#DAD LUDWIG

[pidayforpi]

Lilium / Sorriso

Under the grey, cloudy sky, two brothers walked along the grassy path, although only one pair of footprints was left on the nature's trail.

Abner Duck carried his younger brother on his back, the yellow duckling deep in slumber against the teenage drake's head. Fethry's short arms were wrapped around his elder brother's neck, while Abner supported those short dangling legs with his own pair of arms.

Usually, the siblings would go home hand-in-hand. But today, Fethry had been especially drowsy after school, the homeroom teacher carrying a sleeping Fethry in her arms with an amused smile, when Abner arrived to pick his brother up.

Abner tried to imitate his father, when Eider Duck would carry a sleepy Fethry on his back, and walk home while avoiding shaking the fragile duckling awake.

Although Fethry was light, and Abner was somewhat strong, it was still the first time he had given someone a piggyback ride while moving. He constantly looked over his shoulders, and made sure Fethry wouldn't fall over or be woken up. Tiring it might be, just a look at the yellow duckling's innocent smile would make Abner forget all the fatigue in an instant.

Seeing as the sky slowly turned into a darker shade of grey, Abner slightly hastened his pace, hoping the rain would kindly wait until they had arrived home. The wind picked up as well, rustling the tall grass on either side of the country road.

"Os iusti meditabitur sapientiam

Et lingua eius loquetur iudicium

Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem

Quoniam cum probatus fuerit accipiet coronam vitae"

("The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom

His tongue speaks judgment

Blessed is the man who endures temptation

For once he has been tested, he shall receive the crown of life")

Unconsciously, Abner started to hum. Being in the vast countryside and embraced by the wild, Abner always had the urge to sing a little song. He reckoned he took that characteristic from his mother. Lulubelle Loon would often start humming, in the midst of picking wild flowers or tending the gardens. Abner never questioned why his mother would do that, but he wouldn't complain either. His mother's singing voice was soothing to listen to, more so than his own hoarse voice. Abner admitted he wasn't a good singer, after all.

"Kyrie, fons bonitatis

Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison"

("Lord, fount of goodness

Lord, divine fire, have mercy!")

Even the hymn he was humming had been learned from his mother. Abner didn't know the exact words,

let alone the meaning of those lyrics, written in an unknown language. He merely copied his mother's tongue, from having heard Lulubelle sing the song for so many times.

Abner liked the sound of the song, its melody almost like a lullaby. He remembered his mother had a wooden music box that played the exact song. It was a gift from his lumberjack mentor, handcrafted by the family friend as a birthday present for Ms Loon. Since then, she had placed the ornament in the living room, winding the musical instrument up from time to time, letting the calming melody be heard throughout their lovely, homely wooden cabin.

"O quam sancta, quam serena

quam benigna, quam amoena esse Virgo creditur

O quam sancta, quam serena, quam benigna, quam amoena

O castitatis lilium"

("Oh, how sacred, how serene

How benevolent, how pleasant this Virgin who believe

Oh, how sacred, how serene, how benevolent, how pleasant

Oh, lily of purity!")

Abner especially remembered his mother singing that song while carrying Fethry on her back, just like what he was doing now, as if the song was dedicated to his innocent younger brother. He specifically remembered, that his mother had once hummed the song to a sleeping Fethry, on a white lily field. It was a beautiful scene, with his mother's long white dress swaying in the wind, along with countless lilies of pure white dancing in the zephyr. The long tail of Fethry's red stocking cap, as well as the black furball at its end, were flowing in the breeze too, although their owner remained fast asleep.

White lilies were his mother's favourite, which was why Lulubelle had dedicated a portion of the flower farm to growing a sea of pure white lilies. When looked from a distance, it was as if someone had hung a large piece of white velvet cloth in the middle of the farmland.

It formed a stark contrast, with a patch of white among the colourful sea of flora. However, that's what made Lulubelle love the colour white so much.

"When everything else has colours, having no colour is a kind of uniqueness."

"White is such a fragile colour, so easily stained by dyes. This is what makes purity so precious."

Abner remembered his mother's words.

Looking at his slumbering younger brother, Abner too hoped Fethry would forever stay pure.

Pure as the white lily, never to be tainted.

"Kyrie, fons bonitatis

Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison

O quam sancta, quam serena

quam benigna, quam amoena esse Virgo creditur

O quam sancta, quam serena, quam benigna, quam amoena

O castitatis lilium"

("Lord, fount of goodness

Lord, divine fire, have mercy!

Oh, how sacred, how serene

How benevolent, how pleasant this Virgin who believe

Oh, how sacred, how serene, how benevolent, how pleasant

Oh, lily of purity!")

(27-6-2022)

[The song in the story is Lilium ("Lily"), the anime OP of Elfen Lied. The lyrics (in Italic) and the title are actually in Latin.

Although I like the original version as well, I wrote the story according to Erutan's arrangement of the song.

Do give it a listen if available. Erutan is an amazing artist, and that arrangement of Lilium is what inspired this song story, too.]

https://youtu.be/lV4EGBHadFg

----------------------

[Mention of Loss of Parents, Fatal Car Accident]

Ludwig Von Drake held the gosling in his arms, gently stroking the child's soft blonde hair.

Although Gladstone was by no means a "gosling" at that point - now that his yellow down coat had been fully replaced with snow-white feathers - the young gander would forever be a little gosling in the old duck's eyes.

Right now, Ludwig was standing by a cliff, the snoozing goose being held close to his chest. The professor chuckled to himself, when the sleeping gosling twisted and turned in his embrace. He really wanted that moment recorded, but he knew he would always have that scene remembered, more strongly than any piece of knowledge he had learned as a lifelong scholar.

On a certain Saturday, Gladstone went on a field trip with the professor. It was a long ride to the destination, and Gladstone, however enthusiastic he was, had exhausted his energy being excited for the expedition. Half way through the ride, the gosling had fallen asleep on the back seat, in slumber even after arrival. Ludwig, ever careful and thoughtful with Gladstone, had decided to let the child wake up naturally.

The venue was a grassy cliffside, its ground a coat of lush green with a few oxeye daisies interspersed, ending with a cliff overlooking the milky, milky sea. The weather had been overcast, however, but it gave the nature's scenery another kind of beauty.

Wind howled from the waters, blowing towards the vegetation and the two visitors. Ludwig's grey hair was ruffled by the gale, as were his neatly ironed coat and dress shirt, but he did all he could to shield the fragile gosling in his arms from the wind.

Though the young goose was blessed with paranormal good luck, even the knowledge-hungry Ludwig wouldn't think for a second about studying Gladstone's magical abilities. All Ludwig cared for was his well-being, his happiness.

He would do anything for the gosling, after all.

In this turbulent world, Ludwig would do anything to protect Gladstone from the storms of destiny. Ludwig wouldn't let cruel fate take away his smile. Not again.

"Se di noi due uno solo potesse ricever l'amor del mondo

Io sarei felice di donarlo a te"

("If only one of us could receive love from the world

I would be happy to give the chance to you")

Ludwig had never thought about being a father, nor had his wife, Matilda McDuck. Ludwig had only foreseen himself to live the rest of his life surrounded by books and paper. Despite a loving couple, Ludwig and Matilda had never planned to have a child of their own. Ludwig was good at a lot of expertises, but child-caring was one field he couldn't say anything about. One field that his sister-in-law Hortense McDuck would know much better in.

But of all the things the wise professor could predict, the child in his arms was not one of them. Then again, no one could have predicted the future, no?

"Accettalo senza esitazione, te ne prego

Io ti stringo dolcemente nell'abbraccio del mio amore più sincero"

("Please accept it without hesitation

I will gently embrace you, with sincere love from my heart")

Gladstone was a wonderful boy, more than everything a parent could hope for their child. Polite, bright, kind...and blessed by the goddess of luck, protecting him from all sorts of woe and misfortune.

At first, Ludwig had always worried about Gladstone getting hurt, for his four-leaf clover attracted quite a number of green-eyed monsters. He would ask Gladstone to stay vigilant at all times, giving him advice on how to protect himself. Gladstone was obedient, yet dangers would sometimes still reach the young gander. However, whatever perils might happen, Gladstone would always reach home unscathed. Ludwig knew it must have been the work of the little goose's blessing, and he thanked the gift for that.

"Te ne prego, va avanti per la strada che tu credi

Prego perché tu non perda mai la tua anima pura e sincera"

("Please, go on the way you believe in

I pray that you will never lose your pure and sincere soul")

With the gosling in his life, Ludwig had done many things he didn't think he would ever do. He remembered going to the children's boutique for the first time, confident that he could make the gosling look smart and handsome...only to end up holding his hands up and letting the shopkeeper pick out the clothes for little Gladstone.

Or the first time Gladstone had a fever, to which Ludwig responded by immediately rushing the child to the hospital. He had forgotten he was also a licensed, professional physician, until he saw the sheepish look of the doctor on-call, obviously puzzled as to why the professor was panicking over a common cold.

Also deep in his memories was the first parent-teacher meeting. The primary school principal had remarked Gladstone's excellent behaviour, which made the student blush in shyness and the parent smile in pride. Somehow, hearing someone praise the gosling under his wing made Ludwig feel the proudest. He thought he couldn't be prouder of himself anymore, having been the most respected scholar in the entire world, the bearer of countless degrees and honours. Yet, being praised a good father made all those other titles feel no longer important. Right now, he was the father of the little goose, and he took utmost pride in that and that alone.

The parents' meet-up afterwards was also quite the experience for Ludwig. He had been nervous about meeting up with a lot of parents, who would undoubtedly be much more skilled in parenting than the senile geezer. However, when the event commenced, Ludwig felt his parental instincts kicked in, and he quickly blended in with the mothers and fathers in the venue. He listened to many funny stories of the parents and their chicks, and shared his own with his beloved Gladstone, to which the gosling pouted in embarrassment. Though, Ludwig must have been oblivious to the curious gazes of the adults there, wondering why the world-renown Professor Ludwig Von Drake suddenly had a child of his own, or why an old drake was even raising a young gander in the first place.

The elderly duck thought he knew everything, but the little gosling proved him otherwise.

Ludwig had never thought about being a father, but he did not regret becoming one, too. It was a surprise, of course, but a welcomed one nevertheless.

Ludwig only hoped Gladstone felt the same as well.

"Se uno di noi due fosse scelto per il regno della morte

Io sarei felice di offrirmi"

("If one of us were chosen to leave for the kingdom of death

I would be happy to sacrifice myself")

When Ludwig Von Drake received the tragic news, it was as if a dagger had pierced through his heart.

Matilda had already broken down, sobbing in a chair next to her husband. Ludwig held the telephone in one hand, a balled-up fist in another. His normally cheery expression was all gone, replaced by a deep shade of melancholy. His usual bubbly bill remained shut. His quick mind was at a loss for words.

Still, Ludwig remained calm. He needed to, when everyone was devastated by the unfortunate accident happening at the worst time possible. He was the Professor Ludwig Von Drake. He had to come up with a solution when no one could. He had to be the problem-solver when no one would. There was no time for him to panic or be sad. There shouldn't be.

But for the first time, Ludwig just stood there. He said nothing, but his mind was blank. He shed no tear, but his heart was cold. He needed to do something, he must. But he didn't know what to do.

For the first time, Ludwig didn't have a solution.

He hung up, without saying anything. He ended that day, without saying anything.

"Ti prego, non essere triste

Perché io già ricevo da te tanta felicità da non meritarla"

("Please, don't be sad for me

For I have already received from you so much more happiness than I deserve")

The next day, Ludwig and Matilda visited the Gander household, now the home of only one little gosling. It was a cold winter day, a morning in early January. The day after Gladstone's big day.

Hortense McDuck and Quackmore Duck had volunteered to accompany their nephew for the night of the incident. When Hortense welcomed her sister and brother-in-law, she immediately embraced Matilda, crying over her sister's shoulders. Quackmore, like Ludwig, said nothing, but grief was clearly visible in his eyes.

Everyone knew bad luck would befall Gladstone yesterday, but no one could have predicted how cruel fate could be to the poor little gosling.

Gladstone had always been a lucky fella. His supernatural good luck would always protect him from sorrow while bringing him smiles. But luck had its price, and the goddess of luck would always collect her debt, on a specific day every year: Gladstone Gander's birthday.

It was on this jolly day that Gladstone would experience all the misfortunes he should have encountered throughout the year. It was on his birthday, that Gladstone would become the unluckiest goose in the world for a day.

And that year, that fateful year...Luck had decided to claim Gladstone's parents as his payment, in a tragic road accident.

"Il mio cuor ti sarà per sempre vicino

Prego perché quel tuo sorriso gentile non si oscuri mai"

("My heart will always be close to you

I pray that your gentle smile will never be clouded")

Ludwig had known why he and his wife were called to the now-empty manor, as the four adults sat in the dinning room after a difficult discussion. He was never prepared for the option, but he understood the decision. Hortense and Quackmore already had two children of their own, as did Lulubelle and Eider, while Scrooge had a business to take care of. Ludwig and Matilda were the only ones who could possibly take in their orphaned young nephew.

Ludwig went upstairs to the gosling's room, where Gladstone had hid himself ever since the grim tidings had been disclosed. He was sitting on his bed, looking out of the small open window. Gladstone didn't speak to anyone, didn't shed a tear. He merely stared into the distance, hoping to wake up from this horrible nightmare. But his heart was on the verge of breaking, and Ludwig knew that. Because he was feeling the same as well.

Ludwig knocked lightly on the white wooden door, before sitting next to Gladstone on the children's bed. They didn't say anything, nor was there any need to. Gladstone had already heard the conversation downstairs, and the fact that his Uncle Ludwig came into his room afterwards only proved it further. Even if it had been a wild guess, it would have been correct as well. His dumb luck was back, after all.

The uncle and nephew sat there without a word.

Until the gentle snow suddenly fell, landing on the window sill. Gladstone's eyes widened, as pure white precipitates kept floating down from the cloudy sky. His body started to shiver, but not from the temperature. Tears started to form, but not from the wind.

Almost immediately, the mask of toughness shattered, when he remembered the terrible blizzard that took his parents away from him, on his very own happy birthday.

Gladstone threw himself into the embrace of his uncle, burying his head into the old duck's chest. He cried as much as he could, wails of grief and pain echoed throughout the once-homely abode. Drops of tear stained Ludwig's vest, and the professor's coat became wrinkled as Gladstone held firmly onto his uncle, letting all his bottled emotions out. It wasn't that Gladstone and Ludwig shared a particularly close relationship at that time. The bereaved gosling just wanted a warm, comforting hug, somewhere he could freely cry in. After all, he was just a child. A sad, confused, helpless child.

Ludwig gave his devastated nephew a big, heartfelt embrace in response, allowing the hapless gosling as much time as he needed. Ludwig held the weeping child close to himself, gently brushing the back of his soft feathered head, stroking his trembling back lovingly.

"Se di noi due uno solo potesse ricever l'amor del mondo

Io sarei felice di donarlo a te"

("If only one of us could receive love from the world

I would be happy to give the chance to you")

And then, for the first time since he had picked up the telephone yesterday, Ludwig felt himself sobbing. He had tried to stay strong and calm, but witnessing the heart-wrenching expression of the gosling broke his already cracked heart. The professor silently wept, bitter tears falling down his cheeks, as he whispered Gladstone's name with his shaking, raspy voice. It wasn't professional at all, but Ludwig didn't care. The professor comforted Gladstone, not as a child psychologist, but as his uncle, and his new guardian.

That day, Ludwig found someone only he could protect. Someone whose smile only he could protect.

Right here, in his arms.

"Prego perché quel tuo sorriso gentile

Sorriso, non si oscuri mai"

("I pray that your gentle smile

Your smile, will never be clouded")

----------------------

Gladstone rubbed his drowsy eyes, struggling to open them against the sleepiness and the relatively brighter environment. The young goose let out a big yawn, opening his bill to the largest before exhaling. When his vision became clear enough to see, he was greeted with the smile of an old duck.

"Hello 'dere! Mein kleine Gans!"

Ludwig patted the gosling affectionately, who had just woken up from the long sleep in his arms. Gladstone struggled in the elderly duck's embrace, puffing up his cheeks and pouting in protest.

"I'm not a kid anymore, Uncle Ludwig! And honestly, what does that even mean?"

Ludwig merely chuckled.

"Guess you'll have to find out yourself!"

To which Gladstone rolled his heavy eyes. He then noticed the breathtaking cliffside they were on, gasping lightly in astonishment.

"Oh, we are already there?"

Ludwig slowly sat down on the grassy field, the gosling still in his tender embrace.

"Yes, my dear Gladstone. Ready to explore the unknown, eager mind?"

Gladstone pondered for a while, before shaking his head subtly.

"Sorry...May I have a few more minutes...? I'll surely be ready to go after that..."

Ludwig smiled kindly, as the gosling was already failing to keep his eyes open. Half a minute later, Gladstone was once again asleep.

"Sure, my little goose..."

Gladstone leaned against the old duck's chest, snoring softly in his arms. Ludwig gently stroke the gosling's soft blonde hair, as Gladstone whispered in his sleep.

"Thanks, Dad..."

(4-7-2022)

https://youtu.be/HHuVWG-Pv-4

[Sorriso ("Smile") is an Italian song performed by Akiko Shikata, one of my favourite musicians since I was little. Shikata's folk music caught my heart when I first stumbled upon it, and since then has become a great inspiration to me.]

[palskippah]

Hi!

You know that powerpuff girls moment where they’re dressing up the professor and he’s just there?

[callixspod]

press keep reading to see the shots

WOO!

[the-phantom-author]

Dad!Hasan who is always ready to hype his kids up when they hit milestones in their lives. Anything from mastering a skill to kissing someone else for the first time to wanting to check out collages, he's their biggest cheerleader and is willing to give out any advice he can that the kids will listen to.

Dad!Ludwig who is undeniably the fun parent. His son wants to stay up after bedtime while you're away on a business trip? That okay, as long he's not on a screen, Lud would absolutely let him stay up. They'll draw or build Legos or he'll play a game and let his son watch (I mean technically the young boy isn't playing therefore he's good, right?)

Dad!Wilbur whose always willing to encourage his daughter when she starts collecting things. Postcards from places she visits with her parents? Okay, he'll make sure to stop at every town and take her to pick out her favorite card, or two or three. She's interested in rocks? They go out at least once a week to go and look for different rock to tumble and add to her little collection.

[shadcat]

I LOVE THE KOOPA FAMILY 👹👹

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

[doomspiral]

now that ive drawn one nyo au, heres mine again

[manufavs]

Papá Mats ❤️‍🩹

[apersonwholikeslotus]

I am not going to start writing parallels between Friedrich Wilhelm I & Friedrich the Greats relationship and Gilbert & Ludwigs relationship. I am not going to start writing parallels between Friedrich Wilhelm I & Friedrich the Greats relationship and Gilbert & Ludwigs relationship. I am not going to start writing parallels between Friedrich Wilhelm I & Friedrich the Greats relationship and Gilbert & Ludwigs relationship. I am not going to start writing parallels between Friedrich Wilhelm I & Friedrich the Greats relationship an-

[inhibitionfreewriting]

dad ludwig christmas traditions?

dadwig <3

the man who starts off the first year with his kids by having ornaments for each year with a picture of them in it, on their own. a star of their own ornament, you make sure to date the picture and the year just so that its specific when you get older. this turns into just hand making ornaments with the kids, too.

i also see him splurging on different materials in the sense that its like "dad can we do clay" "yeah" and then you have $200 worth of polymer clay at the house two days later ?? (they turn out great for what its worth, and your kid(s) are very excited to give their vast amount of aunts and uncles homemade ornaments)

your insistence on a real tree whenever possible from christmas #1 together as a family turns into going every year the same weekend and making a day out of it:

breakfast has to be sweet - your favorite was the year you made pancakes with the help of your daughter who wanted colored pancakes and refused to do any red or green on purpose (and got upset when the blue one wouldnt be "blue enough")

going to a random christmas tree farm (different every year) taking way too long to decide on one (your son is insistent that it has to be the right height for maximum ornament placement options), buying it (and some other families who are in line with you, "some good christmas will" lud says with a shrug) and taking it home to decorate.

letting the tree fluff out before decorating it and when the kids are little, the time is just used for trying to get them to eat or be clean or just behave for a few minutes (please we can put the shiny circles on the tree in a few minutes it still has to fluff out), but when they're at least preteens having friends over helps because they don't want to decorate with you but they will absolutely decorate with uncle aiden. (which is fine, the more the merrier for tree-day)

lud being the dad who at first is, no they can wait until christmas day to open gifts 🙄 but caves immediately because he wants to open christmas gifts early and as soon as he's like "okay but i can open a gift right" your kid hears and just gives the biggest 🥺 face they can muster and it's always one (or two, depending on how excited lud is to have them open specific gifts) on christmas eve and then the rest the next morning.

ludwig who dances you around the living room, drunk off his ass one year, but continues the tradition with your kid. you holding the baby as he sways with you both lit by the light of the three, which turns into both of you dancing with your toddler, hoping that as each year goes by, you'll never miss a dance.

[cryptidnamedhabit]

Y'know how there's bowuigi angst fics/headcanons where bowser outlives luigi?

What if it was the other way around?

Bowser is aware that his lifespan is shorter than a humans lifespan (whether this applies to him only or every other koopa is up to you) maybe he has a terminal illness or something?)) but is too nervous to tell luigi because he doesn't want luigi to become absolutely devastated that he'll likely outlive the love of his life.

If he does tell luigi, it would end with them both crying in each others arms and they both have a really hard time coming to terms that there isn't anything that can be done about it. Bowser has an especially hard time because he might not live long enough to see jr completely grow up and he doesn't want luigi to feel like he's being forced into a corner to raise jr and the rest of the koopalings once he's dead.

But it also brings up the question of whether or not luigi would assume bowsers role as king of the koopas or if there's already someone else planned to take his place to not stress luigi out (assuming that junior is still too young to have the throne)

Once bowser does finally die mega angst ensues. Luigi becoming an absolute emotional mess but also desperately trying to keep himself together for the sake of junior and the koopalings. Mario and peach helping luigi through every stage of grief while kamek (if he's still alive) also does his best to process the death of his adopted son and help junior and the rest of the koopalings too.

There would be a massive funeral in the entire koopa kingdom over the death of their king while luigi commissions a memorial in memory of bowser.

Hehe angst go brrrr

[pidayforpi]

(Okay. Hear me out-

→ Dad Ludwig / Adopted Gladstone background

→ DT17 story (S3)

→ AU in which Ludwig really dies while in FOWL captivity (not necessary killed but maybe dies from old age)

→ Gladstone joins his family to save Ludwig

→ Confronts Bradford in The Last Adventure

→ Bradford breaks the tragic news to Gladstone

→ Watch Gladstone break

_(:3 」∠)_)

[incorrect-composer-quotes]

🎂

Mozart : *counting down to 12am so he can celebrate his birthday right on the dot*

Paganini : yo homie I can’t sleep what are you-

Mozart : disturbing the neighbours and residents in this house is going to be fun 😏

Paganini : lets go. on 12am sharp, we squeeze our rubber chicken.

Mozart : lmao they are going to be so pissed but it’s worth it

~2 minutes later~

Beethoven and Liszt, both trying to sleep : SHUT UP

[ludwigmulergobrrrrrr]

Fish

[the-phantom-author]

Also dad!Hasan develops the mother instinct, while dad!Ludwig develops dad reflexes.

[randomnameless]

I'm procrastinating so have this Nopes!AU nonsense instead, with an Adrestian pretender.

So the setting is the same Nopes, Rhea crashes on Dimitri's couch in Faerghus and all but then -

Aegir Sr manages to escape thanks to some schmucks helping him, led by a lead random who is a Hresvelg bastard (or are they?) with a Crest of Seiros (maybe a cardinal fucked, or this random is a descendant from Willy's 120 children, or just, a far far removed member of House Hresvelg (maybe Ionius's bastard cousin got a kid who got a kid or whatnot)) and they mount a rebellion against Supreme Leader, because she's been stuck in this war so the promise of MAGA in 3 weeks fell flat especially since the nobodies of Leicester managed to put off a fight, when everyone considers them weaklings (it obviously happens before Clout and Supreme Leader join hands).

Hresvelg Bastard wants to sit on the throne and doesn't believe Supreme Leader's MAGA is going to work - maybe they tried to garner support in the backwater reaches of Adrestia (aka not Enbarr) by getting rid of some Agarthans who were there trying to create War Assets or what not, and so, they start a rebellion.

Knowing they can't win alone (even if Aegir Sr gives an impassionated speech telling the Nobles who followed him/the ones who were ignored by Supreme Leader (mostly the minor ones) or who don't like her "centralising policies" that he was injustly arrested, Vestra Sr assassinated and how she turned the scions of all great families against Adrestia's best interests - if she's not taking them hostage thanks to the help she received from Arundel who is the man behind all those war assets and disparitions : can they seriously believe that she had no hand in his experiments when he is a member of her own family? She only kicked him away after he ended his usefulness, like she'll do to everyone else!) Hresvelg Bastard has a bright idea.

Banking on the masses being faithful followers of the CoS - and not giving a fig about Varley and his "new CoS" - they believe they can also rally some people under the guise of the war against the CoS, the Archbishop is a beloved figure for all commoners (who can't rely on anything else but the Church since Adrestian Great Nobles, who all joined Supreme Leader, prefer to remain in Enbarr rather than manage their lands and people) so they end up with a small army of rebellious nobles, and peasants.

Not the army that will be able to topple Adrestia's military.

Maybe they can get help from Brigid and Dagda... sure, Brigid has their Princess used as a hostage by Supreme Leader, but do they really believe they will become something else than a vassal after the war, if Supreme Leader wins?

Granted, Hresvelg Bastard is Adrestian, and ultimately thinks they cannot rely on "savages", and besides, how will allying with "savages" bolster his claim on the throne? Adrestians don't like "savages" especially the ones from the former House Nuvelle, if they have to keep the Nuvelle mages as allies, they cannot rely on Dagdans.

That's where Adrestian Bastard has a master plan : they will join forces with the CoS (not those barbarians! Just the CoS and its knights!) and assist them in retaking Garreg Mach, on the only condition that the Archbishop herself names them the true and only inheritor of Adrestia's long legacy, starting with Great Emperor Wilhelm, and recognise them as Adrestia's ruler, while Supreme Leader will be just a mere usurper.

(details could be fleshed out later on about where Adrestian Bastard gets their legitimacy from, or to throw shade on Supreme Leader and her direct ascendants).

Thus the CoS - and the Barbarians, since they're allies ! - receive a missive from some loser, backed up with the Empire's fallen nobility and some militia, who suggests they can help them defeat Supreme Leader, only if the Church of Seiros crowns them Emperor at the end of the war.

Rhea immediately wants to refuse, it is not her place to crown people or what not, besides humans will find another way to complain about it and she only wants to return to the monastery.

Besides she gave a crown to Willy, and his descendants ruined everything he stood for and are coming for her head (she heard rumours about the Empire wanting to strike "inhuman beasts" and got wind of Adrestia's "information campaign").

The Kingdom doesn't share her worries (of course since she just told them "nah") and welcomes any new ally... if this person becomes the new Emperor, maybe they could draft some treaty cementing borders between Faerghus and Adrestia once and for all, and stop this war - since the current one seems hell bent on conquering them.

Matthias Gautier has doubts though, would Adrestians accept a puppet Emperor on the throne, controlled by the CoS? Besides, it's not like Adrestia ever respected their borders to begin with, so it's hopeless to hope this new Emperor will respect them. But at least it will create a decoy in Adrestia, which will divide the Imperial Army's attention.

Rodrigue disagrees though, if this is a chance to get a peaceful resolution with Adrestia - or a new Adrestia - they could seize it, sure, Adrestia always scorned them and their borders, but if it gives them at least 15 to 20 years of peace and no skirmishes, they should take it, especially if it ends this current war faster.

Dimitri drafts a letter to propose terms to a potential agreement, Rhea reluctantly agrees (she knows it's going to end up in a disaster, but maybe by that time, Sothis would have solved things out or something?) because it might end the current war.

The agreement is definitely canceled when Hresvelg Bastard gives their reply, calling Dimitri a "reasonable barbarian", and accepts to make him the governor of "Northern Adrestia" if he swears fealty and allegeance to the Empire.

They also replied that the Archbishop shall crown them Greatest (tm) Emperor of Fodlan, marry them and "restart the divine dynasty that was broken since Great Emperor Wilhelm's passing" that will rule over the continent from Garreg Mach which will become the new capital.

Rodrigue sighs while Matthias wonders what was he even expecting from Adrestians to begin with?

Dimitri is tempted to accept "The war will end!" but looking at the stares of everyone else, he frown and hands the letter to Rhea, who hands it to Seteth.

Seteth throws it in the nearest chimney.

Sylvain still asks if they can find some sort of common ground, they have a common foe, everything else comes "later" ? Felix frowns though, if this person's plan is ultimately to make Faerghus a vassal or what not, the Kingdom helping them would be seen as acceptance of Adrestia's lordship over them. Besides, how to tell their friends and people that they are going to die to save the ass of someone who thinks they're barbarians??

Dimitri notes that he has a point, it would be unreasonable to lend Faerghus' help to people who spits on them. But what about the Church? Regardless of the "restarting dynasties" thing they promised to liberate Garreg Mach, right?

Seteth gives the longest sigh ever, but mostly says that if they have to retake Garreg Mach, it will be on their own terms, and those don't include siding with someone who only sees them as a commodity to bolster their claim, or who intends to target the ones who offered their help when asked.

Rhea thus writes the reply, enraging Hresvelg Bastard because hey, their plan was well-thought and they even allowed the Blaiddyd governance over Northern Adrestia! Ludwig says maybe they should make concessions about this "Northern Adrestia" thing, they could still MAGA but later, first they should retake Adrestia? Surely the people would enjoy them putting an end to this disaster of a war, and bringing them back peace (and food).

"Sure, but within ten years of the end of this war, we invade Leicester!"

So Ludwig leads the negotiations instead of his new liege (with some of their orders though, like "do not make it so those barbarians think we're bowing our heads to them!") and agrees to Dimitri's original terms (there's no mention about Leicester's borders though!), using the argument that as soon as there is peace they could "discuss the future of their two countries", and how "taking out the Usurper takes precedence over anything else" for the sake of their people.

Ludwig mourns his friend Igor and wonders how House Vestra managed to, well, manage Hresvelg Emperors if they are all like the one he found, but using his years of political experience, manages to organise a meeting between all parties, Hresvelg Bastard, King Dimitri and the Archbishop herself.

Aegir made Hresvelg Bastard swear not to call the Faerghians barbarians - but they broke that promise within 5 minutes when they congratulated Dimitri on his timing and fashion sense (the shiny armor!) saying something like "I never expected a barbarian and savage northerner could be on time and wear anything else than rags".

Ludwig was dying on the inside, and knew everything would be ruined when Gautier reminded Hresvelg Bastard that if they are asking for the Church's aid, they are also asking for the Kingdom's help since they are allies, so they should play the part if they want their assistance.

Hresvelg Bastard fumed, frowned and stomped the ground in frustration - what is that bum even saying??? - but Rhea cuts them before they can even say a thing, if taking Supreme Leader out is also their objective, then they shall ally but only on that grounds, the Church will offer assistance to the Adrestian population - to the best of its abilities - once the war will be over, but Garreg Mach remains a CoS territory, and Adrestia will swear a blood oath that it shall never invade nor try to conquer its neighbouring nations.

"Even Leicester?"

Ludwig screamt inside because he always scorned the faith magic classes at the Academy, and only now realises learning the "Silence" Spell could have had its uses, but he gives his best assurances that they totally agree on never attacking Faerghus ever again.

Matthias shrugs, Leicester isn't Faerghus, and those bastards never answered their call for help, Rodrigue frowns though, this will create another war. And Nopes!Dimitri only wants what is best for Faerghus, so he is on the verge of agreeing, but Rhea glares at the Hresvelg Bastard.

"Leicester, Faerghus, Brigid and even Dagda."

"It's an acceptable proposal your Majesty! Adrestia can still thrive without ruling over the continent and beyond! We can still lead Fodlan in other ways, look at those barbarians, they don't even know how to appreciate fine culture ! They eve, eat their meat boiled or grilled! Our refinement and culture is ways above theirs, and copied by those of Leicester, who envy us!"

Maybe, maybe, this will save the meeting and those "alliance" talks and discussions?

Hresvelg Bastard reluctantly accepts to "bring the wonders of Adrestian refinement" to the Faerghus and the Church in exchange for their military assistance against Supreme Leader.

Dimitri thinks those terms are acceptable - only if Faerghans aren't forced to accept those "wonders" - while Rhea knows it will end in a disaster in 200 years, but if it can stop this war, and if everyone accepts it, then why not.

At the end of the day : Nopes wise, there's a small army who allied with the Kingdom and the Church of Adrestian soldiers led by their own leader (a bit like green units) - their fate depends on the routes picked, in AG Hresvelg Bastard assumes the throne, in GW they're killed when the Srengese-Federation army marches on the Kingdom, and in SB, they followed Rhea in GM thus, died.