CHAPTER 10: Royal Sponsors
As promised, I'm back with the next chapter of the story. I hope all of you are enjoying this little tale as much as I've enjoyed writing it. It is a desire of mine that my works are able to educate and entertain readers for years to come, and live on long after me. With that, I present the next installment. Enjoy, and please review. I own nothing but my imagination.
"Your Highnesses..." Doctor Richtofen began cordially, bowing slightly to the two alicorns seated on their thrones before him. He had rehearsed this little speech in his head many times on the way to the palace, and felt supremely confident that he could win over the rulers. He glanced at Twilight, who gave him a smile, and he continued. "...I come to you, a shimple shientist far from mein home. I come to reveal to you great sings zat I can give to you...und to your subjects. Sings zat vill improve zhe lives of all of your little pony citizens, und most of all..." He paused and looked between the princesses. There was Celestia, the radiant and seemingly all-seeing monarch he had already met, and beside her the smaller blue alicorn whom he guessed was Luna, princess of the night. "...strengthen the military arm of your government, deterring any but zhe most...ehehehe...foolhardy of enemies from soughts of attack against zhis kingdom!" He grinned.
"And...what are these things that you can give us?" Celestia asked, genuinely curious. Luna narrowed her eyes at Richtofen, sensing something strange...something familiar and off-putting.
"I am glad you have asked, fraulein prinzessen!" Doctor Richtofen replied happily. "Tvilight, mein freund? You have mein..." Before he could finish, Twilight had already set up his flip-chart. "Oh...you are zhe gut little pony freund, you are! All organized!" He said, gently scratching under Twilight's chin, making her giggle. Celestia giggled too at the scene, and Luna rolled her eyes, still not comfortable with the newcomer.
"You were saying, doctor?" Celestia stated.
"Hm? Ah yes." The Nazi scientist began. "Just look upon zhis." He said, flipping a page over, revealing a drawing of a teleporter just like the one he had constructed...the one that had brought him here. "ZHIS...hahaha...zhis is mein teleporter. It allows subjects to teleport anyvhere zhere is a receiver." He noticed the uninterested looks from the rulers. "Visout zhe use of magic!" He added dramatically. He paused for effect, and noticed the change in their expressions. Richtofen smiled. "Zhat is right! Imagine it! Zhe little pegasi und earth ponies...zhey can teleport zhe same as zhe unicorns! Now zhey can all be equal in zhat regard! Plus, sink of zhe economic impact of being able to shend packages und foodstuffs across nations instantly!"
"That...that is actually almost impressive..." Luna remarked. "Do you agree, sister?"
"Indeed." Princess Celestia answered. "This would be a...a most amazing thing to see! Without magic?"
"Vell...if zhat impresses you, look at my line of refreshing beverages, mein prinzessen..." Richtofen continued, flipping the page to reveal a drawing of common-looking soda bottles.
"Drinks?" Celestia asked.
"AH! Not just drinks." The doctor pointed out. "Perk-A-Cola drinks, mein own invention! If vhe have earth ponies and pegasi teleporting like zhe einhorns...why not give unicorns and pegasi zhis..." He pointed to one of the bottles. "Juggernog! It makes zhe pony as strong as an earth pony. Und look at zhis...Stamin-Up! Imagine...earth ponies and unicorns with the asletic ability und stamina of zhe pegasi!"
"You're speaking about making all ponies equal!" Luna remarked. "Removing the magical differences in the species by...science!"
"Is zhis such a bad sing?" Richtofen shrugged. "True equality lies in giving zhe less strong the power to be equal to the stronger, nein? Not, just as Frau Tvilight learned from zhe horrid communist pony-girl, in reducing all to zhe same lowly state." He motioned to the page again. "Now, zhere are also drinks zhat allow zhe drinker of zhe drink to have zhe temporary ability to move faster, to be more invulnerable to injury...und even to be able to revive from traumatic injury!"
"How do you know these potions will work?" Celestia asked.
"Easy..." Richtofen answered. "I have made zhem already! Vhere I am from, I have already constructed zhe wonderbar teleporter, zhe Perk-a-Colas..." He grinned. "I will give you all of zhis, along viss electrical power, amazing medicines...und veapons."
"Weapons? Why do we need weapons?" Luna interjected. "Our guards and soldiers already possess swords and spears of the best metallurgy and bows unrivaled by any of our potential enemies!" The doctor looked at the princess of the night a moment. He had read much about this one. She was the younger sister, the most fiery of spirit, and from what Twilight had told him, the most unsure of herself. She had once rebelled against her own government. He knew how to use all of this to his advantage. Later. Now, he just smiled.
"You can do all of this?" The solar princess asked.
"Ja." Richtofen answered simply, pulling a small container from a pocket. He opened it and removed a syringe, capped and filled with a glowing blue liquid. "Und here is your proof...zhis is a special medicine I created." He held the syringe up so that the two princesses could see. "Zhis has zhe ability to revive zhose on zhe brink of death!" He replaced the needle into the container. "Yet anotzer creation I can und vill replicate here in zhis vorld, Your Highnesses."
"Amazing. And you would like what in return for giving ponykind these...miracle inventions?" Was the reply from Celestia. Luna rolled her eyes and huffed a sigh.
"Nutsing." He responded, crossing his hands behind his back. "Merely zhat you can fund zhe endeavors, und give me zhe facilities, personnel, raw material und shupport I need."
"Sister..." Luna started to protest.
"Consider it done." Celestia said with a warm smile. "I am so happy that you have come to our world, Doctor Richtofen...willing not only to fit in and make friends, but to bring the knowledge and technology of your race to us and try to improve the lives of all my little ponies." Richtofen bowed respectfully. "What is it that you need?"
"Vell..." He said, pretending to think. "Tvilight had promised to help me viss most of mine vork...tell me, can you dispatch shome of your pony shientists und soldiers to find a particular rare element...um...I mean to shay rare natural substance? It is zhe force zhat powers all of mein creations. Looking over maps of your land, I sink I may know vhere it may be."
"Of course." The princess agreed. Richtofen immediately reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of paper.
"Zhis is a description of zhe material, und vhere it may be found. If possible, I vould like to obtain Element 115 as quickly as possible." Celestia used her magic to float the paper to herself.
"I will send some of our top scientists after the substance at once, my good doctor." The princess of the sun said with a pleased smile.
"Oh, und zhere is somesing else..."
"What is it, my dear doctor?"
"I have learned zhat zhere are german ponies here...um...you call zhem Germanian, ja?"
"Yes...and they were some of the greatest minds in the world...but Equestria has cut most diplomatic relations with Germania since the National Socialist Pony movement assumed power there." The princess explained.
"With good cause." Luna added under her breath.
"Nonshense..." Richtofen remarked, getting an odd look from both monarchs. "Vhat I mean to shay is...look at me. I am a Nazi, no? Vhere I am from, zhe Nazis built und discovered many shpectacular sings for zhe benefit of all mankind. Blood transfusions, rockets, atomic power, und of course mein own little pet projects, ja? Hehehehe. Nazis's are not to be feared, mein prinzessen."
"What is it you want from the Germanians?" Celestia asked.
"Oh, simply to meet viss a...I dunno, an ambassador from zhere? Maybe a party leader...or general...a schientist, I leave zhat up to you. Could you get in zhe touch viss zhem und have zhem send some of zhere movers und shakers as zhey say?" He smiled. "I vill meet viss zhem, und see if zhey are gut or bad. If zhey are bad und not at all like zhe nice Nazi's vhere I am from, I vill have no dealings viss zhem. If zhe are like mein own brothers und sisters, I vould like to vork viss zhem."
"I will send for them today, and let them know the situation." Celestia stated. "Until they arrive, consider yourself a guest here at the palace. You can have a room, and my staff will get you anything you need." Richtofen bowed.
"I am honored...Your Majesty." The doctor said reverently.
"Come on Edward, I'll show you to the guest rooms!" Twilight said happily, taking Richtofen by the hand and leading him out of the throne room. The princesses watched him until he was out of the room, and the large heavy door was closed.
"I do not trust him, sister." Princess Luna said in a hushed tone.
"I could tell..." Celestia answered. "Praytell, why do you have these feelings toward our new visitor?" The white alicorn queried. "Despite his oddities and cultural differences, he seems forthright and honest. He has promised us great advancements in medicine and science."
"And that is what frightens me, I think." Luna returned. "Nothing in this life is free, and I question what the good doctor Richtofen will be gaining from helping us."
"Oh sister...you must learn not to be so wary of others." Celestia reassured her. "If anything seems out of sorts with the doctor, it is probably because he came from a world much different from ours. He is making an attempt to fit in here in Equestria. Even he and Twilight have taken a liking to each other, could you not tell?"
"Yes, sister." Luna answered.
"And I promise that if your fears prove true, I will put a stop to whatever he is attempting." The solar princess added, gently nuzzling her sibling.
"Thank you, sister..." Luna said. "I must go. It is time to raise the moon, and I wanted to add a few shooting stars to the sky tonight."
"My sister the artist." Celestia said warmly. Luna stood and walked from the room. She made her way down the long hall from the throne room, past a pair of guards, to her private room. There, she walked out onto her balcony, and waited until Celestia started lowering the sun into the western sky. She used her powers to bring up the moon as the sun dropped past the horizon, and gazed upward at the thousands upon thousands of stars that filled the sky as it darkened. There she stood, deep in thought about the events of the evening for an hour. She felt almost as though Richtofen's appearance in Equestria was a harbinger of some nameless change that she didn't understand, and she didn't quite understand her own feelings. Her thoughts were interrupted by a light knocking at her door.
"Enter..." Luna stated curiously. The door opened, and Doctor Richtofen stepped into the room, moving nervously, like a mouse in a den of snakes. Luna turned to the night sky and exhaled irritably. She willed a shooting star into streaking across the black velvet backdrop of darkness.
"Mein Prinzessen?" Richtofen said in a hushed tone. Luna looked back at the doctor.
"Oh...Doctor...Richtofen was it?" She answered in a haughty tone. She looked back to the night sky, not seeing Richtofen give her a nasty sneer. He sighed.
"I vished to shpeak viss you." He stated innocently. Luna turned to him and cocked her head. "I...I must confess...I vas not completely honest viss your dear sister...about mein experiments..."
"Oh really, we could not tell..." The blue alicorn replied sarcastically. She stepped closer to Richtofen. "And what manner of treachery are you up to, praytell? You may have dazzled my sister with your promises of castles in the air, but you do not fool me."
"I...I am sorry..." Richtofen muttered. He dropped to his knees and prostrate himself before Luna. "I did not mean inshult, Your Highness. All I promised, I vill do. Zhat you saw zhat I did not shpeak zhe complete truth...you are indeed zhe shmarter of the sisters, just as I have heard."
"Mm..." Luna remarked, pondering over this creature and his true intent.
"It is just..." Richtofen continued, rising to a kneeling position, to where he was just below Luna's height. "...I vas afraid to tell your dear sister of shome of my earlier...successes...und failures. I feared zhat if she knew some of mine...past, she vould not help mein research. She may not hesitate to throw me from zhis castle by zhe seat of mine trousers, ja..." Luna sighed and sat down before the doctor.
"We may have been a little...hasty in our judgment." Princess Luna stated. "You have my audience, for a little while at least. I have many duties, as you may know."
"Of course, Mein Prinzessen." Richtofen smiled, sitting cross-legged like a schoolboy.
"Now, what is this big secret of yours that you could not tell my sister?" Luna pressed, getting to the point immediately.
"But...you vill tell her..."
"If it is dangerous to anypony in Equestria, then yes, I will. However..." The blue alicorn sat and exhaled sharply. "I know what it is like to have...stains upon one's past. If the facts you withheld were for personal reasons only, I do not see why I cannot keep a secret or two."
"Well zhen..." The doctor began, still intentionally sounding hesitant. "Vhere I am from, Your Highness...zhere vas a great var. Und I...I vas a great shientist you see..."
"What was the war about?" Luna asked, now feeling a tinge of sympathy for Richtofen.
"Men fight. It is vhat vee have alvays done. Zhis time, it vas a race you see. A race...heeehee, zhat vorks on SO many levels. Anyvhay, zhis var...it became a race to build zhe biggest und zhe best veapons. I had to protect mine country...mein people, you understand zhis?"
"Of course." Luna answered. "You weren't a soldier, so you used your genius to build better weapons to protect your people and keep them safe." She smiled. "It is quite admirable."
"Thank you." Richtofen nodded. "Zhe sings I showed to you, to your sister...I built zose sings, and zhey vorked wonderously. I um...I alsho built shomesing else." Luna was staring at him, awaiting an answer. "I built an army."
"An army? How do you build...an army?" Luna asked, confused.
"Imagine zhis, your majesty." Richtofen began. "An army zhat feels no fear, zhat cannot disobey. An army vhere zhe soldats have no friends or family to miss zhem if zhe are killed, and no ability to feel zhe pain of injury. In mine case...zhey are not even human. In yours...zhe vould not be ponies as you know zhem." Luna was trembling.
"Wh...what sorcery do you speak of?" She asked in a hoarse whisper.
"I reanimated zhe dead...und made zhem soldiers to protect mine beloved Fatherland." He stated with a grim smile.
"I...That..." Luna stammered. "That is ghastly!" She exclaimed. "That is..."
"Und how many soldats have you seen die in battle, mein prinzessen?" He countered. "How many of your brave little pony warriors have fell, und left behind vidows und orphans?" She fell silent and finally nodded in defeat. "My army vas built to shtop zhe death." He leaned in close to Luna. "Vould you like to not have to tell zhe families of your fallen soldiers..."
"Enough..." Luna commanded. "Sorry...I just need some time to think about this." She looked into Richtofen's eyes a moment. "I...of course will not tell my sister of this, Doctor Richtofen." She paused. "I wish to speak to you about this matter at a later date. And yes, I understand why." She stood and walked out onto the balcony, staring up at the night sky. Richtofen followed her.
"Thank you, fair Prinzessen Luna." Richtofen whispered.
"Can you really make all those things you spoke of?" Luna asked without glancing back. "Here, I mean to say?" Richtofen grinned wide.
"Jawhol, Herr Prinzessen." He stated.
"Do it." She stated. "You have my blessing...and my support."
"Danke...sank you."
Well, it seems that Doctor Richtofen has won over Celestia and Luna, and will begin what he started on Earth. That cannot possibly end well, right? And on top of it all, he's bringing Nazi ponies to Equestria, starting his own little 935...it goes without saying that things are about to get very complicated. So stay tuned, and I will try to get the next chapter up tomorrow. And special thanks to ZeDoctorSaysDie for his linguistic assistance on upcoming chapters. I needed it, honestly. One cannot learn to speak fluent German from pocket phrasebooks and Hogan's Heroes, and I'm grateful for his help. I will return soon with a new chapter, my loyal readers. Until then as always, thanks for reading. -Drake