This story is a spin-off sequel of The Lost Element series of stories and one of several that intertwine with each other that I have planned in the future. Updates will be irregular until after the sequel of The Lost Element is complete, which could be years away. Plot-critical spoilers for both The Lost Element and Return of Humanity will be present, so please proceed with caution.


Man... It sure has been some time since I last touched this typewriter. I had to replace the ink supply since the last one had dried out. Has it really been a year since I last typed a single entry about anything? Maybe even longer? Man, time sure flies.

I am getting ahead of myself. I am not entirely sure as to why I felt it was necessary to write anything. But... I feel this might be a new chapter into an interesting part of my life. Just a hunch. And... Well, I may as well start from the beginning. I will try to stay focused on exactly what I want to talk about here rather than ramble on about the events of the entire day.

Since a couple of years back, I have been involved off and on with a convicted criminal who was captured roughly two years ago. Criminal may be too soft a word, honestly. A more fitting word may be 'terrorist'. Though she is certainly not fitting of such a description anymore at this time. Her name is Tempest Shadow, formerly known during her childhood as Fizzlebop Berrytwist, and she is currently on parole in Canterlot, but under tight surveillance as she has been put on parole abnormally early under very unusual circumstances due to the severe nature of her criminal history.

I will confess that while I was involved in the operation to capture her due to a very personal request by the captain of the royal guard himself and have been maintaining contact with Tempest since shortly after her incarceration, I would hesitate to call her a friend. She has come far since she was left emotionally broken at the time of her arrest and I am genuinely impressed by her progress in improving herself, but I cannot say I completely trust her now as I had witnessed the people she had harmed before her arrest. But starting today, I think that began to change.

Being a Sunday, I had more time to myself than usual. Fluttershy and Rarity had decided to have their weekly spa visit today and even brought Gladesong along with them. She loves swimming in the hot tub. Good thing Aloe and Lotus are such good sports about her. While I was just taking a walk around town and happened to notice Canterlot in the far distance on the mountain, my thoughts went to Tempest Shadow. She had not come down to Ponyville to visit often due to how restrictive the conditions are regarding her traveling outside Canterlot and I have not been in a hurry to go back up and see her. But today... I felt a bit adventurous as a means to break the mold and change up my routine. So I made a beeline to the train station and was out of Ponyville on the next train to Canterlot.

I must confess that Canterlot's rate of reconstruction since Lavan's attack on it a few years back has been quite impressive. I would have to wager that it is more than 60% restored by this point. I can walk down certain roads and it looks and feels just like it was before the city was reduced to a charred husk. Regardless, I decided to ask around with any member of the royal guard I could find on where I may find Tempest Shadow. None had any information on her whereabouts aside that her curfew was roughly 9 PM. I was tempted to go to the barracks next to the castle to try and find Shining Armor himself, but now that the evening was getting started, I felt it would not hurt if I took some time to grab a bite to eat.

The sun was just starting to set now that we were in the coming of autumn. Least favorite time of the year for me, if I have not made that clear in whatever prior entries I have written. Not quite cool enough to warrant a jacket though. I took a stroll through the streets in the business district of Canterlot, trying to find a restaurant or cafe for something to eat. I weighed my options as many ponies of varying social status passed me in the street. I noticed one of the Canterlot elite chatting up a working class stallion as they even shared a laugh. I could not help but smile at how the elite had been humbled after the events of the Lord of Midnight's return. Losing everything they had and being given shelter by the people they had long thought had been beneath them had done wonders for their outlook on life. Canterlot's reputation has understandably improved with tourists now that the elite are now much warmer towards those of lower social status.

I soon remembered what I was doing and continued on my way. There were quite a few options and I was very tempted to stop by the recently reopened Tasty Treat while savoring the opportunity to visit my good friend Saffron Masala, but I decided that I was in the mood for something new. What had I not yet tried in Canterlot?

Eventually, I came to what seemed to be an eatery specializing in live entertainment. It had a musical presence to it, making me realize that I had come across a jazz club doubling as a bistro. A bit pricy for my budget, but I was willing to try anything once. Especially a place with such good music. I stepped inside and was greeted by the doorman, a stallion in a dark suit that was more fitting of a jazz bar in Manehatten, and was seated at the bar and handed a menu. I took the time to look around and saw that the dining area, which was right next to me, was roughly half filled with nothing but stallions who were having a drink or enjoying a meal. If I had to guess, the maximum occupancy was no more than forty to fifty customers, giving the bistro a confined feel that would really let the sound of any live entertainment spread evenly throughout. Soft smooth jazz played over the bistro's sound system despite the fact that there was an obvious stage at one end of the dining area that would likely house a band and even having a walkway that led out to the center of the room for a dancer to perform along. The curtains were closed, but I could swear I could hear the faint sound of musicians tuning their instruments somewhere beyond them.

I went ahead and placed an order for some roasted vegetables served drizzled in a basil lemon sauce and went ahead and ordered a light beer since it just happened to be happy hour. But no sooner had my order arrived and I began to sip at my drink did the lights in the room start to dim as the music faded out. Stage lights began to shine on the black curtain that spanned the stage. It was then that someone, probably the manager, began to speak over the sound system as his voice boomed everywhere. "Good evening, gentlemen. How is everypony tonight? Happy hour's still going, so order up a drink if you haven't. Should help loosen you up for the main event."

He sounded friendly enough. He definitely was not the bartender before me, so he must have been somewhere just out of sight where customers could not get to. I took another long swig of my beer to try and get the buzz that comes from the low quantities of alcohol in it, but could not stomach the cold for more than three consecutive gulps. The manager then spoke up again, "Anyway, let's get some sweet jazz going, shall we?"

At that moment, a piano began to play at a quick pace with the sound of a hoof tapping once every second joining the tempo right as the curtains began to slide open to reveal a four-stallion band consisting of a pianist, a drummer, a saxophonist, and a trumpeter. All were clothed in matching black suits and fedora hats. But what caught my eye the most was a secondary curtain wrapped around in a circular setup right in the middle of the stage as if to hide someone. A dancer? A singer? Whatever it was, it caught my eye as the manager provided a name. "For anypony who's visiting for the first time this week, please give it up for a newcomer to our troupe of performers. Gentlemen, please welcome our very own Nightshade Holly!"

Nightshade Holly, huh? That certainly sounded like a captivating stage name. Some of the stallions in the audience cheered and whistled at the name, probably being returning customers who wanted to see the bistro's local starlet. My curiosity was piqued as the piano tempo remained quick as if to set the stage for a lively song. But when the starlet pushed the curtains aside and stepped out with microphone in hoof, I very nearly spewed my drink as I saw exactly who it was. I could only gag and cough as I struggled to contain my drink and swallowed before letting out n shocked, "What the...?!"

It was her. I knew that dark purple coat and red wine-colored mane and tail anywhere. The vertical scar over her right eyelid only served to further confirm her identity. Tempest Shadow was the star of the show and standing tall on just her hind legs while a glittering red frock was draped over her body. The trumpeter, saxophonist, and drummer began to play along with the pianist as she opened her opal eyes. As she looked straight down the walkway while a bit of a devious smirk and gaze was set upon her face, she lifted the microphone to her lips and began to sing with that elegant voice of hers with just a sliver of an upper-class Canterlot accent in it I had come to recognize, strutting down the walkway with quite a bit of a sway and swagger I would only expect out of a human woman. I do not even remember the lyrics of the song. I was too shocked to see her there of all places to pay them any mind. And looking quite eye-catching, if I must confess. But considering that such a trait is practically a requirement for such a role, she would need to look that good to get the part.

I slowly shook my head as I watched her sing and sway, dancing to the tempo of the music. It did not feel right even with how good a job she was doing. I know her. She is too reserved and insecure for such a performance. It is too soon for her to have the confidence needed to put herself out in front of a crowd while dressed so...provocatively. And considering her criminal history, how did she even get hired for this place?

During a lull in the lyrics, her gaze finally reached mine. I felt myself twitch as I realized that she was looking right at me, even if just for two seconds. That smug expression on her face instantly became one of horror as she recognized me, not that she could have not noticed me there since I was the only human in the audience. That look of shame in her eyes... That gaze confirmed my suspicions that she was not enjoying her role as much as she was letting on. It was all an act to appease the audience. A sultry silver-tongued vamp teasing the eyes and ears of every man there for some hefty tips. Knowing this, she visibly forced herself to regain her facade of control and enjoyment as she resumed her singing.

What came next only made the situation all the more uncomfortable for me in spite of how enjoyable her singing and the music was. A number of the stallions whistled and catcalled her over the noise, eliciting a look of noticeable discomfort from her for a few seconds between words. One of the more lecherous stallions even seemed to reach up for her at the edge of the walkway, probably to cop a feel on her flank. I glared in disgust at someone trying to take advantage of a mare who was far more emotionally fragile than what was visibly apparent. Tempest managed to rebuke him with a sweeping kick of her hoof disguised as a dance twirl, prompting him to back off. I was hoping that this dance would end soon. The song went on for a full four minute with Tempest slinking back towards the red curtains that would contain her at the end. She managed to take a graceful bow at the end as the music concluded and the musicians tipped their hats to the applauding audience. However, as she turned away from them with the curtain starting to wrap around her, I almost gasped as I saw her bring her empty hoof to her face as she began to visibly cry.

The main curtain did not close as the band began to play another more relaxing song while Tempest seemed to escape to the back through a door that was concealed behind another curtain behind the band. I was left feeling rather bothered and even dirty after seeing what Tempest had just put herself through. I quickly chugged the rest of my beer and turned to the bartender while setting my bottle down a bit loudly to get his attention. "Hey, sir? Who's this Tem... I mean Nightshade Holly?"

The bartender was using his magic to levitate and clean a freshly washed wine glass while he glanced at me. "Oh, her? She just showed up a week ago or so. Don't know much about her. She's not much for socializing, but she sure can pull the crowd with that voice and those moves, huh? Never seen a mare dance or walk like that. And hey, I saw her look at you there. Guess she knows you, huh?"

"Yeah... We're...acquaintances... Although that's not the name I know her by." I replied while starting to feel legitimately worried for my...associate. I just do not know where I stand with her right now. I cannot really bring myself to call her my friend. Not yet. Before I could even think on that further, I noticed the manager approaching. Where most of his employees were dressed in black suits, his was white with a red bowtie.

The manager pulled up a seat by me and immediately began to chat me up. "Well, hello there! I would remember seeing a human here, but I don't recognize you. First time in, my good sir?"

"Yeah, felt like trying someplace new. And it didn't disappoint. That's quite a band you got up there." I replied while trying to smile. Even if seeing Tempest up on stage left a sour taste in my mouth, the band themselves were sugar to my ears.

The manager used his magic to pop open a bottle of cider while continuing to crack a friendly smile at me. "Those are the Four of Spades, kid. You won't find a better jazz quartet in Canterlot. But our little newcomer? Nightshade? That broad's got quite some pipes on her, huh?"

I find it weird whenever someone calls me that when I already have kids of my own by this point. Must be part of the ritzy vibe he has going on. I munched away at what was left of my meal, although what I just watched killed any desire for dessert. Although there was some truth to his words. Tempest always had a surprisingly elegant voice in spite of her background. And it makes for some beautiful singing. Still, I was left wondering what was happening at that moment in the back. "Yeah... Like auditory quicksilver... Come to think of it, how'd she get hired here anyway?"

I was especially curious how she managed to get hired in such a ritzy establishment. Considering her criminal background, most would likely turn her down unless they desperately needed some positions filled. His response surprised me. "How? Well, she showed up for an interview recently and I let her try a few spins and hum a few notes. She also didn't look like a fink, so I gave her the job."

That was it? It sounded like he did not look at her background at all. "Uh... All right then... Well, since she's an acquaintance of mine, you think I could head on back to talk to her? Just need to catch up on a few things."

Unfortunately, the manager drew the line at unsolicited walk-ins. "Sorry, mac. Can't have just anypony walking backstage. Especially during business hours."

Under normal circumstances, I would have just left it at that. But I felt determined to get to Tempest Shadow in any way I could. I quickly brainstormed and tried to think of a means to get my point across on how serious the situation was with her. The liquid courage from the alcohol I had consumed might have helped in hindsight. I leaned closer to the manager and spoke quietly yet firmly, "I see your point, but this is serious. Nightshade back there is under close watch by the royal guard and I have close ties with its captain. I need to speak to her immediately as I have a history with her. Please."

My stern words and lack of humor seemed to get through to the manager. His friendly expression was replaced by a more surprised stare. "The royal guard, huh? Then... Wait... Wait... Yeah... You're that guy, aren't you? You're the one who... Yeah, sure. You can head back and see her whenever you want. I'll let the bouncers know to let you by. They won't give you trouble."

That was easy. Too easy, honestly. My eyes opened wide as I asked, "Wait, really? Just like that?"

The manager regained his friendly smile while he chugged some more of his drink. "Of course. I can't say no to the cat who took out the fink who razed my business to the ground a few years back. I owe you a debt, kid. Oh, and forget the bill. It's on the house tonight."

That was a big relief. I did not think my actions from a few years back would end up netting me a favor from a complete stranger. The manager quickly finished his drink and I finished my meal. I was about to get up and make my way to the back, but I paused and glanced at the preoccupied bartender. I shrugged my shoulders and reached into my pocket before placing a small stack of bits on the counter for a tip. It was the least I could do for the service.

I made my way to the door at the far end of the bar and entered a corridor that lead into the kitchen right in front of me. There was a another stallion in the corner wearing another black suit, but he almost did not pay me any mind. I turned and headed down the corridor to my right, eyeing the plaques on the doors that likely led into the private offices of the band members. However, one of the doors was not marked despite looking the same as the four I had just passed. Was it hers?

There did not seem to be a lock on it, although there was a sign hanging from the latch insisting that the occupants not be disturbed. More than likely what I was looking for. I was tempted to leave her be, but I could not. Not after seeing that. With some hesitation and caution, I grabbed the latch and pulled it down slowly to avoid making a sound and pushed it open just enough to peek inside. It was exactly as I expected.

Tempest Shadow was before me. Seated on a stool, dress removed and draped over a short sofa against the far wall. Tears stained her cheeks as she just sighed and gazed at her own reflection. Upon the vanity was a bottle of scotch that she soon used levitation magic on to pour some into a shot glass and gulp it down quickly. Such shame in those eyes. It pained me to watch. So I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

She immediately detected me and turned to face me with a look of horror. Our eyes met, but no words were said. That look of horror turned into one of defeat as she bowed her head and turned away to look at herself in the mirror again. She seemed tempted to reach for the bottle again, but did not. I closed the door behind me and took a seat across from her on the sofa while minding the dress. I was carefully debating what I should say now that she was in one of the most vulnerable positions I had seen in quite some time. I knew she was hoping I would not be upset with her after finding her in such a situation. I decided to try and start the conversation with a compliment. "That was...quite a performance out there... Very captivating."

"You were the one person I was hoping would never see me there..." She muttered halfheartedly. I could tell that she found such a role up on stage demeaning with all the sex appeal she had to show to appease the audience. She is not that kind of mare. Her confidence is nowhere near high enough for her to be even remotely comfortable with that kind of attention. "You must be disappointed in me...being up there like some floozy..."

To be frank, I felt no disappointment at all the instant I saw her up there. Just shock since it was one of the last places I would ever expect to find her. "No... It's not like that at all. For what it's worth, you really did have a wonderful singing voice. It's just...you don't seem like the kind of mare who would put herself out before a crowd like that. Not as you are now, at least. I was just...surprised to see you there. I don't think any less of you after seeing that."

"Not like you thought much of me to begin with..." She replied with a biting sense of self disgust. I felt a sting to my heart I did not expect. It was true that I did not entirely trust her, but to say I did not care about her would be a blatant lie. She bowed her head, not really looking at anything at all as she rested her arms on the vanity before her. "I know you don't trust me... And I can't fault you for that..."

Mistaking her words as her voicing her own frustration over my inability to trust someone I had once see be so unrepentantly vile, I rose to my feet with a sigh and began walk towards the door at the far end of the room. "Maybe I shouldn't have come in... If you...uh...don't want me here, I can just go..."

I did not even make it past Tempest before she suddenly reached out and placed her hoof on my arm. She looked up at me with a frightened, pleading gaze that she would always show whenever I would attempt to leave prematurely. It was the exact same expression I had seen when I first visited her in that dungeon cell back when she was first sentenced for her crimes. "No... Please, stay..."

She has shown me that stare many times. And each and every time, I always listened. After a moment of gazing into her sea green eyes, I slowly backed up and returned to my seat. Eyes still locked, Tempest turned away from me before continuing to speak. "I know you don't really trust me, but... I want you to know I have always trusted you... You're the...only one who saw me back then who has the heart to care..."

Tempest's hoof rose to her forehead. It rested upon the side of her horn, not a flaw to be seen in its entire length. "I didn't deserve this... I probably still don't. But you gave it to me anyway after rightfully denying it to me... James... What changed your mind? What brought you back to me to show me such mercy?"

I bowed my head as that ugly memory surfaced in my mind again. I still remember fighting my own conscience, telling myself to just give her what she desperately needed and not seek to punish her after seeing her already cowering in the presence of my allies. The screams of anguish and wrath as she writhed on the ground in the most horrific emotional breakdown I had ever witnessed after smashing the bottle containing the potion that would restore her horn right in front of her. Even my own allies voiced shock over how cruel my actions were. It was against everything I had ever stood for. And it was not until I saw her shackled and utterly broken as her crimes were spoken to her in court that I realized how my acts of punishment towards her had left her a broken shell of a mare. I felt sick with myself that day, wondering if I had truly done the right thing regardless of how much she deserved it.

I bowed my head, feeling shame for once knowing what I had done to her. Even if she was more than deserving of it at the time. "I couldn't leave you like that... I felt horrible knowing what I had done. My heart wouldn't leave me alone until I did something to fix this... And when you reached out to me... Even with my doubts... I just wanted to help you... To fix you... I want to believe you can be better than what you were back then... That's why I went back to you. I couldn't leave you in that state..."

There was no response at first. After maybe ten seconds, I cautiously lifted my gaze to look at Tempest. She had her hoof to her lips as if she was on the verge of tears. She looked at me before looking away once more. "Before you tried to leave... You told me to not make you regret returning my horn to me..."

Indeed. That was what I asked in return for slipping her another serving of that potion that restored her horn in a matter of seconds. Right before I got up to leave only for her to reach through the bars of her cell with me just out of reach and pleading for me to not leave with those frightened eyes. A plea I answered by grasping her hoof and returning to my stool. Tempest then looked at me and asked while still holding back tears, "Have I...succeeded?"

I took one long look at Tempest Shadow as she looked back at me. So desperate for acknowledgement so she could know she was doing good things after so many years of making all the wrong decisions. It was at that moment that I began to ask myself an important question as I beheld the nihilistic terrorist turned fragile humbled mare before me. Why was I so wary of her when I had no reason to be anymore? Why could I not accept that she had no will to ever return to being the monster she once was?

I could not keep doing this. Not after seeing her as she was at that moment. I did something then that I had not done at all around Tempest at all, even since seeing her with her horn restored in that dungeon cell. I smiled. "Yeah... I don't regret giving that back to you at all. You're doing better."

It was not much. It was a bit of a forced smile, but I was sincerely proud of her for trying to make the best of the situation her actions had led to. She was not regressing into the demon she once was. She was still trying to work her way up into being a model citizen of Equestria. That is a long way to come in such a short time.

My words got to her. She began to sniffle and was struggling to hold in her emotions. I did not want to make her cry, but I still had one last thing to say. "And... I'm tired of being wary of you... I shouldn't have to be. I want to trust you... I know you're trying and that should be enough for me, so..."

I was at a loss for words. All I could do was just extend my hand to her. Tempest's eyes opened wide as that look of intense vulnerability filled them. As if she could scarcely believe that I would offer her anything so sincerely. She stepped down from her chair and approached me while looking like she could burst into tears at any second. But as she reached out to me, she hesitated. Faintly teetering forward and back as if afraid to take my hand.

I quickly hazarded a guess as to why. It felt so familiar. The last time I had offered her anything, it had been something she desperately desired. Only for me to smash it into the ground and leave her feeling it was gone forever. Once more, I was offering her something she dearly wanted, but she was wary this time. Afraid I would change my mind and deny her at the last second.

It almost hurt to be distrusted like that so suddenly when she had long put more trust in me than anyone she knew. At that point, I truly wanted to bridge the gap that I had been maintaining for the last couple of years. But now it was her turn to be wary. I knew what she wanted and I was not going to let her deny herself any longer. When her hoof drew near my hand only to start to pull back, I reached out further and grasped her hoof in my hand.

Tempest froze. It was as if she could not comprehend that I really did want things to improve between us. Tears started cascading down her face while she looked up at me. Seconds later, she jumped into my arms and held onto me, sobbing uncontrollably into my chest while I wrapped my arms around her. She finally felt safe enough to really let out her emotions. And all I could do was whisper into her ear that everything was going to be OK.

I gently stroked my hand down her back as she was careful to not prod me too hard with her horn. It had been quite a while since I last saw her so vulnerable that she would just collapse into my arms. It felt...refreshing to feel her being so open and accepting of my offer to make peace. I tried to think of a means to calm the situation. To change the subject. So I attempted to make quiet small talk. "Hey... Can we just talk a bit for a little while?"

"Please..." I heard Tempest mumble against my chest as her sobbing finally came to an end. She turned her head on its side, letting one eye look up at me without leaving my embrace.

I thought back to the discussion I had with the manager. Especially how nonchalant he was in how he hired her. "Just curious, but... How'd you get hired here? I'm surprised a...convicted felon could get a job at such a ritzy establishment."

She seemed disheartened to have to be reminded of her criminal status, but provided an honest answer. "It wasn't my first choice, but they don't provide background checks on performers here for some reason... All I had to do was prove I could dance and sing. I passed, so I got the job. Some days have been easier than others..."

"I guess your better days are those that don't involve getting groped or catcalled, huh?" I asked quietly while making sure my hands were firmly holding her so as to provide support.

Tempest let out a sigh, visibly shuddering against me as those words reached her ears. "Even without the heckling, I never really feel comfortable up there... I don't mind the singing and I do get a bit of a thrill as I dance, but I'm not exactly experienced in the field... And I don't like this kind of attention... I just don't know what else to do with myself right now..."

I was tempted to ask her what she really wanted to do with herself at that time, but my hand drifted down to her flank by accident. It reminded me instantly. Her flanks were still bare. With her life having all but stopped so long ago, she never had the chance to really explore her interests or skills. The only solace I could take from that was that her innate skill had nothing to do with her criminal history. I could only imagine what her real talent is and when it would surface. Of course, I was also fearful that it may be too late for her. My good friend Mitta is still without a cutie mark, though that may be due to lingering effects from the curse she once carried.

With some hesitation, I brought up a curious question that came to mind as I thought back to her performance. "Now that I think about it... How do you walk and dance like that? On just your hind legs? I didn't know ponies could do it so well and for extended periods of time."

Tempest seemed less bothered by that question than any before it and was noticeably calmer about it. She looked up at me and said, "That? Um... Not sure. I can show you though."

I let go of her to allow Tempest to stand. Once on the floor, she pushed herself up and was soon maintaining balance on just her hind legs. Rather than just having her front legs curled up in front like a mare who could fall back to the ground at any time, she had her arms hanging down the sides of her torso to the point where I was left momentarily stunned with how womanly she seemed to be with such a stance. Her slender and taller body spread out her mass to the point where she was less likely to lose balance and fall forward. Her stance still was not quite perfect as she noticeably swayed a little bit. I could not help but mutter, "You seem almost human like that..."

Apparently forgetting to return to a quadruped stance, Tempest walked towards me with a surprising display of grace and balance befitting of her current profession. "Really? I... I almost thought it was unnatural to stand like this, but I found that I can gyrate and twirl more effectively on two legs than on four... The manager seemed to find it impressive, at least."

She had a point. For as long as I have been in Equestria, I have never seen anyone on four legs perform particularly impressive dances. Two many legs just holds you back, I guess. "Maybe you should keep that up. It might be your own signature style."

"Huh... Maybe..." She muttered in a moment of thought. She seemed startled as she realized that she now stood taller than me while I was seated on that sofa. I think she was unsure how to feel now that she was momentarily taller than me and promptly apologized. "Sorry... I forgot to..."

She turned away from me with her arms crossed over her chest while she seemed at a loss for words. What was she so bothered about? Did she feel like making herself taller than me was an act of intimidation or dominance? It seemed silly, really. Wanting her to understand that I was not the least bit angry at her, I stood up and walked up to her before wrapping my arms around her. "No need to apologize. You did nothing wrong."

I noticed out of the corner of my eye in our reflection in her vanity's mirror that she seemed shocked by my embrace. This look did not stay for long as she soon leaned back into my embrace with her head resting at the base of my neckline. It impresses me just how much taller she is than the average pony. I then whispered to her, "When do you get off work?"

Tempest took a moment to respond as she slowly opened her eyes to display an unhappy gaze at nothing in particular. "I don't know if I can after that... I'll let my manager know I'm not fit to dance or sing for the rest of the shift. I've had a few meltdowns before like the one you saw a little bit ago, so he knows when I've reached my limit for the day..."

Before I could release my grasp on her, I asked one last question. "Would you like me to walk you home?"

Tempest did not hesitate to give me her answer. "Please..."

I did not release my grasp on her for a moment longer. I just stood there, her head resting against my chest as her eyes closed. I wondered what was going through her head at that time. I was almost afraid to let her go, but I had no choice. I finally released her with some reluctance and spoke softly to her. "I'll be waiting by the front door."

She said nothing while I stepped past her and dropped back down onto all four of her hooves. I noticed her watching as I closed the door behind me. I found that the band out in the lounge was now playing some swing instead of smooth jazz. With nothing to do, I waited by the door with my back pressed to the wall. It was not long before I noticed Tempest emerge from the hall to the side of the bar. She trotted quickly along in an attempt to get out of there as quickly as possible. I noticed a few of the stallions look her way, but seemed to hesitate to call out to her since she was not in uniform. However, they instantly looked away once she was clearly in my company. My guess is they thought she and I were a couple and wanted to save themselves the embarrassment of catcalling a taken mare. She looked up at me while I looked down at her for a few seconds before I nodded and held the door open for her. Once outside, I said, "Lead the way. I'll stick with you."

"All right." Tempest Shadow replied with some brevity. She seemed a bit anxious or even uneasy while we walked along the streets of Canterlot with the sun setting in the far distance. I paid close attention to her while we walked along. Whenever she would stop, I would stop. When she turned to follow a different road, I would stay to her left. We really did not speak much, if at all.

In time, I thought I noticed that Tempest had drifted closer to me while we walked. Thinking she may not have noticed that she may have almost walked into me, I distanced myself from her a bit more while glancing down at her out of the corner of my eye. This time, I saw her actually close the gap between us until she was mere inches from me. She did not look directly at me, but it seemed that she deliberately kept staying close to me. I decided to not step away this time and even raked my fingers through her mane and over her ears so she knew that I was aware of her position. She responded by leaning her head into my grasp.

I had almost not noticed when she finally stopped and looked back when I noticed her head had drifted out of my hand. I turned around to see that she had stopped and asked, "Huh? We're here?"

"Yeah. This is the place." She replied solemnly while turning her gaze towards what seemed to be a rather mediocre apartment complex at the edge of the residential area. It overlooked the very edge of the city and the mountain's cliffside below, giving it a rather dangerous feel as if it could topple over the edge at any time even though I knew better. Still, it seemed like an oddly specific location for her to reside in.

"Um... This seems a bit...low quality even by Canterlot lower class. It almost looks vacant. Are you sure this is the spot?" I asked while eyeing the complex beside us.

Tempest pushed the front door open while looking visibly disheartened. "It's not my choice. This is what the parole officers provided me with."

I felt the air chill a bit at those words. She really did have it rough while still technically incarcerated. The only reason she was not still locked in a dungeon cell for terrorism was due to her working out deals with the royal guard to speak to children as a cautionary tale to not follow the paths she took much later in life as well as to serve as an emotional outlet to tell her story. The least she could do was encourage them to not be like her and to not hesitate to aid their friends if they should ever go through what she did during childhood.

I chose to not pursue the topic further and followed her past the door. A stairwell stood before us with eight private mail boxes set into the wall to our left for the tenets. However, from how quiet and musty the place was, I suspected Tempest Shadow was the only occupant. We walked up the first flight of stairs before Tempest opened the door right in front of the steps. At least we would not have to go very far each time.

I was not expecting much, but what I did see upon stepping inside still left me aghast. It was not so much what I did see than it was I did not see. Tempest's apartment was shockingly minimalistic in terms of furniture layout and with plain white walls everywhere I looked. All I saw in the living room we stepped into was a sofa and a low table before it with a phonograph in the corner without a single vinyl record to be used. I watched as Tempest walked over to the sofa and laid herself out on it with her gaze turned towards the ceiling, her arms crossed over her chest. "Make yourself at home."

There really was not much to make myself at home to. I looked around to get my bearings and found a tiny kitchen, laundry room, bathroom with a shower stall and closet, and a little bedroom with an end table and lamp beside it. The bathroom and bedroom at least had windows that provided a nice view of the horizon out west. I could even see Ponyville from them. The bed was also surprisingly large compared to a lot of beds I have seen, probably as a means to hold any kind of potential race of creature who might wind up incarcerated in Canterlot. But even with that, Tempest's current housing still felt like a prison cell. Simply depressing.

Even worse was when I checked her kitchen cabinets and refrigerator. The place was rather bare aside from very cheap and potentially unhealthy foods. Instant noodles and the like. I did not even want to ask her about her usual income. I let out a sigh as I was left wondering what I could do to help, if anything.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet. I pulled out the card that is tied to the trust fund Celestia set up for me a good while back. I remembered her conditions on what I was allowed to use it on. Necessities for my family and nothing else. For the first time ever, I felt the urge to use it on something that was not for us. Would Celestia notice? Would she think it was spent on Fluttershy, myself, and our kids? There was only one way to find out. I made my way towards the apartment's front door. "I'll be right back."

I noticed Tempest lift her head before looking back at me from her resting spot on the sofa. "You're leaving already?"

"No, I just need to go somewhere for a bit. I'll be back before long. I think. Not sure how long I'll be gone." I replied while stopping at the door.

Tempest only became more curious. "OK, but... Where are you going? You only just got here."

I made no attempt to hide my intentions. "Grocery shopping. Your kitchen could use it."

Her eyes opened wide in shock. "What?! But... James... You don't need to do this for me..."

I shrugged my shoulders, not the least bit dissuaded. "I know. I'm doing it because I want to. Now, where do you do your shopping?"

Tempest paused for a moment as if she could not comprehend what I was doing. Maybe she was just so unused to such generosity. She soon closed her eyes and bowed her head in silent contemplation of an answer. I waited patiently for an answer and got one when she opened her eyes again. Tempest rolled off of the sofa and onto her hooves before walking towards me. "We'll go together. I'll point you there."

"Sounds good. Lead on." I replied while holding the door open for her. We were soon on our way. And like before, Tempest stayed close to me while I kept my hand on her head with my fingers stroking her scalp.

With the outdoor markets closed for the day, the only choice left was to visit the local supermarket. Well, that might be a bit grand a word for it. I would say it was closer to a small town grocer since Canterlot just does not have the space for large businesses aside from a few examples. We stepped inside and were greeted by what felt like a miniature grocery store. I looked down at Tempest, who still looked uncertain of how to properly react to the fact that I was about to treat her to a shopping spree. I picked up a basket in each hand and said, "OK, you pick out what we get and I'll carry them."

"Right..." She muttered back. I started to follow Tempest around while a number of other customers passed us while doing their own shopping. Nopony paid us any mind, nor the fact that Tempest was obviously missing a cutie mark. Actually, some did glance at her, but only for a brief moment of curiosity before moving on.

Tempest soon seemed to be enjoying herself while browsing the many colorful products on display, probably seeing it as a bit of escapism since her mind was briefly distracted from her worries. I even noticed her start to smile now and then as she used her magic to place objects in the baskets. A bag of miniature oranges, bright red apples straight out of Sweet Apple Acres, and other boxes and bags of fruit and vegetables. She tried to balance out, but soon noticed that I was starting to strain myself with the weight of each basket in both hands. She looked up at me and asked, "You want me to hold those for you?"

"Er... Sure. I'll just go grab another basket that I can handle myself." I replied with my fingers starting to ache. I felt the baskets instantly become weightless as they were coated in Tempest's magic aura and floated out of my grasp. Despite the weight, she had no issues holding them aloft. I flexed my relieved fingers and said, "OK, I'll be right back. I'll be just a second."

I hurried back to the front of the store and grabbed another basket before hurrying back over to Tempest. She was eyeing some chocolate candy bars on display. With peanuts in them. She noticed me approach and seemed embarrassed as if I had caught her debating on whether or not she should indulge her sweet tooth. I could tell that she was trying to not take advantage of me, but I just rolled my eyes and grabbed her a couple along with a whole bag of mixed candy for her to sample. She could only stare in shock, but soon just continued on her way with me close behind her.

We soon reached the end of the produce aisle and soon made our ways down the canned goods aisle and dairy aisle. Tempest went to fetch some milk and some cheeses while I browsed the shelves that were stacked with pasta and various sauces. I was unsure of whether or not she liked that stuff, so I turned to her while she had her eyes on some yogurt. "Hey, Tempest? Do you like pasta?"

She did not seem to hear me, or did not notice me call her name. I think that may have been the first time I spoke her name to her at all that day. "Tempest?"

It was only then that she glanced at me, almost as if she did not recognize her own name. Her expression became more solemn as she said, "Oh... Um... Actually... If it's not too much to ask, could you stop calling me that from now on?"

That confused me. That was her name, so what else could I call her? I really was not in the mood to get witty with joke names that play off of what her name is associated with, but I soon remembered what her manager called her. "Why not? That's your... Oh, wait. That stage name of yours. Nightshade Holly, right? You prefer that?"

Her eyes were soon directed to the floor. "It's not a stage name. I legally changed my name a few weeks ago. I'm trying to...forget who I once was..."

I too felt my emotions sink upon hearing those words. She hates who she once was. Hates herself for making the decisions that led to her becoming the monster the royal guard launched an entire operation to capture. And yet, I never expected her to outright change her name to leave behind her former identity. People with a shady track record usually do that to stay off the radar, but this... She really just wanted to be someone else, even if it meant erasing Tempest Shadow from her life. She then looked at me and asked, "So please... Never call me that again, if you can help it. I'm...Nightshade Holly now..."

I could already see the symbolism in those words. But I could not tell if she noticed it. I felt a sense of compassion come over me as I set down my basket. Tempest seemed confused as to what I was doing while I dropped to one knee while glancing around to make sure no one was around. "James, what are you..."

She paused as I gently stroked my hand up her neck to her red mane. "Nightshade and holly, huh? A flower of a somber purple and a bright red berry found on holiday mistletoe. Both beautiful in their own way, but containing a deadly toxin. You'll always have those memories of poison... But you can still be beautiful if you keep it all safely contained and locked away and forgotten..."

I saw her eyes quiver as the magic aura on her horn began to fluctuate as if she was about to lose control on her grasp. She seemed to notice this and carefully lowered her baskets to the floor to avoid dropping them. She then shuddered and whispered, "James... Please... You're going to make me cry..."

My hand stopped moving at her request. True to her word, tears were building at the edge of her eyelids. Her gaze remained pleading, unable to look away from me. I then asked out of curiosity, "Do you...want to cry?"

Her eyes darted around a bit as if she seemed to be struggling to find an answer. I was hardly surprised by what she said once her gaze locked with mine again. "Yes...?"

I let out a mildly amused sigh before reaching out and taking her into my arms. I felt her let out a quiet whimper while burying her face in my shoulder, a wet spot forming in the fabric. I heard her whisper, "Why are you always so kind to me..."

"Because I want to be." I replied while stroking my hand down her back. I soon released my grip on her and reached for my basket. "So then... I asked you a question. Do you like pasta, Holly?"

Tempest's expression changed to one of shock, but that did not stick around long since she soon showed a somber smile in response to my use of her new name. "Yeah... I'm not picky about the sauce though..."

I went ahead and picked up several boxes of various types of pasta and one jar of sauce for each box. I even went ahead and picked up some boxes of macaroni and cheese since there was a sale. Tempest went back to gathering up milk and cheese and even a bit of yogurt, but I also picked up a few blocks of cheese she did not. I also made certain to pick up some necessities for the kitchen along with some frozen foods. Dish soap, a scrubbing sponge, several little bottles of spices, cooking oil, and so forth. I even went ahead and picked up a vinyl record to play on the phonograph back at the apartment that was being sold in an aisle near the front of the store. Our three baskets were full to near overflowing, so we decided to head to the checkout lanes.

Tempest was the one who set out all of our goods on the conveyor belt since her levitation magic allowed her to handle them all at once. Once everything was set out and the three baskets were stacked for replacement, the belt rolling slowly as the clerk used her own magic to move the items along the scanner. She was an older unicorn mare with a set of glasses balancing upon her nose. I noticed her eye my hand as it rested upon the ledge that the card reader was attached to before she then glanced at Tempest as she stood near me. The clerk must have been an old pro since she barely seemed to be paying any mind to the items she was scanning. She then asked Tempest, "Everything all right, dearie?"

Not expecting the hospitality, Tempest seemed a bit flustered at first before managing to offer a small smile. "Yes... We had no problems. Everything was fine."

The clerk then said something neither of us expected while showing us both a smile. "I hope so. I saw you looking like you were about to start crying, but it was so sweet the way your husband made sure he was there for you."

I flinched hard at those words, as did Tempest as a look of utter bewilderment spread instantly across her face. We began to simultaneously sputter and banter incoherently to the point where the clerk even started laughing at our reaction. It was only then that I noticed she must have saw my wedding ring and assumed Tempest is my wife. Boy, would that make for a funny conversation at the dinner table tonight. Needless to say, we could not bring ourselves to dispute that claim and just got out of there as quickly as we could once I paid and our groceries were all bagged up.

We did not say a word to each other for the entire walk home while Tempest used her magic to carry the eight or so bags of items. It was kind of perplexing to see all those bags of groceries floating around her like that. I think she may have had them set up like that to ward me off. She was flustered, so I made no attempt to reach out to her. Man, that was embarrassing... When did that clerk even see us?

I stayed behind Tempest once we got back to the apartment and watched with interest as she made all those bags dip float through the doorway and up the stairs and into her home while I followed after her as she flipped the ceiling light on. The night was starting to get underway now that the sun had completely dipped under the horizon with only some of its glow remaining. The way she glanced behind herself once inside her apartment suggested that she was worried that I was no longer behind her despite our willful lack of interaction. I stepped inside regardless while her expression relaxed as the bags all were set upon the floor.

Tempest looked back and forth at the eight bags stuffed with all sorts of goods. With a look of guilt, she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. "You didn't have to get all this for me... Is there anything I can do to pay you back?"

"Now that I think about it, yeah." I replied while trying to not smirk. I then reached into the bag that held the vinyl record I purchased and removed it from its sleeve. I was considering getting one with smooth jazz on it, but considering that Tempest already hears plenty at her current job, I settled for classical music. I then held out the record and said, "Play this while I put all this stuff away."

That look in her eye. It almost made me chuckle how her offer to pay me back for an act of generosity had led into me doing another favor for her while listening to the music I bought. She really did not see that coming and began to look even more guilty while she silently took the record in her magical grasp and approached the phonograph with it while staying silent.

I carried the bags into the kitchen two at a time and began to sort through the items within. It amazed me by how cramped the apartment felt. The ceiling must have been no lower than six feet, just inches above my head. Regardless, I sorted out the items by whether they were edible or not and which ones needed to be refrigerated or frozen. I stored the dish soap next to the sink with the sponge and put all the rest of the food away. It only took me maybe five minutes and the apartment was already full of soft classical music specializing in piano.

I peeked out of the kitchen and could make out Tempest's mane sticking out past the edge of the sofa. She was probably relaxing on it while looking at the ceiling. I slunk over to the sofa's backside without a sound and then leaned over the back to look down at her. She must have been distracted by her thoughts since she suddenly looked straight up at me with a look of surprise on her face. "Um... Hello."

Seeing that it was well into the evening now, I thought she was probably hungry by that point. "It's getting kind of late. Should I whip something up for you before I head out for home?"

Tempest averted her gaze as a look of guilt came over her again. "James... You've already done enough for me today that I don't deserve... You don't need to do anything else for me."

"I know. I'm doing all this because I want to." I replied while just being honest with her.

Her voice became a bit more bitter while she looked up at me, almost as if she was starting to question my real motives. "You mean you're doing this for...your own satisfaction? Because it makes you feel good?"

That came out of nowhere. I was unsure of what to even say to that at first. I suspect my hesitation to offer a reply had Tempest believe there was some truth to her words as she rolled her head onto its side and just stared at the wall while crossing her arms over her chest. "If that's the case, why do you waste your time on me when you can be doing these deeds for anypony else in the world? You don't need to waste your time on me."

With how she really did not want to leave me side earlier that day, I was beginning to strongly suspect that she was saying these things out of self loathing as a means to drive me away and maybe spending my time on someone with a lighter history behind them. Feeling somewhat disappointed in her, I frowned a bit and said, "You need this kind of generosity more than anyone I know right now. I know you have no love for yourself right now, but remember. You're not Tempest Shadow. You're Nightshade Holly and she has done nothing wrong from what I can see."

"Yes, I know, but... But..." She replied before looking up at me while at a loss for words. With how much she values me, she may have been misguidedly believing that she was being a burden to me and would be nothing but trouble in the end. Her eyes darted about, trying to think of the right words, but nothing came.

With a sigh, I decided to ask the most important question. "Holly. Do you want me to stop doing these things for you and find someone else who is 'more deserving', but less needy? Because I could just leave now if that's what you want."

Her eyes opened wide in fear as if she had just been threatened. Maybe threaten is not the right word, but that look in her eyes definitely looked like that of someone who knew they just made a critical mistake and would need to choose their next action very carefully to rectify the situation. She gritted her teeth while looking away and closing her eyes for about five seconds. When she opened them, she looked right up at me. "No, I..."

"Yes?" I replied quietly while patiently awaiting her true response.

Tempest slowly raised her hoof out to me, but it could not quite reach my face. Instead, I brought my hand forward and held it. She whispered in a most pained tone of voice, "No, I... I don't want you to stop... You... You make me feel like I'm something worth caring about... Someone wanted... You give me...hope..."

Touching words, to be sure. I reached out and held her hoof in both hands before speaking softly, "Holly, promise me one thing. And just one thing, OK?"

She shuddered at the feel of my hands holding her hardened foot as she glanced about nervously before her eyes fell back onto me. "Name it..."

I decided to be gentle, yet firm with my request. "I never want to hear you say you are not deserving of anything. That's not for you to decide, so please stop assuming otherwise. All right?"

Tempest hesitated. She clearly did not think she should make a promise over something she was sure would never change when it came to how she viewed herself. And yet, she took a deep breath and sighed before looking up at me again. "All right... Never again."

"Thank you. Now, would you like some dinner?" I then asked, getting back to what I had originally wanted to know a few minutes earlier.

With some visible reluctance, Tempest managed to nod with a bit of a crooked smile spread across her lips. "Sure... Surprise me. I don't know what I want..."

"Will do." I replied before heading back into the kitchen. I decided to make something simple, so I grabbed a box of macaroni and cheese from the cabinets. At least the cookware provided for her apartment was in decent shape, even if I had to rinse out some dust from lack of use. The whole place still felt vacant like an urban ruin.

I dropped in some frozen peas and bits of broccoli to add some healthy greens to the dish as the water and macaroni boiled. I was tempted to pick up cans of tuna at the market, but I doubt Tempest would appreciate a carnivorous diet. While the pasta drained in the sink, I rinsed the pot out to remove excess starch and dried it out by heating the pot. While still nice and hot, I dropped in blocks of white cheddar I had picked up to add extra flavor. I then finished up the dish as per instructions on the box and poured myself a very small bowl to sample it since I wanted to taste it without ruining my appetite for dinner when I got home. I then poured the rest into a larger bowl for Tempest and made sure to provide a spoon after quickly gulping down my portion. The white cheddar really added some flavor and the veggies went well with the cheese.

Tempest was right where I left her and had not budged an inch. I leaned over the top of the sofa to look down at her and held the bowl down to her. "Here you go. Hope you like it cheesy."

She forced herself up to a seated position while taking hold of the bowl in her magical grasp. Tempest looked the dish over a bit, apparently not expecting me to spruce up a box of mac & cheese for her. She looked up at me while I cocked my head to one side a bit as if to ask her what she was waiting for. Not wanting to keep me waiting, Tempest's magic aura grasped the spoon's handle and lifted a portion of her meal to her gaping mouth. She chewed thoroughly, apparently savoring my cooking. "That's...really good..."

"Any fool can whip up some mac & cheese, but it's easy to improve. Don't be afraid to mix in other stuff and extra cheese to spice it up." I said while watching her eat. I was about to sit on the sofa beside her, but then noticed the phonograph in the corner was only letting out a quiet scratching sound. The record had run its course and needed to be flipped over.

With the apartment being as drearily quiet as it was, I decided to get the music going again. I stepped over and removed the needle before flipping the record over and resetting the needle at the edge. The gentle grainy scratching sounded returned and was soon joined by an overlapping melody consisting of a piano solo. I then looked back at Tempest and asked, "How's the food and music?"

"Good..." She replied quietly while continuing to eat. As gloomy as she seemed, she could not hide how much she was enjoying her food since I noticed she was having a hard time pacing herself. And to top it off, she even got hiccups. I could not help but smirk as I too tend to get hiccups if I eat too fast.

Tempest finished the entire bowl. The hiccups did not immediately subside as she glanced over at me and noticed my smirk. She grimaced in embarrassment as I noticed a faint blush fill her cheeks, turning that dark orchid coat into a maroon hue. She kept jumping and twitching with each hiccup even as I took the bowl and spoon back to the kitchen and did the dishes so she would not have to clean up later. I then went back to the sofa and took a seat at the opposite end to just listen to the rest of the record's song list before heading out for home.

I glanced at Tempest once I noticed that her hiccups had passed. She glanced at me too, but then just looked at nothing in particular. It was a bit of an awkward silence, to be honest. As if we were both afraid to make a sound. Finally, Tempest willed herself to speak to me even if it was without looking at me. "Why do you think the clerk at the store thought we were married...?"

I looked down at the wedding ring on my finger, cracking a silly grin at the recent memory. "Probably because she saw my ring. That was actually pretty funny in retrospect. I didn't see it coming."

A muffled grunt that I identified as a laugh grumbled in Tempest's throat as she too found some amusement in that case of mistaken identity. She then looked at me and asked, "How is your wife?"

I slouched on the sofa as I tried to get comfortable, my feet and legs being propped up on the table before us. "She's doing fine. She asks about you now and then too. I think she wishes you could visit more often."

"She is always so kind to me... I see why she loves you." Tempest mumbled forlornly. It sounded like she really wished she could visit Ponyville more than she was allowed to. Her sentencing has been strict even after easing up enough to grant her parole. Fluttershy and the rest of my friends have always been accommodating to her, though I strongly suspect that is because they never personally saw what she did. They would likely be just as wary as I was.

We continued to listen to the music for a bit longer until I noticed Tempest scoot closer to me. She seemed to want to be held, so I raised my arm to catch her. She responded by falling against me and resting her head against my chest. I draped one arm over her side and rested my hand on her ribs. She sighed deeply, not moving from that spot for a good while.

After the phonograph's needle finally reached the center of the record, my eyes reached a plain round clock hanging from the wall. 7:30 PM. And I still was not home yet. With some reluctance, I looked down at Tempest. Her eyes were closed as she almost seemed like she was ready to dose off to sleep. I spoke softly to her, "I need to head home very soon."

Tempest's eyes popped open as she lifted her head off my chest. "You can't stay longer?"

"Fluttershy's going to be wondering where I am and I want to tuck Gladesong into bed. I'm worried she may not sleep unless she can say goodnight to me and her mother. I haven't even had dinner yet." I replied while gently pushing her off me so I could stand up. I did not want to miss the first train home.

I saw that pleading look in her eye again. Tempest did not want to see me leave, but she understood there was someplace I needed to be. With a sigh of resignation, she then asked, "When will you...be able to return?"

"Next Sunday. I always have time then." I replied while rising to my feet. "You have a good night, OK?"

I made my way to the door as the room fell silent aside from the phonograph's faint grainy scratching. But as I reached for the door, another sound reached my ears as Tempest spoke. "I'll miss you."

Something about those words just made my heart sink. My hand fell away from the door's handle as I just lost the will to step outside. I stood there in silence for maybe ten seconds before looking back at her. Tempest stood between the sofa and the table, her eyes showing a faint pleading for me to not leave. And so I delayed my departure a moment longer to do one last thing. I turned around and dropped to one knee before holding my arms out to her.

Tempest's response was immediate. She trotted forward and into my embrace while giving me one of her own. We just stood there. Holding each other in silence. I did not want to leave anymore, but I knew I had to. I whispered one last thing to her. "Things will get better... Let's take it one day at a time..."

"I know... Be safe out there." She whispered back to me. I left the apartment in a hurry and made my way to the train station, not wanting to be tempted to stay longer. Had I stayed even five minutes longer, I would have missed the earliest departure for home.

I made it home just fine. Gladesong was sleepy and I gave her a kiss goodnight while Fluttershy whipped me up a little dinner from the leftovers she and the fillies had. I told her about Tempest and how she is doing and she really does sound concerned for her. I also mentioned her new name, which Fluttershy says sounds much prettier than her last one.

I think that is it for now. I will probably have more to write next Sunday night after I come home from visiting Tempest again... Wait, that is right. I need to start making a habit to call her by her current name. Nightshade Holly. Does not roll off the tongue as easily as Tempest Shadow, but Holly makes for an easy and cute shortening of the name.

As much as things thawed between us today, I still cannot say that she is my friend. Not yet. That will likely change soon, but we will have to wait and see. But I am very proud of how much she has advanced since that time not too long ago. Now it is time for bed and Fluttershy is waiting for me.