My Own Wings

New Worries

Sunset and Tricky focused on playing tag and play fighting for the most part within the Walled City, running about here and there and enjoying themselves...though always within sight of the adults. At first the King and Queen both watched closely, their gazes shifting between Krystal and the children. However, that ended with Bookface's return.

"" he declared loudly, holding up the bottle. ""

The King moved to guide the guard away to the 'Long Speaker' while the Queen moved up to watch the children beside Krystal. Krystal stiffened slightly, feeling nervous in the presence of a world's sovereign. The Queen smiled warmly at her. "" she offered warmly. ""

Krystal managed a shaky smile. "" she admitted ruefully. ""

"" the Queen murmured thoughtfully. ""

Krystal quickly shook her head. ""

"" the Queen deduced. " Krystal." The Queen made the effort to pronounce Krystal's name in the Cornerian Standard, though it was with a noticeable accent due to the shape of her jaw. ""

"" Krystal admitted ruefully, shooting a glare Sunset's way. ""

"" the Queen mused in an amused tone. ""

Krystal smiled widely. "" She let her voice trail off as she noticed Sunset paying very close attention. "Sunset Shimmer..." she began in a chiding tone.

"" the Queen asked in relief. ""

"Hmm?" Krystal asked curiously.

"" the Queen explained gently. ""

Krystal quickly realized that 'Corner Talk' meant 'Cornerian Standard'. They barely had words to describe a starship, it would be surprising if they could rationalize another planet to their language. "" she allowed worriedly. "" She gestured towards Sunset.

"" the Queen began carefully. "Last...Light...Dying...Sun." She tilted her head thoughtfully. ""

Krystal's eyes went wide, as she had been staring right at a relief of a sun carving as the Queen spoke, reminding her that the Earthwalkers were Sun and Moon worshippers. "" she murmured worriedly. ""

"" the Queen reassured her. ""

"" Krystal asked in surprise. ""

The Queen shook her head back and forth in a wriggling motion, another way they showed amusement. "" she offered banally. ""

Krystal felt herself tense up. "<...by any chance, is that because the prophecy speaks of leaping out of a reflection?>"

The Queen turned slowly to meet Krystal's gaze. "<...there are such vertical lakes?>" she asked worriedly. ""

" mirrors," Krystal explained, knowing there wasn't a word for it yet. " Fox "

The Queen frowned. "" She tilted her head back. " Tricky Sunset Shimmer Krystal."

"" Bookface declared happily. He gently picked both of them up and set them on his brow, bracing them on his 'eye' horns. "" he asked no one in particular as he marched off on the path to Thorntail Hollow.

Sunset's eyes lit up eagerly with this new experience, clinging to the horn as she gazed around and took everything in.

Krystal watched nervously as Sunset was led away. "" the Queen hastened to assure her. " Tricky." She turned towards one of the structures off the central island of the Walled City. ""
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