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// 7 - Heavy Discussion 
// Story: What Follows Hugs 
// by David Silver 
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They had stepped into a smaller room, but it was not an entirely private one. Toby could see guards at every corner, standing quietly. He wondered what they did all day, guarding a small empty room. Just one table and some chairs? Did that really need guarding? He felt bad for them and took measured hops to be with the others before he mounted one of the chairs awkwardly, or tried.

He quickly decided they were not sized for him and nudged it away to settle on the ground. Sitting up, the table was at a fine height anyway. "Toby is ready."

Luna and Celestia settled beside one another, and Sombra sank to his seat beside Toby. "I confess... already you have surprised me."

Celestia canted an ear at Sombra's words. "What have we done that would be surprising?"

"Do not play coy..." He tossed his head towards the guards with flicks of his neck. "They are not here for my safety. You are nervous, as well you should be, but you have permitted me this audience at all. You are either hopeful, foolish, or perhaps something else? Enlighten me."

Luna waved a hoof at him. "You are aware of the situation." She looked to Toby with a smile. "Toby, remind us."

Toby did not expect to be called on! "We want to trade with ponies. Tsuki things for pony things. Both happy, yes?"

Celestia nodded. "I have no objection to trading with Toby's people."

"My people," growled out Sombra. "Do not so hastily forget."

"Yes, your people." Celestia's horn glowed as a glass hovered over from a smaller table at the side of the room. "Tea?" She set down a glass before each person at the table. "What craft do the Tsuki excel at?"

Rather than answer, Sombra looked to Toby.

He got the hint and sat up taller. He was being called on so often. He felt so very important. "Tsuki like to work with paws." He held out his forepaws for examination. "We like things that shine, things that last. Things that do both are favorite. Toby tour art... arti.... work places. Very pretty, very solid." He slapped a paw against the armor. "Like pony armor, but prettier."

Celestia nodded slowly. "That sounds lovely. Is that the extent of what you offer?"

Sombra clopped a hoof down, rattling the teacups on the table. "Is that not enough?!"

Luna gave a patient smile towards Sombra. "My sister wants to know what else your people may bring of benefit to Equestria."

Toby bobbled his head. "Tsuki like to sing. Um, not Toby. Toby never learn to sing..." He rubbed behind his head. "Toby raised in jungle, never  learned that. Learn other thing, then Luna gave Tsuki, um, Toby best gift of all. She give words. Toby is very grateful, but no good singing."

Sombra grunted softly as he settled back on his seat. "Enough of the Tsuki's strengths. Let us hear what the ponies will offer."

Celestia took a light sip of her tea. "Very well. We will gladly support performers and offer them places to perform, to be paid in bits, which can be exchanged for any number of local goods of fine make and quality. Ponies favor such exhibitions, and having an exotic singing species sounds like it would be an easy success. I cannot offer official demand for their art, since I have not seen it myself, but I have little objection to them joining our marketplace, again, to be exchanged for bits, which can, in turn, be exchanged for goods, services, and supplies as needed and desired."

Sombra suddenly smiled. "I did bring one." His dark and green magic swirled and summoned from the ether came a statue about six inches tall. It showed a pony with wings unfurled. Behind her head was a great round sun. Little juts of glistening stone made up the sparkle of the sun and little flecks of precious stone made the sun and the pony's mane and tail shimmer in the light. "They have only heard tales of you, mostly from your sister. The likeness is not... perfect, but as an icon, it more than suffices, do you not agree?"

Luna drew a gasp. "I confess to jealousy. They did not fashion one for me?" Sadly, there was no second statue coming.

Celestia reached for the statue carefully, drawing it closer as her magic lifted it ever so gently from the table. "It's wonderful..." Slowly she turned it around to see it from different angles. "It's not accurate, as you mentioned, but the core concept is all there. I love it..." She decided she could easily learn to like Toby's people. Shame who had become their leader... She set it down carefully as she had lifted it. "Your people are talented."

Sombra seemed mollified at the admission. "They have more to go, refining their... techniques, but more than sufficient to command a price." He gestured at the statue. "How much?"

Celestia started. "It is not a gift?"

Sombra scowled. "We need bits to start building our kingdom in earnest."

Celestia shook her head. She had been certain the statue was a token of good will. It had been working as well... She looked to Toby. "What is the going rate for such a piece."

Toby was smiling ever so widely. Everyone there seemed to rely on his expertise that day. He was a smart moon rabbit. "Oh. Bet have to give... at least two favors and a belly rub for statue nice as that."

Sombra grimaced. "Currency is a new concept for them, but their needs are not diminished for it. Don't take advantage of his naivety."

Celestia reached out a hoof and tapped Toby's paw gently. "Thank you. The statue is clearly of fine make. I would add it to my collection... One hundred bits."

Sombra sat up. "Two!"

Luna cocked a brow. "One hundred is a generous offer."

"It is the only of its kind, and the first Tsuki art to ever be in the pony lands."

Celestia gave an inwards smile. She felt confident Sombra knew not the value of a bit, or he would have offered a price to begin. He was only a step or two up from his people. "For your people, I will give 150 bits, provided it be spent on what they require." She clopped her forehooves and one of the guards hurried off to collect the currency.

Sombra didn't further argue it. "What else is required for this... treaty?"

Luna's ears perked up. "All that is required is a formal cosigned document of friendship between our kingdoms. We will send a copy to all of our allies, so they know and may contact you with their own requests. Friendship begets friendship."

Toby bounced a little in place. "More than just ponies?"

Celestia nodded towards Toby. "The Zebras, the diamond dogs, as tenuous as that relationship is, the griffons, dragons, and more. Our world is blessed with a great number of talented races. This act will make the name of the Tsuki shared with the world entire. Even those who are not formally our friend will hear of it shortly enough. Trying to keep such a secret is folly at best."

Sombra gave a faint snort, his dark magic drifting from his flared nose. His eyes glanced over as the door opened, admitting the guard that had fled earlier. His expression brightened as the pouch of coins was set before Celestia, who lifted it with her magic and set it before Sombra. He pulled it close and tucked it away. "Let us get this over with. Where is the document?"

Toby shook his head suddenly. "They said is paper of friendship. We should be friendly."

Celestia smiled at Toby's words. "Well said. Before we move on to that, we must understand each other. What are the Tsuki's values? What do they hold in high regard?"

"What do ponies?" retorted Sombra with a grunt. "Besides moving the sun and moon."

Celestia ignored the barb. "We have a specific artifact that represents what we hold highest. Loyalty, Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, Kindness, and Magic. The elements of harmony. With them, we are strong."

Sombra suddenly got a wicked grin. "When you do not, you fail, as I have seen personally."

Celestia started at that. "What do you mean by that? Is this another attempt to get a response from me?"

"Do you not know?" Sombra rose up, standing on his hindlegs, forehooves on the table. "I lived in the crystal empire. They knew I was there as just a foal. They knew I was in incredible pain for the crime of being what I was. They did nothing. Where was their kindness? Where was their generosity? The crystal ponies abandoned your core tenets and paid the price for it."

Toby looked back and forth between the irate Sombra and the composed Celestia. There was obviously anger in the room, but it was about things he knew nothing about. "Have tried tea? Is good." He lifted his cup up at Sombra.

Sombra swat the cup aside with a flare of magic, shattering it against a wall. "Speak!" He was looking directly at Celestia's calm and collected face.

She slowly nodded. "I cannot defend the crimes of the past, especially ones I know little of. If what you say is true, the price has already been paid. We have not lost sight of our values. Will you deal with us fairly, or cling to the pain of the past?"

Sombra and Celestia held one another's gaze, the room tense with the power of the combat that was waged without a movement.

He slowly sank back into his seat. "Let us... deal with the current day."

"Let's," agreed Celestia. "There is a reason I did not invite Cadance or other representatives from the Crystal Empire to this meeting. That meeting does have to happen, I should point out, but not today. Neither side is ready for it."

Luna cleared her throat softly, looking across at Toby. "Toby, will you share your people's values?"

Toby didn't know! "Um..." What did Tsuki like...? "Things that make Tsuki good Tsuki instead of bad Tsuki, yes?"

"Precisely." Luna nodded gently. "This is not a test. Speak truthfully."

"Good Tsuki are nice. Good Tsuki work hard for other Tsuki, make world better." He drummed claws on the table, thinking as hard as he could. "Good Tsuki... not try to hurt, and help if already hurt. Yes, these are good Tsuki things."

Celestia gave a gentle smile. "Those are tenets I cannot argue with. Toby, King Sombra, do you see the merit in pony values?"

Toby was quick to bob his head. All the listed qualities sounded good to him.

Sombra was slower. "These are good... values. Do ponies respect Tsuki values?"

"We do," spoke Luna. With a pop, a paper appeared and with a magically held quill, Luna got to filling it out. "These values will be made formal here. That is not to say your people can't change their mind, but this is the first many races will know of your people. Do you have objection to this?"