Descendants Of The Isle 3: Rise of the Royal Villain

by Melody Song


En-Gay-ged

Tempest sighed, shifting uneasily in her position on one of the turrets of Equus Prep, raising a pair of binoculars to her eyes. She began to scan the horizon, not noticing Pharynx walk up behind her.

“Not a single feather in sight…” she murmured, then yelped and blushed as Pharynx slipped his hooves around her neck.

“Temp, if Spitfire was going to do something she’d have done it by now.” he told her.

“Phar, you and I both know that isn’t true. We know exactly how villains think.” Tempest grunted and turned back to the horizon, gazing out over the land and sea beyond. “Frankly, I don’t trust Spitfire as far as I can throw her.”

“That is pretty far.” Pharynx admitted, chuckling, and Tempest gave him a slight smile in response, then went back to stoicness.

“She’s going to wait until our defenses are down and strike. I wish I had time to use my Storm Bond and do a once-over from the sky, I can see farther.” Tempest said, referring to the storm powers she’d discovered during the Cotillion. Luna and Gallus had taken to calling the form ‘Storm Breaker’

“You can’t be everywhere at once Temp.” Pharynx gave her a nuzzle. “But you know I’ve got your back, always. Now come on, Sandbar’s waiting and Luna’s getting Gallus as we speak.”

“Hold it.” Tempest stopped him with a hoof on his shoulder. “You’re convincing Sandbar to send out more guards.”

“I’m his Head of Defense, I don’t think I need to do much convincing, I can just make him do it.” Pharynx chuckled, taking her hoof. “Don’t worry, I’ll set up more patrols, and you can help me supervise them. Now breathe.”

Tempest took a breath, then smiled softly, taking Pharynx’s hoof. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Pharynx smiled at her, then led her down the turret, where they passed by Luna and Gallus, who was cradling Monarch in one claw. The cat mewed happily, tail flicking-the spell accidentally placed on him long having worn off. Luna smiled and winked at them, and they winked back.

--------------------------------

All the royals of Equus and the students of Equus Prep were gathered out on the front lawn. Rising Dawn stood before them on a podium, Celestia at her side, adjusting a microphone for her. Tempest and Pharynx made their way into the crowd, Luna joining them after leading Gallus up to the podium.

“Hey guys.” Gilda said, coming up to them, now holding Monarch for Gallus. Ember, Snowdrop, Thorax, and Ocellus were behind her.

“Hey Gilds.” Tempest greeted.

“Can you believe what Sand’s going to-” Ocellus began, only for Luna to quickly cover her mouth with a wing, shushing her. “O-Oh, right, sorry.”

“It’s okay, but hush, I think it’s starting.” Luna said, and they all looked to the podium.

Sandbar was standing with his parents, nervously adjusting his button-up shirt. Tempest smirked slightly, sharing knowing grins with the others. Then, as Celestia moved away from the podium, Sandbar strode over, joining Gallus and Rising Dawn.

“Testing, testing, one-two, one-two, can everycreature hear me? Okay! Sandbar?”

“Thank you, Rising Dawn.” Sandbar smiled at her graciously, then stepped up to the microphone. “Hello Equus! I would like to thank you all for coming to welcome our new arrivals from the Isle. they’ll be here soon.”

“It’s not like we had much of a choice though, is it?” Tempest heard a voice rumble behind her, and she turned her head slightly.

Tempest was surprised to see Prince Rutherford standing beside Yona, who looked very different. The young yak was now wearing a pale pink dress, some light makeup, her hair had ribbons and light blue and pink streaks in it, and her horns had a couple gold rings on them. Tempest decided to ignore the two for now and turned back to Sandbar.

“It worked out pretty well for the first four-” Sandbar was saying.

“Yeah, especially for you!” Blueblood called from somewhere within the crowd, causing some soft laughter. Sandbar himself chuckled and reached to take Gallus’ claw, making him blush.

“Really funny.” Yona spat, glaring at Sandbar and Gallus.

“Gallus…” Sandbar turned to the griffon, who was blushing. “This is the exact spot where we first met, not too long ago. And yet I feel like I’ve spent my entire life with you. But… did I mention, I’ve fallen for you?”

Gallus giggled softly and looked at Sandbar. He began singing softly, facing the griffon, taking his claw.

“I met this griff, he rocked my world
Like it ain’t never been rocked
Now I’m living just for him and I’m not gonna stop
Never thought that it could happen to a colt like me
But look what you’ve done, you’ve got me…”

Sandbar knelt down, and Gallus’ eyes went wide as he reached into his front shirt pocket.

“Down on one knee…”

“S-Sandy…”

Gallus covered his beak with a claw, eyes wide in shock as Sandbar pulled out a small velvet box, smiling at him.

“Gally, it’s you and me. You and me forever.” Sandbar opened the box, revealing a silver ring with a sky blue gem set in the middle. “Will you marry me? Will you be my King?”

“No!” Yona screeched, which was drowned out by a chorus of “awws” as Gallus threw himself onto Sandbar, nearly knocking the pony off his hooves.

Yes!!” he shouted out, making the others cheer.

“Makes our stargazing seem tame, doesn’t it?” Snowdrop commented to Luna, who turned to her.

“I love yo-the stars.” Luna blurted out, changing tactics midsentence, and Snowdrop smiled.

“Me too.”

“Yeah…” Luna looked away, sighing, but still smiled as she and her friends rushed over to Gallus and Sandbar as the pony slid the ring onto the blue and yellow griffon’s claw.

“A lifetime of plans, gone.” Prince Rutherford turned to Yona, glaring at her. “Our family status, gone. You were supposed to be his Queen, Yona, and you let him slip through your hooves. Yaks never fail, and you have.”

“Don’t you think I feel bad enough already, dad?” Yona muttered, as a filly passed by.

“Sandbar and Gallus are amazing! I can’t wait for Gallus to be his King!”

“You’d really rather have a villain on the throne than me? What’s wrong with you creatures? What’s wrong with everycreature?!” Yona exclaimed

“I’m engaged guys!” Sandbar exclaimed, and Pharynx laughed, patting him on the back.

“Wait, did you guys know?!” Gallus asked, and Ember, Thorax, Ocellus, and Snowdrop snickered mischievously.

“Everything.” Luna filled him in, fluffing her wings.

“You are gonna rock that crown baby bro!” Gilda said, as Luna gently pushed her aside, teleporting a clipboard to herself.

“Okay, I’ve already got like a hundred sketches of your outfit-do you mind it having a little white and gold? Oh, and… Shell Scallop’s already planned the engagement party for next week!”

Gallus’ eyes went wide and he laughed. “Then I guess it’s really good that I said yes!”

Shell Scallop and Sea Kelp walked over, and Gallus hugged them. Shell Scallop hugged back and Sea Kelp patted him on the back.

“I’m getting another son.” Shell Scallop beamed, as Sandbar’s little sister stared at the ring on Gallus’ claw.

“Congratulations, son.” Sea Kelp told Sandbar, who chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Thanks dad.”

“I love you guys.” Gallus told Shell Scallop, who hugged him tight.

“Oh, we love you too!”

“So happy for both of you.” Rising Dawn told Sandbar, who smiled.

“Thank you again, Rising Dawn, for letting me do this. I think he liked it.” Sandbar told her.

“Oh he definitely did. I hear Celestia’s going to be helping her cousin prepare your outfits, too.” Rising Dawn smiled. “I can’t wait to see what they come up with.”

A little ways away, Gallus collected Monarch from Gilda, holding him gently in the claw his ring was now on. Tempest and Pharynx approached him, grinning.

“Heheh, all bow to his Royal Majesty!” Tempest laughed, bowing mockingly to Gallus. Pharynx followed her lead.

“Ah, yes, all bow to His Royal Blueness!” Pharynx teased, and Gallus took on a haughty expression, shifting his hold on the kitten.

“Silence, you annoying peasants!”

“As you wish, my liege!”

“Your Royal Crankiness.”

Gallus glared at them good-naturedly before walking off towards Ocellus and Luna, who were showing Gilda something that was no doubt outfit designs. Tempest chuckled and followed them.

Pharynx watched her go, then took a breath before walking over to Sandbar. “Hey, Sand, can I borrow you for a sec?”

“Oh, sure Phar.” Sandbar said, letting the changeling lead him a little ways away from the others. “What’s up?”

“W-Well… uh… this is.” Pharynx took a breath and reached into his leather jacket with his magic, pulling out a golden ring with a violet purple amethyst resting in the center. Sandbar’s eyes widened.

“No… way…”

Pharynx nodded, quickly slipping the ring back into his jacket. “I’ve been waiting for the right time…”

“You need help?” Sandbar asked, and Pharynx shook his head.

“No, no, I-I think I can handle it, I just… could you maybe…”

“What? Be your best colt?”

“What? No!” Pharynx rolled his eyes. “I already asked Thorax.”

“Oh, okay. So why are you telling me?”

“I was wondering if you could… find a way to get the others out of the room when I give you a signal. So I can ask Temp in private. I know she’d like that better.”

“Oh, sure. What’s the signal?” Sandbar asked

“You’ll know it when you see it.” Pharynx said unconcernedly, looking at Tempest. “I just hope she says yes.”

“Of course she will, she loves you.” Sandbar told him reassuringly, and Pharynx smiled.

“Thanks Sand.”

“No problem.”

As the two talked, Yona strode up to Gallus, glaring at him. “Congratulations. You won him fair and square. Oh wait, no you didn’t. You spelled him to attempt to enslave all of Equus. Touching story to share with the grandkids. If you have any.”

Gallus glared right back at her as his sister and Tempest stepped forward, also glaring at the yak. Before either side could say anything else, Sandbar walked up, taking Gallus’ claw.

“Alright, let’s do this. You ready?”

Gallus nodded, looking at Yona smugly.

“Speaking of kids, we have some waiting on us now, so if you’ll excuse us…”

With that, Tempest, Pharynx, Luna, Gallus, and Sandbar headed towards the carriage that would take them across the ocean to the Hidden Isle.