Refusing the Past
"This funding is more deserving in my land you canine idiot!" The Baron of Angriver rose to his feet, roaring with rage and hatred towards the opposite side of the table.
"I will not tolerate such an insult to my people before this council, Leer!" The Count of Bronzehill clashed with the Baron with a more controlled fury.
"Brothers, brothers. Please, we are all present before our majesty. Let's try to maintain some degree of civility, at least in the presence of our ruler." Gerlach intervened, keeping his expression serene and hands on the table. The Baron scoffed but backed down and sat down again in his place.
The Count of Bronzehill gave the Emperor a quick but respectful bow. "I apologize my emperor." Grover just made a 'let it go' hand motion while internally thanking the Grand Duke. His good reputation and strong presence helps to be a mediator in times like these.
Which for many people would be a surprising sight. Baron Leer was as persistent as he was stubborn. If it had been any other leader, he certainly wouldn't have stopped there.
But Grand Duke Gerlach, leader of Feathisia was much loved both by the masses and nobles alike for his calm, patient, reasonable personality and quick resolve. But surely being head of the greatest and most powerful duchy didn't hurt in that regard.
He ran one of his claws across his forehead as he let out a long, stressed breath. How many hours was he trapped in this hell? Two? Four? He couldn't even keep up anymore. It was a huge pain to put up with the endless bickering of his vassals.
The County of Bronzehill and the Barony of Angriver became one of the main reasons for these meetings and debates. For one simple reason.
Industry.
Count Ignatius and Baron Leer were requesting the crown for support to boost the industry of their respective vassals. One candidate is much more tempting than the other.
The county of Bronzehill's mountains contains vast wealth and resources that have helped the empire at its worst. And the citizens who inhabit the vassal; Diamond Dogs have as great loyalty as the Griffons that inhabit the capital. And building industries there would go a long way in helping the empire's economic recovery and possibly its revival, with projects like the new Grover V Industrial Park in Ravensburg already in their final stages of approval.
While the Barony of Angriver is.... Less ideal compared to the other candidate. Since the territories they occupy are deep within the Scheißwald Forest of the Eastern Herzlands and carry a title that angers the baron who rules it immensely even though it carries truth. Being called one of the most backward realms of the Griffonian Empire.
Everything you could expect from a modern nation, they didn't have. It was as if time had stopped, politically and industrially.
With the Nobles controlling absolutely everything and the peasants working as slaves in everything but name to be able to live on the noble lands. They were still trapped in feudalism. Many of the peasants fleeing to the forests just to be able to live in freedom and banditry.
No wonder it was one of the most dangerous territories to live and travel.
The Emperor was sickened just to think that there were people from his kingdom living in conditions both precarious and horrendous. But nothing he could do. His vassals had the power to administer the people of their territories as they saw fit, and even if the Emperor tried to intervene, war would result.
In a war they didn't have money, Griffinpower, or willingness for. And a war within their territories would only leave them vulnerable to outside threats.
The problem is that the empire, due to its drastic loss of territories and resources, has very little money and raw material to help boost the economy of the central territories, much less that of the duchies and counties.
But with finally economic stability following the end of the various succession crises that plagued the empire, funds could finally be cut from the army and allocated to the economy that was in pieces.
But now he had a choice. Which Vassal of the two to irritate, and which one to be in debt and grateful to him?
The choice was pretty easy considering everything.
A more developed, loyal, progressive vassal and a dear friend of Grover V.
"I made up my mind." He says as he rises from his throne. Closing the table discussions. All eyes were now directed towards the Emperor.
"Baron Lee...." The griffon's face immediately flashed with a cocky grin directed at the count he had now gained a hatred for. "I'm sorry."
His smile immediately dropped. And he looked at the king with shock. "W-what??"
The Emperor gave the Baron his best apologetic smile. "After much debate and deliberation. The Crown will provide Bronzehill with the necessary funding to grow its industry."
With two low claps by his claws, The eight leaders who sat at the table all stood up. "With that, the great council is dissolved." With a low bow, each leader left their seats and walked out of the room.
Grover watched them, even from a distance he could see and hear the baron advancing towards the Diamond Dog Count with an expression of fury. The emperor almost sent the guards to stop a possible fight right there.
"This isn't over Ignatius." He said as if at the mere mention of the count's name insulted him, a finger of his claws pointed at the Bronzehill Leader's face. Who kept a rigid face looking at his rival without concern.
"I assure you Baron Leer, we are quite done here." The Count says in a neutral tone as he passed the blocking noble, who huffed but went on his way.
The Emperor was not pleased by this, but he was glad that the Baron's hatred was not directed at him. What he least needed right now was a Noble to get some kind of childish grudge with him.
Casting his gaze around the room, his expression closed tighter and tighter. How many empty chairs... He remembered when this room was packed, there were at least 30 representatives in this room when he took the throne and many more scribes. Each of their respective regions, duchies and principalities.
Now the number was less than 10.
He sighed as he closed his claws into a fist, squeezing tightly in an attempt to assuage his anger, his sense of betrayal.
'Am I such a disappointing leader? Was it me who allowed all this disgrace?'
Those thoughts had always cursed him, and the more his empire crumbled, the more they came back in full force.
'Does not matter.' His face had turned to one of determination.
'I have someone dependent on me now.' A smile came to his face as he remembered that moment.
That being so fragile, small and gentle. A fur coloring identical to his.
And his eyes.
When they first opened, he would say to everyone who would listen with pride that he was there. Holding him in his belly, his greatest achievement in his arms.
'You should be with me my pearl...' He thought sadly, slowly walking out of the room and entering the luxurious royal corridors. Ignoring the large number of the royal bowing guards.
'He has my eyes.... Heh.....' He thought with a smile threatening to cross his beak. 'You would laugh at how clingy I got to the boy....'
When his son was born, he insisted on staying with him all the time, the doctors had to argue for 15 minutes just for him to let them do tests on the little heir. And he spent even more time beside his son's crib, watching him day and night.
'I missed four meetings because I didn't leave his side.... Thank the gods Gabriela managed to solve the empire's problems in my absence...' He laughed softly. As he turned another hallway towards his royal bedroom.
These hallways... He had many memories of those decorated walls of galleries created and collected by his great-great-grandfather Grover the first, from his years of conquest throughout Griffonia. Which had been supplemented by artifacts and other arts by his successors.
Unfortunately, very little had survived.
Not since that day.
The day he wanted to forget. That he'd always tried to pretend it never happened, but it brought him nightmares for years.
Grover V still had nightmares from when they broke into the palace. The screams and gunfire through the walls of his house and battle cries chanting his death.
It was terrifying. He remembers the shaking in his claws and the tears that streamed from his eyes as he huddled in a corner of his room. It made him for the first time feel fear for his life. Hearing thee royal guard fighting a losing battle in the outside walls of the palace.
If it weren't for Eros, he wouldn't have survived another day. He would be a dead emperor, executed in a public square and humiliated in front of thousands, hanged as a trophy for the republicans to show to the whole world.
So when he announced to Archon that he would be the godfather at the ceremony, he had to make a losing struggle to not burst out laughing at seeing one of the most respected elders in the empire, remembered for his coldness and iron will. Stammering and desperately trying not to show his embarrassment to the emperor, and failing miserably.
He stopped. He began to hear a huge commotion a few rooms away from where he was.
A commotion? Inside the palace? Impossible.
They had patrols after patrols outside and inside the walls of the gigantic building. Whoever tried to invade the place would have already been stopped by the dozens of elite royal guard troops who were ready to kill and die to prevent anyone from even getting close to the emperor's residence.
And his eyes widened as he came to realize the place where the source of the noise came from.
The noises came directly from his room.
Directly where his son was.
He bolted towards the bedroom, even though his weak body gave a few cries of protest, he ignored them. He had to see his son. Using even its wings to increase speed.
The closer he got the better he heard the commotion, scaring some maids and palace officials who saw their king running by as if his life depended on it. But he ignored everything around him, he heard the sounds better. It was crying.
His son was screaming and crying. He had never done such a thing since his birth, and it fueled even more despair in him.
He desperately opened his door and ran inside. Listening to the screams and cries of his son. Crossing the room he saw that nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But still, he would not drop his guard. Rushing inside, he moved towards the bunk where his son was.
He found that.... his son was still in the bunk. But he was in obvious distress, what was happening to his boy?? He was screaming, thrashing around on the bed and trying to slash at the air with his claws while his eyes were still closed.
'Nothing seems to have happened with him, but why is he so desperate? Is he still sleeping??' He thought while gaping in distress. What he could do?? He was screaming, thrashing around on the bed and trying to slash at nothing with his claws while his eyes were still closed.
"Oh my god son, calm down! Please!" He tried futilely to grab his son, letting out a grunt of pain and pulling away when cut by his son's claws.
"Shhhhh, I'm here." He ignored the claws of his son this time, fighting the pain of his son's claws bruising his skin. Picking him up and slowly hugging him. "I am here."
It hurt, holy shit, it hurt a lot.
Even newborn griffons were born with their claws very well developed. So every cut his son gave him made him clench his beak very hard, but did nothing to stop it. Letting his son vent on himself while trying to comfort the youngster.
'Gabriela is going to kill me when she see all these clothes all torn apart, but I couldn't just watch my son suffer like this.'
He was surprised when the pain in his chest had already stopped. My god he could see that his royal clothes had been torn to shreds.
But that wasn't what he was focused on.
But in his son.
Who he looked with even more surprise, seeing the baby griffon grabbing him in a tight hug.
His clothes and fur were getting wet. He was crying.
His son cried as he hugged him in comfort.
'He had a nightmare...? Something like this plaguing his mind so soon?' He wouldn't think twice. His parental instincts taking over, he returned the hug.
1 Year. He was just a year old and again he proved he was anything but an ordinary baby. Looking at this scene just proved it.
On the first day he had almost managed to walk, on the third he had already opened his eye. And in the second month he had spoken his first word. And now, with after his first year of life he was already plagued with nightmares?
His son didn't deserve this. Why? Why the gods wanted to punish his son so much from mistakes he made??
'I promise my love. I promise that as long as I breathe, no one will dare to lay a finger on our angel.' He vowed on his thoughts as he hugged his son tighter. 'I promise this.'
Those images always flashed for moments and came back in his head. From the first time he felt free. Sometimes they brought up information that seemed to add to his memory. Helping him with many things like walking, learning a little about what those familiar figures talked about and took care of him, and how to act in front of them.
But as the days passed, it wasn't just flashes that came with useful information, but sometimes his dreams were completely dominated by creatures that scared him. Memories?
No. He refused.
These couldn't be his memories. From those gigantic, frightening, plucked, cold creatures.
The things these dreams showed them were useful and he learned a lot from them. But now he just wanted them to go away.
He wanted them to stop.
But they did the opposite, they came back in full force. And instead of just giving glimpses, they played it for long periods of time in that frightening scenario.
But this one, this one was much worse. Now he saw everything much more clearly.
It showed things he could only describe in one word, 'monsters'
Those monsters walked in twos all the time, giving an absurd height. Having no wings or fur, and they were countless. Crammed together and marching like a sea to the incessant hellish sounds of crashing and splintering in the background that pierced his mind like a jackhammer.
He saw cold, gigantic monuments with translucent walls. They were square, they had no life or personality. Lines and lines those monuments up to the horizon.
The sky wasn't blue as he'd seen it through the window when he'd watched it for a few days from his comfortable bed. It was gray and thick like a fog. It's lethal.
It was all so sad. So monotonous.
And these beings just didn't seem to care, walking alongside rows and rows of huge metal boxes that contained windows and were powered by wheels. Along with tubes that released more of that gray stuff that dominated the air.
Looking at himself, he saw himself as one of those things. One of those beings.
He panicked.
He didn't want to be one of those things, he didn't want to be a part of something so…dead. So hopeless.
He felt like he was running in that scene. By that tide of dead beings inside. But he felt he was running in circles or on an endless road.
He tried and tried but it felt like he was walking through a labyrinth that had no end in sight. The air seemed to make him cough. It was as if he breathed poison.
He wanted to get out of there.
He was in complete despair, not wanting to witness or live in any of this. He didn't want to be a part of it. He wanted to go back!
He did something he hadn't done in as long as he could remember.
He screamed. One was trying to get out of that nightmare. Or at least call for help.
Someone, anyone.
He wanted that familiar warmth. That heat to save him from it all.
He wanted that familiar figure he'd seen when he opened his eyes. He trusted him.
He wanted the warmth of that familiar figure back!
"Oh my god son, calm down! Please!"
......
Wait! He knew that tone! He knew that voice!
He came! He heard his call!
'Please save me, get me out of this nightmare!'
He couldn't take it anymore.
"Shhhhh, I'm here." He felt it.
The heat returned. He felt calm at last. That familiar warmth was with him.
He stopped resisting, and the heat take over. From the figure he was sure had again caught him in its calm and warm loving claws.
'Thank you for being here for me.' He thought, his mind freeing itself from the thoughts and memories that terrified him so much. Managing to finally sleep in peace and content.
This story is being very well accepted! Much better than I expected! Thank you so much guys.
Baron Leer the Vicious
Count Ignatius Bronzetail
Grand Duke Gerlach IV
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The past is not today, but it's still something to use to better oneself. Wonder what 'word' did he spoke? The young emperor to be will honor his father.
So calling it, who would kill the emperor later?
Yeah, those funds would be better for Bronzehill rather than Angriver. Angriver is number one for the least developed region in the entire Griffonia, there's the Scheißwald Forest(name checks out), the Anarchist guerillas, the Black Claws and the remnant Republicans still hanging around there. I don't know if this would affect von Leer in the future, he might not remain loyal when the time comes. Othmar is also a wildcard but he's Grover's penpal and friend, he might show up later.
Curious to see what stance would Angriver take after this.
Interesting, I think this is the first human reincarnated in equestria I've come across where the former human has a new self identity forming while still retaining, and is in conflict with, the old memories and not the former human being perfectly themselves in a newborn body and brain.
Very nice take. I love the way you're shaping his personality, fragments of his former life for which he has no context in the current one. Perhaps one day, he will be free of the terror of his past, but retain the use of the experiences.
I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
Ah, we see the cracks within the nobility continue to form. Thank Arcturus that Grover V has his loyal dogs with him!
Honestly, I’m hyped, completely and totally! Fact is though, are we going to see more alienation between nobles and the crown? That is a scary thought, because (and this is assuming we are not following the original timeline from the mod) if “Daddy Grover” isn’t careful enough he might make it harder for his son to reunite the Empire. Baron Leer is a dangerous foe, and he’s the only one revealed thus far (Again, for those who haven’t played the game, there are multiple timelines or “paths” these imperial vassals can take, most of which are opposed to the Empire by either becoming the new regency or replacing the Emperor altogether).
I do wonder what other colorful characters we will meet before the inevitable happens. Will little Grover meet his his insane cousin Diellza? (Or, Heaven forbid, WINGFRIED VON KATERINBURG?!) Will he meet the other nobility? I can’t wait for what’s next!
11233832
You are very correct in saying the Empire is based on the HRE, the devs of the mod itself say that is canon.
As for titles, the Emperor isn’t exactly a prince so to say. Yes his powers are limited outside of Griffenheim (the major capital of the Empire) and the surrounding lands but unlike the HRE the title of Emperor is hereditary through Grover’s line. (The entire dynasty is six Emperor including MC all named Grover) The relationship with the Emperor’s vassals though is a little more complex. There are eight in total that are outside of the Emperor’s jurisdiction (yet temporarily still loyal)
First is The Grand Duchy if Feathsia, which is essentially a giant Netherlands that rules over a third of the Empire. That’s where the Grand Duke lives, and it has a parliamentary system. Feathsia also holds the only port left in the Empire.
Next is the Strawberry Duchy, where Duchess Gabrielle (the Emperor’s first cousin and potential regent) lives. While a bit more authoritarian than Feathisia it is a region strongly connected to the Empire. (And it serves Gabrielle’s somewhat benevolent purposes)
Third on this list is Bronzehill county, the final vassal in the north, the Diamond Dogs that live here were rescued from slavery and are WHOLEY subservient to the Emperor (some dogs even go as far as to worshipping the Grover dynasty). Think dwarves that serve the German Empire and you’ll get the picture.
Towards the southwest there are two other vassals that essentially a Peasant Republic (Griffenmarschen) and a Senatorial City State (Romua). While Griffenmarschen us essential a poor peasant state Romua is closely linked to the Empire, due to it being the home of one the Eyrite Archonate.
Directly south and you will get te University State of Yale, which while being named after a university in the area is actually a confederation of the Empire’s highest institutions of learning. Practically indispensable.
Then finally you have the eastern vassals of the Barony of Angriever (this is Leer’s home) and the Katerin Principality (Home to the mad Princess Diellza and the corrupt regency that watches over her). These vassals are crap holes that are stuck in feudalism.
Now in the mod, there are usually factions that form based on potential regents. I won’t spoil much but I will say that the North usually bands together against the Archon Regency and the south/east May band up against the Gabrielle Regency.
Gameplay wise the player would choose a regency or no regency at all, as is the case for the Lord Protector Path and you will build up and reunite the Empire through conquest. This could go wrong for the Empire but historically the Empire pulls through because, in a straight up one to one fight the capital will always beat a vassal. And due to the disunity between the vassals I bet you could now see why straight up reuniting the Empire is the best option.
I don't know what to say, this is amazing! So, a year has passed, but now the boy has nightmares about his 'past' race. (idk how to word that) Well, time to wait, and see what comes next.
Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it I guess the father understands that better then any still one can only guess
Well made story so far looking forward to next chapters
Oh, damm please this better won't turn into that thing where he doesn't remember anything and doesn't know he was human.What is the point of a human tag anyway?
What's the point of him being human then from the start, it's the same hole some displaced fics fall into,"what was the point of starting with the human when there is nothing left of him and it could have been just a transported copy of the character from the start?"
I really hope that it's just a one time thing when his mind is recovering and he won't turn into just a griffon with some glimpses of human world
11234013
I really hope that the human part won't be just a memory and he will be himself, a human, human soul in griffin's body permanently
I remember some stories that tried to have a human new self-identity crisis, but it always turns annoying to the story and not very liked so its mostly removed and turned into a temporary one thing. I also feel that it also collidedes with a human tag, because it isn't really a human if it's just background memories or no memories at all.
Some displaced fics are annoing examples
Lovely name
11234187
He is just a newborn, barely a year old, memories are coming but will come slowly as he is growing. He will have to remember the fact he was a human and try to use those memories of his past life to good use.
i wanted to try something new and different, not to have him immediately gain the memories like many others. And I'm definitely not going to make him try to tell others about it. It's one of the things that's always bothered me a lot about other stories. A thousand and one better excuses and they immediately tell you everything.
They literally get rid of their biggest advantage for no apparent reason.
And no, I'm not going to make him have an existential crisis.
Sorry if i made you frustrated. It wasn't my intention
11234284
Ufff thank god XD
I thought that it will be one of these stories where the human tag and beginning chapter is for clickbait reasons XD
As for that I meant that in previous chapter comment (11232148), that if he can he probably could use that to gain control over the church in some way
Prove it that you are an alien in a smart way and boom.
Even if he wasn't a being from another world and it would be a lie, there are always many idiots, especially in these similar to Renaissance,Medieval, WW1 kind of time periods where they would believe you, And especially that it's truth, it should be user easy
11234304
I don't think Eros would be a fool enough to fall for that.
11234308
I mean, it's not a lie XD
So there is not anything to fall for
That's why it would be even easier
After this chapter, I had a desire to play Equestria at War again.
Well, I'm going to unite the Empire for the third time (or I will make Feathisia communist with Gerlach in power, idk)
This has been pretty nice so far. Reading it makes me want to play Equestria at War again.
I wonder if Alexander Kemerskai will ever get a chapter from his perspective? He is one of my favorite characters from Equestria at War and considering the SI is Grover VI he will most likely be relevant in this story.
11234429
You can Marry Gabriella as Featherisa if she becomes regent. I’ve heard they adopt Grover VI or something, if you haven’t gone that path before
Never have I read something so engaging! My only complaint is that I don’t know what any of the characters look like. Again, amazing writing, but could do with some more setting and character description.
Hope the ending isn't indication of the general tone towards humanity.
Sorry, I just really dislike stories/characters that bash on humanity and praise the pony world purely on fantasy beliefs.
Other than that great fic so far keep it up.
11234923
Maybe, just maybe, it won't be like that.
The ponies, griffons and others of this setting are not the peaceful and idyllic version that other fics use, they are not above using gas attacks, nukes or mega spells (like the ones in Fallout: Equestria) and depending how some factions develop they can start concentration camps and many other things like it.
You can't really shit talk earth in a setting like this because it's literally fantasy world war two.
Well, you can but it won't be the usual nonsense.
I hope that as Grover grows he remembers the other things he has lived through, because a life where no good deed is done, no art is appreciated and it's all just one long string of misery is almost as unrealistic as a world full of pastel colored ponies.
11234284
I have a very important question, are you not going to do the misanthropic type? I mean, it's not going to be the type I only see all the bad things about humanity, but despite everything, I'm a hypocrite who uses the knowledge of "monsters"
11235026
As i said, he is a newborn, Anything different would be terrifying. Griffons are just as alien to us as we are to them. So yes, it is a BS way of viewing humanity.
He is just scared of the unknown.
Good, very good.
So far this story is engaging, despite I don't even know too much of EaW, so kudos.
But there are many-many grammar mistakes that makes this hard to read sometimes. A pass of proofreading, or more like two, would do this story wonders. I know it's hard, but that sheen of quality would make the presentation just as good as the ideas presented. Maybe get a proofreader if you have the luxury, if not, just try to be more throughout when you proofread.
Tracked for now, we'll see where this goes.
11235091 Pfft, griffons may be alien to YOU mortal, but I have seen ALL that universe holds! For I am an otaku! And there is NOTHING I have not seen! ... I dun seen some things... god-dammit, Japan... why?
More please
I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I hope that in the future our Grover 6 will be able to keep the empire from collapse and civil war.
Give common griffons some rights and not turn the empire into a theocracy
I am really enjoying this story so far, I hope you come out with another chapter soon!
11237948
YOOO, what an honor! Thanks man!
Any word on a new chapter? I’ve greatly enjoyed this story so far.
Great story so far can’t wait to see where you take it.
11237700
Karma, boy. Karma.
NOW SUFFER FOR IT!!!
I'm not familiar with the game mod this is based on, but it's shaping up to be interesting. Looking forward to more.
Grover the sixth has dysphoria, lmao
Wait what? As in the king was pregnant?
I'm a bit annoyed that our mc doesn't have his memories intact
Scheißwald - Shit Forest
Sooo... Earthlings killed themself with environmental problems? Looks fitting...
11330353
I hear Poop Creak is great this time of year~
Unless the Barony of Angriver can demonstrate a willingness to quickly shape up their slavetitude system into a fully working paid labour economy, Grover V ain't gonna even bat an eye towards them.
Curious to see how our Grover VI will grow up, and how he's going to change to course of the Empire later on. I wonder if he has "knowledge of Equestria".