//------------------------------// // Chapter 36~ // Story: Sombasi, Brother of Sombra // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -Chestnut Falls’ Crystal Heart Foal Center- “Ok, special agent,” Arthrodite said as she and Starshine stood a short distance away from the orphanage’s finely kept crystalline path leading up to the building’s entrance beyond the archway. “It’s about that time.” “You’re never going to stop doing that, are you?” Starshine asked annoyantly, raising an eyebrow. “No, I’m not. Anyway—” “—Wow…—” “—let’s review what we discussed at your place. You’re going to go in there, act all nonchalant, and-” “I know my mission, Arthrodite,” the unicorn interjects sternly. “I’m one of S.M.I.L.E’s top agents; one of its best and brightest, not some rookie fresh out of the royal guard.” She finishes with a roll of her eyes, shifting her gaze to the orphanage nearby. “You have no idea what this mare is capable of.” “Could’ve fooled me…” “What was that?” “Nothing! Nothing at all~!” Arthrodite quickly answered playfully as Starshine, unaware of the hushed mockery, had shot her attention back onto the ice-coated, golden-maned unicorn. The disguised changeling then cleared her throat, though her companion suspected something had transpired. But before a single word could be let loose from Arthrodite’s lips, the sound of rapidly approaching hooves began to grow from their rear, along with exasperated breaths moments after. As they turn to face the proper direction, they’re greeted with the form of a light-gray crystal unicorn stallion donned in red royal-aid attire coming at them, his groomed black mane and tail having become a crazed mess due to the physical activity. The Royal Assistant.  “A-Arthro-dite…!” He managed after skiing to a halt. “Maneigh Marco?” She questioned with a raised brow. “Are you ok?”   “NO! G-get to the castle, now!” He roared, turning around, “We’re to meet Princess Amore in the throne room immediately. Come with me!” The stallion’s urgency and panic were enough to jolt the disguised changeling to action, and Starshine nodded at them in understanding. Given that Equestria's capital bordered the Everfree Forest, the scenario was all too similar to the almost daily affairs of her home.     “I can handle Sombra and Sombasi,” the white unicorn assured. “Thank you for your assistance. You two had best be off.” And so they did, following affirmative nods as hurried hooves clopped against the crystalline foundations of the northern empire, becoming distant with every passing second.  “Go get ‘em, Momma Pone!” Arthrodite shouts back over her shoulder not long before she and Maneigh disappear around the street corner, startling several bystanders in the process. Starshine trusted that, regardless of the emergency, the princess and her forces could handle it. Celestia had often spoken highly of the Crystal Empire’s capabilities, and the prowess of the Crystal Heart was something unlike anything she’d ever seen. Of course, Star had never actually seen the artifact’s prowess, but perhaps her time here would merit such an opportunity. The ‘need-to-know’ side of her mentally danced at the thought, but the ‘get-down-to business’ side seemed to take the reigns as the formerly Equestrian unicorn banished those thoughts away, steeled herself, and proceeded onward to her lifelong mission of motherhood.  Another thought causes her to chuckle while stepping through the archway and strolling along the crystalline path. “I’ve dealt with ancient ruins and nightmarish creatures of the Everfree, and I even helped the princesses take down a nation’s corrupt leader or three. How hard could being a parent of two shadow ponies possibly be?” Unbeknownst to Starshine, and as she approached the orphanage doors, the Crystal Heart seemed to shimmer when those words were let loose from the mare’s lips. Starshine’s purple magical grasp seized the right side of the orphanage’s double door and willed it open. The mare walked in with an aura of purpose as she looked to and fro, taking in the relatively luxurious decor. In truth, seeing this left much to be desired regarding Equestria’s very own orphanages scattered across the land, the buildings’ outer shell and inner sanctum being nowhere near this grand. Yes, orphanages. She hated emphasizing the ‘s,’ but it was all too accurate and highlighted yet another admirable trait of the empire: it only had a single orphanage. And, from what she saw, there weren’t all too many orphans inhabiting it. That alone spoke volumes of the success of their society’s values. It was enough to make her ears fold against her head in a small bit of shame.   “Oh!” Voiced a nearby mare, causing Star’s ears to shoot upward. “Good afternoon!” Star turned towards the source of the admittedly sweet and motherly voice, after which she spotted a chestnut-coated, crystal earth pony mare beaming a smile behind a counter. “My sincerest apologies; I was just finishing up some paperwork. Welcome to my Foal Center!” The mare emphasized with a gleefully raised forehoof.  Starshine respectfully nods and smiles. “You must be Miss Chestnut,” she responds, making her way over to the counter and resting a forehoof on it. “I wonder what gave that away?” Miss. Chestnut asked humorously, gesturing to her coat before stifling a giggle. She then rests and clasps her forehooves together on the counter, getting straight down to business. “So, what’ll it be today, deary? We have fillies and foals of all three types, both of crystal and non-crystal pony lineage. I’d be more than happy to give you a tour if you’d like?” Miss. Chestnut’s eyes abruptly narrow, “Hmm. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you round the empire before.” “I just arrived today,” Star answered matter-of-factly. “My name is Starshine Velvet; I recently moved here from Equestria.” The chestnut mare nods. “That doesn’t surprise me. We received quite a number of Equestrians prior to the Umbrum’s invasion. Sadly, the empire hasn’t received many more immigrants recently due to that event.”    “I’m sorry to hear that.” “Oh, don’t you go worrying yourself about it, deary,” Chestnut assured with a waving forehoof. “It’s all in the past now. We crystal ponies believe in learning from the past and focusing everything else on tending to the future. Speaking of which, I believe we have a tour to undertake!” She exclaimed excitedly. “That won’t be necessary, Miss. Chestnut,” Star proudly stated, garnering the caretaker’s attention. “I already have two colts in mind.” The chestnut mare gasps in delight. “That’s splendid! Now, before we go any further, and considering you recently moved here, I will need to see proof that you can financially support two-” The crystal earth pony’s words are cut off as Star fires up her horn and manifests a small lavender vortex alongside her. But it’s what lies beyond the anomaly that causes Chestnut’s eyes to widen and her muzzle to drop: a large chamber with piles of bits laid about and valuable goods tucked away on shelves and arranged on various displays. “You’ll find that I’m quite financially stable,” Star said, smiling with a raised eyebrow. “And yes, I do already have a fine residency to raise them in. In fact,” her magic conjures a parchment into being, said parchment being seized by the mare mid-air and brought down onto the countertop with ample force. “It’s even got the princess’s seal of approval.” She finished with a wink, making her manifested vortex sizzle away afterward. Miss. Chestnut was completely dumbfounded, her eyes wider than crystal plates as they slowly went down to the parchment, back up to the grinning unicorn, and back down to the parchment again. This would repeat several more times as the orphanage caretaker almost looked like a chestnut-colored goldfish.  “W-wha- w-who-” Chestnut swallowed a lump in her throat. “Who exactly are you…?” Star chuckles in amusement. “Starshine Velvet, remember? Or rather, I should say…” The unicorn checks her surroundings and, once she is sure the coast is clear, calls upon her magic to bring forth another object before sliding it toward Miss. Chestnut. “Oh, my sweet Amore,” Chestnut comments in stupified realization as a S.M.I.L.E badge lies within her reach. “You’re…her.”  “Agent Starshine Velvet reporting for duty, ma’am. And I’m here to pick up my sons.”