> You spend a fair amount of time in front of that door.
> Sometimes, a servant or guard would pass, and give you a wide berth.
> Whenever there wasn't anyone around, you tapped and clopped out short rhythms that you rather quickly lost track of.
> You are just starting your second drawing attempt in frost when Pompombrabra emerges, a new pep in his step, and a palpable sense of purpose.
> You fall in next to him.
"Pardon mine inquiry, but how did thy audience go?"
> He leads you to the nearby flying chariot hangar.
"They shall weep, brother Anonymous."
> That doesn't sound good.
"Who, exactly shall weep, and what for?"
> You join him on one of the chariots, and he nods to the team of pegasus hitched to it.
"My future subjects shall weep at the sight of what I have wrought for their benefit."
> Well, that sounds a little better.
> You decide not to bother him, as he looks rather focused and intense right now.
> When at last the chariot arrives over the citadel, El Chupasombra signals for the chariot to stop.
> It is a rare, cloudless day in the Frozen North.
> Black crystal rises from the towers, culminating in a small pedestal, which he steps onto.
> The Som Bress monster motions for you to join him.
> You gingerly step onto the platform; it's a little crowded, but you stand a solid three feet from the edge.
> Som Brannery dismisses the chariot with a regal nod.
> Once they are away, you ask him,
"So what now?"
"Now, my brother, join me in laying the foundations of the kingdom."
> He touches the tip of his horn to yours and the first thing you think is,
'This is so gay.'
> Then you literally see what he is thinking, and you grin.
> You hear his answering thought.
'Forsooth.'
> You call upon all your wishy power, and no small amount of your magic, while he does the same.
> Your shadows on the platform expand and flow down the crystal, smoothing the unevenness of Sockbra's previous workings.
> The shadows spread throughout the city, smoothing and expanding in fractals.
> They reach the gates and surge forward, six geometrically perfect lanes lined with smoky blue crystals.
> Miles away, those lanes fracture into smaller forts, some of which look like skulls from where you stand, others like sleeping cats.
> Filaments of crystal extend from the boundaries, thawing out acres of snowy ground.
> Your platform expands into a panoramic observation room, panes of ice nearly invisibly thin.
> A spiral staircase descends from your hooves down to the (previously) tallest tower.
> By the end of it, both of you collapse, panting heavily.
'That was so fabulous. And gay.'
 
> You just lay there, too worn out to even attempt to move.
> The temperature in the room starts to drop.
"Wherefore art thou doing this, Anon? Art thou perhaps overheated by thy exertion?"
> You muster the effort to look at Som Brade, only to see that he is as puzzled as you.
"Nay, Sombra, 'tis not I who doth usher in this unnatural cold."
> He staggers to his hooves.
"Then whence cometh this breath of winter?"
> You sit up. That turn of phrase jogged your memory.
> Thus you feel more dread than surprise when Frozen Hart climbs out of the stairwell.
> A thin veil of fog drifts down from her body, jagged with her anger.
"You left me."
> You briefly consider making a reasonable excuse, but in your experience, that is precisely not what women want in this situation.
"I'm very sorry, is there any way I can make it up to you?"
> Her fog smooths out somewhat, but she is still irked.
"Take my brand."
> You are about to ask her what that is, when you see a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.
> You think you can guess. You bow your head.
"As you wish."
> She moves to your side and presses her forehead to your shoulder.
> Warmth blooms in that small contact.
> Your leg shudders involuntarily as what feels like cat claws scratch into your shoulder.
> Frozen Hart pulls away, blushing.
> The pain and warmth lingers, a white tracery of stag horns like a split snowflake standing out against your blue coat.
> Gondola pats your withers.
"Congratulations, my brother! May thy happy union last until the sun doth gutter out and the moon reunite with mother earth."
> Yeah, that was about what you expected.
 
"Thanks."
> You turn to Frozen.
"I'm going downstairs, care to join me?"
> She smiles happily.
"Always."
 
> Some time later, the three of you are looking over the barren fields.
"Prithee, brother Sombra. How doth one sow and cultivate thy crystal crop?"
> Hondurbras nods.
"Verily thy question is apt."
> ...
> Oh no.
"Thou hath not a clew."
> King Kombra smiles sheepishly.
"Time and again, I am awed by thy keen insight. Nevertheless, I have faith that ye shall fashion a solution."
> You get the feeling that he did not spend all that much time actually planning out this whole founding a kingdom thing.
> You sigh and think on the problem.
> Who would know about growing crystal food?
> The citizens of the Crystal Empire probably wouldn't be in much of a hurry to help out their former oppressor.
> Maybe Applejack? You aren't sure she did much more that gather fruit in that one episode.
> Still, at least some of the principles should be the same, even what you are working with are plant/rock fusions.
> Wait. Rock farming. While you wonder how that can even be a thing, a name comes to mind.
"It seemeth to me that what is needed is a rock farmer, brother."
> Farmbra looks surprised.
"Hath that profession still its practitioners? Forsooth, 'twas a dying craft at the time of mine regnancy."
> It's your turn to be surprised. Just what in Celestia's sweet plot is rock farming?
 
"I know that there be at least one family who doth persevere."
> You clear your throat.
"What say thee, brother Discord? Shouldst thou bring us to the Pie family rock farm, 'twould be most welcome."
> Discord spins himself out of thin air.
"Oh that was much better! We'll make you a true gentlecolt in no time."
> Space goes Veruca Salt, and you find yourself in a barren, rocky field. Or perhaps, a bountiful rocky field.
> You follow Intercombra to the door of the Pie family home, upon which he knocks.
> The door is opened by Cloudy Quartz, who silently ushers everyone in.
> Igneous Rock looks up from where he is polishing his sediment collection.
"Welcome to the Pie rock farm. We sell rocks, and rock accessories. What would you like?"
> CD Rombra nods in greeting.
"I am King Sombra, and I require a rock farming adept to consult upon the cultivation of crystal flora."
> Igneous scratches his chin.
"Sounds like you need my daughter. She just got her rocktorate in rock science."
> Igneous nods to his wife, who then climbs the stairs to the second floor.
"While we wait, can I interest you in some marble? We have had a fine crop of sylacauga, as well as yule."
> Salaambra shakes his head.
"I am quite self sufficient in matters of masonry."
> Silence falls, and five minutes later, Maud Pie arrives in her usual smock.
 > Igneous makes the introductions.
"Maud, this here is King Sombra, he could use your help growing crystal plants."
> She blinks, and turns to the king.
"Yes."
> Sombrad the Sailor smiles.
"If thou wilt gather thy tools, we shall travel to the site of our difficulties."
> Maud disappears back up the stairs.
> Hiho Silbra murmurs,
"Such a prompt mare."
 
> Fluttershombra, is this your fetish?
> You are spared having to make a reply by Maud's return.
> Her saddlebags packed, you all leave the house and walk to where Discord is pretending to be a boulder.
> On the way, Yo Tombien says to Maud,
"And how shall we remunerate thyself for thy services?"
"Samples."
> He pauses, waiting for more, but then replies,
"That is most reasonable, madame rocktor."
> You tap Discord's hide, and he uncurls.
> He takes one look at the newest addition to the group and gives you a knowing look.
> Space goes Mike Teavee and you're on the outskirts of the fields around the citadel.
> The Som Branger leaves to obtain a selection of seeds and berries.
> While he is gone, Maud looks at the hybrid ice/shadow crystal walls of the citadel.
"Who made those rocks."
> It almost doesn't sound like a question, but you answer readily enough.
"Sombra and I."
> Her eyes glance at your brand, and returns to her usual impassivity.
> Som Bralleck returns and sets the seeds and berries before Maud.
> She lays down on the ground, examining the crystals closely.
> The Rocktor holds a berry up to the light, and nods in satisfaction.
"I have read about these. It was in Rockwarts, a History."
> She digs a shallow hole in the ground, then drops the berry in.
> After filling it with dirt, she motions for Sweet Home Alasombra to approach.
> She lays down on the ground again, and he does the same after a moment of hesitation.
"For it to grow, you must talk to this berry like a lover."
> He lays there slack jawed for a moment.
"Surely thou doth jest."
> She just stares at him from across the patch of dirt.
> He takes a deep breath.
"How oft hath I dreamed of thee, of thy breath and thy song. I bid thee rise, and share my day and every day henceforth."
> He pauses.
"Was that sufficient?"
> Maud sniffs at the loose earth.
"It appears the book was wrong. Collected good data, though."
> Som Brancisco doesn't know what to say to that.
> Maud motions for you and Frozen Hart to join them.
> When you both settle down, Maud says,
"Now kiss."
> You blush hard. Som Briego averts his eyes, and Frozen obeys immediately.
> It's still embarrassing to kiss in front of other ponies, but you can't deny how nice kissing is.
> Frozen pulls back, and a small shoot rises from the ground.
> Maud blinks in satisfaction.
"Affection initiates germination."
> This sinks in.
> You feel a certain amount of dread, but it has to be asked.
"Someone has to kiss around every planted seed?"
> Maud looks at you, then Frozen, and nods.
"Ideally, you would use the Crystal Heart, but this will do as a stopgap measure."
> Welp.jpg