“So, what do you think?” I asked and sipped my water. We were in a private corner of the little curry restaurant.
“...A bit spicy,” Fizzlepop admitted and poked at her curry and rice with a spoon, “But not bad. Different kind of spicy.”
I nodded, “I like this place. Ran into it a couple of months ago,” and had some curry of my own. It was a stronger dish than I recommended for her. It was not for beginners.
Rarity of all people had recommended this place to me and on my Luna, she was right. The food was amazing!
She nodded and tried some of the bread.
“So, Miss…” I started before I frowned, “I’m sorry. I never did ask which name you prefered, did I? Tempest Shadow or Fizzlepop Berrytwist.”
She frowned in thought for a long moment, “I’m… I’m not sure either fit anymore. But I’m not Berrytwist.”
“Miss Shadow then,” I said, “Any plans?”
Tempest Shadow hesitated and then looked at me, “...I am really free to go? Just like that?”
I sighed and shifted my wings as I poked my rice, “Well...Yes and no.”
She frowned at me so I continued,
“According to the negotiations, all of the Storm King’s forces are to be released across the closest border,” I said and poked my curry with my a piece of bread, letting it soak, “If you were just let go in Equestria, there would be trouble. The nobility would never stand for it, you were the leader of an invasion after all.”
Tempest let out a small breath and looked down towards her bowl, “...I see.”
“But,” I continued, “What you do is still up to you. There are options available.”
“I figured,” she said and then looked to me again, “You wouldn’t be doing this if you were just going to banish me or thrown me back into that dark hole again.”
“I suppose not,” I admitted, “But I don’t want you banished or confined to the prison either. You may have lead the invasion, but I know enough about you to say it wasn’t fully by choice.”
“...You know nothing about me…”
“Don’t I?” I asked and raised an eyebrow at her, “Miss Shadow, I am Blank Page, the Alicorn of Stories. I know some of yours.”
She glared at me, “Prove it!”
“Ursa Minor.”
She jerked slightly in surprise and stared at me with wide eyes before she frowned, “H-how could you possibly…”
I gave her a small smile, “Alicorns aren’t just stronger unicorns with wings, Miss Tempest. Would you like to hear your options?”
Tempest Shadow stared at me for a long moment before she nodded and seemed to shrink down slightly, her ears going to the sides, “...Okay.”
“The first option,” I said, “is to simply go with the rest of the Storm King’s forces and leave Equestria. Be it to go back to him or simply go anywhere you wish as soon as you are across the border.”
I took a sip from my water before I continued while watching her reactions. She had a pretty good poker face but I suspected she wasn’t in favor of option one.
As expected, he did not seem like a guy that was forgiving about mistakes.
“The second option is to go through the courts in Equestria. There would be prison time involved most likely,” I said and sighed, “I would not recommend this one personally. Politics is involved and while they should normally stay out of it, there will be pressure applied and very little we can do about it.”
She nodded slightly as she watched me.
“Then there is the third option,” I told her and smiled, “You join us.”
Tempest frowned at me, “Join you?”
I nodded, “Join Equestria's defensive forces. You are quite skilled and it would benefit Equestria quite a bit to have you on our side against other threats.”
“...You want me to join the guard!?”
I shook my head, “Hardly. You don’t fit the recruiting standards for either Day or Night and my Legion has other preferences. I am second ranking War Mage in Equestria. I want you to join us.”
“Two weeks ago I was leading an invasion force against Equestria and now you want me to join you!?”
“You did quite a good job of it too,” I agreed and poked at my curry with my spoon, “Better than most would. We’re rebuilding the War Mages order just for such matters.”
Tempest Shadow hesitated, “...And if I rather leave?”
“Then the train leaves in a bit over an hour,” I said and had some curry, “I’d more than understand if you are tired of taking orders by now. I’d walk you to the station personally. Even give you some Bits to get you started again somewhere else if you head off somewhere else after crossing the border, but I’m afraid I’m going to need an answer before the last train leaves in three hours.”
She was quiet for a long moment, “And my horn?” she finally asked.
“I gave you my word that I would do whatever is in my power to try to help you. It stands no matter if you stay or go.”
Tempest Shadow watched me for a moment before she nodded and returned to her meal.
Basically, she's combat ready
and may want some revenge. Ooooh, this getting guuud.
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Ja, agreed, and this is just getting better, also try reading this chapter as you listen to some of imagine dragon songs
That's one hell of a life decision he's aking her to answer. Hopefully it will end in both of their favours.
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In less than 3 hours no less!
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Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
As crazy as it sounds it's normal around here
So she decided to stay with her new name, not birth one? By my opinion it's good choise, as "Fizzlepop Berrytwist" name fit with her in same manner as fist fit with nose.
But on other hand, it could be good in combat. All she would need to win in fight is to present herself in total serious voice as great battlemage Fizzlepop Berrytwist. All opponents would instantly die from laugh, giving her completly free hoof to make them die in real sense.
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"Well, let's see, My Luna, who is basically my boss as well as my wife, was Nightmare Moon. Discord..."
"You called?"
"Do you only come when it's inconvenient? Where were you during the invasion?"
"Which invasion?"
"The one that just happened a few days ago! When the Storm King's troops disrupted my wedding!"
"Huh. Here I was, thinking I was being nice by staying out of Canterlot on your special day, and you go and host an invasion without me!?"
"Look, why don't you visit Fluttershy or something. I'm sure she can fill you in."
"Don't mind if I do."
"Was that..?"
"Discord, Spirit of Chaos, pain in the flank, and ostensibly an ally of Equestria."
"The Storm King is an idiot, isn't he?"
"Wait'll I tell you about Sunset Shimmer, my second in command..."
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*& after hearing what Page tells her about Sunset Shimmer, and the conversation moved to the Crystal Empire*
"You know what.... just forget fixing my horn. I'm getting the fuck outta here. But please do me a favor: be sure to make a film of it when Storm King invades--I gotta see what happens to him!"
“...I accept.”
“...then let us begin...Sunset.”
“Hello, again.”
“Urhm hello, Sunset was it?”
“Yes.”
“I am sorry for what happened.”
“Just wait, you won’t be.”
“W-what?”
“The first thing I want to hear out of your hole is Ma’am do I make myself clear, Meat?”
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The clock is ticking
it's going to be interesting to see this play out.
Bring her horn back. All I have to say I this chapter. See you in the next one
So far staying and joining him is the overall most benefiting option. Unless she has familie left i dont see her not joining him. She was confronted with the truth and cant denie it any longer.
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PRICELESS! That should get add to the story
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I like the idea of grafting a gem or crystal of some kind to her horn. It's not a permanent solution, but the idea is to stimulate mana/magic flow and gain a better control over it.
It'll be like getting a prosthetic leg and learning how to walk again.
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Or maybe ask the changlings. They might now something.
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Well, we do know that Equestria is capable of producing functional prosthetic limbs, such as Rainbow Dash's metal left wing in the Crystal War timeline that functioned well enough to enable her to still fly in the E.U.P. as a combatant.
I imagine that the only reason a functioning prosthetic horn hasn't been done yet is that so few unicorns survive injuries that cause their horns to break like that.
Now, for the other end of things, I bet a specially grown crystal from the Pie family Rock Farm would be ideal. Especially one that had been tended to by Marble Pie as it grew. It would be very fitting if she had a complimentary inclination towards the healing aspects of geomancy.
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I didn’t read earlier comments, just yours but. Rainbow’s wing was built out of necessity. War causes invention. Humanity’s greatest inventions like the phone for example, were invented for war and wouldn’t exist otherwise. Same thing happened with Rainbow’s wing. Invented for war.
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True, but on the special episode The End of the Rainbow, there was a mare with a prosthetic leg. While i agree that a wing or a horn is far more complicated than a leg prosthetic, its not outside of this timelines possibility. A horn replacement would likely involve a crystal "horn" enchanted and attuned to Tempests atherical resonance (or just her magic if you prefer) to allow her magic to flow through and be guided like a normal horn.
But, eh
I LOVE CURRY!!
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CURRY!
So... Mares are persuaded by Curry... Crafty Stud.
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“You may fascinate a woman by giving her a piece of cheese.” - Book from the 70's
Within reason, she isn't Luna!