As Twilight sat down at the desk in her office, Tempest grabbed another chair from the corner and slid it so she was facing Twilight on the opposite side of the desk. Twilight began grading quizzes while Tempest shared some stories about her journeys.
After she was done, Tempest asked, "Are those students the only students from other kindgoms and countries that go here?"
"So far, yes," Twilight replied, looking up from a surprising heavily marked quiz, "and they're the top students here! I'm very proud of how far they've come."
"I bet you are." Tempest paused to glance around the room for a second. "So, what made you want to open a school like this in the first place?" She asked.
Twilight set down the paper she was grading and the quill she had in her aura. She shuffled in her seat a little bit, as if to get comfortable. "Well, after your invasion, I realized that there are so many other creatures that don't know anything about friendship or don't understand what friendship is. This made me feel bad as the Princess of Friendship, since I'm supposed to be sharing it with everyone. That's what I'm supposed to do."
Twilight paused and looked around her office. "Besides, starting this just felt right. It almost failed, but with some convincing of some of the guardians, and a round up of some of the students, it's fully fledged, now!"
"That's amazing!" Tempest smiled at Twilight. "Just the fact that you were able to bring so many different species here and teach them what you taught me and more is incredible."
Twilight seemed flattered by the complement. "Thanks, Tempest." She smiled sheepishly back, her cheeks turning a little red.
Tempest saw Twilight glance at the clock on her desk and her eyes widened. "Whoa, how is it already 7 o'clock?"
"Wait, is it?" Tempest got out of her seat to look at it. Sure enough; the miniature clock read 7 PM.
"Well, let's get back to the castle." Twilight started moving papers and organizing around on her desk, putting everything back in its place. A few minutes later, she was ready to leave.
"You ready?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, I am." Tempest replied.
They made their way out of the office, through the school, through the front entrance, and to the castle. Despite them talking the entire time they were in the office, neither of them said anything as reached the castle. They each set their stuff down and headed to the dining room, where they could smell something delicious from the other side. They walked in the room to see Spike and Starlight sitting at the table already eating.
"You're back late from the school." Starlight greeted them, "Everything going well?"
"Yeah, we just lost track of time." Twilight explained. She took a seat at one of the spots and Tempest took another seat next to Twilight.
"So, how was your day today, Twilight?" Starlight asked.
"It was great!" Twilight smiled. "Teaching everyone about how communicating your problems with a good friend can help was a good lesson choice. I finished grading the tests today, and everyone got some pretty high scores!"
"That's good to hear." Starlight smiled back.
Tempest didn't hear the rest of their conversation. She started to think about what she had done to Twilight and her friends.
I don't deserve this, Tempest thought, Any of this! I should be in a jail cell for what I've done to Equestria, and yet, Twilight calls me a friend. It doesn't make-
"Tempest?"
"What?" Tempest hurriedly looked up from her plate at Twilight. She looked concerned.
"Are you okay? You've barely eaten anything." Twilight looked at her with her big purple eyes.
"Yeah. I'm just not hungry." Tempest replied. Which was true; her stomach was so twisted up with a weird mix of emotions she hadn't felt in a long time, she didn't feel like eating.
"Are you sure?" Spike asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." Tempest replied, but a little too quickly and a little more harsh than what she intended. She went back to staring at her plate as an awkward silence fell over the room.
After a few moments, Tempest muttered, "I think I need some time alone." She excused herself from the table and walked out the dining room towards her bedroom.
As she closed the door behind her, her thoughts started racing.
I still can't believe that she's being this nice to me, after everything that I've done to her, her friends, and Equestria. I don't deserve her kindness. I don't deserve her as a friend in general.
At this point, she had started pacing the room. She stopped and looked at herself in the mirror, which she hadn't done in a long time.
How is she able to look past my broken horn and scar and see the pony that nopony would even dare to look at?
She rolled her eyes at herself.
Because she's the Princess of Friendship, you dummy. It's because of her deep understanding and sympathetic nature that she's willing to do that. I would be in a jail cell if it weren't for that.
Tempest lifted her head as her eyes went wide in realization.
I'm still here because of her...
She felt her cheeks turn red and her heart start to pound. She knew this feeling way too well.
I have a crush on Twilight.
She shook her head to clear that thought.
What's wrong with me? I cannot feel that way towards her. For all I know, she's already with someone and hasn't told me yet. There's no way she would ever like me back, anyway. She's just a friend.
She heard a knock on her door, and a second later, a voice.
"Hey, Tempest? Are you okay?"
Twilight's voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Tempest replied through the door.
A moment of silence passed.
"...Can I come in?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah." Tempest answered as she opened the door to her room. Twilight looked at Tempest with a small, comforting smile on her face.
Tempest smiled as best as she could back, but she didn't feel like smiling, so she let her mouth fall back to the frown that it was before as she sat on her bed. Twilight sat down beside her.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Twilight looked at Tempest with the same concerned expression on her face as before.
Tempest nodded, not wanting to say anything. She felt like if she did talk, everything would just pour out of her, including her newfound feelings for the mare sitting next to her. She didn't want to tell her. Not yet, anyway.
"I came in here to tell you that I'm taking the morning off and heading to the market in the morning, if you wanted to come." Twilight offered. "The morning fresh air might do you some good."
"That.... sounds good." Tempest replied. "Thanks."
"Of course." Twilight put a hoof on Tempest's shoulder. "And if you ever need somepony to talk to about anything, just know that I'm here for you and will listen whenever you need to. Okay?"
Tempest tried to keep her face blank and her surprise hidden. She really couldn't believe this!
"Okay." She managed to say.
"Goodnight, Tempest. I'll see you in the morning." Twilight got up from the bed and went to the door. She shot Tempest one last smile before the closed the door behind her using her magic.
Tempest stayed seated on the bed for a good few minutes.
What just happened?
YOU ARE READING
Strings of Fate
Random(Formerly known as Tempest's Bride) Tempest Shadow is finally back from spreading the word about the Storm King's defeat. Her arrival in Ponyville has everyone frightened and angered, except for Twilight and her friends. After staying with Twilight...
