Interlude: The Lapance Affair
Interlude: The Laplace Affair
The Nineteenth Century: The Saga of Equestria
July 10, 1839
Lāhainā, Kingdom of Hawai’i
Captain Laplace, a Frenchman born at sea, ordered his ship forward. The Artémise sailed into the port, to an audience of several Hawaiian officials, including the King. Laplace also noticed one of the Equestrians, a pink Alicorn, standing by the King.
Just what we need. To deal with them...
Same time
Same place
Princess Cadance watched the ship, bearing the French tricolor. She felt a lead bar drop into her stomach, and her mind quickly went into overdrive.
Okay, so this was unexpected. What do the French want? Clearly the King does not expect them…
Her thoughts were cut short, however, when the ship finished docking.
“I know that you have had...issues with the French,” said Kamehameha. “Hawai’i, however, has no real problems with the nation. I would like to see this through with minimum shouting, if it can be at all avoided.”
“Of course, Ali’i Nui,” replied Cadance. “However, if the French think they can kick around either Equestria or Hawai’i, they are very much mistaken.”
“Naturally.”
Both of them fell silent, as the captain of the vessel approached the two.
“I need to speak to you, Kamehameha,” said the man, ignoring the Princess completely, and dropping the King’s title.
Kamehameha raised an eyebrow, but smiled. “Of course. We can meet-”
“We need to meet in private,” cut in the captain.
This time, Kamehameha bristled. “No. If you wish to meet with me, I will invite anyone I see is necessary.”
The captain mulled for a moment, then said, “Very well.”
“Alright, then. We will meet, and I will be inviting Princess Cadance from the Principality of Equestria.”
“I will make this simple,” said Captain Lapance. “The detention and persecution of French Roman Catholics - or indeed, all Roman Catholics - is absolutely unacceptable.”
Kamehameha sighed to himself.
“Ali’i Nui, what is he talking about?” asked Cadance, confused.
“I am talking about,” said the Captain, before the King could answer, “the arrest, detention, torture, and forceful deportation of Roman Catholics by this Kingdom. I have come to demand that Roman Catholics be granted the same rights as their Protestant counterparts, and that the Kingdom compensate them for damages.”
“That’s not true, is it?” asked Cadance, looking at the King sideways. “At least, I hope it isn’t…”
“...it is,” said the King. “After the death of Kamehameha the Great, the Queen-Regent Ka’ahamanu bought into the Protestant faith and the missionaries had her make the Roman Catholic faith illegal. There was some...unpleasantness.”
“Quite an interesting way of putting that. As I said, Catholic individuals have faced all sorts of unspeakable atrocities at the hands of the Hawaiian government.”
“All these atrocities - and I fully acknowledge that they are atrocities - occurred at the hands of my predecessors. I -”
“Save it. If that was true, then you have had fourteen years since your ascension to legalize Catholicism, issue an apology, or do something - anything! - to make this right. You have done no such thing!”
The captain drew himself up to his full height. “That brings me to my purpose here. I am here to demand, on behalf of the King of France, that the Kingdom of Hawai’i legalize Catholicism, release all detained or arrested French Catholics, and pay reparations to mitigate the damages done. I am authorized by the French Crown to use all force I deem necessary to enforce these demands.”
Cadance was stunned at hearing all of this. After a moment of gathering her thoughts, she said, “The Principality of Equestria, while disapproving of the use of force to achieve the goals listed, otherwise agree in principle with the demands. Agreeing to said demands will undoubtedly earn the goodwill of the Council, and the Principality may even extend a small loan, should the Kingdom request it.”
“No. We committed the crimes, we should bear the punishment,” replied the King. “I haven’t spent that much time with you ponies, but your principles seem to be wise…”
Turning to face the captain, the King said, “Very well. I accept your demands. I shall have an edict drafted and ready to announce within two days from now.”
“...I am glad that you saw reason so easily,” said the captain, sounding slightly surprised. “Of course, I shall stay until the declaration of the edict.”
“Naturally.”
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Oh hey, good to see this again, even if brief.
Admitedly, had forgotten what I was thinking on how this would go. I did expected things to remain mostly as OTL (although I can't really comment on the way Kamehameha III acted, haven't really read up on him lately or much), but, hahaha, not much else. But reading this now, it has come to my attention, on just how much at this point Equestria is aware of the schisms within Christianity. Well, I guess that's going to surface at some point or another.
Well, until next time!
Having an impartial 3rd party certainly kept that potential international incident from happening. Equestia is a much more progressive and tolerant place that just about anywhere in the 1800's. Of course I think this works out best for Native Americans, Equestria won't stand by for the displacement of their human neighbours
Its good to have you back
You're back.
YAY!!!!!!
Yay!
You are back and even if short, it was awesome read and see the awesome that is your alternate history.
I look forward to what you have planned here.
really glad your back. :) thanks. and stay coooool~
Its been awhile but nice to see you back mate.
Let the alternate history fun begin.
8533071
Well, the major displacement of natives didn't start happening until the railroads were used as tools of expansion. Without a California to connect to and unite Pacific and Atlantic, there may very well not be a massive push west as we saw in our time.
8648215
Additionally the displacement of Natives would be into Equestria itself. With the west already well occupied by a equivalently developed civilization Manifest Destiny is going to be derailed. White settlers are going to be unable to run off natives if equestrian soldiers might show up to help.
8648215
Nah, there will be a push west, but perhaps more southwest or northwest. The US will want a Pacific port no matter what. So if they can't get through Equestria and Griffonia (there are Americans living in East Equestria at this point of the story, and considering their track record in Texas, don't expect the one rebellion from chapters ago to be the end of that expansion route), they will try to take over either northern Mexico (more than OTL) or a Central American country or two or, best case scenario, attempt to negotiate/wrestle British Columbia from the British. Manifest Destiny won't be stopped that easily.
8648516
It's possible to a degree, but running off into Equestria won't really be what most of them will do. Native Americans more often accepted the reservations or made a stand and fight. They rarely fled the country altogether. Equestria could mostly only really help them if they outright go to war with the US over the matter.
need more
I have to say, your storytelling is great! I'm an avid Vicky 2 player, and I like the direction you're taking with this story. Please continue this when you have a chance. This story is golden.
Is this something that I can port into Victoria II on Steam?
I hope Equestrian relations with the US get better when Lincoln gets elected...