Hearthfire & Wintertides

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Letter
Chapter 2: Ebb & Flow
Chapter 3: All I Could Ask For
Chapter 4: In Time

Chapter 1: The Letter

“Morning!” Sunset greeted as she strutted into the room. A chorus of ‘heys’ and ‘hellos’ came her way from the ponies seated around the Cutie Map. She trotted past the others and straight towards the only wooden chair. Or more accurately, to the pony seated atop it. “I didn’t hear you wish me a good morning.”

“...This joke’s less funny the forty-second time around,” said Tempest, whose eyes were glued to the newspaper in her hooves.

“Thanks,” Sunset replied in a deadpan tone, hopping onto the chair right beside Tempest. She rested her head upon Tempest’s shoulder, though it drew not even a glance from her. “Love the support…”

The main doors swung open once more. And this time, it was Twilight who stepped in. Tempest lowered her paper to the ground, straightened her back and kept her eyes locked upon her.

“Thanks for coming everypony!” Twilight, with a glow of her horn, dispelled the Cutie Map’s holographic image. She then set a small pile of envelopes upon the table, unwrapped the scarf from her neck and took her seat. “I called all of you here today to—”

“Oh!” Pinkie shouted, waving her hoof. Well, she attempted to. Being wrapped head to hoof in tinsel made it hard for Pinkie to move any part of her body. “I know! Pick me!”

Twilight sighed. “Okay, Pinkie.”

“We’re here to assign the annual Hearthfire visits!” Pinkie said, her voice brimming with joy.

“I do hope I can get Manehatten again!” Rarity combed a stray lock of mane from her face. “It is such a beautiful place this time of year.”

“I sure hope I don’t,” Applejack muttered.

“Well, actually, I’m giving all of you the option to pick this year!”

The entire room erupted into one large, excited gasp. All, that is, except for Tempest, who stared forth with an unfaltering expression.

“What’s the catch?” Rainbow asked with squinted eyes and a cautious frown.

“There is none!” Twilight replied, grinning. “I just thought it’d be better if we spread Hearth’s Warming joy to the places we want to go to for a change!”

“O-oh that’s a good idea. I wouldn’t want to get any place scary!” Fluttershy paused. “...Again.”

“So I’ll be reading out the locations one at a time. And if you hear a place that interests you, just let me know!” Twilight plucked the top envelope from the neat pile. She opened her mouth, ready to read out the first location, but recoiled in realization. “Oh, right! I only have seven locations. Because somepony grabbed the location to her village and left a couple of hours ago, bringing along her best friend to visit. Who is not me. You know, the pony that taught her everything she knows about friendship.” Twilight grumbled and several badly-restrained snickers followed. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath in. “But I digress! Since we only have seven locations and we have eight ponies here, I’ll need a pair of ponies to team up.”

Instantly, all pairs of eyes shot towards Tempest, much to her confusion. “...What?” she asked, just as Sunset leaned in closer, nuzzling her muzzle into Tempest’s chest.

“Hey, Twi? If Mount Aris is one of the places, could we not give it to Tempest?” Rainbow said. “She’s so dense she might sink.”

“I’m pretty sure my large build doesn’t mean I can’t swim,” Tempest answered, a hint of pride in her voice. Though her words were immediately followed by the sound of Rainbow’s hoof slamming into her own face.

“Babe, just…” Sunset tapped Tempest’s chin lightly. “Just stop talking.”

“Okay, well that’s settled.” Twilight returned her attention to the letter in her hand. “The first location that was requested from us is from… hey! Mount Aris!”

“Dibs!” Pinkie screamed at the top of her lungs. The tinsel that wrapped her exploded into a mess of colorful, shining confetti. In one swift motion, she zipped up to Twilight, swiped the letter with one hoof and slammed the other down onto the table so hard, it echoed through the chambers for a couple of seconds.

Twilight and the others could only watch in frozen horror as Pinkie retreated back to her seat in the blink of an eye. “O-okay, M-Mount Aris is taken!” she whispered softly. With trembling hooves, she picked up the next letter from the stack and read outloud, “The Changeling Hive?”

“Oh!” Both Rainbow and Fluttershy exclaimed at the same time, jumping off their chair. They shot each other a look, and both quickly slinked back down.

“N-no, go ahead Rainbow Dash!”

“P-psh, I’m good. You should take it!” Rainbow said, crossing her hooves.

“O-oh, no but you want—”

Rainbow launched from her seat, soared to Twilight and snatched the envelope. “Aw yeah!” Fluttershy, dejectedly, slunk down in her chair in silence, hiding behind her mane. Tempest felt Sunset tightened her squeeze on her arm, and she turned, spotting Sunset staring with furrowed brows at Rainbow. Before she could mutter out a concerned ‘Sunset?’, Rainbow’s voice spoke first.

“Psh,” Rainbow laughed. She flew to Fluttershy, dropping the letter into her lap. “Just kidding. I’m sure there are way more awesome places to go anyway!”

“O-oh my.” Fluttershy grabbed the letter. “Are you sure?” She attempted to ask, but Rainbow had already retook her seat.

Sunset’s grip on Tempest’s hoof relaxed considerably. Though Tempest’s mind was more occupied at the situation that had unfolded in front of her. Especially on Sunset’s reaction. However, that was quickly forgotten as Twilight took the next letter from the stack and began reading out the next location.

And so one by one, each place was taken. The Dragon Lands, Kovantown, Manehatten. Until there sat only two letters left in the pile. Twilight took one in each of her hooves.

“Alright, it’s just us left!” Twilight said to Sunset and Tempest. “Do you two want the Crystal Empire? Or…”

Crystal Empire? Tempest considered the choice in her mind.

“Wintertide Village?”

Tempest’s heart skipped a beat. All the color immediately drained from her face, and her next breath in was razor sharp.

“W-where d-did you say it was…?” Tempest was barely able to stutter out.

“Wintertide Village.” Twilight faced the letter to Tempest, who read those exact words upon the envelope. “Something wrong?”

Tempest felt a tug upon her hoof. When she turned, she was met with Sunset’s worried gaze. “I… I… need a moment.” Tempest shot from her seat and galloped out the door at full speed. She thought she heard Sunset call her name from behind, but didn’t want to stop to find out for sure. When the doors closed behind her, she slowed to a brisk trot. But her heartbeat only grew quicker. Her vision began to blur and she could feel her composure began to fray. Like strands unraveling from a rug.

W-why? After all this time, why? Why won’t it just leave me alone? The questions called for answers, but none came. There was the sound of something opening. A screech. Then something soft beneath her hooves. Something cold. Something—

“Fizzie!” Sunset’s voiced sliced through her daze like a sword. Tempest blinked, shook her head and stared forth at the snow-covered pathway in front of her. Perplexed, she darted her head around. The rolling hills, bare trees and rolling white clouds under the morning sun told her that she was outside of the Crystal Castle. But as to how she got here, she couldn’t say.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“...I just… needed some air.”

“Fizz.” Sunset tossed an orange scarf onto Tempest’s shoulders and began to wrap it around her neck. “I don’t need to be an Element of Empathy to see something’s bothering you.”

Why did I even try. Tempest sighed. A hoof was placed lightly upon her cheek. And Sunset smiled. Which was the last expression Tempest expected to see from her face. Summoning all the courage she could scrounge up in her tattered heart, she drew a long, deep breath before speaking.

“Wintertide is— was my home.” Tempest barely managed to eek out. The words quickly caused Sunset’s smile to melt into a shocked frown. “I… haven’t been back there since I left to… to join...”

“The Storm King?” Tempest nodded. Sunset’s mouth quivered slightly, as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words to say. After a few seconds of trying, she closed her muzzle and spent the next moments in thought. “Why are you scared of going back?”

“I…” Tempest spoke, a sudden lilt in her voice as she attempted to suppress the memories. “I… can’t… I can’t say. Not right now. I’m sorry.”

Sunset gave several blinks. “Is it related to someone? Something?”

“My past. But...” Tempest said. “I just can’t face… I can’t face them.”

“Them?”

Tempest’s eyes widened at the realization at what she had just said and she gave no reply. She attempted to turn away, but Sunset’s hoof prevented her from doing so. The two mares stood, staring into each other’s eyes under the falling snow. Even as a biting chill breezed past, neither moved.

“Maybe... we don’t have to pick just yet. Hearthfire isn’t for about a week, so we have some time. Let’s make a decision tomorrow. Okay, Fizz?”

Tempest nodded nervously. With a smile, Sunset trotted towards her and strained her neck, planting a kiss upon Tempest’s lips. Though taken by surprise at first, Tempest quickly melted into the kiss, returning every one of Sunset’s advance with one of her own.

After what felt like an eternity, albeit an enjoyable one, Sunset broke the embrace, her eyes fluttering open in a dreamy daze. Tempest stared back.

And she couldn’t help but smile.

A white blanket had enveloped the land in front of her. And a dark, sparkling one on the skies above.

Tempest took a step forward, down the forest hill and past the large empty fields. Onto the stone bridge, which arched over the Wishing River. She stopped and peered into the icy surface. During any other season, the crystal clear waters would be flowing, crashing softly against the rocks. Foals would be lining the banks, flicking coins into its waters with their eyes shut and a wish in their mind. But now, there were no foals. No ponies. Just her.

Alone.

Even as she made her way onto the main street, the paths were bare. Every house stood lifeless. No lights were shining through any of the windows. And the only rattling came from the signs as the winter winds soared past them.

Suddenly, through the pitch black darkness, there came a light. An orange beacon of warmth, illuminated from a house that stood near the end of the road. With shivering hooves, Tempest made her way forward. As she approached, she could hear a muffled mix of joyful sounds. Singing. Laughing. The clanking of cups. All of which, when combined, brought a bright smile to her face.

That expression only grew bigger when she was outside the front door, standing between two long rows of Frostblooms. She leaned down, attempting to sniff the white-petaled flowers, but instead, smelled freshly baked Hearth’s Warming treats wafting from the house. Tempest took a big sniff, savoring the smell of cookies. They were sweet. Buttery. And…

Wistful.

Tempest shook her head. Where seconds ago the smell brought her joy, it now carried with it sadness. The memories came rushing back. And the serpentine door knocker that hung at the front only reinforced her theory. With a trembling hoof and a fearful expression, she gripped the wooden knocker.

What’re you doing? You know where this is. Don’t— She hit it gently against the door several times. The talking ceased immediately. And a pit had formed in Tempest’s stomach. Run! her mind shouted. But her body refused to obey.

Hoofsteps echoed just behind it. Then silence. After a couple of seconds, there came the sound of a bolt being slid away. The door swung open and, at the doorway, was the one pony Tempest had both craved, yet never wanted, to see once more. Her words froze at her throat, allowing nothing more than a low ‘uhhh’ to escape her lips.

Tempest took a breath. A bigger one to calm her nerves. And stared straight into the pony at the doorway. With all the strength she could muster, she opened her mouth and spoke.

“Hi.”

Slam.

Tempest recoiled at the sound. When she opened her eyes, the light in the home had gone pitch black. And with it, the smell of windigo cookies and pudding cups. “N-no… Wait!” Tempest sped up to the door, slamming the knocker repeatedly against the wooden front as tears trailed down her face. “Please!” she shouted. “Please!”

But when the only sound that accompanied her was the howl of the night, she knew she was once more on her own. She dropped to the ground, sobbing and shivering. There was no warmth to be found here.

Not for her.

Suddenly, there came a bright light from the edge of her vision. She gazed upwards, spotting the moon glow an almost otherworldly sheen. Like a beacon at the top of a lighthouse, it beckoned for her. Tempest stood up, entranced by the sight as the moon glowed brighter. Brighter. Even brighter still. Until it enveloped her vision and...

“Fizz!”

Tempest’s eyes flew open. She shot out from under the covers, tossing them harshly to the side. Her breaths were short. And her heart threatened to beat itself out of her chest.

“W-where…” she muttered, glancing quickly around the bedroom.

“Breathe!” Sunset said, placing a hoof upon Tempest’s shoulder. “You’re safe. Relax.”

“I… I was...” Tempest attempted to force the words from her mouth, but no matter how hard she tried, they refused to be spoken. Sunset’s forehooves wrapped themselves around Tempest’s body, pulling her shaking form close into a warm embrace and catching Tempest’s attention. Tempest gave Sunset a look of wide-eyed horror and Sunset stared back for a moment before leaping off the bed.

“Come on, let’s go get some water.”

Tempest didn’t nod. Didn’t say yes. Still trembling, she barely found her footing upon the floor and began to trot slowly. Sunset ducked under Tempest’s hoof, ensuring it rested on her shoulder for support as they paced out the door.

“And then… I woke up.” Tempest said, staring at her reflection in the cocoa.

There was a passing moment of quiet between the two. But the atmosphere was anything but calm. Tempest’s mind told her to look up at the mare across her. But instead, she tightened the grip upon the cup, feeling the hot ceramic radiate to her trembling hooves.

“Has this nightmare happened before?”

“No. Not recently.” Tempest turned to face the nearby window. She glanced out and was only able to spot the flickering street lights that lit the Ponyville roads.

“Maybe… we should go to Wintertide.”

The words caught Tempest off-guard. She snapped her attention to Sunset, who was now the one staring down at her cup.

“No,” Tempest replied curtly.

“Fizz—”

“I am not going back there.”

“Fizz.” Sunset sighed. “These nightmares are only going to get worse.”

“You’re overreacting. It was just one nightmare, Sunset.”

“Yeah. That’s… h-how it starts,” Sunset spoke in a hush so soft, that a passing breeze could’ve carried her voice away.

“The answer is still no. I can’t go back there.” Tempest bowed her head. “It’s a worthless journey anyway. I already know what’ll happen.”

“R-right,” Sunset muttered. Her hooves lifted the cup to her lips and she sipped slowly at the chocolate. There was something about her movements that brought a sense of unease to Tempest. She expected Sunset to be rambling, talking or at least attempting to convince her. Not to give up so easily. Or to give up at all.

Yet, the more she thought about it, the more pain was sent to her throbbing head. So she drank the cocoa in one large gulp and hopped off the chair. “We should head back to bed. And tomorrow, I’ll tell Twilight that we’ll be taking the Crystal Empire instead.”

“O-okay.” Sunset didn’t look up. Not until she spotted Tempest waiting patiently at the counter for her. “Cocoa’s still hot. Go on ahead, I’ll catch up.” Sunset gave a plastic smile to Tempest, who gave an equally forced one back before heading out of the kitchen and back to her bedroom. But even after snuggling under her covers, she could not shake the sense of unease.

You're just overthinking things again. She told herself.

But she wasn't sure even she believed the lie.

Chapter 2: Ebb & Flow

I heard the Crystal Empire’s cold, so we’ll probably need to pack a lot of thick clothes. Tempest moved down the hall with slow steps.

“Morning, Twilight,” Tempest greeted as she walked into the library.

“Oh, morning, Tempest!” Twilight greeted back. Her horn was aglow as several books were floating around her. She glanced quickly between every single one, reading their titles before tossing a few of them away before floating more to fill the empty slots.

“Didn’t you just sort the library thirteen days ago?”

“Oh this isn’t for sorting!” Twilight said cheerfully. “I’m deciding what books to bring to the Crystal Empire!”

Tempest froze solid. “T-the Crystal Empire?”

“Mmhm! Cadence said she wanted some tomes that are missing from their archives so—”

“When did Sunset tell you our choice?”

“4am I think. Or maybe it was 4:15.” Twilight tapped her chin. “I was still waking up from her knocking on my door, so I don’t really reca—”

Tempest exhaled a breath hot with rage. She swung around and slammed her hoof against the doors, sending them flying outwards. “Tempest?” Twilight called from behind, but she paid no heed. She stomped back up to her room, pressing her hoof harshly upon the door and pushing them open with force. Sunset, standing in front of the closet, turned to her with a infuriatingly calm expression.

“You went behind my back,” Tempest said in a burning tone.

“You didn’t really give me a choice.”

“Going back is only going to make everything worse.”

“No, trying to ignore it is.” Sunset straightened her back and locked her gaze squarely with Tempest’s. She didn’t move. Didn’t twitch. Didn’t blink.

“How can you say it like you know you’re right? You don’t know anything.” Tempest took a step forward. Sunset didn’t budge.

“I know all of this. I’ve been through everything you’re going through,” explained Sunset. “The nightmare—”

“It was one nightmare!” Tempest shouted with a stomp of her hoof.

“And I’ve been through that one. I’ve also been through the twenty more that’s on their way! And I can’t let you live through the same thing I did.”

“And what if it’s not the same thing, Sunset?” Tempest said. “What if doing this will only make everything worse?”

“Then I guess we’ll find out.”

“No, we won’t.” Tempest shook her head. She straightened her back, glaring down upon Sunset, who stood unwaveringly still. When no signs of weakness showed, she paced to the door with harsh, loud steps before pulling the handle with all her might.

There were no hoofsteps after her. Not a sound from the room. She returned to the library, flames burning within her. The moment she pushed the door, Twilight regarded her with a look of shock and confusion.

“Twilight, Sunset and I are going to the Crystal Empire.”

“Umm, I-I thought you two wanted to go to Winterti—”

“No. Not anymore.”

Twilight grimaced. Her face scrunched up in hesitation. “Umm… t-there may a problem with that.”

Tempest took a firm step forward. Her eyes narrowed, sending daggers in Twilight’s direction. “What do you mean?”

“I may have kinda already told Cadence I’ll be going.” Twilight knocked her hooves softly together. “So they may have already started preparations…”

“May?”

Twilight cleared her throat. “They… have already started preparations.”

The next breath Tempest exhaled echoed through the whole room. Demand them to change plans. She opened her mouth, ready to scream the demands, but stopped herself just a thread away. She swung back around and stomped out the door, down the halls and out of the castle entrance.

How could she go and betray me like that!? Tempest dug her hoof into the snow. Her nostrils flared with each breath she exhaled, and she was certain that they could thaw the pond in front of her. The laughter of the foals skating upon the icy surface only served to deepen her anger. I trusted her! She swung a hoof, slamming it firmly against the birch tree she was sitting beside.

Thankfully, Ponyville park was fairly empty. Though not as empty as Tempest would have liked. Ponies were still hanging around, with couples in particular sitting on benches and having their meals together, just like any other day. Thankfully, the area around her and Sunset’s usual spot was empty, and no one paid any heed to this corner of the park.

Sunset. The thought sent memories of them together, at this very corner, through her mind’s eye. Picnics, cloud-watching and so much more. However, where they once brought happiness in Tempest’s darkest times, they now only deepened her rage — poisoned by her vision of red and the events that had just transpired.

“Fizzlepop!” a loud, cheerful, way-too-enthusiastic voice screamed into her ears. Tempest leapt back, horn lit, seconds away from discharging a single incapacitating blast to her assailant. That is, until she saw the giggling cotton-candy mare that was responsible.

“Pinkie Pie!” Tempest shouted through fiercely gritted teeth.

“Sorry! I tried calling you but you were staring down at the grass all…” Pinkie scrunched up her face, mimicking what Tempest looked like in an exaggerated fashion. At least, Tempest hoped it was. “What’s gotten your tail in knots?”

“Nothing,” Tempest said in a more dismissive tone than she had intended.

“Okay, Twilight might be the queen of friendship, but I can spot when a pony isn’t having a smiley-good day.” Pinkie hopped up to Tempest, pushing her into a sitting position. “Talk to Auntie Pinkie about what’s bothering you!”

“I said it’s nothing! Sunset and I are just going through… something.”

“O-oh…” Pinkie’s smile instantly fell away. “You and Sunset? But… you two are adorable together!”

The enthusiasm only drove a dagger deeper into Tempest’s heart. “I thought so too. But I guess we aren’t as perfect for each other as we thought.”

“What happened?”

Tempest considered releasing all of her pent up emotions and anger upon Pinkie, but if there was anything being reformed from the Storm King had taught her, it was that sitting on her emotions, especially anger, was probably the smarter thing to do. Not to mention that the personal nature of the situation meant that telling others was something Tempest had no intention to do at this moment.

“Sorry, Pinkie, but I don’t feel like talking about it right now.”

“Oh that’s alright!” Pinkie’s swift reply drew an odd, but grateful stare from Tempest. She had expected more resistance and prodding, but was thankful there was none of that. So she silently turned away, allowing the giggles of the foals stave away the setting silence.

“Oh!” Pinkie exclaimed. By the time Tempest turned to regard her, she had already zipped away, disappearing to who-knows-where. Tempest blinked at the space Pinkie has been just a moment ago, and just as she was about to turn away, Pinkie reappeared in a blur. But this time, she had a special item in each hoof. She stuck one out to Tempest. “Here!”

Tempest took the cup, immediately recognizing it from the golden-colored liquid that filled most of the cup, with just the tiny bit of burnt caramel at the bottom. “A pudding cup?”

“Not just any pudding cup!” Pinkie giggled. “Chancellor Puddingcups!”

Tempest allowed the smallest of smiles to edge up to her mouth. Though in her current state, she was surprised she could smile at all. “Thank you, Pinkie.”

“No problem! And this—” Pinkie held out her other hoof, where another puddingcup sat. “It’s for Sunset!”

Tempest took it and stared at the two treats in her hooves. “I shall give it to her when I see her next.”

“Good! Now, I have to go get Applejack’s order ready! There’s two-hundred apple cinnamon cookies that aren’t going to bake themselves!”

“Of course. Please, don’t allow me to hold you up.”

“Bye, Fizzlepop!” Pinkie waved as she bounced back onto her hooves. “Hope everything works out!”

Tempest gave a silent wave back. When Pinkie had vanished from view, she returned her attention to the sight in front of her, only now a different kind of emotion swirled in her heart. When she was told Pinkie was able to make everypony in Ponyville smile, she didn’t fully doubt her abilities. However, her energetic behavior combined with her volume of speech made Tempest write it off as ‘everypony except her’.

Yet, here she was, her anger having been significantly quelled in the last few minutes alone. Though it had not been completely dispelled, for the first time since she had left the castle she could hear herself think. She pondered upon the next step she should take, but came up blank.

So she shifted her thoughts back to Wintertide, where the question of ‘should I go back?’ was immediately met with a resounding ‘no’. And the recent nightmare only enforced that idea. There was no way around it. Nor was there a way for her to imagine the dream scenario Sunset was arguing for, where everything somehow worked out.

I can’t go back. She knew that much. And she knew Sunset had to understand her stance. So, with the pudding cups tucked under a hoof, she began her trot back to the Castle.

The castle was empty, though it didn’t surprise Tempest in the least. Most of the residents were out for the day, no doubt preparing for their individual Hearthfire trips. Tempest crossed the decorated lobby, where tinsels hung from the ceiling, tied to the crystal pillars. She was about to ascend the main steps, when suddenly, a clank rang out from the nearby kitchen. Curious, she made her way forward. At the corner linking the kitchen to the main lobby, a pony came into her vision. She recoiled in surprise. And the other did the same.

“O-oh,” Tempest muttered once she realized who it was.

“H-hi, Fizzle,” Sunset stuttered just as quietly.

Tempest racked her brain for something to say. Something to alleviate the awkwardness growing between them. But only one thing came to mind. She pushed the thought away, but like a pendulum, it swung back in.

“S-so, you uhh, t-talk to Twilight?” asked Sunset.

“Yes. And t-the Crystal Empire is already preparing for her visit.”

“O-oh!” Sunset’s face lit up for a millisecond, but it was quickly suppressed. “I see. S-so… we’ll be going to Wintertide.”

“Actually, Sunset, about that,” Tempest started, but quickly regretted the words. You have to do this. The words in her mind spurred her on, and she drew a breath to steady her nerves. “I… m-might not go with you.”

“What!?” Sunset remarked in surprise. “B-but Hearthfire is supposed to be both of us!”

“I know.”

“Then… you have to come along!”

“I can’t, Sunset. Please—”

“Yes, you can! You have to trust me! You can get over this! You… need to get over this. Please…” Sunset begged. “Please don’t let this get worse.”

“After what I’ve done? Sunset, I—!” Suddenly, there was a flicker in her mind’s eye. An image of the Storm King.

And herself by his side.

It was just as second. But her heart had already began beating faster. And she could feel sweat forming at the top of her forehead.

“Fizz?”

“I… I can’t.”

Sunset shut her eyes and hung her head low.

“Maybe one of the others would be willing to swap with us. I’d rather go somewhere with you than leave you to go alone.”

There was no reply.

“I’ll… figure something out. I’m sorry, Sunset,” Tempest muttered quickly and headed towards the main door. At the doorway, she glanced back to Sunset, who was still frozen in place, her mane obscuring her face, shoulders lifting every few seconds. With a heavy heart, she headed back out into Ponyville, chasing away her thoughts of Sunset.

Have to do this for her. Was the last thought that crossed her mind before she refocused it on finding the rest of her friends for a possible trade.

“O-oh, I…” Fluttershy muttered another couple of words, but a loud bird squawk made it impossible to hear. “Oh my, Feathers! Please calm down!”

Please, Fluttershy. Tempest pleaded as Fluttershy gestured for something. Or a better guess would’ve been somecreature.

“I m-mean, umm… do you really need to swap?”

“Yes,” replied Tempest. “For Sunset.”

“But… Rainbow gave me this chance.” She glanced down at the Hearthfire Letter in her hooves. Her crestfallen eyes and quivering muzzle quickly snuffed out any hope in Tempest that this attempt would be anymore successful than the last. “I… really want to go. But if it would help you and Sunset—”

“No.”

“What?”

“It’s… fine,” Tempest said through a labored breath.

“Huh?”

“I shall ask somepony else.”

“Oh, are you sure?” Fluttershy asked in a surprisingly genuine tone. She expected to hear a bit of hesitation, as she would have heard when most asked the same question out of courtesy, rather than care. But there was none in Fluttershy’s tone. Which made it all the more impossible to take the offer. So she gave a nod instead.

“Yes. Apologies, for taking your time. But I really should be going.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like some tea? Perhaps a nice biscuit?”

“No. I… I’m good. Thank you, Fluttershy. And sorry for disturbing you,” said Tempest with a smile. She trotted back down the hilltop path and past the garden gate. The sky was an amber orange, the source of which was the sun that was hidden behind several distant buildings. It was no doubt about to vanish past the horizon in a few minutes.

Applejack is my last hope. I suppose there’s Pinkie but… She thought back to the fierce method Pinkie had used to acquire the Mount Aris folder, and shook her head. Perhaps tomorrow will yield better results. With slow, tired hoofsteps, she made way back to the Crystal Castle, just as the stars began to shine above.

Where… Tempest stopped on the cold dirt road. She took in her surroundings. The starlit sky. The icy, moonlit lake. The frosted thatched roofs. She stood in the middle of Wintertide village, surrounded by empty houses and lifeless trees. Even the air was void of the distinct smell of winter. How…? Before she had another moment to consider her question, there came a light down the curved path leading to the centre of the village.

Tempest regarded it with caution, but like a moth to a flame, she began trotting towards it. As she approached, there came the sounds of celebration. Of joy. Of mirth. And once she trotted past the cottage at the corner, she was greeted by a large, towering tree. The bright lights that were wrapped from its tip to trunk gave it an almost otherworldly glow. Presents, wrapped up with bows, had been stuffed underneath. While a bright, shining star had been fitted snugly at the top.

The sight gave Tempest pause. It was an event she had celebrated long ago. An event that had long left her mind. She approached the tree with her mouth agape in both awe and confusion. She blinked.

And suddenly, cloaked figures had appeared around her, facing towards the large tree.

She glanced at them, darting her head between each one. “H-hello?”

They turned. All at once.

“It’s Tempest Shadow,” one of them muttered in a distorted voice.

“She ran away from us.”

“She hates us.”

“No, that’s not—” Tempest attempted to reason, but was quickly interrupted.

“The right-hand of the Storm King.”

Tempest took a step back. She shrunk herself from the looming figures as they approached. Her heart swirled with emotions. Fear. Sadness. Devastation. None of them pleasant. And all of them threatening to break her where she stood.

“She helped him conquer kingdoms.”

“Lands.”

“Did you really think we’d accept you back!?” screamed another figure. Hooves reached up to the hood and pulled it away, revealing the same pony that had slammed the door in her face the night before. “Did you think you could just return without punishment!?”

Tempest covered her head with her hooves and curled up into as tight of a ball as she could muster. Hot tears were streaming down her face. And as much as she wanted to scream, she could barely find the voice to whimper.

“Did you think you could return at all?”

The sobs only got louder. She held her head tighter in her grasp. Please stop. Please. She waited for more words to be thrown her way. More poison to be spat in her face. But the only thing she could hear was her own cries. And past that… silence.

And through the corner of her eyes, there came a white, comforting glow.

Tempest opened her eyes and raised her head. The figures had gone, and with them the tree and any light that came with it. They had been replaced with a thin mist that had enveloped the vacant town.

With trembling hooves, Tempest attempted to wipe the tears from her cheeks, but more kept flowing to replace them. She dug a hoof into the dirt and tried, as hard as she could, to push herself upright. But her strength had waned, and her hoof buckled underneath her weight. She expected to be greeted with the firm crunch of the dirt beneath, but, to her surprise, a hoof had wrapped around her own and pulled her up.

She turned. And gave a startled gasp. “Princess Luna?” Luna smiled. Her mane flowed like waves in the evening ocean. “What’re you doing here?”

“Dreams are my domain,” Luna replied. With a glow of her horn and a wave of her hoof, a bench had appeared beside Tempest. She gestured for her to take seat.

“Dreams?” Tempest glanced at the houses around her with a look of realization.

“Yes. The emotions resonating from it were… strong, to say the least. But I did not think you would be the centre of this, Tempest—” Luna stopped herself. “Apologies. Would you prefer if I were to call you Tempest Shadow? Or Fizzlepop Berrytwist?”

“Either is fine. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Luna cleared her throat. “What is it that has bothered you so?”

“...Everything,” said Tempest, crestfallen.

“I’m afraid I might not be able to help with ‘everything’,” Luna joked. But was met with only the howl of the winter winds. She turned to the houses that surrounded them. “If you would permit me, may I ask, why are we in Wintertide?”

“It’s home,” said Tempest. “It... was home. Many years ago. And now I might have to go back.”

“Ah,” Luna exclaimed. She placed a hoof to her chin in thought, then hopped onto the bench beside Tempest. “And there is something here that is scaring you. Something related to your past, is that right?”

Tempest snapped her head to Luna in shock. “How did you know?”

“Let us say that I’ve experienced something like this before,” Luna smiled warmly.

“Excellent. So can you tell me how to solve it?”

“Accept your past and confront your fears.”

Tempest winced. “Could you recommend another way?”

“I’m afraid there isn’t another way.”

“And what if things get worse, Luna?”

“To be honest, I thought about the same thing when I was made to face my fears. And though it might not to be clear to you, I hope you can trust me when I say that not doing anything is the act that shall make things worse, more than confronting your past.”

“I’m not sure it can get worse,” said Tempest. Her mind recalled her current situation with Sunset. She pondered whether or not to tell Princess Luna. They weren’t close. Heck, not long ago she had encased Luna in stone, and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t feel at least a little bit guilty about it. But being in her presence comforted her. Gave her security. She allowed her mind to remain on Sunset for a while longer, when a flash of light burst right in front of her. And once it cleared, Sunset appeared with her head hung low, her mane obscuring her face and tears dripping to the ground. Tempest shut her eyes and turned away.

“Hm? Oh…” Luna stared at the sobbing apparition. “I take this situation has complicated things between the two of you?”

“That’s a nice way of putting it.”

“I… may not be able to help directly with that problem, as love is Cadence's domain, not mine.”

“That’s fine,” Tempest muttered in resignation. When she re-opened her eyes, she spotted Luna waving her hoof in front of the projected Sunset, vanishing her into mist.

“However.” Luna placed her hoof under Tempest’s chin and pushed it up slightly. “I can provide you with advice.” She reached up to the sky and plucked a star from above. The tiny, glowing orb shone softly in her hooves as she brought it down to Tempest. “Do not let your past define the present, nor your future. Face those you are afraid to see. They will forgive you.”

“That’s kind of you to say, Princess. But they won’t, not after what I did.” Tempest stared at the shining star. “I deserve all of this. I had to be punished sooner or later.”

Luna’s kind warm eyes sharpened into a cold, steely stare. The smile had vanished, replaced instead with a sharp frown. One tempered with past experiences. “Do not ever think that. Ever.” With a glow of her horn, the star began to grow, shifting and changing under a faint blue aura. Its sides pulled and stretched into petals, while the middle extruded into a stalk. When the glow had cleared, the star had transformed into a Frostbloom. One whose color made it seem like it was formed from the clearest snow Tempest had ever seen.

Taking Tempest’s hoof, Luna slipped the Frostbloom softly into her grasp. The flower pulsated like a heart, transferring a relaxing warmth with each beat. And, for the first time tonight, Tempest felt a moment of calm. Of peace.

“I see a lot of myself in you, Fizzle. And that both comforts and frightens me.”

Chapter 3: All I Could Ask For

The streets of Ponyville were, thankfully, still empty, save for a few other early birds. Tempest made her way past the familiar market stalls, towards the only pink building in the town. She placed a hoof upon the door and pushed it open, spotting, much to her surprise, the two exact ponies she was looking for standing inside.

“So then I was like frosting!? You can’t be that sweet!” Pinkie burst into laughter. And so did Applejack. So much so that they didn’t even notice Tempest trotting in.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh!” Pinkie snapped out of her laughing fit in an instant. “Hi there, Fizzle! You’re early for breakfast today!”

“Actually… I’m not here for breakfast.”

“Oh?” Pinkie swung her hoof forward, staring at the watch tied around it. “A little early for lunch too…”

“No, Pinkie, that’s not—”

“So what’cha here for?” Applejack asked, leaning against the countertop.

“I’m actually here to ask if either of you would be willing to trade locations for Hearthfire?”

“O-oh!” Applejack’s eyes grew wide. And they quickly darted away. “I mean, I-I can’t. I’m sorry. It’s just, a bunch of things came up and now I have to go to The Dragon Lands cause… Ember and all and—”

“Well, hey! If you really want my invitation, I can always trade with you! I can go Mount Aris whenever I want!” Pinkie said cheerfully.

“R-really!?” Tempest remarked in loud surprise. “G-great, I—”

Applejack shot Pinkie a fierce, daggered glare, follow by a slight nudge with her elbow onto Pinkie’s shoulder.

“What?” Pinkie muttered. Applejack gave another, larger stare. And Pinkie finally opened her mouth. “Ohhh, right.”

“‘Oh right’ what?” Tempest asked hesitantly.

“Nothing!” Pinkie shouted with a grin. “And I just realized something came up so I can’t swap!”

“What!?” Tempest screamed. “But you just said yes!”

“I know but… no.”

Tempest had to attempt to release her anger with her gritted teeth instead of discharging the latent magic in her horn. “What’re you talking about!? Why are you two acting so weird!?”

“W-we ain’t acting weird!” Applejack said in the least convincing tone she could have chosen.

“Hahahahaha yup! Not weird!” Pinkie waved her hooves in front of her in an exaggerated motion.

Tempest mind began to whirl for an explanation. It spun and spun through all the possibilities. Until she reached one single conclusion. “...Does this have something to do with Sunset?”

“What? That’s a load of bullhockey! This ain’t got nothing’ to do with Sunset Shimmer!”

Tempest took one firm step forward. Her horn began to spark. “What did she put you two up to?”

“N-nothing!” Applejack replied swiftly. Tempest moved up to her, causing her to give an audible gulp.

“She told you to avoid me?”

“No!” Pinkie answered.

“Told you to… not talk to me?”

“No!” Applejack replied.

“Told you… not to swap with me?”

Silence.

Tempest’s eyes opened wide in realization. Her shattered horn was sparking fully now, uncontrolled magic arching between the peaks. The rage had boiled over and her vision was covered with red. She slammed her hooves firmly upon the ground, sending Applejack and Pinkie backwards with its force.

Sunset Shimmer. You are going to regret ever crossing Tempest Shadow. She marched out the door, uncontrolled anger resonating with every step she took. Her eyes were blind to everything except the castle. And all the sounds around her echoed heavily. Like a bull, Tempest huffed and growled, before charging straight towards her destination.

“Ugh.” Applejack groaned. “Why do all y’all keep askin’ the Element of Honesty to lie!?”

The castle doors laid open, as if inviting Tempest into them. Not like it would’ve mattered. It simply saved her the trouble of blasting it open. She stomped up the steps. Eyes narrowed. Eyebrows arched together. And she made her way down the hallway. The familiar sights only stoked the fire in her. And when she laid eyes upon her bedroom door, she quickly punched it as hard as she could, shattering the hinges and drawing a shocked yelp from inside.

Tempest slowed her steps, punctuating each one with a word and a stomp that echoed through the room. “You. Betrayed. My. Trust.”

“What’re you—”

“I would choose your words very carefully, Shimmer.” Tempest circled Sunset like a predator watching its prey. “You are on razor thin ice.”

Sunset met Tempest’s fierce stare with an equally furious one of her own. “I can’t let you run away from your past like that.”

Tempest leapt towards Sunset, inches away from her face. “And who are you to tell me how I should approach my past?” she said through gritted teeth. “I am the only one who lived it. Not you!”

“No, but I lived through something similar. And if you don’t—”

Tempest gave a loud, guttural groan as she turned away. “Would you stop trying to relate your past with mine!?” she shouted. “It didn’t help me then and it’s not helping me now!” When no words came from behind her, she spun back around, only to be met with the shocked, shimmering eyes of Sunset. “Oh what? Can’t take a little truth?”

Sunset blinked. A tear trailed down her cheek. “Truth? Don’t talk about truth. You don’t want to admit to yourself the reason you’re so afraid to go back is because you don’t think you’ve changed.”

Tempest felt a dagger being driven, then twisted, in her heart. She could feel the same emotions that fed her through her time with the Storm King, now drive her words. “You don’t get it, do you!?” Tempest shouted. Sunset winced. “Then let me spell it out for you. This isn’t about just ‘facing my past’ as you keep making it seem. It isn’t just ‘seeing, talking and smiling’ at them! This isn’t about who I’ve become, it’s about what I did. The things I did under the Storm King’s rule won’t just go away. Forgiveness won’t just be given by the family I abandoned.”

“And you think hiding out here for the rest of your life, having nightmares is going to fix that!? It won’t! I know!”

“Stop saying ‘I know’, Sunset! You don’t know. You don’t know anything!” screamed Tempest. “And what makes you think visiting, getting rejected then abandoned will make my nightmares disappear, huh? What makes you think it wouldn’t only make them worse!”

“It won’t!” Sunset stomped both of her forehooves to the floor, her horn, too, had began to glow a faint teal. “Why won’t you just listen to me!? Why won’t you just trust me!?”

“Because you keep going behind my back!” Tempest’s horn started sparking as she advanced with thunderous steps, making full use of her height to loom over Sunset. “Because you convinced our friends to lie to me!” Sunset shrunk away, but Tempest continued advancement. “When I thought I found someone that I could confide in, you stab me in the back!”

Even when Sunset backed herself against a wall, Tempest advanced. She only stopped when she was looking down at Sunset quivering before her. “This is why I didn’t trust anyone!” As Sunset flinched away from the screamed accusations, Tempest narrowed her eyes and leaned her head in closer. She lowered her tone, replacing the fire of her anger with a voice of pure ice. “And maybe I shouldn’t have trusted you either.”

That line was followed only by the ticking of the clock. And the labored pants of both mares. Tempest’s eyes widened when what she had said caught up to her, while Sunset merely stared down.

“I… thought you changed,” Sunset muttered. “Maybe… I was wrong.”

The words quickly stomped out any remorse Tempest had felt. “You were… wrong? Well, then I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not having magical rainbow beams solve all my problems for me!” The words left Tempest’s mouth faster than her mind, or heart, could catch up to. “I’m sorry I don’t have some magical artifact that allows me to wipe away my past. I’m sorry I have to actually deal with my problems!”

Tempest waited for a reply, but was met only with a sniff. “Guess what, Sunset. There will always be creatures out there that hate what I did. I know that. And when I think of the ponies in Wintertide hating me. My family hating me. It devastates me. Because I know I can’t blame them. I. Deserve. It. And no amount of ‘friendship’ will ever change that! So stop trying to go behind my back and forcing me to go to Wintertide! Cause it will never happen.”

The few seconds of silence that passed between the two felt like minutes. Tempest had no more words to say. Her mind blank. Each tick of the clock faded a little of Tempest’s rage away. And when enough has vanished, she dropped her tense shoulders.

“You never changed, Tempest,” Sunset muttered before sprinting out the door, tears dripping down to the floor as she ran. Tempest didn’t move a muscle. Instead, she kept her eyes locked onto the window, and the snow that was falling outside.

“Sunset!?” Twilight exclaimed from the doorway. “Tempest, what—”

“Sparkle. Leave.”

“Tempest, I’m not—”

“I. Said. Leave!”

There was a moment of pause. Then a patter of hoofsteps that soon disappeared into silence. And, as the red in her vision began to clear, Tempest felt the loneliness creep up on her.

And a tear trailed down her face.

She was not surprised to see the snow-capped houses and frosted waters when she opened her eyes. If anything, she had almost expected it. However, what did surprise her was the warm feeling of sunlight upon her coat. And the bright, cerulean sky that hung above. She glanced around at the ponies that paced upon the streets, shrinking herself down as much as possible as she trotted by them. But not a single one paid her any heed. Their conversations, muffled and indecipherable, continued on without pause. Even as Tempest paced inches from them, staring intently at their faces.

She didn’t know where she was going, but felt compelled to continue trotting. She passed by the shops, the districts and the streets that swirled and connected in ways that was surprisingly familiar to her. The next landmark that caught her eye was a large house that arched over an entire street.

And a trio of foals that ran under it.

The sight of them stopped Tempest’s heart cold. If their green, yellow and cyan coats didn’t strike the memory back into her, the yellow ball they were holding in their magical grasp certainly did. They sped straight through Tempest, causing her body to waver like a ghost. She kept her eyes locked upon them as they galloped into the distance, vanishing from view.

If they’re here. That means… Tempest turned back to the arched building and dashed underneath, pushing as much energy into her hooves as she possibly could. The buildings whizzed by in a blur, and soon, so did the trees as she raced up the winding forest path. Upon ascending halfway up the hill, she spotted her. The purple foal with the red, mohawk mane.

And the shattered horn.

She ran past her, leaning down in an attempt to meet her tearful eyes. “Turn back. Please,” she begged. But her pleas fell upon deaf ears. The foal continued trotting, straight through Tempest like she was nothing more than a projection, and towards the dark forest upon the hill. Tempest galloped to catch up. “You need to turn back! To go home!” She attempted to place her hooves upon the foal, but they simply dissolved into her upon touch. “Please. Please… don’t make this mistake.”

Tempest’s words got softer. And softer still. Until her voice was nothing more than a whimper. But still the echo of hoofsteps upon the dirt continued, fading away until she could no longer catch the sound. Tempest collapsed to the ground, hooves over her eyes as she began to sob. But when the heat of the sun instantly vanished, she turned her head up.

The once sunny sky had returned to the all too familiar dark purple of night. The village was visibly vacant once more, and the iced river glittered with moonlight.

“L-Luna?” Tempest whispered.

“Yes?” Tempest swung around, spotting Luna emerging from the forest in a pale blue glow.

“Thank you.”

Luna nodded. stepped aside and peered at Wintertide. “I simply followed the dream that was radiating the most troubled emotion. And once more, it happened to be yours.” She turned to Tempest, who provided no rebuttal. “It is stronger than last night. I assume things have not gone well for you and Sunset?”

“There is no ‘me and Sunset’ anymore.”

“Is it truly that bad?”

Tempest gave a hesitant nod.

“Well, I wouldn’t write you two off just yet. In my one thousand years of ruling this domain, I have seen relationships stand up to some quite… how shall I say… brutal moments. Perhaps there’s a way to patch things up.”

“I’m not sure I want to.” The speed at which Tempest replied shocked her as much as it did Luna. She drew a breath. “She betrayed my trust. And I said some… terrible things to her.” She sighed. “I thought we were the couple that could avoid all of this. But maybe I was foolish to think that I could be with her, when I could barely understand friendship.”

“Fizzle.” Luna extended a wing, pulling her close. “Relationships are not simple. Nor are they easy. A testament to how strong one is is not a lack of conflict. Quite the contrary. It’s how many it has endured and still manages to carry on.”

Tempest bowed her head. “I think this fight might have broken us.”

Luna shot her a subtle smile. “Well, there is a still a lot of night left. And it appears you need the rest. So I shan’t wake you.” Tempest gave an odd, questioning glare to Luna, who stared up at the moon. “And I think you have had enough nightmares, wouldn’t you agree?”

Her brows still furrowed, Tempest gave a cautious nod. Luna laughed and waved her hoof at her surroundings, vanishing the forest, Wintertide and any accompanying scenery to dust.

“Now, close your eyes.”

Tempest did as she was told and before she knew it, her thoughts went blank.

“Come on, Fizz. You can’t sleep our date away.”

Tempest’s eyes drowsily fluttered open, and she was immediately met with Sunset’s face peering down at her. She placed a hoof upon the birch tree and pushed herself upright, scrunching the picnic mat as she did so. The distinct smell of blooming spring flowers intertwined with food wafted to her nose and made her stomach growl. Sunset giggled at the noise, much to Tempest’s embarrassment. She looked around hastily, wondering if any other pony heard it. But luckily, the other ponies in Ponyville park were scattered away from them, leaving them in a tranquil corner on their own.

Sunset nestled into Tempest’s lap, a single grape in her mouth. Tempest gazed down, raising an unimpressed eyebrow, to which Sunset rolled her eyes.

“Oh come on!” Sunset said, the words muffled through the fruit. Tempest merely shook her head with a smirk, leaning her muzzle down and plucking the grape from her mouth. Just as she had predicted, Sunset leapt up, locking her lips with Tempest’s.

Tempest melted into the embrace, but broke away when the grape exploded between their kiss, sending a spray of juice onto both of them. With no support, Sunset collapsed back onto the mat, laughing uncontrollably, while Tempest coughed and spluttered.

“We are never doing that again!”.

“Are you kidding, Fizzle? That was amazing.”

“Ugh,” Tempest groaned. “I’m going to have to get used to you calling me that, aren’t I?”

“Well, if you want more of this.” Sunset gestured to her muzzle.

“In that case, I suppose I could get used to it.” Tempest smirked. “For your sake.”

“Yup.” Sunset winked. “For my sake.”

Tempest rose from the bed with euphoria in her heart. However, that feeling quickly faded when she glanced to the other side of the two-pony bed and found it empty. As reality begun to set in, so did the memory of yesterday, and the crushing sadness that came with it. But that didn’t stop small flashes of the picnic to cross her mind every few seconds. And every time it did, it chased away the sadness for just a fleeting moment and, unknowingly, brought a smile to Tempest’s face.

She didn’t know what to do at first. A million possibilities ran through her mind, but none were the clear choice. Nor the right one. But when she caught sight upon the bedroom door, which had been smashed off its hinges, she shut her eyes. For she knew there was only one thing left to do.

Flinging the sheets to the side, she trotted down towards the main kitchen. She started off at a jog, but the closer she got to her destination, the slower her steps became. Until they were nothing more than miniscule movements. But she still made it past the kitchen doors, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the mare sitting silently at the main table.

Tempest wondered if Sunset could hear her racing heart as she pulled up a chair and sat down across her. Sunset’s eyes closed, but she didn’t move another muscle. She sat still, eyes locked upon the cup of coffee in her hooves. The air around them begged for a word to be said to break the crushing silence. Tempest wanted to oblige, but found no voice could escape past her throat.

“...S-so,” Sunset started. “Where do we go from here?”

The directness of the question stunned Tempest, and it took several seconds for her to regain her composure. “Where can we go?”

Sunset swirled the spoon in her drink with her magic. “Well. We only have two ways. We either keep going. Or…”

Tempest placed her hooves upon her face and shut her eyes in thought. She didn’t give a swift reply. She couldn’t. There were moments in her life when she knew a single word, a single action could define her for the rest of her life. The last time such a choice presented itself was diving to intercept the Storm King’s obsidian orb. Back then, she wished she had the luxury of time.

And yet now, she didn’t know what to do with it.

Her mind whirled through the events of the last week. But it constantly returned to the picnic. And the joy she felt in that moment. Tempest drew a deep, audible breath before lowering her hooves, granting her full sight of the mare with the troubled look across her.

“If you want to, then… let’s…” Sunset finally turned up, meeting Tempest’s eyes. “Let’s keep going.”

A tiny smile wormed its way to Sunset’s face. And Tempest couldn’t help but return the gesture. “Alright.”

“But we should address the elephant in the room first.” Tempest’s forehead began to sweat. “I’m... sorry for what I said.”

Sunset turned away and shook her head. “You were right in a way. I thought the best way to help you through this was to just… try to relate your situation with mine. I mean, that’s how I solved a few of my friendship issues. But now I see that all it did was make it seem like I was belittling what you were going through, so I’m sorry too.”

“Even if I was right, that was no way to get it through to you. I should’ve talked to you before, told you how I feel.” Tempest scoffed. “Ironically, my fear of hurting you made me do nothing but end up hurting you.”

“Heh, that’s funny,” said Sunset. “I was just about to say the same thing about forcing you to go back. Just because I could face my past that quickly, doesn’t mean everyone can. I betrayed your trust.” She paused. “And now I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn it back.”

“Thank you. I mean that.” Tempest smiled. Wide this time. “I’ve spent my whole life alone… and wanting to be alone. I’m still trying to get used to us. But… I want to get better. And I’m going to try to be. That is my promise.”

“I know,” Sunset muttered.

And so the two sat once more in silence for a few seconds. Tempest’s heart was still beating fast, though not in nervousness. But in relief and joy. And if Sunset’s expression was anything to go by, she was doing the same thing as well.

“If you aren’t ready, I can do Hearthfire on my own.”

“I…” Tempest wanted to give a ‘yes’, or even a ‘no’. But found neither to be a hundred percent truthful. So instead, she said, “I will think about it.”

Sunset nodded understandingly. “Well, we depart tomorrow.”

“Then I shall let you know tonight.”

“That’s all I can ask for.”

Tempest returned to her hooves. “Now, I have somepony else I need to apologize to.”

Sunset giggled and nodded. “She’s in the library. As usual.”

Tempest turned to leave. But at the doorway, Sunset’s voice called out to her. “And Fizz?”

“Hm?”

“We should go on a picnic again sometime.”

Tempest stared at Sunset in shock. And when Sunset saw Tempest’s expression, she too, reacted with surprise. But the two expressions quickly melted into one of understanding at what had transpired over the night.

And with a smile and a nod, Tempest answered, “I’d like that.”

Chapter 4: In Time

The snow-capped mountains, flanked by crystal white fields of grass, whizzed by at an alarming rate. Sunset stared at the scenery with wondrous eyes and a small smile. There were a million things she could’ve been smiling about. Though which exactly, nopony could say. Sunset reached under her seat, pulling out her journal as she levitated a pen over. She clicked it several times as she flipped the book open to the first free page she could find.

“Hey,” Sunset whispered under her breath as she began to scribble. It was a habit she was never quite aware of, and one she didn’t mind even when she was told about it. “I know I said it before, but I need to say it again. You were right, the scenery here is beautiful.” She paused, tapping the pen against her chin before returning it to the page. “Wish you could be here. But I bet the Crystal Empire is as beautiful too. Signed, Sunset Shimmer.”

“Do you really have to sign off every entry with your name?” Tempest asked as she gazed over her shoulder. “I mean, she knows it’s you. No one else uses that book.”

“It’s called etiquette,” Sunset said just as she finished her last stroke of her signature.

“I’m only asking. Just doesn’t seem very practical. It’s a waste of ink and energy.”

“Look.” Sunset closed the book and pointed the pen towards Tempest. “If I can finish this pen without losing it first, then I’ll hold you to that.”

Tempest gazed at Sunset with a smirk. “Losing items? You would not last one moment under my command.”

“That’s thinking that I want to be under your command at all,” Sunset said with a smirk. She sat the pen aside and laid her head upon Tempest’s lap.There came a growl, though this time, it wasn’t from Tempest’s stomach. Sunset blushed and attempted to look away.

“Somepony’s hungry.”

“Wow, is that some of that signature ‘Captain’ instinct coming into play?”

“No?” Tempest stared, confused. “I just heard your stomach grumbling and made a proper deduction.” Sunset’s half-lidded stare only confused Tempest further.

“I have to teach you sarcasm one of these days.”

Suddenly, an idea came into Tempest’s mind. She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the two desserts she had almost forgotten about.

“Wow.” Sunset grabbed one of the pudding cups, smiling. “How’d you know this was my favorite?”

“Pinkie Pie gave these to me,” admitted Tempest. Sunset launched forth, planting a kiss onto Tempest’s cheek, drawing a shocked stare from the mare.

“I still appreciate it. Thank you.” Sunset pulled the plastic top open, scooping one bite into her mouth. “And thanks for coming, Fizz.”

Tempest didn’t reply. It was her turn to gaze out the window. The sight of the speeding forest trees sent a nervous pit into her stomach. She had not seen them for decades now. And in all that time, they looked as if they had not changed.

I’m still not sure that this is a good idea.

“It is,” Sunset replied. Tempest stared at her with a look of awed fear, causing Sunset to giggle. “I’ve gotten really good at guessing what other peopl— umm… ponies are thinking. You know, Element of Empathy and all that.”

“Another thing I’m going to have to get used to,” Tempest muttered, pulling open her very own pudding cup and scooping a delicious, jiggling morsel into her muzzle.

“Attention passengers!” spoke the conductor over the intercom. “Next stop, Wintertide village!”

Tempest felt a wave of anxiety slam into her like an airship at full speed. And she could only discern it showed on her face as well when Sunset patted her cheek with a hoof. “It’ll be okay.”

“My turn!” One foal called out. He closed his eyes, waited, then flipped a coin into the river.

“What did you wish for?” a mare standing behind him, which Tempest could only assume to be his mother, asked.

“If it comes true, I’ll tell you!”

“My turn, my turn!”

Tempest stood just before the stone arch bridge, cloaked in a hooded winter coat, staring wistfully at the line of foals and their parents at the Wishing River’s side. She could easily imagine herself among them, giggling with anticipation for her turn. Her mind a mess as she attempted to decide on what one thing she should wish for.

“Fizz.” She felt a hoof being placed upon her shoulder, snapping her back to reality.

“Sorry. I was just…”

“I know. Come on.” Sunset held Tempest’s hoof and led her over the bridge, past the wooden sign that read ‘Welcome to Wintertide Village’. The houses, with their wavy walls and arching architecture, looked exactly how Tempest had remembered it. The cobblestone streets, too, not only looked familiar, but felt so too as she trotted upon it. It looked as if it had been locked in time. Stowed away from any crystal castles or looming spires.

They moved down the streets, past the shops that laid in warm buildings. Tempest paused and gazed through one of the windows. A small gathering of fillies and foals were lined up at the wooden counter, gripping candies of all kinds. Lollipops. Gumdrops. Bags of chocolates. And attempting to bring organization to the chaos was the elderly couple at the cashier.

Candy Drop and Peanut Swirl. Tempest felt her heartache at the sight of them. When she had last saw their faces, their manes were a vibrant pink and brown respectively. But now, they were mostly white. Glasses adorned their eyes and they were moving with but a fraction of their usual energy.

She shut her eyes, feeling tear form at its edge.

“You okay?”

“...I can’t do this.” Tempest said, turning away from the window.

“I promised I wouldn’t push. So if you really think you can’t take it, then we’ll head back. But… I know you can face them. And if they bring up the Storm King—”

“I-it’s not that, Sunset,” Tempest tearfully said. “It’s that… seeing Candy and Peanut makes me realize… What if they’re better off without me?” She sobbed as silently as she could, hoping that the passersby don’t notice them. “Maybe this wound is better off not being opened.”

Sunset tenderly grasped both of Tempest’s hooves and stared into her opal eyes. “Fizz, you should face this. Regardless of what happens, I think it’s best for you and them to get closure. And if you wait any longer, you might not get this chance again.”

Tempest lowered her head and nodded. It was a small nod, but it was a nod nonetheless. Sunset wrapped her hooves tightly around Tempest’s shoulders and pulled her into a hug. And when she broke it, she planted a kiss squarely upon Tempest’s muzzle. “And no matter what happens, I’m not going anywhere. We’ll see this through.”

Working up what little of her fading energy she could, Tempest returned to her hooves. With Sunset by her side, she trotted past Proof’s Bakery, Honey Comb’s Honey Shop and the vacant building of what was once Cotton’s Seamstress Shop. Each one brought back a flood of memories, but all laced with a bittersweet tinge. When they crossed into the main square, Sunset stared in frozen surprise at the sight that stood in front of her.

A large tree had been erected in the middle of the square. Bells, tinsels and other festive decorations had been hung from its branches. And underneath, just as Tempest had predicted, were a large array of presents that leaked way past where one could still consider them ‘underneath’. Colts, fillies, mares and stallions were gathered around the distinct landmark. All of them were staring at the choir of ponies singing a merry Hearth’s Warming tune, whose beautiful voices filled the air with unparalleled mirth. But to Tempest, that joy was accompanied with equal parts regret and longing.

I missed this… She had to use all her will to tear herself away from the sight, and head down one of the many neighbourhood paths. She continued on, eventually spotting the one special house, where a bed of white-petaled flowers laid at the front. Rows upon rows of Frostblooms adorned the garden, bringing with them both wonder and fear into Tempest’s heart. She trotted up to the house and faced the door, eyes locked upon the serpentine knocker at the front. She then turned to Sunset, who gave her a comforting smile in return.

Tempest turned back and was barely able to grip the knocker. She wasn’t sure if it was the chilling winter, or her own nerves that made it so hard to grasp. But when she got a firm grip, she swung it back and… found it impossible to push it forward. She froze with her hoof in the air for several seconds, vision blurred with tears and the air stuttered with sobs.

Suddenly, she felt a warm hoof grip hers and push it forward, sending a knock echoing through the outside and, no doubt, in the home as well.

“Coming!” a mare called out.

That voice… Tempest was on the verge breaking down completely. The only thing stopping her from doing so was the feeling of Sunset’s hoof upon hers. Sunset pulled Tempest’s hood down and locked eyes with her. No words crossed them. No words were needed. All Tempest did was stare back, fighting with all her might just to stand up. When the sound of muffled hoofsteps reached their ears, Sunset broke the embrace and stood to the side.

A clank of a bolt. The crack of the doorknob. And the distinct hum of the brass hinges opening. Something that they still had not gotten fixed after all these years. When the wooden door finally opened, there came only one sound.

A gasp.

“Who is it?” a stallion asked from out of view.

There was a sob. Then another. Though this time they were not Tempest’s own.

Tempest stared at the mare at the doorway. Through the falling snow. Through her tears. She only had enough strength and mental power to muster one word, which was spoken with a broken voice over stuttered sobs.

“Hi.”