Wilbur was furious. Dream could see it in the dark aura about him.
He had told Tommy not to kill Alyssa, and Tommy hadn't listened. Angry, Wilbur led them back to L'Manburg, and then he sent Tommy back to his house in the Greater Dream SMP, which had been dubbed the property of L'Manburg as an embassy building. Tommy was conflicted. Dream could see the emotions warring withing him.
Pride and anger. He was mad at Wilbur for questioning him.
Pride again, and longing. He wanted to be in L'Manburg. He wanted to be worthy of Wilbur's trust.
And insecurity. He worried that Wilbur was right to mistrust him. After all, it was true that he hadn't done anything worthwhile yet.
As he was trying to sort through his emotions, he saw it.
Messages in the chat. The other Dream had taken Tubbo hostage.
This was it. His chance to gain Wilbur's trust back again. How he thought he would defeat even the other Dream alone when he didn't have Netherite armor, Dream didn't know.
In the end, it went about as well as Dream was assuming it might. Tommy was taken hostage along with Tubbo.
Unfortunately, the other Dream and his allies soon decided that it was too dangerous to give them a chance to escape with their items, so they killed them both.
All in all, a useless little altercation that just set Tubbo and Tommy back a bit in gear.
But what happened next was what truly began it.
The writing of the Declaration of Independance[1].
Each one of them signed the statement Wilbur had written saying that they would not be intimidated, and that they would not recognize the members or the ruler of the Dream SMP as an authority over them.
L'Manburg claimed all the land inside their walls, and they would be free from the other Dream's tyranny, free to hold in their hearts and chase after the ideals of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of victory".
As it was passed around the table, Dream had the inevitable feeling of watching a boulder being shoved out of its precarious position.
There would be no turning back now. After this, it was war.
The other Dream wouldn't allow L'Manburg to continue. He would try to destroy it.
This would be their stand. Not the final one. But the first.
L'Manburg would show that they would not be bullied by the other Dream.
And the other Dream would try to destroy them.
At this moment, there was no turning back.
The book was signed and closed. There was no more editing it. It would stand forever as a testament to their convictions. Wilbur placed it in an item frame.
And so it was done. Even if the book, the symbol itself, was burned, Dream knew that these five would never betray their country. The aura that surrounded them was a pure white color, and slowly, lines drew themselves in the air from each member to the others. Dream watched the lines with wonder at each of their minute details, the shifting, spiraling, mix of emotions that bonded them all together.
And Wilbur himself? The proudest man in the world. Like a father watching his child create something wonderful. He had grown up with Tommy, and he had always been a leader. But now, they stood together, along with Tubbo, Tommy's closest friend, and Fundy and Eret.
Dream watched as the other Dream and his allies approached to speak with the residents of L'Manburg. A declaration of war was all they had. In the other Dream's mind, there was no more talking to be done. If they surrendered, fine. If not, then they were as good as dead.
But Dream wasn't so sure. The people of L'Manburg wouldn't give up so easily.
Dream saw explosions. An obsidian frame. A bomb set to destroy.
And a vision of power. Pure, red, unbridled power. Destruction incarnate.
But what was its incarnation? Dream didn't know.
It made him uneasy, uncertain. There was a storm coming. Not now, but perhaps soon.
And L'Manburg had to be ready to weather it.
And it would be. He would see to it himself.
[1] Yes, I know it's spelled wrong.
Yes, it is on purpose.
That's what it was titled.