"And this leaves the 2 major front runners-"

Tommy stood straighter, tapping his fingers nervously on his navy pants. He was sweating slightly from the bright lights trained on him, but he was smiling. Wilbur stood before the microphone, reading from the black card in his hand. Tommy's gaze drifted behind him.

Quackity wore his trademark smirk, his sunglasses glinting in the stage lights. George stood beside him, holding his sword menacingly. Across from them was Schlatt, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

"In 2nd place with 30% of the popular vote.."

Tommy bit his lip nervously as Wilbur's voice rang out across the podium.

"Is"

Tommy caught Tubbo's brown eyes from across the small stadium-like setup they had made. He winked.

"Led by-"

"The party leader Quackity-"

"YES!" Tommy burst out, raising his fists in the air. "WE DID IT! WILBUR WE DID IT-"

"Tommy."

"YES! LET'S GO, WILBUR! LET'S GO-"

"TOMMY CALM DOWN!"

Tommy flushed with embarrassment at Wilbur's sharp tone, looking down. He smiled to himself, feeling the stiff bandage under his L'Manburg uniform. After everything, they had finally done it. They had fought for this country, almost costing Tommy his life. And then they had fought for it again, verbally this time. Debate after debate with Quackity and George had finally led them to victory. They were finally free.

"Which leaves POG 2020 in first place with 45% percent of the popular vote-"

Niki and Tubbo let out a whoop from the stands. Tommy beamed at them, glancing over at Wilbur. His face was tight and emotionless.

"Two nights ago on the night of the election-" Wilbur cleared his throat, looking down. He clutched the microphone as if to steady himself.

"Two nights ago, on the night of the election, after Schlatt 2020 and Coconut 2020 were announced. Quackity made a deal with, um, the leader of Schlatt 2020-"

Tommy spun around, looking at Quackity with confusion. Quackity simply smiled, folding his arms across his chest.

"Quackity said that whatever happens-" Wilbur stopped again, trying to keep his composure steady.

"Whatever happens Quackity would pool SWAG 2020 votes onto Schlatt 2020 votes, meaning that-"

Tommy's eyes widened.

No.

"That the coalition government of SWAG 2020 and Schlatt 2020 win the popular vote at 46%, one percent more than POG 2020." Quackity's smug grin got even wider when he saw Tommy's shocked face.

"Meaning that tonight, on September 22nd, 2020, Schlatt 2020 has been inaugurated."

Cheers erupted from George, Quackity, and Jschlatt as Wilbur stepped back from the microphone, keeping his head down. Tommy watched in astonishment as he shakily walked down the steps of the podium. His L'Manburg hat was taken off and was pressed to his chest, his curly hair flopping sadly over his forehead as he took a seat in the stands.

Tommy was frozen as Jschlatt walked towards the microphone, a victorious smile on his face. Tommy couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it. They had lost the election and Wilbur looked so broken-

"Wilbur are you sure?" Tommy burst out, still standing on the podium. "By one percent are you sure-"

"Tommy." Jschlatt looked at him with cold eyes, sending shivers down his spine. Tommy had never felt so small in all his life.

"Get off my podium."

George and Quackity burst into laughter as Tommy lowered his head, heading towards the stairs shamefully. His face heated in embarrassment as he walked past Tubbo, unable to look him in the eyes. He had failed him.

"Yeah, get off Tommy. This isn't yours anymore!" Quackity shouted after him with a sneer. Tommy clenched his fists, his eyes filling with fire as he spun around.

"OH, YOU LITTLE-"

Wilbur grabbed his arm, pulling him away forcefully. He looked so tired and sad and broken. Tommy had never seen him like this.

"Tommy, we're citizens now. Just-" Wilbur couldn't look him in the eye. "Just listen to Schlatt."

"Well."

JSclatt's voice echoed around the stadium as he spoke into the microphone. He radiated a calculated sort of coldness as he spoke, quieting everyone around him.

"That was pretty easy."

Wilbur clenched Tommy's arm tighter, restraining him. Rage still boiled in the pit of Tommy's stomach.

"And you know what I said the day I came to this server, the day I said I was running?"

A smug grin spread across his face.

"I said things were gonna change."

Tommy felt another bout of outrage run through him. But one look at Wilbur's defeated face made him keep his head down. He had to keep calm, for Wilbur's sake.

"I looked every single citizen of L'Manburg in the eyes and I said 'You listen to me.'"

JSchlatt's chilling voice held even Tommy captive. It was almost alluring, like a gentle voice calling you over, convincing you to trust them.

But Tommy knew that Schlatt was a siren.

"This place will be a lot different tomorrow."

Schlatt looked up towards the crowd, an almost maniacal smile on his face.

"So let's start making it happen."

"My first decree as the PRESIDENT of L'Manburg-" Tommy felt Wilbur tense in anger. "THE EMPEROR OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY!"

Wilbur clenched Tommy's arm harder, fighting to keep his breath under control. Tommy reached down to squeeze his hand. Wilbur was always the one helping him calm down, and Tommy decided he needed to return the favor.

This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

"IS TO REVOKE THE CITIZENSHIP OF WILBUR SOOT AND TOMMYINNIT!"

Tommy's head whipped up in surprise, his heart dropping to his stomach in fear. He heard Tubbo scream from his right, drowned out by the victorious cheers from the stands.

"NO!"

"YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME!"

Everything seemed to happen at once as the crowd turned on them, drawing their weapons. Tommy was frozen in shock as an arrow whizzed past him, embedding into the seat next to him.

"Tommy, run."

Wilbur pulled him away just as another arrow whizzed by him. Tommy stumbled desperately after him, rounding the corner into L'Manburg. Tommy felt around his inventory, searching desperately for anything to use, to do anything. He couldn't take them all with a diamond sword could he-

He cried out as felt a searing pain run through his arm. He looked up, straight into the eyes of Jack Manifold, holding his crossbow aimed directly at Tommy.

I trusted you.

They stared at each other, frozen. Tommy heard JSchlatt's evil laugh in the distance.

Why?

Jack looked like he was trembling, on the verge of tears. Tommy forced himself to turn away.

Don't think, just run.

The crowd burst through the entrance of L'Manburg as Tommy jumped into the lake, wading through the water desperately. He tried to ignore the aching in his arm and the blood swirling around him, dripping from his wound. He heard jeers from the crowd behind him as he plunged underwater, falling into the tunnel beneath him.

"Oh, that was so easy."

Tommy's breath came out in short, panicked burst as he raced down the sewer, soaking wet. He still heard Schlatt's booming voice as he tried to blockade the tunnel behind him.

"Until further notice-"

Tommy's eyes watered from the pain in his arm, but he didn't dare cry out. They would find him immediately. He just kept racing down the tunnel. He couldn't believe that Jack had- he had-

Just run, Tommy.

"Wilbur Soot and Tommyinnit are merely a memory of L'Manburg."

Tommy felt his arm go numb as he held it, wet blonde hair clinging to his face. Everything felt so cold as he sprinted as fast as he could, pure adrenaline the only thing fueling him.

"A relic of the past."

How had everything fallen so quickly? One second he was on top of the world, and the next second he was running for his life.

What happened to everything they fought for?

"Of the DARKEST era this country has ever seen."

Tommy hit a dead end, breathing quickening. He needed to go. He needed to get out. He tugged at the dirt with his fingernails, desperately tearing away chunks. After 2 blocks the pain in his arm came back with a jolting reminder. Tommy felt a strange sort of dread fill his heart.

He sat there in his little alcove, unmoving. He couldn't do it anymore. He couldn't even lift his arms to dig anymore. His arm hurt so bad and his feet were aching.

"Let's give it up for NO MORE WILBUR SOOT AND TOMMYINNIT!"

He just wanted to give up.

And then suddenly, Wilbur was beside him, pulling him up into the sunlight. His eyes widened slightly when he saw Tommy's arm, but then quickly regained his cool composure. He pressed his finger to his lips, signaling for Tommy to keep silent. They were behind a tower close to the stadium.

"Tommy?"

Tommy's eyes widened when he heard Tubbo's voice on the other side of the tower. It sounded worried and scared. He opened his mouth to call out to him, but Wilbur clamped a hand over his mouth to stop him.

We can't trust anyone right now.

Tommy looked up at him in shock as he shook his head sadly, pulling them into the tower.

"I was getting tired of them anyway."

Wilbur supported Tommy as they climbed up the ladder quietly. He pointed to the arrow shaft sticking out of Tommy's arm, tilting his head to ask for permission. Tommy's crystal blue eyes flashed with fear before he nodded slowly, turning his head away.

Wilbur clenched Tommy's hand reassuringly before whispering "1,2,3." Tommy bit his lip to keep himself from crying out in pain as the sharp arrow tip was tugged out of his arm. He rested his back against the cold blackstone wall, peering down at JSchlatt on his podium as Wilbur bandaged his arm with a ripped piece of his cloak.

The crowd cheered as JSchlatt smiled smugly, soaking in his newfound power. Tommy inhaled sharply when he saw Fundy among them, cheering loudly next to Quackity and George. His fluffy fox ears bounced up in the excitement and he looked... happy?

Why did he look so happy?

Tommy glanced over at Wilbur, who had frozen, no longer bandaging his arm. His brown eyes looked as if they were shattered, pieces of broken glass piercing into his heart.

Tommy placed a hand on his arm, trying to comfort him, but he simply tied Tommy's bandage tightly, turning away. Tommy thought he could see a tear trickle down his cheek before he wiped it away quickly.

"Tubbo! Where's Tubbo?"

Tommy felt fear claw at his heart as he saw his best friend step out from behind the tower. He was looking down at the ground, rubbing his arm nervously.

"I-I'm right here."

"Tubbo! Get up here- get up on my podium."

Tommy watched as Tubbo gingerly took a step towards Schlatt before stopping again. Quackity laughed cruelly.

"Oh look, he's scaredddd."

Tommy felt rage cloud his vision. He wanted to scream at their stupid smug faces, he wanted to shout, he wanted to defend his best friend. But Wilbur's arm held him back.

"You're secretary of state, aren't you?"

"I- I am?"

Tubbo swayed on the spot, brown eyes looking up apprehensively. He'd never been given a proper title before. He'd always just been Tommy's right-hand man.

"Well, I'm not going to fire you! Your Tubbo! Am I going to fire Tubbo?"

Schlatt grinned at him kindly. Tubbo took another step closer like he was gravitating closer to him.

"Y-you're not?"

"Of course not! You're special. "

Schlatt had obviously struck a chord with Tubbo. He looked at the podium wistfully, still rooted to the ground.

"I don't think he wants the job!" Quackity sneered, taunting him.

"I-I want the job."

Tommy was frozen to the spot, eyes wide. He felt like he had just been stabbed through the heart. He felt like he couldn't breathe as Tubbo walked up the stairs to the podium, standing beside JSchlatt with his head down.

N-no.

Tommy didn't feel angry or enraged. He just felt hurt. So incredibly hurt. An arrow through the gut didn't hurt more than seeing his best friend turn on him. And for the first time, Tommyinnit couldn't think of anything to say.

He just wanted to cry. He wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. That's what a little kid would do, not a man, but he didn't care. Wilbur's hand lightly brushed his shoulder, but it did nothing to console him.

This can't be real.

"I like this guy!" Schlatt placed a hand on Tubbo's shoulder, making him flinch. "My very own Tubbo."

"My right-hand man."

That was too much for Tommy. He stood up angrily, clenching his fists to his sides. Suddenly he felt himself be pulled down again, and he thrashed against Wilbur's hold, screaming muffled cuss words into his palm. Wilbur didn't reprimand him, simply patting his back reassuringly as his screams turned into sobs.

"I need you to do something for me, Tubbo."

Tommy suddenly stilled, eyes widening.

"Y-yes, Mr.-Mr. President?"

"I need you to find Tommy."

"And I need you to show him the door."