Wilbur wakes up and stretches. He has a giant grin on his face. Every day has been fulfilling since he got a new forge. The houses are starting to take shape, and everyone is in high spirits.

  Wilbur washes up from a basin and then quietly walks over to his princess. Donna is sprawled out chaotically. Her fur blanket is only half-covering her. "Wake up, darling," Wilbur cues.

  "No, morning," she grumbles while covering her face.

  "You're a big girl now, right? Let's go eat with everyone, ok," Wilbur coaxes.

  "Small gorl," Donna mumbles.

  Wilbur sighs, "Alright." He then scoops the young girl. 'She's starting to get heavy,' Wilbur thinks with a smile. 'It is a miracle that we can eat so well in this desolate place,' Wilbur thanks the Gods for their luck as his daughter lays limply in his arms.

  As Wilbur leaves his home, he hears Laurel and Franklin arguing. Laurel wags her finger as she lectures, "you need to treat a flag right. How could I let you play with the flag Elanor and her friends made?"

  "I told you it's not for playing. I need to practice!" Franklin retorts loudly.

  "Use your own flag then," Laurel harrumphs.

  Franklin's shoulder droop "Mom's even more protective of our flag than you."

  Wilbur shifts Donna in his arms and calls out, "Before arguing about being able to use the flags, you need a flag pole."

  "It's just a stick, right?" Franklin replies.

  Wilbur shakes his head. "They should be well sanded, stained hardwood, or else the flag may get caught and rip," he explains.

  Franklin's shoulders droop as they reach the town square. "Why does everything involve building something."

  Wilbur laughs, "This is much easier than the training dummy."

  Laurel shakes her head and joins in, "you're always such a wimp when it counts all talk."

  Donna suddenly wakes from the dead and reaches out to the two while looking upside down from her lying position. "Don't fight! Be friends."

  Laurel grabs Donna's hand and says, "we are friends, alright. Don't worry." She then elbows Franklin with a scary smile.

  Franklin rubs his side while eyeing this pain of a girl. "Fine, that's right, we're best friends!"

  Laurel smirks and shakes her head. "I don't think I'd go that far," she then dashes off to her mom before Franklin retorts.

  Franklin slinks off to his mom and stepdad. He dejectedly eats his meal, a mix of vegetables and meat. Arron pats Franklin on the back, “What’s wrong, Franklin?”

  “I need to get a flag pole, but it seems pretty hard,” Franklin says as he dejectedly pokes his soup.

  “Hmm,” Arron leans on his hand in the thinking man pose. “Before getting depressed, you should try first, don’t you think?”

  “I guess. But I’m not really good at that stuff,” Franklin complains.

  Anna shakes her head and explains, “Just like fighting, you have to do it to get good.”

  Arron finishes his food and stands up. “After you’re done with your morning training, I’ll go with you into the forest to find a good straight tree.”

  “Really!” Franklin exclaims with stars in his eyes.

  Anna smiles and pats her child's head while gently touching Arron. “It’s good to have some quality men time.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Franklin nods and clenches his fist, “Alright, let’s do this!”

  Anna leans her hand a bit heavier on Franklin’s head. With a smirk, she says, “first, finish eating so we can go do morning practice.

  “Oh yeah,” Franklin says as he starts shoving food into his mouth.

  After practice, Franklin meets up with Arron, and they go out into the forest. After searching for most of the day, they finally come to a lovely straight tree. “This looks perfect!” Arron notes as he lifts the axe.

  Franklin looks at the tall tree skeptically, “isn’t it too tall?”

  “Don’t worry, this is the perfect height for what we need,” Arron assures.

  “If you say so,” Franklin responds as Arron begins to chop down the tree.

  After chopping it down, they strip the branches and drag it back to the village. As they return, Donna and Laurel are returning down the hill. Once they notice the two carrying the tree back, they run over.

  Laurel inspects the tree and nods, “This looks perfect, don’t you think so, donna?”

  Donna giggles for a second, then scrunches her eyebrows. She folds her arms in front of her and leans back like her dad when he’s inspecting his work. “I suppose that'll do,” Donna responds with an attempt at a deep voice like her dad.

  Franklin smiles from ear to ear at the praise, “it was a lot of work, but it was worth it!”

  Arron laughs, “indeed, everyone will appreciate your hard work.”

  Franklin doesn’t know why anyone else would care about his flag, but he was happy for the support. “Alright, if everyone is looking forward to it needs to be perfect.”

  Laurel nods while holding back a laugh. “That’s right. We are expecting a lot, so work hard!”

  It takes them a whole week to strip the bark and smooth the long tree. Franklin didn’t know why they were working on the entire tree, but everyone said it was necessary for the flag pole, so he just went along. After they finish, Gregory brings over a stain he’d made while they were working. It took a few more days to complete, but it finally looks perfect.

  Franklin finally asks, “So do we cut the top part off now?”

  Arron looks at Franklin in confusion, “What do you mean? If we cut off the top, it won’t look right.”

  “But I can’t carry the bottom part,” Franklin responds while tilting his head. ‘I’ve grown more muscular, but I’m not that strong.’

  “We’ll all help you lift it, of course,” Arron says in a matter-of-fact way.

  At that moment, Laurel comes over and says, “our guardian spirit just finished the hole! The moms finished the rope, so Just add Wilbur's hooks, and it’ll be ready to go!”

  Arron responds as he starts ponding in the loops, “Leave it to us!” Franklin is wholly lost, but he continues to help since everyone else seems to know how to do it.

  Everyone helps carry the pole up the hill and place it in a deep hole. After refilling it and pounding it down, they raise Laurel’s village flag and clap.

  Gregory pats Franklin on the back, “Good job, lad. I thought you’d give up before finishing, but you stuck it out. I thought you and Laurel were on bad terms. I’m glad you’re willing to put those things aside for the village.”

  Franklin smiles awkwardly, finally realizing there was a mistake at some point. “Um yeah. I’m glad I could help.” After getting showered with praise by everyone, it was hard for Franklin to speak up about his actual goal. He looks around for his mom, but strangely, Anna is missing from the festivities.

  John looks up at the flag in satisfaction. He’d never thought he’d be on a banner like this. It even has some protection and energy gathering inscriptions. They are mild and weaved in perfectly, so they will continue to work with just a bit of energy. “Joe, it’s your job to keep the flag charged! You have the most energy.”

  Joe looks at the bare tree and snorts, “huuf.”

  “It’s not a worthless tree without leaves to eat! If you charge it, the food around here will get even better, so don’t slack off!”

  Joe looks at the bush and the tree with doubt, but he still slowly nods.

  Once they start heading home, Franklin's shoulders slump. Arron frowns and asks, “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”

  “I didn’t want a flagpole for the village; I wanted one like for military use!” Franklin confides.

  “That’s strange Laurel told me you were looking forward to this and were depressed.”

  Franklin scrunches his fist as rain threatens to fall from his eyes, “That stupid Laurel!”

  As they finally reach their house, Franklin sees his mom standing outside waiting for them with a big grin. Franklin's first instinct is to run into his mom's arms and complain, but he sees a long stick in her hand. At the end is the Emerald family flag. A life-like turtle with an emerald embedded in it gently flutters in the spring wind.

  “What! Mom, why do you have that?” Franklin asks in excitement.

  “I knew how much you wanted this, so I just found a stick and made it. Or perhaps you were so excited to help your girlfriend that you didn’t care about our flag?” Anna teases.

  “I love you, mom! That stupid Laurel tricked everyone!”

  Arron and Anna laugh. Arron rubs the boy’s head and explains, “We made it as a surprise. Sorry I didn’t think you’d get so down about it.”

  Anna shakes her head, “it’s an important lesson. You need to speak up if you’re confused or think something is wrong. Or else people will take advantage of you.” As she finishes, she hands the flag over to her son, who isn’t listening.

  “Wow, this is great!” Franklin exclaims as he waives the flag all over. However, in his carelessness, it nears the ground.

  Anna grabs the pole with her left hand and grips the top of Franklin’s head with her right. She squeezes the boy's head while raising the flag back up. Franklin squeaks as his skull feels like it’s going to be crushed.

  Anna’s smile now makes Franklin shake in fear as she enunciates her words, “You are not allowed to let this flag touch the ground ever! Understand?”

  “Yes, mom, I’m sorry!” He says as his voice cracks.