"What are you doing?" I question, closing the gap in small steps, my eyes roaming over Niki and her heavily-packed horse. I don't think I've ever seen her with a horse before. Did she borrow it from someone?

"Just...just going for a ride." She smiles, her voice a little shaky.

I nod, and reach a hand out to place against the horse's snout, its hot breath fanning my palm.

"Well, I should be going." Niki reaches up to take a hold of the horse's saddle, but her foot keeps missing the stirrup as she tries to pull herself up. She doesn't look very steady. Has she not ridden a horse before?

"You okay there?" I chuckle, "need a leg up?"

"Oh, no, no, I'm fi-ah!" Her hands slip from the saddle right as she makes another attempt to jump up.

In a flash I'm at her back, hands at her waist, keeping her upright. The horse, spooked by my sudden movement, snorts loudly and kicks dirt up beneath a hoof.

"Thank-thank you." She clears her throat awkwardly, and steps out from my grasp.

"Are you sure you should be riding?" I question, concerned. "You seem a little...jittery."

Niki turns away and places a hand to the horse's neck, entangling her fingers into its dark mane. "Can I ask you something, Ares?"

"Of course. Anything."

"Why do you support Schlatt?"

My expression drops. Why is she bringing up something like this? Is it because of the election? Is she angry at Schlatt? Could...could she be angry at me?

I rub at my arm. What can I say to make her feel better?

That familiar tingle starts up between my shoulder blades again, like an itch I can't scratch. It's uncomfortable.

"It's...a little complicated," I say. "But if I were to say my original cause. It's because I owe him. I owe him a lot, Niki."

"I see..." She slides her hand away from the horse and turns to look over her shoulder at me. Her expression is sad, but also pitying. Regretful, even. "You wanted to know where I was going? Truth is I want to find Wil and Tommy. I want to make sure they're okay. I think Schlatt was wrong to banish them. I...I want to help them in any way I can, Ares. Even if it gets me in trouble." Her eyes drop momentarily to her feet before glancing back up to me. "Are you...going to try and stop me?"

I take a deep breath, considering my options.

Of course, the obvious answer is yes. I want to stop her. Not from finding Wilbur and Tommy, but from getting involved in this mess. I want Niki to continue living her best life, here, baking cakes and bread and doing yoga in her front room. Doing yoga with me... But if I tell her that then she'll resent me for keeping her from her friends, and for siding with Schlatt whom she clearly resents for banishing Wilbur and Tommy.

It's clear the response I should make, even if it's probably not the one I want to be making. As Schlatt's friend and Secretary of Defense, I should tell her to keep her distance from the banished individuals.

"If that's what you think you should do, then I won't get in your way," I say softly, offering a small smile of my own.

Niki's face crumples, and I find myself being hugged by the shorter woman. It's warm, and I happily return the embrace.

"Thank you for understanding, Ares. I'm glad I have you as a friend."

My heart sinks a little at those words.

A friend?

If only she knew how much I like her. How much I've come to love her small smiles and quiet giggles. Her soft voice and determination. But expressing my feelings to her now won't help any of us. It's clear she isn't in the mindset to be thinking about relationships. With everything Schlatt's been doing - and plans to do - it wouldn't be fair to burden her with my feelings. Right now she needs a friend. Nothing more and nothing less. And if me being that friend makes her happy, then I can do just that. Even if it makes me sad...

"I last saw them heading West into one of the forests," I say, reluctantly pulling out of the hug, "Wilbur was injured, so I doubt they wandered too far from the walls."

Niki's eyes take on a serious disposition and she nods, her face determined.

"Thank you. I'll let you know if I find them."

"Don't-" I clear my throat, "I mean, it's best that you don't tell me what you're doing. Just be careful out there, okay?"

The blonde woman nods, and after another quick hug, turns and hops seamlessly onto the horse's back. It takes a few steps, adjusting to having a person on its saddle, before heeding Niki's tug of the reins and starts at a slow trot across the field.

I watch her disappear before taking a shaky breath, placing a hand to my chest. This isn't the first time I've had to give up on my feelings for someone. I've had fleeting romances in the past, towards both men and women. But I always gave up on them, choosing to follow Schlatt rather than try and settle down and establish something permanent. I just had a feeling that this time might be different. Because this time I've actually found a place to settle in, right alongside Schlatt. I guess I got ahead of myself, though. Niki deserves someone who can stand by her side and support her through thick and thin, and I am not that person. Maybe if she supported Schlatt then it would be different, but she doesn't, and I doubt she ever will. Even if I did tell her my feelings and she accepted them, maybe even returned them, my loyalty to Schlatt would have eventually torn a rift between us.

Even though it saddens me, I know I've made the right choice.

With a heavy heart, I start to move again, across the dew-covered field and through the SMP till I come once again to the doors of the Community House. The lake that surrounds it looks to have grown a foot deeper after the rain last night, and I even spot a few frogs along the muddy banks.

I find my clothes exactly where I left them, in a neat bundle atop the bed where I'd slept. I smile as I scoop them up, pressing them to my chest, only to falter when I catch a hint of green at the bed end.

It's Dream's hoodie, folded and left for the house's next visitors to do with as they please.

I hesitate, staring at it, before reaching out and adding it to my bundle. Despite knowing it belongs to Dream, I still want to wear it. It's comfy and a nice colour, and I don't see why I shouldn't wear it if I really want to. It's not like I've ever let others opinions of me affect my decisions.

Unless it's Niki. My brain pipes in unhelpfully.

"Ugh." I frown and press the hoodie to my face, scrunching my eyes shut. I don't want to think about Niki right now. It'll make me sad.

Something angular presses into my arm and I pause, confused by the sensation. There's something inside the hoodie pocket.

A quick exploration reveals a pair of white sunglasses.

Oh, I remember these. Didn't I find them on the floor? I guess I can take these too.

After a last check around the room, I confirm that I have everything I want and head back to L'Manburg to see how Schlatt has been getting along with his presidential duties. I'm honestly impressed with how well he's stepped into the position. He's actually acting like a genuine president, cooperating with his cabinet and writing up decrees and changes he wants to see in the country. It's not often he does something I can be proud of.

On returning to the White House, I make a quick stop at my room to store my clothes before heading straight over to Schlatt's office. I hear voices inside, and give a sharp knock before announcing I'm coming in.

I see Schlatt, sat at his desk, George and Quackity perched on the twin sofas, papers strewn across the coffee table. To Schlatt's immediate right, Tubbo stands nervously, his hands behind his back. And to Schlatt's left...Fundy?

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Sorry to those of you who wanted to see Niki x Ares but yeah...that ship has sunk. It was never meant to be :') But if it makes you feel better the next Special will be at 200k and it will be a Niki one.

And thank you Victoria1676 for the cute drawing of our queen Ares!