I watched from the podium as people began to take up their seats below. They had just finished with the boxing match and were now moving to listen to the speeches.

The human part of me admired the decorations that were placed around me. Tubbo had done a fine job, the colorful banners and streamers created a fun mood. The boy now stood nervously beside me, tugging at the sleeves of his dark suit.

Schlatt took up his place in his new throne in front of the mic, Quackity on his other side. George was absent, but it wasn't a surprise. He hadn't been around recently, ignoring his government tasks. But Schlatt didn't seem to care.

A good amount of people had shown up to the festival, except for the obvious. The traitors, the Dream Team, Niki, and Eret. Niki hadn't been seen since before the battle at the Eiffel Tower and Eret had probably followed her to wherever she now stayed.

Schlatt leaned into the mic, beginning his speech but only a high pitch noise emitted from it. Everyone grimaced at it, "Tubbo get this shit to work!" Tubbo quickly rushed forwards to fix it, hands shaking greatly. "Who put him in charge of this?"

Tubbo backed away after fixing it, his cheeks aflame. People chuckled in the crowd, only increasing his embarrassment.

Schlatt composed himself, beginning to start again, "Oh man, you know I do like to make fun of Tubbo for all the shit he does wrong but I mean at the end of the day Tubbo is the guy who made this entire thing happen." He smiled at the boy, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Tubbo tugged anxiously on his suit again, avoiding Schlatt's gaze. The horned man turned back to the crowd, "I don't think we would be where we are without him. So without further ado, I think I'll bring big man Tubbo, my right-hand man, my protege, up to the mic."

Schlatt stepped out of his throne, letting the boy step up to the mic. Tubbo glanced at Quackity quickly, who gave him a small, reassuring nod. The boy took a shaky breath, closing his eyes for a moment before plastering a charming smile on his face. I know it wasn't real, Tubbo had always been good at crafting a mask.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen!" He paused, letting his greeting ring through the area. No one responded, "A wise man once told me that L'manburg was like lettuce, there's so many layers of tasty and healthy goodness! And once you wash your food and get rid of the caterpillars off the surface, it's a pretty goddamn good meal."

He got a couple of chuckles from the crowd, helping him continue on, "Schlatt has successfully washed all of the insects off our great nation." I chuckled, imagining Wilbur and Tommy as insects, "And with that, he's allowed for all the goodness to shine through!"

People applauded, the boy beginning to genuinely smile. I glanced at Schlatt, surprised to see him watching me. His eyes danced with some unspoken words, a smug smile appearing on his face.

I turned away when Tubbo began to speak again, "I want you to look at each other, look around, all of this thanks to democracy and the leadership of Jschlatt. And isn't this what this festival all about, democracy?" People began cheering, "Our people have been shoved down by royals for so long. And now we are free to elect who we want! We are freed from those huge, black walls!"

Tubbo paused, contemplating. He shifted his eyes uneasily to Schlatt, "So with that in mind, I'd like to thank everyone for coming to this wonderful event!" His words were shaky at the end. He went to step away from the mic but Schlatt strolled towards him, chuckling.

"Something wrong Schlatt?" Tubbo stared at the man, his smile falling.

Schlatt continued laughing, "I was just thinking about it, Tubbo. You know how we like to have fun?" The man stepped up to the boy, "Got anything else to add to the speech?"

Tubbo's eyes widened, glancing around, "Let the festival begin!" He half shouts.

I saw a flurry of movement out of the corner of my eye, atop a building. When I turned to look, there was no one there.

"Are you done?"

"Uh, y-yeah I'm done with the speech." Tubbo tried to avoid Schlatt's stare, backing away from the mic.

"Could you help me Quackity?" Schlatt pulled out some yellow blocks, stepping towards Tubbo. The boy backed into the throne, shaking. The horned man began placing the blocks around Tubbo. Quackity seemed hesitant to help, but with a sharp glance from Schlatt, he followed through.

"What's going on Schlatt?" Tubbo's eyes were gleaming with tears, his hands shaking violently. "Schlatt what- what a-are you doing?"

Schlatt chuckled darkly, making the crowd go silent. No one dared to breathe as the man stared Tubbo down, "Tubbo, I'll cut right to the chase alright?"

I could hear Tubbo's heart racing in his chest, the speed rising with each second.

Schlatt's face turns dark, dropping the smile. His eyes became darker, a fog beginning to ripple around him, "I know what you've been up to."

Tubbo goes completely still, his eyes darting around. They paused lingering on the building every few moments. I ignored it, watching as Schlatt leaned into the boy's face, "You've been conspiring! With the idiots that we kicked out of this great country months ago!" A few gasps come from the crowd, "I don't know if you know this but treason isn't exactly a respectable thing around here,"

Schlatt gives Tubbo a deadly look, "I know what you've been doing, Tubbo. It all adds up buddy. So don't try and tell me otherwise." Schlatt slammed his hand into the yellow wall, making Tubbo flinch.

A sickening feeling takes over me, a sense of dread. I knew this wasn't going to end well. I grasped the light I had hidden away from Dream's kiss. I needed to fight back. If I was going to fight at any time, now was the time.

"Do you know what happens to traitors, Tubbo?" The boy shook his head, becoming even paler. I could see how badly his hands were shaking again.

Schlatt whipped around to face the crowd. His eyes searched, pausing on a tall figure. He smiled, "Technoblade would you join us up here?"

Technoblade's eyes hardened slightly but made his way up to the podium. Schlatt moved to the side, letting the man stand directly in front of Tubbo. The boy stared at the taller figure, pleading with his eyes. Then his eyes moved to the right, staring at something.

At that moment, I noticed more movement on the roof. Techno and Schlatt's words drowned out as I saw who it was.

Tubbo had been looking at his best friend.

Tommy laid on his stomach, watching his friend with a bow in hand. His face was just as pale and fearful as Tubbo's. I don't know how I hadn't noticed him before but the darkness became distracted with him.

I tuned back into the conversation, fear filling my mind with Schlatt's words,

"Techno, I need you to kill him."

-

Techno and Tommy both stared at the horned man in shock. Techno wouldn't do it, would he?

The man's eyes darted around to the people on the podium, landing on Tubbo. I could practically feel the nerves coming from him. Why would he be nervous if he wasn't going to do it?

"Do it, Techno." Schlatt's voice was hard and evil. A sick grin was on his face, taking in the scene.

"Don't do it Techno!" A cry arose from the crowd. I glanced, seeing Niki appear. She had a pleading look on her face, staring up at her friend. Several people yelled the same thing, willing the man not to take the shot.

I looked back up at Tommy, seeing a figure leaning over his shoulder. Wilbur stood behind the boy, whispering to him. After a moment, Tommy put the bow down but didn't break eye contact with his best friend.

Quackity butted in after Techno didn't move, "Schlatt look we've got him trapped, we can jail him-" His wobbly voice was cut off by Schlatt's aggressive one.

"It's not enough, he deserves more."

The beanie boy looked like he was going to say more but stopped with a hard glare from the president.

"Do it now!" Schlatt shouts, his face twisting in pure hatred.

"Techno?" It was the first time Tubbo had spoken since being trapped. His voice was small, fear clearly painted in it. He pushed his back further into the throne, noticing what Techno now held.

The man held up a loaded crossbow, aimed right at Tubbo's heart.

"I'm sorry, Tubbo."

-

The world started to move in slow motion when I saw Techno pull the trigger.

Techno's eyes were silver-lined as he closed them tightly. He didn't want to watch the scene.

But I tunneled deep within myself, grasping at any light that hid in the corners of my heart.

I grabbed it in my arms as much as I could hold, pushing upwards. I reached the darkness, squaring it up.

I would be strong. I wouldn't bow to it anymore.

I would dance with the stars once more.

A familiar dark voice, the one claimed by the dark god that controlled Dream, screamed at me but couldn't reach his cold hands closed.

The light I had gathered was thrown, flying straight through the darkness's grasp.

It shattered it, sending me flying back into my own body.

I had only a moment left, the bomb inches from the box that enclosed Tubbo.

I wrapped my wind around the arrow, aiming it away from its target, his heart.

~~~~

oop a cliffhanger

i hope you all have a lovely day or night, make sure to eat something and stay hydrated!