The Dormant Tempest

by desertbat

Rating: mature
Tags: Grubber, Death, Alternate Universe, Storm King, Drama, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Dark, Other, Romance, Tempest Shadow, Sex, Violence
Length: 6056

Tempest was raised in slavery. She learned only to survive. She only craved revenge. Perhaps the princess of love can teach her more about the world than she could ever realize.

Tempest was raised in slavery. She learned only to survive. She only craved revenge. Perhaps the princess of love can teach her more about the world than she could ever realize.

Takes place in the universe of The Equestria That Never Was. If you like this, give it a shot as well.

Image source can be found here.

Published 2018-01-03 06:40:07 UTC
Last updated 2018-02-16 22:12:26 UTC

Enslavement

I was an innocent filly once. My parents escaped the war of Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon and founded their own colony. It was a colony for all those that managed to escape the carnage left by the rulers that once swore to protect this land. I was born in this colony, and my parents wanted me to never see the battlefield - never see the bodies of stallions, mares, and foal either clinging for dear life or begging some pony to just put an end to their pain and kill them.

It happened when I was eight. I could remember my mother teaching me my magic and my father teaching me to fight using techniques he created. It was something I always thought was fun, but my parents told me that it was training - training to prepare me for what they prayed would never come my way.

The princesses were fighting over the sky again, and it was shifting back from day to night for the last hour when I was told it was time for me to go to bed. Before I could, though, something out of the ordinary was coming our way.

Ominous dark clouds began to consume the skies, and a large airship expelled itself from the dark tempest and began descending down. My father came to me in a worried panic and directed me with a herd of ponies to an underground hideaway and told me to go in with them and not come out until given his say so. He had all the stallions and the strongest mares with him as he marched away to do battle. As for the other ponies, they retreated to hide themselves and their foals with spears in hoof for protection.

Every pony was in such a state of panic that they never even noticed me wander off, trying to catch up with my parents and help them with what I assumed was some kind of invasion. I thought with my training I was ready for anything. That was something a delusional little filly like me would have thought, I suppose.

When I had arrived, I saw ponies I once called friends impaled through from spears, and displayed like decorations. On the ground were more dead ponies and these strange dog-like creatures in a pool of blood. I screamed from the top of my lungs and fled as fast as I could back to the hideaway.

As I trotted back, on the verge of vomiting, I halted from the sounds of tortured screams. I saw a battle between the dog-creatures and the refugee mares - both sides were losing. These creatures sliced with their claws and tore through them all, while the ponies impaled their spears in the eye sockets of the creatures before death.

All I could do was stand there in my hidden area and cower for my life as I watched the mares and other foals I used to play with die in front of me. I will never forget the mutilated corpses. The way chunks of them were carved off. The way they left a stagnant odor as the flies quickly showed themselves.

Before I knew it, both sides had left nothing but rotten carcasses for wondering predators to feast on, or so I thought. I could hear the sound of one surviving colt. His ribs were showing, he was missing half the skin on his face, and his legs were lacerated beyond healing.

He stared at me with his one remaining eye. I could only remember playing with him mere hours ago. He was an adorable orange pegasus colt with a blue mane that wanted to be a strong defender for the colony when he got older. Even now it haunts me to think about him and the last words he pleaded from me. "Please...kill me. Kill....me."

All I saw was a pleading colt in relentless agony, and I knew what I had to do. I picked up one of the many spears that littered the field and approached him. He closed that one beautiful eye he had left and had a smile on his face because, at this moment, I was the blessed angel that was to free him from the shackles of torment and send him off to what every pony only hoped was something better waiting on the other side.

The spear went through his neck, and I saw the last ounce of breath leave him. Realization of my deed approached me and I broke down shortly after. I threw up more than I thought I could and then I heard painful screams coming from the directions of the remaining soldiers, and my parents.

I didn't feel I was in the right mind anymore, nor did I feel like living. All I could think about was going back there and take any enemy troops I could before they got me. Without a second thought, I ran to my grave.

From that short gallop, I heard the final clashes of metal. Piles of corpses littered the field, and I could see my father facing a large horned-monkey with silver fur as I arrived at the battlefield. My mother wasn't in sight, and I knew, she was of the countless cadavers left for the scavengers.

The creature swiped with his dagger-like claws and charged with his large bull-like horns. My father, using his advanced combat training, avoided the beast and made him hit the floor. He was about to lunge his spear into him and finish him off, but it failed as more of the dog-like troops piled up on my father - slashing at him and keeping him busy.

This gave the monster enough time to get himself together. He grabbed a fallen solider's spear while his troops held Daddy down with everything they had. I couldn’t stand to watch anymore and I ran out to try anything to stop him, but I was too late - he impaled my father through the chest and held him out high in the air.

One of his soldiers noticed me and grabbed me. As I struggled, I could still hear the laughing and mockery he gave his slowly dying victim. "You fought bravely, little pony. I even underestimated your colony of refugees, but, even so, you were no match for the might of the glorious Storm King."

"Why," my father questioned, gasping for breath and coughing up large amounts of blood, "why did you murder every pony? Why are you so happy? A large number of your troops just died. Do you even care?"

The Storm King - as I came to know - violently threw my father to the ground "I can always get more troops, and as for your ponies. I killed them all because I was passing by and I thought, 'These ponies look too happy and it's making me disgusted,' so I thought I would get rid of my problem."

It was then that the Storm King noticed me struggling with his guards. "Oh, and what do we have here? A sole surviving filly." He approached me and placed his powerful palm under my face to observe me.

"No, don't...hurt her." The bravest unicorn I ever knew pleaded while struggling to stay alive. This caught the Storm King's attention.

"So, this one's special to you, little stallion?" He taunted. "Perhaps I should let you watch me kill her before leaving you to the timberwolves."

I assumed I was going to die, so I thought I would let my father see me as a strong filly before that happened. I used a spell to electrify myself and my captors. It hurt like Tartarus, but I faltered for only a second when the Storm King's attention went to me and I shot a powerful spell into his left eye. The Storm King winced in pure pain, and as he removed the claw from the eye, I could see that I had incinerated it.

"You hurt my beautiful face! You're going to die slowly." The Storm King said, charging at me. I dodged out of the way and hit him in the back, but he was too enraged for it to faze him. He swiped at me with his claw and I decided I would attempt to ram my horn into him.

Within a second, I was flung into the air and landed close to my father - barely alive. My head was in excruciating pain and blood was dripping from my right eye. From the distance, I could hear the Storm King roaring in anger and agony. The headache didn't falter even a little, and as I felt my head I realized the horrible truth - my horn was destroyed.

"Fi...Fizzy, sweetie?" I could hear my dad struggle to say beside me. "You...you have to....run." Those were the last words he said to me before I felt the air leave him. I still laid where he was, crying and hoping I would die with him soon. But that death wouldn't come for me.

The Storm King came to me and put me in a black cage, laughing maniacally as he saw how weak and vulnerable I was. "You know what, I think I'm going to let your late father have his wish. I'm not going to kill you. I'll let the arena take care of you." My vision was fuzzy but I was able to see the most wicked grins on his face before falling unconscious.

Author's Note

That's chapter one to what will be a five or six chapter story. It will get more interesting in the next chapters, but I hope you all like what you got so far.

Promises

In a blurry daze, I awoke, and found myself trapped in a cold, black metal cage. The room I was kept confined in was dark, with metal grates for a floor and orange lights below to illuminate what little it could.

My knowledge of yesterday was a little fuzzy, and my head was in the worst pain I could imagine. As I went to hold my head, I felt the broken horn that resided there once again.

Everything came back to me in an instant with no time to properly come to terms with. My beautiful tranquil village was destroyed. The ponies I grew up with were all slaughtered, including my parents. I saw them all die in front of me, all except one - the colt I had to kill.

As devastated beyond belief I was about my parents murdered in front of me, I felt like a monster when I thought about the colt. He wasn't liked by most of the ponies, but still desired to keep them safe, and I took his life. I know he was suffering and I know he was good as dead, but a part of me wanted to try everything in my power to save him.

"I'm so sorry, Flash." I said with tears in my eyes. "I couldn't save you. I'm so sorry Mother and Father. I should have listened to you. I'm so sorry every pony. I failed you all." Most would think I was going insane, that I was yelling to no pony, but I saw them - I saw them all. While they may be on deaf's ear and unseen to the innocent, the guilty, like me, know the truth - the dead are not silent and you will always see them.

Once again, I broke down. Screaming for someone to help me, even though I knew it wouldn't happen. I was a prisoner, after all - both mentally and physically. Eventually, the pain from my head and my own mentality took a toll on me. My consciousness was leaving me again, and I hoped that this time I would never regain it.

I found myself back in my village. Every pony seemed happy and did their routine jobs: defending the boarders, farming for crops, raising the foals, and repairing structures.

My parents approached me with a smile on their face and I happily rushed to them - giving them the biggest hug I could. I could feel their warmth on my coat and I began to cry tears of joy. Just as I was feeling at home, though, everything got cold.

I looked back up at my parents to see that half their flesh was decayed. I could hear them moaning in relentless pain, telling me things. "You let this happen to us," my mother said.

"Why did you disobey me, Fizzy," my father yelled, "why didn't you run away and let me die knowing I could at least save YOU?!"

All I could do was back away in fear, and as I looked at my surroundings, I saw the village on fire with every pony hanging straight up on spears - the spearhead protruding from their mouths.

"No!," I said while trying to close my eyes, but couldn't, "No!" I repeated. I could see the hanging corpses reaching with their hooves, begging me to help them, "NOOO!," I screamed and ran for my life, trying to escape this madness.

As I continued to run, looking back to make sure I wasn't followed, I soon fell down the hideaway. The corpses of the mares and foals surrounded me and attempted to grab me. I evaded their grasp and continued to run away, until I saw the body of the only foal that looked whole - Flash.

He looked like a full grown stallion now, and was wearing golden armor. I thought he would be another revenant in the village, blaming me for my own weakness, but he wasn't. I saw a smile on him as he got behind me and held out a spear.

"I'll hold off the monsters as you run, my blessed angel." Tears ran through my face and I was confused as to what he meant by that. "You saved me from torment, and now I want to return the favor. You aren't just a part of the village, you are the village. Though the once shining village is now a tempest in the shadow, I know she can survive and live for us all. It is all I can ask of you. Do not surrender to the might of the Storm King. Let him know that a tempest is strong and unruly. That it cannot be broken or tamed."

I approached Flash and kissed him on the cheek, tears still running down my face. "thank you," I said, running out the village and into the shadows.

There was a violent rumble from the cage I was kept, and I awoke. My eyes opened and I was greeted by the ecstatic grin of the Storm King - now wearing an eyepatch over his missing eye. From my surroundings, I could see run down shacks and sand. It was obvious I was far in a desert town. That stupid overgrown monkey was enjoying my little culture shock and I decided I would try and calm down, just to spite him - it worked.

“What did I tell you, Verto?” The Storm King boasted, “quite the catch for the arena, right?”

This revolting mole - I assumed was Verto - came close to me and observed me. “Yes!” He said with excitement. “This one looks really good and fierce. I’m dying to know what you can do my little pony wony.”

In anger, I responded to that comment with an electric charge I managed to shoot from my shattered horn. The cage absorbed the magic and I saw he was unharmed. “Not bad.” He said with a thrilling grin. “She’ll make excellent entertainment for the arena. What’s your name, madam?”

Even at my age, I knew my life was over. The only thing I could do was live on and anger the Storm King for as long as I could. However, I felt that I needed a name that would be well recognized and let everyone know I was a threat.

My real name, Fizzlepop Berrytwist, was not a name I could use. They would never see me as a real threat and I wanted them and the Storm King to know, I would not fall to him. Memories of my dream came back and I could hear the words Flash said to me about what I represented. With sadness in me, I knew what to call myself. Something to remind me that I was the last of my village and that I would never surrender.

As calm and collected as I could be, I looked at him with a fierce expression, and I could see the interest in his “My name is Tempest Shadow.”

Author's Note

I hope you liked this chapter and are enjoying the story so far.

The Servant

It wasn't a pretty sight, but as I was being hauled to my prison by the Storm King's mindless drones, I observed my surroundings of this town. I could see fish-like creatures running around, and ugly pigs in a similar fashion. None of the inhabitants looked pleasant or trustworthy, but if they promised they would be able to free me, I would have done any unpleasant things for them to do so.

This is the last time I'll ever see anything besides a cell. I sadly thought to myself - still trying to maintain my composure around my enemies. I wanted them to think that this imprisonment meant nothing to me, but all I wanted to do was burst out in tears.

The prison was what you would expect: a long, cold, damp, concrete corridor littered with holding cells with bars made from the same metal as the cage I was being carried in.

Very quickly and cautiously, the brutes tossed me in my cell - closing the gate immediately. I could have acted angry and blast at the cage - the only thing my horn seemed to be good at now - but I decided to act as if it was a minor annoyance.

“You don’t want to upset the mole by damaging his property, do you? I’m already still damaged from yesterday.” I sternly stated to these imbeciles, hoping to make them worry - it seemed to work. They bowed their heads in apology, grunting as a form of communication. It put a smile on my face and they soon left me to myself.

Looking around in my cell, I was actually surprised how spacious it appeared. In the very back was a large wooden door with no handles. Hanging close to the side wall was a punching bag. Their was a pile of hay and a blanket at the right corner. On the adjacent corner, there was a spout on the wall with two cords to the sides of it - I was guessing that this was the shower. Below it was a drain for the water and a chamber pot.

I was on the brink of sobbing until I heard the cage open. When I turned to look that way, I saw Verto pushing a small, but pudgy, hedgehog-boy with white quill-like hair and a dark blue coat similar to the soldiers. "I hope you're liking your accommodations, Miss." That hideous mole-rat cordially said. "If you win as many fights as I know you will, you'll get an upgraded cell in no time."

"For now, though, this is where you'll stay." He then pointed to the hedgehog. "Grubber here is going to be your new personal servant. He'll look at your wounds before battle and do whatever you tell him to do - or else." I noticed the sudden chills running down the hedgehog's back when informed the last part and could only imagine what they would do to him.

"Well, that sums up everything for now. I'll have Grubber tend to you while I go prepare your first battle. It should be in a few hours. You'll know when it's time to fight when the door behind you opens up. If you aren't there fast enough, you'll be 'asked' to comply. Have fun, you two."

As he walked off, it disgusted and frightened me how calm and business oriented he was about all this. There was death and torment all around him, and while he was acting hospitable to me, it was obviously more with the intention to stay on my good side. I could tell the lives of everyone here meant nothing to him. It made me wonder what his fate would be on the other side of these bars.

"Uh...excuse me, Miss." I hadn't realized I had zoned out, and my attention was at the hedgehog I completely forgot about. He looked really nervous to me, and from the first sentence, I could tell his speech had a lisp. He did seem kind of cute, though, but I didn't trust him for a second.

"What do you want, hedgehog?" My tone was harsher than I meant it to be and the little guy began to cower in fear. I simply sat down a waited as patiently as I could to see if he would eventually respond.

After a minute, he noticed I wasn't attacking him and he continued to speak. "I...I just wanted to ask that you hold still and let me examine any injuries you acquired since yesterday."

While it’s understandable that he was doing his job, in my mind, I was blushing hard and embarrassed that a boy my age, and that I met only today, was going to be touching me. I gave him a glare that screamed death if he put one finger on me - igniting my shattered horn for more intimidation.

Once again, he cowered to me, but this time was a little different. He continued to approach me regardless of his fears, “Please, Miss,” he nervously spoke, “I promise I won’t hurt you.”

It was clear to me that he wasn’t a threat, but I wanted him to know that I was. As he reached his hands out to me, I slapped them away and pushed him down.

He didn’t get up at first, and I was feeling satisfied with that. It was then I heard sobbing - he was sobbing.

Considering he was a grunt for the Stom King, I found it strange that he was so nonagressive. I approached him, curious about him now. “Hey,” I softly spoke, which got his attention, “what are you crying for? I know I didn’t hit you that hard.”

The weak little boy looked at me sadly, and yet, attempted to act tough. He was still in tears, but I could clearly hear what he said to me. "Please...I need to look at your wounds. They said they'd kill me if I didn't."

As I saw the innocent eyes gazing at me, I understood that he wasn't some grunt from the Storm King. He was just another victim enslaved and forced to do whatever he was told - in this case, assisting me. I pitied this weak little creature. He wasn't very brave and didn't seem capable of protecting even himself.

I sat back down and signaled him over. He happily came over while I was just sulking about it. "Thank you, Miss." The hedgehog gratefully whispered.

“Tempest!” I frustratingly said, making the timid thing nervous again. I calmed myself down and attempted to speak a little more softly. “You can stop calling me Miss. My name’s Tempest. Your’s was...uh...Grubber, right?”

“At your service, Miss Tempest.” He said, having a sudden calmer tone. "I promise I'll have you feeling good as new in no time."

"I hope so, and try not to make me feel uncomfortable during this, please." I looked away from him when saying that. I felt that I was blushing and I didn't want him to see me vulnerable.

"Of course, Tempest," The boy obediently said, "I live to serve only your wishes. Anything else you want from me?"

It was a bit alarming how submissive this hedgehog was. I never had a servant before, and I wasn't sure what else for him to do. "Well..." I said, trying to think of something to say, "I have a few hours to kill. Why don't you tell me more about yourself."

"Oh..." he said, so surprised, "nobody's asked that from me before. I'll tell you what I can if it pleases you?"

I nodded my head in approval and he began to tell me his story.

Author's Note

Well here's another chapter. I'll be doing a chapter of this and then a chapter of The Equestria that never was, so I might not be as fast as you would like. I do intend to finish it, however, so I hope you enjoy the chapters when they come out.

The Arena

Within three hours, Grubber's examinations, and use of healing medicines, brought me back to full health - with the exception of my broken horn and scars.

While he treated me, I learned how the Storm King invaded the village of his kind. How, just like mine, he had them slaughtered. However, unlike the Storm King’s love for pony genocide, he didn’t share the same passion for Grubber’s kind - sparing a select number of women and children for slavery.

My resentment of this little hedgehog changed after hearing the harsh treatment he was given. How he was tossed around by many masters until he was sold to that mole to be a medic for any newcomer here. Apparently I was now the two hundred forty-third newcomer he served. I was not going to let myself end up like the others before me.

I was blushing and keeping myself away from him. While he had made me feel better, I couldn't help but feel strange about a boy touching me. Regardless, I would need to inform him that I was grateful for his service.

“Th...thank you, Grubber. You have served me well. “ I was a little embarrassed to speak like that, but I knew I needed to seem as powerful and in charge as I could, for my own sake.

“Anything for you, Mistress Tempest.” He gratefully said while bowing to me. I was only a little filly when I witnessed how submissive he was and knew I had to keep him there. Though as a mare, I now fathom the amount of power and the things I could have easily done to this boy if I so desired.

Feeling more confident, I approached my loyal servant. “Good boy,” I praised with a dominating voice while patting him gently on his precious little head, “now rise for your mistress. You've earned it.”

Grubber rose up and gave me a very bashful look. It appeared as if he wanted to say something to me but was a little afraid to. We both knew our place here and it was kind of getting both interesting and weird. This was something I felt I needed to fix now. "Sweet little Grubber," I kindly started, placing one of my hooves on his cheek, "if you have something to say, you're more than welcome to. You may be my servant, but that doesn't mean you can't talk to your mistress."

I could see his mood lighting up. "Well...I just wanted to say thank you....for listening to my story for the last few hours. You're the first one that showed interest in it." He almost embraced me, but he quickly reframed. I gave him a smile and decided to let him have this - just this one time, since he was cute. From the excited mumbling in his voice and his tears wetting my coat, it was obvious he needed it.

Without warning, the door in the back slid open - leaving behind a dark corridor that felt very foreboding. Before I could examine any further, the outside of my cell was surrounded with Storm King grunts - each one pointing a spear made of that anti magic metal and making it clear I needed to venture inside. I did what they suggested and began my trot.

As I continued into the depth's of what felt like my tomb, I heard Grubber speak to me. "Good luck, mistress. I know you'll win and hope to see you soon. You're definitely my favorite creature here now." It felt nice to have someone genuinely seem to care about my existence here, and it certainly motivated me to stay alive.

A source of illumination could finally be seen, and I knew I had finally reached the end - hopefully not the end of my life. Slowly walking out, I discovered myself inside a large towering colosseum erected from the thickest layers of limestone. The top was constructed with anti-magic metal that made it appear I was in a large birdcage for the roaring crowd that surrounded me, and at the top of this edifice were lights that elucidated the confines of my battleground. From what I could tell, nobody had a chance of escaping this arena - not unless dying counted as escape.

With my eyes adjusting to the lights, I noticed that massive storm clouds covered the sky above. All around the crowd I had been hearing was now visible to me - they were all those disgusting fish and reptilian creatures. Within the crowd I saw a large throne with the Storm King seated in with the most satisfied grimace I saw yet on him. It didn’t take a genius to know what went through that primitive mind - in this graveyard, he planned to have any traces of me - the remnants of my village's existence - wiped away like excrement on a boot.

The door behind me closed and I saw that rows of doors surrounded the arena walls. Any part of the wall available housed a variety of weapons for any combatant to choose from: swords, spears, shields, daggers, and even chakrams, to name a few. Some of these weapons appeared to have the repugnant stench of fresh blood still coated on it - my guess was that they quickly wiped the weapons clean before each fight.

Focusing my attention to the Storm King, I noticed that vile mole rat adjacent to him - holding what appeared to be a microphone. “Ladies and gentleman,” I heard from his amplified voice, “today I bring you a new gladiator. This pony is the sole survivor of her village and had the nerve to harm our beloved Storm King,” I wished I could get close to him and watch that bravado sink from his smug ego. “Now here to see if she has the privilege of remaining amongst these sacred grounds,” there was nothing sacred about this Tartarus, “I give you, Tempest Shadow!”

And just like that, the crowd exploded with excitement. It horrified me that they didn’t seem concerned that a little foal was about to fight for her life. To think of the amount of children slain here for the audience to be so desensitized. How in their last breaths, a child didn't hear signs of worry, but the thrill of carnage.

My fears only intensified as I saw another door open. Walking out was a large blue fish-man. While this repulsive monster that had on only a brown tank top and appeared to be a little overweight, the sharp teeth, large frame, and jagged head fin told me he wasn't someone to take lightly. "Now, to see if she is worthy of staying in the Kludgetown Colosseum, give it up for the two year veteran gladiator, Barracuda!" With that, I learned all I needed to know about my opponent who was riling up the crowd into a frenzy. As I saw the Storm King continue to smile, I could only hope that I was capable of surviving this ordeal - if nothing else but to damper that mood of his.

"LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE!" As soon as Verto finished those words, that barbarous gladiator, Barracuda, lunged out and swiped me to the ground using his webbed claws - I could feel the fresh blood dripping from my side. He began to repeat his process, but I avoided the majority of this blow - taking only a scratch on my flank -and blasted him with an electric charge from my hideous horn.

He roared in agony, but that agony suddenly shifted to laughter - I was more unfamiliar with my horn's control than I thought, because that blast was meant to knock him out. "Well, well, well," he began to gloat, "looks like you got some fight in you after all. You're going to make an interesting meal to fight." Once again, he came at me with an intent to kill, or should I say eat me? I did what any girl my age would do at a time like that - run away.

In an effort to have an advantage I fearfully ran to the wall for a weapon to use and picked up a dagger. As he was approaching I threw the dagger at him in a panic, but he easily dodged it. Before I could grab something else to throw, he was already there and grabbed me by the throat. I struggled and gasped for a simple breath of air, but his grip on me was too much and I was being strangled to death. I wanted to plea with him to let me go. To spare me and promise to let him do whatever things he desired to do to me in return. It didn't matter at this point, I just didn't want to die - not like this.

My consciousness was slowly slipping and all I was feeling was myself being thrown in the air. Immediately, I awoke with a blood curdling scream - the worst scream I ever gave that I'm surprised I didn't shatter my voice box then. I soon discovered in this unspeakable pain that I was in this creatures jaws - I could feel the teeth lacerating my sides and hear the crowd cheering at my impending doom.

He was savoring my taste and, most likely, the sounds of my torment. Most ponies would have accepted their death, but I didn't - I couldn't - let it end this way. With the strength I still had to muster, I ignited my horn and electrocuted us both -the insides of his mouth proved to be an excellent conductor. His teeth shattered inside and I was able to escape his mouth. My body was drenched in blood - both his and mine - and it would have been worse if his teeth weren't still in my flesh to keep me from bleeding out.

The brute fell to the floor with barely any breath left to spare, but I would make sure he wouldn't have any remaining. To my left, I was in great fortune to come across the dagger I had thrown earlier. I decided to pick it up, struggling to grasp it in my damaged hoof and slowly limped to him. It satisfied me when he was capable of seeing my presence, but too weak to move. I still remember his pleading gasps. "Please, no," he begged, which only pleased me more to hear, "I was just fighting to survive. I didn't mean anything by it."

Looking him in the eyes, I said the most satisfying thing I could think of in the moment. "So was I." I thrusted the dagger far into his throat. He didn't die immediately from this either - it was very slow, and it was very painful. His body soon became lifeless and instead of the mourning of a famous gladiator, I heard the crowd in applause - their warrior was already a distant memory.

"GIVE IT UP, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, FOR TEMPEST!" I looked into the direction of Verto and noticed the Storm King had the most baffled expression on that thing he called a face. Even in the near death and bloody mess I was, I couldn't help but smile, and I swear he could see it, because afterwards he stormed out of his throne in anger, and left to his chambers.