Thomas:
Thomas was pacing in his room. Mostly he was trying to think of what he should say to the princesses. If he was afterall he was a stranger, 'And Tia was nervous around strangers.' Thomas stopped pacing as an an image of a young filly with wings and a horn hiding behind a black coated leg. Nostalgia washed over his mind for a second, then came worry. 'What the... somethings wrong.' He thought shaking his head trying to clear it. He couldn't go around calling monarchs by made up nicknames. 'I need to make a good impression. Maybe I should bring a gift.' He was being side tracked again but atleast this time it seemed helpful. 'Tia and Lulu both like cake maybe one... with...' He stopped again mid thought. Thomas's mind giving him information that he couldn't trust. 'What is wrong with me I've never met these girls yet I'm calling them by nicknames and planning to bring them cake?' Yet still the cake sounded like a good idea.
Thomas walked over to his balcony. As he leaned against the golden rail that left the marble wall and curved in a graceful arch around his balcony and then merged into another wall. He looked out over the kingdom of Equestria as in was bathed brightly by Celestia's noon sun. He could feel a soft breeze wash over him as he stood leaning on the railing. 'Beautiful weather but the land is crying.' He thought staring to the south. He could feel the land calling for a true storm, one that would topple the trees, move stone, tear at its surface. One that would let itself renew that which was old, dead or broken. Thomas shuddered just a little as he felt something welling up in answer to the lands plea. It faded as quickly as it came. 'The withdrawal must have done more damage than I thought.' He mused turning from the vibrant world before him.
Luna:
Luna sat beside her sister during Celestia's open court. It was abnormal that both princesses attended as only one could present rulings over the petitions brought before them. Since Celestia was the overseer of the sun court it Luna was just there to lend support to her still frazzled sister. 'Stars above this is as boring as ever.' She thought listening to a farmer who was trying to get an extra hour of sunlight. 'Why do ponies dislike my beatiful night.' Luna thought dejectedly.
"I will not postpone the night simply because you're to cheap to hire help." Celestia said her features never changing. "If I leave out the sun to long your crops will wither and die anyways." She said explaining most of her reason. As the farmer bowed and was escorted out Celestia leaned over to Luna. "After this how about we go for some cake? Also how bout the moon coming out a little early today?" Luna had to laugh at the last half of the statement. She liked how her Celestia had a mischievous side. Luna nodded with a smile as the announcement of the next petitioner was called.
As the name was called a female Pegasus guard strode in her armore gleaming silver in the light. Luna couldn't recognise the Pegasus or which guard she belonged too, and that worried her. The petitioner waited to be recognized by the throne and asked why she was here. She stared at the sisters her forest green eyes looking at them expectedly. Her seafoam green mane had been done up as a pony tail and her light blue coat was immaculate. Her cutiemark was lightning striking around a sword.
"Please speak you petition." Celestia said a little worried as the Pegasus had not given her name, rank, or reason for being here to the page for announcement.
"Of coarse your Highness, I am Lightning Dancer of the storm guard and our petition is simple." The mare said not Letting the shocked gasps of the nobles bother her. Luna was herself shocked the storm guard had been disbanded when her uncle died. "We would like you to release our monarch and his holds." The Pegasus said coldly. She clearly did not like the royal sisters.
'Yet another obstacle to our uncle's recovery.' Nightmare whispered unamused. 'The gaul of these failed guards. They do not deserve our time, tell them off the night guard will handle uncle Tempest's security.' She hissed in Luna's ear. Luna stayed stoic trying not heed the voice in her mind, despite her complete agreement. She looked over at the shocked expression that Celestia had plasterd on her muzzle.
Celestia:
'Ponyfeathers!' Celestia cursed, she wracked her brain for how the storm guard was still active let alone so well informed. 'Spies in my court again!' She lamented as her mind run several possibilities. The Pegasus infront of her stared at her expectantly.
"The Storm Court is no more. My uncle is, as unfortunate as it is, deceased." Celestia tried to reason with the mare before her. "As such his holds will stay where they can be governed and..." she was cut off by the mare holding up her hoof.
"The new Storm Lord is as you know still alive and as such is deserving a renewed kingdom or do you plan on murdering our liege again." Lightning spat vehemently. She and her forebears had waited millennia for their Lord's return. She let a small smile play across her lips as she heard the gasps from the ponies around her.
Yet again Celestia was shocked. She couldn't refute the charge of the pegasus. While she had no intention of harming Thomas. Her previous mistake had indeed ended in tragedy. Still the storm court was gone it had been since her uncle's death. Now though it was back and demanding her to hand over something she didn't understand and let him rule over ponies that belonged to her.
"I cannot comply we don't know enough about what has happened. Also the holds such as Cloudsdale have been fully integrated parts of Equestria since Tempest's death." She tried reasoning. The mare though was unamused. It was clear that she didn't like the answer. "We can however let your guards perfom their duties." Celestia tried at a compromise.
"Your Highness we will accept the return to our duties we can only do so if you promise that we will complete care over our liege and that his holds will be prepared for his return." Lightning said with a bow she knew That Celestia truly had no claims on any of her lieges lands. The representatives of the pegasie cities were chatting amongst themselves as the news of the Storm Lord's return meant that their old empire was returning.
"I concede that what you've proposed is sound we cannot in good conscience keep him from his rights." Clestia was being careful this was where it could all fall apart. "However He hasn't been prepared for the rigors of rule and as such he shall remain here and be taught all he needs before he is allowed full control. I will how ever give him Cloudsdale as both teaching aid and to see how the integration goes." She watched as the mare before her nodded in acceptance. She wasn't going to argue after she had already won most of what she wanted.
Thomas:
Thomas walked the halls of his new castle home. He was looking for a kitchen. He had gotten fairly hungry since he had been up most of the night already. He leisurely observed his surroundings. 'Where did they get all this marble.' He thought to himself as he walked the white halls he. He looked at several stain glass windows. 'How do they manage all this with hooves.' He mused as he went from one glowing piece of Equestrian history to another.
"Halt!" The resounding command pulled Thomas from his musings. He turned to face a red coated unicorn and his guard. "What business do you have in the castle creature!" The unicorn hissed coming closer his horn aglow with magic.
"Woah easy there, I'm a guest I was just trying to find the Kitchen." Thomas said bringing his hands up remembering that Starlight had mentioned that glowing horns meant danger. His training was fighting hard against his mind to simply eliminate the pony before him. The red stallion snorted in derision.
"What did I tell you first commoners now what ever this trash is." The unicorn said coldy. He hesitated a moment before letting the glow fade from his horn. " Next time have an escort or else." He sneered before leaving.
Thomas didn't say anything as the pony walked past. 'If you even tried to touch me, I'd personally turn you to glue.' He thought turning from the pony he did however take note that the unicorns cu tiemark was infact a bottle of glue. 'So whoever's incharge of that has a sense of irony.' He stifled a laughas he turned to continue looking for the kitchen. He didn't get far as a group of golden armored guards stopped him.
"Can we help you sir?" The largest asked calmly. He was a large unicorn with a white coat and golden tail.
"Yes I'm looking for the kitchen I was getting a little hungry." Thomas answered equally as calm. 'Atleast they're not threatening me yet.' He thought as the unicorn contemplated the best answer.
"Dawn Runner show this man to the mess." He said as a small brown coated pony shot to attention. "I never was good at handing out directions." He smiled to Thomas. Thomas found that overall these ponies seemed far to friendly. "Also shall we notify yoir sister that you are up?" He asked helpfully.
"Uhmm, sure I should talk to her at some point." Thomas said rather nonchalant.
"Wait I just remembered the princess needed to speak with you as well, she invited you to lunch with her." The unicorn stated evenly.
"Oh, in that case how long before Tia's ready?" Again nonchalant.
"Should be the next hour or two... Did uou just call princess Celestia Tia?" The guard was looking confused.
"Sorry I seem to keep making mistakes like that." Thomas said glummly.
"She actually might not mind." The guard shrugged. Thomas was then escorted to where he would await Celestia and was brought a light snack and tea.
Celestia:
Celestia was able to get through the rest of her court without incident. Her military commanders had opted not to keep her after what had happened with the storm guard. As she left the throne room she found Lightning waiting for her.
"Your Highness." Was all the greating she got befor the storm guard took a position behind her and began to follow.
"Lightning if you will I have business to attend to." Celeatia tried to tell her.
"I already know your having lunch with him." Lightning notified her coolly
"Just how big is my security hole." Celestia sighed desponded. Lightning didn't give her an answer. 'Why doea this always happen to me.' She sighed again.
"Sister why dost thou sigh." Luna said coming through the same double oak doors as her sister. When she saw the storm guard she gave a little bow.
"Princess." Lightning bowed back. "As always a pleasure to see you." She was being humble. Celestia couldn't believe it.
"Wait what's this about?" She asked feeling slighted.
"You betrayed her as well thus indicating that she was unsupportive of your attempted coup." Lightning Dancer coldly stated. Celestia recoiled as if the comment had physically hit her. She felt horrible about both comments. She continued on in silence as Luna and the guard pony spoke to each other.
The conversation mostly covered thoer long dead uncle. Lum a recounted what a grand old pony he was. Celestia felt each word like a blade, cutting deeper and deeper into her soul with regret. As if in answere to her unspoken prayer she saw the door to her private lunch area.