//------------------------------// // Royal Pains and Crowning Plans // Story: Descendants of the Isle 2: Back Among The Hidden // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Spitfire walked around the bar, serving creatures, as were her father’s orders. She slammed a beer casket down in front of someone. “Hey! I asked for a Flametail Whiskey!” “And I asked for a dolly.” Spitfire sneered “Life ain’t fair!” with that, she stormed away. Tempest sauntered through the doors, pushing them aside. She looked around with a sly smirk. Though her manestyle had changed, the hooded cloak, scar, and broken horn were dead giveaways to her identity. “I’m back.” she said in a sing-song tone. Spitfire chuckled. “Loser, party of one. This way.” she flicked her tail towards an empty table. Tempest walked towards it. Spitfire kicked a chair her way, and Tempest ignited her shattered horn, catching it and spinning it to sit on it backwards. She rested her forelegs on the back of the chair and her chin on top of them. “Place still stinks.” she remarked, looking around “Oh, I’m sorry. We’re down a butler today.” Spitfire snarked “Look at you. Good as a princess.” “Cut to the chase, where’s Sandbar?” Spitfire chuckled. “You know, I’ve dreamed of this.” she leaned against the table. “You wanting something from me, and me watching you squirm like a Phoenix in a net.” “I’m so flattered that you dream of me. I haven’t given you a thought since I left. But aren’t you taken?” Tempest raised a brow at Fleetfoot, who sat at the bar, watching them. Spitfire slammed a hoof on the table. “Clearly you haven’t.” she spat. “You have the perfect little life, don’t you?” Tempest smirked, horn sparking. Spitfire’s eyes flashed red, and she turned to the bar. “Doesn’t she have the perfect little life?!” the bar patrons all laughed. Spitfire turned back to Tempest. “Meanwhile we’re twenty years into a garbage strike.” Tempest huffed. “Look, if you have some kind of score to settle, game on. I see no need to bring Sandbar into this, he’s not even my boyfriend.” “True, but let’s face it, the naive prince of Equus would’ve been easier to nab than the prince of the changelings that grew up here.” Spitfire chortled. “Besides, drawing in leverage that ties to Equus may be unnecessary but it is so much fun.” Tempest locked eyes with her. Tempest’s eyes flickered with the same electric color as her magic. Spitfire’s flashed blood red. “Here’s the deal.” Spitfire began “Just like your father, always a catch.” Tempest quipped. “Blood for powers was his game, what’s yours gonna be?” Spitfire slammed a hoof on the table. “Don’t you bring him into this.” she snarled. Tempest thought she could see tears in the filly’s eyes for a second. However, Spitfire shook her head and blinked, and they were gone. Spitfire sat down and raised her foreleg in the position for a hoof wrestle. “If you win, Sandbar’s free to go.” she said. Tempest shrugged nonchalantly, placing her own foreleg into position. Hopefully she hadn’t lost her touch. “Don’t you want to know what I get if I win?” Spitfire asked innocently. Tempest knew this trick. Spitfire would reveal it at the last possible moment unless she agreed to know now. But Tempest was sure of herself, she could keep her composure. “Hmph, still dreaming.” Tempest remarked Spitfire clenched her hoof around Tempest’s. “Last time I checked your father thought he had things all tied up too, huh? How’d that work out for him again?” Tempest was unfazed. “On three.” “One.” “Two.” “Three.” they said together, then began the battle of will. “You know, that whole princess act you were putting on for the cameras? Never bought it for a second.” Spitfire smirked “Just like the griffon boy. You can stick a tiara or a crown on a villain, but they’ll always be a villain.” Tempest chuckled. “And you can slap a Captain’s uniform on but you’re still a hothead.” Spitfire’s foreleg slipped for a second but she adjusted it. Tempest’s eyes flared electric blue as she pressed against Spitfire’s hoof. She was channeling the last bit of her magic that remained despite the barrier in order to keep steady. Spitfire chuckled even as her foreleg came down. “If I win…” Spitfire said, as her hoof was seconds from touching the table. “-You bring me the crown.” Tempest’s mouth opened and her magic faded out. Spitfire shoved, and Tempest’s hoof was the one on the table. Spitfire raised her hooves in victory, laughing. As Tempest pulled her hoof back and massaged it, she realized what Spitfire had done. She’d been bunching her muscles, slipping on purpose so she’d be tense enough to push Tempest’s hoof to the table. Otherwise, even in shock, Tempest would have been strong enough to stay put without an extra shove from Spitfire. Spitfire slammed both her hooves on the table. “Now.” she said sternly. “If you want Sandy-boy back, bring me Rising Dawn’s enchanted crown. My ship, tomorrow at noon.” Tempest sighed as Spitfire stood to leave. Spitfire then turned and looked back at her. “And if you blab, tell Gallus he can kiss his baby goodbye.” with that, she left. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “There’s no way we can give Spitfire the crown!” Luna was pacing around in Tempest’s flat. “We can’t just let her destroy Equus!” she looked to Tempest. Tempest was seated on the couch beside Pharynx. She had reluctantly allowed the changeling to slip a hoof around her in comfort. It was nice, and she was resisting the urge to rest against him. “But if Spitfire doesn’t get the crown then Sandy-” Gallus broke off, rubbing his eyes. “Great, so we’re going to give Spitfire of all creatures the crown.” Luna huffed. “You know what she’s capable of, and her magic being tied to flames, the crown will only amplify her power.” “You guys.” Tempest spoke. They looked over at her. “I’ve got it.” “Temp?” Pharynx looked at her. “The 3D printer.” Tempest said “Fake crown.” Gallus snapped his claws. “That’s it!” “But the second Spitfire puts it on, and it doesn’t work, she’ll know it’s a fake.” Luna objected “Then we just get Sandy out fast.” Gallus said “We’d need some kind of diversion for that.” Pharynx joined in, looking at Tempest. She recognized what he was saying. “Smoke bombs.” they said as one, and Tempest blushed. Pharynx nuzzled her. “Okay, as happy as I am that you two are making up, we need chemicals for that.” Luna spoke up. “I’ll get them from Garnet’s place, it could work. Oh, by the way Tempest…” “Hm?” Tempest looked up and Luna went over, touching the mohawk. “Sick hair, Garnet’s really stepped up her game.” “Actually, Smolder and Gabby did this.” Tempest told her “Smolder and Gabs? Shut up.” “Heh, I know. Didn’t think I’d like it but it’s a lot lighter and I’m loving it.” Tempest said, and Pharynx nuzzled her. “You look even more beautiful than you did before.” he murmured, and she blushed. Luna sighed happily. “I’m so proud of them.” “Guys?” Gallus asked “Right.” Tempest sighed, pulling away from Pharynx. “Boys, meet us at Airship Bay no later than noon.” “Alright, let’s get going. Losing is not an option.” Gallus said, standing. “Cause we’re rotten.” Tempest tried “At the core.” they all finished, nodding. “Alright, let’s do this.” Tempest said