The four creatures hid out in their rooms for the following week. They only left the privacy of their dorms for classes. The villain creatures took to dining alone in the courtyard, at a table in the far reaches of the garden. In every class, save for their private class, Remedial Goodness, their classmates shunned them. Even Tempest had to admit she had never felt more outcasted and alone.
That Thursday, they sat at a picnic table near the one where the royal students were seated. Tempest picked at her food, staring blankly down at the tray. Pharynx rubbed her back gently in comfort, and Tempest looked up at him. Pharynx chuckled and offered her a gentle smile. She blushed and forced a smile back. Gallus and Luna looked at each other and sighed. They wanted to be happy that the two oblivious creatures were growing closer, but they were too upset to be genuine about it.
Sandbar trotted up, giving them a half smile. “Hey guys, how is everyone? Doing okay?”
They looked up at him, expressions downcast. Sandbar sighed and moved closer to Gallus. He nuzzled the griffon and looked around at them all.
“Okay… look, just forget it, okay? It was nothing, let it go. I know you're not evil, and you've got me."
"Guess so..." Gallus mumbled
"Look, Sandbar..." Luna sighed "It's really sweet of you to say, but..."
"One creature believing in us won't do much about the hundreds that don't." Tempest finished
"And we can't even do things like the clubs anymore because everyone runs from us." Pharynx added sullenly. He'd been missing Blitzball, as silly as it seemed, he enjoyed being on the team, and the running and jumping. Being cheered on helped too.
"Look, I promise, after the coronation tomorrow, everything will be okay.” Sandbar leaned down and kissed Gallus’ cheek, making him smile softly. “Alright. I have to go, but I’ll see you guys later.”
As Sandbar left, Snowdrop trotted up, a tray of food on her back. She looked at them sheepishly and scuffed her hoof in the ground. Her wings twitched nervously on her back.
“Luna, about Family Day, I-” she began, but was cut off.
“Snowdrop!” Blueblood stood at the table where he was.
“It’s my fault Snow, I’m sorry.” Luna whispered, tears pricking in her eyes.
“No, it’s mine, Luna. I should’ve stuck up for you like Sandbar wante-”
“Snowdrop!” Blueblood called again
“Snow…” Luna whispered, eyes beginning to water.
“Are you coming or what Snow?” Blueblood asked
“I’m sorry…” Snowdrop whispered "I... I have to..."
“Just go…” Luna murmured, ducking her head as tears fell onto the table. “J-Just go…”
“Okay... I'm sorry, really…” Snowdrop said, before leaving.
Yona and Celestia suddenly walked up, laughing and glaring at the kids. Yona flipped her braids and Celestia shook her head, her flowing mane waving.
“I mean, how long does he think it’s really gonna last? Gallus is just that typical bad boy infatuation.” Yona remarked loudly.
“Yeah. Heh, like Sandbar would ever make a villain his King.” Celestia agreed
"Why would anyone even want two kings?" Yona agreed
Gallus was clearly about to cry, gritting his teeth and clenching his claws into fists. Tempest snarled and her horn ignited. She closed her eyes and focused her magic.
“I cast this spell, victim unaware, undo Celestia’s hair.” Tempest murmured
There was a scream, and then loud laughter. The other royal students were laughing and pointing hooves at Celestia, whose mane had shrunk back to it’s short, soft pink state. Celestia had screamed, and was feeling her pink mane.
“Hahaha! Ew!” Blueblood cried.
"Worst mane ever!" Yona laughed.
Celestia covered her face with her wings and ran, crying. Snowdrop and Ember looked at each other, then stood and started after Celestia.
"Who even did that?" Yona chortled
“Oh, you like it? There’s a lot more where that came from.” Tempest said, standing up.
“Excuse me? Who do you think you are?” Yona asked snobbishly.
“Do I look like I’m kidding? I gave them those manes, I can easily take them away.” Tempest sneered.
Tempest’s broken horn sparked dangerously, frightening the royal students. The crowd screamed and ran away from the villain creature's table. Tempest watched with a cold gaze as the courtyard cleared out before their eyes and smirked.
The scar on Tempest's eye looked even more prominent in the half light under the shade of the trees. Her face was bathed in shadows, making her eyes shine. Tempest glared out at the empty courtyard, horn still crackling and sparking as she grinned, turning to face her friends.
“You know what?"
"W-What?" Luna looked up and wiped her eyes.
Tempest grinned, waiting for them all to look over at her. Pharynx shifted in his seat and kept his eyes on hers. Luna and Gallus wiped at their red eyes and waited for her to speak.
"I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. Why should we pretend to be nice if everyone seems to believe we're not capable of being good? I say it's time we embrace our roles in this story of our lives. Time to show everyone just how evil we can be." Tempest said, grinning.
"I'm with you Tempest, if they think we're evil, then so be it." Pharynx agreed, baring his fangs and flicking out his forked tongue to hiss menacingly.
"Agreed. Time for me to dig deeper into my roots." Gallus added, raising a fist. "I'll make mom and dad proud."
"Mother always said the most beautiful roses bear the biggest thorns." Luna smiled, flicking her flowing mane and igniting her horn. "It's time for this little rose to reveal her thorns. They'll be putting everyone to sleep."
Tempest smiled and grabbed her bag. "Come on then guys, let’s get ready to grab that crown and blow this popsicle stand.”
The four villain creatures stood and stalked off, smiling slightly as they thought of tomorrow. When they would finally be free of the creatures that had stripped them of everything they thought they loved about Equus. And when they would finally make their parents proud by showing them all just how rotten they were.