The Redemption of Tempest Shadow

by twilightsparkle3562

Chapter 72: "Leaving Equestria Once Again"

Tempest sighed heavily as she made her way down to the entrance of Canterlot and awaited what was in front of her. She had no idea what was going to be coming her way, but knew that whatever it was, it had to be done. Every land outside of Equestria, every land that she had terrorized while serving under the Storm King needed to be visited. In her mind, despite all the atoning she had done, it wasn't enough. Not yet.

"Tempest!" Called a voice and she turned to see Grubber, her sidekick and partner coming towards her, along with Hannibal.

"Grubber, Hannibal, what are you both doing here?" Tempest asked in perplexment.

"Hannibal and I were talking things over," The hedgehog answered. "And we think it would be best if we go with you, wherever it is you’re going."

For a moment, Tempest felt somewhat surprised. Grubber had already been given his second chance as a chef. "Grubber, are you sure? You have a good life here. This is my burden to bare, not yours."

"Look, we've been through a lot together, Tempest,” Grubber protested. “And wherever you go, you're going to need some company. The two of us, we need each other."

"But… but..." Tempest stammered. "You're...you're needed here, Grubber. You… you can't just throw away the chance that has been given to you. I mean, what will the princesses say?" Tempest would get her answer sooner rather than expected, as a very familiar group of ponies came towards her.

"That he was following up to what we said to him," The still injured Celestia commented, flanked by the still injured Luna, along with Cadence, Twilight and Razzle Fizzle, plus Tempest's other friends. "If you’re going to be travelling around Equestria and sharing what you have learned here, Fizzlepop, then you cannot do this alone. Grubber begged and pleaded to be allowed to accompany you on your journey. And we all believe it’s for the best. His career as a chef can wait, his quest for atonement and yours, are now joined together."

"This is for your own good, Tempest," Twilight declared, proudly wearing her newly repaired friendship festival crown, much to Tempest's shock and surprise. "When I began travelling the road that lead to me becoming the Princess of Friendship, I didn't go through it alone. I had my friends with me every step of the way, despite the fact that our friendships were tested. I never could’ve become the mare I am today without them. And a friendship like Grubber’s, is one that will last a lifetime if you let it."

As Twilight spoke, Tempest couldn't help but feel a sense of sentiment towards the princess that reached out to her when no one else could. "Well," She sighed, briefly turning away to look down at the ground. "I certainly tested your friendship, didn't I? If not for me, you never would’ve tried to steal the Pearl of Transformation."

"To be honest, Tempest, my friendship needed to be tested." Twilight confessed.

This made Tempest's eyes widen in shock! Surely she had misheard. "Are you…are you serious? Even after all you went through because of me?!"

"I am,” Twilight nodded. “If there’s anything good to have come out of this, it's that our friendship has been made even more stronger. True friendship is one that survives even the roughest of storms. I know you refuse to believe it, but…"

But Twilight was silenced by a hoof from Tempest. "I don't have a choice, Twilight," She sighed, looking intently at the Princess of Friendship. "I guess maybe I did make your friendship stronger in the grand scheme of things. But I've said it before and I will say it again, I need to atone for my actions. And that’s something that can't be done here in Equestria."

As Tempest spoke, Twilight couldn't help but feel a sense of sentiment for this pony. She had feelings for her, there was no denying it. But now was not the time to act on them, it wasn’t what Tempest needed.

"Where will you go exactly?" Luna asked. “The lands beyond Equestria will no doubt be even less welcoming than Canterlot and Ponyville.”

"I don't know, princess," Tempest admitted, looking over to Luna. "I guess…wherever the winds take me, I suppose. I don't have a concrete plan, all I know is that there are some kingdoms that still want me to own up to my actions. And all I ask from you, is for you all to support me on this decision."

"We all support you," Cadence nodded. "But know that Shining Armor is more than willing to welcome you back to finish your Royal Guard captain training, assuming you’re still interested."

At that moment, Tempest turned and looked towards the sun's position. She needed to leave while the light was still with her. "I…thank you all for your support," She declared. "But, I need to leave…now. And tell Shining Armor, I… need to think about his offer before I can say for sure."

"Fizzlepop!" Razzle cried, running over to her sister and embracing her, tears welling up in her eyes. "You can't leave now! I want us to start over again and put the past behind us! At long last, we can wipe the slate clean and start anew, like Mom and Dad wanted! Please! I don't want to…"

"Sister," Tempest sighed, putting a hoof under her sister's chin. "I promise I'll be back soon, but I need you to let me do this. It’s what I must undertake for the sake of my atonement." With those words, Razzle and Tempest embraced one another as the rest of ponies assembled looked on.

"I love you, Razzle," Tempest passionately declared. "I love you."

"I love you too, Fizzlepop." Razzle Fizzle whispered back.

With those words, the sisters broke apart and the former lieutenant of the Storm King turned to walk over the bridge out of Canterlot and into the unknown.

However, there was one pony who still needed to say her peace.

---

"Tempest!" Twilight called, trotting over to the broken horn unicorn. "Before you go, there's something I need to…"

Just like her sister, Tempest placed a hoof under Twilight's chin and smiled warmly at her. "Don't say it," She grinned. "I think I know what it is."

And much to the shock of everypony in attendance, Tempest and Twilight stood on their hind legs and embraced each other longer than Tempest and Razzle had. But, although they’d finally acted on their feelings, the two ponies knew they couldn't stay together forever and so they reluctantly broke apart.

With all loose ends tied up, Tempest turned to walk towards the future that awaited her, with Grubber and Hannibal following close behind.

"Do you think she'll succeed in what she needs to do?" Luna wondered. “Her fate is out of our control now.”

"I am not sure, I’ve received no visions indicating what the future holds for her," Celestia sighed. "But the door is always open for her to return here, along with all the other creatures that Equestria has now befriended and welcomed."

As Luna spoke, the pirate ship containing Captain Celano and her crew along with Capper and the citizens of Klugetown took to the air to head back to their homes. Their help no longer needed. With Instant Justice’s rebellion crushed, they could finally return to their lands and start to put their lives back together as best they could.

"So, what do we do now?" Cadence wondered.
"We, along with our subjects, shall continue to recover," Celestia firmly declared, as they all looked out towards the departing Tempest and her companions. "After all, Equestria has a long road yet ahead to fully recover from what has happened. A road that’s been made even longer thanks to Instant Justice's actions. But, at the end of the day, when all is said and done, we will recover. Both us and Tempest Shadow."

And with those words, Celestia began to gently lower the sun on Canterlot as Luna began to raise the moon, making sure that they were as light as possible to guide Tempest on her journey.

But, all Twilight could do was watch with a keen interest, and hoping for the day Tempest would return and become her Royal Guard captain. In her mind, this wasn't the end, it was only the beginning of a new (and hopefully bright) future.

...

THE END

Comments

[HolyCross9]

This chapter was overall a bittersweet and yet, more importantly, encouraging one for me. I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was when Fizzlepop and Razzle embraced each other knowing that their status as family and sisters has been restored.

[XFangHeartX]

Well, it's finally finished. Tempest is off to who-knows-where on her journey of self-redemption.

This was a great story you wrote. I'm so glad I got to read it from beginning to end.

[MixMassBasher]

And as this story ends. Season 8 starts. At least in terms if the timeline of this story. Glad I stuck around to this story's conclusion. I enjoyed reading this.

[Nestee88]

This was indeed a great fic.

[TheMysteryMuffin]

Yay! I enjoyed this fic!

[fanreader999999]

Convoluted.