and carefully got closer until he stepped on a stick. He paused as the foxes halted when they sensed his footsteps and spirited away behind the large boulders of rock that stood in the middle of the clearing. 

He walked closer to where the group of foxes ran away to and looked at the tip of the largest rock when he noticed an unusual-sized fox sitting and staring right into his eyes. Flickering his tail, the largest fox of the shulk didn't move and stood his ground on the peak as it tried to identify the intruder.

Dream noticed its eyes widening and ears flickering as it climbed down the rock towards him. It sat right in front of him once on the same ground as Dream and looked up at the human. Dream wrinkled his brows and moved his white bangs away from his eyes as he reached for near berries from the bushes and presented them to the fox. 

The fox sniffed the berries from his hand and reached for them steadily as Dream sat on the floor at the same time comfortably. He chuckled at the cold sensation on his hand and patted the fox between its ears. He cooed on the domestic reaction it gave as it leaned on his hand. 

After a few moments of soft touches and squealings of foxes, the fox backed away and was surrounded by the great of lingering and hidden shulk as a bright light blinded Dream temporarily and a familiar voice rang in his ears. 

Chapter Text

When the light subsided, Dream gaped at the familiar person that replaced the fox. A young man with natural orange hair, brown roots mixing in with them, and white quartz tips. Similar to a fox color scheme. A black clock with gold trims and a circle and square on his shoulders covered the man’s black upper poet’s shirt that revealed the familiar orange, yellow, blue, and white strips hugging his waist as a belt to brown baggy pants. 

The shulk scattered away from the man he floated to the tip of the rocky hill and childishly swung his legs back and forward as a sly smirk reached his face. 

“Hello Dream.”

Dream felt his tensed muscles sag as he looked up to the man, “Fundy what a great surprise for someone missing for months.” Fundy slowed his swinging rhythm and the atmosphere became tense with Dream’s little speech. “I knew there was a different type of divine energy that surrounded my lands when you first stepped foot on the Essempi. Guess Prime and XDee aren't the only ones guiding the world.”

Fundy cackled humorlessly, “Don't patronize me, Dream. When I first joined your little world, it was clear you knew I come from a long line of powerful people, you could have expected something when you first invited my father and me to your lands.” 

Fundy crossed his arms and glared at the said man, “Especially with my father's and grandfather's reputation following them to the depths of hell for an eternity.” 

Dream rolled his eyes playfully at the last statement but pondered the man’s status. With the looks of Fundy’s realm; nature and foxes seem to be a great explanation.

“Then who are you presumed to be in a family of ‘powerful’ people, Fundy?” Dream challenged.  

Fundy snorted at the attempt to continue for information but complied as a single snap of his fingers, the forest scenery disintegrated into a plains valley. Dream scanned in awe at the sight of full tranquility in the biome. 

There was no discord in the peaceful night as the valley displayed its hidden beauty underneath the stars. Dream shook his head away quickly when he caught Fundy snickering at his clear expression and turned away. 

Dream glared at the man and went back to business and cleared his throat,” Are you a Deity of creation?”

Fundy immediately stopped his teasing of the maskless man and shook his head fondly and looked up at the stars and lay on the fresh grass. 

“Being a deity or a patron of Creation is an ambiguous term as I don't create life as others in the same field of divinity but alter and modify what's already made.” 

Dream hummed at the sudden intake of information but followed his lead in looking up at the white specks in the sky and watching as they formed little too big meaningless sights. 

With a tense silence from Dream, Fundy continues, “We are all somewhat code, Dream. Made by Mojang but some of us are lucky or blessed with the utility of knowing how to manipulate it or become one without it. As the Watchers and listeners and major gods and Goddess people serve, time travelers and even admins who put the effort to learn how.” 

Dream turned away from the stars and looked at Fundy confused, “Why are you telling me this?”

Fundy turned from the stars to him in a millisecond before he whirled to his usual action and stared quietly. 

Dream scrunched up his eyebrows and scripted closer to Fundy, “So what's my purpose here? Why am I in your realm? Another proposal without interruption?” Dream tried to lighten the mood but the anticipation rose as Fundy stood up from the grass and backed away from the man. 

“If you're gonna be like that I can send you back to my grandma's tell and see how the void treats you for centuries and face an angry mother’s wrath.” Fundy snapped but took a deep breath when he noticed the man flinch. 

“You’re here because I have a deal that would benefit me and you in your current little situation in the Dream Essempi. Took a lot of convincing and deceiving to get you here so be thankful.” 

Dream’s small panic vanished at the sudden mentioning of the Essempi, “What do you know what’s been happening at the homeland with your sudden suicide and disappearance?” 

Fundy froze at his words but cackled at the man as he stood alarmed at his reaction. It took a few minutes for Fundy to get down from his hysterical laughter and scowl. “I guess that being in prison and being tortured every day brings snappy men. I mean who could I know when a literal Goddess who you have been ding dong ditching for almost a year has been keeping an eye on you.” Fundy taunted as he pouted at the startled man and started walking closer to the traumatized man.

“I have eyes everywhere Dream especially when you stumbled into the spruce forest earlier during the successful manhunt with Quackity.” Dream grimaced and froze at the remark of the duck hybrid. “I'm sorry about Sapnap though, to add salt in your little wound you're reopening with your silly attempts to undermine me, Dream.”

Dream gaped at Fundy mortified before he pushed himself away from Fundy’s space and took multiple shaky breaths,” What is your fucking deal, man?”

The tension was burdensome as both men looked at each other before Fundy gave up on their little antics and continued, “As I said earlier, I am more than just a deity of alteration but of tricksters, misfits, mischief, and creation, I can also manipulate code.” 

Wit Sapnap’s reappearing death and his is freshly engraved in his head, Dream had no clue what the fox man was getting his point to, “So?”

Fundy rolled his eyes at Dream’s usual demeanor falling apart, “Specifically a server’s code to a restart.”

Sapnap’s last words to him went from his left to right ears as Fundy fidgeted with his hands,” What the hell do you mean by that?” 

Fundy grinned at the man, “Merely an ordinary Admin like you can restart a code in a server that causes manipulation of the land to its first creation but the residents' memories of the place are engraved in their minds.

This is where I come in. As a patron of creation and alteration. I can do anything but I need some sort of permission from the server's admin to go on with the restart.”

Dream groaned, “You haven't answered the question, fundy. Why I’m I specifically here instead of Callahan? Before I got into the prison mess, I made him the admin!”

Fundy looked at him with a smug face,” I already got his permission a few months ago before our little scandals happened but unfortunately it didn't work as I needed the first original admin’s approval.”

Dream opened his mouth before he paused and rethought this through,” You’ve attempted this before?” 

Fundy nodded, “Many times but there's one small obstacle that gets in the way as my father’s revival, the Eggpire, the syndicate, and your imprisonment have made it a challenge but after all that bullshit there are only two things that stand between me and the restart.

Your official permission as an admin to a deputy and specific help to trick the God of your world, Dream. The guardian of the portal to go to the end and alter the server’s code at the reopened portal.”

Dream physically slumped at the substantial information,” You want me to help you juke a literal God that protects the end portal to achieve a massive restart of our lives! Are you fucking insane Fundy! This practically screams suicide!” 

Dream heaved when his throat felt tight from his anxiety and alarm  accumulating from the deity not responding to his outburst,” What's even the reason for his ridiculous idea?”  

Fundy glanced away from Dream and looked far ahead to the nearby shore,” Speaking of suicides, I guess you haven't painted the bigger picture of what cost my second life. I learned from my grandmother that Eret convinced Wilbur to find Niki and apologize but instead found his miserable son near L’Manhole. 

It was nice at first, our little father and son had an awkward interaction after one and a half years of not speaking to each other after the Manberg and Pogtopia war. But the loneliness and reflection he and everyone else in this forsaken server have brought on to me ruin a happy day of catch. 

When he was dead I tried so hard to be around people and reconnect with family but instead, I fucked everything up once again. When someone needed me urgently in any fucking situation, it was because I was the last the unfortunate person left. Can you imagine the pain and suffering I went through after this awakening?

I have nothing left Dream. He apologized to me on the bridge but I had nothing to lose anymore. There is no hope and turn backs to all the bullshit everyone has caused to each other. There is no stupid reset button to take advantage of and retry forgiveness.”

Fundy took a deep breath and wiped away the rogue tears away,” So I fucking jumped. Right in front of him dramatically after our departure to give him the same distress he gave me when he blew up my home!

But who fucking cares about that right now. You got your answers now I need yours. Do we have a d-de-dea-l?”

Fundy stuttered and stopped abruptly and stood silently before he snapped out laughing hysterically and sobbed harshly along. Between his breakdown, the world around them shifted into a snowy field away from the starry plains. 

Dream could only stare at the broken man before he unthinkably pulled him into a firm embrace. He felt Fundy tense at his sudden touch but sank into the warmth as his laughter faded away from his cries. 

Dream could only repeat what he used to do with Sapnap when they were younger and hold him tight and comforting and hum a random tune. Soon Fundy’s breakdown reduced and the man pulled away from the embrace and stood away from the ground. 

Dream followed his actions and remained silent to ask about what Fundy just spilled to him. It was heartbreaking seeing the young man break down and easily act as if nothing happened as he went back to the last discussion.

“Dream, I desperately fucking need you to help me out. Even with the possible fact that you can deny and go to your limbo in peace after all the bullshit, this server has caused to eachoth-“

Fundy was caught off guard when Dream took his hand in his,” You need to shut the fuck up for once.” Dream smirked and shook his hand firmly.

Fundy looked down at their shaking hands before clamping his free hand to Dream’s as he shook them again as he felt his whole facade slip away. 

A mischief glint lighted Dream’s eyes as Fundy gave him a sly smirk, “It's a deal then, Dream.” 

Chapter Text

As they shook hands, an orange glow shone circling their wrist and fading into their skin. 

Dream flinched at the phantom sensation but Fundy beat him to an explanation, “This is a confirmation of our deal, Dream. Nothing to worry about if you don't loop around it.”

Fundy unclasped their hands and snapped his fingers to a whole new forest scenery. 

“But hey aren’t I technically dead? Lost my last life a few minutes ago, Fundy” Fundy turned to him with a smug face,” I can clearly see that Dreamy.” The fox chuckled as he took out the admin panels of the realm both men were in and fumbled with its controls.

“Luckily for you, we aren’t the only persistent ones to reset your land, Dream.” Fundy threw him a small paper scroll with a black ribbon wrapped around it, ”What is this?”

Dream gently pulled the ribbon’s tale and unraveled it to a divine dealer's document. Dream gawked at the words on the page; the handwriting and the composition were far away from a player's normal deal.

Dream grew up hearing of a rare encounter with a propositional scroll by divine figures. It was even one of his relative's biggest life goals when he came across one in his last breaths. And now he felt the smooth leathered paper with purple ink on in scarred hands. 

Fundy cracked up upon his reaction and snatched the scroll away from the existing man before he was forced to scavenge in one's inventory. 

“My grandmother or as you may know her The Goddess of Death was one to give me inspiration for this whole plan. As fantastic as it seems to this becoming an opportunity to change the course of history, it had the risk of giving you the chance to have a second fate. 

Which caused a lot of disputes.” Fundy shivered at a particular memory of his grandmother retelling his failed marriage and the problems caused by the man. “But the sly fox I am, manip- no- convincing to avoid Wilbur’s and my uncle’s death… and It worked somehow.” 

Dream was far from fear by the way Fundy stared at him as he let out an amused laugh. When will there be another chance to laugh at an absurd moment? A dead man and a patron of alteration creation, a duo of a sick joke the universe decided to put together. 

Fundy glared at him and crossed his arms, ”What’s with you laughing at the worse parts?” 

“Many things, Fundy as it’s fucking freakish that a person like me gets a second chance, man.” Dream swirled around him, catching every essence of the forest. 

Fundy snorted at the madman running around him and the trees until he stopped him midway from falling from a familiar cliff with a flicker of his wrist. 

Dream flinched at the claws gripping his wrist and nearly puked at the familiar sight around them. Ragged rocks coated the ground below the cliff. 

But what made his gut uneasy, was a smear of crimson staining the sharp tips of the rock either his or Sapnap's from a few hours ago. 

Dream stumbled away from the edge and yanked his wrist away from Fundy’s, ”What the fuck is with you! Why here out of anywhere else on the server?”

Fundy shrugged and took a glance at the gruesome spot below, “It's where you last were and the farthest from Quackity. Can't blame me for being cautious in our teleportation.” Fundy put his arms up, surrendered, and moved away from the cliff. 

Dream stared at him in irritation but looked around the area. Dried blood and marks of a fight dented the land. Especially the clear slashes of trees in missed slashes of swords. 

Fundy hummed at the markings of the place but walked away smoothly into the old spruce forest of spawn. It's been a year since he last respawned around the trees. But he stopped at the edge of the tree line because of the lack of movement behind him. 

He turned and saw Dream holding an enchanted netherite sword with a strong grip. Fundy noticed his usual anxious demeanor changed into a melancholy man by just admiring the weapon. 

In just a few seconds, the man gripped the handle of the sword, held it up, and stabbed it into the ground with the hilt watching the sky and the blade grounded into the cold dirt. 

Its enchantments were fresh as Fundy from a distance felt the vibrating power contradict his presence.

 “You done?” 

Fundy crossed his arms and in a split second his original attire replaced his clothing. The only different thing is the single golden fox pin on his jacket. Dream looked up and nodded as he stood up away from the sword.

Both men walked across the familiar path of spawn. The blond walked and started ahead behind Fundy, still stuck in his remaining reminder of via mistakes. well to what Fundy can inquire from his distant eyes as the man himself was distant to the present as well. 

Going through the source forest has depressed the old memories of his earliest day of the Essempi, especially when his father was first invested in Dream's land. 

He ran around like a child high on sugar with Wilbur and his uncle, Tommy on his tail when he got out of his sight.

What sad little memories. It's worth a haiku to remember his rushed childhood. Just like the ones Tommy would write when the memories got twisted in his tongue and the squid ink was his translator. 

One he promised to remember and was tributed to him when he lost his first life in the control room went like this;

Oh, my dear nephew 

The universe spoke a lost

Echoing death here

Oh, fellow uncle, how you declare your righteousness and pride to the offender and lose your precious values as a knight loses their glory.

In the outskirts of the forest again similar to one of Fundy’s realms; they walked right into the old ruins of George’s house. 

Behind the deity, Dream sucked in a shaky breath and forwarded away from Fundy to the burned-down mushroom house his best friend used to live in.

Over the constant months trapped in his failure of a goal, the rumored manic mumbles of the guard brought news of his missing son. Lost in the forest, asleep or dead only XDee or Lady Death could truly tell. 

Dream turned away from the destruction and to Fundy, “What are we doing here?”

“We are here to wait for a certain person, Dream.” 

Fundy answered calmly as he walked ahead from Dream and started at the transitioning woods of spruce to oak interaction. 

“And who would that be?” 

Leaves are rusting near the bushes that surround George’s house and stopped Dream’s suspicion from slowing. He felt his breath quicken and adrenaline kick in if Fundy stood him up. 

But everything got even more confusing when a man with brown hair, light brown eyes, a multi-colored hoodie black pants, and dull purple shoes came out with multiple twigs and leaves scattered like sprinkles in his appearance. 

Fundy snickered and walked towards the man in the bushes and removed the stray leaves.

“Traveler, it's good to see you so soon.”

Karl smiled and brought Fundy into a single-arm hug, “Likewise, Fundy. Anything for a change.” 

Even in reunions, there's always a sour aspect of these events such as seeing the person that got you going through the worst things in your life.

Karl turned away from Fundy and glanced at their spectator, whose mouth was gaping like a salmon.

Dream attempted to compose himself with a simple “Hello, Karl” but failed to ure seems to be his only outcome as a slap made his way across his cheeks.

Dream winced as he cradled his cheek and Fundy whistled a humorous tone, “Would’ve done the same void of thing if I didn't have patience for you Green Boy.” 

Dream glared at the deity and turned to his attacker, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Karl dug into his skin with a powerful glare when Dream addressed him,” As Fundy may have mentioned…

Others know about this plan too Dream.” Karl moved closer to him with such anger that caused the blond to stumble back. 

”But more who are against it than for it.”

“WHAT!”