//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Princess Malia 
// by Creativa-Artly01 
//------------------------------//

A few days later, Princess Malia visits the Preservatory and checks on the Hidlehorse. "Hidlehorse," she says, her voice shaking nervously, "Hidlehorse. Can you come here?" The Hidlehorse wakes up from his nap and walks up to the Princess. Once he's in front of the Princess, the Hidlehorse lets out a snort and then mutters a phrase in Cologi, one of the dead languages of the Dracons of those lands. "Tri calla deca ni," mutters the Hidlehorse. "Tri calla!" The Hidlehorse then turns around, returns to his corner, and falls back asleep. Princess Malia then flies back off to the palace where she is greeted by several of her hoof maids including Cecelia and Clarice. 

"What are you doing here?" asks the Princess in shock. 

"Your Highness," replies the hoof maids, "we are here for that meeting discussing our higher pay." 

"Oh that, I totally forgot," replies Princess. "Please state your case." 

"As you know," state the hoof maids, "we aren't paid as much as the court, the guards, or the musicians and scops. They make over 30 sconts an hour and we get paid only 15 sconts an hour. We want equal pay. We work just as hard as they do, maybe harder."

"I see your point," replies the Princess. "You will get your pay raise starting first thing tomorrow morning." 

"Thank you, Princess Malia, your highness," reply the hoof maids as they fly out of the room and back to their duties. A few hours later, Princess Malia goes off to see how the recruitment process of new young guards is coming along. After all, it's clear that they need to keep their army fresh after the whole incident with the Hidlehorse. She watches on as the captain and colonel train the young changelings. She smiles. She is glad the training is coming along perfectly. She then goes back inside to tend to her two sons, who are fighting in the playroom. She sighs and groans as she breaks up the argument between Pharynx and Thorax. She then sits the two in time out while she goes back out to observe the new recruits. She rolls her eyes. She wishes her sons could just learn to get along.