After joining King Philia’s kingdom, Fire Opal was given everything she was promised. Thanks to him, she now had food, shelter, and other basic needs met. Even her wing had mostly healed under his care. While the conditions of the cold, murky hive weren’t ideal, it was much better than how she lived when she was alone. She was comfortable enough here, and thus had no reason to leave.

But Fire Opal couldn’t help but feel a sense of growing unease around the King. As she learned more about him, she realized just how serious he was about dominating Equestria. He was hellbent on taking down ponykind out of some need for revenge she didn’t fully understand. The ponies she once considered so loving and friendly were now the enemy, and she was supposed to be part of their downfall. It made her sick just thinking about it.

Part of Fire Opal wanted to leave, to fly far away before getting involved in something so gruesome. But she had nowhere to go and no guarantee that she’d even make it alone. Plus, there was no telling what King Philia would do to her if she tried. He treated her well for now, but he promised consequences if she defied him, and she didn’t want to find out what they were. He might have been a fraction of her size, but he was as intimidating as a monster from Tartarus.

So she kept quiet and obeyed. Anything to not end up like whatever changeling whose skin she now wore.

Still, she wondered about the King. He was mostly quiet and reclusive except when giving orders, but somehow she could tell that he had been around for awhile. He had not been a King for long either. What was his life like before this? Why did he want revenge against Equestria so badly? Did he ever love anyone? What happened to him?

Crouching down in the nursery, Fire Opal watched him look upon his eggs with an unreadable expression. She wondered what he was thinking.

“Those are some very fine eggs, Your Majesty,” she commented. “They’ll grow up to be very strong.”

“Yes,” he replied. “They will.”

“They…actually remind me of when I had an egg,” she continued apprehensively. “I had a baby once, her name was Banded Jasper.”

She waited for the King to command silence from her, but he said nothing.

“I…miss her a lot,” she frowned. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen her…I don’t even know how long. I miss her and my wife, Pelly…so, so much.”

He remained silent, contemplating the eggs before him.

“Pelly understood me, better than anyone did. I often felt all alone, but with Pelly, I was never alone. She was the first one to really…listen to me.” She reflected for a moment. “Did…you have anyone like that?”

He sighed deeply. “That is none of your business,” he answered, though Fire Opal swore there was a hint of emotion in his voice.

“O-okay…”

“Go stand guard outside,” he ordered. “I must be alone now.”

“Yes sir…” Fire Opal complied.

Something lied beneath the surface deep within King Philia’s heart, she knew. But he would open up to nobody. So she would ask no further questions.