November 10, 8 ATC

City of Beis, Province of Apidaea, Oligarchy of Bumblebee

The assembly chamber was abuzz with conversation, diplomats, rulers and advisors alike chattering and bickering, waiting for the Diet to finally begin. It was amusing in its own way, Austin thought. Looking to her side, she saw that Countess Jillian did not feel the same way: she was lost in thought, a grim look on her face.

"Is something wrong, my lady?" Austin cocked her head, and the Countess sighed. After a second of contemplation, she turned to Austin and gave her a weary shrug. Austin nodded in understanding and turned again to listen to the crowds.

"When is that woman going to get here?"

"We can't let Coronam have his way. Vote with the Queen."

"Inferno is the future. You're deluded if you think we can change that."

"Nothing but a power grab. But we have no choice…"

The sound of poorly-oiled doors creaking open immediately dimmed the discussion. What conversation remained vanished when Inferno, flanked by her ever-present bodyguard, strode through the doors. The smug grin the Queen wore was enough to make Austin dislike her instantly.

"Inferno!" Coronam stood up on the opposite side of the room and pointed accusatively in Inferno's direction. "Figures that you'd be late to your own damn Diet!"

"Such vulgarity, Coronam," Inferno mused as she took her seat. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when it's coming from a barbarian like you."

"Enough of this!" Nitesco stood up, clearly agitated. "If you're quite done trading barbs, I say we get on with the Diet. No point in making this any longer than it has to be."

"Ah, but it's a bit late for that, isn't it?" A Heroan princess spoke up, clearly exasperated. "If Inferno had heeded the will of the Council, we wouldn't have had to string out what is obviously a pathetic attempt at a power grab."

"My point exactly," Coronam smiled. "As Princess Canada so aptly put it, this is nothing more than the last gasp of Inferno's attempt to bypass every law and institution that supports this Subreddit! We cannot allow this madwoman to install herself as a tyrant!"

A sudden clamor arose as the nobles and representatives stood up to either cheer with or jeer at Coronam and each other. After several minutes of trying to wrangle the crowd under control, Coronam gritted his teeth and stood up.

"Silence!" He boomed, and the conversation dimmed. A few seconds later, the diplomats had returned to their tense, strained silence.

"I will not let this devolve into anarchy! Control yourselves!" Coronam shook his head disapprovingly at the crowds. Austin noticed Coronam's advisor grimace.

"Ah, my dear Coronam, this is exactly why we need a strong authority figure!" Inferno took the opportunity to smile devilishly at him before returning to the assembly. "You see, we have spent so long at each other's throats, so long squabbling with each other over pointless tracts of land that we have ignored a bountiful harvest just outside our borders. There's land aplenty beyond the mountain ranges, but we have been too preoccupied with our own disagreements to do anything about it. If we are to expand without destroying each other in the process, if we are to glorify our Subreddit for everybody's benefit, then we must stand together. We must stand united."

"We've heard that one before!" Colonel Strike, one of the Arkos Oligarchs, stood up. "Celtic supported a unitary state, and half the Subreddit was seduced by his lies. He promised all of us peace and strength, but he ruined us." He turned to face the other four Oligarchs and General Zealander. "Our own Grand General Vulpix brought us into his fold. Arkos has been down this path before, and it only leads to death and tyranny. Never again!" The other four Oligarchs stood up and cheered while Zealander furrowed his brow and clapped slowly.

"Celtic was a dictator." Anti, the merchant baroness from Ladybug, stood up. "All he wanted was dominance over the Subreddit. All he wanted was power. What we want is to join the Subreddit into one harmonious union, so that we can expand and spread our prosperity to those beyond the borders. But to do that we must stand united!"

"How united, I wonder?" Austin took the opportunity to speak. Every eye in the assembly turned to rest on her, more condescending and judgmental than she had expected.

"You see, I was looking at—"

"I'm sorry, who let this common wench in here? This is supposed to be a place of dignity." Faker, an Enabler Triumvir, stood up and wagged his head disapprovingly.

"Figures that a Rubian would be so arrogant." A Villainian diplomat pointed at the Enablerese accusatively. "Let her speak."

"Figures that a Villainian would be so belligerent," An old woman with a heavy south Heroan accent spoke up. "Ignore this common mongrel and let the real players talk."

"Enough!" Nitesco bellowed before chaos had a chance to envelop the assembly. "We are rulers of the realm, not bickering children! Countess Jillian is currently unable to speak, and the rules of the assembly do not forbid a lowborn from holding a seat as a representative."

Coronam shrugged. "I have no problem if you don't," he said, gesturing to Inferno.

"You'll have no objection from me. I am most eager to hear what she has to say." Inferno smiled haughtily, but Austin paid her no heed.

"As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted," She made sure to cast a damning glare in Faker's direction, much to the amusement of his fellow Triumvirs. "I was looking at the proposed legislation, and it looks to me like Inferno benefits far more from this arrangement than anybody else. Almost all executive authority is taken from the current Council and given to the new emperor." She paused and cast another judgmental glare, this time at Inferno. "Or empress.

"Nonetheless, the only thing that the Council would remain good for would be to vote in the next emperor, a most generous concession on your part, my lady." Coronam struggled to keep a straight face while Inferno's expression darkened with every passing second. "However, in the absence of a two-thirds majority saying otherwise, the successor would default to whoever received the previous emperor's secondary titles. It seems to me, Inferno, that this really is just another power grab."

A wave of murmurs passed through the crowd, more impressed that a lowborn could speak so professionally than at any revelation she might have delivered. Though most of the politicians present were already well aware of what Inferno's legislation entailed, Austin's summary had cleanly changed the direction of the conversation. Coronam smirked in satisfaction along with his advisors, while Inferno knitted her hands with an incensed look on her face.

Anti was the first to respond to Austin's remarks. "What does it matter how the successor is determined?" she said. "The important part of this legislation is the benefit of consolidating power into a single position. The subreddit as a whole will prosper as we are able to act as one against our common enemies. And if the lords of the subreddit take issue with the ruling emperor, the Council is empowered to remove them." Several voices murmured in assent.

"Yes, the Council," Austin replied. "But you'll remember that most our nations do not have a seat on the council. We would therefore have no control over who gets to be the dictator that decides our collective fates. Armed and Ready cannot abide this, and I assume others in our position feel the same." Heated conversation broke out in response to this statement. Cheers rang out from the Faunus Pride delegation, while dismissive grunts came from the Bumblebee representatives.

"Oh, we are not getting into this conversation," Faker protested. "States without a seat on the Council can be given one by—"

"By those currently on the Council with a majority vote in favor of their entry," Austin finished. "But after this legislation is passed, the power to admit new council members will belong to the empress. And I wonder how accepting she'll be to those of us who haven't made ourselves her pets?"

For a second, the assembly hall was silent.

"Who are you to speak to me like this?" Faker demanded, red-faced.

"I am Austin of Armed and Ready. I speak for the Countess. Who are you to talk down to me?"

The hall went into an uproar. Politicians from all delegations shouted across the room, voicing their own opinions on the conversation unfolded. Praises and denunciations of Inferno, of Coronam, and of those who had spoken blended together and became a sea of indecipherable noise. The commotion lasted for a full minute before one man managed to get the others to quiet down. With hand gestures and a calm, clear voice, he instructed all present to settle down. When the room had been brought to a manageable level of noise, he addressed everyone.

"My friends, my friends." It was not a royal nor a diplomat who spoke, but a mild-mannered man in red robes befitting a priest. Scion Zissman.

"This is no way to act. Taking shots at one another while in the midst of what could be the most historic advancement in your people's history."

"What would you know of our customs, Outlander?" One of the Arkosian Oligarchs stood up and jeered at him, only to be met with distasteful glares from his fellows.

"Ah, this is what I mean, my friends. Such division! Such infighting! The Subreddit is split in two over a petty dispute, when you could be moving forward as one!

"My Church came to this Subreddit to escape persecution and hatred in our native lands. And yet here, I see it is not much better. War is common, infighting is rampant, and the leaders of the realm waste resources squabbling with their neighbors rather than protecting their subjects, shirking their duty for their own ambition. And now, when the opportunity to unite and break the self-destructive cycle presents itself to you, you do what you do best: squabble and clamor over who gets what. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

Coronam rolled his eyes. "Do you have anything of substance to add, Scion, or are you content to insult your hosts?"

"My point, Coronam, is this: you spend so much time doubting what could come of this, seeing it through the lens of cynicism. But sometimes this doesn't do anything but stall progress. Sometimes, you just need to have faith that, while it may seem painful at the time, things will turn out for the best. Have faith, friends, and you will be rewarded."

Another wave of murmuring moved through the assembly, contemplating Zissman's words. Even Austin had to admit that he was well-spoken, especially for an Outlander, though his speech lacked substance.

The debate continued in a pattern of calm statements followed by outbursts. The arguments went on…

"You really expect anyone here to believe that Inferno would protect their interests over her own? That she can be trusted?" Coronam demanded.

"I expect they'll agree she's more trustworthy than you," Faker retorted.

"That's not the issue!" Coronam roared.

…and on…

"I don't understand why Guns 'N Roses is so staunchly opposed," Inferno remarked. "Is this Diet not enough democratic process for you?"

Gwydion stood up. "Democratic process? Don't get me started on democratic process!"

Nitesco lifted his hands in a "calm down" motion. "Easy, Gwydion," he said. "Let me handle this."

"Democratic, my ass," Gwydion mumbled.

…and on…

"Why are we even letting this 'Austin' girl speak? What does a commoner know about matters of governance?" A Heroan diplomat asked.

"That's ad hominem," Austin retorted. "For someone who knows about matters of governance, you make bad arguments."

"What does that even mean?" Kazehh whispered. Jelo shushed him.

…and on…

"So you see," one of the Bumblebee oligarchs said, "We must give this matter our most careful consideration, because—Hey! Whoever threw that, your mother is a whore!"

"Glad we're staying on topic," McDouggal deadpanned.

…and on…

"I'm done beating around the bush," Contramundi said. "Inferno, I want to know how you really convinced so many of these people to vote with you."

"What, you can't accept that I've just given them the most compelling argument?" Inferno responded.

"I know that there's no way anyone who's listened to you speak for five minutes would buy into your sales pitch."

"I can confirm that," Austin said. "I don't buy into it."

"Ha!" Coronam laughed.

Jillian smirked, while Inferno kept a neutral expression.

…and on, until the sound of a large clock ringing signified to the attendants that it was noon, and time for a much-awaited midday recess before the voting began.

As Austin and the Countess walked out of the assembly room, Austin breathed a sigh of relief, overcome by the experience. "So, Countess, how did I do?"

The Countess smiled and nodded, and an intense wave of relief washed over Austin. She grinned triumphantly as she turned her attention to the people in the foyer. Across the room, she could hear Jelo's boisterous laughter.

"If you'll excuse me, I'd like to go talk to my friends. When do we reconvene?"

The Countess held up four fingers.

"Thank you, your majesty." She gave a small, graceful curtsy and began walking over to her fellow mercenaries when she nearly walked straight into a robed politician. Again.

"Oh, pardon me, I wasn't looking where I was…" Seeing who she had walked into, she trailed off.

"Ah, excuse me," Zissman said, dusting himself off. "Austin, was it?"

"Yes, that's me," she replied. "How are you, Mr. Zissman?"

"I'm well, thank you," he said. "I just wanted to say that I thought you were very well-spoken out there. Though we may disagree politically, it's always a pleasure to encounter one as insightful as yourself."

"Oh. Uh, thank you. Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all. I'm sorry to keep you. I do hope we meet again after this is all over."

Austin nodded. "Perhaps we will," she said. She left, still unsure of how to feel about Zissman.

As soon as she stepped away from the awkward confrontation with the Scion, she was greeted by a heavy pat on the back that almost sent her spiraling to the ground.

"Austin, my lass!" Jelo laughed merrily and shook her violently in celebration. "I didn't know you had it in you!"

"Nor did I," McDouggal said, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Perhaps I was a bit harsh in my initial judgements. I think I may have underestimated you."

He was interrupted by the sound of Kazehh loudly slurping down a glass of champagne that one of the attendants had brought for him. "Well, maybe not all of you. Kazehh, those aren't free, you know. It's coming out of your pay!"

"Then take as you please, Duke," he responded. "I can find money anywhere, but I'll never see the likes of champagne again!" With a grin, he took another glass of off the serving plate and downed it in a single gulp.

"If it's coming out of his pay, does that mean I get mine for free?" Jelo asked. McDouggal merely sighed.

"Well, if you're all going to indulge yourselves, I might as well get some for the rest of us. Serving boy! Four glasses, please."

"Make that six," a deep voice said. Turning around, Austin saw King Coronam, dressed in deep purple silk, and General Zealander, sporting several medals on his pristine crimson uniform.

"Coronam. Zealander. If you're willing to pick up the cost, I'd be happy to oblige."

"The privilege is mine," Coronam said, and he gave a small bow. "Ah, the mercenaries you told me about. And this," he turned to Austin. "Must be Austin. A pleasure, my lady." He gave a proper bow.

"The pleasure's all mine," Austin said, trying to sound formal. "I saw a woman with you when you entered. Where's she?"

"Ah, you mean Opifexa." He smiled. "She's cavorting with the other diplomats. Making sure they all, ah, vote correctly." The serving boy arrived, bearing a plate full of champagne glasses. Kazehh and Jelo plucked theirs from the plate and wandered off, leaving Austin and the three heads of state behind.

"And what of you, Zealander?" McDouggal asked, and he gently sipped his champagne. "Why are you cavorting with Coronam instead of your Oligarchs"

"Ah, Cel-," He coughed and cleared his throat, earning a glare from Coronam. "Sorry about that. Coronam's better company than those bickering bureaucrats." The General groaned and rubbed his temples. "Admiral Bluewhale and Colonel Strike are militantly against Inferno, though General Reno, Governor Wingnut and Presbyter Ijustread are more neutral. They were at each other's throats as soon as they allowed the recess."

"I hope they won't swing Arkos toward Inferno…" Coronam gravely muttered.

"Of course not. I would not allow it." Zealander sipped his champagne. "I assume the Countess Jillian votes with us, Austin?"

"Yes," Austin said. "I may not be an expert in statecraft, but I know a power play when I see one. The Countess and I are of the same mind there."

"Good, good." McDouggal smiled. "Well, voting begins soon. I'm not one for premature celebration, but I think we ought to drink to our impending success."

"And more importantly, Inferno's failure," Coronam added.

"I can get behind both of those," Zealander added. "To victory!"

"To victory!" They cried, and they threw back their champagne.

Out of the corner of her eye, Austin saw the Countess waiting patiently near the side doors to the assembly. After finishing her glass, she excused herself and began walking over to her.

When she was halfway across the room, Austin felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and jumped in surprise. It was Inferno, accompanied by her bodyguard.

"I don't believe we've met," Inferno said. "You know who I am, of course?"

Austin swallowed. "Queen Inferno," she said. "No, we haven't met. And, I guess you know who I am?"

"I do indeed, 'Austin of Armed and Ready,'" Inferno said. She offered a smile, but Austin felt that there was something predatory about it. She remained on her guard.

"Is there something you'd like to say to me?" Austin asked.

"Nothing in particular," Inferno admitted, "But after your performance in the assembly hall, I thought we should become familiar. I make it a point to acquaint myself with, ah, people of ambition. And you strike me as an ambitious woman."

"I suppose it takes one to know one," Austin replied stiffly. "You know, I thought you were going to be angrier after what happened in there. Maybe insult me, threaten me. I wasn't expecting friendliness."

Inferno kept smiling. "We may be opponents now, but I've learned that today's adversaries may be tomorrow's allies. I know better than to burn bridges."

"Huh, that's ironic," Austin muttered.

Inferno raised an eyebrow. "Why is that ironic?"

"Uh, no reason," Austin said hastily. "It's been a pleasure, your highness, but I must be going." She turned and continued on her way.

"You'll find that Coronam makes for a poor friend," Inferno called after her. "When you do, come find me."

Austin did not acknowledge her.

Jay grinned. "She made a pun," he said.

Inferno sighed. "I know she did. I'm trying to forget it."

Austin completed her walk to the doors. "Is it time?" she asked the Countess.

The Countess nodded curtly, beckoning for her to follow. They took their seats in the assembly chamber and patiently waited for the rest of the diplomats to file in.

"Will there be another opportunity for me to speak?" Austin asked, trying to conceal her eagerness. The Countess smiled and shook her head lightly. Austin nodded, failing to conceal her disappointment.

After a few minutes, the rest of the representatives had returned to the chamber, ready to decide the fate of the Subreddit. Inferno, flanked by her ever-present bodyguard, walked into the chamber last and took her place at the head of the assembly.

"It is time, my friends, to decide where we will go from here. Each of your nations has been provided with a ballot. Please write your country's name and how they will vote."

"We know how this works," somebody from the Juniperan section chimed in, but silence quickly set over the chamber.

A minute later, a few servants came around the chamber, collecting the ballots and placing them on a desk in the middle of the assembly, where the vote-counters would tally the nations and how many votes they were pledging to each side. To ensure fairness, each member of the Mod Council had chosen a representative to participate in the vote-counting process. The final tally would be unmistakably correct.

The entire assembly was silent. Inferno coolly scanned the room while Coronam was grinding his teeth in the corner. Austin looked over at McDouggal and found, not to her surprise, that he was as pale as a ghost. Not that she could blame him. Even the Enablerese looked nervous.

The ticking of the clock seemed to magnify as the minutes wore on. Eventually, at long last, one of the vote counters stood up.

"The assembly has reached a decision." He paused dramatically. "The legislation has passed."

As improbable as it was, silence continued to hang over the court. The seconds ticked away, and each representative sat in place, unsure if what they had heard was correct. Finally, somebody broke the silence.

"So, Coronam, what do you say to that?" Inferno gloated.

The Renoran king stared down at the ground, positively seething. All eyes turned to him, to see what he would do.

He looked up, determination in his eyes.

"No."

"No?" Inferno asked, some of her confidence disappearing.

Coronam stood, his face a bright strawberry red. "NO! I will not let this Subreddit succumb to tyranny! I will not allow this harlot to drag us through the mud for the sake of her own power! And you must be daft to think that Renora will ever bow to a King other than me!"

"And what are you going to do about it?" Inferno's bodyguard spoke up, placing a hand on his sword's hilt.

"We will see." Celtic stood up, and he left without another word.

The entire assembly was in shock. Instantly they began to murmur and whisper amongst themselves.

"Coronam is a fool!"

"He's got the right idea."

"Does this mean war?"

Soon, such murmurings turned into conversation. Conversation turned to arguments. Arguments turned into shouting matches. Eventually, the entire chamber slipped into chaos.

Bureaucratic procedure had devolved into anarchy. Looking around, Austin saw politicians screaming at each other, storming out of the chamber, and a few even throwing punches. Everything was going downhill. She turned to the countess.

"Will you be alright from here?"

Jillian nodded.

Austin searched the room one more time. She saw Nitesco, Gwydion, and the rest of the Guns N' Roses delegation making a relatively calm exit.

"Then I'll be on my way," Austin said. "Thank you again for everything. Best of luck, Countess."

Jillian answered with an approving smile.

Up and to her left, Austin saw McDouggal, Kazehh, and Jelo together, wating for the chamber to calm down. By pure luck, all three of them looked down at her at the same time.

Austin smiled, raised two fingers to her head and gave the three of them a parting salute. Then, she turned and made her way out of the chamber. She had to catch up with a couple of family friends.

As she ran out after the delegation, Gwydion was the first to notice her. Upon seeing her, he tapped Nitesco on the shoulder, and they turned around to face her.

"Austin," Nitesco said. "Why aren't you with the Countess?"

"She no longer needs my help. Did you guys know a man named Austin Rufus?"

"Of course we did," Gwydion remarked. "Is there something you want to tell us?"

"I want to talk," she said. "But I'd like to do it in private. Is there anywhere we can talk?"

Gwydion and Nitesco exchanged glances, and Nitesco sighed. "We have lodgings down the road. You can stay with us for the night."

Austin smiled. "Oh, thank you so much. It means a lot to me." She lifted her hand for a handshake, then reconsidered. In a desperate attempt to justify the hand motion, she folded her hands in front of her and tried to appear nonchalant.

"Indeed," Nitesco said. "But you'll have to answer some questions of ours as well. Now, into the carriage."

Austin did as she was told, stepping into the ornately furnished carriage and staring out the window as the door closed shut and the assembly building lurched out of sight.

"All that work. Useless!"

Coronam screamed as he entered into the inn he was staying at, startling the innkeeper at the counter. A harsh glare silenced the woman before she had a chance to speak up.

"That damned, double-dealing harlot! I'll have her crucified! I'll have her skinned and hung up on a tree! I'll have her tied to a stake and left for the beasts!" He screamed a final time for good measure as he opened the door to his room, startling Cinder, who was sitting at the desk reading a book.

"My liege, what is the matter?" he asked, already knowing the answer. Coronam turned to verbally ream him, but Opifexa held him back.

"My liege, please. Anger will do you no good now."

Coronam grumbled and sighed. "I suppose there's nothing we can do for now. I'm going to bed. We will think more on this in the morning."

"Why not now?" A voice resounded from the adjacent room, startling all three of the Renorans. A figure emerged from the darkness of the other room. Triumvir Contramundi.

"Greetings, King Coronam. I have a proposition for you."

"How did you get in here?" Cinder asked, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger in his cloak.

"You've rented out an entire inn. Somebody's going to leave a window open." He smiled. "But I do not bring wishes of harm. Our goals are the same."

"To kill Inferno," Coronam hissed. "That is my only thought at this time."

"Yes, Coronam. And I know exactly where to start: Enabler."

"Enabler?" Opifexa asked, doubtful. "Why Enabler?"

"My fellow Triumvir, Faker, is in league with Inferno. He knows that I have been against her from the start, and he's taken steps to make sure my soldiers cannot act against her. They are patrolling the countryside and the cities to keep peace from within. But I guarantee they aren't expecting an attack from without, especially after I ordered my soldiers to create a gap in his defenses."

"But I don't have the manpower for such an assault," Coronam stated. "Even with your support, I wouldn't be able to overcome the Enablerese soldiers."

"Coronam, we both know you brought along more troops than you're willing to let on, and I know that you have spies everywhere." He smiled and turned to Cinder. "Isn't that right, Fugov?"

"Where did you learn that name?" Cinder drew his dagger, but Opifexa grabbed his wrist before he could do anything drastic.

"So you're saying we sabotage him?" Coronam asked. "You open up the defenses, my spies distract them and then we both strike?"

"Indeed." Contramundi smiled. "So, what say you? Shall we make the first move?"

Coronam smiled. "Yes, Contramundi. I think we shall."

They shook hands, and so the war began.