Ranboo helped Soul into the house slowly, Michael following behind with the few bags they managed to accumulate.
Soul flopped onto the couch and stared at the ceiling lost and confused.
Who the hell was Ren? Was it the belly dancer? Did he hear her…?
“Are you doing okay?” Ranboo questioned as Michael patted Soul’s head gently and handed him a small pendant. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y6v77qGNY
Soul eyed the pendant, it was cute with petals like a flower framing the jewel in the middle. “Soul” Ranboo repeated, Soul glanced up at him.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ckkK3pKOD
“You okay?”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYiJUNILVK
Soul nodded. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCgZmNzt6F
Ranboo sighed “I'm gonna go back and get a couple more things, Tubbo will be back soon” Ranboo said with a small smile, Soul nodded and watched as Ranboo left with Michael in hand.
The house was silent as Soul laid quietly on the couch, his eyes threatening him with a feeling of fatigue. He turned to his side and stared out the small window near him watching as rain began to fall. The sound of the rain hitting the glass gently causing his eyes to flutter shut.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36lXN6ReG9
“You’ll come back, right?”
“Right…Alex?”
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Soul groaned groggily as he was shaken gently awake, a gentle hand on his shoulder. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerEtZPYwjx
“Hey, Soul…it’s Quackity” 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNboteRWEyB
Soul shot up quickly and Quackity chuckled, “well, good morning to you to starshine” he teased, Soul rolled his eyes and eyed Quackity. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifCyImis7n
Even if it had been a solid week since he stayed at Ranboo’s he felt like it had been years, he sighed and Quackity smiled.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Nevadas?” 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK5LujfPsq
Quackity chuckled and ruffled Soul’s hair catching him off guard, his cheeks pinkening just a little. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iy3iHcCTD
“Had to make sure you were adjusting well, have you been able to go into crowds easily?” he asked as he poured a cup of water in the kitchen before returning and giving it to Soul. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IATySIPES
Soul took a sip with a small nod. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcytQRXeVF
“Ranboo said you were opening up more…” 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cUfi9BUtg
Soul blinked and shrugged. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zstN6s4Hb
“I guess,” he mumbled, standing slowly. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MdLKCZN2z
Quackity watched as he grabbed a rag from the table next to him and wiping his hands, he had fallen asleep after helping oil the wheels on Techno’s wagon. Apparently Techno was returning home, although he never seemed to really stay around long much anyways. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVEsg0gqbX
“Your beanie…” Soul stopped gesturing to Quackity’s slick black hair that hung low above his shoulders. 90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTOffAtV9v
Quackity sighed “yeah, i lost it…so im stuck giving everyone an unintentional hair reveal” Soul smiled at the statement and sat down next to Quackity, still in his pj’s.
Soul eyed his hair “it’s…not bad” he said, Quackity raised an eyebrow.
“I-I mean, you pull it off- it looks good on you” Soul stuttered, crossing his legs criss crossed on the couch, Quackity eyed him before smirking.
“Do you want to play with it?”
Soul stared and bit his lip, the door to the house opened and Tubbo walked in.
“Oh, sorry” Tubbo said with a small smile saluting to Soul with two fingers, Soul returned it.
Quackity glanced at Soul and cleared his throat, “I did come to give you something” he said, Soul raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
He handed Soul a thick envelope and Soul took it hesitantly, “I went to see Dream and he demanded I give this to you” he sighed “if there is anything incriminating or threatening, tell me instantly please” he said. Soul nodded and Quackity stood.
“I’ll see you around, stay safe”
Soul stood gripping the envelope and Quackity froze, cocking an eyebrow.
“Something wrong?”
Soul was silent before avoiding his eyes.
“Will he ever be let out?”
Quackity shrugged.
“I don’t know. We’ll see”
It was quiet and Quackity left leaving Soul standing in silence.
“You okay dude?”
Soul glanced back to see Tubbo, he was watching him curiously, Soul cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Yeah, yeah sorry- just thinking of what to do” he said, Tubbo grinned.
“Well, I’m going to a bookstore to get Michael some books if you want to join,” he suggested. Soul raised an eyebrow and smiled, tossing the letter to the side.
“Sure”
Tubbo smiled “then go get dressed, you chaotic devil” he poked, Soul rolled his eyes and ran up the stairs to get changed.
Soul ran his fingers over the bindings of the books, the smell of leather and musk filling his senses, he didn’t hate it that’s for sure.
As he pulled a book from the shelf Michael followed Tubbo to the kids section, Soul flipped through the pages a weird feeling of deja vu overwhelming him.
He hummed a foreing tune as he looked through the books, his fingers lingering over a blue bound book.
The binding had the words “Alex Dolphinnia” scrawled in gold ink in beautiful curves and swirls, he pulled it from the shelf dust falling from the pages when it slipped from his hands and hit the ground.
He crouched down to pick it up and blew the dust off the leather unsuccessfully, he sighed and wiped the dust off with his hands.
The cover was covered in beautiful liquid swirls swirling around the page, dolphins jumping from water, a crown falling into his hands, he chuckled and traced his fingers over the words on the cover.
‘Alex Dolphinnia, the twin god’
He fiddled with the lock that latched it shut when Tubbo rounded the corner, “hey, you find anything?” he questioned, Soul nodded and handed him the book. Tubbo’s eyebrows raised then furrowed confused.
“A history book on Manberg? You could just ask me…” he said, Soul shrugged.
“Eh, i don't know…it just seems interesting, wait how long have you lived here?” he blinked, totally ignoring the fact that Tubbo saw it as a history book.
What was this book? Magic?
“I've lived here since i was a kid” he chuckled, Soul’s eyes widened.
“Oh- then how old are you?”
Tubbo laughed and squeezed Michael’s hand. “C’mon lets get out of here”
Soul yawned as he sat out in a field near the forest's edge which led to the snowy cliffs of Snowchester. It was mind blowing how quickly biome’s and weather changed around here, Soul leaned back and looked at the sky watching clouds float by silently.
As soul propped his legs up on a rock and leaned against the lush grass below he hummed a tune which slowly turned into a song, he sang bravely and sweetly making birds shiver and join along.
A twig snapped, Soul’s singing came to a stop abruptly and he sat up looking around.
“Who’s there?”
A figure at the edge moved and detached from the shadows, Soul’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re Wilbur…”
Wilbur chuckled and adjusted his glasses “we meet again” he smirked, Soul sighed and propped himself up against a tree behind him.
“What are you doing all the way out here…” he frowned, popping open a bottle and downing a pill.
An anxiety pill to be exact.
Wilbur eyed him and shrugged looking to the sky.
“Just taking a walk, it’s a beautiful day” he smiled letting his head drop to look at Soul who was watching a rabbit graze.
“It is…” Soul mumbled.
“Say, I never got your name…you’re the kid staying with Quackity right? How old are you?” He questioned lighting a cigarette, Soul rolled his eyes and stood slowly.
“Name’s Soul, I’m 18 and yes I’m the kid staying with Quackity. Except currently I’m staying with Tubbo and Ranboo” he said, Wilbur’s eyes narrowed.
“I see.”
It was silent for a few moments and Wilbur’s cigarette slipped from his fingers to the ground, he stomped it out and shoved his hands into his trench coat.
“Wanna see something cool?” Wilbur questioned, Soul looked over at him.
“Sorry?”
Wilbur smiled and gestured to the book laying next to him that Soul had yet to actually open.
“You’re interested in L’manberg’s history? I can show you it.” He said with a sly grin, Soul cocked an eyebrow.
Soul shook his head with a small smile, “why not” Wilbur grinned and gestured for him to follow.
“We’ve gotta get to Pogtopia first, it’s on the way” he said, not looking behind him, Soul hummed.
“So, musician, are ya?” He urged for a conversation, Soul shrugged.
“I guess, I’m not really good at it though…” he said, Wilbur smiled and turned towards him walking backwards now.
“I could teach you”
Soul’s eyes lit up.
“Would you?” Wilbur laughed and grinned.
“Sure, I’ve got nothing else to do”
Soul grinned and ran to join Wilbur’s side.
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“Here, give me your hand” Wilbur said offering his hand down to Soul, Soul took it and he pulled him up onto the hill’s summit.
Soul wiped dirt from his cropped sweatshirt and parachute pants before looking to Wilbur who was gesturing for him to follow him below.
“So, where exactly are we going?”
Wilbur smiled and lit a cigarette as they walked.
“Back in time, this way” he said blowing smoke into the air, Soul nodded as he led him to a crumbling tower made of stone and obsidian.
“This is one of Eret’s many old Towers…there’s one over there as well” he explained, pointing to a tower just as similar in the distance.
“Who’s Eret?”
Wilbur helped him over a broken step and smudged his cigarette against the wall as they walked. His hands shoved in his pockets, Soul looked down at the floor below them as they walked up the winding stairs.
“He’s the King of Pogtopia…or was, I’m not sure if he still is” he chuckled, “he’s an old friend of mine I haven’t seen in years” he sighed and pulled himself up onto the edge of crumbling stone looking out at the world below him.
Soul blinked and Wilbur turned to Soul offering him a hand “careful, you’ll die falling from this height” Soul nodded and took Wilbur’s outstretched hand.
Wilbur pulled him up helping Soul stop wobbling and catch a grip on something so he didn’t fall. When Soul looked up at the land in front of him his eyes widened and he gasped.
“This…is L’manberg?”
Wilbur slowly sat down letting one leg dangle and the other steady himself as he pulled out a flask and took a swig.
“Yep, after many wars it was left like this. We gave- or more like Tubbo gave up” he chuckled to himself, Soul held himself up and peered out at the massive crater in the ground. Crumbling houses and boardwalks were still barely intact and noticeable as vines covered and grew on them individually.
The ruins were beautiful, but what happened was clearly horrifying.
“What does Tubbo have to do with any of this?” He questioned, Wilbur cocked an eyebrow.
“I guess he doesn’t talk about it anymore, does he? Well uh let me tell you the story” he said gesturing for him to sit, Soul carefully lowered himself and pulled his legs to his chest.
“Let’s begin”
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