Princess Platinum sat on the cold throne as she flicked her eyes to the ponies below. Their disgusting sackcloth cloaks were matted with dirt and sweat while their eyes filled with tears. They looked young and underfed, like they had lived on scraps their entire lives. Judging from the horrible odor wafting about the room, they likely had no access to running water or soap. They were peasants, the underprivileged lot that her kingdom was built on top of.

Rolling her eyes, Princess Platinum sighed as she shifted in the throne, leaning on her right hoof. They were pleading with her, begging for more food and warm clothes, but their voices sounded far away. As they kept pleading, she nodded to the guards at the far end of the room, who promptly marched to them. One of them screamed at her as the guards led them away, but Princess Platinum looked down at her hooves, examining the small chip in the enamel. From the other side of the room, the doors creaked as they opened and closed with a resounding boom.

Sighing, she placed her hoof back down as a new pony approached, this one clad in black and gold armor. She stiffened her posture as the pony removed its helmet, revealing a long mane of orange and yellow.

“Princess Platinum,” her visitor spoke in a scratchy voice. “I am Rainheart, envoy of Commander Hurricane.”

“Noted. What does he demand of me this time?”

Envoy Rainheart’s eyes flashed. “He requests a meeting with you to resolve this dispute as soon as possible.”

Princess Platinum raised an eyebrow. “I have no interest in meeting with him.”

“Princess, I ask you to reconsider,” Rainheart said, the irritation revealing itself in her voice. “It is not often Commander Hurricane asks to speak with anypony.”

Princess Platinum looked away towards her left hoof, examining it with the same disinterest she had prior.

“Commander Hurricane only asks to speak with me when his kind are in danger, Envoy. If the danger is so great, why does he not come to see me personally?”

“Because he is needed elsewhere at the moment! Unlike you, he takes an active interest in the welfare of his kingdom!”

A cold wind swept through the room as Princess Platinum slowly looked over to Rainheart. Once they made eye contact, Rainheart bowed her head.

“Forgive me, Princess. I spoke out of line.”

“Indeed,” Princess Platinum replied, her voice as icy as the wind. “Begone from here, Envoy. Tell your Commander that if he truly wishes to achieve peace, he is to see me personally and to refrain from sending any more of his peons to do his work.”

Rainheart’s head snapped up, but the hoof of the guard grabbed onto her shoulder before she could say anything. Glaring, Rainheart put her helmet back on and spit at the foot of the throne before marching away back to the door. Princess Platinum cringed as she stood, maneuvering around the dribble of spit. Throwing her cape back, she adjusted the crown before stomping her hoof twice. Immediately, two ponies ran up to her, dressed in the filthy sackcloth of the earlier peasants.

“Do clean my throne of the vile beasts expulsion.”

At the door, the guards saluted crisply and the door flew open at her presence. The hallway on the other side was stuffed with bodies, all unicorns and earth ponies. As she stepped out of the room, they all bowed to her. She nodded to them and they all rose, parting as she swept past. Faces appeared at the corners of her eyes, each one becoming dirtier and more bitter as she forced her way through the halls.

Glancing at the windows, Princess Platinum raised an eyebrow as she traced the crystalline patterns etched into the panes of glass. From what she could see, there was a blizzard raging outside as more flecks of white whipped past the patterns. Turning away, she ignored the cold clawing at her chest and hurried off, leaving the staff to stare at her with curious expressions. She twisted and turned through the labyrinth of her castle before she stopped at a rather plain looking door. Inscribed on it was a three leaf clover and Princess Platinum nodded to the guards standing at the door. One of them rapped on the door.

“Who goes there?” a voice on the other side responded.

“Princess Platinum demands an audience with you,” the guard spoke in a deep voice.

Shuffling came from behind the door as it glowed with a periwinkle aura. It swung open and a tall spring green unicorn stood before her. He wore a cloak of the same sackcloth the other peasants wore, but his was much longer. His blue and pink mane was swept back, giving him a regal appearance.

“My princess,” he spoke, bowing his head and stepping aside.

Princess Platinum wasted no time, brushing past him and through the stacks of tomes littered around his chamber. Small glass containers hissed and bubbled around her and the candles burned brightly, even those at the end of their wicks. Grimacing, Princess Platinum heard the door shut and turned to the stallion as the locks clicked into place.

“How can I be of service, Your Majesty?” he asked, smiling.

She inclined her head to the door and the smile faded from his face. His horn glowed in a periwinkle aura before fading.

“I fear this is a conversation best kept secret.”

“I see,” he placed a hoof on his chin. “I presume this has to do with the envoy and Commander Hurricane’s demands?”

Princess Platinum blinked once. “You are well informed, Clover the Clever.”

Clover cracked a small smile. “It pays to be aware of who is visiting the castle, Your Grace.”

Princess Platinum’s face remained stoic as her horn glowed and a large pillow appeared behind her. Planting her rump into it, she looked at the floor and sighed.

“I seek your advice, Clover. Commander Hurricane is growing desperate and I fear for what may come if I act rashly.”

She looked up to see Clover trotting over to a small workbench littered with open tomes and a vial of smoking red liquid. His face remained neutral, but he frowned slightly as he looked up.

“I am not one for the affairs of rulers, Your Highness.”.

Princess Platinum raised an eyebrow. “You would deny aiding your princess?”

Clover shook his head. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Princess. I am just very weary of the infighting between the three of you, as I think the rest of the kingdoms are.”

A stern silence filled the room as Clover glanced up to Princess Platinum.

“Treasonous words, Clover,” she said slowly.

“I only speak the truth, or perhaps do you wish to have your ears tickled?”

“I would prefer you to hear my words before dismissing my concerns, servant, else I shall find myself a new consultant.”

Glancing down, Clover heaved a sigh before looking back to her.

“Forgive me,” he said. “I forget my place.”

Princess Platinum eased her piercing gaze. “Noted. I anticipate you will hold your tongue better in the future?”

“At once. So, Commander Hurricane is desperate.”

“Yes, his envoy made that clear enough.”

Clover tapped his chin thoughtfully. “I see, but how is this concerning to you?”

Princess Platinum looked down, her magenta eyes scanning the titles to the tomes.

“I fear he will take more drastic action than we are ready for,” she whispered.

Clover nodded slowly, bringing his hoof to his chin again. The smoking liquid on the bench gave a small shudder as he glanced over to it.

“It is true Commander Hurricane is prone to emotional reactions and unpredictable bouts of anger, but I know he is no fool.”

Princess Platinum nodded. “As do I. However, as this winter rages on, there will be little I can do to prolong the fight he is itching for.”

Clover sighed, turning to the potion on the table and flicking it with his hoof. “So, he does wish to go to war?”

Princess Platinum nodded, allowing a tense silence to fill the room. She eyed Clover as he trotted around the room and examined tomes as they levitated around him. His potion shivered again, spraying a small bit onto the table that instantly evaporated into a heart shaped puff of smoke.

“I don’t suppose you’ve considered using the advice I offered last time, have you?” Clover asked, peeking at her from behind the mass of tomes.

“You mean befriending him?”

Clover nodded.

“Then you should know my response. I have nothing I can spare to offer him as a token of good intentions.”

Clover sighed. “You still don’t see it, do you?”

Princess Platinum rose to her hooves, her eyes flashing. “I see it perfectly, Clover. This warmongering fool is demanding me to give up our food stores, force the earth ponies we protect to give him half of what little food we share and to allow his kind to expand into our kingdom, yet you think that by showing friendly intentions, he will change his mind?”

“You never know until you try.”

“Silence, you stupid pony! You know nothing of politics, yet you advise me to acquiesce to his demands in the spirit of friendship! Do you know that if I do as you say, we will all starve? I am forced to turn away hundreds of starving peasants already in order to just maintain the rationing!”

Clover parted the tomes and opened his mouth, but a purple aura surrounded his maw and Princess Platinum stomped forward, her eyes watering.

“I cannot believe you would think of sacrificing the only means of protecting the lives of the innocents here in the spirit of goodwill! They would all die should I crumble under his pressure, but yet you act like I am the fool. Do you think, Clover? Do you think of… of…”

Tears streamed down as she hung her head, her aura disappearing from his mouth. The crown sagged, pressing down on her brow and she shivered slightly. Clover looked her over, frowning as he did so. Placing a hoof on her shoulder, he rubbed it slightly and she pulled away, turning to face her pillow.

“W-W-What can I do? I c-can’t even feed my own subjects, let alone g-give half of it to our enemies!”

“Princess…”

“I-I mean, how can I condemn all of th-them to death on the possibility Commander Hurricane will change his mind? I-If this winter doesn’t end soon, I won’t… I won’t…”

She wiped her face with a hoof, smearing black mascara on her flawless coat. Renewed tears flowed down, making her shiver again.

“Princess, please,” Clover said, his tone sad. “There is no need to cry.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?” she yelled, rounding to him. “He has refused all my offers, even those that will destroy us slower than starvation. What do you expect me to do?”

Clover sighed, looking at the stone floor and unable to answer. Noticing his hesitation, Princess Platinum trotted up and shoved him, her sadness melting into a blazing anger.

“What do you want from me?” she demanded. “What more can I do? I have no means to force a truce between us and I won’t risk the lives of my subjects for my gain! Tell me, Clover the Clever, tell me what I should do!”

Clover flashed a glare at her, his teeth starting to bare. The air around them grew colder as he opened his mouth.

“I can’t solve your problems for you, Princess! I am not a prince, neither am I a king! You are the ruler of Unicornia, so you solve them!”

As the words left his lips, a blast of cold air rushed through the room, extinguishing the candles. Princess Platinum chattered her teeth as Clover pulled his cloak tighter, looking up at the ceiling.

“What is Tartarus was that?” Princess Platinum asked.

“Something… reacted to me getting angry.”

“Or the walls are starting to fail.”

“No, this was not a natural thing. The cold… is getting more intense.”

Princess Platinum huffed as Clover’s horn lit, followed by the soft glow of the candles. Looking into her eyes, Clover closed his and bowed low.

“Forgive me, Princess. This riddle puzzles me as much as it does you. I am afraid I cannot offer a simple answer to you other than to pursue peace with Commander Hurricane.”

He glanced up, his eyes twinkling slightly. Princess Platinum puffed her cheeks as a small blush colored them and looked to her right.

“I shall warn you against using a tone like that with me in the future, but I do forgive you.”

Grinning widely, Clover stood up and levitated his tomes once more.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I will endeavor to make amends for my outburst.”

“Yes, but this still leaves me with the problem of Commander Hurricane.”

Clover bit his lip as he moved another tome in front of his face. “If you’re absolutely certain you cannot offer him some token of friendship, then might I suggest a summit?”

Princess Platinum narrowed her eyes, shifting on her hooves. “Explain.”

“A summit is where a group of--”

“No, no! Explain how this will work as an alternative.”

“Oh,” Clover said, moving the tome away from his face and pressing his ears to his head. “Well, it might help prevent an escalation of tensions if the two of you and Chancellor Puddinghead all spoke face to face. I mean, have you actually met Commander Hurricane?

“Yes, long ago and far away. I will not allow him into my castle, though.”

“I did not mean the summit needs to take place here, My Princess, but you could host the summit at one of the castles along our borders. It would prevent Commander Hurricane from gaining access to the heart of our home, but show you are willing to meet him halfway.”

Princess Platinum placed a hoof on her lip, her eyes narrowed in concentration. Glancing away from Clover, she mumbled to herself incoherently before lowering her hoof.

“How can I be sure he will agree to this summit? Chancellor Puddinghead will most definitely come, but Commander Hurricane is not one to merely discuss problems, should his military be any indication.”

“You told me he is growing desperate. I’m sure he will come.”

“And what of his forces? We can hardly match him should he decide to use this summit as a trap.”

Clover rubbed a hoof on the back of his head.

“Well, it goes without saying that summits only require minimal armed forces for each representative, but I can see him viewing this as a chance too good to pass up.”

“And I will not bring an army to the site. Should I make a show of power, he will no longer doubt this will be a declaration of war.”

They both fell into silence as they contemplated the problem before them. Once more, the vial of bright red liquid frothed and jiggled, spilling more of the contents and forming a heart with the smoke.

“What is that, Clover?” Princess Platinum pointed to the vial.

“That? Just a side project I’m working on.”

“No doubt. What is it?”

“A simple potion designed to be the essence of love. I’m making for, er, research purposes.”

Princess Platinum snorted as she glanced at Clover, who was still rubbing the back of his head.

How could a fool like him be smart enough to distill love? she thought.

Returning her thoughts to the problem, Princess Platinum thought for several minutes when Clover finally spoke up.

“I could, uh, accompany you, if it would make you feel safer.”

Princess Platinum raised an eyebrow.

“And how could you protect me better than a legion of guards?”

“Well, you are coming to me for help. I can also get a sense of Commander Hurricane’s motives myself and help you make an appropriate plan of action then.”

Princess Platinum placed her hoof back on her lip and considered this. Clover was her most trusted servant, even going as far to consider him something like a friend, but there would be no way he could protect her alone. She still needed guards, unless…

“This might work, but we need all the delegates to bring only a trusted advisor. The security will be made up of existing guards at the castle. Other than that, no armed forces from any tribe are allowed within one thousand yards of the castle.”

Clover smiled. “Now that sounds like the ruler of Unicornia.”

A small smile broke on Princess Platinum’s face as she blushed a bit, a warmth permeating her body. Glancing back at Clover, she noticed he had not given her a smile like that since the blizzard had started.

“I shall send the invitations at once,” she said, teleporting her cushion away and walking towards the door. “I expect it will be one week before I have an answer from Chancellor Puddinghead and Commander Hurricane, so do not busy yourself with any long experiments or concoctions.”

She motioned to the vial on the workbench, which was now frothing consistently. Around it, a heart was fizzing rapidly and Princess Platinum scrunched her nose up at it.

“Any idea why it’s doing that?”

“I can only offer theories, My Princess.”

She smirked at it before turning to Clover as the door opened.

“I thank you again, Clover. Your council has been invaluable.”

She nodded her head to him and Clover smiled back.

“My Princess, if there is anything else you need, my door is always open.”

She smiled back before leaving, allowing the door to shut with a boom. Clover watched the spot for a few more seconds before turning to the vial.

“Now, what am I going to do with you?”