Technoblade hardly froze up for a moment before he began moving. There was something he was forgetting, he knew it. He rifled through his chests, then paused.
That's right.
His crown and cape were hanging on a post outside. It was too late for them now. He would just have to try to get them back as soon as he could.
Well, if there was nothing he could do but confront them...
He stepped up to the door again and threw it open. He hardly registered the sound as it slammed against the outside, thrown off its hinges.
I need to be more careful. Use more in between next time.
There they stood, the four of them. Tubbo, Fundy, Quackity, and Ranboo.
He stared down at the bold ones who chose to approach him, and breathed out through his nose, the puff of steam it created floating up and drifting away in the cold taiga air as the space between them thickened with tension. Technoblade could feel their fear, and he felt relieved at the same time as his own anxiousness grew. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to be free.
Free from pain, free from the violence of others.
Free from his own violence.
But he knew that was never true. Phil had shown him that much, even if he didn't believe it himself.
There was no way to change fate. That was what everyone said.
But Techno had tried. He had left, exiled himself. He had never intended to take up his weapons against another person, not ever. And yet, here they were.
He wouldn't let them capture him. That could bring no good. But was it any better to let it out?
Technoblade slowly strode down the steps, patting Ghostbur's shoulder.
"Thanks, Ghostbur," he said, in a voice that was calmer than even he felt. "You can get out of the way now."
"Oh... Okay," Ghostbur agreed hesitantly, seeming a bit confused.
"Well," Techno started, his voice suddenly weary as he faced the four in full armor. "I guess it's time."
"You don't have to do this, Techno," Tubbo said unconvincingly. "You can just come with us. This doesn't have to become a fight."
"Do you know why I'm here, Tubbo?" Technoblade asked, his voice still steady. Without letting Tubbo respond, he continued, "I'm here because I'm done. Done fighting, done with all of it. I'm out of the way. I retired."
"That doesn't matter, Techno," Quackity said harshly. "We're going to take you back, and we're going to kill you for your crimes."
"This is what I was hoping to avoid," Techno said slowly.
"You can still avoid-"
"I choose blood!" Techno shouted, interrupting Ranboo.
It was a freeing choice, really. He was done resisting, for now. A release would do him some good, he presumed.
The potions dropped. His vision narrowed and turned red, and his dark blade came out.
The weapons flashed, and he was already winning. He was driving the fight like a conductor, forcing them to the brink of death over and over again. He always did. There was no one that could defeat him in combat. But then something changed. A hint of the red flaked away.
Techno whirled around, ignoring Tubbo, who he had had near death.
There was Quackity. Not alone.
He had Carl.
Techno froze. The blood haze fell apart in shambles, before it really got going.
"No, don't..." Techno muttered, but it didn't matter. Quackity had mounted the horse and was holding him there. It was a clear threat, one he didn't even need to see the axe in Quackity's hand to realize.
"So you can't even beat me?" he asked aloud, hoping to goad Quackity into coming down.
No such luck.
"Come on, Techno," Quackity said. "Drop your items, or he dies."