I'm what now?
The maroon mare blinked heavily, not sure if she heard right but knowing that she had no hearing loss. In fact, it was really radiated by the fact that Pinkie was bouncing in place cheerfully. The other girls were standing around her in a half circle in the Twilight’s Castle
She sighed and shook her head.
"Okay, I may not have fully been up to date to pony customs the last few years but I just want to make sure that what I am assuming is correct." She paused, took in a deep breath and then exhaled. "So you're telling me, that ponies-"
"And other creatures too!" Pinkie pipped in quickly.
"...and other creatures find me… a former commander of one of the most feared armies in the lands, a highly trained combatant and killer… that took on four princesses and conquered Canterlot in less than a day…" She gave a small grunt as she said the word. "Hot… As in attractive… right?"
She received nods all around and Pinkie pulled out a chart that showed a poll from her mane and showed it to her. "Mhmm! At least top five!"
Tempest turned to her and dared to ask.
"Who-"
"As former/reformed/unreformed villianess?!" Stated or asked or both, the pink mare. She showed the graph and true to her word, she was in the top five. Above her was Queen Chrysalis of the changelings and above her was Princess Luna's darker alter ego, Nightmare Moon as the number one hottest villianesses.
Two others were mares she didn’t recognize but below her were several ponies and creatures she had never seen or encountered. Starlight… something, a female griffin, some trio of sea-serpents and so on. The graph also showed a bar of green and a number of votes of who thought who was hotter/sexier on the list.
Tempest visibly shuddered that there were at least six digits on her end, with a second comma might be appearing eventually. The two above her were already in seven digits, soon to be eight.
This really disturbed her mentally and she didn’t know how to feel, either in disgust or in distress.
“Oh darling, no need to fret. Why, it’s quite a compliment to be named a sexy villain.” Rarity stated, a quill and paper in her magic as she was drawing up designs. “Not to mention that you have beaten out several others.”
Tempest gave her a look of incredulousness. “I-I don’t know if this is a good thing or not!” Her face was red with embarrassment and a bit of anger. “I-I mean, how does one… become hot or sexy? I didn’t try or anything!”
“Well darling, you don’t really have to try, it just comes naturally and well, perhaps your physique can come off as a bit more… appealing.”
Tempest looked down at her body. She was dressed in royal armor, tailored to stand out from normal guard armor that work under a princess directly, so not much of her actual body standing out, so she wasn’t sure what-
“When you were running, jumping, fighting or just posing, dear.” Rarity paused her quill and touched the tip of it to her head. “It can be viewed as both intimidating and rather… exotic.”
“Yeah,” Pipped in Rainbow Dash. “-I mean, me and A.J. are both the most physically capable ponies all around the area but that seems to spike up the choice in ponies eyes.” She then gave a grin and boasted, “That is also why we are like the type ten hottest/sexiest heroines and top mares in Equestria.”
Tempest looked up at her in confusion then realized what was stated. “Wait, they also rated you two-”
“Us all.” Twilight corrected, though a slight blush could be seen on her face. “At one point, we all were pointed to as the most… attractive mares in the land. That includes magazines, covers and news reports.” She then summoned several of said items which had photos or drawings of them all. “So in truth, we all got to be part of something that we never thought would happen.”
Tempest briefly glanced at each thing, though she noted, quite heavily, that a certain alicorn and pegasus were in the main issues. Said pegasus was hiding with her wings and shrunken behind the table. She gave a toss of her head. “And her deal?”
The vibrating or shaking form, she couldn’t tell, of Fluttershy was visible to them all. A comforting pat was offered by Rainbow Dash.
“Uh… Fluttershy here doesn’t do crowds or public views or pictures well, so she hates knowing that she is on these things. She even briefly did modeling but that only boosted her reputation.”
“An’ it don’ help da poor mare tha’ she on top of da list.” Applejack added.
“Wha-”
“Number 2” A whimper left Fluttershy as Twilight quickly answered, then she blushed heavily. “I’m…. I’m number one of us all…”
A silence reigned in the area. Pinkie was still happily in her own world, now reading some of the articles that Twilight summoned, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash debated between themselves on who is better. Rarity continued to draw more and Fluttershy remained to herself.
Tempest didn’t really know what to do with all this information and she felt so out of place with it. Surely, there had to be a mistake or a faux amount of information or something but it still was messing with her far worse than anything she had endured growing up or dealing with the Storm King’s plans.
After two minutes of absorbing this information, the maroon mare inhaled and exhaled once more deeply and shook her head. “Ok. Let’s just get this clear. I am… considered a hot villainess or former villainess and ponies and other creatures like that. Either physically or some other thing, can I at least know a bit more why this is…” A pause in trying to find the right word but couldn’t. “-is?”
For a few moments, no mare around her spoke, though Pinkie was deeply into the magazine, Twilight cleared her throat and spoke evenly. “While you don’t have to do much of anything, Fizzle-” She raised an eyebrow. “-Uh err… Tempest, you do need to somewhat acknowledge that there is potential for many possible suitors or relationships. When you walk down the street, you may trigger looks-”
“I’ve handled those looks before,” Tempest cut her off quickly and coolly, taking a stoic stance. “They usually tend to be of fear, respect or both. I take both with stride.”
Twilight nodded with a forced smile. “Yes but now… it might be more of attraction and up… appeal.”
Tempest slumped a little at hearing that and it did not help that she felt her face flush a little.
Once more Rarity pipped in. “Darling, again you have nothing to fear, though it would help to know if you are going to either hide and deny this part of yourself or, embrace and show the world that not only is Tempest Shadow a mare of action and power, but that you could be one of the most sought after bachelorette mares in Equestria!”
She then turned around and showed Tempest in a gown that would cover her. Tempest went wide eyed at seeing how it was a very stylished and she dare say… almost erotic look that she would never imagine to wear.
Pinkie leaned over to see and her eyes sparkled. “Ooooh… I can imagine you wearing that while fighting, Tempy! Imagine being the Royal Guard and defending Twilight in that sexy piece!”
“Pinkie! This gown was meant to be worn and shown off, not a suit of armor to fight in!”
“Well… why not make a suit of armor she could fight in and look sexy in too?”
Tempest went still and her face fully flushed, failing to answer. Rarity was about to retort that idea but paused, looked at Tempest’s current armor and brought her hoof to her chin in thought.
“Hmmm.” Tempest quickly snapped her eyes at her in panic.
“Don’t!” It sounded like a command but it was almost like a plea.
Rarity didn’t answer but went back to her drawing and began to rework it.
Tempest now felt sweat running down her head and this was the most uncomfortable she has ever been in her life. Rainbow Dash and Applejack seemed to be getting a kick out of this.
“Bwahaha!” Rainbow laughed. “Big bad, Tempest Shadow over here getting scared of putting on a dress to look hot!”
A glare was focused on her immediately but it wasn’t at full power because the red that consumed her face. Her horn did spark a little.
Twilight quickly intervened before she would see something go down. “Tempest, regardless of what others may say, you don’t have to do anything, like I said. Ignore it, hide it, embrace it, whatever you want, you don’t have to hinder this in any way.”
“But… how do you deal with this then?” She asked the mares all around her. “Surely you all have some… pony or creature come up to you and harass you in some way. I can’t be taken seriously if they think that me being hot won’t cause them to back down or think I am capable of defending you or myself.”
Applejack shrugged. “Partner, tha’ is for you to sho’ em’. Ya’ll can walk down tha’ street an’ have em’ all look atcha’ and decide if this is gonna make you soft or stronger.” She then pointed at Rainbow Dash and herself. “We really don’ much care tha’ we are the hottest mares aroun’ but many still know tha’ we saved Equestria many times and tha’ we’ll do it all again.”
“Right!” Rainbow added with a small cheer. “And it’s because we are hot, and I mean, amazingly hot… that other ponies will not only just leave us be but also because they already know what we can do, especially when we are all together.”
“Also, also!” Pinkie cheerfully landed into her view. “We can still live our lives knowing full well that whether ponies have us on posters hanging on their walls or clop to us every night!” Each mare shuddered and blushed madly as Pinkie stated that outloud. “We are still our own pony and whatever others think or believe, we will continue to do what we do best.”
The loud mention of ponies clopping to them or her was really unsettling but she did see that they knew what was happening behind the scenes. If ponies and creatures did that to the biggest heroes in all the lands, then perhaps she would get sidelined by most. However, there was something else too.
“But… then why I am-” She paused at saying the words out again but pushed through them with a shudder. “-the sexiest or hottest villainess, if I am no longer one.”
Rarity waved her hoof dismissively. “Oh darling, that is nothing but using it as a catalog for ponies. There are catalogs for many different things. Either by mare, stallion, princess, race, creature, wet mane-”
“Wet mane?” Tempest blurted out, before realizing she made another mistake in that question. Following that, a sudden picture of Twilight was in front of her, who was in a small pond, completely drenched from horn to tail. She looked embarrassed but was… stunning in her look. Whoever took the picture must have had a real lucky shot at that. She peeked over to Twilight, who hid behind her wings like Fluttershy.
Tempest gently pushed the picture down, showing her discomfort, and Rarity took the time to end the reasoning. “Any who, darling. Like I said, it’s mostly for lists and also selling their magazines and what not to the public.”
She looked at the white mare. “You are surprisingly the most open about this? This hasn’t affected your business in any negative way?” She then looked at the rest of them. “None of you?” Before looking at Twilight as she revealed her face. “You? You’re a princess? Doesn’t that disturb you or anger the nobles or something?”
Twilight nodded but she spoke with a small smile. “Tempest, you can’t tell me that you’ve looked at a pony of a higher caliber and thought what it would be like to sleep with or see them bare, right? Whether it’s me, Princess Luna, Celestia, or Cadance.” Tempest just blinked at her. Twilight’s smile dropped. “Wait, are you even intrested in any particular sex? Mare or stallion?”
Tempest shifted uncomfortably on her hooves. “I find that question a bit unreasonable to ask here.”
“Oh come on, mare!” Rainbow practically jumped, hovering over the table.
“Settle down, R.D!” Applejack chidded.
The rainbow maned mare hovered over the table angrily near Tempest. “You mean to tell me that you aren’t interested in anypony or anyone? I mean…” she pointed to Applejack. “She and I are together.” She pointed at Fluttershy. “She’s with Discord,” A hoof at Pinkie. “She’s with Cheese.”
“Yeppers!” Confirmed Pinkie.
“-And she is straight.” Pointing at Rarity who gave a curt nod. A final hoof was pointed at Twilight, “And her… she swings every way. Like her fetishes make her a bit of a freak but still…”
“Hey!” Twilight tried to counter but Rainbow waved her off. She then angrily looked at Tempest. “So, that is us and how we roll, how bout you?”
Tempest remained quiet for a moment after that was explained until she answered slowly. “I’m… not interested in anything… right now.”
“Asexual it is.” Twilight answered before Rainbow could ask. Rainbow gave a small shrug and sat back down. Shaking that off, she looked towards the others.
“So then, back to my question.”
Rarity was the first to speak right away. “Well darling. My shop did take a small hit because of what they thought I would be doing when they saw my pictures up in the magazines. However, when many of those magazines wanted to use my clothing for their models and such, well my business practically boomed with more orders than I can handle. Thanks to that however, I had to secretly create more… um, how should we say, sensual or exotic orders in a private shop. Those orders alone I could build more Boutiques across Equestria alone.”
Tempest blinked and looked down at one of the magazines. While none of them were on it, a white unicorn mare with the title ‘Fleur in the night!’ was on the front, wearing a saddle and some stockings as well as other really erotic wear. “Huh.” Was her only response.
Rarity nodded. Applejack spoke next. “While ah didn’ take it personally with the whole… hotness an’ whatnot’, ma family and ah thought it might be a good idea ta put me or ma name in the front of our cider.” A chuckle left her with a huge blush. “Next thing ah know, our labels are appearing in all ova em’ magazines saying that our ‘Cider is as delicious as the mare y'all see here!’ So ah can say it hurt nun us all, but oh mare! Didn’ Granny and Big Mac lose thar teeth! We have ta’ hide em’ magazines from lil Applebloom so she don’ seem em.”
Rainbow chuckled with her before fixing Tempest a smooth and cool look. “As for me, the Wonderbolts thought I was gonna go do these pics in my suit and damage the ‘Bolts’ look, but I told them that while I like looking good in front of the cameras, I would still be loyal and only take approved and ‘safe for work’ shots. Nothing else.” She then gave a small blush with a smile. “Then again, sometimes I do embarrass myself and those lucky bastards snap a shot at me exposed and it ends up on these polls or magazines, so there’s that.”
Pinkie spoke next. “I didn’t use my pictures but I did allow them to know where I worked and that helped with sales at Sugar Cube Corner! And also… while my family thought I was acting floozy, I told them that I was just at the right moment, at the right time when the shots came in. So no biggie for me!”
Fluttershy remained silent but she did push out a small pamphlet to the table. Tempest cocked her head in confusion but Twilight’s magic lifted it and was given to Tempest. Upon closer examination, Tempest noticed that… whoever took the pictures of Fluttershy… somehow had gotten pictures of her when she was the most exposed but her sensitive bits were covered by animals(conveniently) placed around her privates. She was in some really odd poses like half walking with her tail up but somehow a bunny fell from her rump to cover her or when she was lying on her side and a pair of teats were covering her… well her teats.
The pamphlet overall was to donate money to help the animal sanctuary that she had built and preserve either endangered species, adopt a pet or research an animal.
“And… you didn’t pose or anything, you just had somepony… stalk you and take pictures?”
A nod was given. Tempest looked over the pamphlet. “And… you do not like modeling or posing, but this worked in your favor then.”
“Very much so,” She piped up briefly, a small smile touching her lips. “I have had so many pet adoptions and donations by the week’s end that I almost forgot that I am in the magazine…” She then shrunk down once more. “-Though they always beg for an autograph or picture.”
Tempest blinked a bit owlishly then turned to the Princess, who was still blushing but she brought over a scroll which had a list. “What’s this?” She asked as she reached out to read the scroll.
Twilight blushing madly, still spoke out better than then the shy one. “That is everything I am on, what I have pictures in and what makes me stand out.”
Tempest’s eyes went wide as the list went up and down with just descriptions of what Twilight was on. From news articles and erotic books, to magazines and posters, to pillow covers and keychains. Most of what she read had Twilight in erotica or in sensual ways, more so that she was advertised as the Princess who didn’t mind having pictures of her taken in those ways. At least… not directly.
One did come up that was very interesting and somewhat cautiously disturbing. “Films and bit-olodean?” She looked up. “They are paying a bit to see a few seconds worth of you.”
“In private and a quick flash of me in a sultry pose.”
She then stared down the list more. “Actors have the right to use your image in any form of -'' She squinted at the word. “-Pornography that includes film, photos, telephone, gem recordings and-” She paused as she saw that there were a lot of disclaimers that it must be shown they were not the Real Twilight Sparkle or any of her friends. Changelings were the main source of these disclaimers especially in films, photos and…
“They take your form in brothels?!” The question was loud and abrupt, though none of the girls flinched.
Once more, the Princess of Equestria nodded with a deep blush. “Yeah… they have their specials and-”
She snorted, cutting her off and stared at all of them indignantly. “What the buck is wrong with all of you?!”
For a moment, silence and she may have felt bad for speaking out but her growth and departure from pony society may have left her deprived of proper interaction. “You come telling me that in my short introduction that I have entered Equestria, I have become a sexual icon? That the ponies I hunted across Equestria, are also sexual icons and none of you don’t mind or care?!”
They all looked back at her, waves of different emotions ejecting from their faces and while she could take anything head on, it was so surreal that their looks of disinterest of their outlooks at what ponies were doing to their image, made her feel indifferent.
Finally, Twilight spoke though her tone was even and her blush was gone. “Tempest, I know that you don’t think it's right or in any way but please know that while you may not like that ponies sexualize or think of you in any way different, you don’t have to let it affect your life. This means nothing to you, if little to us-”
“Except Fluttershy!” Pinkie pipped in cheerfully, causing the yellow mare to whimper and bury herself further.
“-Point! As is, you do not have to participate, expose yourself or do nothing.”
“But-t… how can you sit there and tell me you are not affected in any way by this?” She countered exasperatedly. “I-I-I mean just the sheer fact that they disgrace your image-”
“Is no different than anypony else who has had thoughts about Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Cadence, or me when we are ruling or defending Equestria. Your enemies will disgrace your image in some way or form but this is less so because they want to witness or encounter a fantasy. That is all this is, Tempest. Fantasies and joy for ponies and other creatures. Again, you should not fear or do anything about it. You can’t go out and tell everyone to not enjoy your look in some way or form.”’
“Yeah!” Pipped in Pinkie. “Because the more you press, the harder they will try to get more poses or find more ways to get you to expose yourself! Just… let it flow, Tempest. You don’t have to build a snowmare, you just watch others build it for you in your honor and even flash them a wink or two but that’s it. Nothing else!”
Tempest blinked at nonsensical words that came out of her. She then refocused on Twilight, sighing with defeat. “I can’t get out of that list, or out of anyone’s minds, can I?”
All around her shook their heads. “Not unless you want to erase everyone’s minds or brainwash them to hate you once again,” Rainbow snarked.
Tempest turned to Twilight and her mouth opened.
“No!” Twilight barked out immediately. Tempest closed her mouth. Then she looked around to find that ‘Starlight’ character after reading her report. “And no Starlight! She’s had enough trouble trying to not cause more magical mishaps already!”
“Disc-” Her mouth was instantly shut with magic.
“Especially him! If anything he might make it worse!” She let her mouth go.
Another sigh left the maroon mare before focusing an even stare at Twilight. “Fine, I don’t like this but… there is nothing I can do about it? But I’d better not be thrown in prison for kicking a pony if they get too close to me or for breaking their bones if they take a picture of my privates.”
Twilight frowned. “That is an invasion of privacy and you do have the right to have those pictures deleted,” She deflated a bit. “-though I ask that you try not to break bones.”
“And I don’t think you’d be thrown in jail,” Rainbow unhelpfully added. “-since you invaded Canterlot and captured four Princesses while trying to steal their magic, so a simple broken leg shouldn’t get you squat. Not to mention that the legal system is wack.”
Twilight gave a harsh glare towards the rainbow maned mare, who gave a shrug and pointed to the villainess’s list. “My point.” She simply stated.
A groan left the alicorn and Tempest refocused on that list. While it still unnerved her, a bit of curiosity did spike at her mind. The polls were odd but they did also provide a sort of detail to her. Despite the fear that each of them had caused, not sure what the others did but small mentions of their ‘happenings’ were underneath. Her small bio did quote Invaded Canterlot, conquering the four Princess in a day with little effort. Physical prowess alone can put most athletic ponies to shame. A robust and tactical mare with the fantasy of apocalyptic wasteland vibe, Tempest is one mare you do not want to f*@k with!’
While it wasn’t necessarily a day, more like a week to capture Twilight on a stupid chase, it did say how she was tactical and someone not to be messed with.
She did like having that on her resume, but she also knew that it may give her an upper advantage to keeping those she wants in line, at her attention or those who want to get close, away if they knew what she was capable of.
She read down the list of the others and saw that they had their own way of keeping attention. Whether it was through ‘fear’, ‘prowess’, ‘feats’ and so on, they were mostly kept to themselves.
Looking up, she gave a questionable look towards Twilight and pointed at the list. “Do they have pictures?”
Twilight cocked her head. “What do you mean?”
“I mean what I said. Do they have pictures? Do each of these creatures have pictures of them in sultry poses or in some… exotic form?”
Twilight squinted and thought about it. She scanned the list but gave a small shake of her head. “Nothing concrete on the few. The local ones yes because… well they are local but for those like you, Chrysalis, Nightmare Moon, Sirens and so on, not really. Either brief and unfocused shots or they use changelings to do it.”
The changelings were the annoying part of this, since they could literally use her whenever they wanted. Twilight saw her reaction to the changelings and shook her head. “No, they cannot take a ‘famous’ pony and use them at their brothels, unless it's ‘signed’ and given ‘consent’ by the pony. Though a few will try to do this on the downlow, it breaks even if you take a percentage of what they get from the clients.”
“Compensation?” Tempest asked. “Like… royalties?”
Twilight nodded. “If you want, though I and the others don’t. Maybe for those with businesses like Rarity, Applejack and maybe Fluttershy yes, but I don’t care for it.”
Tempest remained stoic for a moment, trying to mull over her words and form ideas. Moments of silence, did she focus on them and gave a small even tone of acceptance. “Fine, I will allow this to happen but… I do want help with this.” She paused. “From each of you.” Now, she was a mare of adaptation and in this situation, she was going to adapt like never before. Storms, deserts, enemies and more were nothing compared to this and she knew, this would be an entirely new challenge of its own.
She received confused blinks from each mare but Tempest elaborated. “First off… you called me back from overseas to help train and lead your guards in Canterlot, right?” Her question to Twilight, who nodded. “Then I want to be stated and well known, that I ‘did’ conquer Canterlot within the day. That I went through your defenses very easily and that I am not someone to be messed with. Make my image stand out as being intimidating, strong and ruthless. If you want guards to be actually worthy of being defenders or even dealing with disarray, I want them to know that I am the mare that will either make them or break them.”
Twilight stared at her like if she had gone crazy or mad, but felt like this would lead to somewhere eventually. She took a chance and nodded. “Okay Tempest, I’ll try and make it so.”
She nodded to Twilight then focused on Rarity. “You think you can make me armor that is both functional and appealing?”
Rarity blinked at the mare. At first, it seemed like she would say no, but it was rhetorical as she pressed her lips in thought before answering. “I haven’t worked with armor darling and while it could be appealing, how much function do you need?”
Tempest gave a small crooked smile. “Enough to warrant attention in the right way. Deadly and attractive. Maybe if I give you my old set of armor with the Storm King, you could tune with it.” Was her answer.
That made Rarity’s eyes light up and nodded vigorously. “I’ll do my best right away darling!” With that she began to draw on her pad once more.
She turned to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Since you both are physically fit, how about we train together and compete in events to see how much of a challenge I can be against two of the ‘hottest’ athletes in Equestria?”
Both mares looked at each other then at her before grinning. “Oh, this oughta be fun!” Applejack said gleefully. “Ya got yourselves a challenge, partner!”
Rainbow gave just as enthusiastic a cheer as well. “Ah yeah! I’ve been wanting to test myself against somepony else that wasn’t A.J. here. Count me in!”
Nodding, she turned to Pinkie. “I know that you have connections here and there, so if you want, bring some changelings and photographers to the spar to watch me fight them?”
Pinkie, seemingly broke physics and brought out a long list from nowhere, with the name of every changeling, photographer, including pictures.
“Done!” She said with way too much enthusiasm.
Not regarding her hype or her physics breaking power, she nodded. “Perfect, get them to take pictures of me with my new armor, while competing with these two, and lastly,” She paused and turned to the last mare, who was unsure of the role she would play. “You help ponies with animals of all sorts, right? Adopting pets or training them?”
Fluttershy gave a small half nod. “While I don’t train them like other ponies do, I do communicate with them on a special level so that they do listen to me.” The maroon mare nodded and with a glint in her eye, she asked.
“What’s the deadliest or seemingly deadliest one you can train and let me borrow for a few pictures? I won’t harm them, but perhaps it would look grand if I could take pictures with them. Something like snakes, giant birds or wolves?”
Fluttershy blinked before giving detailed animals she could. “You want to… tame them or see if they can be tamed?”
“Not so much tamed, rather that I am not afraid of animals that many fear.” A small nod to her. “This could also get more ponies to pick up more pets if they see that animals like those could be friendly.”
The yellow mare grew with joy and eagerly listed that she could bring non-venomous snakes, falcons or eagles and she did rescue a wolf pup not too long ago.
When she told all the mares of her plan that evening, each one had agreed to it, on the account that she would want everything strategic and coordinated to her plans.
Next day was busy. Twilight had called her brother to explain that since he was no longer Guard Captain here in Equestria but to the crystal Empire, that his replacement be Tempest Shadow.
“Are you bucking nuts!?” He yelled at her. It would normally be insane for anypony to yell at the Alicorn Princess of Equestria, especially in front of guards but… many knew of their sibling squabble, so most watched unabridged or merely off-curious.
“No!” Twilight countered, matching her brother’s volume, though she immediately backed upon the stares of the guards. “but I do need your help on this.”
Shining was furious about the mare, snorting in anger. “That mare trapped the Princesses, Cadance and you! How is she not in trouble? And beyond that, why would you make her a Captain of the Guard? She didn’t even go through basic training.”
Twilight bobbed her head in confirmation. “I know Shining, but you have to understand that she has advanced training. More advanced than what many guards here have, some of which isn’t even in manuals or even the elite guards. Luna’s Night Guards were recalling that her fighting prowess matches that off the guards of a thousand years ago! If she took us all out in less than a day, with training not just by pony standards but also fighting creatures like Griffins, non-equine and so on, imagine what she could teach the guards here.”
The white unicorn sighed heavily, shaking his head. “This is insane Twilight. She is dangerous, she is ruthless, and the fact that she could take us out-”
“Means that her training and tactics can be beneficial for us.” Twilight finished with a soft tone. “Plus… she needs this in order for Equestria to welcome her back.”
He merely grumbled. “Shouldn’t have at least jailed her for a bit.”
“Maybe, but… then I would still release her to be given a chance by Friendship.”
Her brother gave her a look. “You and your ability to forgive your enemies still bothers me Twily.”
She gave him a small chuckle and a hug. “Well, the best way to beat your enemies is to befriend them first, Shiny.”
“Right,” He half agreed. “Though I still don’t like being replaced-”
“Uh Shinny, that role left you the second you got married to a princess and ruled an Empire with her. Not to mention that even if you stayed here, your duties would only be carried out by orders but you wouldn’t be in combat situations.” She then gave a small half smile. “Besides, while you hate to admit it, Tempest is probably the best choice than anypony else, you know that. With what she has done in her past, I don’t think there is any other pony more qualified for being a captain than one who has literally led armies across the world. She was trained as a conquer, but she has the qualities of a captain-”
“Alright Twiley I get it!” Her brother said exasperatedly. “You want to give Tempest a chance!” He sighed and shook his head. “Not like I can argue with the Princess of Equestria either way.”
Twilight chuckled. “No, but I will still listen to my big brother's best friend forever.” He smiled at this but his face became neutral.
“So then, you want her to be Captain of the Guard… even though no pony here would respect her because she didn’t go through the training they went through.”
Bobbing her head side to side, Twilight clarified. “Not so much Captain of the Guard, rather captain of a personal guard that I created and led them through unusual means.”
Shining blinked at this. “What, you mean by friendship?”
“No, not through Friendship, Captain Armor.” Both Shining and Twilight turned to see Tempest approaching. The mare came casually with a stoic strutting demeanor with no armor on, but rather a woven mesh around her frame and higher legs. “And the unusual means she is talking about is… much harsher than what any Guard here has endured.”
Shining frowned and stared at the mare with a small glare. “You don’t think that the guards here could handle any harsh-”
“No offense, Prince Armor!” She cut off, albeit with less tone than his, she matched his gaze evenly and stood face to face. “-But like Princess Twilight here stated, I took over in less than a day. I conquered, I captured and I enslaved Canterlot.” She said this all in front of him, Twilight and the few guards around. Many who were seething with anger but remained silent. “I took out most of your guard with little effort, chased Twilight across the lands and got her. Lets not forget that other nations before this one were also conquered by my hoof alone. The Storm King only came after the spoils, while I dealt with the enemy up close. An easy feat with no difficulty from your guards.”
Now it was a tense moment. Two leaders of former armies stared at each other. Tempest cool, stoic and with an air of authority, while Shining stood with angered restraint.
“I mean to make no offense to those you've trained or how well you trained them, but make no mistake.” She flashed a dangerous grin at him. “Taking them down was all easy as... pie.” She then looked past him towards his seething and glaring guards. Keeping her grin, she turned from him and them. “If you want to test your might against me, then I suggest you allow your guards to spar with me, here in the training fields and prove to me that they are not the low ranked fighters I think they are.”
Twilight was starting to regret her decisions now and felt like Tempest was escalating things far out of control. Yet, she also saw that Tempest was trying to show not only her brother but the guards themselves that she is capable of defeating them. This was no boast, this was a mare with strength and skill that could put the best to shame.
A few moments passed and a snort left the former Guard Captain. “Fine, let's see what you are capable of. I’ll send out my best. The Elites of the Guards.”
The maroon mare gave a cool grin. “Excellent, I hope to see the best. At the training fields, half an hour.” Without another word, she walked away, with all the confidence of the leader… or conquer.
Shining was now glaring at the mare, though he did give a quick glare to Twilight, who now seemed sheepish. A small nervous laugh left her. “Uh… that wasn’t supposed to happen like that.”
Her brother gave her a stink eye before shaking his head and walked away, with the guard following.
During that half hour before the spar, Tempest was practicing with hitting dummies, bucking heavy barrels and launching spears. Any spectator, mostly other guards, were in awe at the mare’s prowess.
Every dummy she hit was destroyed. Every barrel kicked was crushed. And every spear she tossed hit dead center. Many just stopped training and watched her go.
Eventually the time came and she drew a crowd of guards, many already accepting the mare as a power house and that with word spreading quickly, wanted to see the skeptic that was a mare against the guards elite.
Shining came back with a group of ponies, twelve in total consisting of four Day Guards, four Night Guards, and four Elite Guards. Eight males and four females. Two elite and two Nights were females.
Tempest stopped her rounds enough to notice the approaching ponies. She looked at Shining Armor along with a worried Twilight by his side. He seemed smug and he felt pretty confident about his hoof chosen.
“Well Tempest,” His arrogance peeked through his voice. “I have found the best and they are no pushovers.”
Tempest merely blinked and cast her face over all the ponies in front of her. They looked the part of intimidating, especially the Night Guard. She knew very little about the Thestral race but they were known to be the deadliest hunters at night, per training of the lunar Princess.
The elite were the most hard core guard and were rarely used outside of radical or extreme situations. At least… according to Shining and Twilight. A scoff left her.
“These are the best of the best?” she asked, unimpressed. The former captain glared; he tried to retaliate with a response but she turned away and walked to the arena. “Alright, let's see what they can do.” Her bored tone angered the twelve as she thought of them as nothing. He knew she was baiting them and him, yet he fell into it.
“Who do you want to fight first then?”
She stopped, turned around and with a manic grin that would make Chrysalis envious, she stomped her hoof. “All of them!”
Shining Armor, former Captain of the Guard, had seen a lot. He had built a reputation as one of the strongest Arch Mage guards in history with his magic shields and one of the youngest ones to become Captain. He had defeated many opponents in his years. From former guards and elite fighters to evil doers and monsters. He was not easily intimidated. He had stood in the face of hydras, conquered treacherous mountains of the Crystal Empire, and even made Chrysalis flinch when he encountered her once more. He was an unbroken will of a pony.
Yet… this mare that conquered Canterlot… This changed things.
She was no pony. She was not something a single pony should become. It was not possible for a pony to be this… strong. A ruthless, unweary, undying, powerful and fast mare. If this was a death match, this would have been a massacre. In hindsight, he should have listened to his sister’s warning.
In less than five minutes after the initial attack had begun, the mare known as Tempest Shadow had defeated the best of the best of Canterlot. Her sheer speed and power was unbelievable and the half wondered if she had sold her soul to a demon in Tartarus for this. Other guards, himself and even Twilight watched in awe and a few in fear, as she took out the best guards. She didn’t even use her magic!
Even as they attacked her in one go, which included coordinated and precise maneuvers, she countered, ducked, switched and became the aggressor. A hoof strike from an Elite, a buck from the Day and wing swipe from the Night. Nothing, no hit made its mark, no attack was successful.
Tempest subdued the last Elite by twisting the hoof she tried to hit with, behind her, while bucking a charging Day Guard. The mare cried out at the pressure of feeling her arm might break. The force behind the buck was enough to send the Day Guard flying into two recovering guards.
When he was taken care of, a Night Guard flew fast towards Tempest. Once close at range, the mare rolled over, she shoved the guard over and on top, making the Night Guard tackle her instead of Tempest. She was too fast to slow down and crashed into her fellow guard while Tempest rolled back to her hooves ready to engage once more.
Only three remained and while they were on their hooves, they were shaking and tired, yet their faces showed determination and restraint rage. They wanted to hurt this mare, really show her what they had but… doubts were filling their heads.
This mare had yet to take a hit and took out nine guards in five minutes. Their morale was… dented. And the fact that she was not even a little tired or showed signs of fatigue along with her grin that remained. “Well then,” She taunted. “Only three left. You three think you still have a chance when the other nine couldn’t?”
They each gave a glare and snorted at the challenge, earning a smirk. Yet before they could attack, a magical flare was shot into the field… by Shining Armor. This forced everyone to stand down and Tempest to give a small huff in annoyance.
“Alright, stand down.” This earned a soft grunts from the remaining guards. Shining Armor approached the field, though he noted that the guards who were on the sidelines watching, were still picking their jaws off the floor and some even looked downright terrified.
Tempest stood proud, unflinching and even downright proud that she made Canterlot’s best look like nothing. She reveled in her victory and not once, did she apologize.
The former Captain of the Guard stared at the mare before him, filled with stoic rage and perhaps with a hint of worry. They met eye to eye, trying to make the other flinch and although she didn’t beat all twelve, she remained untired and cool, making his next decision all the more harder and painful to say.
“Y-You… have proven your point. You are…” He lowered his voice. “-the best.”
Tempest was not impressed. “I’m sorry, former Captain of the Guard? What was that? I didn’t hear you.”
Her taunting made him bristle with fury but he knew that even then she was baiting him. He wouldn’t fall for it again. He huffed then raised his head and spoke loud enough for all around to hear. “Tempest Shadow here has proven her worth! She is a capable fighter and the best!” He grumbled more and sighed. He lowered his voice. “We are not the best.”
Tempest basked at this, even seeing a few guards angry at this statement by this but none dared challenge her, especially if she took on the best of the best and won.
Twilight was now really worried what Canterlot would think of her but Tempest seemed to be far more proud then worried. As she took that in, she gave a glance to the rest of the guard and spoke, not as a victor, but as a commander. One deserving as one.
“As I have clearly demonstrated, I have beat your most elite guard.” Her voice echoed the area, with all attention on her. “And in front of all of you, the Princess herself and…” A smirk to Shining, “-Your former Captain. I am the best and most qualified of you all.”
He figured that she was going to continue to boast but she surprised him and the others when she didn’t. “But you can all achieve the same level of physique, training and even become something far more capable than even I if given the chance.”
Shining was now confused as was Twilight but she remained quiet. Tempest continued and walked around in small steps addressing every guard in the area, even those that had walked in. “You have all been trained to fight ponies, creatures and coordinate attacks.” She stopped and shook her head. “But you are not prepared to fight everything and from what I’ve learned in Canterlot’s history the last few years, you have been virtually beaten. By either changelings in mass, powerful demi-gods and…” A small smirk. “Me.” That sent a ripple through the guards but no one made a sound.
“It is now my duty, to repay back for the invasion as well as the damage done here when I came, so I asked the Princess to allow me to instruct you how to become more than what you are. To become something worthy of more than just… regular guards. Whether it's your special talent or not, you can be trained to deal with monsters, ponies, demi-gods and more if given the proper training and regiment that I had learned by myself for decades. I have fought creatures many times my size, endured climates that kill without mercy and have stared at the face of death itself. So can many of you.”
She paused; Twilight watched something flash across her face and her eyes slowly widened as Tempest reached towards her broken horn. “I lost something important to me,” All the unicorns flinched at the stub. “-and I felt that I would never be as strong or be as capable.” She took a deep breath, let it out and remained strong. The maroon mare then went nuts.
“And as you can see, even without my horn, I still conquered.” A sudden chill went down the spine of the many and even Twilight shuddered at the dark tone. Many guards spoke amongst them as the mare now studded with confidence but not pride. “If you have something you rely on taken away, you will have to learn to adapt quickly and with efficiency. Horn, wings or even broken appendages, you are to learn how to continue to fight, protect and survive.” She walked towards one of the elite, a Night Guard who was recovering. She offered a hoof to the mare. “And you will learn that if you work with one another, you can rise together once more.” The Night Guard mare stared at the hoof, the same one that had slugged her not a moment ago, with confusion. When Tempest nodded, she slowly reached for it and was pulled up. “That was something I didn’t have before. No friends, no allies, no comrades.” She let go and motioned for the rest of the guards. “But you all do.”
Tempest walked back towards Shining and Twilight, both agape at her speech but eerily impressed by the delivery. Seeing this, she gave a nod to them and stood by them before turning back to the guards, those that she fought and now those that took in her words completely.
“Now then, if you wish to be trained to be better and don’t mind an ex-conqueror teaching you, raise your hoof.”
At first, there was no response but then, every hoof shot up including those that she fell. She smirked, though from her peripheral vision, she saw Twilight’s hoof slowly raise only to be smacked by her brother.
Yeah, this was a good way to get noticed now.
The week turned into a spectacle for Tempest and to say that she had fun… well no one would hear of it but Twilight. Said Princess was still relapsing over the fight with the Elite Guards and how her image was being taken.
Speaking of image, apparently a few paparazzi heard of the fight and snuck into the guard training grounds where not only did they witness the fight, but had pictures of Tempest beating the absolute snot out of the guards.
The front page of the local news showed a picture as Tempest stood, uninjured, untouched and fearless over the guards she fought and included her speech in the page. Most of Canterlot was now in either more dread of the former villainess or she was the most popular topic to hit the town.
Rarity, wanting to capitalize on her recent feat, had finished the armor. At first, she was skeptical that Rarity could make armor that was both functional and fashionable but oh was she wrong. She was very, very wrong.
“Darling, may I present to you the first of its kind. A masterpiece that was no easy feat but one I hope that will work to your liking.” The white mare unveiled the cloth hiding her suit and pulled away.
Tempest, along with Twilight; both gasped at the magnificent piece of armor/dress/uniform that was revealed. In truth, it was truly a gem amongst gems.
Rarity smiled at their reactions and strutted around the suit that was dressed on a marenequin as she began to point to parts of it.
“It was difficult at first, having to take your old armor and rework around it but I think I did it justice. What the Storm King lacked in style, I will admit, the suit he… I believe he gave you, had a lot of perks with it that I didn’t wish to get rid of, rather improve upon it.”
She pointed to the barrel and the shoulder pads. “Those I had left on due to how well they protect you in combat and if it's anything to go by with your recent experience with the guards, I would say they work well in protection. However, I removed about a third of the weight, but replaced it with a thin, durable fiber of Giant spider-silk and changeling resin.” She gave small samples of both, showing the thick spider silk and a piece of squish changeling sample, oddly not shuttering at holding the goop.
“Spider silk is as strong as steel but flexible that if molded right can be a worthy applicant for armor while changeling resin is magic resistant and agile even when hardened, making it lightweight but functional.”
She pointed to the armor on top and the gauntlets to where her fetlocks would be. “These are the same but just with added gems to absorb magic, you can ask Twilight on those, built within and not visible. Should you feel they are two much, they can be removed.” She then stood back and grinned. “And then there is the color. While I couldn’t exactly deny that black does go with everything deary, I had hoped that with you being Twilight’s Guard, you wouldn’t mind a splash of her colors and coincide with yours and hers.” She pointed at Twilight’s Cutie Mark on her chest plate and where her Cutie Mark would be(If she had one). “If you are her symbol, you should give your status to the world as her guard and perhaps something more.” Sht turned to their still stunned faces and with a smile asked, “So, what do you think, darling?”
Tempest approached the armor, noting that there was some fabric underneath it. She pulled it and felt it was like abyssinian cotton but also with something else. “Aah, you noticed it.” Rarity flashed her a signature smile. “Yes, it is Absyynian cotton under the armor and the best part is that just like the rest of your armor, it can shift with your form with ease but, the kicker darling is that you can remove the armor on top and still be protected and…” A dramatic pause with her magic pulling off the armor in a single piece, leaving a light violet fabric that hugged the frame and body with much visual contact. From her chest down to her hooves and when she saw that it would hug her crotch tightly enough to show the outline of her nethers, she felt her face flush. A small frill wrapped around her haunches, giving it a more zesty flare. “...attractive.” Rarity finished with a purr.
Even Twilight noticed this and began to visualize Tempest in such erotic piece of clothing that would also be very appealing and downright attractive, the alicorn herself was hot by the idea.
Tempest finally pulled back, pushed down her flush and turned to the seamstress. “Mind if I give it a whirl around the town?”
The town of Ponyville had seen its share of villains throughout the years but never have they seen one that looked dashing and dangerous. At least, not since Nightmare Moon and her polls.
Local residences were shocked, appalled or even blown away by a newly armored Tempest Shadow, walking alongside Twilight as her bodyguard. She walked in confidence and with such grace that no one could believe that this… attractive mare who wore armor that was both appealing and functional, took over Canterlot way back when. Her confidence to walk alongside Twilight had many questioning the role she was playing or what she was here to do. More questions lead to more gazes.
In a town that now supported different creatures like, yaks, kirins, dragons, changelings and so on, this led even those outside of her species to look at her with awe and wonder.
Six certain individuals, a pony, yak, hippogriff, griffin, changedling and a dragon watched as Tempest passed through town.
“Oooh! Is that her?” Silverstream asked, almost bedazzled by the mare next to Twilight.
“Do you know of any other mare who took on the alicorns and conquered Canterlot without a horn?” Gallus asked, a bit snarky.
“Yeah, that is not somepony you want to mess with.” Sandbar was a bit intimidated by her.
The yak next to him snorted. “Yona not scared of her, Yona bet she is not strong as yak!”
The dragon of the group snorted. “All it would take is one dragon to go against her and bam!” She smashed her fist into her claws. “She would be down!”
The changedling of the group spoke out, a newspaper in front of her. “Uh, that might not be an easy feat. According to an interview with her, when she was a foal, she got attacked by an Ursa Minor, lost her horn and survived. Then she traveled outside of Equestria all by herself in foreign, unfriendly lands for two decades until the Storm King recruited her with the intent of conquering Equestria and taking the magic from the Princesses.” She paused and looked at her friends. “Isn’t surviving an attack from an Ursa Minor, living in hostile lands and attacking the Princesses bigger than a Yak and a dragon?”
No one said anything. No one dared say anything.
However, they did see that they were heading to Sweet Apple Acres where Applejack and Rainbow Dash had been setting up obstacle courses early in the week.
“I heard that she is going to compete with Professor Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Anyone down to see them?” Gallus asked. The group cheered and quickly made their way towards the park except for the changedling.
“Wait, aren’t we supposed to be in class right now?!”
Her words went unheeded, earning a sigh and she quickly flew after them.
Sure enough, a course had been set up by the R.D. and A.J. with the course being set to a level field of sorts. A course for running, a bench for lifts, a hundred yard dash, obstacle courses and so much more. All of it built for ponies who were athletes to a point.
Yet Tempest seemed confident and even with her new armor on, she stroked to the line where the other two mares, plus other athletic ponies joined to see if they could match her. Big Mac, Bulk Biceps, Pinkie Pie, and many others joined in.
While there were no stakes involved, photographers and the local news were invited to spectate the games. While many were cheering for the others to win, only Twilight seemed to be cheering for Tempest.
That would change.
From the start up of running, it was a near even tie with Rainbow, Tempest and Applejack. Then came feats of strength. While Rainbow was not the strongest, Applejack did exceed in this part along with Bulk and Mac. However, the astounding thing was that Bulk Biceps lifted dead lifts of over four hundred pounds overhead with two hooves, standing on his hind legs, Tempest did better. She went under him, lifted him and the weights together, earning an feminine yelp from the stallion, as with some struggle, lifted them up just enough to make everyone in the vicinity drop their jaws.
She then promptly lowered him and gave a wink to him before turning around with a sweaty face and asked, “What’s next?”
True to her word and power, Tempest didn’t conquer everything but she proved her worth and at the end of it, the crowds cheered for her just as much as anyone else who participated, even getting flowers and drinks handed to her. It was so surreal how quickly ponies changed to accepting her.
When the challenges ended, the ponies went crazy and how close and insanely strong she was compared to an Earth Pony or as fast as a pegasus on land. The news went crazy, trying to get an interview or trying to ask what her workout routine was. And while it wasn’t something she sought, deep inside, she welcomed it.
After that event, the next day she headed to Fluttershy’s where the shy mare was currently having an auction for some of the more… exotic pets that ponies never bought do to how fearful they look. She had vampire fruit bats, non-venomous cobras, giant spiders and so on. Most of these animals Fluttershy had tamed but were either injured and she nursed them back to health, which was why she had created her sanctuary for them.
Tempest had been skeptical about the animals, especially the anaconda that Fluttershy had wrapped around her or… the bear. Something crossed her mind as she witnessed it walk to Fluttershy. At first, she took a single step forward to protect the mare, but then the bear brushed his head against her, earning a giggle from the shy mare, easing her tension.
While her fear for bears was due to the Ursa Minor, she never let it known that it was the one true phobia she had. This bear was just a regular bear, it didn’t help that from Twilight’s report, a nearby Ursa Minor and Major resided.
Fluttershy was the only one who could speak to it and it was friendly enough to warrant a hug. A ‘Bear Hug’, if you would. The Ursa remained… inconclusive.
Shaking out any worry, she approached the mare. “Fluttershy?”
The mare looked up and almost lit up. “Oh, Tempest you're here! Just in time.” A bit of strain came from her voice, though that was very much her thing, especially when there were cameras nearby but a good distance away. The paparazzi followed her but they were staying away from the seemingly scary looking animals.
Approaching her, the bear waved at her, making her pause and the anaconda just stared at her. Fluttershy saw this and quickly assured them. “Oh, don’t worry. Tempest here won't try to harm you. In fact, she has come to help, isn’t that right Tempest?”
For a moment, she forgot to respond and that moment was due to the fact that the anaconda was staring back at her and the bear was just as shy as the mare herself. Her peripheral reminded her of the photographers at a distance, so she swallowed any doubts and pushed forward coolly.
That same cool that she had when she took on the Princesses. The same coolness she had to show when she was conquering lands. And the same cool she had to show where fear was not an option.
Approaching the large snake, she stared at its deep green slit eyes with a calm and eased expression. No malice, no hate, no fear, just casual and hopefully… friendly outlook.
The large snake stared back, flicking its tongue at her, tasting the air around her, deeming her a friend or foe. A tension rose and Fluttershy half wondered if she made a mistake on this.
However, both parties seemed to read off each other and the anaconda, which she had to remind herself was about almost 15 feet in length, unfurled itself from the mare and slowly slitered to Tempest. The maroon mare stayed still at its approach but watching it vigilantly, as it slithered on the grass and towards her.
Finally, it circled around her forehooves and slowly rose up where it met her face to face. The large green creature was now an inch away from striking her and she remained stoic.
Flashes from close proximity were going off but she remained focused on it. After more moments of staring at each other, she brushed her giant head against her own, earning a light shiver from the mare, then a sigh leaving her as the snake settled its body around her. Fluttershy gave a small ‘yay!’ at the bonding. “Ah, Ms. Slitter likes you.”
She, the giant anaconda, was a she. And by the way… she began to coil around her with a not so tight embrace, Tempest felt the large snake not trying to harm her in any way.
Suddenly she heard the many fluttering clicks of cameras and flashes on her go off with few coming closer. As this happened, she felt a sense of her old self return. The one who stood in front of the danger and did not blink. The one who held her edge of the blade at her target.
The one who conquered, controlled, and converted.
She half turned to the ponies taking photos and called out to them. “Well, don’t any of you want my good side?”
Twilight was sweating as she read the article in front of her with heated cheeks and a heavy beating heart. Tempest made good for her word in every aspect and it showed in front of Twilight.
“Tempest Shadow, Conqueror, Fighter, Fearless, Hot, and Model?”
That was the headline of the Article, featuring Tempest Shadow fighting the Guards, wearing appealing and sexy armor, competing with top tier athletes and… taking sensual poses with animals.
The latest had Tempest being wrapped by an anaconda(much to Twilight’s dismay) with her laying on her back, legs spread but the snake covering naughty bits. After that photo, was doing a backflip with her hoof, her legs splayed open in mid-air, covered with a hawk zooming by. The final photo had her covered in fruit, including her teats and nethers, being eaten by Vampiric Fruit bats and while this would normally turn ponies away, the fact that the bats almost finished eating the fruits, almost showed her goods to the photographer.
As she leaned more forward, her hoof slowly leaned down towards her-
“Princess?”
“Aaah!” Twilight jumped and dropped the magazine in panic. She was hyperventilating as Tempest had called out to her in the office. When she managed to settle her heart, her cheeks were red from nearly being caught.
“Tempest! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
The maroon mare gave a cocked head. “Apologies? I had knocked but wasn’t sure you heard me.”
Said mare then approached and saw the magazine featuring her on the front. “Ah, I didn’t expect them to print something about my accomplishments so quickly.”
Twilight still beet red, chuckled nervously. “Uh, yeah, they uh… really couldn’t wait to talk about you, heh heh.” She swallowed.
Tempest squinted at the label and looked at her confused. “What kind of article is called… ‘Playcolt?’ I never heard of them?”
Twilight stammered to give an answer. “W-well t-th-they are a-a-a very exclusive an-and private p-publishing service and-”
Tempest noticed her stammering but merely pushed forward and pulled up to the article. Twilight tried to grab it with her magic and teleport it, only for Tempest to shoot a spark from her horn onto Twilight’s, earning an ‘eep’ and dropping the article. A small glare came from Tempest as she eyed Twilight and then looked down at the magazine. The issue was of her, in her armor where it was very tight around her frame and a half lifted leg.
At first, she didn’t remember taking this photo specifically, but then she also remembered that now, changelings were allowed to use her figure. “Ah, I believe that this was how they planned to use my image then?” She asked the stammering mare, though no audible or coherent response was given, making her ignore her.
She flipped through the pages, seeing herself/changeling in different and provocative images but also ones she took. There were even tiny paragraphs of her with each picture. The ones with her fighting the guards, taking pictures with the animals, competing with R.D. and A.J. and even photos of her conquering Canterlot under the Storm King.
She read the one regarding her and the animals.
‘Does this mare truly know, no fear?’ It asked. ‘She is wrapped by an anaconda, a snake known to eat ponies whole. She holds a hawk that can shred skin with ease, bare hooved. Fruit bats eat the fruit she holds and does not flinch? Dangerous? Yes, Fearless? Without a doubt. Attractive? … Perhaps all of these thing put her as the front cover of the issue and perhaps many issues to come. For a mare hellbent on recovering her horn under the Storm King’s Iron Hand, Tempest Shadow is someone you do not want to be on the wrong side of.’
“That’s for sure,” She remarked out loud. Twilight was now quiet though she remained head lowered and still red tinted. She continued to mentally read.
‘Despite many demanding her imprisonment, it was Princess Twilight Sparkle who vouched for her and proved that Tempest’s redemption could be a boon to Equestria. Upon her appeal, it was stated by none other than Former Captain of The guard and now Prince, Shining Armor, that the mare’s unethical but near brutal fighting prowess was no match for the best of the best in Canterlot. As of this publishing, she is to soon train the guard in forms of combat unseen within Equestria to hopefully improve chances of their protection.’
“As they so desperately needed,” she remarked offhandedly to Twilight. “I often wonder what was to be the next villain to just… waltz to the door and take your throne by force.”
No answer. She read on.
It is also seen that Tempest Shadow will lead her own guard under Princess Twilight Sparkle as an Elite Guard. Will this mare prove her worth? It is tough to say, but despite her back story, many have come to accept that… dangerous and lethal, can be sexy.
The final image had her/changeling fully splayed with no filter of her nethers, armored in some questionable attire and a look of unamusement to the camera.
Tempest lowered the article and turned to Twilight, who was now sweating big time. “Huh.” She replied.
Twilight just merely nodded. “Eeyup.” She Big Mac’d that response.
Tempest sighed. “While I find it a bit odd that a changeling knows how my privates look, I do like that they declare me as sexy and dangerous.” Twilight nodded once more. “And I am a fearful mare.” Another nod. “And that no one, and I mean no one will dare try to challenge me.” More nods.
A sigh from the maroon mare and she half stared out the window at the view of Ponyville and the world it held. “Now I understand what you mean by all this attention to your feats. The world demands you to be a model citizen yet, begs for the rebels to come forth and change their perspective.”
“In just under a week, I changed from a battle hardened killing commando in one of the most elite armies of the world to a… provocative model who exposes her privates to the world.” A pause. “Scratch that, a changedling copies me and shows the world what is an interpretation of my privates.”
She looked from the corner of her eyes to see that Twilight was now looking at her privates, though a quick clear of her throat, made the mare look up and now see Tempest looking at her.
Caught in the act, she ‘eeped’ and blushed madly red, unable to deny her scandalous view of the maroon mare. Tempest however merely lifted a single eyebrow and turned fully to the mare. “I suppose… that is something I earned from all this then?” Twilight sputtered a response but the former enforcer of the Storm King then threaded towards her with eased confidence and without a single bit of hesitation.
The princess of Equestria, leader in Harmony and savior many times all around, shrunk as the mare made her way towards again. This time, the fear was not of ill intentions but of what the mare was seeking and it was not her magic but something… different.
Upon inches from her face, Tempest leaned into the mare and saw not only her red face of embarrassment but could take in the scent of a mare in need. Now, she held the grasp and decided to pull on the reins of her majesty's rope.
“So now comes the question I ask you, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Do you find me hot?”
Laying it thick on the final word, was enough to make Twilight sweat and her knees to quake. With a meek nod, she responded with a small… “Yes!”
Tempest snorted and with a grin, she pressed on. “Really, and now that you have seen me and all of my glory, are you wanting to partake and explore all of me?” She whispered hotly to the mare. The sudden shift in attitude and change in her tone didn’t register in mind and Twilight all but nodded.
With a small snort, Tempest walked by Twilight, flicking her tail and letting it brush against her face, teasing the poor mare. Twilight also saw Tempest exposing her nethers to her. Once she was by the door, she turned to her and with a sultry smile, she gave a half lidded stare. “Well, aren’t you going to show me a good time or am I going to have to imprison you again? This time it won’t be a cage but chains.”
Twilight all but shivered at those words but ran past Tempest and to her room. Tempest smirked and followed coolly to the alicorn’s room.
Down the hall, another Tempest poked her past the corner along with Rainbow. “Huh.” Tempest watched as the changedling doppelganger walked to follow Twilight to her room to do Faust knows what.
“Told you she was a freak.” Rainbow laughed.
Author's Note
So this is an odd one and has been in my freckin folder since June. The story to this one was that... I had a picture of Tempest out and about at work. Some co-worker saw it while my back was away and commented outloud, 'She looks hot!' And I had to do a double take.
I asked if they were talking about me or the picture and they pointed to the picture. I told them it was of a pony creature and they shrugged. 'Still looks hot.' And that was how this story was born.
I don't know else what made this bigger than what it was and I don't remember but I finished it because I wanted to bank off of that comment for months and now I can.
The picture, while anthro, is the one that they saw. I know its an anthro and this story is non anthro but it was the only way to make this story work for me. If its misleading, I apolologize.
