[ TT ] The Prophecy of the White Salmon

In a time very long ago, and a land very far away, there was a great kingdom. 
 
 Like all great kingdoms long ago and far away, this kingdom had a princess. She was a normal princess in every way, save for two significant differences. The first was that she had, at birth, been granted the gift of prophecy. The second was that she was a fish. A salmon, to be precise. 
 
 She was n't an ugly fish; far from it. Indeed, she was one of the most beautiful fish you could ever hope to see, with glittering white scales and a pleasant disposition. The fact remained, however, that she was a fish, which naturally presented certain problems. 
 
 It was traditional, after all, for a princess to marry a prince. And if that princess was cursed ( as many considered this princess to be ) then it was expected of a prince to give her true love's kiss, and break that curse. This particular princess, however, was perfectly content as a fish. She had the freedom of the kingdom's waterways, a gift of prophecy that lent all her words a gravity and importance, and she had no interest whatsoever in losing either of those things, as she might if she were to allow her parents to marry her off. 
 
 And so the princess, after thinking long and hard about her predicament, came to a decision. 
 
 The very next day, the princess called for a grand meeting at the palace. Every citizen of the kingdom was invited, and those who could not come were permitted to watch through magical means. The princess was carefully moved from the palace lakes to a large glass tank, and all fell silent as they waited for their princess to speak. 
 
 `` I have gathered you here,'' the princess cried, `` to warn you all of a most terrible vision!'' 
 
 There was a gasp from the crowd, and the princess smiled to herself. Given that she was a fish, this was unnoticeable to the vast majority of the watching masses. 
 
 `` Yes,'' she continued, `` in my dreams last night, I saw our kingdom's fate - if we can not stop it.'' She paused in order that the import of her words could sink in. The king and queen exchanged concerned glances beside her, and the princess carried on. 
 
 `` I saw that each and every one of our neighbours conspires against us. If we do not strike first, then I fear for the future of our kingdom.'' Those dire words spoken, the princess sank down to the bottom of the tank in a swoon. The tank-carriers hastily took her back into the palace, her parents following. 
 
 - - - - - - - - 
 
 One of the most important things to recall about this princess was that her prophecies were always true. This being the case, the people had no reason to doubt her, and certainly if any of them had doubted, they would not have spoken those concerns aloud. She was their princess, after all, the beloved heir to the throne. Even if she was a fish. 
 
 The king and queen of this mighty kingdom, then, began immediately to prepare for war. And, urged on by their daughter, they struck before any other kingdom could. Alliances were shattered, old arguments were renewed, and the kingdom began a war on every front imaginable. The princess, meanwhile, simply watched events unfold. 
 
 Some decades later, the kingdom had conquered each and every one of their opponents. The princess, now a Queen, ruled over all the land. She was still a fish, still gifted with prophecy - and, now that there were no other kingdoms, she could not marry a prince as was expected of her. 
 
 The new Queen was content, and she never did tell anyone the truth of it all. After all, things had gone precisely how she desired. 
 
 They say that even now, she is spoken of with awe across her kingdom, the first Queen to preside over a united land. And who can tell? Perhaps she still rules there today.
