Hunter was silent as he walked through the hallways of the Netherworld. One of Twilights guards brought him a letter informing him that Rarity had finished his armor and was ready to show it to him. His hoof steps echoed as he moved, his stride fluid. The black stallion looked forward as he neared the end of the hallway and the room that Rarity used for her designs. His magic pushed the door open and both mares looked up as he walked into the room, leaving the door open behind him.
“Thank you for joining us, dear.” Rarity said to him as he looked to them.
“You said it was finished. I have to admit I am wondering what you were able to do with it.” He admitted as he stopped close to them.
In between them, a mannequin sat, it held his armor that was covered by a white sheet. Rarity reached over, gripped it in her hoof and yanked it off the mannequin to show him what hid underneath it. At first, he didn’t notice much of a difference until she pushed it toward him, allowing him to see the sides and behind it. The white mare smiled as his eyes widened slightly at the sight of the redone armor. Where it had been gold it was now pure silver and seemed to glow in place. The edges were done in sapphire blue. Their coloring designed to make the blue in his mane brighter and allow his red eyes to shine brighter against the coloring. It no longer had the obsidian edges that had shown the edges of the armor plates. It now had faint snatches of gold in places. The band that went around his hind legs to keep the armor in place was now brilliant silver instead of gold.
“I had thought to put a tailcoat in place but it didn’t fit with the new coloring very well. It simply would have blended in with your black coat.” Rarity explained to him. “Instead I made small changes here and there to the coloring and I added gemstones in place of the joint to hide them.”
Hunter looked closer at the joints of the armor and he could see the onyx, sapphire, and diamonds in the joints to distract from the joints themselves. “That works. They are hidden from view this way. I think it is well done and will still be able to shield me should the need arise. But for the Gala, it will fit in well.”
Both mares nodded in agreement. Rarity’s horn lit and a crown appeared in her magic. “And for the last piece.”
Hunter cringed at the sight of it until the full item was shown to him. The thick weaves of gold and silver had been replaced with thin vine-like strips of pure silver and bright gold spiraled up to hold the large Amethyst in place. A separate vine wove down on each side and joined in front of his horn and held a bright blue Sapphire in place. Rarity placed the crown over his head and it slid into place as though it had been sized properly from the beginning.
“I had to borrow your helm to get the measurements for the smaller gem correctly. Your advisor was more than happy to help once I had explained why I was asking for your helm. So long as I stayed close to him when I was using it he was fine with me handling it.” She explained at his look. “And it looks marvelous on you. I must admit that finding a bright sapphire was the hardest part.”
“How so?” Hunter asked her as he looked into a nearby mirror and admired the workmanship.
“I asked my guards for a baby blue sapphire and one of them ran off to get what I had asked for. He returned with more than twenty colors of sapphire. From the lightest color to the darkest.”
Hunter chuckled. “In their defense, they are not schooled on the colors of gemstones. It’s not something that I thought they would need to know. They know the types of gems but not the coloring variety of each one. So be thankful he had the gem type right.”
“That’s a good point darling.” Rarity admitted with a look to the guards that stood off to the side of them.
“I must give credit where it is due Rarity. I find myself not hating the crown as much as I used to. Gnarl will be pleased to hear that.” Hunter said to her.
“He’ll try to get you to wear it more.” Twilight teased.
“I might actually wear it now. I never thought to redesign it.”
“Even if you did, do you have the time to accomplish a redesign?” Twilight asked him.
He shook his head. “No, I don’t.” He admitted easily. “Thank you again Rarity. It is an improvement from its former appearance.”
“Your welcome darling. It was a pleasure to work with it. It challenged me and I enjoyed the challenge greatly.” She replied with a flick of her mane.
Hunter motioned for Twilight to come with him as he turned away from the white mare as she began to pack her materials into their bags and the Alicorn followed him out of the room. Hunter kept his crown on just to show the mare that he was pleased with it.
“I will send Grubby and the diggers to ready the Gate at the border for you,” Hunter said to her and she nodded as he spoke. “I will go with you to the border. We sent a timeline to Celestia to ensure that your ride is there and ready for you?”
“Yes. She said that she would have them there at midday. Gives us plenty of time to get through the Gate.” Twilight assured him.
He watched ahead as they walked toward the throne room. He walked into the room and Gnarl looked up from his work to see his Master walk into the room. The minion master was quiet as Hunter approached him. The advisor looked up and his eyes fell on the crown that Hunter wore.
“Master. You hate that crown.” He said as the stallion approached and then Hunter lowered his head to allow Gnarl to look closer. “It did not always look this way.”
“Rarity redesigned it. I don’t hate it.” He informed the Advisor.
“Does that mean you will wear it?” Gnarl asked him, his tone uncertain as he spoke to the Overlord.
“I might.” He replied and brought his head back up. “Send out Grubby and the diggers to craft the Gate at the border for Twilight and the others to use to get back to Canterlot.”
“As you command Master,” Gnarl replied as he bowed his head and looked to the minions around them.
Hunter backed away and watched as the minions took off to give out his commands. At his side, Twilight stood still and waited. “It will take them a couple of hours at most to create it. In the meantime, I suggest you get your things ready. Soft Touch will go with you.”
“Why?” Twilight asked him and he looked to her. “I mean, why does she need to go with me?”
“Her task is to assist you. I have heard of how you tend to forget to eat or relax when you’re stressed or have things to attend to. Soft Touch will ensure that you are ready for the Gala. When I leave I will take her with me. Unless you intend to return here.”
“I will talk to Princess Celestia and Luna. I don’t see why not but I’m not sure what they will want to do since you have no intention to pull back your claims.”
“Correct. Those borders were made before either of us and I will uphold them.” He replied, finality in his voice.
“They might want to talk to you about them as well.” She said to him.
“They can talk all they like. I am not backing down.”
Twilight nodded in understanding. “I figured as much.”
The black stallion fell silent as Grubby joined them with several diggers at his side. They looked to the stallion who pointed his horn to the Minion Master and Gnarl took over their commands. Hunter regarded the purple Alicorn once more before he moved out of the throne room and out to the platforms. He didn’t call on any of them but simply stood quietly in place.
“I trust you still have packing to do?” He said to her and she nodded in reply. “I suggest you get going then. I will meet you here when you’re ready.”
“We will be using that Gate?” She asked and pointed to the main Gate behind them.
“Yes. I figure it will be easiest as it is the most powerful of them and can handle a large group and luggage to match. You will need me to command it anyway.”
“Gnarl commanded the one in the Empire.”
“That one is smaller than this one and this one is the Source of them. There is only one Gate in the Netherworld and it is that one. All of them join to this main Gate and it is the one that commands them all. Only I can command it. To get to the Empire Gnarl used the Minion Gates. While he is the eldest and most intelligent of them, he is not me.” Hunter informed her and she nodded.
“Got it. Okay, thanks for letting me know. I’ll be back in a bit with everypony when we are ready.” She said and her guards surrounded her as she took to her heels.
Hunter said nothing in return as she ran away from him.
Twilight and the others came into the throne room with their guards carrying their luggage. Hunter looked up from his throne and regarded them. Soft Touch came up behind them, a small bag gripped in her teeth. He could see the nervousness in her expression and he knew that she was apprehensive about leaving the Netherworld Empire. He had spoken to her at length about her tasks and she understood that she would be returning home either way. He pushed himself up from his throne and came to stand in the center of the Gate. Spike came up to him and patted the stallion’s leg as the others gathered.
“Stand in the circle. Anyone outside of the indent on the floor will get left behind.” He informed them.
The mares all moved into place and the minions ensured that their things made the trip as well. Hunter waited until he was given the signal by Gnarl. The Overlord looked up to the Gate and his will commenced it to activate. Thunder crashed and the azure lightning flashed violently above and around them. The mares all cringed down, their eyes tightly shut. This Gate was the most powerful of them and Hunter was well used to the sound it made and the feeling it evoked when used. He opened his eyes and they were at the newest of the Gates.
“We are here.” He called out to them and they all looked up as he spoke.
“Wow,” Twilight said aloud. “You weren’t kidding when you said it was the most powerful. I could feel the power that is used. With the little one we used to get back from the Empire you could barely feel the power it used. That one was like a tsunami.”
“It takes getting used to. I barely notice it now. At first, it was overwhelming but now it’s not something I pay attention to. If it fluctuates then I notice, but not normally.” He explained.
He watched as the Pegasus guards looked to him and he regarded them for a moment before he nodded to them, allowing them to come across the border and retrieve the mare’s things. The black stallion remained off to the side as the chariots were loaded and the mares prepared to go back home for the upcoming Gala.
Twilight joined him and leaned close to him, motion with one hoof for him to lower his head to her. “I’ll have your room at the castle ready for you.” She assured him. “The day before, right?”
“What time?” He asked her.
“Noon?”
“That works.”
“We can go to lunch.” She said, excitement in her tone.
“That’s fine by me.” He replied to her. “Gnarl mentioned about keeping my attendance quiet, correct?”
“Oh yes. He made it clear that you wanted to shock the Princesses.” She giggled. “Our friends will keep it under wraps as well.”
He paused at her use of the word ‘ours’ but he said nothing in reply. “Thank you for your discretion.”
“Not a problem. What in…?” She looked up as Hunter looked away from her and to the skies.
She stared as Sorkeno winged his way to them and landed easily in front of them. The Pegasus guards scattered at the sight of the enormous golden dragon, while the mares all gathered to see him.
“I came to bid you all safe journey, Little Princess,” Sorkeno said to her as he lowered his head to her.
“Thank you Sorkeno,” Twilight said to him and went up to his snout and hugged him best as she could.
Hunter stood back with the dragon at his side. “Till later.” He said to her.
“Till later Hunter.” She replied and got Spike into her chariot and he watched as the guards hastily got into their traces and flapped their wings.
Twilight looked down as Canterlot stretched under her. Her friends had been taken to Ponyville while she went to Canterlot first. She needed to meet with Princess Celestia and Luna to let them know what she had learned so far.
Soft Touch sat beside her the chariot awaiting her orders. “I will wait for you, My Lady.”
“That’s perfect, Soft Touch. It won’t take very long.”
She would leave her handmaiden with the Pegasus guard’s while she went inside. She had promised to keep his personal life out of her letters and she vowed to keep the same silence to the others. She had given him her word and she intended to keep it no matter what they asked of her. They landed just outside the castle and Twilight jumped out of the chariot with a grateful glance to the guards who had brought her back to the capital. She walked into the castle and made her way to the throne room. The doors were thrown open and she walked into the room, her hooves heavy on the red carpet.
“Welcome back Twilight.” Celestia greeted her with a wide smile, her eyes bright and warm.
She smiled in reply and bowed her heads to the other Princesses. Luna was quiet as she sat next to her sister. Her eyes fell on the lack of guards and other ponies in the room. She almost laughed at how she looked around the room for threats. Hunter had more of an impact on her than she had thought.
“It’s good to be back. How have things been while we were gone?” She asked.
“They have been well. Your families all asked to see you and they will be glad to see you back from your journey.” Celestia replied to her. “How was your experience? Your letters made it seem as though you were making progress with him.”
“He will not be rescinding his claim.” She said to them with a shrug of her shoulders.
Luna looked at her sister and shook her head with a low sigh. “How was he with you? You stayed longer than I was permitted to.”
“He was very stiff and formal at first but over time he calmed and was very kind to us.” She replied and Luna's eyes went wide in shock.
“The Overlord was anything but kind to us,” Luna replied.
“Yeah… he mentioned that.” Twilight commented with a small smile. “I did ask him later and he said that you were…umm…He said that you were demanding and annoying.”
Celestia snorted as she hid her muzzle behind her hoof. Luna's eyes went wide once more as she spoke and Celestia closed her eyes as she tried not to laugh as her younger sister’s expression. Twilight shrugged once more and tried not to giggle as the Moon Princess stared.
“Thank you for acting as an Emissary to him Twilight,” Celestia said as she composed herself as Luna grumbled and cursed. “And thank you for coming back to help with the Gala. We can discuss the rest of your experience at a later date. Right now we have many things that we need your help with.”
The Overlord looked over his travel trunk as he checked the list he had with him to make sure he had his things ready for the next day. He heard Sorkeno shift outside on the balcony. The golden dragon was waiting for him to come outside and speak with him. Hunter closed the trunk and walked out to the dragon.
“You called?” He teased the dragon as he left his room and walked out onto the balcony.
The dragon lowered his head and regarded the stallion with prismatic eyes. “How are you getting to her castle?”
“I planned on traveling by dragon.” He replied as Sorkeno regarded him and tilted his head, awaiting an explanation. “I am the Overlord of the North and anything less than a dragon would be ill-fitting.”
Sorkeno laughed at his explanation and nodded. “You have a point Little One. I can easily carry your trunk as well. Wrath will be most unhappy about the long flight.”
Hunter chuckled and nodded. “Dezhara will be staying here. I’ll move her into the throne room with Gnarl while I’m gone. I don’t think there is an easy way to transport her.”
“I trust you will be taking a short vacation In Equestria?” Sorkeno said to him.
“Why?” Hunters head snapped back to the dragon.
“You deserve a small break, Little one.” He replied.
“I have way too much to do Sorkeno.”
“You should use the time to see more of Equestria, not just its capital.”
“IS Gnarl aware that you’re trying to get me to take time off?” Hunter asked him.
“He suggested it,” Sorkeno replied.
Hunter looked at the dragon, his expression one of disbelief. “I’ll have to confirm that.”
“Is the thought of taking a break truly so terrible, Little One?”
“It’s not that it’s terrible. It’s just…not a concept I had considered before.” The dragons head gave a slight tilt to the side, waiting for an explanation. “I had to fight and claw for my kingdom. I had to fight to retake it and the thought of leaving it for an extended time is a very foreign concept.”
“You are not abandoning your ponies. They will be awaiting you upon your return. Gnarl is more than capable of holding it together for a short time.”
“I understand that. But at the same time, I had to give so much to retake it all.” Hunter walked away from him to the edge of the balcony that overlooked the Netherworld. “I’m just hesitant.”
“Do not think of it as leaving your ponies to chance. You will be doing much the same thing Twilight did. She left to come here to you, she is an Emissary.” Sorkeno said to him and the stallion looked over his armored shoulder to the dragon as he went on. “She came here to understand your kingdom and how it is run and how it works. You can do the same. While you will not be gone for nearly as long as she has been it can still provide you with the wealth of information that you wish for.”
“That is one way to think about it,” Hunter admitted.
“But for now you should look to the young mare that invited you to the Gala and treat her well.”
Hunter rolled his eyes and sighed. “I will treat her as I always do.”
“Try to let your mane down a bit and have some fun,” Sorkeno said to him as his tail flicked off the edge of the balcony.
“I will try,” Hunter replied and looked out to the Netherworld once more.
Hunters ears flicked as the sound of claws caught his attention and he spun to face the doorway into his bedroom. Wrath came around the corner and Hunter relaxed at the sight of the armored minion. Dezhara trailed after the minion as Hunter walked to the minion. Wrath held out a small box in his claws, his head low as he presented it to Hunter. The black stallion’s horn lit and the box was levitated up to allow him to look inside it. The silver box with its plain silver lid opened and Hunter's red eyes scanned the contents. A smile tugged at his mouth and his magic snapped the box closed.
“Perfect.”