A Smash of Kings

Chapter 26: Sleeping Dogs

The day marked the five-month anniversary of Luigi and Samus' Wedding. Now, a couple of clicks from the gates of Mushroom City, their fighting force camped in the trees of the Forest of Illusions. Luigi had adjusted for the weather, adopting some small armor under his fur scarf, thick and brown, and his Pin of the Hand rested on the two leather straps crossing his chest. He took off his hat, as it was wet from the rain, as he entered the tent of the Red Council. There were some candles on a table with a map of the open plains around Mushroom City, on which there were equal blue, black, and red figurines, representing the Blue Tops, the reinforcements of the Koopa-Gerudo host, and Naroou's fighting force. Additionally, there were only a couple of yellow figurines to represent the small faction of Dreamlanders. Across the field was their host, a mere seven figurines. Peach was sitting down, a black scarf wrapped around her dress like a blanket, and Samus spoke to Link about something, pointing at the map. Malon, The Yellow Knight, and Morton were looking at the map as well; while The Yellow Knight explained something to Malon, who looked at the map intently, Morton had taken a step back, sitting on a munitions chest. He seemed relaxed compared to the rest of them.

"We have an hour until we meet with Sonic and Dedede," Luigi said. He then turned to Morton, "Our scouts saw your brother arrive at the city two days ago with about two thousand bannermen. So, that brings the numbers to thirty-two thousand to fourteen thousand."

Morton straightened up and let out a loud and short laugh, shaking his head, "He comes in place of my father, I reckon. The King in the South can't afford to lose three major Lords tomorrow, so Bowser Jr will die in my father's place."

"The confidence is duly appreciated, My Lord, but we should discuss tactics before we can definitively say an outcome," Peach spoke up, and Morton shrugged, crossing his large arms and leaning back. Tiredly, Peach put her elbows on the table and looked at the landscape, "Thirty two to fourteen... That's just over twice our force in raw numbers. I'd expect that Sonic plans to meet us in the field because of their numerical advantage. I'd wager we have more spunk than them, especially the Blue Tops, but that can only carry us so far."

"Aye," The Yellow Knight said, "We could try to spread out force like so..." he reached forward, spreading out their seven white figurines in a single line facing their opposition. Then, The Yellow Knight cocked the two figurines on the end forward slightly, "Hit them first on the wings and envelop their force quickly and swiftly."

"Let's say we do that, then they break our center because we're so spread thin," Samus sighed, "Our wings would be isolated from one another and surrounded. If we do not win the initial engagement, the wings would have to cut their way through the entire army to support each other."

"Tis the risk of inferior numbers," Morton smirked, looking at the board, "A gambit, no doubt, but such a strategy has paid off in past wars."

"Perhaps a false surrender..." Peach spoke up. The suggestion garnered the attention of the entirety of the war council, and they listened to the Princess, and she continued confidently, "We draw Lord Sonic into the field and take the head off the snake. After that, the rest of the body will follow."

"Such an image would call for the Blue Tops to surrender," Morton smiled, enjoying this ruthless option that came from Peach, "Who's to lead their army of thirty-two thousand then? A former foot soldier that got completely outclassed by The Yellow Knight? A Lord who does nothing but sit and feast all day? My brother? Ha!"

"Sometimes you have to match dishonor with itself, I suppose..." Luigi sighed, looking at his board. He brought his gaze up, seeing that Link was staring at the table while Samus crossed her arms, the look on her face skeptical, "Lady Samus, what do you think about this?"

"I've broken many vows, My Lord-Hand..." she muttered. She cleared her throat, refusing to bring her gaze to him, "I do not know if the Gods will ever forgive me for this path I am going down... Does this scheme make us any better than the Little Lord that betrayed us?"