The Return of Tempest Shadow
All thoughts about Akari's cake makeover was forgotten almost in a blink. There was not a single guest who wasn't looking up into the sky, following the unexpected sound of thunder. Why would there be thunder on a perfectly clear sky? Stranger still, it sounded incredibly close. Like, right above their heads close.
A massive cloud of brown and sickly green smoke suddenly formed overhead. Iris stared up in confusion. "Storm clouds? I thought we were supposed to have perfect weather today." she turned to the pegasus pony, hoping she would have an explanation. "Rainbow Dash?"
To Iris's concern, Rainbow looked as if she were staring at an undiscovered species. A species that both confused and frightened her.
"Uh… I don't think those are storm clouds." Rainbow said. She and Soarin each placed a protective hoof over their daughter, who shrunk behind them. This definitely didn't feel like any normal storm cloud. It wasn't natural it was… artificial.
This was proven to be the case when a glowing blue symbol, one they had never seen before, pierced through the thick smoke. The symbol was part of the emblem on the front of a massive airship, as large as the ones Future Industries used, only the underage was wooden like the hull of a boat and the rudders were sharp and angular. Upon closer inspection, the symbol was that of two sharp spikes.
"I've never seen an airship like that before." Asami voiced out, her head nearly tilting back at seeing the massive sky beast. Bolin instinctively placed a hand behind her protectively.
Mai pulled out her geo-slate and rose it up, using the screen to zoom in on the airship, examining its details. "It's definitely not one of ours. I don't recognize the brand."
Hiro shoved himself right beside Mai, much to her annoyance, to get a full view of the airship through the geo-slate's screen. "Oh, wait! I bet those are the trapeze dancers I ordered! Their flyer says they're really big on dramatic entrances."
The ship made its decent onto the large plaza, crushing the tall spires in its way. Guests hurried out of the way to avoid getting crushed by the marble stones that fell and were now spread out across the floor. The Canterlot flags that hung on them had been torn off in the process, left worthlessly on the ground. The pillars landed on a spot with trapezes and a poster of said dancers, smashing it and destroying the entire thing.
Pinkie and Cheese held Cookie close. "Yeah, those are definitely not the trapeze dancers you ordered." said the young filly.
Hiro face palmed himself. "Great! There goes my deposit!"
From the balcony, Korra, Twilight and the others watched the scene unfold. They had never seen an airship like this, and the clouds that had accompanied it had now covered the skies, making it look as if it were about to rain, which was impossible seeing as they could still see traces of clear blue skies far up ahead.
The door of the ship's hull swooshed opened and a large gangway unfurled, smashing a single pink balling dog in the process. It deflated and Party Favor cried out in agony.
"Brian! Nooooo!"
The inside of the ship glowed with an eerie purple aura and the form of something tall started to make its way to the forefront. As it walked further out, they realized the creature wasn't actually that tall. He was some sort of short gray colored hedgehog with spiky white hair and blue eyes wearing a black vest with the blue symbol that the airship bore.
"Mom? What is that thing?" Ivy asked her mother, hiding behind her father's front hooves.
"I think it's a… hedgehog?" Fluttershy said, thought not entirely sure herself. It certainly didn't resemble any hedgehog she had ever seen. He had a chipped ear, was larger by comparison to the actual animal but much shorter than a human, and looked almost happy. A mischievous, un-sympathetic kind of happy.
The hedgehog grunted while carrying a large box. Once he placed it down a tall mechanical megaphone emerged. He tapped on the surface of the microphone and spoke into it, trying to sound as intimidating as possible. A pretty hard thing to accomplish seeing as he was a short and chubby little thing.
"Citizens of Equestria!" His voice echoed as he spoke into the mic, speaking with a lisp. "We come on behalf of the fearsome, the powerful, the almighty…Storm King!"
A massive banner unfolded and draped the side of the airship. The image was that of a frightening looking horned primate-like creature with white hair and icy blue eyes. He bore the same symbol on his chest and more banners baring the same one rolled out on both sides of the poster.
Everyone whispered and murmured amongst themselves. They have never heard of this "Storm King" before, but whoever he was, there was no doubt that he wasn't someone who was looking to make any friends.
Rather than be intimidated, like the hedgehog had expected, he saw numerous humans, ponies, spirits, dragons, griffons and changelings all taking a stand, as if ready to attack him if he tried anything else. The hedgehog gulped. This wasn't the kind of invasion he had in mind. He swallowed his concerns and proceeded with his speech.
"And now--" his voice came out high pitched. He cleared his throat and spoke with more authority, hoping to mask his slip up. He couldn't afford to look like a coward in front of these people. "And now to deliver the evil, evil message, put your hooves and hands together for Commander Tempest!"
Another figure began to take shape within the mist of the ship's opened hull. The sound of clopping hooves against metal got louder with each step and the hedgehog's superior revealed herself.
Needless to say, nobody was expecting to see a sight such as this. The Storm King's commander was, in fact, a striking female pony. Tall, lean and fierce looking. Her magenta red mane was cropped and pulled back to resemble a backwards mow-hawk and her dark purple coat was complimented by the dark, blue and purple armor she wore. The symbol of the Storm King was placed exactly where her cutie mark should be. Her real one no doubt hidden underneath.
Her aquamarine eyes were slender with thick lashes and a single scar went across her right eye. But, as frightening as her presence was, nothing could compare to her horn…
It was broken off!
Tempest could hear the shocked gasps from where she stood, knowing the precise reason for their reaction. Bits of electric blue energy seemed to spark from the jagged edges of her broken horn. No doubt she still had magic, but without her horn there was no way she could perform spells or levitate anything.
"Is that a... unicorn?" Akari asked, staring at Tempest, feeling a mixture of sympathy as well as caution. She definitely did not strike her as a friendly pony.
"I think so, but what happened to her horn?" Gallant asked. "Unicorn horns are nearly impossible to break!"
"What could have happened to her?" Iris asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The children all stepped back when Korra, Twilight, Leilani, Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Flurry Heart all flew down, landing in front of the airship and Tempest, shielding the others. Mako and Shinning Armor rode on Discord's back and both flipped off once they reached the ground, standing alongside their wives, while Discord stood near the alicorn queens. Flash Sentry landed right beside Twilight, both pairs of their wings spread out in intimidation. The rest of the Team Avatar stood beside them, taking fighting positions. The Mane Six each were accompanied by their husbands.
"I don't believe your "Storm King" is on the guest list." Korra said, her voice as powerful as her presence.
Tempest's mouth formed into a malicious, yet relaxed looking grin. "Well, look who it is. The fearless protectors. It's been a long time, and yet, you never really seem to change."
"Do we know you?" Applejack said, stomping her hoof threateningly, ready to bend the earth and hurl a rock once the opportunity presented itself.
"Come on now, I don't look that old, do I?" Her smile shifted into a subtle scowl once her aquamarine eyes landed on the human royal couple. "Don't I strike you as familiar, "King" Mako?"
Iris looked at her father in confusion. "Dad?"
Mako narrowed his eyes, but the longer he stared at the unicorn the more his expression morphed from intense focus to genuine shock.
"Tempest?"
Korra's eyes widened as the memory flashed before her eyes. "Tempest Shadow?!"
The broken horned unicorn chuckled. "Oh, so you do remember me." she gave a light laugh, only to revert back to her scowl. "You should!"
Rainbow Dash blinked. "Wait! You used to be the leader of the Shadow Triad! But, you disappeared years ago!"
"I don't remember her horn being broken." Flash Sentry said.
"What happened to you?" Korra asked. Her once authoritative tone morphing into one of genuine concern.
"Why don't you ask you BFF?" Tempest's eyes landed on Twilight Sparkle herself.
Akari's bright blue eyes widened. "Mom? Did you--?"
"No! I wouldn't-- I have never…wait…" Twilight's eyes widened and her irises shrunk as it all came back to her. ", that night… the ambush." She could see it all while gazing into Tempest's vengeful eyes which, for a moment, fell upon Akari.
Twilight quickly shoved herself in front of her daughter, shielding her from Tempest. Her anger manifesting in the form of the magenta colored flamed already manifested on her horn and the tips of her wings. The alicorn queen looked like a ferocious lioness ready to pounce without mercy.
"You leave my daughter out of this!"
"Don't flatter yourself, Your Majesty. It's not just your family I'm after."
Korra stepped forward, trying to reason with the unicorn. Mako didn't try to stop her. They remembered her, they remembered her story. They couldn't let her slip away again.
"Tempest, please. I know there's a peaceful way we can settle all of this." Korra said, her voice compassionate but strong all the same.
"Save it, Avatar!" Tempest spatted, saying the name in disgust. "I'm not here to reconcile!"
"What do you want with us, lady?" Mai asked, standing confidently alongside her parents. Hiro placed a protective hand on her arm, gently pulling her back.
Tempest's smile returned, "Oh, I'm so glad you asked, dear. How about we start with your complete and total surrender!" Tempest walked down the gangway, her dark blue metallic horse shoes making clanging sounds as they hit against the metal the further walked down, all with graceful confidence.
"Here's the deal, Your Majesties. I need your magic. Give it up nicely, please, or we make it difficult. For everyone!"
"And why should we cower before you?" Queen Luna said, stepping forward. "There is one of you and hundreds of us!"
Right behind the rulers and Team Avatar, a grand number of humans, spirits and ponies all puffed up their chests, ready to fight. A few parents shielded their kids and or spouses or the elderly. The police force was already in position, accompanied by the WonderBolts and the airbenders.
Rohan, along with his older siblings and little nephews and nieces took front and center. Lin, Suyin and the rest of their family from Zaofu were also in position, even Baatar Jr., who protected a woman, who had been his wife for several years now. Even Aiwei, despite his old age, stood firmly alongside his spider-scorpion companion.
Dragon Lord Ember, King Thorax and Gilda all stood alongside their respected races. Fluttershy had her wings spread out, as did her children, ready to fight. The Apple Family were in position and Asami had already pulled her electric glove out. Several more of her Future Industries employers all carried gloves of their own, in case of an emergency, and this one definitely qualified as one.
Korra's parents, Mako and Bolin's family, the Mane Six's families, even the former Prince Wu took a flying pan from a nearby stand and swung it a few times, ready to hit somebody. Wan Shi Tong spread his wings wide, his neck outstretching to appear all the more monstrous. Spike, Ali, Mika and San stood alongside Korra and Twilight. Spike was already flaring his nostrils, while his girlfriend Mika hissed, a fork tongue sticking out and slithering like a snake in mid air.
Everybody who shared a close connection with Team Avatar Harmony was ready to fight. After all, what more damage could one hornless unicorn and a chubby hedgehog really do?
As for this Storm King character, they went up against the spirit of darkness himself, not to mention Ronin and Chrysalis before her reformation. Whatever he would throw at them, they had the numbers, they had the means, they could face him.
Tempest, on the other hand, didn't look at all threatened by their impeccable bravery. If anything, she chuckled in amusement.
"I was hoping you'd choose… "difficult".
Behind Tempest, a couple of large, hulking looking creatures emerged from the inside of the ship. They were as tall as P'Li herself, maybe a head or two higher. They wore black masks that covered their faces save for their blue eyes. They wore thick, black armor that only partly covered their furry white and gray bodies. They had large paws, canine-like legs and long tails that whipped around from behind them.
Two more airships appeared, followed by more. And more, and more, and more to the point in which not a single trace of sunlight, or even the blue of the once beautifully clear sky could be seen for miles and miles. Their once beautiful, colorful festival had turned dark and gray in a matter of seconds. President Iroh placed a protective hand on Lu Ten's shoulder. The young man could feel his uncle's hand trembling.
"It's a nation sized army!" Iroh said, his voice trembling as well, droplets of sweat dripping from his brow. "How is that possible?"
"Doesn't matter." Queen Luna said, "We have armies of our own."
"Warriors, get ready! Children and elderly, take for cover!" Celestia boomed. The others obeyed her orders and got into position while others helped the ones who couldn't fight to move to a safer location.
From the airships, more of the hairy masked creatures jumped down and landed onto the plaza with crushing force. Several guests were already screaming in terror and running for their lives, while the fighters remained to defend the city.
Several airbenders and spirits tried to lead the defenseless guests away, including the world leaders, but the creatures keep on landing on them faster than they could blink. In a matter of minutes, they had half of the city surrounded, smashing all of the once beautiful decorations and games of the Festival, while more and more guests ran for their lives. It was complete chaos, but not the kind Discord would have enjoyed.
The pegasus ponies and spirits aimed at the creatures, ready to fight, unleashing their bending and unique spirit powers, but they weren't prepared for what came next.
The Storm Creatures all pulled from their belts black glowing orbs with electrical currents coursing through the surface and tossed them at their incoming attackers. The pegasus ponies attempted to block the attacks with their airbending, only their attacks had little to no effect. None at all, in fact.
The orbs flew right through their attacks as if they were none existent, heading directly at the pegasus ponies as if the orbs had minds of their own. Upon close contact, orbs expanded. In a flash, they trapped the ponies and spirits in electrical cages before landing hard on the ground where they manifested into thick cages that was a perfect blend of some kind of otherworldly metal and rock.
Airbenders ponies tried using their bending, but just like with the pegasus ponies, their powers did nothing. Royal guards and even Naga, Akhlut and Timber charged at the storm creatures, but the orbs quickly expended upon close contact. Even for those who didn't have powers, the creatures had precise aiming and could trap the defenseless guests with ease. The guards and the three canines whimpered upon imprisonment.
The objects appeared to activate upon close proximity, and there were thousands of the creatures swarming the city as even more airships came over, knocking down pillars of the castle, the roofs of houses and the creatures smashed through the streets, destroying everything in sight. Their shields blocked the attacks of the heroes, and while they were distracted with one, it gave another creature the opportunity to throw an orb and trap them.
The process repeated itself, with each of the creatures trapping every magically powered citizen in their stone cages. The energy around them were unlike anything they had ever felt. Eska, Desna and Tonraq were immediately subdued, trapped inside a cage that prevented them from bending the water. Whenever they tried, the cage would sent out electrical currents that knocked them out the harder they fought, their bodies feeling heavier than ever.
Wan Shi Tong and Goldie the dragon bird swooped down, claws at the ready, but they too had met the same fate as their comrades. The orbs acted fast and without warning and any magical attacks they had were rendered useless. It was as if their very powers called the orbs towards them, like a moth to a flame.
Dragons, Griffins and changelings were knocked down from the sky, metalbenders and firebenders fought to break free, but like Korra's family, they were knocked out the harder they fought. Mai was even forced to see Iroh and Lu Ten, both fighting side by side with their fire and water, get beaten and trapped. Mai wanted to go and help, but was pulled back by her brother. If she did anything, she would get trapped too.
Team Avatar watched helplessly as each of their friends and family got defeated one by one with such ease. Chrysalis stared with a horrified look. These rocks, she knew she had seen them from somewhere before. She noticed that no matter how hard the heroes fought, their magic only made the orbs come directly towards them, as if it was… feeding off of their magic.
"Surprised?" Tempest voiced, getting their attention. "Just a little something I found and improved during my exile. Got some inspiration from your old friend, Amon. Of course, I'm not here to rid the world of magic. If anything, it will only bring me back what you took from me!"
Tempest jumped up, her horn emitting lethal looking sparks of magic. A green stone, wrapped inside a see-through black orb emerged from her pocket. She kicked it in mid air and it was aiming directly for Celestia and Luna.
Discord jumped in between the orb and the alicorn sisters, creating a shield to protect them. Just when he was about to pat himself on the back, he realized something was horribly wrong. This energy felt familiar… too familiar.
His red pupils became slits as he fought the force of the orb, but the harder he fought the more it tried to reach him. The orb broke through the shield, striking Discord in the chest, where a thick layer of black crystalized stone began to grow and rapidly engulf his entire body.
"Discord!" Fluttershy, Thorax and Starlight all screamed his name, seeing their comrade turning into stone once again.
Discord grunted struggling to break free of its hold. "I can't... stop it!" The spell was reaching his neck and he shouted his final words of warning. "It sucks up magic! Run! RUN!" Discord was silenced when the last of the stone covered his afce, freezing him in a state of terror and regret.
Fluttershy was on the verge of tears. Discord had been turned to stone again, and not because of his evil actions, but in trying to save everyone. Team Avatar wanted to fight, but for once, their magic was becoming their undoing. They couldn't fight like this. They needed a different plan.
Leilani, desperately turned to her two daughters. "Celestia, Luna, quick! Go south beyond the Badlands! Seek help from the Queen of the Hippo—" Leilani gasped and used her magic to blast everyone around her out of the way as another green stone came at them.
Korra and Mako were thrown back, but they held onto Iris. Twilight and Flash held onto Akari as they were pushed back. Kombu bravely held both his wife and daughter, while Applejack and Double Diamond kept their children away from the blast. They all watched in horror as the oldest alicorn took the hit, her entire body turning to stone in the blink of an eye.
"MOTHER!!" Celestia and Luna felt grief and rage overfill them as the tears shed.
"NO!" Korra was already shedding tears as well, seeing her mentor literally petrified.
"We must go!" Celestia ordered. "We can't waste anymore time!"
"We can't just leave everyone!" Cadance protested.
"Look out!" Shinning Armor knocked both his wife and daughter out of the way just as another green stone came at him. Just like Leilani, he was turned to stone on the spot.
"Dad!"
"Shinning Armor!"
"Everybody, this way!" Rainbow Dash led the way and the others followed. Mako gripped Iris's wrist, dragging her along with him and Korra. The Seven Elements of Harmony and the rest ran for their lives. They hated running, but they had no other choice.
"What are those things?!" Nori asked as she galloped alongside her father and Rarity.
"I think I might know!" Chrysalis said, "They're made of the same material as my old throne! It feeds on the nearest magical energy and traps it!"
"And Canterlot is filled with nothing but magical energy!" Starlight Glimmer said horrified. "The more we fight back, the more those cages stick onto us like magnets!"
"So, magic won't help us now! Fantastic!" Flurry Heart said with a sarcastic and irritable grunt. They needed to reach the Badlands to find this queen Leilani spoke of, and they had to do it without using their magic or risk getting captured as well.
They were blocked by more goons, which managed to trap Bolin and Asami in an orb as they ran. The two parents blocked their children, taking the hit themselves. It rolled around like a ball before stopping and materializing into these stone cage. The two were already knocked out.
"Bolin!"
"Asami!"
Mako and Korra cried out, both held back by Celestia and Luna. Flurry Heart and Cadance stepped forward, blocking the others from the rest of the creatures that surrounded them. "Keep going!" Flurry Heart ordered. "We'll hold them off!"
"But, Flurry--" Akari protested, only to be silenced by her cousin's insistence.
"GO!"
Akari was forced to comply and galloped ahead alongside her parents. She looked over her shoulder and saw her aunt and cousin fighting the creatures, only for Tempest to come rising up into the air and kicking another stone.
"NO!" Akari cried, witnessing her family turning to stone before her eyes. Twilight didn't feel right leaving them, but they didn't have a choice.
"We can't keep this up!" Nova cried out, galloping alongside Sunset and Eclipse. "There's too many of them!"
Just as he said, another orb came at him and his family, trapping them in cages. "No!" Chi cried out. Little Eclipse tried reaching out for his aunt, but to no avail.
"Keep going, Chi!" Sunset cried out. Chi was dragged away by Rainbow Dash. The rainbow haired pegasus couldn't bare to look at them like this. She fought back the tears, which was more than could be said for Chi, who's vision was already becoming blurry.
Celestia and Luna flew up, blasting the creatures in their wake, but it didn't take long for them to also get petrified in mid air. Korra and Twilight each used their magic to save their fellow queens from falling and breaking to pieces. They were aware of the risk, but they couldn't allow their fellow alicorns to perish. The two struggled to keep them steady, the rock being heavier than anything they had ever felt.
The rest of the Mane Six saw Tempest about to send another stone at their friends. Acting on impulse, they all ran up and shielded their friends.
"Korra!"
"Twilight!"
The two alicorns shielded their eyes as the stone hit, only rather than strike only the Mane Six, it took all of them at once. Double Diamond, Sweet Gala, Half Pipe, Cheese Sandwich, Cookie Cream, Soarin, Fire Fly, Kombu, Nori, Thorax, Leo, River, Ivy, Flash Sentry, Akari, Mako, Ali, Mika, San and Iris all watched with blurry, tearful eyes at seeing the now petrified bodies of their wives and mothers. Iris and Akari felt a pang of guilt pressing hard against their chests.
The goons took this opportunity to trap each of the families in cages, save for Nori and Kombu, who jumped out of the way in the nick of time. Kombu then harshly pushed his daughter away. She rolled onto the ground, grunting in pain and got up only to see her father already caged. Each of the Mane Six's families were trapped.
Spike, Ali, Mika and San tried to fight them off, by the orbs trapped them as well. Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst pushed Gallant Steed out of the way before he got caged as well.
"Keep going, Gallant!" Sunburst shouted. His son reluctantly complied.
Tempest kicked one last stone, aiming them at Iris and Akari, who ran alongside their friends and respected fathers. They were the only ones left who hadn't been caged, and all because of their parents's and friends intervening. No doubt they were doing this to keep the Elements of Harmony safe. The future of their homeland was more important than their own well being.
This was proven even further when Iris and Akari saw another one of the incoming green orbs and froze, knowing they couldn't do anything to stop it. The rock came at them with incredible speed, but the spell never took effect for they had been pushed back by some kind of electrical current, which sent all the other kids flying off, a good ten feet away. It was a powerful lightning move which only Iris's father had managed to master over the years.
"Dad!" Iris and Akari called out, knowing full well what their fathers had done. They watched the two give their daughters one final smile before succumbing to their fate. A green mist blocked their view before witnessing the last bit of stone reach their faces.
Mai and Chrysalis helped Iris and Akari back to their feet and they ran towards the bridge. Their only last means of escape. Their tiaras were left carelessly on the cobblestone floor.
Once the smoke had cleared, Tempest Shadow stood proudly, seeing the silhouettes of a human and winged pony. She chuckled. "Easy as pie."
"Oh, I love pie." said the hedgehog standing beside her, sighing dreamingly at the thought of the delicious pastry. "Oh, you totally got the last princesses!" he said once the smoke cleared, then scratched his chin, studying the now stoned statues. "Uh, they're a lot taller than I thought. And… manlier looking?"
Tempest's rage flared. Rather than a teenager winged girl and alicorn, all she got was a grown man and a stallion pegasus, standing still, with smiles staring at her that read 'you're too late'.
"Those aren't the Princesses!" Tempest growled, her broken horn flaring and then sharply turned to the hedgehog, "Grubber, get them. Now!"
The hedgehog, Grubber, complied and ran off to call to the other goons. "Guys, we gotta get the Princesses!"
Tempest flared her nostrils as she approached the statue of Mako and Flash Sentry. "Smile all you want, your Majesties. You won't get the better of me again."
The last thing she felt were the remaining shards of a fire-based tiara, crushed underneath her hoof.
(~)
"We're almost there!" Mai exclaimed as they reached the near end of the bridge, only to get blocked by another storm creature. The kids were absolutely terrified. Even with their powers, how would they be able to block their orbs?
When the goon reached for his belt, he realized he was entirely out. It would appear Fate was smiling upon them today.
Without thinking about the consequences, and her anger taking hold, Iris spread open her wings and unleashed a powerful stream of lightning from her fingertips at the goon. The creature pulled out a shield which completely repelled her attack and it came back to strike at the bridge.
The surface started to crumble beneath their feet and the kids were thrown down into the rapid waterfall, struggling to stay above the surface as they were pushed forward. Even Nori couldn't fight a current this powerful. When she was completely submerged in the water, Iris noticed something strange.
The waters around her started to change colors with fading sparkles that blended with the bubbles. There was a magical force going on, but before she could comprehend what it was she and her friends fell downwards. The last thing that was heard were the fading screams of the children as they went down the waters bellow, disappearing into the mist.
Grubber and the rest of the troopers looked down, a soft wind picking up. The running waters were loud and powerful, and the way down was extremely long. He couldn't see a trace of them anywhere, but he couldn't disappoint Tempest… again.
"Which one of you guys are going down there?" Grubber asked. The two creatures growls in unison. No doubt it would translate to "not me".
Grubber sighed. "I would, but I just had a hearty meal, and I will sink and I will side-cramp. I'm very big-boned. I sink quick." he said as he and the other two creatures left the side of the waterfall.
How was he going to explain this to Tempest now?
(~)
Speaking of Tempest, she had already made herself at home at the castle balcony, taking in all the chaos going on bellow her. Her eyes scanned the area, as if hoping to see any trace of… Him.
Tempest quickly shook her head and narrowed her eyes. "You made your choice a long time ago, old friend. This is what you get for your betrayal."
(~)