Starlight, Sunset, Tempest Team-up Extravaganzaby crazyredemuChaptersThe SummonsThe Job BoardThe Phoenix FillyThe Party PlanningThe Summons“So let me get this straight, this magical map summons ponies, sorry, creatures, and sends them out to solve random problems throughout Equestria?” Tempest question was rhetorical, they had just explained the map to her moments ago. “And you just follow along with out question?” “How does it know where to go and who to pick?” “Can it be controlled or corrupted?” She glared down at the crystal table, she didn’t like the idea of being ordered around by an inanimate object, the Storm King was bad enough but this was just degrading. Twilights’ answers to her questions were satisfactory, and she wasn’t going to abandon this quest, but nothing said she would have to like it. Twilight smiled as two new ponies entered the room, tho the yellow one stumbled. “These two are the others the map picked out, let me introduce you.” “This is Starlight Glimmer, and she is Sunset Shimmer.” “Hi!” “Hello!” the two greeted her in turn. Tempest regarded the two with a calculating gaze. “Greetings, I am…Tempest Shadow.” “I know of Ms. Glimmer, she is a very powerful unicorn who, after a showdown between the two of you, became a student of yours Twilight, I had tried to get magic crystaling bomb for her as well before the attack, but I had been lucky to get the four I did have.” Tempest mentioned Starlight’s past deeds not out of spite, but to judge her reactions, the ponys’ ashamed face made her feel bad, but she didn’t show it. “Incase you are unaware.” She now turned to Sunset. “I helped a tyrant take control of Canterlot and imprison the four princesses.” “I was betrayed by the Storm King and was about to fall to my death but was saved by Twilight who gave up a chance to stop the Storm King, in return I attempted to give up my life to stop him.” “While I did succeed in putting an end to his rule, I was once again saved by Twilight.” “I surrendered my self to the princesses but instead of imprisoning me told me to go out and help the world be a better place, so me and some of the Storm Kings troops have been going around announcing his destruction and helping where we can.” “However I don’t have any information about you Ms. Shimmer.” Tempest finished. Sunset stepped forward. “Well I’ve been living in an alternate universe for so long I’ve forgotten how to use a pony body, so it’s no surprise you’ve not heard of me, I was a student of Princess Celestia, but I.” The pony sighed sadly, it was clearly time to share shameful pasts, but it didn’t make it any less painful.” “I let myself get filled with jealousy and hate and fled to that other world and tried to brainwash a bunch of kids to be my personal army, thankfully Twilight and her friends from that world stopped me and let me become their friend.” “Clearly that’s something the three of us have in common, makes me wonder what that means for this mission.” “Speaking of that, where is the map sending us?” Tempest turned around and walked up to the magic table, the other two flanked her sides looking to the map as well. “Well that just it.” Twilight was suddenly apprehensive. “It’s somewhere none of us have been.” “See where your cutie marks are?” “This is in the clear opposite direction of our journey to the Hippogiffs, according to the map it is mostly grassy plains.” Tempest placed her hoof on the table in a subconscious show of dominance, her opinion of the thing worsened. “It’s a good thing I brought my troops and the blimp, we can make short work of it.” “About that…” Twilight chucked nervously. Tempest didn’t let her finish. “Let me guess, only the ones shown on the map can go?” “That’s how we’ve always done it and none of us have failed yet, also your ship is very intimidating and might send the wrong message.” “Don’t worry, Twilight is going to let us borrow her hot air balloon.” Starlight offered weakly, Sunset remained silent. “Very well, I will follow the rules, but that means I will have to leave my troops here to wait for my return.” “I hope that won’t be a problem princess?” Twilight wasn’t sure. “Who will be in charge, that little guy, Grubber was it?” “Lets go outside I’ll let them know what is going on.” The three of them followed her out of the room, having the location there wasn’t anymore the map could give them anyway. The blimp was anchored right next to the crystal tree casting it’s shadow ominously over the castle. After a shout from Tempest the troops poured out of the ship and stood in ranks, over fifty, with Grubber in front. “What’s up Tempest?” Grubber asked eagerly, his face nearly split in half by his smile. “We going to save Equestria, or maybe rescue a new princess?” “It’s got to be epic if they are asking for our help!” Sunset and Starlight could see Tempests face soften ever so slightly as she started speaking. “Im sorry Grubber but you and the rest of the team have to sit this one out, magic rules or some such, honestly I don’t care for them, but breaking them is a risk I will not take. Grubber’s smile transformed into a sad frown. “What?” “But I’m your side kick!” “Was it something I did?” “I’ll make up for it!” “I assure you, if I could take you I would, I promise.” Grubber still looked down but less so at her words, now addressing her army. “While I am gone Grubber is in charge, and Grubber, you are to obey Twilight Sparkle understand?” The army and Grubber saluted. “Good, now try to be as helpful as possible, earn your keep while you stay here in Ponyville!” Tempest nodded in approval as her troops dispersed. “We might as well get started, have ether of you been on one of these friendship quest?” Starlight raised a hoof. “I helped the princesses once.” “Impressive, in that case you should be in charge, you have the most experience.” “Ok-wait what!?” Starlight was flabbergasted. “I thought you would want to be in charge, you lead an army!” “This quest doesn’t call for an army, it calls for someone good with friendship, you’re Twilight’s student and Sunset has been living in a different world and has forgotten how to be a pony, clearly the best choice is you Starlight.” “When you put it like that, but still, well friendship problems are not something that really needs a chain of command so we should be fine ether way, alright I’ll be team leader.” “And as team leader I say we go to the balloon.” Tempest seemed to approve of this and motioned to one of her storm creatures to grab her bag from the ship. Sunset watched the two walk off and only started to follow after a moment, Twilight was with her. “Hey Sunset, what’s wrong?” They were far enough away for the others to not hear. “She’s right, I’ve forgot how to be a pony, I try to pick things up with hands that are not there, I walk like a toddler!” “What am I?” “You’re just out of practice, it’s like riding a scooter, it will come back to you.” “Don’t you mean like a bicycle?” “What’s a bicycle?” “Oh no!” Sunset continued to fret as they caught back up. Tempest’s critical glare was back but she didn’t say anything as she threw her bag into the basket next to three other bags that were already there, she noticed one of the bags had her name on it and turned to Starlight with a questioning look. “I packed a few things for each of us that I thought we might need, I hope that’s ok.” “Good thinking, hopefully we won’t need it.” Starlights’ excitement had lessened a little by now, Tempest maybe be good now, but it seem to have made her more stern and serious, no matter, she was determined to make them friends by the end of this journey no mater the cost. Sunset only had her saddle bags so once she stepped on board they were ready to depart. “Before you go.” Princess Twilight addressed them, behaving more regal now. “Remember you have friends here looking forward to your return so be safe, the girls told me to wish you all luck and to say sorry that they couldn’t see you off.” With that Twilight untied the ropes and the hot air balloon slowly rose into the air, their fantastic friendship adventure had officially begun! The Job BoardTwilight looked out at her front yard, it was currently full of Storm Creatures standing around awkwardly looking for something to do, oh, and one hedgehog that was currently waddling his way over to her. “Got something for us to do your princessness?” He asked with a smile. “We can do anything, RIGHT GUYS?” He shouted to the yard causing all the Storm Creatures to run over and bum rush the princess like a pack of hyper dogs. “We got’s all sorts of skills!” “We can juggle!” At this one of the Storm Creatures produced several small balls and preceded to toss them in the air. “We can mow grass!” Twilight wasn’t sure where that Storm Creature had found a yard clipper but he was pushing it across her yard cutting down all her yummy grass. “We can rub our tummies and pat our heads at the same time!” Declared another. At least they are eager to help she thought to herself, but she didn’t know what she could have them- “OH!” She knew exactly what to do. “There is a job board at the mayors office, their’s bunch of things you guys can do there!” “Come on lets go!” Twilight wasn’t paying attention and grabbed Grubber up in her magic and set him on her back as she headed towards town, but she only got a few feet before turning around. The entire army was following right behind her, she was about to order them to stay at the castle but they looked so eager and happy she didn’t have the heart. Fortunately she had given the town a heads up about Tempest’s arrival so there wasn’t mass panic when they strode into town, but a few ponies panicked anyway. “I could get use to this!” Grubber said from his perch upon Twilight. “Tempest never carries me anywhere!” Twilight only realized what she had done after he started talking. “Oh my, I’m sorry, Im so use to Spike, but he’s off helping Rarity and Fluttershy in the big city, I guess I miss him and you’re about the same size.” “I picked you up out of habit.” “It’s no thing.” Grubber said waving it off. “I miss Tempest and you’re purple like her and really cool like she is, and and *sniff* I got something in my eye.” He couldn’t finish. Twilight levitated him off her back and set him down in front of her, they had arrived at the town hall but before they went inside Twilight put a hoof around the squat hedgehog and gave him a hug. “Well while both of our friends are gone we will have a good time so we can tell them all about it when they get back ok?” “That sounds great!” Grubber’s face splitting smile was back. Twilight, Grubber, and fifty three Storm Creatures were crammed into the town hall building and currently in front of the job board. Twilight was reading of jobs and getting volunteers. “Ok, we need someone who can bake bread?” Twilight saw a hand go up in the back, she levitated the ticket to the eager Storm Creature who promptly waded outside after plucking it from the air. Luckily Twilight had made copies of a map of Ponyville so with an address the creatures could find their own way. “Ooo, up next is a mowing job!” An excited ‘WOOT’ could be heard and the yard clipper was hosted proudly into the air. “This one calls for a party planner!” Pinkie along with her sister were visiting their parents for the Spring Festival leaving the town with out the number one party planner. This job went to the juggler. “Um…” Twilight looked to Grubber hesitating. “There is a baby sitting job.” “BABIES!?” a shout came from the sea of Storm Creatures, and suddenly several furry monsters were thrown up into the air as something large forced it’s way to the front. “I will baby sit!” What stood before twilight was no doubt a Storm Creature, however it was a head taller then the rest, but slimmer, and, where as the rest had just a hint of a mohawk in their fur, this one had long hair that stuck straight up except for the top most which fell down in front of it’s face. The tips of the mohawk were died pink. After getting over her shock Twilight realized this one was female, she didn’t think these things were they type of life forms that had genders. It held out its paw and it took the princess a moment to realize that she wanted the job ticket. “Oh right here you go, but…, just, I want to be honest, please don’t get up set if they turn you down ok?” “Why would they turn me down, babies couldn’t possibly be safer when with me!” She proudly boasted. “I would fell a dragon to protect them!” And with that she turned and shoved her way to the exit. Twilight looked back over to Grubber. “I didn’t know there were female ones.” Grubber looked confused. “Of course there are female Stormies, why wouldn’t there be?” “That would just be silly.” “We just don’t have any others then Susan, that’s her name by the way, cause lady ones are very dedicated mothers so once they have cubs they quit, the Storm King tried to take a young one from a mother once and nearly lost an arm!” “That was a fun day, even Tempest couldn’t win against an angry Stormy mother!” In the end Twilight ran out of job tickets before running out of Stormies, but she already had a plan for that. “All right, everyone follow me, I know a farm that is short hoofed and always willing to accept a helping, um, paw!” With Applejack out at Appleloosa, Applebloom and Big Mac had an extra helping of chores thrust upon them this week, but their work load was just about to be lightened by fifteen extra claws, give or take. Starlight sighed, it had been hours and all her attempts at small talk had fallen flat, the weather was nice, that sports team none of them cared about had won, and she had been smart enough to NOT try to bring up politics. Maybe if Tempest wasn’t seated between her and Sunset the two of them could have kept the conversation going. For her part Tempest was keeping a watchful eye on the map the compass and the ground below so at least they wouldn’t get lost. Starlight opened her mouth trying one last time to start some dialog but was interrupted by Sunset. “There’s a boy I like back home, in that other world.” Sunset was blushing slightly embarrassed by the confession. Starlight squealed in excitement, Tempest glanced at Sunset and raised an eyebrow. “Have you told him how you feel?” Both Tempest and Sunset asked in union but their tones were far from identical. “I haven’t told him, his name is Flash, I dated him back when I was full of hate, I just wanted to leach off of his popularity.” “Worried that he will still resent you for that?” Tempest asked. “No, in fact I think he has been hitting on me recently.” Sunset paused. “It’s more related to what you said, I’m forgetting how to be a pony, what if things work out, we will be graduating soon, if I get married then I really won’t move back to this world.” “Do you want to come back?” Starlight asked. “It’s not like I want to leave that world, but I don’t want to abandon this one.” “And if we had kids, would they come out normal or as some freaky centaur?” Tempest snorted at the centaur line. “I don’t know about your kids, but it’s not impossible to live in two worlds, even ones as far apart as these, just get a summer home here and visit during vacations, teach your kids about their pony heritage or move here if they do turn out to be freaky centaurs.” “I…well, that, that’s not a bad idea, it seems so simple when you put it like that, I feel kind of stupid now.” “Don’t, problems are easy to solve when they are not your own.” Tempest reassured her. “I’m sure there are details that will have to be ironed out, such as rather or not this Flash would even want to visit this world.” “That’s a good point, plus the girl he use to like lives here.” “WHAT!” Startlight pushed past Tempest. “Who is it?” “Do you want us to chase her off?” “We could do that, right Tempest?” She looked eagerly over to edgy pony but was disappointed by the slow shake of her head. “Think about it, from what I’ve heard from you two only one other has been to that world.” Tempest nodded as Starlight’s eyes got big. “YOU WANT TO STEAL THE PRINCESS’S STALLION!” She cried out shocked. “No I don’t! I let Flash use the notebook to talk to Twilight.” She levitated her magic notebook out of her saddlebag for a moment showing it off before putting it back. “They realized it was a love that never could be and sort of broke up, even tho they never really dated.” “And I told her how I feel, she wished me luck, and told me I better not hurt him or she would give me ‘such a lecture’.” “That had far less drama then I was hoping.” Starlight was a little disappointed. “Alright, enough of my problems lets change the subject!” Sunset said with a smile, she did feel better. “There was one thing I wanted to ask you Sunset.” Tempest pointed a hoof at the sun like cutie mark on Sunset’s flank. “What is your talent anyway?” “Fire, hot unquenchable fire!” “What about yours?” “Explosions, big powerful electric explosions!” They both turned to Starlight expectantly. She rolled her eyes but indulged them anyway. “Magic, over powered magic!” “You know that’s cheating.” Sunset huffed. “You guys with generic talents are absurd!” Starlight laughed, soon the others joined in. With the ice broken the trip started to get interesting. Back in Ponyville Susan did get the babysitting job. The Phoenix FillyWith Celestia setting the sun it was time to make camp for the night, luckily Tempest had spotted a small clearing on a cliff edge, in the woods beneath them, that only took them a few minutes off corse. The decent was slow until Starlight got impatient, grabbed the entire balloon with her magic, and rushed it to the ground while unloading everything including herself and the other two. “There done!” She proclaimed proudly as she folded the deflated balloon up. “Hey girls, look over here.” Sunset was pointing at an ashy pile nearby. “Looks like we weren’t the first to camp here.” She took a few steps closer to the tree line. “Here are some wagon tracks, and I think there is a trail in the woods, couldn’t have been easy for them, it’s so overgrown I couldn’t see it from the air.” Starlight was currently setting up a lavender tent, the pile next to her included an orange tent and a purple one. Tempest on the other hoof had joined Sunset to examine the trail. “Looks like it was a small one pony cart, if they are still in the area I don’t think they will pose a threat to the three of us.” “I was more thinking we could meet a new friend.” “I suppose that’s also an option.” Tempest didn’t sound enthusiastic about it. “Either way it’s moot, that trail is at least a day old.” Sunset looked down at the trail, she had no idea how old it was, but she believed Tempest. “Oh well, I’ll collect some firewood.” “We can have smores!” Tempest looked over at her. “Some more what?” “No no, I said smores.” “We haven’t had anything yet, how can we have some more of nothing?” “You’re killing me Tempest!” It took about a half hour for Starlight to finish setting up the tents and now the three of them were sitting around a unlit pile of wood. “Just give me a second, I got this!” Sunset said, her brow furrowing in concentration. “Fire magic is my thing.” Still nothing from her horn. “You know they use to called me the phoenix filly? in Celestia’s school.” She was starting to shake as she gritted her teeth, sweat forming on her brow. “SUNSET SHIMMER!” The yellow and red pony jumped, startled at Tempest’s yell. “Do you want know how to reconnect to your magic?” “You know how I can do that!?” “I think I know something that will help, it’s what I learned after I lost my horn.” “Close your eyes and clear your mind.” Tempest waited for Sunset to comply, and once her breathing slowed and she looked calm Tempest continued. “A unicorn’s well of magic is centered around our emotions, focus on that, pick an emotion and grow it.” “I used anger, but lets try happiness.” “Let your magic become one with your emotion and-” “I already know all that, that’s what Im doing, but it’s not working!” Sunset snapped eyes glaring for a moment before filling with regret. “Im sorry, that was uncalled for, it’s just so-“ Tempest held up a hoof stoping her. “Trust me I understand“ “When I say grow your emotions I don’t mean a little bit or even a strong feeling, I need you to be overcome with that feeling, consumed by it, with your magic connected,, a large emotional outburst will force the magic to come out regardless of the condition of your horn or mind.” “Ok, let me try again.” Sunset focused, she remembered all the fun times she had with her friends, the adventures at camp, winning the battle of the bands, and of course paying with Ray. “I think it’s working!” Sunset focused, her horn starting to glow, pointing at the wood the glowing increased when suddenly *pppthhh* “OH COME ON!” “WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!” “Nothing, it’s not your fault!” Starlight jumped in. “It took me a while to get my magic back, we will keep practicing, I know you can do this.” “Thanks.” “You know, you’re more supportive and encouraging then one would expect.” “There are two ways to lead an army, fear is easier, but Im trying to be a better pony, so I’ve had to adapt.” Sunset snickered. “There are three ways, you forgot about mind control!” Tempest stroked her chin in thought. “Maybe, but complex orders and conflicts on multiple fronts would put an end to that real quick.” “Hmph, it might have worked.” Sunset grumbled. Starlight quietly started the fire with magic. The fire fought back against the dark night as the three sitting around it finished dinner and started on desert. Tempest’s eyes lit up as she bit into the toasty smore. “MmmMmm Mmmm mmm!” She mumbled with her mouth full. Sunset leaned over to Starlight, “I think she liked it.” “Some more!” She demanded spitting crumbs. “Yes those are smores, that’s what I said.” Sunset shot back jokingly. Starlight was about to magic over fresh marshmallow when she dropped it, covering her nose with her hoofs. “WHAT IS THAT SMELL!” Tempest looked over and before she could stop herself. “She who smelt it, dealt it!” “I have been spending too much time with Grubb-OH GOOD GRAVY THAT IS RANK!” “That is pretty bad.” Sunset who had been forced to be around high school boys wasn’t as affected but she still had her nose plugged. That’s when they heard something coming from the woods, it sounded like somepony was shaking a bundle of sticks and breathing heavy. The three stood up, one and a half horns lit up as a pair of glowing eyes walked out of the underbrush, no wait, it was many eyes, to the left and right, no were to run. Tempest kicked a burning log towards the darkness, landing half way between throwing light on the unknown monsters. “Timber wolves!” Starlight yelled in shock as the creatures were cast the fires orange glow. “They shouldn’t be here! They are only found in the Everfree Forrest!” “What are they?” Tempest asked, never taking her eyes off of the encroaching threat. “When a source of dark magic is left to fester it will create monsters, Timber Wolves are one of many examples of this.” Sunset had given the text book answer. Starlight followed up. “Hard to destroy, they can piece themselves back together from splinters!” “So what you are saying is, I can cut loose.” Tempest had a mean smile as she took the initiative and fired at the closest wolf, it had the gaul to look surprised at being attacked before it blew up into tiny fragments. The pack charged as Tempest threw more firework like explosions at them, Starlight cut them down as fast as she could with beams of magic, however Sunset was stuck levitating a burning chunk of wood and trying to swing at the snarling beasts. From a distance it looked like one sick rave and Tempest at least was enjoying herself as she chained blasted three more wooden monsters into oblivion. Starlight had one in her magic grasp and was beating the others with it. Sunset backed up, something wasn’t right, despite all the damage the others were doing they were still being forced back to the cliff’s edge. She tried to look past the pack into the woods when the truth hit her, they hadn’t stopped coming, the new wolves were walking over the fallen before they could even reform, this wasn’t a pack, this was an army. “Girls!” Sunset yelled out. “They keep spawning!” “Something in the woods must be creating them!” And that is when things went from bad to worse, the downed Timber Wolfs started to recombine into their gestalt forms. Starlight formed a bubble shield just in time as giant paw tried to crush her, but as Sunset turned she realized something was wrong with Tempest. Tempest craned her neck up as the giant monster loomed over her, but she didn’t see a timber wolf, her legs started to shake as her mind betrayed her, visions of the Ursa flashing before her eyes. All her years of traveling, of training, of fighting, all of it was gone, she was the little filly again foolishly going into the dark cave. The scared unicorn could see the beast lifting it’s paw to swipe at her but there wasn’t a darn thing she could do about it, she couldn’t move, couldn’t breath, coul-*WHAM* She suddenly found herself knocked down, but not by the creature, in her place stood Sunset Shimmer but only for a moment as the clawed paw connected with the red and orange pony and sent her flying off the edge of the cliff. “SUNSET NOOOOOO!” Tempest screamed as her friend disappeared into the darkness. The world seemed to slow to a craw for Sunset Shimmer as she was thrown into the abyss. “So this is it, this is how I meet my end.” She thought to herself. “At least I saved Tempest…” Thinking of Tempest reminded her of what the armored unicorn had tried to teach her. She closed her eyes, she had to build up an emotion, fortunately she had one filling her mind, fear. Lots of ponies say fear is a bad thing but if you have been on enough adventures you know that fear is what keeps most of us alive. It wasn’t just the fear of death, Sunset feared what would happen to her friends, the ones fighting and the ones back in her other home. She wasn’t going to let anything happen to them, she was Sunset Shimmer, the Phoenix Filly, no flea bitten log dog was going to stop her! She felt it, her magic connecting to her horn, the sound of a striking match, the feel of the heat as fire appeared around her horn. She was back. *WOOOOSH* the fire traveled down her horn and along her sides, what should have been deadly burns was a comforting heat to the pony. She could see the ground coming up fast now so she stretch out the fire at her sides and formed them into giant fiery wings, with a flap she slowed her self down mere inches from the ground and with another beat of her wings shot back up. Seeing her new friend sacrifice her life had knocked Tempest out of her stupor, with a rage filled scream she blew the gestalt wolf to bits. “STARLIGHT!” “SUNSET FELL!” She yelled but Starlight was in her shield fending off two of the giants. Tempest bit back tears, she wouldn’t let her friend die in vain, she put a hoof forward towards the Timber Wolves and fired blast after blast taking another step then another, wood splinters flying through the air. Then the strangest thing happened, the sun rose again, but it seemed very close, very warm, right behind her. Jerking her head around she almost didn’t believe what she saw. “You died and became an phoenix!?” She blurted out, looking at the fire pony flying in the air. Sunset laughed “Not quite.” As she said this she drew back one wing and used it to swat the two big ones attacking Starlight away. “All right girls, Let’s light it up! up! up!” Starlight’s magic laser joined Tempests blasts as Sunset took a very deep breath. She held it as a small ball of magic fire formed in front of her mouth, then she exhaled. With a mighty *FOOOSH* the tiny ball became a stream of sun fire that she used to rake the battlefield left to right burning the wooden beasts to embers in seconds. She landed as the wolfs kept coming, her wings formed into giant flaming hands, batting the Timber Wolfs aside. “We need to find what ever is spawning these things and destroy it!” A fiery fist slammed into a gestalt leaving a burning hole in it’s chest. “Agreed!” Starlight nodded. “Sunset you take point, we will guard your sides and flank!” With the Phoenix Filly leading the way they could make their way down the forest path. Fortunately Sunset could also put out fires by absorbing them other wise they would have burnt the forrest down, as it was they still ended up blasting a few trees to bits. The forest quickly became to thick for the giants and Tempest could blast the horde behind them as they got stuck in the bottleneck. “Look!” Starlight pointed at a previously fallen tree that was starting to mutate into a Timber Wolf. “I think we are getting close, be on guard!” She froze that one in a crystal then levitated it out of the path. As they fought their way deeper into the woods they came across more and more of the half formed wolves making the battle a bit easier. “I see something up ahead.” Sunset pointed with one of her fire hands, sure enough there was an ominous purple glow coming from a ring of trees. The three sped up squeezing between the trees and finally finding the source of all their critter problem. “Is that what I think it is?” Sunset asked, shocked. “Yes, I’m afraid it is.” Starlight confirmed. Tempest looked at them then back at the thing. “Well what is it?” Before them standing nearly twelve feet tall was a crystal of pure dark magic, so pure it was glowing. “Dark magic is incredibly dangerous, even when I was evil I didn’t mess with that stuff.” Starlight shook her head. “I wasn’t as smart, you don’t want to know what that stuff can do to your mind.” Sunset added. “How do we destroy it?” “The wolves are starting to form again!” Tempest started to charge her horn. “NO!” Starlight yelled. “If you charged that crystal you would turn it into raw energon!” “It could blow this entire forrest to Canterlot!” Tempest powered down as Starlight continued. “I can dispel it easily, thankfully, I’ll just hit it with some positive magic.” She lit up her horn one more time and fired a beam of “happy thoughts” straight into the dark crystal shrinking it down until it vanished completely. The half formed Timber Wolves around them suddenly fell to pieces, their source of magic gone. The three mares breathed a collective sigh of relief. The walk back was quiet as they realized all the damage they had done, Fluttershy would have been horrified at all the burnt and broken trees along the path. Once the reached the clearing Tempest spoke up. “Sunset, I’m sorry, I froze up and nearly cost you your life.” “I’ll find a way to make us even.” “It’s ok, the fall gave me time to think about what you had said, so in the end you saved my life.” “Honestly being knocked off a cliff was worth it to get my magic back, besides, we’re friends now, and that’s just what friends do, we stick our necks out for each other.” Sunset put a hoof around Tempest and gave her a hug, Tempest stiffened up but after a moment returned the hug, but not for long. “You’re still going to look for a way to make us even aren’t you?” “We must already be friends if you know me that well.” Tempest smirked. “You know.” Starlight interrupted. “I was there too, where is my bonding moment?” Sunset stuck a tongue out at her. “Don’t worry Im sure something will come up, maybe a song and dance number.” That wasn’t a joke. “Ladies.” Tempest held up some sort of torn and tattered cloth in her hoof. “We’ve got a problem.” She was holding the shredded ruins of the hot air balloon The Party PlanningTwilight awoke groggily, one eye opened slowly and looked at the clock, after staring at it blankly waiting for her mind to remember how to read numbers she realized it was time to get up. She managed to pull herself up and out of bed, slowly shuffling into the hallway, her head hung low, unable or unwilling to find the energy to lift it. She normally was an early waker, but today was an exception, she had found out that Tempest’s blimp had a shelf of books and had stayed up late reading all of them. Most of the books had been charts and maps, a few about wind patterns, a money ledger, the real find had been a book about Kobolds: lifestyles and customs. Twilight wasn’t thinking about the books now however, she wasn’t thinking about much of anything other then getting to the kitchen and making herself a cup of coffee, as if brought to life by her thoughts a cup of coffee appeared by her side. She grabbed it in a faint purple glow and brought it close, taking a sip. Her eyes shot open! This was one amazing cup of joe, she couldn’t believe her taste buds! She looked down, finally seeing who had made this miracle brew appear. “Grubber! This is amazing! Did you make this?” Grubber smiled from ear to ear at her words. “You bet’cha!” “Why do you think Commander Tempest kept me around?” He paused for a moment, smirking, then added. “Well other then my great sense of humor and dashing good looks.” She noticed there was a cupcake with white frosting on the tray as well. “You make that too?” Her question got answered with an enthusiastic nodding of his head. She lifted up the treat, cupcakes for breakfast was more Pinkie Pie’s thing but she wasn’t about to spurn her temporary assistant, and took a big bite. Another shock, it was a muffin with whip cream on top, and delicious to boot. “This muffin, is scrumptious!” “You keep this up and you will be the best temporary assistant I’ve ever had!” “Wow!” Grubber blushed. “Wait, how many temps have you had?” Twilight stopped still, her eyes glassed over, memories she had repressed returned, memories of three little fillies trying to find their cutiemarks. She shook her head. “Never mind about that, you got that list I made for today?” “Right here!” He pulled the list from a hidden shirt pocket, instead of being rolled up like Spike would have done, the little hedgehog had folded it up. “Eccellent! Lets go eat breakfast then get started on that list right away, sound good?” Grubber saluted. “YES YOUR HIGHNESS!” He was far more eager about breakfast then anything else. The early morning air was cool and crisp, their hunger stated the two walked into the already bustling center of Ponyville ready to shop and barter. With all her friends out of town at the same time Twilight had felt a loneliness that hadn’t known since she was a student in Canterlot, even then she had Spike, but it also gave her an idea. She was going to throw her friends a welcome back party! They were all due back on the same day, the odds of that happening were astronomical, Twilight knew this cause she had done the math, twice. She also had a feeling that her three newer friends would show back up on that day as well, things seemed to be convenient like that when you lived in Ponyville. Turns out shopping for a party in Ponyville was also convenient, most shops had default lists for all sorts of parties thanks to Pinkie Pie. Twilight was ecstatic when a shop owner would pull out a checklist, and by this point Grubber was already dragging around ribbons and a welcome back banner, up next was plates, cups, and utensils. “Princess Twilight can I ask a question?” Grubber asked from behind the box he was carrying. “Of course, and you don’t need to call me a princess.” The humble princess responded while inspecting the thickness of two different plastic cups. “What’s up with the elements of friendship?” Twilight set down the cups. “What do you mean?” “Well, it just, I don’t know.” “Umm, do you really need all six of those things to be friends?” Twilight could sense what was behind that question. “There are more then just six elements of friendship you know.” “WHAT!?” Gurbbers head popped out from behind the packages and bags “There’s even more!?” Twilight nodded, “Usually they can be included as part of one of the six, such as trust, you need to be able to trust your friends and to be trustworthy, but that can fit under loyalty really.” “Sometimes I don’t put my trust in my friends, sometimes I think I know better or that my way is the best way and I blunder about making a fool of myself.” “But even when I don’t show trust my friends show forgiveness, another element of friendship.” “So you see, even if you don’t have all the elements you can still be and have friends.” “Oh, that’s good, I was worried.” Grubber smiled before disappearing behind the load once more. “You know,” he went on, “You’re pretty good at explaining friendship, you could teach classes about it.” “Me a teacher?” She was about to snicker but stopped, maybe that was such a bad idea, she would have to ponder on this later, when she had free time. The rest of the shopping trip had gone off without a hitch, Grubber did most of the talking telling Twilight all about his life and what led up to him meeting Tempest Shadow, he also went on about what kinds of food he liked, that was a long list. Arriving back at the castle she was greeted by the handful of Stormies that didn’t go to Sweet Apple Acres and the ones that had already finished the jobs around town. Twilight was fine with this however, she was going to have them help her clean up for the party. She was going to invite the entire town. Author's Note Sorry that such a short chapter took so long, I will try to do better for the next chapter Image commissioned from pencilbrony https://pencilbrony.tumblr.com/ (warning, some gore art sometimes, but no nudes)
The Summons“So let me get this straight, this magical map summons ponies, sorry, creatures, and sends them out to solve random problems throughout Equestria?” Tempest question was rhetorical, they had just explained the map to her moments ago. “And you just follow along with out question?” “How does it know where to go and who to pick?” “Can it be controlled or corrupted?” She glared down at the crystal table, she didn’t like the idea of being ordered around by an inanimate object, the Storm King was bad enough but this was just degrading. Twilights’ answers to her questions were satisfactory, and she wasn’t going to abandon this quest, but nothing said she would have to like it. Twilight smiled as two new ponies entered the room, tho the yellow one stumbled. “These two are the others the map picked out, let me introduce you.” “This is Starlight Glimmer, and she is Sunset Shimmer.” “Hi!” “Hello!” the two greeted her in turn. Tempest regarded the two with a calculating gaze. “Greetings, I am…Tempest Shadow.” “I know of Ms. Glimmer, she is a very powerful unicorn who, after a showdown between the two of you, became a student of yours Twilight, I had tried to get magic crystaling bomb for her as well before the attack, but I had been lucky to get the four I did have.” Tempest mentioned Starlight’s past deeds not out of spite, but to judge her reactions, the ponys’ ashamed face made her feel bad, but she didn’t show it. “Incase you are unaware.” She now turned to Sunset. “I helped a tyrant take control of Canterlot and imprison the four princesses.” “I was betrayed by the Storm King and was about to fall to my death but was saved by Twilight who gave up a chance to stop the Storm King, in return I attempted to give up my life to stop him.” “While I did succeed in putting an end to his rule, I was once again saved by Twilight.” “I surrendered my self to the princesses but instead of imprisoning me told me to go out and help the world be a better place, so me and some of the Storm Kings troops have been going around announcing his destruction and helping where we can.” “However I don’t have any information about you Ms. Shimmer.” Tempest finished. Sunset stepped forward. “Well I’ve been living in an alternate universe for so long I’ve forgotten how to use a pony body, so it’s no surprise you’ve not heard of me, I was a student of Princess Celestia, but I.” The pony sighed sadly, it was clearly time to share shameful pasts, but it didn’t make it any less painful.” “I let myself get filled with jealousy and hate and fled to that other world and tried to brainwash a bunch of kids to be my personal army, thankfully Twilight and her friends from that world stopped me and let me become their friend.” “Clearly that’s something the three of us have in common, makes me wonder what that means for this mission.” “Speaking of that, where is the map sending us?” Tempest turned around and walked up to the magic table, the other two flanked her sides looking to the map as well. “Well that just it.” Twilight was suddenly apprehensive. “It’s somewhere none of us have been.” “See where your cutie marks are?” “This is in the clear opposite direction of our journey to the Hippogiffs, according to the map it is mostly grassy plains.” Tempest placed her hoof on the table in a subconscious show of dominance, her opinion of the thing worsened. “It’s a good thing I brought my troops and the blimp, we can make short work of it.” “About that…” Twilight chucked nervously. Tempest didn’t let her finish. “Let me guess, only the ones shown on the map can go?” “That’s how we’ve always done it and none of us have failed yet, also your ship is very intimidating and might send the wrong message.” “Don’t worry, Twilight is going to let us borrow her hot air balloon.” Starlight offered weakly, Sunset remained silent. “Very well, I will follow the rules, but that means I will have to leave my troops here to wait for my return.” “I hope that won’t be a problem princess?” Twilight wasn’t sure. “Who will be in charge, that little guy, Grubber was it?” “Lets go outside I’ll let them know what is going on.” The three of them followed her out of the room, having the location there wasn’t anymore the map could give them anyway. The blimp was anchored right next to the crystal tree casting it’s shadow ominously over the castle. After a shout from Tempest the troops poured out of the ship and stood in ranks, over fifty, with Grubber in front. “What’s up Tempest?” Grubber asked eagerly, his face nearly split in half by his smile. “We going to save Equestria, or maybe rescue a new princess?” “It’s got to be epic if they are asking for our help!” Sunset and Starlight could see Tempests face soften ever so slightly as she started speaking. “Im sorry Grubber but you and the rest of the team have to sit this one out, magic rules or some such, honestly I don’t care for them, but breaking them is a risk I will not take. Grubber’s smile transformed into a sad frown. “What?” “But I’m your side kick!” “Was it something I did?” “I’ll make up for it!” “I assure you, if I could take you I would, I promise.” Grubber still looked down but less so at her words, now addressing her army. “While I am gone Grubber is in charge, and Grubber, you are to obey Twilight Sparkle understand?” The army and Grubber saluted. “Good, now try to be as helpful as possible, earn your keep while you stay here in Ponyville!” Tempest nodded in approval as her troops dispersed. “We might as well get started, have ether of you been on one of these friendship quest?” Starlight raised a hoof. “I helped the princesses once.” “Impressive, in that case you should be in charge, you have the most experience.” “Ok-wait what!?” Starlight was flabbergasted. “I thought you would want to be in charge, you lead an army!” “This quest doesn’t call for an army, it calls for someone good with friendship, you’re Twilight’s student and Sunset has been living in a different world and has forgotten how to be a pony, clearly the best choice is you Starlight.” “When you put it like that, but still, well friendship problems are not something that really needs a chain of command so we should be fine ether way, alright I’ll be team leader.” “And as team leader I say we go to the balloon.” Tempest seemed to approve of this and motioned to one of her storm creatures to grab her bag from the ship. Sunset watched the two walk off and only started to follow after a moment, Twilight was with her. “Hey Sunset, what’s wrong?” They were far enough away for the others to not hear. “She’s right, I’ve forgot how to be a pony, I try to pick things up with hands that are not there, I walk like a toddler!” “What am I?” “You’re just out of practice, it’s like riding a scooter, it will come back to you.” “Don’t you mean like a bicycle?” “What’s a bicycle?” “Oh no!” Sunset continued to fret as they caught back up. Tempest’s critical glare was back but she didn’t say anything as she threw her bag into the basket next to three other bags that were already there, she noticed one of the bags had her name on it and turned to Starlight with a questioning look. “I packed a few things for each of us that I thought we might need, I hope that’s ok.” “Good thinking, hopefully we won’t need it.” Starlights’ excitement had lessened a little by now, Tempest maybe be good now, but it seem to have made her more stern and serious, no matter, she was determined to make them friends by the end of this journey no mater the cost. Sunset only had her saddle bags so once she stepped on board they were ready to depart. “Before you go.” Princess Twilight addressed them, behaving more regal now. “Remember you have friends here looking forward to your return so be safe, the girls told me to wish you all luck and to say sorry that they couldn’t see you off.” With that Twilight untied the ropes and the hot air balloon slowly rose into the air, their fantastic friendship adventure had officially begun!
The Job BoardTwilight looked out at her front yard, it was currently full of Storm Creatures standing around awkwardly looking for something to do, oh, and one hedgehog that was currently waddling his way over to her. “Got something for us to do your princessness?” He asked with a smile. “We can do anything, RIGHT GUYS?” He shouted to the yard causing all the Storm Creatures to run over and bum rush the princess like a pack of hyper dogs. “We got’s all sorts of skills!” “We can juggle!” At this one of the Storm Creatures produced several small balls and preceded to toss them in the air. “We can mow grass!” Twilight wasn’t sure where that Storm Creature had found a yard clipper but he was pushing it across her yard cutting down all her yummy grass. “We can rub our tummies and pat our heads at the same time!” Declared another. At least they are eager to help she thought to herself, but she didn’t know what she could have them- “OH!” She knew exactly what to do. “There is a job board at the mayors office, their’s bunch of things you guys can do there!” “Come on lets go!” Twilight wasn’t paying attention and grabbed Grubber up in her magic and set him on her back as she headed towards town, but she only got a few feet before turning around. The entire army was following right behind her, she was about to order them to stay at the castle but they looked so eager and happy she didn’t have the heart. Fortunately she had given the town a heads up about Tempest’s arrival so there wasn’t mass panic when they strode into town, but a few ponies panicked anyway. “I could get use to this!” Grubber said from his perch upon Twilight. “Tempest never carries me anywhere!” Twilight only realized what she had done after he started talking. “Oh my, I’m sorry, Im so use to Spike, but he’s off helping Rarity and Fluttershy in the big city, I guess I miss him and you’re about the same size.” “I picked you up out of habit.” “It’s no thing.” Grubber said waving it off. “I miss Tempest and you’re purple like her and really cool like she is, and and *sniff* I got something in my eye.” He couldn’t finish. Twilight levitated him off her back and set him down in front of her, they had arrived at the town hall but before they went inside Twilight put a hoof around the squat hedgehog and gave him a hug. “Well while both of our friends are gone we will have a good time so we can tell them all about it when they get back ok?” “That sounds great!” Grubber’s face splitting smile was back. Twilight, Grubber, and fifty three Storm Creatures were crammed into the town hall building and currently in front of the job board. Twilight was reading of jobs and getting volunteers. “Ok, we need someone who can bake bread?” Twilight saw a hand go up in the back, she levitated the ticket to the eager Storm Creature who promptly waded outside after plucking it from the air. Luckily Twilight had made copies of a map of Ponyville so with an address the creatures could find their own way. “Ooo, up next is a mowing job!” An excited ‘WOOT’ could be heard and the yard clipper was hosted proudly into the air. “This one calls for a party planner!” Pinkie along with her sister were visiting their parents for the Spring Festival leaving the town with out the number one party planner. This job went to the juggler. “Um…” Twilight looked to Grubber hesitating. “There is a baby sitting job.” “BABIES!?” a shout came from the sea of Storm Creatures, and suddenly several furry monsters were thrown up into the air as something large forced it’s way to the front. “I will baby sit!” What stood before twilight was no doubt a Storm Creature, however it was a head taller then the rest, but slimmer, and, where as the rest had just a hint of a mohawk in their fur, this one had long hair that stuck straight up except for the top most which fell down in front of it’s face. The tips of the mohawk were died pink. After getting over her shock Twilight realized this one was female, she didn’t think these things were they type of life forms that had genders. It held out its paw and it took the princess a moment to realize that she wanted the job ticket. “Oh right here you go, but…, just, I want to be honest, please don’t get up set if they turn you down ok?” “Why would they turn me down, babies couldn’t possibly be safer when with me!” She proudly boasted. “I would fell a dragon to protect them!” And with that she turned and shoved her way to the exit. Twilight looked back over to Grubber. “I didn’t know there were female ones.” Grubber looked confused. “Of course there are female Stormies, why wouldn’t there be?” “That would just be silly.” “We just don’t have any others then Susan, that’s her name by the way, cause lady ones are very dedicated mothers so once they have cubs they quit, the Storm King tried to take a young one from a mother once and nearly lost an arm!” “That was a fun day, even Tempest couldn’t win against an angry Stormy mother!” In the end Twilight ran out of job tickets before running out of Stormies, but she already had a plan for that. “All right, everyone follow me, I know a farm that is short hoofed and always willing to accept a helping, um, paw!” With Applejack out at Appleloosa, Applebloom and Big Mac had an extra helping of chores thrust upon them this week, but their work load was just about to be lightened by fifteen extra claws, give or take. Starlight sighed, it had been hours and all her attempts at small talk had fallen flat, the weather was nice, that sports team none of them cared about had won, and she had been smart enough to NOT try to bring up politics. Maybe if Tempest wasn’t seated between her and Sunset the two of them could have kept the conversation going. For her part Tempest was keeping a watchful eye on the map the compass and the ground below so at least they wouldn’t get lost. Starlight opened her mouth trying one last time to start some dialog but was interrupted by Sunset. “There’s a boy I like back home, in that other world.” Sunset was blushing slightly embarrassed by the confession. Starlight squealed in excitement, Tempest glanced at Sunset and raised an eyebrow. “Have you told him how you feel?” Both Tempest and Sunset asked in union but their tones were far from identical. “I haven’t told him, his name is Flash, I dated him back when I was full of hate, I just wanted to leach off of his popularity.” “Worried that he will still resent you for that?” Tempest asked. “No, in fact I think he has been hitting on me recently.” Sunset paused. “It’s more related to what you said, I’m forgetting how to be a pony, what if things work out, we will be graduating soon, if I get married then I really won’t move back to this world.” “Do you want to come back?” Starlight asked. “It’s not like I want to leave that world, but I don’t want to abandon this one.” “And if we had kids, would they come out normal or as some freaky centaur?” Tempest snorted at the centaur line. “I don’t know about your kids, but it’s not impossible to live in two worlds, even ones as far apart as these, just get a summer home here and visit during vacations, teach your kids about their pony heritage or move here if they do turn out to be freaky centaurs.” “I…well, that, that’s not a bad idea, it seems so simple when you put it like that, I feel kind of stupid now.” “Don’t, problems are easy to solve when they are not your own.” Tempest reassured her. “I’m sure there are details that will have to be ironed out, such as rather or not this Flash would even want to visit this world.” “That’s a good point, plus the girl he use to like lives here.” “WHAT!” Startlight pushed past Tempest. “Who is it?” “Do you want us to chase her off?” “We could do that, right Tempest?” She looked eagerly over to edgy pony but was disappointed by the slow shake of her head. “Think about it, from what I’ve heard from you two only one other has been to that world.” Tempest nodded as Starlight’s eyes got big. “YOU WANT TO STEAL THE PRINCESS’S STALLION!” She cried out shocked. “No I don’t! I let Flash use the notebook to talk to Twilight.” She levitated her magic notebook out of her saddlebag for a moment showing it off before putting it back. “They realized it was a love that never could be and sort of broke up, even tho they never really dated.” “And I told her how I feel, she wished me luck, and told me I better not hurt him or she would give me ‘such a lecture’.” “That had far less drama then I was hoping.” Starlight was a little disappointed. “Alright, enough of my problems lets change the subject!” Sunset said with a smile, she did feel better. “There was one thing I wanted to ask you Sunset.” Tempest pointed a hoof at the sun like cutie mark on Sunset’s flank. “What is your talent anyway?” “Fire, hot unquenchable fire!” “What about yours?” “Explosions, big powerful electric explosions!” They both turned to Starlight expectantly. She rolled her eyes but indulged them anyway. “Magic, over powered magic!” “You know that’s cheating.” Sunset huffed. “You guys with generic talents are absurd!” Starlight laughed, soon the others joined in. With the ice broken the trip started to get interesting. Back in Ponyville Susan did get the babysitting job.
The Phoenix FillyWith Celestia setting the sun it was time to make camp for the night, luckily Tempest had spotted a small clearing on a cliff edge, in the woods beneath them, that only took them a few minutes off corse. The decent was slow until Starlight got impatient, grabbed the entire balloon with her magic, and rushed it to the ground while unloading everything including herself and the other two. “There done!” She proclaimed proudly as she folded the deflated balloon up. “Hey girls, look over here.” Sunset was pointing at an ashy pile nearby. “Looks like we weren’t the first to camp here.” She took a few steps closer to the tree line. “Here are some wagon tracks, and I think there is a trail in the woods, couldn’t have been easy for them, it’s so overgrown I couldn’t see it from the air.” Starlight was currently setting up a lavender tent, the pile next to her included an orange tent and a purple one. Tempest on the other hoof had joined Sunset to examine the trail. “Looks like it was a small one pony cart, if they are still in the area I don’t think they will pose a threat to the three of us.” “I was more thinking we could meet a new friend.” “I suppose that’s also an option.” Tempest didn’t sound enthusiastic about it. “Either way it’s moot, that trail is at least a day old.” Sunset looked down at the trail, she had no idea how old it was, but she believed Tempest. “Oh well, I’ll collect some firewood.” “We can have smores!” Tempest looked over at her. “Some more what?” “No no, I said smores.” “We haven’t had anything yet, how can we have some more of nothing?” “You’re killing me Tempest!” It took about a half hour for Starlight to finish setting up the tents and now the three of them were sitting around a unlit pile of wood. “Just give me a second, I got this!” Sunset said, her brow furrowing in concentration. “Fire magic is my thing.” Still nothing from her horn. “You know they use to called me the phoenix filly? in Celestia’s school.” She was starting to shake as she gritted her teeth, sweat forming on her brow. “SUNSET SHIMMER!” The yellow and red pony jumped, startled at Tempest’s yell. “Do you want know how to reconnect to your magic?” “You know how I can do that!?” “I think I know something that will help, it’s what I learned after I lost my horn.” “Close your eyes and clear your mind.” Tempest waited for Sunset to comply, and once her breathing slowed and she looked calm Tempest continued. “A unicorn’s well of magic is centered around our emotions, focus on that, pick an emotion and grow it.” “I used anger, but lets try happiness.” “Let your magic become one with your emotion and-” “I already know all that, that’s what Im doing, but it’s not working!” Sunset snapped eyes glaring for a moment before filling with regret. “Im sorry, that was uncalled for, it’s just so-“ Tempest held up a hoof stoping her. “Trust me I understand“ “When I say grow your emotions I don’t mean a little bit or even a strong feeling, I need you to be overcome with that feeling, consumed by it, with your magic connected,, a large emotional outburst will force the magic to come out regardless of the condition of your horn or mind.” “Ok, let me try again.” Sunset focused, she remembered all the fun times she had with her friends, the adventures at camp, winning the battle of the bands, and of course paying with Ray. “I think it’s working!” Sunset focused, her horn starting to glow, pointing at the wood the glowing increased when suddenly *pppthhh* “OH COME ON!” “WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!” “Nothing, it’s not your fault!” Starlight jumped in. “It took me a while to get my magic back, we will keep practicing, I know you can do this.” “Thanks.” “You know, you’re more supportive and encouraging then one would expect.” “There are two ways to lead an army, fear is easier, but Im trying to be a better pony, so I’ve had to adapt.” Sunset snickered. “There are three ways, you forgot about mind control!” Tempest stroked her chin in thought. “Maybe, but complex orders and conflicts on multiple fronts would put an end to that real quick.” “Hmph, it might have worked.” Sunset grumbled. Starlight quietly started the fire with magic. The fire fought back against the dark night as the three sitting around it finished dinner and started on desert. Tempest’s eyes lit up as she bit into the toasty smore. “MmmMmm Mmmm mmm!” She mumbled with her mouth full. Sunset leaned over to Starlight, “I think she liked it.” “Some more!” She demanded spitting crumbs. “Yes those are smores, that’s what I said.” Sunset shot back jokingly. Starlight was about to magic over fresh marshmallow when she dropped it, covering her nose with her hoofs. “WHAT IS THAT SMELL!” Tempest looked over and before she could stop herself. “She who smelt it, dealt it!” “I have been spending too much time with Grubb-OH GOOD GRAVY THAT IS RANK!” “That is pretty bad.” Sunset who had been forced to be around high school boys wasn’t as affected but she still had her nose plugged. That’s when they heard something coming from the woods, it sounded like somepony was shaking a bundle of sticks and breathing heavy. The three stood up, one and a half horns lit up as a pair of glowing eyes walked out of the underbrush, no wait, it was many eyes, to the left and right, no were to run. Tempest kicked a burning log towards the darkness, landing half way between throwing light on the unknown monsters. “Timber wolves!” Starlight yelled in shock as the creatures were cast the fires orange glow. “They shouldn’t be here! They are only found in the Everfree Forrest!” “What are they?” Tempest asked, never taking her eyes off of the encroaching threat. “When a source of dark magic is left to fester it will create monsters, Timber Wolves are one of many examples of this.” Sunset had given the text book answer. Starlight followed up. “Hard to destroy, they can piece themselves back together from splinters!” “So what you are saying is, I can cut loose.” Tempest had a mean smile as she took the initiative and fired at the closest wolf, it had the gaul to look surprised at being attacked before it blew up into tiny fragments. The pack charged as Tempest threw more firework like explosions at them, Starlight cut them down as fast as she could with beams of magic, however Sunset was stuck levitating a burning chunk of wood and trying to swing at the snarling beasts. From a distance it looked like one sick rave and Tempest at least was enjoying herself as she chained blasted three more wooden monsters into oblivion. Starlight had one in her magic grasp and was beating the others with it. Sunset backed up, something wasn’t right, despite all the damage the others were doing they were still being forced back to the cliff’s edge. She tried to look past the pack into the woods when the truth hit her, they hadn’t stopped coming, the new wolves were walking over the fallen before they could even reform, this wasn’t a pack, this was an army. “Girls!” Sunset yelled out. “They keep spawning!” “Something in the woods must be creating them!” And that is when things went from bad to worse, the downed Timber Wolfs started to recombine into their gestalt forms. Starlight formed a bubble shield just in time as giant paw tried to crush her, but as Sunset turned she realized something was wrong with Tempest. Tempest craned her neck up as the giant monster loomed over her, but she didn’t see a timber wolf, her legs started to shake as her mind betrayed her, visions of the Ursa flashing before her eyes. All her years of traveling, of training, of fighting, all of it was gone, she was the little filly again foolishly going into the dark cave. The scared unicorn could see the beast lifting it’s paw to swipe at her but there wasn’t a darn thing she could do about it, she couldn’t move, couldn’t breath, coul-*WHAM* She suddenly found herself knocked down, but not by the creature, in her place stood Sunset Shimmer but only for a moment as the clawed paw connected with the red and orange pony and sent her flying off the edge of the cliff. “SUNSET NOOOOOO!” Tempest screamed as her friend disappeared into the darkness. The world seemed to slow to a craw for Sunset Shimmer as she was thrown into the abyss. “So this is it, this is how I meet my end.” She thought to herself. “At least I saved Tempest…” Thinking of Tempest reminded her of what the armored unicorn had tried to teach her. She closed her eyes, she had to build up an emotion, fortunately she had one filling her mind, fear. Lots of ponies say fear is a bad thing but if you have been on enough adventures you know that fear is what keeps most of us alive. It wasn’t just the fear of death, Sunset feared what would happen to her friends, the ones fighting and the ones back in her other home. She wasn’t going to let anything happen to them, she was Sunset Shimmer, the Phoenix Filly, no flea bitten log dog was going to stop her! She felt it, her magic connecting to her horn, the sound of a striking match, the feel of the heat as fire appeared around her horn. She was back. *WOOOOSH* the fire traveled down her horn and along her sides, what should have been deadly burns was a comforting heat to the pony. She could see the ground coming up fast now so she stretch out the fire at her sides and formed them into giant fiery wings, with a flap she slowed her self down mere inches from the ground and with another beat of her wings shot back up. Seeing her new friend sacrifice her life had knocked Tempest out of her stupor, with a rage filled scream she blew the gestalt wolf to bits. “STARLIGHT!” “SUNSET FELL!” She yelled but Starlight was in her shield fending off two of the giants. Tempest bit back tears, she wouldn’t let her friend die in vain, she put a hoof forward towards the Timber Wolves and fired blast after blast taking another step then another, wood splinters flying through the air. Then the strangest thing happened, the sun rose again, but it seemed very close, very warm, right behind her. Jerking her head around she almost didn’t believe what she saw. “You died and became an phoenix!?” She blurted out, looking at the fire pony flying in the air. Sunset laughed “Not quite.” As she said this she drew back one wing and used it to swat the two big ones attacking Starlight away. “All right girls, Let’s light it up! up! up!” Starlight’s magic laser joined Tempests blasts as Sunset took a very deep breath. She held it as a small ball of magic fire formed in front of her mouth, then she exhaled. With a mighty *FOOOSH* the tiny ball became a stream of sun fire that she used to rake the battlefield left to right burning the wooden beasts to embers in seconds. She landed as the wolfs kept coming, her wings formed into giant flaming hands, batting the Timber Wolfs aside. “We need to find what ever is spawning these things and destroy it!” A fiery fist slammed into a gestalt leaving a burning hole in it’s chest. “Agreed!” Starlight nodded. “Sunset you take point, we will guard your sides and flank!” With the Phoenix Filly leading the way they could make their way down the forest path. Fortunately Sunset could also put out fires by absorbing them other wise they would have burnt the forrest down, as it was they still ended up blasting a few trees to bits. The forest quickly became to thick for the giants and Tempest could blast the horde behind them as they got stuck in the bottleneck. “Look!” Starlight pointed at a previously fallen tree that was starting to mutate into a Timber Wolf. “I think we are getting close, be on guard!” She froze that one in a crystal then levitated it out of the path. As they fought their way deeper into the woods they came across more and more of the half formed wolves making the battle a bit easier. “I see something up ahead.” Sunset pointed with one of her fire hands, sure enough there was an ominous purple glow coming from a ring of trees. The three sped up squeezing between the trees and finally finding the source of all their critter problem. “Is that what I think it is?” Sunset asked, shocked. “Yes, I’m afraid it is.” Starlight confirmed. Tempest looked at them then back at the thing. “Well what is it?” Before them standing nearly twelve feet tall was a crystal of pure dark magic, so pure it was glowing. “Dark magic is incredibly dangerous, even when I was evil I didn’t mess with that stuff.” Starlight shook her head. “I wasn’t as smart, you don’t want to know what that stuff can do to your mind.” Sunset added. “How do we destroy it?” “The wolves are starting to form again!” Tempest started to charge her horn. “NO!” Starlight yelled. “If you charged that crystal you would turn it into raw energon!” “It could blow this entire forrest to Canterlot!” Tempest powered down as Starlight continued. “I can dispel it easily, thankfully, I’ll just hit it with some positive magic.” She lit up her horn one more time and fired a beam of “happy thoughts” straight into the dark crystal shrinking it down until it vanished completely. The half formed Timber Wolves around them suddenly fell to pieces, their source of magic gone. The three mares breathed a collective sigh of relief. The walk back was quiet as they realized all the damage they had done, Fluttershy would have been horrified at all the burnt and broken trees along the path. Once the reached the clearing Tempest spoke up. “Sunset, I’m sorry, I froze up and nearly cost you your life.” “I’ll find a way to make us even.” “It’s ok, the fall gave me time to think about what you had said, so in the end you saved my life.” “Honestly being knocked off a cliff was worth it to get my magic back, besides, we’re friends now, and that’s just what friends do, we stick our necks out for each other.” Sunset put a hoof around Tempest and gave her a hug, Tempest stiffened up but after a moment returned the hug, but not for long. “You’re still going to look for a way to make us even aren’t you?” “We must already be friends if you know me that well.” Tempest smirked. “You know.” Starlight interrupted. “I was there too, where is my bonding moment?” Sunset stuck a tongue out at her. “Don’t worry Im sure something will come up, maybe a song and dance number.” That wasn’t a joke. “Ladies.” Tempest held up some sort of torn and tattered cloth in her hoof. “We’ve got a problem.” She was holding the shredded ruins of the hot air balloon
The Party PlanningTwilight awoke groggily, one eye opened slowly and looked at the clock, after staring at it blankly waiting for her mind to remember how to read numbers she realized it was time to get up. She managed to pull herself up and out of bed, slowly shuffling into the hallway, her head hung low, unable or unwilling to find the energy to lift it. She normally was an early waker, but today was an exception, she had found out that Tempest’s blimp had a shelf of books and had stayed up late reading all of them. Most of the books had been charts and maps, a few about wind patterns, a money ledger, the real find had been a book about Kobolds: lifestyles and customs. Twilight wasn’t thinking about the books now however, she wasn’t thinking about much of anything other then getting to the kitchen and making herself a cup of coffee, as if brought to life by her thoughts a cup of coffee appeared by her side. She grabbed it in a faint purple glow and brought it close, taking a sip. Her eyes shot open! This was one amazing cup of joe, she couldn’t believe her taste buds! She looked down, finally seeing who had made this miracle brew appear. “Grubber! This is amazing! Did you make this?” Grubber smiled from ear to ear at her words. “You bet’cha!” “Why do you think Commander Tempest kept me around?” He paused for a moment, smirking, then added. “Well other then my great sense of humor and dashing good looks.” She noticed there was a cupcake with white frosting on the tray as well. “You make that too?” Her question got answered with an enthusiastic nodding of his head. She lifted up the treat, cupcakes for breakfast was more Pinkie Pie’s thing but she wasn’t about to spurn her temporary assistant, and took a big bite. Another shock, it was a muffin with whip cream on top, and delicious to boot. “This muffin, is scrumptious!” “You keep this up and you will be the best temporary assistant I’ve ever had!” “Wow!” Grubber blushed. “Wait, how many temps have you had?” Twilight stopped still, her eyes glassed over, memories she had repressed returned, memories of three little fillies trying to find their cutiemarks. She shook her head. “Never mind about that, you got that list I made for today?” “Right here!” He pulled the list from a hidden shirt pocket, instead of being rolled up like Spike would have done, the little hedgehog had folded it up. “Eccellent! Lets go eat breakfast then get started on that list right away, sound good?” Grubber saluted. “YES YOUR HIGHNESS!” He was far more eager about breakfast then anything else. The early morning air was cool and crisp, their hunger stated the two walked into the already bustling center of Ponyville ready to shop and barter. With all her friends out of town at the same time Twilight had felt a loneliness that hadn’t known since she was a student in Canterlot, even then she had Spike, but it also gave her an idea. She was going to throw her friends a welcome back party! They were all due back on the same day, the odds of that happening were astronomical, Twilight knew this cause she had done the math, twice. She also had a feeling that her three newer friends would show back up on that day as well, things seemed to be convenient like that when you lived in Ponyville. Turns out shopping for a party in Ponyville was also convenient, most shops had default lists for all sorts of parties thanks to Pinkie Pie. Twilight was ecstatic when a shop owner would pull out a checklist, and by this point Grubber was already dragging around ribbons and a welcome back banner, up next was plates, cups, and utensils. “Princess Twilight can I ask a question?” Grubber asked from behind the box he was carrying. “Of course, and you don’t need to call me a princess.” The humble princess responded while inspecting the thickness of two different plastic cups. “What’s up with the elements of friendship?” Twilight set down the cups. “What do you mean?” “Well, it just, I don’t know.” “Umm, do you really need all six of those things to be friends?” Twilight could sense what was behind that question. “There are more then just six elements of friendship you know.” “WHAT!?” Gurbbers head popped out from behind the packages and bags “There’s even more!?” Twilight nodded, “Usually they can be included as part of one of the six, such as trust, you need to be able to trust your friends and to be trustworthy, but that can fit under loyalty really.” “Sometimes I don’t put my trust in my friends, sometimes I think I know better or that my way is the best way and I blunder about making a fool of myself.” “But even when I don’t show trust my friends show forgiveness, another element of friendship.” “So you see, even if you don’t have all the elements you can still be and have friends.” “Oh, that’s good, I was worried.” Grubber smiled before disappearing behind the load once more. “You know,” he went on, “You’re pretty good at explaining friendship, you could teach classes about it.” “Me a teacher?” She was about to snicker but stopped, maybe that was such a bad idea, she would have to ponder on this later, when she had free time. The rest of the shopping trip had gone off without a hitch, Grubber did most of the talking telling Twilight all about his life and what led up to him meeting Tempest Shadow, he also went on about what kinds of food he liked, that was a long list. Arriving back at the castle she was greeted by the handful of Stormies that didn’t go to Sweet Apple Acres and the ones that had already finished the jobs around town. Twilight was fine with this however, she was going to have them help her clean up for the party. She was going to invite the entire town. Author's Note Sorry that such a short chapter took so long, I will try to do better for the next chapter Image commissioned from pencilbrony https://pencilbrony.tumblr.com/ (warning, some gore art sometimes, but no nudes)
