Emotions start to brew in a cave and in a nation.

      Or, we all have insecurities and faults and a feeling of what's right.

"So I heard you guys might need some assistance." 

Technoblade smirked, his long toothy underbite apparent. His nimble hand was outstretched towards Wilbur, a sign of peace. Wilbur ignored this, his eyebrows furrowing as he turned towards Tommy's smug grin. 

"You proud of me, big man?" Tommy puffed his chest out in pride, his grimy face shining. He caught Wilbur's eye and his face immediately fell. "What?" 

Wilbur grabbed his wrist, pulling him away forcefully. Tommy tried to struggle, but Wilbur kept a tight grip on his skinny arm, tugging him along like a little kid. Tommy turned back one last time, fear in his eyes as he smiled nervously. 

"We-we'll talk in a minute, Blade!" 

Techno watched as Tommy was pulled out of view by an angry Wilbur, disappearing under the stairsteps. His arm was still outstretched and he took it back, sighing. A dog entered his peripheral vision, and he turned quickly towards the movement, distracted. 

"Oh, dog." 

He watched as its tail wagged happily as it made its way towards him. It stopped at his feet, nuzzling into his red cape. He grinned, mesmerized. 

"Hey, dog." 

-------------------

"Are you alright? Are you hurt? Did anyone see you? Tommy-" 

"I'm fine, Wilbur!" Tommy pushed Wilbur's worried hands examining his face. "I took Fundy's horse. Ponk saw us, but I took care of him. You should've seen me, Will-" 

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!" 

Tommy stumbled back a little at Wilbur's outburst, his smile disappearing. He rubbed his arm in shame, looking down at the floor. 

"You could've gotten killed! You could've gotten hurt Tommy- and for what? For this guy- this guy that we barely know-" 

"Wilbur, he's Technoblade! THE BLADE!" Tommy waved his arms around in excitement. "He's a legend! Wilbur, he's going to help us!" 

"HE'S AN AMERICAN, TOMMY!" Wilbur shook his small shoulders. "You know our history with Americans-" 

"Why should that matter?" Tommy pushed him away forcefully, clenching his fists by his sides. "Wilbur, we've got no one. We've gotta take allies when we get them. Why are you being so weird all of a sudden-" 

"BECAUSE I CAN'T TRUST ANYONE! AND NOW, APPARENTLY, I CAN'T TRUST YOU!" 

Wilbur immediately regretted it as soon as he said it. Tommy's eyes filled with sadness as Wilbur's words echoed around the cavern. 

"What happened to you?" 

Tommy's voice cracked sadly as he shook his head in shock. 

"Why don't you trust me?" 

Guilt pooled into Wilbur's stomach as Tommy stared at him with broken eyes. Suddenly, his voice rose in anger. 

"WHY DO YOU ACT LIKE I'M THIS FUCKING SHARD OF GLASS, WILBUR!" Now Wilbur felt like he was the child, anger filling Tommy's every movement. 

"HAVE YOU SEEN YOURSELF LATELY? YOU CAN'T TRUST ME, YOU CAN'T TRUST EVEN NIKI ALL BECAUSE OF THAT BASTARD FURRY! I GET THAT YOUR HEARTBROKEN AND SHIT BUT YOU NEED TO GET YOURSELF TOGETHER! L'MANBURG NEEDS YOU!" 

Tommy breathed heavily, eyes still blazing with fire. His fingernails dug into the palm of his hand, brain buzzing with rage. 

"Well- well at least I'm not trying to forget!" Wilbur retorted, clenching his fists too. "At least I'm not trying to forget about L'Manburg, about my home! I know what you're doing Tommyinnit, because I KNOW YOU!" Wilbur's voice rose too. He never got angry, but times can change people. 

It changed Wilbur. 

"YOU'RE TRYING TO REPLACE TUBBO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT! YOU'RE TRYING TO REPLACE HIM WITH TECHNO BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET OVER HIM!" Tommy froze, Wilbur's words hitting home.

"YOUR BEST FRIEND FUCKING NEEDS YOU AND YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO FORGET HIM! HE'S SUFFERING UNDER SCHLATT, AND YOU JUST ABANDONED HIM!" 

Wilbur finally came down from his rage-filled rant, feeling bad again when he saw something seem to leave Tommy, turning his eyes glassy. He thought he could see tears form and slide down his cheeks as he turned away swiftly. 

"He doesn't need me. He- he hates me. He betrayed us. He's a traitor." 

Tommy's voice was hoarse and dark, almost like a whisper. Wilbur's heart dropped, all anger disappearing. 

"You don't mean that Tommy. I know you don't." 

Tommy didn't respond, his back turned to Wilbur. He slumped forward, defeated. 

"I know you trust him, Tommy." Wilbur tried desperately to reach out to him, but he was too far away. "I can tell. 'Cause he- he's your Tubbo! Tubbox! Tubbo in a box!" Wilbur's voice cracked as he tried to smile, but his heart wouldn't let him. 

"Remember that? Remember Tubbo in a box?" 

"Tubbo in a box, what will he doooo!" 

"Tommy, get me out of here!" 

"UNBOX HIM, HE'S USELESS!" 

"Tommy?" 

Another beat of silence stretched between them. 

"I remember." 

Tommy's voice was emotionless and cold. He stood up straighter, refusing to look at Wilbur. 

"We've gotta go." 

And then he marched off towards the steps, leaving Wilbur behind. 

------------------------

"Schlatt! Schlatt! Have you heard the news? People are saying-" 

"Quiet, duck." Schlatt kept on striding towards the podium, Quackity tripping behind him. "I am aware." 

"Schlatt this is bad- like really bad-" 

"Don't you worry, my Vice President." Schlatt plastered a fake grin on his lips, trying to exude confidence. "It's all part of my plan. I'm going to make another announcement." 

"A-Another one?" 

Schlatt stepped up the wooden steps of the podium, looking over the crowd of citizens. They were bumbling about, talking loudly. Schlatt suddenly tapped the microphone, the loud noise hushing them. 

"Ladies and gentlemen of this great nation! I come to you on a great day!" 

Nihachu's voice rose over the stadium seats. She raised her fist high, donning her lavender revolutionary gear. Tubbo stood next to her, trying to suppress a smile. "It's over, Schlatt! Technoblade is here to save us!" 

Schlatt ignored her, grinning. "I've called in some assistance! I called in a favor from an old pal- you might've heard of him........ Technoblade."

Schlatt grinned as he saw Niki's face fall, Tubbo's eyes filling with fear next to her. A sort of euphoric sense overcame Schlatt when he saw the power he had over them. 

He could hurt them with just his words, and he loved it. 

"I needed some help hunting because someone didn't do the job well enough." 

Tubbo squirmed in his seat, looking down as he felt all eyes on him. He heard small voices erupt in the back of his mind. He closed his eyes, breathing in and out. 

I don't need voices to help me. I am important. I am smart. I am strong. 

The voices quieted, and Tubbo opened his eyes shakily. Niki's hand was on his shoulder and he smiled at her softly. 

"Moving on....... it is only the 2nd day of my reign over this great nation, and we have totally, COMPLETELY and UTTERLY, removed all walls." 

Schlatt smiled at the open land. His citizens would no longer be trapped like him, stuck in a suffocating black cage. 

They would be free. 

"The cage that has held back these citizens of this great nation has been...... well."  

He adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves, examining them with nonchalance. 

"Removed." 

"The country has been uncaged!" 

"And you know what I'm feeling like? 

He gripped the microphone, leaning towards the crowd. Tubbo had to give it to him- he was an awful person, but he had great charisma. 

"Enough of this living in the past." 

Schlatt almost giggled out loud. Everyone was at the edge of their seats, staring at him in awe. He basked in the limelight. 

He was the one in charge here. 

"No walls, no uhhh- spaceships-" He grinned maliciously at Tubbo, winking. "No Elton John houses." 

A burst of laughter spread through the crowd, making Tubbo shrink down even lower. 

"I say... we rename this country." 

Gasps and screams of outrage erupted. Niki forced her way to the front angrily. 

"Schlatt you can't do that- you have no right to do that-" 

"SHUT UP!" 

The crowd immediately quieted at Schlatt's outburst. He cleared his throat, adjusting his tie as his devilish smile came back. 

"This nation will no longer be called 'L'Manburg'" He blatantly mocked the name, raising his fingers in exaggerated air quotes. "I say that's rather out of date." 

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

"Manburg." 

-----------------------------

Hey guys! Just quick promo for the discord server I created. Come join! We talk about theories and the book (I also give away a little too much of the plot here tbh) and we have an eating fundy cult! (don't ask) Join today! https://discord.gg/7A926dr

Thank you guys so much for reading, and see you in the next chapter!