**Later in the afternoon after the events of the library**

Having left the library Sombra and Sombasi reached a fairly well kept building, The Crystal Empire Orphanage. It was nearly reminiscent to a large mansion since The queen of the empire made it one of her ambitions to ensure that the orphans would have a well kept home much to her own sadness, it tore her from the inside to know that such children existed in her empire. She radiated a love and care for her subjects that could even rival Celestia. Sombra and Sombasi have never known their true parents and when they try to pester the guardians here if they knew anything about them they often got the same answer, “we sadly never found or met them”. Sombra opens the door and proceeds through while keeping it open with his right hind leg to allow Sombasi to enter. The two hope that Miss Maresbury hasn’t made good on her promise to contact their guardians in the orphanage. The orphanage can sometimes be chaotic with the other kids running amok with the caretakers keeping them at bay and attending to their needs. Even in these times of peace there still seems to be some orphans popping up here and there in the empire although Sombasi and Sombra are a very particular case.

“Ok, if we just stay low and don’t mention anything that happened at the library we-”, Sombra was cut off as a rather large unicorn stallion steps out from one of the doorways and finishes Sombra’s sentence for him, he has a black mane with an orange furred body with black pupils in his eyes. His name is Starburst raindrop, he’s unlike most ponies in the empire for the fact that he isn’t actually from there. He’s not a native crystal pony as he was born in Canterlot before he decided to move to the empire at the request of Celestia. Celestia was soo impressed with the work he and his wife, Starfire Raindrop, had done she sent them to the empire to assist the Queen. Considering that every child in their old orphanage was adopted or went on to live fulfilling lives back in Canterlot the orphanage wasn’t in use and this was the perfect way for them to continue with their expertise.

“You mean when your brother caused quite the commotion and got into a fight with Kiera Limestone?”, Sombra and Sombasi became very nervous as their father figure had knowledge they hoped would be kept secret. “Miss Maresbury already informed your mother and I.”, Starburst turned his gaze over to Sombasi who hesitantly looks upon the stallions gaze. “What were you thinking Sombasi? We’ve never seen you lash out verbally the way you did, I know it can be frustrating but you shouldn’t lower yourself to the levels of somepony like her. Now what did your mother and I tell you about bullying?”, Sombasi took a deep breath and sighed before answering his father figures question.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”, Sombasi says as he looks down and braces himself for any punishment the stallion would see fit. Starburst nods at Sombasi’s response.

“Exactly son, although there is an exception in this case.”, this immediately catches Sombasi’s attention, Sombasi lifts his head and meets the stallions gaze before asking:

“An exception? What do you mean?”, Suddenly Starburst Raindrop picks up Sombasi with his orange aura and hugs him in a loving embrace.

“You defended yourself well against that minor lightning spell son! As far as I’m concerned Kiera was the one in the wrong the moment she shot that minor lightning spell at you. Even though you shouldn’t have retorted you were right to defend yourself, you will still be punished but not too badly son. I’m proud of you.”, Starburst then continues his laughing while still hugging Sombasi causing the colt to blush and form a very large smile. Sombra speaks up and reassures his brother.

“That’s exactly what I told him as well, you see brother? I told you everything would be fine.”, as the trio continue with their laughter a sound of clopping hooves were drawing near the trio as Starfire Raindrop joins the conversation. Starfire is a beautiful unicorn mare sporting a white mane with a mixed milky and red furred body along with red pupils in her eyes similar in color to the red on her body. Much like her husband she isn’t from the crystal Empire originally and thus isn’t considered an actual crystal pony. Granted, living in the empire automatically turned even non native crystal ponies into said forms the moment they enter the empire by means of the crystal heart. As Starburst is the father figure to all within the orphanage Starfire is the mother to all the children in the orphanage. Upon seeing the trios antics Starfire put her right hoof onto Starburst who still had Sombasi in his grasp.

“Now, now, husband we can’t be too laid back with this. I’m still upset this has transpired for I don’t want any harm to come to any of the children regardless. That said though...”, Starburst puts Sombasi back onto the floor as Starfire approaches Sombasi and nuzzles him. “I’m just happy you’re okay.”, Sombasi blushes as he leans into his mothers nuzzling and replies with a simple.

“Hehe, T-thanks mom.”, Starfire then turns her attention to Sombra.

“Sombra, have you learned anything from the library? Any luck?”, admittedly Sombra was still disappointed from his visit to the library, he sighs with closed eyes before meeting his mothers gaze.

“Not much luck sadly, most of it were already familiar to me or I simply found it not worth the effort.”, Sombra pauses for a second before he continues, Starfire listening contently to her sons concerns. “I know for sure there’s more knowledge of the empire not to mention magical tomes and powerful spells it’s just...I’m at a loss of where to find them. Aside from The Royal Library of course...”, Starfire smiled with a hint of a giggle for she had something of interest to tell Sombra.

“Actually son, aside from checking on your brother I joined your conversation because I have exciting news for the both of you and I think this will interest you most Sombra.”, this got the attention of not only the brothers but also her husband as well.

“What?”, they all said in unison with their ears perked up which causes Starfire to chuckle a bit before she continued.

“As it turns out The Queen herself will be taking a stroll around the empire and it just so happens she wants to stop by here at the orphanage to check up on all the children. I could persuade her to teach a certain two sons of mine along with possible access to the royal library up in the castle, hmmm I wonder who those two could be?.”, Starfire raises her right hoof to her chin pretending to think about it in a playful yet sarcastic manner. Upon hearing this Sombasi, the other children and even the other caretakers all react in excitement. Many of them were doing celebratory dances and cheers however it was Sombra in particular whos excitement dwarfed everyone else.

”W-WHAT?!”, Sombra yelled as he used his green aura to lift himself into the air. “Her majesty is coming here and you’d be willing to do that for us?!”, Starfire responds with a nod followed by laughter at her sons excitement. Sombra’s eyes were nearly filled with stars as if Luna herself stuffed them into his eye sockets along with a very large smile that nearly consumed his entire face. “This is fantastic news mother, if you truly could persuade her into letting me study the library at the castle that’d be a dream come true!”, Sombra exclaims as he shoots both of his front legs into the air over his head. Sombra then levitates back to the ground and runs into his mother hugging her into a loving embrace. “Thank you very much for this mother!.”, meanwhile, Sombasi is very happy for his brother trotting over to Sombra and their mother figure as Sombasi puts his left hoof onto Sombra’s back.

“That’s awesome Sombra!, this is exactly what you’ve been hoping for brother.”, Sombasi takes his hoof off of Sombra, who’s still hugging their mother, before thinking aloud with a hoof to his chin. “Maybe the Queen could also get a teacher to help me hone my skills, this is amazing!”, Starburst Raindrop laughs and with a large smile, he tries to settle down everyponies excitement with a gesture of his left hoof.

“Hahaha, now let’s all relax for a seco-”, before Starburst could finish the sudden sound of trumpets go off outside the orphanage before Royal crystal Guards open the doors and take formation as two guards remain by the entrance while the others take up various spots along The Orphanage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU1nokLTcNU

After the trumpets quiet down one of The Royal Guard makes an announcement.

“Hear ye, hear ye, presenting her royal majesty Queen Valerica Sera Mi Amore!”.

(To be continued in Chapter 3 - Queen of the Crystal Empire)

Author's Notes:

And that was Chapter two ladies and gents, it's a bit shorter compared to chapter one but it serves as a set up for the next chapter <3. see you all in chapter three!.