Heart of Stone

10:12 am Friday, December 27, 18 CE

                             Astral Shadow burst into the room. Sombra looked up from his paperwork, and hissed at his messenger. "What is it now, Astral? What situation has come up that I need to attend to? I am busy enough as it is." The brown pegasus saluted his king. "It's the queen, sir." Sombra glanced out of the window. "Now?" He sighed, and decided against objecting. "Fine, bring her up, but make it quick."

                              His subject raced back down the halls again, trying to defy gravity with his vestigial wings. He, as always, failed. Sombra didn't watch him any further. He had grown quite accustomed to the young stallion's...inconveniences. His lack of flight was due to the raiders that had killed his entire family. He had walked to the Crystal Empire to start a new life. He never liked to talk much about his past, though, and never in detail. Strange.

                              When the hoof steps returned, they were accompanied by a heavy footed thump every millisecond. This was the stumbling gait of Chrysalis. "Sombra," she said, clearly implying she wanted to speak to him and him alone. Astral Shadow muttered apologies and back out of the room. The king gave him a quick glare before the door closed magically behind him.

                              The changeling queen sighed softly. Sombra responded to her unspoken question with a slight nod. Chrysalis sighed again, louder, and stomped her front hooves twice.

"Sombra, rey del imperio cristalino,

soberano de todas las cosas gloriosas,

defensor de los unjustos,

único y legítimo soberano de todos.