Early Preview Tempest Section (Spoilers) · 7:04pm Oct 28th, 2019
Working away at the chapter and should have it ready on time, since I'm already over 10K words on it. Decided to give a small preview that doesn't spoil too much.
An impromptu base of operations had been set up in the old town hall of Old Town. Tempest sat dutifully nearby Phobia Remedy, keeping alert of any potential assassin in all the flurry of activity. Phobia was quite busy, as busy as Tempest had ever seen the Dreamwarden be. Some might not recognize the level of activity that Phobia was doing though. The Dreamwarden went to checking over papers, to consulting with Princess Twilight Sparkle, to suddenly falling asleep for a minute or two--as if she were narcoleptic.
The Dreamwarden suddenly awoke again, and turned to the alicorn princess. "I've reviewed with the others the contract my mother-in-law and Bill signed. We all agree that they knowingly consented to allowing corrective mind magic in the advent that something was not right. You're free to proceed."
Twilight Sparkle didn't even wait to thank the Dreamwarden. She just went rushing off to where the two crystal ponies were being kept under guard. Phobia promptly went back to sleep. This wasn't a state of rest for the Dreamwarden; this was her immediately moving on to the next task on her agenda.
Tempest continued to scan the room with her eyes. Her charge was in the open, completely vulnerable to any danger. She'd tried to convince Phobia to at least do this in a private room, instead of right out in the open like this. The Dreamwarden was insistent that she be seen working, and that she be easily accessible to anyone who needed her on a moment's notice. She admired the Dreamwarden's dedication, but it still seemed an unnecessary risk. It wasn't her place to try to overrule Phobia though. She'd given her recommendation, but she'd follow the Dreamwarden's will, as was her duty.
Sunset Blessing sat in a corner, almost unblinking, and unmoving. The unicorn seemed to be in shock. Tempest was unsure if the leader of Riverview was fully aware of what was happening around her. Everyone seemed to want to give the red unicorn space, and not to disturb her, despite the fact that she was--for the moment--the one who should be leading these operations. The fact that Tonya had died was too much for the unicorn to cope with, and only Twilight Sparkle ever made an attempt to discuss anything with the preacher; and then only to briefly consult about the temporary transformation spell, before leaving Sunset Blessing in peace again.
The unicorn's location was ideal for observing the entire room, better than where Tempest now stood. After a brief moment of hesitation, she walked over to the unicorn who had inadvertently led to her long stay on Earth. Sunset Blessing didn't respond to her approach, didn't even look at her as she took a seat next to the unicorn. The preacher just continued to stare blankly ahead.
They sat in silence as Tempest continued to watch the activity for any potential danger to Phobia Remedy. People would glance at the Dreamwarden here and there, but it could easily be seen as curiosity about the pony that was snoring right in the middle of the busy room. There was no sign of hostility. There were furtive glances in Tempest's direction as well, but she knew these were aimed at the unicorn beside her. She'd remain vigilant, but there didn't seem to be any danger at this time. There was a dull background roar of voices, as various aspects of emergency operations were discussed and put into motion.
"You have my condolences," she said in an even voice to the unicorn beside her, not turning her eyes away from the crowd.
She could see the unicorn on the edge of her vision, and saw no response. She hesitated again, then decided to say a little more. "Even though the damage is immense, and we still don't know if anyone else died in it, what your wife did was a brave and heroic thing to do. If she had not acted, a far worse outcome would have happened. She laid down her life for the lives of others, she was a good mare, you should be proud of her."
Sunset Blessing still stared blankly ahead. There was no indication that the unicorn had even heard her. Tempest continued to watch the crowd. She had said her peace to the preacher, and couldn't fault her for not responding. They had their animosity between one another, but she wasn't heartless to what the preacher was going through right now. In the past six years the Dreamwarden's family had become like her own. She spent as much time with Phobia Remedy's foals as Phobia Remedy herself did. They had been in great danger through this entire ordeal, and the thought of what might have happened to any of them made her wonder if she wouldn't be in much the same state as the preacher if one of them had died.
Family, loved ones, that was what they were to her. It was something she hadn't had for most of her life in Equestria. Her own parents she hadn't been close to. The loss of her horn had hit them hard, and while they weren't cruel or abusive to her as a foal, they'd become distant. It had taken her a long time for her to realize that they were hurting as much as she was, and were at a loss at what to do. Their cold distance from her was not a sign of not loving her, but one of having so much hurt that they walled themselves off to avoid feeling it. She exchanged regular correspondence with them now, and they were proud of her. However, Phobia's family was still the family she felt most a part of, especially the foals she helped raise and teach. She'd almost lost them today, and only after almost losing them did she realized how much they meant to her.
