Chapter 19

"And this is my collection!" Tubbo and I round a corner to reveal lecterns with historical books sat a top them. I smile sadly; the 'Declaration of War' sits here in this room. Tubbo had taken me to his underground library that he had been working on. He had also told me that there was a tunnel that led to Pogtopia starting here, the library had been a sort of cover so he could work on it.

"This is awesome Tubbo!" I run my hand delicately over the pages of the books, one by one. "I'm something of a collector myself actually."

"Really?"

I nod and walk over to an ender chest nearby. I open the lid and take out an armful of books, that's really the only thing that's in there nowadays. I pass Tubbo a couple books, including the book of Independence, for him to add to his library.

After reminiscing for a couple minutes Tubbo leads me to the start of the tunnel. We stand there for a couple seconds before Tubbo begins to speak,

"So, this is the tunnel," He states, "It leads you to Pogtopia but there is a fake wall so if anyone from Manburg comes down here you should be safe."

"Amazing, you're a good man!" I exclaim, patting the short man on the shoulder. He blushes at the praise, "So, let's be on our way, yes?"

Tubbo agrees and we head down the tunnel. Its large and spacious, with a wooden path on the floor to make it easier to walk. As we make our way down the tunnel, we discuss things like the construction of the tunnel and the happenings in Manburg. In return I tell him stories from Pogtopia and complain about Techno's rambling about anarchy and how much he hates governments.

As we reach a certain part of the tunnel Tubbo pulls me aside, off the wooden path. He presses a part of the wall and it becomes tilted, out of the wall. He pushes the left side, grunting from the effort. And just like that he had spun a part of the wall, enough for someone to slip through.

"Tubbo-" I start, about to praise him for the one millionth time today, when two voices begin to echo down the tunnel.

"Tubbo is so cool."

"Schlatt needs to see this!"

The first was none other than Tommy Innit, yelling for who knows what reason. The second was Quackity, voice barely audible over Tommy's.

"Shit, get inside!" I push Tubbo into the wall and follow him inside, quickly pushing the wall back, so it looks smooth and normal. Tubbo and I stand quietly just behind the wall, listening.

"Did Tommy lead him here?" Tubbo asks,

"I'm going to abolish Tommy as my first act of president." I grumble.

Tommy's voice gets louder until he's right in front of the fake wall. If Tommy keeps walking, Quackity would think that the fake tunnel was the real tunnel, it was genius!

The plan is immediately ruined when the fake wall spins, causing Tubbo and I to stumble back. Tommy stands there, stance wide, grinning.

"Yeah, start abolishing." Tubbo sighs.

"What are you doing!?" I hiss, holding out my hands in front of me in exasperation. "Why are you just standing there!?"

"Hey guys." Tommy says casually, swinging his pickaxe over his shoulder. I can hear Quackity's voice bouncing off the walls, getting louder and closer.

"Get in here!" Tubbo whispers, waving his hands around frantically.

"Ok, ok!" Tommy grunts, stepping into the tunnel. "Jesus!"

He stands there, wall wide open behind him.

"Fix the wall!" I whisper yell at him, mentally facepalming. He turns around and spins the wall, glaring at us,

"What up with you guys?" Tommy grunts, looking disgusted at us.

"What's up with you!?" I say, "Why are you being so annoying?"

"I'm doing it on purpose," Tommy says, hands on his hips. I grimace at how loud he's speaking, "Been noticing how much you've been bossing me around lately."

"Whatever." I grunt, turning and walking a few steps away. Then I turn, remembering what Tubbo had told me earlier. "Actually, you know what? Schlatt's making a decree later-"

"Why?" Tommy buts in, staring at me.

"I don't know, but what I do know is that I don't want you there."

"WHAT? WHY?"

"Because you're too much of a loose cannon!"

"No!"

"Because you're childish!"

"That's bullshit! I'm very mature, more than you!"

"LOOK! THERE'S A REASON THAT YOU'RE NOT PRESIDENT," I yell, jabbing my pointer finger at him. "and never will be!"

Tommy stands in front of me, still. He bares his teeth and then, without another word, pushes past me and storms down the tunnel to Pogtopia. I sigh and then remember Quackity, who's probably gotten Schlatt by now.

"You better go out and greet them." I mutter to Tubbo and he nods aggressively, shaking himself out of the shock of watching an argument. Tubbo steps out of the wall, straightening his suit and tie and relaxes his face. I close the wall behind him and press my ear up against it.

"Tubbo!" I hear Quackity call from far away, "Where'd you come from?"

"I've been here the whole time!" Tubbo chirps. I hear two sets of footsteps and they stop in front of the wall I crouch behind.

"Tubbo, my s- boy!" Schlatt booms and I jump a little. "You know what? I'm feeling good today, let's do something big!"

"Sounds good Schlatt!" Tubbo says, sounding overly happy. A beat of silence and I hold my breath, so they don't hear me.

"So, Tubbo," Quackity enunciates, "I heard you made this, what the hell is it?"

Before Tubbo can answer and I hear foot falls behind me, running.

"WILBUR!" Tommy yells, rounding a corner.

"SHHHHH!" I shush him buts it's far too late.

"What the hell…" Quackity growls, then right next to my head a pickaxe goes straight through the wall. My eyes go wide as the pickaxe is yanked out of the wall. I step back and see a brown eye peering through the hole.

"Hey! There's a-" Quackity pulls back from the hole and points at it, probably addressing Schlatt.

"You know what, I don't give a shit." Schlatt yawns, "I have a decree to make."

I stand dead still like I'm glued to the spot. I listen and only dare to breathe when I'm sure the three of them are gone. I spin to face Tommy, who's stood in the same position I had left him. I wanted to yell at him and curse him out but all I say is,

"Let's go."

~~~~~

Tommy and I crouch on top of a tower, to watch and listen to Schlatt's decree. We were slightly early seeing as though they were still preparing the stage. We are too far away from Schlatt and the rest to hear what's going on but suddenly the microphone comes on,

"Fundy, you're going to need to make this podium prettier." Schlatt ordered. That's when I first noticed my son standing there, nodding. "Because, if I'm being honest, it's ugly right now."

The podium did look worse than usual. It was bare, after being stripped and deconstructed after the election so everyone could see the white house better.

"Oh, I agree." Fundy's voice faintly echoed out of the speakers, and my heart wrenched. The fact that I wasn't with my son pains me, but I try to push past it.

Tubbo calls something out to Schlatt and he looked at the microphone.

"Oh, I'm live? Great," Schlatt cleared his throat and began his SMP-wide broadcasted decree. "Loyal citizens of Manburg and the Dream SMP! I come to you today with great news! As you may have heard, we are rebuilding the podium because… We are having a festival! It will be full of minigames and other fun attractions created by the people for the people, to celebrate democracy! The very thing that brought me to power and toppled the TYRANTS that were here before me."

I feel Tommy tense up next to me and I share his anger.

"So come to the festival, invitations with more details will be handed out later." Schlatt surges on with his decree. Then he looks up at our tower, seemingly straight at me, "Maybe I'll even invite my good friend Technoblade. Thanks, Tubbo, you know what you should plan this thing, give a speech, or whatever!"

I look over at Tommy and jerk away. He's holding a crossbow, the one Dream gave him, an arrow loaded straight at Schlatt. I shake my head violently, even if I don't trust his shot to even hit his target, we cannot risk it. I sigh as he lowers his crossbow,

"Let's get out of here."