//------------------------------// // 17: Netherworlds Aid... // Story: Overlords and Friendship... // by OblivionShadow //------------------------------// Azure walked down the dirt roads toward the crystal castle. His intention was to ask Twilight what the Queen of Changelings had meant by Element Bearers. While he was sure that there were other ways to get the information he needed, he knew that Twilight was the easiest way to get the information he wanted. The Overlord was quiet as Wrath stood on his back, his claws dug into the thick armor that covered Azure’s back. He reached the crystal castle, his magic opening the doors in front of him. His eyes scanned the front room and his ears flicked forward to listen to the room in front of him. His magic pushed it open and he found Twilight at the map table, books tossed across its smooth surface. “Twilight.” He called out as he approached her. She looked up at him, a smile crossing her muzzle. “Azure! How are you doing?” “I am well. Yourself?” She smiled and nodded at him. “I’m fine. Do you need anything?” “I have a few questions for you.” “Ask away.” She said to him. “What is meant by the phrase Element Bearers?” He asked her as he sat down across from her. She looked at him and her smile faltered as she thought it over for several seconds. “Oh! It most likely refers to the Elements of Harmony.” “And those are?” He pressed. “They are the Elements of Friendship in a way. I and my friends are their Bearers. They are the Elements of Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Honesty, Laughter, and Magic. They are what was used to banish Princess Luna when she turned into Nightmare Moon. They banished her to the moon for a thousand years. My friends and I used them to help turn her back into Princess Luna and then they were used on Discord to turn him into stone.” “So they are a weapon?” He asked her. “Kind of. They're more for defense really.” “And they are now?” “Right now they are in the Everfree forest within the Tree of Harmony. I can show it to you since it’s in your territory, technically.” Azure was quiet as he considered what she had said. “And you are fine with them being in my kingdom?” “Of course. You’re my friend and I know you would help us if needed.” She smiled wide at him as she spoke. Azure gave a slight nod to her and thought over what he had been told. Questions went through his mind. “Do they have a weakness?” Twilight nodded. “They work on Harmony. So long as the six of us are in harmony they can be used. If not then they don’t; work at all.” “How do you know?” “When Discord came back the first time he turned my friends into the opposite of our Elements and they were rendered ineffective. For example, he turned Rarity into a greedy pony and Rainbow abandoned us.” She explained. “I see. So they are not all powerful.” “No.” She assured him. “We obviously fixed it and we put Discord back into stone again at the end. I made a spell to remind my friends of who they are supposed to be and we were able to turn things back to normal.” Azure nodded to her and fell silent. “And now they are within the Everfree?” “Yep. Do you want to see them?” He considered it and then nodded. “I should see them in case I need to protect the area.” He lied to her. “That’s true. If we need the Elements than something has gone horribly wrong and we may need your help.” She agreed and came out from behind the table to join him. She set a hoof on him as the minions set their claws against his fur and hers. Azure opened his eyes and looked up to see a tree of crystal standing ahead of him. Its branches were solid crystal and the end of the main five branches held gemstones that were in the shape of the other mare’s markings. A gem in the shape of the same star of Twilight own mark was in the center of the trunk. He walked slowly up to it and stood a few feet away from it. His red eyes scanned the surface of the tree and it shone back at him. “Beautiful isn’t it?” Twilight said as she came to stand next to him. He gave a slight nod to her to show he had heard her but he remained silent. “So each gemstone belongs to one of you?” “Yes. We haven’t needed to use them again so they are staying here for now. The tree keeps the Everfree from attacking the rest of Equestria so we chose to leave them here.” She explained. “So they remain here and Equestria is then protected by what in their place?” “We just keep an eye out to make sure we don’t need them. So far nothing has happened that would make us need them.” She replied. “I see.” “How did you hear about them? Not many ponies really even know about them.” She asked. He said nothing for a moment as he sighed. “Juno heard something about them and she mentioned it to me.” “Oh. Well, she was in Canterlot so they might have heard of them. That’s more likely.” She agreed. “How is she?” “She is…” He paused as he searched for the right word. “Indisposed.” “Uh oh.” She giggled. “She is well aware of her failure at this time. So she is reflecting upon it.” He added to her and the purple mare covered her mouth with a hoof as he spoke. “Well, she did go against what you said and even disobeyed your rule.” She sneered. Azure watched as her eye color darkened for a moment but then faded back to normal. He said nothing to her about it and watched as she seemed uncertain for a moment but seemed to ignore the sudden feeling. He looked to the tree and then back to the Princess. “So how do we get here by ground?” He asked her. “Oh. Right, no problem. Come on.” The purple mare led him out of the chamber and he looked at the gorge that surrounded them on all sides. He saw the path that went from the ground to the top of the gorge and the pair of them walked toward it, the minions on their heels. She led him up the slope and he glanced over his shoulder to the bottom of the gorge and the entrance into the trees chamber. “See?” She said as she looked at him. He nodded in reply and his red eyes scanned the area around them. He knew that they were closest to Nordberg and he would have the diggers create a Gate close by to allow him to access the chamber at will. “That’s all I needed.” He said to the waiting mare and she smiled as she set a hoof on his armor and the minions crowded around them. He closed his eyes as they teleported and he opened his eyes to see the castle’s throne room around them. His red eyes scanned the room and he paused as the Netherworld bucked under him and he waited for several seconds as it stilled and went quiet once more. He looked at the purple mare next to him. “That was all I needed.” Twilight looked uncertain for a moment before she nodded and her magic opened the doors for him. His pace was hurried as the minions raced ahead of him and into their respective gates to return home. Wrath held tightly to his armor as the stallion reached the Gate and the magic sent him home. He opened his eyes as he scanned the area around him. The Overlord began to walk slowly around his throne room and out to the balconies to see what could have caused the upheaval within his domain. He could see the Netherworld walls shifting. “That’s…out of the ordinary.” He said aloud and looked at the minion on his back. “Find Gnarl.” Wrath leaped from his back and vanished around a corner as he did as he had been commanded. Azure watched the walls of his domain as they began to fray and dirt and lava fell from them. He heard hooves coming around a corner and he braced as Kelda ran into him and fell to her flanks. “My Lord?” She said to him as she got to her hooves. “What is going on?” “I have no idea, Love. Gnarl went to the minion burrows to look around. How long have you been back?” “A few minutes, I felt the Netherworld shift and I made sure to return with haste.” He explained to her as she hugged him tightly. “Thank the Dark you came back quickly. Gnarl was muttering something about the Tower being unstable and other things that I did not fully understand. Faye is still in Everlight so she isn’t here.” She explained as she released him. “I sent Wrath to get Gnarl for me so he can tell me what is going on.” He said to her and she nodded. “I didn’t understand any of it, but he looked…almost afraid.” She admitted. “If that is possible anyway.” Azure had to admit the thought of Gnarl being afraid was unsettling but he kept his composure and went quiet as he waited. Several minutes went by as he heard the sound of claws on stone and metal and he looked up as Gnarl and Wrath came around the corner. “Master!” Gnarl yelled at the sight of the red stallion. “Gnarl. What is going on? I am seeing the walls of my domain splintering.” Azure said to him as the minion joined him and Kelda. “You are right, Dark One. The Netherworld is an entity with the magic of its own that is connected to you. But it is also supported by itself. This world is very different from our own. There is very little by way of dark magic or magic that has become tainted or evil.” Gnarl explained quickly. Azure was quiet as he considered what the Minion Master had said. “So the Netherworld is starving in a sense?” “Yes.” Gnarl agreed and nodded his head. “There is nothing here for it to use or convert into anything that it can use. It has survived this long due to the power that it had gathered from before. If we do not find a way to ‘feed’ it, it will fall.” Azure nodded his head that he understood and his mind raced as he thought over how he could save the only home he had ever known. “There is no true evil in this world…There is no way we can quickly make anything that could be useful. Shit.” He began to pace and Kelda moved with him, staying close to him should he need her for anything. He could see that she was trying to think of anything as well and he remained quiet to allow them both to think clearly. He thought over what he had been doing in this world so far and he paused as his thoughts fell on Twilight. “Gnarl?” “Lord?” “I have been corrupting that Princess slowly. Her magic is being turned to mine slowly. Is she far enough along to be of use?” He asked. Gnarl looked thoughtful as he considered what had been said. “No, Sire. She is not enough.” Azure snarled and resumed pacing. Kelda remained with him as he thought further. “If we drain enough power from the surface could it be converted?” “No Sire. I had considered that as well and the power from the surface, while it is great it does not convert into evil or good. It’s a neutral that is good for powering the Tower Heart but not the Netherworld itself.” Gnarl advised. Azure tossed his head and growled in frustration as he resumed his frantic pacing. “We need magic that it can use…” His eyes scanned the area around him as he moved. His hooves thudded loudly on the stone balcony. “Can we use…” He paused as his mind slammed into place and a thought hit him in the face. “Can we use Twilight as a conductor?” “Pardon?” Gnarl asked him and Kelda looked at him as well. “Can I bring her here and have her channel her magic into the Tower Heart? Her magic is purely born of Equestria. But it also has a bit of mine within it. Is that enough to then use her to funnel my magic through her into the Heart for use to bolster the Netherworld.” “You mean to use her as a pathway for your magic?” Kelda asked him. “Yes. By using her to funnel both her magic and mine into the Tower Heart I can then push the magic in the Tower Heart out to the Netherworld. By doing that it can begin to ‘learn’ to convert eh magic of Equestria into fuel for it to live off of.” Azure went on. Gnarl looked at him for several seconds before a grin began to cross his wrinkled face. “Master, you are a genius.” He said as he began to pace as well. “By using the mare as a way to link the magic of Equestria to yourself we can ‘teach’ it to use the magic of Equestria as fuel.” “Exactly. If we can get the Netherworld to use the magic of Equestria to survive off of then it will not fall. By using Twilight as a conduit then I can funnel the tainted Equestrian magic through her and then replenish the Netherworld with the Tower Heart. Can the Heart handle that kind of power?” “Most easily, Sire,” Gnarl assured him. “It will not shatter this time. You have already strengthened it beyond what your Lord father had and it would take an enormous amount of power to shatter it again. It will do as you command.” “Okay. We have a plan. I will bring the pony here. Keep the Netherworld as stable as you can while I retrieve her.” He commanded and loped back to the Gate. “I’ll make something up for her to believe and get her to willingly pour her magic into the Heart.” He shouted as he vanished with a crash of thunder. Azure's hooves hit the metal of the Gate and he leaped off the stairs and galloped down the dirt road toward the crystal castle once more. His mind went over the lies he could tell her to get her to cooperate. His hooves thundered and Wrath held tightly to him as the red stallion raced down the road. His read aura gripped the doors and they were thrown open as he thundered inside. His hooves slid on the smooth floor as he galloped inside. His magic tossed open the second doors and Twilight yelped in shock as they banged against the walls inside. He panted for a moment as he trotted into the room. “Azure?” She called out to him as he stopped and breathed in for several seconds. “What's wrong? Oh by Equestria are you okay?” He looked up as she came trotting up to him and he gathered himself to speak to her. “I need your help.” He finally breathed out to her. She looked uncertain for a moment before her resolve and her clear desire to help him came forward. “Of course, what do you need?” “The Netherworld is dying.” He said to her and her eyes went wide. “Our old home was able to support it due to the content of the world around it. But here it has no anchor and because of that, it can’t use the natural magic that is in this world. The Netherworld was not born of this world.” “So it can’t use the natural magic that is in the soil to support itself.” She replied, ensuring that she understood as he nodded. “So what can I do?” “You have pure Equestrian Magic and enough of it that you might be able to help push it in the right direction. I have a focus that we can use to ‘show’ the Netherworld the magic that it needs to use. With it, I am hoping we can energize it and that should allow the Netherworld to begin to gather the power it needs from the world around it to support it as it converts that power into something it can use.” He explained. She looked thoughtful as he spoke and then she nodded. “Of course I’ll help. Do you just need me or do you think we will need more power? I’m sure Princess Luna or…” “No. For now, I trust you enough to go there but not them.” He cut her off with a curt edge to his voice. She looked to him and her lips set in a line as she nodded. “Let’s go.” She said to him, her eyes determined and her expression set. “I won’t let your home die, Azure.” He gave her a nod, spun, and galloped out of the castle, the Princess of Friendship on his heels. Their hooves drummed back through the town as he led her to the Gate. ‘Please let the Gates still be able to function even as the Netherworld falters.’ He thought to himself as they neared the Gate. The lightning from it was weaker and he nearly reached for the mare and threw her up the stairs. He felt her put a hoof on his hind leg as they reached the lightning and he commanded the gate. The lightning flared and a clash of thunder sends them to the netherworld. He opened his eyes and looked around them. He glanced back at Twilight as she sagged against his hind legs. He put a hoof back and held her up as she shook her head. “That was a lot farther than the others.” She said to him. “I would assume so. Come.” He said and trotted out to the balcony where Kelda and Gnarl waited. The Minion Master saw the purple mare at his back and his gaze remained impassive as she saw them both. Azure went to the side of the path and his magic flared as he called on the Tower Heart. Twilight stayed close to him and tried to look friendly to them. Kelda stayed back as the young mare stayed at his side. “That is Kelda.” He said to the Unicorn who nodded in reply. “Nice to meet you Kelda. I’m Twilight.” She greeted the other mare from his side. “Welcome to the Netherworld, Princess.” She replied with a slight bow of her head. Azure looked over at the other mare who smiled at him, it was obvious that Kelda would hold back and keep her mouth shut as needed. He knew her well enough to know that she could be trusted to keep his secrets to herself. The Minion Master came over and stood a few feet away as the Tower Heart came into view and hovered in front of them bare inches from the metal floor. Twilights eyes went wide at the sight of the Heart and she looked from the Heart to Azure and back again. “What is this?” She asked as she looked at it. “This is the focus that I mentioned. It can handle the magic that needs to go into the Netherworld. You channel through it and I will help.” He said to her. “Welcome to the Netherworld, Miss Twilight,” Gnarl said to her as he came to stand by them. “Our Lord has spoken of your willingness to help others and I thank you for your aid in this time.” He said to her. Azure knew that the advisor was chewing on his thanks to her and that he would need to hide in a dark corner later to recover from it. He said nothing as twilight nodded to the Advisor. “This is Gnarl, my lead advisor.” Azure informed her. “It’s nice to meet you as well. I will help however I can. I will do anything to make sure your home is safe.” She assured them and even Kelda smiled at her as she spoke. The cream mare approached and looked at the eager young mare. “Thank you for coming. Our Lord assured us that you would be willing to help and I am glad to see that he was correct.” Azure said nothing as he got the Tower Heart to hover closer to the mare and he left it to hover in place. “Can you channel your magic into this?” “Yes. I think so.” She said to him and turned her gaze to the circle in front of her. “What is it?” “It’s part of the Netherworld that can be used to help out in this situation.” He replied to her. She reached out a hoof and set it on the Hearts smooth surface and she pulled back, surprise going over her face as she looked at him. “It’s powerful. I can feel the magic inside it.” She said to him. “Can you still channel into it? If you can’t then we…” “No. I can. It’s fine. I was just surprised. I can do this.” She assured him, her voice firm. He nodded to her and backed up a step. “I’ll put a hoof on your shoulder to make sure you don’t stagger. Channel what you can into it and I will handle the rest.” He said to her. Kelda backed up with Gnarl and stood back to allow the Unicorns to work. Twilight breathed in and put her hoof back on the Heart and closed her eyes as her horn lit with her magenta aura. Azure's horn was covered with his own red aura and he reached out to the Heart as she began to push her own magic into the sphere. Azure pulled his magic back and focused it on the mare under his hoof. His magic went over her as she channeled, mixing her magic with his own and pushing as much as he dared through her. He pulled back his own magic as it mixed within Twilight and she kept pushing her magic into the Heart. He watched as she began to waver and he was about to pull her back when she squared her hooves and kept going. He watched as the Tower Heart began to glow brighter its natural luster growing stronger and it shone brightly in front of them. Her magic began to falter the longer she forced it into the Heart and he watched her closely as she began to pant, her breathing becoming ragged. His magic stayed with her as he slowly pulled his own magic away from her. He figured that she would stop once his magic was gone but she kept pushing her magic forward. He watched as her coloring began to shift a pink gradient coming up over her hooves and her wingtips shifted in color from purple to pink to a deep purple. Her tail and mane gained more coloring as a golden color moved through to join the normal purple and pink coloring. The brilliant pink coloring went over her hooves and stars of color began to come through her fur. Gold, purple and pink stars came out on her fur and she pushed forward as they appeared. Azure looked over his shoulder to Gnarl, who urged him forward. While she pushed onward he put his magic back into the mix and poured it into her. He looked to the Tower Heart as the light within it grew brighter and he could sense the power that was flowing into it was stronger than he thought it had been. He watched the Heart closely to ensure that it was not faltering under the flow of magic. His own magic poured through her and he knew that she should have been reaching the end of her limit but she kept going. Her mane and tail lengthened for several moments, their appearance shifting to flow similar to how Celestia’s own mane flowed like a river. He could see her weakening after over a minute of channeling everything she had and he could see that she was beginning to stumble. He watched her grit her teeth and he chose to pull her back on his own. His hoof gripped her fur and he yanked her back, pulling her hoof from the Tower Heart. She gave a weak cry as his magic commanded the Heart. He felt her suddenly grip his foreleg and hold tightly to him. His command went to the tower heart and it tore through the Netherworld away from him. He called on it to stop in the center and he bade it convert the magic it held and hold it within. He heard Gnarl shout at him but he ignored the Advisor. When he felt it was ready he commanded it to release the magic it had been given. Azure watched as the light within the Heart grew stronger and then he cringed as it was released into the Netherworld. The magic poured from the Heart and covered every inch and piece of the Netherworld around it. It poured from within and Azure felt it go over him and he looked up as the Netherworld began to rebuild itself. The magic from the Heart was absorbed and began to permeate the whole of the world around it. Twilights grip on his foreleg tightened and he looked to her as she sat down at his side and he allowed her to hold tightly to him. He watched as the coloring faded and her body returned to what was normal. She sagged against him and her head was pushed against his side, just behind his foreleg. He said nothing and looked back to the Tower Heart as its bright light faded back to it's natural luster and glow and he recalled it to him. The Heart came to him and he looked it over as hovered and he sighed in relief at the sight of the unblemished and undamaged Heart. He sent it back to its place within the Netherworld and allowed himself to sit down heavily. “Master?” Gnarl spoke as he hobbled to the pair of Unicorns. “Yes?” He replied. “Are you?” “I’m fine. Tried but fine.” He responded. “Twilight?” “I’m fine, Lord.” She said to him, her voice sultry. Azure caught the looks from Gnarl and Kelda at her wording. Azure looked down to her and she looked up at him, her eyes a deep red and her coat had turned a deeper purple. Her wings had gained a set of red feathers that flowed back into the rest of her wing. Their color the same as his own red fur. Her mane and tail had gained a stripe of silver, the same as his own. He looked at her and she sagged against him, her eyes closing. Azure looked to the others and they were still staring at her as she fell asleep. “Oh, my,” Kelda said to him as she came up to him and the unconscious mare. “Did you mean to?’ “No.” He admitted. “This might be a problem. I did not mean for her to be fully mine until later. I was not intending to turn her just yet.” Gnarl was quiet as he regarded the Princess now asleep at their Lords hooves. “It is possible that you can push back the magic in her and call on it later?” “Worth a try,” Azure replied with a nod. His magic went over her and he focused on the magic within her and he pushed the magic back. He dared not push it back to far. He would keep it close to her to allow himself to bring it out should the need arise. “I’ll push it just far back enough to allow it to be made active at any time. If something happens to me it will come forward and she will show herself to be mine.” He said to them and Gnarl nodded in agreement as her new features began to fade. When she had returned to normal he stopped and allowed her to remain as she had been before arriving in the Netherworld. He said nothing as the mare still slept on him and he permitted it for now. Gnarl came up to him and patted the red stallion’s armored shoulder. “Well done Dark One. The Netherworld is becoming more stable as time passes. It will take a few days for it to fully recover but it is working. Your idea worked.” He praised the tired pony. “Good. In a few minutes, I will try to wake her and take her back to her castle. I want to make sure she can wake up before I send her back. If she is harmed I will face trouble from her fellow rulers.” He replied as Gnarl nodded in agreement as he spoke. “She has proven more than useful,” Kelda admitted to him. “She gave everything for you Sire.” “I was a bit shocked when she did, to be honest. I would have pulled back before it brought me to my knees in her hooves.” He replied as he looked at the still mare. “Same here.” Kelda agreed. Azure put a hoof under the mares head to stop her from hitting her head on the stone and metal floor and shook her shoulder. She groaned but did not awaken at his gentle pushing. He rolled his eyes and shook her harder. “Twilight.” He said aloud, trying to get her to awaken. She groaned and snuggled her head against his hoof and he put his head back and rolled his eyes again. His magic picked her up and he set her on his back as he moved into the throne room. He set her on the floor again and he shook her once more. When she didn’t stir he groaned and gripped her shoulder tightly in his hooves. “Twilight!” He shouted her name and his hoof slapped her across one cheek. She yelped and looked at him. Her eyes were wide and they had returned to their normal coloring. She shook her head and rubbed her head in her hooves as he released her. “Oh by Celestia. My head.” “How do you feel?” Kelda asked her as she drew up next to him as he got to this hooves. “My head is killing me.” She admitted, as she looked up at him and her eyes went wide. “Oh! Did it work!?” Azure chuckled and nodded. “Yes. The Netherworld is stabilizing and will recover in time.” He said to her. “Thank Equestria!” She called out and then cringed as her head pounded. Kelda laughed at her and helped the mare to her hooves. “Thank you for your help.” She said to her and hugged her gently. “Your welcome. I’m just glad it worked and your home is safe.” She said to them and hugged the cream-colored mare in turn. Azure looked back as Gnarl rejoined them and stood at the side of Azure's throne. Azure left the mares and went to his throne to sit down. His head was ringing as he sat down and he knew he was magically tired and he sat quietly to allow himself to rest. “I have to admit I wasn’t sure it would work Azure,” Twilight admitted to him as she turned to face him. She paused at the sight of him on the elaborate throne and she stumbled in her words. “But it did so I am glad I could be of help.” Azure nodded at her and pushed himself to his hooves and came toward her. “I’ll get you back to your castle.” He said to her and joined her under the Gate. Twilight looked up and her eyes fell on the huge Gate above her and she looked nervous for a moment before Kelda nuzzled her gently and went back to her place by the throne. Azure commanded the Gate and he gripped Twilights shoulder and she stumbled when they got back to Ponyville. She stayed close to him as he led her back home. “You have my thanks, Twilight.” He said to her. “Anything I can do I will. You’ve helped me plenty of times. Was about time I did something for you.” She chuckled and nudged him with her shoulder. Azure nodded at her and led her up to the castle and his magic pushed open the door for her. She giggled and trotted back inside. He released the door and she came back out and hugged him tightly. She held him tightly and he patted her mane with one hoof. “Anytime you need help, let me know. I know you would do the same for me.” She said to him and let him go. He tilted his head to her and turned to walk back to the Gate. As he left her behind a smile pulled at his mouth and he fought back a laugh at the thought of what now hid within her, ready to come to his side when he called.