After The Storm

by Bluecatcinema


Fair Weather Friends

On the outskirts of Clydesvale, Tempest was wearily making her way back to the cottage she shared with Grubber. She had just been visiting her parents, in hopes of better reconnecting with him. It hadn't been easy, though; the years she'd spent apart from them meant they barely even knew each other in the present. That, coupled with the shame Tempest felt over her past misdeeds, made catching up difficult. As much as she wanted to reconnect with her parents, Tempest couldn't just step back into her old life like nothing ever happened.

The same could be said for her encounters with Spring Rain and Glitter Drops. Whenever they crossed paths in the village (which was more often than Tempest would have liked), there was an air of tension to the proceedings. Despite their best efforts to rekindle their friendship (and Tempest's struggles to forgive them and move on) years of resentment couldn't just go away overnight. It would take time before Tempest could truly feel comfortable around both her parents, and her old friends.

'And I thought surviving by myself all those years was tough.' Tempest mused as she reached the cottage's front door. 'At least there's one place where I can relax, and be myself, without any awkwardness.'

On that note, Tempest entered the cottage.

"Grubber, I'm back!" She called. She looked around the living room, where there was no sign of her roommate. "Where are you?"

"In the kitchen!" Grubber's muffled voice replied.

'Of course.' Tempest rolled her eyes. 'His turn to cook. Probably working on something packed with sugar...'

To Tempest's dismay, the kitchen was a total mess. Everywhere she looked, there was food residue staining the floor, counters, walls and cupboards. Grubber wasn't exactly the neatest roommate in the world, the kitchen often suffering a little from the aftermath of his culinary endeavors, but this was on a whole other level.

'I think I'm going to be sick.' Tempest suppressed a shudder.

And there Grubber was, in the center of it all, placing a dish covered in slightly burnt food (and a few sweet treats) on the table, opposite another, which was stacked with similar treats.

"Hey, Tempest." He smiled. "Ya caught me in the middle of things. I didn't think you'd be back so soon."

"What is all this?" Tempest asked with disgust.

"Well, I was thinking we could have us a nice little feast today." Grubber declared. "Seemed like a good enough time for it..."

"I meant, what is this?" Tempest waved a hoof around the kitchen. "Why does the kitchen look like it was the staging ground for a gigantic food fight?"

"Oh, right." Grubber said sheepishly. "That... Well, y'see, the thing about that is-"

"Is it really too much to ask for you to not make a huge mess all the time?" Tempest growled.

"It's not that bad." Grubber defended himself.

"Not that bad?" Tempest snorted. "It'll take forever to clean all this up! What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking I'd make a nice li'l feast for me and my roommate." Grubber pouted. "So what if things got a little messed up? Y'know, you're acting pretty ungrateful right now."

"Ungrateful? Me?" Tempest asked incredulously. "I'm usually the one who has to clean up most of these messes. If it weren't for me, this place would a total dump, you lazy-!"

"Lazy?!" Grubber yelped, outraged. "I just put all this work into dinner! What more do you want?"

"I want you to at least try and clean up your messes, or better yet, make them as small as possible." Tempest seethed. "Because it seems like I'm the one doing all the cleaning around here."

"Hey, I clean." Grubber insisted. "But I can't get too much done with these little paws." He held up his appendages.

"Excuses, excuses." Tempest scoffed. "That's all I ever seem to hear from you."

"It's not like you're miss 'easy to live with', you know." Grubber countered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tempest grit her teeth.

"You know exactly what I mean." Grubber snorted. "'Grubber, don't do this', 'Grubber, don't do that'... what are you, my mother?"

"Thankfully, no." Tempest grimaced. "But that doesn't I'm going to just stand by while you leave messes all over, making the place look like a total pig sty."

"You make it sound like I'm a total slob." Grubber scowled, affronted. "Maybe the problem here is that you're just a neat freak."

"Excuse me?" Tempest growled.

"You heard me." Grubber sneered.

"Do not try to turn this into my problem." Tempest seethed. "We wouldn't be having this conversation if you would just learn to clean up after yourself."

"Maybe if you weren't such a control freak..." Grubber muttered.

"What was that?" Tempest growled.

"I said 'maybe if you weren't such a control freak'!" Grubber said aloud. "Sometimes, it's like you still think you're Commander Tempest, and I'm just the lackey who's gotta do whatever you say! Well, you're not a Commander in the big, bad Storm King's army anymore, so maybe you need to learn to stop acting like one!"

"Stop acting like this is somehow my problem!" Tempest yelled, her patience pushed to its limit. "This is your problem, and you are going to fix it, because I am not going to spend my time wading through filth. I want to see an improvement, fast, or neither of us will be happy. I making myself clear?!"

The tip of Tempest's broken horn sparked menacingly, as it always did when her temper flared. Grubber stepped back, scared, as unpleasant memories of the days when Tempest was far less forgiving flashed through his mind. But his look of fear quickly turned to one of anger.

"So that's how it is, huh?" He scowled. "If I don't do things the way you like, you'll 'discipline' me? Just like in the old days? And here I thought things were going to be different between us... But no, you're still pushing me around and treating me all harsh, just like when we were working for the Storm King!"

"Maybe being harsh is the only way to get through that dense skull of yours!" Tempest snarled.

"Are you callin' me stupid?" Grubber growled.

"Oh, so now you're actually paying attention to what I say?" Tempest scoffed. "That's a first."

"Well if I'm such a lousy roommate, maybe I should just go!" Grubber yelled.

"Maybe you should!" Tempest yelled back.

"Fine!" Grubber yelled as loudly as he could. "Don't know what I was thinking, asking to go with you. I'd've been better off going back home. As bad as it was there, at least no-one got on my back about a little mess..."

"Then go back there!" Tempest spat. "Leave me to clean up your mess, as usual!"

"With pleasure!" Stopping only to remove his apron and stuff as much food into it as he could, Grubber stomped off, out of the kitchen and out of the cottage, as fast as his little legs could carry him.

With Grubber gone, Tempest was left alone in the messy kitchen. As she stepped over to the table, reluctantly deciding not to let the food go to waste, she stepped on something sticky.

"Ugh, unbelievable!" She scowled, pulling her hoof free of the indefinable mess. "Thanks a lot, Grubber..."

Grabbing a nearby towel, Tempest cleaned her hoof, then took a seat at the table. As she prepared to eat, she noticed something below one of the plates.

"What the...?" She moved the plate aside.

Under the plate was a parcel, crudely wrapped and tied, Tempest's name on it.

"What is this?" Tempest frowned.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Tempest opened the parcel. Inside was a letter, the words written in an untidy scrawl.

Dear Tempest,

I know we've only been living here for a month, but it's been the best month of my life, and I just had to do something to mark the occasion. I know I'm not exactly an ideal roommate, which is why I'm so glad to be sharing a house with you. Back when we were working for the Storm King, I always thought you were the best. Sure, it got a little scary whenever you blew your top, but I'd never met anyone as cool, tough and determined as you.

When you asked me to go traveling with you, I was so happy. Back home, nobody ever really wanted me around. I was just this weak little runt, and no-one thought I was worth their time. But you don't see me like that. Sure, it took a little while, but you've accepted me for who I am. You're the first one to ever see me as more than just some annoying little That's why you're the best friend I've ever had, and why I hope we'll keep being roommates for a really long time.

Best wishes, Grubber

'He... he really felt that way?' Tempest asked herself, surprised. She once again glanced at the food on the table. 'A whole month gone by, and I didn't even notice. That's why he went to all the trouble of making a "feast" today of all days. And I didn't even ask why. I was too busy being angry over a mess...'

As Tempest placed the note aside, she saw another sheet of paper within the parcel, It was a crudely drawn picture of Grubber and Tempest, standing side by side, accompanied by the words "Best pals forever". A tear dropped onto the picture, followed by another, and another, as Tempest, overcome by guilt and regret, wept shamelessly.

'What have I done?' Tempest asked. 'I pushed Grubber away, that's what. Made him feel like he wasn't wanted. Just like I once felt...' She wiped a tear from her eye. 'And now he's out there, all alone, just like I was...'

Tempest raced out of the cottage, and into the nearby woods, surmising that Grubber would have wanted to get as far away from Cydesvale as possible.

"Grubber!" She yelled out in all directions. "Grubber!"

As Tempest desperately looked around for any sign of Grubber, she once again stepped in something.

'I really hope this isn't a "gift" from some forest animal...' She cringed as she looked down.

Thankfully, the substance wasn't what she thought it was; It was blue frosting, from one of the cupcakes Grubber had laid out on the table before, and taken with him when he left. As Tempest looked around, she spotted another cupcake a few feet away, with a cookie not far from that, and a muffin a short distance from there.

'Bingo.' Tempest smiled. 'I'm on your trail, Grubber.'

Tempest followed the trail of treats through the forest. As she continued onward, she heard thunder rumbling. Looking up, she saw dark clouds being placed over the forest by the local weather patrol.

'Fine time they pick to schedule a rainstorm.' Tempest scowled.

As Tempest continued on her way, rain began to fall. Her mane, weighed down by the deluge of rain, collapsed in all directions over her forehead. With every step, her hooves became more and more caked with mud. But Tempest didn't care. All she cared about at that moment was finding Grubber and making amends.

'I really hope the little guy found some kind of cover before the rain came.' She fretted. 'Bad enough he's out here on his own, he shouldn't have to get soaked too...'

The trail started to thin out, either due to the rainwater washing the confections away, or Grubber simply running out of things to drop.

"Come on, Grubber." Tempest looked around, holding one hoof up to shield her eyes from the downpour. "Where are you? You can't have gotten too far on those little legs..."

Tempest searched around the trees, trying desperately to find some trace of Grubber. The first half-dozen trees yielded no results. But when she neared a seventh, she heard a familiar sound; A sound reminiscent of overripe grapes being stepped on by a clumsy rhino. It was the unmistakable cacophony of Grubber eating.

"Found you." Tempest smiled.

Tempest rounded the tree, finding a small hollow at the base, one just large enough for a creature Grubber's size to take shelter in. Inside, Grubber was moodily chewing on a muffin.

"There you are." Tempest grinned.

Grubber stopped eating and looked up. Upon seeing Tempest, his expression grew even more sour.

"What do you want?" He scowled.

"Grubber, I... I'm sorry." Tempest apologized. "I shouldn't have lost my temper like that."

"No, you shouldn't." Grubber turned away. "Now that we've established that, would you mind givin' me some privacy. After I've finished dinner, I've gotta get to work decorating my new digs."

"You mean this tree?" Tempest frowned.

"It may be small, but it's cozy." Grubber retorted. "And the best part? No crabby roommates goin' on at me to clean up every little mess, and yellin' at me when I don't."

"Okay, I deserve that." Tempest sighed. "You know why? Because you were right. I really haven't changed as much I thought I had. No matter what, you always stood by me. You put in all that effort to celebrate our first month together as roommates, and how did I repay you? By treating you like dirt, just the way I used to. You deserve a better friend than me... and I don't deserve a friend like you."

Tempest sat down in the mud, bowing her head in disgrace. Grubber turned his head slightly, and found himself feeling sympathy towards her in spite of his anger.

"If you still want to leave, I won't stop you." Tempest announced.

"Then why did you come all the way out here?" Grubber asked, turning to face her.

"I just wanted you to know how sorry I am." Tempest declared. "And I was worried about you. The storm, the rain... I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"You did?" A small smile appeared on Grubber's face.

"Yes, I did." Tempest nodded. "Because I was afraid I was going to lose you."

"You didn't seem so worried about that a little while ago." Grubber pouted.

"I was angry." Tempest sighed. "But that's no excuse. No matter what, you and I... we're in this together. I was so upset about some ridiculous mess, I forgot that. And I'm sorry."

The rain died down, and the storm clouds, having exhausted their supply of water, were pushed away by the weather patrol.

As the sunlight shined down on the forest, Grubber's mood also lightened. He couldn't help but be touched by Tempest's sincerity.

"I'm sorry, too." He sighed. "I guess I can be a bit of a slob sometimes. I was so caught up in making dinner, I forgot about everything else, including the state of the kitchen. Can't really blame ya for bein' a little cheesed off."

"I shouldn't have taken it so badly, though." Tempest admitted. "I should have been more reasonable, like a good roommate."

"You are a good roommate." Grubber told her. "I mean, when you're not being all bossy and pushy..."

"I guess old habits really do die hard." Tempest sighed. "There's still a little of the old 'Commander Tempest' in me after all."

"Maybe a little..." Grubber shrugged.

"But if you decide to come back with me, I promise to do my best to dial that back." Tempest pledged. "You deserve better. Because you're not just my friend, you're, well..."

"'Well', what?" Grubber asked.

"You're, y'know..." Tempest mumbled.

"Didn't quite catch that." Grubber declared.

"You're really going to make me say it, aren't you?" Tempest sighed. "Okay, fine... Grubber, you're my best friend."

"...You're my best friend too." Grubber smiled, his eyes tearing up. "Okay, I'm comin' in for a hug!"

Squeezing out of the hollow, Grubber wrapped his little arms around one of Tempest's mud-splattered hooves. Tempest returned the favor by wrapping her other hoof around his back. For a moment, they held each other. Then Grubber suddenly broke the embrace.

"Sorry." He apologized. "But you're all wet, and your hooves are muddy."

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Tempest joked. "I didn't have the luxury of a nice dry tree hollow to hide in."

They shared a brief chuckle.

"So, does this mean..." Tempest asked tentatively.

"...Yeah, it does." Grubber admitted. "I really don't wanna leave. I only said I would because I was angry, too."

"What about your 'new digs'?" Tempest lightly teased him.

"Eh, wood apartments are so five minutes ago." Grubber shrugged. "Besides, I think I got a splinter in my butt, and termites in my hair..."

Tempest stifled a chuckle.

"Ready to head home?" She asked.

"Yep." Grubber nodded.

Together, they wandered back through the forest.

"Funny, I thought we were the best roommates around." Grubber admitted. "Guess we still got some stuff we need to work on."

"Looks like it." Tempest nodded. "So, how about I try to rein in my temper a little more...?"

"And I try to tidy up more often?" Grubber added.

"Deal." They said together, shaking hoof and paw.

With that mind, they continued their trek

"I found your anniversary gift, by the way." Tempest declared.

"Oh?" Grubber asked. "Well, what did ya think?"

"I loved it." Tempest pulled him into another hug. "I had no idea you valued our friendship so much."

"Well, I do." Grubber nodded. "You're the first real friend I ever had. That's why it hurt so much when I thought you didn't appreciate everything I'd done."

"But I do now." Tempest smiled. "And that dinner's still on the table in the kitchen. Probably more than a little cold by now, but it should still be good to eat. You up for it?"

"You know me: I never was one to waste food." Grubber grinned.

"Just try to save some for me." Tempest teased.

"No promises." Grubber joked back. "Turns out runnin' away from home can build up quite an appetite."

"You don't have to tell me that." Tempest retorted.

"Oh, right." Grubber realized. "Sorry."

"You're forgiven." Tempest ruffled his hair with one hoof.

"...Did you just get mud in my hair?" Grubber frowned.

"Whoops." Tempest said sheepishly. "Sorry..."

"You're forgiven." Grubber winked. "That's what roommates do, right?"

"That's what best friends do." Tempest nodded.

The two shared another warm smile as they continued on their way home. Their friendship had been tested by the events of the day, but it ended up becoming stronger. Granted, they still had some issues to iron out, and there would no doubt be more disagreements in the future, but they were both certain that they would face such problems together, as true friends do.