We start to hide things from each other to protect ourselves.

      Or, the things that aren't said and aren't done leave holes in other people's hearts.

"I say.... effective immediately.... our great country will be called.."

"Manburg."

"NO!"

Niki rushed forward, her blonde hair flaring angrily behind her as Tubbo and HBomb restrained her. Tubbo tried desperately to calm her down, speaking in a soft urgent tone.

"Niki don't-"

"This country will no longer take L's!"

"For we are victorious."

"YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS SCHLATT!" Niki's light brown eyes burned with a type of rage that Tubbo had never seen before. Tubbo was scared, but he had to admire her. She was probably the bravest out of all of them. "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

Quackity tried to reason with her. "Niki, he's doing what's best for the country! Can we just talk about it-"

"I'm not talking to you." Niki glared at him, pushing H and Tubbo away lightly.

"Niki, listen to me-"

"You can't do this, Quackity!" Niki's eyes pleaded with him as she clenched her fists. "You know how much was sacrificed, how that's part of our history-"

"Niki- Niki let's talk in private, ok? Just let me explain for a bit."

She crossed her arms, turning away from him. Quackity tugged at the bottom of his black T-Shirt nervously, looking up at Schlatt.

I don't want to be like him.

He looked back at Niki turned away from him. She wasn't going to budge anytime soon. He closed his eyes, breathing in and out.

But I need to be. For the greater good.

"E-Effective immediately, Niki. T-The Vice President commands you."

He hated how his voice shook. He was supposed to sound powerful and commanding, like Schlatt's voice. He saw Schlatt at the corner of his eye, grinning. Niki didn't move.

"Why aren't you listening to your Vice President, Niki?"

And there was that voice again, sending chills down Quackity's spine. Oh, how he hated it. But it demanded power and control. And secretly, Quackity wanted to be able to do that. He wanted power, and he knew it.

But power can drive people crazy.

"Misconduct like this can lead to some unpleasant things. What would happen to your poor bakery if you were arrested?"

Niki glanced around her at Schlatt's lackeys slowly advancing towards her, hands on their sheathed weapons. She broke, turning back towards Quackity with her head down. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her away urgently as he strode towards Jack Manifold's house in the distance. He looked back again nervously, noticing Punz's drawn crossbow, and walked faster.

He didn't relax until the door was slammed behind him.

"Quackity, you can't do this. We fought so hard for independence, Quackity. And now everything is getting taken away! Tommy and Wilbur are not allowed here anymore and-"

"I know." He gripped the side of the windowsill, refusing to look her in the eye. "I-I don't agree with it either. Schlatt- Schlatt was a little harsh."

"He wasn't just a little harsh!" Niki's sweet voice rose again. "He's taking everything. Everything we worked for and fought for. Quackity, we just can't let him get away with this."

He stayed silent, and she continued. "Wilbur, Quackity. Wilbur is gone, and I don't know what to do-"

"I KNOW!" He slammed his fist against the frame of the window, shocking her. He sighed and slumped forward, cradling his head in his hands. "I know. I-I don't know what to do either, ok?"

"Then help me! Help me fight him!" Niki offered her hand out to him.

His eyes widened, and he dropped his voice lower. "You- you want to go against Schlatt?"

"He's going to take everything from us. I can't let him do that. Help me, Quackity." She placed a soft hand on his shoulder. "Help me do the right thing."

Quackity stared out the window at the podium rising from the ruins of the walls. It stood tall, a sign of power. A sign of Schlatt's power. His power of everything and everyone. When Quackity thought of this, he quaked in fear. Because at the end of the day, there were 2 sides. The predator and the prey.

Schlatt was the predator. And Quackity didn't want to get eaten.

"I-I can't."

"Quackity-"

Suddenly, there was a flash of red and a glint of netherite armor in the windowsill. The door slammed open, banging against the frame. Niki's eyes met Quackity's, pleading and filled with fear. But just like he couldn't help George, he couldn't help her.

I'm sorry.

To his surprise, her eyes didn't fill with anger. She just looked.... disappointed.

A wave of regret flowed through his stomach. He turned back to the windowsill, unable to look as Punz tied her hands behind her back.

"Niki Nihachu, you are under arrest."

---

"How do we know we can trust you?"

Wilbur's eyebrows furrowed as he watched Techno scratch L'Dog in his lap happily, his red cape wrapped around L'Dog's little furry body.

"Technoblade, I appreciate your skill level and your ability." Wilbur looked over at Techno's shining crown atop his head, a sign of the highest level of skill a warrior could get to. Technoblade was a legend, no doubt. But how would he use his power?

"But I- I don't know you well enough."

"I'm sorry, what?"

Techno looked up mid-head pat with a confused look on his face. "I wasn't listening."

Wilbur sighed and glanced over at Tommy, who refused to look him in the eye. A sudden panic rose in Wibur's chest.

Would Tommy leave him because of their argument? He knows that he is strong by himself now, he knows that he could just get up and leave. He did it to get Technoblade, and he could do it again-

"Am I getting stabbed?"

Techno looked from Tommy to Wilbur expectantly. Wilbur sighed even louder. "No, you're not getting stabbed, Technoblade. Just-" Wilbur noticed Techno's attention waver towards L'Dog again. "Just give me the fucking dog."

Techno stared wistfully at the little puppy as Wilbur lifted him gently out of his lap. "So how do we know we can trust you?"

"You don't have to worry about that." Technoblade stood up gracefully, using his diamond sword to steady himself. He twirled it in his hand, smirking. "Do you really think I would side with the government?"

"But... you would side with a fair president, right? To fight against a tyrant?"

Techno shrugged. "I just want to stab people, man." He ignored Wilbur's concerned expression as he looked over at Tommy's chapped lips and Wilbur's loose uniform. "I probably need to make a farm soon. When was the last time you guys ate?"

"What farm did you have in mind?" Wilbur's eyes drifted down to the dark red spots on Techno's button-up shirt that looked suspiciously like blood.

"Well I was thinking potatoes, maybe some carrots- what did you think, Wilbur?" Techno crossed his arms over his chest in offense. "What type of person do you think I am?"

He followed Wilbur's gaze to the red stains on his shirt. "It's cranberry juice, Wilbur. Cranberry juice." He rolled his eyes. "Jesus."

"I'm going to make tools for my farm." He hiked his brown combat boots up the crumbling dirt stairs. His muffled voice floated down the steps once more. "My POTATO farm!"

And then it was just Wilbur and Tommy again. Tension hung in the air, making it hard to breathe.

"I-I'm sorry, Tommy. I-I shouldn't have yelled- that was stupid of me. I'm supposed to be the strong one-"

"It's fine, Wilbur." Tommy turned away from him darkly, starting up the stairs. "Let's-let's not fight."

Wilbur caught his arm before he could walk away. "I-I'll try to do better, ok? I'll try to trust people again. For L'Manburg. For you."

Tommy tried to shrug him off, but Wilbur hung tight onto his arm."It really is fine, Wilbur-"

"How 'bout Tubbo?" Wilbur tried to inject excitement into his voice to hide his panic. "Y-you like Tubbo, right?"

"I-I'm not sure yet-"

"Of course you like Tubbo! Everyone likes Tubbo!" Wilbur let out a giggle that made Tommy back up a bit. It wasn't a happy giggle. It didn't seem right. "He can be our spy! A little Tubbo spy, wouldn't you like that?"

"But let me guess-" Tommy's voice was tired. "You won't let him down here. Because you don't actually trust him."

Wilbur stayed silent.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

Tommy sighed. "It's fine, Wilbur." He turned back to him. "I get why you can't let anyone in right now." He placed a light hand on his shoulder. "I understand."

But do you really?

"S-so you won't leave?" Wilbur sounded like he was on the verge of tears, his voice almost cracking. Tommy tilted his head in confusion.

"Why would I ever leave? I'm your right-hand man." Tommy chuckled, punching his arm playfully. "You're acting really fucking weird, man."

"Y-yeah." Wilbur let out a shaky laugh, releasing all of his stress. "S-sorry about that."

"It 'k." Tommy grinned at him, turning away to clamber up the steps. "C'mon! We have a Technoblade to show around."

"Are we still going through with the Tubbo spy thing?"

Tommy paused at the top of the steps, excitement draining from his face.

"I know you miss him, even though you keep pretending that you don't. It's eating you up inside."

The silence hung between them for a few moments as Tommy leaned against the dirt wall, thinking.

"I- ok." Tommy nodded slowly. "Let's do it. Even if he hates me, let's do it."

Before Wilbur could say anything more, Tommy had already scrambled up the steps. Wilbur turned back to look at the sparse cavern.

He didn't trust Tubbo. He knew he should, but he... couldn't.

But he trusted that they would come out on top. And if Tubbo knew this, he would join them. Because everyone wants to be on the winning side.

They would come out on top this time. They were on the right side. They were the heroes.

Right?