“So, can any of you pitiful creatures tell me what you know about a borrower named Dream?” Purpled stared up at the might of the man who they all called The Warden, he didn’t think he could’ve been more scared than he had been for the past month. Of course Purpled knew Dream, but that didn’t mean he would give him up. Dream was the only borrower who could match Technoblade in skill. He turned his head away from The Warden in defiance, but he could barely keep himself from shaking as The Warden’s eyes landed on his tiny form. Damnit, it’s almost like he has a sixth sense on information or something. “So you won’t talk, will I have to get The Magnifying Glass again?”

All of the borrowers on display were shaking after that mention. (Purpled has counted 11 borrowers total other than him.) Aw man, what would Dream do? Well, he probably wouldn’t have gotten caught at all. Dream who was his friend, Dream who was the only borrower who could match Technoblade in skill. Dream who would’ve done more for them instead of the Captain.

Dream, who was now in grave danger. The Warden had grabbed the Spiked Magnifying Glass, (why the spikes? Well let’s just say it counts as a Multi-tool now.) and drew the blinds. “I would say I’m sorry, but that’d require me to feel bad about your puny existence.” He monologues as he positioned the magnifying glass in the correct position, causing a beam of light to be reflected in the direction of the display.

The Laser danced around the jars just barely missing the borrowers. A few of them had to duck and move around to avoid it, Purpled looked over to the few borrowers he recognized, Tap-L, Fruitberries, and the thirteenth empty jar of their professor FuntimeMoth. No one knows exactly how they escaped, but they could only pray that they were getting help. The two of them had their Jaws set as they looked back to Purpled. He knew that they wouldn’t give up Dream, so he wouldn’t either. The longer they stayed quiet, the closer the beam of light got, Purpled prepared himself for the pain as the light beam finally hit the side of his face…

10 Minutes later…

Sam was, disappointed at the borrowers lack of cooperation. These creatures were stubborn and needed to be put in their proper place, underneath humanity. He had enjoyed the torture that he put them through, made him feel, in control. He still remembers the time when he punished the borrower friend his younger brother Ponk had made. It still made him smile thinking about it. He didn’t enjoy however, the way his brother looked at him after that.

He wasn’t doing anything wrong, he just needed to inform his brother on how pathetic these creatures are. Serves him right for making a borrower friend in the house of an Exterminator. But none of those family thoughts today, it was time for him to help his friends. He pulled up into their driveway with his extermination van, and got out.

He took a brief moment to examine his arsenal and took out his electric baton. It had these little sparking things on the end that would electrocute the air around it. He went to the front door and knocked. Badboyhalo, Sapnap’s dad, answered the door. He was smiling when he opened it, but it fell immediately when he saw it was Sam. “Oh, hi Sam.” He responded a little, despondent for some reason.

Dream was curious as to who this new guy was, Callahan didn’t accompany him to check out this time claiming that four humans was too dangerous and that leaving soon would be advised. Dream didn’t agree, needless to say. But he did have to admit, he felt tense at the sight of this human with the gas mask and long black stick. “Why don’t you, come in?” Bad asked the man, who was apparently named Sam. “Sapnap hired me here to assist in his borrower problem?” Sam proclaimed, hired? What was he, an Exterminator? Okay, maybe Callahan wasn’t that wrong. Also, HOW DID HE KNOW THEIR SPECIES NAME.

“Borrower? Don’t you mean Tiny?” Bad questioned, good, Dream was gonna get an answer. “Tiny is merely the unofficial name for these small creatures, but the government has deemed them as Borrowers for the official name.” Sam responded very official like. “Oh.” “Oh is right Mr. Halo, now May I please start my work? I’d recommend finding something to do outside the house, is Sapnap or George here?” He finished.

“No, Sapnap’s out with his boyfriend, and George is taking Antfrost out for a walk on the town.” “Ah, so Sapnap’s still seeing that Joker?” “Quackity isn’t that bad.”Bad responded defensively. “Whatever you say Mr. Halo. Please inform the other two that I am starting here and to extend their time outside.” Bad left after that, leaving Dream, Callahan, and Sam here alone.

“Alright Dream, I can see you up there. My gas mask detects heat signatures in the goggles, so I suggest you speak up and surrender to me.” Surrender? As if. “Heh, seems like you’re less of a Buffoon than the others. Well you won’t catch me Sam.” Dream proclaimed stepping out from his normal spot behind the photograph. Sam’s gaze locked onto his form instantly scowling. “You will address me as The Warden.” Sam started,

“And once I catch you I will teach you some respect.” “Over my dead body.” Dream growled back, who did this guy think he is? Dream was just about to leap off the edge when he heard a voice, (Author Note: imagine the voice being similar to Tails from Sonic, the movie.) “Dream, WAIT!” Came Callahan’s voice from the vent next to Dream, it was rather quiet and hoarse from disuse. Dream immediately stepped away and into the vent, if Callahan was talking then something was seriously wrong.

“Callahan, what’s wrong?” Dream asked frantically as he noticed Callahan having a panic attack while staring at Sam’s cold eyes. “Callahan, look at me, Breathe. Just breathe.” Callahan calmed down once he turned his gaze to Dream. “Now, do you want to talk about what’s wro-“ Dream was cut off by a sharp electrical zap that echoed through the Metal vents. Callahan instantly went slack and collapsed,

“CALLAHAN! Wake up!” Dream had never been more thankful for insulating his hoodie and boots. “Oh, so you’re still alive? Clever of you to insulate your outfit, but I’ll get you!” Dream thought through everything that he could do at this moment. His outfit had survived one zap, but couldn’t survive another. He couldn’t charge out at Sam, even though he didn’t want to admit it, he would probably die if he tried. The situation seemed hopeless, then Callahan woke up and gasped air into his lungs.

“Dream, there is something else I need to tell you.” Callahan started whispering due to his injury. Dream listened waiting for as long as he could. Then whispering into his ear, “You’ll have to go without me, I’d only slow you down. I’ll be fine, he probably won’t kill me. Goodbye Dream, and, you’ll have to make friends with your previous enemies if you hope to defeat The Warden.” Callahan finished crawling over to the vent entrance. “No, Callahan…” “GO.” Callahan shouted back as he exited the vent and fell into The Warden’s grasp.

Then, Dream ran. He managed to get out of the vents and hid in the backyard. He hear Sam searching around the house, looking for him. Eventually he left and George, Sapnap and Bad came back. Oh and Antfrost too. He thought over Callahan’s last words to him, no not last words, he was going to get him back. He sped ran over to George’s room, who he’s known the longest. He emerged into the shelf where he hid George’s glasses, his first prank on him. “Hey George…”

George immediately tensed up at Dream’s voice. He had been doing a bit of thinking on his walk with Ant, and thought about the Exterminator that was coming, that was there at that moment. And realized something. He didn’t want Dream to die anymore, after Sapnap called the exterminator, he and Dream talked normally for a bit. Mainly him asking questions about what Dream’s life was like. Dream had teased him quite a bit, But George found that he actually liked Dream.

At least when he wasn’t messing with him. So this was it, the moment where he could bury the hatchet, but not into anybody’s back. “Dream, I was wondering if-“ But Dream cut him off, “Listen George, I’d like to apologize to you, for being such a dickhead.” Dream started, “And that if you’re up to it, maybe we could be friends?” George was surprised by this, he hadn’t expected Dream to actually want to be friends.

“Yeah of course, I was planning on asking you basically the same thing.” George responded. “I thought it over, and you’re actually a cool dude.” Dream smiled a bit at this, and it was genuine smile, not one born out of delight for a humans torment. “Good, because I need your help.” George looked up to him, “What do you need?” “Well I’ll need all three of you.” After that George went and got Bad and Sapnap into the Living Room. “Ok, so let me fill you in.” He started,

Dream swung down onto the coffee table next to George. Instantly Sapnap leapt up from his seat, but George stopped him. “George? What are you doing? He’s right there!” Sapnap pointed at the small man on the table. “Sorry Sap, me and him have worked out.. and arrangement.” “What!” Sapnap exclaimed, “Sap please sit down and let’s hear him out.” Bad gestured for his son to sit. He did rather begrudgingly.

“Ok, so the long story short, Dream’s friend Callahan was captured by Sam-“ George informed them, but was stopped by Bad. “Wait! Callahan was captured!” Bad exclaimed suddenly a lot angrier. “Wait you knew Callahan?” George asked confused. Suddenly all three eyes were in Bad who was a bit flustered. “Yeah, we’ve been talking for a bit, he didn’t want to tell Dream due to his feelings towards humans…” Bad mumbled to the three muffins in front of him, “Don’t worry it’s fine Bad, all that matters is we go save him.” Dream told Bad.

Meanwhile Sapnap was looking at the two of them as if they were insane. “First Quackity, now you two?” He mumbled under his breath. “But why should we help you!” The potato asked Dream angrily, “You tormented us for a long time!” Sap finished. “Because, I apologize for what I did, and I can only hope that your friend and dad’s willingness to help me will sway your decision.”

Sapnap, understandably, thought they were insane. But after meeting Karl, maybe it would be alright for tinies to be, more than just pests. He thought about how Quackity had talked about learning how to use a taser, that seemed like it’d be useful if he wanted to get him to help them.

Sapnap groaned, but he agreed. “Alright, now if we could just find at least one of my borrower friends to help me…” Bad jumped in, “How about Skeppy? Would he be good to have help?” Dream stared at Bad like suddenly he sprouted Devil horns and a halo emerged from his head. “You know Skeppy too?” “Yeah, he pranked me for a while, until he fell and hurt himself and I helped him! It’s part of the reason why I tried to be nice to you.” Dream blinked a few times, “Okay then, here’s the plan…”

Meanwhile…

Illumina was awaiting orders. “Captain, are we going to head out soon?” He asked the headmaster of The Arctic Academy. Their professor and inventor Funtime Moth had come back a day ago to deliver news of an Exterminator who had 12 borrowers hostage in his office. “Yes, this is the start of our Rebellion,” Captain Sparklez started as he and the team of borrowers got ready to ride birds to the Exterminator’s office and hopefully kill him. He held up a paper depicting what the Exterminator looked like, and blasted it to pieces with his magical hands.

It was very cool to know that some borrowers possessed magic like that. “Well then, are you with me!” He shouted to team of borrowers who were there. (Beckyu, Illumina, FuntimeMoth, Thea non, and Smajor. Not a lot, but it should be enough.) “Then let’s go!” He finished as they climbed aboard the trained birds on the windowsill and left for the Exterminator’s.

Purpled was clutching his arm, willing it to heal alongside his face as The Warden stepped into the room. With a new borrower in a jar. Aw great, another one caught. He stuffed the new borrower on the shelf with the rest and took a moment to sit in his chair, his hand on his forehead. Purpled’s Jar wasn’t with the rest, but was instead abandoned near the sink. On the other side of the room. That was when he noticed a small team of borrowers infiltrate through the vent.

He silently cheered as he saw them, FuntimeMoth among them. The others couldn’t see them, and he realized that he’d have to provide a distraction. “So Ugly, what’s wrong with you?!” He yelled up to The Warden. The Warden instantly tensed up his veins popping out of his neck and forehead. “It is not wise to antagonize me at the moment you pathetic creature.” During this the team of borrowers was breaking the others free, with some form of magic?

Dream spotted The Warden through a window whilst sneaking by with Skeppy. “Alright Skeppy, let’s try to…” that was when Dream spotted Purpled on the sink. His eyes widened, “It’s Purpled! I can’t believe it… We definitely gotta save them.” Dream overlooked the situation, and noticed how methodical The Warden’s movements were,

and noticed a button that he appeared to be edging towards. That was when he noticed that someone was already there helping break out the captive borrowers. He spied a man in a ninja outfit. Illumina, of course. Back in school he always tried to show Dream up as the better borrower, but that didn’t matter now, what mattered was that he believed that they were all walking into a trap.

Sam wasn’t an idiot. He would never let a borrower escape his prison, he did it in the hopes of luring more borrowers there, and judging by the sensor going off in the display, it had worked. (Yes he had a load of technological things in his mask, his mask was inspired heavily by Iron Man.) He was nearing the button to close the display wall and trap all of them inside, when Dream rushed him.

This pesky borrower, he wouldn’t be beat by an inferior! He ducked and Dream’s needle just barely missed, he reached for the purple borrower and held the jar up ready to smash it. “Not a swing closer!” He shouted out to all the borrowers in the room. “If any of you move I will shatter this jar with the scum inside.” He proclaimed. One of the borrowers inside the display who had come to break them out seemed to glow slightly. Sam would have a fun time experimenting on him. Then suddenly the door burst open.

Sapnap was thankful for the fact that Quackity had acquired the right to wield a taser. The group of four and Quackity’s new borrower friend Karl burst into the room. “Get away from them!” Sap yelled as Quackity tased Sam. He fell to the floor unconscious, then the room started filling with a strange gas. “Uh oh, Love? I don’t think that’s good…” Quackity informed Sap. “Okay we gotta get out of here-“ But he was cut off by something hitting his side, he turned and saw that Bad, George, and Quackity also felt it. He felt tired, and fell to the floor…

As he fell into Darkness, he could’ve sworn he heard Dream and Skeppy’s voices yelling their names…

It had taken a bit, but Dream was glad his face was healed, for the most part. He did like the mask that Techno had given him, surprisingly enough it didn’t actually hinder him in any way. If anything it seemed to improve his performance. He woke up as he usually did, equipped his hook, and left to go see about breakfast. He has only been practicing for a few days in swinging, but he was immediately one of the greatest swingers in the academy. Not everyone was a fan of him outshining everyone else, especially that guy in the ninja outfit.

“Alright, I’m gonna give each of you an assignment.” Began Techno. “For today, you four groups will go and find a human home and bring back any food that you may find, together as a team.” He finished. “Does anyone have any questions?“ Illumina raised his hand, “Yes, Illumina?” “Is there anywhere you aren’t allowed to go?” Techno nodded, “Yes, you may not leave this neighborhood, or go to Sam Nook’s house.” A few of the less experienced recruits shivered at the mention of Sam Nook’s house, he was an Exterminator and very dangerous. Not as dangerous as his brother, but still very dangerous.

After that, Purpled led them to a house a few blocks down. “Alright team, this is the house.” Purpled told them as they landed on the backyard fence, “I did some recon on the people living here, and I think we’ll be good to go for now.” Alrighty then, they infiltrated through a cracked open window. Dream surveyed the room as the rest of the team jumped down onto the counter below. It seemed, empty. “Hey Purpled, any info in the human who lives here?” Dream asked Purpled as they made their way over to a cabinet that was low enough. “Yeah, he’s some old guy who works at an Orphanage, doesn’t come home too often, and hangs out in the woods at the back when he is.”

Hmm, interesting. They got into the cabinet via hook without any major issues, until they heard the back door open. “Shit, we gotta go!” Tap-L whisper shouted as they were carrying a cookie with Skeppy. Purpled and Fruitberries were waiting by the window sill ready to accept the package, Dream went to go and help the guys carrying the cookie. They struggled for a few, but they were able to successfully get the cookie to the windowsill, that was when the human emerged into the room.

Dream knew instantly what to do, “You guys gk and take the cookie back to the academy, I’ll distract the human.” Purpled looked as if he were going to protest, “Just go!” Purpled nodded, but Skeppy stayed behind. “I’ll help you.” Dream would’ve rather gone alone, but he was still a bit nervous. “Ok, what’s the plan Dream?” Skeppy asked a bit panicked as while the human was turned away, he could turn around very quick. “So, Purpled and the rest are currently setting up a zip line to transport the cookie, we’ve gotta figure out a way to distract the man.” Dream analyzed the room, eventually finding a bottle of beer on a coffee table, but it was on the other side of the old guy.

“We’ll go an knock over the bottle, I”ll swing left, you swing right, whichever of us gets an opening, goes in for it.” Skeppy nodded and prepared to swing. Dream got a running start and jumped off the edge of the kitchen counter, and caught himself with the hook, he loved the feeling of the air wooshing by him as he flew. Skeppy landed on a shelf just barely hiding from the old dudes view. Dream swung past and was able to land smoothly on the table, and with as much nonchalantlessness that he could muster, he knocked it over and jumped off rolling under the sofa.

Philza heard the sound of a bottle hitting the carpeted floor, he had been thinking about his meeting with Kristin in the woods, she was cool. But anyway, he looked over to where Schlatt had left the bottle when he had last visited. It had fallen somehow. “What the hell?” He walked over to the bottle and picked it up, examining it for anything weird. Not noticing anything off, he tossed it in the bin. He remembered suddenly that he was supposed to talk to Techno later, he had met the borrower a few months ago when he tried to steal from his cookie jar. They had been friends for a while now, and he didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to speak to the smol guy.

Dream finally released a breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. That hand coming down to pick up the bottle had admittedly scared him. But now the human was heading to the backyard, and the zip line was finished. Swinging back up with Skeppy, they got prepared to zip down with the cookie. “Well then, let’s get down there.” Purpled said as he started zipping down the line with Tap-L and Fruitberries, carrying the cookie between the three of them. He and Skeppy followed soon after, once they reached the bottom, Purpled retracted the hook and they were ready to go, then Technoblade emerged from the grass, whistling a tune. “The Blade? What are you doing here?” Purpled asked their headmaster, “Oh, umm, j-just checking on all the groups to, er, make sure nothing happened.” He finished.

“Okayyyy?” Purpled replied, starting the trek back to The Academy. “Welp, see ya back at school.” Techno told them, swinging away. “Guess he couldn’t stop to help us?” Skeppy stated jokingly getting a laugh out of the group and a small scowl from Purpled. After a long while of walking and watching out for birds, they finally reached The Arctic Academy. Once they got inside, and hauled the cookie up to the kitchen counter where Techno and the other groups already were awaiting them. Up there Illumina was already bragging about getting a whole bag full of toasted bread crumbs from the house just across the street.

Dream laughed his now signature laugh, and helped haul their massive cookie up on top of the countertop; And while Illumina’s face was covered by the ninja outfit, it was easy to tell that he was pissed that Dream had outshone him on this occasion. Techno nodded in approval, and berated Illumina’s group when, in an attempt to take the spotlight off of Dream, Illumina confessed that his group had run the risk of venturing into Sam Nook’s house. Which as Techno said, was “Extremely Irresponsible.” Dream was glad to get praise for his work, he was very skilled at what he does after all.

Afterwards Techno didn’t really have anything that he really needed them to do. (Dream suspected that he thought the assignment would take longer.) So for the rest of the day, Dream sparred with Skeppy in Needle-To-Needle combat. It was always a fun activity to practice combat with the Needle, even if the chance of using it against a fellow borrower was low. Needle-less to say, Skeppy was on the floor ten times over in the first 30 seconds. “Urgg, how are you so good!?” Skeppy, while he did enjoy the challenge of trying to best Dream, obviously wished he could win at least once.

“Eh, apparently not good enough. If I was better I would have you in the floor in a second.” He teased, offering Skep his hand to get up. Lifting Skeppy to his feet, they left and discussed which portion of the cookie each member of their group would get. “Hey, you heard that we got a few new recruits the other day?” Skeppy asked him suddenly. Dream frowned, “No, who are they?” “Well, I only know one of their names due to the circumstances where they were found.” Skeppy told him, “Her name is Becky, apparently some borrower found her near the ocean, wielding a really well made katana.” “A katana? Like a human katana?” “Well, not the size of one, but borrower size.” Well, that’s curious, Dream thought, wondering where this one came from.

But his thoughts quickly turned back to his potential graduation. After all, he already was the greatest student in the school, so it only made sense. He would have to talk to The Blade about that before making any assumptions. That was when he and Skeppy heard some screams from the living room. (They were nearing their bird house on the counter island.) He and Skeppy turned and stared at each other, both nodding. They knew that they should go and help, and so they did. After a quick stretch, they jumped off the counter and caught themselves, swinging to the living room that wasn’t that far from the kitchen.

Once they got there, they saw that a wild bird had broken through a window, and was attacking borrowers. But Dream was, weirdly calm. Before The Academy, Dream would’ve booked it out of there. But now, he wanted to go in, and fight. Meanwhile, Skeppy was panicking. “O-oh m-my god, what are we gonna do?!” He asked in a hushed tone, “Okay, first off, we’re gonna calm down,” Dream instructed, helping the masked borrower to get ahold of their breathing. “And then, we’re gonna go and fight that bird.” He finished patting Skep on the back, before jumping off the shelf in the living room that they were on.

Dream faintly heard Skeppy shouting at him to wait, but he was too focused on the task at hand. Skeppy muttered under his breath as well before following. Dream swung and readied his needle to chase the bird away, “Well, aren’t you just a Tweetie pie?” Dream asked the bird in a mocking tone, (granted, it was a seagull, so it didn’t fully work.) It simply squawked at him as it tried to peck him away, flapping its wings from the window sill. Dream near effortlessly dodged the birds advances. (But, as much as he hated to admit, he still needed some training if he wanted to truly become the best.)

“Heh, you know, if you keep trying, you might actually hit me! I’m hooting for ya!” Dream swung around the bird, under the flapping wings and got a nice jab in the area between the left wing and the main body. The bird let out another loud squawk, but Dream barely even flinched. Without skipping a beat, he yoinked a spare hook off the ground, used it to wrap the bird in place on the sill, and wrapped his own around the exposed rafters on the ceiling. Swinging around and around it, he picked up momentum, and released himself, kicking the bird straight out of the window. “Crowing, crowing, gone!” He said after the bird went careening out the window, but soon after, he started to fall. “Oh shit.” Thankfully Skeppy who had been searching for an opening to join the fight was there to catch him.

“Heh, that was a close bird-call wasn’t it.” Skep told him as he landed the two of them on the coffee table in the living room. Dream was able to laugh off some of the fear he had after he fell, although it was still a bad pun. After the whole thing, Dream received great gratitude from every borrower at The Academy, which only fueled the possibility of him graduating. Afterwards, he swung by Techno’s desk, and waited for him. Once he arrived from God-knows-where, Dream asked him “So Techno, do yo-“

But Dream didn’t get a chance to finish. “Do I think that you’ve done a good enough job to graduate early, is that what you were asking?” Techno interrupted. “Because if so, then the answer is definitely yes.” Dream was glad to hear that, and couldn’t stop the grin growing on his scarred face underneath the mask. “But, that’ll be something that needs to wait a bit, a bit of planning for a celebration will be needed. Actually,” He started, “I’m thinking of retiring soon, how would you feel about becoming the new principle of The Arctic Academy?” He asked, pretty much out of the blue. But Dream had an easy answer for that. “What? N-no, I don’t really want to teach, or anything like that.” He told him, “And also, why would you want to retire?”

Technoblade knew it was a long shot, but he really did want to retire and hoped that the first person he asked would go for it. But, he could understand why Dream wouldn’t want to.

Blood, blood…

The voices whisper. They didn’t really enjoy Techno’s newfound okay-ness with humans. But, Phil was cool, and if the voices didn’t like him not killing any more humans, than they’d just have to deal with it. Besides, he’s really wanted to learn how to farm potatoes, he does really like them. “Eh, that’s fine Dream. I’m sure I’ll find someone else.” He told Dream as he turned around and headed to his makeshift bed inside the shelf on the desk, avoiding Dream’s second question. He fell to sleep quickly after that.

Dream was a bit perplexed, why would Technoblade, one of the greatest borrower warriors of all time want to retire? He didn’t even really seem all that old. But, Dream’s thoughts quickly turned toward the glory he’d get once he had the whole celebration of his graduation. (Was a celebration a little excessive? Maybe. Did he care? Not really.) He closed his eyes, and thought about what he’d do to say goodbye to The Academy…

Meanwhile…

Sparklez had heard from other borrowers via eavesdropping that somewhere around here was an Academy, where borrowers could be trained in special skills, for the purpose of taking the humans down. And Sparklez really wanted to join, especially since his powers would be, advantageous to the cause he felt. He smiled thinking about how many humans he could take down if he had some training, not that he really needed it with powers like these, he thought as he watched his hands glow, with cosmic energy…