It was soon evident that she hated sea travel. Beyond hated. Tempest was sickened by sea travel, quite literally too. It had taken only a few minutes for an uneasiness to settle upon her once their ship left the inlet and hit the open ocean, and only a few minutes more for her to lose her lunch to whatever spirits of water dwelt in the depths below. That was putting it kindly, too.

It had been four days since they set sail in their portly carrack, sitting high in the water from lack of cargo on her return trip to Ar-Athazîon. That exaggerated the problem of rolling, and rolling, and rolling, Tempest figured. Wave after wave hit the ship, going up, and then down, and then up again, always rocking side to side.

“It's really not that bad.” Streaming Breeze had had the nerve to comment on the first day, and the last time Tempest had been above deck. No, it really is that bad, lamented Tempest. She had tucked herself away as close to the keel line as was possible below deck, she believed that the swaying of the ship was least in the middle as opposed to the sides. Unfortunately, there was no noticeable difference... Fortunately, she had hardly eaten in these four days, so there was nothing left to vomit up. All she had now was a constant, intense nausea. When she considered it, feeling like she was constantly about to vomit was about as bad as actually vomiting... So her situation really was not improved, at all.

Every day had passed in a slow, agonizing blur of ill-feeling and boredom. Such a toxic mix Tempest had never felt before, and she very definitely never wanted to feel again. And the Benefactor had been quick to order transfer to Snowy for the duration of the voyage. Sea-sickness, or any kind of sickness, is unbecoming of one such as I. Thanks, Benefactor, Tempest had thought.

So that was how she had found herself alone and seemingly dying in the dark cargo hold of an ornery, wretched ship. Everyone else usually kept above deck whenever possible because of the heat, except Snowy, who checked in every now and then. Now was one of those moments.

“How are you doing?” asked she, quietly.

“Kill me.” moaned Tempest, raising her head from between her hooves. Her stomach twisted at the sudden movement.

“We should be arriving by morning.” Snowy reported, sitting in front of her with a frown on her face.

“I thought it was morning.” Tempest said. Not surprising if I've lost track of time this badly though...

“It's actually past midnight.” replied Snowy, looking around the hold at the few lanterns. “I can see why you'd get confused down here, though.”

“Yeah.” agreed Tempest tiredly.

“Are you sure you don't want to go up top with the rest of us? It's awfully warm down here.”

“No, I stay.” It was indeed uncomfortably hot, but she wasn't going up there after the hilarity she had caused to the human sailors with her weak constitution. Something else occurred to her though: “Snowy, if it's after midnight, why are you still up?”

“I'm having some very interesting discussions with our... fellow-traveler.” stated Snowy, peering down at her chest, where the black crystal on its string rested. “No one even asks about this, you know. It's like they don't even see it. I'm starting to think maybe they don't.”

“Magic...” grumbled Tempest. “I wouldn't even doubt it.”

“He wouldn't either.” Snowy noted, with a little smile.

“Hmmph.” snorted Tempest, putting her head back down.

As usual, she got no true sleep that night; only drifting in and out of consciousness until finally, the swaying of the ship began to lessen and slow. Orders were shouted above, and she heard the cry of gulls. It was at least an hour before she found the strength to stand again; she shakily made her way onto the deck.

“Lord in Heaven,” said Turaz when he saw her. “you look terrible.”

“I felt worse.” Tempest told him. The water was greatly calmed, they were but a few miles from shore. They had reached Edas Bâlôn, the Bay of Vision, there was no doubt. She couldn't see over the forecastle of their carrack, but to their north were low hills, and higher ones to the south.

“Welcome back to the world of the living, my Queen.” commented Streaming Breeze.

“I'm glad you could join us.” Snowy said, almost bouncing with excitement. “We're almost there!”

That would be Ar-Athazîon, the brightest gem in the crown of humanity. I have to admit, I am a bit interested to see what it looks like... Perhaps she should have been more eager to see this legendary place she'd always heard about, but she hadn't exactly been in a condition for anticipation, lately. “Well, let's take a look.” Tempest nodded to the stairs up the forecastle. The five of them, three pegasi, plus one Sir Turaz and one Sergeant Haior, ascended.

And there it was.

Before the carrack stood an utterly massive bastion of gleaming white stone. Out of the sea rose vast buttresses, holding up a steeply sloped wall. It was a good two hundred feet tall, and spread out for miles on either side. They were sailing towards an arched passage at the base, where the waters of the bay flowed through to the harbor, bristling with masts, beyond. The sides of the arch contained great metal teeth, no doubt the edges of some mighty double portcullis to shut out unwanted visitors. The leviathan wall was topped by a tower every few score yards, which brimmed with cannon ports and were draped in the long black and white banners of the Empire, bearing the red star.

“Holy shit.” swore Tempest, eyes wide.

“It was not by the hands of men that this city was first built.” Snowy quietly noted to the two pegasi, a delighted grin on her face. “Before you stands the ultimate monument to Old Alicornia.” She was careful not to let any human hear her.

“Oh my.” commented Streaming Breeze, mouth agape.

“I knew the walls were supposedly huge, but... I thought it was just normal exaggeration!” They said that this city had works of architecture that had taken generations to complete... What lay beyond this magnificent bulwark? Tempest noted that the base of the walls at water level was stained green with plant life. Great rusty streaks also poured down from little holes here and there, no doubt something having to do with Îrilôs's claimed system of pipes that could move water hither and thither. But these imperfections did little to dull the sense of awe this gave her. The mountains bordering the Far North may have been much taller; but this all had been built, and maintained, for at least several thousand years!

“They circle the entire city; it's five miles in diameter.” said Snowy.

“Five miles?!” Streaming was incredulous. “There is no city on Earth that huge!”

“Just you wait.” Snowy's grin grew even bigger. Gone was any semblance of timid quietness; she was getting into her element, and she was enjoying it. “This wall has never been breached, not once in all its history. Catapults were laughed at; dragon-fire flowed off of it like water; magic simply rebounded. Not even the cannons of discontent princes could put a dent in them. Ar-Athazîon has never fallen to an enemy... on the outside.” No doubt there was a trove of Imperial intrigues Snowy wasn't mentioning. “They say this city contains a third of all the wealth in the world.”

“How did the alicorns lose it?” asked Tempest, not able to look away from the looming walls.

“They abandoned it. It was only a matter of time before the humans scaled the walls and opened the city from the inside.” Snowy explained. “Most of the alicorn buildings inside are gone, but anything worth noting is built on their foundations.”

“Imagine how many soldiers it takes to garrison this... how many engineers it takes to keep it from falling down.” wondered Streaming to herself. Snowy explained just how many it took as they approached the arched gate.

“This is a center of world trade.” stated Snowy. “Here you will see ships of all races and nations, even ones we haven't heard of, I bet. All have come seeking this harbor.” she pointed ahead, at the huge complex of docks and wharfs where hundreds if not thousands of ships were tied up. Tempest put her knowledge of ships to use.

There were caravels, carracks, cogs, holks, and galleys, of all shapes and sizes. There were even styles of ships she didn't recognize at all, despite all those hours she and Aharôs had spent at the top of Nikadîon watching ships come and go on the river Aiô. Strange ships with rigid, rectangular sails; sleek ships, low to the water, with triangular sails; ships with tall masts but few decks; and some few ships without sails at all!

A shadow fell over them, and they were inside the arch. “You'd make a good guide, Lady Snowy.” commented Turaz, satisfied with his people's great achievements. “You know how to make us look good.” Tempest eyed the rusty teeth of the gates to either side warily as they passed by. If the gates suddenly closed, very quickly, their comparatively little carrack would be smashed to pieces. Above them were what looked like holes in the ceiling, perhaps to drop things from if intruders started sailing through.

“I just read a lot.” replied Snowy modestly. “If I remember right, over there,” she pointed left, “should be the moorings of the Imperial Fleet-”

“Armada is the word I'd use!” exclaimed Haior. Several score tall galleons and fearsome galleasses were all smartly packed in, side by side. They wore fresh paint, green, gold, and red decoration; their cannons gleamed, and each vessel had its own name-banners fluttering on top of the aftcastle.

“Looks like they have enough firepower to take the entire Eastern Sea for their own.” said Streaming Breeze. Tempest frowned at the implications of why the Empire would want the Eastern Sea controlled. It was a mighty large fleet the Emperor had at his command, here... And the Emperor was a friend of Aharôs. She turned to look at the city itself.

The wall enclosed a gently sloping hill within it, which sharply jutted another four hundred feet into the air on the easternmost side. Upon that rise was the citadel of Ar-Athazîon, an ancient structure which still kept its sheer vertical walls. At least it had square towers, though, arranged like arrowheads to provide covering fire to other nearby bastions. The citadel was topped by a spire, from which proudly streamed the Imperial banner. It probably takes all day to climb up there, Tempest thought. Below the citadel was what had to be the Emperor's residence, a much less fortified complex which surrounded the citadel's walls and seemed to hang off the steep sides of the rise. There was a vast amount of green within it, no doubt many gardeners had spent their lives trying to keep the place in order.

In the very center of the city, though, was the domed octagonal Cathedral of Saint Aikâlon, from which eight wings radiated off, lined with their own steeples and domes. It was twice as tall as the city walls, made of dark tan marble, domes tiled in a deep, rich blue and lined with silver. From the dome flew the Banner of Heaven, much like the Imperial one, but all black and with a silver star instead. Truly, this city was a beacon of divine right to rule!

There were other buildings which caught Tempest's eyes too, rising out of the sea of houses, apartments, storerooms, and other commercial places. Scattered near the citadel's rise were castle-like buildings; boxy, square, windowless, miniature fortresses. “What are those?” Tempest asked.

“Banks, I believe.” said Haior. “I've heard of them. Very shadowy people, those bankers.”

“Their paranoia almost puts King Aharôs to shame, if they have to live in forts.” remarked Streaming Breeze to Snowy. Tempest probably wasn't supposed to hear that.

Also of note was a large, walled place near the west of what Tempest could see. “That's the University,” said Snowy. “they're very particular on who they let join them.” Beyond the walls and a bell-tower, though, Tempest couldn't see much of it. And around the city there were various patches of green, probably the private gardens of wealthier residences. “There's about eight hundred thousand souls in this city.” Snowy continued, waving a hoof around. “And three hundred thousand more living outside the walls, but still under Ar-Athazîon's direct administration.”

“I don't smell anything nasty.” noted Turaz. “Surana used to have a distinct smell of rotting everything. Not here, though.”

“That's the plumbing system at work.” Haior said. “I heard about this in Sturaj from a merchant last year. Instead of throwing shit in the gutters, they have this whole... thing of pipes and pumps which takes it out far away and dumps it into the ocean. Very advanced.”

“I wonder how they figured out how to make it work.” Tempest scrunched her brow as they sailed closer to the docks. A good slice of area enclosed by the walls was just water for the harbor. The dock system itself ran in a kind of oval shape, half on the the shore, the other portion built into the walls directly over the water.

“I have no idea.” replied Snowy.

“So, Lady Snowy, care to tell us what makes this city so important for trade?” asked Turaz. Snowy blinked, Tempest opened her mouth to answer for her, but to both their surprise, it was Streaming Breeze who spoke first.

“The free market.” said the red pegasus. “In Equestria, there are bounds of laws that regulate what you can and cannot do in the economy, changing from various fief to fief. Earth ponies can't sell certain goods in certain places, pegasi cannot purchase the services of unicorns, unicorns are required to buy everything magic-related from royally approved vendors, it goes on. I guess this is similar elsewhere in the world, because all merchants eventually make their way to Ar-Athazîon. You humans are a strange lot, true, but you have seldom few rules when it comes to commercial ventures or interests. Everything is fair game. For better or for worse, a free, unregulated market has certainly made your city a popular destination for mercantile business.”

“I have no idea you were so interested in economy.” remarked Haior.

“I too do a lot of reading.” Streaming Breeze simply replied. “Most of Ar-Athazîon's income is from ship repair and lodging services, and the fees derived from that, you know; not the tax of business.”

“A lot of it is from upstream traffic too,” added in Snowy. “The Empire directly controls much of the Karthâ river. Even with tolls as low as they are, every toll paid goes to the Emperor... It adds up.”

“I could have said all that.” Tempest murmured. “A part of the reason behind the Karthâ Wars was high tolls.”

“Let someone else do the talking, my Queen, you've been ill.” said Streaming Breeze.

In a few minutes, the carrack's sails were pulled up and it drifted into an open dock, bumping against the burlap sacks of dirt that existed just to be bumped into. The captain and customs officer launched right into the usual discussion of cargo and destination. When the officer was told they had Imperial passengers aboard, the five were immediately let ashore with their scant baggage. Everyone else would wait for the moment.

“Where do we go from here?” asked Tempest, once they had descended the gangplank. The docks were in total chaos, from an outsider’s perspective. Porters and workers milled about in every direction. This is what Turaz used to do, before he became a knight.

“We need to go there.” Turaz pointed to the citadel and palace below it, lording over the city. It looked very far away.

“But how?” asked Tempest. “None of us has ever been here before. And three Equestrians in a human city, beyond the commercial sectors... well, it might attract unwanted attention.”

“Haior and I will go to the citadel ourselves. You three stay here near the docks and keep out of trouble. We'll be back eventually.” stated the knight.

“Wait, you didn't have a plan for this before?” asked Streaming Breeze.

“Duke Îrilôs was very unclear, and we didn't have much time before he and Aharôs left.” Turaz shrugged. “We're improvising.”

“Have fun climbing two, maybe three miles of hill in that armor.” Tempest said. It was still early in the morning, but the days had been getting hotter and hotter as they had gone south.

“Armor will make us look more official.” Turaz adjusted the chains of rank on his right pauldron. “I'm a knight, so I am nobility. I should look the part.”

“Indeed, Sir.” nodded Haior. He had his helmet hanging from his belt by the chin strap. Turaz, though, had to carry his, on account of not upsetting the blue plume. He placed it on his halberd instead, the spike going through an eye hole to keep it secure.

“They allow weapons here, don't they?” he asked.

“They ought to.” Tempest assured him. “But they can't arrest a knight, can they?”

“We'll find out. So, you three stay in this general area, we'll be back... when we're back.” With that, the two humans set off into the crowd, making in the general direction of the Emperor's residence.

“Well...” Streaming Breeze looked around. Tempest did as well, suddenly feeling rather alone. This was the first time she had ever been in a human city without Aharôs or Turaz close by. Even with Snowy and Streaming with her, this was a bit unnerving. There were so many people...

“I guess we should find somewhere shady.” said Tempest.

“No doubt.” Snowy agreed. They wove their way through the dock crowd, being completely ignored. But it was still worrisome that they were only chest high to the humans about, none of them were eager to get trampled. Tempest led them back a few buildings from the docks, to get away from the noise and crowds. She did not feel comfortable with so many people about.

“This is as good a place as any.” Streaming Breeze said, stopping in front of an alley. The warehouses here were tall enough to completely block out the sun, so it would be cool all day if they needed to stay that long. Snowy climbed up onto a crate and laid down, though she kept her head raised and ears alert. Tempest joined her, but only sat down. Streaming was left on the ground. As is her place, really...

“I wonder what we're sitting on.” Tempest looked down at the crate, tapping it with a hoof. It sounded empty. That was lucky, they couldn't get in trouble for sitting on nothing. I hope so, at least. Who could really know? As they waited and the minutes went by, they began to notice people who weren't human in the crowd. Sure, humans were the majority here, but far from the total majority. For the first time in her life, Tempest saw several creatures she had only known through stories.

A pair of zebras came by, with their exotic gold jewelry; one had a veil. There was a slippery looking griffon as well, grey-feathered, with an expression of paranoia about him. I bet he just swindled someone for a lot of money, Tempest thought. There was another creature she didn't immediately recognize, but it was richly garbed, stood on two legs, and had the face of a dog.

“A dog?” Snowy asked to herself. “They said there was a race of dogs who dwelt under the Earth, to the south of Equestria.”

“Looks like he's one of them. He's a long way from home.” Streaming Breeze noted.

“As are you, Equestrian!” hissed a voice to their left. Tempest let out an unqueenly squeak of alarm, jumping up to face the newcomer. This one too stood on its hind legs, though it was hunched and far shorter than the dog. It had a pointy face, a bald tail, black greasy fur, small ears, and long fingers and toes. In other words, it was a...

“Rat.” Streaming Breeze said with visible disgust.

“What are you doing here?” the rat asked, his eyes narrowed.

“We are guests of someone very important. What are you, besides a miserable flea-bitten pile of filth?” Streaming was very displeased with the rat, it seemed.

“Typical pegasus arrogance.” growled the rat. "Why wouldn't one of an exiled nation be so far abroad?"

“I didn't even know rats were real.” Tempest said to Snowy, who looked very unnerved. “I thought they were just storybook villains!”

“You thought that about the shadow spirit too!” Snowy whispered.

“Is that what we've become?” questioned the rat, darkly amused. “You scatter my people to the four winds, never to see our homeland again, and then forget we ever existed? I would have thought my kin's great foes would be more thoughtful!”

There was a legend in Highcrest, Tempest recalled, that after the pegasi had been forced into the south by the windigoes, that they had settled in the mountains, in which the rat-folk lived. The rat-folk did not take kindly to their new neighbors, and disagreements rose to a blood feud, which rose to all-out war. But Tempest had always taken that story to just be a lesson on what happened when neighbors didn't have good fences… Or when one’s neighbors were quite literally vermin. It seemed, once again, there was truth in fiction, and far more than she realized. And if the rat-folk were real, then so were their deeds.

“It's a good thing there's three of us and one of you,” Tempest stated, scowling. “A monster has already tried to eat me once this month, I don't need another to make the attempt.”

“Aye, count yourselves lucky, Equestrians, that my tribe is not here with me. You yourself would not be good for food, but your companion there looks well-fed enough...” the rat looked at Snowy, and smiled a cold smile, showing filed teeth. Tempest moved defensively in front of her friend, wishing she hadn't packed her sword up for the voyage. But she was ready to have at it with this beast bare-hoofed, if need be. The rat himself inched a hand closer to his belt, and the wickedly curved blade tucked through it.

“Hah.” laughed Streaming without humor. “You're an outcast, you're alone.” The rat ceased his smile. “I can tell, you have no mark of clan or tribe about you. Believe me, I would know them after my time on the southern frontier.”

“An observant pegasus, how rare.” the rat spoke softly, no longer reaching towards his dagger. “See that you remain so... We'll be watching you.” With that, he stalked off, throwing them one last dark glance.

“I don't think I like rats at all.” Snowy said quietly, peaking out from behind Tempest to watch their almost-foe leave.

“No, I don't think I do either.” agreed Tempest. “So they really did once eat ponies they caught?”

“That is so.” nodded Streaming Breeze. “For the record, I never went to the southern frontier, but Coldstar did, and told me about it plenty of times. The whole exile thing was a lucky guess.” She offered a rare smile to Tempest.

“You sure put on a convincing act.” Tempest said.

“When in foreign lands, the talent of acting is a good one to have.” Streaming commented, gazing sternly down the street. “Especially with scum like that out in the world. Ponies and rats have always been enemies, my Queen. Especially with regards to us pegasi. Rat-folk are barbaric wretches and nothing but vermin, show them no mercy, for they would show you none either.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” said Tempest. Something caught her eye, and she turned to the Benefactor's crystal just in time to see a tiny purple light extinguish itself. What was he ready to do? she asked herself. No doubt he knew that she had seen something, she was definitely close enough for her thoughts to be heard.

I am.

Well, that settled that. Streaming Breeze was still facing down the street; Snowy quietly ducked her head and passed the crystal to Tempest. Ready for a change? asked Tempest internally.

Irrelevant. We have business to discuss, now is a good time to discuss it.

Very well... Tempest silenced herself, and waited for her passenger to speak.

I am reminding you that you are to mention the full extent of these events to no one but my agent Sidâl and Snowy Farpeak.

I understand.

I am also reminding you that once you give this vessel to Sidâl, our work together is not yet done.

Yeah... Tempest recalled what he had mentioned when they first met. You want us to go to Equestria, and do the same thing there.

It is not only what I want you to do, it is what you will do.

Yeah. Tempest agreed again.

You and I both know your true destiny is not what Aharôs and the others think it is. But they are right on one account: your path will lead you to your homeland once again. If fortune favors us, we might be able to just... slip you in, under the alicorn's eyes. They'd be none the wiser.

The shadow spirit knew you got out, wouldn't the alicorns? wondered Tempest.

Yes and no. Aegis Vigil and I have a history, the other two do not know me. the Benefactor stated. But Aegis Vigil is old and cautious, history has tempered him. And for once, that will be what thwarts him.

Whatever you say... The Benefactor was silent after that. Three more hours passed by, and the Equestrians maintained their vigil on the street. Even with the shade of the buildings around them, it was still quite warm. She could only imagine how bad it was out in the sunny parts of the streets. A lifetime on the coast of Athair had made Snowy and Tempest accustomed to cool, wet weather, even in the summer. It was not so here. Snowy eventually fell asleep, while Tempest too felt the threat of slumber from sheer boredom. But Turaz had told them to stay here, and stay they would. Streaming Breeze eventually broke the silence.

“Why are they all so tall?” she asked.

“The humans?” countered Tempest.

“Yes, my Queen, the humans. They're so much taller than the rest of us. Pegasus, griffon, zebra, rat, the humans tower over us all. Only alicorns and dragons are bigger.” Streaming frowned. “It's not fair, I say.”

They're actually very short, noted the Benefactor. It's the rest of you who are ridiculously small.

“I once heard that humans are actually short.” Tempest said, curious to see what Streaming had to say about the secret fourth member of the party's statement.

“That's absurd.” said Streaming in return.

No it's not! protested the Benefactor. These creatures are tiny compared to a real human!

“Just something I heard once.” Tempest stated with a shrug. What the fuck are you talking about, Benefactor?

Oh, nothing... It was too late for him though, Tempest was now dwelling on his words. Aharôs and Turaz were both normal sized humans, right? Somewhere above five and a half feet. The only explicitly tall human she had ever met was... was not a human at all, Tempest realized. Strange...

A fourth hour passed before a simple and unadorned carriage pulled by four zôshai pulled up next to them. The door opened, and out popped the head of none other than a weary Sir Turaz. “Get in.” he told them, holding the door opened. “We're going to see the Emperor.” Tempest nudged Snowy awake, and they entered, Streaming Breeze following them in.

“Hello there.” said a very familiar voice belonging to a very familiar man. It was Îrilôs, Tempest's favorite person in the world! He was dressed very richly today, in a robe of red, gold, and green. He had gotten a new ring, too, one that bore the simple eight pointed star of the Empire.

“Wonderful, it's you, Îrilôs.” Tempest said in a flat tone. “Just who I wanted to see after weeks of wilderness and seasickness.” Turaz stifled a laugh, seeming very amused at the moment. “Alright, take us to the Emperor.” ordered Tempest. Îrilôs got a very smug smile; he leaned forward and folded his hands.

“My dear Tempest, you're looking at him.”

Author's Notes:

Alright, who here is legitimately surprised we even made it this far? I thought I'd have given up and slipped into forever hiatus months before reaching this point. Anyways, some actual notes:
-We have cover art now! Thank you Wikimedia Commons for letting me use the boat from the unofficial flag of these two French islands off Newfoundland.
-This chapter was going to be 10,000 words or more if I didn't split it right where I have. Looks like we missed some political action down here! Too bad we were having character development, though...
-Speaking of characters, I realize every other chapter in this story has pretty much been Tempest. Poor Luna hasn't had a real chapter since her first, and Goldleaf only has one under his belt as well. But there's just not a lot going on with them for the moment, and this story really is about Tempest at heart. So if you don't particularly like her, you're not gonna be in for a pleasant ride... Not until the Luna/Goldleaf plot comes back into serious play. Which it will.
-There are rat-folk in poni canon, watch this clip from the G1 show. Though the way I imagine them in this story is rather edgier... Shout-out to Pigeonsmall for finding me evidence that these guys actually existed. There's actually a picture of our Snowy over there, go check it out.