//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14: "The Timing Wasn't Right" 
// Story: The Redemption of Tempest Shadow 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

"What is this place?" Hannibal asked, as he walked into the kitchen with Grubber. "It looks not like home."

"It's a kitchen, Hannibal," Grubber told him. "This is where we prepare meals for others. We get table scraps all to ourselves, but we need to remember that there are others who are less fortunate than us, those who need food even more than we do. Now, if you could just cut up those apples for me, that would be great. The Princesses want a dozen apple pies for a dinner with the Apploosans tonight."

Hannibal scratched his head and looked at the apples in a confusing manner. Grubber was eager to help though. "You just use this here thing with the sharp blade," He explained to the dimwitted storm creature. "Take the apple and then you cut, cut, cut. After a while, you'll get used to it."

While Grubber and Hannibal worked in the kitchen, Luna and Celestia watched from behind the kitchen doors, eager to see how the creature was accepting his new chance of life.

"He'll learn with time, sister," Luna assured. "He was more than willing to atone for his actions, the same way as Grubber. They aren't really born evil when you think about it."

"Exactly, sister," Celestia nodded, as they both walked away from the kitchen. "If only the rest of the prisoners were the same way. Are they speaking yet or not?"

"My guards have been interrogating them all night, but we’ve made little progress,” Luna confessed. “They are so determined to remain loyal to their king who isn't even a king to begin with. I warned them to beware of the consequences, but they just don't seem to want to heed those warnings," As Luna spoke, the sounds of low growling were heard from down in the interrogation chambers. "And until they do decide to speak, that sound will continue to be heard I’m afraid."

Just then, a scroll appeared before the two sisters and Celestia unrolled it, reading it to herself. Luna waited and watched for what it was about. "What does it say, sister?" She asked with concern. “Has something come up?”

"It's from Twilight," Celestia answered in a concerned voice. "Tempest snuck out and tried to visit her sister, Razzle Fizzle, this morning."

"But why would she do that?!" Luna gasped! “Doesn’t she realize it hasn’t even been a month since the invasion?!”

"She must have been desperate to patch things up to a point where she couldn't wait any longer," Celestia sighed, putting the scroll down. "I guess Tempest will have to learn that there is an art of patience."

Just then, Grubber came walking out of the kitchen and towards the royal sisters. "Hannibal's getting the hang of cutting up apples," He happily reported. "Personally, I think he enjoys it."

"That's good to hear, Grubber," Luna smiled for a brief moment. "When will the apple pies be done?"

"As soon as possible, but don't worry, we can get them done by tonight,” Grubber promised, then he took notice of the frowns on both princesses’ faces. “What's with the long faces?"

"It's Tempest Shadow, she tried to reconnect with her sister and it didn't go so well." Luna told Grubber.

"Hmm, she never told me that she had a sister," Grubber remarked, wiping the sweat off his brow. "What happened?"

"All that it says is that Tempest returned to the Castle of Friendship with a slap mark on her face," Celestia explanation, causing Grubber to wince in pain. "I think their reunion was premature."

"Can you really blame her for wanting to reunite now, Celestia?” Luna remarked. “We’ve had our moments where we’ve disagreed and fought, but at least our relationship was mended."

"It's not that simple, Luna,” Celestia replied with a shake of her head. “These things take time. And unfortunately, the damages are far too great between Tempest and Razzle Fizzle to be patched up in the span of a day, or even a week."

"Is there anything I can do?" Grubber asked in a hopeful tone.

"No, not right now." Celestia said with a shake of her head, much to Grubber's displeasure.

"All right, but if there is anything that I can do, just let me know,” Grubber insisted. “If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen."






Meanwhile, back in Twilight's castle, Tempest was in her bedroom trying to calm down, with both Twilight and Sweetheart in the room with her.

"I had to do it!" Tempest cried, the pain of the encounter still stinging. "You must believe me!"

"We do believe you, Tempest, but the timing simply wasn't right," Twilight replied, trying her best to sound sympathetic. "You can't just run head long into these situations without knowing how other ponies will react to them. If you want to try and reconcile, then you have to do it in a way that shows you truly are sorry. That's why I recommended you as my captain of the royal guard in the first place. When others see you can be a force for good, they’ll come around."

"I have to agree with Twilight, at least on the first part," Sweetheart nodded. "Razzle Fizzle just wasn't ready to accept you yet. In time, she probably will be."

"But, my parents, they're dead!” Tempest sobbed. “It's all my fault! I ruined everything, Twilight! And all because of my obsession with getting my horn back!"

Both Twilight and Sweetheart gave each other worried glances at Tempest's current situation. They couldn't find any words to describe the situation, and it showed.

"Sweetheart, what are we going to do?" Twilight asked, looking across to the therapist.

"I think," Sweetheart began. "That Tempest should begin her training…today. Right now if possible"

Tempest's felt her eyes widen in shock that something so shocking and so sudden would just be said! Joining the royal guard was the last thing on  her mind at that moment. "I…I…need to process this," She stammered, motioning for both Twilight and Sweetheart to leave. "Please…go away. Leave me alone!"

Honoring the request, both reluctantly left Tempest alone.

"Are you sure that Tempest leaving here immediately for training is the right call, Sweetheart?" Twilight asked. After what she’d just learned, she was starting to have second thoughts about her judgement. The situation seemed more complicated than it initially appeared.

"There’s no other way to go about this," Sweetheart cautioned. "The time has come for Tempest to take the next step, and truly begin her redemption"

"But, it all feels so…so sudden for her," Twilight wondered aloud. "Sweetheart, I think we need to give Tempest more time, time to let us learn a little more about herself. I'm saying that not just for her benefit, but ours as well. Besides, I don't think Equestria is ready for a pony that terrorized them to be the one defending them in its military. I don’t think even my brother could be that forgiving right now."






Back in Canterlot, Celestia, Luna, and Cadence (who had all been helping out ponies who had come to the palace) left the castle, and were making their way over to the neighborhood by the stadium, to talk to Razzle Fizzle about her actions.

"Fizzlepop, go away! I will call the authorities!" Razzle Fizzle angrily shouted.

"Open the door, Razzle Fizzle," Celestia commanded in a stern tone. "This is Princess Celestia. We need to talk, now!"

The command in Celestia's voice was enough to make Razzle Fizzle obey, it was never good to disregard a direct order from Princess Celestia whenever she stopped by unannounced. She opened the door, and saw not just Princess Celestia, but also Princess Luna and Princess Cadence standing in front of her, causing her mouth to drop wide open in shock!