//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The Storm King/Klugetown // Story: A Place in Equestria V: The Storm Awakens // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// The storm creatures were making heavy grunting noises while escorting the captured and shackled ponies to their cells, while Tempest Shadow was in the throne room but standing out on the balcony looking at the mess that they made during the set up for their Friendship Festival. “All this power wasted on parties...” She then walked into the throne room and looked at her reflection on the petrified Celestia. “...when there are far greater uses.” Tempest then heard a ringtone coming from a glowing blue potion that two Storm Creature guards were carrying, “Well? Answer it!” The guard with the bottle removed the cork and then poured it into the legged cauldron, and then a blue flame was ignited revealing a hologram of the Storm King. “Where am I supposed to be looking? How is it that I never understand how this spell works?! Tempest! Where are you?!” he angrily asked. Tempest sighed with an unamused tone, “Over here, Your Excellency.” The Storm King then tried to find her, until he finally looked at her, “Oh. There you are. Here's the deal. I'm in the middle of a big re-brand here. "The Storm King" is tracking well as "intensely intimidating", but you know what? I need to back it up. You know what I need to back it up with? A storm! You promised me magic that could control the elements, and right now, I’ve got myself holding this ridiculous twig! I mean, look at this!” “Uh, that would be the Staff of Sacanas, Your Excellency, and it will...” Tempest said. “Mm-hmm? And?” The Storm King asked, until Tempest continued. “...channel the magic of the four rulers of this land.” “Mm-hmmmm?” The Storm King asked. “You'll soon have the power of a hundred armies, and then conquer the world,” Tempest explained clearly. “Finally, an honest answer!” The Storm King said. “So that would be a yes on your locking down the four Pegacornicuseses, or whatever you call them?” “Yes, but give me three days. I'll have everything ready for your arrival sooner than enough, but I have other news,” Tempest said. The Storm King ominously looked at her, “Remember, Tempest. Only I have the power to make you whole. Make this twig work, and you'll get your reward. Fail me, and your horn won't be the only thing that's broken. Got that?” “Say no more, my lord. It won't be a problem,” Tempest said. The Storm King then acknowledged, “Great! Now, what’s the problem?” “We now have three, but one got away, along with 7 others, along with a baby dragon... and a human,” Tempest said. “HUMAN?! WHAT?! Are you seriously kidding me right now?! Ho could you lose them when you almost had them?! And how much is that so-called human reliable to her?!” The Storm King asked disappointingly. “He’s their nephew, but he’s the son of the yellow pegasus with the pink mane. But I will find them and bring the fourth princess before you.” “Excellent! I'm soon ready to power up, crash and bash, and be the biggest, baddest emperor! Well, catch you later, and be sure to send me some reports if you have her soon! Ta-ta!” The Storm King then hung up. “Thorry, bad thpell thervice. You want me to call him back?” Grubber asked, until Tempest sighed with a groan. “But I brought ya thpongecake in cathe you were hungry.” Grubber screamed after Tempest zapped him with her horn. “No, I don’t want sponge cake!” Tempest said. “I still need all four for the staff to work. I almost looked like a fool towards his majesty.” “Hey, I know! I want the Thtorm King to fix that crazy horn as badly as you do. It lookth like a crackly chipped tooth on the top of your head. And you know you don't look good in hatth.” Grubber said. Tempest angrily lit up her horn with her electric sparkling aura, frightening Grubber, “That Princess is not gonna keep me from getting my horn back! Prepare my ship!” Grubber panicked and went to get the ship ready. Tempest then took a deep breath, “Please. How far could one little pony and her friends get on their own?” Later on, as the sun was beginning to set, the Mane 8 continued their journey around a sand hill desert in the Badlands, until they were heavily exhausted and panting for air from the scorching sun. Pinkie Pie panted heavily for air, “There's sand in my... everything... Heh... Saving... Equestria...” She then made a demented laugh,until she found a skull. “Oh! Look! Maybe this guy knows which way to go! What's that, friend? We're lost?” Pinkie Pie then made another demented laugh, until she then coughed, and made one more demented laugh and stood up in hyperbolically until she finally fainted like a deflated balloon. Starlight and Sunset walked between Fluttershy while Thomas rode on Applejack’s back since she was a strong mare. “You... doin’ alright back there... sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “I’m tired... and I’m hungry... and thirsty...” Thomas said while perishing underneath the sun, until he yawned. “Why don’t ya rest your eyes for a little while? We’ll wake ya when we find somewhere to go to,” Applejack said, and then Thomas fell asleep on her back as her soft fur kept him cozy. “Thank you... for being... careful with him,” Fluttershy said. “Anytime, Fluttershy... Anytime,” Applejack said. Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Spike were panting exhaustedly from the heat of the sun. As Rainbow Dash and Rarity passed by Spike, he kneeled down while sweating, “We could be going in... circles! Endless... sand...” He inhaled, “Nothin' for miles... but sand...” Spike breathed again, “and this rock...” He coughed, “and this cactus...” He breathed deeply, “and this roooooooooaaaaaad....” Spike breathed until he coughed, and then fainted like a sponge and then breathed again, “...this rooooooad....” Twilight then heard about what he said, “Hmm? A road? Where there's a road, there's a...” She then gasped. “Girls, come look over here!” They all went over to see what appeared to be a huge towering city that looked like a huge marketplace. “Cool!” Rainbow Dash said. “Well, I’ll be,” Applejack asked. Thomas then woke up and saw the town, “What is it?” “Oooh! A city!” Pinkie Pie scoffed, “We are doing it, you guys!” “You know what they say: where there's a city, there's a spa!” Rarity said, and then they all went over to Klugetown for a closer look. “Who says that?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Mostly everypony,” Sunset said. “But not always,” Starlight said. “'Case you forgot, we're on a mission to save Equestria,” Applejack said. “Oh, pfft! I can multitask, Applejack darling,” Rarity said, as they continued their way inside. When they entered the town, Thomas hid underneath her mane like he did before and then held onto her neck, and then Fluttershy covered his feet with her wings so that he wouldn’t be seen. “Don't worry, little one, we'll let ya go!” said a pig creature with a bird in a cage. “Yeah! To the highest bidder!” said another pig creature, until they both laughed. The Mane 8 heard vendors calling out items for sale, while some had household appliances including lamps and lamp oil, dishes, and silverware, and food including bread, fruit, vegetables, and meats consisting fish or chicken. Twilight suddenly saw one vendor looking at her with a mischievous smile, “Ooh. Hey! You with the horn, you selling?” Twilight and the others then sped up. Fluttershy looked at the birds in cages, “Oh...” The birds then started squawking loudly, causing Fluttershy to panic. “Ooh!” She then caught up with the others. “Hi there! Ooh, I'm sorry. Here. Lemme help you with that,” Twilight said, lifting up the barrels with her magic. “Hey! No magic around my merchandise!” said the turtle vendor, until the Mane 8 ran off. “Okay. We just gotta stick together. Be careful who you talk to. And try to blend in, but don’t get them caught up or else we’ll be in big trouble,” Twilight said, and then they all nodded in agreement. “Relax, Twilight! We totally got this!” Rainbow Dash said. “She’s serious about this, Rainbow Dash. And there’s the reason why,” Sunset said, pointing at Thomas hiding underneath her mane. “Oh,” they all said in unison, and then crossed their hearts. Thomas then peeked out from underneath his mother’s mane carefully to take a look at the markets until he felt his stomach grumbling. “Momma?” Thomas said. Fluttershy then realized what his problem was, so she and Applejack knew what to do. “Uh, Twilight? Shouldn’t we try to find a place to eat and sleep? It’s nearly sundown,” Applejack said. “Plus, the little feller’s hungry.” Thomas’s stomach then grumbled again, causing him to moan with a soft whimpering noise. “I know you’re hungry, sweetheart. But don’t worry, we’ll find you something to eat soon, if we find somewhere suitable,” Starlight said. “How much for the giant gecko?” Louise said. “Who you callin' a gecko?” Spike asked. “Uh, Spike isn't for sale,” Twilight asked. “I want that fancy purple hair! I'll give ya two bucks for it!” Vera said. “Two bucks?! It's worth more than that!” Rarity said. Thomas was somehow confused, but scared while other various creatures kept bidding. “Gimme that pink one!” “I'll take the blue one!” “No! I want the blue one!” “I need that lizard!” “I'll take that picture of your sister!” “I want all eleven for my collection!” “Eleven? Why would there be eleven if there’s only ten?” asked a creature. “Because... the yellow one had this hiding in her hair!” replied the other creature as he grabbed Thomas by the back of his shirt. “Thomas! Put him down, you monster!” Fluttershy said. The creature then grabbed a knife, “He’d make a nice rug for my living room!” Thomas whimpered as the mares gasped at what they heard. Suddenly, they heard a male voice clear his throat, and then Thomas felt someone hold him in his hands and then hugged by Fluttershy as he was near her chest. They saw an male anthropomorphic cat with moderate gamboge fur with a darker shade on his face, ears, paws, and tail and a lighter shade on his chest fur, dark grayish indigo hair on the top of his head, light malachite green eyes, and he wore a grayish crimson red trench coat and a dark grayish blue bandage on his tail. “Back up, everyone! Back it up! Y'all need to chill out! Besides... what’s the matter with you all? You all in last town or something? This ain’t how we treat newcomers from out of town,” he said. “Stay out of this, cat! They’re ours!” said a pig creature. “Now, you listen here, fella, there ain't—“ The cat cut Applejack off. “Don't worry, don't worry, as long as you're not here to harm anycreature, you'll be fine. Now, that’s out of the picture, why don’t you all get along with yourselves and your businesses, and let me take it from here? Okay? Thank you.” The vendors and towns creatures went back to their business, until the cat looked at them. “Well, all right, now that’s taken care of...” “You are awesome!” Rainbow Dash said. “Mm-hm,” said the cat. “And quite charming,” Rarity giggled. “Umm... wh-who are you?” Starlight asked. “Capper's the name. Charming's my game. So... what’s a group of ponies like you lot doing out here in Klugetown, eh?” Capper asked. “We’re looking for someplace to sleep tonight, and maybe something to eat as well,” Applejack said. “Because my baby’s already hungry,” Fluttershy said. “Hmm... I think I know where you’ll be safe, because the Storm King hired some of his goons to make shelter at this place so, try to lay low. Now, follow me,” Capper then took them to somewhere safe.