Derpy soared through the skies weaving and bobbing about like a drunken honeybee. Her post bag abandoned as it was slowing her down and was pretty useless with just one letter that was much easier to carry in her mouth. Mount Aris had been a bust but they told her Tempest was heading to a small village in Saddle Arabia. It was once a storm king outpost that drilled for fuel for his airships. According to the Hippogriffs a general of the storm king named Jackal was still ruling over the town, now selling the fuel to make himself rich at the expense of the citizens who starved and were worked almost to death. Still Tempest was unlikely to be in the town. If she intended to fight Jackal’s troops turned bandits doing it in town would put too many ponies at risk. It was much more likely she would attack them on the road between the town and their camp in the hills. Derpy just needed some sign.
She got it when she what looked like lightning shoot across the desert. “Found her.” Derpy pulled into and dive and headed down to the battle that had erupted bellow.
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Tempest jumped out of the way of a axe swung by one of the storm kings brutes. Having commanded troops just like these guys she knew that desert heat wore them out so she would keep up her guard till they wore themselves out. Jackal was a different story unlike his troops the canine dashed around the battlefield never seeming to slow or tire. Still with her wild, unpredictable but powerful magic he couldn’t get close enough to land a hit with his sword. Minutes passed as the two opposing forces wore each other down. Tempest doged another axe swing kicking the beast in the face as she jumped over it. Her magic arcing across the battlefield till it was just her and Jackal.
“Give up Tempest you don’t stand a chance against me. The Storm King was a fool to trust you to take Canterlot. I would have killed that Friend Princess right away.” Jackal taunted as his sword was blocked by Tempest leg armor as she threw her hooves to stop his attack.
“That's exactly why he didn’t dumbass he needed the princesses alive. Also if Twilight was here she wouldn’t let me hurt you as bad as I plan to.” She shoot back her magic surging towards Jackal.
The canine swiftly dashed out of the way. “Less talking more dying, pony.” He threw his sword at Tempest forcing her to block but the force of the sword bouncing off her hoof guards knocked her to the ground.
Tempest looked up to see Jackal diving down a bove her a dagger drawn ready to plunge into her. It seemed like the end she couldn't dodge in time or counter with her magic fast enough. She had failed failed to redeem herself. Failed to make the most out of the second chance at life she had been given. Failed to tell Twilight that she- “OOMMF”.
Tempest looked up to she that Jackal was no longer poncing at her but was instead bouncing across the sand. Her savior was a standing in front of her. “Oops I’m sorry mister Doggy I didn’t mean to crash into you. I just don’t know what went wrong.”
Tempest looked up at the famair grey pegasus before her. “Who are you? I think I’ve seen you before but I don’t know where.” She asked getting up to her hooves.
“Oh yeah you accidently turned me into a statue that one time. I’m Derpy nice to meet you Miss Tempest Shadow.”
Tempest remember she accidently hit this pony instead of Twilight during the Canterlot invasion. “I remember, I’m sorry Miss Derpy.”
“Aw don’t worry about it, it was a accident.” she looked a bit embarrassed as she scraped her hoof across the sand. “I sometimes accidentally hurt ponies to with my clumsiness. Like that doggy I crashed into over there.” She pointed at Jackal who was trying to stand back up. “Are you ok Doggy.” she called to him.
Jackal mumbled something about “damn annoying ponies.”
“Anyway I have a letter from Twilight. She said it was important Princess stuff.” she looked around before realizing something ‘Oops it was in my mouth but now it’s not. It must have fell out when I crashed. Give me a second and I’ll find it Miss Tempest.” she looked around for the letter. The second she turned her back to him Jackal charged at her grabbing his sword as he ran by it.
Tempest saw this and tried to charge Jackal to intercept him but the moment she put weight on her fore hoof she felt a sharp pain shoot up her leg. ‘Damn my legs broken’ “Derpy look out!”
“Found it” Derpy exclaimed lowering her head to pick it up in her mouth right as Jackal swung for her neck. The razor sharp metal swung merely a inch above Derpy’s fur and a second too late to decapitate. Instead the momentum carried Jackal forward causing him to bump into her side tripping him over the top of Derpy’s back lading face first on a rock. “Oops are you ok Doggy?”
Jackal spook his face still pressed to the stone. “You know Tempest used to be my least favorite pony, but your quickly catching up.”
Derpy tucked the letter under her wing and reached to pick up the dropped sword. Jackal hopped up and lunged to sink his sharp fangs into the pony’s jugular. Instead as Derpy raised her head after retrieving the sword headbutted him in the jaw. He fell backwards onto the same rock as earlier knocking himself unconscious. Derpy laid the sword next to him “Aww the Doggy is sleepy, isn’t he cute. Well like they say ‘let sleeping dogs lie.’” she kissed his forehead “Sleep tight cute Doggy.” she then skipped over to a astonished Tempest. “Here you go one letter form the Princess of Friendship.”
Tempest took the letter “Umm thanks. Hey can you help me get back to town I think I broke my leg fig- I mean playing with that umm doggy.”
Derpy smiled “no problem let's go that dog's owner probably lives in town so maybe we should bring him back.”
Tempest smiled “yeah that's a great ideal.” They put Jackal on Derpy's back and together made there way back to town.”
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After they dropped Jackal off at the town’s police office and getting a cast for Tempest at the town doctor. They went back to Tempest’s room at the Inn where she was finally able to open the letter.
Dear Tempest Shadow or do you prefer Fizzlepop Berrytwist
I wanted to ask you a favor I guess. You see recently my school was taken over by a student. She tricked me into leaving the school understaffed and trapped my friend Starlight who I left behind to run the school in my absence. While I have dealt with her and retaken the school I feel as though I failed my students. They trust me to keep them safe while there here and i failed in that. I have never really considered the safety of the school which was foolish. Ponyville doesn't have much crime but it seems every other day some monster is coming from the Everfree Forest and attacking or some evil villain is trying to conquer Equestria. No offense.
I asked Celestia if she could help think of a solution and she suggested forming a Royal Guard detachment here in Ponyville to protect the citizens the school and my castle. I need a brave trustworthy pony to help me found the Ponyville guard, it’s a working title, and eventually run them as the captain. I think your the perfect pony for this job.
This is a great chance to prove you’ve really changed to everypony. I hope that you’ll agree I understand if you want to continue on the journey your on now to prove yourself to the creatures you’ve wronged, but I think this is a chance to do more good than one pony can do alone.
Sincerely your friend
Twilight Sparkle.
P.S. Seriously which name do you prefer? I’d hate to accidentally upset you.
Tempest pulled out some paper of her own and wrote her reply
Dear Twilight Sparkle
Guard Captain Tempest Shadow reporting for duty. I will take the first train to Ponyville.
Sincerely Tempest Shadow to most but my friends can call me Fizzlepop.
She hoofed the latter over to Derpy “Make sure this letter makes it to Twilight as so as possible, soldier.”
Derpy saluted and flew out the door after crashing into the wall beside it three times.
Tempest packed her things and headed for the train station.
She walked to the train station up to the ticket clerk. “One ticket please.”
“Sure thing miss where ya heading.” the clerk asked.
Tempst looked off into the distance “Destiny.”
The clerk looked over the schedule. “Uhh I don’t think we have any trains heading to Destiny.”
Tempest would have facehoof if it wasn’t broken. “Just get me a ticket to Ponyville. You dumbass.”