//------------------------------// // A storm abrewing // Story: The Little Pony legend: The Guardians of Harmony // by MaggiesHeartLove //------------------------------// A Storm Brewing Asami tried everything she could in unlocking the cage she and Bolin were trapped in, but there was no lock or anything for her to tamper with. Even her glove was useless in her attempts. She reached out for a kitchen knife that somehow managed to find its way near their cage and tried to break it. The knife had no effect and the impact sent unpleasant vibrations through her arm, making her teeth chatter. Bolin tried again and again to bend the earth, but every time he did the cage sucked on more of his energy, preventing him from doing anything. The man eventually gave in, angrily punching the bars. Asami placed a sympathetic hand on his back and the two held one another close. They couldn't do anything but sit and watch as their pony friends were chained up and forced to march through the city. Unicorns were forced to wear metal plates that covered up their horns, all made of the same material as the cages, and their hooves were also covered as were the pegasus's wings and their mussels, no doubt to keep them from either flying or using their bending. Firebender ponies couldn't shoot fire from their mouths and water, earth and airbenders couldn't use their hooves to manipulate their respected elements. All of their electronic equipment was crushed to bits so nobody could call for help. Even actual human firebenders were chained and gagged and metalbenders couldn't penetrate through their cuffs since any power they did it would be automatically absorbed. Dragons, griffons, minotaurs and even good old Steven Magnet were encaged or enslaved. Asami and Bolin caught a glimpse of Tenzin and his children and grandchildren being forced to march along with the ponies. Bumi and Kya were not too far behind, accompanied by Lin, who looked more angry than depressed, though the look she gave the Satos told otherwise. Bolin and Asami have seen many things in their lives. Both horrible and beautiful. But this, seeing their loved ones forced into slavery and or imprisonment, having all of their resources deemed completely useless, was by far the most traumatizing thing they had ever witnessed. Their world had so much light, but even so, darkness still somehow found a way to resurface and to try and snuff out the rays of hope. A storm creature cut the string of a few balloons which rose up into the air, passing by Tempest Shadow who stood at the palace balcony. The dark colored unicorn sneered in disgust as she made her way back inside, hearing the echoing sound of her metal horse-shoes taping the cobblestone floor. "All this power… wasted on parties. When there are far greater uses." Tempest stopped right in front of the statue of Avatar Korra, her face entirely frozen in a state of panic, her hands raised upwards in a desperate attempt to shield herself. Her long hair was frozen in place, as if it were levitating off of the floor. From the right angle, it looked like a tail. Twilight Sparkle was placed right beside her. Tempest smiled smugly at the sight of a terrified Queen Twilight. "Not so powerful now, are you?" The other alicorns were placed in groups. Leilani with her two daughters and Cadance with Flurry Heart. In the heart of the throne room, right in front of Celestia and Luna's thrones was a large four petal flower symbol with a circle in the middle. Four petals stuck out, where the alicorns were placed. Cadance and Flurry Heart faced opposite to where Leilani, Celestia and Luna stood and an empty spot, opposite to Korra and Twilight. And, just for good measure, she had the stone statues of the Mane Six, and Mako and Flash Sentry around the room, just so she could relish in seeing them all at her mercy. Two storm creatures entered the thrown room, one holding a glass bottle with luminescent blue liquid that kept bilking. A sound identical to a geo-phone's ringtone played over and over, much to Tempest's annoyance. "Well? Answer it!" Tempest was tempted to unleash her unstable magic at them. If only they were more competent at their job like her former criminal gang was. Thankfully, she wouldn't need to put up with them for much longer. The storm creature holding the bottle ported it into large basin. In a flash, a blue substance resembling a mix of icy mist, water and blue fire rose up into a cylinder. The image of someone manifested within the mist. "Where am I supposed to be looking? I never understand how this spell works. Tempest!" "Over here, Your Excellency." Tempest replied, thankful he couldn't see her roll her eyes. "Where?" "Over here. No. No, right. Look right." "My right?" "Yep." "Oh. There you are." The creature from the other side rearranged himself to face her, earlier only his lower chin could be seen. It was a creature of white fur, icy blue eyes with black pupils and two pairs of tucks sticking out from his lower lip. His entire face was gray and he had a sharp looking crown with horns. He wore a full body black armor with the blue sharp knife symbol on his chest. Her looked like a cross between a yeti and a baboon. This was the Storm King. The monster who planed on conquering the land of Equestria and ruined the children's Friendship Festival. But, as intimidating as he looked, Tempest was far from frightened by his presence. To the other creatures he was their evil overlord, but for Tempest he was simply a means to get what she wanted. The Storm King cleared his throat as he addressed to Tempest. "Here's the deal. I'm in the middle of a big re-brand here. "The Storm King" is tracking, well as "intensely intimidating", but you know what? I need to back it up. You know what I need to back it up with? A storm! That would be great!" The evil king's voice boomed so powerfully it made the entire throne room tremble. The storm creatures from behind cowered in fear. Even the magical mist from which Tempest used to speak with him intensified in color and heat, mirroring his outburst. Tempest, on the other hand, remained unfazed. It wasn't anything new for her boss to get all dramatic and exaggerative with his demands. Underneath that monstrous form was nothing more than an overgrown man child with an ego that would take at least ten massive tsunamis to knock down. "You promised me magic that could control the elements, and right now, I'm holding a what? A branch. A twig. Bleh!" The Storm King held out said "twig", which was really a long, branch-like staff with a tall blue crystal at the top. Two arms wrapped around it, holding the jewel in place. "Uh, that would be the Staff of Sacanas, Your Excellency, and it will channel the magic of the primary rulers of this land, which in turn will allow you access to all the magic of anyone within a hundred yards. You'll soon have the power of a hundred armies." "So that would be a 'yes' on your locking down the Avaloriani or Pegacornicuseses, or whatever you call them, right?" "Give me three days. I'll have everything ready for your arrival." "Remember, Tempest. Only I have the power to make you whole." The Storm King's voice grew ominous, a large stretch from how it was before. Never the less, Tempest kept her eyes locked onto his, never once showing even so much as the subtlest signs of fear. "Make this twig work, and you'll get your reward. Fail me, and your horn won't be the only thing that's broken." "It won't be a problem." The Storm King kept his intense stare on her for a few more seconds before smiling, "Great!" he said with a more upbeat tone. "I'm ready to power up, crash and bash, and be the biggest, baddest bugaloooooo…" Tempest watched unamused as the spell came to an end and the image of the Storm King evaporated once the mist-flame-like material sank back into a pool of glowing blue liquid inside the basin. Her aquamarine eyes landed on Grubber, who had just entered the throne room. "Sorry, bad spell service. You want me to call him back?" "Do you have the Princesses?" Tempest asked as she approached the hedgehog. Grubber nervously fiddled with the ends of his vest. "Well, uh, funny story. It kinda seems like they… they might've like, you know, got away... a little bit." Tempest sneered at the furry creature. Why didn't she expect this to happen? Grubber was just as incompetent as they came. Of course, what to expect from such an equally incompetent boss who treated everything like he had just won all the blocks in the playpen during recess? "I know you're disappointed, but I got one word for you: "sponge cake"." Grubber pulled out the desert from his back pocket and smiled, offering it to Tempest. He was always doing stuff like this, trying to be all sweet and nice and trying to cheer her up. But really, the only thing that could ever cheer up Tempest up was getting her horn back and her revenge, which now won't be possibly with two of the princesses missing. What's worse, one of them was the Avatar's daughter, thus making her the Avatar! Tempest unleashed her rage by zapping at Grubber with her magic. It was thicker than before and it made him collapse. A few of his gray hairs had singed in the process. "I need all of the alicorns for the staff to work!" "But why?" Grubber asked, immediately recovered from the blast. "We've got the Avatar and, um, let's see…" he began counting the other alicorns in the room, much to Tempest's annoyance. "Two, that's three… carry the three…" Grubber then gave up on counting, "Anyway, why do you need two more alicorns when you've got plenty? I'm sure the Storm King will still give you back your horn and, believe me, I want him to fix that crazy thing just as badly as you do." Grubber said, being genuinely sympathetic. "It looks like a crackly chipped tooth on the top of your head. And you know you don't look good in hats." Tempest's anger flared and more of the dangerous energy sprung out from her horn, causing Grubber to recoil in terror. "Those pampered little brats are not gonna keep me from getting my horn and my revenge! Prepare my ship!" Grubber whimpered in fear and ran out of the room to do just that. Once he was gone, Tempest stomped her way towards Korra and Twilight, her eyes also darting towards Mako, Flash and the rest of the Mane Six in the corner of the room. "You took what was most precious to me once… now I'm going to do the same to you." With that, she turned to make her leave. "Please, how far can a couple of princesses get on their own?" (~)