//------------------------------// // Part Thirty-Five // Story: The Princess and the Kaiser // by UnknownError //------------------------------// Flurry thumped her head against the table. “One at a time,” she repeated at a drone. Spike unclenched his claws from the table. “You can’t,” he snarled. That’s number thirty-three, Flurry grimaced. There had been a lot of that in the past two hours. The door still shimmered in Flurry’s magic, firmly locked and warded. Flurry sighed. “I’m legally an adult,” she said yet again. “I can marry anyone I wish.” “What possibly possessed you to offer marriage?” Katherine asked. After Spike, she was probably the angriest one in the room, although Eagleheart and Fierté were both fuming. Duskcrest and Dusty had leaned back in their chairs, offering the occasional outburst between draining the griffon’s flask between them. Thorax sat quietly with his hooves on the table. Jadis had gone into shock behind Flurry, staring at the far wall blankly, foreleg tucked against her chest. Jacques also said nothing, but still giggled occasionally and earned the wrath of the entire table when he did. “I had to offer him something. I’ve killed too many of his griffons.” “So offer him land!” Fierté squawked. “Like Nova Griffonia?” Flurry snorted. “What happens to the griffons? Will you dip your wings and become his subject?” Fierté narrowed her eye and her wing twitched in its sling. “Never. I’ve fought the Reich for my entire career, and you’re asking us to throw all of it away.” “We can’t fight them both!” Flurry said exasperatedly. Her hooves kicked the bottom of the table and jostled the maps. “I can’t fight Chrysalis and Grover at once. I can at least negotiate with the Kaiser, and you're fighting for me, not him!” “For what?” Spike challenged. “You offered him everything.” “Not you,” Flurry replied quietly. Her tail curled against one of the legs of her stool. “You’re all my subjects, not his. Nova Griffonia is my territory. That’s the agreement.” “Don’t you dare claim you did this to keep us safe,” Katherine choked out in Herzlander. Flurry huffed, glanced at Thorax, then scanned across the table. “He offered to help me before the war,” she revealed. “He sent a griffon with an offer: Attack Nova Griffonia with my militia and assist the landings, then sweep into Equestria together.” Flurry had never told anyone what transpired between Frederick the beleaguered griffon and the letter. There were rumors, but she was the only one that could’ve read the letter anyway. Everyone except Thorax and Spike paused in surprise. Spike looked away from the table. “Well, I guess I didn’t read all your letters,” Jacques coughed. “I said no,” Flurry shrugged her wings, “then I joined the air force. The griffon left a few days later." “We should’ve been told,” Fierté insisted and rapped a claw on the table. “I decided not to tell you,” Thorax interrupted, hissing. “You would’ve fought Grover,” he said to Fierté, then glanced at Duskcrest. “You would have as well. It would’ve been a bloodbath in the frontier. Ponies and griffons would've fought each other to the death like a thousand years ago.” Duskcrest clacked his beak, but said nothing. “When did this happen?” Katherine asked and wrung her claws. “The day I met you.” Katherine’s wings drooped. “You do not have to do this.” “You don’t get to decide what I’m willing to sacrifice,” Flurry stated and lifted her head off the table. “I’m not sacrificing my ponies, or my griffons, to save my pride.” “It’s more than that,” Spike stressed. “Celestia and Luna never married for a reason.” “They’d outlive all their loves,” Flurry said, echoing her mother. Cadance had been counseled on the nature of her marriage with Shining. She had been too young to tell, but it was easily possible she would outlive him. Flurry didn’t remember her parents talking about it in front of her. “I doubt heartbreak will be a problem.” “The Sisters never wanted to share power with a mate,” Jacques countered. “Besides, inheritance gets a bit tricky if you live forever, especially if you have foals.” “Which won’t be an issue,” Duskcrest added. “Griffons and ponies can’t have cubs together. If they could, Aquileia and the borderlands would be teeming with ‘gronies’ or something.” “Gronies?” Dusty whickered in laughter. “What would you call them?” the griffon said defensively and took his flask back. “Still, he has a point,” Thorax interrupted. “You might live for a long time, but Grover won’t. Why should he marry somepony that can’t give him an heir?” “Grover IV was known for his consorts,” Flurry asked, glancing at Katherine for confirmation. “Yes, and he weakened the Reich immeasurably during his decadent reign,” Katherine replied. “The prestige of marrying an alicorn is worth more than anything else Grover could stick his feathers in,” Jacques smirked. “Marriage is a sacred union for griffons,” Eagleheart said to Jacques and raised her eyebrow at Dusty. “I know Equestria could be quite liberal…” “Herding is nowhere near as common as griffons think it is,” Dusty gave Eagleheart a withering glare, then relented. “However, marriage is more a unicorn tradition to bind noble houses.” “Which is why your parents married,” Spike supplied to Flurry, “and for love, of course.” “Griffons and ponies don’t always marry for love,” Flurry said stubbornly. “Sacred to the Trinity or not, it still functions the same way for both of us.” “You’ll be expected to be subservient to Grover,” Jacques warned. He leaned on the table and waved a claw about. “Ponies have had a thousand years of a strong, wise, mare to guide their culture, but griffons trace lineage though the father. We're patriarchal.” “I doubt he expects me to be meek and quiet.” “What if he demands it?” “I refuse. Or I kill him. It worked for Guinevere Discret, didn’t it?” Flurry rolled her eyes. “She begged!” Katherine exclaimed. “She threatened to lead Aquileia to the end,” Fierté corrected with a swish of her tail. "Grover failed to break the Princesses' shield. She's proven her strength to resist him." Katherine swallowed down her initial response. “Even if she threatened him or charmed him or begged," the young griffon ranted, "Guinevere spent the rest of her life in Griffenheim. She was essentially a prisoner. She never returned home to Aquileia, not even in death. Grover II buried her in the catacombs when she died.” “I’m an alicorn,” Flurry motioned to her horn and wings. “Equestria and the Crystal Empire are mine. I won’t leave, and he’s not stupid enough to demand me to do so,” Flurry retorted. “Besides, he’ll need me to legitimize his invasion anyway.” “What about after?” Thorax asked. “We figure it out," Flurry said dismissively. "Has there been any kind of official response?” “No,” Fierté said. “We don’t know what the Reich is planning after the withdrawal. They haven’t broadcasted anything.” “You said you would strike Chrysalis, yes?” Jacques asked rhetorically. He continued before he received a response. “He may have received your offer, but planned on taking Nova Griffonia once you shift your focus away.” “Then I go back to trying to kill him in Griffenheim,” Flurry stated. “If we’re going on the attack, the coast is effectively defenseless,” Fierté warned. “Both to the Reich and the Republicans. Don’t think they won’t try something once you get far enough away.” The remnants of Kemerskai’s forces were spread out along the coast. All of them had capitulated, but the militias remained armed to defend their cities. Griffons in Yarrow and Frostfall were still belligerent, but mostly threw bottles and stones instead of grenades. “You and the Aquileians are staying,” Flurry said. “So are the coastal militias. Remind any griffon who has reservations that I can teleport pretty far.” Fierté drummed her claws on the table. “If the Reich attacks, Nova Griffonians might rise up along the coast. A few might try to make a deal with Grover.” “Good thing I already made a better deal,” Flurry snarked. “We still don’t know if he accepted,” Dusty reminded the table. “Why else would the attacks stop?” Flurry asked aloud. “It could be a distraction,” Duskcrest guessed. “Or he never got your letter and is simply shifting focus to Chrysalis.” “Exactly at midnight on the deadline?” Jacques squawked. “He must have gotten the letter, then tried to test you.” “It could still be a feint. The Reich hasn’t announced a ceasefire.” “Nor will they,” Katherine stated and stared at Flurry. “You’ve killed far too many griffons for Grover to ever accept anything other than surrender. It will make him look weak.” I am surrendering. Flurry shook her head. “They won’t announce anything until I commit to attacking Chrysalis. Either he keeps his word and I keep mine, or we try to kill each other. There are no other options now.” “Not anymore,” Spike sighed with a plume of smoke. It wafted against the ceiling. “Every hour we spend arguing is another hour for Chrysalis to prepare,” Flurry pushed herself away from the table. “We push through the mountains. We take back the Crystal Empire, then move from there.” “What if the Reich advances towards the southern border in the meantime?” Fierté asked. “Wait until they shoot first,” Flurry offered. “Refuse them entry, not until we're officially allied.” “Are you going on the radio again?” Thorax asked. “We haven’t been attacked so far, and it’s raising questions.” “A lot of happy ponies,” Dusty added. “Griffons are a little worried.” “I’ll say I offered a ceasefire to focus on the more present threat,” Flurry said slowly. “The details don’t leave this room. If the Reich attacks, we go with my backup plan.” “If Grover announces you offered to marry him, it will cause a panic here,” Fierté warned. “There will be a panic no matter who announces it,” Thorax dismissed. “We keep it quiet for now. You should reiterate your claim on Nova Griffonia tonight.” Flurry nodded. “This is the backup plan where you fly across the ocean and try to kill him, yes?” Jacques asked with a flip of his claw. “Good to know we choose between marriage or death, like normal life.” “I’m the one choosing,” Flurry replied. “We are bound by your choices, for better and worse,” Jacques said in Aquileian. “Your death will be the collapse of Nova Griffonia, and this group.” The other Aquileians jabbed their compatriot in response. Flurry frowned and fluttered her wings. “I won’t hide while others fight my battles for me,” she stressed. “Will you lead the attack through the mountains?” Duskcrest asked. “I’ll join it, but I’m not a commander.” Duskcrest laughed. “You’re wearing a crown; you’re automatically a commander.” “Good, thanks for volunteering General Duskcrest,” Flurry said; the griffon paled and finished his flask. “We need to take Ironbend first. A small strike force of pegasi or griffons can move through the tunnel ahead of the army.” “Fine,” Duskcrest coughed. “How long do I have to prepare?” The griffon tossed the empty flask on the table. “Two days. And I want the air field in Evergreen ready and operational,” Flurry continued. “Just enough time to sober up,” Jacques chuckled. Flurry dispelled her wards on the door. “The official stance is that I negotiated a ceasefire with the Reich after asserting my claim to the territory,” Flurry reminded her captive audience. The adults nodded, some slower than others. Katherine’s eyes welled up with tears. “You cannot do it.” Thirty-four. Enough. “I can,” Flurry nearly snarled. “What will you do if he demands to lay-” “Lift my damn tail and lie down.” Katherine clacked her beak shut and shrank back. After a moment, she pushed away from the table and practically fled the room. The Aquileians followed at a slower pace, then Duskcrest and Dusty Mark. Jadis watched them all leave and looked heartbroken at her Princess. “He’s a monster, Princess.” “You think he’s worse than Sombra?” Flurry questioned with a nicker and cracked her tail across the stool. “I would not wish you to marry him either.” The crystal pony shuffled her hooves and her coat seemed dimmer. “Your parents loved each other dearly. It was clear to all of us that their marriage was truly magical. Your mother wouldn’t want this.” Love is the death of duty. “I don’t know about that,” Flurry answered neutrally. "I'll sell myself before I sell my subjects." Jadis limped out without responding. Thorax remained seated at the table, hooves folded across the map. Spike glowered next to him, hunched due to the low ceiling. “May I have a word, Princess?” the changeling requested. Flurry nodded, but remained standing. The arguing had taken most of the morning; her hooves no longer shook under her weight. “Alone,” Thorax specified and stared down Spike until the dragon left the room with a sigh. Flurry turned her head as the dragon squeezed past her. “When I take the Crystal City, I would like you to be with me, Sir Spike. You're a hero to them.” Spike screwed his muzzle up in distaste. “Taking the Crystal City is a mistake. Grover doesn’t even have to attack us; the front line will be stretched too thin. He can watch us flounder and die in the north.” “Noted.” Spike reached the door, but turned back around and addressed the alicorn. “Flurry, a lot of your subjects are going to die in the attack, succeed or fail.” "I know," Flurry laughed bitterly. “Why am I the only one that sees we’re all dead anyway?” “Because it’s not true!” Spike said exasperatedly. “Either Grover accepts my offer, or we fight two continent-spanning superpowers instead of one,” Flurry summarized. “We will never win that fight, no matter how long we hold out. I will not wait for somepony else to save my ponies, not when they’re dying by the day.” Spike bit his lip and his tail swung idly as he thought. “Twilight,” he said slowly, “would trust her friends to help her, and listen to their advice. You aren’t doing this alone.” Flurry’s ears folded back. “I need your help,” she admitted, “but if you disagree with me, you’re free to return to Ember and sit this out. Or maybe you can finally go to Auntie Celestia.” Spike stared at her, scanning her over. “Do you want me to leave?” he challenged. “No,” Flurry replied immediately. “Never. But I don’t know if you want to stay.” Spike paused for a moment, then turned and walked through the door. “I need to settle some things before joining the attack,” he promised as the door swung shut. Flurry and Thorax were alone. “He’ll stay,” Thorax remarked flippantly. “Are you saying that as a changeling or as his friend?” Flurry asked with a scoff. “Both.” Flurry laughed briefly, then ceased when Thorax didn’t even smile. “What did you want to talk about?” she pressed. Thorax drummed his hooves on the table. “Everyone’s shocked, but they’ll keep quiet. Don’t worry about it.” “I trust my advisors,” Flurry confirmed. “Even though they all plotted against me yesterday.” Thorax cracked a smile. “Grover would be a fool not to marry you. You’re the heir to three-quarters of Equus. Equestria will be too weak to stand on its own afterwards. It will take a generation to recover, perhaps more.” “That’s why I offered it.” His smile died. “And it will mean a war.” “We’re already at war,” Flurry answered with a frown. “There will be more wars after this,” Thorax promised. “With everything you offered, the Reich will be the ultimate power on this world. The River Federation won't allow it. Grover will have to keep this quiet until he's prepared to face them." Thorax narrowed his eyes. "And when he does, you'll be expected to help." "The eastern ponies and dogs never helped us," Flurry said with a sneer. "Not during the Great War, and not afterward. I don't care about them." "But you still care about Celestia and Luna." "I hate them," Flurry said on reflex. Thorax shook his head. "No, you don't," he chittered. I can't think about this right now. “Maybe,” Flurry allowed, “but let’s get through this war first. You support my decision?” “I don’t want to say that whoring yourself out is a better option than drowning Nova Griffonia in blood,” Thorax answered with a sigh. Flurry blinked, taken off-guard by his bluntness. “And I don’t know if it’s a smart choice,” Thorax continued, “but this keeps your subjects safe.” Flurry touched her crown with a hoof. “For now.” “For now,” Thorax agreed.