Chapter 1: Introductions are needed
A pony, a unicorn with a fractured horn sat at the dining table trying to enjoy her lunch. 'Trying' being the keyword as across her was a belligerent, idiotic, flapping mouth of a pegasus.
That pegasus being Brazen, his yellow coat was covered with dust and grime of old ventures and expeditions of Conquest and treasure hunting. His left wing was composed entirely of scrap metal as a replacement for the loss of his original wing. His amber eyes shined through his hazel mane but all of that was being set aside with Tempest's irritation rising as her co-worker and 'equal' was making a fool of himself again.
She had to put a hard emphasis on equal as she couldn't bring herself to say it so casually, as much to her dismay and protesting she was perfectly able to command a unit alone, her pleas fell on deaf ears with her boss; Storm King putting the delirious pegasus in co-commander position.
"Okay listen I know we'll be arriving at the Castle in a few months but is it really okay we just walk in there when one of the princesses is having a coronation? Like really? A little insensitive don't ya think?"
Tempest has had nothing but patience for the oaf but she swore it waned more and more like her sanity. He was not entirely horrible to deal with but Celestia is damned if he wasn't taking a few years off her life. Couple that with forcing herself to have more training as the days came closer to the big plan and her having to deal with shipment, supplies, soldiers, checking and re-checking of weapons. It was very much all stress-inducing and as much as she hated speaking with Brazen...she hated to admit it but it helped to listen to his idiotic rambling.
She held her tongue on whether being considerate of a future prisoner's wellbeing was even in question but she learned long ago when working with her partner that he was prone to asking such self-explanatory questions. She had once, ONCE broken her calm demeanor to ask why he would ask these stupid questions to which he responded with; "I don't know, I just love to get a kick out of your emotions."
That experience had led to two things, 1. He gained a hoof imprint on his face and 2. She had learned to never answer those rhetorical questions.
She had to stop together with her consumption of bland tasteless soup that was given to all the crewmates, breathing deeply through her nostrils. She, like many times before, does a breathing exercise to help her lose fewer brain cells when dealing with the feather-brained pegasus.
"Brazen, why do you care?" While Tempest was by no means inquiring his real response she had learned long ago that his idiotic antics can help relieve time that passes through the monotonous missions she's led into.
He had tapped his chin at the thought before answering, "I guess I just find it rude, I mean sure it's a perfect point to attack them but don't you ever think maybe we should at least let them savior it a bit? I mean they had an attack at a royal wedding, you'd think they would be more on guard for events like this. " He looked back at Tempest with a shrug and genuine question.
Tempest was even more confused by the actual want of her response with that question but she relented.
"They are our enemies, I think them enjoying themselves is the least of our problems. Storm King is already putting this into motion and this is our best moment of surprise. Besides if it worked so well on the wedding why would this be any different?"
"I guess..." He had leaned back on his wooden cheap chair of the lunchroom much like any other. "Don't you think it should mean more for us though? Like returning us to our fellow ponies?"
Now that caught Tempest's attention with a raised eyebrow. "Why would you care about our arrival?" She started to rise from her seat while unknowingly pilling her hatred inside.
"They left us like dirt" she spoke with her words dripping with poison. "And we should treat them the same!" She stomped her hooves on the table for emphasis to her comrades but when her head cleared of her hatred she saw her lower rank allies staring at her with her partner just smiling at her.
She puffed her cheeks and her chest out subconsciously in an authoritative way. "WHAT?" she spoke loudly and commanding, causing every creature to turn away.
She slowly sat herself down to see Brazen smiling like a goof. "What?" She wasn't surprised he wasn't as submissive as the others but every time she had one of these moments she always found him smiling.
"Mmm, nothin' just that you look cute doing that thing you always do when you lose your composure." He smiled politely but something about the smile was different than normal ones.
She looked at him as if he was an idiot, which he was. "Uh-huh," She grumbled a bit before taking in a few spoonfuls of tasteless soup with embarrassment rising in her cheeks with a radiant blush.
After the meal was over Tempest had taken the same direction she had taken many times before, the halls were many and long in the main ship.
She had built her way up through the ranks and found the fleet of ships to be differentiating when it came to design and space as she progressed. And as she came climbing through it all she found Brazen, a sometimes brainless but surprisingly adept and skilled fighter.
She had felt somewhat of a connection to him in some ways, nothing as silly as friendship or Celestia forbid a romantic relationship she shuddered at that prospect. But she did feel a connection to the oddball when she met him, he had a wing cut off, his evident disfigure had played a part in her connection.
If any creature asked, she would lie about the mere thought of fondness of her co-worker but his missing appendage had... struck a chord in her heart. Nothing as silly as love of course but it had given her a bit of sympathy for the poor imbecile.
She could relate to the missing of one of your core defining pieces of your species, she had known what it was like to feel that distance, that coldness that one felt in loneliness. While she was nothing but critical of him, she did have somewhat of a soft spot for the stallion.
Her thoughts were interrupted with a bump to her side, bringing her back to reality. Her eyes snapped to turn to what idiot took her away from her thoughts to find Brazen.
"Hey, Tempest!" He grinned a huge smile, his metallic wing making a waving motion while his remaining wing was tucked at the side.
While she did have a soft spot for him, he was not any less annoying. She felt an incoming headache but just rubbed her forehead with one of her hooves while she kept pace. She had dealt with frequent headaches due to the sparking of her horn since she lost the damn thing.
"What is it Brazen? We're off the clock and I'm heading downstairs to do some training so make it quick." She snapped at him before he could come up with whatever chatter he was going to make.
"Yeesh cutting it a little deep don't ya think? I mean between frie-"
She slammed a hoof down and gave him a sharp stare before he could finish. "Don't you dare say that word! We're not 'friends', just co-workers and I only feel pity for you." She spat out that last part as an insult but Brazen didn't seem to mind at all.
"Uh-huh suuuuure" He had that dumb smile again.
"Listen here-" before she could keep going the ship shook and turned with quakes along the structure causing every creature on board to shake with rumbles and harsh winds outside.
Due to the rough weather that shook the ship, Brazen and Tempest had been pushed to the wall with force enough to make their heads swirl.
"Agh," Brazen clutches his head, "looks like we got more to worry about than your insecurities." Brazen gave a small smile before righting himself up to walk upstairs.
Tempest was fumed that Brazen could insult her lile that, "We're not done here!"
Author's Note
This may seem soft and light hearted at first but trust me... there will be bloodshed by the end of all of this...and the prophecy will unravel to doom the fate of the universe...
Anyway! Hope you enjoy Changing Expec- oh shit uh Script...heh 
