TUBBO'S POV

Tubbo stared down at the ground, still slightly in shock. Even though he'd done his best to cover it up, and had done pretty well, judging by Tommy's tone, he was still slightly shaken from the incident. He wanted to get on Schlatt's good side, and then he could become a spy for the other side.

Tubbo chuckled darkly to himself. Who knows if they'll trust me now.

He stood, greeting Schlatt, who'd just approached the mic again. Schlatt gave Tubbo a curt glance over, and even though it was merely a glance, Tubbo suddenly felt chills all over. He shook himself to get rid of the feeling, and stood promptly at Schlatt's side as Schlatt tapped the microphone, getting everyone's attention.

"I have many great plans for this nation. Under my rule, L'Manberg will become great, it will become a powerful country. The first change I would like to do is concerning our land. The members of our country have been trapped within these walls for too long." Schlatt began, his piercing gaze scanning the crowd.

Tubbo froze, not believing what he was listening to, praying, hoping that Schlatt wasn't suggesting what he thought he was.

"I think that it's time," Schlatt continued, narrowing his gaze, a ghost of a smirk at the corner of his lips, "to tear down these walls, and expand. No longer will we be confined within these thick black walls, and the citizens of L'Manberg will be free to emerge completely from the darkest era."

Tubbo's eyes widened involuntarily, but he quickly covered up his slip up by blinking rapidly as though he'd gotten something in his eye. The crowd, however, didn't hold back, some gasping, some blatantly crying out in outrage, and some cheers and whoops. Tubbo, instead, just felt sick to his stomach. But he didn't show it, straightening and breaking out into the fakest smile in the history of smiles.

"Every citizen of L'Manberg is required to help." Schlatt spoke over the crowd. "And before we begin tearing down these walls and beginning a new era of L'Manberg, I have two other changes I would like to make."

Tubbo shifted uneasily. What else could this man do?

"In L'Manberg, we're a place of victory, a place of prosperity. And another thing? We do not take Ls. Therefore, L'Manberg is quite an unsuitable name for our nation."

Tubbo tensed up, inwardly shaking with anxiety.

"I say," Schlatt leaned over the lectern, leering over the crowd, which had fallen silent. "I say, we rename... To Manberg." He broke into a smirk.

Tubbo felt like he'd just been kicked in the stomach. But he didn't show it, merely standing straighter and nodding tersely. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of color, and he directed his gaze towards that spot.

Wilbur's head was peeking out from behind one of the walls, meeting Tubbo's gaze. Tubbo tried to gesture as subtly as possible with his hands for Wilbur to leave, flicking his wrist away from the crowd. Schlatt noticed, following Tubbo's gaze.

"What're you doing with your hands, Tubbo?" The question sounded completely innocent, but it had a dangerous, almost knowing undertone to it.

"Nothing." Tubbo tucked his hands behind his back nervously, not meeting Schlatt's eyes.

"Well then, since you're doing nothing with your hands, why don't you help me with something?"

"Yes, Mr. President?" Tubbo asked shakily.

"Why don't you help me hang up the new flag of Manberg?"

The word Manberg still sounded odd, and Tubbo certainly didn't like it. But it took him a moment to realize what Schlatt meant.

"A new flag?" Tubbo couldn't keep the tone of surprise out of his voice.

"Yes, a new flag. In fact, we'll begin the renovations now. Everyone, you're either tearing down the walls or helping put up the newest flag of Manberg. Every citizen of Manberg is required to help. Now go." Schlatt's voice became dangerous and threatening, and everyone scurried away, except for Fundy. Schlatt narrowed his eyes at him.

"What're you waiting for, Fundy?" He spat.

"Mr. President, I would like to personally offer assistance in burning the old flag and designing and hanging up the new flag." Fundy spoke in an oily voice.

Tubbo cringed inwardly, but waited for Schlatt's response as well.

"Hmmm..." Schlatt studied Fundy, then a realization seemed to hit him. "You're Wilbur's son, aren't you?"

Fundy dipped his head respectfully, almost, it seemed, shamefully. "Yes, Mr. President."

An evil grin stretched across Schlatt's face. "Are you loyal to Manberg and I, or to your father?"

"To you, of course."

"Then prove it. Burn down the old flag to prove your separation from your past and your loyalty to Manberg."

"Of course." Fundy replied instantaneously, then turned towards the flag, striding towards it with determination when Schlatt stopped him.

"Wait, you need to work with the other citizens to tear down the walls first. We'll get to the flag once the sun sets for a spectacular show."

"Yes, Mr. President." Fundy strode off instantly.

"Let's go, Tubbo, we have some matters to discuss."

WILBURSOOT'S POV

Wilbur watched, eyes wide, as his former fellow citizens of L'Manberg, or so it was called now, Manberg, tore down the walls without seemingly an ounce of regret. It hit him even harder when his eyes landed on his very own son, hacking away at the obsidian walls.

"My son... I built these walls just to keep him safe, and now he's taking them away. Fundy..." Wilbur's voice cracked, staring out from his hiding spot.

Tommy laid a hand on Wilbur's shoulder. "He's changed. There's no use in brooding over it. We need to get gear, get armor, and get strong again. Only then can we fight for L'Manberg back."

Wilbur stared desperately for another few minutes, then finally tore his eyes away, accompanying Tommy back to the base that they had carved out on the side of a hill. It was a humble little dirt shack, but when Tommy went mining they'd ended up discovering a whole ravine, in which they were now staying.

But it wasn't home. It wasn't L'Manberg. In fact, that didn't exist anywhere anymore. But Wilbur tried to make himself listen to Tommy's plan of attack.

"We need to get geared up. We're only banned from L'Manberg-"

"Did you forget? It's called Manberg now." Wilbur cut in, voice defeated and tired.

"No, I will call it L'Manberg. Wilbur, we can't give up hope now."

Wilbur paused in his steps, and Tommy waited for him. Wilbur took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and when he blinked them open again, he felt a little more refreshed, the fog clouding his world a little clearer.

"You're right. What's your plan?"

Tommy blinked, then immediately continued babbling. "Even if we get, like, OP armor, it'll still be difficult to beat them, since L'Manberg has really grown in size since the first war. Anyways, what I'm getting at is that we should get someone on our side."

"Like Tubbo!"

"Yeah!" Tommy continued enthusiastically. "I'm sure Tubbo's still on our side, we need speak to him sometime. But I wasn't thinking of just Tubbo, but we might want to get Dream on our side."

Wilbur scoffed. "How do you suggest we do that?"

"Schlatt's a common enemy between us and Dream, really. He's seeking to expand L'Manberg; I'm pretty sure Dream wouldn't like Schlatt expanding onto Dream SMP land."

"True, true." Wilbur nodded slowly.

"So maybe we could speak to him sometime, you know, get him on our side! That would be a very good asset."

Wilbur nodded again. "Maybe."

"And the last idea I had: you know who we should get on our side? The Blade."

Tommy broke into an infectious grin, and for a moment, Tommy looked like a young child, not like the battered and bruised boy who had been exiled from his home. Wilbur felt a brief sense of pride, but then he understood Tommy's words.

"Techno? Seriously? You think he'll help us?"

"Maybe!"

Wilbur was silent for a moment while Tommy looked on, apprehensive, but Wilbur broke into a grin as well.

"Sounds like a plan, TommyInnit!"