Hunter walked into the throne room and was greeted with Gnarl looking at him, the Minion Masters expression annoyed. He fought back the desire to roll his eyes as Wrath came out from behind his throne. The armored minion sat down at the foot of the throne and waited for the stallion to reach the throne.
“How is the Empire?” He asked Gnarl as he sat down.
“It is back in order, My Lord. Your notes on the rebuilding of the Empire were all that was needed. The Princess and her friends proved to be quite useful as the rebuilding went on.” Gnarl said to him as Dezhara came out from the balcony. “Your pet has been missing you, Lord.”
Hunter looked at the wolf as Gnarl glared at the beast. “That bad?”
“She was ready to be back Lord.”
“I see.” He replied as the wolf cuddled up to him and he ran his hooves over her fur. “And the rest of the report of the Empire?”
Gnarl nodded and stood at the foot of the throne and held a clipboard with his own notes on it. “As far as the mine that you were imprisoned in, it has been altered to be worked by the minions and the ponies will be monitoring the mine itself. Light Gaze has taken charge of the mine and will be sending the ore and gemstones through the Gates to be cached here in the Netherworld.”
Hunter nodded ad Gnarl spoke, his hoof still threading through Dezhara’s fur. “He is trustworthy enough for the task.”
Gnarl nodded in agreement and went on. “The location of the former Emissary’s home has begun construction into a public park at your command. The Princess and her friends saw the design to allow for foals and adults to enjoy.”
“Good. That is what I desired for the area. See to it that the construction of it is not interrupted in any way. How many minions and builders remain in place?”
“Over two hundred soldiers and one hundred and twenty builders. You have called for one hundred of each but I chose to speak with Princess Twilight about adding more to it and she agreed that doing so will make any nervous ponies feel more secure with the soldiers and the builders will finish the construction twenty percent faster.”
Hunter had heard the change to his own request of minions and Gnarl knew him well enough to know that he would have asked. “Understood. Make sure that the ponies are secure before we leave the territory.”
“Understood Lord,” Gnarl said as he jotted notes on his own papers as Hunter spoke. “As for the swath of land that was burned by the dragons it has begun to recover. When we left it was beginning to show signs of growing grass.”
“Good. I was concerned how long it would take since I unleashed the wrath of four dragons. When the land has fully recovered I want the land used for either businesses or homes for my ponies. Any ideas on the time frame?”
“If it continues to heal at the same rate then within the next two weeks it will become stable enough to use.” Gnarl supplied. “Princess Twilight saw to the stabilization of the area before she began to test it for any further damage.”
“That’s what I was wondering. Good, it will recover faster than I had expected.” Hunter admitted and patted Dezhara’s shoulder and leaned back in his throne. “Good to hear that the rebuilding is going ahead of schedule.” He leaned his head back and allowed his eyes to close for several seconds.
“Shall I inform the Princess that you have returned?” Gnarl asked him.
“Hmm?”
“She asked that I inform her,” Gnarl replied to the Overlord.
Hunter was quiet as he paused to decide. “Not at the moment. I need a bath badly.” He replied and got to his hooves.
His armored hooves thudded against the metal floor as he moved past it and toward the back where the path to his quarters sat.
“As you command,” Gnarl replied and bowed his head as the stallion vanished.
Twilight looked to her friends as they sat down to lunch. They had arrived back in the Netherworld the day before and they had been told that Hunter was still with the dragons. It had been almost three weeks instead of the two that he had been with them. They had not asked for the reason and instead just waited patiently. She smiled as her sandwich was brought to her and she picked it up carefully to eat.
“So what do ya think he’s up ta?” Applejack asked through her own lunch.
“He’s probably playing with lots of baby dragons.” Pinkie replied.
“Depends on how many made it out of the eggs but I think you're right.” Twilight agreed.
“What do ya think he’d do if they all survived?” Applejack asked.
“I think he would be shocked but pleased.” Rarity said as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
Fluttershy nodded in agreement with the Unicorn. “We will just have to wait until he gets back to ask him more.”
The others nodded in agreement. Spike sat in his seat next to her and Twilight could almost feel the excitement coming from the young dragon. “Calm down Spike. None of us can go down and see the babies, remember?”
Spike frowned and nodded. “I know. But I can’t wait to hear all about them.”
“You don’t have to wait too long.”
Twilight and the others turned to stare at the Overlord walked into the room. A smile went over her muzzle at the sight of him.
“Gnarl mentioned that you had requested that he tell you when I returned,” Hunter said to them as Wrath jumped from his back.
The minion pulled out his chair and the black stallion sat down and looked to each mare in turn, Dezhara sitting at his side. Wrath ran to the kitchen and vanished from sight. The Overlord leaned back in his chair as Wrath emerged a few seconds later carrying a platter with a glass of wine. His magic gripped the glass and he took a sip as he regarded the mares.
“So Gnarl told you about me asking him to tell me when you got back?” Twilight asked him, a slight blush on her cheeks.
“Yes. He mentioned it.”
“So you just got back?” Rainbow asked him.
“No. Been back for a couple of hours.” He admitted. “You’ll thank me for waiting. I can assure you that I was in no condition to be around anypony else.”
“I’m sure it would have been fine.” Twilight started as he chuckled.
“No. I promise I needed a bath first.” He laughed and the mares chuckled as he spoke and he waited as they looked back to him.
“So how did it go?” Spike asked him, clear excitement in his eyes.
“It went well.” He replied to him.
“How many survived?” Fluttershy asked him.
“Five.” He replied to her.
“Not all of them made it?” Twilight said to him.
“No. Five of the eggs were silent.” Hunter said to her.
“What colors were they?” Rarity asked him, trying to distract from the fact that some of the eggs had died.
“A red, dull green, emerald, white, and black,” Hunter said to her.
“Another green and red?” Applejack commented.
“They are duller than the older ones but the colors are similar,” Hunter explained. “Black and white are the rarest of the colors.”
“So since you got both of them?” Twilight asked.
“It means that good things will come in the future,” Hunter replied to the mare.
“They all healthy?” Applejack asked as he sipped his wine.
“They are. The black was the last out of the shell but is proving to have the biggest appetite.”
“That’s how it always is.” Fluttershy giggled.
Hunter nodded in agreement. He opened his mouth to speak but paused as Sorkeno reached out to him. He swallowed the last of his drink and stood up. “Enjoy the rest of your meal.” He said as he turned to the entrance and left the dining room behind as he broke into a trot.
The black stallion was quiet as he rounded the corner and loped up to the chamber above the dining hall that had the biggest area. He waited as the golden dragon came into view and he bellied up to the ledge and his body flowed over the edge and he set the black Dragling on the stones in front of the Overlord. Hunter was quiet as the infant saw him and its deep ocean blue eyes saw him and it scrambled ungainly toward him. They had been forcing the babies to move their legs and bodies and he stayed in place. Hunter braced as the baby collided with him and nuzzled against his armored chest. Sorkeno leaned down and regarded the two of them.
“He’s getting better at moving,” Hunter said aloud to the golden dragon.
“He is. The others are not as able to move forward. He is doing well. He’s using his legs more than the others.”
“That’s good to hear. Are they all eating well?”
“Yes. They are constantly ravenous. I think Maranna is slowly going insane as she is acting as their plaything.”
“Oh. Poor Maranna. Those red scales are getting chewed on aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Sorkeno replied. “She is doing well considering. But I suppose it will soon be Setan’s turn to sit with them.”
“Oh, he will be thrilled,” Hunter replied as the draglings head was under him.
Hunter groaned as the baby was emerged underneath him and then raised his head. The Overlord tipped to the side as the baby crooned and Sorkeno began to laugh as Hunter was tossed to the ground.
“Ouch.” He said aloud, sarcasm in his voice.
The black chirped and laid over the stallion’s body, trying to play with him as if he were a Dragling. Hunter got to his hooves as he tried to discipline the baby and get him to stop but was failing as the baby got under him once more. Hunter jumped over him and called out to the baby to chase him. The infant fell for the taunt and he squirmed after the armored black stallion. Hunter stayed a few feet away from him and allowed him to chew on his tail to entice him to follow further. The Dragling followed closely behind him as Sorkeno watched them play. The Overlord trotted ahead and the baby stayed with him and then fell to the ground. A startled yelp escaping it.
“Oh no.” Hunter crooned and went back to him. “Come now.”
Hunter looked down to the Dragling as he stayed stubbornly on the ground. Hunter leaned down to nuzzle the baby. The infant looked up as the stallion crooned to him and nuzzled him gently. Hunter got up under the babies side and began to lift him, encouraging him to stand. The baby yelped in alarm as he was being lifted. Hunter grunted as he got under the babies belly and got him to his paws. Once he was certain he would stand on his own he slowly let go of him. The baby’s legs shook for a moment as he tried to stay standing. Hunter watched to make sure he would stay standing. He walked ahead of him and tried to encourage the Dragling to walk.
“Treating him as if he were a foal?” Sorkeno said quietly to him.
“Might as well get him walking,” Hunter replied with a shrug. “Normally even foals are not asked to walk at this young so I will not fault him if he falls to the floor again.”
“He will stand as you wish,” Sorkeno said to him. “He is yours.”
Hunter didn’t reply as the little black looked to the ground and then back to the stallion. An uncertain mewing came from the Dragling as Hunter went back to his side and stood close by. The baby looked to him and watched closely as the stallion walked a few steps away from him. His red eyes waited as the baby started forward. His legs shook he tried to reach the stallion. His legs gave way and he fell to the ground with a startled cry. Hunter went back to him and encouraged him once more. Its deep blue eyes looked at him as he helped it stand once more. Once more he led it forward once again.
Sorkeno leaned down and nudged the babies flank to get him moving and he walked shakily forward. Hunter watched and a smile pulled at his mouth as the baby walked forward to reach him. He walked slowly forward, ensuring that his flank stayed just in front of the black’s nose.
Sorkeno watched as the Overlord and the infant walked around the room. He could feel the pleasure that went through the stallion at the sight of the walking baby dragon. Sorkeno felt much the same at the sight of the Overlord and his baby dragon. He had brought the baby to him to ensure that the infant did not lose his connection to the stallion. Their bond was strong already but it was no something that was meant to be allowed to falter. While he was connected to the Overlord he was also bonded to the baby but Hunters connection to him came first.
He had been there the moment he had hatched and his scent had been the first. Hunter had been feeding him and now Sorkeno had taken over that with Hunters return to the Dark Tower. But he had agreed that they could not allow the bond they shared to lessen. They would use the area above the dining hall to allow him to play and connect with the Dragling.
Sorkeno watched around them to ensure that no pony got to close to the pair. His natural tendency to permit nopony around the newborn was lessened by the connection he had to Hunter. But that did not mean he would allow any other near the Dragling. His ears flicked and he saw a pony off to the side of them. His eyes widened as outrage and protectiveness flowed over him and he roared as he lunged forward to confront the intruder. Behind him he vaguely heard Hunter call out to him as he advanced, teeth bared and fire in the back of his throat.
He watched the pony flee and he stooped as their hoof beats vanished down the stairs and away from them. He snarled as his long neck craned to follow the sound and the pony screamed and fled further away. Once the sound vanished he looked back to the Overlord, who was standing over the baby, who was now on the floor.
“Sorkeno!” Hunter called out to him as he returned to \them.
“It was a pony that was too close.”, Sorkeno explained.
Hunter relaxed and the infant got to his feet as The Overlord was no longer standing over him. “I didn’t get a good look either. Whoever they were if I find out they got to close I will punish them as needed. There are no chores that are needing to be completed up here at this time. I am certain of it.”
Sorkeno felt himself relaxing once more as the infant began to walk close around them, not straying too far from their sides. “It sounded female. Or a very upset male.”
Hunter laughed at the dragon's words and nodded. “Most likely a mare then.”
Hunter was quiet as the golden dragon began to settle once more. He felt the baby bump against him and he began to walk around with him once more. The black walked away from him and he trotted to stay close to him. He could vaguely recall his own mother staying with him as he had wandered but he had only vague recollections of her and none showed her face. He shook his head and focused on the black Dragling once more.
Twilight laughed with her friends as a roar shook the Tower. A scream sounded and Twilight looked over her shoulder as Soft Touch waved a hoof for her to remain with her friends as she took off to investigate.
“What the hay?” Applejack said aloud after several seconds.
“That was definitely a dragon,” Rainbow replied to her.
Twilight nodded in agreement. “No doubt. But what is one of them doing up here?”
The others shook their heads as she spoke. Soft Touch came into view as she consoled a mare off to the side of the room. Twilight was shocked when she gave the other mare a slap to the face. Twilight was surprised but the mare hysterics stopped at the impact and she seemed to calm. They whispered and Soft Touch grew to look angrier as the time went by. Twilight got out of her chair and went to them.
“Soft Touch?”
“My Lady?” She replied at the sight of the princess.
“Is everything okay?”
“No. She saw the dragons and decided that she wanted a better look. So she intruded in their space and is upset that the Lord Dragon was angry with her. They do not allow anypony except the Master near them when the babies are involved.” Soft Touch growled.
“Babies?” Twilight asked her. “Aren’t they supposed to be with the other dragons?”
“Not this one. The Lord Dragon brought it up here for the Master and she decided to intrude.” She snarled and glared at the now cringing mare. “You will be lucky if the Master allows you to keep your place here. The last pony to get to close to the babies did not survive it.”
Twilight said nothing for a moment as the mare looked at her. “Soft Touch is right. You were wrong to go near the babies. No pony is allowed near them for a reason. You’re very lucky that Sorkeno did not hurt you. I expect you to go to Hunter and explain what you have done. You were wrong.”
The mare nodded as she got to her hooves and slunk out of the room. Twilight pulled her handmaiden to her hooves and the mare bowed her head as she retook her place at the door waiting for them to finish. They finished their food and left the dining room. Twilight looked up the stairway and saw Sorkeno’s golden tail blocking it halfway up the walkway. She glanced at the others and tipped her horn for them to look up. The others all stared at the golden scales for a moment before they nodded in understanding.
Hunter was silent as he looked up as Twilight came into the throne room, her hoofbeats echoing on the stone floor. Papers hovered around him as Dezhara got up from the pet bed at the side of his throne and approached the mare, who smiled at the wolf. She ran her hooves through the wolf’s thick fur. The dire wolf came trotting back to him as he set the papers aside and waited as twilight came to the bottom of the throne.
“Do you have time?” She asked him.
“For?” He asked as his eyes scanned the papers.
“To help me write to the Princess?”
His eyes closed as he recalled her request. “Yes. Sorry, give me a moment.”
The Overlord set the documents to the side and pushed himself off the throne and walked down the stairs to join her as she sat down on the last step. His armor creaked as he sat down. Her magic called on a scroll and quill in her magic and she looked at him, her eyes hopeful.
“Ready?” She asked him.
“Go ahead.”
“Okay, typical Dear Princess Celestia opening and now to the rest. How to describe everything that happened?” She said to him with a giggle. “We left the Upper Citadel and it was uneventful. Unless you think I need to have more details?” She asked him as she paused to speak directly to him.
“Not if you don’t think so. The main body of the letter should tell of the Empire in my opinion.” He admitted to her.
“I agree.” She nodded as she looked to the scroll in her magic. “We were going to the empire when a large…” She paused and appeared to be trying to recall details. “What was that monster you fought called?”
“Oh, the Sky Serpent?” He supplied.
“Yes thank you.” She said as she added the name he had supplied. “A Sky Serpent attacked and Hunter stayed behind to protect the caravan while my friends and I went to the Empire ahead of him. He arrived shortly after we did.” She looked at him again. “How did you get rid of that thing? We didn’t see the body on the way back.”
“Oh. I used different magic to burn the body away.” He waved a dismissive hoof but paused at the hungry for knowledge gaze from the purple Alicorn. He sighed in reply to her gaze. “I used some of the power I get from Sorkeno to kill it when I ran out of arrows.”
“Oh. You can use it for that? I thought it just gave you the ability to reach out to him?” She asked.
“It can be brought into the physical realm by focus and then I can use it the same as my own magic. I used it to make an arrow and used it to destroy it. Did they not bring back the fang I took from it?”
“Oh is that what that was? Yes. It came back and Gnarl took it when we got here.” She replied to him.
“Ahh, then it is probably in my trophy room.” He said to her.
She looked at him for a moment before she shook her head and looked back to the letter she was writing. “That night was uneventful as well and in the morning Soft Touch told me that Hunter had gone missing. I asked Soft Touch to gather any information she could inside the guest building and my friends and I went out into the Empire City.” She stopped and looked at him to make sure he was with her and agreed. He nodded and she went on with his agreement. “We found Dezhara being held in a cage by a pony in the city and freed her. We all saw Sorkeno coming and joined him in a field close by. I figured that he would be able to find Hunter easily by the…”
“Nope,” Hunter said to her and shook his head. “My connection to the Lord Dragon stays out of it remember?”
She paused and blinked for a moment and then nodded as she struck the words from the page and began again. “He would be able to find him by a stronger sense of smell. But he was not able to for some reason?”
“That will work. Just that he could not find me and later we can mention the magic dampening.” He said to her and she nodded in reply.
“Perfect. Okay. He just was not able to. We spoke with Sorkeno and it was decided to bring in some of the younger and much smaller dragons to help us track Hunter's scent in the city. He summoned them and three more of the large dragons and three young dragons came to join us.” She looked at him once more and the Overlord nodded for her to go on. “So I showed the three young dragons to the building in town that we believed he had been in at some point. They were able to track him and I sent Green back to the adults to let them know what we were doing. I kept Red and Grey with me as we kept tracking.”
Hunter leaned back against the stairs and chuckled. “Was quite the adventure.”
Twilight barked a laugh and nodded. “It really was. I have been in fights of my own but that was different.”
“How so?” He asked and looked to her.
“It was just…more brutal than anything I have dealt with. I fought Tirek and that was brutal. But nothing like the Empire.”
“You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“They really meant to kill you.”
“Ahh. That’s the part you’re still having trouble with?”
“Yes.” She admitted and set down her letter and spun to look at him. “Your world is within a few days travel from mine and it’s like night and day.”
Hunter rolled his shoulders and nodded. “That’s true. It’s just always been like that.”
“Did they do that to your dad?”
“Yeah, they did. The difference was that he did not have to retake the kingdom. They were allowed to govern themselves for a while and they got a taste for it. Unfortunately, I retook the lands and implemented the old rules that had been in place when my father was still their ruler.”
“Removing slavery?”
“That was the first to go. The Empire and Everlight were the only ones that I needed to make sure that was done. Nordberg and the territories around it did not have such a thing. Only the main cities had that affliction that needed to be remedied. They hate that I was able to bring them to heel. They tried a few times to overthrow me but I had thought us past it. But it seems I was incorrect.”
Twilight was quiet as he spoke and she nodded. “What is the appeal of having a pony, another pony, as a slave? I can see them serving of their own choice and being employed. But against their will?”
“I am not sure of it either. I do not see the appeal either. Those that live under me are equal and nothing will change so long as I rule. Any after me will be the same.” He said to her and leaned forward. “Nothing like it was ever in Equestria’s history?”
“If there was it’s been long forgotten.” She replied and looked to the throne behind them. “It’s different too.”
He looked over his shoulder to the stone and metal throne. “How do you figure?”
“Well, it’s darker.” She joked to him and he barked a laugh. “Anypony in Equestria can go before Princess Celestia and Luna. They can go to Canterlot and stand before their throne. But it gives off a different feel then yours. The first time I saw it I was actually scared of it.”
“Scared of a chair?” He said to her and she rolled her eyes at his expression of confusion. “No, I’m being honest. How can you be scared of an inanimate object?”
“It’s not what it is it’s what it means that was scary. At home, I have my throne but it gives off a different feeling. Yours gives off the feeling of a KING versus a prince. It’s just a different feeling.”
“I am a King. But I suppose I see your point.” He said to her and looked from her to the throne behind him. “It’s meant to act as a bastion in its own way. If I am not here when emissaries arrive then they are muzzle to muzzle with the throne itself. The walls of the Upper Citadel are meant to stand as a testament to the futility of fighting me and the Throne is the inner wall. It stands as it did with my father. While I have altered it to be mine it still stands.”
“All of it is yours. Do you ever feel like it’s not?”
“I used to. I used to think I was a foal playing with my father’s armor. At first, I thought I was trying to convince those around me that I was ready to stand for myself but as time went on…” he stood up and his hooves thudded against the stone steps as he walked up to the throne and set a hoof on one of the leg rests. “I realized that I was trying to convince myself. I was still in his shadow.”
Twilight was quiet as she got to her hooves and turned to look at him. “As time went on?”
“As time went on I realized that I was fooling myself and I needed to come to terms with the fact that I am not my father. I am Hunter Flame and I am the High Overlord of the North. That took time to understand. I floundered the first few battles but I found my stride in time.” He said as his hoof gripped the throne in front of him. A chuckle broke from him. “Care to try it?”
“Huh?”
He stepped back and tipped his horn to the fur-covered stone and metal throne. Her eyes went wide as she walked up to him and paused in front of it. She turned and very slowly sat down in the throne that was far too large for her smaller frame. He backed up and watched as she looked from him to the throne back and then back to him.
“I look like a foal sitting in their dad’s recliner.” She said to him.
Hunter broke into laughter and nodded at her. “You kind of do. I did not realize how much smaller you are than it is. I didn’t think it would look so massive in comparison. But now you can laugh when you look at it versus tremble.” He added as she scowled at him.
She giggled and nodded in agreement. She jumped out of the throne and made a motion for him to sit and he laughed as he went past her and sat down. His back against the back of the throne and his forelegs in place on the armrests. He looked out over the room and a sigh pulled from him.
“What is it?” She asked as she tilted her head to him.
“It’s nothing. Shall we go on with your letter?” He said as he pushed himself out of the throne and went back to the discarded letter and quill. He glanced over his shoulder as she nodded and rejoined him. She spoke aloud as his mind wandered and he looked to the throne one last time before he focused on her once more.