Author's Note

I know this is a small chapter, sorry!
Was a busy week for me.
Chapter 3 is nearly done and it will be longer, promised!

Slave of the Storm

Slave of the Storm

Tempest was positively shaking in anger as she made her way to the deck. Not because she just got her so long wanted release denied, no. She would also receive a punishment as a bonus from the Storm King for making him wait.

It wasn’t too long before she reached the deck where the magical communication pool was stationed. The potion in the hands of the two apes on deck was already ringing.

“Pick up,” Tempest ordered coldly.

They opened the flask, pouring the contents into the pool, letting a small smokescreen emerge that soon contained the unamused face of the Storm King.

“Tempest,” he growled.

“Yes, sir.”

“You said three days.”

“Y-Yes Sir.”

“Do you want your horn back?”

“Of course!”

“Then why is the fourth princess not in Canterlot yet?” he growled, making her flinch back.

“She is on my ship, sir! We’re on our way! We-”

“We should be there in not even thirty minutes,” Grubber grumbled as he stepped onto deck, looking slightly toasted.

“What happened to you?” the Storm King asked, laughing. “You look like our dear Commander here used you as a candle!”

“She tried cooking and missed the target,” Grubber replied, a small grin on his face. “We will arrive shortly, boss.”

“What delayed you?”

“The Princess doing funny business and Tempest eating carpet,” he rolled his eyes.

“Carpet? Is she on a diet?” the Storm King asked, ignoring the anger evident in Tempest’s face.

“Really, boss?” Grubber muttered faintly before sighing. “Tempest here got a bit too friendly with the princess of friendship.”

“What?! Tempest, explain!” he growled, facing her.

“I made a small deal with her, your excellency. She is much more calm now, willingly in our hooves – and I get some fun as well,” Tempest replied before shooting Grubber a look that promised pain.

Grubber understood and quickly made himself scarce.

The Storm King sighed, before asking, “Tempest. Are you growing weak?”

“No, your excellency.”

“Friendship is for weak fools. You are my Commander! The most powerful being in my army, to be feared! Cuddling with a prisoner and enemy is not like you,” he said. “I trust this won’t continue to be an issue?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. Think about your horn and future. If you fail me… you won’t care about your horn anymore…”

“Sir. Another thing,” she hastened to add, “we found her at the mountain.” When the Storm King just looked confused, she added, “The pearl.”

“What?! Get information out of her, right now! If she managed to get them as allies, my plan could be ruined! Don’t disappoint me, Commander!”

The contact broke, the smokescreen vanishing, Tempest heaved out a long sigh before turning, her horn sparking strongly. “Oh, Grubber! Where are you? Come here my friend… we have to… talk.”

Grubber tried to create no sound as he snuck through the cargo bay of the ship. He knew, as soon as the commander found him, he would be in pain. Or worse.

“Grubber, my friend! Come out! We have to talk. I won’t harm you… much.”

He shivered as Tempest spoke the last word with such coldness, he could literally feel it, so he scrambled deeper into the bay, finding an unused box he quickly hid himself in.

Tempest made a few more runs before dropping her act. “You can’t avoid me forever, Grubber. Up until now, you might have been more scared of our King, but that will change quickly. I will introduce you into a world of pain for betraying me.”

She left quickly after that, making Grubber perk up before he groaned as two of the Storm Troops took position in the cargo bay. Of course, they searched every crate, box and corner, quickly finding him.

“Could you please let me leave?” Grubber asked.

He got a hiss and a grunt as answer.

“I know Tempest is your Commander, but I’m important too!”

Another grunt, this time lower.

“Hey, I am important!”

A low pitched growl.

“Yes, I know I always eat the cake you guys have, I’m really sorry-HEY!” he shouted as the creature pulled him up, glaring at him. “Okay, okay. You get all the cake you want if you let me leave!”

All he got was a grunt before the creature smacked him upon his head, rendering him unconscious. It would be a long flight for him.

Grubber woke up in chains. Heavy chains made out of metal. Looking around, he noticed that the cage with the Princess was nearby, Tempest standing between them.

“I am asking you one last time, Twilight. Tell me about the Hippogryphs and the pearl!”

“I can’t…”

“Twilight…” Tempest approached her, holding her chin up, her expression softening. “I really don’t want to hurt you. And I won’t.” She dropped her chin, the expression shifting evilly. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t hurt Grubber here. You are the princess of friendship, you value life as well. Maybe it will loosen your tongue.”

Twilight’s eyes widened as Tempest turned to Grubber, her horn sparking. Grubber tried to escape, but the chains held him tight. She came closer and closer.

“Hey, T-tempest… you don’t want to do this,” Twilight softly said.

“Oh, but I want,” she answered before her horn touched Grubber and his world exploded in pain.

“NO! STOP!” Twilight screamed. “The hippogryphs banished me from their city because I tried to steal their pearl! They are not our allies!”

“Well, well, how interesting. Seems your heart isn’t as pure as you said,” Tempest smiled, finally ceasing her magic.

“My intentions were pure! I just wanted to save everypony!”

“Everypony,” Tempest spit down in disgust. “All you ponies think about are yourselves and as soon something doesn’t go as planned, it’s over.”

“That’s not true!”

“If you believe that, you are a fool!” Tempest stomped down her hoof, sending chunks of the ship's hull off. “When did Equestria ever help the other nations? You’ve seen the town of that cat. Equestria does nothing but plan parties for its ponies.”

Twilight looked down. “And if you believe that, maybe you are lost.”

“You have no idea-” The ship's horn disturbed whatever Tempest had to say and she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, we’re there. I hope you are ready to share your magic, Twilight. Guards! Take her down and arrange a transport for her cage. Don’t let her escape!”

The two apes at the door grunted before picking up Twilight’s cage. Tempest did everything but look her into the eyes as she was transported away. No matter what she said, she really didn’t want Twilight to be hurt. If her plan was to be successful, the Storm King would just use her magic, but let her keep her life.

And Tempest would finally have her horn back.

She would do everything in her power to make sure Twilight survived.

Even if she had no idea, why she acted like this.