Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Prologue

It was today one of the few peaceful days in the world of Minecratia. The non-hostile mobs were moving around, the leaves from the trees were moving due to the wind, the ocean is calm, and the sun indicates that is near noon. In a world that looks infinite so much that it even looks to be the size of Jupiter or even more. Meaning a lot of places to explore and a never-ending number of adventures. And yes: The universe is bigger. I don't know how it works to be realistic.

On top of that, many ways were created to travel around, for example, pathways, made of stone, wood, or even prepared with just a shovel. Of course, it isn't recommended to walk ALL of them. Just the ones you need.

Some of the pathways are between trees, which is where we are. A pathway with a sheep and a few rabbits being there, some flowers and busts decorating and torches in some fences to not spawn monsters at night (Doesn't stop enderman though from teleporting to it). And a pretty peaceful way to go anywhere else-

 - "AHHH!"

...

Nevermind.

A blonde-haired boy ends up falling from the trees to that pathway, making the animals flee from fear. The most noted detail of him, besides his hair color, is the white and red t-shirt and beige pants he is wearing.

 - "Ow... I was that high on the trees...?" - He said while feeling hurt. - "N-No wonder I got hurt..."

 - "Tommy!" - Another boy came out and yelled in worry. He was brown-haired and wore a green shirt with a few holes and dark blue pants. When he stopped, he panted and then said: - "I couldn't catch you like that! Why didn't you wait for me?"

 - "I don't know. Why you are slow Tubbo?" - Tommy asked in a joking tone and with a smirk as he tried to get up.

 - "And why you are so mean?" - Tubbo replied with another question also in a joking tone and lend a hand to help Tommy get up, which the latter grabbed to get up. After that, he dropped the tone to inquire: - "But are you okay? With you on the ground..."

 - "Yes I am. Nothing bad. The fall didn't hurt that much."

 - "If you say so."

 - "Where did u fall? I thought we started the tree run on the trees..."

 - "I sled down in one of them. I was on a dead-end with no branches to go next."

 - "And I thought I was the one that was bad in directions." - Tommy said before laughing.

 - "Then where are we? I don't know anymore." - Tubbo struck back while folding his arms with a smirk.

The blonde looks around to see if he remembers. When he didn't, the smile dropped, and let out an "Oops..." before saying:

 - "Let's try... To find a pathway... We remember. It shouldn't be hard to find it, no?"

With that, they walked up to find a pathway they remember, which would take a lot of time as they didn't recognize where they were going.

Tommy and Tubbo were very close to each other. They meet when both were in an orphanage since they were 4 years old. None of them knew what happened to their parents (Abandoned them? Gave them away for them to be safe?) and were the first people they considered actual friends rather than acquaintances. They both were lucky to be in an orphanage that didn't have major bullying problems and had kind of strict but fair authority figures. They remembered stories of some kids that had to move to here due to other orphanages not... being in the required standards, let's say that way. Of course, it wasn't always nice. A fire happened that almost closed the building, the few existing bullies pranked them in a bad way but luckily got taken care of with grounding and some scams with promised sweets but end up getting rocks from outside, for example.

Ok, a part of the said scams was from Tommy with the help of Tubbo but normally were joking and they gave something better than rocks which, while not much interesting, were still useful so they only got warnings.

Of course, their stay at the orphanage didn't last forever. But it wasn't a bad thing.

At age 11, Tubbo and Tommy got adopted together! It took a few weeks for the process to be done but it was worth it in the end. They had a home at last. They had a family. And the best part? Now they are brothers to each other literally!

It has been 3 years since the adoption and was a cozy and comfortable life. They had a loving father and a brother that, if you asked Tommy, could be pushy a bit but was cool and if you asked Tubbo, was a very nice brother. And they didn't get into a lot of trouble with them.

I mean, they will be in trouble now if they don't come home before the sun sets.

Anyways, after a lot of time... They were still lost. None of the pathways they found led to anywhere they knew and had to clean their shoes later after stepping on dirty water on a broken small bridge on a small river there.

At some point, they turned to another pathway which lead to the middle of trees without lights or any signs that indicated where they were.

 - "Yikes! Should we go in another way?" - Tubbo asked with hints of fear. - "These pathways without lights give me a bad feeling."

 - "Oh... You're scared of the dark now?" - Tommy asked in a joking tone. - "Scared that a monster will catch yoooouuu?"

 - "No but you were until last year." - The brown-haired kid countered with a smirk.

 - "Oh, uh I mean-" The blonde was taken aback at this. Then, he composed himself to let out: - "Dang you! You're lucky Dadza doesn't let us swear until we are 15!"

Tubbo couldn't answer as he was laughing at defeating his best friend in that joke. After that, Tommy could only punch softly on Tubbo's shoulder before resuming walking.

And they continued talking and joking with each other while walking through the dark pathways. That's how their relationship works. No matter how much they can be mean to each other, they mostly just truly mess with each other and stay best friends no matter what. Not even being brothers will stop them from considering themselves best friends.

Eventually, Tommy gets distracted from Tubbo talking for some reason.

 - "And then, Jake said that he could climb a wall with his hands when one of my friends dared that he couldn't. I even tried to be under him to be able to cat-" - Stops when he notices the blonde ignoring him. - "Hey Toms. What happened?"

 - "Oh?" - Tommy was snapped out from where he was looking and told after looking at Tubbo. - "Sorry Tubso but... I think we are going in circles."

 - "What do you mean?" - The brown-haired boy inquired in confusion while both stopped walking.

 - "See that broken torch that is almost falling?" - Tommy pointed at what he was seeing. - "I swear we passed through it 3 times."

 - "Maybe it's a different one?"

 - "No. My memory is clear enough to know which direction that is falling."

 - "So..." - Tubbo started to feel fear in his bones. - "We are lost?"

 - "I guess so?" - Then, Tommy, that also felt some fear to some extent, felt Tubbo hugging him. - "No need to be that clingy-"

Suddenly, a dark figure passes through some bushes, making Tommy shut up and hug his best friend back.

 - "W-W-What you we-were... S-S-S-Saying?" - The boy with the green shirt asked.

 - "I-I was saying... T-T-To r-run." - The one with the red and white t-shirt let out.

 - "Ag-Ag-Agreed..."

With that, they couldn't help but scream with fear and run away in any direction possible, never letting each one's hand be separated to avoid losing each other.

They ran and ran and ran. Pass through a small bridge, a shortcut, and even a falling tree. But they still felt that figure following them. How didn’t they make it lose them? They changed directions a lot of times! Also, they knew that they couldn't run forever. They would lose energy and be tired, forcing them to slow down or even stop.

But they didn't expect that they would be forced to stop for other reasons when Tubbo fell into a hole.

 - "AHHH!" - The boy in question let out until a landing sound was heard.

 - "TUBBO!" - Tommy exclaimed in worry as he sat on his knees near the hole. - "Are you okay?!?"

 - "I'm fine!" - Tubbo yelled back, all dirty due to the mud there. - "The mud made my fall less painful!"

 - "Take my ha-" - The blonde was going to help him out but then felt the presence of the figure, with Tubbo being scared at seeing it. Looking back slowly, he couldn’t see the face but all he knew was that whoever it was, was wearing a dark blue coat with a hoodie and black pants. Seeing the person's stone sword, he muttered while closing his eyes: - "Make it quick..."

He thought that was going to happen when he heard the sword being raised, with Tubbo letting out a gulp and Tommy biting his lips. But then... They hear it being stored. Huh?

 - "Are you two lost?" - A voice came from the figure. A feminine voice.

 - "Uh..." - Tommy let out in confusion and fear as he opened his eyes slowly. - "Yeah?"

 - "You came from the North, Southwest, or Southeast Region?"

 - "Southeast."

 - "..." - The figure said nothing as she walked past them and sat on her knees to lend a hand to Tubbo where Tommy helped. After he was back up, she took down her coat's hoodie to reveal her blonde hair. Considering her height, they assumed being of their age. Then, she said: - "Come with me. I know the safest way."

The two boys looked at each other, not knowing what to do at the start. On one hand, one rule they were taught was to not follow strangers. But on the other hand, they were lost and who knows what could happen to them. In the end, they just nodded before following the blonde girl.

It was silent for a while, with Tommy and Tubbo not knowing what to say in this situation while the girl just walked to where they needed to go. A dry silence. A moment that looked like the Minesweeper game: Without caution, it could go wrong. Any new social interaction with someone can go like that.

Eventually, with how much longer it was taking to get them to where they needed to be, it wasn't long until the silence was broken.

 - "Uh... Thanks for… Helping us.” – Tubbo told her. – “We didn’t know… Where we were anymore.”

 - “No need to thank.” – She said. – “With a forest this big, you would have to explore it all first to know where to exit.” – She puts a finger on her chin to think better. – “Twice.”

 - “Geez…” – Tommy said in surprise. – “We shouldn’t have gotten ourselves lost then…” – Tubbo elbowed Tommy on his arm lightly at that half-truth. – “Mostly my fault. But never intended.”

 - “That’s what everyone says when they get in.” – She countered while rolling her eyes.”

 - “What? But I di-“– He was going to start to defend himself about him, not wanting to get lost, just for her to chuckle a bit.

 - “I know you really didn’t mean to get lost. Just messing.” – Beat. – “Childs.”

 - “Wha? You look to have an age close to ours!” – Tubbo said at this hypocrisy.

 - “I’m 12 years old, soon 13!” – She stopped walking to face them and defend herself.

 - “That just made it worse!” – The blonde boy contradicted. – “We are one year and more time older than you!”

 - “Yet you hugged each other in fear before running away screaming when I saw you lost.”

 - “And if you were an enderman or a skeleton? We don’t have anything to defend ourselves!”

 - “Yelling wouldn’t do any favors though.” – She told and crossed her arms. – “Instead of scaring them away, they would just detect you both faster.”

 - “Good luck to us then. We didn’t train to attack mobs.” – Tubbo explained. – “Yet.”

 - “If Dad just trained us for that…” – Tommy mumbled to himself. – “But no. Apparently, we have to wait a few more months to be trained.”

 - “Woah…” – The girl sounded in surprise as the three continued to walk. – “Still that long? I heard you could be 11 to be trained.”

 - “That’s why you were lucky to be trained earlier!”

 - “Yeah…” – She now said in a nervous tone to them. – “Trained…”

Somehow, the boys didn’t notice her tone as they passed through a small stone bridge over a river.

 - “How long have you known this forest?” – Tubbo asked in curiosity.

 - “1 year… One year and a half?” – She thought out loud as she tried to remember. – “Yeah. That’s how long.”

 - “Pog!” – Both said in amazement.

 - “I guess you saw everything around here.” – The blonde boy let out.

 - “Yep. Everything. Soo much that I get nauseated sometimes from constantly watching it. A fountain, an abandoned farm, a few rivers, a place full of bees…”

 - “Bees?!?” – Tubbo spoke in surprise. – “I love them! Where?”

 - “I’ll show you there someday else. If we ever meet again though. Which wouldn’t be hard, considering I hang around a lot of the time.”

When she finished saying that a zombie roar was heard, making the trio stop walking.

 - “Quick, hide!” – She whispered to them before pushing them into bushes and getting inside herself too.

As they hid, they see a zombie passing through the pathway at a slow speed. As he walked, he left feathers.

 - “Geez…” – Tubbo said in a whisper. – “I wonder how the zombies get those feathers around them.”

 - “Maybe fro- “– Tommy was saying in the normal volume until the girl shushed him, making him whisper. – “Maybe from eating a chicken or something. Sorry. I don’t normally realize that I’m being too loud.”

Eventually, the zombie left from their sight. After waiting a bit, the coast was surely clear.

 - “Ok we can leave.” – The blonde girl said to the boys, making the three get out of the bushes and clean themselves by brushing with their hands.

 - “Got a stick inside my shirt…” – Tommy said as he took out said stick from it. – “Didn’t get hurt though.” – Suddenly, Tubbo gagged and spit out some leaves. – “Woah! What happened?”

 - “I accidentally *cough* a-ate some lea- *ptu* leaves as I got up.” – He let out as he continued to spit out.

 - “Give me a sign if you are okay.” – The girl said as he patted his back to help. After a bit of spitting and gagging, Tubbo made an “ok” sign with his hand. – “Breathe in and out. Thank Notch.”

 - “Ugh… Thanks… Uh…” – The blonde boy was saying as he hugs Tommy, making the latter be the next one to pat his back.

 - “Let me help, Tubs.” – Tom said to him. When Tubbo was finally in condition to continue to walk, it is what they did. Then, Tommy realized something: - “Hey. We never got your name.”

 - “Neither yours.” – She countered.

 - “Touché.”

 - “We can tell our names if you tell ours.” – Tubbo said. – “I was going to ask but wasn’t still feeling well.”

The girl went silent after that as they took a turn on a pathway detour. Both boys thought that she didn’t feel comfortable sharing that. When they were going to apologize…

 - “Chaos.”

 - “Huh?” – Both boys asked in confusion.

 - “My name is Chaos. Nice to meet you both.” – She clarified and gave them a smirk.”

 - “Oh… Funny name I might say.” – The brown-haired boy commented.

 - “Now… Yours?”

 - “Tommy.” – The blonde boy answered.

 - “Tubbo.” – The other boy replied too.

 - “Funny names too.” – She let out to see if they take offense, considering they said the same thing about her name.

 - “Hey!” – Both boys sounded where Chaos just laughed.

 - “I’m the only one that can’t say that your names are funny now? Ugh!” – Said in a fake annoyance.

 - “No no no! We- “– Tommy was saying until he noticed her smirk. – “Oh, you fool!”

 - “Uh… I didn’t want to break the mood but…” – Tubbo interrupted as he looked at the sky. – “Chaos, you have a faster route? I think it is becoming late.”

 - “Only if you run instead.” – She told him.

 - “Welp, better go then. Guide us!” – Tommy said.

With that, they run to where they should go before the sun sets.

Phil was a man with a lot of patience. He built a lot of buildings that could take years to be built. He killed a lot of wither skeletons just to get three perfectly good skulls, no matter if it took days to get them. He collected mobs for some farmers, no matter if it took him weeks thanks to either falling from a big height, exploding, teleported away, or being killed in any other way.

But one thing he didn’t have much patience for was waiting at the door of his house for his two adoptive kids to return from the forest, no matter how experienced in parenting he is.

He doesn’t even know why they are taking too long! He told them to follow only the pathways he indicated. He even took some walks with them to know better those pathways.

But he guesses that they were too curious.

Philza sighs as he looks to the sky, seeing the sun setting himself. He swears that, if they take longer, he will fly and find them, hug them, and scold them for not listening, just to hug them back.

When it looked like it was going to happen, he sees the two mentioned boys coming back, with Tubbo looking covered in mud, together with a blonde girl. Who was she?

At last, they open the door of the fences around the property and notice Phil at the house’s door, waiting with a concerned but serious expression.

 - “Uh… Hi Dadza…” – Tommy greeted nervously. – “Sorry for taking a bit long. We got- “

 - “Lost?” – He asked, finishing his phrase, which was received with nods from them. Eventually, he sighs with relief and comes to them to hug both and tell them: - “I’m glad you are both okay mates.” – He breaks the hug to add: - “But next time, don’t think that my instructions about walking around the forests are suggestions. I was getting worried.”

 - “Sorry…” – Tubbo let out as Tommy nervously rubbed his neck.

Chaos just smiled a bit behind them. She was glad she was able to help them. After that, she tried to walk away cautiously and fast to come back to her place.

However, considering Phil already noticed her, she didn’t even take a step before he decided to thank her:

 - “Hey.” – She turned back. – “I suppose you helped my boys come back.”

 - “Uh… Yes, sir.” – She replied. – “They looked lost and helped them. Though I scared them a bit.”

 - “Well, thank you for helping them come back.”

 - “You’re… Welcome.” – She said nervously.

 - “Now, you both.” – Phil looked at his sons. – “Go back inside and take a bath. Dinner will be ready soon.”

 - “Yes, Dad.” – Both said before turning to their… new friend? They just met and chatted a few things so it’s close enough.

 - “Thanks again Chaos. Have a good night!” – Tommy said as he waved and went inside.

 - “We hope we can meet again. Good night too.” – Tubbo was next on doing the same.

 - “Good night! You’re welcome!” – She waved back with a smile. With them being back at their home, Chaos looked at the sky and said: - “I think I should be going to my house too.”

 - “Isn’t that dangerous, Chaos? In the middle of the night, with the mobs?” – Phil asked. Then, he picks up his communicator to inquire next: - “I can call your parents to pick you up. Just need the codes.”

 - “Uh…” – Chaos let out, not knowing what to say. Luckily, she got an idea after a bit: - “Their communicators don’t work. They are trying to get new ones. And no worries. Unlike Tommy and Tubbo, I follow the instructions to go around there.”

As she finished saying that she pointed at the forest where she brought her new friends back here.

 - “Are you sure? I can come with you.”

 - “Thanks, sir. But I can defend myself. I was trained early…” – This last part was said in a nervous tone. – “I can also come back here to prove though.”

 - “Alright. I trust you then. I guess… See you tomorrow.”

 - “Good night.”

With that, Phil went inside and closed the front door, while Chaos went back to the forest to go back home.

As she went around the pathways, Chaos thought about what happened at the end of the day. On one hand, she meets two new… Friends? She must socialize more to be actual friends, in her opinion, but, right now, they were alright. They were easy to talk to and joke with without problems. Also, she hopes to meet them again. Maybe now she wouldn’t be so lonely.

Which is related to the downside of today. She remembered her new friends saying that she was lucky to be trained early. And, in the case of their dad, about her parents. The problem? Well… You’ll see.

At last, she got on the pathway that would lead to her home. After a bit more walking, there was a detour, different from before. She crossed the middle, which was blocked by some vegetation. After a bit of struggle, she reached her place.

It was very small and open. A campfire that is now without fire on it, a chest, an opening to a small dead-end cave, a log, and a sleeping bag. It wasn’t a lot but, for her, was the best.

She sat on the log and took two sticks to try to make a fire on the campfire. When she got some flame, she threw said sticks to it and put her hands near it, to warm herself. Then, she picked up her communicator, which is a bit broken, to see the date, making her sigh.

 - “Welp. One year and 2 months since that fateful day.” – She said to herself. – “Since I lost my house. Since I had to train myself to survive. Since I had to find the best spot for me, which looks to end weeks ago. And… Since I lost my family.” – She opens the chest to take some cow meat and uses the campfire as a furnace for it. – “A voice in my mind says that I should find a new family. Others say I need to survive alone to avoid dragging others on my problems. Another says that I should explore the world. And the rest?” – She sighs. – “Just random and terrible ideas.”

She waits for the beef to be cooked well. After a lot of time, even finding a stick to draw on the dirt, she saw that it looked good enough and uses the gloves she found to take it and not get burnt. She ate it slowly. When she finished, she brings the sleeping bag close to the fire and gets inside, with the sword inside of a casket with her, in case of intruders.

 - “That goes another day…” – She whispers. – “Surviving in this forest. Good night to me.”

With that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

The next day came fast and, for the morning, Chaos didn't have much to do. She tried to catch some fish in a river but all she was able to get was some seagrass, which tasted horribly. Any fish she spotted swam away fast, frustrating her.

Having not much to do, she decided to visit Tubbo and Tommy earlier. Maybe she can also leave before sunset. With that decided, she tried to remember and walk the way she went yesterday as, eventually, the boys recognized some pathways to home. She still accompanied though.

At last, she exited the forest and went to the house. As she got near, she started to hear music. It was... Calm. And happy. Chaos liked it. Was refreshing. And different in a good way. When she reached the fence around the house, she saw who was making said music. At the door, was sitting a brown-haired man playing the guitar. He wore a white shirt, black jacket, black pants, and black shoes. He looked very concentrated on his guitar. Eventually, he played a different rhythm for a second, making him stop and yell:

 - "Come on! I was doing so well! It's ruined." - He sighs in frustration. - "I have to play it from the start."

 - "That wasn't that bad." - Chaos commented... A bit too loud, catching the man's attention.

 - "And what you know?" - He asked with a raised eyebrow. - "And did I ask your opinion?"

 - "Wow, I was just commenting. Geez... Rude."

 - "At least, you look like a mature child. My brothers... Are between also mature or not."

 - "They wouldn't be happy hearing you say this."

 - "Yet isn't a lie. Yesterday they got lost in the forest easily!"

 - "At least it was hard to not make a mistake on directions. Unlike the mistake you just made."

The man just stares at her for that last comment. Not being able to be serious when seeing his glaring face, Chaos just laughs.

 - "I take out what I said before." - He finally said. - "You're not mature at all." - Gained a "Hey!" from the blonde. - "Anyways, what did you want? Got lost?"

 - "Uh... Actually..." - She started saying.

 - "Wilbur! I came back!" - Tubbo's voice was heard as he was coming back home. - "Miss Uffe told me to order you to give the guitar books ba-" - Then notices who was also there, making him surprised and say: - "Chaos! Hi!"

 - "Hi Tubbo." - She greeted back.

 - "Wait... You both know each other?" - The brown-haired man, with the name Wilbur, raised an eyebrow at both and asked.

 - "She's the one I and Tommy told you about yesterday." - Tubbo replied.

 - "Oh, that one?" - Will asked again but, this time, was rhetoric. He turns back to her to tell: - "Thanks then for showing that they had to be saved by a girl."

 - "Hey!"

 - "Yeah..." - Chaos says while laughing. - "Younger than them too and they run away of fear before I 'saved' them."

Tubbo glares at her for not helping, while Wilbur just snickers.

 - "You bunch of kids..." - The latter whispers in the laugh. Both the youngers didn't hear it. Then, he thinks: - "Though it would be worse with the gremlin."

Soon, the middle of the day came, and Phil and Tommy came back. The former was trying to get some debt done for something while the latter was with his group Business Bay. Chaos had forgotten to ask why the name was but decided to put it aside for now.

Right now, Phil was preparing a barbecue in an outdoor furnace. It was planned for a week from what she found out. Meanwhile, Wilbur tried to resume his songwriting, and she, Tubbo, and Tommy were trying to play a game of bow and arrows. The keyword is trying as the only two arrows that hit were from Chaos and Tommy and even then they almost miss while the rest 23 arrows were just shot around.

 - "Shoot! Our aim sucks!" - Tubbo stated.

 - "Can I ask again why we agreed on this game?" - Chaos asked as she put another arrow on her bow.

 - "Because we didn't have any other ideas and Dad recommended this." - Tommy said. - "Not pog."

 - "Expand your vocabulary because I'm tired of hearing 'Not pog!' every 3 arrows shoot."

 - "Hey!" - The blonde boy tried to punch them lightly on her shoulder for what he thought was an insult... As she shoots the arrow, making her accidentally misses her target and flies against a window.

The good news was that it was open, so it didn't get broken so no anger from the father. Bad news? A plushie sound was heard from inside.

 - "Gasp!" - Tommy sounded in a worried tone. - "HENRY!"

 - "Henry?" - She asked in confusion as he ran inside.

 - "It's his cow doll." - Tubbo explained.

 - "Still sleeps with one?" - She raised her eyebrow.

 - "No. Now is just laying on a desk in the living room."

 - "Oh..."

 - "Fiu..." - Tommy sounded with relief as he went to the same window where the arrow flew inside. - "I was lucky. It didn't stab that deep. I didn't have to Hey, Chaos. There's a hole in your coat."

 - "Huh?!?" - She gets confused and picks one side of her open coat to see that there is a hole in the coat. - "How did I get it?"

Tubbo shrugs as Tommy left from the window. Then, the former tried to come to her as he asks:

 - "Can I take the coat? Tommy ca-"

 - "NO!" - She yells as she backs away fast and protectively holds her coat, making Tubbo surprised at that reaction. When she noticed the scene she caused, she apologized: - "Sorry..."

 - "Did anyone get hurt, mates?" - Philza asked from the furnace with a concerned expression as he heard the yell. - "Do I need to come there?"

 - "No! It's okay!" - Tubbo replied to his father, adding a lie: - "We thought we saw a spider."

 - "Ah I see! But don't forget that they only attack in the day if you attack them first."

 - "Understood!” – Then, he turns to Chaos with a confused expression to inquire: - “What’s wrong?”

 - “Uh… It’s… A special coat. I never take it off. Became part of my style I guess.” – She explains in an embarrassed tone as she rubs her neck.

 - “Oh, I get it. Like my green shirt!” – Tubbo says as he points to his shirt. – “It’s normally the only shirts I own. I have more variety though.”

 - “I… It’s the only coat I have.”

 - “Really?”

 - “Yeah… I clean it every day to be able to use it every day.”

 - “You don’t have to, you know?” – He inquires with a raised eyebrow.

 - “No but I want.”

 - “Ok… If that’s what you like, I’m happy.”

 - “Thanks…” – The girl tells as Tommy left the house with a kit of knitting.

 - “I have the kit!” – The blonde boy declared as he walks back to them. – “Can I sew the coat?”

 - “You know how to sew?” – Chaos asked in curiosity.

 - “Yeah. I was taught at the orphanage.” – He confirms. – “Though I wasn’t much a fan of it.”

 - “I see…”

 - “Can I sew the hole on the coat then?”

 - “Can I keep wearing it?”

 - “Uh… Sure.”

With that, the three kids went to a table put outside for the barbecue lunch. It did have a pinched finger twice but, after a bit, the hole disappeared, replaced by a blue material.

 - “And…” – Tommy says as Tubbo helps cut the thread. – “Done!”

Chaos looks at where the hole was and smiles. He really did a good job.

 - “Thanks dude.” – She tells him but before Tommy could say anything…

 - “At last!” – Wilbur yells as he gets out of the house with his guitar. – “I finished the song!”

 - “What is it called?” – Tubbo asks.

 - “It’s- “

 - “It’s called ‘Food is Ready, Wilbur Come Help Me’.” – Phil says as he starts taking the cooked meat to a plate.

 - “Fine dad…” – Wilbur grumbles as he puts the guitar down and goes to help him. But not before whispering to the kids: - “It’s actually ‘Old Times’.”

 - “Ah and kids. Mind setting the table? It would help.” – The father tells his adopted sons and the girl, making them do it right away.

 - “It was nice your dad let me stay for lunch.” – Chaos tells them as she picks up the towel.

 - “Yeah, of course. He wouldn’t want anyone leave hungry.” – Tubbo states as he helps her stretch the towel on the table.

 - “You said that your parents would be busy around these hours so…” – Tommy says as he puts the plates down.

 - “Yeah… True.” – She says while rubbing her neck in nervousness.

 - “And here’s the food coming! Let me set it!” – The music man yells as he comes with the food plate and sets it down.

 - “I’m just picking some potatoes and carrots and we should be good.” – Phil warns as he goes to the house. But…

 - “Did someone say potatoes and carrots?” – A different voice came out. Looking at where it came from, everybody saw what it looks like an anthropomorphic pig wearing a crown, a white dress shirt, a red royal gown, grey pants, and black boots trying to open the fence door. – “Dude… Every time I try to open this, it takes a bit.” – He finally opens the door. – “And… Done.”

 - “TECHNO!” – Tommy and Tubbo throw the cutlery to the table to run to him and hug him.

 - “Woah, hey!” – He sounded caught out guard as they hug him but still hugs back. – “Uh… I missed you too.”

 - “Still the usual with affection, Technoblade?” – Wilbur came to him to hug with one arm, as the two younger brothers let go, and inquire.

 - “Sorta...” – The pigman replied while hugging with one arm too. – “Just things that don’t go away from you, y’ know?”

 - “Right.” – Wilbur lets go and agrees.

 - “Old Friend.” – Philza’s next one coming to the greet with a closed smile. – “I didn’t expect you to visit, like… This soon.”

 - “I just came from an adventure and came past here, remembering that you all live here so I thought ‘You know what? Why not?’ and decided to visit.”

 - “Happy to see you, mate.”

Chaos was just looking from behind. Ah… How much she misses the times when a friend from his dad came and was very nice. Though, unfortunately, by age 10, he didn’t come anymore, for some reason.

At least, he didn’t discover what happened a year later.

She feels uncomfortable when thinking about that and shakes herself off. Positives thoughts!

 - “So… What are you doin’?” – Technoblade then asked after saying a few details about his adventure.

 - “We were just going to have a barbecue. Want to join us?” – Philza answered.

 - “Eh. Why not? Just don’t eat relatives and we have a deal.” – He agreed while joking, earning a few laughs.

As he came to the outdoor table, he noticed Chaos. Not knowing her, he just stared with a confused expression on the inside but an unimpressed one on the outside. As for her… The uncomfortable feeling came again.

 - “Uh… Hi?” – She tried to greet with a bit of fear. Feeling intimidated? She doesn’t know.

Luckily, while not changing his expression, it seemed he tried to put two plus two together as he asked Phil:

 - “Uh… Phil. Did you adopt another child?”

 - “Wait wha-?” – She couldn’t finish as Tommy came to interrupt her.

 - “It’s our new friend. Her parents are busy so she’s staying with us!”

 - “Yeah! She didn’t want to be lonely.” – Tubbo added.

 - “… Alright.” – Turns back to her. – “I reckon you have a name?”

 - “It’s Chaos… Sir.” – She answered, feeling intimidated.

 - “Don’t call me ‘Sir’. It truly makes me feel old. At best, call me ‘Techno’.” – He gets a grin and carefully looks aside at Phil. – “I won’t be stealin’ that title from a certain someone.”

 - “He-Hey!” – Philza shuttered and glared with a smile, knowing the joke, as everyone else laughs. – “What’s supposed to mean?”

 - “Welp. He’s alright. Just… Intimidating.” – The girl thought in her head as the laughter died down.

 - “Okay everyone.” – The old man decided to end the talk for now as he clapped to get attention. – “Finish putting the cutlery as I’m going to get the rest. It’s going to get cold. We can talk while eating.”

Everyone agreed as Tommy and Tubbo put the rest of the cutlery, Wilbur put the food on the plate with Technoblade’s help, Phil went to get the potatoes and carrots and Chaos went to get some napkins to help more.

The lunch happened without much trouble. Sure: Chaos kind of almost munched down the food very fast due to not eating enough cooked food that tasted more than the usual ‘good enough’, Tubbo saw a bee and almost pricked with the fork on his cheek due to distraction, receiving a laugh from Tommy, that almost lead to Phil showing his sandal for that and Wilbur tried to pass the half-eaten food to Techno to see if he can go back to make music again but a look from his dad made him eat at least more than half of the rest grudgingly but still wasn’t that big of a deal.

While eating, they also talked, going from more about the Blade’s adventure to catching up with recent news. The last one bored the kids, so they talked a bit about their interests.

Chaos was keen on sharing a few of her interests like sword fighting or dogs but when asked about what she does at her home, she had to lie because better not to burden them knowing that all she does is explore the forest, fish, cook, clean and sleep by herself, without an actual home.

Though the forest is kind of a home for her. But the point still stands.

After eating, they went playing a bit more with the bow and arrows until they could shoot the center of the target. After a lot of time, they gave up having at best hit the target 20 times from the one hundred and a bit more attempts. By that time, Chaos noticed how much time passed by looking at the sun and decided that she had to go.

 - “I had fun guys. But I must go. I don’t want to have to walk home in the dark.” – She told her new friends.

 - “Aw…” – Tommy let out, not happy for the fun being cut short.

 - “But you come back tomorrow?” – Tubbo asked hopefully.

 - “Of course!”

With that, they said their byes and handwaves. After that, Chaos went to the fence’s door.

 - “Leaving already?” – She stopped in her tracks at the said door at the voice, making her turn to see Philza looking at her. He was cleaning the furnace, having forgotten to do it earlier. Techno had left to store his findings, promising to show up another time, and Wilbur went to perfect his new song.

 - “Uh… Yeah. I don’t want to go home in the dark.”

 - “Want a ride? It could be faster.”

 - “Uh… No, sir. No need.”

 - “Alright. But if you ever want, the door is always open.”

 - “I’ll… Think about it.” – She said with a smile and when going…

 - “Oh, by the way!” – Chaos turned again at him. – “No need to be that formal. Call me Phil. Even when just knowing you recently, I see how friendly you were with my kids. Okay?”

 - “Oh… Thanks… Phil… I guess?” – And then went to the forest.

There, as she walked back home, she had those voices again. One saying that she should tell them the truth. Another is that she just knew them yesterday or even today so she shouldn’t trust them. And one that stated that she interacted well with them so, when ready, she will ask for help.

She always has been careful with her choices when those voices come, making her doubt. And this situation was no different.

 - “I will tell when ready…” – She thinks. – “Just not now. I don’t want to drag them into this mess this soon.”

Days went by and Chaos went constantly to her new friends’ house (“Minecraft” as their surname? Seriously? Their family created the Minecraftia world or what?). She always left when the sun seemed to set down. Some days earlier, others later. She always tried to be careful about the time.

During that time, she discovered more and more about her friends and their family. From Tubbo, about Redstone Use and Building. From Tommy, about Scams and Adventure. From Philza, about his Cooking Skills and Knowledge about Mob Farms. And from Wilbur, about His Way of Creating the Perfect Music and Stories. Techno hasn’t visited again so no new info about him.

Chaos was having a good time and easily considered the best moments of her hard life.

However, when having a good time, she got distracted from the time.

It was a few weeks after saving Tubbo and Tommy from being lost in the forest. The sun has gone down already, and Chaos forgot why she had to go home before the sunset as she was having too much fun. She accepted the offer to eat dinner with them to keep playing.

Right now, the three kids were playing cards in the living room. However, in a card game, it could be frustrating if there’s a certain rule.

 - “For the last time, Tommy!” – Tubbo said in frustration. – “You surely can’t put a 2 plus card on a 4 plus card to avoid taking the cards from the deck. Even if it’s from the same color as the one asked.”

 - “I only have two cards.” – Tommy protested. – “I was going to win!”

 - “You were.” – Chaos ratified with a grin. – “Now you must wait longer than the size of you being a bad loser.”

 - “I’m not a bad loser!”

 - “You’re just reinforcing my point.”

 - “Grrr… Next time, I shoot with the bow!” – He didn’t mean it literally but still…

 - “Unfortunately, I guess you wouldn’t miss.” – Tubbo added. – “You have been improving the aim. How?”

 - “A friend of mine taught me how to improve.”

 - “One day, you have to convince your friend to teach me too.”

 - “No way, Tubbster. You won’t be better than the big man here.”

 - “One question.” – The girl said, getting their attention. Then, with a grin, she jokingly asked: – “What ‘Big Man’ we are talking about?”

The brown-haired boy just laughed out loud, while the blonde one just glared. Chaos couldn’t keep serious due to Tommy’s face when mad, making her laugh.

 - “You big… I wish I could swear.” – The humiliated boy sighed with frustration and muttered.

When the laughing ceased, Chaos looks outside. What a nice dark blue sky.

Wait…

Uh oh.

She panicked when she remembers why she couldn’t stay here for the night. If she gets robbed?

Her friends probably noticed it as they got concerned.

 - “Chaos, what’s wrong?” – Tubbo asked.

 - “It’s past the sunset! I must go home right now!” – She said as she got up.

 - “Wait wait!” – Tommy tried to get her attention. – “Listen, it’s very dark. Isn’t that unsafe?”

 - “I have my sword, which is at the entrance.”

 - “And armor?” – Tubbo pointed out. – “If the mobs attack you?”

 - “Well…” – She had to admit he had a good point. In a forest, it’s easier to get stronger mobs. Luckily, she ended up choosing a safe area, or she wouldn’t live to tell the story. Then, she added hesitantly: – “My-My parents will be worried about me!”

 - “Maybe you can ask Dad if he can bring you home? At least, near it?”

 - “…” – Chaos tried to think about another alternative but didn’t come up with anything. In the end… - “Fine…”

After asking for Phil to accompany her and saying her goodbyes, with the addition of hugs, Chaos went into the forest in the company of Phil. And to tell the truth, being accompanied made her nervous to the bones. She hid her life condition well and managed to leave before sunset for weeks to avoid being offered to be accompanied home. Now, she had no choice.

At least she hopes that she can be left near her place.

 - “Chaos?”

 - “Huh?” – The girl in question snapped from her thoughts at being called and looks at Phil. – “What?”

 - “I was asking if you had fun today, mate.”

 - “Uh… Yeah. Totally. Sorry… Just not used to being accompanied from your home to mine.”

 - “It’s alright. There are things you get used to very much that a change makes someone easily confused and distracted.”

 - “Yeah…”

 -“Can I ask a ques- Enderman!” – He was asking until he noticed the mob he mentioned, making him and the girl look down until they avoid it. After a good distance, they looked up. – “Can I ask a question?”

 - “Sure.”

 - “Not that I don’t like you coming and being with my kids. Far from that. But… Like… Why come every day, mate?” – Chaos stopped in her tracks, not getting what he meant, as Phil stopped too. – “You don’t have any other friends?”

 - “…” – The blonde girl was hesitant on answering that for a moment.

 - “If it makes you uncomfortable, I apologize, mate.” – Philza said next. – “I d-“

 - “No.” – Chaos interrupted. – “It has been only my parents. Anyone I meet didn’t know me enough before having to move away.”

 - “Oh…” – The man let out as they resumed walking. – “So… Tommy and Tubbo were pretty much your first official friends?”

 - “Yeah…”

 - “I see…”

 - “I admit I’m kind of surprised being friends with them due to the lack of my skills. Acquaintances? Sure. But friends? I thought it would take longer.”

 - “Friendship is different in every way, from what I know. Sometimes talk a lot, other times don’t talk much but have an understanding between them, others never had friends and at the first opportunity, they do their best.” – He smiles at her. – “I’m totally sure that you apply to this last one.”

 - “I guess…” – Then, Chaos notices that she is near the detour that would lead to her home, making her stop. – “I think I’m good to go alone from here. I’m near enough.”

 - “Are you sure?”

 - “Yeah. I’m pretty sure.”

 - “Okay.” – He puts a hand on her shoulder. – “Have a good night. Anything, my door is open.”

 - “Thanks… Good night… Phil.”

With that, she went to the detour, looking back to see if Phil was seeing her. She even went past the detour. When the coast was clear, she went through the bushes to go to her place.

But, as she was near, she heard stuff being moved and thrown. And considering that she remembered that the way she is going is her place…

 - “Oh no…” – She whispered.

When she got near and hid in some bushes, she sees people looking around and trashing her place.  They looked to be looking for something or someone.

She had an idea of who might be but was ambiguous for now.

 -“Maybe they are just vandals, like last time.” – She thought. – “Trashing the place and a-“

 - “She isn’t here!” – One of them warned the rest of the team.

 - “Or she moved, or this is from another person. Or is abandoned.” – Another one said.

 - “We can’t have those assumptions yet. Our boss said loud and clear: We need to get the girl. We can recognize her with her blue coat.”

 - “Uh… Oh…” – She whispers as she looks down. Then, she gets up and tries to leave slowly. – “Maybe if I don’t make any sou-“

*CRACK*

 - “Who’s there?!?” – One of the men heard the tree branch being broken by Chaos’ right foot.

 - “Got to run now!” – She thought, making her do it… A bit too late as she was spotted and recognized.

 - “IT’S HER! CHASE AFTER HER!”

With that, a mad chase happened in that forest. Chaos tried to foil them by taking detours she only knew. However, they were able to follow her without changing speed. Eventually, it turned into trying to dodge the arrows they were shooting at her with worked!

… Until a skeleton, that was able to aim at her and shoot with its own bow. The good news is that didn’t hit her directly. The bad news is that it did shave her leg a bit deep, making her fall on the pathway of pain.

 - “AH!” – She yelled as she fell. She looks at the side of her right leg to see that is red on the injury. Hopefully, it’s not enough to bleed from there. – “My leg… I hope I can still-“

 - “Surrender to us, yes.” – The man of the group chasing her said as they all pointed their bows at her. When Chaos looks back, she gets terrified. – “You escaped from our grasp for too long. Now it’s over.”

The said man motioned for the others to get her, which was what they are going to do. As it happened, Chaos closed her eyes of fear and whispered:

 - “I guess it is it then…”

But… Suddenly, she feels someone landing behind her, making her confused. When opening her eyes, she sees the group chasing her terrified to their bones. Looking up, she realizes that it was Philza who landed behind her with his elytra. And to say that he’s not happy with those men doesn’t begin to cover it.

 - “May I ask what the hell you’re doing?” – He asked rhetorically with a glare.

 - “HOLY FUCK!” – One of them yelled.

 - “PHILZA MINECRAFT!” – Another of them yelled next.

 - “RETREAT!” – The last one ordered last.

With that, they ran away to avoid facing his wrath. When they went out of his vision, Phil looked down to see Chaos looking at him with her bruised leg, with a confused expression. How they recognized him?

 - “Better take care of your leg.” – Phil said. – “Grab my hand.”

Chaos tried to get up and grabbed his hand. After that, Phil used his elytra to fly up with, and at the same time, the girl hops on his back. With that, they flew back to the “driver’s” house.

After a few good minutes, they finally reached their destination and landed. Chaos slid down to the ground and Phil helped her get in while grabbing her hand, warning her to not be loud as he supposes his sons are sleeping. Better not worry the others.

When they got in, Chaos was put on the sofa where she lay on it, feeling a bit of pain from the injury on the leg.

 - “I’m going to get a potion, a bit of ice, and bandages. Stretch meanwhile to see if it hurts a lot.” – He whispers.

The girl nods at that, making him go get the stuff. Meanwhile, she tried to stretch her leg. Luckily, it hurt her a bit but wasn’t that much of a pain. When Phil comes with the stuff, he gives the potion to Chaos for her to drink, which does that. At the same time, he puts some ice on her injury and bandages around in a way the ice doesn’t escape in any way.

 - “Alright. The ice will stay there for a bit. After a bit, I will take it out and bandage it properly and put something warm above it, understood?”

 - “Yes, uh… Phil.” – Chaos replied.

 - “Now…” – He sits on the sofa. The girl feels that a conversation is going to happen. – “What happened?”

 - “Uh…” – She feels that she will eventually confess the truth. She could try to lie but… Will it last more than this night? Eventually, she sighed as she recognized that she had no choice but first answered the question: – “They chased me, and a skeleton shoot an arrow against my leg. I couldn’t get up before they reached me.”

 - “I see… They caught you out at your house, I assume?” – He’s met with silence. – “Chaos?”

 - “I lied…”

 - “You… What?”

 - “I lied!” – She raised her arms as she made it clearer. She almost yelled. – “About everything. I lied to all of you. I… I don’t have a house. I’ve been alone. Every time changing places like a nomad to sleep, to not be caught by those guys-“

 - “Hey hey hey.” – Phil tried to calm her down, which he could do as she stopped rambling and looking at him. – “Take a deep breath and start from the beginning.”

Chaos breathes in and out for a bit to organize what she is going to tell. When she was ready, she started:

 - “These people… Have been chasing me for some time. They killed my parents, leaving me and my brother to run away. When they were getting closer to us, my brother made me go alone for me to gain a distance. Since then, I’ve been going from place to place, escaping, and surviving alone. Eating either by stealing or from the land. I couldn’t guard down without the fear of them catching me.” – She carefully bends her knees and hugs to avoid hurting her legs. – “I’ve been alone for a long time.”

 - “…” – Phil was silent for the whole time, processing what she said. Then… - “How long?”

 - “Since… 11.”

 - “Wha- F-For almost 2 years?!?” – He was speechless. She was hiding for that long? – “Why didn’t you get help?”

 - “I…” – She sighs. – “I didn’t want to bring anyone else into my problems. I lost my parents. I lost my brother. I didn’t want anyone losing their life too.”

 - “Like Techno…” – Phil thought. He remembered the first times with him. He didn’t talk much about his feelings and rarely brought up problems he had unless it was clear to him that he can’t do it alone. Nowadays, he got better at that stuff but only with him. For the others, no. At that, he said: - “Now you have us.”

 - “… You don’t need to-“

 - “Chaos, you almost endangered yourself. Even if you have survived for a long time, it’s too dangerous to continue alone.”

 - “I don’t want to drag you all on this though…” – Chaos looked away, not wanting to it happen. Philza was having none of it though.

 - “I don’t want to leave you in danger too, so…”

 - “…” – Chaos was silent for a moment. She really didn’t want this to happen, but she guesses that she has no choice. – “Fine…”

 - “Alright. Now… I’m going to bandage properly.”

With that, Phil takes the bandage out to remove the ice from her leg, taking it to a sink. After that, he came back to bandage again the leg. Then, he gets up and leaves to come back with a blanket.

 - “I think we had enough for this night, don’t we?” He says with a warm smile while putting a blanket above her. Chaos isn’t sure if that was a joke or an actual question. – “Have a good night, Chaos. You’re safe.”

 - “Uh… Thanks…”

Philza smiles again at her before leaving for his bedroom, not without looking back a few times.

Chaos carefully turned and looked at the ground. She feels that this is going to be a big change in her life came to be. She stays awake while thinking. At last, she closes slowly her eyes to sleep.

In another place, a chair is thrown against a wall.

 - “YOU LAZY IDIOTS!” – A figure yelled in anger at the group of men that tried to catch Chaos earlier, that feared him. – “You can’t do anything right?!? You had an easy location to get her and with lack of help and you STIL FAILED!”

 - “B-B-But sir, she was being protected by Philza!” – One of them explained with nervousness. – “We weren’t with enough armor to try to defeat him!”

The boss was going to yell again until he thought better. He hated to admit that his men had a point. They were always able to defeat a lot of armies and one-man armies with ease. However, when it comes to people considered legends, it needed a lot of preparation, and even then, isn’t a guaranteed victory.

 - “For the love of Notch…” – He muttered. – “You all at least have any useful info to try to find her again?!?”

All the present men shook their heads hesitantly. When it looked like their leader was going to yell and punish them, someone barges in, revealing to be a man that the group forgot that he was with them.

 - “Sir! Sir! I apologize for an unsuccessful mission, but I know something useful!” – He declared.

 - “Spit it out then!” – The leader orders him, making the man spit on the ground, making the former livid. – “TELL THE INFORMATION YOU NAIVE BRAINLESS!”

 - “I know where she might be! I went back to follow fast Philza and the girl’s flight and found where they hid.”

With that, their leader is silent for a minute. Then, he gets a grin of satisfaction.

 - “You’re all lucky you had something truly useful. Now SCRAM!” – His men left his room in a hurry. – “I promised that I would defeat an entire family for what that couple did and nothing and nobody will stop me!” – He goes to a chest and takes from it a book. – “These plans were going to be used to take over a simple village. But I guess that this must do. With some additions.”

He looks at a photo of Chaos, that is nailed on the wall.

 - “You will understand why I must do this. When someone gets in the way of my army, the whole family gets punished!”