A tall figure appears in Pogtopia, emerging from the not-so-secret tunnels.

Stela manages to capture everybody's attention with a single sentence, having the entirety of Pogtopia staring at her in disbelief.

"The enderwoman is back!" screams Tommy obnoxiously as the first person daring to speak up in Stela's presence.

It's not that she's terrifying or that nobody wants to speak to her, but somehow, she carries a subliminal presence that makes everybody feel somewhat inferior.

"Great, yeah, I'm here. I just wanna know how the hell did you guys manage to start a war within a month," says Stela, eyeing everyone who's present in Pogtopia.

She smiles at Fundy, who has only recently joined Pogtopia's side. He gave Wilbur a book of Schlatt's weaknesses and said that he no longer believes in Schlatt. And neither does Quackity.

"Pretty easily," Technoblade remarks with a shrug. "It's a government and we're against it. Nothing hard to understand."

"I was set to be executed by Schlatt. Technoblade nearly killed me."

Tubbo's voice is light, almost like he's deliberately trying to downplay the seriousness of the words he's saying.

He even glances at Technoblade, a smile on his lips, to make sure the man doesn't beat himself up for it. It's unbelievably thoughtful of him. But the only person with a strong emotional reaction to it is Tommy.

"It stays in the pit, Tommy."

Technoblade reminds Tommy to not get too heated over the past that has been left behind. It's water under the bridge, or at least it should be.

Though Tommy does like to bring it up whenever Technoblade somehow inconveniences either him or Tubbo.

Stela eyes the two, her eyes narrowed.

"So, Schlatt found out you were a spy?" Tubbo nods. "And he wanted to execute you but Technoblade didn't do it?"

"Nope," says Tubbo, a huge grin appearing on his face. "Techno shot me with his rocket launcher, but we found out Nia has healing powers!"

The excitement in Tubbo's voice would have been adorable, had it not been for the overall topic of the conversation.

Stela takes a moment to properly examine the young boy, noticing the many burn scars across his face and hands. There is probably more. She wants to comment on Tubbo's denial of the seriousness of this topic, but ends up keeping quiet. She would hate to ruin his spirits.

"I can't use those powers, by the way. I— that was just pure luck," Nia retorts, just in case Stela was going to interrogate the princess further.

"Okay . . ." Stela nods.

Her gaze stops at Wilbur, who stands further from everyone, leaning against the cold stonewall of the ravine. He looks almost indifferent, staring at his nails instead of actively partaking in the conversation.

But Nia and Sara shake their heads before Stela even gets to ask about it.

"No matter what, we're going to win," says Niki, full of optimism.

"Well, there are more people on our side than Schlatt's," Fundy notes, shrugging. "He has more enemies than he has allies. And they don't even have to care about Pogtopia or L'Manburg."

"But he said he has something Dream might want in exchange for his assistance in the war."

Quackity purses his lips, the corners of his mouth lower to form a frown. Reminiscing of his time with Schlatt might not be the best for him.

"But Dream's on our side. At least with this — for once."

Tubbo knits his eyebrows together, glancing between Quackity and the rest.

"He can still change alliances. Especially if Schlatt really does have something of great value that is worth more than Dream's want to bring down Schlatt," Nia sighs.

Saying it brings her great pain, but she knows now that's more or less how Dream operates. Especially if what Schlatt has can guarantee power.

She looks at Wilbur, who still doesn't look like he wants to add anything himself. But she doesn't blame him for it, if the only acceptable outcome for him is to blow up Manburg.

"What do you think it is? The item or whatever?" questions Sara.

"Something powerful, probably," remarks Fundy.

"Well, it's not my discs," says Tommy.

"Nobody was talking about your discs, Tommy." Sara rolls her eyes.

"Of course, you would say that, you. You fought me and Tubbo—"

"Alright, alright, calm down," Stela shouts over Tommy, stepping between him and Sara, watching the young blonde glaring at the redhead.

"Dream already has your discs anyway, Tommy, so calm the fuck down. You're getting angry for literally no reason."

Nia shakes her head. She realizes she's being harsh, but that's what Tommy needs to be put back in his place.

"And now Dream's friend is speaking—"

"Tommy, if you're planning to be toxic, you can always just leave. The door is that way."

Technoblade shakes his head, pointing at the closest entrance to a tunnel that leads to Manburg.

"There is no door," comments Tubbo.

"That was figurative," Technoblade replies.

"I have no idea what that means."

"ANYWAYS," Stela exclaims, trying to catch everyone's attention again. Which she does, her voice resonating in the entire ravine.

"What?"

"The war."

"That's in two weeks."

"Do you even know who your allies are?"

"Uh, I'm sure we'll work that out eventually," says Technoblade, waving his hand as if it wasn't important.

Stela sighs in disappointment.

"I'm not surprised the only reason the first war for L'Manburg was won is because Tommy gave up those discs of his . . . actually, I don't even understand the importance of the discs."

"Nobody does," says Sara, shaking her head.

"I think Sam, BadBoyHalo and Antfrost might be on our side," Technoblade speaks up after a moment of silence.

"Then why did you— you know what? Nevermind."

Stela gives Technoblade a look and shakes her head. Sighing, she averts her gaze to Nia and Sara, both of whom seem captivated by the Manburg versus Pogtopia war. But for completely different reasons.

Sara also subconsciously glances at Wilbur, worried for the man.

Nia's eyes, on the other hand, keep slipping to Technoblade with wistful glances that say she wants to talk to him, but he completely ignores her.

"What were you guys doing here anyway?" Sara asks. "Am I interrupting a meeting or something?"

"Not really," Niki speaks up, shrugging. "We were just hanging out."

"What the— shouldn't you be training for the war— I— okay. Jesus fucking Christ, how do you guys even— oh, God."

Stela struggles with getting her thoughts into coherent sentences, though it is quite obvious that she doesn't like the way the Pogtopians prepare for war.

"Well, what do you want us to do, woman?" questions Tommy with a raised brow.

"Train! Fighting and shit, what do I know?! You literally have Technoblade here to help!"

"Oh, Nia's also really good at fighting!" Tubbo exclaims, pointing at the princess.

"It's all pointless anyway," Wilbur finally speaks up, confirming that he has been listening.

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to blow up Manburg."

"Woah, woah, woah, Wil."

Tommy approaches the tall man, other Pogtopians making their protest known loudly by talking over one another about how they're going to win and Wilbur won't have to blow up anything.

Nia and Technoblade share a look this time, watching everybody argue for the rescue of L'Manburg.

"He's just joking around," they all convince themselves.

They never listen . . .

"To be honest, you can still learn to fight, Wilbur," says Stela, unimpressed.

"We'll work on that later," Technoblade offers.

"Why are you back anyway?"

Sara gives her attention to Stela, furrowing her eyebrows at the taller woman. She crosses her arms, waiting for an answer.

"I found the portal to the Trix base." The dark-haired woman shrugs nonchalantly. "Turns out all three of us must be present for it to activate."

"We can't leave, though," says Sara, knitting her brows together and shaking her head.

"Yeah, I know that, dumbass. That's why I'm here, talking about the stupid war."

The redhead glares at Stela, rolling her eyes.

"It's not stupid," says Tubbo.

"To you, it's not." Stela shrugs.

"She's right anyway. We've got two weeks till this war, and so far, we don't even really know who's on our side and who's not. We don't even have enough equipment for anybody, and a lot of us don't know how to fight properly. Which could be a huge issue."

Everyone looks at Sara, who has decided to take the incentive. Her presence becomes similar to Stela's, creating a sense of respect between her and the people she's trying to get to listen to what she's saying.

"The fighting would get especially problematic if Schlatt does get Dream on his side. He, Sapnap and Punz are right now — with their fighting skills — equal to us all as a whole."

"Uh, talk for yourself," Nia and Technoblade chorus.

They get looks from everyone.

"I can take Dream," says Nia.

"So can I," Technoblade adds.

"Punz and Sapnap are even easier to beat."

"Yeah."

"This is exactly why I don't like you," remarks Quackity.

They shrug.

"Fine then." Sara clasps her hands together. "Tomorrow, everyone's gonna be here at nine, and Nia and Technoblade are gonna help us all train."

"And why should we listen to you, woman?" Tommy challenges the redhead.

"Because if you don't, I will make sure you never get your discs back."

"Wha— how— the fuck?!"

"Harsh," says Fundy.

"That's exactly what Tommy needs right now." Sara shakes her head, quoting exactly what Nia thought only minutes prior. "If you want L'Manburg back, you're going to train. I will hear no complaints."

"Fine with me." Technoblade shrugs.

"Same." Nia nods.

"Are you sure the two of you dislike each other?"

"Yes."

"No, but he's acting like a dick."

"I'm acting like a dick? You lied to me."

Despite the lack of color and emotion in Technoblade's voice, Nia knows the man is upset. He stares into her brown eyes challengingly. Subconsciously, they start a staring contest that everyone gets to witness.

"Maybe I would've told you if you didn't tell me you wanted to kill my entire family — including me — to end the monarchy."

"Did you think I wouldn't change my mind?"

"No, of course not! I was scared that you might change your mind and not try to end the monarchy at all."

"Why the fuck are they even mad at each other then?" Quackity questions, glancing between Nia and Technoblade.

"You left without saying anything."

"I couldn't fucking find you!"

"Can't they just kiss and get this over with or something?" Fundy raises an eyebrow at the two.

"WHAT?" Nia and Technoblade chorus.

The fox shrugs, his tail wagging in the air nonchalantly.

"No, yeah, he's got a point." Sara nods.

"The fuck—" Nia mutters under her breath. She shakes her head, glaring at them. "I'm leaving."

"Yeah, me too." Technoblade nods.

"You see this fucking shit?"