With Shining Armor in tow Tempest and the rest of the forces under her control made their way back to Canterlot to await the arrival of the Storm King. Tempest hoped that with all four alicorns subdued and captured, the Storm King would reward her as promised. She didn't want to even think about what might happen if he decided she wasn't loyal or efficient enough, as often seemed to be the case.
As for Shining, the prince could hardly believe what he was seeing. The entire city of Canterlot was firmly in the control of the Storm King's forces, and various Storm Guards ferried captive ponies that were either locked up in cages or shackled and chained.
One of the cages held an imprisoned Songbird Serenade whose face hung low, and she could be heard singing to herself. Though all Shining was able to overhear was: "I'm telling you, you cannot escape."
"Hey, no singing, inmate!" A Storm Guard growled and rattled the cage.
"But sing is what I must do," Songbird Serenade protested. "It's the only thing keeping me calm in this troubling situation."
"Whatever, just keep it to yourself! Or else I'll see to it that you're shut up for good!" The Storm Guard threatened and then he left.
But Songbird Serenade wasn't the only familiar face in a cage that greeted Shining on his way to the palace. Flash Sentry also happened to be caged up and imprisoned, and he looked considerably worse for wear. "Flash?!" Shining exclaimed.
Flash barely had the courage to look his superior in the eyes. "I'm sorry, Captain," He apologized in a low, hurt tone of voice. "We were making a break for the Everfree Forest, but those Storm Guards closed in sooner than expected. I thought I could take 'em, but they overwhelmed me with sheer force."
"And what about my sister, and my daughter, and my student, and the others?" Shining questioned the pegasus.
"I assume they were able to make it to safety," Flash reported. "The Storm Guards tried to torture me for information, but I refused to give any," Then he let out a sigh. "Some lieutenant I turned out to be. I'll understand if you want to dismiss me when this is all over. I failed you, Captain."
But the prince simply replied to the troubled lieutenant. "It's not your fault, Flash. You did what any royal guard in your situation would've been expected to do, put others before yourself. What matters is that everypony else is safe. I knew I made the right choice entrusting them to your care."
Flash felt slightly better, even as he looked up at his captain and asked him. "What's going to happen to you, Captain?"
"I don't know," The prince confessed. "But no matter what may happen, stay strong. Somehow, someway, all will be made right in the end." But deep down the alicorn wasn't so sure of the words he'd just spoken. He really didn't see how he was going to get out of a situation like this. He had no real powers, no plan, and worst of all no friends.
Soon Shining was escorted into the castle, still locked in his cage and unable to move. His heart sank when he saw the throne room, and all three of the crystallized and immobilized princesses positioned all around it. "I'm sorry, princess. Especially you, Cadence," He thought to himself. "I failed you."
Tempest, meanwhile, was all but beside herself with joy. "Finally, the day I've waited for for so long is upon me!" She proudly declared. "Even I can't mess this up."
"Tempest, please, I'm begging you!" Shining desperately pleaded. "It's not too late to change. Let me out of here, fess up to what you've done, and come back to the light. I can help you if you just let me!"
But Tempest spun around and coldly snapped. "No, it's far too late for that, prince! You just wanna help yourself!"
"But Tempest, what if he's telling the truth?" Grubber pleaded. "What if there's a way for us to finally be rid of the Storm King and live our lives in peace?"
"Listen to Grubber, listen to your conscience!" Shining added. "Stop this, now, before ponies get hurt! Deep down you have to know that this is wrong! I know you're upset about losing your horn, but is this really the price you wanna pay to get it back?!"
Tempest only stomped a hoof down in protest. "Silence, both of you!" She hissed, and then looking Shining square in the eyes she told him. "You're not changing my mind, prince. I told you already, I'm doing this because I don't have a choice. You don't know what happens to those who dare to defy the Storm King, he doesn't tolerate treason the way you think he does," Then with a grin she added. "But even he is just a means to an end, even he doesn't know what I really want. Once my horn is restored, he and all of Equestria will see just what I can really do."
"Fascinating. So what can you really do, Tempest?" A familiar playful voice called out. Tempest gulped and spun around, and Shining managed to get a good look at who it was that had so frightened the broken horned unicorn. It was a large, bi-pedal yeti like creature with blue and white fur, and brilliant opal eyes. It matched the posters and banners that had been displayed on the zeppelin, which meant the figure had to be the Storm King.
"Oh, don't mind me, Tempest," The Storm King encouraged. "By all means do go on. I want to know just what can you really do when you get your horn back?"
Grubber immediately spoke up. "Uh... I think I'm just gonna... go... check on the... uh... victory party. Y-yeah... that's it." And he quickly fled the throne room, leaving Tempest and Shining Armor alone with the Storm King.
With a gulp, Tempest looked up at her superior and defensively she answered him. "W-why serve you faithfully like I promised."
The Storm King eyed Tempest with suspicion. "Oh really?" He appeared to ponder. "You sure you weren't thinking of secretly betraying me or something, Tempest? Because if so that would be bad, for you that is."
"My lord, I live only to serve you and no one else," Tempest pleaded with a bow. "I have brought you the four alicorns as you have requested. Surely that is a sign of my loyalty and devotion to you, is it not?"
"I suppose it is," The Storm King agreed with a grin. "Though there is one small problem," He pointed a paw at Shining Armor. "The prince is still able to move."
"I assure you, he's of no threat to you, your all mighty badness," Tempest insisted as a cold sweat worked its way down her brows. "There was no need to crystallize him when he'd already given up the fight," And she quickly changed the subject. "I did everything you asked of me, now please fulfill your end of the bargain and restore my horn like you promised."
The Storm King seemed to pause, as if he'd forgotten about the deal. "Huh?" Then it seemed to suddenly come flooding back to him in an instant. "Oh y-yeah, of course. All in due time," He assured the broken horned unicorn as he patted her on the forehead. "But first there needs to be a change of scenery for my new headquarters."
"Whatever do you mean, sir?" The broken horned unicorn asked.
"Well it's not bad for ponies I suppose," The Storm King began as he took in the view of the throne room. "But it's just a little too, oh, I don't know... CUTE! Hardly befitting of my image as the big bad Storm King! So come on and make with the punchline already, Tempest, because this has gotta be a joke!"
Tempest hastily backed up, suddenly terrified. "I-it's no joke, I assure you. I wasn't even aware you would want this pony castle to be your new headquarters." She defensively answered, trying not to show how afraid she really was.
The Storm King responded to this revelation with a shake of his head. "Oh Tempest, I'm so disappointed in you. What better centerpiece for a king's empire than a castle? When was the last time you ever heard of a king who didn't live in one?" Then he sighed. "Guess that's what I get for entrusting such details to ponies. But no biggy, I can fix this. Seems like I always have to tie up loose ends somewhere. Time to get this storm a brewing!" He paused briefly at his statement. "Huh, that's a good phrase, actually. I should probably copyright that, get ten storm bucks every time someone says it." Then he planted his staff in the center of the throne room.
All of a sudden, the magic from all four of the alicorns (including Shining Armor) began to flow out towards the staff as if it were absorbing the incredible power. When it was finished the Storm King held it aloft, marveling at the bright glow that it gave off. "Excellent," He smiled, running a paw over the staff's smooth surface. "Now let's see what this baby can really do," And he gave a whistle. "Tempest, bring the prince here. I could use a punching bag."
Poor Shining barley had any time to react before he was hit square in the chest with a powerful magic blast and knocked through the throne room wall and out onto the balcony overlooking Canterlot.
"Wow, that looked like it really hurt!" The Storm King laughed. "Good, I hope it did!"
"You're insane!" Shining hissed while wincing in pain.
The Storm King only laughed and flashed a toothy smile. "Flattery won't save you, prince. I now have absolute and total control, even the sun and the moon bow to my will! And soon not just Equestria, but the whole world will know my name and grovel at my feet!"