//------------------------------// // Book 1 Part 1 // Story: Overlord Equestria Book 1 // by Kaliann25 //------------------------------// Overlord Equestria Book 1: Infiltration (part 1) Celestia and Luna waited impatiently, right in front of the imposing Everfree Forest. A dangerous place full of monsters, deadly plants, and all kinds of dangers for ponies. For most of the ponies, the Everfree Forest was a synonym of a certain death. Only a few knew the truth: the Everfree Forest was a magical barrier, created by the Princesses millennia ago, to keep their precious little ponies in, and the ‘damned race’ out. Long time ago, ponies lived with other races in relative peace. But, one day, the humans raised against all the other races, developing powerful magic to exterminate, or enslave monsters and demi-humans. Ponies were no exception. The humans tried to enslave the ponies, and take over their magic for their own purposes. But Celestia and Luna, along with other powerful pony magicians, developed especial spells, and created artificial beings only to defend ponies from humans. When they managed to chase them out of their territory, the Princesses created their own Sun and Moon; and finally, the Everfree Forest. Equestria was now isolated from the rest of the world. And prayed for the humans to forget about them for good. Luckily, the ponies had been safe from humans for years, and years. But the Princesses couldn’t get too overconfident in their defenses. That’s why, eventually, Luna and Celestia sent spies, disguised as humans, to collect all the information they could about the three human nations around them. The Slane Theocracy, Baharuth Empire, and the Kingdom of Re-Estize. And that’s what they were waiting for, the return of their spy. The Royal Sisters hated having to send their little ponies to the dangers outside Equestria, but, unfortunately, the human magicians memorized their auras, so, if they put a hoof out of their barrier, they would have an army of human adventurers ready to subdue them. “Sister, do you think something happened to her?” whispered Luna, with fear in her voice. “I don’t know.” Admitted Celestia. “She have been out for a week now, anything is possible.” Luna frowned. “Why do we have to live in the same world with this race? I wish we wouldn’t have to risk innocent ponies out there!” Suddenly, the trees began to shake slightly, and a young sky-blue unicorn mare with white hair emerged, dragging an unconscious earth pony with her magic. The earth pony was dark gray, with sharp black eyes, and black hair. She seemed really bad, all covered in bruises and cuts, and breathed with difficulty. “Princesses, I’m back!” announced the unicorn. The Princesses stared at her, until she said. “A little help, please? She’s really hurt!” Luna and Celestia shook their heads, finally reacting, and went to help the earth pony. “What happened?” asked Luna. “I just got back into the Everfree Barrier, when I found this poor earth pony. I don’t know, maybe she was attacked by Timberwolves or something.” “So, what happened to her had nothing to do with your expedition in the human world?” asked Celestia. The unicorn shook her head. “No, but I did have a great adventure. For a second, I thought I wouldn’t make it.” Princess Celestia nodded. “Tell us everything on our way back to the Castle, Cleaning Miracle.” “As you wish!” said Cleaning Miracle, bowing before the Princesses. They all got into the Royal Carriage, pulled by elite pegasi from the Equestrian Air Force. Once they were inside, and the Princesses casted a silence spell on the carriage, Cleaning Miracle began to explain: “Okay, everything started relatively normal. I arrived to the Baharuth Empire, pretending I was an adventurer, but, then, a powerful army attacked the city. In the middle of the confusion, I’m almost discovered.” “Who attacked the Empire?” asked Celestia, curious. She was very aware that the Empire had one of the finest armies in the world. Only the most powerful of the human nations had a chance. “The Slane Theocracy, or a demi-human kingdom?” Cleaning Miracle shook her head. “No. Believe it or not, it was an entirely new nation. You see, I heard some really interesting news when I got into the Adventurer’s Guild. Apparently, the magicians discovered some ruins at the Kingdom’s borders. A Noble sent a bunch of ‘Worker Teams’ to explore the ruins, an underground tomb. But… no one returned alive.” Luna frowned. “There were powerful undeads in the ruins?” “No, Your Highness. More than that.” explained Cleaning Miracle. “The tomb itself was an entire nation of undeads. Their ruler was really pissed off by the invading of his domains, and demanded Emperor Jircniv to apologize. The Emperor refused to humiliate himself before an undead, so he refused. That very same day, a dragon and an army of undeads devastated the capital. And there weren’t normal undeads, they were Death Knights.” The Princesses shivered at the mention of that name, it was the stuff of legends. Creatures who came right from a nightmare. “How many?” “I don’t know!” said Cleaning Miracle. “I was too busy running for my life. I think they spared me because they felt I wasn’t human. Then, I spent the rest of the week trying to sneak back into the forest. Sorry I didn’t gather more information, but I was terrified.” “Don’t worry about it.” said Celestia. “You got really useful information. Now we know there’s another nation we must take care of.” “The good news are that the humans would be so busy dealing with the undead nation that they’ll forget about us.” suggested Luna. “Yes, but what if the undeads go after us instead of humans? We can’t face a Death Knight without suffering important loses, and you know it, Luna.” objected Celestia. Luna then looked at the unconscious mare. “And, you said you found this one lying unconscious in the forest?” “Yes!” answered Cleaning Miracle. “Again, I think she had an encounter with Timberwolves, since she hasn’t being eaten.” The Princesses nodded, it had sense. Timberwolves didn’t attack ponies to eat them, they were only extremely territorial. “We’ll provide her with first aid as soon as we arrive to the Castle.” assured Celestia. “Then, she can tell us exactly what happened.” Cleaning Miracle didn’t say anything, she only bowed. Finally, they arrived to Canterlot Castle. After saying goodbye to the Princesses, and made sure that the poor earth pony was taken to the infirmary to receive proper treatment, Cleaning Miracle retired to her private chambers, where she dressed in her uniform. A castle’s maids uniform. But Cleaning Miracle was no actual maid. She was an elite soldier, and one of the several bodyguards of the Princesses. They always had a military escort, but the real bodyguards, and more experimented fighters, were disguised as garden, or cleaning personnel, to take potential enemies by surprise. Cleaning Miracle owed everything to Celestia and Luna. They noticed all the hard work she put on her training, and always encouraged her to go further. She got where she was only because of their constant support. That’s why she felt a little guilty for what she was about to do. But Clenaing Miracle had no choice. After all, she was alive only because of her new Masters. Once she was ready, she went to the hospital wing, to see the unconscious earth pony. The maid/bodyguard took a good look around, and, when she was sure nopony was watching, she bowed deeply to the earth pony. “I hope my performance pleased you, oh, Narberal Gamma, my Lady.” The earth pony opened her eyes, giving Cleaning Miracle a cold gaze. “Do not call me that. We only have one Lord, and that’s Lord Ainz.” Cleaning Miracle shook her head. “You saved my life, Lady Narberal. My Loyalty is with Lord Ainz, of course! But also with you. I’ll be in forever at your service.” Narberal Gamma frowned, but, in the end, she nodded. “Alright, but remember to always put Lord Ainz before me.” “Of course. Now, shall I report my progress to Lord Ainz?” asked Cleaning Miracle. Narberal Gamma nodded, and took a series of scrolls, activating the spells. “Perception Block. Greater Perception Block. Divert Detection. Okay, you’re ready. Do it.” Cleaning Miracle activated a spell on her own. She didn’t know it before her little adventure in the outside world. She learned it from Lady Narberal. “Message.” (…) In a Castle, with riches beyond imagination, in the throne room, two powerful demons guarded an opulent and elegant crystal throne, awaiting for their master to say something. They were a beautiful succubus in a beautiful white dress, and a golden necklace that resembled a spider web. She had two horns coming out of her head, and two black wings sprouting from her waist. The other one was a demon in an orange suit, with glasses, and a metallic-looking tail. Sitting on the throne was what can only be referred as an Elder Lich. A skeleton, dressed in a beautiful black robe, holding a strange-looking staff. It looked like a nest of snakes, curling with each other. Each one had a beautiful gem on their mouths. Lord Ainz sighed, as he thought. “How did it ended up like this?” The situation was really awkward for him. It all started when Emperor Jircniv refused to come to apologize. He had commanded Aura and Mare to devastate the Capital in case that happened, and he thought that was enough. But, Demiurge and Albedo, the two demons at his side, have said that he couldn’t let that pass just by destroying a filthy city. The Emperor have refused a great chance for humanity itself, so the entire human race shall pay for his mistake. Ainz himself didn’t like the idea, but he couldn’t disappoint Demirge and Albedo. Then, he tried to delay the inevitable by saying that destroying the Capital was only the beginning, and that he would destroy humanity as soon as he could find an ally powerful enough to make sure they wipe humans from the planet. And who also hated humanity as much as he do. It worked, at first. Ainz was confident that they would never find an ally worthy of him. But then, Demiurge learned about this secret civilization, capable to do amazing magic, and then Narberal casually found one of them. Now he had no choice but go on with the destruction of humanity. A ‘message’ interrupted his thoughts. “Lord Ainz, Lord Ainz!” Ainz put his index finger on his forehead. “Cleaning Miracle. I assume the infiltration of Narberal have been a success.” “Yes, my Master, Lord Ainz. Lady Narberal and I are in position, just as you wished.” “Good. Keep me informed of your progress, Cleaning Miracle. Remember, this is a test to your loyalty to us. Hide any information from me, and you’ll suffer the consequences. Just as the ponies will if your Princesses refuse to join me.” He could feel how Cleaning was bowing at the other side of the message. Finally, the Overlord of Death cut communication and looked to Albedo and Demiurge. “The infiltration has begun. Soon enough, the ponies will join Nazarik, if they know what’s good for them.” Demiurge grinned, as he fixed his glasses on his face. “Don’t worry about them, Lord Ainz. If half of the documents we found at the Empire’s Archives says the truth, they would be magnificent allies. Who doesn’t enjoy go hunting pathetic humans?” “And, if they resist, Narberal can always open a way for our forces to get in Equestria. Nothing to worry about.” laughed Albedo. “In the end, you’ll have what you deserve. Just as expected from the man I love.” Ainz only nodded in silence. This was only the beginning. He could only pray that, in the end, everything go well for his image as the Overlord of Nazarik.