Tempest looked out over a large city. Similar to Yeltras, it was a series of stone apartments and large buildings in neatly-ordered grids leading up to governmental buildings in the center. The city was stationed on a large island, which was certainly different from her typical campaigns. Ships, both water and air, were heading too and fro the ports of the island. Of course, the biggest difference to how she usually approached a city in an airship was the fact she wasn't in her own ship.

Following the death of the Storm King, his former empire had fallen into turmoil. Various officers and officials had attempted to buckle down and hold onto their power. Pryhan forces, using a mixture of mercenaries, rebels, and a few of their own troops, had taken down many of those that had refused to surrender. As of now, Pryhan officers were acting as temporary heads of state in the former Storm King's territories.

She didn't really know why she had been called. Most of the time in the six months since the death of the Storm King had been spent re-learning how to properly using her magic. Out of the blue, a group of Pryhan soldiers had asked her to come with them.

Next to her, one of the soldiers said, "Ave, Commander. We'll be there in a few minutes, so I suggest you get ready."

"Ready for what?", she asked. "I haven't been briefed on the full situation."

"Don't properly know, Commander. I just know that there have been a few officials from nations I never seen", he said, shrugging.

Tempest nodded as the soldier headed off to go do... something. She looked back to the city, watching as the main building in the center of the city grew closer. The ship didn't land, hovering over the main courtyard of the building. She headed down the stairs to the lower deck, following a pair of Pryhans as they made their way down the gangplank.

At the base of the gangplank, several soldiers in purple cloaks and helmet crests stood on either side of it. In the middle, right in front of her, stood a demigryph in a gold-plated breastplate, a purple shoulder-cape, and a laurel crown. He said, "Ave, Commander Tempest. Welcome to Cepolina."

"Er, hi", Tempest said. "I'm assuming that you are some high ranking Pryhan. Right?"

"You would be partially correct. Caesar Diocletian the ninth, at your service", he said.

Tempest nodded, trying to appear calm despite her internal panic. She was face to face with the leader that had brought seemingly invincible Storm Kingdom to its knees in a matter of months. "I see. And, can I ask why I am here?"

Diocletian nodded, gesturing for her to follow him as he turned to walk away. As she caught up to him, he said, "You are well aware of the current state of the Storm Kingdom, yes?"

"How your forces have more-or-less taken over?", Tempest asked.

Diocletian nodded, before saying, "I do not intend for this to be a permanent situation. I have not the forces, nor the interest to hold onto your former employer's lands. And yet, I cannot just let it fall into ruin. Not only does Pryha know exactly what that can be like, but it would be in no one's interest for it to remain unclaimed and lawless. A waste economically, but also such a large area of land left unclaimed could be a cause of future conflict."

"Alright, but where do I fit in?", Tempest asked.

"Well", he said, a hint of mild interest in his voice. "That's what we called you here to ask."

Tempest cocked her head at his statement. "Who's we?"

"Myself, Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire, King Pharynx of the Changeling Hive, and the leaders of the governments-in-exile from former nations in the Storm Kings territory", Diocletian said, pushing open a door into a large interior space.

That caused Tempest to freeze like a rabbit in a spotlight. "Wait, you mean-"

"Greetings, Commander Tempest", A calm, almost melodic voice interjected. "So good to see you again."

Tempest looked past the Caesar and into the room he had entered. It was a vaulted room, most of which was taken up by a massive engraved table piled with food. Light came down from a skylight, shining through a crystal chandelier to cast odd shapes of light across the room. The food in question was of a decent variety; Platters of oysters or fruit, several loaves of bread, bowls of salad, a plate stacked high with sandwiches, and a big bowl of Pryhan beef stew.

That wasn't what drew her attention, though; that was those around the table. A pink alicorn wearing a tiara, collar, and horseshoes. A changeling with a red fin and purple eyes, as opposed to the black fin and blue eyes of Carapace, wearing a green peaked cap with a black visor. A black and white Abyssinian wearing a grey trenchcoat and a large medal in the center of his collar where a tie would be that she recalled was named Pontiff Calico. However, what drew her attention most was the one who had spoken: a large white hippogryph with a fuchsia mane. One she knew all too well.

"G-greetings-s, Qu-queen Novo", Tempest stuttered, panic welling up in her like a bullet out of a firearm.

Novo shot her a look Tempest couldn't quite interpret. Silent analysis or a hidden contempt, perhaps? Tempest tried to look away from the Hippogryph monarch, taking note that there were only two seats left open. Diocletian climbed into one of them, leaving only one for her.

As Tempest sat down, Princess Cadence said, "A pleasure to meet you, Commander Tempest. I assume you know who I am?"

"O-of course, Princess Cadence", she said.

"Go ahead and have some", Pharynx said. "Some of it tastes a bit weird, but it'll help you relax. Trust me; I've been in your little pony hooves before." To emphasize his suggestion, he lifted up a sausage on a fork and bit it in half.

Tempest nodded sheepishly, climbing into her seat and subconsciously levitated a sandwich onto her plate. She looked around nervously, before taking a breath and steeling herself. She was Commander Tempest. Even if the Storm King was dead, she was still the mare who brought him his conquests. She levitated the sandwich to her mouth and took a big bite, savoring the taste of creamy sauce and daffodils.

"Did the Storm King finally see fit to give you your horn back?", Novo asked.

And her mild sense of confidence came crashing down.

"N-no", Tempest said. "I-it's a gift from the Pryhans. A prosthetic."

"So, you did all of what you did for nothing in the end?", She questioned.

Diocletian said, "That is quite enough. You two may converse afterward, but until then, keep it professional. Please?"

Both of them nodded, silent. Pharynx finished whatever it was he was eating, before saying, "Alright, can we get started? I still have to go find something to go yell at or to hit."

"I agree with the Changeling", Pontiff Calico said.

Diocletian said, "Very well. May you do the honors, Princeps?"

Cadence's horn lit up, and a glowing map appeared above the table. Tempest immediately recognized it as a map of the Storm Kings territory, along with its borders with the Southern Jungles, Saddle Arabia, and the Badlands. Several blue lines appeared on it; borders, Tempest realized. Diocletian said, "This is the map of the Storm King's territory. The blue lines represent the borders of nations consumed by the Storm King, or at least taken."

Tempest noticed one of the lines was over the badlands, where she had the Changelings were from. "We-I mean, the Storm King attacked the Changelings?"

"Yeah", Pharynx said. "We're all here because your former boss attacked us. Well, except for the Princess of food, who's here to act as an intermediary."

Noticing Tempest's confused look, Cadence said, "Changelings eat love, and I'm the Princess of love, so it's a little nickname they gave me. My husband finds it insulting, but I think it's kinda cute."

"Anyway", Diocletian said. "Now that the Storm King is dead, his former territories are currently under Pryhan, Changeling, and Saddle Arabian occupation. The former states of Abyssinia and Mount Aris will, of course, be restored, and all four in the area would receive territorial boosts. However, that still leaves an area of about seven-hundred thousand square kilometers in the heart of his power, here." As he finished, several green lines appeared, making the blue lines appear small by comparison. The area of the Stormpeak mountains, where the Storm Kings citadel was, was outlined in red. "Our job here is to decide what to do with it."

"Whatever you all want", Tempest said.

All of them stared at her, Novo, in particular, raising an eyebrow at her comment. Cadence asked, "What do you mean?"

"Why are you all acting like I hold some sort of sway? I'm a commander; I never had any administrative or public duties besides enforcing the Storm Kings laws. Besides, I'm more than willing to just accept my punishment from you all and be done with it", Tempest said, bowing her head.

Novo clicked her beak, her eyes seeming to bore into her. "What makes you think that you will be punished?"

"You do know who you're speaking to, right?", Tempest joked sullenly. "I'm the Storm Kings right-hand mare. His will. And yet, I'm here, having a delicious lunch and talking politics instead of being in a cell or crucified or something. So, just stop beating around the bush, and just lay it on me already."

Silence fell over the table like a gas. Finally, Diocletian said, "Commander, there is simply nothing that we can charge you with."

That caught her off guard. "What?"

"Well, for you to face judicial retribution, there would've needed to have been a crime broken", Diocletian said.

"I know that", Tempest said. "But what do you mean nothing you can charge me with!?"

"Mount Aris was at war with the Storm King at the time of your attack", Queen Novo said. "While I do not like it, the civilian deaths were unavoidable."

Diocletian added, "And beyond that, you were fighting within the parameters of a just war. While that cannot be said for other commanders, you never used cruel or unusual weapons or used prisoners in a way that could be seen as malicious. You obeyed the rules of war. And, as for your position, you are the highest-ranking official left."

Tempest's jaw dropped at the statement. "It's true", Cadence said. "All of the others that would be next in line are either dead, in hiding, or facing charges for slavery or unjust treatment."

"S-so I....?", Tempest stuttered.

Queen Novo said, "Yes. While I do not forgive you, I acknowledge that you were not truly malicious in your campaigns. You will not be facing any major reproductions beyond territorial loss and economic reparations."

Tempest slumped back in her seat, taking in what had been said. She opened her mouth to speak, to thank them, only to be interrupted by Pharynx.

He said, "Well, not completely."

Calico asked, "What does that mean?"

"She didn't lead the push against me, so I never got to fight her", Pharynx explained. "The one I did face was a wussy coward, so that doesn't count. I am honor-bound both as Monarch and High Marshal of the Changeling Hive to do so."

Tempest's despondent look shifted to her almost standard evil grin. "Very well, King."

"P-perhaps we could use a break, anyway", Diocletian said. "Maybe thirty minutes to relax, eat, and... well, go beat the shit out of each other, in your case." As soon as Tempest and Pharynx had left the room, Diocletian noticed Princess Cadence looking after them with a look of amusement. "Is something wrong, Princess?"

"Oh, no", she said slyly, turning her attention back to the two Officer-Leaders. "Nothing except opportunity for us all."

Author's Note

And with that, I've gotten what I believe is the last major villain to be addressed or that will be addressed in the sequel. For those of you wondering, yes, Tempest becomes the new Storm Queen. It's basically the same as with Pharynx; a former military officer thrust into an administrative role, being advised by other nations until they can function on their own.

Onto something less dark...