Tempest's POV
Dear journal: I have come so far... and yet still I have not found what I seek.
I can't remember how many moons it's been... since I left Equestria. My home.
I've seen so much, been to so many places... after I lost so much... and now I am far from Equestria... but never have I seen something like this.
I was trotting through the desert on that cold night outside. I had already left past the border in the Badlands to leave where I had grown up from, and it's been probably a good one or two days since I've been wandering the desert.
So many places, yes. The dragon lands to the east, is where I thought they would have the one thing I'd be looking for. They don't and every other place close to Equestria has no idea either, giving me the opportunity to search outward to distant places like the Zebra Empire should there be nothing out here.
My hoofprints are left in the sand for many seconds, the sands that move with the wind covering them up by a good thirty seconds. Pretty sure I'll be lost here, but I at least have supplies like water to keep me going. The hood from the shroud I wear keeps my face covered up to avoid sand in the eyes, as I've heard those can really sting at getting out.
In that distance, an orange glow seems to catch my eye. I take off the hood, exposing my face and the horn on my head, which is broken. I don't want to talk about what happened to my horn, of course... because it's quite a sensitive story that reminds me of my past.
A scar is also across the skin around my right eye. A reminder of the past as well, for which I do not want to speak of. I can only very much focus on the orange glow in the distance across the dunes. It's almost as if there is something there, a fire started for the sake of food itself being cooked.
To my own surprise, I can see that it looked like a fallen skyship that failed to even get across the desert, or if there was a fire that had accidentally started by how I studied it carefully...
"By the stars..." I commented as I observe around the area. There is wooden pieces around the wreckage, as well as a can of tuna right in front of me. Pawprints are seen coming from the ship and then fading off into the desert at night... looks like somepony had already left the wreckage behind, but wherever that one is going... probably won't make it alive in the conditions of the desert.
Something terrible happened here. I do not need magic to tell me that.
In a way, it's almost comforting... knowing that I am not the only one who has suffered loss.
Still, perhaps something useful remains... perhaps even something that might heal me.
My eyes observe the scattered items of wood below the wreckage, that of barrels and crates alike that probably store more of this tuna. If any, whoever it was really liked tuna that much... maybe it was an Abyssinian on the other side of Equus?
I move down below the top of the dune towards a part of the wreckage, the sand brushing by each step I took forward. Most of the wreckage around me looks to be those filled with tuna cans, and wooden bits galore. There are a few coats hanging about, but there's nothing much else by the looks of it.
A shine of green illuminating light said otherwise...
When I had turned to the side, there was this... shining sort of gem lying there in the sands among the wreckage. My direction changed from there as I was headed towards the item to examine it.
No sand bits seem to be covering the top of it, and it looks to be wearable by a black chain around it. Aside from that fact, I don't have a clue what it is. I pat my left front hoof down on the sand until I found the black chain.
"What is this...?" I look at it closely, immersed by its light.
Hmmm, if this is some sort of wearable jewelry - it would be something to keep around me. Whoever crashed here shouldn't be coming back for it any time soon. I wrapped it's black chain's around the neck, still giving myself to study about the green artifact itself. It does look good, even for the black chains that is included.
"Hey! You!"
I can hear somepony calling out to me, as a light was immediately flashed into my eyes from above. It was really surprisingly bright and out of nowhere, but I knew I had to shield them in order to find out who it was - trying to blind me.
"What?" I asked myself curiously as I had those hooves up to my eyes for a moment, but set them down when the light had shifted away. I look upwards into the sky for that direction that it originated from.
Is that... a skyship?!
"Get your hands offa that gem!" Whoever it is that is telling me that, it's not hands, they are hooves. Sigh... but nevertheless I am frozen in place as a rope comes flying downward from the ship. "That's the property of the Storm King!"
A ladder too also comes down from the ship, and by the rope I can see what looks to be small at first, but turns out to be this cute looking angry black-armored hedgehog sliding downwards to the sands below. Behind me on the ladder are two of these white furred brutes with spears in case I resist or something like that.
"Halt!" The hedgehog demanded as he huffed and puffed as he comes running upwards towards me. "Yer under arrest! That gem belongs to the Storm King!"
Onto his little head came my hoof, as he starts trying to swing at me. "Does it?" I responded to him with a bit of sarcasm in my voice. "He should've taken better care of it, then."
Growling was the first sign of response coming from the hedgehog himself as he struggled. The brutes behind him not falling too far behind. "Hand it over, lady! Or face the Storm King's wrath!" He's almost screaming at me. "That gem's got a lotta magic, and he needs it!"
I gasped for a moment upon hearing that word. "Magic...?" My sarcastic face then shifts towards a sneaky expression. "Then... if he wants it so badly..."
"...He can come and take it!" I shouted and released the hedgehog. With a sharp move, I kicked a load of sand in his direction to blind him of where I was headed off to. Don't care which direction, just got to get as far as I can from them.
However, I was completely blown to a different direction as I can see one of the brutes from before. With a spear in hand, he stops me right in my tracks from moving. Other footsteps are heard behind me, and I can catch the other brute behind me. I looked to be completely blocked from my escape and they didn't seem to move- unless I gave them this gem I'm wearing...
Despite my horn, I knew that it would still serve as big a purpose to make a getaway. I begin to channel magic towards my horn as it sparkled for a couple of moments, but unleashed a large drop of magic towards the sands, letting it spread about.
"What th' heck is this?!" I can hear the hedgehog shouting as he and the brutes back away.
Their shouts of confusion and demands of me to come back to them seem to grow distant, even as I didn't want to stay much longer near that wreckage. The longer I stay, the more likely I am going to be captured. The chains rattling around my neck by how fast I galloped, I had to leave... not caring where I was headed.
The next morning...
I check the skies once again to see if there are any skyships right behind me... none. Good, I'm safe again. The sun looks to have become unbearable in this time again, having dropped my water supply back in the pursuit. Such a waste of that, and what's worse is that I can't go back to get it because these three from earlier might be waiting... or this Storm King.
I slip the gem into my cloak, as I can see a town coming up from the dune I ascended from. Looks to be quite tall itself, almost like a metropolis. Reminds me a bit of Manehattan if you ask me, but if it's different- there's got to be a name for this place...
Klugetown? Interesting... though it is strange with the rule list being "No Weapons, no square-dance calling..." but it makes sense since no changelings are allowed here from the Badlands.
Apparently I have incurred the wrath of this "Storm King", whoever he might be. But, more importantly...
I have learned that this gem contains powerful magic. How powerful, I do not know... but perhaps it will be enough.
For now, I need information and quiet... and hopefully this "Klugetown" has at least one of those.
I began trotting forward past the gates where I could see a small group of older griffons, looting out from a shop as the shopkeeper that looks like a pig standing on two feet can do nothing but watch his store getting robbed. These griffons wore masks, so it was easy for them to make the perfect getaway.
The Food district is where I was headed off to, turning to the slight left down another street at the entrance. Not much else is interesting a sight on these streets, as it is only the passerbys that can only glance or give me dirty looks when I pass by them. A tortoise-like creature can only growl with mean spirits when my eyes turned to look at him... but only for a few slight moments.
When I finally entered the district, I can see a few of the stalls out. Shops outdoors to be exact, and they look to be selling all kinds of stuff for a big price. Not one pony is seen in the crowd, but all kinds that were probably originated from Abyssinia. At the stalls, they all call out what they are selling.
"Weird trinkets!" One calls out in advertising.
"Plot devices! Things!" At least two more voices had called out as I continued forward. There's a place by the end of the street called The Hive. Perhaps I could go and be able to think there.
"'Scuse me, Miss-" A deep voice grabs my attention. I turn my head up at the stall, and can see the reptile with a brown hood around his head speaking to me with question in the tone of his his rough voice. "You got any strange magical artifacts you wanna sell?"
"No," I responded to him uncomfortably. "Especially not to you."
The reptile was left there grumbling as I made my approach to the building itself, moving under the hung sign that moved left... right... left... right... in the wind above. Inside doesn't sound too busy, so I pushed my hoof past the swinging doors and enter inside.
This place is so strange... so unlike Equestria.
There's an air of fear and desperation here... as if they know something is approaching.
The counter at the front looks to be empty when my hooves move downward on the wooden planks below. Only thing standing there is an ibex bartender there, cleaning out an empty yet dirty glass that was probably used earlier before.
In the room, tables look practically empty with no others occupying them. When my eyes check around, surprisingly only one table looks to be quite busy. There is a Diamond Dog there, and at least two Abyssinians from outside Equestria: one that looks frog-like, and the other... a cross between a goat and a rat of some sort. Ah what the hay, I'll just call this guy a goat for now. Whatever they are isn't really much of a concern to me at the moment.
For the mug in its gray paw, the Diamond Dog took a sip out of whatever drink was in there. Being that what they consider 'alcohol', it's forbidden to anypony to take even a small drop as it could make us easily sick... almost like those that eat meat. Leave that to the wild and the Timberwolves from out of the Everfree Forest back home.
My hooves below trot onto the wood below, hearing their quiet murmuring among one another. In the background, I can hear some ambient music- almost very much like Saddle Arabia in many ways, but different. Music... not really my taste.
"Y'all heard the news about the Storm King?" I can hear the frog-like being ask with a hint of worry in his own voice.
After that long sip, the goat slams the mug down on the top of the table. "What's he doing now?" His sly, moderate voice shows concern as much as his frog buddy next to him. "He's already got half the world under his thumb."
"Well, apparently, that ain't enough," The frog moves his hands in the discussion that he was making. My ears caught in his attention when I proceed forward, only listening to the news about the Storm King... the one that hedgehog mentioned before. "He's got all his goons out, looking for magic."
The gem underneath my cloak begins to glow brightly, drifting me away from that conversation, but still listen to every word that is said. Even in its exposure, I place my hoof underneath the cloak and cover it up to avoid any attention from those in the room. "Artifacts, amulets, gems..." The frog claimed. "If it glows, he's comin' for it."
That explains the Storm King's interest in this gem. Perhaps I should investigate further...
Hearing the words from the frog himself, I knew that I needed somewhere much more private than in a public setting like this where others can be around. Should I try bringing it out in this open, that should be enough to catch the unwanted attention. Wherever this Storm King would be- directed here by the news and then I could be in bigger trouble than I imagine.
I was quick to turn around and leave the building. I did catch a glimpse of that Diamond Dog eyeing me when I was headed for the swinging doors once again. He must be suspecting something as if I were a spy. Couldn't possibly be though, as he goes back to minding his business with those two.
Past the swinging doors that slide into one another, I was quick to see an alleyway that to many eyes would seem rather suspicious. Still, should give me enough cover to examine and use my magic to see what wonders this glowing gem could give... if it can even do something like that.
I enter into the dark alleyway, the end being blocked off by a fence by appears to have been cut by the holes in them. Perhaps for some thieves living here? I look there first, and then turn behind me. Good... nopony is looking.
Even with my damaged horn, I can tell... there is deep magic in this gem.
I hesitate to use my own magic- unpredictable as it has been since I lost my horn... but I must risk it.
I studied the gem for a moment, taking the black chains off from my neck and gripping onto the gritty texture of its wonder. From there, despite my horn being broken, I begin to channel magic into my horn.
My magic crackled and sizzed for a moment as it was lighting up, but I can see that the magic has triggered the gem inside as there is a small amount of white light detected inside. I continued with my magic, the blue aura surrounding it for a moment in my right front hoof before I can see it's activation.
From out of the gem, I can see a mist of the same green flowing out from it, forming into what almost looks like a cloud in many ways. What kind of magic was that? I've nevered detected anything like this in my lifetime.
There are strange energies within it... I can only hope my magic works as it should-
"Beware," A voice called out from it, catching me by complete surprise. At first I thought that there are some crazed others in town that caught me in the act at first. But from the direction that it came from... didn't expect it to telepathically speak with me. "Beware the Misfortune Malachite."
Now shining brightly inside of the alleyway, the green gem that called itself the Misfortune Malachite began to rise upward out of my hoof and float there above me, the sound of the chains rattling. The mist began to climb upwards almost as if it was some sort of screen. It covered the end of the alleyway that I came in, and I froze in place. I couldn't move as it spoke to me.
"I thought to use the gem's power for my own gain... but I found only ruin. The Malachite's magic became my undoing."
These are... memories? Echoes? Fragments, from the gem's previous owners...
Still covered in that white light, I can hear it continue to speak with me while I remain paralyzed and unable to struggle out from its gaze. "Rid yourself of this stone at once! It will only change your life for the worse! It's power is a trap!"
The light from the gem began to die down and it dropped immediately onto the floor, releasing me from the gaze. I was backed up onto the wall, only two back hooves were in contact with the tiled sands that were carven in the making of this place. The green haze begins to slowly crawl back inside of the gem.
"All power is... a trap..." were the final words of warning that came out from the Malachite when its mist finally sunk back in and began to glow normally.
I set the both of my hooves downward and grab the gem by its black chains. Now sitting on the clean sand for a moment, both of my front hooves are holding it as my eyes look at it once again- a shock still deep inside of me of what just happened.
So this is the Misfortune Malachite. I thought the gem was a legend... but apparently it is all too real.
The malachite is cursed, they say. It brings bad luck to any who carry it.
I don't believe in bad luck... but I do believe that the Storm King will be coming for me. I'll need to outrun or hide from him somehow.
I knew I couldn't stay here in this Klugetown any longer, as this thing can easily be traced by the glow. I peek out from the alleyway, not seeing anypony suspicious or watching my every move.
Coast looks clear, despite a few tall creatures walking by. They don't really care about my appearance, even with the scar on my right eye. Probably just tourists I imagine, and they most likely feel the same way about me. One fish-like being passes by me with two crates of loaded material... more fruits for the vendors I believe. I have this feeling though that somepony is following me...
"Hey! You there!"
I turn around to hear where that voice was coming from. I swear if it is one of those brutes working for the Storm King, I better start galloping immediately. "Eh?" was the answer that I wondered when I turn to see the figure coming towards me.
Oh... it's just another pony. But it is a stallion wearing a hat and a vest around him. A neck tie is also around him to keep the vest on him. He has a worn, yet welcoming smile on his face, and I felt to be in absolute relief to find it wasn't one of the Storm army.
"You're a pony, aren't you?" He asked me. I almost didn't know what to say to him, as I find myself to be rather speechless on what to say to him. Not exactly the kind of pony from Equestria who goes and makes an immediate introduction after all. "I thought so! I haven't seen another pony in years!" He goes on to finally introduce himself. "The name's Rambler!"
It's been a long time since I've seen a pony as well. Only other thing that actually came close to a pony, I'd probably say was the changelings that I had to avoid. Last thing I'd want is for me to be captured and for the Queen of the Changelings to suck the love right out of me... which I probably don't host inside any more ever since the loss of my horn.
"What a coincidence!" He continued to speak with me, raising his hoof and hosting the proud tone in his voice. "My caravan was just about to leave for Bleak Valley, and-"
"Did you say caravan?" I asked him with a smile now forming on my face. I turn around to see it, looking rather empty at first, but being loaded on the top of the second cart by a couple of alligator-like beings that probably worked with this 'Rambler' fellow. Still, this was a great opportunity since I was trying to leave. "Could I join you?"
With a jolly laugh, he responded to me. "Why, sure! Th' more the merrier!" Though I felt a bit slight uncomfortable when he patted me on the back. "And us ponies gotta stick together, am I right?"
Despite the surprise from him, all I can do is look at him with a smile and a bit of relief inside of me. Storm King wouldn't be able to find me now...
That night...
I was quite surprised with how far the caravan had gone since the departure out of Klugetown. Out from the sandy dunes I was, and into the winter wonderland of Bleak Valley. Well, not in that town quite yet, as we won't be there until morning dawn. Trusting Rambler was the best decision I made for now, and this gave me time to think during the trip.
Clouds outside seem a bit more gray than usual, but it is to be expected when there is snow that climbs down onto the valleys and trees, giving them a shine of white to them. My right hoof is pressed below my chin as I can only watch the trees that move along from the window where I was positioned. Other than the weight that had been relieved on my shoulders, I can only lose myself in thought over the losses I had over the years...
"Hey there, miss!" Rambler's voice caught me completely by surprise, nearly giving me quite a scare from the orange leather seat where I was sitting. "How're you doin'?"
"Oh! Err... Fine! Just fine!" I responded to him with quite a nervous smile on my face, and the tone of surprise in my voice.
I see him opening up the door with his left front hoof, entering inside the caravan. I don't really mind his presence as of the moment, as it was in total silence before aside from the bumps on the road earlier.
While he was taking a seat on the opposite side, I couldn't help but think about what's done for me at the moment. Being that I lost my water supply back in the desert, he was more than happy enough to lend me some himself. A very nice stallion, but I can't stay when I leave the path out... this Storm King still might be looking for me. Still, I should make the best of my time when I still have it.
"I gotta say," He began to speak with me as I seemed distracted by the snowy background outside the window. "It's rare to see another pony so far from Equestria! I ain't been back in years... I got travel in my bones."
He paused for a moment, still attempting to make some conversation with me. He probably thought I wasn't listening to him, but my ears were all-open.
Clearing his throat for a moment, he continued. "It's nice to meet somebody- I mean, somepony from back home. What brought you out here?"
Outside of the window, my eyes catch onto a few snowflakes that begin to steadily drop onto the ground below. More seem to be coming from above, so I can assume that it's just your usual snowstorm in winter-time. The question of what brought me out here... I shouldn't answer, but I should give them a simple reason.
"I'm... looking for something," The tone of my voice began to grow sad, the volume of my voice dropping a little bit. I blinked for a moment, seeing the expression on my face in the reflection. "Something I lost... a long time ago."
His voice dropped and he began to sound concerned. "You lost somethin'? Back in Equestria?"
"Yes... something precious..."
My memory was a bit faded at the given time, but I can recall the time I was a filly. I ended up losing my horn... the reason... I can't explain right now, but I can only remember myself crying over what I loved being taken from me...
"And with it, I lost everything else. I lost what I defined myself by... then I lost those who stood by me... and now, I'm simply... lost."
I exhaled a sigh before continuing. "I feel as though there is almost nothing left of me," The snow outside looks to have picked up when I can see more are beginning to fall from the black clouds above. "Out here, I'll either lose myself completely... or find something new to be."
"I..." Rambler was almost speechless to my words. "...I'm sorry... I don't know what to say."
All I can really do is turn to him with a smile on my face. "That's all right, I don't know what I want to hear."
He turned to the window for a moment after having seated there in silence for the past few minutes. "Well... keep yourself bundled up, miss," He advised me, getting up onto his four hooves and leaving the caravan to direct it through the storm. He looked at the clouds, his expression having a bad feeling about them. "It's lookin' like a real storm out there."
"Thank you Rambler, I will." I responded to him as he closes the door and moves forward outside.
Alone I was again, and in a peaceful silence once more. Aside from the silence, there is the faint sound of the winter winds outside of the caravan. It does give me a good opportunity to start writing in my journal about the recent experiences since having left Klugetown earlier.
I reached underneath my cloak with my right front hoof, taking the book inside from the pocket and grasping it along with the pencil. I pulled it out and opened it up to the recent page that I hadn't written in just yet. Since my magic is very unstable with the loss of my horn, I have no choice but it grip onto it with my mouth and begin writing.
Dear Journal...
I stopped for a moment with question only filling in on my expression. The eraser tip at the end of the pencil is removed from my mouth as I begin to try and think back on what I saw like the autumn season halfway to Bleak Valley... nah, can't think of anything.
"Humph..." is my only response, casting the journal and the pencil to the side. I can only place my hoof onto my right cheek and continue to watch the snowstorm outside.
The travel that seemed like minutes... half-hours... maybe hours, seem to feel like they are only a couple of seconds long. Still, I must maintain my own patience as I know when I get to the destination afar, I make a break for it and leave the caravan... going my own path. Then I can see if I can use this Malachite despite the warnings to heal me.
From the winter winds, I can hear some voices of concern outside that was brought to my own attention. They sounded very uneasy, as if there was trouble on the road. Timberwolves? Nah, they couldn't be this far out from the Everfree Forest... Changelings, maybe? I wasn't really sure.
Until I saw the bright light shine down onto the winter snow outside, and when that happened... I looked up in the window, staying out from there.
"SURRENDER TO THE STORM KING!" I can hear a deep yet bruteful voice cry out. That is when I saw the ropes at the front of the caravan falling down followed by the rumbling sounds of landing feet.
"It's an ambush!" I can hear another voice shout in alarm.
Only then, I can realize what was really going at this point... it was the Storm King's minions again! What were they even doing all the way out here?!
Using my hoof and getting up off of the leather seat, I edged open the door and took a peek outside to see what was happening with the minions. Perhaps it was just a traditional hijack from the minions for more supplies as the reports read about him ravaging cities for their wealth and goods.
Perhaps I won't be the target here, especially when three of the white-furred minions are surrounding the rhino who pulled the caravan.
"Give us the gem!" The first one demanded with instant aggression.
"What gem?!" The rhino sounded rather confused and scared while the other two are pointing their spears at him.
"Oh no..." I was in complete surprise when they had mentioned the Misfortune Malachite that was just around my neck. "They found me." I knew I couldn't stay right where I was, as the other caravan members could very well point out my location inside.
I took no chances to stay behind, making a leap out the door and hiding in the snow underneath a tree. The sound of my hiding wasn't able to grab their attention as they were still interrogating the rhino on my whereabouts.
"Miss!" I can hear a sharp and loud whisper coming to my direction. I turn my eyes to the right to see Rambler lying there, underneath the same tree as I. Difference is, he was opposite side of the trunk. "What is going on?"
"I... I don't know!" I whispered back to him, scooting to the side at a rock when the minions turn to examine the car I came out from. I watched them for a bit from my position, watching as they begins to ravage through the interior of it. Wait... the Journal I had!
The minion without a spear takes out the book that I had been writing in, looking into it and examining it. Probably looking for the last time I wrote in the book.
"It sounds like they're searching for something!" I whispered to Rambler again, continuing to watch them as they go back to the front of the caravan with the journal being the only evidence that they need. The spearless minion begins to take out a scroll, and revealing a picture of me and the Misfortune Malachite that was in my possession.
By the looks of it, I think I figured out a way of making a break for it. My plans originally from before will have to move off the table. I didn't want to do this, but maybe if I gave my cloak to Rambler in my place, he could trick them into thinking I was on the run... yes! That will work!
"I have an idea," I said to him while hiding and keeping an eye on the minions. "I think we can escape!"
"But how? They'll know we're here soon enough!" He says to me with alarm in his voice.
My simple response to him was taking off my cloak and passing it to him. "Make a break for it. Don't worry about me, just lead them away from me while I make my escape." I said to him.
He nods in response, and puts the cloak on. By the look in his eyes, I can see him studying his path of distraction for him and the minions that would follow behind him in a chase. The movement of snow in his place is heard when he gets up onto his four hooves and begins to gallop past the guards.
I can see the look in the spearless minion's arctic blue dotted eyes when he mistaked the cloaked Rambler as me. He was quick to turn around and point at him, turning the other two around whom ready their spears for capture.
"Over there!" The first speared minion shouts.
The other almost wants to poke Rambler in the rear, but misses. "She's escaping!" I almost wanted to laugh for the fact that he was mistaking Rambler for me, but remained silent.
"After her!" The spearless minion shouts as he and the other two begin their pursuit of Rambler into the distance of the frozen wasteland.
I watched as Rambler continued to gallop far off to lead them away. "Sorry, Rambler." I apologized in advance, even if he couldn't hear me or the normal volume of my voice.
Turning in the opposite direction, I pushed the branch upward and crawled back onto my hooves. I begin to trot away, turning for only a moment to see the caravan I was leaving one last time. "...But if I'm going to succeed, I can't have anything else holding me-" By the time I had turned my head back around, I stopped speaking at that moment.
In front of me was a tall being that looked to be in heavy armor, wearing almost the same kind of armor as the other minions did. This wasn't a minion though by the looks of it, as he was revealing his face to me. Black hair, dark gray wings on his back and arctic blue eyes just like the others... his skin looking quite different and furless... a human?!
He was quick to reach forward and grab me by the throat, though I didn't see myself choking as he wasn't showing any kind of strength. I begin to power some magic into my broken horn, but his other hand grips onto it and I can tell that he is emotionless when his hand is getting burnt. Though unstable, it proved rather useless in this situation. I can remember my scream when he had grabbed me.
"I did not want to do this, but the Storm King gave me the orders." His voice tells me as he sounded rather strict when he is pulling me away from the scene.
My struggle began as I was trying to set myself free from the human's grasp. "Let me go!" I shouted at him. He doesn't appear to be listening though, but I repeatedly tried to fight back with him.
"You continue to attack me, and I will take that Malachite from your own dead corpse and give it to the Storm King myself!" He barked at me with quite a fury in his voice. His accent is what made it sounnd much scarier, especially when he is dragging me now through the snow.
I was grunting when being dragged along in the snow. The storm up in the skies seems to pick up on dropping more snowflakes by the time the caravan was out of sight. I continued to attempt my struggle out, but there is no use by the firm grip.
For humans to actually exist... I thought they and the stories of the Paladin of Equestria were all only fairy tales... they're real.
After what seems like five minutes, I can feel my neck being released when he tossed me forward into the snow. I turned around for a moment, almost gritting my own teeth at him in self-defense in case he was going to kill me right here, right now.
That is until I saw the shadow that covered the ground behind me and the armored human. I turn around to see who was right behind me, and I gasped for a moment at this figure who looked to be much taller than the human himself. By the height of the human, he looks to be almost like the height of the Princess back in Canterlot.
This white-furred yeti-satyr in front of me, wearing the symbol on his armor and wearing that horned crown upon his head... this was who I had been running from the whole time... the Storm King...
I found myself paralyzed with fear as his arctic blue eyes could only stare down at me with a glare in his eyes and his gritted teeth before. "You know, you've been leading me on quite a chase!" His voice began to speak to me. "Seriously, I've had to put my best creatures on you! Of course, even my best creatures aren't that great. Good help and all that... but seriously, you've put some of my most important projects on hold!"
Standing my ground and the Malachite around my neck glowing, I can only glare at him as he bends downward and begins to study my appearance.
"All for you..." He sounds rather busy when looking at me. "So... what are you, little pony? Are you worth my time?"
Courage is found inside of me to respond to him, releasing the glare on my eyes and sounding quite curious as I thought he'd already make me prisoner. "I... I am a unicorn. I've come a very long way, in search of powerful magic. I've faced many dangers to find it."
"Dangers! I'll say!" He sounds rather impressed by the tone of his voice when he points at me with quite a smile on his face. "You went up against me and my army! And you've done a pretty good job, too! That trick with your cloak and that other pony, just now? That was darn clever, but why didn't you just ask him to help you?"
"Because..." I paused for a moment when memories of my past began to slip inside of my mind, remembering what happened long ago. "...Because I learned a long time ago... you can't rely on anypony else."
The Storm King chuckled for a moment. "Anypony... that's cute," He commented for a moment before continuing. "I'll be honest with you, uh... what's your name? I don't think I ever caught it."
"My name..." I paused again. Do I really want to reveal my own name to the yeti-satyr who had surprisingly not had me thrown onto the skyship prison or had his human buddy here kill me? I'm trapped between the two of them, so I don't really have much of a choice.
"...Tempest. Call me Tempest."
He laughed again. "Tempest! Oh, that's great! That's wonderful! How perfectly on brand!" He responded to my name given to him, and then turns around with his back facing me. His white tail appears to be catching a bit of snowfall. "I'll be honest with you Tempest: I could use someone like you. Smart... talented... driven..."
"What do you mean?" I felt like there was some kind of proposal he was making to me.
He turns around back towards me, but looks right at the human from behind. "Takeo, go back to the flagship, I will meet with you after this." He commanded to him.
"Yes sir. I will be in my room... thinking about keeping my past buried." He says to him as he opens his wings and makes flight upward to the flag-ship above. Takeo... sounds like an interesting name.
"Well," He begins to explain the reason why he would find me to be useful. I turn around and begin to look at the Storm King when he speaks to me again. "I've had some personnel shakeups lately. A high-level executive just dropped out, and I need his position filled ASAP."
He points at the Misfortune Malachite around my neck with a tink when his finger touched it. "However... if you are going to join, I have a condition. I'll need you to give up the Malachite."
"The gem?" I said, backing up by a few hoofsteps. "No! I need its magic! Because..."
I struggled to get words out, but I take a seat in the snow. One front hoof guards the Malachite to protect it from his hands and the other points at my broken horn. "Because... because of this. I need something powerful to fix my horn... to get my magic back."
"Is that all?" He questioned to me with a smirk on his face. "Well, I can do that for you."
Happiness began to flow into the surprised voice and expression on my face when he claimed he would fix my horn. My ears sprang upward with joy. "You can?!"
"Of course!" He says to me, turning around with a pace and raising his arms and hands for a few seconds. "Once I've finished conquering, I'll have more power than any other creature in the world!"
"Is that why you're searching for magic?" I questioned to him, as the wind blows onto my mane. "Just for... power?"
"What other goal is there?" He responds to me, raising one hand this time for the course of explanation. "Power. Control. These are the only things worth seeking in this world." He turns around to look at me. "I'll fix your horn and restore your magic..."
He brought his hand forward and signalled me to hand over the Malachite. "...if you pay my price."
I take the black chains off from around my neck, and place my hooves onto the gritty texture of the glowing gem. "...You know, it's rumored to be cursed." I said to him as I look over it one last time. "They say it causes bad luck."
"Do they?" He asked me, comind forward when I gave him the Malachite in his hand. He looks at it and studies its wonders. "What do you think?"
"I think 'bad luck' is superstition," I explained to him, feeling the need to get some of my past involved into it. "I don't blame curses. Everything bad that's happened to me... has been someone's fault. Sometimes... mine..."
"So you don't believe in bad luck." He responds to me, not turning away from the allure of the gem itself. I was speechless at first, and then I heard the sound of cracking. I though it was ice at first, but I looked to see that the Misfortune Malachite was smashed by the Storm King's hand which broke it. "...I do." He sounded a bit angry in the tone of his voice when he cracked it to pieces and placed the powerless remains to the snow below.
"And if I'm going to be conquering, the last thing I need is bad luck," He continued as the snow from the clouds above piles onto the pieces and leaves them to be buried and forgotten. "Besides, it was really more of a conversation piece, you know?"
He wants magic, hm? Well, there's something I can help him out with. "So..." I said to him. "You want magic."
"That I do."
"I can help," I said to him as pictures of home began to flow in my mind. Images of Princess Celestia, and her subjects looking rather happy in their time there and the Paladin of Equestria who was with them, looking rather happy. That's at least what I read in the newspapers throughout my journey... "I know a place filled with magic. Princesses, crystals, the clouds themselves..."
"Tempting," He commented, putting his right hand onto his chin. "If it's so filled with magic, why haven't you already gone there?"
"Because it's the place I came from..." A glare began to appear on my eyes from even mentioning the name itself. "Equestria."
I turn around to look at him, standing tall as he begins to listen to every word that I was saying. He just remains there, not saying anything else.
"It won't exactly be easy when they have the Paladin of Equestria there, who is human just like your own bodyguard Takeo. I thought it was only myth and the news were making something false, but he's all but proved it. With me, I can help further and stop him... as well as get the magic from the enchanted lands there... conquer Equestria, and you'll have enough magic to do whatever you want... and fix my horn."
He looks down at me, still no word coming from my offer. "Promise me." I said once more to him.
What I didn't expect was for him to bend down and take ahold of my right front hoof with the both of his hands as a rather sincere expression crossed onto his own face. The amount of snow that fell seems to have dwindled in numbers, and it was for the first time that my own ears heard him sound rather calm when he spoke to me.
"I promise... Commander Tempest."