Tempest's consciousness slowly began to fade in. Her ears flicked toward the sound of distant birds chirping and the singing of their melodies. Her eyes fluttered before barely opening, her retinas still sensitive to the bright light of the day.
It vaguely occurred to her that she felt more comfortable than she'd remembered.
She began to stir, noticing her movements were more lethargic than normal along with a feeling of something wrapped around her body.
Pushing her forelegs into the ground, rising from her chest, she noticed a pillow was below her. She looked over her back to identify what she felt over her body and saw she was inside a dark purple sleeping bag similar to the color of her coat.
Her mind was still hazy, aiding in her confusion as she tried to decipher how it got there. It was an enigma that was unsolvable in her current state.
The door to the back of the caravan opened, drawing Tempest's attention. It was Starlight.
"Tempest? you're awake?" she asked, a brown sack magically floating next to her. Ambling toward her, her expression shifted as she rose a brow. "And you're in a sleeping bag?"
Tempest's own bemusement soared as her only explanation for the sleeping bag's appearance was thrown into the aether.
"These aren't yours?" Tempest asked, her voice slightly lower from just waking up.
"No, we left some blankets and pillows for you on the ground in the wagon. You slept out here?"
"Are you blind?" Tempest replied, beginning to stand and pull herself out of the bag.
The caravan door swung open, revealing a familiar azure unicorn mare illusionist with bags under her eyes, a frizzled silver mane, and a glare.
"Hey, Trix," Starlight greeted, unfazed.
She sauntered toward Starlight, then past, taking a seat in front of the ashes and charred wood of the dead fire.
Starlight glanced around the site. "I guess Discord's not here," she stated.
"Good," Trixie grumbled.
"Sounds like someone misses me," an old voice noted sarcastically.
Tempest glanced in the direction of the voice and saw the familiar draconequus laying on top of the wagon with a smug smile.
An apple in a turquoise aura levitated in front of Trixie, who noticed it and continued to scowl before it's aura was replaced with a pale magenta one as she brought it to her muzzle, taking a bite.
"You want one? Apples are a good natural way to wake up," Starlight informed, magically placing the apple in front of Tempest. "Or so I've been told."
The apple rested on the pillow for a few moments before Tempest extended a foreleg, grasping it in her hoof. She examined it as it rested on the frog of her hoof. She glanced at Starlight, noticing she was watching. Unperturbed, she looked back down, bringing the apple to her muzzle taking a bite.
Upon chewing, it surprised her that the flavor was still so sweet and rich. But the texture was more on the softer side and there was hardly any juiciness, alluding that it was more aged.
Starlight swallowed her bite of her apple. "Are these Sweet Apple Acre apples, Trixie?"
"Probably. I rest around there sometimes," she replied.
Starlight looked to Discord, titling another levitating apple in front of her.
Rising from the wagon, Discord snapped his fingers, conjuring a steaming pie levitating in the air in front of him, along with a fork and knife in hand.
"Do you have to rub it in?" Trixie criticized while chewing.
"I was gonna share."
Trixie rolled her eyes.
"Where did you even get it?" Starlight asked.
"Magic. Chaos Magic to be exact."
It was Starlight's turn to roll her eyes before levitating the uneaten apple back into the bag.
Discord's pie tray was already empty as he dabbed a silk napkin over his mouth. He tossed it away before it began to fly. "That was quite delicious. I'll have to ask Pinkie Pie to make some more," he mused.
Sleep fog began to part, allowing Tempest to think normally. The first thought that came to her mind was the time of day, which she concluded by looking to the sky was approximately late morning.
She tossed her finished apple away. "We should head out."
"Excellent idea," Discord said, snapping his fingers. "That's why you're the leader of this expedition."
Tempest glanced at him with a stoic visage before she picked up the map from the dirt. She approached Starlight, extending it toward her.
She took it, her horn glowing as it disappeared with a small magical blast.
Tempest continued on, stopping at the top of the hill gazing down the path.
"I guess we better get moving," Trixie sighed, standing and tossing the fully eaten apple away before sauntering toward the wagon.
Starlight glanced at where Tempest had slept and found the pillow and sleeping bag had disappeared.
The evening sun's rays cut through the gaps in the pine trees. The faint aroma of dried cedar coated the air. Distant bird chirps filled the ambiance accompanying the sound of a carriage rolling across the dirt trail.
"Hey, Discord," Trixie said.
"Yes?" he replied, magically turning a page from the newspaper covering his face as he laid on the caravan.
"Can you get off my wagon. Trixie has been pulling this thing for hours and you're making it way more difficult."
"Trixie is not very nice," he replied, snapping his fingers causing the newspaper to disappear before he began to fly.
"Do you want me to pull it again, Trix?" Starlight offered, looking behind her.
"No. I can do it," she reassured, raising her chin.
"Okay, well just let me know if you need me to."
Further ahead from the group, Tempest was maintaining her pace as she was wrapped within her thoughts. Particularly about what Twilight might want her to find. And why she would send the three ponies behind her along with her.
She figured each must be a worthy ally in some way if Twilight chose them. The draconequus seemed obvious, though she detested him and his nature. But the other two she was still clueless about. The illusionist was the most peculiar to her since she didn't seem to offer much of anything as she just seemed good friends with the other unicorn Starlight who she knew the least about. Despite not having an answer, she didn't desire to seek it.
"You know, I've never seen you crack a smile one time on this trip. Is there anything you find funny?" Discord asked, floating alongside Tempest.
Tempest was silent.
"I tend to like irony, especially tragic irony. But there's a plethora of other things I find amusing."
She remained silent.
"I get the feeling you're into puns. Oh! Or perhaps mimes. You both share something in common."
"No, we don't."
Discord paused before groaning. "I'll need more fingers to count how many times I wish I didn't go on this trip. But of course 'earning trust' and all that stuff. Ugh, lock me in stone again."
Tempest was piqued.
"Discord? Can you come back here?" Starlight inquired, from afar.
The draconequus turned around, slithering away through the air.
Tempest contemplated his words. Locked in stone again? Earning trust? Was it hers? It would take a lot for her to trust him. She was surprised Twilight even did. Or perhaps she didn't.
A smile tugged at her lips.
The sun descended, on the verge of touching the horizon as an hour had passed. The four travelers had found a small clearing next to the path and were setting up camp.
Tempest kicked the last two logs they had together in the center of the site. She began propping various dead twigs and branches against it.
"I can't wait to get to the Crystal Empire tomorrow to eat some good food."
"What do you plan on getting?"
"I don't know. I'll have to see what they have. Trixie's never been to the Crystal Empire."
"You've never performed there?"
"Nope."
"Huh," Starlight mused.
"It's worth noting I've never been there either," Discord said. "I imagine it's probably crystal-ly. Judging by its name," he mentioned with a grin.
"Wow, astute observation," Trixie praised sarcastically.
"Is that considered a Twilight word?" Starlight asked, her voice monotone.
Tempest propped one last branch against the logs and stood up, getting ready to ignite it.
"I can light it," Starlight said.
But before Starlight could alight her horn, Tempest's broken horn sparked as magical electricity surged along the log and its branched ribs. It stopped, small flames rising from its sides, touching the branches and its pine needles.
"I can handle myself," Tempest replied.
The sound of rustling cloth captured Trixie's attention. Looking over, she noticed Discord stirring in a hammock which was connected to two trees that appeared from nowhere.
"It's hard to lay in these things when you have an immaculate body like mine," he said aloud to know one in particular.
Trixie rolled her eyes.
Starlight approached the parked wagon, stopping just shy of the steps. She opened the door with her magic before she began to search inside. Finding the item she was looking for, her horn channeled her magic as she began back toward the fire.
Tempest was laying down when she noticed Starlight was approaching with her previous sleeping bag and pillow. They levitated to her side and she glanced at Starlight, seeing she wore an apathetic frown. But Tempest paid little mind to the gesture, figuring she could sleep without it anyway.
Starlight didn't notice Tempest's glance as she stared at the fire, before then turning, walking toward Trixie and taking a seat adjacent to her.
A long stick poked at the fire. Holding the stick was a pair of talons which belonged to a certain draconequus who was laying on the ground staring at the flames.
"Would you like to poke at the fire, Starlight?" He asked.
"Uhhh, no?"
"I thought it might give you something to do even if it's mediocre entertainment."
"Normally I would be reading or maybe working on another kite right now. But thanks," she added, the compliment still flimsy.
"Have you ever flown a kite in a storm?" He inquired, his tone ambiguous to whether or not he was joking.
There was a pause.
"Uh, no?"
Tempest felt a smile surfacing, whether it was the image of lightning striking the kite destroying it and shocking Starlight, or the nature of the question and reply, she wasn't sure. But the smile barely showed.
Discord continued poking at the log and the forming embers, before he stopped, laying the stick at the ground, it's glowing orange tip emitting a slender smoke. Snapping his fingers, a sizable cup of water appeared in his free talons.
The others noticed they also had cups of water in front of them.
Discord drank his water in a few gulps, throwing the empty cup behind him, but the sound of shattering glass never came.
Upon seeing the cup, Starlight realized she should have gotten more from the jug inside the wagon. But she was too wrapped up in her own thoughts.
Tempest studied the cup for a few moments. She grabbed it in her hoof before bringing it to her muzzle, tilting her head as she drank it all in one breath. She placed the cup back down.
"So," Starlight began, "you got any hobbies, Tempest?"
The fire popped.
Staring at the fire, she calmly smiled to herself, a small breathy chuckle barely escaping as she spoke. "I'm pretty good at combat."
"Did you train?"
She took a moment to respond.
"I trained myself and fought the Storm King's soldiers as practice."
"What's the biggest thing you fought?" Trixie asked.
"Probably a Manticore."
"Did it attack you?"
"It confronted me and we stared each other down. It was irate for some reason. I tried to walk away but as soon as I turned my back, it charged. So, I dealt with it."
"Did you..." Starlight began in insinuation.
"No," Tempest replied calmly.
"How did you do it?" Trixie asked.
"I used magic until it couldn't stand."
"What's the biggest thing you've fought, Discord?" Starlight asked, curious as to why he was so quiet.
Discord was laying on the ground, looking down at his paw with intent. He held a flattened golden 'stick' of some sort, as he seemed to be tracing something or scraping something off with his talon. But upon hearing his name, he closed his paw, concealing the item.
He looked up with his trademark lidded smile. "I haven't fought anything too large but powerful, yes."
Trixie's brows slightly furrowed, anticipating a jab.
"I would say the most powerful foes I've ever faced would be Celestia and Luna. But in recent years, Twilight probably takes the cake," he chuckled.
"You didn't fight Twilight though."
"I suppose that's true," he replied. "I guess her friends also count for the confrontation. But I heard of her abilities when she was a mere unascended unicorn. Still somewhat strong but she almost lost that day."
"What about Tirek?" Starlight asked.
Discord's expression was blank for a moment before his brows furrowed. "He was just a scrawny centaur who got his power through my help. I hardly think that counts. I could've captured him at the start," he refuted.
"What happened?" Tempest asked.
"He used me to gain more magical power then he betrayed me, siphoned my power, Twilight fought him with all the Alicorn magic, then she gave up all the Alicorn magic to save her friends, and then they used a key to unlock deus ex box to defeat him which caused the castle to sprout from the ground, it's a happy ending, Discord felt guilty, blah, blah, blah," he finished listing off, clearly irritated.
During his listing, Tempest's mind lingered on the events he listed and how similar they paralleled her own. She recalled hearing of Tirek's attempt at dominion and raw power but she didn't know Discord was involved. She wondered what Tirek could have possibly offered in order to deceive Discord. Then again, she didn't know exactly what made Discord want to join Twilight to begin with or if it was of his own volition.
"I'm not the only one here with less than humble actions," Discord continued. "Just ask great and powerful over here."
"Trixie would rather not get into that." Glancing around, Trixie noticed everyone staring at her. She growled. "OK fine!"
"I came to Ponyville as a magician, made up a story to make myself look good, got found out and Twilight showed me up. Then no pony came to my shows and I had to work on a rock farm so I came back for revenge, with a powerful magical artifact called the Alicorn Amulet, demanded a magic duel, which I beat her in then banished her, before she came back and tricked me into giving her the amulet for a more powerful fake one. Happy now?"
"I remember reading somewhere that King Sombra might have created the Alicorn Amulet," Starlight noted. "Did you use any dark magic?"
"I don't remember. All I remember is it made me power hungry. And slightly evil," she mentioned lastly as if it wasn't important.
"What was the story you made up?" Tempest asked.
"That I defeated an Ursa Major by myself. But the one trudging through Ponyville was an Ursa Minor apparently."
Visions began to flash through Tempest's mind. The dark cave. The blue blur appearing from the darkness. The roar. The paw. The pain.
"Tempest?"
When Tempest came to, she heard the ambiance of the thousands of crickets in the distant forest. She looked to Starlight who she could closest identify as the voice, and saw her looking at her with a raised brow.
"I'm fine," Tempest stated simply.
It occurred to her upon remembering the draconequus' earlier statement, that all her companions were former antagonists. Though she was skeptical of the draconequus still being former. She knew of Trixie's misdeeds, but she had yet to know Starlight's. She wondered how evil she may have been. Judging by her demeanor and attitude, she assumed it most likely was in the same vein as Trixie's or perhaps more trivial.
"Starlight?"
Starlight turned, her full attention on Tempest.
"What are your less than humble actions?"
"She became a control freak," Discord replied blandly.
Starlight shot him a glare to which he gave an impish grin.
She exhaled, looking down before she spoke. "Well, I, um, enslaved a village and took all of their cutie marks and replaced them with equal signs," she started with a nervous smile. "And then Twilight and her friends came to.. my town and stopped me. I escaped before they could catch me. But I swore vengeance and devised a plan to get back at Twilight. So I stole a Starswirl time scroll and added to it before I used the table map in Twilight's castle to activate it. I went back in time to stop an event that would give Twilight and her friends their cutie marks. And she tried using the scroll to go back further to stop me but I would always be just before the loop. She fought me and said we would be doing it for eternity but she realized she couldn't win so she convinced me by showing me the future that I had a chance to start over. I believed her and we went back to the present, where I became her student."
"You fractured the timeline?" Discord inquired. "The other alternate realities must have looked bleak and grim. Except for the one where I'm victorious," he stated, placing his talons to his chest.
"I thought you knew," Starlight inquired.
"Well, I heard of the time travel incident but I didn't know the details."
Tempest couldn't help but feel surprised upon hearing the story. Her earlier assessment was far from correct as the catastrophe she told was far worse than the magician's. It may have even surpassed her own misdeeds which led her to wonder what drove Starlight down such a path. "Why did you do it?"
Starlight glanced at Tempest before her eyes began to search for nothing in particular as she spoke with a nervous laugh,"I had a best friend who was really important to me - I was a filly at the time and didn't have a cutie mark. We both didn't," she mentioned, gesturing with her hoof as she spoke. "But um, one day he got his cutie mark in magic," she said, trying to sound somewhat elated, "then he left for magic school."
Starlight's ears flicked and her heart dropped as she heard Tempest chuckle.
"You enslaved a village and ruled over them and squandered their abilities before losing it and tried to get revenge on Twilight and her friends by time traveling, almost causing the end of Equestria. Because your friend got their cutie mark before yours."
Starlight furrowed her brows. "Well, sorry I'm not as strong as you, Tempest. How about you tell us your story."
"You know what," Starlight started, now standing. "You've been so stubborn and arrogant and until recently refused to talk when we've been making an effort to get to know you."
Trixie's eyes ricocheted between Starlight and Tempest, keeping silent.
"It's my choice whether or not to disclose my less than humble actions. And I didn't ask for any of you to accompany me on this trip but here you are," Tempest replied.
"Well, sorry we're such a nuisance and we're just getting in your way," she retorted. "If I would've known how much you disliked us, I would've declined Twilight's request," she stated, her seething beginning show. "But I guess it's too late for that. And here I thought ponies just weren't giving you a chance."
Tempest's broken horn sparked as her features were borderline livid. "You're on thin ice."
But Starlight didn't back down as Tempest held her glare with ire in her cyan eyes, the fires glow barely illuminating her face and the front of her poncho and hooves. But after a few moments, her furrowed brows lessened.
The fire popped.
"It appears we've struck some nerves," Discord said, "and while I love a good argument, how about we fight later."
"Yeah," Trixie agreed, her tone a little flimsy.
Starlight looked down at the dirt before taking a seat.
Tempest's eyes continued to rest on her for a few moments before her expression softened, her brows still slightly furrowed as her eyes also fell to the dirt bathed in the fire's shimmering glow.