#hearbreaking

It's obviously a cave, surprisingly well lit, carvings line the wall and floor. Nicknacks lay here and there, placed with an unseen purpose.

There are many people, most discussing the artifacts closest to them. Some quieter and standing along the edges.

Off to the side, next to their own section of engraved wall and carved shelves holding what was precious to a people so long ago, is the Batsons.

CC is holding his daughter, whispering to her, relaying ideas of the importance of these objects, explaining what some of the carvings mean. Marilyn, with gloves on and a small, delicate brush, slowly uncovers a colored portion of wall, running protected fingers over the portrait of a man with a lightning bolt on his chest.

"CC come look at this" Marilyn steps back, moving to take their daughter.

CC moves, pulling on his own pair of gloves and taking the brush from Marilyn.

"It's must be one of their myths, this doesn't match any of the Egyptian gods they should have worshiped at this time. This is.... this is insane Marilyn, it says he was a slave. Who... who was chosen by the gods, multiple gods Marilyn, to wield an unimaginable power, which he used to kill the Pharoah. This changes so much of that we knew about their culture. The implications of a human, an enslaved human, ascending to godhood implies the belief of worthiness outside of the bloodline of the Pharoah. I... this is the find of the century for their culture Mare, we have to share this, document it so when it opens for the public, maybe even for worship again, it can retain all its information. The public can have a hero again."

CC was so excited he didn't notice the men around him, moving in position to stand close to the wooden beams holding the roof above their heads.

" I'm afraid this bit of history will have to stay unknown Mr. Batson"

And with that they begin pushing the pillars. Slow at first, destabilizing more and more as the different pillars begin to move from their place.

"What the hell are you doing?" Genuine anger from CC, eyes ablaze with righteous fury "these people deserve to know their history, you can't just bury it again"

"Their history isnt worth keeping if it makes them more difficult to control" said the leader.

Dirt falling more heavily now

"Everyone out, now! Quickly!" CC yells, ushering people towards the tunnel leading to the outside.

Their group begin to run, CC pushing past the men closest to them to push the ones attempting to collapse the exit out of the way.

The damage has been done though, the pillar is slipping further each second. CC places his back to it, pushing and pushing to keep it up long enough for the stragglers to get out, Marilyn stays by his side, ushering their young interns ahead of her, bouncing Mary, trying desperately to keep her calm.

"CC we have to go, drop it, we can make it if we run"

"I'm not taking that chance Marilyn, you go first, I'll follow, I promise"

"Charlie, no, we go together, that was always our agreement, together"

"Mare, you have to get Mary out, I couldn't handle it if she dies because we were too slow. Marilyn look at me" Cornflower blue met ocean ice "I'll follow you, always, go"

Marilyn hesitates for just a moment more, leaning in to kiss him "you better, or im never making you those banana muffins again" a tear leaving her eye.

CC smiles at her, fond and utterly in love, watching as she turns, running after their group, towards the light.

"How heart warming, it's too bad we can't let the two people who saw what this place really contains live" the man pushes the opposite pillar, causing the center to begin collapsing, the piece of wood holding the entire exit tunnel was collapsing.

"NO!" CC screams, placing himself under the center pillar, bracing his shoulders and gritting his teeth. Just a little more, he only had to hold it a little more, and then his girls would be out, would be free, would be safe. He could hold it for another minute "MARILYN RUN!"

A gunshot rings out.

Striking CC directly in his chest.

Blood begins to fill his lung,

His eyes move to stare at the face of his murderer

It's been long enough, it had to of been, but still CC holds the pillar, even as his vision began to gray.

"You know if you were aiming for the heart it's on the other side." CC smiles, blood in his teeth. "And while I'm not making it out of here, I can make damn sure you and your men die down here with me. I would say see you in hell, but I'll be waiting for my wife on the brighter side. So rot where you belong"

And with that CC collapses. Tunnels bearing all their weight down on his back. He held up the earth long enough for his girls to escape, and that's all that matters. Marilyn would be angry with him, but that's alright, she'll make it home, see their son, she'll mourn, but she'll be alright, she was always the tougher of the two of them.

Outside of the tunnel, finally safe, finally in the light, Marilyn screams.

Holding her daughters head to her shoulder, collapsing to her knees just like the tunnel that just took her husband.

She screams his name, sobs it, whispers it.

Goddamn it Charlie you promised, you said you'd never break a promise, why did you have to start now.

Three hours later, back at their hotel, she packs their belongings. Gripping CCs white buttons ups, fists shaking, before she lightly folds them, placing them in her bag. She takes his coat, his favorite dark blue coat she got him for his birthday, worn to softness.

She holds it to her chest, tucking her head to breathe in the cologne that has saturated the fabric so thoroughly.

Footsteps, too light to be a normal person making their way down the hall.

They stop in front of their door.

Marilyn has always been a smart woman, some called her paranoid with how careful she was, but she'd never listened. And it's good she didnt this time.

She wakes Mary, tucking her into the closet, giving her CCs jacket.

She whispers to her.

Stay quiet, don't let anyone see you, I love you. Your father loves you. Don't make a noise.

After Marilyn shuts the closet, she grabs the cane CC liked to bring with him, it was his father's. He always said it made him feel more professional to have it. Gods her silly husband.

She grips it with all her strength, hiding behind a wall.

And when armed men break down her door, she swings with the all the rage she feels.

She kills two of them before the third gets a shot off. She smacks him with the cane, hard enough to send him realing, but not enough to down him.

He takes another shot and Marilyn goes down.

Please

She thinks

Please dont let them find Mary

Please dont leave Billy completely alone in the world

Please

Please

Please

And when she opens her eyes again it's to a golden field, one that has her husband waiting in it. Cream colored shirt, soft brown pants, the stupid loafers he refuses to replace and insists on getting resoled every year.

She cries when he hugs her. Yells and screams.

You promised

I know

You lied

I'm sorry

Our children are alone

I know, CC chokes up. Tears streaming,

But they'll be okay, they'll have eachother.

I love you

You had tried convincing your boyfriend not to blow up L’Manburg. But Wilbur Soot wouldn’t listen to you. He wouldn’t listen to anyone. Not in this state.

It had been a long time coming, honestly. Everyone should have noticed the signs. You should have noticed the signs, but it wasn’t as if you were actively looking for a reason to paint your lover as an insane psychopath. 

For months, Wilbur had slowly been descending into insanity. Looking back, the tells were all there. Very irregular sleeping patterns; sleeping not at all and then way too much, days when it seemed as if his emotions had been completely turned off, days when his temper seemed too volatile, the times when you’d catch him obsessing over books explaining the mechanics of tnt. It had all been laid in front of you, but you were too blind. 

That’s the thing about love, children. You either find yourself forced into relationships that make you unhappy or find yourself so in love with someone that it practically erases reality and judgment. There are a few lucky people. A few who find the loves of their lives and spend the remainder of their days in perfect happiness. No intoxicating amounts of infatuation, no feelings of emotional claustrophobia. You were not one of those lucky people. Not at all.

It was already too late to turn back by now. The two of you were already heading to the Button Room. Tommy, Tubbo, and Quackity were supposed to be with you, but they didn’t agree with Wilbur’s plan, so they stayed behind.

The three had been desperately trying to convince Wilbur to step down, to destroy the button and give up on his wild fantasies of watching his unfinished symphony burn to the ground. But that hadn’t worked, So they turned to you.

And as much as you agreed with their reluctance - and disagreed with your boyfriend, you had to support him. For that’s what he did with you. When you had been a newcomer to the server and no one would help you, he did. At the very least you owed him that. But you were beginning to doubt how far your support would actually go when you found yourself standing in the button room.

You and Wilbur looked up at all of the signs on the walls, each singing L’Manburg’s National Anthem in your head.

I heard there was a special place where men could go and emancipate the brutality and tyranny of their rulers Well, this place is real you needn’t fret with Wilbur-

“You’ve been so good to me, Y/n.” Wilbur’s unusually quiet voice interrupted the anthem playing in your mind.

“I’m your partner, Will. I’m also your friend. It’s my job.” For some reason, you could bring yourself to say it was because you loved him. Your heart knew it was because you didn’t love him anymore. Actually, that wasn’t entirely true. It was a different type of love now. Much less blinding, and much more clear.

Wilbur reached up a faintly-scarred hand to touch one of the signs on the walls. “You’ve stuck by me and supported me even when no one else did.”

You could feel your face begin to heat up. “Will, about that.... Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure this is the right thing to do?”

Your boyfriend whirled around at that. And for some reason, your mind began to sing the National Anthem once more.

My L’Manburg My L’Manburg

“Don’t flake out on me now, Y/n. We’re so incredibly close. We’ve come this far together. You can’t possibly be thinking of abandoning me?” His eyes narrowed dangerously, sending ominous shivers down your spine.

My L’Manburg My L’Manburg

“No! Of course not! I just think it would... make sense if you... thought about this some more,” you stammered, desperately fumbling for the right words.

Wilbur stepped toward you suddenly and you flinched backwards. He didn’t seem to notice - or care. “Y/n, if you don’t support me in this plan, I have no choice but to kill you. You know too much. And yes, I do remember that you’re on your last life. That changes nothing.”

Your thoughts froze, so did you. Never, did you expect him to go this far. Sure, you’d been aware of the fact that he was slowly becoming insane for weeks, but threatening your life? That was something you could never prepare yourself for.

You were trapped. Either way, you were pretty sure you’d die. If you agreed, the explosions would kill you. If you didn’t, Wilbur would. 

For freedom and for liberty our nation sought to build on these a victory for all under our freedom

“I’m going through with the plan, Will. We’re going through with it.”

Well the darkness came and then it went we built a home and watched it sink and from the rubble emerged my great-

Once again, the anthem in your head was interrupted. This time by Philza. Philza Minecraft. Your boyfriend’s father.

Your heart raced as it realized how close to pressing the button Will had been only heartbeats before. Philza and Wilbur were having a whole debate in the background. It was only when your name was called that you snapped out of your trance.

“Y/n?” Will asked softly, placing a hand on your shoulder.

Your head snapped up. “Yes?”

You almost shut down at the sad acceptance in Wilbur’s eyes. Had it worked? Had Phil really talked him out of pressing the button and triggering the tnt?

“Phil here has convinced me that maybe the button isn’t worth pressing.”

Hope sprung in your chest. It spread its wings.

My L’Manburg My L’Manburg My L’Manburg My L’Manburg

Your boyfriend leaned down to hug you, head resting on your shoulder as his back faced Phil. You were just about to hug him back when his whispered voice reached your ears, making you shiver.

“It’s all up to you now, Y/n.”

He straightened and left the Button Room, but not before giving you a pointed glance. 

With bloodied hands and weakened knees.

Your body felt frozen, pinned by impossible choices. By the future and the past.

“Y/n?” Philza’s concerned voice carried across the cave. “Are you okay?”

You scrambled for a convincing enough excuse. “Y-yeah. I just need a moment. Today has been... rough.” None of that was a lie.

With a slight furrow of his brows, Phil nodded. He began walking away.

Our people rose like the phoenix

You stopped him, though. “Philza.”

He turned around.

Our empty fields and canals ‘round L’Mantree

“There was a saying, Phil, by a traitor, once a part of L’Manburg.”

Phil didn’t know how to react. He just nodded, clearly uncomfortable with the atmosphere, the tension.

With sweat and tears we armed our ranks we laid foundations in our land

“Have you ever heard of Eret?”

Once again, Philza only nodded.

You could feel your body heat up with anticipation. The moment was nearing.

And from every lips for here up to infinity

“Yeah, he had a saying, Phil.” You felt your fingertips ghost the surface of the button.

We sing L’Manburg We sing L’Manburg We sing L’Manburg We sing L’Manburg

“It was never meant to be.”

~-~-~-~-~-~-

Wilbur Soot was too busy smiling at the series of explosions going off behind him to realize the fact that you were dead.

And even when those around him cried as they mourned your death, not a single tear streaked down his cheek. No pang of sadness or remorse was felt by this man who had strayed too far down the path of insanity.

Perhaps once, he would have torn up the world looking for a way to revive you. But that Wilbur was long gone. That Wilbur was the one you’d fallen for, the one you’d follow to the ends of the server.