//------------------------------// // 35: Forging a Bond // Story: An Overlord Apart // by OblivionShadow //------------------------------// Hunter waited outside next to the Netherworld Gate for Twilight to join him. She had claimed that she needed a moment and would join him as soon as possible. He looked at the golden dragon as the dragon shifted to point his snout at the Gate. “You will take her back to allow the Regalia to be made?” Sorkeno questioned. “Yeah. It shouldn’t take too long. I just hope she can handle it.” He admitted. “She will stand firm,” Sorkeno assured him. “Trust in her heart Little One.” Hunter nodded and gave a low sigh in reply. “It’s not that I do not trust her. I simply am not sure how she will react to the entire process of making the Regalia.” “Do not become bogged down by thinking of what could go wrong. Trust in her and in yourself.” Sorkeno said to him as he raised his head to gaze down at the black pony. “May I make a suggestion though?” “Go ahead.” “Tell her the truth. She will be shocked by the process and she will need you to guide her out of the shock of it. Tell her all that you can and trust in her to accept what she sees in her own time. You know her as well as she knows you.” Hunter ran his hoof through his mane and nodded to the dragon. “Very well. I suppose honesty is required for this.” Sorkeno nodded and looked back as Twilight came around the corner, a smile on her face. He could see the excitement in the mares hurried steps as she joined him at the Gate. “Spike was asking if he could…No.” She began to ask he began to shake his head. “This is for you and you alone.” He replied. ‘I will not be responsible for traumatizing a baby dragon.’ He thought to himself. “It is a private affair.” She nodded in understanding and her horn lit as she teleported back to the castle. Hunter looked at the golden dragon with him who nodded in silent agreement with his choice. She teleported back to him and he watched as she looked at the Gate and stepped onto the stairs and then looked over her shoulder at him. “Ready?” She asked him cheerfully. “Right behind you.” He said and joined her on the stairs. He waited as she stepped cautiously into the azure lightning and waited for him as he joined her. She closed her eyes and huddled against him as he commanded the Gate. Thunder roared as they were moved and he opened his eyes as they appeared in the throne room. He looked to the throne as Gnarl wobbled down the steps and approached them. Twilight opened her eyes and a wide smile went over her face as Gnarl reached them. “Welcome back to the Netherworld, My Lady.” He said as he bowed his head to her. “Thank you, Gnarl.” She said to him and looked back at Hunter. “This way.” He said to her as he turned to lead her to the forge. “Right behind you this time.” She chirped and fell in behind him. Hunter didn’t need to look back as he knew she was right on his heels as he called on one of the platforms to carry them to the forge. She jumped to the platform and he stepped onto it after her as she danced on her hooves. He commanded the platform to carry them through the Netherworld and within a minute it docked gently with the stairs for the Forge. He led her down the stairs and Giblet met them at the bottom. Hunter glanced at the ancient forge itself and he could see that it was still warming up. He stood off to the side and Twilight joined him after a moment hesitation. He could see questions going through her as she looked at the forge and then back to him before she spoke. “Isn’t Sorkeno needed for the forge to be warm enough?” Hunter shook his head at her question. “His flame is only used for my battle armor. For normal armor or your Regalia, he is not needed.” He explained. “I see. What is the process for this?” She asked. “We are waiting on the forge to be made warm enough at the moment.” He paused at the look on her face and he nearly sighed as he responded to an unspoken question from the Alicorn. “The reds use their flame to heat the forge normally.” “Oh. Is that their job normally?” “For the most part. When they are not out causing chaos with me they are here.” He said to her and she chuckled at his wording. “Organized chaos.” She muttered and chuckled as he nodded in agreement. “The molds that Giblet will use are off to the side and he will move them into place when the forge is ready for them. For now, the metal is being heated and the other components will be added over time. We try not to add components of different types at the same time. We give the forge time to acclimate to each piece.” “What other components do we need?” He bit back a cringe at her question and went on to explain to her. “We will add dark crystals and magic when the time comes.” She nodded in understanding and was quiet as Giblet waited near the forge. She watched as Giblet ran up the stairs beside the forge and was placing his claws against the forge to check on it and Hunter waited as the minion went about what was his routine. He looked at the mare with him and she was nearly trembling with excitement as she watched the minion work. “What is he doing?” She asked quietly so as not to disturb the minion. “He is checking the temperature. Once it is where he wants it he will check the metal for any impurities to ensure it is pure enough for the forge to use easily.” “Why does purity matter?” “This forge is older than the Netherworld and must be treated carefully. Giblet has been tending to it for longer than I think anypony knows. It must be treated well or it will become flawed and nothing that comes from it will be of the correct quality.” Her eyes widened as he spoke and she looked back the forge. “I had no idea it was that old. It’s in remarkably good condition for its age.” “I was only told about its age a few years ago when we started using it more frequently. I remember I was complaining to Gnarl about how long it took to be made ready and he informed me that I should be patient and then explained why.” Twilight giggled and nodded. “That’ll teach you to complain.” “I learned that lesson well enough.” He admitted with a chuckle. Hunter looked up as Giblet began to screech and he came down from the forge steps and waited by the bottom of it. Hunter tapped Twilights shoulder and pointed to a minion that was coming toward them with a large crate in his claws. The minion paused at Hunter's command and Hunters magic pulled the lid off the crate for the mare to see. Her eyes went wide at the sight of the glowing golden crystals. “Wow.” She whispered out as she beheld them. “These are dark crystals?” He nodded and she looked back down to them. “They're beautiful in their own way. I thought they would be dark and scary looking but they're actually pretty.” “These ones came from the mine that you saw that first day.” She looked at him as he went on. “When you and Spike came with me to the forge you saw the mine that was found in the back?” “Oh. I remember it now. So they came from it?” “Yes. Each one was mined from within that space. Even though they are considered to be evil energy they have a beauty all their own.” He said to her and she nodded in agreement. “Their uses far outweigh any issue with them.” She watched as the crate was picked up and taken to the waiting forge master who took the crate and walked it up the small stairs to sit on the top stair. Hunter watched as the minion jumped to stand on the edges of the crate and pick up each crystal and slowly throw them into the forge. They watched in silence as the crystals were thrown in and Twilight looked at him as the metal began to change color to a rich gold. “What did that?” She questioned as he looked at her. “The crystals have their own magic that is within them and when that magic is added the metal changes color to match them.” He provided. She nodded as she turned to look at the forge once more. He didn’t say anything further as she watched Giblet throwing the crystals into the forge. He was hesitant about the next phase and he knew that she would be upset by what she was about to see. He watched as Giblet sent the other minion away as they went back to waiting for the temperature to rise enough for the forge to be used properly. Twilight watched intently as the forge minion finished the crystals and the crate was thrown behind him, crashing to the stone floor. She looked at him and he didn’t say anything in response to her look. She returned to waiting in silence as Giblet waited. “So what’s next?” She finally asked after a few minutes of quiet. “Next we will be adding the magic.” He informed her, his voice somber. “How do you add magic to it?” She questioned. He said nothing in immediate reply as he looked at her. His red eyes glowed brightly as he regarded her and after a delay, he spoke in reply. “I need you to be ready for what happens next. You must be able to stand firm and see it through to the end.” She looked surprised at him for several seconds before she nodded. “I understand and I’m with you.” She assured him. He could see the nervousness that his words had created in her but he knew that it had to be said and that she had to be made ready. He was trying not to blindside her too much but what was about to happen was better seen and then explained versus the opposite. He looked away from her and back to the waiting forge master. He gave a deep nod to the minion who screeched in understanding. Twilight watched him intently as the minion reached up to pull a large lever that was just to the right of the forge. Her ears flicked as she looked at the Overlord for the source and he looked up above the forge to show her where to look. Several chutes descended from the ceiling and were connected to upper pathways that were out of immediate sight. Hunter’s ears flicked forward as Twilights ears did the same. The sound of gleeful screeching filled the air above them. He could see her focusing on the chutes above them as blue minions descended from the chutes and into the forge. “AHH!” Twilight screamed as they were engulfed by the forge. Hunter did nothing to calm her as she turned to hide in his shoulder. He didn’t say anything as she shook and stayed hidden from what she had just seen. He looked down at her as she peeked out from behind his shoulder as the last blues were poured into the forge. She looked from the forge to him as tears pricked her eyes and he tried to look comforting as she began to shake. He tipped his horn down to touch hers in silent comfort. She closed her eyes and pushed her horn against his. “It will be okay.” He whispered to her and she looked up at him, her eyes wide. “How can it be okay?” She asked him. “They just…” “Every piece of armor from the forge is imbued with the minions.” She stared at him as he spoke to her. He pulled his head back and focused on talking to her as Giblet tended to the forge. “My armor is a mixture of all of them, ensuring that I am protected by them at all times.” “How can you be okay with them…dying like that?” “The minions are mine to do with as I choose. Their place is to serve me and accomplish what I command of them.” She stared at him for a moment before her gaze went back to the forge as Giblet began to move around the forge, running his claws along the sides. She watched as he jumped to the stairs and seemed to be checking on the metal itself. She looked back at Hunter as her eyes were still wide, shock running through her. “The minions that are used are basic minions that come directly from the Hives. They have been born to die in the forge.” He told her. He could see the shock going through her and he knew that he was giving her a great deal to think over but he knew that telling her the truth would go a long way with her. “I am not sure how else I can tell you, but I was advised that the truth is what I should be telling you. I am not going to sugar coat what I tell you and you are intelligent enough to understand it.” He watched as she stared at him for several seconds then she turned to stare at the forge and then back to him after several seconds. He waited as she processed what she had seen and he knew that she would have questions. He was ready for her to question every moment of it. “What did you do the first time you saw that?” “I cringed and backed up. Gnarl held me in place so that I could see what was happening and grow to accept and understand it. Gnarl had explained that I need to see every part and be aware of what it entails.” “You’re not appalled by it?” “I was once. But over time I came to understand and accept it as fact. I realized that their only desire is to fight and die by my command. Their death in the forge means they are going to continue to protect and serve.” He paused as she continued to stare at him. He could see that she was struggling with it. “Did you hear them cry out in pain or fear?” She was quiet as she glanced back to the forge as Giblet raised the chutes and they vanished from sight. She looked back at him and shook her head. “No. They sounded happy.” “That’s because they are serving me. That is their purpose and their reason for existing. They seek to serve no matter what form that service takes. I do not have armor made very often thankfully so it is not common for them to be needed.” “Could you have made normal armor without them?” “I can. But it is weak compared to what the forge can truly be used for. The forge is ancient and it holds its own power within the metal it uses.” “Are you truly okay with them dying just to forge your armor?” She asked him quietly. “I am no longer bothered by it. It is something that is needed.” She looked back as Giblet began to screech and he jumped down to land a few feet from them as he began to move the molds into place. He watched as she focused on what he was doing and her eyes widened as the minion came up to her. He tangled his claws in her fur and began to gently pull her forward as the metal seeped into the molds and filled them. She looked frantically behind her as she was pulled forward. Hunter got to his hooves and walked with her, staying close. He could see the nervousness in her but she allowed the minion to move her forward once he joined her. They sat down close to the molds as the metal-filled them completely. Giblet reached for the molds and slid them off to the side to cool for a few minutes. Twilight gulped and waited as the minion pulled one of the molds back to her and flipped it open. Hunter watched as the molds were opened and Giblet then turned back to the nervous mare and pulled out a smaller cloth and put it around her shoulders and chest. He watched as the minion pulled on a pair of gloves and reached into the mold and pulled the still-warm metal out of the mold and laid it against her chest. He saw her flinch and he bit back a chuckle at her expense. “I promise you it will not bite.” He assured her. She scowled at him over her shoulder. “I know it won’t. I’m not worried about that. It’s what it’s made out of that makes me nervous.” She admitted. His eyes softened and he nodded to her. He said nothing as Giblet began to move the metal into place around her. “What is your normal Regalia made of?” “Metal.” She replied quickly as Giblet moved the metal against her. “Exactly. Cold, unfeeling metal.” He replied. She looked at him, her eyes questioning as he finished speaking. “What does that mean?” “This Regalia, like my armor, is made from the desires of the minions that were put into it. They desire to protect and they happily dive into the forge because of that drive. The blues desire to give and protect life. They give that life to the metal that now sits upon you. That metal will allow you to shrug off the same magic that might try to harm you. It will protect you from magic in any form due to the magic resistance that is inherent to the blue minions. Magical attacks such as magical poison will have no effect on you.” He could see understanding in her eyes as Giblet molded the metal around her and the minion backed up to gaze at his work. She looked down at the unfinished metal and then looked back at the Overlord as he sat in silence. “I didn’t think of it that way.” She admitted with a look back at the breast collar around her chest. “I don’t blame you for acting how you did. I would have been shocked if you had taken it in stride and not reacted at all.” He replied. “I was ready to tell you everything I knew about the forge if you had asked. I knew that knowledge was the only way that you would come to understand and accept it in your own time. Your new Regalia is to be a gift from myself and my dragons, remember that.” Giblet prodded her and she looked back at him as he held a piece of cooling metal in his claws. She lifted her hoof and he molded the metal around her hoof. She got to her hooves carefully as she set that hoof on the ground to allow the metal to cool and form around her. She stared at the metal as it cooled and she looked back at him. He gave her a small smile and she began to smile once more. “Giblet will carve and finish the metal before it is given to you. It won’t take him very long to finish it so we can sit and finish talking if that is what you wish.” He said to her. She nodded and waited for the minion to finish with her. Hunter watched as Giblet ran his claws over the breast collar and pulled it away from her body. Hunter could see that it was tight against her fur as the minion pulled it off of her. The mare was still as Giblet took the pieces from her, pulled the cloth off of her shoulders, and carried it all with him as he walked away, toward the back of the forge. Twilight looked at Hunter as the minion vanished from sight. “There is a workshop behind the forge that he will use to finish the Regalia and then bring it to you.” He provided and she nodded. “He will tend to the details and then find us.” “Oh.” She replied and rejoined him as he turned to lead her out of the forge and back to the throne room. Hunter looked up as Giblet came into the dining room and he motioned for Twilight to look, behind her as Giblet waited for her to see him. In his arms, he carried the pieces of her new Regalia hidden in a cloth and she turned to look at him. He set the pieces on the floor and threaded his claws in her fur and pulled her out of her chair to face him. Twilight closed her eyes and Hunter chuckled in response. The minion set the breast collar in place and then placed her hoof boots on her and backed up as he wiped down the pieces once more before he turned to leave with a bow to his Master. Hunter conjured a mirror for her to be able to see the finished product. “Open your eyes.” He saw her open her eyes and she gasped at the Regalia that covered her body. The golden metal gleamed and shone as she stared at it. Runes were carved into the metal and the metal gave off a slight blue glow in response to the number of blue minions used to make it. Swirls and shapes were threaded in silver and amethyst gems glittered out of the metal. The hoof boots were golden with the same threaded silver that went over them. They rose from her hooves like small gauntlets instead of simple hoof boots. Her hooves were covered and the metal glittered in place as she moved to stand to the side to look at them. “Wow.” She whispered. Hunter said nothing in response as he watched her grow to love what she was seeing. He had to admit it looked fine on her and the metal had been molded perfectly to suit her. She turned back to the mirror and sat down to pull one of the boots off her hoof to look at it. The golden metal shone back at her and the blue glow was clear as she held it closer to her face to look. “That glow is from them?” “It is.” He replied. “I guess they are with me then?” She said to him. “They are.” He affirmed to her. “They will protect you now.” A smile slowly grew on her face as she slid the boot back on and she looked closer at the breast collar and shook herself to test it. It moved easily with her and didn’t fall when she moved. Her smile grew the longer she looked at her new Regalia. “It makes the old one look bad.” She admitted with a giggle. Hunter barked a laugh and nodded. “It does yes.” He replied. “You’ll have to wear it to show it off to Celestia and Luna. You make them look like their wearing lumps of metal.” Twilight giggled and turned to look at him. “Thank you.” She said to him and walked up to him. Hunter got out of his chair as she wrapped her forelegs around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Your welcome.” He said to her and hugged her back. She let go of him and backed up as he sent the mirror away. She looked down at the Regalia once more and then looked at him, her smile still in place. “Can we go show Kaiana now?” She asked. He nodded and led her out of the dining room and back toward the platforms. “She will be glad to see that you like it.” He said to her as she came to walk beside him. “I hope so. I really am growing to like it. At first, I wasn’t sure how to accept it after seeing how it’s made. But now I think I understand why you’re okay with it. They live in the metal and they still watch over you.” He looked at her and nodded in agreement. “True.” They reached the platforms and he summoned one to take them to the Lair and she stayed close to him as they moved through the Netherworld. He leaned gently against her for a second as the platform slowed and docked gently against the Lair. She looked nervously from him to the stone and waited for him to step into the Lair before she placed her hooves there. He jumped from the platform and reached a hoof back to her and she reached out to him and he gently pulled her from the platform and into the Lair. “Here it is.” He said to her and she began to look almost frantically around her. “Wow.” She whispered as she looked around her. Hunter watched around them for the dragons and his ears flicked at the sound of claws on stone. He looked up as Maranna leaned over and gazed down at the pair of them. She put her head back and a short roar sounded and Twilight yelped and jumped to hide against him as it vibrated the ground under their hooves. “She’s calling Kaiana.” He informed her and the mare calmed and stopped using him to hide behind. She looked up and smiled at the ruby red female. “Hi, Maranna.” She said with a tentative wave to the dragon. Maranna looked at her and a smile slowly spread over her mouth. “Hello, Little Princess.” She replied. Hunter watched as Kaiana approached them and he moved back to allow her to see Twilight and the new Regalia she wore. Twilight saw the silver matriarch and she stepped forward to allow the female to see her new Regalia easier. Kaiana leaned her nose down to allow her to get a better look and she smiled at the blue glow from the Regalia. “How many blues did you sacrifice for it to glow, My Child?” She questioned. Hunter looked away from her and cleared his throat before he replied. “A few.” He replied. “I’m sure.” She chuckled. “It must have been a shock to see. But you seem pleased with it.” “I was pretty surprised but Hunter explained to me what happened and how it all worked. It helped.” She admitted with a smile and look over her shoulder to the stallion. “I really love it, Kaiana. Thank you.” The silver female crooned and nuzzled the purple mare. “The others will no doubt wish to see as well. Yours rivals even his.” She laughed and pointed a claw to Hunter's own armor. “I don’t know about that,” Twilight replied. “He wears full armor. I just have my Regalia so I don’t think it compares.” “I‘m sure if you asked he’d make you your own set of armor.” She teased. Hunter coughed and looked away from the dragon as Twilight yelped and stared at the ground. Kaiana laughed aloud as they both looked anywhere but at each other and she roared out a call of her own for the others to join her. Hunter joined the Alicorn as Setan leaned over the side of the cave he was laying on to see why he had been called to the front. His large eyes fell on the Alicorn mare as she looked up to smile at him. His eyes were wide at the sight of her but a quick growl from Kaiana seemed to calm him. “So that is why you are here among us?” He asked the mare who nodded and turned to face him to allow him to look at the Regalia. “It looks well-made and you wear it well.” “Thank you Setan.” She replied to his praise and he nodded to her. Maranna leaned down to get a better look and she smiled at the silver and gold as it glittered. “Very well done.” “Thank you as well,” Twilight said to her and smiled brightly at the female. “Where are Red and the others?” “They were playing with the babies last I saw them. They will join us in a moment.” Kaiana assured her. “We are working on teaching them to be gentle and not knock their Master off his hooves.” Kaiana chuckled. “That’s an important lesson.” Twilight agreed with a laugh. “It would be a bit embarrassing to get knocked off my hooves every time they wish to play.” Hunter agreed. Twilight giggled and his ears flicked as the sound of screeching caught his attention. He leaned to the side to look around the silver female and his eyes widened as the black hatchling careened toward them. He jumped to push Twilight behind him as the baby slammed into his chest. He grunted under the impact and his hooves slipped on the stone floor. He looked up, ready to stop any of the dragons from going after the mare. Now that the baby was close by he could not guarantee that he could stop them from attacking her to protect the infant. One look at Kaiana told him that she was of the same mind as the baby nuzzled him. Behind him Twilight stayed huddled behind him, trying to stay out of sight of the elder dragons. Hunter looked to the baby as he began to chirp and then slid past the Overlord and began to nuzzle the purple Alicorn mare. Hunter’s eyes went wide as he watched it happen. Twilight stared at the baby and then back at him and then back to the baby as he nearly tossed her off her hooves. He could see her brace as much as she could under the affection from the hatchling. “Child?” Kaiana questioned. “I have no idea.” He quickly admitted. “But if needed I will stand in between you and her.” Kaiana nodded and looked at the upset dragons behind her. “The infant is in no danger with his bonded close. You know that he would be afraid of anyone that he did not know by scent. The fact that he chooses to care for her is important. How did her scent get to him?” Hunter wracked his mind for anything that would answer her question. His eyes went wide and he closed then and shook his head at his own stupidity. “I have been around her nearly nonstop for the past two weeks. Plus when he was born her scent may have been on me then as well. We had been talking and her scent would have clung to my fur by proximity.” He reasoned and Kaiana nodded as he spoke. “It is not unheard of that her scent would be as known to him as mine.” “He is right.” Kaiana agreed and looked behind her as the young dragons raced forward. She looked at them as they saw the lone baby out of the Nest and their eyes went wide. Red came forward and looked from Kaiana to the infant and then to Hunter himself. “I think we missed one.” He admitted. “We were with them but I did not see this one escape.” His voice was quiet as he hung his head in shame and others mirrored his actions. “Hunter,” Twilight called out and he looked back to her. “Little help.” “Why?” “He’s pushing me backward.” “And?” “If he pushes me off the side of the Netherworld I am going to make you save me instead of using my wings.” She snarled. “Oh,” Hunter replied and came to stand next to her and began to push the baby backward, away from her. The infant chirped and pushed against Hunter's chest but the stallion was able to push him back to a safe place in the Lair. “You can simply move and he will follow now.” “Says the Overlord of the Netherworld.” She replied snidely. Hunter barked a laugh and patted her shoulder. “Be glad that they are okay with it.” He admitted and she looked form him to the alert dragons. “Otherwise I would be needing to protect you from them.” “Oh…by Celestia…That’s a good point.” She said to him and huddled close to him just in case. “You're fine. If they haven’t come after you by now then they won’t.” He assured her. “He is right dear Princess.” Kaiana crooned to her and lowered her head to nuzzle the mare. “You are always safe among us. The hatchling has shown us that he cares for you and that we should follow suit.” Twilight looked out from her spot close to him and then nodded as Red and the others came to her. They nuzzled her as Hunter moved to keep the baby from ramming against her once more. He watched as the hatchling was picked up by Maranna and carried off back to the Nest. The stallion released a relieved sigh and turned his attention back to the young dragons as they spoke to the mare, complimenting her new Regalia.