The crowd that gathers to watch the flag burn is a large one. Even those that aren't members of the country come to gaze upon the flames, all silent as they watch the spectacle with awe and disbelief.

Niki, as soon as she sees the growing crowd, pulls herself away from me and runs towards her bakery, an arm raised to hide her tears. I take a step forward, unsure if I should follow and comfort her, when a hand rests on my shoulder.

It's George. He shakes his head and nods off to the side where Schlatt approaches, Quackity at his heels like a puppy excited by the commotion.

Schlatt's twisted horns glow orange under the inferno, and fire dances in his eyes as he watches the flag burn with a maddening grin.

"Mr President."

Fundy's voice cuts smoothly through the smoke, a pair of pointed ears appearing from the crowd.

The fox steps out to greet his president, soot smudging his flame-coloured fur, his onyx eyes eerily bright.

"Fundy." Schlatt grins. "What's all this then? Fancied a spot of arson, did you?"

"No, sir. Not at all. I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of removing the old flag in preparation for the new one I'll be creating. A better one. One fit for your new country."

"Oh? How forward-thinking of you. I must admit, I like your style." Schlatt smirks, raising his gaze to watch the flames, "with a pillar of smoke that high, I'm sure even Wilbur can see it, wherever he's hiding."

"Exactly, sir."

"Heh, good job. You're doing well. I look forward to what you bring me as a new flag."

"Thank you, sir."

Casting one final, admiring glance to the blaze, Schlatt turns away and begins striding back to the White House, content with the knowledge that his country isn't under siege, but new management. Quackity stays behind only a second longer, releasing a short laugh as he smacks Fundy on the shoulder. "This is fucking insane." He grins. "Maybe you're not so bad after all. Even if you are a furry."

Fundy's expression sours, but Quackity cackles and hurries after Schlatt before the fox can deny the accusation.

"Wow, Fundy's really going all in, huh?" George marvels. "I'm kind of impressed."

"Mmm." I nod, unsure of what I think just yet. As much as it twists my stomach, Fundy is doing a good job. He's playing to all Schlatt's interests. The flattery. The arson. The constant pandering.

He's doing exactly what I would do. What I did do, when I first met Schlatt.

Back then I knew only that I wanted to follow and protect the horned man, no matter what. I was so scared that he'd abandon me, that I did everything I could to make him see me as someone reliable and worthy of his attention. I went to great lengths to seek his approval.

Of course, now things are different. I'm seen as an equal rather than an underling, allowing my personality to shine through with the knowledge that Schlatt won't so readily throw me aside at the slightest slip-up. But Fundy doesn't have that yet. He doesn't have Schlatt's trust. Not at the level I do.

So does that mean I should help him? Show him how to gain that trust? If he's really serious about following him, then isn't it only right that I teach him what I know? Fundy isn't like Quackity or Tubbo, who are in it for their own personal reasons. Tubbo to help his friends, and Quackity to guide the country to a greater future. As for George? I feel like he's just along for the ride. To watch but not participate. Which I approve of, for now.

Fundy has nothing. He's thrown his past behind him, truly abandoned it for something he hopes is better. His ambition was to be President, but with that dream crushed, he must be going for second best. A place in Schlatt's shadow. The closest thing he can get to that broken dream - if presidency truly was his dream.

It occurs to me that there's still much I don't know about the fox. So maybe I should take this opportunity to change that? Since we'll be working together from now on.

But what about Niki? He hurt her. My brain says, reminding me of the woman's anguished cries. Her teary face. I might never get that image out of my head.

Yes, he hurt her. And for that, I'll never forgive him. But that doesn't mean I hate him, either. Fundy...he's just trying to survive in the only way he knows how. I need to help him, so he doesn't make any more scenes like today. So he doesn't make Niki any more miserable.

"We should finish up the search of the house," I say, tearing my gaze from the flag, the crowd, and Fundy's orange fur. I catch his eye for a split second and his ears perk, his spine straightens. Something like hope flashes in his dark eyes. Is he...seeking my approval, too?

I ignore him and manage to pull George away from the scene, back up the wooden steps and to Tommy's quiet little house.

Sapnap is gone, no surprise there. I would have been seriously concerned if he still hadn't undone my knot around his wrist. I didn't make it that tight.

Taking a step into the house, I pause, and then retrace my steps, almost bumping into George as he tries to follow me in.

"What are you..." he trails off, also seeing what I have just spotted.

A smiley face, drawn into the dirt of the window. So maybe Sapnap did have some help, after all. Is this a taunt that he can step where he likes, regardless of who owns the land? Or is it a playful reminder that he's always watching? Or maybe he just left it there without any thought behind it, in the hopes I would draw useless conclusions from a simple smiley face.

Ugh. Now my brain hurts. Or maybe I inhaled some smoke? Yeah, let's say it's the smoke, and not Dream's nefarious tricks that are muddling up my mind.

I turn back to watch the smoky cloud, now creeping into the SMP, growing thinner the further it reaches. The flag must be nearly destroyed by now. The smoke shouldn't last much longer.

A flicker of colour catches my eye, and I reach up to grab it before it can drift past on the wind that had carried it here. A fragment of the flag. Blue and white and a little singed at one end. I tuck it into a pocket of my jeans, almost on instinct. Determined to preserve the past.

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This chapter hurt my brain to write. So much internal monologue. So much thinking. But I also feel like I got an important part of the story out of the way. And now for my favourite part of any chapter, the fanart!

More stick figures by Beluga_Whale42! It really makes my day to see how earnestly you draw stick figures for this book <3 What an inspiration.

And by gosh do we have a masterpiece today! thbyousuck made this! It's so soft and warm and makes me feel sleepy...am I the only one getting those vibes? XD This is what going to art college does to your brain.