~(Time skip back to Phil and Theseus after 5 days of traveling they have officially been in the Nether for a week)~
We're finally here. Phil said, staring at the enormous fortress in front of them.
Theseus snorted looking around for threats. Phil slid off Theseus's back and walked towards the fortress.
Techno! Are you here?! Phil shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth.
C'mon Theseus. Phil said while waving at him to follow.
Techno has to be here Phil told himself.
Techno! Phil shouted as they climbed the floors of the fortress.
Techno! Are you here?! Where are you! Phil shouted at the top of his lungs.
They quickly ascended to the top Theseus protected Phil from behind while Phil took on the onslaught of wither skeletons and blazes with ease. Some blazes rushed at Phil from around a corner but Theseus quickly smashed them into a wall killing them. He grabbed two of the blaze rods and brought them to Phil who was waiting on the top floor with a desperate expression.
Thanks, bud but, wait. You can find Techno! Phil said excitedly.
Theseus tilted his head but was happy to try.
Let me…. Phil looked around in his bag for anything of Technos. He pulled out a tightly wrapped quilt that he and his sons had made.
Can you smell this? Phil asked it was a long shot but it might work.
Theseus sniffed it and picked up four scents. One smelled like fish, saltwater, and explosions. The next was very clearly Phils. It was like the sky, the ground, the ocean. How that worked he had no clue but that's why Phils is his favorite person he's not like anyone else. The third smelled like fire and the sky also smelled annoying. Then the fourth it smelled…. odd. It smelled like potatoes, blood, and him. Theseus looked at Phil.
He probably smells like potatoes. Phil said, trying to keep a patient smile.
Theseus's ears drooped, he really was trying to find something but he couldn't, he could only find himself. He looked up at Phil with a grim look. Phil was on the verge of tears but was still keeping a calm collected look.
So he's really not here? Phil said, his voice betraying him and cracking pitifully.
Theseus felt miserable. He could see past his dad's mask and see how upset he was. He walked up to Phil and gently nudged him. Phil scratched his head gently for a moment.
I need to think for a bit okay? I'll come back in a little bit alright? Phil said with tears pooling up.
Before Theseus could do anything that would remotely signify an answer Phil flew off. Theseus stared for a minute. He knew Phil needed space but he hated that having space meant he couldn't protect Phil. He heard the clatter of bones before an arrow soared through the air and quickly embedded itself in Theseus's back. At least this would distract him until Phil came back. Theseus charged at the skeletons and quickly got rid of them. Only for more to appear. Good thing Phil wasn't here now, cause now he can smash these skeletons to bits.
~(With Phil)~
He'd been flying straight with no real destination for almost 10 minutes. He wasn't flying particularly fast though either so he still wasn't far from the fortress. His head hurt a bit. He was angry and upset. He had been sure that Techno would have been at the fortress but he wasn't. Now the questions are where was he and was he okay. He'd gone down to the portal a few weeks ago for his pickaxe and no one had seen him since and that didn't make sense. If hunters had attacked while he was getting his pic Techno could have easily defeated them saying it'd have to be a small group to not draw attention. Anything larger than 4-5 people would have made enough noise to catch his attention especially if they had been camping nearby. None of it made sense. Techno could fight an entire country if he tried so why couldn't he find him? Phil suddenly stopped. Maybe he had found Techno. Maybe he'd been with Techno the entire time-
TECHNO! Phil suddenly shouted as he flew as fast as he could back towards the fortress.
~(Back with Techno :)~
Theseus panted heavily. He was starting to feel the heat from these blazes and skeletons. There were multiple arrows embedded in his back and the blazes were starting to burn him, badly. He charged at another skeleton breaking it to bits. He thought about Phil and was filled with determination.
(Eh? Any undertale fans? No? I'll let myself out…)
But that determination quickly faded as more arrows embedded in his back. He was starting to feel dizzy from the blood loss.
TECHNO!
Someone was screaming he wasn't sure who or why and quite frankly he just felt very tired maybe if he laid down for a minute. Phil quickly tore through everything on the roof and destroyed both mob spawners. Phil bolted towards the massive hoglin that was laying on the ground. The Hoglin in question was suddenly covered in smoke and miraculously shrunk until Phil saw a familiar pink-skinned face.
T-Techno? Phil asked on his knees above his son.
Techno was covered in blood and his clothes had tears in them. Techno carefully opened his eyes and looked at Phil with a painful smile.
Relax dad Technoblade never dies. Techno said.
Phil pulled his son into a hug careful of his injuries.
Don't you DARE do that to me again. Phil said using his angry dad voice.
Techno smiled and hugged his dad back.