Chapter 1
Step by step, Tempest Shadow put one hoof in front of the other. It was an easy task to do, as the road she was trotting on had gone from rocky to smooth a few miles ago. What made it even easier was Tempest's goal that laid in front of her. The goal Tempest Shadow had, it was in the distance, behind just a few turns. And the closer she got to it, the more a certain desire was burning in her chest.
A few days prior, she had left the capital city. Princess Twilight knew about her plan. She had asked to come with her, to let her assist in this endeavor, but Tempest Shadow had shot her down. This was her task. She and she alone would take care of it. Apparently, “to settle things” was defined differently by the Princess of Friendship. Tempest had chosen her words carefully as she announced her plan, to not alert the princess more than necessary. But, somehow, she had figured out her personal definition of this phrase.
The princess hadn't given up so easily and bombarded her with lectures about the importance of friendship and togetherness and of giving others the chance to amend past mistakes. “Even though other ponies can sometimes hurt us, there is always more value in rekindling old bonds of friendship than there is in burning bridges,” she had pleaded.
Tempest's response to this persistence had not been a kind one. Princess Twilight may know a lot about friendship, but what she did not know was how it felt for her to become abandoned by her two best friends and her whole home village because her magical capabilities were not up to the standards of her community anymore. And so, Tempest had raised her voice and put the princess into place. She had even concentrated her magic and let small sparks of it leave her horn, an old habit of intimidating ponies to get it her way that she probably wouldn't need anymore, but would be hard to get rid off. In the end, the princess had just done her job and offered her knowledge, as useless as that knowledge was in her case. She would have to apologize to her later, once she had returned to Canterlot, but now, there was only one thing that counted, one last thing she had to do to give her soul peace.
The trees to both sides of the path began to thin out, Tempest Shadow suddenly noticed. While recounting the events before her departure, she had almost reached her destination. Between the last trees, she could already see glimpses of the roofs of an old mountain village shine through to her. Of her village. Her old village.
Tempest Shadow lowered her speed. There was dread creeping up in her chest, pushing aside the burning flames a little, there was no doubt about this. Even a little fear got added to the mix, even though this was something Tempest would not have admitted if asked. For a few seconds, pictures flashed up in her mind in rapid succession; a yellow ball, the cobblestones between the cottages, a cave, the ursa minor and..... Glitter Drops and Spring Rain.
Her eyes narrowed the moment she could see the two foals in front of her mind's eye. The dread and the fear perished again all of a sudden, burnt away by the flames in her chest that flared up stronger again now. Tempest Shadow looked down at her body. She was still wearing the Storm King's armor, having decided to keep it on a little longer for the task ahead of her before she had left Canterlot.
Tempest's throat was dry. She could feel the heat, all the way up to her head into which it had risen in the meantime. Her pace increased again, until it had become a fast canter, and in this tempo, she brought the last trees behind her and moved down the steep path and into the village at its bottom. Only as she had crossed over the borders, she stopped. She was not out of breath, even though her canter had almost become a gallop at the end. But Tempest Shadow's breath was going strong now. She looked over the little cottages, her eyes still narrowed.
Everything looked the same as she remembered it. Of course these memories had become a bit foggy since her fillyhood, but for the most part, Tempest recognized the place still. Not much had changed. The quaint village did not even seem to have become bigger. “Some things never change,” she spoke to herself in her mind. The mare huffed, then she set herself into motion again.
As her eyes moved over the small buildings and the wide space between them, Tempest felt nothing. She had been bracing herself for more unpleasant memories coming over her mind as a strong force, but nothing like that happened. There was a cold feeling in her chest and a slight pressure in her head, but that was all she could feel.
Her trot through the village happened at a slow speed and with menacing movements. Another old habit, still present from countless times she had marched into towns and other villages, but one that she welcomed this time. Tempest knew the threatening demeanor would become useful soon. What she didn't know, was how soon it would become useful.
It was still rather early in the morning and even in such a small village, this meant that not many ponies were awake, if there were any ponies at all that chose to get up so shortly after sunrise. With that, it was surprising to Tempest Shadow that she suddenly saw a pony trotting around the corner of one of the houses. It was a stallion. Just like Tempest, he seemed to have his own thoughts going through his mind and so, he did not notice her immediately. Only as the corner of his eyes revealed that a pony was in front of him, he stopped and looked up. His face did not express less surprise to meet another pony this early in the morning.
For a moment, the stallion did not say anything. He blinked and stared in surprise. Then his eyes grew suddenly wide and he opened his mouth.
“F-Fizzlepop?” he asked after another second of silent staring. “I-Is it really you?” His mouth stayed open, even after the words had left it.
Tempest Shadow looked at the stallion. In stoic patience, she scrutinized him. “Spring Rain,” she thought. Of course she recognized him. The blue coat and the blue mane, the latter falling over his forehead left and right of his horn, the purple eyes, the tail still as short as she remembered it. Only the cutie mark was new; a rain cloud pouring its contents, partially covering the sun behind it, graced his flank now. But everything else was still the same. Unpleasant reminders on the past.
Tempest Shadow did not answer for seconds, causing the stallion's face to become nervous. “Yes,” she confirmed as she finally spoke. She could have corrected him, told him that she wanted to be called “Tempest” today, but she knew it wouldn't be worth the effort.
“I-I can't believe you are back.....” the stallion stammered. “It has been twenty years, hasn't it?”
“It has,” Tempest responded taut.
“I can't believe it.....” he repeated himself. “Everypony wondered where you have gone to. Some said that you are dead, that you went back to the ursa minor's cave for revenge and became prey..... We all have been worried about you.” Sweat was trickling down his forehead now.
“Ah.” Tempest Shadow's head trembled slightly. There was just a little bit too much emphasis on the word “worried” for the sentence to be convincing.
“Do you want to come with me? I can make you some tea.” Spring Rain stood there, stiff and still, as he spoke out the invitation.
Tempest Shadow did likewise, although there was something cold in her reaction. “Why not?” she asked.
“Okay, then come,” Spring Rain prompted her, then he turned around without saying another word. He did not look back at her to see if she would follow and trotted back into the direction he had come from.
Tempest Shadow followed him silently. She did not leave him out of her sight, but also did not speak to him, and neither did he, until they had reached a cottage at the edge of the village. Spring Rain, still not turning around, put a hoof on the doorknob and turned it, then swung open the door. It was then that he finally cast a glance over his shoulder. “Come in,” he said. He went ahead and into his house.
Tempest Shadow, still silent and stoic, followed. Inside, she used her magic and shut the door. It was just in this moment that Spring Rain turned around to her again.
“Looks like your magic works better today, even though you lost your horn,” he spoke impressed, but Tempest did not overhear a trace of disdain in the words. She did not comment on the remark and kept eyeing the stallion silently.
After a few seconds of not getting a response, Spring Rain continued. “You can sit down already. I'm going to get Glitter Drops, I'm sure she wants to see you, as well.”
Hearing this name, Tempest Shadow slightly raised an eyebrow. She went ahead in the narrow corridor, aiming for a door on the left, while Spring Rain trotted up a staircase. As Tempest entered through the door, she could see that it was a kitchen. It was small and sparsely equipped. There was an oven, with some firewood stapled in front of it, a few drawers and cupboards and a round table in the middle. Entering the room completely, Tempest slowly went to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down on it.
Her wait wasn't long. After a minute, Spring Rain came into the kitchen. Behind him, a green mare followed. Glitter Drops. Tempest Shadow eyed her without saying a word, her eyes following her every movement until she had taken seat opposite of her. Spring Rain went to one of the cupboards and began rummaging in it.
“So, you are really back.....” Glitter Drops began. “I can't believe this.”
Tempest Shadow kept a straight face as she heard the same words wash over her for the third time. And just as Spring Rain before, Glitter Drops was breaking out in sweat now. Her back-combed, curly mane allowed a better view on the tiny, glistening beads on her forehead, though. She gave Tempest Shadow a nervous smile.
The conversation only continued as Spring Rain was done with preparing tea. He placed a cup of tea in front of Glitter Drops, then leaned in on her and placed a kiss on her lips, which got reciprocated by the mare.
“Ah, more than friends now, I see,” Tempest Shadow said dryly. There was a smile on her lips, somewhere between sardonic and sarcastic.
“Hehe, yeah,” Spring Rain replied sheepishly, taking the words as a compliment. He rubbed over the back of his head. “It just evolved into that a while after you disappeared.” He put down another cup of tea in front of Tempest Shadow and, finally, sat down with his own cup.
A few moments of silence followed, as all three unicorns poured sugar into their cups and stirred their tea. One after another, Glitter Drops and Spring Rain lifted their cups and took a sip. Only Tempest Shadow did not touch the hot, steaming tea.
“So, uh, where have you been all that time, Fizzlepop?” Spring Rain picked up the conversation again. Expressions of curiousness appeared on both his and his marefriend's face now.
Tempest Shadow still didn't correct him on her name. But, she answered the question truthfully.
“First in command in the army of his majesty, the Storm King. Conquering lands and kingdoms, defeating their own armies with brutal force and making them bow to his will,” she spoke, her voice having grown sinister and dark. “And, sometimes –” Her lips curled upwards to form a smile “– burning down a kingdom that refused to surrender or foolishly decided to rebel against his majesty.” She closed her mouth again and returned to her straight expression, letting the words linger.
Glitter Drops and Spring Rain gulped. Their hooves started to shake, making the cups they were holding shake along with them.
“B-But that's not what you're here for, r-right?” Glitter Drops asked carefully, almost losing her voice.
“Oh.....” Tempest Shadow answered in a mocking tone, then stopped talking again. The tidings of the Storm King's defeat had not arrived in the secluded mountain village yet, it dawned on her. She stayed silent for another few moments, finally taking a sip from her tea. Enjoyment filled her as she saw the fearful reaction of her old “friends”. She would not do anything that let this moment end sooner than it had to.
After another minute of silence, Tempest Shadow decided to answer. “No. The Storm King is defeated and now my loyalty is pledged to the royal castle in Canterlot.” She could feel how the tension left the two other ponies. Whizzing, they breathed out sharply, then moved the cups to their mouths again with their still shaking hooves.
“How about you?” Tempest Shadow took her turn to ask a question. There was a slight amount of mockery in her voice again now.
“Well, I work at the library now,” Spring Rain answered. “While Glitter Drops takes care of the house when I'm at work. Not very exciting, isn't it? Not like what you did.” He forced a smile. “You still know how life is always quiet and slow here, I bet.”
“Ah.” Tempest Shadow gave him another one of her short answers.
“But.....” Spring Rain pulled Glitter Drops closer to him. “Glitter Drops here is getting a foal! She is only in the third month, but soon, I'll be a daddy!” There was pride ringing in his voice now. He set up a grin, which looked slightly forced again. Glitter Drops smiled in a similar fashion. Then he leaned in on her again and they shared another kiss.
“Oh, a foal.....” Tempest Shadow said, as they had parted again. Her voice had taken on a menacing tone. “I hope it will find good friends here.” Then she placed her forehooves flat on the table and leaned forward, like she had just received a cue. “Better friends,” she hissed.
Spring Rain and Glitter Drops gulped again.
“O-Okay, F-Fizzlepop, we–”
“Tempest.”
“A-Alright, T-Tempest..... See, m-me and Glitter D-Drops, we never w-wanted to leave you b-behind. W-We just were..... We j-just.....” Spring Rain stopped abruptly, his sweat-drenched forehead furrowed.
“Just?” Tempest Shadow did not move an inch.
“J-Just..... We..... W-We were just afraid, T-Tempest, when your m-magic got so o-out of c-control after your h-horn b-broke.” At Spring Rain's side, Glitter Drops just nodded, teeth clenched.
“Ah.” Tempest Shadow took her hooves off the table and leaned back again. She ignited her horn, sparks leaving it. Some landed on the table, making the two unicorns opposite of her twitch. Engulfed in her aura, she lifted the cup to her lips. Tempest did not leave the shivering couple out of her sight as she took another sip. The cup returning to the table's surface with an audible thud, she continued.
“I hope everything will be alright with the magic of your foal. That nothing will be wrong with it that will make her friends and neighbors shun her for it,” she spoke, completely ignoring the words she had just heard.
“O-Okay, Fizzlepop, Tempest, listen.....” Spring Rain began again. His voice was still fearful, but anger rang in it now. “Me and Glitter Drops, w-we really meant it. We wanted to be your friends, w-we liked you! But you know our heritage and what magic means to us, we–”
“Oh, I do,” Tempest Shadow interrupted him, hissing again. “Magic, you were all so good with it. But friendship, this was something you failed with.”
The hooves of Glitter Drops and Spring Rain began to shake again, for a different reason this time.
Instead of Spring Rain, it was Glitter Drops who spoke up now. “Do you want to insult us more, Fizzlepop?! It was your fault your magic degenerated, you shouldn't have gone into the cave, it was just for a ball!” she shouted. At her side, Spring Rain gave Tempest a deep frown and nodded.
Tempest Shadow ignored them. Slowly, she got up from the chair, utilizing her menacing demeanor again. “You failed friendship,” she repeated calmly, but with clear accusation and judgement ringing in her voice.
Glitter Drops looked away, the frown having left her face and become replaced with a defiant expression.
Spring Rain opened his mouth again, anger more visible in his face now, but before he could say anything, Tempest Shadow had wrapped the table into her magic and flipped it over violently, letting teacups and sugarbowl hitting the floor. With a crack, the table broke into two pieces along the middle. Glitter Drops yelped in fear and Spring Rain jumped up and did a step back, a growl leaving his throat. He stared at Tempest Shadow with hate-filled eyes, but did not say another word.
Tempest Shadow met the stare, judgement and just as much hatred in her own eyes. She let her horn raining sparks down on what was left of the table.
“Both of you have been horrible friends. You don't deserve friendship.”
With these final words, Tempest ended the conversation. She turned around and left the tiny kitchen, in slow, calm steps. Only as she was outside in the corridor, she heard stirring coming from the kitchen. A sob rang into her ears, fearful in nature. Then Spring Rain's voice.
“Come back!” he shouted after her, his anger unrestrained now. “Come back, you bitch! You are going to pay for this damage, Fizzlepop!”
Tempest Shadow did not react. Continuing her calm trot, she approached the front door, then pulled it open with her magic.
“Did you hear me?!” it came from behind her again. “Fizzlepop! FIZZLEPOP!”
Tempest Shadow did not answer. But as she left the cottage, leaving the door open, a smile played around her lips, one full of satisfaction and glee. She continued her calm trot through the village undisturbed, the smile remaining until she had reached its borders again.
“Now, the score is settled,” she thought to herself, as she left her village for the final time.
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Nice! They really should have shown what happened to Tempest after the movie.
You did good Temp. You did good.
8948244
I think there's actually an IDW comic that will address that.
I still wish she stuck around as a new central cast member, but oh well. More room for fan authors, I guess.
8948313
Yeah. Still, I'd love if she would appear in an episode
Karma is a glorifies bitch ain't she?
8948334
That would suit her.
Wait. That's it? No reconciliation? Nothing like that at all??
I'm...not sure how I feel about this.
Old place, old faces and old memories. It is good story, Tempest had a dreadful past, and now she start the new life. But Just remember - don`t look behind. I hope for Tempest find of own way and best friends!
8948244
I am very interested in that, too, and I can't wait to get the comic arc with her next month! Thanks for reading!^^
8948292
She definitely deserves closure. I hope she will be able to get that. Thank you for reading!^^
8948321
Indeed. Tempest Shadow is the type of mare who rather takes matters into her own hooves. Thanks for reading about her revenge.^^
8948601
No. This was not the intention here. Coming from a village full of elitist unicorns (although, admittedly, the story here puts this only very subtle), who only care about magical prowess, there is not any room for reconciliation.
Neither have Glitter Drops and Spring Rain changed their ways, nor is Tempest Shadow interested in rekindling a friendship that never was a true friendship in the first place.
Tempest Shadow wanted to get closure for her past and there was only one way to get that closure, telling her so-called former "friends" what rotten apples they are. Sometimes, even friendship can be fake.
8949232
I would hope for that, too, that she can open herself up to friendships again without fear of getting hurt by pseudo-friends again.
Thanks for reading, I'm glad you liked it!^^
.....cause I'm the Music Meister!
8950895
Your Welcome.
I thought that tempest would meet up with the major
This is well-written, and I like your take the "yes, I'm reformed but don't expect miracles" variant of Tempest. I'll admit to feeling that the ponies from the flashback in the movie deserved to be forgotten (as the flashback seemed to indicate) based on their response to Tempest's mishap, which was partly their fault in the first place.
The ending of the story does seem a little harsh and unsupported, and I think it's because we don't see enough of what Tempest's village is like, and what Glitter Drops and Spring Rain are like now to feel that they still deserve Tempest's eye-for-an-eye payback. They do at least invite her in without being asked, and attempt to make conversation, even though they apparently have heard about her return (judging by how much they're sweating when talking to her) which makes Tempest come off as being simply vengeful and harsh. If, for example, Tempest happened to observe them still being aloof or uncaring before she spoke to them directly (e.g. while doing "reconnaisance" on the village, out of habit), that would help justify Tempest's actions in the reader's mind.
But apart from that, this is a strong story with a point to make, and it makes it. Well done!
9529678
You're right, a harsh revenge was indeed the intent behind this story. Whether or not both of them are still horrible ponies (Tempest actually met Glitter Drops again since then and apparently forgave her, which can be seen in the official comics) is something we don't know, but the point I wanted to make here is that some wounds don't heal and that the actions of someone who wounded you like this can still be felt for the rest of your life, regardless if the person who did this has become a better person or not.
The reason why I can relate to Tempest Shadow so well is because I went through something similar during my own foalhood. People who claimed to be your friends abandoning you when something happened that made you less strong than them, immediately when I heard about Tempest's past for the first time, I knew she is just like me.
To some extent, this event still affects me today and Tempest is just as much affected by what has happened to her. What I have written here is largely based on my own thoughts when I pondered how I would react if I would see certain "friends" from very, very early on in my life again.
Sometimes, people can better themselves. But what they can't is undoing what they caused, because the past can't be changed, so Tempest's little retribution here is well-deserved. She even went easy on them, I think.
It's something her old "friends" deserved and something that she deserved, as well, to close that chapter by knowing that they got at least a little comeuppance for their neglect and abandonment and for the pain throughout her life that they triggered with their actions back then.
Young
...
I could never see tempest do that
But i know alternate timelines exist
Its just...even then you see similarities
Its ... too dark seeing this in my opinion
But good read!
11537491
This is technically an alternate timeline, as the official comics have shown that something like this didn't happen. But when I wrote this story, it was before I read Issue #68 and so I was going by what I knew about Tempest at this point in time.
However. Tempest's enactment of revenge here is aligned with her personality and her experiences and is, therefore, something that very well could have happened like that in Generation 4's official timeline.
As someone who had something very similar happen to them as what happened to Tempest, "friends" leaving you in a time of need and weakness because they decided you don't belong to them anymore after you failed with something, I understand that this is exactly a thing that Tempest would do. She nearly did something like that and then only stopped herself because Glitter Drops told her a literal sob story (that even was a lie on top of all the strategically-placed tears). Tempest Shadow didn't look through that lie and forgave Glitter Drops because she said "sorry" (which she only did because she was scared of Tempest) and because Glitter Drops gave the impression that she regrets what she and Spring Rain did to Tempest.
This isn't something that Glitter Drops did in the timeline this story is from, but even in the timeline we see in Generation 4, she is exactly that kind of stuck-up, conceited bitch that this story portrays her as. The lie she spoke is a very clear giveaway for that.
11537657
Fine