Tommyinnit Oneshots

The Ostensible Crown

This prompt was taken from Ao3 by the user Marvelmaja, except I have my own narrative in mind! :)

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"My King," The major general of the army ran into the room, armor clanking together to alert everyone of his presence before he had spoken. Tommy lifted his head from where it had been resting in his hands. His eyes met the knight's in hopes that good news would be spoken next. Tommy could see it plain as day on Purpled's face. He didn't need the next words to be spoken but Purpled said them anyways. "The enemy has broken through our defenses and captured our last fort. They march towards the capital city as we speak. We have lost the war, my King."

Tommy kept his face neutral. He couldn't afford to show how helpless he felt to the people in attendance. The moment Tommy lost faith in his kingdom was the moment that the kingdom fell, not a minute before or after it was captured by the Empire. Tommy's advisor, Tubbo, was not as composed. "How can this be? We had the environmental advantage on them, and the magical advancements to back it up. Did we not send the Crepitus on them?"

"The Antarctic Empire is known for its many hybrids who can adapt to any climate. They outrank us in skill and outnumber us five to one. No matter how magically advanced we are, the Empire is proficient at alchemy and have more resources. We knew that winning this war would be a losing battle," Tommy explained instead of letting Purpled. Tommy didn't want to listen to Tubbo and Purpled argue about the procedures that should have been taken during the war. The truth was that it didn't matter. They had lost. Tommy couldn't hope to defend his kingdom anymore.

When Tommy was a child, he had born to the king and queen. He should have had a carefree life basking in the pleasures of being a royal. Instead, Tommy had watched as his parents were violently killed by an assassin that was captured before Tommy was killed. Tommy wasn't allowed a moment to grieve. He was in charge of a fully functioning country. Tommy had to acclimate to his new life lest his country be destroyed by his ignorance. Tommy gathered the people he knew he could trust to form his court. He needed to prove to the nobility that he was fit for his title. Tommy barely had two years sitting on the throne before the Antarctic Empire chose to strike. Tommy had spent the better half of a year defending his small nation against the vast empire that controlled the frosty wastelands of the North. It was a pointless fight. Tommy was destined to lose against a force like that. But Tommy had been praying for a miracle. He wanted to protect his people from the harm that the Empire would inflict. Tommy had lost enough villages around the edges of his kingdom to know that war wasn't worth it.

"This isn't fair. We have done nothing to incur the Empire's wrath. We are not in advantageous position, nor do we have any valuable resources that are worth bloodying our lands for! The Emperor is a mad man," Tubbo said angrily with a scowl pulling on his lips. Tommy knew that Tubbo was scared. When the Emperor and his sons arrived, the capital city would be set ablaze. Hundreds of people were going to be killed, and there was no telling how many people would be taken as war trophies or slaves. Tommy would certainly meet an end far more brutal than his elders. Tommy wouldn't be surprised if he was tortured first.

"You should not such words, Tubbo. He will soon be our Emperor. There is no way I can change my fate, but perhaps I can secure a future for my people. Purpled, prepare the horses. We shall meet the war party head on before they reach the capital. Ranboo, please prepare my most diplomatically neutral clothing," Tommy said, turning towards his butler. Ranboo had a confused eyebrow raise as he bowed. Ranboo had been one of Tommy's oldest friends. Since the day Tommy had found the confused child in the palace gardens, Ranboo had been by Tommy's side as his butler and closest confidante.

"You cannot be serious! You should not lower yourselves in front of these barbarians who choose to attack a kingdom merely because they are weak," Tubbo said immediately grabbing onto Tommy's hands. No one would dare do something like this to the king. No matter how humorous Tommy usually was with his people, it was a grave sin to question his decisions to his face or to touch him without his consent. Tubbo was an exception to that rule since he had practically grown up with Tommy since the first days of their lives.