My Little Pony: The Return of The Storm King

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…”