//------------------------------// // Revivals // Story: Descendants Of The Isle 3: Rise of the Royal Villain // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Tempest was unsure how much time had passed when the carriage drove up to the school. She watched from the window, Pharynx at her side. Gallus and Sandbar stood beside Yona’s bed, where she still lay. Rising Dawn and Shell Scallop stood there as well, one on either side of Prince Rutherford. Sea Kelp paced the room. Tempest was oblivious to all of this, flinching slightly as she saw a blue hoof exit the carriage after the guards. “It’s okay.” Pharynx murmured. “I’ll be right here.” “I-I know.” Tempest said, giving him a confirming nod. Soon, there was a knock at the door of the dorm. Sea Kelp answered the door, then stepped back. Tempest and Pharynx turned to face the door as Grogar entered, his hooves bound in shackles. “Thank you for coming.” Tempest told him, walking over. “Didn’t have much choice.” he told her, voice cold as ice. Sandbar walked closer. “Can you help her?” he asked, glancing at Yona. “Since when do heroes care about villains?” Grogar scoffed, and the room fell silent. “That’s right. Because she’s one of your own.” Tempest opened her mouth, but Grogar spoke louder. “When one of you tries to destroy the world, it’s just an error in judgement. But when it’s one of us, it’s ‘lock ‘em up and throw away the key’. Right, sea monster?” he asked, looking at Sea Kelp. Sea Kelp looked away, and Grogar rolled his eyes. He then raised his forelegs, giving them a look when they jumped. “I’ll need use of my hooves.” Tempest glanced at Sandbar, who nodded. She stood before Grogar, using her magic to unlock the shackles, the engagement ring sparkling in the light from her aura and her new wings opening slightly as she did. Grogar raised a brow at them, but before he could say anything, Tempest stepped back, standing by Pharynx. She levitated over the Bell, and it locked onto the collar around his neck. Grogar grinned as a rush of power visibly surged through him, his eyes gleaming. “Haven’t lost my touch.” He walked past Sea Kelp, locking eyes with him. The two glared at each other, Grogar growling slightly. “Uncle.” Tempest spoke, and he glanced at her, then rolled his eyes, carefully walking to Yona’s bed, the shackles on his back legs rattling. Grogar stood at the end of the bed, then raised a hoof and touched it to the Bell, before waving it in an intricate pattern over Yona’s body. The room turned red briefly, and everyone backed up. Then, Yona sat up in bed, eyes opening. Everyone there gasped, and Tempest pressed against Pharynx. “Yona!” Prince Rutherford hugged her gently, as Grogar stepped back, letting the magic fade. Rising Dawn, Shell Scallop, and Sea Kelp stared from him to Yona in shock. Yona looked around, then spotted Sandbar, Gallus, Tempest, and Pharynx. “...Tell me it was a nightmare.” she whispered desperately. Tempest shook her head. “I wish I could. But it’s over now.” Yona stood slightly, then reached and hugged Gallus. “I’m so sorry… I wanted to hurt you… all of you…” Gallus hugged her back. “It’s not all your fault. I’ve owed you an apology for a long time.” “So have I.” Sandbar put a hoof on Yona’s shoulder. Prince Rutherford stepped closer. “And I have owed you one too.” he told them, bowing to Gallus, who bowed back. The guards surrounded Grogar again, and he shrugged. “Oh, right.” The guards began to lead him away, and Tempest followed them. Pharynx went after her at a distance. “Uncle Grogar.” Tempest called, and he turned. She took a breath. “...Now I’m going to have to miss you all over again.” Grogar raised a brow. “Really?” “From what I remember, you were the fun uncle.” she said, smirking slightly. Grogar chuckled. “Well, thanks for a glimpse of the sun.” he told her. Tempest moved closer, then hugged him. Grogar, surprised, hugged back. She then pulled away, and he pointed to the ring on her horn. “He better look out for you.” he said, glancing at Pharynx, who blushed and ducked back into the room. Grogar smirked, then his eyes then went to her wings. “Though it seems you can look out for yourself.” Tempest nodded, and Grogar smiled slightly. He bowed his head to her, and with a spark from her shattered horn, the Bell lifted off his collar, setting itself in Tempest’s hooves. Grogar chuckled, then let the guards lead him away. Tempest held the Bell close against her chest, taking a deep breath as she fought back tears. Pharynx stepped out and hugged her gently, kissing her cheek. “Hey, it’s okay.” Pharynx told her, smiling softly. “We did it.” She smiled back, nodding. “Yeah. We did.” Pharynx nuzzled her, then kissed her horn. “Come on. Let’s give Sandbar and Gallus some time to properly apologize to Yona. We need to head over to Luna’s or she’ll have our heads for not being there on time. Our outfits for Gal and Sand’s engagement party won’t size themselves, as she’d say.” Tempest nodded, smiling at him and wiping her eyes, still clutching the Bell. “Yeah. Come on.” --------------------------------- The party was at the area where the bridge usually formed to cross to the Hidden Isle. Tempest stood with Pharynx, Luna, and Snowdrop below a balcony above the crowd. It was identical to the one they’d stood on on the Hidden Isle to announce who would be coming over, what felt like so long ago. Thorax and Ember stood nearby, talking eagerly. Yona stood with her father and Blueblood, smiling happily. Gabby, Gilda, Garble, Smolder, and Ocellus were in a huddle near the two, clearly making plans for things to do in Equus. Tempest smiled sadly at the group. Discord should be among them, but he had gone back to the Isle with Spitfire and her team. “Oh, there they are.” Luna said, pointing as Gallus and Sandbar walked out of a tunnel and up to the balcony, greeted by cheers. “Everyone, Gallus and I would like to thank you for celebrating our engagement with us today.” Sandbar said, then looked to Gallus. “I couldn’t be prouder, or happier, to call you my King.” Gallus giggled, smiling at Sandbar, who then beckoned for Pharynx, Tempest, and Luna to come up and join them. They did, accepting glasses of punch from the servants as they walked over. They stood by Rising Dawn and Nebula Star. “And so, raise your glasses.” Sandbar said, smiling. “To our future King of Equus, and his friends, our table of advisors!” “To our King of Equus!” they chorused, drinking from their glasses. Pharynx nudged Tempest, and she chuckled, turning to Gallus. “Speech, your specialness!” Tempest teased “Ah yes, speech, oh fancy one!” Pharynx echoed, causing laughter all over. “W-Well, I…” Gallus trailed off, then looked at Sandbar. “Sandy… I can’t.”