Unlocked

"Ow!" Quackity yelled out in pain, grabbing the back of his head. He turned around quickly, fist in the air ready to yell at Karl for being dumb. But, he was only met with a concerned one, his eyes filled with worry.

Karl was gripping a long plank of dark wood. He quickly set the plank down, feeling as if he was holding a weapon of some sorts.

The reason that Karl had even accidentally hit him with the plank is because they were re-building L'Manburg and he was holding wood to build stilts over L'Manberg. Tubbo had claimed that it was because he didn't want to forget the old L'Manberg. In a way, they all felt that this was a fresh start and a new beginning for the better.

"I'm so so sorry Quackity, I turned around and it went ,well," He gestured to Quackity's head, trying to hold in a smirk but didn't succeed.

Quackity pretended to be hurt and gasped, "Wow Karl Jacobs making a joke out of me, I'm hurt!" He put his hand on his heart.

"Oh my, I'm very sorry, Miss. Drama Queen," He pretended to curtsey and giggled as he had his head down waiting for Quackity to say something.

Quackity looked down on him and said seriously, "Fine, you're forgiven."

"Oh thank you thank you!" Karl yelled, causing Fundy to look over and smile. He covered his face looking disappointed. At which Tubbo had also looked over and started laughing to himself quietly, like a dad observing his kids. Even though Tubbo was younger, he had the mental mind of a 20 year old.

Karl got on his knees and took Quackity's hand in his own, Quackity's body tensed and he cocked his head to the side, squinting his eyes in confusion. Before Karl had answered his confusion with something that left his heart racing.

"You wont regret it, my queen," Karl joked and kissed his hand.

"Aaaaa!! Karl ew you got your germs on my hand!" Quackity yelled, he felt his face get hot and embarrassed. He rubbed his hand on his pants repeatedly trying to get the non-existent stain off.

"Wow what did I just witness?" Sapnap joked. He appeared from one of the clearings near Quackity and Karl.

Karl was still on his knees when he looked at Sapnap and flashed him a huge smile. Sapnap then looked at Quackity, who had a embarrassed red face who has still rubbing his hands like he was injured.

They were all standing outside on a quarter rebuilt L'manberg. There was Tubbo, Quackity, Karl, and Fundy all helping to rebuild it. The day had brought a bright sun beating down on them while they worked, and a clear sky. There was a new feeling to L'Manberg, fresh, and clean slate. The aura of all them was in some way magical.

Tubbo and Fundy froze stunned that Sapnap,the person they went to war with, was standing here acting like everyone was friends?

"Sapnap!" Tubbo said firmly, trying to make himself feel braver than he actually was.

Tubbo was standing a little bit away with Fundy when he started for Sapnap. Getting angrier and angrier, each step. His mind flashing with images from wars. He was responsible for hurting his friends, he sat next to Dream obeying everything he said, being a mindless minion, from Tubbo's point of view that's how he saw it.

"What are you doing here?" He said through clenched teeth, clearly fuming when he was standing next to a nervous Karl and Quackity. Feeling like two kids watching their divorced parents fight.

"I'm-" Sapnap looked like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide and anxiety flowing through his body. He looked at Quackity and Karl eyes pleading.

"Tubbo," Quackity said softly, he put his hand on his shoulder, "Let him explain,"

Tubbo looked at Quackity confused. Quackity was defending the very same person from a side he left. How could he do that? But looking at Quackity's pleading face, he felt his anger and betrayal go out. He looked back at Sapnap, giving him a look that said "go on."

Sapnap took a deep breath, "Tubbo, I know I was on Dream's side and the reason is I felt I had to be, he is...powerful, he could do so much to hurt me," Sapnap let his eyes wander to blown up L'Manberg behind them. He knew Wilbur was the traitor and he still let all this chaos happen.

Tubbo's eyes softened, as much as Tubbo wanted to be tough and authoritative, at heart he couldn't be. Tubbo wasn't that type of President, he wanted to hear Sapnap out, listen to him. Unlike Shlatt, he wanted to be nothing like Shlatt.

"I realized that Dream isn't the same, he doesn't care about me anymore. Hell, he would kill me in a second if I were out of line,with no remorse. I don't want to be a part of that." Sapnap said, hurt flashing his eyes as tears threatened to spill out.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Tubbo said curiously.

Sapnap looked up at him, straight in the eyes, "I want to join you, be part of L'Manberg. And I just want to be a better person."

He felt so vulnerable no one was standing next to him. He crossed his arms in a comforting manner, waiting for Tubbo to respond, and hoping he would believe that Sapnap wanted to change.

Tubbo walked away, and they all thought that he was going to leave without saying a word, rejection flashed in Sapnap's mind. Instead he turned around and he searched until he found a hammer, picked it up and walked back to Sapnap.

"Start working, friend," Tubbo added as he dropped a hammer in his hands, then walked away to start working again with a confused looking Fundy.

Sapnap stared down at the tool in his hands. He smiled at it, feeling it was a symbol that he was going into the right direction. The first step to finally being the person he wanted to be.

Karl broke into a huge smile and launched himself at Sapnap, giving him a huge hug. Sapnap laughed to himself but hugged him back, until he saw Quackity standing there awkwardly.

He motioned for him to join the hug and so Quackity joined and gave a quick hug, he wasn't big on touch unlike Karl, always had to be lying on someone or holding someone's hand, it was just how he showed love.

"Wow, your part of L'Manberg now!" Karl said happily, pulling away,smiling widely, and put his hands on his cheeks.

"Yeah wow," Sapnap said, stunned as he looked back at the hammer in his hands.

"Alright," He looked up with a determined look on his face, "Let's start building!" He yelled holding the hammer in the air like Thor. Karl and Quackity both cheered, happy that Sapnap was going to be apart of L'Manberg and were also very proud. Proud that he had the courage to turn away from Dream, to be his own person.

"Oh also," Sapnap stopped in front of Quackity, who then had a confused look on his face.

"Thank you," Sapnap curtsied in front of him, "Your Miss. Majesty," Sapnap stood with a smirk on his face, he started to walk away until he heard running and Quackity jumped on his back, Sapnap stumbled a bit then regained his balance.

"You piece of shit take it back, motherfucker!" Quackity yelled, still punching his back, with his tiny hands.

"Doesn't hurt," Sapnap said cockily.

Quackity punched him harder shouting a slew of curse words.

"Nope"

Punch.

"Nope"

Punch.

Quackity finally groaned, irritated.

"Fine bitch let me down," Quackity said annoyed.

"Okay your highness," Sapnap let go of his legs, and Quackity fell on the ground in a sitting position, with a loud "Thump."

"Motherfucker!" Quackity yelled out in pain.

Sapnap and Karl started laughing wildly, which only made Quackity more irritated but couldn't stay mad for long with their contagious laughter. Quackity started laughing loudly, head thrown back, and arms clutching his sides.

The rest of the day was like this banter, jokes, and playful piggyback rides. Once they were done the sun started going down and Tubbo told them to go home and that he was proud of how much they had gotten done.

Karl was the one who suggested they watch sundown, and started talking about how beautiful they are. But, Quackity had argued he was too tired and wanted to go home, Sapnap agreed with him.

"Please please please," Karl pleaded, giving them major puppy dog eyes.

Sapnap and Quackity both winced, tearing their eyes away to look at one another. They seemed to have a silent conversation with their eyes for 30 seconds just looking at each other. Which irritated Karl until he finally spoke up

"What!? I feel like a child, just tell me yes or no," Karl yelled clearly hurt. No one took him seriously, always felt that they needed to withhold information because they felt it would be too much for him, if only they knew how much pressure was already on him.

"Hey, Karl," Sapnap said softly, "What do you mean?" He put his hand on Karl's shoulder looking into his eyes. While Quackity crossed his arms and studied, Karl's face,also concerned.

"It's just why do none of you take me seriously? I was never of use to anyone, to both of you. Why didn't you guys ever ask me to do anything when we were all, at one time, on the same side," Karl responded, his eyes filling with tears. He was always quite emotional, but he hadn't ever talked about this particular subject to anyone before."I was working with Dream, we just weren't close when we were on Shlatt's side," Sapnap responded coolly, he always had been very mellow and comforting.

"And Karl, I know you're strong," Quackity said quietly, he wasn't used to expressing his emotions. He was always loud to cover up how he actually was feeling.

"I just didn't want to see you get hurt," Quackity added, "Couldn't let ol' little Karlly get hurt now could I?" Quackity his arm around Karl's neck to give him a noogie on the head, even though Karl was significantly taller than him. Karl just laughed and let it happen. Quackoty silently thanked the gods that he could lighten the mood. While Sapnap giggled and started to walk towards the mountain. Not bothering to tell them, because eventually they would catch up,

Sapnap sat down on the fluffy grass, and flowers covering the hill. He looked out over the it, he saw the blown up L'Manberg but now, he wasn't ashamed or guilty of being a part of the reason. Today he took the first step to being better, to feeling a little less broken. He heard heavy breaths which broke him out of his thoughts.

"You left us!" Karl cried out then put his hands on his knees, lowering his head to catch his breath.

"I would've too," Quackity met Sapnap's eyes, "This motherfucker tackled me after I gave him a noogie!" He cut his eyes to look at Karl, angry.

"I know I saw," Sapnap said with a small smile, "But, you guys almost missed it," He motioned to the Sun that was now almost set.

The sky was now filled with a light orange with the sun already half way down. It looked beautiful, Karl's eyes marveled at it . Feeling he was somehow in a trance, until he saw Quackity sit down next to Sapnap. Karl followed and sat on the right of Sapnap, he let his head fall on his shoulder and his breaths started to slow ,finally.

That wasn't surprising, what was surprising is that Quackity let his head fall as well. Sapnap side eyed him with a smirk, after a few seconds of confusion.

"Wow, Quackity is secretly a big softie?" Sapnap said jokingly.

Quackity's face went red but just replied bitterly, "Im tired, bitch I just wrestled a fucking animal,"

Karl started to open his mouth to reply but Sapnap shushed him and motioned towards the sun which was about to set.

They all sat quietly, watching the sunset feeling relaxed and content for the first time in awhile.

Karl felt so content and happy. He finally succeeded after 52 tries he finally did it, he found the best possible outcome. The pressure of making sure that he found the best possible outcome was lifted off of his shoulders when he gazed at the half built L'Manberg. He also finally found what made him feel at home, unlocked if you will, he found his keys.

What could go wrong?

Thank you a million times if you read all the way down here! I had so much fun writing this chapter, anyways have great day goodbye!