#fundyangstweek2022

“Dream!”

The visions never lie. Come today, his lover will be dead.

‘Eleka nahmen nahmen

Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen

Eleka nahmen nahmen

Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen…’

The words poured from his tongue, bitter yet familiar against his lips. Flickering candlelight bathed the room, his murmurs harmonizing with the whispers of their smoke. The rough carpet scratched at his knees, but it was nothing compared to the dull ache in his bones and the ever growing panic in his chest. His hands were clasped, eyes pressed tightly as though if he were to will it, then it would be so. He should be wary. He knew the gods. He knew their games. Yet here he was again, at the mercy of their fickle kindness, pleading with them to spare the man he loves.

‘Let his flesh not be torn

Let his blood leave no stain

Though they beat him

Let him feel no pain

Let his bones never break

And however they try

To destroy him

Let him never die

Let him never die’

Perhaps it was betrayal, Fundy’s had his fair share, to wish for the life of a man no one cared for. No, that wasn’t true. Fundy cared for him. He’d cared for him even when his father was nothing but a corpse in the ground and when his homeland was nothing but a shattered forgotten melody.

‘Eleka nahmen nahmen

Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen

Eleka nahmen nahmen

Ah tum ah tum eleka... eleka…’

He knew deep down his wish would not be granted, and even if it was, how cruel would the gods be in twisting his words? The chant was confused, chaotic. His wishes conflicted. He prayed for his lover’s safety. He prayed for his safety. He prayed that Yogurt didn’t wake to find him like this. It was too much, the prayer turned to a shrill shriek. The candles flew across the room, the force that propelled them had been enough to snuff their light. He was in darkness once again.

“Ugh! What good is this chanting? I don't even know what I'm reading!” Fundy sobbed out, “I don't even know what trick I ought to try… Dream, where are you? Already dead or bleeding?”

He thought of his lover, lost to the soil - where he could not follow, his own soul claimed by the ocean. Fundy choked out a sob, gripping at the edges of his hair. Why did the gods damn him? Why was he cursed to live in tragedy? “One more disaster I can add to my generous supply?”

Oh… but he knew why.

“No good deed goes unpunished. No act of charity goes unresented.” His hands eased on his hair, his legs coming to a stiff stand. The words washed over him, harsh yet kind. He could feel her hands on his shoulders now, her voice leading him home. Fundy understood now. She was right. She had always been right. “No good deed goes unpunished. That's my new creed.”

From the darkness, he emerged, but the warm light of this… place - this hovel - did nothing to soothe him. From the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of white peek from Yogurt’s bedroom. The sight of his son momentarily calmed him, but then he remembered. He wouldn’t be the only losing Dream. He gave his son a smile. He won’t let them make an orphan of his son. He raced out of the house, the sunlight stung his pale figure, and yet Fundy did not stop. He couldn’t stop.

“My road of good intentions led where such roads always lead.” His steps were graceful, skirting past jutting rocks and leaping across babbling brooks. His ears sharp, easily dodging any mob or person that had come to call the forest their home. Fundy paid no heed to the mortal world, for he had always been above it. He should have known from the first wish, when it all came burning down into soot. The gods, cruel or kind as they may be, did not grant the wishes of other divinities. Unless they wanted them. Unless they weren’t protected by a higher being. His wishes were born to be curses. That was always her design. “No good deed goes unpunished…”

Wilbur…

He only wished that his father wasn’t so busy.

New L’Manburg…

He only wished to protect his home from Technoblade.

Dream...

“Dream!” He could see him now. He could see the executioner’s blade too.

“One question haunts and hurts. Too much, too much to mention…” He wished Dream would look his way, but this wasn’t for him. This was to save the man he loved and to save his son’s father. This story was never about him. “Was I really seeking good? Or just seeking attention?”

Fundy weaved through the trees, as much as he would love to see Dream before he left, he knew that the ocean would be too far away, and Fundy did not pride his quickness to arrive there in time if he were to stop now. Despite himself, he paused for just a moment. They had thought it fitting that Dream was to be executed near the site of where L’Manburg used to be. An end to the tyrant. An end to all tyrants. Fundy could still hear the chains in his ears, could still see the vision in the back of eyes. His visions never lied. If Fundy doesn't do something, Dream will die here.

“Is that all good deeds are when looked at with an ice-cold eye?” He’d tried to be good his whole life. Maybe he had always been wrong. Maybe, just like the gods, just like her, he was nothing but selfish. “If that's all good deeds are maybe that's the reason why…”

His wishes were curses because he was selfish. Because she was selfish.

“No good deed goes unpunished. All helpful urges should be circumvented.” Well, one last wish then. He’ll pray to her, and he’ll pay the price. “No good deed goes unpunished. Sure, I meant well…”

He could no longer see Dream. He wished he’d told Yogurt how much he loved him.

“Well, look at what well-meant did…”

He wishes she changed her mind about taking him away.

“All right, enough, so be it, so be it then.” He turned to the ocean, the waves clinging to his ankles, pulling him home. “Let all of them be agreed, I'm wicked through and through.”

Dream was not a good man, but Fundy loved him anyway. So yes, he’ll make this wish. He’ll bring her here.

“Since I can not succeed, Dream, saving you.” He can’t do this on his own, but she can. And she only wants one thing in return. “I promise no good deed will I attempt to do again.”

Let her wreak havoc on this godforsaken land. Let her save his lover.

“Ever again.”

It was all he could do to save Dream.

“No good deed will I do again!”

He screamed.

His mother laughed back.

Fundy doesn’t remember anything more, for the ocean had finally claimed its lost offspring.

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