The Sunshower had been so intent on looking down, studying the ground, watching the way leaves were crushed beneath her too-heavy hooves so that she would not have to watch the way that Kaj totally ignored her, that she had not even noticed Res trying to follow after her. As Valiance flew before her, the queen started slightly, lifting her head and stopping her exit. Behind her, the Moon Doctor’s familiar voice called out and the queen could not help but smile. Khan, having grown both used and tired of Kahlua’s incessant sorrows, decided to try and start a game. Swooping down from above, the little blue expelled a weak gust of frost breath in the general direction of a tree near Valiance. Trying to brush the red with his feathers, Khan tossed his head and caws before flying off into the trees, hoping Valiance would follow in a game of chase.

Absently, the queen watched the dragon’s antics before turning back to face Resplendence, her smile fading as Kaj’s name was spoken. Internally, she was torn- she wanted to comment gaily on how beautiful the sparkles that rained down from Res’ hair were and rush forward to greet her, but she also felt locked in a prison of darkness that she couldn’t escape.

At least she didn’t have to make any decisions for herself- Res gave prompt instructions and the queen felt somehow that there would be no ignoring them until all her answers were given. “Oh Res,” she said, reaching her nose out to return the pink mare’s greeting. “Kaj… He’s… We’re… we’re fighting. He’s mad at me.” Her head swung around for a moment to look at her belly- everyone had been so busy congratulating her like she was supposed to be happy, and yet she felt none of that excitement. She felt only death creeping slowly towards her.

“The Earth God, after… after Hototo. He said I was needed to restore balance, and… How could I say no to a God, Res? They’ve given me so much. But when Kaj saw me, and heard, he didn’t understand.” Frowning, she tried to remember what words he had said to her. “He said I should have said no and that I was acting like a child. And that… that I must not really love him.” The last part wasn’t a direct quote, but it was inferred from what he had said to her. Had she ever even told Res how she felt about Kaj? It didn’t matter now, so much of the world was broken around her. “I don’t know how to make anything right anymore.”

Stepping forward, she buried her face in Res’ mane. She was all cried out long ago, but there was comfort there in the shimmering tresses that fell from her sister’s mane. And though Res had insisted that Kahlua should talk about herself, the queen couldn’t help but offer some muffled words from where she stood. “You’re sparkling. It’s beautiful.”