Chapter 46 – Truths and Summits

It was about a few hours later into Twilight's story when my machinations came to light. Well... more the slightly underhandedness I went with about getting the job done. Currently, I was stuck in one of the side rooms in the Crystal Castle as Celestia and Luna were 'talking' about what I did. To be honest with everypony, I'm not sorry that I did it. The job had to get done and I had the tools to do it. I was sitting in one of the swivel chairs looking out the window at the Crystal Ponies below for about an hour at this point. That was when the door opened with a large boom as it slammed into the wall it was connected to. I already knew who was coming in as Celestia had clearly made it known that she wasn't happy with what I did. Luna, on the other hand, understood my standpoint on this as she could be just as blunt as I was.

“So what's the verdict judge?” I commented not looking at her.

“What you did was a misuse of your mission,” Celestia growled at me.

“And what would you have me do? Sit back and let your student take over a school and invade Equestria?” I asked turning to look at the fuming princess before me.

“I should have sent Twilight alone.” She spat at me.

“Hindsight is twenty, twenty after all.” I shot back with a calm tone to my voice. “But the job got done did it not?”

“By using magic in a world that had none.” She said getting closer as she stared daggers at me.

“Limitedly.”

“Limitedly!” She yelled at me. “You took one of the artifacts into a magicless world!”

“To go after an Element of Harmony. It's retrieval tactics one o' one. If you go after something of power, have something of equal or greater power in case of said power is used.” I continued remaining calm.

“And risk the world getting corrupt in the process! As you said it yourself 'absolute power corrupts absolutely!'”

“And there is a difference here.”

“And what's that?!” She asked now completely in my face as her mane was a raging inferno.

“I don't want power,” I said calmly which caused her mane to poof out in smoke for a moment.

“What?” She said in disbelief. That's when I snapped my fingers and changed into my satyr form. Since I had my chaos leg in just in case. I stood at eye level with Celestia.

“I've never wanted power,” I said stepping closer causing her to step back. “The reason I had it because out of everypony here, I know the games far better than anyone. Your blinded by your position of power for over a thousand years. Twilight is new to the game not to know the rules fully. Luna hasn't learned the changes in the rules because of her banishment. Cadence is just starting to really understand it herself being in an active role as the same goes for Shining. I'm the only one that's never wanted this leading role, but the universe as thrust me upon it from a world that war is almost an everyday thing. I've been jaded to conflict because of years of street fights, of having to play the intimidation card every day of my life. So when Sunset wanted to play Queen Bitch.” I continued till Celestia was against the wall in shock. “I knew how to knock her off her throne. Don't think for a moment that I don't know how to do it to anyone of you. If I really wanted power, I would have had it long ago.”

“Prove it.” She shot back using a spell to push me back.

“You don't want that,” I stated flatly.

“You just talked like you know how to topple Equestria, but when the cards are on the table can you do it?” She shot a glare at me.

“If I had to,” I growled.

“Oh? So there is a point where your 'hand' would be forced.” She said pushing me again magically.

“You don't want to go there, Celestia,” I warned.

“Why not, you-”

“Because I don't want that kind of blood on my hands,” I said giving her a venomous glare.

“You would really kill if yo-”

“Your not stupid Celestia, no nation raises without one falling behind it.” I shot back already knowing more to Equestria's History then even Twilight does. I spent hours in the hidden archives in the Canterlot library. Seriously who hides a hidden passage behind a bookcase using a sun and moon books as switches. It's just asking for somepony to find it. “You destroyed thousands of griffons and dragons alone during your first hundred years of ruling. Just to protect our little ponies.” That got her eyes to widen.

“How did-”

“I know of the hidden section in the library, Celestia.” I turned around and walked to the window. “Unlike you, I don't hide the fact that countries are always built upon bloodshed. And any political game is played with lies or half-truths. I'm betting even Twilight doesn't know what you hide in Tartarus.”

“You don't mean-”

“That I know about the little skeletons in your closet? Not all of them but at least a good chunk, like Cerberus was your hand at necromancy. Being back a long lost pet, it's just you didn't have a full grasp on the magic.” That got her to look scared, and I mean like her whole world could come crashing down scared.

“Please don't tell any-”

“I won't, I don't see any real point in it. You have to use the magic to understand it. Like with any other subject you have to study cause and effect.” I sat down in the window sill. “You want to keep this world a perfectly peaceful as you can.”

“Is it really that bad of a want?” She asked slowly walking up.

“No, and I can understand it. Wanting a world without strife, without large scale issues to muck things up. But there is one thing people and ponies forget.”

“What?”

“Nothing can be perfect.” There was truth behind those simple four words. The most ambitious people always think that they could make the perfect world. That there won't be any strife or conflict, nothing to hurt anyone. But what it does is throws the check and balances off kilter. Without strife, there isn't stress and stress comes with the chemicals in one's brain to help them adapt and get better. If you really wanted to boil it down, evolution comes from strife that better makes the bodies of those that come next stronger then the ones before. “Look, the reason I used the Mask was I needed something in case of Sunset used the Element. Which she did. Outside of that I only used minor magic.” I sat there for a few moments as the shadow I was casting because to form into a serpent dragon. Shadow looked over at Celestia who's horn glowed quietly before resting his head on my lap. My hand idly went down and began to pet him. It seemed Shadow enjoys the sensation as a dragon more than a pony. “If you really want to punish me then do it, but I'm not sorry I did it. I didn't kill anyone and I even saw the truth with my own eyes. Sunset was scared and alone.”

“Scared?” Celestia asked.

“She's been scared for a very long time. When you picked her of all ponies to be your student she was happy and ecstatic about it. But when it comes to seeing the other ponies playing she ended up feeling alone. Even with you there she had to always be the student.” I began to explain.

“She could have-” Celestia tried to defend.

“Skipped out on her studies with the 'princess' of Equestria. Even you have to see the pedestal that your up upon. You put the same kind of pedestal under her and that weight began to dig into her. She wasn't able to ignore it or coop with the stress that came with it. Her whole power game was just a simple act to impress you and gain praise. She wanted you proud of her.”

“But, I was already impressed with-”

“Did you tell her where she understood?” I asked as both Shadow and I looked at her.

“I thought I did,” Celestia said slumping down to her haunches.

“She didn't and when you began to go against the ideals she thought you wanted. She lost herself to the game and became a victim to her own petard.” I explained with a sigh as I stood up. Shadow shifted himself so he was coming out of the shadow of my wing and rested his head on my shoulder. “But regardless of that. Sunset has finally been put on a better path, but you already knew that.” She nodded quietly for a moment.

“I suspected that world had different versions of all our little ponies.” She said.

“Most of the history is the same, at least most of the political events at least, it also has some from my world. The names may be different but the timelines are mixed there.”

“Wait... does that mean that-”

“Yes, there's a version of me there as well. I did some research on the computers there and checked. That world is much like my earth, just as peaceful as Equestria tends to be without the major powers in play. No Discord or Sombra.”I continued as I walked passed her. “But that's not our world and we shouldn't get involved.” There were a few moments of silence between us as I turned back into my pony self with Shadow still coming out from under my wing.

“Storm...” Celestia said looking at the place I was still standing.

“Yes, Celestia?” I asked.

“I'm sorry.”

“I know Celestia, I know. Just don't think you always know what's best.” I said before I left the room and went back to Twilight and I's room. Inside it, I saw Twilight reading a few of the files that were set aside for us. It seems that a lot of us didn't expect the number of people showing up tomorrow. We were getting a lot more princesses from the smaller countries as well, instead of just larger countries. Even my Sister was coming to this summit.

“How did the... talk go?” Twilight said finally looking up at me after I was standing there for a while.

“As well as it could have been,” I said walking over to her.

“Sorry I got-” She tried to say before I nuzzled her a little.

“You've got nothing to be sorry for. All you were doing was telling them what happened.” I said sitting down next to her and placed my wing around her.

“Still... Celestia was pretty upset.” She commented as her ears were flattened back.

“That tends to happen,” I said leaning back.

“What do you mean?” She asked looking at me.

“She's had over a thousand years of ruling Equestria. She's had a status quo, then along comes me. Someone who cuts the middle pony, and gets things done.” I pulled over a few of the files to look over them.

“But isn't that a good thing?” She looked at me confused.

“Twilight, it depends on the political game that's going. Sometimes having somepony do the job that you can't do yourself comes in handy. A way to skirt around rules without directly breaking them.”

“That doesn't sound like fun.” She said looking worried.

“It's what happens when you're in a position of power. You've got to play a very elaborate game of chess.” With a sigh, I set all the files down. As much as I didn't want to spoil this for her, Twilight needed to know.

“It sounds like a game you have a good handle on.” She said leaning against me.

“Barely, I never wanted to be in this position.” Twilight looked at me quietly before she nuzzled against me as we decided tonight was enough. We laid in bed quietly as Twilight laid slid in closer and placed her head on my chest.

“Storm... can I ask you something?”

“Sure Twilight.”

“Do you think I'll be able to handle being a princess?” She asked looking up at me.

“Honestly?”

“No, I expect you to lie to me.” She answered with a bit of snark.

“Oh well, then I believe Equestria is completely doom.” I shot back with a smirk.

“That's not funny Storm.” She said crossing her hooves.

“Well, you did say you expected me to lie.” She gave me that long that said 'quit being an idiot.'

“But, if I was to be straight with you. Given time, I'm sure you will be able to know the ins and outs of the job. Given the time, even the weight every choice you make impacts everypony.” I answered her looking at the ceiling and the crystal pattern running across it.

“I want to be a good princess.” She said laying on me.

“I'm sure you will be Twilight,” I said as we drifted off to sleep.

***---***

After breakfast Luna, Cadence, Twilight, Shining, Celestia, and I all were in the meeting room waiting for the other delegate to show up. I'm a little surprised to find that the table was round, closer to King Arthur's table. Each of us had our own chair, all of them large throne with our cutie-marks on the top. Twilight at to my right with Cadence and Shining to her right. Luna was to my left, while Celestia at next to her. Twilight would glance over at Celestia and I looking worried. I can't blame her as she knows that things between the two of us are rocky at best. Out of everypony here, I have no qualms calling her out of her shit.

Celestia, for the most part, was calm looking, mind you the inside she was worried. Twilight hadn't picked up on the mental link between all of us yet, but Shining and herself. Well, she may have and just hasn't told anypony yet, which I highly doubt. Regardless Celestia was trying to keep herself calm repeating that 'she has this' over and over again. Luna and I shared a look of worry for a little bit before the first guest arrived.

“Now introducing Queen Thelxiope and her daughter Princess Maia of the northern griffon territories.” We all watched as four of griffons walked in. The outside two were guards decked out in armor that fit their body type. The griffon that I assumed was the Queen was a raven black griffon with a short beak. Her eyes were a piercing yellow that could stare daggers into anyone and they would feel it. Her wings and fur were an off black and her lioness tail had the same black as her feathers on her head, her talons were just as black as well. She oddly enough was wearing a suit of armor, minus the helmet that looked like a mixture of traditional and fantasy. Mostly a dark silver with a dark gold border around each piece, the under armor looked like leather to me. Which would fit as I had found out that griffons were meat eaters. Her daughter was much the same as her mother besides her wings and fur being a tombstone gray instead of a shade off of black. Her eyes were an emerald green with a look that wasn't as pointed as her mother.

The two guards with her were one male who looked more like an eagle with its white feathers and a dark brown coat. His talons were a yellow-orange color, and his eyes were a blazing red. His armor was much like the royals minus the dark gold trim. Oddly enough the other guard was almost a twin to the male guard, only female and with soft blue eyes. They moved over to two seats across from us with the two guards on either side of them.

“Hello Thelxiope,” Celestia said giving a slight nod to her. “It's been a while.”

“You can cut the pleasantries, Celestia.” She said and no offense, but she was giving me the evil step-mother vibe. “The only reason I agree to these things was to keep our kingdoms at peace. Now, who are those two?” She said pointing at Twilight and I.

“Those are the newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle and Prince Firestorm,” Luna said with a level tone. All the while she was growling over the link with venomous thoughts.

“So you're the newest royals I've heard about.” Thelxiope comment with disdain clearly in her voice. If she wasn't already giving me the evil step-mother vibe before she sure as hell would be now.

“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Twilight said trying to be nice.

“Hi,” I said simply, mostly because I didn't like the rude tone she was force feeding to everyone. Which got everyone to look at me with at least most of them in shock. Well, all but Thelxiope and Maia who didn't look amused, and the guards just looked angry.

“I see the newest royals doesn't know how to show proper respect,” Thelxiope commented.

“Hard to show it if it isn't supplied first.” I shot back and a smirk. That got her feathers ruffled a bit, and I do mean that literally as her wings puffed out a bit.

“I see this one has a mouth on him.”

“Yes, he does,” Celestia commented shooting me a look while all she could say over the link was. “Storm would you kindly please not anger Queen Thelxiope.”

“I make no promises.” I shot back over the link.

“Oh, this summit is going to be fun,” Luna said with glee in her tone over the link.

“Luna don't encourage him.” Celestia shot back, and all I could do was lightly chuckle over the link. “My apologies Thelxi-” she got out before the next being was introduced.

“Now introducing Queen Gaia of Saddle Arabia.” We all watched as my sister walked over and sat at about a ninety-degree angle from where I was.

“Hello, Brother.” She said with a pleasant tone.

“Hey, Sis,” I answered with a returned smile.

“So I see where he gets his attitude from,” Thelxiope commented drily.

“Storm, why didn't you tell me you had the same snarky attitude,” Gaia said smiling.

“What can I say, it runs in the family.” That got both of us to laugh while everyone else was looking at us like we were crazy. I would say I'm probably sixty percent crazy at the moment.

“I repeat, this summit is going to be fun.” Luna shot over the link again.

“So how are things between Dragoon?” I asked with my sister shooting things back.

“Going well, how about you and 'the princess'?” She shot back.

“Well, you can ask my fiance.” That got Twilight to squeak.

“Storm!” Twilight said looking at me slightly annoyed.

“What? It's not like it's a secret, I mean we told everypony in Equestria at your coronation.” I said with a smirk.

“Definitely one of Sha's kids,” Gaia said with a light laugh. “Always making big waves.”

“Like your one to talk.” Said a rather rougher sounding voice. We all turned to see a coal black bat dregasus stallion with a light grayscaled wings walk towards us. His main was a matching gray to his scales and his eyes were a piercing yellow.

“Introducing King Granite of the Drony Kingdoms in the dragon lands.” My eyes widen as I watched him trot over to the opposite to Gaia putting him at the other ninety degrees from me. Strapped to his side is a large hammer closer to a sledgehammer just in an ornate. He set it off to the side of the chair. “Hello, Sister.” He said bowing to her before turning to me. “Hello, Brother.”

“Um... hi?” I said not completely sure how to respond. He looked at me like he was analyzing everything from me. It was like he was cold and calculating down to the minor details. Watching, I could tell he was focused on my right foreleg or lack there off a natural one. I will admit it was making me rather uncomfortable with his unblinking glaze that I began to rub my prosthetic leg like I use to do with my arm. Twilight watched this and pulled a me and placed her wing against my back.

“Granite knock it off, can't you tell you're making him uncomfortable with your gaze.” Gaia said while shaking her head.

“I'm only studying our newest 'brother'.” He said very coldly.

“I see he's just as cold as ever.” Celestia commented over the link.

“I'm surprised we can't see our breath with him around,” Luna added giving the latest newcomer a flat look.

“Hello, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia.” He said and that got my eyebrow to raise. Is he this cold to everyone?

“Hello King Granite, how are things in your kingdom?” Celestia was the one to ask.

“They are as well as they can be.” He said resting his hoof on the arm of the chair.

“Any luck with those rebels?” Luna asked as I blinked quietly in confusion. Rebels?

“Not as of yet, we have been getting reports of more attacks in the outskirts.” He said flatly.

“I'm surprised you haven't gotten then dealt with by now.” Gaia being the one to chime in.

“They have been alluding our attempts to detain them.”

“It seems the Cold King Granite can't keep his subjects in line.” Thelxiope chimed in.

“Mother.” Her daughter commented with a slight growl.

“Hush Maia.” That's caused my eyebrow to twitch a little. That was enough for me to get my head out of my flank. Suddenly I sat up and gave my wings a quick shift to sit more comfortably.

“Now introducing Princess Ember, daughter of Dragon Lord Torch.” Said the pony at the door. Right then entering was a slight blue dragoness with a teal underbelly. Her spine was a darker blue compared to her main colors and unlike Spike, she had large wings for her frame. The membrane of them was a matching blue to her scales and her tail spine was more like a curved leaf with a nick taking out of it. Her horns curve from the sides of her head and down towards the front. She walked forward with her arms crossed until she got to her seat far from the others. Her eyes open looking directly at me with a scowl and it didn't help her eyes were a fire red with a hint of orange around the edges. She quickly stood back up.

“There's four of you now!” She said yelling.

“Calm down Princess Ember,” Gaia said waving her hoof gently. “Meet our youngest brother Firestorm.”

“Great,” Ember growled sitting back down. Lovely, just fucking lovely. On top of all this, I now have to deal with another hot head.

“It's a pleasure to meet you too,” I said with a twitching left eye. It was about an hour later that we found out that a lot of the other royals weren't going to make it, for one reason or another. So it was just the six kingdoms.

“Shall we begin?” I asked rubbing my hooves together.

“If we must,” Thelxiope said as she snapped her talons and one of the guards placed a folder on the table. “We've had issues on the Equestrian border.” Sliding out of the folders were documents and photos of what looks like destroyed goods. Either by train or by cart. Each of us pulled up a file, I took a few of the witness reports. Just by skimming it, told me a lot of the good that were either destroyed or gone missing. Each time it was a different assailant. There were things I could understand stolen like gold, silver, copper, nickel, and lead. But then there were things I didn't even know a lot about. Much like gallium, beryllium, and scandium. For a group of thieves, a lot of this didn't add up. As chemistry wasn't my strong suit out of some cursory things of interest, mostly explosives, and a few small pet projects. But looking it over something was eating at me about it like it was familiar somehow.

“Storm?” Twilight said poking me in the side.

“Huh?” I asked looking up a bit confused.

“Is something wrong?” She asked looking worried.

“No, just something about this report is bugging me,” I commented as I placed it down.

“Well, you zoned out a bit.”

“Sorry,” I commented looking as Celestia was talking to Thelxiope a little more in private. Her daughter Maia was shooting daggers at me with her arms crossed.

“Brother, what are your thoughts on this?” Granite asked looking over at me.

“From what I have gathered about all this is that either a group of mercenary working for a chemist. It's either that or a changeling using different forms to gather everything.” I commented thinking out loud. “But it's the list of elements that has me the most curious.”

“What about it?”

“Over sixty different elements ranging from Tin to Zinc, Gold to Bismuth, and many others. Just from a cursory glance, most anyone would say that this was a chemist refilling his stocks. However, I prefer to follow rule thirty-six.” I said looking over the list again.

“Rule thirty-six?” Gaia and Twilight asked at the same time.

“If it feels like you're being played, you probably are,” I said remember that rule from a tv show that I use to watch.

“It's a good rule to follow.” Granite commented picking up the file in his wing.

“For the life of me, I can't figure out the reason.”

“Then what good are you?” Maia commented.

“Excuse me?” I asked turning my gaze over to her.

“What are you good for?” Maia said standing up from her seat finally. “I've heard reports that you're the most commonly attacked royal out of all of them.” She asked pulling out a file that she threw onto the table. It slid open showing the many attacks I've had over my time here as well as many other reports. Opening it up I couldn't help but feel a cold chill run through my body like someone was walking on my grave. Even the report of my ribs and eye was in there.

“What are you playing at Maia?” Gaia commented looking aggregated.

“Why is this stallion even at this table? All he does is get hurt all of the time, and from I've been reported. That the only royal duty he's performed ended in disaster. None of his opinions aren't even worth it.” Maia commented.

“Lay off the guy, he's done enough for Equestria,” Shining growled back.

“and what is that?” She shot back getting in Shining's face.

“Shining stop,” I said getting up slowly. “Maia let me ask this. Why do I need to prove anything to you?”

“Don't you dare talk to the princess like that.” The male guard growled.

“Thelxiope tell your guard to stand down.” Luna bluntly ordered.

“Why should I?” The queen asked looking back with a look of not caring. “He has a point, I'm betting that any guard could beat him.”

“Do you want to test that theory?” I asked with a smirk.

“Storm you can't be serious?” Celestia comment looking surprised.

“I don't see why he shouldn't prove himself if his role is in question.” Granite commented.

“Now this is something I can get behind,” Ember said smirking, as I turned towards Cadence.

“Does the Crystal Empire have a fighting arena?” I asked with a smirk.

“Uh... yeah... it's the sport's Colosseum, I had it converted after the Sombra event.” She said looking confused.

“Well then let's take care of business,” I said with a smirk on my face.

“This is going to be fun.” Shadow and Luna said over the link at the same time.

***---***

The group of royal stood in the royal box looking down at the field below. Celestia was looked worried as one of Thelxiope's strongest guards stood across from Firestorm. Twilight watched closely as she was worried about her stallion. She knew that Storm was a capable fighter, but he's never faced anyone that has real combat training like this.

“Thelxiope put an end to this.” Celestia pleaded to her griffon counterpart.

“I will not if the stallion wants to prove he's worth then I don't see why I should tell Lily to stand down.”

“He's already gone through enough as it is.” Cadence tacked on.

“This is what he wants Cadence, and I think we should respect that,” Shining said watching as he's gotten a few glimpses of his combat prowess. Truth be told he's wanted to see him really let loose himself, just not this way.

“I will say I am curious about how well my brother fights.” Granite said voicing his thought.

“I will admit, so am I,” Gaia said stepping to the window. “But he shouldn't have to fight if we can do our jobs correctly.”

“We can't stop some fights.”

“And Storm has shown time and time again that he knows how to get the job done,” Luna commented.

“As much as I wish Storm didn't do this, Luna is right.” Twilight comment with her ears flattened back. “Storm has an odd way of doing things compared to everypony and gets results. Regardless of all the pain and heartache, he's already gone through.”

“Storm isn't just a pony,” Celestia added in.

“Well duh, he's also part dragon,” Ember said leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

“Besides that, he has a weird set of rules that he always goes by.” Celestia tried to explain as she gazed down to Storm who was stretching out a little before his fight with the female griffon. The only difference here was the griffon was in her armor while Storm wasn't. The most he wanted on his deck of cards. Which Celestia fully knows how they work, but against someone who had military combat training. Was that even enough of an advantage, or was this a doomed fight from the start.

“Is that why he hasn't changed into his Stormed form?” Gaia asked curiously.

“Stormed form?” Ember, Thelxiope, Maia, and even their guard asked. All of the ponies and two dronies turned to look at them.

“It's the more scaled form us dronies can take. It gives us the same defenses as most dragons. The only differences here is that my sister and brother have the elemental defenses as well.” Granite answered. “Right now he has some of the elemental defenses but mostly has the equine defense of a pony. I wonder why is the question.”

“And I wonder if he's going to take his other form?” Luna commented that got both Gaia and Granite to look confused.

“Other form?” Granite and Gaia asked.

“Storm calls it a Satyr it's when he takes a more bipedal form. Normally he would have to use a potion to do so, but as of late he had rework a spell that allows him to change as long as he has the magic to do so.” Twilight explained leaving out the fact that Storm uses a little chaos magic to do so. Mostly explaining under the metamorphic principal.

“Interesting.” Granite commented as he looked down at his brother. Who looked at the griffon who was all ready for battle.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Storm asked flexing his claws.

“My Queen has ordered me to be your opponent. So I must do it for my griffon honor.” She said with her sword at the ready. “So I won't let some upstart prince win against, I Lily Frostquill of the house of Frostquill.”

“Great, I always face the crazy ones.” Storm muttered under his breath as he face-palmed.

“What was that?” Lily growled.

“Forget about it, so your dead set on this?” He asked not looking amused by all of it. Frankly, he was hoping Maia wasn't going to call his bluff, but poker wasn't one of his strong suits.

“You'll be dead when I'm done with you.” She said as she took the first swing. She flew right at him with the speed of a cheetah as Storm had only a moment to dodge. In the ground where he was a red card sticking out of the ground. Storm grinned as he washed the card in magic. In seconds the card exploded causing Lily to fly up to avoid being caught in the brunt of the blast. “Oh, I see somepony thinks their cute.”

“Bitch I'm adorable.” Storm said with a flick of his hoof sent a purple card flying at her. She grabbed it out of the air and flung it back at Storm in one fluid motion. Like before Storm washed the card in magic as it turned into a ball of magical energy. With a smirk, a whirlpool of magic appeared before him swallowing the projectile.

“Redirection spell really?” Lily said with a smirk as markings under her coat began to glow. With a flick of her claw, the spell collapsed into itself causing a magical explosion that tossed Storm back.

“I wasn't aware griffons knew rune magic.” Granite commented looking over to Thelxiope.

“All of the elite guards are trained and marked to use it,” Thelxiope said with a smirk.

“This just got interesting,” Maia commented watching the show down below. In that time Storm was able to pull out two yellow cards and slid them into his mane.

“So any other tricks up your sleeves?” Lily asked as she drew her sword.

“Oh, I've got plenty. But how about this one.” He said pulling out a gray card. With a wash of magic, the card began to emit smoke filling up the area for a good five feet around them. Lily using her wings began to spread the smoke away. Then she saw it for a moment, a glint of light flashing off of something before it lunged at her. She flew back as the smoke began to dissipate showing Storm had changed into his Stormed state. He turned back around so his tail was swishing behind him as he smirked. “If you want to turn tail and run, I won't blame you.”

“Oh, now this is going to be fun. I've always wanted to take on a dragon.” She said as she flew at him. With a swipe, she scrapped her claws against his hard scales. He growled at her as he opened up his mouth and unleashed a barrage of fireballs the soared through the sky at her. Almost as if it was choreographed, she expertly dodged each one. He grinned quietly as each fireball began to double back towards Lily. “You've got to be shitting me.” She said before dodging out of the way again.

They stopped in midair before flying back towards Lily. This continued on for a little while as Storm kept Lily busy as well as those watching the match. They all but Storm failed to notice a blacken mass began to creep towards the tunnels. It shot down the tunnels and towards the announcing booth. After it slipped under the door a figure began to come out of the tunnel. It was a large shadowy claw that began to play with the settings. Before it dived back and came out with Storm's old cell phone. Storm grinned as he turned half of the fireballs an ice blue and made all of them collide with each other. The impact caused them to explode into hot steam that clouded Lily's sight of Storm. In turn, Storm pulled out another gray card, that exploded in smoke.

“Damn that pony,” Lily growled as more runes lit up and out of thin air a steel long sword appeared with a standard cross guard. “You want to play game, then we will play them.” With that, she used her wings to fly herself through the steam fast enough that it didn't harm her. “Play with smoke again?” She said before summoning another long sword and in a swift motion, she flung it right at the smoke where she thought Storm was. All that could be heard was the sound of steel on the crystal as the smoke began to clear. Everyone looked in surprised at the figure standing there was Storm encased in crystal armor. From his horn to his tail, everything was covered in dense silver crystal. If it wasn't for the fact that Storm was standing there before the smoke appeared, it would have looked like a statue. On the ground laid the Sword that must have hit the armor.

“Cleaver.” Granite commented looking down.

“Using the Crystal Empires thick crystals to make a set of armor. I will have to hoof him this, our brother has interesting tricks.” Gaia said watching the battle closely. Twilight was the only one feeling a little relieved as she almost leaped out of her fur seeing the sword fly towards Storm. It's just she couldn't shake an odd feeling as she watched like something wasn't quite right. She looked down to see how much dirt was dug up to make the armor. She watched as Storm opened his now larger wings and flew up into the air towards Lily. Unlike before, Storm flew faster and almost impaled the griffon with his horn. Luckily she dodged out of the way and tried to slash at his back. Much like with his scales, her sword only bounced off the armor.

“Enough games,” Lily growled as her claws began to glow as almost all of the runes began to glow. She grabbed Storm's armored tail and began to swing around in a circle before throwing him towards the ground. Storm used his wings to flip around and land on his hooves creating a crater in the center of the field. Storm then lowered his head and with a sudden jerk up, seven columns of dense crystals shot up with the largest of the seven directly under him. With the sudden up thrust, Storm used it and launched himself at Lily who tried to turn left. She took the turn, but storm returned the favor as grabbed her tail and dragged her higher in the sky. “Let go of me!” She roared as she took her sword and tried to jam it in between the plates. With much luck, she sunk it in but it ended up wedged with the wing plate, forcing it to remain open. Storm being unable to fly, began to take a dive with Lily still in his grip.

“Storm!” Twilight yelled in fear as she watched her fiance fall to the ground.

“I'm fine.” Storm said over the link to Twilight directly. “The show is just starting.” Her gazed focused on the cloud of dust as it blew away. In the middle showed Storm standing there with the sword stuck in the joint of his wing and a rather annoyed looking Lily. Twilight was curious about how she was able to hear Storm so clearly, but her worry took precedent over her thirst of knowledge. She watched as Storm leaned over and bit the sword out of his wing.

“What are you planning?” Luna asked herself as she watched, something about this was feeling off and she couldn't place why.

“Sister, are you feeling what I am?” Celestia asked over the link to her sister.

“That it feels like Storm is everywhere, yet nowhere?” Luna replied over the link.

“Exactly,” Celestia said as her horn glowed trying to sense Storm more directly. “I didn't know Storm was able to stretch his magic this far. Especially after the Combat incident.”

“He has been drinking those magic boosters since then. Could they be a factor in this?”

“It's a possibility, the other thing we have to factor is that Grimwand was prosperously stunting his magical growth. This could be the way his body compensates that.” Celestia hypothesized as the speakers in the stadium came to live with rock music.

“Where is that music coming from?” Cadence asked looking around confused as she turned to Shining.

“I don't know but I will find out,” Shining said leaving having both his personal guard as well as Nightling follow. At the same time, Granite watched as Storm began to slowly step back away from Lily who was aloft in the air a few inches with her swords back in her claws.

“I'm done playing games with you pony.” She growled with her runes glowing. In one motion her two long swords turned into one great sword. “I'm going to break you out of the chunk of rock if it's the last thing I do.” She said taking a swing at him. Wordlessly he jumped up and landed on the blade of the sword and stayed on it as she completed said swing. She blinked for a moment a little confused as Storm had disappeared till she turned behind to see him on her sword. The thing turned on his forelegs and bucked her right in the jaw, hard enough that it cracked her beak lightly. “You bastard!” She growled as she recovered and flew towards him this time with her sword pointed in front of her. With a sound of steel connecting with crystal, Storm was thrown back into one of the smaller pillars.

He didn't impact it, as the crystal rippled as he sunk into it. The ripple spread through the pillar and back towards the point he entered. What Celestia saw next made her blood freeze. Coming out of it was a large crystal armored centaur with two large wings that went from the back of the equine part of it to the bottom half of the humanoid half. In its claw as a massive spear that it began to twirl before pointing it at Lily. The centaur that could easily be guessed to be Storm had the upper half of the armor looking like those of a medieval knight with a more fantasy style helmet with three spikes protruding from it in the same place as his horns. His lower half was much like fantasy style horse to match his more draconic side. Lily looked confused and slightly worried.

Over her time protecting and fighting for her queen, she had fought many different creatures. A few diamond dogs, minotaurs, ponies, other griffons, a young dragoness and even a changeling once. The only difference is that during those fights, her opponents were straight forward brawlers. Now she was fighting someone who was acting like a brawler but wasn't. This fact alone was putting her off, besides the fact she had never faced someone that can change their shape effectively. Changeling notwithstanding, as that one could only change into a pony and a griffon. Now she was facing something she's never seen before and that was giving her predator instincts a run for her money.

She was breathing hard as she readied herself for his next attack. Storm was slowly stepping while with his left foreleg while he held his spear at the ready. “What is with this guy?” Lily thought as she tried to get in his head. “No quip, no witty retort, he's been silent since he dawned the armor. Speaking of which, it's made out of the same crystals he raised from the ground.” Her gaze turned to the crystals behind him. It was only a second but that seemed to be it. Storm took it and galloped at her with his spear in his hand much like a jousting lance. She flew to the left before slamming her blade down towards him. Swiftly Storm spun his spear back and used the hook of the arrow like tip to block Lily's great sword without turning his head.

“Fight smarter.” Storm said from under the armor as he turned his head towards her. He pulled on the spear and jerked Lily's sword out of her claws. He then turned fully towards her. “Where is your fighting spirit?”

“Don't speak to me about fighting spirit!” She growled as her runes began to glow as sparks of magic began to dance up and down her claws. “I am one of Queen The-” was all she got out before the point of the spear was at the back of her neck.

“You are no one.” The pointedness of his comment could only be rivaled by the spear he held.

“How the hell did you move that fast?” She growled looking back at him over her shoulder.

“Because I can.” He said before stepping back and back to a more neutral stance.

“Bullshit!” She growled as her runes continued to glow. “No one is that fast.”

“She doesn't know him very well, does she?” Luna said with a bit of snark. She turned to look at her sister. She's the only that see the fear on her sisters face when she was putting on her poker face. Something had scared her, and Luna would have asked if it wasn't the change of music to have her follow suit.

♪♫ Can't you hear, ♪♫
♪♫ The song is born, ♪♫
♪♫ It's my ballad of the storm. ♪♫
♪♫ Thunder, Heavy Wind ♪♫
♪♫ The Song of Storms begin♪♫

♪♫ The forming clouds, ♪♫
♪♫ Come Around ♪♫
♪♫ See the lightning the soars ♪♫
♪♫ To sing the song its roars ♪♫

Luna turned down to see Storm at the ready again. Her mind flashed back to her old castle in the Everfree forest. “He can't be...” she began to say as the Song of Storms began to play over the sound system.

♪♫ Look at me... ♪♫
♪♫ Don't you see... ♪♫
♪♫ All the pain that's brought to me ♪♫
♪♫ Fears from my own mind... ♪♫
♪♫ The shadows that will bind... ♪♫

♪♫ Soon you'll see... ♪♫
♪♫ What they've done... ♪♫
♪♫ For my song has just begun... ♪♫
♪♫ Listen to the Song of Storms ♪♫

The sky around the arena began to fill with clouds. As they gathered closer and closer together, they began to swirl around with the center directly over Storm himself. Lily looked up at the sky watching the clouds act on their own. “Who am I fighting?” She said looking down at Storm. That's when the first boom of thunder was heard as the wind began to whip around the stadium. Hard enough that even the glass in the private booth that almost all of them were watching from.

♪♫ First some wind... ♪♫
♪♫ Then the rain... ♪♫
♪♫ Then comes the hurricane... ♪♫
♪♫ Let the thunder roar. ♪♫
♪♫ Let the lightning soar. ♪♫

♪♫ Thunderclaps... ♪♫
♪♫ You will hear... ♪♫
♪♫ Feel the raining of my fears... ♪♫
♪♫ As you hear my Song of Storms. ♪♫

“What's going on?” Cadence asked stepping back from the window.

“It's the Oncoming Storm,” Twilight answered watching below.

“What do you mean?”

“She means that unlike anypony, Ryhn has the one thing only a few have.” Said a familiar voice coming from the wall. In a few seconds, a large black spot began to form in the wall. In a few seconds, a large dragon snake came out of it.

“What in Shafifner's name is that?” Ember said.

“I am Shadow Storm, Ryhn's darker half,” Shadow answered as Shining, Nightling, and the third guard fell out of the shadow Shadow was appearing from.

“Who the fuck is Ryhn?” Ember asked looking even more pissed off.

“Ryhn is Firestorm's first name,” Gaia explained.

♪♫ Heaven's Gray, ♪♫
♪♫ Full of clouds,♪♫
♪♫ The rain is pouring all around.♪♫
♪♫ A thunderstorm has come,♪♫
♪♫ The lightning has begun. ♪♫

♪♫ I succeed♪♫
♪♫ To make it rain,♪♫
♪♫ As the sky will hide away.♪♫
♪♫ As I play my song of storms♪♫

“Storm has the soul of a human,” Twilight said turning around to look at everyone in the room. “A soul that regardless of the hardships or the strife. He doesn't break, and he doesn't yield.” Right then a bolt of lightning flashed that silhouette her.

“And a soul like that is nothing more than a storm that is always growing,” Shadow commented as he moved over to be by Twilight. Out on the field, the rain was coming down in sheets as the clouds had turned from coal black, to even darker.

♪♫ Feel the rain... ♪♫
♪♫ thunder down... ♪♫
♪♫ See the water all around. ♪♫
♪♫ Thousand years of tears. ♪♫
♪♫ Thousand strikes to fears. ♪♫

♪♫ Thunder tears... ♪♫
♪♫ The Sky apart... ♪♫
♪♫ Hear the anger of my heart. ♪♫
♪♫ This is my song of storms. ♪♫

Lily turned down to see Storm had disappeared from where he was, only to appear to her right swinging his spear at her. She didn't have the time to dodge as it sent her flying into the ring of pillars. She was slammed into her side of the center pillar hard enough that it snapped her wing. She looked up at the towering figure as he moved closer. Looking as a hunter coming to claim his prey before he yelled out the next verse.

♪♫ Hear me winds ♪♫
♪♫ Hear me Clouds ♪♫
♪♫ Lend your power to me now♪♫
♪♫ Roar loud with your might ♪♫
♪♫ Strike fear with your sight ♪♫

♪♫ Scream out loud ♪♫
♪♫ Make a shroud ♪♫
♪♫ Spread my anger all around ♪♫
♪♫ Share your fearsome Might ♪♫

As he yelled the final work of the verse, an extremely large bolt of lightning came down striking the middle column. At the same time, Lily rolled to the left dodging Storm's stab of his spear that pierced the dense crystal. She crawled away before turning back to see the same thing that everyone except Shining Armor and the two guards who were passed out. The column began to glow bright yellow as all that energy was absorbed within it. It went through the whole thing as well as the spear and armor as they were connected to it. Then suddenly the glow began to pull away into the bottom center. Once the light had disappeared, cracks began to form throughout all of it. First, it was small before they rapidly spread like a gunshot and covered it like spider webs. This wasn't to just the column but the spear and armor as well. Then it fell silent for a few moments where no one said anything till it was Twilight that finally broke the silence.

“He's in there isn't he?” She asked with Shadow grinning.

“I see somepony figured it out.” He said before chuckling. Then when the column began to crumble along with the armor to show that it was empty the whole time.

“What in the grand griffon's name is going on? Where is he?” The Thelxiope asked as her wings flared out.

“Where's he's been the whole time,” Twilight answered smirking. She had figured out why she was sensing him all over the field. It was because he was extending his magic the whole time. When the last of the pillar crumbling away, standing there was a bipedal satyr Firestorm. Instead of fire like mane he normally had. His mane was engulfed in electricity as well as well as the tip of his scaled tail. He stood there with a wide stance with his claws at the ready. Unlike normally around his claws where larger claws made out of the dense crystals that had sparks coming off it. Finally, the music came back but slower this time as he finished his song in a low beastly tone.

♪♫ Now you see... ♪♫
♪♫ What I've brought... ♪♫
♪♫ Learn the lesson I have taught.♪♫
♪♫ I am like the storm. ♪♫
♪♫ The lightning is my form. ♪♫

♪♫ The beast is formed...♪♫
♪♫ A shadow scorned...♪♫
♪♫ With this battle, you are warned.♪♫
♪♫ As I end the song...of storms.♪♫

“Wh-what are you?” Lily asked getting back to her paws and claws.

“The one being you never want to piss off.” He growled as he slowly walked closer as his wings flared out. She was backing away the whole time, but with Storm's longer legs and wider strides he got to Lily faster then she could retreat. With an upward swing, he caught the griffon by the throat. “Answer me this, do you think your 'princess or queen' will doubt my reason for being here?”

“N-no.” She got out as she was looking directly into the eyes of a predator that she fears. That fear heightened when she saw his grin with his razor-sharp teeth.

“Good.” He said before setting her down and reached to his side where he kept his box of cards. He pulled out a lime green card and placed it on her broken wing. “This is going to hurt for a moment.” He said as he washed the card in magic before giving the wing a jerk. With a sharp pain, Lily let out a loud eagle like scream as Storm realigned the bone. After that, the magic began to take effect and started to stitch the bone back together. It was a few minutes before she was able to move her wing on her own.

“W-why did you-”

“Heal you?” Storm interrupted.

“Yeah...”

“I know how it feels to have a broken wing, and it's one of the worst. Right next to being punched in the horn.” He said pulling the card off and replacing it with a darker green card to help numb the lasting pain. “Keep this on till you can get it fully looked at.”

“Okay...” She said as she was being helped back up to her feet. With that, he turned around and began to walk back in. She slowly walked behind quietly keeping her eyes on him the whole time. It didn't take him long to get to the private box that.

“Did you enjoy the show?” He asked with a smirk. Twilight was the first one to run up to him. She got up onto her back hooves as he kneeled down to pick her up. Everyone they're watched as the two of them nuzzled each other quietly.

“You had me worried there for a moment,” Twilight said when she pulled back to look him in the eye.

“Only a moment? Man, I must be getting rusty if it was for a moment.” He said before Twilight reached behind him and thumped him hard. “Ow!”

“Storm this isn't the time for that,” Twilight said with a huff as she crossed her forelegs and puffed out her cheeks. A few of them laughed at the display. Twilight, Cadence, and Luna being the main ones. Celestia was the only one out of all of them that was staring at Firestorm and if no one was able to tell, she was fearing what he may know. All while this was happening Lily was walking over to Queen Thelxiope and bowed too her.

“I'm sorry my-” was all she get out before she was backhanded across the face.

“I'm not your queen anymore.” Said Queen Thelxiope with her piercing gaze. “You know the law Lily Frostquill. Get out of my face.” With that everyone there noticed what was going on.

“Your right,” Lily said as her head drooped before she came over to Firestorm who was still holding on to Twilight Sparkle. Lowering her head and taking a kneeling stance, she summoned a long sword and held it out to Firestorm. “I am yours to do with as you please... Master.”

Those words were left hanging in the air for a few minutes, then it was when everything that connected. Twilight, Firestorm, Shadow Storm, Cadence, Celestia, Luna, Ember, and even Nightling who woke up a few minutes before Firestorm walked in commented at the same time. “Master?!”

***---***

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” I said after an hour we got back to the castle and our rooms. Twilight was watching me as I was punching a punching bag I had brought in. Mostly because I needed to work off my frustration. Twilight watched from the bed mostly curious on how I did a few of my tricks during the fight. The truth was, I was running close to empty at this point and a lot of my tricks took a lot more magic then I expected. Even with the extra boost from the lightning and the hidden potion, I kept on me. I was maybe running on an eight of my magic left. Which I will admit is impressive when you factor in that I hadn't fully recovered from Nightmare Moon taking most of my pool in one shot.

“I don't like it as much as you do, but it is their laws,” Twilight said with a sigh as she laid her head on her forelegs. “Is this the complicated life of a royal?”

“At this point, I won't be surprised if I get tossed under the bus pretty hard,” I said with growling as I punched the bag again hard enough to break it off the pedestal.

“Bus?” Twilight asked confused.

“Think carriage that holds a lot of ponies.”

“Oh...” She said with a nodding understanding. “What do you plan to do with her?” Twilight said looking to her left to see Lily who has been sitting there the whole time as one of the Canterlot guards.

“Fuck if I know,” I said in frustration as I began to wildly run my claws through my mane. As much as I like this form, I know that I need to turn back. However, with my lack of magic at the moment, I can't even change back. “Fucking Griffon laws,” I growled before kicking the bag hard enough that it slammed into the wall. Seriously this is fucked up, it seems that for griffons it's a sort of keep what you defeat. Only true if you're the opposite gender. So when I mopped the floor with Lily, I pretty much staked my claim and on top of that. She was mine to do with however I pleased, like a slave. The thought alone pissed me off because I fell for it, and if Equestria's politics was much like earth. Then I'm going to get raked across the coals. Slowly walking over to Lily and eyed her quietly as she turned to look at me before she bowed her head. “Till I know what to do with you. You'll be acting as one of my guards.”

“Yes, mas-” She began to say.

“It's sir or your highness,” I growled as my claws clinched.

“Yes... sir.” She said respectively.

“Nightling,” Twilight said as she raised her voice to be heard in the hall. After a few moments, my captain opened the door.

“Yes, your highness.” She said bowing.

“Take Lily Frostquill and get her trained. She will be acting as one of my guards.” I ordered giving her a pointed look.

“Of course.” She said as I motioned with my head for Lily to follow.

“Yes, sir.” She said following Nightling out of the room.

“Do you think that was wise,” Twilight asked looking at me worried.

“Right now, I don't know,” I said coming over to her before I sat down next to her. She moved so her forelegs were draped over my leg. My claw slowly moved behind her ears and began to scratch as she let out a relaxed moan. She had taken a liking to this a lot more lately. “I wish things weren't so complicated.”

“Me too Twilight, me too.” We sat in silence for a little while before a knock on the door broke it. “Enter,” I said out of habit. After a few moments, the door opened to show Celestia walking in and I could already tell she wanted to talk about something. “Twilight could you give Celestia and I a moment?” Twilight turned to look at me before she looked at her old mentor, she nodded and got up to leave.

“I'll go see about dinner.” She said giving Celestia a nod before she left. Celestia on the other hoof watched in silence before the door closed. She turned to say something but my hand was up to stop her.

“Stop.” Was all I said, which confused her. “I want a very simple answer. Which one was it, my comment during the summit, the fight, the aftermath...” I continued as I got up to grab a drink from the small water jug in the room. “or was it the crystal centaur?” I finished pouring my drink.

“You know?” She asked eyeing me.

“About him?” I asked with a cocked eyebrow and she nods her head slowly. “Then yes, I'm aware of Tirak. Not fully, but enough to know about him.”

“When?” She asked.

“Last time I was in Canterlot,” I answered as Shadow decided to make himself be known.

“Why?”

“If I'm going to be one of the ruling party, I rather have the information when I don't need it. Instead of not knowing when I do.” Shadow slid across the ground in a small black pool before reentering my shadow. He then shot up my lag and upon my back before appearing behind my wing and rested on my shoulder. “Why do we play this game?”

“What game?” She asked looking confused. Slowly walking over to the window I looked out and watched ponies run home as the rain continued to come down from the storm I summoned.

“It seems that everything I do ends up unnerving you in some way. Are you worried about?” With that last statement, I turned to look at her. She stared at me as I was of her, her furrowed brow as she takes the question with serious thought. She sighed quietly before sitting down.

“I'm worried for our little ponies. It feels like every one of my mistakes have reared its head once again. Grimwand, Discord, Nightmare Moon, and more. With each one, your right their within the fray of each event, one way or another.” That was enough to get me to cock my eyebrow.

“And?” Shadow commented this time looking at her.

“I don't want to sit idly by while another shadow of my past comes again. Present company excluded.” She said watching Shadow cock his eyebrow this time.

“We all have to deal with our past at one point or another,” I said looking at her.

“But that still doesn't answer the question, what worries you that we know about Equestria's dark secrets?” Shadow asked. That got her to look worried at us as she tried to put on her poker face, but she had already given up her gambit.

“Your worried that I will become an opposing force to Equestria.”

“Yes... and I worry that it will be my fault for that to happen.” She said finally being fully honest with me, or at least feels like it.

“You can't be serious!” a voice from behind Celestia said. We turned to see Cadence looking at her in shock. “Out of all the ponies, you're worried about Storm to double cross you?”

“It's not like that Cadence, I... just...”

“But nothing,” Cadence said began to walk towards the regent of the sun. Celestia backed away from her and more towards me. “After everything, he's done for you, for Twilight, and most important for Equestria. And you're scared he's going to turn against it? Why?!” She yelled as I sat back using my tail as a makeshift chair.

“I... I...” Celestia stammered as I crossed my arms listening to this. She turned to look at me like I was going to be her lifeline in all this.

“Don't look at me, I'm just as curious to the reason as her,” I said as I gestured with my hand. She looked at me then back at Cadence before her head drooped.

“It's because of Grimwand.” She answered. “Much like how I had failed Sunset, he was another big failure.” Cadence, Shadow, and I shared a curious look as we listened. “I had hoped that when I killed him when he took the body of a young colt named Vibrant Tempest, that it would be the last time I had dealt with him. But after Storm had imprisoned him... I began to worry about many other skeletons still left in the closet. On top of that, there is Storm. A wild card in all this.”

“Of course we are a wild card,” Shadow commented as he curled around to my other wing and stretched closer to Celestia. “We aren't from Equestria.”

“I know and that's what scares me the most. From the stories you've told and that I've heard, it just adds to the fear.”

“Because I've shown no restraint when it comes to doing what has to be done, right?” I guessed.

“Yes... and I fear that what if that mentality gets turned on Equestria.” She said before sighing in frustration. “You told me that I didn't want to force your hand. But I must know how, so within a weeks time. I want you to try and take the throne.”

“Your can't be serious!?” Cadence yelled in shock.

“She is,” Shadow commented before looking at me.

“Fine, I will play this game if I must.” Walking over to a side table I picked up my deck box and pulled out one of my gray cards. “But I won't take you off your throne for this game.”

“You sure your kidding, right?” Cadence said looking at me like I slapped her in the middle of a speech.

“I'm not kidding, and my name isn't Shirley.” I handed the card to Celestia and she took it with her hoof. “We will play a game called Dye, like coloring fabric. I will make a card that will dye your coat another color for one hour as proof of victory.”

“I can agree to that,” Celestia said with a nod.

“Then within the next month, the game will start,” I said with a smirk. Regardless of how this all turned out, with its ups and downs. I am left to say this.

The game is afoot...

[End of Chapter]

Author's Notes:

[Click for a version of Song of Storms]

With this, my backlog has been cleared out and the next chapter will be the one I'm currently working on writing.

The song used in this chapter was the Song of Storms from Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. The lyrics were done with a mixture from Filip WinterTV, Game4ce, The Realm, Dakokiri, and myself. The latter four were all from Youtube. I hope you enjoy the chapter and Stay Frosty my friends.