//------------------------------// // 6 - Hail to the King // Story: What Follows Hugs // by David Silver //------------------------------// Toby awoke with a thunderous yawn, his big bucked teeth displayed to the empty room as he stretched his jaw and legs in all directions. He felt something pop and knew he had reached ideal stretching. With a limp roll, he fell from bed and to his paws. He glanced to the window and saw it was some time around mid-morning. He had spent the entire night helping Luna guard the dream of ponies. But he had other jobs. "What about dreams of Tsuki?" he wondered out loud as he took a jump for the door where a mirror hung. He could see himself in it so he got to running his paw through his fur, straightening out his messy mop of headfur into what seemed more pleasing to him, but was still a mess. He grabbed for his armor and buffed it a little before he started to climb into it quickly. Ready to face the day, he opened the door and bounded in cheerful hops out into the main hallway. There were ponies there, which was not unusual. There were more of them than normal though, and they seemed nervous. Toby landed beside one and nudged the stallion. "Why everyone look this way?" The unicorn turned to Toby, looking startled at first before he relaxed. "Oh, you're Luna's pet, right?" Toby blinked softly. "I am Toby, servant of Tsuki people, servant of King Sombra." The pony backed away. "You work for him?!" Other ponies were turning, drawn by the exclamation. One of them, a portly unicorn mare, smiled. "Oh, it's that strange creature that hopped past with Princess Luna. I saw that!" Toby bobbed his head gladly at that. "Yes, we did good things. Save Tsuki. Meet King Sombra." A few guards suddenly rushed down the hallway, brushing ponies to either side. One saw Toby and stopped to speak with him, "The princesses are in front of the castle. You should be there as well." The guard didn't even wait for an answer, he was already rushing along. Toby didn't want to be left behind, so he started bouncing just behind the guard. "What's going on?" "Sombra is here. We're doing what we can to keep ponies calm, and the princesses are ready to receive him." He knew where he had to be. Toby sprung over the guard entirely and raced down the corridor with long smooth bounces that brought him out of the castle, bursting out into the light of day. He saw Luna and Celestia in formal attire, sitting stiffly and facing down the stairs that led to the castle proper. In his rush, Toby flew past those stairs and despite any twisting or turning, his momentum was not to be stopped. He began to descend back to the earth and saw there was a pony in the way. An important pony. "Watch out!" he shouted. The warning was enough. He was grasped in purple-green magic, secure and safe in Sombra's magic. Sombra smiled, or more of a grin, really. "I see you are in good health, Toby." He set Toby down beside himself. "Report." Toby rose up to his hindlegs and gave a sharp salute. "Best Princess and Sun-Flank are ready to meet you, King Sombra. Sun-Flank is worried you'll be mean, so please be on your best behavior. They are both eager to talk to you." Sombra frowned a little. "She fears the unknown." "I know you quite well," came the voice of Celestia. She was descending the stairs with Luna at her side. "We clashed once before, have we not, but Toby here has expressed that you wish to... move past our troubled past." Luna nodded at this. "May I present King Sombra, sovereign of the Tsuki." Sombra nodded towards Luna, though his eyes remained fixed on Celestia. "I want as I have always wanted, the success of my people." "At any cost?" questioned Celestia, doubt in her voice. Toby raised a paw suddenly. Celestia blinked at the gesture. "Um, yes, Toby?" "Toby knows this one." He dug out a bit. "We will pay in bits." Several ponies applied hooves to their faces. Sombra laughed in his dark tone. "At first, he grated severely, but he grows upon you, like yeast. My people stand ready to trade and barter with Equestria, as peers." Celestia's expression brightened faintly. "I would care greatly to see what the Tsuki have to offer. Have you brought some of their wares? Come... It is impolite to see our guests on the steps. We'll retire inside." They all ascended the stairs. Sombra held his head high and proud. "Long have I dreamed of the day I would mount these very stairs, triumphant and victorious." Toby nudged into him from the side. "King Sombra, Toby did a new thing last night!" Sombra arched a brow at his right-hand rabbit. "Have you now? Does it strengthen our position?" Toby considered that gravely a moment. He knew Sombra got all kinds of grouchy when he answered that question wrong, but he was also sure that time... "Yes. Toby saw into dream. Visit pony. Visit Tsuki. Help have good dream." Sombra did not seem convinced, but he did not chastise Toby, so Toby decided to count that as a victory in the end. They entered the castle and it seemed the hallway that Toby had come bouncing down had been cleared. There were guards regularly placed, but all the not-guards were gone. Toby wondered where they had all gone off to, but tried to stay focused on all the important ponies he was with. Luna seemed relaxed, walking as if it were just a stroll on a nice day. Celestia was tense, but composed. Sombra looked like he had just won a big prize and was going to collect it. Toby was just happy to have all his favorite ponies in one place! He had never had them all at once before. Sure, Sombra and Sun-Flank seemed to be edgy around each other, but he was sure with some coaching, he could get them to get along. Maybe even hug? That would be nice. He brightened suddenly. "Princess Sun-Flank." Celestia gave a tired smile at Toby. "Celestia. Princess Celestia, please." "Celestia," he amended. "You are lead female of ponies, yes?" "Yes?" She ventured, looking just mildly unsure where Toby was headed. Toby knew! "Sombra is head male pony of Tsuki tribe. Should become mates, make strong ponies, one happy nation!" He had a big smile on his face. It seemed like such an obviously good idea.... Why were the guards gaping at him as if he'd just turned inside out? Why was Celestia so quiet and staring at him like that? Why was Luna laughing so loudly? Sombra looked amused. "What say you, Princess Celestia? My servant has the most interesting ideas at times, does he not?" Celestia broke free of her stunned state with a shake of her head. "Interesting, yes. That's a fair word. Come, we have much to discuss." Her eyes moved to Toby. "Why don't you guard the door. You can be our official watch. That's a very important task." Toby swelled with pride. He was ready to watch the ever living splinters out of that door! But Sombra's magic wrapped around Toby and pulled him closer. "I should think not. He is a ranking member of the Tsuki people and deserves to be present." Luna sided with Sombra, "These are Toby's people we are discussing. Who else knows them better than one of their own?" Celestia's horn glowed as the door opened and she stepped inside. "Come along then. We have things to discuss."