//------------------------------//
// Royal Notice 
// Story: De Facto Segregation 
// by Black Hailstorm 
//------------------------------//

"King Thorax!" said a voice from the throne room as they entered.

Thorax smiled at the pegasus, nodding an at ease towards the two guards. "Hello Gusty, how have you been?"

"Oh just fine Majesty, just fine!" The bespectacled mare said adjusting her flight goggles with a hoof. "It's always a pleasure to deliver the mail to ya sir!"

"And it's always good to see you! So, Pharynx says you have a royal letter for us."

Ocellus nodded, envelope in magic. "It has the royal insignia of the Crown. Its from the Princesses based off the stamp."

"Oh!" Thorax said with excitement. "Good, good, here let me see it."

Wings fluttering nervously Ocellus glanced at the stamp. "Uh, I could read it for you, Your Majesty?"

Thorax paused. "Hm...splendid idea! Go right ahead Ocellus!"

For a moment Ocellus paused, more stunned that had worked than anything else. A glance from Pharynx and a subtle nod from him and she snapped out of it, smiling sheepishly. "Right, right. Of course! Right away. Ahem," horn glowing as she opened the letter with a gentle tug on the wax, Ocellus removed the folded letter, unrolled and began.



     Dear King Thorax of Spectral Hive & Prince Pharynx of The Grounds,

Forgive me for not sending a letter sooner. For it is only recent that I hath come to learn of the existence of another hive, one that has seen release from yon old Queen's  foul clutches. I will admit at first I was furious having not been told this sooner, but that is not a topic which needs to be shared in such a letter. Mine disappointment in you however still lingers, for Our coronation must hath certainly reached thine ears. While the tradition is no more, I will be visiting your kingdom to see how it fairs. Though mine schedule be busy, I shall make time next week to pay a visit to the Duke and Earl of Whitetail Woods. Princess Sunset tells me you have been working very hard to better relations between your kin and my subjects King Thorax, so it is with great interest I shall be coming to visit you and send this letter in mine steed ahead. We look forward to meeting you in the coming week ahead young King Thorax. Best of wishes.

Your Sovereign,
Princess Luna, Mistress of The Night.



Ocellus, finished the last line with a slight crack in her voice. Feeling a wave of emotion rolling off Thorax that was neither fear or joy, it was a clear sign the king was trying to suppress whatever his real reaction might be. No doubt to prevent his emotions from being shared across the Link, throughout the Hive, and creating a panic. So it was with great hesitance that she looked up to meet her King's gaze.

Only to find Thorax was smiling. Beaming really.

"Thorax?" Pharynx prodded, slightly concerned. "You uh, okay?"

Thorax didn't respond. He just blinked, stared vaguely in Ocellus direction, and then continued to stare in that direction even after Ocellus moved to wave a hoof in front of his eyes. 

"Uhhhh" the commander and the assistant snapped their heads in the pegasus delivery mare's direction. "Is he gonna be alright?"

"Why are you still here?" Pharynx asked.

"I forgot me bag" the mare chuckled lightly. "Those guard o' yours gave me a bit of a scare earlier when they came rushing to meet me."

She didn't see it, but Pharynx smiled a little when she said that.

Ocellus was more concerned with Thorax's lack of response.

"Uhhh, Sir, is he going to be okay?" She asked, gently prodding the king's side.

"Ocellus" Thorax said a little too quietly, "please stop poking me."

Immediately withdrawing her hoof she complied and landed. 

"Can I see that letter?" He asked, voice barely audible.

"Um..." she glanced in Pharynx's direction. Pharynx shrugged. The mail mare who was standing a bit of ways away shrugged also. "S-Sure?" She said with varying uncertainty as she passed him the parchment.

Taking it in his magic Thorax skimmed the letter's details. It wasn't until his eyes fell on Princess Luna's signature and her stamp, the crescent moon, that he dropped the letter, ignited it, then watched it burn in his field.

"W-W-Well" he stammered in a shaky voice. "I-I'll just go a-and get a-an announcement ready."

"Uhh grub, are you--" Pharynx froze. Thorax froze also.

"Uhhhh" Gusty uhh'd clearly weirded out by the sudden freezing. "Are they okay?"

"This happens when there's a message going through the Link. It's a Hive thing, don't worry about it. Most don't do that but apparently the Link is just stronger with the Hive Authority. Still takes time to get used to."

"O-Okay?" 

And that's when the  sound of hoof steps became noticeable and a few guards wearing dark green and purple armor skidded into the hall. "Lord Pharynx! Problem!"

Thorax's eye twitched. "Problem?"

"Some changelings in the lunchroom started a fight over today's menu again!"

Pharynx swore. "What is it this time?!"

"There wasn't enough pears to go around sir!"

Realizing just how much work he had cut out for him in the upcoming days ahead, Thorax did the only sensible thing in this situation and took a deep breathe in, then- had a panic attack as he screamed.