PHOENIX

Chapter Nine: Sweet Like Cake

The weeks following our independence were filled with newfound motivation and pride. Most days were spent rebuilding our nation from the explosions and chaos. We even started replanting trees, trying to reclaim what we had once lost.

Tommy's arrow wound has healed up nicely, and his quest to get his discs back had made its return as soon as Tommy could walk around with no help. It came as no surprise that Tubbo helped Tommy in his pursuit of the discs, and even started a new construction project on the outskirts of L'Manberg.

Wilbur seemed to be doing fine as President, allowing new projects to be worked on, and supervising the renovations of old buildings. He had even gone on a couple business trips to meet with different leaders from nations outside of the SMP territory. Fundy was also thriving in his new position of power, although he wasn't that powerful. He created new buildings for L'Manberg and continued to play pranks on the Americans.

I had been put in charge of welcoming all the newest people joining L'Manberg, which was a huge task. L'Manberg nearly doubled in size since the revolution, as many people from other lands had heard about our freedom.

Going down the list of names, I crossed out the last family I had visited, after making sure they had a good home and resources to thrive here. The late august air had a slight breeze blowing gently through, and I headed towards the ocean borderline of L'Manberg. Apparently my next citizen lived in a cave near the beach, where Tubbo was beginning to build the new docks.

Climbing down a new set of stairs by the cliff, I heard my stomach whine in hunger. I swear to god my body hates me.

The wind picked up, and I snuck around the corner of the rocks, looking for the entrance to the supposed cave.

A piece of paper sticking to a wall of stone caught my attention, and I crossed over the sand to reach it.

Picking up the flyer, I quickly scanned its contents. The flyer had a giant picture of Eret wearing a crown, and the headline said, "I'm the king now!" with way too many exclamation points following the letters.

Eret's coronation had been a surprise to us, both upsetting and aggravating. Tommy almost tried to assassinate Eret the night we found out, but we had stopped him quickly before he started another war.

I huffed in annoyance as I tore up the sheet of paper, and let the bits blow away in the wind. He didn't deserve to be rewarded for betraying us, and he definitely didn't deserve to be king of the SMP.

"Hey! What are you doing?" A high voice called out from behind me.

I turned to see a gorgeous blonde girl stomping in my direction, her face scrunched in determination. She was much shorter than me, and was already wearing a L'Manberg uniform.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that poster was yours" I said sheepishly.

"It wasn't mine, but my friend came by and put it there" The girl relaxed, looking towards the now empty wall of rock.

Her friend? Anyone from L'Manberg wouldn't be putting up flyers of Eret's face anywhere, and I highly doubt anyone from the SMP's side would travel this far for a piece of paper.

"Well, I don't think we've been introduced," The blonde said cheerfully, offering her hand out to me. "I'm Niki, I live in that cave over there"

She gestured over to a small opening in the rocks that I had walked right past.

"This is perfect! I'm supposed to be coming over here to welcome you. My name is Nix, and I'm the treasurer of state. I'm still unsure of what it means though" I grinned, taking her hand and shaking it.