Title: All For the Plan
Author: Warriors/3
Rating: T
Genre: Romance, Angst
Characters/Pairing: Ash/?, mentions of AshSquirrel
Warnings: Spoilers for Sunset and Long Shadows, Slash
Summary: They all thought it was Squirrelflight. How wrong they were. How horribly, horribly wrong they were.
Additional Notes: There's a line or two in here about princes and princesses. I got that from "Desideratum" by Saf Dawnheart. Just to make sure I credit her. Also, sorry for the sneaky little AshLion I put in here. Couldn't help myself. XD
What clueless idiots.
They always thought you were in love with the princess. Of course they did. They never would have dreamed that it was a prince you're after.
And not just any prince, but the prince. The true prince, one who would truly follow in his father's pawsteps.
Perhaps, if you could, you would allow yourself an indulgent sigh at this point. After all, what she-cat wouldn't fall head over paws for him? He is a handsome devil, isn't he? Broad, muscular shoulders, rippling tabby pelt…
But, no. You can't allow yourself any weakness, can you? To betray yourself is to betray the plan. And to betray the plan is to betray him.
Those eyes…
No. No weakness can be allowed.
Stick to the plan, and everything will be all right.
It failed.
You failed.
He failed.
It's not possible, is it? How could the king stride back in here (well, not exactly stride, more like limp) with the prince and the princess at his side? His plan should have killed the king.
Kill him, he told you, and the world will be yours. Mine. Ours.
Would you sigh now? After all, as they tell you, he's dead.
Wait, what?
That can't be right. Some mistake. Some other cat must be—
But, no. That's his tabby pelt, stained red with blood, isn't it? Those are his powerful, broad shoulders, diminished in death, aren't they?
Those are his gleaming, icy blue eyes, aren't they?
Don't lie to yourself. He's gone. Death is cold, isn't it. Unforgiving, too, and punishing. You betrayed StarClan, betrayed the only things that have ever mattered, and this is what happens.
Maybe you should stick to she-cats next time. At least StarClan can't find fault with that.
Though, knowing StarClan, they will.
You have to admit, that brother of his isn't too bad looking, is he?
But then again, wouldn't you rather have a mate you can be with without thinking about his brother?
Well, wouldn't StarClan like that.
Oh, well. Would you look at that.
His nephew. No, your apprentice, now.
Maybe he'll shape up and stop being so scrawny when you start training him.
Rippling tabby pelt…
Powerful, broad shoulders…
Amber eyes…
Wait, what? That's not right. He had blue eyes. Ice blue.
And his pelt… This one's golden. What happened to brown?
There you go, that's better. Rippling brown tabby pelt, powerful broad shoulders, ice blue eyes. That's right.
Stay faithful, Ashfur. Watch where your loyalties lie. To betray him is to betray the plan. And to betray the plan is to betray yourself.
Oh, forget it.
It's his nephew.
His kin.
His brother's son.
He'll understand.
Right?