EDIT: Added more details on The Arrogance, it's weapon systems, and the Skili calendar system.

EDIT: Added a new, better into, complete with a new, more fitting song.

Alright, I know this is hella late for a Christmas chapter, but I made a promise and dammit, I'mma keep it! So, here you all are. Keep in mind this was written up in the wee hours of the early morning, so a lot of it is probably supbar if not lower than that, but honestly? I'm tired, and need sleep, so I'll work on editing it when I wake up.

Goodnight, and merry late Christmas everyone!

P.S: Hope the scene with Tempest was good enough for you, Dark Sun. If not, I'll work on adding more meat to it when I wake up.

My ship, "The Arrogance," landed just beside the so-called 'Castle of Friendship' just as the snow began to fall, the pegasi weather teams I'd heard so much about managing the clouds like Mother Nature's very own workers. Suki and I had seen this before, though for me it was still a strange sight, admittedly enough so that it was a challenge to keep my left eyebrow from twitching.

As me and my muffin top descended the ramp of the ship, I took idle notice of how the Royal Guards of Equestria were lined up, making a path to the Diarchs who were waiting at the end. A lot of the guards they brought seemed to be having trouble keeping their eyes off the ship's new features. Namely, it's new array of turrets. It now had crude but fully functioning lasers for my men to man, as well as rocket launchers that looked similar to gatling guns and some bulky turrets I called 'Lobbers,' on account of how they 'lobbed' a grenade that detonated twice and stuck where it landed. Once on impact, then again after the turret operator pressed a button on said turret.

Naturally, most of them had designs that made them look like the maws of various monsters I came up with off the top of my head. Dragons, wolves, sea serpents, Dark Young, ya know, the usual.

The lasers were honestly the easiest thing to make, as the magical crystals and materials of this world made making any kind of laser weapon easy so long as you had the coin and time to find the stuff. The wiring and electronics inside were about the hardest part of it, but that was it. There were numerous crystals and minerals and metals in this world that resisted heat so much better than what we had back on Earth, so overheating wasn't too much of an issue. In essence, using magic, I had succeeded in making a scientific wonder. The only real problem was that the crystals used for the laser turrets were fragile, and had to be replaced almost as often as the charge packs.

The hull was also heavily plated with Stormwill and other metals, for protection, naturally. And, naturally, it was decorated lavishly, with designs of me essentially leading an army of my people into battle on either side of said hull. To add to that, the entire hull of it save for the middle was shaped like a Cloudbone, complete with a maw and all.

The envelope itself was also lavish as could be, and reinforced further with even more Stormwill. Add to that how this ship used to be the original Storm King's, and you had layers of refined purple silks and fabrics beneath that reinforced surface.

All in all, it was the most expensive ship in my armada currently.

Unfortunately, that was the extent of what I could afford currently. It would take far more than the year I'd been here for any of this tech to be widespread in my nation.

Still, seeing how they were all trying not to stare at the fruits of my nation's labors made me smirk. So, with confidence in my stride, I made my way towards the Diarchs, Suki following behind me with her chest puffed out, which only made the puffy, deep blue winter coat she wore add to her cuteness factor.

In no time at all we reached the Princesses, and I dipped my head a little in greeting. I saw Suki do the same out of the corner of my eye.

"Good to see you again, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia," I began, straightening up and exchanging my smirk for a disarming smile. "I trust you've both been well?"

Celestia nodded, a smile on her own face. "We have." She looked to Suki, smile widening as she saw her. She looked to me. "How have you two been?"

Suki once more puffed out her chest and put her hands on her hips. "It's been great! Mommy's been teaching me a lot, and it's really fun!"

I smiled and patted her head. "And you've been progressing nicely." Suki giggled happily, tail swishing behind her.

"I see," Luna said, a smile on her muzzle as well as she looked at my daughter. She looked towards me, keeping her smile. "It's good to see a mother and daughter with such a strong relationship."

I chuckled, removing my hand from my muffin top's head. "Thank you." I smiled again. "So, shall we be off? I believe you said the party and accompanied meeting would be in the castle, yes?"

Luna and Celestia nodded. "Correct," Luna affirmed. She looked to my ship, then returned her gaze to meet mine. "Would you like for us to have somepony help anchor and secure your ship?"

I shook my head. "Thank you for the kind offer, but no, my people can handle it."

"Very well. In that case, please follow us," Luna said as she and her sister began to trot towards the castle entrance.

I nodded, and me and Suki trailed closely behind them. It was early in the evening, the eve of what the ponies called Hearth's Warming. Oddly, it was an entire month earlier - at least by my calculations - than Christmas, and five days before the Skili Festival of Blood-Kin. The calendars each nation held, from what I'd read up on, were typically very different, with even a few nations - like the Dragons - not having calendars at all. Some nations shared the same calendar as Equestria, however, but The Storm Kingdom did not.

The Storm Kingdom's calendar was honestly almost like a mixture of the U.S.'s calendar and the Chinese calendar, except in some places it extended far more than either. It was honestly still weird to me that their version of valentines day came over 7 months after their version of Christmas, and that their weeks were not seven days long, but nine, but, I'd learned to live with it.

My boots crunched in the packed snow beneath me, followed by Suki's own boots and the sisters, filling in the emptiness of silence as we walked.

In no time at all we reached the doors to the castle, the sisters opening them and walking inside, us following suit. The hallways, I noted, had flecks of mint green pudding all over them, making me quirk a brow.

"Might I ask why there's pudding everywhere?" I queried, turning my gaze back to the sisters.

Celestia and Luna looked at each other. "It's...a long story." Luna said simply.

Suki scooped a bit of it up and popped some in her mouth, humming in pleasure. "This stuff is pretty good, Mommy!"

I hummed myself. "Hm, well, maybe I'll see about asking the chefs here for the recipe, then. I'm sure Yuula would love to have a crack at it."

Suki beamed up at me. "Really?!"

I smiled and nodded. "Of course, muffin top."

"Yay!" Suki cheered, pumping a fist, er, paw.

"Actually, Twilight was the one who made the pudding, so if you wish to have some yourself, I would try asking her," Celestia informed. "Just remember to be careful with the recipe, else you'll end up with a mess like, well, all this." She gestured to the pudding that was everywhere.

"I...see..." I said slowly. 'Must be a magical recipe, or something.' I shrugged it off. 'Well, I suppose that just means it'll taste magical, then.'

As we continued forwards, I could hear laughter further in the crystalline castle, a testament to the acoustics this place had. 'Would make it pretty hard for an assassin to not get noticed in this place...' I shook off those thoughts, focusing on the hall ahead of me.

We stopped at another set of golden doors, the laughter and loud chatting easily heard through the heavy gold. "Everypony is waiting in here." Celestia said. "Just...try to ignore Discord and the giant Winterchilla."

'Discord I've heard plenty about, but the hell is a Winterchilla?' After ruminating on this, I decided to just roll with it and nodded in understanding. With that, Celestia opened the door, and all noise stopped.

My eyes went wide at the massive, four armed and two legged, white furred mouse thing, casually licking up a bowl of green pudding. My hand shot to my gun, getting ready to fight, only for a chimera-like creature to appear in front of me in a burst of white light.

"Now now now, don't go shooting up the present I worked so hard to give my dear friend Fluttershy, Queeny," he said, crossing his arms and giving me a reproaching glare with his yellow and red eyes.

I frowned. "Discord, I presume?"

He gained a toothy grin and performed a sloppy bow. "At your service."

My smile twitched at the corners. "...You're lucky I like Q, otherwise I'd have shot you on the spot for calling me Queeny."

Discord's eyes widened briefly, before he laughed uproariously, even falling on his back and kicking his mismatched legs. It took a while for him to calm down, and he didn't seem to mind at all that everyone was staring at him. He wiped a tear away from his eye. "Oh, sorry about that, it's just been so long since anyone of your like has recognized me." His face contorted into a toothy grin once more. "Don't worry though, your secret is safe with me." He raised a claw and literally zipped up his mouth, then held his arms out as if to say, 'See?'

I grunted. "As long as you understand, then fine." I looked to everyone else, seeing the Elements and Spike, as well as the mouse creature, which I assumed was the Winterchilla. They were all staring at us, along with the Princesses. I coughed into my fist, removing my other hand from Crimson. "Sorry about the commotion, everyone. Please, put what just happened out of your minds, and let us go on with the holiday."

Thankfully, they did so. Fluttershy came up to us. "I'm so sorry about Discord, he has a bad habit of annoying others." She turned to glare at Discord. "We'll talk about this when we get back, buster." Discord smiled and shrugged, seeming unconcerned.

I waved it off. "It's fine, really." I looked to Suki. "Why don't you go hang out with Spike, muffin top?"

"Okay, Mommy," she said. She started to walk away, but stopped, turning back to me and Discord. "Don't mess with my Mommy next time, got it, meany?" she warned, before turning back and walking up to a bewildered Spike.

I chuckled as Discord frowned and the others watched my daughter.

"You've raised...quite a child, Queen Petremol," Luna started.

I nodded. "She's my pride and joy."

"She seems to take after you a lot, as well," Discord noted, having unzipped his lips.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "And what are you implying?"

He raised his hands. "Oh nothing, nothing at all."

I frowned, but before I could retort Twilight came over with a bowl of pudding. "Here, take this and come join us by the fire." I looked to the bowl in her hooves, then to Discord, before sighing and once more donning my smile.

"Thank you, Princess Twilight," I said gratefully, taking the bowl.

After that, I joined in the festivities, simply staying quiet unless addressed and observing everyone as I ate. And I'll admit, the pudding was pretty damn good, so I might have had more than one bowl. Still, the party was good enough, as well, I suppose.

For a knock-off of Christmas, at least.

After every pony had left, it was just me and the Royals in the little lounge room. Cadance and Shining Armor had put Flurry to bed earlier, and thus had a bit of time before she woke, albeit only a bit. Babies are still babies, I guess, no matter the world or species.'

I was seated in one of the lounge chairs, legs crossed and hands clasped together. Suki was in the other room with Spike, so I had some time as well. "So, you all had questions regarding my nation's growth in military power and technology, yes?"

"We do," Celestia said with a nod, seated in her own chair along with the others.

"Then please, ask away," I said, sweeping a hand out as if to say, 'get on with it.'

"To start, then, why are you encouraging growth?" Cadance asked.

"Because I plan to be ready for any assault," I said simply.

"Surely that can't be all," Luna added. "I mean, if you're expecting an assault, just who do you think is going to do the assaulting?"

I smiled. "I'm not a naive ruler, Princess Luna. I've lived in the battlefield, both political and otherwise." Even though I've only been on the political battlefield for a few months.' "I know that national leaders care more for their own than others," I leaned back, smile still firmly on my face. "So, to answer your question, I'm not expecting an assault from anyone. I'm preparing for an assault from everyone."

This seemed to either stun them, or, in the case of Shining Armor and the sisters, make them frown. Said sisters were now looking at each other, as if having some telepathic communication between. After what I could only assume was some mental deliberation, they turned to look at me.

"Allow us to rephrase our question, then," Celestia started. She narrowed her eyes. "Do you plan on attacking anyone?"

I shook my head. "As I said during the Council meeting, I plan to attack no one," My smirk returned full force. "Unless of course someone plans to attack me."

"How can we trust you, then, when you have so many restrictions and rules and laws and even tariffs when it comes to any military or governmental division in your country?" Shining Armor asked, crossing his forelegs over his chest.

"Have I attacked anyone yet?" I asked. He went silent, as did the others. "Despite the might I've shown you all, I haven't attacked anyone. I'd say that speaks pretty well for my intentions." Again, they were silent. My smirk once again shifted to a smile. "Anything else you'd all like to ask?" No response, save for frowns and begrudging looks. "Then we're done here, I'd say." With that, I stood up from the chair and made my way to the door. I paused mid-stride, then turned and looked back at them with that same smile on my face. "Have a Happy Hearth's Warming, everypony~." With that, I left the room, the door slamming shut with finality.

I sighed as I sat outside in the snow on the steps of the entrance to the Castle of Friendship, waiting for Ember to show up. It was nearly daybreak, and she said she'd be here by then, yet I hadn't seen any sign of her at all. I grunted. Probably the falling snow's fault.

And, sadly, it was worse back home on the Storm Isles. When me and Suki had left the main island was already covered in at least a foot of snow, and steadily growing in height and depth. Thankfully, I planned ahead and had Ember come here while I was around, since if she had to go to the Storm Isles, she'd be too cold to fight me. Good thing I'm used to the cold, and have this armor to help keep me warm.

Eventually, I saw a speck in the sky, slowly growing bigger as it drew near. After squinting at it for a few seconds, I sighed in relief as I could make out Ember's figure. A few short minutes later and she touched down with a pomf as the snow shot up from her hard landing.

She swiftly righted herself, and grinned as she saw me. "Hey! Good to see you're here!" She said, a fang-filled grin on her lips as she waved. She walked up to me and I stood up, getting off the stairs to greet her. As we met each other halfway, she grinned up at me. "Ready to go all out?"

I smiled as well. "Depends. Think you can take me?"

She gave a snort in response. "You bet I can!" She flared her wings, getting into a ready stance.

I smirked and got into my own. "So, what're the rules?" I asked.

"No lethal shots, and go until the other gives up or can't continue. Aside from that, anything goes," Ember replied.

My smirk turned into a grin. "A'ight. Bring it on then, Ember!"

"With pleasure!" She roared, before charging at me, claws prepared to swipe.

I countered her easily by grabbing her wrists, before I picked her up and spun her around numerous times before tossing her. She growled as she righted herself with her wings, flapping them a few times to do so and continuing to flap to keep herself aloft. She circled me for a time, sizing me up.

Then, with a grin, she rushed me, took a deep breath, and shot a stream of fire out of her maw as she drew near. In response, I back flipped, ending the flip with a kick to her chin which closed her mouth forcefully, causing her to falter and grab said mouth. She growled as I smirked at her, before I made a 'come on' gesture with my hand.

"Alright, you asked for it..." With that, she once more charged me, only she stopped part way and flipped in the air, slapping me with her tail and making me stagger. She then followed up with another burst of fire breath, but I retorted with a slam of my fists onto the top of her head, making her fall to the snow below. I stared down at her.

"Not bad," I complimented, before picking her up by the tail. "But now it's my turn." I said with a grin.

"W-woah, wait-!" she tried to say, but I interrupted her by slamming her over my head and into the snow like some berserker or barbarian. I did it a number of times, each slam improving my gratitude to Ventus for helping me find a way to level up. Turned out all I needed was a Bonfire.

Quality builds really are quality.

After slamming her into the snow over ten times, Ember looked pretty beat up, so I dropped her and crossed my arms, looking down at her.

"Ya give up?" I asked.

She slowly and weakly nodded, trying to stand up but failing. I smiled and gave her a hand, which she took, and then pulled her up. I patted her back. "You did good. If I hadn't trained before hand, I probably wouldn't have won so easily."

She rubbed the back of her neck, groaning a little. "Must've been some training. I haven't had a beat down like that in ages."

I chuckled. "Thanks."

"Mommy, that was amazing!" cried Suki, rushing up to me out of nowhere. I grunted as she pounced on me, hugging my torso. "You were so cool! I've never seen anyone fight a dragon and win, especially a dragon lord!"

I laughed, ruffling the fur on her head. "Thanks, muffin top." I looked to the doors of the Castle, seeing Spike, the Elements, and the Royals all there, watching us. I smiled. Guess they saw everything. "Enjoy the show?"

"I know I did! That was bucking cool how you just flailed her around like that!" Rainbow gushed.

"I think you did pretty good too, Ember," Spike complimented.

Ember grunted, turning her head away. "If you call getting whooped good, then sure."

"Don't be like that, you did great," He said, walking up and giving her a hug. Ember stiffened a little, but eventually hugged back.

"Right, right, hugs and stuff..." she said.

I chuckled and let go of her, picking Suki up and hoisting her above my head, letting her sit on my shoulders. "Well, I think it's about time I leave now. It's been great, everyone."

"We'll have to fight again soon," Ember said, having released Spike. She grinned again. "No way I'll lose next time."

I smirked, raising a fist to her. "Bring it on."

She bumped her own fist to mine, and I looked back to the others.

"Come back soon!" Pinkie chirped, bouncing and waving at the same time.

"Don't be a stranger, okay?" Applejack said.

"And don't forget to write!" Twilight added.

"Be safe, too!" Rarity chimed in.

I nodded and waved, before turning back down the path and towards "The Arrogance." I looked up at my darling daughter as I walked. "Did you have a good time, sweetie?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Spike showed me some comics, and he showed me how to play a guitar!"

I smiled. "Yeah? Maybe you can show me when we get back, then."

"Okay!" Suki chirped.

With that, we soon boarded the ship and were soon taking off, headed for home.

It was the day of the Festival of Blood-Kin, the Skili equivalent of Christmas, and Tempest was currently in the training room, practicing her magic as she had been since her Queen had restored her horn. At first, the focusing of her magic was shoddy, though Ventus had said that would likely be a constant thing for a while, so it was expected. However, over time, her focus slowly became sharper, until she could cast complex spells without faltering and with contemptuous ease to boot.

As of now, Tempest was trying one of those spells. Namely, one she had devised herself after her Queen allowed her to view one of her scrolls of Sorcery. Tempest named this spell of hers, 'The Fire Spear.'

Her horn glowed blue for a long span of time, then it eventually became wreathed in crackling flame. After this development, a blazing lance of fire appeared in the air before her, and she launched it at the nearest target, causing it to explode in an inferno and turn to ash.

Tempest wiped some sweat from her brow, summoning a bottle of water to herself and chugging it down. After doing so, she sighed and looked at the numerous piles of ash around the room that had once been targets and even dummies.

After counting them all up in her head, she nodded to herself. "One hundred and fifty ought to be good enough for today's session..." She mused. With that, she took another chug from her bottle, drained it, then disintegrated it and made her way out of the room. As she exited and made her way through the halls that gave Canterlot Castle's own confusing twists and turns a run for their money, she pondered. 'Lucy has been fairly active in helping with preparing for the festivities. Especially with the supply of materials for all the smiths in the kingdom...' Guards saluted her as she passed, but she kept her gaze straight ahead as she continued to think.

'She's certainly gained the favor of the smiths now, even if she had before with those guns. Though I must admit I worry for our coffers...' She hummed, horn flaring as she summoned a large, opaque green bottle with a ribbon tied to it. 'I wonder if she'll like my present...' She frowned, shook her head, and banished the bottle back to her pocket dimension.

After a fair bit of walking, she reached her Queen's chambers. One of the guards stationed at it opened the door slightly, peeking his head in, and informed the regent of Tempest's arrival. Soon after, the guard turned back to Tempest and nodded.

"My Queen?" Tempest began as she peeked her own head in the door.

"Come in," replied Lucette's voice.

Tempest pushed the door open, seeing Lucette at her mirror, brushing her short white hair whilst Ventus floated nearby.

"Are you ready?" Tempest queried.

Lucette put her brush down, giving herself a once over, before looking to Tempest and nodding. "I'd say I am, yeah."

"Then let's get going. The ceremony's going to start soon," Tempest urged, turning on a dime and marching out the door. Lucette giggled.

"Always so uptight," she remarked before standing up and following after putting her mask on. Ventus floated over, and the three made their way through the castle, towards Suki's room. The walk there was silent, filled only by the sounds of hooves and boots on cold, tiled flooring. When they arrived at the doors, Lucette was the one to knock. "Sweetie, it's time! Are you ready?" Lucette called.

Immediately the door swung open, Suki in front of them and practically bursting with energy. She wore the same winter coat she had worn during Hearth's Warming Eve, the puffy blue coat making her look like a blueberry flavored marshmallow. In one paw was a small, wrapped box. "You bet I am! Oooh, I can't wait!" Suki grabbed her mothers hand, zooming ahead, or, rather, trying to, but Lucette held firm and didn't budge.

"Hold on, muffin top. I know you're excited, but there's no reason to run," Lucette intoned gently, though her smile betrayed her amusement.

Suki pouted, ears lowering. "Okay, fine..."

Lucette giggled and patted her daughter's head. "Come on." She said.

With that, all four of them - plus some guards whom Tempest grabbed to be their escort - made their way through the halls and corridors, down stairs and more until they reached the front gate of the castle, where the guards opened them and let the group out into the harsh snowstorm of the Isles. Lucette was glad she had a mask on along with her armor, otherwise she wouldn't last in this cold, much less be able to see.

She looked over to Tempest to see her surrounded in a golden glow. Lucette clicked her tongue. 'Fucking magic.' She mentally swore, but shook it off. "Well, let's get going, shall we?" With nods from the others, they all made their way through the snowy streets and down into the city, which had recently been renamed in Lucette's honor to Petre City. In fact, the entire main island had been renamed to Petre Isle, as well. Lucette made no attempt to hide her smile when they passed under the sign that labeled the city as such.

As they walked the city's streets, they could just make out the glow of a massive bonfire in the main square. And, being able to make it out, the group hurried towards it, Lucette waving to her subjects as they bowed before her, and Suki simply skipping along beside her. A number of Skili were at stores, namely blacksmiths and the newly made gunsmith shops, all taking advantage of the yearly half-off discount the Festival provided.

In time, they made it to the bonfire, and Lucette and Suki couldn't help their awe as they gazed upon the twenty foot tall blazing inferno situated in the middle of the square. Countless Skili were arrayed around it, but when they saw Lucette and company, they made way for her.

"It's so big, and bright..." Suki breathed.

"It's certainly amazing," Ventus agreed.

"I'll say," Lucette concurred, nodding. She looked to the countless subjects around her, remembering that, as ruler, she was supposed to be the first to indulge in and initiate the traditions. The heads of the Warrior-Noble families were present as well, watching carefully. 'Guess I should get to it, then...' She surmised. She turned to the fire, opening her palm and turning it up. A flash of blue particles heralded the arrival of a small, dead fox, it's limp form hanging over the edges of her palm. 'Can't believe I'm actually paying tribute to two different gods right now... Mom'd probably go after me for this, but...'

She took a breath, and began with, "In the name of Our Father, and the name of Our Mother, I now pray," she raised the fox's cadaver. "With this offering I bid you both, bless us with your guidance, bless us with your power, and bless us with your grace. In the Hallowed Couple's name, amen!" With that, she tossed the fox into the fire.

Suki approached the bonfire and followed her mother's example, tossing in a dead rabbit. Tempest tossed in a fish, and with that action, Lucette turned to the crowd and cried, "I now declare the Festival of Blood-Kin officially launched!"

With a resounding roar of approval, the Skili did as their ruler had done, and tossed in various corpses, feeding the fire with tributes of flesh and blood and hide. Tempest turned to Lucette, who was watching her people with a smile.

"My Queen?" she asked.

"Hm?" Lucette inquired, looking down at her.

Tempest squirmed a little, but eventually spoke up. "W-Well, this is my gift, to you," she said, summoning the bottle and handing it to Lucette, apprehension in her sea-green eyes.

Lucette's eyes widened as she slowly took the bottle from Tempest's grasp. "Is this...grape wine?"

Tempest nodded. "Remember that time off I requested three weeks back?" Lucette nodded slowly, cradling the bottle in her hands as if it were her child. "I used that time to reconnect with my family. They run a vineyard, and typically make a lot of grape wine. When I was leaving, they gave me that bottle, and I thought it'd make a good gift for you, since you're such a drinker."

Lucette smiled. "Thanks, Tempest. Really."

"I'm relieved you like it, My Queen," Tempest replied, now visibly relaxed.

Lucette then felt a tugging on her cloak, and looked down to see Suki there, her little gift box raised for her mother to take.

"For you, Mommy," she said, smiling broadly.

Lucette smiled, sending the grape wine to her inventory/subspace pocket before picking up the box gingerly and opening it. Inside was a platinum pendant with a moonstone as the centerpiece. The gem seemed to shine with a light of it's own in the light of the roaring bonfire, even containing Lucette's sigil inside it. Lucette smiled and leaned down, giving her daughter a kiss on the top of her head.

"Thank you, muffin top. I love it," she said, putting it around her neck. She looked to Ventus. "V, mind pulling out their presents?"

Ventus bobbed. "You got it, boss!"

In a flash of blue light, two items appeared. For Suki, it was a Firangi Sword - her favored melee weapon - with one half made of Black Iron, and the other Celestial Gold, the very metal used to craft the armor of the Royal Guards of Equestria. The cross-guard was made of titanium, with a grip wrapped in white paracord and white dyed leather, and a Cloudbone fang making up the pommel. Suki gasped, then beamed up at her mother as she took the blade in her paws, bouncing and skipping around in glee.

"Thank you so much Mommy! This is awesome!" She hugged her mother's leg. "I love you!"

Lucette giggled and patted the young Abyssinian's head. "I love you too, Suki." She then looked to Tempest, seeing her staring in awe at the anklet of a black, crystal tempest which she now held aloft in her magical grasp.

"This...This anklet, it's amazing, I can easily feel the magic in it..." she breathed.

"I got it from a merchant who visited from Saddle Arabia a while back. Supposedly, it can absorb the magic in spells and make it your own," Lucette explained.

Tempest looked up at her queen, mouth agape, before slowly smiling. "Thank you, My Queen. Truly. I'll use it well."

Lucette smiled. "I know you will." The Awoken looked to the skies above, nothing but joy in her heart, replacing the stressed, frantic mess she had been when this all started just a year ago. She had lost her old family, but now...

...Now, she had a new one.