Chapter 6: A Christmas Tradition

Scenario: Tommy is with Techno, Phil is in L'Manberg with Ghostbur.

"Techno, Techno, Techno, it's Christmas."

Technoblade turned to see Tommy walking inside, stomping his feet on the floor to shake off the snow.

"Yeah, I guess it is."

"So what are we doing?"

"What do you mean?"

Tommy stood next to Techno, looking over his shoulder at what he was doing. "Techno, we can't not do something for Christmas. It's Christmas! Let's get Wilbur here! Call Philza!"

"Tommy, they're in L'Manberg. It won't work."

"It's got to work. We can do something. Like I said, we can't do nothing."

Techno sighed. "Fine. We'll sneak into L'Manberg and see if we can find them."

"Yes! Can we go right now?"

"Let me finish these potions. Then we'll go. Can you make sure the doors are closed downstairs?"

"They're closed."

"Tommy, you have a habit of leaving doors open."

"Trust me, they're closed. Are you almost done?"

Techno glanced over the brewing stand. He only had three potions for each of them, but they hopefully wouldn't be there for long. "Yeah, we can go. You took care of the bees?"

"Yep!"

"Okay." Techno grabbed his cape and threw it over his shoulders, then made sure he had everything he needed: his pickaxe, potions, TNT, flint and steel, more potions-yeah, he had everything. They walked to the portal together, and entered L'Manberg, drinking the potions as they stepped out of the portal.

"Follow me."

"I can't see you."

"Follow the carrot."

"Okay."

Techno led him to Phil's house, and frowned slightly as he heard a soft melody float from the torchlit doorway and windows. He thought he recognized Wilbur's voice, but it had been so long since he'd heard it last, so he couldn't be sure.

"Tommy, do you- Tommy? Where'd you go?"

The potions were fading, and when Tommy became visible, Techno saw him just standing on the path, his eyes wide.

"Tommy?"

"Wilbur is singing. I haven't heard him sing since...since he sang the L'Manberg anthem with me. That was so long ago, Techno. So much has changed."

Techno glanced from Tommy to the house, then said, "Come on. Let's go inside."

Tommy wordlessly followed his brother. Techno knocked, and the music stopped. He heard a chair scraped, and a voice: "Yes? Who is it?"

Techno realized that Phil was probably scared that it would be Tubbo with bad news, but he just waited, afraid that if he raised his voice others would hear. The door opened, and Techno saw Phil's worried face become relieved. "Oh, Techno and Tommy. Quick, come in."

They both walked in, and Phil shut the door behind him. Ghostbur was sitting on a chair, holding a guitar, and looking mildly concerned.

"Neither of you are supposed to be there, I thought…" he said.

"Yeah, no, we're not, but Tommy insisted that we had to do something for Christmas, so here we are."

"Well, this is lovely. Take a seat, we can all sing Christmas carols together."

Techno sat, still on high alert in case anyone saw them. As Wilbur began to strum his guitar, Techno thought it was similar to how Phil had played his guitar for them when they were younger. It was one of the few times of year where they actually spent their entire day together, and as annoying as Tommy could get, Techno had enjoyed it. Tommy always asking when they were going to get presents, Wilbut always trying to steal Phil's guitar, Phil always trying to keep them in line, and only slightly succeeding.

"For the last time, we're not going to put candles on the Christmas tree, Wilbur," Phil said in a tired voice.

"Please? It won't start on fire, I promise."

"You don't know that."

"Can we just try it?"

Techno smiled. "Yeah, we should try it. It'll be funny if it lights on fire."

"Techno, then the house will burn down. Which will not be funny."

"If you say so."

"Here, Wilbur. Put them in the windowsill."

"Okay."

Techno glanced and saw that Phil and Ghostbur had put several candles in the windows, just for tradition.

Wilbur set the guitar down. "Phil, are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. It's just that I feel like things are a lot different this year."

Techno sighed. Wilbur had died, Tommy was recovering from exile, and Techno...well, Techno was fine in his own eyes. "Yeah, things are different. But we're still together."

"That's true. That's very true. I'm thankful for that."

They heard a crash outside, and some voices.

"You guys should go," Phil said to Techno and Tommy. "You can't let them see you."

"Yeah." Techno stood up and handed Tommy a potion. "It was...nice to see you guys again."

"Definitely!" Wilbur said. "I'll stop by soon with Friend."

"As soon as I find a way to get out of here, I'll visit you, Techno," Phil said.

Techno nodded. "Let's go, Tommy."

"Okay."

When they were back at the house, it had started to snow again. Tommy had gone to bed already, since it turned dark. Techno sat by the window, watching the snow fall. It was moments like these that almost made him want to destroy his wither cave. But then he remembered what they had done to Tommy and Phil.

Sighing, he stood up and was about to head downstairs, when he turned and took an unlit candle from a chest. Setting it on the windowsill, he held a flame to it until it lit on fire. Then he took off his cape and went downstairs.

Thanks for reading!