//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: "Scars of the Past" // Story: The Redemption of Tempest Shadow // by twilightsparkle3562 //------------------------------// With the Friendship Festival finally concluded, Princess Celestia retreated to her private quarters. But, she wasn't going to sleep just yet. Something was on her mind as she sat at her desk, and looked down at a picture of a young, magenta colored unicorn pony. "Come in." Celestia called, as she heard a knock on the door. "You wanted to see me, sister?" Luna asked, as she walked into Celestia's quarters. "Is there something on your mind?" "Yes," Celestia answered, turning away from the picture and taking off her reading glasses. "Something has been eating at my mind about Tempest Shadow." "What about her?" Luna asked with concern. "Well, about ten years ago, I learned that a pony who lived in Canterlot named Fizzlepop Berrytwist had run away, and was reported missing by her family,” Celestia explained to Luna. “We sent out search parties and put up posters, but we found nothing and presumed she had disappeared without a trace. Now, take a look at this picture, Luna. Who does this mare remind you of?" Luna carefully studied the picture, and then felt her eyes widen in shock and surprise! "She looks familiar, sister!" The princess remarked. "But, are you certain that this is the pony who led the attack on Canterlot?" "I know it is, Luna. The features on Tempest Shadow very well match the pony who’s featured on this picture,” Celestia nodded. “But, we need more evidence to confirm if this is so. I know her family has since left Canterlot, except for her sister." "Was she present during the invasion?" Luna asked. "I don't know,” Celestia replied with a shake of her head. “But as far as I am concerned, Tempest's sister lives near Canterlot Stadium. Not far from Moon Dancer’s home." Celestia sighed, as she placed the picture back on her desk. "Well, if you want to find out for yourself, I’m not going to stop you from doing so,” Luna said, as she put a wing around her sister to reassure her. “I've only been back from the moon for a short time, so I really don't know exactly all of the details. You could even write to Twilight and have her ask Tempest herself." "Perhaps," Celestia pondered. "Right now, I think I need to reopen this case and reunite Tempest with her loved ones. But, the timing has to be right. I don't want to force her into a situation that will upset her. It hasn’t even been a week since the invasion, tensions will be running high for a long time." As she spoke, Celestia began to think back to when Sunset Shimmer returned to Equestria (albeit briefly) and had her reunion with her family. Despite the fact that Tempest Shadow had gone to far more extreme measures than just stealing a crown and recruiting a bunch of brainwashed teenagers from another world, Celestia still had sympathy for the Storm King's former second in command, just as she did for Sunset when she abandoned her studies and went to that other world. “If Sunset Shimmer and Luna can come back to the light and make amends, surely Tempest can do the same with her family.” The sun princess thought to herself. "Sister, I can go to Tempest's former residence for you," Luna offered, as Celestia walked to the door of her quarters. "You need to rest." "No, Luna, you have your duties as Princess of the Night," Celestia replied. "Worry about them right now. Leave this to me for the time being." "But, sister…" Luna started to say, but Celestia quickly disappeared before she could finish her sentence. Once Celestia had gone, Luna walked over to Celestia's desk and looked closely at the picture again. Almost immediately, Luna joined her sister in having strong sympathy for Tempest Shadow, or whatever her name was. With most of her subjects asleep, Celestia walked down the streets of Canterlot and towards the house near Canterlot Stadium. As she walked, she could see some of the damage from the invasion that had been done to some of the houses. It was hard not to notice the damaged roofs, broken windows, and overturned decorations. But all those things could be mended, repaired, or replaced. The mental damage inflicted during the invasion, could not be so easily fixed. In fact, Celestia wondered if her subjects would ever fully recover from what had happened. Soon, Celesti came upon a broken and rundown house. She walked up to the door, knocking on it. "Who is it?" Called a voice from inside. "Is it you, little sister?" The sounds of hoofbeats were heard as Celestia stepped back, and watched as the door opened to reveal a pink coated unicorn pony with purple hair styled quite messily, green eyes, and a pack of bubble gum for a cutie mark. "Princess!" The mare gasped, hastily bowing down to her. "I'm sorry for acting like this, but I thought that…" "You have nothing to worry about, Razzle Fizzle," Celestia gently interrupted, draping a wing over her. "I have some news regarding your sister." Razzle's face widened and stepping back, she allowed her leader to come into her house and sit down on the sofa. "My sister is alive?!" Razzle Fizzle cried out, her tone of voice reflecting her desperate need for news. "How do you know, your highness?" "Are you aware of what happened at the Friendship Festival today?" Celestia asked. "I am," Razzle Fizzle answered, a hint of anger and disgust in her voice. "And I've been hearing that a pony in my sister's likeness was responsible for leading the invasion. Did she have a broken horn?" "She did."  Celestia confirmed and Razzle's green eyes widened with shock upon hearing this! "After all this time!" Razzle gasped, briefly rising to her feet and pacing around slightly. "I’ve finally found out what my sister’s been doing. How could she do such a thing to her fellow ponies, and more importantly, to her family?! Do you have a picture of my sister in your possession?!" "I do have a picture of her. And let me assure you that unicorns with broken horns are very rare to come by." Celestia answered. "You have nothing to apologize for, Princess Celestia," Razzle remarked, sighing heavily and walking towards a wall. "If there’s anypony who should apologize for terrorizing Canterlot, it's my sister. How could she stoop to such tactics?!" In a fit of rage, Razzle threw her left front hoof into the wall! "Razzle, I want you to know that your sister is sorry for what she did," Celestia spoke up, trying to comfort Razzle. "But, you need to understand that she’s sorry for what she did…" "Sorry doesn't cut it, Princess Celestia!" Razzle Fizzle snapped, turning around sharply. "My baby sister has an accident with an Ursa Minor, and then runs away from home, worrying us to the point where our parents die of broken hearts! And then, she comes back home, not to reunite with us, but to enslave, chain and cage her fellow ponies like criminals! Not to mention turning you, Princess Luna and Princess Cadence to stone! I, for one, am very embarrassed and disgusted by this!" "She was only following orders, Razzle Fizzle," Celestia protested, trying to defuse the situation. "If you would only listen to what I have to say…" "No, I won't listen to what my sister has done!" Razzle cried, stomping her hooves on the floor. "I'm going to rip her apart for this, Princess Celestia! I swear to you, I will!" Realizing that there was no easy way around this situation, Celestia left the house, and was just about to return to Canterlot castle when another voice was heard. "What's going on out here?" Celestia then turned to see one of her former students, Moon Dancer, walking out of her own home. "Moon Dancer!" Celestia gasped. "I'm sorry, I didn't know…" "It's all right," Moon Dancer replied, walking over to her former teacher and hugging her tightly. "She's been like this ever since what happened here today." Knowing that this was the perfect time to start her investigation, Celestia followed Moon Dancer into her house. Meanwhile, Tempest Shadow lay in bed in one of the guestrooms of Twilight's castle. But, she couldn't sleep, for her mind was still deep in thought. She had led an invasion of her former home and rather than being arrested for it, she was instead being treated like a friend. But, at the same time, she was being offered a chance at friendship. "I don't know what the future is going to hold for me," Tempest thought to herself, as she tossed and turned in her bed. "But, I know that there are going to be a lot of ponies who aren't as forgiving as Princess Twilight. I treated them so poorly and wrong, just like this crown." Tempest glanced over at Twilight's broken friendship festival crown that she had destroyed in the initial attack on Canterlot. "I will remember this," Tempest continued. "Princess Twilight is right about one thing, her friendship festival crown really does represent the spirits of the ponies that I broke by my actions. Let's just hope I can repair everything I caused, especially with you, Razzle Fizzle. I hope you can forgive me one day."