//------------------------------// // 9d: Festival of Friendship Finale // Story: Man Cannot Live On Coffee Alone // by PropMaster //------------------------------// The room was finally quiet as I set down my pistol and raised my hands into the air. The fight was over, and we’d lost… but nopony had died, and neither had any yeti. I wasn’t sure how I felt about winning the moral victory but losing the literal victory. I’d probably have time to decide while I was stuck in the dungeon. The yeti guards kept their spears up, and I just waited for them to decide what to do. The ones holding the unicorns at spearpoint maneuvered them outside, and Sapphire was set down on the floor, where they tied her wings. I growled as they manhandled her out of the café, but Sapphire seemed calm, her face set in a grim line. Dusky was next, and he was led outside as well. The four keeping me pinned didn’t move at all, but a fifth yeti came and took the pistol from the counter, carefully placing it in a pouch and taking it away. Once my weapon was gone, the four yeti guards shifted around and two pulled away, working on helping move their injured allies out and away from the diner. The others returned, starting to search the diner. I heard them clattering around in the kitchen, heard the creak of the stairs as they went downstairs. I stayed motionless, hands in the air. I didn’t hear any yells of surprise or terrified screams, and I tried not to let my relief show. Maybe things had worked out?  The yetis returned with manacles, heavy iron things, and one approached me slowly with them. I bit back a growl as it grabbed me and put me in chains. Only then did the yetis with their spears relax, stepping back and speaking their yeti language at one-another. I was led out into the street, blinking in the early morning light. The street was quiet, and now that all the fighting was done it felt even more intense, somehow. The absence of sound was just as eerie as the deserted streets. The rest of the guardponies were gathered together and in chains, and they were carefully putting Dusky and Sapphire into line with the rest. Canterlot was quiet, asides from the sounds of the chains and the grunts and groans of the guards as they nursed their hurts. I looked them over as the yetis lead me to the back of the group, right behind Sapphire. They looked worse for wear, but beside Dusky’s cut on his forehead, which seemed superficial, the rest of the guards were not too bad off. Beside the cuts across my stomach, which didn’t feel too deep and had already stopped bleeding, I was probably the least hurt but also the worst looking of the whole group. My Rarity-made shirt was ruined, stained red with my own blood. She’d be so upset. I let them chain me into the line of ponies, and they started marching us towards the palace. “Everypony okay?” Dusky asked quietly, his tail low and eyes squinting in the bright sunlight. I wished I had some sunglasses to offer the poor Sarosian, but he was going to have to tough it out today. “Yeah, just out of mana.” “Same here.” “They messed up my wings a bit, and I’m gonna develop some nasty bruises, but I’m okay,” Sapphire grunted, her ears flay with annoyance. Her wings were a mess, feathers bent and skewed, primaries ruffled. They twitched in the bindings, trying to adjust, but it was a hopeless affair. “My leg’s really rough,” Private Rose said, limping carefully on the hurt limb, “but we’re only going to the palace. I’ll manage.” He grit his teeth and kept on moving. I wanted to pick him up and carry him, but I doubted the yetis would let me do that. “I’m okay, too,” Private Snow added, “just a sore muzzle and a swollen eye.” “I’m fine,” I added, nodding down towards the bloodstains on my shirt, “the cuts on my front look worse than they are.” “Good. I am also all right, but—” Dusky was cut short as a yeti to one side of our little line of prisoners growled and stepped closer to Dusky. The threat was implicit. I glared back at the yeti. “Okay, we get it. No talking,” Sapphire grumbled, her tail lashing, and the group went silent.   The rest of the slow, undignified walk up to Canterlot Palace took almost an hour before we reached one of the central squares near the castle. The streets were filled with chained-up ponies, most locked in cages, but others were out and moving about as the yeti soldiers ordered them around. Our group was lead directly to the palace and past the ponies. I kept my eyes out for anypony I knew, but it was a futile exercise. There were so many ponies, and the crowds were dense. I kept my focus on our own path after a moment of hopelessly looking around. The palace loomed overhead, and I took note of the new banners being flown from the parapets and ramparts. There was no mistaking that the Storm King intended to spend some time here in Canterlot. The airships anchored around the city floated like dire beasts, dragons come to plunder. We were brought inside through the main entrance to the palace and walked through the halls, directly towards the throne room. “The black banners are really tacky,” I murmured, getting a dark chuckle out of Sapphire. The doors to the throne room were left open, and as we approached the scene before us was a strange one. The throne room’s floors had been laid bare, the rugs taken away, and the throne of Canterlot was draped with black. The princesses were arrayed in a circle, with a fourth spot conspicuously empty, in the center of the room. Surrounding them was some kind of arcane circle made up of runes etched into the floor. I’d seen similar ones before, working with Twilight, but this one was fairly ornate even by advanced magic standards.  There were a group of guards attending to the Storm King himself as he lounged on the throne. He sat up when the guards and I entered the room, brought in chains before him. He grinned cruelly, standing up. He was a tall beast, with shaggy white fur and cruel blue eyes, everything you’d expect from a king of the yeti folk. He was smaller than his kin, but still exuded power and a hint of something behind his eyes—a glint that told me he wasn’t to be trifled with. Not that that would stop me.  “Ah! If it isn’t Grand Bolas, in the flesh. So glad you could make it,” he said, voice light and friendly. I said nothing, glaring up at him, and the Storm King strutted down the steps, smirking. “Okay, let’s see what we’ve got here… six guards, one big ape, no extras. Hm, well, a little disappointing, but—” The yeti at the front of the group said something, stepping forward. It spoke for several moments, pointing to me repeatedly, and then it held out my pistol to the Storm King. I kept my face neutral. Don’t let him know. He doesn’t know anything about the gun. The Storm King smiled wide, his face delighted as he picked up the pistol. “Oh, the Grand Bolas is a grand liar, I see. You had me convinced you were a powerful wizard, but in fact, it’s this little device? A magic artifact! Oh, how funny. Game recognizes game, I see. Well, as one magic artifact user to another, I commend you on your taste. What a powerful little toy you’ve brought me.” I kept quiet, watching him intently. The Storm King messed with the pistol for a moment, examining it carefully with a critical eye, before taking it into a one handed grip. “So, this seems pretty simple. A trigger like a crossbow, a front end with a little hole, and a place to grip. Almost primitive, but wow, the noise and fury this thing contains!” He laughed, and then aimed it directly at Dusky. “Bang!” Dusky flinched, and the Storm King laughed, aiming the pistol away from the sarosian. “Asshole,” I snarled. “Don’t you start with me, Bolas,” The Storm King growled, aiming the gun at me. I lifted my chin, daring him to pull the trigger. I bared my teeth in a cocky grin, willing him to do it, willing his hubris to give me the last laugh. “You’re nothing without this stupid thing. You’ve just given me another edge, another weapon to use in my conquests. You’re an idiot to think you could oppose me. A real brain-dead moron, so stop trying to act tough and cower before me.” His voice went from manic to deadly in moments, and I grimaced. “Leave him alone,” Sapphire hissed, looking up at the Storm King with a glare that would have sent anyone else reeling. It promised a buck to the softest spot she could reach. The Storm King shifted his aim to Sapphire. “Be quiet! No dumb little friendship cop is going to tell me what to do!” He lowered the gun after Sapphire flinched away with her ears going flat. She had no way to know that the gun wasn’t operable. The Storm King chuckled cruelly. “Ha! What a useful tool. I think I’ll keep it close, for future negotiations. As for all of these fools… get them into the dungeon. I want Grand Bolas chained in the dungeons later, too, so he can teach me about this neat little artifact of his. It probably has some secrets that need unraveling, and I’m not feeling like puzzling it out myself. I want to talk to him first, though.” The Yetis removed my manacles from the long line, and started dragging the ponies back into the hall. Sapphire was the last I saw, her eyes worried and ears low as she looked over her shoulder at me until she was taken around a corner and out of sight. The Yetis who had stayed shifted, turning back around and arranging me against a pillar. They looped my manacles up around a torch sconce, far above my head, leaving my hands up in the air uncomfortably. Then they stepped away, taking up guard positions. “Okay, you’ve got me, Storm King. What’s the plan then, huh?” I asked, focusing my attention on their boss. The Storm King snickered, walking back up the steps to the throne and sitting on it again. He played with the pistol idly, looking over it with curiosity. “The plan is to use this against my enemies. I have half a mind to use you as the first test, but I have a feeling there’s more to this artifact than you’re letting on. It’s a complex design. It has secrets, I can just tell. So, you’re going to tell me everything you know about it.” I frowned, looking him up and down and trying to project an air that I was unimpressed. I’d taken a masterclass from Canterlot nobles in this maneuver, and it managed to make the Storm King snarl. “Everything, huh? And why should I?” “Because if you don’t, I’ll bring back in one of those cute little pony guards and I’ll use this thing on them,” The Storm King said, his voice sounding pleasant yet full of poison. I allowed a snort to escape my lips. Time to sell a lie and hope that he was as shit at reading people as I hoped. “Don’t kid yourself. I don’t care about those ponies, I just care about their money.” “Really? So you wouldn’t object if I used one of them as a test subject?” The Storm King asked, a eyebrow arching with feigned interest. I channeled some of my past life, hoping my eyes wouldn’t give away how worried I was feeling, and a cruel smile split my face. “Be my guest. I don’t care at all. Hell, it might be fun to see.” The Storm King stared me down for a long moment. I felt like I was about to break into a sweat, but I met his gaze. Finally, he sat back on the throne and laughed, shaking his head. “You’re full of surprises. You fought for the ponies, and yet you don’t care about them. You really could have fooled me, you know? I saw how that one guard looked at you when she was leaving. There’s something more to all of this, but I just can’t put my finger on it.” He shrugged. “So, fine, let’s wait a bit. Maybe being forced to sit in the dungeons with nothing to eat will change your tone.” I scowled but said nothing. I wasn’t about to argue with him, I wanted out of here and away from his frightening mood swings as quickly as possible. The yeti soldiers pulled me off of the wall sconce and drug me away. The guards shoved me into a dungeon cell, leaving me bound in the manacles. Dusky and Sapphire and the rest of the guards were there as well, and they caught me as I was kicked roughly from behind, sending me nearly sprawling. The yetis glared at me for a moment before slamming the door and leaving us. “Jake!” Sapphire gave me a hug, her ears flat with worry. “Hey. I’m okay,” I said reassuringly, giving her a pat on the head. I took the moment to look around.  The dungeon cell was not exactly what I’d been anticipating, but also I wasn’t surprised. There were bunk beds, stacked three high. A tiny cubicle separated a bathroom from the rest of the room, and there was even a tiny sink. The floor had a rug on it, and there were glowing magical lights that also kept the room at a comfortable temperature. I got to my feet, Dusky and Sapphire making sure I was steady, smiling gratefully at my friends as I looked around. “So… the dungeon?” Sapphire smirked, casting a glance around the comfortable room. “Yeah, welcome to the dungeon.” “I expected more… straw beds and ratty wool blankets on bare floors,” I said, marveling at the Equestrian idea of incarceration. I’d always thought it was strange that they still had a dungeon at all, but now that I saw the accommodations, it made a lot more sense. “What? Why’d we keep it like that?” Sapphire snorted, rolling her eyes. “It’s Equestria, not… I dunno, the Dragon lands?” I shook my head, smiling. “You ponies.” I heaved a sigh and sat down on the rug, looking at Sapphire and rubbing at my stomach where the shallow cuts still stung. “How are you doing?” Dusky and Sapphire shared a glance before they approached me and sat down on either side of me. I looked at them, raising an eyebrow. “What are you two up to?” Dusky put a hoof on my shoulder. His eyes were serious, his ears forward and attentive. “I just wanted to say that… well… I’m very proud of you.” I blinked, smirking. What was this? “Proud?” “Yeah, we’re proud, Jake,” Sapphire spoke up, rubbing my back gently. I chuckled, realizing what was happening, and shook my head in exasperation. “Why? Because I didn’t kill that yeti?” Dusky nodded, giving my shoulder a squeeze with his hoof. “Exactly!” I frowned, looking down at my shoes. “Yeah. I figured that was what this was about.” I looked back up at him, and then around at all the other guards, looking at their hurt limbs, their bruises, their battle-weary expressions. “Was it really something to be proud of? Just… choosing to not go back to being a killer? I feel like that’s a really low bar for expectation.” Sapphire let out a little huff. “Well, okay, but you still have to admit, it took bravery to put that gun down when it could have solved a lot of problems for us in that moment.” I shrugged. “Yeah. Maybe.” “Yes, definitely,” Dusky said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “It was hard. You could have changed our situation and we could have maybe even escaped, and that would have been good, certainly, but the price you’d have had to pay, the undoing of all of this building that has been happening for the last few months, it would have been a tragedy.” I let that thought linger for a moment, and I gave in to the logic of it. “Yeah. We’re okay, and the Storm King has the basic equivalent of a cruddy grenade instead of a working pistol. It got those yetis away from the café, too.” I looked up at Dusky and Sapphire, smirking. “And hey, as far as dungeons go, this isn’t bad. So we’re captured, yeah, but at least the beds are better than the bags of oats I was napping on in the basement.” The ponies shared a laugh at the thought, and I leaned against Sapphire’s shoulder. She wrapped a wing around me, the soft feathers familiar and comforting. “Thanks, though. I’m not sure I could have done it without either of you.” “It was your choice to stop fighting,” Dusky said with a gentle smile. “You did that on your own. I think we all know by now that if you really want to do something, there is nothing that can stop you.” I snorted, shaking my head. “Yeah, you’re right.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, “I guess I did it.” It felt strange to admit that, but it was apparently deserved. “I’ve been trying so hard to not be the man that I was when I came here, and I’ve succeeded in a lot of ways, but this… this was a real hard one to manage.”  I clenched my fists, opening my eyes and looking at them. “I wanted to save you. I wanted to be a hero and beat the bad guys and win the day. I didn’t do that, but I also didn’t sacrifice my new moral compass on the altar of heroics. It would have been easy.” Sapphire’s wing around my shoulders shifted to pull me a little tighter against her side, and I accepted the comforting gesture. “It’s always harder to pick your morals over the easy win.” “My life was a lot of easy wins, then, because I left my morals in the dust for most of it,” I said with a dry chuckle, “but it feels good to choose to be better. It’s felt good to take the hard roads and earn things. Not that what I did before was easy, but just… it’s hard to explain.” “You’re doing good and also difficult things. Before it was bad and difficult. You earned your skills, but the reasons why you were doing it were not good. This time, this new life, you’re making choices for the sake of others, for the sake of yourself, that are about believing in harmony. Really believing that there are better ways than to destroy what stands in your way,” Dusky said with a sage nod. I smiled at him, “Yeah. Believing in harmony.” I pondered that statement for a long moment, and then snorted. “You ponies are starting to get to me, obviously.” “I’m afraid it’s true,” Sapphire whispered conspiratorially. “We’ve been sneaking pony pills into your soup, and soon you’ll believe that friendship is magic.” I snorted, casting a fake glare at her over my shoulder. “You’re too late, I already got that one figured out.” She chuckled, “Have you though?” “Yeah. I told you, I couldn’t have done it without you, and I mean it,” I said, the joking tone slowly shifting to a sincere one. “Without either of you, I wouldn’t have been able to keep Sweetie Belle safe. I kept my promise to Rarity, and I didn’t have to give up my new morals to do it. When it came down to it, I did make the choice to stop fighting, but it was you that snapped me out of it, got me out of fight-or-flight.” I reached up and put a hand on Sapphire’s chest. “At the risk of sounding sappy, Sapphire, you’ve always been there for me. So, thank you.” Sapphire chuckled, giving me a light shove with her wing. “Yeah, well… darn, I don’t have anything witty to say to that. So, you’re welcome.” She paused and then smiled even wider. “You owe me, though.” I laughed, shoving her right back, “Owe you? That’s not very friendship of you, Corporal!” “Friends can owe friends one! It’s very friendship!” Sapphire protested, giggling. “Come on, Dusky, back me up.” Dusky shook his head, standing up and shifting his wings, stretching them out as much as he could. “I think the moment has passed for the sincere heart-to-heart. I’m going to lie down and rest, I’ve got the worst sore back from those yetis piling on top of me.” Sapphire and I shared a smile before I got to my feet as well. “Well, nothing really to do but rest and wait. Maybe the Storm King will get bored and decide to pull me back out for another chat or something.” I was brought back before the Storm King just as the sun was setting. The windows of the throne room were filled with a dim golden light, and the Storm King sat on the throne with a cocky smirk. “Oh hey, if it isn’t Grand Bolas.” The Yeti guard dragging me kicked the back of my knee, forcing me to kneel. I frowned up at the Storm King. He snickered. “I’ve gotten some great news. I figured you’d be excited to see this little moment here, because I wanted to show you the power of my staff.” He reached to the side of the throne, raising up a black staff with a massive white crystal at the top. “Remember how I said that I’d outclass you? Well, this is the moment. Your cute little artifact is going to look like a toy compared to this bad boy!” He stood up with a smile and gestured towards the rear doors. “Bring her in!” The doors opened and a group of Yeti guards entered, followed by Commander Tempest, leading a wagon pulled by two chained ponies. The ponies strained against the weight of the wagon, and I felt my hands clench into fists, seeing them treated like mere beasts. I had to bite my lip when I saw what the wagon was carrying.  The wagon carried a massive iron cage, inside of which sat Twilight Sparkle. I tried to keep my face impassive, feeling a mixture of shock, relief, and worry. She was alive! That meant… “Just as you ordered, my liege,” Commander Tempest said, a cocksure smirk on her muzzle. Her red mohawk mane was a bit mussed, but otherwise she looked like she was fresh from a long rest. How could she stay so well put together in the middle of a warzone? She obviously was a tougher customer than I gave her credit for. The Storm King approached Twilight’s cage, and I grit my teeth, willing him to drop dead on the spot. I hoped that he wouldn’t do anything to her, otherwise I’d have trouble controlling myself. He looked her over and snickered. “And what are you supposed to be?” Twilight stared up at him bravely, though I could see her knees trembling. “I’m the Princess of Friendship.” The Storm King snorted, laughing and shaking his head. “Of course you are!” His smirk turned angry as he rounded on Tempest. “Why is this one still moving?!” “She and her friends put up a bit of a fight, but she’s alone now. She won’t be a problem,” Tempest replied, casting a cruel smirk at Twilight. Twilight grimaced. “Tempest, you don’t have to do this.” Tempest glared back at Twilight, teal eyes menacing. “I do, Princess. Did you think you could keep your magic all to yourself?” She snorted. “It’s time to learn to share.” Twilight winced and looked away, her ears falling flat, and her gaze traveled to me. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she bit her lip, seeing me bound and on my knees. I gave her a quick grin, but said nothing. She read my situation quickly, because of course she did, the little egghead. I kept my face impassive, and she looked away, though I could see her struggling to ignore me. She was obviously worried for me. The Storm King chuckled, stalking away from Twilight to stand between the cage and where I was kneeling. “Learn to share. Nice. Anyway, Tempest, I was thinking about current problems we have.” He gestured over to me, an imperious look on his face. “Did you know the princesses hired a wizard to help protect them?” Tempest turned to regard me with a critical eye, and frowned. “I wasn’t aware.” “Then why do I keep you around, Tempest?! It’s your job to be aware!” The Storm King snarled, rounding on her with a dangerous look in his eye. Tempest stiffened to attention, eyes ahead. “I’m sorry, sire. This was an oversight.” “He had a powerful artifact! It could have jeopardized everything I’ve been working towards,” he reached into the belt around his waist, withdrawing my gun from where he’d tucked it, showing it to Tempest. “They obviously kept him secret, my liege. It won’t happen again,” Tempest spoke calmly, but I could hear the undercurrent of worry in her voice. She cast me a glance, eyes briefly curious, but then returned her gaze to the Storm King. “See that it doesn’t. I’ve got enough problems that I need to deal with.” He shoved the gun back into his belt and turned, marching into the center of the circle of frozen princesses. “Watch him. I’ve got some magic to steal.” Tempest approached me as the Storm King raised up the staff. I grit my teeth and rocked forward on my knees, rolling into a crouch as the Yeti guard behind me grunted. I lashed out with a kick, catching the Yeti in the knee and sending it crashing to the floor. I got to my feet just in time for Commander Tempest to rush me with an angry growl. I brought my hands up to catch a spinning kick from Tempest, the force sending me sprawling back on my ass. Shit! The Storm King noticed my struggle and snarled, pausing whatever he was about to do. “Tempest, handle him!” I rolled to the side as Tempest leapt up and stomped down on me, just barely getting out of the way. She turned and I gripped my manacle chains with both hands, spinning it to lash out at her face. She backstepped and then jumped forward, and her horn sparked. BOOM I didn’t even really see what happened, but it was somewhat reminiscent of getting shot. The flash of light dazzled my eyes and I felt that I was flying backwards. I grunted as my back smashed into something, maybe a wall, and collapsed to my hands and knees. My spine ached and my knees went numb as pain shot down my back from where I’d hit the wall. “Jake!” I heard Twilight yell in concern and fear. I blinked hard, trying to get the dancing lights of pain out of my eyes as pulses of it sparked from my back, but then Tempest was right there, delivering a harsh kick to my side. I grunted and collapsed the rest of the way, and she pushed a hard hoof into the small of my back, pushing down and pinning me as I gasped for air. The Storm King snorted. “I’m so over this. Give me that power!” He raised the staff again, and brought it down into the center of the rune circle. The crystal atop the staff glowed with blue light, and hitherto unseen runes cascaded along the floor, creating a larger magic circle that surrounded the four princesses. Light poured from each of their horns, and I heard Twilight cry out in anguish. I tried to raise my head higher, trying to see what was happening to Twilight, but Tempest pressed down on my back harder. “Stay down, wizard.” She was crushing the breath from me. I growled and managed to hiss out, “Leave her alone.” “Too late for that,” Tempest murmured, her eyes on the spectacle. The Staff of Sacanas glowed with light as it absorbed all of the magic within the four princesses, drawing it into the crystal until it was blue-hot with arcane energy. The waves of energy filled the room and were pulled into the staff. It was over in a moment, the magic inside the staff, and I saw Twilight let out a little gasp before collapsing. I squirmed, trying to do something, but Tempest just growled and pressed down again, making me wheeze. The Storm King chuckled, staring up at the glowing crystal in his staff with hungry eyes. “Oh yes. Let’s get this storm started!” He raised up the staff and aimed it at Twilight. It flashed with blue energy, and a beam of pure arcane force blew apart the cage and launched Twilight flying through the air, through the door at the far end of the room, and onto the balcony outside.  I felt Tempest stiffen in surprise as her boss launched Twilight across the room. I shot her a glare. “Do you feel like a big mare, now?” “Shut up,” she muttered, stepping off of me and trotting after the Storm King. I rolled onto my side, wincing, and tried to catch my breath. I could hear them arguing up on the balcony, but it was hard to hear. My chest hurt like I’d broken a rib, and I couldn’t get a solid breath. It felt like my eyes weren’t working, dark and light clashing in my vision. I looked around and realized that the shadows were literally shifting and moving. I closed my eyes, willing my swimming head to calm and the room to refocus. It took me a while to feel up to moving again. I finally managed to get to my knees, wincing, and looked around for anything I could use as a weapon, or maybe something to even the odds. I found a large piece of Twilight’s cage, a slightly curved iron bar, and grabbed it, using it to help me get to my feet. My chest ached and I noticed that the cuts on my stomach had been opened again, and my shirt was starting to get even more stained with blood, plus a scorch mark where Tempest’s magic had blasted me. Rarity was going to be furious. I let the thought of the fit she’d throw at seeing the state of my clothes push me forward towards the balcony, step by slow step. I paused at the ragged hole in the wall that had been left behind after the Storm King had blasted Twilight, leaning against the stone, and peered outside to see what was happening. Tempest and Twilight stood at the railing to the balcony, and the Storm King stood right behind them. Twilight looked… happy? And Tempest was furious. “This is impossible.” “That’s my friends. Doing the impossible for friendship,” Twilight said with a grin. “Friendship sure looks a lot like violence,” The Storm King muttered, deadpan. “I’m so totally over this cute pony thing. This ends now!” He raised the Staff of Sacanas into the air with a wicked laugh. The staff shot bolts of blue arcane lightning into the sky above Canterlot, pulling the clouds down and forming a funnel cloud in mere seconds. I gawked at it, and realized that he hadn’t been bluffing about the power of the staff. “Qué cabrón,” I swore, stepping out of the hole and limping towards him. The Storm King watched the winds whip around Canterlot, laughing maniacally, and turned just as I got close. I swung the iron rod, aiming for his face, and he recoiled, raising the staff reflexively to block. My iron pole hit the staff and the crystal atop it burst with arcana energy. I was launched backwards into the wall, slamming into it brutally. I don’t know how I didn’t pass out from taking a second hit against my back, but spots danced in front of my vision as I struggled to wheeze a breath through my aching lungs. I slid down to my side, and Twilight rushed over to me. “Jake!” She stared down at me, eyes almost tearing up as she reached out and tried to steady me with her hooves. I grit my teeth, my whole body aching, and cracked one eye open. “H-hey Twilight.” Twilight grimaced, carefully helping me sit up, propping me up against the wall. “Hang in there, okay? Our friends are coming.” I closed my eyes, trying to get a decent breath, but the slam into the wall had knocked the wind out of me. As I struggled, the wind increased in power, the air whipping at the balcony, the eye of the storm centered on the staff. The Storm King laughed, exulting at the power he wielded. “Do you see? Now I truly am the Storm King! The entire world will cower at my feet and bow to my power!” He laughed, casting a glance at me. “Suck on that, Grand Bolas!” Despite my joke name paying dividends, I couldn’t muster a laugh through my wheezing. Commander Tempest approached the Storm King and bowed her head before him. “Yes, yes, you are every bit as powerful as I promised, sire, now,” she looked up at him plaintively, “restore my horn, and I swear to use my magic to serve you.” She bowed again. I looked her over again, seeing her bow before the Storm King, and in that moment I realized that Tempest was living the life I’d given up when I’d been brought to Equestria. It was strange, in that moment, seeing a reflection of my choices on another person’s life. I felt just the smallest bit sorry for her. The Storm King laughed hard, shoving her out of the way as he approached the balcony railing to overlook his brewing storm. “Who cares about your dinky little unicorn horn?” Tempest looked shocked. “B-but… we had an agreement!” She stood and rushed into his way, looking up at him with fear. It was a fear I remembered all too well: the fear that all your bad choices, all your rationalizations, had been for nothing. “Get with the program, Tempest!” The Storm King snarled, looming over her. “I used you.” Tempest’s jaw fell open, betrayal writ large across her face. The Storm King smiled cruelly, and gave a casual shrug. “It’s kind of what I do.” Then he leveled the staff at Tempest. I wasn’t surprised, and even Tempest had the wherewithal to only be slightly shocked. With a snarl, the Storm King’s staff lit up and began shooting blast after blast of blue energy at her. Twilight gasped, turning away from me to watch. I bit my lip to fight the pain and I worked to get my feet under me, coming to a crouch. I didn’t know how this was going to go, but I wanted to try and be ready to help in some way. Tempest dodged left and right, leaping away from the blasts, and her horn lit up. She shot a burst of chaotic arcane energy just as the Storm King sent a lance of blue lightning at her head. The magic collided between them and exploded, sending the Storm King flying into the far side of the balcony and launching Tempest into the air. The Storm King went down hard, face-first in the stone. Tempest was caught by the edge of the tornado spiraling just at the edge of the balcony and picked up by the howling winds. She barely managed to catch herself on the railing, clinging to it even as her rear legs flailed helplessly. I looked to the Storm King, seeing him struggle to recover, dazed by the blast. Tempest scrabbled at the balcony railing as the wind picked her up, the hurricane that the Storm King had summoned threatening to pull her into the sky. I could see Twilight doing the same mental math that I was, weighing the opportunity to go for the staff or go to save Tempest as she started to slide into the air, her teal eyes wide and frightened.  I stared at Tempest, and then looked to Twilight. “Get the staff.” Twilight shook her head, smiling at me with a grim determination. “No. We go together.” I nodded and got to my feet, and Twilight and I staggered through the wind, reaching Tempest just as she lost her grip on the edge of the rail. I lunged forward alongside Twilight, and we caught her by the hooves. Tempest stared at us, shocked. “W-why are you saving me?” I found a smirk deep inside, and let it out despite the pain my body was in. “I used to be like you, before I met these ponies. They taught me a lot.” Twilight pulled Tempest in closer, smiling at her. “I taught him everything he knows about friendship… and I think you could learn, too.” There was a boom like thunder from the square below us. With a heave, we pulled Tempest back onto the balcony, and we fell in a heap together, limbs tangled. Twilight and I sat up with a wince. “Aw, isn’t that sweet?” We looked up just as the Storm King loomed over us, leveling the Staff of Sacanas at us. I tried to lunge at him, but he backstepped. “You lose!” he said, leering at me as he took aim with the staff. There was nowhere to go, so I threw my arms out wide, trying to block his shot to Twilight and Tempest. He gleefully aimed at my heart. Then a ball of ponies and one small dragon slammed into The Storm King. I gasped as Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Spike… and Rarity… bowled into him from out of the sky, launching him back through the door and sending the staff flying. The ponies were scattered by the impact, most flying inside through the hole in the wall, and I found myself knocked over by Spike as he went skidding across the ground. I caught him, curling around him defensively as the inertia of his bounce sent us sliding together for a foot or two. Spike blinked, shaking his head as he got his bearings. He looked up at me with surprise. “Jake?” “Spike,” I gasped, sitting up and wincing. “Holy mother, what did you do? Launch yourselves out of a cannon?!” “It was Pinkie’s idea!” Spike said hurriedly, getting to his feet and looking around.  Twilight was on her hooves in a flash, and she grabbed Spike and gave him a hug. “Spike! You’re safe!” Spike hugged her back. “Twilight! No time for hugs, we need to get the staff!” Twilight released him, nodding. “Right! Let’s go!” They rushed inside, and I slowly got to my feet. I took a staggering step forward, my every bone aching, but then a steadying hoof braced my side and Commander Tempest leaned against me, supporting me as I walked. I looked down at her with a bit of surprise, but she stared ahead. “Thanks?” “You saved me first,” she said quietly. I managed a smirk, and together we walked after Twilight and her friends, entering the palace proper. The staff had stuck in the stained glass window at the far end, and was sending arcs of arcane energy everywhere. I flinched as the blasts of untamed energy struck the ceiling, and the roof began to cave in. Tempest and I were forced to duck back as massive pieces of stone fell around us, and I crouched over her protectively. She looked up at me with surprise. “Why are you doing this?” I looked down at her, grimacing. “I told you. I used to be like you.” She stared up at me, emotions crossing her features quickly. Confusion, fear, self-doubt. I reached down as the rubble stopped falling, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Trust these ponies, Tempest. They helped me, and I was just as bad as you, once.” Tempest looked down at her hooves, biting her lip, and then raised her head, looking across the room. The rubble had stacked up on one side, and the Storm King was climbing up the fallen stone towards the Staff of Sacanas as it sent bursts of energy up into the open sky through the hole in the room, causing the whirling winds to intensify. Below him, six mares and one baby dragon had formed a living rope, grabbing one-another hoof-to-tail, and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were using their wings to steer them into the wind. Twilight was at the tip of this improvised aerial maneuver, and was mere feet from the staff, but the Storm King was gaining on her. We were too far away to do anything, but I still straightened up as best I could. “Come on, help me get over there.” Tempest supported me, and we took a few steps forward before we heard a crash. I looked up again, just in time to see the Storm King explode through the stained glass window, grabbing the Staff of Sacanas. Twilight lunged, escaping from Pinkie Pie’s grip, and grabbed the staff in her hooves, pulling it away from the Storm King. The wild wind howled and caught both the Storm King and Twilight, and they were pulled up into the dark clouds. I gasped, staring as I heard Pinkie Pie let out an anguished wail. “Twilight! No…!” I watched Twilight disappear up into the funnel of the tornado, disappearing from view in an instant. I grit my teeth, staring at the spot where she’d disappeared into. Rainbow Dash angled her wings and brought the line of mares to the floor. Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike sank down, gathering on the spot before the shattered window, staring up into the sky. I felt my hands clench into fists. “Come on, Twilight. Come on.” I searched the sky desperately. I could feel Tempest gazing intently as well, felt her trembling with anxiety. The winds stilled suddenly, the eye of the hurricane slowing and finally stopping. I heard Pinkie sob, and I bit my lip, feeling my eyes well with tears as well. Then, a light from above. Golden and glowing, the sun pierced the clouds and started to dissolve the black shadows over Canterlot. The warm rays backlit none other than Twilight Sparkle as she glided on wide wings, her expression almost serene as she floated towards the balcony. Pinkie let out a whoop of joy, and I watched as they rushed to meet her. I wiped my eyes, feeling a laugh of my own bubbling up, and I let it go, smiling as I leaned on Tempest and let her help me across the rubble-strewn room. By the time we reached the balcony, a group hug was well underway, and I paused, taking in the scene with a smile. They were all alive and safe. My gaze settled on Rarity as she looked up from Twilight’s shoulder, her eyes widened in surprise. “Jake?” “Hey, Rarity,” I said, glancing down at Tempest and giving her shoulder a quick squeeze in thanks, before stepping away from her.  Rarity rushed to me, her eyes wide as she stopped just short of me, and I sank down to my knees in front of her. She put a hoof on my chest, looking me over and taking in my disheveled state. “Jake, what in Equestria happened to you, darling?! Are you all right?” I chuckled, wincing as my ribs ached. “Sorry I messed up your shirt. I’m going to need a recommendation for a dry cleaning place.” Rarity looked over me in distress, her ears flat as she looked up at me. “Shirt?! That’s all you’re worried about?!” “I was mostly worried about you,” I said quietly, reaching out to catch her cheek with my palm. She bit her lip, leaning towards me, but something caught my eye. Movement. The Storm King was hauling himself over the balcony rail, murder in his eyes. He reached into his belt and pulled out my gun, aiming it at Twilight. “Oh shit,” I gasped. I grabbed Rarity and pulled her behind me, shielding her with my body. This was going to make a mess, and I was too far away to do anything for Twilight or any of the others… not that it mattered. Tempest was there, leaping over them, shouting a warning. “Look out!” The Storm King pulled the trigger, and the jammed round inside detonated. The pistol exploded, sending shrapnel flying everywhere. I flinched away, grimacing as a tiny piece of metal sliced my back. Tempest, standing in front of the explosion, was struck by something that made her gasp and stagger. The Storm King screamed as his hand shattered, sending him cartwheeling off the balcony. The sound he made when he hit the ground made me shudder.  So much for nopony or yeti dying. The silence in the wake of that violent moment stretched, and Tempest sank to her knees. I saw red blood flowing down her front, and I got to my feet. “She’s hit!” Twilight was beside Tempest in an instant, steadying her. “Oh, no no no!” Tempest gasped for breath, her eyes wide as blood seeped from the hole in her chest. The armor had been punched clean through. I reached her side and dropped to my knees next to her, looking at the wound. “Shit. It looks like the bullet punched through the blockage and managed to exit the barrel. Twilight, you’ve gotta do something fast.” “I can’t believe she did that,” Rainbow Dash murmured, staring wide-eyed as Tempest whimpered and bled. “I can,” Twilight said, her expression determined, and she grabbed the Staff of Sacanas, aiming it at Tempest. “Wait, will that thing work?!” I asked hurriedly, looking at Twilight. “It’s got the power of four alicorns inside it. If it can’t do anything, nothing can,” Twilight said with a determined look in her eyes. Her expression was focused as she channeled a spell through the staff, and orange energy flowed out of the crystal, swirling around Tempest’s body and focusing on the hole in her chest.  The bleeding stopped in an instant, and a flattened lead piece pushed its way out of the wound, falling to the ground with a little metallic clink. The hole in Tempest’s chest closed, and her breathing immediately came easier. The magic dissipated, and Tempest was left unscathed. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, and then aimed the staff at me. The orange magic flowed into me in an instant, and I experienced the utterly weird sensation of feeling your bones knit back together and your flesh regenerate in mere seconds. I shivered as it faded, and I got to my feet carefully. “Thanks, Twilight.” Twilight smiled at me, and then looked at each of her friends, checking that they were unhurt. I turned my attention to Rarity, and she smiled at me, leaning against my side. I rested a hand on her shoulder, content to keep her close in the moment. Fluttershy was the first to speak up, her blue eyes worried. “Now what?” The girls shared a look, and Twilight turned to look at Tempest. Tempest smiled, getting to her hooves. “Now… we fix everything.” That was certainly a presumptuous line, but I decided not to question it. She was trying to make amends, and this would be the moment to start. We all followed Tempest down into the throne room and approached the center of the room, where the three crystalized alicorns stood among the ruin. Tempest peered over the runes on the floor carefully, and nodded to Twilight. “All that you need to do is put the crystal into the center of the rune circle, and the magic should invert.” Twilight smiled at Tempest, and offered her the Staff of Sacanas. “You should do the honors.” Tempest blinked. “Me?” Twilight nodded. “I think it’s fitting. This is the start of undoing the harm you’ve done.” Tempest looked uncertain, but she reached out and took the staff, holding it in her hooves and staring at it. I knew what she was thinking. All the power of four alicorns at her hooves. I wondered what she’d do. She raised the staff high and plunged the crystal into the center of the magic rune circle. All at once, multicolored arcane energy burst from the crystal, empowering the runes and sending rainbows of light swirling around the room. The energy focused on the statuesque alicorns, flowing into them first. The black crystal glowed with harmonic magic and then broke away, leaving Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Princess Cadance gasping and shaking off the effects of the crystal. The magic also flowed back into Twilight Sparkle, and she couldn’t help but smile happily, her wings spreading open wide as the magic flowed back into her. Celestia was the first to recover, her eyes settling on her beloved student. “Twilight!” “Celestia!” Twilight rushed to her mentor, hugging her tightly. Luna and Cadence joined the hug, the four princesses reunited. As they embraced, the harmonic magic flowed out from the crystal and the rubble actually began to rise off the floor, knitting back together and undoing the damage to the palace. The roof came back together with a glow of magic, whole again, and light streamed through the rebuilt stained glass windows. I felt my eyebrows raise up in surprise. I guess Tempest had been right about ‘fixing everything’. I looked down at Rarity and she gazed up at me, smiling happily. “What a lovely sight,” she said softly, her blue eyes wide. I looked up, taking in the magic as it swirled around the stones. “It’s pretty cool,” I ventured, feeling my heart beating hard in my chest. Rarity smirked and tugged on my arm, pulling me down to her level, and she stared into my eyes. “I wasn’t talking about the magic.” I smirked, trying to quell the slight burst of embarrassed panic in my chest. “I know.” She blushed, leaning forward slightly. We were close, now, and drifting closer, pulled towards one another by the power of the moment. “This ‘will-we, won’t-we’ situation has gone on long enough, hasn’t it?” She asked, her ears perking up towards me. My smirk widened into a smile, and I rested my forehead against hers, looking into her eyes. “Probably.” I tried to sound casual, but it came out embarrassingly husky and emotional. Rarity chuckled, her blue eyes locked with mine. Her beautiful eyes. “You know, there were a number of times I nearly died on this latest adventure, and every time I had this funny thought,” she said quietly. I could hear her own anxiety at this moment in the tremble of her voice. It was comforting to realize she was feeling the same as I was.  “Yeah?” I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, pulling her close. Her coat was soft on my fingers, and I could feel her shaking with a little bit of nerves. “I kept thinking, ‘If I die here, I’ll regret never telling Jake how much he means to me’. Isn’t that something?” She was at a whisper, her words for me alone. I could smell only lilac. “It sure is,” I murmured. “You know, I’d be lying if I didn’t consider giving you what you wanted.” “Oh?” Her ears perked forward at the words, the remembrance of the last time I’d said them making her eyes shimmer with emotion. “This time, Rarity?” I swallowed, feeling my anxiety dip as I said what I wanted to say. “I’m all yours.” Rarity giggled softly, a happy sound that made my heart skip a beat. She pressed forward, and I met her lips with mine, and held her close as we kissed. She was soft, hesitant at first, but then passionate, her hooves catching my shoulders and holding on. I closed my eyes, content to feel her against me and know that she was safe, we were safe, and we could figure out the rest later. This moment was all that mattered. When we came up for air, breathless and blushing, I heard a chorus of giggles and coos. I looked over Rarity’s shoulder, and she turned to face her friends and the princesses of Equestria. Rarity’s cheeks reddened in a blush, and she fanned herself with one hoof. “Oh dear. We’ve attracted an audience.” I laughed and reached up to her cheek, turning her back to face me. “I don’t care. Do you?” Rarity laughed, her ears perking up and her hooves gripping onto me for dear life. “Not a bit, darling.” I kissed her again, putting all my emotions into the movement of lips against lips, the nuzzle of her nose against mine, the softness of her coat beneath my hands. It was a shorter kiss, but it still left my heart beating hard, and Rarity’s expression was one of blushing passion. I leaned forward and planted an extra kiss on her nose, making her giggle. I reluctantly let her go, and she got back onto her hooves, running a hoof through her mane in a nervous little move that made me laugh. “Your mane is fine.” “I’m quite sure it’s a mess, darling, but it’s kind of you to say so,” Rarity said with a laugh, leaning against my side. I kept my hand on her shoulder as we approached the rest of the group. Pinkie Pie was a giggling mess, grinning up at me. “Wowie-zowie, Jake. It only took you, like, six years to kiss the mare!” “Pinkie, it’s been like… a month,” Rainbow Dash said with a chuckle. “Well it feels like years!” Pinkie quipped right back, bouncing on her hooves. “Time works differently for Party Ponies!” I reached out and ruffled Pinkie’s fluffy mane, sending a shower of candy, power tools, and silverware flying every which way. “You’re insane.” Pinkie beamed up at me, her blue eyes shimmering. “Insane good?” “Absolutely,” I replied, grinning at her as she pumped her hoof and did a little victory dance. Twilight stepped over to me with a smile. “Nice work, Jake.” I couldn’t decide what she meant when she’d said ‘nice work’, but I figured it wasn’t about the kiss. “I probably could have done more. I’ve got quite a story to tell.” I blinked, realizing something. “Oh, damn, I almost forgot. We should probably let everypony out of the dungeon, and go get the ponies hiding in Joe’s Cafe. They’re all down there still.” Twilight’s grin widened, her tail wagging happily. “I meant the kiss.” I rolled my eyes, giving her a brief smile. “Yeah, thanks. Anyway, captured and hiding ponies?” Twilight snickered but allowed me to change the subject. “Oh, that’s first on the list. That and letting everypony out of the cages, and cleaning up the mess, and making sure the Storm King’s Stormguard are captured. There’s just so much to do!” Spike popped up next to Twilight, smiling at her. “I’ll need to get some scrolls if we’re making lists.” Twilight grinned at Spike, nuzzling him on top of his head and making him blush. “We’ll definitely need to start a list soon.” I turned my attention to Princess Celestia, who stepped over to me with a proud smile on her face. Her ethereal mane flowed brightly in the lights cast by the harmonic magics of the staff, and she gave me a regal nod. “Well done, Jake.” I straightened up, meeting her gaze with pride. “Thanks, Princess. The guards and I did the best we could, but—” “Not that, you silly human,” Celestia said with a soft laugh. “I meant just now.” I looked down at Rarity, who looked like she was about to faint, her face practically glowing beet red. I chuckled and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, and she relaxed about one fraction of a percent. “That’s been a long time coming, Princess.” “Be that as it may, I’m still proud of you,” Celestia said, stepping forward and wrapping a wing around my shoulders. The big mare pulled me into a hug, her smile wide. It wasn’t every day that you got hugged by a goddess, so I leaned into it, wrapping my arms around her neck and just taking in the moment. Celestia spoke quietly to me, “I had moments where I worried for you, but you’ve come a long way from the man we pulled from another world.” “I have you to thank, in part, Princess. So… thank you,” I said, feeling a bit of emotion making my voice tight. It felt good to be at what I hoped was the end of this harrowing event, and I leaned into Celestia and just let her warmth wash over me. Celestia and I stepped apart after a moment, and she looked down to Rarity. A small smirk played across her features. “Not exactly a prince, is he?” Rarity giggled, “I think I’ve grown out of that phase, Princess.” “Good,” Celestia said with a wink, before turning to speak with the other princesses, taking charge as she always did.  I looked around and noticed that most of the other ponies were busy, barring Tempest, who stood apart and looked on with a pensive expression. I looked down at Rarity and she looked up at me with a curious expression. I cast my gaze towards Tempest and she understood, nodding to me with a smile. “Go help.” I stepped away from Rarity reluctantly and approached Tempest. “Tempest,” I said, breaking her out of whatever thoughts were swirling in her head. I felt like I knew what she was thinking in that moment, worrying over how she’d ever atone for the things she’d done. It would be different for her than it was for me; she’d actively worked against Equestria. She was fighting an uphill battle. Tempest looked up at me and a faint smile crossed her muzzle. “Hello, uh, Jake,” she said, her voice betraying her nerves. Her ears twitched down, hesitating as she looked me in the eye. “I… noticed that seems to be your real name.” I realized the opportunity she’d just dropped into my lap and I smiled wide. “Oh, yeah. I told the Storm King a fake name. It actually means ‘huge testicles’ in my language.” Tempest blinked hard, her ears falling flat, and then she actually snorted in amusement. “Are you serious?” “Absolutely,” I said, chuckling. She snorted again, the corners of her mouth quivering, and soon she was chuckling along with me. I laughed, allowing the moment to stretch, but she regained her composure first. It didn’t matter, though, because I’d accomplished my job; calming her down a bit. Now for the next part. I cleared my throat. “Why don’t you help me get my friends out of the dungeon?” I offered, pointing down the hallway. “I have a feeling there’s probably some Yetis down there that’ll need to be convinced to surrender. Think you’re up for it?” Tempest seemed surprised I’d want her to help with anything, but she gave a nod. “That’s something I can do. All this,” she gestured with one hoof, her ears going flat as she looked out over the ponies who were chattering amicably and hugging as they shared their stories, “isn’t exactly my style.” I smiled at the gathered ponies, taking in the moment of reconnection and friendship. “You’ll get used to it. Hell, maybe you’ll even come to love it.” I found my smile widening as I watched Rarity laugh at some comment Rainbow Dash had made, my eyes lingering on her for an extra moment. She caught my gaze and shot me a wink. I gave her a little wave, and pointed towards the hallway that lead to the dungeons. She nodded in understanding. She had her own business to attend to here, and I could sneak off while she did… whatever they were planning. I lead Tempest down the halls, following through several heavier doors and down a few flights of stairs before I arrived at the basement floor where the holding cells were located. There were a gaggle of Yeti guards there, gesturing to each other and arguing, but they froze when I came down the stairs. Tempest stepped out in front of me quickly, her face taking on a stern demeanor. “Attention!” The yetis snapped-to, saluting Tempest quickly. Tempest stared them down for a long moment before speaking. “I’m here to let you know that we’re under new management. The Storm King is dead.” They Yetis cast glances at each other, but didn’t move. Tempest marched up to stand in front of them, frowning up at them. For such a small pony, she exuded a powerful commanding aura. “I’ll be taking command of the Stormguard, and I want all of you to treat the ponies with respect. They fought honorably, and it is our turn to show them that we are disciplined and honorable as well.” All of the yetis hesitated before saluting again, and Tempest stamped a hoof, making them jump. “I don’t want any hesitation. We have work to do. Go and release all the prisoners we have down here, and anywhere else as well. I want them all taken upstairs to the main square and released there. Report any injured creatures immediately. If a Equestrian princess or guard pony gives you orders, they should be obeyed, understood?” The Yetis saluted again, no hesitation, and then scrambled off, unlocking and throwing open doors as they went in different directions. I walked over to the cell where I’d been held before, peeking inside. Sapphire and Dusky were on their feet, staring at the door, and their eyes widened in surprise and ears perked up as they saw me look in. I smirked. “Fight’s over.” Sapphire grinned, her tail lashing with excitement. “Judging by how you’re standing in front of us, we won?” “Yeah. We won. Princesses are safe. Twilight and all her friends showed up and saved the day, as usual. Tempest and I helped,” I explained, stepping back as Sapphire, Dusky, and the rest followed me. They froze when they saw Tempest, eyes narrowing. Tempest winced, looking nervous, but I held up a hand. “Hey, hold up. I told you, Tempest helped. She almost died protecting Twilight Sparkle. I think that earns her some leeway, right?” Dusky frowned at me, and then approached Tempest. “Commander Tempest, I’m sure my superiors will have questions for you, and we will likely need to do a formal debrief. I’m assuming you’re cooperating?” Tempest nodded. “Yes. I have authority over the Stormguard, the Storm King’s soldiers, and I can order them to help. They might not be as well disciplined as you, but they’re still soldiers. It’s the least I can do to help after everything I’ve done.” Sapphire stepped up beside Dusky, her wings bristling and eyes narrowed. “It’s a start.” I put a hand on Sapphire’s back. “Hey, okay. We’re all big tough ponies here, no need to start measuring wingspan against horn size—sorry, Tempest—right now. We need to work together to get things cleaned up. The Yetis need to be commanded, and Tempest is their commander. Otherwise we’re probably going to have more fights on our hands. Nobody wants that.” Tempest shot me a brief, embarrassed glance and then nodded. “He’s right. I can stop any possible resistance. The Stormguard listen to me.” Dusky nodded. “This seems prudent. Let’s see if we can’t figure out how best to use you, Tempest.” “Hold up!” An angry voice barked from the side, and Tempest froze on the spot. Dusky and Sapphire snapped to attention instantly, and even I felt a little shiver go up my spine. Major Scope trotted down one of the dungeon hallways, his ears high and quivering with anger, and his tail lashing. His frown was even more impressively frown-y than I figured was possible. He stepped up to Tempest, glaring at her. He was bandaged in several places and had a splint on one leg, but nothing seemed to be capable of slowing him down in that moment. He was nose-to-nose with the former enemy commander, glaring her down, and she met his gaze. I watched, wondering what was about to happen. It seemed that Major Scope had some unfinished business. Even Sapphire and Dusky seemed to be holding their breaths, staring at Scope. The Major cleared his throat, “I hear Jake right? You almost died protecting Twilight Sparkle?” Tempest hesitated, her ears folding back and her hooves shifting. “Ah… yes. I did.” Scope glared, staring into her eyes for a long moment. “Well then.” The frown shifted into a small smile, and he tapped a hoof to Tempest’s chest plate. “Good work.” Tempest was too stunned to respond, and Scope turned on his hoof and walked away, heading for the throne room. He paused, not turning around, but we could hear him clearly. “I’m gonna want a rematch eventually. You gave me the tightest run for my money in years.” That said, he marched out of sight. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Tempest. She had a bit of red on her cheeks, and her horn gave a little spark. “What was that?” I asked, grinning like a fox in a henhouse. “I… don’t know?” Tempest muttered, looking away with a frown and a little huff. I chuckled, watching her try to get her emotions under control. “I think you and Major Scope are friends now.” Tempest looked up at me, eyes wide and confused. “Is that what that was?” Her ears tilted forward a bit, betraying her interest. “I think so,” I said with a shrug, casting a glance down the hallway that Scope had left from. “I guess you’ll find out.” Tempest let out an annoyed groan, tail lashing. “What’s with these ponies and forgiving me so easily? Aren’t I supposed to work for it?”  Sapphire, Dusky, and I shared an amused look. Sapphire giggled. “Oh, she sounds just like you.” “It’s weird, right?” I said with a chuckle, but I realized we had other things to attend to. I put a hand on Dusky’s shoulder. “So, what’s next?” Dusky shrugged, his leathery wings relaxing a bit now that the Major was out of view. “Well… we’re free, now. And Major Scope and the other officers are, too. It’s time to rally and see what needs to be done.” I nodded, gesturing to the group to follow me, and I lead them towards the throne room. “I suppose it is. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Sapphire stepped up beside me, grinning, her wings fanning open. “Don’t worry, Jake. We’ve got this.” I grinned right back, matching her sudden burst of enthusiasm. I’d probably feel that good too, knowing that we’d won the day and Equestria was safe. “Yeah. We’ve got this together.”