On his airship The Storm King was sitting in his quarters with his second in command, Strife, looking at the large map of the lands beyond Equestria that was nailed onto his table crossing out the kingdom in the Pine Needle Barrens. The Storm King had just left there after he and his army finished ransacking through its streets, destroying its buildings and structures and bringing the kingdom's ruler to his knees, unfortunately for the Storm King that kingdom had very little to offer.
"Stupid hedgehogs, their whole kingdom had so little treasure it was practicly a broken piggy bank!" the Storm King growled, pounding his fist on the table.
The poor civilization was almost completely penniless and had zero magical items for him to collect. Even their dimwitted ruler, King Grubber didn't put up a fight, so the Storm King had the Storm Creatures round up him, and the rest of the hedgehogs and put them to work as deck scrubbers.
"Yes, my lord, I agree, the Hedgehog Kingdom was quite disappointing." Strife said to his master. "But let's not get too riled up. We've got many more kingdoms to locate magic for your staff." Strife pointed towards the map, at a picture of Mount Aris, written next to it was "Here be Hippogriffs."
"Hmmmm, the hippogriffs." The Storm King thought to himself.
The Storm King has heard about the hippogriffs many times during his travels throughout the badlands, how they were the most beautiful and powerful creatures in the sky, and that their kingdom, Hippogriffia was perched high up on the top of Mount Aris, led by their leader, Queen Novo. It was also rumored that the kingdom was in possession of a mysterious object that held a great power. The Storm King looked at his Staff of Sacanas, that of which he had stolen from Scorpan, was leaning against the wall right by him and smiled.
"Strife, tell the Storm Creatures to set the armada's course for Mount Aris immediately!" The Storm King ordered.
After Strife quickly left the room the Storm King picked up the staff, his face's reflection showed on its blue jewel. "This kingdom might be the key to finally making this staff work!"
The Storm King set foot outside his quarters onto the deck. He saw the Storm Creatures scrambling to get all his airships to head into his desired location.
"Make it snappy!" The Storm King shouted to his minions. "I have a good feeling about this Kingdom, I'm curious to see what kind of special magic thing those bird ponies are hiding!"
The armada had successfully steered its way out of the Pine Needle Barrens and out towards the sea where Mount Aris was residing. The Storm King stood at the front of his ship looking out at the sea waiting for Mount Aris to come into sight. He couldn't stop thinking about what kind of awesome magic he was going to obtain from these hippogriffs and their queen.
"Would it make me grow wings so I would be able to fly like them? That would be so awesome! Would I be given the power to shoot lasers out of my staff? That would be even better!" He thought to himself.
After a while the Storm King could see a small speck out in the distance.
"That's gotta be it," he said. He turned around to the skyship fleet and shouted. "Mount Aris straight ahead Storm Creatures, bring on the storm clouds!"
The whole armada began expelling dark grey storm clouds and were soon completely shrouded in them. From where any creature would be looking, it looked like storm clouds were floating in the sky being pushed forward by the wind. As the Storm King watched Mount Aris getting closer he chuckled.
"This kingdom won't know what hit it."
Aaaah, I needed this" Queen Novo said. She had cucumber slices over her eyes and was enjoying her mud bath, sinking her body deeper into it.
Suddenly she heard a knock on her door.
"Permission to enter, your Majesty" a voice on the other side of the door asked.
Queen Novo sighed at the interruption of her beauty treatment.
"Permission granted, Stratus" she told her subject, allowing her to enter.
Stratus came in and approached Queen Novo.
"Apologies, my Queen but there's something strange going on outside the Kingdom."
Still in the mud bath Queen Novo looked in the direction of Stratus.
"Strange how" she asked.
"Well there seem to be storm clouds heading our way."
Confused, Queen Novo took the cucumber slices off of her eyes and looked at Stratus.
"Storm clouds?" she asked. "But it's the middle of summer, we shouldn't be getting that kind of weather for another few months."
"That's what I thought as well, but outside I can see them clearly, they are making their way right toward us," Stratus said.
Queen Novo rose out of the mud bath and shaked all the mud off of herself. She trotted to the nearest window and looked through it. She could see the dark cloudy mass that was coming its way to her kingdom. They didn't look like storm clouds to her. She narrowed her eyes, turned around and looked at Stratus.
"Stratus, there's something not right about this, gather up all the guards and tell them to meet me in front of my castle just to be safe."
Following her Queen's orders Stratus quickly exited the room. Queen Novo looked at the strange presence that was approaching her and her subjects, as their leader it's Queen Novo's duty to keep them all safe. She leaped out the window and flew down to the front of the castle where Stratus was lining up her defense guards, landing right in front of them.
"Guards, there is some suspicious activity heading toward the kingdom, I need all of us to be on high alert for any danger that might reveal itself from what's coming our way. Spread the word to my subjects immediately!" Queen Novo ordered her guards.
As a small portion of the guards flew off to follow Queen Novo's orders, Stratus, and the rest of the guards stayed behind to ensure the Queen's safety. Queen Novo pointed to a few of the guards that stayed behind.
"I need you in the castle to keep an eye on my daughter and make sure she's safe" she told them.
"Yes my Queen, we shall protect Princess Skystar with our lives" one of the guards said, as they turned around and entered the castle.
The guards that warned Queen Novo's subjects returned to her.
"We have alerted all your subjects, your Majesty, and told them to lock their homes and stay hidden for the time being," one of the guards told her.
Queen Novo nodded to them. Good work" she said, then looked at the cloudy mass coming their way, closer than ever.
"Everyone, stand in formation, and prepare yourselves should any threat that might come from whatever this presence might be."
All the guards arranged themselves in a total of five, wide V shaped formations with Queen Novo and Stratus at the front.
The large mass had just reached the front gate. As all the dark, cloudiness faded away. Queen Novo could see a large airship armada rising above them. The Storm King looked past the city gates, taking in the sights of Hippogriffia. A long plank lowered down the doorway past the gates onto the ground with Strife coming down it thus entering Queen Novo's Kingdom.
Stratus stepped in front of her Queen and spread out her Wings to shield her.
"State your business here, foreigner" she ordered to the uninvited guest. "You have no right to appear unannounced!"
Strife's eyes glared into Stratus's.
"Well, well, hippogriff, that's not a very warm welcome," Strife said, moving forward. "And I certainly hope that's not how you treat royalty, allow me to introduce to you my master, the Storm King!"
Queen Novo and her army looked up at the doorway on the airship and saw the armored Yeti-like beast who had appeared before her and she narrowed her eyes as he walked down the plank down to her.
"Storm King huh" Queen Novo said. "What brings you to my kingdom?"
The Storm King leaned down and looked Queen Novo in the eyes.
"Well, Queen," the Storm King started as he stopped right in front of her. "I've heard that you hippogriffs are in possession of an object of an unknown, magical power, I would appreciate it very much if you could kindly hand it over to me." He extended his claw out to her as if expecting her to have the magical object on her at the exact moment.
Queen Novo glared at the Storm King. Apparently he was referring to her Pearl Of Transformation, but she didn't let the fact that he knew of it register on her face.
“And if we do have anything like that in our home, do you really think I would just let any creature rudely barge in and expect me to hand it over for no good reason?”
The smile on the Storm King's face disappeared and his extended claw slowly morphed into a tight, knuckle cracking fist then took a step toward Queen Novo. Stratus sprung into action and kept in-between Queen Novo and the Storm King to keep him from hurting her.
“Back away from the queen!” Stratus ordered.
The Storm King didn't seem fazed by Stratus’ loud demand.
“You're not going to make this easy, are you?” The Storm King asked.
He then stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, gaining the attention of the Storm Creatures inside of the ship behind him, who then quickly marched out in single file and lined up behind the Storm King, ready to defend him, should the hippogriffs try to harm their master.
“I hope you realize you brought this on yourselves!” The Storm King said then cried, “Storm Creatures, attack!”
The Storm Creatures snapped into action at the Storm King's command and charged at the hippogriff army and their queen. Queen Novo spread her wings and soared up as her army charged, ready to drive the invaders out of their home.
The Storm King watched the battle for a few moments before stepping in himself, eager to get in on the action and get a little exercise while he's at it. Upon seeing a few Storm Creatures struggling with a few of the hippogriffs he stepped up, grabbed one of them by the wings and hurled him into the other, flinging them both several yards away.
Queen Novo watched as the Storm King continued to assist his soldiers and narrowed her eyes. This Storm King was stronger than his men, and with him helping his army it was going to make winning a lot more difficult for her and her subjects to accomplish. She had no choice but to bring out her Kingdom's secret weapon.
Queen Novo flew down into the chaotic battle where she located Stratus and said to her.
“Stratus, to the castle, we need to get to the Pearl of Transformation to win this fight!”
“Yes, my Queen” Stratus nodded, and the two of them tried to silently make their way out of the battle, unaware that the Storm King had heard every word the queen had said.
“Transformation, you say . . . Now that's something I'd like to see!”
Queen Novo realized the Storm King had heard her and quickly sprinted into the castle with the Storm King following closely behind them.
Hoping to get to the Pearl before the kingdom was completely destroyed, they made it to the Queen's bedroom and went to the table beside her bed, which had a closed shell. Queen Novo picked up the shell and opened it revealing the Pearl of Transformation itself. Pulling it out of the shell Queen Novo turned around to Stratus.
“Okay, Stratus, now we just need-”
Queen Novo gasped to see the Storm King standing right behind her, with Stratus pinned under one of his cloven hooves.
“Stratus!” Queen Novo cried in alarm.
The Storm King reached toward the Pearl in Queen Novo's claw. Thinking quickly, Queen Novo turned around and bucked the Storm King in the chest with her hind legs, knocking him off of Stratus and sending him tumbling to the hard floor. unfortunately for Queen Novo and Stratus, the Storm King's armor reduced most of the damage the Storm King had taken and in a matter of moments he was back on his feet glaring at them.
“Okay, fun's over!” The Storm King growled and swung his Staff of Sacanas at Queen Novo like a bat, striking her in the hand, launching the Pearl out of her grip and it sailed away from them and rolled out of the castle.
“Outta my way!” The Storm King shouted as he shoved Novo and Stratus aside and ran toward the Pearl as it exited the front door. Making his way to it, the Storm King bent down and picked up the Pearl of Transformation, holding it in his claw and grinning evilly.
The Storm King held the Pearl to the gem on his staff and it began to shine brightly as the magical essence within itself started to escape from the Pearl.
The Storm King was just about to absorb the pearl's magic into his staff when suddenly he was tackled from behind by Stratus and he hit the ground, the Pearl flying out of his claw. The Storm King lifted his head and saw the Pearl bounce off of the ground once, twice then rolled in front of Queen Novo, who picked it up and glared at the Storm King furiously. Stratus and two of her guards landed beside her.
“Okay, Storm King!” Novo snapped. “You want to see our magic, then here it is!” The Pearl began To glow and she and her guards magically transformed into large Bugbears. Strife suddenly appeared next to the Storm King.
“Sire, I think the best course of action would be for us to fall back for now and reformulate a better attack strategy.” The Storm King glared at Strife. He hated to think he was actually outmatched by the Queen.
“Are you crazy!” the Storm King growled, "I'll never allow any creature to think that they've bested me!”
“Of course, but sometimes you have to retreat to win.” Strife told his master.
The Storm King looked from Strife then at the Bugbear transformed Queen Novo, glaring at her. Three Bugbears were definitely too much, even for the Storm King, he didn't have any choice except to retreat, but maybe he could leave with some dignity.
Just as the Queen went forward to strike, the Storm King held out his claw and called out.
“Ok, I'm calling a timeout meeting, Queen!”
Queen Novo stopped and transformed into her hippogriff form with her Guards still staying as Bugbears, stingers ready should the Storm King do anything suspicious.
Queen Novo held the Pearl of Transformation behind her.
“Had enough, have you?” she asked. Storm King cleared his throat and said.
“Our difference of opinion seems to be getting us nowhere, I'll give you an A for effort so let's call it a tie. I'll give you some time to think, while you go clean up your little kingdom here. Maybe in the future you'll be a little more cooperative . . . Storm Creatures, fall back!“
As the Storm Creatures scrambled to the airship the Storm King turned his back to Queen Novo and walked back as well, hiding the look of defeat and fury from the Queen's face.
Entering the ship as the armada departed from Mount Aris, the Storm King went back to his quarters and sat on his chair looking at Mount Aris on his map. Strife appeared next to his master should he need anything else.
“This didn't turn out the way I hoped it would . . .” He said to Strife without looking down at him. “The hippogriffs may have won this round, but now I have seen their power and I know what I'm up against.”
The brute strength of the Storm King and his army wasn't gonna be enough to win this battle, they were going to need something, or someone to tip the scales into their favor. All he had to do now was find it, but for now, the Storm King might as well go for the next closest kingdom to look for magic.
Finding it on his map, the Storm King ordered.
“Strife! Set course for Abyssinia!”
The species of that kingdom were basically just giant cats, so they should be cake compared to the Hippogriffs they just encountered.
Back in Hippogriffia as the Storm King's armada flew away into the distance Queen Novo helped her subjects with the task of cleaning up the mess that the Storm King had made in his visit.
“Stratus we can't risk any creature getting into the city after that. We'll need to keep our guard up to make sure that the Pearl of Transformation is safe.”
“Yes my Queen.” Stratus agreed.
This wasn't an attack they could just forget about, the Storm King would be back and he'd do anything to get his greedy claws on the magic pearl. They had to be prepared for whatever he was going to do. THE END
