Queen Valerica nodded her head and patiently waited for Starfire to begin. As Starfire Raindrop regained her confidence she looked over to her husband Starburst Raindrop, putting a hoof onto his shoulder. “Dear, how about you allow me to start things off with her majesty while you grab some drinks from the kitchen.”, Starfire looks over to Valerica. “Any preferences Vale?, we have soo many different varieties of juices here thanks to the children however my husband and I do keep some wine as well.”, Starfire then realizes she left out a very important detail. “Oh and yes, we hide it from the children”, the trio begin to laugh at that last statement while The Queen raises a hoof to her chin in thought.

“Oh I’d usually go for wine but it’s getting late so could I trouble you for some Orange Juice?”, Starburst Raindrop nods happily before turning his head to his wife.

“I’ll take the same dear.”, she informs him. After getting his orders Starburst leaves the room and informs the guards outside that he’ll return with some drinks and if either of them would be interested to which they both ask for grape juice.

“Now then Valerica...”, Starfire begins although she does swallow a lump in her throat causing her to pause momentarily, what they were about to discuss was a very sensitive topic to Starfire. “Sombra and Sombasi are doing amazingly well, I honestly couldn’t be prouder of either of those fine young stallions and I’m soo grateful you left them in our care.”, Starfire says with a very large smile on her face however her smile slowly faded as her expression changes to one of worry and hesitation for what was coming next. “However, I’m afraid of how they’ll react if they knew about their...true origins...of what they truly are.” Queen Valerica sympathetically looked upon her friend before taking a breath and lets out a sigh.

“Starfire, I too fear how those two will react once they find out that they...”, The Queen could also feel the hesitation that plagued Starfire while her eyes shut halfway her lips almost quivering. “That... They...” Valerica finally closed her eyes maintaining a sad yet concerned look before finally answering. “That they are the children of the immortal ponies of darkness, those who herald from The Planes Of Absolute Darkness...The Umbrum”

The room went silent as the two mares sat quietly before Starfire began to have tears run down her face, her words begin to sob as her tears flowed. “Th-ey are n-ot evil Valerica, my sweet boys...”, Starfire sniffs. “...would never become anything like those horrible monsters that The Empire faced alongside Princess Celestia and Princess Luna all those years ago during the events of The Planemeld”, Starfire begins to shake her head from side to side as her tears still continue to flow like a river dropping from both of her cheeks. “....they won’t.....they won’t....they simply won’t.”, Queen Valerica moved over to Starfire to comfort her, using her left hoof to hold onto Starfire’s right hoof while also draping her left wing around Starfire into a loving embrace. Valerica uses her magic, her horn glowing with a dark purple aura, to levitate over a box of tissues that was placed near the Raindrop couples bed on a nightstand while also bringing over a small trash can that was placed next to what appeared to be Starfires beauty station complete with a mirror and all of her make up. Starfire thanked Valerica and blew her nose into a napkin before discarding it into the trash can.

“Starfire, sweetie, I’m not saying that they are evil nor do I hope they become evil.”, Valerica says with love and sympathy as she rubs Starfires back before she continues. “I simply want to talk to you and your husband about how we’re going to reveal the truth to them.”, Valerica hesitates but she must make her point to her friend even if it hurts her. “Only time will reveal how strong your sons will be and how they will handle the truth however in the event that one...”, Valerica swallows some spit out of nervousness praying that her words won’t enrage her long time filly-hood friend. “...or even both of them become...corrupted...we must do what is necessary to not only protect The Empire but all of Equestria as well.”, Valerica sighs and leans her head against Starfires right shoulder. “Thinking about what happened during The Planemeld terrifies me greatly Starfire.”, both Valerica and Starfire could feel each other shaking pressing closer to aid the other. “Nopony should ever have to see let alone face such horrors.”

“I...I know Valerica...I know it’s just”, Starfire Raindrop looks to Valerica tears beginning to form again in her eyes. “I love those two soo much, I love all of my children here but those two will have a much harder life then anypony else me and my husband have ever raised.”, before the conversation could go on a knock is suddenly heard prompting the Queen to say:

“Come in!”, the door opens thanks to one of the two guards who were stationed outside the room, noticeably holding a glass of grape juice for each of them as Starburst Raindrop enters the room then the guards closes the door behind him. Starburst had a tray with three glasses of orange juice which he kept levitated with his magic before setting the tray onto the table centered between the couches the trio have been sitting on. Despite his absence Starburst knew what had happened since he was gone, he could sense that both Valerica and Starfire were distraught and for one reason, one reason only, the origins of the two colts he would see as his beloved sons. Valerica took it upon herself to move back onto the other couch before kissing Starfire on her head and allow Starburst to quickly come to comfort his wife. Starfire leaned into her husbands loving embrace stuffing her face into his chest before Starburst asked Valerica what he had already suspected even while he was in the kitchen.

“So Valerica, have you two found a solution? Do you have any plans on how we can reveal this...information... To our sons safely?”, Valerica wished to Luna’s stars that she had a way to do it and guarantee that the outcome would be preferable not to mention sparing the two ponies before her but she knew of only one way, it was the best way in her mind.

“I do have a suggestion Starburst although it’ll put a lot of pressure on you both.”, The Queen says as Starfire raises her head from her husbands chest and knew exactly what Valerica wanted to say.

“It’s us...we have to do it”, Starfire responded while still holding onto her husbands left hoof.

“Yes, I agree full heartedly.”, Valerica responded as she looked upon her best friend and her friends lover. “You two are what I’d like to call a foundation of sorts. Sombra and Sombasi love you two whole heartedly and my hope is that they will keep a clear head as you reveal the truth to them simply because it’s you, the parents who love them no matter what. You two will have to comfort them, nurture them, and most importantly you must never stop loving them. Not that you needed me to tell you that of course.”, Valerica finishes with a smile. Starfire meets her friends gaze before smiling as well.

“You’re right Valerica, if anypony else were to tell them it might go wrong but if it were me and my husband I know my boys will understand.”, Starfire began to take upon herself a very confident look she also became filled with determination before jumping onto her hooves nearly bouncing off of the couch. “Give me some time Valerica to set something up but I promise you...”, Starfire trots over to the other couch hugging Valerica into an embrace while pushing her right cheek against Valerica’s left cheek which Valerica welcomes happily. “...all of The Crystal Empire, no, all of Equestria will know that my sons will become invaluable and I’ll watch with pride as they grow into weapons of righteousness”, both Queen Valerica and Starfire Raindrop chuckle happily, Starburst Raindrop comes over from the couch he was planted on and joins them in their embrace.

“Phew, I’m honestly a bit drowzy. Thank you very much for the juice by the way it was very satisfying.”, The Queen says as she licks her lips while rubbing her stomach before she gets onto her legs and stretches all four with various poses while also extending her wings to their maximum length, she was grateful the couples room was fairly large. “I think we can call it a night wouldn’t you two agree?.”, Starfire and starburst nodded in agreement. Starfire turns to her husband.

“Dear could you take the empty glasses to the kitchen as I walk Valerica out with her guards?. Oh and speaking of the guards I’m sure they’ll be finished with their glass too.”, Starburst looked to his wife and nodded.

“Anything for you my sweet Raindrop.”, the couple kiss each other on the lips before Starburst takes his leave with a tray full of empty glasses while also gathering empty glasses from the two guards both of whom gratefully nodded to Starburst. Meanwhile, Valerica couldn’t help but envy the couple before her, she let out a sigh that was filled with a hint of sadness.

“If only you were here, my dear Olstrom Shattershield”.

Valerica, The Royal Crystal Guard, and Starfire were now outside in front of The Orphanage. The two friends gave each other one last hug before the queen began to take her leave along with her guards but as she drew a short distance away Starfire couldn’t help but run after her friend, there was a question that lingered on Starfire’s mind and she wanted to get it off her chest. “Valerica, wait!”, Starfire yells as she got closer.

“Oh?, what’s wrong Starfire?”, replied Valerica motioning for her guards to let Starfire approach.

“14 years ago, after the combined forces of Canterlot and The Crystal Empire stopped The Planemeld...” Starfire pauses remembering that horrible event. “...when you and The Royal Sisters found Sombra and Sombasi as new born fillies... What made you give them to me and my husband here at the Orphanage?. Not that I’m ungrateful of course but why did you do it?. Celestia was pretty neutral while Luna proposed a rather...extreme option, but why di-” Starfire was cuf off as Queen Valerica put a hoof to Starfires muzzle before she answered:

“Simple Starfire, it’s because it was you who taught me a valuable lesson which...” Valerica paused with a blush starting to form along with a smile. “...a lesson that brought me and my late husband Olstrom Shattershield together, don’t you remember?”

“W-wait, you don’t mean?”, Starfire’s eyes shot wide open with realization. Queen Valerica nodded with her blush and smile still present.

“As you know my husband was one of the last pureblooded wild horses, although the word wild was pretty offensive to him, whos blood hasn’t yet been crossbred with that of a pony much like my daughter Princess Shiori Shattershield Mi Amore and many other ponies of our time.”, The Queen took a breath before she continued. “In the beginning, Olstrom and I had to keep our love a secret for a long while. It got to the point that despite our love we feared the worst would happen should we be discovered by Olstrom’s herd or even my fellow ponies here at The Empire back when the union of both species were heavily frowned upon. I was a princess...he acted as a sentry horse for his herd... But we knew the repercussions would be...terrifying.” The Queen paused and was noticeably sad about this before she continued. “Therefore, I turned to a certain fillyhood friend of mine who told me something that I’d never forget. It gave me and Olstrom the courage to show our love to the world and we didn’t care one bit if anypony complained. So what if a pony and a wild horse joined together in union?, that was our choice to make.”, then, both Valerica and Starfire began to recite the words that got The Queen through those hard times, the words that Starfire told her many years ago, the same words that the Queen is sure will help Sombasi and Sombra as they apply here too.

“The circumstances of ones birth are irrelevant, it’s what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”, The Queen gave Starfire a wink before leaving with her guards while shouting back with a hoof in the air.

“Don’t forget to bring Sombasi and Sombra by the castle tomorrow, I did make them a promise”, leaving behind a shocked Starfire Raindrop in front of the Orphanage Starfire fell back onto her flank while a tear fell out of her eye causing her to wipe it in turn.

“Yes, that’s right...by Celestia that is soo right how could I have forgotten that?”, Starfire smiles as she watches her friend and the guards disappear in the distance. She then heads back into the Orphanage to join her husband in their bedroom. Before getting into bed with her husband who was already fast asleep Starburst raindrop turns towards her bedroom window which positioned to the far right side of the bed sporting a very perfect view of the upper part of The Crystal Castle. Starfire sighs, closes her eyes, and forms a smile as she says. “Thank you, Valerica.”

(To be continued in Chapter 5 - The Crystal Castle and the statue of legend)