She and Stela have found themselves at Technoblade's cabin more often than regular these past few days, though Sara has never been here before. Stela has been spending a lot of time here mainly because of Ranboo, who, after getting permission from both Phil and Technoblade, moved in with them.

Sara's been visiting with Stela, because she didn't want to be alone. Sure, she was never truly alone. She had her friends and she could always visit Fundy or Niki. They are here for her, and she knows that, but neither of them could truly understand the absence of Nia. Not like Stela or Technoblade.

Sara and Stela are still holding out hope that Nia isn't dead. They're convinced they would've felt it just like they'd felt her presence when she first appeared in the Dream SMP. But it wasn't certain, and a part of Sara broke with every day that Nia didn't appear.

They keep Technoblade hopeful too. It scares Sara a bit, because she's worried that if Nia is truly dead, then that will only break the man more. But the idea of Nia being alive does keep him going. Even if he currently doesn't know where Nia is.

Right now, she listens to the muffled conversation between Techno and Phil. She doesn't fully comprehend what they're saying through the walls of the cabin, but she can sense the desperation in Phil's voice as he tries his hardest to convince Techno of something.

He's been trying to get Technoblade to deal with the pain of possibly losing Nia instead of pushing it away. But considering he has to deal with three people who do the same thing, it's hard for them to not be influenced by one another.

Though Stela has been coping better by simply putting most of her focus to Ranboo and helping him settle at a place more accepting than L'Manburg ever was.

Sara stares at her palm, playing with a small spark on her finger, letting it turn into a ball of flame in her palm. She examines it, thinking about the magic that flows through her system. The magic that Stela also has. The magic that Nia had and should've kept her safe. The magic that kept her alive, or at least that's what Sara would like to believe.

The Trix are a family. Even if they get separated often, they're still a family. They were supposed to be protecting a book that is currently in Dream's possession. And now Sara doesn't even know where he is.

She just wishes Nia was here. Nia always knew how to deal with Dream. Even if the conversation tended to be rocky between the two. She understood him better than Sara or Stela ever could. Sara just . . . deliberately forgot almost everything about him.

The flame in her palm is snuffed out by the northern wind.

Niki gave Nia Wilbur's coat to keep warm after she'd accompanied her to the nether portal by the still decimated Community house. Though it's clearly being rebuilt, judging by the scaffolding around, and the lack of rubble.

Nia, at first, refused to take the coat from Niki, as it was the one memory she'd had left of Wilbur, but Niki merely shook her head at the princess and told her that she would get the coat back once they saw each other again. Niki was sure they would see each other again soon.

So, with a thankful smile, Nia accepted it and left through the nether portal. She made her way past many piglins and magma slimes, avoiding them all as she lacked a weapon. She probably lost her sword to the bombing of L'Maburg.

It doesn't take that long to walk the distance to the nether portal that connects to the one nearest to Technoblade's cottage. The only place that currently matters to Nia.

She hates feeling like this. The way her heart hammers in her chest and her palms sweat even after she walks through the portal and is hit with the cold wind. Chewing on her bottom lip, Nia sets out toward the cabin, wrapping Wilbur's coat tighter around her body to keep herself warm.

The first person she sees is Sara. The redhead is not playing attention, her colorful hair sparkling in the light of the fire she keeps alive in her palm. She's biting her bottom lip, clearly deep in thought. Nia smiles to herself, making her way onto the porch.

From there, she can hear Technoblade and Phil talking inside, though it's unclear what they're saying. Her eyes fixate on Sara instead, walking closer. She waits for the woman to notice her. Luckily, it doesn't take Sara long to notice somebody standing before her.

"Hi," Nia says with a thin smile, staring down at Sara, who immediately jumps out of her seat with her mouth wide open. She throws her arms around Nia's neck, tightly holding onto her as if making sure that she's truly before her. "You are squeezing the soul out of me," Nia mumbles, her head plastered to Sara's shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry," says Sara, letting go of Nia. She takes a step back to take a proper look at her, traces of disbelief and bewilderment present on her face. "You're alive," she whispers to herself with a smile. "We knew you were alive."

Nia chuckles. "I've been told."

"You need to— you gotta get inside. Techno, he's gonna— you," Sara doesn't know how Technoblade will react to his wish of Nia being alive coming true. She just knows he'll react positively. She doesn't find the right words to express that.

Nodding, Nia briefly takes Sara's hand in hers and squeezes it, as if to confirm again that she's really there. That she's truly standing in front of her, and that she's not dreaming.

Sara smiles. She watches Nia open the door to the cabin slowly, disappearing behind the door with a soft thud.

Nia stands at the helm of the room, spotting Technoblade and Phil almost immediately, alongside Steve, the polar bear. They both notice somebody entering the room, their heads snapping in the direction of the door, only for their faces to create the same shocked expression Sara's had only a minute ago.

Technoblade breaks from the trance first, making his way toward Nia instantaneously, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, holding onto her tightly. Like she's going to evaporate any second, unless he holds on tight enough.

Nia smiles to herself, resting her head against Techno's chest. She sneaks her arms around his waist, letting him slowly process that she's here with him.

"You're here," he whispers into her hair, the relief in his voice evident. "You're alive."

Nia looks up at him, smiling. She nods, her hands cupping each of his cheeks, while he still holds on to her as if his life depended on it. And perhaps it does.

"Of course, I'm here," says Nia softly, her gaze never faltering. "I will always come back to you, Techno. I promise I will always come back. Always."

Subtly nodding, it could've almost gone unnoticed. But Nia notices, and she smiles at the man she loves. His arms, tender and delicate, slip to her waist, still keeping her close to him. Close enough to be certain that he's not imagining her standing before him.

"And I will always come back for you," he tells her quietly as Nia tucks a strand of pink hair behind his ear. He leans into the touch, closing his eyes. "I wanted to—"

"I know, Tech. It's okay," Nia reassures him with a smile that he can't see. Her hand moves to rest on his chest, right where his heart is. She can feel the fast pace of his heart underneath her touch. "As long as I'm here, I'll always know," she says.

Techno opens his eyes to stare into Nia's. They're still a deep brown with specks of lighter brown in them. She smiles at him. Softly, tenderly, lovingly. They don't even need to say it aloud to know.

I love you.

It was a quiet voice at the back of their minds for the both of them, almost like they were communicating that sentence telepathically.

"I don't know what I'd do if I actually lost you," Technoblade breathes out.

Nia shakes her head. "But you didn't. That's what matters," she says. "And I'm going to make sure you won't lose me for a very long time, too."

Neither of them even noticed that Phil had left the room a while ago.