The Princess's Title

Goose Chase

For the second time today, I stood in the corner of the conference room in the Griffi hotel. As we headed here, again, I had to suffer the smell of the burned island. To come in and burn families alive in their homes. Precious few were even given the chance to surrender, and even less were granted it. Maybe we have become too complacent. In a world where all the grime and muck is further away from our homes than it has ever been, the thought that we might need to repel an invading force on a small island within our bounds was little to consider. What few soldiers were here tried their best and still managed to sink a ship in the dead of night.

We were too slow to react and too unprepared to fight against what we thought was our ally. That was the mistake we made here. Going forward, I’m certain our borders will have their defenses bolstered with the order to simply be prepared for anything. Two days ago, a trust was broken that can never be repaired again. And this man… doesn’t even realize what he’s done.

“Well, Ah’m here Garma. Flurry’s here, our Consorts are here, tell us what ya want.” Malus and I were standing in the corners closest to the door. The female officer and General Casval were in the opposite corners, both with large rifles at their sides, ready to shoot at a moment’s notice. Poor griffoness. She may not even get the chance to realize she was betrayed.

“I see that. What I have never seen is the Equestrian royals in suits. I find it odd. Any particular reason?”

My princess nodded. “In the Apple family, a tradition was started where the head of the family would take care of business in the finest clothes we could afford. It wasn’t until the chaotic era did things start ta settle down fer us and we could really make some money, so we did the best we could and bought suits. They were never very fancy, and havin’ one fer just the head wasn’t always easy, but we always managed ta do it.

“When Ah took over the family though, things changed. My ties ta the princess earned me favor when it came ta trade routes, and so my family started makin’ real money. At this point, it’s just an old custom, but… Equestria is my family now. So anytime there’s business fer me ta take care of, the suit goes on.”

Of course, the other reason is that black doesn’t stain nearly as easily, and these are made especially so that they’re liquid proof. It has been years since my princess has put the suit on herself.

Garma waved a claw dismissively. “You ponies and your traditions. Very well. My first order of business is to discuss the recent tariffs you’ve placed on us. We buy food from you at twice the price the Abyssinians or the Minotaurs do. Why is that?”

“Someone started buildin’ up arms when my agreement with Degwin, or that treaty ya stomped all over Wednesday, says that in exchange fer the guarantee that ya do not build up yer armies, Equestria will provide aid and support in any and all military conflicts between Griffonia and her enemies. The Island, which also came with that deal, would be equipped with a missile defense system so that, in the event Griffonia needed immediate support on any front of her borders, it could be called upon and granted. Unless, ya didn’t realize that Ah know what a magic suppressor looks like, or maybe even that ya have a little hidden camp over by the great swamp that you’re trainin’ a good amount of new soldiers at, in this very moment.”

Garma cleared his throat. “Suppressors are simply a new technology that Griffonia needs in the event she has to defend herself. The camp at the great swamp is public knowledge, so I’ve no idea what you mean by that. Per regulation, Griffonia still has not exceeded that maximum amount of troops allowed by the treaty.”

My lady rolled her eyes. “Come now Garma, ya know that is not what the treaty says. Malus!”

Malus stepped forward and placed a small holo on the conference table between the two rulers. Turning the little electronic bar on, a screen came up with the exact document. “Like Ma was sayin’, the exact wordin’ on the treaty says that; ‘Should Griffonia approach or exceed the number of soldiers, in public or in secret, as stated above, all consumable goods Equestria sends ta Griffonia will experience an increase in taxes ta the crown before makin’ land on Griffonian soil.’ As it stands, Mr. Garma, it looks like y’all are gonna hit that seven hundred thousand mark real quick if ya keep this up. Last we counted, ya’ve got six-fifty, which is also beyond the ninety percent limit as noted in the hoofnote under what ‘approach’ is defined as. You’re twenty thousand over, by our estimates anyways.” Malus took the holo and stepped back.

“Thank ya, Malus,” My princess said.

“You’re welcome Ma.”

My lady rolled her eyes. “Ah never shoulda let ya call me that. Anyways, Garma, that was the deal, and ya broke it, so this was the consequence. You’re past ninety percent, so we hit ya with fifty. If ya keep goin, we’ll hit ya with a hundred, because that’s what Degwin agreed ta. Previous ta now, Griffonia was experiencin’ the lowest prices Equestria had ta offer thanks ta the deal we struck over the Island. What y’all paid fer our goods was little more than what my ponies pay fer our goods, and we still accepted Griffonian minerals at a tariff of forty percent. Any other reasons ya’d like ta add onta why ya attacked my island?”

Garma huffed. “As if he agreed to anything. Griffonia was at war with the Minotaurs and was desperate for help. You gave him three days to read this…” he opened a desk and pulled out a massive three ring binder filled with pages and pages of documents and slapped it on the table, “Tome of a treaty, knowing full well that his eyes were already being assisted. There isn’t a summary in the world that could pair this down to half of what it is, so he signed knowing little and less of what he was agreeing to, because he was desperate. You took us for a ride.”

“Ah offered ya support with conditions. Ah ended yer war too. My ponies died fer Griffonia, and the minotaurs were forced inta an agreement that y’all drafted. That ‘treaty,’ if ya can call such a thing that, practically made the Minotaurs yer indentured servants. Course, that’s what Degwin was after in the first place, because he’s always had his eye on the Labyrinth. Ever since he was a little cub, he wanted it, just like he wanted the Griffonian thorne. A shame that the Griffonia family all died in an accident one day and the Griffis were there ta fill in the void. Who took whom fer a ride, huh Garma?”

Garma scoffed. “What foolishness. Are you suggesting that my grandfather had something to do with that explosion?”

My lady raised a hoof. “Ah don’t know Garma, is the sky blue?”

“Of course, the highest authority in Equestria believes in some conspiracy theory started by our political rivals. My grandfather had nothing to do with Lord Griffonia’s death. The Anti-Griffonia faction had been at work for decades prior, and it was only a matter of time before there was some kind of security failure. There were several car bombings that year… my own uncle Dozle was the victim of one himself.”

My lady sighed, but Princess Flurry was the one who answered next. “Oh, Garma, you… precious, naive boy.” Here we go. “Has it ever occurred to you that, in the right situation, it might appear odd that your uncle was a victim of a bombing in the first place?”

Of all the ponies in this room, there are two that have the ability to manipulate others with their words via their special talents. My own cutiemark is the silver tongue. Princess Flurry’s is the charismatic heart. As the heir to the Princess of Love, she has the looks, the voice, and the ability to move people, and she uses their worst vices to do it. Little a stallion can do in the face of Princess Flurry. Her title is also well hidden, but if I had to guess, she’d be the Princess of Seduction. She’d stood and approached the young king to a certain point, but then the guards raised their guns.

Garma held up a claw. “Hold. My family has been heavily involved in Griffonian politics since the country was restructured during the late Chaotic era. We’ve never not been in danger thanks to the anarchistic nature of griffons, and there were many times in which the Griffis and Griffonias suffered casualties. We were made the vassals in the event a tragedy occurred so that the country didn’t fall into chaos.”

Princess Flurry nodded. “Well, at least he knows his history. Turbulence in the kingdom means the balance of power is unsteady. The council of nobles makes decisions on behalf of their regions and in an effort to take power away from the Griffonias and the Griffis to make their own claims on the throne. But, listen to a conspiracy theory for a moment, what if the nobles were in league?”

Again, Garma scoffed. “The nobles, in league. Ha! You know there is a reason the saying ‘like herding cats’ implies a level of difficulty, don’t you?”

She nodded and got a little closer to Garma. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead. “But, clearly, there’s someone out there that can do exactly that. Daikum Griffonia did it, and Gallus Griffonia did it all the way back in the beginning, didn’t he? If someone so charismatic as those two existed, is it not safe to say that… others were capable? Let’s take a step back for a moment.” Flurry backed away from the desk and took a holo out of her own suit.

“In 2384, Daikum Griffonia takes power after the sudden death of his father due to some unknown illness. Later examinations of the body would reveal he suffered from a rare type of cancer related with radio-magical poisoning that comes from magi-tech reactors, the very thing that powers most of Griffonia and most of Equestria. Thaumium, the mineral that is so very sought after, the very thing that causes these reactors to work, will poison and kill any living thing within meters of it after a few seconds of exposure. It takes a high concentration of it to do that so quickly, but what about a microscopic dose of thaumium? Get it in your clothes, in your hair, Goddess forbid, in your bloodstream, and it will only kill you in a few years instead.

“Zeon Griffonia was a very cautious man. He was famous for never visiting the Magi-tech plants because he knew how dangerous they could be, even in little doses, yet, he still died of something similar to thaumium poisoning. His right hoof man, Degwin Griffi, on the other hoof, visited the Magitech plants on a regular basis. It was his job to ensure power generation proceeded smoothly, and he was very prudent about it.

“We also know that Degwin was not a very big fan of the King. He would often speak out about unreasonable policies that Zeon would introduce, and blast the nobles for agreeing with the King’s outrageous decisions. Am I… wrong so far?”

Garma swallowed. “Well, no, I don’t believe you are. What does this have to do with the car bombings nearly ten years later?”

Flurry smiled a dark smile. “Well… allow me to… paint a picture for you. If I wanted to kill my fellow princess here and take over her awful job in the pursuit of power, figuratively,” she gave a glance at my lady, who nodded in response, “I would start by making her seem unreasonable. Argue hard to push her to the opposite end of my side and make her agree to things that are more extreme than she normally would to make her unpopular with the public. Then, I would use the considerable wealth at my disposal to take control of the media outlets that support me and have them shout, day after day, what a horrible leader Princess Applejack was.

“True or not, I can spout disinformation all day, and nopony would hazard a glance unless they were in the political sphere. Ponies get tired of hearing the same things over and over again, so they will then internalize what’s being driven forcibly into their ears and accept that as the norm so they don’t have to acknowledge what garbage they’re being fed. Does any of that sound familiar?”

Garma swallowed again. “N-no, I don’t believe it does.”

My princess tilted her head. “Hmm… Ya know Garma, ponies tend ta stutter when they’re made uncomfortable by somethin’. Even more so if they know somethin’ that… ain’t so pretty when it’s put in the light. But, that’s just an observation from the former element of honesty, nothin’ special. Carry on Flurry.”

“Yes Princess. So, now that I have a devoted fan base of ponies who dislike the Princess, I can continue to infect this opinion through the general public by persuading the media to lie on my behalf while making speeches about how, if I were in control, I would turn things around for the better. So long as I say things that are more reasonable than what the Princess has signed into law, then I am seen as the one who should be signing things into law.

“Were it easily done, I would then find a way to ‘accidentally’ kill the princess. It could be fast it could be slow, but it must be seen as something that doesn’t tie it directly to me, but something that could’ve happened without much effort. To, ‘go out with a bang’ would take a lot for an alicorn. But for a griffon? That’s just an everyday creature with an every day lifespan.

“I have an extremist group on my side that agrees with me, but is willing to take my money to attack my opponents under their own banner. War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength, they spout their slogans while committing violence in the name of their creed, all the while believing that their opposition is evil and worth it. Easy to do when they’re all hyped up and buying into the lies I’ve put out there.

“I tell them to kill one of my own just to make the public think they’re mad at everyone in the government, and then take my opposition down at the same time. Dead men tell no tales, so as long as everyone dies, than there’s no one left to question what happened. Does… that sound familiar to you, Garma?”

Garma stood. “My grandfather played no part in any such plot to kill the king!”

“The first stage of grief is denial, Garma. How exactly did Degwin die again? I believe it was reported as him passing in his sleep, but on closer inspection, he too suffered from radio-magic poisoning like he’d been exposed to a large piece of thaumium. Isn’t that strange? Degwin’s movements had all been recorded since he took power. He never once visited a Magitech plant after becoming king and shouldn’t have ever been in range of enough thaumium for it to kill him.

“At the same time, no thaumium was ever found in the castle. As a matter of fact, it looked like he died in his sleep. But, another odd thing about Degwin’s death was that there were signs of flight over his carpet. Degwin’s wings hadn’t worked in over ten years, so it couldn’t have been him. Don’t you find that strange, Garma?”

“Y-you have no basis to say that anyone killed my grandfather! There was no conclusive proof that there was any foul play in my succession! He was exposed to Thaumium on the previous king’s orders for years, his health had been in decline ever since he was given the position. My grandfather specifically left me a note, which was read publicly I might add, that he wanted me to take over and finish what he started.”

“Oh, I’m not suggesting foul play at all. Degwin was one of the most cautious kings of Griffonia to ever rule. Often times he would even avoid our surveillance of him, which was no small feat. But… it is interesting that the note he left you was written only days before he died. Of course, it’s clearly in his handwriting, but his health before then was… just fine for a griffon of his age. As a matter of fact, he was healthier than most griffons in Equestria at that age. It’s… almost like he knew he was about to die.”

Garma put his claws over his ear holes. “I have no need of your conspiracies, or your theories! I did not call you here to have you spout nonsense to me! I want to know why you adamantly refuse to see me even though I have sought you from the day I took the Griffonian throne! You’ve started to offer less for Thaumium, you’ve increased the untariffed price of consumables, medicine, and technology from the moment I took the throne, and done no less than gradually raise those prices by one percent every month!”

He pointed a claw at my princess, and I was half tempted to draw and shoot his talons off. However, my lady moved a feather toward me. “I know your game, you witch! You did this to the Yaks, you did this to the Diamond Dogs, and you’re working on doing it to us and the Abyssinians as well! Just like Diamondia, things will start gradually. Prices will increase. Public unrest will change the political sphere and the people will choose the person who can make their lives easier again. You’ll seek better and better deals with those around you until the idea sets in that the people don’t need their own governments, they need Equestrian governance. Public opinion to join the Empire will grow steadily until finally, you arrive and you let it slip that the offer is there.

“Everything devolves into chaos, the creatures of the land fight over whether or not it’s better to be free than under your hooves, and when the ashes settle, the pro Equestrian forces always win, and a new Principality is added to the Empire’s belt. You play the peace loving, generous ruler when it suits you while you cut at the ankles of those you want to fall under you next! I want the truth! I want Justice! Griffonia does not need Equestria or her princess to rule us, we need our own people to ensure that we are our own people! I want you and you black games out of my country!”

He calmed down and smoothed the feathers on his head. “If need be, I can recreate what has happened here on Alabaster Island if things don’t improve.”

My princess looked to Flurry, who shrugged in return. “Ya make a lotta accusations Garma. But, of all the objections ta that Ah have, and there are many, My biggest one would be that ya could recreate this little ‘event’ on Celestia’s Island.”

Garma snorted. “Please. It would be easy. Your estimate of my soldiers isn’t even close to the truth. I could have many and more ready to storm your beaches any time I want.”

My princess shook her head and sighed. “Ya know, before ya said that, Ah was seriously considerin’ givin’ ya a chance ta repent. Redeem yerself fer killin’ ponies in my family. Woulda been the most generous offer Ah’ve made in a lifetime. But ya’ve crossed a line, Garma. A line ya never should’ve crossed, and that, would be threatenin’ my family.” She raised her wrist and revealed her holo watch. “Do it.”

The first shot fired was from Casval to the female soldier. She took four bullets to the chest, had enough time to look at Casval in horror, then took a shot to her open mouth. She slumped over in a heap, then the fire erupted all around us. Griffons inside the hotel started falling one after another, and in mere minutes, the shooting stopped.

“W-what just happened? Casval!? Casval!? Why did you shoot Gina!?”

The general removed his helmet, and then took off the mask he wore underneath. Even as shocked as he was, a new horror took over Garma’s face. “Because, Garma Griffi, your grandfather killed both my grandfather and father. My name is Aznabal Griffonia, and once we’re done here, you can expect every last one of your miserable line to be eliminated, just like your grandfather tried to do to mine.”

“Casval, you bastard!” Garma reached into his pocket for a weapon, but just as quickly, My lady shot it out of his claw, leaving a talon on the conference table.

“Restrain him,” She ordered. Malus and I moved, and we put the griffon king in cuffs and forced him to the table. My princess stood, tilted her neck to either side until it popped, then put her hoof gun back in her own jacket.

“Garma, Garma, Garma. Let me tell ya some things that ya clearly don’t know. First, the suppressor tech that ya stole was incomplete. there’s a fatal flaw in the design that, when applied just a little magic, will short the thaumium cables, causing it ta not work. Course, ya couldn’t test this because ya don’t have access ta unicorn magic, and what little magical weapons ya do have come from us, and are far too powerful ta use fer testin’ purposes. They’re made that way fer a reason, after all.

“Second, Ah have never instigated a civil war. When creatures have somethin’ that would be useful ta me or my ponies, Ah make an effort ta get it fer them at the best price Ah can. Deals are made, but the funny thing about governments that change leaders periodically, is that they tend ta have different ideas on what’s fair and what isn’t. They become accustomed ta what they have, take it fer granted, and then forget the good will that got them there. Ah don’t take it too kindly when some little upstart comes at me like he’s the top of the food chain and demands more fer less.

“When that happens, Ah treat that arrogance with what it deserves, and tell those creatures that they can prove ta me how they can live without my ponies, and they get voted out. Ah’m surprised that ya noticed this pattern, and still decided ta attack me. So much fer conspiracy theories, right? Ponies are just ponies, surely they don’t have the power ta do anythin’ but give. In the days of the previous Princess, ya might’ve been right, though not fer the reasons ya think.

“Ponies are weak. Fer a lotta y’all, we were a prey species fer the longest time. Before Celestia and Luna came around and started knockin’ heads in an effort ta protect us, our villages were raided and pillaged, and there wasn’t much we could do against the stronger races that tormented us. It took the one thing we have on all of ya ta save us from ya, and that is magic.

“Thing about magic is though, is that is does better the more we share it. It’s good fer ponies ta use magic fer the benefit of another. Actually makes it stronger when it’s applied. When we were foolish enough ta believe that the Princess of Friendship earned her wings because of her efforts ta complete a spell left by an old, senile wizard, we really thought we had a perfect understandin’ of the stuff.

“As it turns out though, things ain’t always what they seem. It was a lie, pure and simple. Celestia was tired of rulin’ and she wanted somepony ta take her place. She didn’t trust her sister or the other alicorn she made ta do it, so she found somepony with a uniquely large magic capacity and a bond ta the elements of harmony that could take Equestria from her. What made Twilight a princess was somethin’ dark. What made me a princess was somethin’ dark. But the difference between how Ah became one and how she became one is that those who suffered fer it didn’t deserve it in her case, and Ah chose ta punish those who suffered fer me.

“Twilight knew she was livin’ a lie when the friends that made her who she was started ta die off and she didn’t lose any of her power fer it. She wouldn’t accept it, and in the end, she couldn’t accept it. Ah was still around, and after a deal, Ah was granted the power. When a princess is made artificially like we were, we are gifted a title fer the atrocity that is committed ta make us what we are. In Twi’s case, Celestia lied ta a whole village under the guise of friendship, so that was the title she earned.

“In my case though, Ah chose my title myself. The truth about the Badlands Conflict back in 2093 goes as such; Abyssinians had struck oil in iron mines just outside of Ironside, which was a little south of the Equestrian border at the time. The ponies, jealous and envious of this discovery, created a division between themselves and the cats in an effort ta take the rights ta the oil from them.

“They fought and killed each other over a piece of dirt, and when it came down ta it, the Princess of Friendship couldn’t believe what had happened. She couldn’t get ta the truth of it either side, so who does she seek help from but the last of her friends from the old days that was still alive?

“Ah’ll admit, Ah was… hesitant ta help her at first. My husband, who’d been doin’ business, in Griffonia Ah might add, was murdered in cold blood by a rival group, and neither yer great ancestor, nor my princess was willin’ ta take action fer it. Ah was mad. Ah was bitter. Ah wanted revenge. And so, Ah organized. Ya can be sure that Ah got my revenge. Even took care of it personally, though Ah was still young back then.

“Ah learned a lotta things about the world, and Ah learned a lotta things about my old friend. She could not and would not believe diplomacy couldn’t solve everythin’. She refused to raise an army, she refused ta hire out soldiers, and she banned ponies from formin’ mercenary groups within her borders. There was nothin’ friendship couldn’t solve. Until she came across a problem that friendship couldn’t solve.

“Ah knew damn well that it was gonna take force ta put that spat ta an end, but she refused ta believe that it would work. Ah went in, Ah figured out that it was my own kind that started the fight, and Ah pointed a gun at the lead cat’s head and offered her as much cash as Ah could muster ta get her ta skip town. Nearly bankrupted my whole family doin’ that, but the rights ta the oil were mine now, and Ah could just set up shop there and start sellin’ that ta fix what Ah’d spent. But that leaves the selfish, greedy bastards that started this whole mess in town and free ta work. Ah was a pony, one of them, so they were willin’ ta work fer me, but that just didn’t sit right ta me. They killed cats, they got innocent ponies killed in the crossfire, and if Ah let this slide, they were gonna get away scott-free.

“There ain’t nothin’ that leaves a more bitter taste in the mouth, in this world, than injustice. Wanton murder out of the blackest pits of their hearts, all fer the sake of bits. Pure, simple, and disgustin’. Ah knew how Princesses were made thanks ta some research done when Ah asked the right pony the wrong question, and Ah knew how ta make a contract that couldn’t be broken. Ta punish the evildoers, ta ensure that Equestria would see a peaceful future, ta make sure that my family would never again be killed at the hooves of some other creature, Ah made a deal with the devil ta take that burden on myself.”

My princess took out her gun again, and pressed it against Garma’s forehead. “W-wait! Hold on a minute, can we not discuss this? I-I’ll join the Empire! I’ll make the move, and convince the nobles, and… and… and I’ll do anything you say! P-please!”

My lady made a face of disgust and beat Garma across the head with the butt of her gun. “How disgustin’. Ya take the lives of a thousand innocent ponies under the guise of conspiracy theory fed ta ya by someone that hates ya more than ya could possibly know, and now ya plead fer forgiveness. Well, let me teach ya somethin’ Garma. Ignorance is non-defensible in Equestrian Law.”

She pulled the hammer of her revolver back and pressed the barrel on top of Garma’s forehead. “As judge, jury, and executioner, Ah, the Princess of Justice, will now carry out the punishment of the man that murdered the populace of Celestia’s Island in cold blood. If y’all have a god, Ah suggest ya pray. Any last words, Garma Griffi?”

Resigned to his fate, Garma didn’t even struggle. “Please… just keep my children safe from that monster.” Garma gave one last glare to Aznabal, and he just smiled and waved right back.

“May the goddess have mercy on yer soul.”

Bang