Night. The dark shrouds of the desolate time period wreaked their havoc upon Equestria, broken only by the soft gentleness of Luna’s moon. It glowed with a great deal of strength, jettisoning its own energy in favor of lighting the paths of the equines who chose to trod this hour. Anypony with any sense would have been sound asleep. But, some ponies have no sense, and on this night, one such pony was out and about. No, she wasn’t crazy, or at least, she didn’t think she was. Simply put, she was on a mission…one that had engrossed her mind for moons. Things in Equestria simply weren’t right with Twilight Sparkle on the throne. She would see to it that the purple Alicorn wouldn’t reign for any longer than absolutely necessary.
She had worked tirelessly to create a spell to revive the one ruler that, she believed, could end, in her opinion, Twilight’s tyrannical monarchy. This particular being had been so powerful that he’d nearly brought all of Equestria to its knees. He’d encased three of the four princesses in stone…or, at least, his former commander had. But, all the same, the magic that had done the deed came from his brilliant mind. Her eyes glinted under the moon as she dove towards Canterlot, seeking the royal statue garden. There, she knew, the pieces of this particular ruler were exhibited for all to see. Truth be told, she hated the display. It spoke of great disrespect and dishonor. But, soon, all of that would change.
Underneath her dark cloak, she carried an elixir of her own making. This would revive anypony who had been turned to stone by a princess’s magic. Brewed thanks to certain key ingredients not found in Equestria, it had truly tested her patience. But, good things come to those that wait, as they say, and this mare was willing to wait…very willing. Months and months of planning, experimenting, testing, and brewing were all about to come to a head. She was about to receive something she’d long pined for: the resurrection of The Storm King. Her mouth curled in a wicked grin as she trotted into Canterlot, meeting very little resistance. For, after all, she was a fellow pony. What better inside spy could The Storm King have?
What did surprise her were the number of ponies out at this hour. Some were staggering home from the local pubs, drunk off their rumps on cider. Others were members of the tourist trade, conducting night tours of the city. These were a lot more popular than somepony might think, and the mare swore she saw 30 or 40 ponies in one group. Local theaters had recently let out as well and those restaurants that chose the hard road of hardnosed, ‘round the clock service now found themselves jammed. The mare didn’t care, though. It made her all the more invisible, which was exactly what she wanted. No attention, no setbacks. Perfection in every sense of the word.
Soon, my beloved Storm King, she breathed, we’ll be together…and you and I will rule this miserable wretch of a nation!
She slowly trotted around a certain corner, utilizing her recent scouting of the city to locate the statue garden. Her mind raced as she crept closer and closer to the gate. Soon enough, she found herself hiding in the bushes right outside the entrance. But, as with all the most royally significant places in Canterlot, the doors were shut tight and guards patrolled the entrance. This came as no shock to the mare. For, after all, this was Canterlot. But, what did come as a shock were the number of guards. There were four of them, which doubled the normal detail. Quickly, she ducked back into her bush and tried to think of a way around them.
I could charm them, she thought, though, I’ve never really been good at such things…I could fight them, though there are way too many…or…ah-ha! Yes! That’s what I’ll do!
Her sneer widened as the wicked plan came together. Slowly, gently, she poked her head out of the push and crept ever closer to where the guards marched. Then, quick as a flash, she whipped out three small magic pellets. Setting them down ever so slightly, she spoke a spell into each one before rolling them into the center of the guards. This intrusion on their area immediately caught their attention, and they peered down to investigate. When they got within a certain range, the balls exploded, and the spell that the mare whispered caused sharp spikes to shoot from each one. These impaled the guards, killing them instantly.
Excellent! The mare thought as she strode up to the lead guard and took his keys to the garden. This plan is working perfectly.
Carefully, she unlocked the doors and stepped inside. The garden was a rather spooky place at night, with Luna’s moon casting shadows upon the figures trapped inside. While strolling towards The Storm King’s remains, the mare noticed certain legendary figures. They all had one thing in common: they were villains who had been defeated and turned to stone. She saw the legendary Maxinius Hooficus, a close relative of Flash Magnus who had turned rogue and been banished to this prison by Princess Celestia. A second statue was the evil enchantress Green Thorn and her mystical well of wants. It was said that anypony who looked in her eyes immediately fell under one of the greatest spells of all: their own selfishness.
Terrific villains, both, the mare thought, but, I’m not here for them.
There was one statue that made her stop and stare. It was the most recent one, placed there a few moons before. The creation consisted of, not one, but three different figures: Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, and Cozy Glow. All three had a goal of complete domination in mind, just as the mare had. However, the difference (at least, in her mind) was that she was full of tact and intelligence. Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy couldn’t get past their own egoism and, in the end, that had been their downfall. The mare was going to ensure that, in her and The Storm King’s new kingdom, they each had an equal share.
After all, I’ll be the one setting him free from his cage, she thought, he’ll owe me a huge favor.
After a few more moments of treading the garden’s winding path, she finally found herself standing in front of The Storm King’s display. She winced a bit as she looked on the pieces of the broken statue. The King’s decapitated head sat front and center, as something of a trophy. Once more, a wince came over her, followed by a deep seated anger. She couldn’t believe that her beloved Storm King had been treated this way, and all by the supposed Princess of Friendship.
Don’t worry, Your Highness, she thought, in just a few moments, the next chapter of your glorious reign will be written…and I’ll be holding the pen.
BANG!
Fizzlepop awoke with a start. The sudden crack of a lightning bolt had danced its way across her Manehattan flat room. It was deep in the night, and the moon had been successfully supplanted by thunderous, angry storm clouds. She sighed for a moment, defeated in her quest to find peace through slumber. Truth be told, she hated stormy nights. Yes, she did find it rather odd that, in a land where the residents had complete control over the weather, surprise over a storm’s leavings could still be found. But, at the same time, she was shocked every time thunder and lightning entered her life. It reminded her of a past she’d rather forget.
Still, she couldn’t forget, and during certain Cloudsdale inventions, her mind raced straight back to where she’d been only a few years before. She’d been a faithful servant of The Storm King, wreaking evil on her fellow ponies just to regain something she’d lost. That story had almost ended horribly for both her and Equestria, but things had been put right. Princess Twilight always put things right, and now Fizzlepop cherished the friendship she and Equestria’s new ruler shared. She had been present at the battle with the doom-laden combination of Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow. Afterwards, she’d been an honored guest at Twilight’s coronation. So, she and the princess were very close.
Slowly, Fizzlepop sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Next to her slept her husband of six moons, Arrow Blaze. He was an aerodynamics engineer, fresh off a stint at the Wonderbolt Academy and looking for more. Ambition greatly understated what Arrow was actually capable of, and it’s one of the reasons Fizzlepop fell in love with him. There were many more, not least of which was their keen sense of chemistry. They just…clicked, as some ponies said. Their first meeting was a festival in Canterlot put on by Princess Twilight. Arrow had been invited to demonstrate some of his new theories on aerodynamic propulsion and how ponies could best harness it. Fizzlepop had been quite taken by his looks and his mind, he’d been taken by her similar qualities, and a match was made.
Now, she felt him stirring next to her. She looked down and smiled, stifling a laugh. For all his smarts and ambition, Arrow slept rather messily. His mouth was open mid-snore and his tongue lolled out to one side. His mane was completely unkempt and one of his back legs stuck straight out from the covers. If it were any further, it could have threatened his already unconventional sleeping position. Fizzlepop giggled to herself that he looked just like the teenage colts that she used to accost during her high school days. But, through all of that weirdness, she knew the kind, honest, loving stallion that lay underneath. So, she bent down and gave him a small kiss on the cheek before turning to go back to sleep.
But, she was stopped by his hoof on her shoulder. She rolled back over and saw his eyes slowly open. Annoyance passed over her as she hadn’t meant to wake him. But, he didn’t look upset, just concerned. It became obvious that her sudden and sharp ascension from the depths of slumber had not gone unnoticed. Now, she knew that he’d pepper her with questions and come very close to treating her like a little filly. Much as she loved him, Arrow was a little too…inquisitive at times. Yes, they were married. No, it didn’t mean she had to share every personal detail with him, especially when it came to her past as Tempest Storm.
“Fizz…you okay?” He asked.
“Mm…mm-hmm,” she nodded, hoping that her voice would lull him back to sleep.
It didn’t. “No…I’ve seen that look before, and I know something’s bothering you.”
She sighed. “Look, Arrow, we’ve both had a long day and it’s extremely early in the morning. Why don’t we discuss this over breakfast?”
“Because breakfast is still some hours away and you need to talk now,” he said with a wise gleam in his eye.
How are you so good at reading me?! She yelled internally. For once, can’t you…play dumb or something? Do you have to be this good at aerodynamics and marital psychology?
“Oh, alright,” she said out loud before sitting straight up once more. “I guess…I’m just…scared of the storm.”
He joined her. “Scared? Darling, you know you don’t have anything to be afraid of.”
“I know, and it’s completely ridiculous, but…storms just…set me off, that’s all.”
He smiled. “You’re dodging my questions.”
She rolled her eyes. “-and you’re making it impossible for me to get back to sleep!”
“Alright, alright, if you don’t wanna talk, don’t. I’m not gonna force it. But, at the same time, I know you, Fizz. I know you better than anypony in all Equestria, and I know how deeply these things affect you. It’s not just this storm, it’s been every single storm we’ve ever been through together. You hate them…you almost hiss like an angry cat every time one pops up, even though we know exactly when they’re coming.”
Once more, she rolled her eyes. “So, I hate storms. So what?”
“It’s got something to do with Tempest Storm, doesn’t it?”
Her internal self screamed all over again. UGH! I just wanna go to sleep and forget the storm!
“Doesn’t it?” Arrow asked again, a bit more directly.
“I thought you said you weren’t gonna force anything,” Fizzlepop said.
“I’m not,” Arrow said, “but I also love you and I want to be able to help you through this.”
Fizzlepop smiled. “You always know how to read me, don’t you?”
“I do my best,” Arrow responded playfully.
“Okay, look, storms do remind me of…what I was,” Fizzlepop said. “That awful, nasty Tempest Storm who was only concerned with the restoration of her horn. I was such a selfish pony, Arrow…so determined to have it all without realizing what the sacrifice would be. I was blinded by The Storm King’s promises…tempted into…harming those whom I should have been protecting. I don’t want that to happen again, and I’m so worried that it will.”
“What do you mean?” Arrow asked, cocking his head to one side.
“I’m worried that The Storm King will return…”
