[Not intentionally skipping over ya'lls beautiful responses, but this post doesn't need to be any longer than it's already going to be. x.x Feel free to skim and start reading after the page break :)]


They came.

As the first few faces poked through the autumn-coloured trees, Isopia could feel a significant weight lifting off of her chest. Despite the fact that she had been raised to this position by the God of the Earth himself, there was still plenty of room for dissent among the ranks. She knew this, and a large part of her expected it. Luckily she addressed that potential situation with her dry academic mind, rather than what small meager part of her soul that dealt with emotions. If they stood against her, she would have to persuade them otherwise.

But apparently the need for such things was not upon her.

Yet.

Honour or not, she was pleased that Lotherarius had accepted his nomination. She knew little of him, and yet that seemed to be the most common trait among their spies, and so she supposed it was fitting.

Isopia's golden stare was then tugged towards a small foxy-shape, suddenly upside before her. As Persephone - or Cora as she was known in the Falls - apologized, Isopia looked up with a feigned look of surprise on her face. "And why should she learn restraint?" Isopia asked, trying to sound conversational and failing spectacularly. Hubris offered the kitsune a flower that he was holding, only after pulling off a petal and blowing it gently towards her. The Mountain's large skull bobbed as the pastel-painted mare also accepted her position.

Everything felt like a blur until Zero finally nodded. (He did nod, didn't he?). The entire time she was speaking to others, the corner of her gaze continually fought to seek out Zero, to see whether he was laughing at her, whether he looked angry, whether he was giving any indication of saying yes. And, like with all aspects of their friendship, Isopia was so focused on protecting it, that as he accepted her invitation to come and live with her (which was a pretty big deal), she barely acknowledged it. Her jaw tightened for a moment (which was actually a sign of relief), and she exhaled the breath she had been holding. But other than that, any reaction she might have had seemed too ... too personal to share in this group, and so what should have been a happy reaction from the Mountain towards her best friend, was decidedly lacking.

As Ktulu began speaking, Isopia's quad-horned skull dropped slightly in acknowledgement. The warrior situation was not one that she was ignorant of (hadn't she given up her crafting magic, to train as a warrior to help bolster their ranks?), and yet that fell decidedly under Archibald's domain. Or so it seemed. "You are correct, Constrictor, and have served our herd dutifully and successfully for years now. I will leave the Conscripts and the next Champion under your capable leadership." Isopia was no fool, and was not under any false pretenses about her position here. Just because her Father named her Czarina did not imply that she was more capable in all aspects of leadership, than those who surrounded her. She would lean on those more knowledgeable in their areas than she.

If Isopia was the smirking kind, she might have smirked at Tommen's challenge. As it was, she merely exhaled slightly harder than normal, before continuing on.

The Mountain expected a bit more sass from Syrena, but given that she had just been ascended far above the ranks she had been asking Isopia about only a few weeks prior, the big mare decided this was likely a strategic silence on the part of the once-siren. Isopia's skull bobbed slightly. I'm sure there is, she thought with a clinical sort of amusement.

Ultima. Something about her name rang true in Isopia's mind, as the pegasus who appeared to have been painted by a brush made of wind, arrived. Isopia hadn't ... doubted her Father's wisdom as his judgement regarding the former nurse of the Edge appeared in her mind, but nor did she wholly understand it. She knew nothing of this mare, of the precepts of her goodness and skill, and yet here she was, among them now, charged with their care.

Before Isopia had a chance to return Brendan's acceptance, he had turned, following Ranjiri from the clearing. Part of Isopia wanted to issue a warning - or at least a recommendation - to stay, and to hear out the rest of what it was she had gathered them here for. But she knew all too well how arduous meetings were, and how often she wanted to evade them herself. Besides, Ranjiri was her own mare, and Isopia's reign would not begin with tyranny. Let them do as they would.

The rest nodded and shuffled, those not immediately mentioned by Isopia's former speech huddled together, some looking hopeful, others brooding, some bored. The Mountain didn't reciprocate their emotions, but certainly she could understand them. Soon she would release them from whatever obligations they felt at heeding her call. For now though, there was one more item on her agenda...