Wilbur smiled warmly, his voice sounding smooth, "Hey, y/n."

This wasn't the Wilbur I had known before he died and this wasn't Ghostbur.

Standing in front of me, was Wilbur, the general and leader of L'manberg. The man who had started his symphony, only to have it snatched away from him and left unfinished.

His brown eyes were clear, and no deep purple circles hung under them. His L'manberg uniform flapped slightly in the summer breeze, along with his wavy hair under the black hat.

In fact, he looked as healthy as he did before all the wars.

I gaped at him, my mind racing. I walked up to him, hesitantly putting my hand on his arm. It didn't fall through like it would with Ghostbur.

He was real.

His amused laugh pulled me out of my confused thoughts. I had to look up to see his entertained smile. "I'm real, I promise."

I struggled for words. I hadn't seen Wilbur like this for ages. Before his death, he had been insane and distraught with pain, and now his ghost wasn't truly him.

After a moment of stunned silence, I managed to get out one word, in an exasperated sigh, "How?" Before he could respond, I panicked and also said, "Wait, am I dead?"

This time his laugh was louder and fuller. "No, y/n, don't worry you aren't dead. I just brought you here to speak with you."

Relief washed over me, calming my rising heart rate. I hadn't noticed the presence of my magic come with me to wherever we were, but now it eased.

Wilbur nudged my arm, gently, beginning to walk towards the horizon. I followed after him, glancing around at our surroundings.

He brought me to a cliffside that I hadn't seen and sat down with his legs hanging over the edge. Below, the canopy of the dark oak forest spread out, reaching past where I could see.

I plopped down next to him, my hand brushing the hem of his jacket. It was so strange to feel his presence next to me.

Wilbur and I had never been best friends but before the war, he had been my friend. I cared for him, he was my best friends' brother and their leader.

"So ... how am I talking to you?" I asked, cautiously.

"To be honest, I don't know exactly how you are, but because I'm dead, I can call you to this place." He spread his arm out at the world around us. "But, I can only call you for some reason."

I thought for a moment, and then I remembered something. "I think it's because I'm a goddess."

I had expected shock from him, instead, he just smiled at me. "Well, that's bloody cool." Pride washed over me as he continued, "I'm not surprised really, it makes sense."

Bird calls filled the comfortable silence that settled between us, the birds somewhere in the distance. Any anxiety or panic that I had felt back in the real world was gone, replaced with peacefulness.

"I've seen how shitty Dream's been." Wilbur's voice was more serious than it was before, drawing my attention. "I know, in a way, I added to that, so I apologize."

I placed my hand on his arm, in a way of forgiveness. "Wil, it's not your fault. Dream did this to himself, and I can handle myself." I gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll be alright."

"I know you will, you've always been strong." He glanced out at the treetops, his voice filled with fear. "I'm more worried about Tommy. I've been watching him from up here, and he's not doing so well."

I nodded, the image of Tommy's disheveled form appearing in my mind. "I've been trying to figure out a way to get him out. Dream's been blocking me from going to Logstedshire."

He was quiet, making me look at him. A calculating look was on his face, his eyes unfocused in thought. I had seen this expression many times before the war.

"Whatever you do, you need to do it soon. I brought you here to tell you that Tommy is running out of time, he's losing a battle to his mind." Wilbur sounded so sad as he spoke about his brother.

"I'll find him as soon as I can." I shifted to stand up, but Wilbur put his hand on my shoulder. "Shouldn't I go now?"

"No, stay." I settled again, hanging my feet over the cliffside. "Your body is asleep right now, so you aren't wasting any time."

A question trickled into my mind and kept pestering me, pushing me to ask it. I kept my eyes off Wilbur's as I asked, "Um, Wil, can I ask a question?" He nodded. "How are you here, so put together, and how is Ghostbur out there at the same time?"

"Right now, you're currently talking to the version of myself from the first war. I don't hold much control over the two other versions of myself."

"Who are the other two?"

"Ghostbur, and the me from the Manberg revolution." His face darkened with the last words. "This version of me died a long time ago and was replaced by insanity. In the afterlife, I'm a mix of both versions. Ghostbur is mainly the happy parts of my life."

Sadness pierced the air between us. I know this version of Wilbur was missed by most people and he probably missed his brothers. But I knew he was at rest, and happy with the afterlife.

I let the topic of the conversation slip away, both of us content with not continuing.

Instead, I smiled, a thought popping into my head. I nudged his shoulder, saying, "Tell me about your childhood."

He was taken aback at the question. "What?"

"Since we have some time to kill before I go back, I want to hear what teenager Wilbur and Techno were doing with baby Tommy and Tubbo."

This got the most genuine smile out of him.

He began by telling me about the tricks he and Techno would play on Phil when they were younger, and how Tommy was always getting into trouble as a toddler. Tubbo never left his best friend's side, going along with the trouble.

I laughed when he told me about how chaotic their small house would get in the winter when they were all cooped up. The picture Wilbur painted of his mismatched family made me think back to how the Dream Team had felt like family.

"I had never met a more inseparable pair, Tommy and Tubbo. They clung to each other as they got older." His smile faltered. "They especially took comfort in one another when Phil left."

I didn't want to prod at Wilbur's wound, which was still fresh like it happened yesterday, so I let him stay quiet. He was replaying memories in his mind, lost in his past.

After a moment, he continued, "Unlike those two, Phil leaving drove Techno and me apart. I had always been the one to babysit the younger ones while Techno and Phil went on adventures." He paused. "Techno had always been the favorite."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened after Phil left for the Arctic Empire?" I asked, gently.

"I stepped in as the fatherly figure for Tommy and Tubbo, and Techno left after a few weeks." His voice got quieter, "It's not his fault for leaving. It was for the best."

When he saw the questioning look in my gaze, he answered, "Phil had always helped him settle the voices, because he had them too. But when he left, the voices got out of control and Techno didn't want to hurt our brothers."

I nodded, looking away. I knew how it felt to want to push your loved ones away when there was a chance of putting them in danger.

I had wanted the same thing when the darkness was in control.

"So Tommy and Tubbo grew up with me as their caretaker. It was bloody hard raising those two, to be honest." I could sense the vulnerability in his voice. "But, in the end, it was worth it. I'm so proud of how they turned out."

He hesitated, then backtracked. "I mean, I know both of them are in hard places right now, but underneath all that. They've gone through so much, and I put Tommy through shit when we were exiled."

I knew that Tommy had been hurting as we watched his brother descend, even if he didn't show it. He didn't even really get to grieve Wilbur before he was thrown into exile.

"I had built L'manberg for them, and Fundy. I wanted to keep them safe," For just a moment, I swore I saw tears in his eyes. "Instead, it just made matters worse."

Both of us were quiet then, guilt filling the silence. He felt guilty for the destruction he caused and I for being on the side of knocking down the nation.

And for the first time, I saw L'manberg as more than a government.

It was a home and a safe place for many, where men really could go to escape the tyranny Dream had created.

I would never, ever stand by their government or any governing body, but maybe I could help Tommy and Tubbo get their home back and go back to how old L'manberg used to be when there wasn't a government.

Wilbur sniffled quietly, drawing me back to the real world. He turned to me, a raw expression on his face. "Please y/n, get Tommy home. I know I have no right asking that of you, not after how I treated you, but for the sake of Tubbo and my brother."

I looked at the man in front of me, his palms facing me in the question of forgiveness and a plea.

He was asking me to save his two brothers, so maybe they could live on and finish his symphony.

"I'll save them, Wil. That's a promise." I stood, Wilbur doing the same. I gave him a small smile. "And when I find Techno, do you have anything that you want to say to him?"

He hesitated, his voice high as he spoke, "I don't think Tech-"

"He misses you, the real you."

After a second, he smiled and leaned in, cupping his hand around my ear. A smile grew on my face with the words he wanted me to pass on.

He leaned back, and I nodded, reassuringly. "I'll pass the message on."

A warmth seeped in beside us, sunlight blooming like a lotus across the tall grass. The flowers turned almost golden in the radiant light.

Neomi stepped out of the light, a friendly smile spread across her rosy cheeks. She looked between the two of us. "Some part of me knew that I would find you two together."

"Well, Neomi, I apologize for taking your time with y/n, but I had to speak to her." Wilbur winked at the goddess like she was an old friend. "I heard that she is amongst your kind now?"

I raised my hand, pausing them. "Hold on, you two know each other?"

"Once Wilbur came to the afterlife, I was finally able to meet him. As gods and goddesses, we can reach the dead." Neomi said, followed by a small laugh. "We've played more solitaire games than I could count."

I crossed my arms, smiling at the two. "Well, I'm glad you two made friends. But I would like to know why I'm a goddess now?"

The light mood dipped slightly, Noemi's smile faltering.

"After you snapped your bond with Dream, it freed you. He was blocking our communication with you, involuntarily, because he's abusing his powers." Her voice was grave as she spoke. "We're beginning to regret making him a god."

"But I didn't break our bond on purpose. I don't even know how to do that."

"Your magic recognized the pain he was putting you through, and began thinning the thread. When the second reason he was going to put you in the prison arose, it was the final straw. Your magic did it for you."

My magic, the thing I had spent my whole life with, protected me by breaking the thread that connected Dream and me. I shouldn't be surprised, I did tell Sapnap that magic was like a friend.

It saved me.

Neomi spread her arms, gesturing upward. "Welcome, Goddess of Power and Magic."

I smiled. "Thank you. I guess Techno had predicted this."

Wilbur turned to me, confused. "What?"

"Bia. That's the nickname he gave me. She was the Goddess of Power in mythology."

This made my friend smile. "He had always liked Greek mythology, hasn't he?"

A frown turned my lips down with worry, my voice losing its lightness. "Did you throw Dream off my trail?" I turned back to Neomi.

Neomi nodded, her face becoming serious. "He has no idea where you are. When you wake up, save your friend, he needs you more than anything."

I had failed Tommy before when I tried to cross the ocean, the storm stopping me. Now, I wouldn't fail again and I would make my way out of the storm that was made up of threads and smiley faces.

"Sleep, my dear. Save our world, one more time." Neomi's voice made my eyes feel heavy, lulling me to sleep.

Wilbur stood by her side, the same warm smile he greeted me with was plastered on his face. "Thank you, y/n."

Before I could respond, my eyes fell shut, and the peaceful world in between life and death disappeared.

-

The ravine was still cold, but the navy jacket kept me warmer than it had before. I understood the memories stitched into it now.

When I had fallen asleep, the world felt wobbly and I questioned what my next step would be.

Now, I sat up from my cot, a goal already guiding my feet towards the stairs up to the summer heat. I clutched the jacket in my hand, scared to lose it.

An ender chest had been left behind, tucked into the corner of the small room above ground. I opened it, shoving the jacket in with a burst of purple particles.

My relaxed muscles tensed as there was a loud sound and the chests barricading the door began to move.

Someone was trying to push through the door on the other side.

I shoved the chests to the side and quickly pressed myself into the corner behind the door. With my magic, I pulled the shadows across myself, my dark clothing blending.

The door burst open, and Quackity fell through with his red-stained apron hanging from his neck. His breathing was heavy from the effort as he turned around, waving people in.

"Well, if he's in here, then he was trying to keep us out." Quackity said, Tubbo, Fundy, and Ranboo pushing into the cramped space. Ranboo had to almost crouch to fit in here.

"Big Q, I don't think Techno was dumb enough to hide in here. He knows we would look in here." Tubbo said. He and Fundy were also wearing aprons, Tubbo's being a little too big.

"We had to start somewhere." Fundy said, glancing around at the room.

Ranboo, who had stayed quiet, looked around as if he were searching for something. While the others talked, his eyes found my own in the shadows.

That's right, he could sense my magic.

Thankfully he didn't say anything, letting me make my own entrance. I released my hold on the shadows, letting light fill the room once more.

The three who hadn't noticed me jumped. Quackity stepped towards me, a suspicious look on his face. "When the hell did you get here?"

I smirked at his surprise, thankful for my element of surprise. My shrug seemed to agitate him, but I said, "Dunno. What are you all doing?"

Tubbo, innocence shining through, smiled. "We're searching for Technoblade!"

I fought hard to hide my frown, but I didn't smile.

I was about to respond, my mouth opening when Quackity crossed his arms and cut in.

"Y/n, I need you to come with me. You are suspected of hiding Technoblade, and you are required to comply with the Butcher Army."

~~~~

Uh ohhh

so I was wondering if you all would want me to post the next part tmrw, and then the following part on Sunday? I'm extremely excited for these chapters and actually have them done! But if that is too many parts in too short of a time, lmk in the comments!

also, I wanted to thank you all for the love and support for this book and for Whispers. Each one of you makes my day better 🥺

as usual, have an amazing day and stay hydrated!