BEDLAM Minus One

Scanning the enemy airship with my zoomed-in lenses, I smirked at the impotent and angry gestures the storm beast crew were hurling our way. A mile behind them, the smoke from Ratmeijer billowed high into the sky. The place was a prominent supply depot along the Storm King's Abyssinian logistic chain. Emphasis on was, as we'd raided and started a fire that caught some potion stockpile they were working with, leading to the whole place going up in smoke.

Thanks to Jury's careful coordination of not one but seventeen different remote observers, we managed to do so while Tempest Shadow was busy hunting for us in the desert near Klugetown. The fact that we now knew the name of the Storm King's attack unicorn was also thanks to Jury's careful surveillance, even though having to carefully cycle the observers to ensure they were energized and properly following commands kept her awake practically all night.

It at least afforded me time to scheme around the movements of the vicious, hornless mare, leading to our victory today. Not only had we just stolen a pair of airships and all the cargo aboard them, but we'd also injured the Storm King's operation.

I cast a smirk toward our sister ship piloted solely by animunculi before turning to Jury at the helm. "First item once we get these things landed is reworking the propulsion system," I declared, moving to stand beside her and lean on the railing between us and the lower deck. "We escaped this time because we were in the air before them. In an open-air battle, merely matching speeds with other ships just won't do."

"Where-" She paused and brought a hoof to her mouth with a yawn before smacking her lips and rubbing her eye. "Where we gonna hide 'em?" I considered her for a moment as she blinked to refocus her eyes and pondered her question.

"The southern Equestrian border," I finally declared, causing her to jostle slightly before looking at me in mild surprise. "The jungles in that region are perfect for keeping things hidden." I turned to lean backward on the rail and fixed her with a smile.

"Plus, we could send a few observers into Equestria to see how things have developed up there," I declared before holding a hand out to her. "Speaking of, why don't you take the night off? I'll handle keeping tabs on-" She grunted and waved a hoof at me.

"No, no, I'm fine, I'm fine," she replied, blinking a few times and offering me a wry, weary smile. "Besides, it's kind of weird to say, but I'm enjoying keeping tabs on her."

"Oh-hoh?" I declared, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Mhm! It's kind of like one of those sappy operas or stage plays back in Equestria," she replied with a weak chortle. "She gets up to all kinds of adventures when we're not around. The Storm King really works her hard."

"I see. Can't say I blame him!" I all but hissed, clutching my hands in the air as I remembered the sight of her not too long ago. "The mare's a living weapon, and no mistake. I wonder why someone so potent is willing to play underling for Iggy?" Jury rubbed her chin as I folded my arms.

"Blackmail maybe?" She offered before her ears snapped back and a grave expression came over her face. "Or maybe he's even scarier than she is." I grimaced at her suggestion.

"Possibly. Of course, we don't even know for sure what kind of creature he is," I replied, holding my chin. "If he's just a Storm Beast, I'm not too worried. They're sturdy, but not any worse than any pony we've dealt with." A contemplative silence fell over us both as the golem crew clanked around us. After a few moments, I hummed and faced forward.

"Well, we'll worry about him once we're ready to wage a proper and direct war with him. For now, set a course for Southern Equestria," I ordered, sweeping my arm forward. A few quiet seconds passed, during which time I noted we were flying in the same direction. Turning, I caught my sleepy little helmsmare with her head resting between the loops of the wheel and her eyes closed. "JURY!"

"I'm awake!" She squawked, banging her head on the core of the wheel as she snapped to attention. "Owie!"

The harsh, humid wind swept across the rocky badlands outcrop Tempest stood upon, swirling her mane and threatening to extinguish the deep blue flames in the small brass bowl she stood before. However, the flames crackled with lightning and then roared with renewed life, expanding upward and spreading out. The flames shimmered and then swirled before revealing a scowling grey-skinned face with a black two-pronged crown, white hair, and piercing blue eyes. Seconds after appearing, Tempest knelt before it and the creature jabbed a claw at her.

"Two whole galleons! TWO!" He roared, pounding a clenched claw on an unseen surface. "Because of your sloppy work!" Tempest winced and looked off to the side as the creature threw his hands up with an exasperated groan.

"You told me you could handle this Bedlam bozo, Tempest," he spat, reclining in his seat and glaring at her. "This sure don't seem handled to me." Tempest grimaced before looking up at him.

"Your Excellency, I'm only one mare. I can't-" The creature, evidently the Storm King, held up one hand in a mocking talking gesture, wagging his head as he cut her off.

"'Only one bleh bleh bleh,' that's what I say to that!" He declared in a high-pitched tone, leaning forward and jabbing a claw again. "I've seen your work, 'solo mare.' Mount Aris? Panthera City?" He tilted his head to emphasize the two names.

"If it was Klavis or Scourge or Hovel, I could buy it," he added, waving one claw before casting an unimpressed leer at her. "But you got my expectations and hopes sky-high only to leave them in the dirt." Tempest clenched her teeth, but he spoke again before she could retort.

"Some dozy toy maker from Ponyland manages to give you the run around when you had him right in front of you, and then you not only lose track of him but you let him steal my ships, and ruin my city," the Storm King grumbled, leaning on one hand, and focusing on the two claws he idly rubbed together. "Makes a guy wonder if you're worth the time and trouble." Tempest's ears shot back and she blanched at his words. In response, the Storm King smirked, still not looking directly at her.

"Yeah, I'm going there. I've spent a solid chunk of my precious time scheming a spell to fix that stubby antenna of yours, and I've already got an idea of what I'll need to make it happen," his eyes locked with hers in a glare. "But! If I gotta refocus on how I'm gonna deal with Bedlam, I just don't think I'll be able to spare another moment on the project!" He sat up and leaned close.

"Capiche?" He demanded. Tempest stared at him horrified for a few moments before clenching her eyes with a quiet grunt and bowing her head.

"Yessir," she replied, at which the Storm King smiled.

"Aces," he snorted before shooing her away. "A pair of airships shouldn't be too hard to spot. So get those hooves a-galloping! Your kind are good at that." He let out a hearty laugh as the flames swirled again and then died down, leaving Tempest with her head still bowed and the wind still tossing her mane.

The recording zoomed in on her for a moment before the observer that had been following her cut the feed. As the delivered video went dark, Jury pursed her lips and her tail swished from side to side.

"Neat," she quietly appraised.

Klugetown had changed.

More storm beasts, more dilapidated shacks and buildings, and fewer locals who weren't in chains. As near as I could tell, the destruction of Ratmeijer had called for Klugetown to pick up the slack along the logistics chain and the Storm King wasn't taking any chances on any of the locals mucking it up. Still, even with the increased security, I was able to find my way in. It was even easier this time thanks to the fact I'd come alone. If all went the way I expected, there'd be no need for animunculi.

If not, I was at least still armed. I'd even brought a vial of poison joke extract to be on the safe side.
There was also the chance that we'd misestimated Tempest's planned travel trajectory, which would make today a bit of a waste. But as that thought worked its way through my mind, it was immediately quashed when I spotted her marching down the road with her head held high and an even glare fixed forward.

Taking a breath, I slinked back into the darker portion of the alley I was hiding in and picked up a stone. To my right was the backdoor to a little apartment whose inhabitant I'd given a scare and then tied up shortly after arriving. Resting my empty hand on the doorknob, I hurled the stone Tempest's way.

Hauntingly, she ducked the stone and then twisting in a way that let her kick it straight back at me. I slammed through the door with a yelp, causing my bound and gagged host to squirm and howl as best he could from where he sat beside the inside of the door.

Scrambling to my feet, I watched the door with trepidation as the sound of hooves clicking against the paving stones drew near. Seconds later, the curious face of Tempest appeared in the doorway.

Curiosity turned to astonishment and then to narrow-eyed malice just as quickly. Her eyes darted around as she took a single step into the apartment, hovering for just a moment on the tied-up Klugetowner which gave me time to raise one hand and switch on my shield with the other.

"Before you tear into me, I was hoping you could clear something up for me," I explained, drawing her attention back to me. She blinked and tilted her head before kicking the door shut behind her.

"Before I tear into you? Ooh, that's a big ask," she mused, shooting me a venomous smile. "What is it?" I swallowed hard as she approached, heedless of my request.

"How's he going to do it?" I demanded, managing to halt her advance.

"What?" She asked, furrowing her brow. I huffed and offered a smile.

"The Storm King," I replied, causing her to tilt her head. "How's he going to fix it?" Her face lit up with shock and then shifted to incomparable fury. I blinked, realized I was on the floor, and immediately tensed up with a sharp, hissing groan. Curling up in pain, I barely noticed Tempest panting and looming over me with her horn a bright, scalding red and smoking. My own body was also smoking and my shield's gem was completely shattered. The Klugetowner was screaming and weeping as best as he could with his gag on. She must've blasted me so hard it knocked me out briefly.

Sure as hell felt like I'd been hit with some serious magical power. But before I could contemplate any of that further, she stamped a hoof into my side and rolled me over to look up at her.

"How. Do. You. Know. That?" She demanded through clenched teeth, her horn sparking again as she snarled. I grimaced and coughed before managing to catch my breath.

"Put- ooh- put two-and-two together," I wheezed. Her eye twitched and she rocked her head to and fro for a moment before smiling wickedly.

"Congratulations, you're very good at addition," she declared, pressing her hoof against my chest. "Now let me see if I can match you with division." She raised her other hoof and hovered it above my face.

"You- ah, God- You haven't answered my question," I retorted, realizing my body had gone numb and was now slowly regaining feeling. "How's he- Ouh." She stamped her hoof down right beside my head with a crack before shooting forward to glare right into my eyes. I blinked and realized my glasses had shattered when she blasted me.

"Why does that matter?" She demanded.

"Cause I think he's lying," I replied.

"What?" She shot back with a bewildered look. I weakly smiled.

"How's he going to do it?" I pressed, slowly clenching my hands now that I could feel them again. Tingly. "Cause if he claimed he was going to use a spell, I think- mm, I think I should remind you Storm Beasts have no innate magic power." My smile slowly became more confident as the gears began to visibly turn in her head.

"And so they can't weave spells," I added. She eased off of me for a moment before her expression intensified and she leaned into me again.

"Once his plans are complete, he'll have all the magic he needs," she declared. I retorted with a laugh that quickly turned to a cough.

"Maybe. But how long will that take?" I asked, before bringing a hand to my chest. "I, meanwhile, could work something out for you now." She recoiled, allowing me to reach into my coat and draw out the drawing I'd prepared for her. She scowled as she looked at what I presented.

"What is this?" She demanded, easing back another step and allowing me to sit up.

"A diagram of the biological function found in a unicorn's horn," I explained, holding it closer for her to inspect. "And beside it, my rough schematics for a prosthetic that can match that function." She studied the illustration with her jaw hanging slightly and her brow furrowed.

"That's possible?" She huffed, shaking her head. "No hospital or wizard in Equestria ever talked about something like this."

"I'm no doctor and I've been called Warlock, but never wizard," I shot back, offering a wry smile. "I'm Bedlam, and that means I am the greatest thaumaturgic mind in the world. So of course it's possible for me." She blinked and looked at me with a stern glare.

"The Storm King is using you. He has you convinced he's the only means by which your horn can be restored," I explained, chortling as I spoke. "And thus, he can keep you dependent on him for as long as he needs you." I rattled the paper at her and raised an eyebrow.

"I, meanwhile, will whip this baby up for you in exchange for you fucking off and leaving me alone," I added. She recoiled and her jaw dropped.

"That's it?" She huffed, causing me to laugh aloud.

"Hah! Don't sell yourself short!" I cried, sweeping my coat back and gesturing to my destroyed talisman. "The Alicorn Princess of Friendship wasn't able to bust through this shield with raw strength alone. And clearly, you've got a magic reserve just as potent as hers." I held my hands up.

"I consider this more than a fair trade for your passivity. In fact, I'd be tempted to say I'm ripping you off," I said before relaxing and leaning on my splayed-out legs. She furrowed her brow and looked down in thought. After a painfully long time, she glared up at me.

"Do you have it with you? I'd like to try it on," she demanded, narrowing her eyes. I laughed again and wagged a finger.

"Of course not. It has to be fitted to you and calibrated while it's being built," I explained, folding my legs so I could lean forward at her. "We wouldn't want it coming loose or overheating, now would we?" We sat like that for a while, a few inches apart from each other. I matched her maintained, incredulous glare with a grin.

Jury had thrown a fit when I got home and granted, she might've been in the right about this one. But my gut told me that once this little lady before me had this false horn fixed in place, she wouldn't be a problem anymore. So hey! Why not invite her to the lair where I could work with everything we had to offer to make sure she got all the care she deserved?

Plus, if she tried to betray me or wasn't satisfied, we could collapse the whole complex on her head! That'd probably do her in!

Hopefully.

In any case, I snapped my fingers and gestured for the animunculus handling the tool cart to approach the table I had Tempest lying on. Several others surrounded us to provide support in other areas. One kept a steady light focused on her horn, one had a tray loaded with potions and syringes, and three solely to start blasting if she got ornery.

As I began selecting a tool to file down the rough edges of her broken horn, I considered her body, which was unarmored save for her face upon which I'd placed a mask to shield her eyes and face during the procedure. She was riddled with scars visible through her coat, which helped suggest the intense muscle definition she possessed. I wasn't an expert on pony anatomy, despite the fact I was about to revolutionize pony surgery, but I was fairly certain unicorns couldn't be built like earth ponies.

"You are a fascinating specimen, do you know that?" I asked, pulling my safety glasses down, my face mask up, and gently cupping the base of her horn. "How did you manage this kind of physique and power?" I began carefully grinding her horn.

"Can't say for sure. Once I was old enough to set out on my own, I just," she replied with a huff, her legs shifting slightly as I worked. "Kept training. Kept focusing on getting stronger." I nodded slowly before gesturing for the light golem to move to my left.

"So that's what a horn core looks like!" I mentally chirped.

"I didn't have a horn anymore, so I knew I had to make up the difference if I wanted to make it outside Equestria," she continued. "And after everypony told me there was nothing to be done for my horn, outside Equestria was where I had to search." I paused and tilted my head back.

"Interesting. I wonder," I considered her cutie mark for a moment It was a six-pointed star with a golden trail moving around a small chainlink at a sharp angle. "What does your mark mean?" I looked over her horn, satisfied I'd cleared enough of it to proceed. Unicorn horns were funky. The bony material grew around and atop the core, which magic traveled through. When the core is severed, like Tempest's, obviously that both limits how long the horn can grow and how much magic can be cast. Her core was scratched up in places beyond just being cut short.

Despite all of that, she'd nuked my shield all at once with her magic. Curious.

"Dunno. I got it after all my friends went to that school for nondeformed unicorns," she replied, offering a shrug and a grumpy nicker. "If I'd been invited, maybe I could've gotten it interpreted." I nodded and began preparing my potions.

"What were the circumstances under which it appeared? Do you remember?" I asked, carefully soaking a swab with one of my brilliant concoctions. "And let me know if this stings." I carefully dabbed the solution onto the core directly.

"It- Nhn," the entire table shook from her flinching. I withdrew and quickly and gently patted the core with a dry swab. She shivered but relaxed again with a sigh. "It popped up when I kicked a hole in a boulder back home, just before I made up my mind about finding somepony else to fix my horn." I hummed and leaned in to look at the core closely, stifling a victorious laugh as I did.

"Of course, I can heal damage to a horn's core! I'm ME," I mentally cheered. Restoring the entire thing might not have been possible, but the fleshy nub would at least allow her magic to flow normally. Wonder what that was gonna look like?

As that thought entered my mind, I again considered my bodyguards before grabbing the prosthetic horn itself. We'd fitted it earlier, so it was just a matter of fixing it to her. The device was a metal cone that came to a rounded tip. Inside were several gems similar to a blaster on an animunculus. But the gems were blank, only serving as a circuit to carry her magic in place of a natural horn-length core.

"Perhaps all the magic power you would have been able to manifest through your horn manifested in other ways," I offered as I hooked the horn into place. She hummed in surprise and I felt the device vibrate a little. "Sort of like when a blind person develops sharper hearing or what have you." I grabbed another potion and a clean swab before gently applying the solution to the base of the horn. Stepping back to consider my work I nodded and removed her face protection. She blinked under the light before looking up at me.

"Alright. I'm not going to add any major binding just yet, because we want to see how it looks and handles," I declared whirling around to grab a mirror from the tool tray. "Take a look at your leisure." I held the mirror up for her and she immediately sat up to get a better look at herself.

An uncertain expression washed over her face as she turned her head left and then right. I leaned closer with a nod.

"It should still be able to handle channeling magic," I held the mirror out to her. "Give it a shot. Let's see if we need a stronger gem core." She raised a hoof in an uneasy gesture, considering the mirror for a moment. She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head toward it. I watched her horn light up completely, prosthetic and all, and then watched the mirror light up a similar color. As I released my hold, she began hovering it closer.

Then she yelped and snapped her head to the side as the mirror shot towards her like lightning. It sliced into the chest cavity of one of my guards, drawing a shivering laugh from me.

"That seems pretty good!" I anxiously laughed. She sat with her jaw hanging and held a hoof to her head.

"I," she looked down and blinked. "It's been so long-" I cleared my throat and held up a finger.

"And yet you still managed that with such a small application of telekinesis!" I declared. "You are fascinating. Hoh hoh!" She blinked again and looked up at me with an unreadable expression. I cleared my throat again and held a hand out to her.

"But enough about my assessment," I began, leaning forward with a hopeful smile. "What do you thi-HRK" She snapped me off my feet and threw me to the ground with her forelegs wrapped around my neck, choking me.

"Back- Backstabbing- Ack! Bitch!" I squawked, struggling in vain to break free. I desperately flailed to signal to the guards. "I-"

"Thank you," she whispered in my ear, at which I froze.

"Oh," I whispered in response as her grip relaxed, adjusted, and then tightened again. No longer choking me to death, she buried her face in my shoulder and just. Just sobbed. My eyes darted around the ceiling trying to figure out what to do. This was a new feeling. One I wasn't sure how to process. But I-

I think made a difference for once.