Chapter 5: Drama in Throne Room
Esther woke up the next morning surprisingly well. The desert sun and wind peeked through her window nicely, and her body felt like it was sleeping on a bed of roses all night long. She never had such a refreshing yet relaxing night's sleep before.
She gently pulled herself out of bed and walked towards the window. She opened it and strolled out to the balcony. It truly was a beautiful view of the kingdom. Then, she noticed something below. It was her garden...or should she say...the garden. She still didn't comfortable in claiming the garden as hers. She still felt like the garden belonged to the King, or at least, to the property of the royal palace. Anyway, she didn't know that her room looked over this green little paradise. Was this...perhaps...Xerxes's doing?
She shook her head of this thought and focused on the garden below. She saw all the wonderful and exotic creatures from the parade yesterday. She waved and happily proclaimed good morning to them. She even saw her dear friend Gabrielle by a wide and fluffy tree. The gentle elephant was rubbing her head against the tree's trunk. Esther waved at Gabrielle and yelled good morning to her. Gabrielle responded by waving back at Esther. She even lifted her foot towards Esther, in order to show her desire for the small pegasus to shake her large foot.
The new queen went back into her room, in order to change out of her PJs. She decided to wear this one gorgeous, light blue outfit hanging in the giant bedroom closet. Esther wondered if the Queen Vashti wore this outfit. Thinking about the previous queen made her wonder what the King did to...get rid of her. Will he get rid of Esther if he gets bored with her?
No! Esther told herself, I can't think like that. I need to give him a chance . He's my husband now, so...I should try showing him a little love and kindness. After all...he's been nothing but kind to me since I've got here.
As Esther sleeked the soft outfit on, she was surprised by the fact that her ladies in waiting were not in her room already. Maybe she woke up earlier than every pony else? After she placed the light blue headband, with the sapphire stone on it, on her forehead; she scurried out of her bedroom.
Esther quietly sneaked through the grand hallways of the palace. She didn't want to wake up any pony else, if it's still too early in the morning.
The shy pegasus wondered why the King wanted to meet her in the throne room. Was he going to give her a tour of the palace? Was he going to show her how to rule over the kingdom with him? Or...did he simply want to get know her better?
There's was one way to find out...and she was standing in front of the tall door to the throne room.
Xerxes, while looking into his portable little hand mirror, pulled back his black zebra mane with his paw. Just to see whether he liked the sleek look or not.
He gave the mirror a toothy smile, and slowly lifted his paw away from his mane. His hair stayed sleek...for a couple of seconds. As soon as his mane poofed straight up, his mirror cracked. His toothy grin was soon replaced with a pout.
Every pony's a critique, He thought to himself.
"Hamana," he remarked, "Do you think that Esther likes me?"
His Majesty was sitting on his magnificent onyx and ruby throne. There's a slightly smaller and polished golden throne decorated with rose quartz butterflies on his right. This throne was made and reserved for his queen, Esther. On the right of Esther's throne was an even smaller white marble throne decorated with amethyst stars, and this throne belonged to Hamana. On the King's left was a baby purple dragon sitting on regular sized white marble chair. He was scribbling down all of the King's words on his scroll. The small dragon was wearing a white toga robe and a light red, curly topped hat.
Hamana replied to His Royal Highness, "But of course she does, Your Most Chaoticness. How can she not? After all, you're the king of all Saddle Arabia."
"But what if I wasn't king?"
"Your Majesty, you have more magic than ten kings. You outrank all the unicorn stallions in Equestria. No mare in the kingdom could resist that."
"Is that all I have to offer her? Power...", King Xerxes sighed.
"Um, of course that's not all you have to offer, Your Majesty." She nervously stated, "You also...have...charm! Yes charm! And charisma! Wit! Personality! And of course your dashing good looks."
"You're right Hamana! How can she pass that up? Phew! Thank you my dear, for a moment, I was turning into a real Debby Downer."
"Happy to be of service, Your Magnificence."
Meanwhile, on top of the stained class window ceiling of the throne room, there were two fillies. Ali and Kalli, aka The Cutie Jewel Sisters. Ali was the eldest sister and the leader of the group. She was a pink earth pony filly, with a purple and white swirly mane and a silver tiara cutiemark. While Kalli was a silver earth pony filly, with a braided mane and a silver spoon cutiemark. The younger sister even fashioned a pair of light blue glasses.
"You remember the plan, right?" Ali asked while placing a chef's hat on her head.
"Sure I do sis. How can I forget? But..."
"But what?! What is like the problem?!"
"Well, why couldn't I be the chef? I mean, this piano...", Kalli pointed towards the grand piano next to them. The piano had a giant hook in the middle of it, along with a thick rope tied around the hook and a pulley system set up on the roof of the palace.
Kalli continued with, "is hard to hold up by myself. I was thinking that it would be easier if we...you know...pulled on it together."
"Ugh Kalli! I can't believe you! If I stayed up here with you, then who would go down there and convinced the King to stand in the right spot!"
"Oh...I didn't think of that." Kalli mumbled in her embarrasment.
Ali then sighed, "Of course you didn't. I suppose it can't be helped. The younger siblings, like yourself, can be such air heads and need the guidance of their older siblings to survive."
"Well, good thing that I'm here, huh?" Ali's chest puffed up with pride and her hoof placed over it.
"Hehe y-yeah good thing." Kalli nervously yet quietly chuckled.
Then, Alli turned away from her sister and exclaimed with stars in her eyes, "Oh just think Kalli! Once King Xerxes is out of the way, Saddle Arabia will belong to us."
"Yay us!"
"Indeed. Now, if you excuse me...I have to give His Majesty a little wedding present."
Ali and Kalli snickered devilishly to each other before departing ways.
KNOCK KNOCK! The sound came from one of the side doors in the throne room.
"Hm?" The King wondered aloud, "Who could that be?"
Xerxes rose from his throne and walked towards the side door. When he opened it, he was greeted by a tall yet delicious wedding cake...along with a smiling filly chef.
"Greetings King!" she greeted.
She pushed the cake out of the kitchen and placed the culinary masterpiece in the middle of the throne room.
Xerxes slowly followed after the chef and asked in a suspicious tone, "Who are you?"
"I'm Sweet Diamond, you're new royal chef!"
"What happened to the old royal chef?" Hamana asked with her eyes narrowed towards the pink unicorn filly.
"Let's just say that she quit on ya. Like on short notice. I know, so unprofessional. But unlike her, I'm so professional."
"Aren't you a little young to be a chef?" questioned Hamana.
"Well I'm...just...short for my age. That's all. Anyway, because I'm new, I wanted to introduce myself to the King and his lovely new bride. What better way to break the sand than to bake a cake?"
King Xerxes slithered around the wedding cake, and looking up and down at all the details. With his eyes still glued on the cake, he asked, "What kind of cake is it?"
"It's His Majesty's favorite, double chocolate cake with cotton candy frosting."
"Ooohhh yummy! Hmmm, let me taste."
"But, Your Majesty!" Hamana pleaded.
"What? I need to taste it."
King Xerxes sticked his finger into the fluffy and sticky cake and pulled out a good amount of chocolate and frosting to lick.
Meanwhile, Sweet Diamond looked up slightly and saw her sister holding up the grand piano above the stain glass ceiling. Her sister was struggling to keep the giant piano suspended in the air. Ali turned her gaze back at the King, with an evil gleam in her eye.
As soon as the cake entered into his mouth, Xerxes moaned in pleasure, "Mhmmm! This is good! Wait until Esther tries this! Here Hamana, have a go."
The blue unicorn did as she was told and tasted the cake.
The front doors of the throne room were opened by Moriyah, who was keeping guard in her little corner. Esther entered into the room.
The shy Pegasus immediately noticed Xerxes, Hamana and a small filly standing around the giant wedding cake. The king instantly recognized his queen and waved, "Ah Esther! There you are, check out this yummy wedding cake that our new royal chef made us!"
Esther smiled at Xerxes and strolled towards the royal chef's latest. However, she was stopped by the sudden glow shining behind her.
She turned around and saw her cousin's horn pointed towards the ceiling. Just waiting to blast something out of the sky with her magic. But...what was this something?
Esther took a closer look and saw...another pony and...it was pulling on a rope. And the rope was attached to...a giant grand piano!
"Stop, it's a trap!" she cried out.
And in that moment, Kalli couldn't hold the piano anymore. The giant musical instrument crashed through the stain glass and headed straight towards the cake, along with the ponies surrounding it. Esther flew towards Xerxes and pushed him out of the way. While Ali and Hamana jumped out of the way quickly.
Moriyah blasted the piano before it could crash into the cake. First, she incased the piano in a giant, pink, magical bubble. Once it was safe in its barrier, she casted a spell to make it explode inside the bubble. Then, she poofed away the bubble as if it never existed in the first place.
Soon, the other guards arrived in the throne room and used their magic to imprison Ali and Kalli in magical shackles.
Meanwhile, Esther and Xerxes were on the floor together. With the small pegasus on top of the long draconequus. The King was the first one to gain consciousness. His head ached and his muscles were sore. Who knew that a tiny mare like Esther could have so much strength? Wait a minute...Esther!
He looked down and saw Esther laying on top of his chest, probably sore just like him.
"Esther, Esther! Are you alright?" He exclaimed in a worried tone.
Xerxes sighed in relief once she started to woke up. She fluttered her eyes at Xerxes and uttered aloud, "X-Xerxes. What...what happened?"
"You saved my life, that's what happened."
"Saved? Oh I don't know about that, Your Majesty."
Esther's face was flushed and red. She slowly and quietly tried to remove herself from the King's chest, however...Xerxes blocked her path by coiling his paw and claw around her waist. And this reddened her face even more.
"I beg to differ my dear." He remarked with a mischievous smirk.
Their moment was soon interrupted by the sounds of several protests. King Xerxes and Queen Esther stood up and approached the criminals in the guards' hooves.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" King Xerxes commented with pride and victory in his voice.
He continued, with his head lowered to the fillies' eye level, "Why, it's the Cutie Brat Thieves."
"It's the Cutie Jewel Sisters!" Kalli growled.
"Ugh, save it Kalli." Ali mumbled.
"Did you honestly think..." Xerxes gloated, "that dropping a piano on my head would take me out? HA! Who's bright idea was that?"
Kalli scowled and turned her gaze towards her sister. Ali sneered back, and stuck her tongue at her.
"I need a special kind of punishment for you two idiots. Now, let's see. Would it be the chamber of quick sand? The chamber of poison joke? Or even the chamber of never ending reruns? No...how about...banishment to the outlands?"
"What?!" The sisters shouted, "Noooo!"
"Excellent choice, Your Excellency." Hamana applauded.
"Xerxes wait! You can't do that!" Esther pleaded.
"Why not my dear?"
"Xerxes, they're just fillies. They're young. They didn't know any better. They just need to learn from their mistakes, that's all. Please, have mercy."
"Oh very well my dearest. Then, I decree that these two fillies to be imprisoned in the chamber of perpetual tickling for the next five years."
"What?!" Ali and Kalli yelled in desperation.
"No wait!" Esther called out.
"You heard the King, take these criminals to the chamber immediately." Hamana commanded.
Moriyah and the guards bowed their heads to The King, The Queen, and Hamana before departing the throne room. With the two fillies desperately struggling in their grip. Esther watched as the two sisters were being dragged to their doom.
"Well, now that's out of the way." Hamana stated, "Let's get back to business, Your Majesty."
"Actually Hamana, how about if you take Scribbler..." King Xerxes poofed the purple baby dragon instantly to Hamana's side, "and you two handle that political stuff for me? Okay?"
"But Your Excellency, there's so much that needs to be done today."
Xerxes lowered his head to Hamana's ear and spoke through his forced smile, "And I'm sure that Scribbler can help you with all of that. In other words, am-scray!"
SNAP! Xerxes teleported Hamana and Scribbler outside the throne room...leaving him and his sweet Esther all alone.
Before Esther knew it, she was coiled in Xerxes's long serpent body and staring into his strange eyes once more. She couldn't help but blush in this close embrace.
The King smiled at his beautiful Queen and remarked, "I cannot thank you enough for rescuing me today, my sweet. I felt like..."
POOF! Esther was holding Xerxes in a dancers' dip position, with His Majesty wearing a glimmering belly dancer's outfit. He finished his statement with, "a real damsel in distress."
POOF! Xerxes returned Esther back into his coils, all the while, dressed in his normal royal outfit. Esther nervously answered, while trying to avoid the King's gaze, "Actually, it was my-I mean the good captain Moriyah that saved your life. Without her, I would have never been able to push you out of the way."
"Moriyah huh? Well, she has always been a good servant to me. Remind me to send her a thank you card later."
Meanwhile, Hamana was spying on the royal couple through a small hole in the front throne room door. She whispered loudly, "Moriyah?! Oh that does it! One way or another, that unicorn will pay for sticking her little horn into the King's affair!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Scribbler writing down her every word.
"Scratch that out! You're suppose to write down the King's words, not Hamana's."
Scribbler rolled his eyes before he scratched out Hamana's words out completely with his quill.
Xerxes continued to praise, "But really my dear, it means so much to me knowing that it was you that pushed me out of the way."
"Well I...couldn't just let you get smashed. Now could I?"
"Oh my dearest, you continue to fascinate me more and more each day."
He cupped her chin gently and pushed away the strands of hair on her face. In order to take in her beauty...so close to his face. Esther's cheeks flared up like fire when Xerxes touched her face. She couldn't turn away, her face now in his soft grip.
He sighed lovingly, "Since we're newly weds, I was thinking of getting you a wedding present. And I figured the best way to get you exactly what you is to simply ask you. So, what will it be? Diamonds? Jewels? More animals? More gardens?"
"Oh, it's okay Xerxes, I don't need anything. Really. Especially since...I don't really have a wedding present for you."
"Oh you silly pony! You already gave me my present."
"R-Really? W-What did I give you?"
King Xerxes took both of Esther's front hooves into his hands, and brought them close to his chest. Just like the night they first met. "You marrying me, of course. Thanks to you, I get to have a wonderful wife to spoil and love for the rest of my eternity."
Esther was at a lost of words. Not because of the gift possibilities, but because of what King Xerxes just said. He was thankful to just have a wife like her. That thought alone made her heart flutter.
Oh why did he have to do this to her?! One minute, he's the tyrant that every pony fears. And then, he's a doting husband the next. Esther wished that he could make up his mind soon.
"Well, y-you already named the palace garden after me. So...I really need anything else."
"Oh c'mon my dear. Give me a challenge! Let me do something extravagant for you! Oh, I get it now. You want me to surprise you! Don't worry sweetie, I know just what to do."
With a snap of his fingers, music began to play in the throne room. This caught Esther off guard, as she wondered where the music was coming from.
POOF! Esther cowered in fear at the sight of thieves surrounding her in a circle. They all had sharp curved swords and they were ready to attack. However, Xerxes's voice sang in the background...
Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves
Scheherezad-ie had a thousand tales
Then Xerxes popped out randomly from the back of her top, with a big smile on his face. He poofed his arms into where Esther's forelegs were and punched out the ruffians for her. He happily sang while doing this...
But Esther my dear, you're in luck 'cause up your sleeves
You got a brand of magic never fails
You got some power in your corner now
POOF! The thieves disappeared and Esther witnessed Xerxes transforming himself into a giant firework. While launching himself into the air to explode, Xerxes sang...
Some heavy ammunition in your camp
BOOM! BAM! While embodying the fiery lights and stars flying about in the room, King Xerxes sang...
You got some punch! Pizzazz! Yahoo and how!
The firework show ended, and the draconequus turned himself into a golden oil lamp. The lamp appeared in Esther's hooves, and Xerxes sang to her...
See all you gotta do is rub that lamp
And I'll say
Blue smoke traveled out of the golden lamp. And the smoke takes a form. It's Xerxes! And he's all blue! He crossed his arms and proudly sang...
Little Miss Esther
What will your pleasure be?
SNAP! His blue skin disappeared, and Xerxes summoned a fancy dining table for Esther to sit in. He wore a fancy waiter's outfit with a curly yet thin mustache on his upper lip. He then elegantly sang...
Let me take your order
Jot it down
You ain't never had a husband like me
No no no
After that, he magically summoned a silver platter for her. He opened it to reveal her meal, and she was shocked to find Discord's head on a roasted chicken. The strange head then sang to her...
Life is your restaurant
And I'm your maitre d'
C'mon whisper what it is you want
You ain't never had a husband like me
POOF! The restaurant setting was gone and in it's place was a giant cushion chair for Esther to sit in. She was even fanned by smaller versions of Xerxes. The normal sized Xerxes appeared behind her chair, serving a golden platter of fruit to her. He happily sang to her...
Yes ma'am, we pride ourselves on service
You're the boss
The queen, the shah
Say what you wish
It's yours! True dish
How about a little more Baklava?
Then, Esther's comfortable chair transformed into a tower of Dorito chips. The tower was so high that it almost took Esther to the ceiling. She struggled to keep her balance at the top of this large pile. Xerxes sang while safely observing Esther from the ground...
Have some of column "A"
Try all of column "B"
Esther accidentally fell off the tower of chips and into a giant pillow held by Xerxes. He then sang to her with a smile on his face...
I'm in the mood to please you
You ain't never had a husband like me
"Can husbands do this?" He sang while juggling three mini Xerxes all at once.
Then, he combined the three mini draconequui and transformed them into a basketball. Poof! He magically turned the throne room into a basketball court. With Esther's eyes glued on him, he slammed drunk the basketball into the net. Xerxes proclaimed while swinging from the net, "Do they do that?!"
Snap! The basketball court disappeared, and King Xerxes presented a black magican hat in front of his queen. He reached into the hat and pulled out a cute Esther doll. Xerxes then sang to her...
Do they pull this out their little hat?
Can they go POOF?!
All of the sudden, belly dancer camels appeared before Esther's eyes. While the camels were dancing around her, Xerxes sang...
Well, looky here!
King Xerxes amazed his wife more by magically ripping his body into two halfs and mending the ripped parts back together again. He harmoniously proclaimed to her...
Can husbands go, Abracadabra, let 'er rip
And then make the sucker disappear?
Xerxes magically enlarged his eyes into the size of bowling balls at Esther, and dropped his jaw to the ground, in order to emphasize...
So doncha sit there slack jawed, buggy eyed
I'm here to answer all your midday prayers
Then, he literally opened his chest and revealed a certified seal document on his heart...with Esther's name on it. He sang excitedly...
You got me bona fide, certified
You got a king for your chare d'affaires
I got a powerful urge to help you out
So what-cha wish? I really wanna know
The document on Xerxes's heart rolled out as long list and popped out of his chest. He took the long scroll and danced with it like it was ribbon. He even rubs his butt against it like a towel. He sang in a jazzy tone...
You got a list that's three miles long, no doubt
Well, all you gotta do is rub like so -
Come on! Yes! And oh...
Esther was then taken back by the King dragging her into a jazzy swing dance with him. He sang to the mare in his arms...
Little Miss Esther, have a wish or two or three
I'm on the job, you big nabob
You ain't never had a husband likeeee me!
Kaboom! Xerxes poofed up a basket of cuddly and cute parasprites for Esther. She immediately cuddled with the cute little bugs. Xerxes proclaimed in a sing-song way...
Can husbands do this?
No really...can they? You're welcome!
Poof! King Xerxes then magically summoned a large group of ponies into his throne room and created a fun hoe-down for Esther. The draconequus was dressed in a cowboy outfit, and clapping his hands to his own song...
Grab old Ess, by the hoof, swing her
'round 'till she can't stand,
chicken in a basket, sparrow on a tree,
never had a husband like me!
Snap! The hoe-down and country music disappeared, and its in place was a spotlight. And the spotlight was on Xerxes...holding a mix close to him. He spoke softly into the mic, "I'd like to bring the house down a little bit...sing a few old classics...couple of favorites of mine...I'll get back to you in a second. Thank you."
After that, he magically teleported a black grand piano for him to play in the spotlight. On top of the piano was Esther...wearing a beautiful yellow golden gown. She was feeling unsure by the sudden change of atmosphere. While playing the piano, Xerxes beautifully sang in his black tux...
Tale as old as time...
A sudden audience cheer echoed in the throne room. Esther looked around to find where the cheering is coming from, but she couldn't find the crowd. The King quickly stated to his audience, "Thank you, thank you very much."
Soon, his gaze was locked on Esther's eyes. His soulful gaze made Esther blush. Her face reddened even more when he sang...
True as it can be. Barely even friends, beauty and the...
Poof! Xerxes then turned the throne room into an under water cave filled with trinkets and old silver ware. Esther found herself wearing a yellow and blue fish costume, while her dear King was wearing a flowing red wig, a purple sea shell bra, and a green fish tail on the lower half of his body. He then sang happily while looking at a fork in his paw...
Look at this stuff! Isn't it neat?! Wouldn't you think my collections complete?! Wouldn't you think I'm the king who has everything?!
Kablam! The draconequus telepoted himself and Esther to the top of a tall cliff. She found herself now wearing silver armor. While Xerxes was wearing a long black wig, flowing in the wind. He was also wearing a Native American brown leather dress with a turquoise necklace. He proudly sang into the breeze...
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue cold moon, so whether we are white or copper skin
I want adventure in the great wide...
Snap! Esther was back in her yellow golden gown and Xerxes was back in his black tux. But this time, they were dancing. They were dancing to romantic saxophone music. With his face close to Esther, he sang soulfully...
Ever just the same, ever a surprise,
Ever as before, ever just as sure,
As the sun will rise! Oh!
Tap! The king poofed both him and Esther to the top of some golden stairs. On the levels below Xerxes and Esther were rows of ponies in golden suits, tap shoes, and canes. Even the royal couple were dressed up in these fabulous outfits. The King and Queen descended down the stairs together, swinging and tapping their feet to the beat of the music. While the ponies beside them did the same. Xerxes sang in his crescendo...
Can husbands do this?! Can they do that?! Can they do abracadabra?! Let her rip!
Give me a donkey-band, takin' it home!
Little Miss Esther, have a wish or two or three!
I'm on the job, you big nabob
You ain't never had a husband...
The tap dancing ponies sang after...
You ain't never had a husband, never had a husband!
Xerxes and his ensemble of musical servants sang together...
You ain't never
Had a
Husband, like meeeeeeeee!
Never had a husband like me!
Yeah!
In one big swirl, Xerxes made all his magical creations and music disappear. He returned himself and Esther into their normal clothes back into the throne room, wearing their outfits prior to the musical number. He positioned himself on the floor before Esther, with a prideful smirk on his face...and a blinking neon applause sign above his head.
Esther slowly clapped with her hooves and nervously smiled at Xerxes, "That was...really...something."
"Didn't know that your husband was so talented, huh?"
"Well, I certainly do now."
"So, did my little musical number give you any ideas?"
Esther was then reminded by how this whole crazy ordeal began. As her mind went through her recent memories, the image of The Cutie Jewel Sisters appeared.
"It...it did. I think I know what I want now."
"Excellent! Tell me, I'm all ears!" Then, he enlarged his ears to the size of elephant ears and held them near Esther.
Moriyah's voice echoed softly in her head Esther, you should never be afraid to do what is right.
Her cousin's words gave her the courage to say, "I would like you to...to release The Cutie Jewel Sisters from The Chamber of Perpetual Tickling."
"What?! But-But, why my sweet?"
"For starters, they're foals Xerxes. Young, fragile, and lost fillies that didn't know any better."
"They tried to smash a piano over my head!"
"But you said so yourself, the piano wouldn't have hurt you. You're an immortal god. Plus, you could have stopped it with your magic. Like you said, it was foolish of them to do so."
"But still! No pony questions or threatens the king! No pony!"
"Please Xerxes, isn't there some other way?"
Xerxes wanted to say no. He wanted the conversation to end right there and then. But he couldn't. Her eyes. Her teal puppy eyes...they were too powerful...he couldn't resist them. Curse her divine-like cuteness.
He groaned as his response, "What did you have in mind?"
Esther smiled and fluttered her wings with joy, "I was thinking...maybe we could send them to some kind of reform school to help them learn their lesson?"
"Hmmm, school eh? I suppose, school can be quite tortuous as well."
"I don't want this school to be violent Xerxes."
"Fine, fine. No spanking. But can I still bore them to death?"
"You can teach and bore them for five years. Not to death."
"Deal!" They sealed their agreement with a hoof/paw shake.
Their little shake lasedt longer than they anticipated. And they didn't realize this until a minute passed by, and they still were sealing their agreement.
Esther was the one to break this off quickly. The King and Queen chuckled nervously and blushed. They turned their faces away from each other.
Xerxes broke the silence with, "So...um...Esther? Are you busy tomorrow?"
"N-No, I'm not. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if we could spend more time like this tomorrow?"
"S-Sure, we can do it again tomorrow."
Esther smiled at Xerxes.