Everyone froze, even Ranboo, the one being held hostage. Techno put out his flames, weapons were lowered. Part of Tubbo hoped his friend could just teleport to safety, but he knew from experience that pain definitely made it hard to concentrate, and if you couldn't concentrate it was harder to use your powers. And getting stabbed probably didn't feel very good. Shit- Schlatt let out a laugh, and it definitely sounded a bit unhinged.

"Un-fucking-believable..." he muttered, scanning the group. His eyes zeroed in on his sons. Quackity, who was stood between Karl and Purpled. Fundy, who was standing with Niki and Eret, his friends, slightly closer to the action than he was. And George, who was practically hidden between Dream and Sapnap, but he still looked determined. Scared, but determined.

"You three..." he snarled, "After everything I've done, after I raised you, this is how you fucking repay me?"

"Raised us?" Fundy snapped, which earned a proud look from Niki, "All you did was manipulate us!! Our whole lives! All you did was hurt and manipulate us, you never cared!"

"Of course I care!" Schlatt growled back, "I care more than you know. You would have just been wasted potential if I hadn't stepped in!"

"You only stepped in after we lost our parents! We were weak, vulnerable, and you made us look up to you, trust you..." Fundy's lip trembled

"Is that really what you think?" Schlatt chuckled darkly, "oh, how ignorant you are Fundy...I saved you. I saved all of you! Your parents would have never allowed you to reach your full potential! They didn't see how powerful you could be! I did!"

That made them pause

"The hell does that mean?" Quackity snapped, narrowing his eyes.

Toby's eyes widened as he started to process Schlatt's words. Holy shit-

"Oh Alex...poor naïve little Alex, do you think it was a coincidence all my children have abilities when it's considered a fairly rare trait?" Schlatt smirked, before pausing, "Well, I suppose George was a coincidence...His parents messed with the wrong person. So I decided to...get rid of them myself. But I guess I couldn't bring myself to kill a kid, so I took him in. Him having powers made it all worth it. Made it easier to find other kids with powerful abilities"

George had gone completely white, staring in shock. Dream and Sapnap looked like they wanted to kill the guy, and him holding a knife to Ranboo was the only thing keeping them from ripping him apart. Toby understood them.

"And Fundy, sweet, innocent, quiet Fundy..." Schlatt turned on him, "you think a child your age could have accidentally started a fire like that?"

"You son of a-" Niki looked like she was about to run at the man, but Eret held her back, a blank look on their face that Toby had seen on his mom when she was really pissed.

"And it was all too easy to stage an accident for your parents Alexis..." he laughed, turning towards the youngest of the three, "Accidents are almost too easy..."

"You son of a bitch!" Quackity snarled, finishing Niki's thought, trying to launch himself at the man who'd raised him, Karl and Purpled barely managing to hold him back, though they both looked like they wanted to murder the villain themsleves.

Dream took a step towards Schlatt, but George grabbed his arm, quietly shaking his head. He was pale, and shaking slightly. Something told Toby that he wasn't taking the news of his parents' killer well.

When he glanced At Fundy, Niki and Eret. The tallest of the three had a hand on each of their shoulders. To comfort Fundy, and to calm Niki before she tried to attack Schlatt.

"Well, now it's out in the open, laid out for you all!" Schlatt said, his laugh sounding less sane, "What's your plan now huh?"

Toby stared at Schlatt's shoes, not daring to look up. He couldn't meet the horned man's eyes.

"Let the boy go mate-" Toby's head snapped towards Phil, who stepped forward, stopping in front of the others, "He doesn't have anything to do with this..."

"Ohoho, look at you taking charge," He snickered, grip tightening around Ranboo's torso and he kept the knife by his throat. He seemed to be holding the tall boy up at this point, Ranboo looked like he was going to pass out, blood was staining his shirt from the stab wound on his lower back. His eyes were drooping. So very not good. "Who are you exactly?"

"Philza" The blonde man glared at him, "Pleasure to meet you-"

Schlatt paused, before laughing "Oh as in the man who took in my son? Well, I guess I should thank you-" he gestured to Toby, who was still avoiding his eyes.

Phil froze, shock written across his face, looking over at him, noticing the small horns, eyes widening a bit.

"Oh yes! It's a recent development, but it seems kind of funny doesn't it.." He laughed, "Shame...his powers have been wasted until now. He didn't even tell you he had powers, he must not trust you that much-"

"That's not true!" Toby yelled, turning to Phil. He needed to reassure him, let him know that he did trust him,

"Or it is..." Schlatt chuckled, "You're weak, Tubbo. You've been crippled by his parenting, by your 'family', by your friends-"

"No-" He took a step towards Schlatt, but froze as the man pressed knife closer to Ranboos throat, not enough to kill, but he didn't want to risk it

"Not so fast kid.." He snarled, "I'm not going to be taken down by my own children! And I don't care who's throat I have to cut to make sure of it!"

Toby watched as a small line of blood trickled down his friends' neck, saw Ranboo wince in pain, even as he was slowly losing consciousness, and something in him snapped. He clenched his fists. He was looking down, but he could imagine puppet strings attaching to Schlatt, wrapping around him, tightening.

Schlatt's eyes widened as he went rigid, arms dropping to his side, knife falling to the floor. Ranboo stumbled forward, a hand going to his neck, and his back still bleeding, but he was alive- Karl and Purpled ran forward to help him up, putting his arms around their shoulders as he slumped forwards, eyes fluttering closed. Schlatt didn't move, he couldn't. Toby had control of his body, his power constricting him.

"Get him out of here, he needs medical attention!" Toby glanced at his friends, and they did.

"What the hell is this?" Schlatt snarled through clenched teeth

"You say I'm weak Schlatt, you say I haven't reached my full potential, and you might be right. I hid my powers for so long, it's like they're new to me. I have a lot to learn..." Toby said quietly, dangerously, "But you fucked up when you hurt my friends. My family. I may not be as powerful as you think I could be, but I am stronger than you think I am."

He took another step towards him, more imaginary puppet strings wrapping around different parts of Schlatt, "And I am strong because of who raised me. I am Phil and Kristin Watson's son! I am Wilbur, Technoblade, and Tommy's brother!"

"S-stop-" Schlatt choked out, "Stop it Dammit!"

"You think attachments and connections are useless, weaknesses..." He ignored the goat man, "But you're wrong about that too. My friends make me strong, our bonds with others make all of us strong. They give us something to fight for!"

He felt imaginary puppet strings wrapping around Schlatt's chest, passing through it as well, wrapping around his organs.

His mind raced. He thought back to Ranboo's first day, how he quickly became a close friend.

How Quackity always made him and the others laugh.

How Karl and Purpled were kind and smart.

He thought of Tommy, with his loud, and usually foul mouth, and his jokes.

He thought of Niki, who became his friend by pure coincidence, but was still kind and protective of her friends, who kept his secret.

He thought of Techno, who loved mythology and fighting, who cared about his family though he often appeared indifferent, who'd risk burning himself to a crisp to protect his loved ones.

He thought of Wilbur, who sang and wrote, who always worried about him and the rest of their family, who stayed with him at the house while the others were out so he wouldn't be alone, who threatened tears whenever Toby or Tommy admitted their brotherly love.

He thought of Kristin, who always looked after him and his brothers, who comforted him, and always has, never pushing but always offering support to him and anyone else who needed it.

And he thought of Phil, who had found him, taken him in, cared for him, made him feel welcomed, like he belonged. They all had done that. Loved him, cared for him. And he loved and cared for them. And despite what Schlatt believed, he was stronger for it.

"My name is Toby Watson!" He yelled, "I am Tubbo! I am powerful and I AM YOUR DOWNFALL!"

He could feel his power surging, Schlatt let out a yell, his vision was still red, and he wanted to hurt the villain more. Cause him the same pain he caused others. He released Schlatt's limbs, letting the man fall to the ground, gripping his chest. He didn't realize his name was being called until someone grabbed his shoulder, snapping out of his rage.

Tommy...His brother's eyes were wide with worry. Toby met his eyes, then looked at Schlatt, who was now motionless on the ground, eyes wide in shock. He...he was... Toby watched as Techno cautiously approached the body, kneeling down to check for a pulse despite the obvious conclusion.

"He's dead..." He confirmed, standing up, glancing at Toby.

Dead...Toby felt like he was going to be sick. What had he just done?