Chapter 24: The Trial of Eret

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Jack hurried to the casino that now served as the prison. A crowd was gathered in front of the steps. He tapped Foolish on the shoulder. "Foolish," he asked. "Have you seen Fundy?"

"Not since yesterday," Foolish shrugged.

Jack felt himself being pressed into others. "What's going on?"

"They arrested Eret. Apparently, Quackity was staying with them."

"Eret? Why would Quackity-" Jack's brow furrowed, then he remembered. Eret was Big Q's first ex. "Oh! Ohhhh... No wonder Wilbur was in such a sh-tty mood yesterday."

Foolish held a finger to his lips. "Shhh, it's starting."

"Wait? Foolish, is Wilbur back yet?"

Foolish shook his head and pointed to the front where Dream had just walked out of the building in full armor. He removed his helmet and held it under his arm.

"People of Las Nevadas, today you are here to witness the trial of Eret for the crime of providing aid, comfort, and safety to the fugitives Quackity, Tubbo, and Tommy Innit. Bring out the prisoner."

Purpled led the way as two guards escorted Eret to the place where Dream waited. Jack wasn't sure how Eret could look so calm standing face to face with Dream. They had to know what the penalty was for helping Quackity!

"Eret, evidence was found in your castle proving you were harboring Quackity. If you tell us where Quackity can be found, the court will show mercy on you."

No answer came.

"Tell me where Quackity is," Dream demanded as Eret stood before him on the steps of the casino.

Eret stood resolutely silent.

"Tell me or I'll strip you of your crown." Dream's control was quickly slipping.

"Just tell him," Jack whispered as if Eret could hear his plea.

"A king doesn't answer to a despot," Eret said.

Dream's shoulders shuddered with rage. "A king no more. I strip you of your role and your crown. You have been found guilty of providing aid and comfort to the fugitives Quackity, Tubbo, and Tommy Innit. In accordance with the law, you will be executed until you are dead in three days."

Jack couldn't take anymore! He turned and strode as quickly as he could away from the scene. Eret had been stripped of their crown, they were going to die. For what? Showing some kindness and love to their former fiancé? Not wanting to help kill that same person? It was mad! This whole f-ing city was insane!

He needed a drink of something cheap and strong. He needed a whole f-ing bottle. The kind of trash that wiped a whole mind clean in a matter of minutes. But it wouldn't do him any good, he'd still be here when he woke up.

He might be arrested when he woke up. Who knew what he'd say about Dream and Wilbur when he was drunk, especially Wilbur who'd stolen his prototype. He suddenly wondered if that was why Fundy always drank juice.

"Jack, I didn't expect to see you out and about today." Jack found himself staring up into Wilbur's face, a smile teasing on his lips.

"How f-ing could you?" Jack hissed. "We had a deal!"

Wilbur put on something of a look of surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean! The prototype!"

Wilbur glanced around. "Let's talk- let's talk about this someplace more private."

Jack paced back and forth in the lab as Wilbur sat watching.

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"I can't believe you'd f-ing do this!" Jack fumed. "We agreed it was only to be used for defense! You promised! And then the first chance you get you're blowing things up with it!"

"Look, Jack, you said, yourself, that the Egg couldn't be destroyed with normal dynamite. You needed to test the prototype. I merely killed two birds with one stone. Don't you want to know how it worked?"

"I don't care about that right now!" Jack stopped and glanced over to Wilbur. "How did it work?"

"Splendidly. You really should have seen it. It was a thing of beauty."

"Yeah, I should have seen it. But no, you had it stolen out from under me. You didn't even try to ask."

"You never would have given me permission," Wilbur chuckled. "Better to ask forgiveness."

Jack was furious and Wilbur's cavalier attitude was doing nothing to drown the fire of his temper. "Fine." Jack said, plopping down in the seat across from Wilbur. "I'm out. I gave you my terms and you stole my prototype and used it for murder. So, I'm out."

"Jack. Think of all you'd be giving up: the suite, the meals, the respect of your peers. I'll reassign you if you really want me to, I could always use more guards, but you've been so happy in the lab. All over the destruction of a dangerous creature that has tried taking over the world and would gladly try again once it had recovered? You should have seen the bloodvines in the Badlands! If you had, you'd understand why we had to make the pre-emptive strike. Jack," Wilbur looked Jack squarely in the eye, "you have everything you ever wanted. Don't throw it all away." Suddenly Wilbur got very quiet, his expression pensive and tight.

"Wilbur?" Jack asked, suddenly worried. He had never seen that look on Wilbur's face before.

"Just- Just think about it. Give it a day or two. You don't want to act too rashly and do something you might regret." Wilbur said as he stood. "We'll talk later." And, with that, he rushed from the room.

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"How did things go with the Eggpire?" Dream asked as Wilbur handed him a glass of wine.

The red wine reflected in Wilbur's glasses, concealing his eyes in their red orbs. "Fairly well. Ranboo performed as hoped. It almost seems a waste to bring Antfrost back from the brink of death just to execute him, but, then, I do enjoy the spectacle of a trial and execution."

"And the Egg?"

Wilbur tossed a piece of dark shell on the couch next to Dream and sat down in the opposite chair. "We weren't able to salvage much. I might have gone a little overboard with the explosives."

Dream looked at the shell, then back to Wilbur. "Lie to them, not to me. You didn't want me to have it."

Wilbur took off his glasses, holding them so the tip dented his lip ever so slightly. "Why would I take the risk? Las Nevadas is too lovely to be covered in blood vines."

"You didn't think I could resist it."

"No, and I certainly wouldn't want to test if I could. I didn't go this far to play high priest or whatever to a giant egg."

Dream was silent, watching the wine as he swirled his glass. "You went against my wishes."

"Ranboo is your mindless servant, not me." Wilbur stood and refilled his glass. He took out a cigarette and lit it, savoring a few long drags.

Dream put his glass down. They sat in silence for a few minutes before he picked it up again and drank. "I'll have to remember that. By the way, have you seen the news?"

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