Chapter Text
Sally woke slowly, awareness seeping back in one sense at a time. First was touch; she was warm and laying on something sinfully comfortable. Sound came next: a quiet swooshing of slowly yet steadily flowing water and the barest gurgle indicating obstacles. Then came her sense of smell: the earthy smell of good clay and the green smell of healthy plant life. She slowly opened her eyes to the soft orange glow of unnatural stone lighting a cozy stone and coral bedroom. The events of the previous day came back to her all at once and she surged up to explore her new home more thoroughly. Outside the bedroom was a short hallway and a door leading to a bathroom. Turning right down the hallway she entered an open concept room that included a kitchen, sitting room, and dining space. In the corner, going over the space filled by her bathroom, was a narrow staircase leading into the dry level of the base, though there were hollow columns where she could swim up to observe the dry level, and they were wide enough to not feel too terribly cramped. The more she explored, the harder it was for her to believe it was all for her.
Okay, so Wilbur had played a part in it all; the builder being his father and all, but… still. It was all… a bit much. For someone who had lived the majority of their life with only what they could carry even this simple base felt… opulent.
“Sally?” Wilbur called from somewhere outside, though oddly it sounded like he’d called from the left side of her base. Turning, she found a cleverly disguised tunnel at the left end of the hallway by her room. Swimming through it, she found Wilbur sitting on a mossy stone, hair floating around him like a messy brown halo and a bright smile on his face. “Ah, so that’s where Dadza hid the underwater entrance. Should have known he’d use submerged glow vines as the door,” he said as he rose. “Theseus told us you didn’t take the shadow travel well so you went to bed almost as soon as you arrived. Do you feel up to a larger tour now?” Sally nodded, taking her musician’s hand. Wilbur’s grin lost some of its manic edge and settled into something deeper, something warm. That, Sally decided, was the kind of smile she’d fight for.
///*///
The pair had spent an hour touring the base and surrounding cave system when a trilling call rippled through the water. Wilbur sighed, though his lips twisted into a wry smile. “That would be dadza,” he said, glancing toward one of the openings in the flooded cave’s roof; which on the surface would appear to be a pool. He turned back to her, wry smile shifting into something warmer. “Care to meet him?” he asked, holding out his hand. Sally froze, thoughts racing. Philza Minecraft who was widely regarded as the King of Hardcore, the elytrian who tended to get broody, the freaking Angel of Death himself… and Wilbur’s dad. Who was, apparently, looking for one or both of them. She took a deep breath, reminding herself of all the goofy stories Theseus had told her about the day previous and the little anecdotes Wilbur had let slip before apparently realizing what he was doing and changing the topic. Mythic figure reduced somewhat in her mind’s eye, Sally finally managed to smile and nod, taking Wilbur’s hand.
“Sure, let’s go meet the man who can recreate ocean monuments one hour and go crashing into carrot patches the next,” she said. Wilbur laughed, the warm light of the Glow Stone catching his eyes and turning them a deep brown, like molten chocolate.
“That’s the spirit!” he told her, guiding her up toward one of the openings. He breached first, greeting his father, before tugging her up after him. “Here,” he said, passing her a bottle. Taking it, she noticed it was oddly cool to the touch. While she was examining it curiously, Wilbur continued. “As expected of dadza and Theseus, they brewed a potion that should help you breathe out of water.” Deciding that the family had no reason to harm her, Sally drank the potion and instantly felt her lungs fill with oxygen. Smiling, she turned to the elytrian waiting on the grassy shore. To her mild surprise, he looked much like his oldest son. His coloring was a little different, with darker hair and lighter eyes, not to mention the giant black wings, but it was clear to Sally which parent Theseus took after. Tommy too, for that matter. Wilbur and Techno likely took more after their mother.
“Good morning, River Daughter,” the elytrian chirped, smiling warmly at her. Sally bobbed her head in return, feeling her lips turn into a smile unconsciously.
“Hi, Philza,” she said. Philza’s wings rustled and he looked pleased.
“How do you like the base?” he asked, placing a rather comfy looking ottoman bench by the water’s edge to sit on. “Anything you’d like to change?”
“Oh no, it’s lovely as it is, thank you!” Sally swiftly denied, waving her hands. “It’s the nicest place I’ve ever stayed! And the mobility features you’ve added to allow me to spend time with air breathers more comfortably are fantastic. Truly, to ask for more would be unspeakably rude.” Wilbur laughed, shaking his head and sending glittering drops of river water flying from his sodden hair.
“Sally, Sally, Sally… dadza lives for the build, love. Ask him for a house and he’ll build you a mansion,” he told her, finally turning to grin at her. “He’ll never be offended if you ask him to build or renovate something for you, promise.”
“Of course not! Besides, you are the one living here so you should have the final say,” Philza said, bobbing his head much like a bird. “So don’t hesitate to ask, okay?” Sally nodded shyly, sinking a little lower in her pool. Such an open fount of care and support was foreign to her, and she was very carefully not thinking about how Wilbur had just so casually called her ‘love,’ his voice curling around the word like it was a precious treasure while he looked at her like she was the only being in his world. She was also carefully not thinking about how Philza, the angel of Death, had greeted her as River Child! With his eyes slightly dilated, indicating his instincts were lightly influencing his actions.
“Oi, ease up on her, will you?” Theseus called out, striding purposefully across the mossy floor of the cave, smears of mud and dirt on his knees, hands, and even his face. “Sally, feel free to kick them in the soft bits if they start making you uncomfortable. They could use the reality check.” His calm candor shocked a laugh out of Sally; a rough, sputtering sort of sound that had her rocking back in the water and nearly put her under. When she regained her equilibrium, Theuses’ smug smirk told her he’d achieved his goal. “Wil! Got your vegetable patch sorted, it’s round the left side of your base. Threw in a flower patch, mini apiary, and a chicken coop for free. You’re welcome,” he said, turning his attention to his brother. Wilbur squawked and clambered out of the pool with all the grace of a three day old kitten, protesting that he hadn’t asked for any of that.
“Hey nerd, I got all your tools moved. Threw in some free shelves too. You’re welcome,” Techno said, striding out of the base’s front door. Wilbur turned on his twin, gaping like he’d been betrayed.
“You what?” he stammered.
“WILBY! Samatha and Terabethia are all settled! I also brought over Sir Billingham and Lady Porterhouse!” Tommy sang out, sprinting over from a barn Sally hadn’t even realised was there.
“Why do you keep acting like I live here?!” Wilbur exclaimed, then frozen, eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Wait. Where’s Tubbo?!” he asked.
“Hello~!” Tubbo said, popping out a window. “I was just getting your kitchen set up! Your cold box is stocked and I made sure the whole place was 100% sand free. You’re welcome.” Wilbur’s eye twitched and Sally had to hold back her laughter. Philza caught her eye and smirked, causing her to duck her head almost to the water level.
“I hate you all,” Wilbur droned, crossing his arms. Theseus scoffed and threw an arm around his shoulders.
“No, you don’t,” he said confidently. “Well! That was all I needed to do here. BOYS! TIME TO HEAD HOME! DON’T WANT FLOOF THINKING WE ABANDONDED HIM!”
“SIR YES SIR!” Tommy, Tubbo, and Techno shouted, saluting their oldest brother and marching toward a rather solid looking wall. Theseus stepped up, pressed his hand to a rock, and a door slid open.
“Don’t forget to visit you two!” Theseus called back, winking at Sally and Wilbur, before disappearing into the hidden tunnel. As the door slid shut after him, Sally turned to Wilbur who was staring pointedly at his father.
“What was that about?” the musician asked flatly. Philza chuckled and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“I built this for Sally, yes, but it’s also yours, son. You can choose not to live here but… it’ll always be yours. Just like Sally could choose to live elsewhere but it’d still be hers,” he said. “You’re a bit young yet, but just like Theseus, I can see the bond between the two of you. Not to mention, you need your own safe space. Tommy and Tubbo have taken over the other Lush Cave, Techno and Theseus built him a space in the Nether years ago, I have the skies, Theseus has the shadows… it was more than time for you to have your own.”
“And… you’re okay with your son living with a girl? Alone and unsupervised?” Sally asked.
“Who said anything about unsupervised?” Philza asked, blinking. “Kristin and Theseus command the shadows, I have my Chat, Theseus has… whatever those really are,” he waved toward what appeared to be a raccoon napping under an unreasonably large mushroom, “and I swear Tommy talks to squirrels while Tubbo has some strange, supernatural connection to bees. If something happens, the whole family is going to know.”
“Dad!” Wilbur screeched, the picture of a mortified and betrayed child. “Oh my Prime, this is worse than when I found out you’d been lojacking me since I could crawl!” he declared dramatically.
“It’s not my fault your brothers have supernatural skills!” Philza protested.
“It quite literally is though!” WIlbur screamed back, waving his arms. “You’re the one who married Death! Of course your kids have supernatural powers!”
“They’re all adopted!” Philza countered. “And I’m not even the one who did the adopting!” Sally blinked.
“They’re… all… adopted?” she asked quietly. “Even Theseus and Tommy?” The squabbling pair turned to her, blinking.
“You didn’t know?” Philza asked.
“I thought Theseus mentioned it?” Wilbur added. Sally shook her head.
“Oh, yeah, he… might have said something like that. Sorry, it’s all… been a lot,” she said. “Seriously though, none of you are related by birth?”
“Oh, no, I’m the only biological child of Mumza and Dadza,” Wilbur told her. “Mumza adopted Theseus first with Techno not long behind him. Then she directed dadza toward Tommy by telling him, ‘Ay! Go pick up our youngest!’ Tubbo just showed up one day and Mumza was like, ‘alright, guess we got another one.’ Honestly, I’m a little surprised she hasn’t popped up to claim you too.”
“Be a little weird if you married your own sister, Songbird,” an amused voice said from the secret tunnel to the outside. A moment later, a woman in a reality defying gown and a black sunhat with a veil like the night sky stepped forward.
“Mumza~!” Wilbur whined, pouting at her. She laughed and strode forward to wrap him in a warm hug.
“Oh, don’t pout my dear. You’ve picked a lovely girl; I’m sure Sally’s going to fit right in.”
“I’m… not so sure, ma’am,” Sally cut in. The woman, Mumza, just laughed.
“Sweetheart, you just talked back to Death Herself. Trust me, you fit in just fine,” she said, her hidden grin audible. “Now, I do have a few requirements before you and my son marry…”
“Who said we’re getting married?!” Wilbur demanded, face a red so bright Sally was a little impressed he wasn’t glowing. “I’m only sixteen!”
“Oh… well… Theseus might have… dropped a few hints…” Lady Death murmured, turning away slightly, almost as though she were… embarrassed? Wilbur huffed, planting his hands on his hips.
“Oh, so because Theseus said…” he trailed off, expression twisting like he’d taken a sip of sprite when he expected water. Philza chuckled at him and the young man shot him a mild glare through his wet fringe. “Yeah, I heard it as soon as I said it,” he admitted.
“I’m… a little lost,” Sally admitted. “What does it matter what Theseus says?” Wilbur sighed, raking a hand through his sodden hair and taking a seat beside his father.
“That’s… a bit of a story,” he told her. “Dadza, how many of those potions did you bring?”
“Three, and they each last an hour,” Philza answered, pulling out a massive wrought iron throne for his wife. By this point, Sally had realized this was normal for her musician’s family and had decided to just… stop questioning their actions, for the most part. Lady Death passed the throne her husband had placed for her and drew Sally up out of the water, wrapping her in a supportive hug.
“Hello Sweetheart, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Kristin, but you may call me Mumza if you wish,” the woman said, a kind smile just visible through her veil. Sally nodded numbly and Kristin chuckled faintly, stepping back to pull another wrought iron chair out of the air and place it facing the ottoman and throne. “Here, have a seat my dear. I promise it’s more comfortable than it looks,” she said, finally sitting on her throne. Sally nodded once again and sat down.
“So to fully answer your question, you’re going to need a different kind of backstory than Theseus gave yesterday,” Wilbur began. “Now, you know he and Techno were adopted by Mumza, but Theseus and Techno adopted each other first. I wasn’t there so I don’t know who adopted whom first out of the two of them but… they did. Most of my information comes from Techno for the Early Days so I might be a bit biased but good luck getting Theseus to give you a full run down.”
“He doesn’t truly like talking about himself, does he?” Sally noted. Wilbur gave her a sad smile.
“Before he found Tech, there weren’t many people in his life who cared to listen,” he said, his parents nodding along mournfully. “Roughly five and a half years ago, Techno had lost his birth mother in the Nether and, having been cast out of his birth Sounder, was aimlessly wandering the netherack cliffs in search of a new Sounder when he spotted an Overworlder - meaning anyone non-native to the Nether - passed out on the path. Curious, he went over and poked at the unconscious Overworlder with his hoof; essentially kicking the person. Hearing them groan, Tech crouched down and shook them; ‘cause being unconscious on hot stone is bad for anyone’s health and he wasn’t about to just watch someone die. Turned out, the Adventurer wasn’t too happy about being shaken awake but, despite being grumpy, he wasn’t mean about it. Hearing how tired and alone he sounded, Techno decided to follow the stranger and the man kept responding to him and even made sure Techno didn’t fall when jumping over the lava. He waited for Techno, walking slow enough for the smaller boy to easily keep up. No-one had acted like that toward him before, always huffing at him to keep up and pull his weight. And then, when he asked for a spar in return for helping the man, he didn’t say no, just told him what, or rather who, he was looking for and then led him to a clearing. Even if he was brisk and said he’d go his own way after the spar, the man seemed concerned when he asked if Techno had somewhere to return to. Techno told me it was the first time someone had ever reached out to help him without expecting something in return or curling their lip in disgust.” Sally felt her heart clench at the thought. Five and a half years ago… Techno would have been roughly ten at that point. Ten years old and some stranger was the only one to show him common decency.
“Life is hard for Netherborn hybrids,” Kristin said mournfully. “So many enter my Realm young.”
“Yeah… Techno really doesn’t like talking about his early childhood,” Wilbur agreed with a wince. “Anyway… they got to a clearing and Techno drew his old golden sword and the man pulled out a diamond sword that had seen far better days and took Techno to school. Suddenly, he wasn’t some sad, tired weirdo but a focused warrior. During the short bout, the Adventurer kept giving Techno little tips with a wild grin and when he won, he offered Techno a new deal: keep him company while looking for Philza and the Adventurer would make sure Techno had a safe place to stay. He also promised to spar with him regularly. Stunned that someone wanted him to tag along, Techno eagerly agreed, the promise of real training just a happy little bonus. That was when the strange man gave Techno his name.”
“Theseus,” Sally said, realizing that the bond between the hybrid and his older brother was far deeper than she’d originally thought. Wilbur nodded.
“They adopted each other, more or less simultaneously,” he said. “And, in a very real sense, they saved each other during their time in the Nether. Without someone to rely on, there’s every chance Techno would have either died alone or been captured and sold to an underground hybrid fight club. And without someone who relied on him, Theseus might have just… faded away.”
“Okay, so that explains why Techno would hang onto every word Theseus said like gospel but… why do you?” Sally pressed. Wilbur smirked, pulling one of his long legs up under him and leaning forward, resting an elbow on his raised knee.
“When I met Theseus, he was escorting dadza back after he crashed into Techno’s carrot patch,” he began. “I was a bit of a lonely kid, so I was torn between being excited and terrified at meeting a new person, but Theseus just smiled and called dad an idiot. He pushed for me and Techno to spend time together while he had a chat with dad.” He frowned, leaning forward with a distant expression. “I didn’t think much of it at the time, but Tech asked Theo if he was going to give dadza a message for his family. Theo said something like, ‘couldn’t hurt to ask, and even if he can’t pass a message, he owes me for patching him up. He bled on our couch and triggered my PTSD; that’s gotta be worth something.’ It was… really concerning.” Wilbur laughed, though it didn’t sound like he was truly amused. “That was when I found out Techno was just as bad as Theo, dropping concerning comments and walking off like he did absolutely nothing.” He shook his head, genuine humor returning to his expression. “Then me and Techno accidentally exploded some flour and set the kitchen on fire. Dad was perplexed but Theo just laughed and put out the fire, saying it was his job as Big Brother to help us… even though we needed to clean up our own mess. I’d only just met him and yet… it felt like he’d always been a part of our family, just like Techno felt like he’d always been my twin. And, turned out, Theo knew we’d bond, even if he didn’t think we’d snap immediately into being twins.”
“Wait… he knew… before even meeting you?” Sally asked. “How does that work?” Wilbur shrugged, a wry yet strangely knowing smirk tugging at his lips.
“That’s Theseus for you~!” he sang, straightening his back and sweeping his arms out to his sides. “A man who knows his limits but is blind to the true scope of his talents, one who knows what he by all rights should not yet is unaware of what is considered common knowledge. He is a walking contradiction wrapped in an enigma who cannot tell a straight lie. A warrior who hides his pain behind a smile while simultaneously wearing his heart on his sleeve.”
“I think ‘contradiction wrapped in an enigma’ summed it up, Wil,” Theseus drawled. Sally whirled around, surprised that she hadn’t heard him returning. He smiled gently at her. “Wilbur’s quite the distraction, and I’m used to moving silently. Don’t worry about it too much, Queen,” he said. “The Chatcoons were a bit light on details… what started this?”
“Why did you tell mumza and dadza that Sally and I were getting married?” Wilbur asked. Theseus shrugged, though something in his face told Sally he wasn’t as nonchalant as he wanted them to think.
“I never said married just… close companions,” he said carefully, the words almost sounding like they’d pained him on some level. “She makes you happy, Wil.” Wilbur was frozen, staring at his big brother, before his eyes narrowed.
“Big brother, didn’t you mention a woman in the village near Icarus’ cottage catching William’s eye? And that he’d leave for hours every day to play for her?” Theseus shrugged.
“You aren’t William,” he said confidently. Wilbur’s eyes narrowed in even greater suspicion.
“And wasn’t that woman named Sally?” he pressed. Theseus met his suspicion with even confidence.
“Sally’s a common name,” he said. “Bet cha there’s ten on this server alone.”
“I know better than to bet against you, big brother,” Wilbur huffed, crossing his arms and rocking back. “Why are you pushing for this?”
“I had a nephew,” Theseus admitted, causing Wilbur’s jaw to drop. “William didn’t bring him home, so I didn’t get to meet him until we founded Primeland. He was one of the original members, you know? Pretty sure some serious timey-whimey stuff happened with him cause I swear the fox was older than me.”
“Fox?” Wilbur echoed faintly, plainly confused. “But… if Sally…”
“Like I said, shenanigans were at play there,” Theseus said with a shrug. WIlbur shook himself, refocusing on his brother.
“Still doesn’t explain why you’re pushing this,” he said. Theseus sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly.
“I didn’t mean to push, Wilbur. I just… still have trouble understanding where the line between pushing and supporting is,” he admitted. “So… what is it that you want, Wilbur?” Sally watched as her musician’s face went through a complex series of emotions before settling on…. Peace?
“I’ll use the upper part of this cottage as a workspace, somewhere to store unfinished pieces and find some peace, but I’m going to continue living with the rest of the family,” he declared, then turned to Sally. “As long as you don’t mind having me as an infrequent housemate, that is.”
“I’d be delighted, Wilbur,” she told him, smiling. “And I hope you and your family won’t mind if I come visit your part of the river from time to time.”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t,” Theseus said with a warm smile, softly glowing eyes projecting nothing but genuine pleasure.
“Well then… I’m home,” Sally said, a giddy sort of exhilaration filled her at the admittance. Wilbur, his brother, and their parents beamed at her.
“Welcome home, Sally.”
///*///
The cabin in the snow was simple, utilitarian, and yet starkly… beautiful. Frankly, it was far too unassuming for what it was, what it had seen, who it housed. “Hullo,” a deep, mellow voice called out, almost resonating over the crystalline fields of snow. Little hands gripped his pants tight, but the weary man kept moving. He’d come this far, like the End was he turning back now.
“Dad? Who’s that?” Yogurt asked, struggling to keep up in the ever deepening snow. Fundy bent down and scooped his son into his arms, trudging on.
“Technoblade,” he said, just loud enough to carry to the hulking form by the cabin stairs.
“I didn’t think you’d actually come,” the warrior answered, an unfamiliar note of wonder in his even tone. Fundy shrugged, carefully maintaining his indifferent mask.
“You underestimate my curiosity,” he said. Technoblade huffed, tromping up the stairs ahead of the fox hybrid.
“One of your father’s better qualities,” he said, taking off his cloak and hanging it by the door as he entered his home. “Take off your wet things, I’ll hang them by the fire to dry.” Fundy huffed, but followed his host’s instructions. It was quite nice to be dry, and the piglin hybrid did manage to keep his home rather warm. “Do… you like tea? I think I might have some coco if you’d prefer that.” Yogurt lit up, turning big pleading eyes on his father. Fundy sighed, unable to deny his son such a simple comfort.
“I’m fine, but Yogurt would like some coco,” he answered. A faint scoff came from the kitchen and a far more human face peeked around the corner, cheery blossom pink eyebrow raised in pointed doubt.
“Fundy, don’t pull that nonsense with me. Tea, or coco?” Technoblade drawled, long strands of soft pink hair falling into view the longer he remained bent around the corner. Fundy sighed at the warrior’s antics, amused and oddly warmed despite himself.
“Tea, please. I prefer black blends. Three sugars and a splash of cream, when I can get it,” he answered. Technoblade bared his teeth in what he probably thought was a victorious smile but really looked more like a challenging snarl, and popped back into the kitchen. Five minutes later, Fundy had full feeling back in his face and Technoblade came out with a tray of mugs and cookies. “You bake?” Technoblade shrugged, human face pinking slightly as a self-consious smile tugged at his lips.
“Occasionally,” he said, picking up the orange mug and holding it out to Fundy. “The Voices find it funny when I do.” Fundy hummed, accepting the explanation and mug at the same time. Turning to Yogurt, Technoblade lifted the slightly smaller cream mug. “Now be careful, it’s hot,” he warned, slowly holding it out to the small boy. Yogurt grinned, accepting the drink with a cheerful ‘thank you’ and settling crosslegged on the floor, blowing over the surface and giggling at the patterns his breath made on the floating cream. Fundy felt himself relaxing at the care Technoblade showed his son, easing into the warmth of his… of the cabin. “So… what did you want to know?” Technobalde asked, sitting back with his own pink mug, clothes loose yet somehow elegant on his slighter human frame and face far more openly expressive than Fundy had ever seen. Catching the anxious uncertainty in familiar blood red eyes, Fundy allowed himself to relax as he took a sip of his tea. Blinking in surprise, he looked down at the brew, noting how it was a beautiful caramel color.
“When did you learn how to brew tea?” he asked. Technoblade chuckled, sipping at his own.
“Not long after Philza decided we were friends and he wasn’t going to let a teenager travel alone,” he said. “Man has opinions about tea. From the way he talks, you’d think tea could fix everything from battle shock to the flu. Including a broken heart.” Yogurt laughed and Fundy smiled.
“That does sound like him,” he said, taking another sip. “Did WIlbur like tea too?”
“Ya know… I never knew,” Technoblade admitted, a tone of regret lacing his tone and dragging at his shoulders. “Towards the end, I think he was more of a coffee guy.” Fundy hummed, thinking back on L’Manburg and Pogtopia. “Tommy though. Tommy liked tea.”
“Did he?”
“Yeah, he always said it felt like coming home.”