//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10: "Gravity of the Situation" 
// Story: The Redemption of Tempest Shadow 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

"Royal Guard? Captain of the Royal Guard?" Those were the words that went through Tempest Shadow's mind as she went to bed that night. Of course, she wanted to think about the situation carefully, however that was easier said than done. Her mind was drained, her body was drained, everything about her felt drained.

"Why would Princess Twilight want to make me her Captain of the Royal Guard? It just doesn't make any sense to me,” Tempest thought to herself that night, lying awake in her bed. “After all I’ve done, what does she see in me?"

"A pony that shows the potential to redeem herself in the eyes of all of Equestria." Said a deep voice, and Tempest hastily turned to see Twilight's broken friendship festival crown, once again coming to life.

"No, I am not seeing this!" Tempest huffed, turning away from the crown. "I am not seeing this! My mind is playing tricks on me."

"Haven't you realized yet that I am who I am?" The crown asked, its pieces floating around to face Tempest. "Remember, when you crushed me, you released my spirit. So, if I were you, I'd get used to being around me, because I’m not going anywhere anytime soon."

"If you say so," Tempest groaned, rolling back over onto the side she usually slept on. "I guess talking destroyed crowns are something Equestria has never seen before, unless I’ve been living under a rock for the past ten years or so,” Sighing she said to the crown. “Well, if you are going to be alive and all, then tell me if becoming Twilight's royal guard captain will put all the pieces back together quicker, and get you to leave me alone."

"It might," The crown vaguely answered. "For your sake if necessary. However, you need to remember that my purpose is to represent the lives you broke apart, the lives you turned upside down."

"I can’t argue with you on that one,” Tempest sighed. “But can you imagine how many lives that I've turned upside down?” Then she complained. “You know, I think I'm going crazy here! I mean, I am sharing my feelings with a crown…a crown!"

Suddenly, Tempest heard what appeared to be a brief noise. But it turned out to be nothing in particular, there was no response of any kind. "Good, they’re all still asleep," Tempest realized. "But, if you are really alive, then I want to ask you something." She requested of the crown.

"Of course," The crown replied. "What is it?"

"What is the biggest piece of yourself?" Tempest asked.

"Right here!” The crown declared, and it showed off the five red diamonds that had been borne the crown. "They may not look like pieces of the crown, but they are pieces nonetheless,” It explained. “For you see, each of these diamonds represents a member of your family. Look closely, and you will see what I’m trying to talk to you about."

Reluctantly doing as she was told, Tempest looked closer at the five diamonds, and she saw what appeared to be a series of ponies in each diamond. The broken horned unicorn felt her heart sink when she realized what was at stake. "It's my family!" She gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "Mom, Dad, Razzle, and Bubblegum!"

"Yes. Those are the greatest pieces that you have to put back together, Tempest," The crown explained. “ For you see, each of these diamonds represents a member of your family, and the one diamond that remains blank represents yourself."

"Myself?" Tempest wondered aloud.

"The lone diamond that broke away from her family a long time ago," The crown bitterly replied. "Which is you, Tempest! My gold pieces represent Equestria, but the diamonds represent your family."

"Are you suggesting that I…?" Tempest began.

The crown interrupted. "Yes, you must face your family again, Tempest, and beg for their forgiveness and mercy. Only when they accept, will these diamonds be restored to their rightful place."

Tempest gulped nervously at this. She realized that facing her family was going to be her other big challenge. They were the ponies she had hurt the most, and she knew she was going to have to pay for the damages she’d caused to them. "There’s no use hiding from it, isn't it?" She remarked, laying on her back. "I have to face my family again, don’t I?"

"Yes, Tempest," The crown answered. "Only then can you return my diamonds to their proper places."

Still unsure of her assignment, Tempest finally fell asleep as the crown fell back on the nightstand and became silent.






Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Grubber was just about to go to sleep, when he heard a knock at the door of his quarters (which was in a guesthouse on the castle grounds). "Huh? Go away!" He muttered, climbing out of bed and walking over to the door. "Breakfast isn't for another few hours, I need my beauty sleep."

But upon opening the door, Grubber was shocked to see what appeared to be a snow white coated unicorn stallion pony covered in sores. The stallion let out a sharp cough.

"Wow!" Grubber gasped, instantly waking up. "You look terrible!"

"I'm homeless," The unicorn explained. "And I’m suffering from an illness that I will more than likely die from eventually. But I’ve come only to ask ,do you have food for me to bring back to my friends? I can’t bare to let them starve too."

"Um, well, yeah! In fact, let me go to the kitchen and give you some food!" Grubber stammered. "Wait here!" The hedgehog hastily left his quarters and went to the kitchen to gather some food for the stallion, grabbing whatever his paws could hold! Upon returning to the door, however, Grubber found the pony lying motionless on the floor. "Hey, pal," He nervously commented, walking over to him. "I've got you your food. It's some leftovers from dinner tonight, but it should be okay to eat. Here you go."

But the stallion didn't move. Grubber began to panic! "Hey pal, are you okay?!" He asked in a panicked voice, as he tried to no to avail wake the stallion from his unconscious state. "Why aren't you waking up?! Hey, hey, wake up! Wake up!"

In a state of full blown panic Grubber instantly spotted a night guard on his patrol route, and yelled for him to come over at once! "He's not waking up!" Grubber cried! "Do something, quick!"

The guard placed a hoof to the pony's throat and tried to listen for any sign of life. However, he got nothing. "I'm sorry," The guard said solemnly to Grubber. "He's dead."

Realization hit him like a punch to the face, and Grubber sank to his knees upon seeing this, looking up to the skies as cried out in a loud, angry voice. "Is this what I signed up for?! To watch ponies die at my feet?! Take a good look, Storm King! This is all on you! You left these ponies to die!"






Grubber's screams did not go unnoticed, as Luna (who was just returning from doing her dream duties) heard Grubber loud and clear. She walked over and looked down at the homeless pony, quickly realizing what had happened. "His illness has claimed him," She somberly remarked. "And sadly, he's the third pony to die in two days."

"There have been other ponies?" Grubber asked, almost too afraid to think of the likely answer.

"Yes. All homeless ponies, Grubber," Luna sighed. "Their homes were destroyed in the attack that you and your comrades led on Canterlot."

Grubber couldn't believe what he’d just heard. He felt like he wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and never come out of it. "Princess Luna, I…I can't believe this is happening!" He stammered, as he began to break down in tears. "Is this what I signed up for? To see ponies die horrible, painful deaths?!"

"Another example of what happens when we are led by a corrupted influence," Luna commented, draping a wing over Grubber to comfort him. "But, you can make an effort to stop these ponies from dying."

"How?!" Grubber asked in desperation! “Tell me what I must do, princess!”

"By feeding them, Grubber,” Luna told the hedgehog. “By cooking meals for those less fortunate than you. That way, you can help them live another day. Give them a chance to worry about other things, rather than neglect their own well being to think about where their next meal will come from."

Without even noticing it, both Grubber and Tempest were now both aware of the gravities of their respective situations, and what they’d have to do to fix them.