I follow Tubbo up onto the podium and take a seat beside him, then turn my head to the crowd. They're quiet, unnervingly so. During the last few speeches there had always been a buzz of chatter leading up to the event.

But today the crowd is silent, and I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

I feel a soft hand slip into mine and glance to Fundy, sat at my other side. He gives a small smile and I return it, squeezing his hand.

Well, whatever happens, at least I have him at my side.

Schlatt doesn't even seem to notice the quietness of the crowd as he flings his arms wide and grins into the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen of this great nation. I come to you on a great day! It's only the second month of the first birthday of my reign over this great nation. And we have totally, completely, and utterly, removed all walls. The cage that has held back the citizens of this great nation, has been, well, removed. The country has been uncaged! And you know what? You know what I'm feeling? " He leans in close to the microphone and hums into it, "Enough of this living in the past. No walls. No restrictions. No Wilbur Soot. I say...I say we rename this country."

The quiet atmosphere is shattered like glass as immediately everyone raises their voices at once. Fundy flinches, his ears laying flat, his hand gripping mine tightens. Tubbo clamps his hands over his ears, coiling in on himself. His eyes are wide and terrified.

Schlatt just grins even wider, uncaring of those who yell out at him.

"No longer will this country be called L'Manburg." He says, raising his voice to be heard over the crowd. One of the loudest voices, I realise with a pang of sadness, is Niki. She's stood to the side, her hands bunched. Gone are the soft curves of her face, replaced with angry lines that crease and fold her expression into a furious glare. She no longer resembles the Niki I knew.

"I say, effective immediately, our great nation is now...Manburg." Schlatt growls the name down the mic, a mad fire dancing in his eyes. Somehow, the displeased voices of the crowd are doing nothing more than egging him on.

He's enjoying himself...

"He just took the L out of it..." Fundy mutters, squinting at the man, unsure if he's hearing right.

"Of course he did," I sigh, rubbing at my eyes with my free hand, my other still clutching Fundy's hand tightly.

"This country will no longer take L's! For we are victorious! You hear that, Wilbur Soot and Tommy Innit?! You can keep your L! We don't want it!"

Apparently insulting the former president was the wrong thing to do, as someone throws a glass bottle up onto the podium.

"And I think that's enough for today." I say to myself, standing quickly and walking up beside Schlatt, placing a hand to his arm. "Sir, I think you should return to the White House."

"Huh? But the party's just gettin' started!"

"No, I really don't think it is." I hum through tightly pressed lips, constantly darting my gaze out across the crowd for any more projectiles.

"Bunch of babies, I'm tellin' ya. You'd think they'd be happy to drop the L."

"Mhm," I manage to steer Schlatt to the back of the podium, not completely out of firing range but to a distance I'm happier with.

"Manburg, I love it!" Quackity laughs, George nodding in agreement alongside him. I stare at the two, unable to tell if they're lying or not. This seems like the sort of thing they might actually like. Then again, George doesn't have much of an opinion about anything...

"Hey, Ares," I feel a hand on my elbow and look back to see Fundy at my side. He doesn't say any more, but nods in the direction of Tubbo. Or more specifically the chair where Tubbo had been sat.

For the love of- I only just found the boy and now he's gone again?!

I don't have time to question his disappearance, as this time an entire chair comes clattering up onto the stage and skitters across the floorboards.

"Time to go!" I announce, and for once we're all in agreement. Even George looks unnerved by the appearance of the chair.

We make it to the bottom of the stairs only to encounter another obstacle.

Niki.

Her eyes land on the goat-man and her eyes narrow, her chest rising as she inhales sharply.

"You are making a grave mistake, Schlatt!" She says, walking up to jab a finger at the much taller man. He just looks down at her, mildly bemused. In his eyes she must seem nothing more than an angry kitten, trying to claw him.

"And that would be?" He grins sharply, finding great joy in her fury.

"N-Niki," I try to step between the two but am completely ignored.

"We fought so hard for this country! And you tear down our walls? Banish Wilbur and Tommy? Burn down our flag?"

Fundy visibly flinches at the last comment and tries to avoid the pointed glare Niki sends him.

"Do you have no human decency?"

Schlatt gives a mocking laugh and glances around. "Anyone have any fucking idea what this woman is talking about?" He asks, jabbing a thumb at Niki.

"Not a clue, sir." Quackity smirks, shoving his hands into his pant pockets.

Niki manages to send the boy a look so sharp that he actually flinches, and quickly clears his throat, directing his gaze to his shoes.

"Niki, I'm going to have to ask you to stand back," I say softly, hating myself for even having to ask such a thing. As if she would actually try to harm someone.

"Yeah, why don't you women sort it out," Schlatt hums, giving my lower back a quick pat before turning and walking off with Quackity and George, back to the White House. Fundy remains, though, and stands silently off to the side, watching anxiously.

"Ares! You can't let him do this! He's ruining the country!" Niki cries out, taking my hands in hers. Her eyes are growing moist and I can tell she's about to cry out of frustration. "You know Schlatt. He listens to you! There has to be something you can do!"

"I-" I bite my tongue. There's nothing I can say to reassure her. "I'm sorry, Niki. But...I don't think there is..."

A shadow falls over her face, and a tear slips down her cheek. She shakes her head and steps back, hugging her arms. "I...I shouldn't have even bothered, should I?" She mutters. Before I can question her or even attempt to fix whatever it is I'd just broken, she turns and walks quickly away.

My hands feel cold without her holding them, and I look down at them, wondering if I'll ever get to hold her hands again.

"I said the wrong thing," I mutter, feeling Fundy come up behind me and slip his hands around my waist, hugging me against his chest. He rests his head on my shoulder and pulls me in even tighter, sharing his warmth with me. Both physically and emotionally.

"You told her the truth," he says sympathetically, taking my trembling hands and tucking them into the heated hug. "You did nothing wrong."

"I know, I just...don't like losing people," I say, letting myself sink into the hug, unconcerned with who might see us around the side of the podium. I need this hug. I need comfort.

I miss Schlatt's hugs...

There's a glimpse of green in my peripheral vision, but by the time I've glanced up and looked around, I can't find the source of it.

Probably just Dream again. He always has a habit of turning up when I least expect him.

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Just sayin' now that the start of the next chapter is going to be funny and mean ;)

And thank you for the art Veatia! Ares looks so fierce. I need to draw her looking angry at some point.