Chapter Text
My Condor
El Condor Pasa: Mi Rey. Your little sister is named Queen right?
King Halo: Yes, why?
El Condor Pasa: Shorter girl, same bay hair as you with a white blaze, and a blue
ribbon on her left ear that matches yours?
King Halo is typing.
King Halo sent a sticker of herself. “EHHHH?”
King Halo: YES?!
El Condor Pasa: Mi Rey, I didn’t happen to ruin a surprise you had planned?
Me and Grass just saw her up by the Student Council’s office.
King Halo: I had no idea she was here.
King Halo had been sitting at her sewing desk finishing up some new adjustments for a new dress for Cesario, when she looked over at her phone to see El’s message. Her eyes widened as she sent her first reply. ‘Queen?’ King thought to herself, ‘What’s she doing here?’
Her head started to spin as her thoughts started to run rampant. Mother had not contacted her, even if they weren’t on the best of terms. Surely Queen arriving on campus would have been something their mother would have told her about. She took a moment to put down her sewing equipment, before going to open her door.
She needed to see Queen.
Locking her door behind her, she made a mad dash down the Ritto dorm hall and towards the main staircase of the dorm. From there she found herself leaping down the flights of stairs as she held onto the handrail as she forced herself around the inner rail and down onto the ground floor.
“My my, little pony.” came a voice, as King Halo looked up to see Fuji Kiseki looking up from her desk, a pile of books surrounding her. “You seem to be in a rush today.”
King just nodded as she ran towards her shoe cubicle and swapped pairs. “Something just came up, Dorm Leader Fuji.” Once her laces were tied, she looked over at Fuji again, who just smiled back at her.
“Just try to be more considerate of your fellow students, I heard your footsteps all the way down.”
“Mhmm, will do!” King exclaimed as she pushed past the doors and out into the open. El had texted they were in the Student Council room, right? She pulled out her phone to shoot El a quick text to confirm it.
My Condor
King Halo: You said she was up by the Student Council office?
El Condor Pasa: Si! She was with Teio.
Tokai Teio (Tsuru’s Sis)
King Halo: Hey Teio, got a minute to meet up?
Tokai Teio: Yep! I’m up in the Student Council office right now.
That’s all King needed to read as she set off in a sprint towards the main road. She needed to make sure if it was really her sister. Worst case scenario it wasn’t, and she could talk to Teio about showing Kawakami some dancing lessons later as she was looking to debut in the fall.
The main road was quiet at this hour so it did not take long for the light to give her right of way, and once she was past the campus gates she opened right up. King kicked the ground hard as she blitzed her away under the rows of cherry blossom trees, passing fellow students in her gale as she slipped between groups, trying to not lose her pace.
At last she passed the Goddesses Statue and slowed down enough to slide to a standstill just before the main academy doors. Firmly opening one she stepped forwards and up the main flight of stairs twice over until she was standing at the top, before her stood the Director’s room itself, but to her left was the room she seeked. The student council office, as she tried to lean silently against it, only for the door to suddenly creak loudly, alerting everyone that she was eavesdropping on the conversation happening behind the wall. “-someone else who wants to speak with you, Queen Halo.” came Symboli Rudolf’s voice from within the office.
King took a deep breath as she slowly opened the door wide enough to catch a glimpse of the Emperor sitting at her desk. She could also make out the Director’s Assistant, Tazuna sitting on one of the couches, and Air Groove standing by Rudolf’s side. With the Emperor’s approval, King slowly pushed the door further open, and that’s when she saw her.
Queen was sitting a little uncomfortably on the other couch, holding onto a rather faded Tokai Teio plush in her lap, as the actual Teio sat next to her. King panted heavily as she just smiled warmly. “Queen…” she spoke barely louder than a whisper.
It was enough though, as Queen’s ears twitched and suddenly Queen had leaped up, throwing her Teio plush to the floor. “K-King!” she shouted in joy as she all but ran into King’s arms and pulled herself close as she wrapped her arms around her older sister. King couldn’t help but smile as the memories of her departure to Tracen had ended with Queen hugging her right before she had gotten on board the train, and here she was, the positions had flipped but it all still felt the same. “I’ve missed you so much.” Queen spoke up, her eyes tearing up.
King’s smile only grew as she brought a hand up and ran it through the younger bay’s hair. Her gaze however was looking at the other people in the room as she spoke up. “I’ve missed you too…” She paused as she let Queen take it in. “Now…” She watched Queen’s sapphire eyes slowly look up at her through the streams of joy. “Why don’t we listen to the Emperor’s advice and go find somewhere to get out of their hair while they sort your information out, alright?”
She watched as Queen slowly released her hands and took a step back. “R-Right.” she answered nervously. King watched her turn around to move for her things, and that Teio had managed to reach down and grab the plush of herself and was grinning happily.
As King watched Queen reach for her bag, the Emperor spoke up, stopping her. “You know… you’ll be back here later, Ms. Queen. You may leave your things in here if you wish, I promise no one will touch them in here without me seeing.” King watched her slowly stand from her desk and walk over to Queen’s belongings, and once Queen had let go, put her hand on the handle. “Now off you three go, Teio knows a lot about where everything is on campus and will gladly give you a tour, while you and King can find the time to speak together.”
King nodded. “Quite right.” She said, as she watched Queen slowly reach for a cup on the table. Teio on the other hand had put the plush on top of the suitcase as Rudolf moved it towards a corner out of the way, before walking around the Halo sisters and making her way to open the door for them. As soon as the three of them were out in the hallway, King sent a thank you sticker to El, as Teio and Queen looked on. King was about to text again as she caught the two of them staring. “O-oh. Sorry, was sending El something.”
Teio just leaned in with a mischievous smirk on her face. “Oh? Care to share with the class?”
King blushed and gasped lightheartedly. “Teio, are you implying that I’d do more than send a ‘thank you’ to my friend for letting me know my dear first-rate sister was on campus for the first time?”
‘First-Rate. Me?’ Queen thought to herself, before looking up and trying to smile. “W-Well El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder did seem very nice when we met them earlier.”
King just turned to Queen and smiled warmly. “Of course they are, El has no bad bones in her body, I would know! She is quite-” King just saw the devious smirk reappear on Teio’s face, trying to torment her senior again. “El is quite the first-rate rival of mine. Grass Wonder on the other hand, is a first-rate uma who might have some bad bones. But then again, she is an American, they’re born with some bad bones.”
Teio just giggled. “El is American, and what did you just say?”
“I-!”
Queen was speechless and just listened to her seniors banter with each other as they walked down the stairwell and then down a hall. “So uhm, where are we headed to first?”
Teio took the chance to take the lead and perked up. “Oh! I was taking you on the same route I’ve taken plenty of other students and ponies around before during our Fan Festival.” She pointed to the doors along the hall. “As you might have guessed, there’s plenty of classrooms, as Tracen has plenty of teachers for both Athletics and Academics, but seeing as you’re the younger sister of one of her year’s best, I bet you knew that!”
Queen nodded along, as Teio started showing her around the main school building, showing her the library, trainer offices, and other specialized classrooms. King pointed out one of the rooms with dismay. “And that’s Tachyon and Cafe’s classroom, I’d… write down that number in case you ever get a note to go there. Don’t.”
“Don’t?” She couldn’t be surprised by Queen’s shocked expression. “Why?”
Teio on the other hand, with a wide smirk on her face just leaned in to whisper into Queen’s ear, loud enough for King to hear. “Next time you see El, ask her about-.”
“Tokai Teio, I swear.” King was bright red as she nearly screamed. “One more word and I’ll have your head.”
Teio just grinned as she leaned into Queen. “Your sister’s definitely been over here to try experiments led by Tachyon. She’s a good person… just her methods of research and experimentation…” Teio trailed off for a moment. “... Ya know?”
“I think I do.” Queen said, her ears twitching as she swore she saw the door to that specific classroom open and a pair of red eyes start to peer out of the darkness towards them, before Teio grabbed Queen’s hand and started dragging her along.
They soon left the main building and towards the pool building, if Queen understood why there’d be such large windows, sure enough Teio opened the door and the sounds of splashing hit their ears. After a moment, the trio made their way into the building, as Teio started speaking. “And this is the pool…” She slowly paused as Queen could see a sense of dread wash over her idol. “Um.. stand back from the edge, please…”
Now it was King’s time to smirk. “Every time Teio’s had to lead someone on a tour, she ends up in the splashzon-.”
Before King could finish her statement, a voice rang from the very top of the diving tower. “MAYA’S GONNA MAKE THE BIGGEST SPLASH!!!!”
“MAYA, NO!!!!” came another voice from the room, but it was too late, as a small ball of orange jumped straight down, and like a cannonball almost instantly hit the water, sending a large wave of water out of the pool.
Teio could barely turn around to see who shouted, as a large wave crashed down on her. She opened her eyes to see that her uniform had been completely soaked before sighing out loud. “Maya….” she just shook her head as she turned to the Halo sisters. “Well… while Belno scolds my roommate, why don’t we head to the dorms? I’m sure Queen would love to see your dorm room, and I need to change.”
“Simply MARVELOUS!!!!” came a voice from the room cheering on the girl who jumped.
King could only stifle the laugh she had and smiled. “Of course, come along sister.”
She watched as Queen followed her out of the door. Teio was much slower to leave the building, grumbling the whole trip over to the Dorms about how this always happens to her, even when she carries her umbrella for the Fan Festival! At the road, King mentioned that Tracen had recently paid for a crossing light, to allow them to cross in case the road got too busy. Once they were across, King pointed to the dorm building complexes. “That’s Ritto, and that over there is Miho.”
Queen’s eyes widened. “They’re so huge! Wow!” She paused and smiled. “Ummm which dorms are you in?”
“Ritto.” answered both Teio and King.
Queen just smiled as she followed them into the Ritto dorm, but as they stepped into the lobby a voice was heard. “Ah, my darling ponies, what brings you back so soon?” There stood a taller umamusume with soft charcoal black hair and wonderful blue eyes.
“Oh, hello again Dorm leader Fuji.” King said with a smile as she pulled Queen forwards. “This is Queen, my younger sister… she’s unexpectedly dropped herself off for the day and we’re showing her around.”
“Oh wonderful!” Fuji said with a smile. “As King mentioned, my name is Fuji Kiseki, dorm leader of Ritto, a pleasure-” she suddenly stopped as she noticed how wet Teio’s clothes were compared to the Halo sisters. “-Teio, what on earth happened to your clothes?”
“Pool.” Teio said disappointed and sighed. “I’m gonna go take a shower and change, meet at your dorm room King?”
King smiled back and nodded. “Sounds good, come on Queen, let me take you up to my room-.” she paused and pointed to the cubbies in the corner. “Oh, that by the way is where you’ll put your training shoes and trade them for your indoor shoes once you get them… if you pass.” She just smiled at Queen. “Which a first-rate uma like yourself will pass with flying colors!” Queen wasn’t so sure anymore of being called ‘first-rate’ but followed her sister regardless as they walked up the stairs and towards King’s room.
The hallway was quiet at this hour, as King led the way towards the end of a hallway, stopping at the door right near the end and putting in her key. “Here we go.” She smiled as she opened the door for Queen.
Queen took her first steps into the room and gasped. “W-Wow, it’s huge.” Sure enough, had Queen known better, she would have been believed to be walking into a hotel room for a family instead of a simple dorm room. There was an entire, yet tiny kitchenette area with a countertop and minifridge, before the room opened up to two sides. The left had a desk with a sewing machine table next to it, shelving of materials above them. The bed itself was in the corner of the room, the bedding all neat and tidy, with the bedside table confirming that this was King’s side due to a photo of King with her rivals at an event all cheerfully hugging.
The other side of the room was a little less tidy, with blankets all over the bed, one almost about to slip off the occupant's bedside onto the floor. The bed itself though seemed to have a wall of plushies as well, even if they were a bit messed up and fallen over.
King smiled warmly. “Please make yourself welcome on my bed, sis.” Queen nodded as she placed her hachimi down on King’s desk and walked over to sit, before King sat down next to her, before sighing softly. Queen’s ears twitched for a moment, already thinking about what King might say in a moment. Taking her sister’s silence to heart, King started to speak again to try to break through the ice. “So…” King paused, unsure how to lead in what could be a heavy conversation alone. “I take it Mother knows you’re here?”
Queen simply shook her head before barely speaking above a whisper. “Nope, Mother had a week long trip to America, a fashion show I believe. She has no idea I’ve left, other than a note.”
King gasped a little, before recomposing herself. “Que-.”
“I… I just…” Queen teared up a little thinking about it. “Without you there, Mother’s become so much more… distant, focusing more on her work…” She paused and thought about some of her mother’s recent work that she had brought home, before starting to grumble. “Gods, just a couple months ago, she dragged me out to her work every day for weeks to have me be a puppet for a new racer’s outfit.” Queen took a deep breath. “So…soo much running and jogging, sudden twists and turns, ducking and jumping…” Queen tried to smile. “I’d hoped Mother had noticed that I looked like a proper racer in it but alas…” The frown returned to her face as she thought back to those weeks.
Queen paused, and took a deep breath. “I never got a say in anything when she was around, and when she wasn’t, she’d leave me alone with only a couple things to make food for myself, it was exhausting. I had no friends, no one to talk to, unless I was online…” She paused, her breathing heavy as she teared up further and further. “And you’ve been busy…and I didn’t want to bother you…” Queen trailed off, the tears in her eyes too much to focus on speaking.
King moved in to hug her little sister before rubbing her back a little, which seemed to work to calm her down. “I’m sorry Queen…” She looked down at herself. “I’ll admit, I’ve been a bad sister myself.” She paused as Queen didn’t respond.”I’ve been too focused on pulling myself from under Mother’s heel that I’ve made no plans to return home to see you, and left you to fend for yourself…” She sighed as those words set in, it wasn’t out of malice, and she hoped Queen understood. “But you’re here now, so I have no excuse not to talk to you, right?” Queen didn’t answer for a moment, looking down at the floor, her mind had already answered for her.
“Queen, is… is everything alright?” King asked, unsure what she said to get her sister to suddenly shut up.
“N-no.” Queen whispered. King could tell that whatever their Mother had said to her while she was gone had been worse than she imagined.
“Talk with me, sis.” King whispered softly, as she continued to rub Queen’s back. “Whatever’s on your mind isn’t worth locking up. It’s not first-”.
“-Because I’m not.” Queen whispered, shutting King up for a moment as she turned to look at her sister’s ruby eyes. “I’m not… I’m not ‘first-rate’... I’m barely second…”
King was taken aback a little bit by her sister’s sudden reveal of her self esteem, as she tried to figure out how to tackle this without hurting Queen more. “And who told you that, Queen? Mother?” a nod. “And what did she say to cause this?”
“I’m… I’m the reason dad left.” Queen whispered, barely holding back tears as she closed her eyes. She wished she had her Teio plush to hold, she’d seen Teio leave it in the Student Council room. King saw the look on her sister’s face and got up for a moment to grab a large carrot plush from Urara’s bed.
King slowly brought the carrot plush down into Queen’s hands, who latched onto it instantly. “Queen, pardon my french, but you and I know that’s bullshit. You could have never been the thing to tear them apart, Mother has always been too perfecti-.”
“It’s my blood.”
“What?” King just blinked as the words hit her, as she fought to speak but Queen spoke first.
“My blood doesn’t match yours. Or Mother’s. Or your father’s.” Queen admitted. She squished the plush harder as she wanted to curl into a ball and return to the room she’d left this morning. “A-And it’s not a fluke… Mother told me that she’d gotten drunk at a party and found a charming boy to ‘test drive’ and well… I’m the result.” She just looked at King for an answer. “I’m sor-sorry I-I couldn’t hold this in any longer…”
King just smiled softly, as she lifted her hand to grab Queen’s. “Why are you apologizing, Queen?” She grabbed Queen’s chin to lift her up with her other hand so Queen’s sapphire eyes could look directly into King’s ruby eyes. “Look at me. Does that matter? That you’re my half-sister rather than my full-sister?” she let go of Queen’s chin but Queen was still frozen in place as she looked up at her sister, tears still falling gently down the sides of Queen’s face. “You’re my first-rate sister regardless, Queen. I mean it. You’re here on your own merits, not Mother’s, not your father’s. Not mine. That’s pretty first-rate to me.”
Queen was gonna answer again only for King to shush her. “No, just relax, sister. Let’s wait until Teio comes back, and then we can continue your tour, after all…” King just smiled a little at her young sister. “You’ve got exams to take later.”
“Okay…” Queen whispered as she just leaned into King for support, squishing the carrot plush between them. King relaxed her arms and smiled at her happily. Watching as her little sister slowed down and started to just lay by her side and slowly drift off into a nap. King just thought to herself that this might be the first time Queen’s been able to actually relax in what might be the first time in years.