George let out a sigh as he sat, leaned against the wall, listening to the trickle of water that echoed throughout the room.

Yesterday, or at least what he assumed to have been yesterday (his perception of time was not great in the room), he'd met the prince.

Tubbo, his name was.

The boy had sat with him, not caring about the water drenching his clothes, and had talked with the merman. Tubbo had told him his plans of going to find Dream, and George had protested, not wanting him to get in trouble, but the teenager had been adamant on the fact that he was going to help.

So George had given him a message to give to Dream. He just hoped the man would listen.

George scratched the back of his neck, chains rattling against the cold wall. Knowing Dream, it would be all the more incentive to come and get him.

Don't get him wrong, George did not want to be here. He wanted more than anything else to be on the ship, with Dream and the rest of the crew, but he needed Dream to be safe.

He wouldn't be able to live with himself if someone got hurt because of him.

George shook slightly, but it was not from the cold. Rather, it was from the fear of what was to come. Would he stay in here forever, just a pawn in Schlatt's game? He had no idea. And not knowing scared him.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the form of a man he did not know stood there.

He wore a red coat and lots of gold jewellery, and his pink hair was long, plaited into a braid that swung to his back.

George raised an eyebrow, shuffling back a little bit, and the man rolled his eyes.

He crossed through the room and flicked a key out from his belt. George eyed the sword in a case strapped to the side of the man's belt as the man leaned forward. He grabbed George's cuff's and unlocked them, chains falling to the floor with a splash.

George brought his hands together and rubbed his wrists, wincing at the red marks and small cuts from the tightness of them.

The man leaned down and picked him up, and George let out a squeak of surprise as he was lifted into the air, droplets of water falling off him.

The man started to move towards the door, and George hit his chest.

"What the fuck, dude!" he growled out, and he saw the man huff.

"Schlatt wants you to transform." the man says, voice unwavering.

"What? Why? Who even are you?" George said as they turned down a hallway.

" My name is Technoblade." the pink-haired man answered, choosing to ignore the other two questions.

George narrowed his eyes. What is with humans and these weird fucking names?

"That's a dumb name." George grumbled, and Technoblade glanced down at him.

"Heh?"

"Your name. It's weird."

The man shrugged, George still in his arms.

He moved towards a room, a dry room, at that, and dumped George on a bed. The merman yelped in surprise, bouncing slightly, before whipping his head up to glare at Technoblade.

The man shrugged, leaning against the now shut door.

"Why do I have to transform?" George grumbled, uncertainty leaking into his words.

What could Schlatt possibly want this time?

"Tubbo's left. Schlatt thinks he's gone to find Dream, and rescue you," Technoblade started, a bored expression gracing his face, "you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" George's face fell.

Oh Tubbo, please be safe.

George did not respond to Technoblade. The pink-haired man stared at him for a moment, before sighing deeply and continuing.

"Tubbo knows where you were being kept. He's probably planned everything out. Schlatt wants to confuse them. So here I am, waiting for you to dry, so he can do that."

George frowned at that, feeling himself start to dry, knowing he'd be able to transform soon.

"You don't seem to give a shit about any of this, so why- why are you doing it?" George questioned, and Technoblade glared at him.

"What I do and why I do it is none of your business."

"Whatever. They'll come for me, Dream, Wilbur, Phil, Sapna-"

The man's head whipped up quickly, eyebrows raised, which was the most expression George had seen on his face so far.

"...What?" George asked after a moment, and Technoblade seemed to shake himself out of his daze.

"Did you say Wilbur and Phil?" he asked, an odd edge to his voice.

George narrowed his eyes, before nodding slowly.

"I did say that, yes."

Technoblade furrowed his brows, "do you happen to know a Tommy, too?"

Okay, now that was weird. What kind of telepathic shit did this man have?

"Um, yes. Tommy and Wilbur are brothers. Phil's their dad." Should he be giving this much information to the enemy? Was that a bad idea?

Technoblade let out a shaky breath and ran a hand through his hair.

"And they're...on your side?" he questioned, and George nodded.

"Yes. They're like my family." This was the first time he'd said it out loud, but he meant it. These people, they meant the world to him. At the start, he hadn't been so sure, but now- well, he knew they were.

Technoblade sighed, still leaning against the door.

"They're my family." the pink-haired man murmured.

What the fuck.

"I ran away when I was younger. Phil is my father, Tommy and Wilbur...they're my brothers." Technoblade admitted, before covering his mouth with his hand, obviously surprised that he'd said that.

George froze, so this was the missing family member. The one he'd been told about.

George hesitated, "...I was not expecting that." he muttered, and Technoblade shrugged, trying to push a nonchalant look onto his face, probably shaken from the break from his stoic look.

George gulped slightly, an awkward silence filling the room.

Technoblade sighed.

"I'll help you." George snapped his head up quickly.

"What?!"

"I'll help you," Techno repeated, "I don't like the government much anyway. Schlatt's kind of a prick."

George's eyes widened, before he nodded slightly, "okay."

- - - - - - - - - - -

Dream narrowed his eyes as he peered out from a bush, looking at the castle's entrance.

Tubbo crouched next to him, along with Tommy, Fundy, Sapnap, Sam, Wilbur, Phil, Ant, Ranboo and Niki.

Dream slipped his mask onto his face, sighing deeply.

Tubbo was right, there was no one guarding it.

This was a different entrance to the one he'd gone in before, so Dream was pretty unfamiliar with his surroundings.

He turned around, motioning the others to group together.

"Okay, Ant, Ranboo, Niki, you go through the main entrance," Dream said, "Fundy, Sam, Wilbur, you go through the one Tubbo mapped out. Tommy, Phil, Sapnap, Tubbo and I are going through this one. We can't all go in one entrance, so move around in your groups and meet up inside. Any questions?" Dream asked, and he received none.

"Okay, go." he instructed, and they all broke off into their groups, slipping through the forest to the other side of the castle.

Dream, Tubbo, Tommy, Sapnap and Phil crept into the castle, glancing around and making sure no one was there.

Tubbo took the lead, as he knew where George was being kept. They snuck down staircases, and if Dream had time, he would have stopped to marvel at the marble pillars, beautiful shelves, railings and chandeliers, but he had to focus on finding his man.

They moved through the stairs, Tubbo holding a flaming lamp as it illuminated the walls.

"Why are there no lights down here?" Tommy asked, and Sapnap nudged him to be quieter.

"No one comes down here," Tubbo whispered, "there's a different dungeon, one with better quality, which is usually where people are kept. I've never been to that one though; it's tough to get in."

Dream saw Tommy nod his head in understanding, continuing to move down to the basement.

Tubbo rushed forward through a corridor as they reached the bottom, moving towards a large metal door. He pulled out a key and pushed open the door, some water leaking out of the room.

The rest of them made their way forwards, peaking into the room.

It was terrifying. No natural light, chains hanging from the wall, and the floor covered in water. It was cold and horrible.

And they'd put George in it.

Dream almost growled in rage.

How fucking dare Schlatt! He'd kill that bitch.

His eyes raked across the room, and he turned to the side, looking at Tubbo's suddenly terrified face.

"Tubbo, where is he?" Dream asked, and Tubbo shook his head, stammering slightly.

"He was here! They- they've moved him!"

Phil swore silently to himself, and they moved from the room.

"Tubbo, where could he possibly be?" Tommy asked, concern evident on his face and Dream nodded, needing to know as well.

"I don't know! The castle is big, he could be anywhere!"

Dream ran a hand through his hair, stressed out. He rubbed his finger over his mask, trying to calm himself down with the movement.

"Okay, new plan," Dream said, making them all look at him, "we just need to look all over the castle. Find the others and tell them. It's a big job, but we can do it." He instructed, and the four others nodded.

Dream rushed up the stairs, the others following him, as the light from the lamp bounced along the walls.

He raced through a corridor, skidding around a corner, and saw two large doors. He pushed them open, sneaking in, and saw that they were in the main throne room.

The one where George had been taken from him.

He glanced around, moving into the room, and saw the door on the opposite side open.

The two other groups of his crew emerged, and Dream raced towards them, Sapnap and the others following closely behind.

He stopped in front of Fundy, who gave him a confused look.

"George isn't there, we need to split up and find him-" a loud laugh cut off Dream, and he whipped around, seeing Schlatt emerge from behind a throne.

Anger graced Dream's face, though no one could see it very well, due to his mask.

"Oh, that's so funny!" Schlatt cackled, now sitting on his throne, leg crossed over the other as he stared at his ring, twirling it around his finger.

He looked up, raking his eyes over the group, a lazy smile still gracing his face.

"You really thought I'd keep him there? When I'd seen Tubbo sneaking in and out? No, I know my son is a backstabbing traitor, I'm not an idiot." Schlatt spat out when he mentioned Tubbo, and Phil moved slightly to stand in front of the teenager who'd flinched at the tone in Schlatt's voice.

Schlatt chuckled slightly, "I've moved him elsewhere...if I have it my way, you'll never see him again," Schlatt purred, "and I always get my way."

Dream stormed forward, but Sapnap grabbed onto him, holding him back.

"Just wait, we need to think this through." Sapnap whispered to him, and Dream grunted in annoyance.

Schlatt smiled a sickeningly fake smile at them, "you need to leave my castle. Or I'll escort you out myself. I've got my best man protecting the merman, you'll never find him. Give up now." he commanded, and Dream rolled his eyes.

Protecting? Did he call keeping someone hostage protecting?

And was he really suggesting they just leave? As if he'd listen to this bitch.

"Actually, Schlatt, I think you have a bit of a flaw in your plan." a bold voice boomed throughout the room, and they whipped around to see a man, Technoblade- if Dream remembered correctly.

He stood in all his glory, pink braided hair, an emerald earring hanging from his ear and an annoyed look upon his face.

Dream blinked in confusion at the man. Wasn't he supposed to be on Schlatt's side?

Schlatt also seemed confused by this, as his demeanour changed to one of shock.

"Technoblade, what is the meaning of this?" he barks, and Technoblade shrugs.

"I never liked you. You were a bit of a pain in my ass. I didn't do anything about it," he says monotonously, "but then I found out the very guy you kidnapped is basically family with my family, and that won't fly with me." he spits out, glancing to the side and making eye contact with Phil, who looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Dream guessed it kind of was like that, as the others had assumed he'd died, or something along the lines.

Honestly, when he'd met Technoblade all those months ago, he wished he had known about this little family connection, as this would have been a lot easier.

Technoblade turns back to Schlatt, who looks enraged.

Dream watches the ordeal on edge, ready to fight at any moment.

"Technoblade, where is the merman?!" Schlatt growls out, and Techno takes a protective stance.

A head peeks out from behind the tall man, and Dream's eyes widen.

"George!" he calls, and the man smiles at him from across the room.

"Dream!" George yells back and runs out from Techno's cover to get to Dream.

His plans are ruined quickly, as Schlatt darts forward, grabbing George.

Despite George being strong, Schlatt was stronger, and he overpowered him easily.

Dream started to run forward, but Schlatt yelled at him: "If you take one more step, I'll kill him!" Dream falters, standing still as he glances back at the others.

His crew give him worried looks, Tommy, Phil and Wilbur's attention moving from the shock of seeing Technoblade to the safety of George.

Schlatt smirks at him as he sees Dream stop, George struggling in his grip.

Dream sees the terrified look on George's face and his heart breaks in two.

He had to get to him, but how?

Dream stepped forward slightly, "Why do you need him anyway? We gave you the tears! Surely you aren't sick anymore!" he barks, and Schlatt rolls his eyes.

"This sickness is rare, Dream. No matter how many tears I have, it only lasts for a while! Eventually, it comes back, I can't get rid of it," he spat, "so for years I have been using these tears, but my...stock...recently stopped working, which is why I called for your assistance."

Dream clenched his fist, confusion in his stance.

What did he mean, he'd been using merfolk tears for years? That didn't make any sense.

Everyone else seemed to be confused too, even Tubbo, who Dream would have assumed had known this.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" George spat from Schlatt's grip, and the man rolled his eyes again.

He used his hand to click his fingers, and the doors swung open, two very hesitant guards walking through them, a body in their arms.

They pushed the man down to the floor, and he stumbled a few steps as he fell, yelping in surprise.

They all looked at the man, his brown fluffy hair, and the exhausted look on his face.

He shook on the floor, looking up at Schlatt, who smirked.

Dream turned his gaze to George, who's eyes had widened almost comically. He shook, tears now in his dark brown eyes as he stared at the man in front of him.

Dream saw the newcomer make eye contact with the man and start crying as well.

"Karl!" George cried, "You're alive!"

Dream's eyes widened, oh shit.

x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x

Hello friends!!! This was quite a long chapter in comparison to my usual length. I hope you liked it!! If you're someone who likes shorter chapters more,,,, I'm sorry. If you're someone who likes longer chapters more, yay!! :D

I am aware I am evil for what I write. Many of you have brought this to my attention. Will I stop being evil when I write? No, probably not!! :0 :)

Thanks so much for all the support, I love you guys sm!!

Happy reading!!

-Bee

(17/2/21)

Co-posted on ao3