This girl is a gun, before you know it, it's done
And you'll be wishing that you crossed your fingers

arceline remains quiet as her sisters deliberate, considering each new question that is shoved into the shrinking space between them. Listening to them reminds her of her youth, of a time before she came to the islands. it resurrects memories of standing idly by while the high-ranking stallions of her homeland bickered ceaselessly amongst themselves about what alliance should be made next or what skirmish would be most likely to gain them more territory. All of them looked to her king for his "wisdom", and were inevitably disappointed when he failed to command them as they desired, his convictions made weak in his advanced age.

Marceline might have some years on her, but she was not so inclined towards passivity. she would not disappoint her sisters.

For a brief moment she contemplates concealing the true nature of Vane's death. To let them believe that it was done out of genuine malicious intent, rather than the mere byproduct of misfortune that it was. It would allow her to paint a deadlier picture - the Peak and its stallion slaying Prime Minister. But if she is to bring war to their borders, the least she can do is offer a morsel of honesty. Perhaps support would be more freely given, and her conscience made a little clearer.

A tense silence settles at last, the space between them taut as a bowstring ready to snap. Marceline draws an uneven breath, teetering on a knife's edge of indecision. A sidelong glance at Antoinette shoves her towards certainty, so quickly it makes her head spin - or maybe that was just the adrenaline wearing off. When she speaks it is to address the group as a whole, rather than answer their questions one by one and waste time any further.

"The Lagoon will never believe their General's death was anything but intentional. We may as well use this to our advantage. It would be unwise to sit idly by and do nothing, or waste our breath convincing the Lagoon of our- my innocence." So it is not the explicit truth, but it is close enough - closer than Marceline has ever truly gotten. "Let them think we have displayed the full extent of our commitment to one another. That we are willing to kill for one another. That we will not let them pluck us off one by one, or enslave the mares of the islands, and sit idly by."

Marceline sweeps her eyes again over the group, locking eyes with each of her sisters as she continues, "You are all right, however. For as deep as our convictions may run, we lack the numbers to triumph should the Lagoon bring a war to our borders. Unfortunately many of my alliances dissolved long ago. Even so, the laws of the islands forbid us from making formal ties. But desperate times, desperate measures, as they say." Marceline's lips quirk in a facsimile of an amused smile, but there is no mirth glimmering in her amber eyes. If they weren't desperate now, the chances they would be in the near future seemed uncomfortably high. If they were to win any sort of battle against the Lagoon, they would need to bolster their numbers with extreme haste, and take support where they could.

Still, not all was lost. Marceline had always had friends in high places, and she was more than willing to call on one in particular. "I may have someone in mind, though. I will pay him a visit once we've further discussed our next move." In all honesty, she was unsure how far Asmodeus would be willing to extend his support for her. Though his pursuit of her had been unwavering, wanting her and wanting to help her were two very different things, of this she was too aware. But his daughter lived here, and though they'd yet to meet Marceline was sure he would want to see to it that she was safe. One didn't make such personal investments in their legacy without protecting them, after all.

Marceline hums thoughtfully, considering her next words. "As for recruitment... I think we're more likely to be successful recruiting daughters from herd stallions than the Lagoon would be gathering sons. Willing ones, that is." A dry chuckle rasped from her throat. At least they had that going for them, but it was scant comfort when the possibility of war lingered at the back of her mind. "We won't know until we try. We need to go to each island, speak to the leaders there and see if they may have daughters who need training. Or are just itching for a fight." For a fleeting moment Marceline's lips quirk into a half-smile. "Between the four of us, we can cover every island. With luck, none will return empty-handed."