"Princess, where should I have these speakers delivered to?"

"The caterers for the end portion of the festival have arrived! They need a signature on their receipt!"

"We've got a storm incoming. Should I alert the weather teams?"

Twilight Sparkle gave a sigh as she turned to the three Solar Guards that had entered the conference room where she was taking a much-needed break from her organizational duties.

It had been four hours already since her arrival, and Twilight now felt she should have left earlier. Though Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Prince Shining Armor, and Princess Cadance had rendered whatever help they could at whatever times they could spare, Twilight had still felt the overwhelming feeling of stress grow greater with everything that happened.

"Alright," she sighed before turning to face the Guards. "First, the speakers go by the concert area, the stage-workers there should be able to set them up. Next, I'll sign for the caterers in a moment. And what's this about a storm?"

The third Guardspony motioned to the window, and Twilight saw the aforementioned storm clouds approaching fast, crackling with lightning.

"Those aren't natural storm clouds or pegasi-made," She murmured to herself. "I can sense magic coming off of them…"

She took in a breath, and told the Guardsponies to set up a security perimeter outside the city and to alert the palace staff to have lodgings ready in case the festival needed to move inside for a period of time.

The Guardsponies nodded and departed. Twilight then exhaled in a stress-induced manner and collapsed into her chair with a groan.

"Twilight? Are you there?"

She looked up with a weak smile at hearing the voice of her sister-in-law, Princess Cadance. As the pink alicorn approached and wrapped a hoof around Twilight's shoulder, Twilight asked what the matter was.

"I just thought you could use some familial support." Cadance smiled. "I can tell you're overworked, stressed out, and in need of a break."

"What gave that away?" Twilight asked with a weak attempt at a convincing grin.

"Your wings are clenched at the sides, your eyes aren't looking good, and you've been working nonstop for four hours now." Cadance said, using a spell to create a mirror that Twilight looked into, and promptly began to chuckle at Cadance's accurate description.

"I guess so." She mused. "I've been waiting for this day for so long, and now that it's here, I just want everything to be perfect."

"As perfect as my wedding was supposed to be?" Cadance asked rhetorically. "Twilight, even if something goes wrong, remember, it'll all turn out alright. And again, going back to my wedding day as an example, that was the most special and one of the worst days of my life combined, each for different reasons."

"So please, Twilight, don't burn yourself out for the sake of this Festival. Take a good long break, get something to eat and drink, and then we'll wrap things up, okay?"

"Okay." Twilight gave a grateful smile, and she gave her sister-in-law a hug, which Cadance gladly returned, and Twilight exhaled deeply.

"Come on, let's go." Cadance nodded. "I believe the pizza stand should be up and running by now."

"Pizza does sound good." Twilight admitted as they exited the room and headed towards the Festival grounds.

====

At the same time, in the cave above Canterlot plaza, James Mendoza and Evs continued to monitor the storm clouds on the horizon, which had roughly doubled in size in only a few hours.

"Hey, Evs?" James asked with a raised eyebrow. "Do a sensor scan of those clouds. Check for all possible signatures."

"Well, alright, but what are you thinking?" his Ghost replied. "Is something wrong?"

"I think something's hiding in those clouds, and using them as cover." James said, adjusting his scope's zoom. "I think I saw an airship of kind enter those clouds earlier."

"And you're sure about that?" Evs asked, surprised.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Scan away."

Evs did so, and after a few minutes, the Hunter's Ghost recoiled as if flinching, and began muttering quielty.

"What is it?" James asked. "...Evs?"

His Ghost composed himself and spoke in a hurried manner.

"We've got a big problem after all." Evs said. "You were right, James. There's at least fifteen large airships, fully loaded with biological signatures, hiding in those clouds. And here's the kicker, they're all armed."

"With guns?" James asked, hoping for the best but fearing for the worst at the same time.

"No guns, just spears and shields for the most part. There's also a high concentration of an unknown energy field in the center of that storm wall." Evs said. "And I don't think the inhabitants of that city know they're being threatened."

"Get Cayde and everyone else on the line, right now." James said with a snarl, drawing a Crucible-Issue Scout Rifle and loading a fresh magazine. "Tell them we've got presumed hostiles inbound. Push your scans to them as well."

"Already on it, Guardian. Cayde's getting everyone prepped for action and alerting the Tower that we've got company. Let's get down there."

As James watched Evs dematerialize and merge with him, the veteran Hunter slid down the mountainside towards a garden at the base of the city's plaza. He activated his stealth camo systems, which had served the Hunter well when he stole Hive Essence from the Ascendant Realm in the middle of the Taken War, during a Death Ceremony for Crota.

After that operation, and the death of Oryx following after that, James had spent quite some time in one of the workshops in the Tower fixing the camo. Even though it was developed by the Warmind Rasputin, it wasn't designed entirely for Guardian usage.

But for now. it would suffice, as long as he remained undetected by the locals.

James made his way to an elevated position and readied his Sniper Rifle, his camo slowly dissipating. As he watched with a furrowed eye, the locals stopped and stared in fear and shock as one of the airships descended from the storm wall.

A small, grey and blue creature stepped forward and planted a flag in the stone, as the rest of the Guardians stacked up behind James, each of them having their weapons ready and their Light burning in their fists. Cayde-6 slid a fresh clip into Ace of Spades as the rest of the airships revealed themselves. Thankfully, none of the locals noticed the Guardians, as they were too focused on what was in front of them.

A maroon local with a clearly broken horn stepped forward, wearing black and blue armor. The smaller creature then proclaimed loudly, echoing for all to hear.

"Announcing the arrival of Tempest Shadow!"

Author's Note

Update!

Next time - An epic battle between the Guardians and the Storm King's Forces.