"But…I've never seen this before," Tempest remarked, looking down at her boss's book of ideals and beliefs. "Honestly, I had no idea that the Storm King had written this book, or any book at all.."
"Well, you understand now that this is just another one of the secrets we have discovered about him," Luna commented, stepping down from her throne. "He never had any plans to restore your horn, Fizzlepop. From what this book says, he was probably planning to kill you as soon as his conquest was over or perhaps…"
Luna raised an eyebrow at Tempest, who instinctively backed away nervously. "Are you suggesting that I wanted to kill somepony?!" She cried, her voice filled with shock and disbelief. "Is that it?! All I wanted was my horn back and you know it!"
"We know that Tempest," Celestia replied quite seriously. "However, we need to ask, because that's how this investigation is going to be solved. Our subjects are demanding answers, and we need to ask these questions in order to give them the answers they seek. What you knew and when will go a long way towards convincing ponies of your redemption."
In a fit of desperation, Tempest snatched the book out of Luna's aura and began frantically searching through the pages for any sign of what the Royal Sisters were trying to confirm. Then, she came across a page that had the words she was looking for. "All creatures great and small are nothing more than slaves," She read aloud. "Those who are willing to serve shall live, and those who defy shall die. Furthermore, those who work for an idealist should also die if their usefulness has been used." Tempest's eyes widened as she dropped the book on the floor in horror! She couldn't believe it! All along she was being asked to kill. Not to terrorize, but to kill, destroy, wipe clean from existence! "It can’t be!" She gasped, sitting down on the floor in disbelief! "He wanted me to kill. Your majesties, I swear I had no intention of killing anypony. Yes, I did want Equestria to suffer, but…"
But, Celestia raised a hoof to silence Tempest. "That's what the Storm King wanted you to think, Fizzlepop. That's why he made you his second-in-command, Fizzlepop, because you were willing to keep his true intentions a secret, and all he had to do was promise you about your horn being restored."
"The bastard! I never should’ve trusted him!" Tempest cried in a hushed whisper and taking the book towards her face she snarled. "How could you do this to me?! I pledged myself to you, and you wouldn’t even tell me your true motives! You’re nothing but a coward!" In a fit of rage, Tempest threw the book down on the ground and gave the princesses a hard stare!
"He took advantage of your pain, Fizzlepop,” Celestia cautioned. “He wanted to use your pain and torment to his own advantage. And he did, at least for a while"
This made Tempest feel even more guilty than ever. In her mind, how could she not have seen that the Storm King had deadly ambitions, not just for his prisoners, but for herself as well? She couldn't find any words to respond to these newly discovered pieces of evidence. They were all there in writing, for all to see. "Your highnesses!" She cried, looking up to the royal sisters and bowing to them. "I would like to be dismissed, please."
The princesses honored her request and Tempest ran out of the throne room in complete disbelief of being used.
For the rest of the day, Tempest could only think about what had just been discovered, as she went about helping with the repairs to Canterlot. She looked among her fellow ponies and could only imagine what could have been. The Storm King wanted to kill the ponies who wouldn't be useful to him anymore. Would she have obeyed the command when given?
"I'm not a killer," Tempest thought to herself. "Yes, I wanted ponies to suffer, but I didn't want to kill anypony. How could you do this to me, Storm King?! I hope wherever you are, you are suffering greatly for what you did!" But, the thoughts continued to pour in when Tempest returned to the Castle of Friendship that night. She didn't feel like talking to Twilight, but instead confided in the Friendship Festival crown. "Tell me something," She asked the crown as it floated above her. "I know that you are just a crown I stepped on, but if you are a spirit, then do you think that I’m a murderer?"
"No," The crown answered. "You are nothing more than a misguided soul, Tempest. Someone who wanted to get a piece of her life back, but was originally led in the wrong direction. Now, however, you are on the right path. And these ponies can help you, if you’re willing to give them a chance."
"I want to be given a second chance," Tempest sighed to the crown. "Hearing that the Storm King had different intentions for me that involved killing, made me realize that I need to atone for my actions. I'm not a killer. Yes, I was a warrior, but I was not a killer. And I never will be."
"Then you need to put aside your animosity and focus on healing yourself in the eyes of Equestria." The crown advised.
"Which I’m doing now, thank you very much!" Tempest glared.
"But, it’s also something you need to keep working even harder on, Tempest,” The crown cautioned. “I know that you are capable of so much good, but you have to take what you've learned and move on."
Just then, Tempest heard a knocking at the door and the crown instantly went back on the nightstand. "Come in." Tempest called, as she rose up from her bed and the door opened to reveal Twilight on the other side.
"Tempest, I’ve just gotten a scroll from Celestia and Luna." Twilight anxiously commented..
"So you know the truth then,” Tempest sighed. “The Storm King was planning to carry out executions on those not worthy enough to serve him?"
"Well…yes, yes I did,” Twilight confirmed with a now. “But, that's not the point right now. What’s important is that you've been scheduled to begin your royal guard training tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!" Tempest gasped!
"Yes, tomorrow, and my brother is going to personally train you himself. He insisted on it." Twilight explained.
Tempest felt shocked at this. For she knew that Twilight's brother, and the husband of one of the princesses she turned to stone, was now the one who was going to personally train her, to be Twilight's royal guard captain. "Are you…are you certain that this is a good idea?"
"Why do you think that it wouldn't be, Tempest?" She asked with concern. "Because isn't Shining Armor the Prince of the Crystal Empire and the husband of Princess Cadence?" She couldn’t bring herself to say the rest. About how he was the older brother of the princess Tempest had personally hunted down.
"Yes," Twilight smiled. “I know you’re nervous, but I’m sure my brother won’t be anymore hard on you than he is on any other recruit.”
Now, Tempest had an even bigger pill to swallow , being she was being trained by not only the Prince of the Crystal Empire, but also Twilight's brother. In her mind, Tempest couldn't help but feel a little scared of what was to come. What if Shining Armor still held a grudge against her for what she’d done under the Storm King? Especially if he knew what the Storm King had really been after?