Soon, the winter holidays were over, and it was time to return to the school. Tempest had stayed at the Shifter Kingdom for the remainder of the break. The three friends had fun in the brothers' kingdom. The Shifter Kingdom's holiday was known as the Longest Night. Tempest had enjoyed staying up all night with Thorax and Pharynx. Ember joined them for the night.
But now, the holidays were over, and Tempest arrived back at the Princess Academy with Pharynx, who had offered to drop her off.
"Thanks for driving me here Phar." Tempest said, smiling at him.
"Heh, anything to get away from my brother for a bit." Pharynx said, grumbling slightly. "He catches us cuddling one time and suddenly he thinks he can tease me..."
Tempest chuckled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. She smirked as he blushed.
"Heh, it wasn't to spend time with me?"
"Well, it was a bit of both." Pharynx slipped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. "Mostly this. Have a good school year, alright? I'll call you every night."
"Heh, good to know. And I will." Tempest opened the car door, smiling at him. "Just don't call too often. Wouldn't want to interfere with your O&O campaigns."
Pharynx froze. "H-How did you-"
"A little green haired birdy told me." Tempest winked before sliding out of the car. "Have fun, General Phantom!"
Pharynx turned red and closed the door, growling. "THORAAAAX!"
Twilight and the others entered the preparatory, smiling.
"It's so good to be back and see you all again!" Pinkie cheered, hugging them each tightly.
"How was everyone's break?" Starlight asked
"Great, mom and dad loved having us back. I think they might've missed us too much." Rainbow said, and Daring and Scootaloo chuckled.
"Shiny, Spike, Cadence, and I had a great time too." Twilight agreed.
"So, should we head to our dorms to unpack our things?" Spitfire suggested
"Good idea darling, if I could just get a teensy bit of help with my bags?" Rarity asked, standing beside a mountain of bags, just as Sweetie Belle dragged another one over and tossed it onto the pile.
"Uh... hey AJ, last one to the dorm is a rotten fish!" Rainbow said, taking off. Applejack tore after her.
"Wait for us!" Spitfire shouted, she, Fleetfoot, and Daring following the two at top speed.
"Uh... hey Sweetie, let's go find 'Bloom and head to our dorm." Scootaloo suggested
"Right behind you!" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo then rushed off.
"Girls?" Rarity turned to them.
"Sorry...Sun Kingdom, sun-only magic, kind of how it works...bye!" Sunset ran off.
"Y-Yeah, what she said-only about star-whatever-my-kingdom-is-again seeyoulater!" Starlight waved before following Sunset.
"I-I have to go put Angel in the dorm." Fluttershy followed them as quickly as she could.
"I just don't want to!" Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing off after Fluttershy.
Rarity groaned and looked at Twilight. She sighed and held out her hand.
"Here Rarity, this should make them lighter." Twilight said, her hand and the suitcases glowing magenta for a minute. "Now I should probably go help Rainbow and Applejack, something tells me their race is going to end in another tie."
"Oh very well, I suppose this will have to do." Rarity sighed, stooping to pick up the bags as Twilight left.
"Glad to see you all got back safely." Shining said as he and Spike walked into the library.
"Of course. You all enjoy the holidays?" Sunburst asked, receiving nods and murmurs of assent.
"Well, I for one am glad we're expanding our O&O to the library, the dorm rooms were getting crowded." Spike said, setting down the game box. "You guys ready to face the evil Squizard again?"
"Hold on, we're still missing the Headmaster and Vice Headmaster." Soarin pointed out.
"We're here." Thorax smiled at them as he walked over, though it seemed forced. "By the way, Pharynx is a bit on edge-"
"Thorax I'm going to kill you for this!" Pharynx shouted, completely ignoring the library's silence rules and storming up to his brother. "I swear, you will burn in the nine levels of Tartarus for what you did!"
"W-What d-did you do Headmaster?" Star Tracker asked
"I told Tempest about Pharynx playing O&O with us." Thorax replied simply, sitting down.
"You mean one of the Professors at the girl's school?" Cheese Sandwich asked
"Yep. Let's just say she and Phar didn't need any mistletoe during the holidays to get some sugar." Thorax said, grinning at his brother.
"I. Am going. To end you." Pharynx snarled as the boys began laughing. Pharynx was blushing considerably now.
"A-Anyway, on with the game!" Thorax said quickly.
"Right." Spike snickered, spreading out the game map. "We're starting a new campaign today, so is everyone prepared to enter the realm of Ogres and Oubliettes?"
"Yes!" they all cheered, except Pharynx, who grumbled.
"Then welcome, my friends." Spike ducked behind the Gamemaster's setup and opened the book. "To The Everfree Quest."
Meanwhile, outside of the Princess Preparatory, two figures were moving through the trees.
"Grubber, are you sure this is the place? You better not be wrong you miserable little beast. You're like a hedgehog, but without the quills." a rough, gravelly voice spoke from the woods.
"I'm positive your stom-edness, Tempest Shadow's assignment was in this building."
"Good, because the last time you were 'positive' about that we ended up in the Shifter Kingdom."
"A-Again, I'm sorry my liege."
"Yes, well, you're forgiven or whatever." the figure's storm cold eyes glowed in the darkness of the forest as a dark black staff with a blue gem was raised up, grasped in his hand. "Now, to bring on the storms."
"But your highness, I thought you still needed time."
"Oh, I do. But until then, Tempest and her new... ugh, allies must never be far from our sight. So this is where we and our top soldiers will make our new camp."
"B-But what about the kingdom, King Storm?"
"Let the subjects starve for all I care." the figure, King Storm, walked out of the undergrowth, Grubber following behind nervously. "It's revenge I want. Nothing else matters to me, only the taking of Tempest Shadow's life."