Age of Kings

by A bag of plums


104 - A Feast with Friends

“Hold still.” Light Speckle said as she continued to apply a salve to Emerald Edge’s shoulder. Her other hand was placed on Emerald’s head to keep her seated.

“Agh!” Emerald winced again and threatened to move away, but she fought against the pain. “I can’t help it!”

“Well, if you want to be healed, you will stay still.”

Posey sat opposite them, drinking from a bowl of soup. She had only sustained minor injuries from their fight in the night and Light Speckle had already taken care of her injuries. She tossed a date to Gabriel, who was standing by a window.

When they had returned, they had helped fight off what little of Morn’s army remained in Masyaf, and without Sir Gallophad and Sir Lionheart leading them, Generals Rashid and Hassan had rallied the Saddle Arabian forces and finally drove them out, ending the siege on the palace. The latter had taken to Alamule, where he had set up a forward post of a troop of his men. According to one of the Saddle Arabian guards, those were some of the finest warriors in Saddle Arabia, capable of using the shadows to take out their targets, sometimes with barely a breeze. That was something Emerald found commendable, seeing as she had been trained to fight like that as well.

The palace gates had mostly withstood the assault, but it was in much need of a fix, which Nightfall Gleam had been happy to help with. Emerald still marveled at how a mage was so good at inventing and tinkering with things. After all, she and Secret Fire had designed the siege weapons Canterlot now used against them. They were truly weapons of great destruction.

“So what happens now?” Posey tossed Gabriel another date. “What is our next move?”

“What happens now is celebration!” Prince Sombra waltzed in, a smile on his big princely face. “The enemy has withdrawn. Saddle Arabia is victorious! And it is all thanks to you, Emerald Edge. Consider yourselves officially pardoned for your attempted murder on my life.”

“I thought you had already pardoned us,” Emerald said.

“Yes, well… much more officially pardoned, since you have aided me in expelling the usurper’s army.” Sombra stretched his arms to his sides. “All of Saddle Arabia thanks you. May the land lay claim to the name of Emerald Edge from this day. Songs of your daring quest will be sung.”

Emerald was about to say that Posey had put in equally, if not more effort to retake Saddle Arabia, but when she looked to the archer, she shook her head and waved a hand. Emerald couldn’t help but smile. After all this time, she still wanted nothing to do with praise and recognition.

“So what happens now?” Emerald asked the prince as Light Speckle finished applying the healing magic to her shoulder.

“We will have to rebuild. Reinforce our walls and defenses.” Sombra looked to the window. “We have lost much, and the dead require proper burial, my father included. He gave his life for his people and… and he has left me a role I do not know if I can fill.”

"Don’t be so hard on yourself, your majesty," Parisa said brightly as she twirled on the spot, appearing from behind him. "Your people already think you to be a great hero for driving the invaders from Masyaf."

Sombra looked a touch bit mollified by this, but he continued to stare at the wall as if he was pondering a mightly puzzle, though now with a small smile.

“Has anyone seen Moon Tide?” Jewel Pin asked. “She is the only one of us who was not accounted for when the battle began. I hope she is not hurt.”

Nobody seemed to have an answer for that. There was little more talk as Light Speckle finished dressing and wrapping Emerald’s injuries. 

“That will take a couple of weeks to recover fully,” Light Speckle said to Emerald. “I know it’s unreasonable of me to say this, but try not to strain yourself while your arm isn’t completely healed.”

Sombra cleared his throat. “In any case,” he began. “I think that a celebration is in order. You will all join me at my table tonight for a great feast, as is customary in Saddle Arabia.”

“Alright!” Honeygold, Spectrum, and Streak raised their hands in the air and clapped them against one another, which Emerald found to be a strange gesture.

“That is most kind of ya, King Sombra,” Apple Bean said graciously. “We’d be honored to attend.”

“King Sombra…” The man ran a hand through his dark hair. “It does not sound as regal as my father, King Aldilu.”

“It’ll grow on you, sire,” Parisa giggled. She pranced around the king, throwing little strands of ribbons in the air around him. “Long live the new king! May the seven pillars be always behind you.”

“Do ya think he’ll be back?” Honeygold prodded Emerald’s side. “Morn, Ah mean. Do ya think he’ll come back and try and take Saddle Arabia again?”

Emerald looked uncharacteristically grim, but changed her expression to a comforting smile for the girl. “I won’t let him. Morn’s army has retreated for now, which means we have to follow him and attack while he’s still recovering. I know it’s not very knightly, but I don’t think either of us cares about chivalry anymore.”

“Ah understand, Em,” Honeygold said, her eyes determined and hard. Harder than a girl of her age’s should be, Emerald thought. “We’ve gotta win, even if we gotta fight not so honorable like. We ain’t knights no more.”

Emerald patted Honeygold on the head and sighed. “I wish it was otherwise, Honeygold. But this kind of warfare is the sort I was trained for back in Equestria. I just… laid it aside when I became a Knight of the Round Table.”

“We can take them.” Spectrum gave her left arm’s biceps a pat. “I can take on Morn any day. My skills would be recognized and I would instantly be made a knight.”

“Doesn’t there have to be a king to properly make someone a knight?” Guard Streak asked as he cleaned some grime off his sword blade.

“Well…” Spectrum opened her mouth, but nothing else came out. Then she shook her head. “You know, I managed to kill one of the attacking knights yesterday.”

“What, really?” Jewel Pin approached the children. “You are making that up.”

“Got him right in under his helmet with my shortsword.” Spectrum tapped the scabbard at her side. “He put up a good fight, but I was far more skilled.”

“You… actually, um, got him when his back was to you…” Streak averted his eyes as she glared at him.

“Yes, well…” Spectrum shrugged. “I still got him.”

Emerald laughed and walked over to them to give them all pats. “You were all heroes this day. Everyone played their part and Morn’s presence here has been vanquished.”

“Indeed,” Sombra nodded. “I will send for you later once the feast is ready. I have a small number of things I must take care of before then, so I will take my leave. Until tonight!”

Then Sombra swirled his cape around himself and left the room.

“Well. Fancy that,” Jewel Pin said once he was gone. “We’ve just been invited to have dinner with a king! How marvelous!” The seamstress did a little twirl. “Oh, I hope the outfits we have are good enough. If not, I’ll see about procuring some fabrics from the locals to spruce them up.”

Emerald poured herself a cup of water while Jewel Pin set about examining everyone’s clothes and declaring that she would be outside shopping for fabrics for the rest of the day.

“At least someone’s enthusiastic,” Nightfall Gleam smiled. “It is a nice change to not be wanted by the law, rightful or otherwise.”

“Must we have a change of attire?” Posey exhaled and sat on the windowsill. “I rather not. May-maybe I can just wait outside instead.”

“Nonsense, darling,” Jewel Pin said as she scribbled down a list of things to buy on a spare sheet of parchment. “You are one of the key people who brought an end to Morn’s grip on Saddle Arabia. It would not surprise me if you were to be a guest of honor tonight.”

Posey looked more than a touch embarrassed at this, but didn’t protest. Perhaps she desired some form of recognition for her skills after all.

Emerald sat there and gently probed the bandages that wrapped around her shoulder. One Knight of the Round Table had fallen, but Emerald found little joy in the fact. Sir Gallophad had been her friend, her brother in arms. Slaying him, even for the good of the world, left a sour taste in the former pegasus’ mouth. She and the others had given him a burial after returning from Alamule, where Emerald had laid Arondight to rest with its owner. Sombra had suggested keeping the blade, but Emerald had refused, perhaps out of respect and honor for her former fellow knight.

Emerald put aside these thoughts as she stared out the window. It was a glorious sunny day in Masyaf, and as she looked down at the thoroughfare that led up to the palace, she could see that the bodies of those who had fallen in the battle had been removed, and that servants were busy scrubbing away the bloodstains that dirtied the road and palace entryway. Life was returning to normal for the city in the sands.

“Saddle Arabia is recovering…” Emerald murmured. And she smiled, for it gave her hope that perhaps, when this was all over, maybe even Canterlot could recover as well.


“Wow, Jewel Pin,” Apple Bean said as she spun around in front of a mirror to admire her outfit. It was a tasteful blend of Canterlotian and Saddle Arabian style, but done up in locally bought textiles. “You sure work fast.”

The rest of the questors were similarly attired in the garb of fine silks, in many different colors that were meticulously picked to accentuate and match skin and hair color. Jewel Pin had spared no expense, even though the stash of treasure from the Baba Yaga’s lair was half spent.

“You look like a princess, Honeygold,” Spectrum said approvingly. She held her hand up in the air and Honeygold slapped the palm with her own. “How do I look, Streak?”

Guard Streak eyed Spectrum’s blue dress-like attire. “Uh, y-y-you l-look… you look… uh… ver-very…”

“Ah think he’s tryin’ to say you look amaz-amazur-amazo…” Honeygold fought for the right word to use. “Like ya take his breath away.”

“What, does this dress have sorcery imbued?” Spectrum looked around the front and back of her attire. “Stand further away, Streak.”

“It’s just a figure of speech,” Light Speckle said, coming over to the youngsters. She held some flowers in her hand. “It’s traditional for the maidens of Saddle Arabian feasts to wear these lilies in their hair,” The mage explained. “I think it would please King Sombra greatly if we were to show that we have learned some of his kingdom’s customs.”

The two girls took a flower each and fixed it in their hair. The flora gave off a pleasant scent, and the mage smiled as she came over to Emerald.

“A lily for you as well, Em?” Light Speckle offered.

“Should I?” Emerald looked down at herself. She felt very light without the weight of her armor on her body. She had wanted to wear it to the feast but Jewel Pin had been adamant that she leave it behind. Now she was clad in an evening gown of aquamarine and deep blue hues, accented with silver trim. “I am not sure I qualify as a maiden.”

“I have already given Posey one,” Light Speckle shrugged. “You are still of marrying age, Em. That makes you a maiden in my books.”

Relenting, Emerald took one of the flowers and tucked it behind one ear. The group milled around for a bit longer, until they were interrupted by a knock on the door. One of Sombra’s palace servants poked her head inside.

“I have been sent to escort you to the king’s feast,” she said in heavily accented English. “Are you all prepared?”

“We sure are!” Spectrum sprang to her feet brightly. “Lead the way!”

The group filed out of the room and upstairs towards the upper floors of the palace. Further up, the sounds of music and the smells of food were noticeable, until the steps opened up onto a wide balcony. It was practically a huge room in and of itself, only instead of a wall on the east side, the balcony stretched out over the lip of the palace and offered a view of the city and the sands beyond. Torches on the walls served as light, as well as a massive golden bowl of flames in the middle of the space.

Parisa Pie and King Sombra were already there, as were a handful of servants. The dancer was reclining on a pile of cushions next to a plate of pastries, while Sombra stood in front of the bowl of fire, dressed opulently in dark robes and a sash that matched his shimmering hair.

“Welcome, welcome!” Sombra greeted with a wave of his hand. Golden bracelets adorned his wrists and there were similarly colored hoops hanging from his earlobes. “My honored guests. Please, sit wherever you like.”

Hesitantly at first, the group of questors chose either a low couch or a pile of cushions and settled down in them. As the guests of honor, Posey and Emerald sat on either side of Sombra. Once everyone was comfortable, Sombra clapped his hands twice and a trio of musicians by the side began to play a soft, gentle melody for the party.

Food was served on large platters and soon the party was chatting in a most lively fashion, sipping from golden goblets of wine and simply enjoying each others’ company. 

Parisa proved to be one of the most popular sources of entertainment, as she told stories from Saddle Arabian myth and legend to entertain her friends. In return, Spectrum, Honeygold, and Streak regaled her with Canterlotian tales, which the dancer took in with starry eyes and a grinning mouth.

The adults, for their part, seemed content to relax and kick back for once, idly talking about trivial matters and recalling memories from more peaceful times and what they wanted to do once their quest was over. They laughed and joked with each other, the wine making everything seem so much brighter than before.

At the center of the room, Emerald nibbled a cheese pastry and sipped at her own chalice of wine. It wasn’t quite as good as the wine that Celdri had offered her in the desert, but it was still a tasty brew. It was unlike anything they had back in Canterlot, though it had a tad stronger kick than their regular Canterlotian brew.

Posey scratched at the back of her garment, still not used to having to wear clothes like a noble. Emerald didn’t blame her. After all, she had spent years living alone in the now Everfree Forest. She didn’t expect her to want to or know how or to dress in front of royalty, though the flower behind her right ear suited her well.

After about two hours of eating, drinking, and talking, Sombra turned to Emerald Edge with an uncharacteristically serious look on his face. He set down his chalice of wine and said, “So, Emerald Edge. Once again I thank you for the part you played in driving those foreign dogs out of my kingdom.” He coughed. “I mean, the invading foreign dogs. You and your group are much better than that.”

“Thank you, King Sombra,” Emerald replied drily. “While I am glad that your kingdom is safe and secure, my quest is not even close to being over. We must pursue Morn’s forces and reclaim the artifacts from him.”

“I see,” Sombra said seriously. He turned over a piece of meat in his fingers before popping it into his mouth. Emerald tried not to grimace. “You know, in all of the… excitement that has happened since you arrived, I don’t believe you ever told me your story. Your sparkling hair and gem-cut eyes clearly set you apart from the rest of your companions. If not that, then the djinn certainly think you are different. Who are you, Emerald Edge?” He pinned Emerald down with his gaze.

Emerald felt the dinner she had just eaten begin to churn in her stomach. After all this time, she had never forgotten who and what she was, nor her mission here, even if it seemed like she would never be able to complete it. Still, Sombra had been a trustworthy ally and, at a stretch, a good friend to Emerald and her group of questors. She could tell him.

“What I am about to tell you might sound outlandish,” Emerald began. “But I swear that it is all true.”

Sombra nodded once. “I trust you. Begin your tale.”

“I come from a world apart from this one, where there are no humans. Instead, the world is populated by what the people here might call animals or mythical creatures. Dragons, griffons, minotaurs, ponies, and many other kinds,” Emerald said, a feeling of longing blooming inside her as she described her home. “I was a crystal pony who served my princess as the royal spymaster.”

“A crystal pony?” Sombra repeated curiously. “What is that?”

“It is like a regular pony, but imbued with the blessings of the Crystal Empire. We have jewel like eyes, hair, bodies, and if tales are to be believed, bones. The Crystal Empire is in the Frozen North, where all is ice and snow. The opposite of Masyaf, in a way.”

“Ice and snow…” Sombra seemed to have a hard time grasping this. “It is very cold there?”

Emerald nodded. “Yes, but the Crystal Empire is kept warm and safe by the collective goodwill and love of the ponies there, which is channeled into a powerful magical item known as the Crystal Heart. It is a heart made of… crystal, for want of a better term. It keeps the Crystal Empire warm and drives away dark forces.”

Sombra, for his part, seemed to be working mightily to visualize all this. There was a small popping noise and Parisa appeared next to Emerald, an eager grin on her face. 

“Oooh! A story! I love stories; let me listen too!”

“Certainly,” Sombra shifted aside so that Parisa wouldn’t be crowding Emerald as much. “Please continue.”

After wetting her throat with another sip of wine, Emerald proceeded, saying, “Remember when I tried to attack you, Sombra? I am coming up to the reason for that. When I lived in the Crystal Empire, one of our number, a mare named Radiant Hope, befriended a foal who was found out in the wilderness, who was placed in the same orphanage as herself. That young one was named Sombra.”

“There is another Sombra?” King Sombra’s eyebrows went so high, Emerald thought they would just tear right off his face.

“Our worlds are somewhat intertwined.” Emerald went on to explain the doppelgangers she had met in this world, including the own, who had so valiantly given up her life for them to be here today. 

“So there are alternate versions of us in your world,” Sombra struggled along. “But they are not humans, and we may not be in the same positions as us on the human side are. Am I right so far?”

“Pretty much,” Emerald nodded.

“So there’s another me in your world?” Parisa asked. “Have you met me? Her?”

“I think I would remember if I had met someone with your energy on my side,” Emerald shook her head with a smile. “Truthfully, I have never met any of you, my friends, except for Speckle. She had been my best friend back in Equestria. And of course, Sombra, the usurper. I cannot believe it is all playing out once again, but with different people…”

“I would very much love to meet the other me!” Parisa got up and began a weird jig on the spot. “We would have so much fun together! We would dance, we would throw fruits, we would dance, we would explore deep dark tombs together. And dance!”

“Calm yourself, Parisa,” Sombra laughed. Then he grew serious again. “What happened with the Sombra on your side? Some of it I can guess at, since you called me a usurper when you were imprisoned. What exactly did he do to your kingdom?”

Emerald’s expression grew dark. “He betrayed our trust. He took the kindness we showed him and killed our princess and took over the empire. I don’t know what has become of it today, but me and my small group of friends had tried to get to this world to find the artifacts of Star Swirl the Bearded to stop Sombra. Only I made it here.”

“Such power your artifacts possess. It is of no surprise that they have been locked away here with us,” Sombra said. “Though I would have picked a better hiding spot than an alternate world where they could still be misused.”

“Aye, I can see that now,” Emerald agreed. “Although when I first came looking for the artifacts, I did not know there would be an entire other world attached.”

“Though it is still amazing how a mirror can simply lead to another world completely.” Nightfall stuffed a round piece of meat in her mouth. “If I could build such wonders, I would be one of the greatest mages in the world!”

“Do you plan to return to your world after you have secured an artifact?” Sombra asked, taking a draught of his wine. “That was your goal, at least as far as I can gather from what I have learned.”

“Yes. But I do not know when the portal home will work again.” Emerald looked down dejectedly, remembering trying to go back before Morn took over. “The mirror we used to get here had been destroyed almost as I entered it. I do not know if I will ever be able to get home.”

“I too cannot give you an answer.” Sombra moved a hand through his black and blue hair. “But I know that you will continue on your quest to gather the artifacts and you will find a way home. And I will aid you in your quest.”

“Y-You will?” Emerald was taken aback.

“Though we did not get off to the best starts, you have helped me in my time of need and in reclaiming my kingdom from a treacherous dog.” Sombra put a hand to his chest. “I have seen firsthand what this hound wants of the world. As the new king of Saddle Arabia, I must not allow this to happen to any other kingdoms. I shall come with you as you go to reclaim the rest of your artifacts, as well as put a stop to Morn Dread and his evil ambitions.”

Emerald was stunned. She had not expected Sombra to be so forthcoming with his plans and his aid. “You are sure you want to join our quest?” she asked hesitantly.

“I am the king of Saddle Arabia, like my father before me,” Sombra declared. “If I say I will do something, I will keep my word and do it. That is the only way a king can earn the respect and adoration of his subjects.”

“Well said, your majesty!” Parisa cheered. “I want to come too! Can I? Can I?” She looked back and forth between Sombra and Emerald. “I’ve always wanted to see the world, but I never got around to it. And I’ve made so many new friends now, I would like to go along with them!”

“I do not see why you cannot,” Emerald answered the bubbly girl. “But it shall be no easy task. Our quest will be dangerous.”

“More dangerous than what we’ve gone through already?” Parisa tilted her head to the side. “That does sound scary, but even scarier is letting you face all those dangers without friends to help you through them. Besides, if King Sombra is going, someone’s got to be there to remind him of home, right?”

Sombra’s face broke into a smile. “I should be most grateful for a reminder of Saddle Arabia if I am to travel to lands unseen.”

Parisa looked so elated that Emerald thought that she might float off the ground. Then it turned out, she had actually floated off the ground, just a little, before landing back down.

This girl surely is an interesting one.

“And do not fret for my kingdom.” Sombra waved a hand. “I am sure my generals Rashid and Hassan can handle it in my absence. I shall have them fortify the walls should Morn return when I am gone. Though I do not think he will. Not yet.”

“With more travelers, we’re bound to kick Morn in his sorry sack and send him packing back to Canterlot!” Spectrum pumped a fist up and grinned madly.

“So where will we be headin’ to after this?” Golden Nugget asked as he chewed on a bright red apple. “Moon Tide did say Morn was up to somethin’ in the other kingdoms. Ah’d wish she told us where. Speakin’ of which, where’d she go anyhow?”

“I don’t know,” Nightfall Gleam frowned. “I’m sure she will turn up eventually. I hope she does; she seems to know a lot about Morn’s plans for conquest.”

She shared a glance with Light Speckle, but she too didn’t know where their senior mage had gone. Instead, she removed a map from her pack and swiped plates aside to have enough room on the floor to place it.

“We took this path.” Speckle drew a finger from Canterlot to the Coltcasus Mountains, then to Saddle Arabia. “On our way, we passed through two other kingdoms. That of the Kingdom of Prance and the Kingdom of Kievan Horse. Morn might have done the same. But these are only a small fragment of the kingdoms out there. There are still kingdoms like Pollop, Haygary, the Frozen North and even that of what remains of the Roaman Empire and the newer Holy Roaman Empire. And we don’t know if there are more unknown kingdoms out there, mind you.”

“There are too many kingdoms to count.” Emerald examined the map. “But surely Morn cannot attack them all at once, even with the artifacts. He must have a plan for which ones to take first.”

“If I were a conqueror,” Sombra mused. “I would go after the smaller kingdoms first. Especially given that he has the power to enslave the minds of people, he could make use of the armies of the conquered kingdoms to attack the larger ones. But I have learned not to expect normal behaviour from this mad dog.”

“If we’re talking about size…” Speckle placed a finger on the Kingdom of Pollop. “This one is the smallest on the way here.”

“But if it is that small, then surely he has already conquered them?” Honeygold asked, peering at the map.

“We cannot say anything for certain.” Emerald shook her head. They needed Moon Tide to tell them where Morn had gone, but she was still missing. She hoped she hadn’t been kidnapped or anything. “But I think we should just plot our journey back. Kievan Horse is the first land we will pass. I think we should check on Morn’s presence there.”

“That is good thinking,” Sombra agreed. “It would not do to overlook any possible dangers Morn may have placed only to be attacked from behind. I know of no shorter way to lose a war.”

“Then we leave once we are ready.” Emerald nodded to their plan. “We cannot let Morn continue his conquest.”

“But Em, you need to rest.” Posey pointed to her shoulder. “You cannot face Morn like this.”

“We faced down his army at Alamule like this.” Emerald placed a hand over her injury. “We must do it again.”

“Well, then,” Sombra announced, draining the last of the wine from his chalice. “We will leave in three days for ample recovery. My father still deserves the procession of kings for what he has done for Saddle Arabia. Then I will prepare my swiftest steeds and best equipment for our journey. May we return victorious, or not at all.”

Emerald wanted to protest, but in the end, she chose not to. Perhaps some rest would be good, and they would have some time to try and find Moon Tide as well. They needed her and Emerald hoped that no harm had befallen her.