Disclaimer: The following is a work of fan fiction by using character and world setting from Dream SMP credits to which go to the writers of Dream SMP.

FILE 003- CONVERSATIONS AND COVICTIONS


Outpost 11:20 P.M

Nihachu's POV

I can't believe it. Niki thought with gritted teeth. Why did they have to recruit him of all people? After what he did when he was alive did, they not think that he will be a hindrance?

These were the only thoughts that kept looping back in Niki's head, as she sat down with everyone on the 'conference table', her eyes resolutely away from the main subject of her distress.

"So, what's the explanation? Why did you add someone who has a clear track record of betraying his own allies?"

Niki tried to be as impassive as possible as she asked her questions.

"In your own words, Anarchy is inclusive Niki." Philza patiently reminded her.

"There can be exceptions," Niki retorted balefully, her grip tightening infinitesimally on the hilt of her blade.

"Calm down, Nkki. Why the hostility? We used to be friends, remember?" Wilbur gave her a crooked yet unreadable smile that only outsiders would assume to be a friendly one. She knew better.

"Used to being the operative word here, Wilbur. And stop calling me Niki. Only my friends call me that." Niki said in uncharacteristically cold voice. She hated how casually Wilbur was acting, like what he did was of no consequences, like nothing had changed- like he never betrayed them. Yet she felt as if Wilbur truly hadn't changed. He still had the smooth voice he used to woe others, whether to make alliances or talk his way out of trouble. He still had the air of charisma and confidence which inspired others to follow him into battle, to trust him with their lives.

She hated feeling this conflicted about Wilbur, someone she used to respect. But now things had changed beyond anyone's control. They had changed irrevocably when Wilbur decided to push that button and blow L'Manburg for second time and get himself killed. His unfinished symphony, he had said, forever unfinished.

Trying to distract herself she added on to her reply "Besides what value do you add to this organization?"

"Don't you see it?" Wilbur gestured around, gloved hands swinging in the air. "This building used to be an empty husk made of stone. This work is all mine. My resources, my labor, my time- just so I can make ourselves another headquarter near the heartland of the SMP, and near our primary enemy at the time."

"Just a pretty building it seems." Niki scoffed. "A 'husk' as you called it would have been suitable enough for our purposes. If visual appeal is the only thing that you can accomplish, then you are even less useful than I thought."

Phil opened his mouth and leaned forward as if to say something to stop the unhappy duo, but he quickly closed it again and moved back.

"Ah, but you see I also got the concrete evidence of Ranboo's kid being held in Las Nevadas." Wilbur smirked. "It would have been a shame if you guys just blindly entered that place on a hunch. A bad press if you ask me."

"Huh, you were the one who got the evidence?" Connor asked.

"Indeed." Was Wilbur's smug reply. "Quackity is lucky to have competent subordinated. Yet, they left trail for me to track the kid to their country."

"You blew up the country you yourself made from dust. The country for which you fought multiple wars, sacrificed everything, got your friends to sacrifice for it and yet, you blew it up. You blew L'Manburg up. Worst of all, you betrayed us!"

Her voice frayed at the edges, tinted with the bitter feeling of betrayal and disappointment, sprinkled with an inkling of distrust. A painful sort of distrust. A sort of distrust that comes when you look at your previous friend.

Someone you once knew like the back of your hand.

"Even now you're hiding your identity as an associate to us all. I frankly don't see how we can really trust you with anything." Nikki concluded her rant. She felt like some sort of burden was removed from her shoulder. Yet, she could feel a pit forming in her stomach as she started to process what she had said. Just as a terrible feeling of guilt started gripping her, Wilbur spoke up.

"But you have been trusting me already. I know everything that is known about the syndicate. And yet, you don't see anyone knocking down the meeting room, did you? If I were to betray you all I had all the chances and yet I didn't. I let wild rumors fester, misdirected and manipulated the general public against Las Nevadas, so that we get the moral high ground when we would've inevitably gone to conflict against them."

Hell, I was the first member who was recruited in, wasn't I?" Wilbur directed his question towards the two founders, who have been silent throughout the argument. Techno didn't display any outward discomfort and had his usual air of confidence surrounding him, but Nikki knew her friend for enough time to see small hints of discomfort and sadness in his face. Phil meanwhile looked regretful and his usually cheerful face had changed into a sad one. He just nodded yes to Wilbur's question and stayed silent.

"Phil I still don't hear any explanation. Stop being silent, dammit!" Niki turned towards the duo.

"To be honest, Wil was explaining himself just fine." Techno pointed out. "And you two were having a rather charged conversation. You know how bad I am at that Niki."

"I don't think his arguments are really valid enough." Niki knew she was being stubborn, something she wasn't known to be. But she had finally found a home and loyal friends with it.

She couldn't let Wilbur steal something like that a second time. She'd already lost enough.

"How is this for an explanation, Nihachu." Wilbur said in a quieter tone. "When I blew up L'Manburg, I too died. I died when I was done erasing my own greatest creation. I was stuck in the Limbo for more than a decade…" Nikki, involuntarily gasped in disbelief when she heard this.

"…yes, more than a decade. Time works differently in the Limbo it seems. Every day, I was trying to claw my way out of that platform in hell, trying to run through the tunnels hoping to leave the station behind and yet, I kept coming back there. I was stuck there with Schlatt for what felt like an eternity. Is this punishment not enough?"

Nikki could feel her resolve cracking but, she held on enough to not tear up in front of everyone. She knew experiencing death couldn't had been a pretty experience, but this was beyond what she could imagine.

The silence after Wilbur's little speech was heavy. Even Connor, the oblivious one understood the gravity of situation enough to shut up.

Finally, after what felt like hours Nikki spoke out. "Fine. I will trust you for now, and I repeat only for this mission. After that we will have a long talk."

"Thank you, Nik- Nihachu." Wilbur said sincerely.

"Niki is fine." Niki huffed. God her name sounded mouthful.

"Niki it is." Wilbur chuckled.

"Now that we got that conversation out, can we start planning?" Techno said with a long, exasperated sigh.

"Sure, why the wait?" Wilbur said his old energy returning.

"Very well. What's the movement on our enemy camp then? Are they in any way aware of our plans?" Phil directed his question towards Wilbur who started debriefing them on enemy moments.

Things have changed irrevocably. Niki thought as Wilbur started a detailed explanation on their enemy's movement.

But some things will never change.

It may be a naïve hope, but it was a firm one nonetheless.


Outpost 5:00 A.M (An hour before negotiations)

Phil's POV

Everyone gathered to the elevator room to welcome their new allies. Everyone except Wil.

After some more deliberation, it was agreed upon that letting Snowchester know that Wilbur Soot himself was within their ranks will be detrimental towards the alliances. Wil himself was uncomfortable talking to Tubbo- and given that he blew the country Tubbo lived in and died for, it was understandable. While Wilbur wanted to join the battle, he didn't want to jeopardize their new Alliance either.

Niki didn't take the news too well, given she had to lie about one more thing to her friend. She had been quite sullen since Techno and Phil dropped bombshell of the news that they gave her last evening. Phil hoped she would come around soon and talk it out with Wil.

But now was not the time. Members of Snowchester were coming and it was nearly time to call Quackity for the negotiations.

Just as Phil was thinking that, the elevator doors opened and Techno entered in escorting their allies.

Their reaction was quite similar to that of Niki and Connor when they first entered the building. Tubbo especially looked quite astonished seeing what has been done with his build.

"You guys did this!" Tubbo said incredulously.

"You sound surprised." Techno grunted.

"I thought you were terrible at building, how did you made this stone husk look this good?" Tubbo answered back, hovering his hand over the dark oak walls that made the interior.

"Was that an insult I hear, Tubbo?" Techno's tone seemed to promise pain, if the answer was yes.

"Regardless of that, we have more important topics to discuss." Phil interrupted swiftly. "Let's move into the conference room to talk more." Saying that Phil turned towards the said room, with the rest following his lead.

From corner of his eyes, he saw the trio briefly stopping in front of the glass panes from where Las Nevadas could be seen. They continued to look around as the crowd moved towards the conference table.

Once seated, Jack summoned some files in his hand and, passed them off to others sitting on the table. He started speaking formally.

"This is the list of demands that we expect Las Nevadas to fulfill if they wish to remain peaceful. Most obvious ones are of course, returning Michael safe and sound and Sam's extradition to Snowchester to try him for Ranboo's murder. Other things to note are providing compensation for being an accomplice in a crime against our nation, a treaty which states that Las Nevadas will stop it's expansionist policy and finally, it will make a non-aggression pact with Snowchester."

"These sure are a lot." Techno commented. "Are you sure that Quackity won't flip out before half of the list is complete and declare war?"

"Not funny, Techno." Phil sighed. He had to keep reminding his old friend that, their new allies aren't familiar with his morbid sense of humor.

"Agreed." Puffy said. She looked at her wristwatch and spoke. "It's time, Tubbo. All of us are here. Let's call Quackity."
Tubbo mutedly nodded his head. He was putting on a brave face but Phil could still see the signs of the scared, easily influenceable kid that he used to be. Still, he had changed since he helped Dream getting imprisoned.

Phil just hoped it was for good.

Tubbo kept his communicator in between the table, so that everyone could hear from it. He pushed the codes for Quackity's communicator and after few rings, it was answered.

"Hello?" Quackity's voice came out.

"Big Q, it's been a while." Tubbo replied.

"Ah, Tubbo my friend. It's been a while. How are you doing?" Quackity sounded cheerful, albeit a bit strained.

"I have been good but…" Tubbo seemed to hesitate for a second but then spoke "…let me cut to the chase. I know you have Sam in your country. I have irrefutable evidence that suggest that Ranboo's son Michael, whom Sam had kidnapped beforehand, is in your country. And you know the whole server saw Ranboo's death by Sam's hand. I hope you see what I am getting here."

"Hold your horses Tubbo, what are you talking about?" Phil had to admit, Quackity can act oblivious almost flawlessly. "First of all, why would I house that murderer or his kidnap victim? I think there is some misunderstand- "

"Cut the crap Quackity." Jack interrupted. "Sam is a known member of your nation. It isn't a long stretch to think that he is in your country. And we have a trail of evidence from his former home to your country, I think you understand what this means."
"I don't, and frankly you lot also don't know what you are talking about." Quackity said dismissively. "I have a country to run, and you are just wasting my time here. If you want to catch up to old times, feel free to come to my casino."

"Am I invited too, Quackity?" Techno asked mockingly.

There was dead silence on the other end of the communicator. Techno took this chance to speak more. "What happened, why the silence? We used to be friends too, right? I was quite surprised when you started a new nation, and didn't invite me there."

"What are you doing with him, Tubbo?"

Quackity's voice sounded rigid. A good sign.

"Them." Phil corrected. "Though this isn't the conversation we need to have. You still haven't answered us about Sam being there, and you kidnapping a child."

"Which is a new low even for you." Techno commented.

"Are you willing to discuss now, Big Q?" Tubbo asked.

After a minute of silence, Quackity's voice came through the communicator again. "Very well. If you insist on wasting my time like this, go on."

"First of all, we know that you have Sam under your wing, and Michael is held in your country against his will." Puffy started formally. "We require you to cooperate with us on both matters."

"I don't have them. You can ask me hundred times; my answer is not gonna change." Quackity resolutely stated.

"Good, that means we won't find them if we searched through your buildings, right?" Jack countered immediately.

"That will be violating my sovereignty, Jack. As someone who is experienced in diplomacy, you should know I will never agree to something like this." Quackity countered back.

"I don't see what problem you have if you are innocent. If Sam and Michael are not there, we will simply leave." Tubbo said reasonably. "You can take our word for it."

"As if I can. You are friends with that brute pig, Tubbo. The same one who blew your, our nation out of existence. I won't be surprised if he is using you to come in Las Nevadas to just blow it up." Quackity said in a suspicious tone. "Are you sure you can trust him to not blow your own nation?" Before Techno could reply to the accusation, Tubbo surprisingly replied faster.

"At least he isn't housing the murderer of my close friend." Tubbo disdainfully said. "He himself was a close friend to Ranboo so for now, I trust him. More than you at least."

"Whatever suits you." Quackity replied. "Anyway, if you don't have any other topic to talk on, other than me mythically housing a murderer, then I will take your leave."
"Not so fast Quackity." Phil spoke. "Actually, you know what? We won't reach any conclusions on a communicator. Why don't we visit your place to settle this?"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Quackity's outrage could be clearly heard. "I don't have your criminal. I don't have any obligations to Snowchester for them to search my country. And you two sure as hell don't have any permits to be seen near my country."

"Excellent idea Phil." Tubbo agreed ignoring Quackity completely. "Talking face to face is a better option."
"And by complete coincident, we are just on the mountain in front Las Nevadas." Techno said dryly. "Shouldn't be more than a five-minute walk to the border."
"What the hell?!" Phil was sure he heard a vein pop on Quackity's head, even from the communicator. "You will absolutely not encroach upon my territory, unless you want to risk a war."
"We're just coming to talk. Just to talk Quackity." Puffy stressed. "No need for this to get ugly. You give us what we want and we promise not to grief you in any way. Even Techno agrees." She motioned towards him.

"We have the list of demands with us, let's discuss it in detail on the border." Jack offered.

After some more moments of silence a very reluctant Quackity's voice came out of the communicator. "Very well, come to the goddamn border. If you violate any norms, I will stop the talks and declare war immediately."

"We will see about that." Techno said. "Looking forward to meet you again, Big Q."

"I sure as hell am not." Quackity grumbled and the communicator switched off.

"So far so good." Nikki spoke out. "We got them to the border. Now the next phase."

"Let's hope it goes as smooth from here." Puffy sighed tiredly.

"No time to waste everyone, to Las Nevadas." Tubbo ordered as everyone started getting up from their chair.

Without much talking everyone started moving out of the Outpost, to what everyone hoped to be a successful mission.


Border of Las Nevadas

6:00 A.M

Tubbo's POV

They were finally here. Tubbo could feel the air around them getting tense as they reached the borders of Las Nevadas. It was the main one, just in front of the grand entrance to the country. The sun was rising on the horizon now.

As the group started closing in towards the entrance, Tubbo noticed silhouette of human shapes in front. Moving closer, he could make out three figures behind a inconspicuously placed table.

It was Fundy, Foolish and of course, Quackity.

Quackity and Fundy looked openly hostile towards the large group, while Foolish was mostly expressionless. Tubbo was surprised that only these three members show up for the negotiations. He thought Las Nevadas had more allies and members than this. Surely, Quackity would have called on anyone he can to show his strength during the talks?

Suddenly, the thought of war happening doesn't seem as discouraging as it was. They clearly outnumbered the enemy two to one, and they had the feared blood god on their side. Even after the split in groups, their fighters still outnumbered Las Nevadas'.

As the president, Tubbo took the lead as they came to talking distance with their enemies.

"Good morning, Quackity." Tubbo greeted. "Nice to see you prepared for the discussion."

"Not like I had much choice." Quackity grumbled. "Unfortunately, it seems there are more guest than the chairs." Quackity eyed Techno's group with suspicion.

"No problem." Jack replied. "Let's get started with the discussion."

Saying this Jack took out the list of demands and started dictating them off. Foolish, who was sitting beside Quackity was quickly noting them down as Jack listed off the demands.

Quackity's eyes narrowed in anger when Jack finished with the list. Fundy, who was standing behind him the entire time leaned closer and whispered something in Quackity's ear. After some brief moments of tense silence, Tubbo spoke out.

"So, do you accept these terms?" Tubbo noticed the enemy leader's face contrive into a scowl.

"I am fascinated by the amount of wrong information you have, and choose to believe in." Quackity sneered. "You assuming that I, for some reason will house Sam and risk whole server's outrage is frankly laughable."

"Is that a lie you really want to stick to Quackity?" Techno drawled out, leisurely sitting on a chair. "Your goons aren't that good at hiding your trails, and Purpled was more than happy to open his mouth for the right price."

Hearing the traitor's name, Quackity's scowl deepened. Tubbo wasn't surprised when, Techno mentioned earlier that Purpled tipped them off about Quackity's dark shenanigans. The man was a mercenary through and through and wouldn't hesitate to make profit if the opportunity presents it.

"I don't see how that traitor's words are more believable than mine." Quackity said coolly. "He and I don't see eye-to-eye as of now, he could have just fed you wrong information just to get me in trouble."

"You think he will risk lying to us all, just for some petty revenge?" Phil snorted. "If yes, then you're way dumber than I thought you were, mate."

"Besides, we ourselves found some incriminating evidence and trails that suggest, you house both Sam and Michael." Jack stated.

"You are either trying to make this an excuse to destroy my country," Quackity accused. "or just too dumb to examine a evidence. I don't have either Sam or Ranboo's kid. No matter how many times you ask this, my answer won't change."
"If you are so innocent, what's the harm in letting us in and search for ourselves?" Puffy repeated her earlier questioned.

"Exactly." Nikki agreed. "If we don't find anyone, then we will leave peacefully, provide you compensation for wasting your time, and won't bother you ever again."

"That's rich coming from someone who is allied with him," Fundy pointed towards Techno in disgust. "Did you forget what he is capable of Nikki? Are you really believing that this man, who blew our home into smithereens, won't hesitate to blow this country once he is allowed in?"
"I do." Nikki simply said without elaborating.

"I think we're getting off topic now." Tubbo interrupted before any more arguments can continue. "Quackity." Now he directly addressed the enemy leader. "We both know what the truth is, Sam is residing in your nation and you have Michael with you, without his will. We easily out number you two to one. If we wanted, we could have just declared war without negotiating, but we didn't. I hope you remember we used to be comrades, revolutionaries fighting side by side against tyranny. Please, remember that comradery, and don't force me to be letting the country you so painstakingly created, be destroyed."

After Tubbo's little impromptu speech, there was heavy silence. Everyone seem to be reminiscing about the simpler times, when only Schlatt was the source of pure evil, when only defeating him and taking back L'Manburg was everyone's common goal. When Wilbur was there to be their leader, inspiring them, encouraging them, now he was remembered as a traitor. When Tommy was full of obnoxious and overconfident attitude, yet still righteous towards his cause and loyal to his friends, now just a shell of his former self.

Tubbo himself almost preferred his past self over what he'd became now. True, he used to be pushed around, used by others, but at least he was able to trust others. Now his ability to trust was shrinking rapidly by the line of betrayals he keeps facing.

Tubbo thoughts were broken by a beeping noise coming from a communicator. It wasn't his. The voice was coming from Quackity's pocket.

"Excuse me for a minute please." Quackity urgently said as he got up from the chair, to move a few feet away from the table. He took the beeping communicator out and was furiously whispering in it, like he was in hurry.

After half a minute had passed, he took his place on the table again. Looking Tubbo in the eyes, he spoke. "It's true, Sam and Michael are both presently inside Las Nevadas. For last two weeks I gave Sam shelter, and place to keep his kidnap victim…" Fundy and Foolish looked at Quackity, surprise in their face evident. "…and I know what you all are probably thinking. How cruel can someone be to help a child's abduction? But you see…" here Quackity took a small pause, as if gathering his thoughts. "…what you call cruelty, is a necessity. Necessity to keep order against those who sought to break it…"

Quackity directly looked at the infamous anarchist duo at this, "…deranged psychopaths, that are willing to take any step for power. Weaklings, who only have their moral compass as an attribute, nothing else."

"I do remember our times together Tubbo, I remember how we got L'Manburg back, then lost it and rebuild it, tried to punish its enemies and in the end, lost it forever. But things have now changed. As much as I would like to, I can't accept any of your demands, reasonable or not. Sam will not be extradited; Michael won't be given back. Unfortunately, you also can't leave this place alive, old friend."
"Wha-." Confused Tubbo started to ask when suddenly, the ground beneath him began to quiver. In a flash, he felt himself being pulled back by a strong pair of arms, out of periphery he could see Phil pulling Connor and Puffy back, and Nikki being pushed back by Jack.

There was a sound of explosion, quite different from that of a TNT. As he looked ahead, the chair where he was sitting was gone, in place of it there was a deep crater. Tubbo rubbed the dust that got into his eyes, and looked ahead. What he saw beside the crater, was stuff of nightmares.

The thing (Tubbo was quite sure it wasn't a human) had two glowing eyes…was that a telly screen in place of head? Tubbo couldn't exactly tell. There was too much dust in the place.

"You surprisingly showed up on time, Sam." It was Quackity's voice.

"I'm too sleep deprived to argue Quackity, just shut up." It was unmistakably Sam's voice, he sounded grumbly and tired at the same time.

"Sure, if you want." Quackity sounded amused.

"HEH?! BRUH," Techno exclaimed as he looked at the monstrosity standing in front of them. With those creepy green eyes and nightmarish black body, it was intimidating to say the least.

"Stealth digging accomplished, waiting for further orders." The thing spoke in a robotic voice.

"You all wanted war Tubbo? NOW YOU'LL GET ONE!" Quackity yelled out gleefully.

"Commence the plan, Tubbo." Techno gruffly said taking his ax and crossbow out. "Jack and Puffy seem to be alright, take them. We'll distract these idiots and their new toy."
Tubbo looked at Techno with shock, given how this unexpected adversary has shown up he expected Techno to demand them all to stay and fight.

He nodded gratefully towards his ally, and signaled his friends to follow him.

As he went towards them, he could hear Techno in distance yelling something, sound of blades clashing and explosions happening. The allies he didn't trust, were now doing everything in their power to buy some time for Tubbo and his friends, he could not screw this up.

We came Michael, Now let's get you out of here. Tubbo determinedly thought.

Motivated to not fail his dead friend one more time, Tubbo took cover of the chaos of the battle to go into Las Nevadas.


A/N

And done. Next chapter will finally have me writing the first fight scene of my life (How badly can it go?) and this chapter is a bit longer than the usual as I couldn't find a suitable place to stop.

Anyway, credits to my wonderful beta readers, Flippy and Lion man for correcting my silly small (definitely small) mistakes.

As always, reviews are welcomed and any suggestions will be helpful.

Update schedule: As a weekly chapter you will get your next update on 28/01/2021.

Fav and Follow!