//------------------------------// // 14: Searching... // Story: An Overlord Apart // by OblivionShadow //------------------------------// Twilight glanced over her shoulder to see the three dragons hot on her heels. The green dragon was the fastest of them and she was underneath the flying mare. Twilight looked back to the front and she could hear ponies screaming at the sight of the dragons as she led them toward the building at the end of the street. The Alicorn didn’t care about their screams as they finally got to the building as she dropped to her hooves and led them inside. “Okay, this is the spot we last saw him. So you have the scent?” She asked them, cautiously. “Yes. We can track him.” The green assured her. “We will find our nest mate, Princess.” Twilight smiled at the assurance from the dragons as they began to move around the area slowly. She stepped back to allow them room to search. The red and grey branched off and began to scan the area just behind the green female. “Here.” The red spoke up and the others looked to him and joined him. The green began to walk forward while the grey trotted ahead of them. Twilight was behind them by a few feet as they moved forward. All three stayed focused on the scent and the Alicorn stayed as close as she dared, making sure to give them room and not step on their tails. The red dragon looked back to her and she scanned the ground, uncertain of why he looked to her. “I’m sorry. Did I kick your tail?” She asked him. “No. You will not be able to keep up when we find the true scent. You are needed if we are to move easily.” He explained to her. His eyes looked to the others and they nodded to him. “Jump on.” He said to her and motioned to his back. The red was the widest of the three and Twilight carefully climbed onto his back and she hunkered down between his shoulders and gripped his scales with her hooves. “Here okay?” She asked him and he shook himself to make sure that she could hold onto him. “There is fine.” He assured her and then looked to the others. “It is time to find our nest mate.” He said to the others who growled in reply. Twilight yelped as the red dragon surged forward, his head snaked back and forth as they followed the scent. The mare was quiet as she held tightly to the drakes back. Her mind raced over what could be happening around her. She had known that Hunter’s kingdom was very different from Equestria. She had scoffed at him wearing his armor so often, but now all she could think of was hoping that he was wearing it now. She hoped it was doing its job of protecting him. Her eyes watched ahead as the green dragon once more pulled ahead and led the charge forward. Purple orbs widened as the grey dragon stopped and his broad head looked to the left of them. The green paused and began to search for the scent as the grey walked toward a closed doorway. He nudged the door and backed up, he looked to the bigger red drake who walked up to him. “In there. His scent leads this way.” He explained and the red nodded in understanding. “Keep low Princess.” He said as he looked back to her. Twilight nodded and lowered her body closer to his back and kept her head down as the dragon reared up. He set his paws on the door and pushed against it for a moment. The door creaked but did not give way. He pushed off of it and dropped his weight to the door once more. It refused to give way as the dragon pulled back further and rammed his paws and broadhead into the doorway. Twilight cringed as the door finally gave way. She cried out as the door splintered under the weight of the red and gave way to the room ahead of them. The red dragon swung his head and tossed the remains of the door aside, allowing the others to safely enter the room on his heels. The broadhead swung from one side to another as his nose scented the air and he walked further into the room. “Anything?” Twilight asked him. The dragon looked to the others who nodded in reply to his look. “He was here.” “And now?” Twilight asked. “There is no scent outside of this room.” The green spoke to her. “This is the last place he was. That dire wolf was here as well. She is the only one who left.” “Can you track her?” Twilight asked. “Of course. An animal is easier to track than our nestmate.” The grey replied. “I know I asked you to track him but can you switch to her?” Twilight asked them, as they looked to her, their heads gave a slight tilt at her question. “Whoever dragged her out of here must have an idea of where he is.” “Sound logic.” The red said to the others. “Which of you is the fastest in the air?” She asked. “None of us.” The green replied. “Our wings are not developed enough to fly very fast. We can run, but not fly.” “Okay, you’re the fastest on the ground though?” Twilight asked with a look to the green, who nodded. “Can you go back to Sorkeno and the others to let them know that we are going to track Dezhara?” “Of course. I can catch up to you two easily enough.” She replied with a glance to the red and grey. “Go. We will track the wolf.” The red said to her. “What are your names?” Twilight asked them. “We are not old enough for our names yet.” The red replied. “Once we are of age we will gain our names.” “Okay. I asked so I wasn’t calling you by your colors.” Twilight explained. The grey chuckled and nodded to her. “Understood. Our colors are enough. It is not an insult to us.” “Okay. Thank you for your help.” She said from the reds back. “He is one of us and we will bring him home.” The red said to her as the green nodded and turned to leave them. “Go ahead.” Twilight urged her. “Try to meet up with us quickly.” “Go.” The green said and the red and grey took to the track as the green left the room. Twilight held onto the thick scales as the red glanced back to her and she gave a small smile in reply to him. The red went back to tracking and the Princess of Friendship was quiet as she looked over the dragon's shoulder, watching the roads ahead of them. “Master!” “Please open your eyes!” “Come back to us!” Hunters eyes snapped opened as he rolled to lay on his belly. Around him, ponies gasped and backed up as he panted for a moment. He was quiet as they looked to him to ensure that he was okay. The ponies watched him as he sat down in place. He rubbed his face with one hoof and got to his hooves. The mare from before stood closest to him and appeared the most relieved to see him up. “How long was I out?” He asked her. “Maybe a half hour. No more than that.” She replied. “Has anything changed since then?” He asked “Not really. He got away so far as we can tell. That illusion you made worked perfectly. But it seemed to require a lot from you, My Lord.” She said to him. “It’s different magic so it requires a lot more effort depending on what is asked of it.” He explained. “Gaze made it out and I hope he finds a way to get help to us. A second roar went out after you collapsed, nothing since.” Another explained to him. “That’s good news at least.” He muttered and looked around them. “Sire?” The mare asked him. He looked back to her at her voice. “Hmm?” “What will happen once you get out of here?” "There will be a reckoning that I promise you. I do not permit any type of threat to my rule and I will not allow this to go on.” He said as he indicated the mine around them. “I was not aware of a mine being found in the Empire, I had heard of one in Everlight but I did not know of this one.” He admitted. “My La…She helped find this one. Once they did they made sure that the ones who are openly loyal to you did not come to know of it until they were told that you were upset with them and they were put down here.” She said to him. Hunter breathed in and a derisive snort came from him as his red eyes blazed brighter for a moment in response to that she said. “I was not angry with anypony. As I said before I do not put ponies down in the mines due to the intense labor and hazardous activity. Minions are easier to use due to their strength and hardy nature. They can take more punishment and still get up from actions that would leave a pony in traction.” “So we were all lied to.” A pony said from off to the right of him. “Yes,” Hunter replied, his voice bland. “What will happen to us when you leave?” “You will all be leaving here with me.” Hunter clarified. “I will not leave any of my subjects to suffer in this way. Those that think they are above my reach will be reminded that I am their Master for a reason.” “What about when you go home?” “Nothing will be left to chance. I will stay as long as is needed to ensure that my ponies are safe and protected. I know that I will leave for a time due to a promise to a golden dragon. I will not allow you to be stomped on without recourse to those who are responsible.” He replied. The ponies gave looks to relief to the Overlord as he spoke. He could see that they were regaining that spark of life in their eyes and he looked to them as they were once more becoming the proud and strong ponies that he ruled over. Their gaze turned to the doors as a loud bang went out. The stallion edged his way toward the door slowly and peeked around the corner to see the construct was free of its base. ‘Did it break?’ He asked himself as it stood up and he watched as the runes on its form turned red. “That can’t be a good sign.” He whispered as four legs pulled free of the main body and lifted it from the dirt. “Oh shit.” He said aloud as it began to walk forward at what would have been a normal pace for a pony. Hunter spun back to the ponies behind him and he began to herd them quietly away from the side tunnel. His intent was not to cause panic as he moved them out of the way. The mare looked to him and then behind him. He glanced up as he got the main group into the shaft that led to the waste site for the mines materials. He looked back as the construct came out of the tunnel and spun to look around it. Hunter paused as it seemed to pause to look around it and then seemed to see the group of them. Its red coloring brightened and it began to walk toward them. “Hide.” He said aloud and the ponies gasped as it came after them. Hunter herded them back to the waste site and he looked around it for any materials that could be of use. His hooves gripped a large section of wood and cement. He pushed it into place and began to create a barricade that he hoped would block its sight. He ushered them behind it and began to build up the other side to keep them hidden from its gaze. He glanced up and he could see the glow of the constructs runes down the tunnel. He glanced to them and then to the tunnel. “Keep building this up and I will distract it. I will keep it at bay as long as I can. My armor should protect me from it for a while.” “Lord. Are you certain?” The mare asked him. “Yes. I’m in better shape than you are. Keep building this up as quickly and quietly as you can. I don’t know if sound matters to it or not. I will circle this as quickly as I can and when I come around to keep a section open that I can either jump or run into to hide from it. Gaze will not fail to find help for us.” He said to her and she nodded as he turned and loped away from her. His eyes landed on the construct as it emerged from the tunnel and its gaze fell to him. “Come on you hunk of junk.” He yelled. The black stallion pranced on his hooves as it looked to him and the runes brightened once more. He galloped toward it and watched as the beam charged and he jumped to avoid it and then charged off to the side, leading it out of sight of the group working to erect a shelter. He glanced back and found that it was not as fast as the average pony and he slowed just enough to keep it close. “Just need to keep you over here to allow them to build without being seen.” He was quiet as he whispered to himself. He looked to the construct as it charged to shoot at him once more. “Come on!” He yelled to it as he paused to allow it to fire at him. He jumped and hit the ground running as it chased him. His hooves thundered over the packed dirt as the construct chased him. The black stallion waited for any sign from the other side of the scrap pile as he kept the construct close enough that he knew it was focused on him and him alone. He paused as it charged him and he waited to avoid it until the last moment as it neared him, its beam already charged as he jumped up, his rear legs kicked out as it fired and he could feel the heat from the beam as it passed by his legs. His hooves connected with its exterior and he could hear metal as his hooves dented it. His hooves came back to the ground and he took off once more as it chased him. His legs carried him over the dirt and he glanced back at the construct followed, intent on him. The Overlord said nothing as it followed close behind. He slowed and allowed it to near him as he spun to run the other direction, leading it back the way they had come. The construct corned far better than he could and was in a movement quicker than he had thought and he found himself looking at the metallic monster as it was now at his left side. Its beam charged and he slid to a stop as it fired. He ducked his head and the beam collided with his Netherworld forged armor. The beam struck him and a concussion wave went out and he was thrown off his hooves. He rolled to his hooves as the construct rolled to a stop and he glanced to the armor on his shoulder. It had been bent inward and the edges had been pushed inward, pushing against the fur and skin of his shoulder. He did not have the time to fix it and took to his heels once more. Hunter was quiet as he could hear the steady hum of the construct as it fell into place behind him. His body was still able to keep going and he made sure to keep his pace steady to avoid tiring himself out before they were ready. His armor creaked as he ran and he knew that it was on its last legs and he didn’t dare ask it to take another hit from the construct. He spun to charge the construct and slid to avoid it as it charged him. His armor creaked as he slid across the ground on his right shoulder and then lunged to his hooves to keep the metal creature following him closely. “Sire!” A cry from the other side of the waste pile caught his attention and he dug in to get to the other side before the construct. He glanced back as he easily outdistanced it and he watched for an opening and the mares head was above the side of the barricade and he saw her and nodded. He was going to have to jump over five feet into the air and allow himself to fall to the other side or he risked running into the other side of the barrier. The black stallion’s hooves dug for more speed and he gathered himself to jump the barrier. “Move!” He thundered to her and she ducked down as he jumped. The stallion’s body lifted and he was left to hope he had enough strength to make it the height he needed. His forelegs curled under him and he pressed them tightly to his body. He cleared the jump and he felt the tips of his hind hooves catch the edge and he fell unceremoniously to the ground on the other side. His armor screamed out as he felt hooves gripping him and bringing him to a halt inside the barricade. He waited as they all hunkered down around him in silence. He waited as the sound of the construct neared them. He looked up and the mare was watching out a small hole and he could see that she was barely breathing. “Silence.” He whispered to them, his voice barely above a whisper. They nodded and he could feel several ponies gripping his armor and his fur in fear. He looked around and he could see that all twenty-two ponies were hunkered down. The mare looked back to him and she motioned for him to join her. He slowly got to his hooves, trying to keep his damaged armor from complaining as he stood and crept slowly to her. He looked through the small viewing hole to see the construct staying in one place a dozen feet away from them. Its red runes were still bright but they had dulled slightly in comparison the brightness of when it had been chasing him. He kept his breathing quiet as he watched it. He glanced to the ponies and motioned for them to stay low and remain quiet. “It’s not finding us.” He whispered to her. “It’s just milling about a little.” She replied. “I’m not sure if it relies on sight or sound.” He whispered back. “I think its sight.” She replied. “I agree. Its range has been changed since last it saw me.” He said to her and she tilted her head slightly. “It had a five-foot range last time I walked up to it. Now it seems to have been switched to a different mode of control. It’s on the attack.” He said to her. “Oh no.” She whispered and he looked back to the small gap. “Just keep down and quiet.” He said to her. “Even though I am certain it relies on sight, I am not going to tempt it.” He said to her as she looked to the others and tried to smile for them. “Keep them as calm as you can.” She nodded to him and went to the others behind them while he remained to keep an eye on the construct. ‘Could really use a bailout about now, Sorkeno.’ He thought to himself. Light Gaze ran for all he was worth. He was no longer a young stallion and his breathing labored and his heart hammered in his chest and he panted. He galloped through the narrow streets and tried to find a way through. The walls on either side of him were blocked by market stalls and nothing opened up to allow him through. Ponies yelled at him as he ran past them, knocking some off their hooves as he passed. The cry of the Overlord rang through his mind and he lunged forward, asking his old body for more speed to make it out into the open. His mind went over what to do should he find any pony or dragon, he knew the mention Hunters name and hope they would help him. He was afraid of what might happen should the Lord Dragon find the Overlord before Gaze could get to the dragons. He slid to a stop and looked through the paths ahead of him. He looked to the sky and he didn’t see any dragons in the air. His heart fell at the thought that maybe they had left. But at the same time, he told himself that the dragon would not leave without the Overlord in tow. He heard screams ahead of him as a pony flew over their heads and he gasped at the sight of three dragons on her heels. They were following her. His body shuddered in primal fear of the great lizards but the image of his old friend spurred him forward and he gave chase. “Wait!” He cried out to them, but they drew ahead of him. “No…” They drew away from him and he slowed to a stop as his body cried out as fatigue tore at him. He pushed forward but his body would not allow him to go faster than a trot. His chest tightened and he suddenly feared he would drop dead before saving the Overlord. He stopped to allow his body to recover and wait as the screams died out and ponies began to mingle through the street once more. He hung his head as he breathed in place. Minutes passed by him and he began to walk forward and slowly built back into a trot. He brought his head up as the screams sounded out once more ahead of him. His eyes widened as the green dragon was coming toward him. He could see that it was not going to stop and he squared off with it. The dragon didn’t slow as he stayed in the middle of the pathway. It gathered and jumped over him. his eyes widened and he jumped as it went over him. His forelegs held the long green tail and he cried out as it slammed him to the ground. He whimpered but refused to releases the appendage. He closed his eyes tightly as he was dragged across the ground. He kept his grip on the tail tight as the dragon came to a halt. “What are you doing, little pony?” A female voice caused him to open his eyes and he looked up to see a pair of vibrant yellow eyes looking at him. He panted and looked back at her. His voice failed him as he stared at her. He had never met any of the other dragons aside from Sorkeno when he met with the Overlords father. “I…I…” He panted to her. “Please…” She tilted her head at him as he struggled to speak to her. She watched him as he tried to speak and seemed to be waiting for him to explain himself. He knew that he needed to speak faster to her but his body was gripped by a deep terror of her that he did not think he could escape. His body trembled and he shook as he looked into her vibrant eyes. “Are you…in trouble?” She asked him. Her head drew closer to him and waited for him to speak. He nodded and tried to speak once more to her. “Please…Him…I…” He closed his eyes as a whimper escaped him. “Are you hurt?” She asked him further. As he looked at her he was beginning to see that she was a very young dragon. His mind seemed to be failing him as he forced it to come to the conclusion that she was a baby. A baby dragon was not nearly as frightening as the big one. ‘It’s a baby…She’s a baby…’ he thought and looked to her once more. “He’s in danger. You’re Master.” He finally spoke to her, his words clear. Her eyes widened and she turned to face him. “Where?” “We are going to need help.” He said to her. “Is the Lord Dragon here?” “Yes. Along with others.” She replied to him. “Get up. I will take you to them.” “More than one? Who else?” He said as he released her tail and got to his hooves. He cringed as he stood and looked to his right shoulder. The fur and some skin had been scratched off when she dragged him. He drew up to her, limping on his right foreleg. “Lead the way, young one.” He said to her. She regarded him for a moment and stood up to look around her. “You’re hurt. It will take too long to get there at your pace. Jump on.” She lowered her body to the ground and he stared wide-eyed at her. “Are you certain?” He breathed to her. “Yes. Our nestmate needs us. I will get you there faster.” She reasoned to him. “If you are certain.” He said and scrambled to her back. “Hold tightly. I don’t want to drop you.” She said back to him as he settled on her back, across her shoulders. Gaze sat up and held tightly to her scales and patted her neck with one hoof as she surged forward, her neck snaking out ahead to drive those ahead of her out of the way. She snarled and they scrambled to get away from her. Her thin form flowed over the streets and he held tightly to her scales, desperate to hold on. His eyes looked ahead of them as she galloped through the streets. The streets fell away as the young she-dragon moved easily through the streets. The streets gave way to the animal pens and his eyes widened at the sight of the three enormous dragons. He could see Sorkeno his golden scales sparkling in the sunlight. He could see Kaiana, the silver matriarch stood tall and proud close to him. A vibrant green stood with them but he didn’t know the name of that dragon. He knew Kaiana only a little as she had always been with Songstress and playing with Hunter. The little green flowed over the ground as she neared them. A loud cry came from her as she called to the four larger dragons. Their heads looked to her as she cried out and they saw the pony on her back. The enormous green dragon looked to the pony on her back and he began to snarl as Sorkeno’s head snaked out and snapped at the other male dragon. The green male backed away and lowered his head, submitting to the golden male. “I know you,” Sorkeno said aloud as his head lowered to the small green dragons level. “Lord Dragon.” She called out. “He knows where our nestmate is.” Sorkeno’s eyes widened as he heard her and the golden dragon looked to the older pony. “You do, Light Gaze?” “I do.” He breathed out and slid from the baby dragons back. “You have not been seen for many years. Age has caught up to you.” Sorkeno said to him. “You have aged far better than I have.” Gaze replied. “She was kind enough to let me ride on her back to get to you faster. He’s in a mine in the far district. I don’t know how he got there.” He rushed out. “I can take you to the entrance to the mine but you cannot fit in the door.” “Can she?” He asked with a tip of his head to the little green dragon. “No. She could get her forelegs and head in but not the rest of her. The front door is guarded by a construct that will attack anypony that tried to get in. It could kill her I think. I don’t know if it could but I don’t think she could fit.” He thought back to the other two he had seen. “The others would have no chance to fit either. Their larger than she is.” “True. Did you find anything little one?” He asked her. “Yes. We tracked his scent from the main building toward another. The door was too heavy for me or Grey to open so Red used his larger size to break through it. His scent ended there. The Princess asked us to track the wolf and they set off to track it while I came back to tell you. This pony was able to stop me and I brought him here to you.” She explained. “Well done.” He said to the little green she-dragon who chirped in reply. “Gaze. Do you know the building she speaks of?” The pony was quiet as he tried to think of what she meant. “I think so. But I’m not sure. I was put in the mine a while back so I don’t know if it’s new construction or not. I came across Hunter in one of the tunnels.” “Hmm.” The golden dragon gave a quiet noise and went back to his full height. “You said that you knew the entrance to his mine. If I found it would a blast of flame remove the construct?” “Easily.” He replied. “But it might collapse the tunnels. There are twenty or so pony’s in the tunnel with him. They were with him when I got out.” The dragon looked annoyed but nodded in understanding. “Why is he not able to reach out to me?” “He mentioned that his magic was being blocked. Which is true, all magic is negated inside there. I’m not sure how he did it but he was able to get an illusion to work on me to help me escape. It seemed to hurt him though.” Sorkeno loomed thoughtful as he looked to the city once more. “If it is the magic I am thinking of then yes, it would harm him to use.” “Lord Dragon?” “Yes, little one?” “Should I rejoin the others and Princess?” The green asked him. “No. Go to the entrance of the mine with this pony. I will see if we can find the Princess and the others. If they are tracking the wolf then perhaps they will find a pony that can get to the building. If I can cane be shown the building then perhaps I can get to him.” Sorkeno said to her and she nodded. “Stay with her.” He said to the older pony. “Thank you.” He said to her as she laid down once more to allow the pony to clamor onto her back. “Let me know if I need to move. I don’t want to hurt you.” “I’m okay. Hold tight.” She said to him and waited for him to finish moving. “So where do I go?” “Go back the way we came and I will tell you to stop when we need to turn right.” He said to her and she nodded. She glanced to the larger green who nodded to her. She took off back the way they came and Gaze held tightly to her back as she ran. She raced back through the farmlands and into the city. He watched intently for the road they needed. “There! Stop!” He shouted to her and she slid to a stop and looked to where he was pointing. She nodded and broke into a slow gallop as she went down the pathway. She slowed to a trot as the path narrowed and she had to crouch slightly to make it through. Gaze watched as she approached the mine doors and he watched as the guard at the gate stiffened as the small dragon approached him. He watched as she got closer and he yelped as she hissed at him and he took off, disappearing into the crowds. She reached out with one paw and pushed on the metal doors. The stood strong before her and he was quiet as she tried to push them once more. “I don’t think I can get through them.” She said as she looked back to him. “Let me see if there is a doorknob.” He said to her and she watched as he slid to the ground beside her. Gaze walked up to the door and scanned them. He could see a keyhole but a quick look showed no key near them. “Oh no.” “What is it?” She asked and looked over his shoulder. “I think that guard had the key.” He said to her. “Oh. I'm sorry.” She said to him, her head lowered. “It’s okay. We found the door. That’s a good thing.” He said to her. Trying to make her feel better. “We can look around here and maybe we can find something to help us.” She nodded and looked around them with him. Gaze pushed against the door and reared up to find the peek hole and he pushed it open. He couldn’t see very much from it and he tried to angle his head to see if the construct was there. He quickly realized that the guard had been taller than he was and he struggled to see. “Nothing.” He grumbled and the green glanced to him. “I was hoping I could see into the tunnels. But the peephole is taller than me.” “Can I help?” She asked. He stepped back and looked into her vibrant yellow eyes. “Actually. I think you can. Can you lay down right in front of the doors and I will stand on your back to look in?” She nodded and laid down right where he indicated and he gingerly stepped up to stand on her back. He looked to her and she nodded that she was okay and he looked into the tunnel. He looked in and was able to turn enough to look where the construct should be. “It’s gone.” He said aloud and looked to her. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” She assured him. “Okay just hold on.” He said to her and looked back to the hole. “Hello?” He called out, after pressing his mouth to the hole and yelling. He put his ear quickly to the hole and nopony called back to him. He put his mouth to the hole once more. “Hello? Anypony there?” He listened once more and then looked to the dragon who was waiting, her eyes watching him. “I don’t think they’re there.” He said to her. “Where could they be?” She asked as he jumped off her back and she got off the ground to sit by him. “That construct I mentioned is gone too.” He said to her. “Why? Where could it have gone?” “I didn’t know it could move.” He replied to her. “It never moved before. I hope it didn’t hurt them.” “Could it?” She asked him. “I hope not.” He said to her and he leaned on her. The warmth from the little dragon seeped into his fur and he sighed, despair eating at him. “Are you cold?” She asked him. “I’m okay, little one.” He said to her as his back leaned against the metal door. “I wish you were bigger.” “Why?” “You could break down the door.” He said to her. The green she-dragon chuckled and nodded in agreement. “I never wanted to be as big as Red before. But I think it would be useful now.” “I agree.” He replied to her and patted her shoulder. She got to her paws and looked at the door and began to push against it. Trying to break through it. She paused and her nose sniffed the hole in the door. Her head pulled back and she began to snarl as she clawed at the door. “What is it?” He asked her. “He’s there! His scent is there.” He said to him. “I know. But you’re going to hurt yourself if you try to claw through the door.” He said to her. She stopped and looked back at him. Her yellow eyes stared at the door then looked back to him. She backed up and instead of turning to the door and ramming her shoulder into it a few times before she stopped and looked to him. “I know.” He said to her and sat back against the door.