If other circumstances prevailed, Tempest was sure that she'd be astonished. The day had actually come. Everything her followers had told her in her childhood, every promise they made to deliver to her the birthright that was stolen, every vow they had made, it was all going to be fulfilled. Tempest could have been anywhere else in the world and she would have only been amazed.

But she wasn't. She was stuck bedridden on this awful ship, tossing and rolling in the shaking sea. This time, she'd been smart enough not to eat before getting on board. It had been three days since then, and her only meals had been some dry flat-breads. “You're going to starve to death, Tempest.” Snowy scolded, when she came below deck to the cabin the Equestrians had been given.

“I wish...” groaned Tempest, her head spinning as she tried to sit up. “Anything is better than this nightmare.”

“I don't see what the problem is.” said Streaming Breeze. “We haven't even seen so much as a squall. Is it really that bad?”

“Don't antagonize the Queen.” Snowy said, frowning at the other mare.

There were some nights, or days, she couldn't tell below deck, when Tempest managed to clear her mind enough to dwell on her rapidly-approaching fate. Then the nausea returned, just as bad as ever. Everything's gone so wrong already; how will this? The horrendous mess of Tempest Blackwind's life continues...

Maybe the Swiftrains would send assassins. Maybe she'd be shot through the heart days after landing. Maybe she'd get consumption and die after weeks of further agony. Maybe the humans, her own supposed allies, would turn on her when they realized just how incompetent and useless she really was.

“Do you think they'd do that, Snowy?” asked Tempest, retreating under her blanket. “Would they get rid of me if I'm incompetent? Because I'm going to be.”

“Aharôs wouldn't let them. And I wouldn't call you incompetent.” said Snowy. She'd stayed close to Tempest the entire voyage so far, never going very far for long. At least she wasn't lonely down here... Snowy went on: “You were supposed to be a fighter, but things haven't gone exactly as planned.”

“That's a bit of an understatement.” Tempest grumbled, laying a foreleg across her eyes to shield against the harsh glare of Snowy's lantern. “If I'm a warrior that can't fight a war, then I'm worth nothing.”

“Warriors don't always make good queens, you know.” Snowy said softly. “Maybe it's time to stop thinking of yourself as one.”

“Yeah, maybe...” sighed Tempest. “But then what am I?”

At that, Snowy tried to smile brightly. “We'll just have to find out, I guess.” she said. “You should try and relax, Tempest. I'll be right beside you, with Streaming too. Above all else, you can count on us!”

You'd think that... Tempest knew she should. After all they'd been through, if there were two ponies in the world she could trust unconditionally, it was Snowy and Streaming Breeze. But the worms of worry continued to gnaw away at her. She rolled over in bed, looking at the wall and trying to ignore the swaying of the ship. “I want to think it's all going to turn out well, but I know it won't.” said she.

“It's because everything that's happened in the last year, isn't it?” Snowy asked.

“Yeah, just a little.” said Tempest.

“You'd be right to think things haven't gone as planned, lately. But we've had some luck along the way too. Like that knight and his daughter we met in Jutan, who let us stay in their home. Or how Streaming Breeze survived the usurping in Vatherîon. Or even the luck we had by falling in with Aharôs in the first place, who refused to sell you to the alicorns no matter how much they offered.”

“I... I guess.” To be truthful, Snowy had a point. Men of Aharôs's integrity were not common, and just about any other would have sent her right back to Equestria, instead of doggedly trying to fulfill his vow to a dead mare's worthless daughter. “But everything's gone wrong. Aharôs was supposed to be the king of his people, and it was supposed to be him who helped me take back my land. Instead we're both exiles, and we've got this King Fâôs and his army leading this whole adventure. Don't you have a bad feeling about this, Snowy?”

Snowy just smiled again. “I told you, Tempest, don't worry! If the Emperor didn't want you in power, then why would he bother educating me to help you stay in power? Everything will be fine, and if it's not, I'll be there to help.”

“I hope so.” Tempest said, before realizing how that sounded. “I mean, I know you're with me. I just hope everything will be fine.”

It was another week of suffering before the sickness began to pass, and Tempest started to find her sea-legs, as the sailors called it. She crawled out of bed and made it beyond the cabin door for once, and slowly walked up the stairs and onto the galleon's deck. A few lanterns burned on the aftcastle, but otherwise, all was dark. The cool and fresh night air was a blessing upon her; Tempest sighed in relief. The rocking of the ship still made her queasy, but it wasn't quite as bad as before.

Looking to what she could only assume was the west, Tempest could see dots of firelight and dark shapes on a dark horizon; the rest of the fleet following behind. The sky of stars above was revealed in full, not a wisp of cloud was to be seen. For a moment, she felt very small below that vast and glittering field. Tempest stared up, her wings twitching in case she suddenly fell off the world and into the endless night. She almost wished she would. That'd be the easy way, wouldn't it? Just float into the silence and leave this all behind... But her hooves remained on the deck.

During the day, Tempest retreated back to her cabin. No one bothered her in there; Snowy was often with her, but Snowy didn't count as bothersome. Now that Tempest wasn't dying of ship-related issues, Snowy could finally tell her all about what she and the Emperor had been up to since last month.

“You wouldn't believe the things I've learned.” said Snowy. “That Îrilôs is more crafty than we could have thought...”

“Really?” Tempest asked, raising one eyebrow. “I had no idea Îrilôs could be cunning.”

“At least you've got your humor back.” grumbled Snowy. “As I was saying, he's crafty. The right words, to the right people... Anything is possible. What matters is learning who those people are, and what they want to hear.”

“That sounds good, but do you actually know how to do that?” asked Tempest.

“I have a good idea. I won't lie to you, Tempest, we're heading to a dangerous place. And I'm rather afraid-”

“You're afraid? Do you have any idea of what these last few months have been like for me?”

Snowy put a consoling hoof on her shoulder, and kept talking. “-but, it doesn't have to be like that for long. The waters of governing are treacherous, but they are not beyond navigating.” She even sounds like Îrilôs, Tempest thought. “What you- what we need to do is keep the ladies and lords fighting each other, while we consolidate our power. That's the first order of business.”

“And how do we do that?”

“With a lot of false promises, I suppose.” Snowy shrugged. “I don't like lying, but when the choice is between lying for your sake and being honest with traitors who support an usurper, I'd rather lie.”

“You sound more invested in this than I am.” said Tempest. “What exactly did Îrilôs teach you?”

“It's not that. It's...” Snowy frowned, and looked away for a moment, ears drooping. Then she raised he head again, with a determination that Tempest had seldom seen before. “Our whole lives have been building up to this moment, Tempest. Whether we like it or not, this is our fate. You're the only friend I've ever had, and I'm not going to lose you to that band of traitors and brigands in Highcrest. We've come too far together to have it end like that. Anyone who opposes us will be...” Her expression softened, and Snowy looked at the ceiling in thought. “Will be... put in the dungeon for a while, I suppose.”

Tempest laughed. The more things change, the more they stay the same...

“What's so funny?” asked Snowy.

“Nothing. That was just a very Snowy-ish thing to say, that's all.”

At last, the day came when they sighted land on the horizon. It was almost a relief for Tempest, she'd finally be off this damned ship and back onto solid ground. Slowly, Equestria crept up into view, as a stretch of sandy beach.

“That's it?” Tempest asked, looking through a spyglass held by Streaming.

“That's it.” said Streaming.

“It's just an ordinary beach. I remember Highcrest having hills and cliffs right up to the coast.” Tempest said.

“That's why we're not landing in Highcrest, my Queen.” Streaming sighed. “Cape Coldweather is a few dozen miles north, but the only harbors up there are no doubt defended. It's easier just to unload here with no rocks or reefs to worry about.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” said Tempest. Far to the north there was a faint headland, but she saw nothing but hazy sky in the south, as the beach disappeared over the curve of the world.

All up and down the coast, the Imperial fleet was arriving and dropping anchor, some had arrived already and had been waiting, others would still be a few days in coming: galleons, carracks, caravels, holks and fluyts, and even a few towed cogs that had been dragged out of who knew where. Each one flew the Banner of Heaven; and all the human soldiers wore a form of it. Some had sewn a black patch with the star on their cloaks, others wore it as a covering over their armor, some had painted their breastplates with it, and a few bold men of fashion had wrapped bands of black cloth around their helmets.

King Fâôs made an appearance before the disembarkment began. “Well, Queen Tempest, we made it!” he announced, strolling up to the three pegasi. How such a large man seemed to ignore the swaying and tossing of the ship, Tempest would never know. Then he pointed to a galleon with black sails, several hundred yards away. “It seems your friend was already here. That's not surprising, the Adûnakîm are known to be fast. I've heard they do something to the hulls of their ships that keeps worms and barnacles off them.”

“I'm sure.” Tempest said, having no idea what the man was talking about. “Has anyone landed yet?”

“Not that I know of. The captains were instructed not to make landfall until we arrived. I figure that was Aharôs at work.” said Fâôs. “I'm sure you three can just fly over there; I'll have my men put those two prisoners on one of the supply boats later today.”

“Yes, that will do.” Tempest nodded. She tied to think of something to say that would make the King go away. “Uh... Thanks for the ride over here.”

“Playing your part will be thanks enough. Welcome home, Queen Tempest!” Fâôs gave her a polite nod, and returned to his people.

“Playing our part?” Snowy echoed, tilting her head.

“I guess some people think we're their puppets.” Streaming Breeze snorted at the notion.

“We kind of are.” said Tempest. “I mean, there's three of us, and thirty thousand of them...”

“For now.” Streaming tapped her hooves on the deck. “But we can deal with that later. I'd very much like to walk in my homeland again, Queen Tempest. If we could get going...”

“Of course.” Tempest obliged. “Let's go.”

And just like that, the three made the short flight from the galleon to the shores of Highcrest. Tempest set down with a light puff of sand beneath her hooves. The sheer solidity of land, and the joy she felt to be back on it, overwhelmed anything else in her mind. Tempest sighed in joyous relief, sinking her hooves into the warm grains. “I never knew how much I liked sand until now.”

“Of all the things to say, you say that?” Streaming Breeze gave her an incredulous look. “This is a historic moment, my Queen! We have witnessed the return of the house of Blackwind, a moment for historians and chroniclers to remember through the ages!”

“I don't think I'll be making any history books, Streaming.”

“Nonsense, my Queen. The house of Blackwind is a noble and proud lineage-”

“The house of Blackwind is one clueless mare and her two foolish friends.” said Tempest.

Streaming looked shocked, like she'd been hit in the face with a pan. “I- I'm your friend?” she stammered after a moment of silence, her eyes wide.

“That makes two of us, now!” said Snowy, snickering lightly. Streaming just grovelled in the sand.

“This is an honor beyond-”

“It's really not.” Tempest stopped her before she went any further. “I know how loyal you were to my mother, and why. Maelstrom was a natural leader, you said it yourself. But I'm not. I'm not her, and I can't be her. Anyone who's with me usually ends up the worse for it, just look at what happened to poor Aharôs. There's no honor to be had here.”

“You won't get rid of me that easily, Queen Tempest.” said Streaming, ears going flat. “I've served your family for over twenty years, I'm not giving up on you.”

“See, Tempest?” Snowy piped up. “There's no reason to be hopeless, you have us at your back, and we're with you till the end.”

“If you say so...”

The day passed on; the three pegasi sat on top of a dune and watched the armies of Sarathûl slowly seep onto the shores of their homeland. Tempest was sure that Aharôs had landed at some point, but if he had, he hadn't shown himself yet. After a few hours, Hemlock and Goldleaf were brought to them in chains by the Lûndôvîn men.

“...never thought I'd be so happy to set hoof on land...” the unicorn was muttering. His pegasus companion had gone silent the moment she saw Snowy. The two sisters stared at each other for a moment, before Snowy silently moved to sit on the other side of Tempest. Though the two had been exposed to other's presence for a few months now, but still neither was comfortable around the other.

“Eventually, these two will have to start talking to each other.” Streaming said, loud enough for both to hear.

“I wouldn't force it.” the unicorn remarked.

“Quiet, commoner, no one asked you.” snapped Streaming, despite being a commoner herself. This was the first time they'd ever been near the prisoners outside of their cell. By sunset, the entire beach was covered in tents and fires, for miles up and down the shore.

“I wonder if there's ever been so many people in one place at once?” Tempest asked to herself. No one else seemed to know the answer. But it was clear that thirty-two thousand was a big number.

When nightfall came, Aharôs finally showed himself. “Are there five of you now?” he questioned, giving a cool look at the prisoners.

“They dumped these two with us, my King.” Streaming Breeze reported, bowing. “These traitors are not a part of our force.”

“Apparently they are, given that they'll be traveling with you for the moment.” Aharôs turned to Hemlock and Goldleaf, and glowered down at them. “You are to be our guide in this country.”

“And why would I do that?” Hemlock asked, glaring back up at the exiled King.

Aharôs stated calmly: “Because if you do not, I'll kill the unicorn.”

Hemlock didn't respond, but she glared even harder at Aharôs. He's a cold man when he wants to be, that's for sure, thought Tempest, not sure how she should feel. This was the same man who'd taken her in and protected her, and tried his best to make sure she had a good life. And this was the same man who'd burnt down a city and executed dozens with his own hand. She'd often wondered lately how she could reconcile the “Butcher of Verâd” with the kind man who once read aloud to her when she was young.

“You look thoughtful.” Aharôs suddenly said. Snowy looked like she was about to say something, but Tempest went ahead:

“I- uh- it's nothing. I'm just thinking.”

“Clearly.” The dryness in his tone almost made Tempest think he'd gained some sense of humor. “Well, we finally made it, Tempest.”

“Yes, here we are.” she agreed.

Aharôs nodded to himself. “Are you ready?”

“No.”

“Then we'll talk later.” With that, the King departed back to the human camp.

“He's a man of few words.” said Streaming, before turning to Tempest. “Not that you talk much either, my Queen. You two certainly have your similarities.”

We certainly do, Tempest thought. Later in the night, the ponies too retired. The prisoners were not kept in any cage, but merely in a tent under guard. Snowy and Streaming got their own tents as well; it took a grand total of ten minutes for Snowy to appear in Tempest's tent.

“I knew you'd turn up.” Tempest said, without even looking away from brushing the sand out of her hooves.

“It wouldn't be right to end the day without coming to talk to you.”

“That has been our thing for the past year, hasn't it?”

“Hah!” laughed Snowy. “Well, there's not much else to do when we're on the move.” she said, sitting down in the one chair the tent had. “Aharôs was right, you know. You did look awfully thoughtful earlier.”

“Oh, that... I was thinking, like I said. About Aharôs. Which is why I didn't tell him.” she said.

“Were you pondering the duality of mankind, perhaps?” Snowy asked, smirking.

Tempest frowned. Duality of mankind? she wondered. It must have been some smart-person thing beyond her understanding. “I was thinking about how Aharôs can be so... cruel. You weren't there for this, but at Seshîlîon, he just shot captured Verâdîm count in the head. He didn't even give him a chance to say his last words or anything. And you saw what he did at Rôstôs, razing the entire city with the people still inside.”

A grim look came over Snowy's face at the mention of that evening. “I prefer to remember the next day when you were angry at me for no clear reason. It's less unsettling.”

“What? I don't even remember- never mind, that was nearly a year ago, anyway. What I'm trying to say is... How could he do all the things he's done?” Tempest looked at her chest of meager belongings, thinking of the book on Equestrian beekeeping Aharôs had given her a few months ago. “He's not a bad person, Snowy. Is he?”

For a few quiet moments, Snowy just looked at her with lowered ears. “I don't know, Tempest. Even the worst of men might still love their children. Good deeds do not wash out the bad any more than the bad deeds wash out the good. Life is rarely as clear-cut as we'd like it to be. I know Aharôs is the closest thing to a father you have, and I don't want to take that away, but... I can't tell you what you want to hear.” Then, Snowy offered her a hopeful smile. “Although, if you know that some of what he's done is wrong, and are worried about following his path, I don't think you have much to worry about at all. Which is pretty much what I've been telling you this whole time.”

“I understand.” said Tempest.

“Are you just saying that so I'll stop talking about this?” asked Snowy.

Tempest didn't answer. She really is too smart, sometimes.

“Tempest, I'm going to tell you a secret, one I was explicitly instructed not to tell you.”

“What?”

Snowy hopped down off the chair, and moved over to sit by her. She spoke quietly. “Emperor Îrilôs has no faith in Aharôs's continued usefulness. You are useful to him, and the only reason Aharôs hasn't been gotten rid of is because of your bond with him. The Emperor doesn't want to offend you by disposing of your adopted father. And that is what Aharôs is to you, don't deny it.”

“I know. I've accepted that for a while, now.” Tempest said. The news that Îrilôs wasn't the friend he seemed to be came as no surprise. She'd never trusted him wholly. “By dispose, do you mean..?”

“It would be good for Imperial relations with Athair and King Reshîv if Aharôs was eliminated.” Snowy scowled. “I don't have the same love for Aharôs that you do; but I wouldn't wish death on him. Once the dust settles on this business in Equestria, and the Emperor has what he wants...”

“...They're going to kill him, aren't they.” Tempest finished.

“Yes. They will try, and they will most likely succeed.”

“We need to tell-”

“I already told Aharôs. He said he knew of it, and he was the one who ordered me not to tell you.” What? Why? Tempest wondered, confused. Snowy must have seen her conflict before she could even speak, because she went on: “I don't know how much time you have left with him; it could be a few months, it could be the rest of his life. But cherish what good he's left you with, and if you ever worry about repeating his mistakes, just remember that you know those were mistakes. Aharôs has done the best he can for you, as flawed as he is. That's more than I could say of my own father.”

“You've never talked about him before...” said Tempest, immediately growing cautious. Snowy didn't normally bring her past up.

“No, I haven't.” agreed Snowy.

“Do you want to..?”

For a bit, Snowy was silent, deep in thought. “I think I do.” she finally said. “I'm not going to let fear and pain rule my life. That is not the way the Heavenly Lord would have us live.”

I wish I had your bravery, Snowy, Tempest thought. A year ago she wouldn’t have guessed she'd ever think such a thing. “Who was your father?” she asked.

“His name was Basalt, like the rock. That was the color of his coat... But I only got the blue in my mane from him. He was the only child of a local noble family, as far as I learned. Grandmother Farpeak decided that he was to marry my mother, so that when she died our house would have even more power in our fief. It was all very political and very typical for a pegasus realm.” said Snowy, as if she were reciting from a book. “Grandmother Farpeak did die not long after their marriage, and Silver became the lady of the house. I suppose in most arranged marriages the couple must learn to love each other, or at least get along, but...”

“But this is Silver Farpeak we're talking about.” Tempest said.

“Yes, it is.” Snowy sneered at the name for a moment. “If anyone knew what she was before then, they never said. I don't think my father knew until after I was born. Not that it would have mattered, he was doomed to be at Silver's mercy from the very start. He wasn't a strong stallion, there wasn't a mean bone in his body. He liked reading and writing and music before he was made to marry my mother, from what I heard. My mother hated all these things. She hated him, she called him a weakling and a coward, and if he ever disobeyed her...” Tempest didn't need to hear more to understand the implication. “I never saw him smile, not once in the eight years I lived with them. It was like he had died, but just didn't know it yet. The one time I remember he tried to protect me, he nearly died for it. There was a lot of screaming about how Silver would never let me be anything like him. After that, he'd just see what my mother did to us, and turn away before she got it in her mind he needed to be taught a lesson too.”

Tempest felt her ears fall back. “That's... awful.” What else could she say to that?

“I used to hate him for leaving us to that monster. How he'd just pretend nothing was happening, how...” Snowy trailed off, and looked at the ground; her eyes glistening and voice trembling. “When we first came to Sarathûl, Aharôs took you into the citadel and threatened to kill any one of the Blackwind army that even thought about selling you back to the alicorns. That some human would take you in and keep you safe, when my own father was too weak and impotent to protect his own child..! I hated him even more, for a long time.”

Snowy breathed out, closing her eyes. When she spoke again, she sounded calmer. “After I came to the Faith, I was challenged to forgive those who wronged me. Hatred is not a part of the Heavenly Path; hatred only corrupts and destroys. It is written that the truest victory in this world is won in our hearts... It has not been an easy victory to win for me. I've come to pity my father; that he could be reduced to such a broken and weary creature is a horrible fate for anyone.”

Really, what do I say to that? Tempest asked herself. “I...” she paused, trying to choose her words carefully. “I'm really sorry that you had to go through all that.”

“It's over and done with, now.” said Snowy. “But it still helps to talk about it.”

“That's good.” Tempest twitched her tail, desperately trying to think of something to say that wasn't foolish.

“I had another reason for bringing this up, though.” Snowy went on, looking her in the eyes. “You're not cold-hearted like Aharôs, and you certainly aren't wholly heartless like my mother. I don't think you have it in you to do any of the things they've done.”

“Yes... Aharôs said something similar, months ago. I hope you're both right.”

Snowy smiled, and draped a wing over her. “Of course I'm right. I know you better than you know yourself.”

“Sure you do.” grumbled Tempest, trying to wriggle away. Something occurred to her, then. “You know, while we're on this subject... how does Hemlock fit into all this? You say you stopped hating your father, but what about your sister? From what she told me, it sounds like she was just as helpless as he was.”

“Yes, that's how she'd tell it.” Snowy sighed. She pulled Tempest closer again, foiling her escape attempt. “My father was not guiltless, but he never helped my mother either.”

“What was Hemlock supposed to do?” asked Tempest.

“I don't know.” said Snowy, her gaze returning to the ground. “My hate for them was like an ember of a fire that never went out. Seeing Hemlock again last year just made it stronger. But then you talked to me, about how she was sorry for what she did, and how she really didn't have a choice...” Snowy shook her head. “I made a vow that what happened then would not haunt me for the rest of my life. It seemed easy enough at the time...”

“Saying you'll forgive someone is pretty different from actually doing it.”

“Exactly, Tempest. It was easiest for my father. Hemlock... I think I might be able to put those feelings to rest. It's just- I mean, every time I'm near her, that fire comes back. All I can think of is-” Snowy stopped herself before she went further. “I want to leave the past behind with her, but...”

“And what about Silver?” asked Tempest. This was the most talkative Snowy had ever been about this, it might be her only chance to learn where she stood on these things.

Snowy grimaced. “I don't think she's capable of remorse. Can you forgive someone like that?”

“I... I don't know.”

“I don't know either, Tempest.” Snowy sighed again, before sitting up straighter. “But it's not all gloom.”

“It's not?”

“My mother wanted me to be strong and fearless, so that I could continue her legacy. By her measure, I'm neither.”

“By many people's measures.” Tempest added, thinking of Coldstar and the other Blackwind soldiers.

“I won't say I'm not afraid, because I still am, even when I try not to be. But there's another kind of strength, one my mother could never understand.” Snowy's ears rose again, and she looked brighter.

“Well, what is it?” asked Tempest.

“I'll let you think on it.” said Snowy, smiling slyly. “But we should get to sleep now, it's getting late and we have a lot to do in the next few weeks.”

At least she's feeling well enough to tease me after that, Tempest thought as she narrowed her eyes. “Alright, go to bed Snowy, flaunt your vast intelligence some other time.”

“Sleep well!” she said, leaving for her own tent.

When she was gone, Tempest exhaled. Everything had gone far better than she thought it would after Snowy mentioned her father. The only times she'd ever come near the subject of her life in Equestria before her capture, it had ended in tears and gone little farther. She really has changed, thought Tempest. What would she do without Snowy? In their youth, she'd been Tempest's timid and stammering friend, hiding behind her whenever someone got near. Now she seemed more wise and more courageous than anyone else Tempest knew. How did she do it?

The question lingered until she fell asleep.

It took three days for the human army to disembark and assemble. Then, they marched north, into the realm of Highcrest. Battle came not long after.

Author's Notes:

Wow, only four weeks to get you guys a new chapter. Better than 16 huh?

But hey, at least we get more Snowy character development. I wonder what her secret to success is?