//------------------------------// // The King's Pendant // Story: My Little Viking: Steel Is Magic // by Laarsgaard //------------------------------// I stepped from the train onto the platform with my gear slung across my shoulders. I was the last to disembark behind my friends who were chatting away amiably about the gifts and the festivities the crystal ponies had provised. I was not unused to gifts and gestures of kindness but the crystal ponies had gone manic over our victory against Sombra. I had been approached by several artisans and merchants myself and the gifts were more than generous, as several of them commissioned suits of armor for me, some of which were made of precious metals and inlaid with precious stones only to be worn for ceremony. I had to have all of the armor shipped to the library, and the ceremonial suits shipped to Twitch in Canterlot with a note for the lieutenant to hold onto it all for me. One of them presented me with a massive two handed hammer. The head was rectangular in shape, covered in swirling patterns and depictions of battle. I was so astounded by the brutal artistry, I swore off my blade, even going so far as to hand the claymore to the smith, to use the massive weapon solely. The merchants of the Empire swarmed me with requests for my services. Some offered me over twice my weight in the golden coins these ponies called bits. I had to deny them each, explaining my obligation to Twilight and Celestia. We moved off the platform and into the street. I was surprised to see a carriage and escort awaiting us. I was even more surprised to see lieutenant Twitch standing at the front of the carriage. “Lieutenant,” I greeted the stallion. He smiled up at me. “Sir, it’s good to see you again,” I chuckled. “It’s not sir anymore, Twitch, you need to remember that.” “What can I say? Old habits die hard.” He held out a hoof and I shook it and then stepped up into the carriage after my friends. They were chatting away about the visit and all of the wonderful things the grateful crystal ponies had gifted to us. Rarity was especially excited about a pendant that was magically activated and would cause her coat to sparkle like she was a crystal pony. The carriage door shut and we were pulled along the roads, headed for the palace. My friends continued to chat as I watched the buildings roll by. We were here so that Twilight could report back to Celestia on her success against Sombra. We came to a halt before the palace and we stepped from the carriage. “Leave your gear up there, sir,” Twitch told me stepping around to the front of the carriage. “The princess wishes to speak with you and Miss Sparkle,” I cocked my head with curiosity. “Why?” I queried. Twitch shrugged. “No idea, sir,” with that the white and black stallion lead me up into the palace as Twilight told our other friends that we would be right back. She caught up to both Twitch and me and we walked in unison. Twilight looked nervous as she fidgeted as she walked. “Calm down,” I told her. “How can I calm down? I didn’t pass my test, it was you and Spike who managed to get the Crystal Heart to Cadence,” there was despair in her voice. “You didn’t fail, Twilight. You did what you had to which all any of us can do.” I could tell she was still unsure but she remained silent. We came to Celestia’s throne room. “Twilight, could you wait outside for a moment while I speak with Ol?” Celestia asked her student. Twilight bowed and backed out. Before Celestia spoke I asked a question. “Did she pass?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Yes,” Celestia said as she moved beyond her throne. There was a bright golden glow as Celestia picked something up and brought it back out for me to see. Before her floated a small, red cone that was curved. She floated the cone over to me. I reached up and took hold of it. My mind was instantly assaulted with a familiar presence of darkness that pushed its way into my mind, slowly and malevolently. Ah, you again. A thick baritone pushed its way through. I dropped the fragment suddenly. Before it hit the ground Celestia caught it with her magic. “I thought the king was dead,” I looked at Celestia with a straight face. Underneath however I was seething with fury. I had witnessed Sombra be blown apart, I had even ripped his teeth out with my axe, how was he still alive? “As had I until Cadence had this sent here,” Celestia explained. “Does he speak to you?” she looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I nodded. “Yes, it is not the first time he and I have interacted with each other.” Celestia’s face turned to questioning. “What did you do up there?” she asked me. I explained to her about my battle against with the king in the snow. By the end Celestia had sat down and was patiently looking at me with her eyebrows raised in surprise. “Well, all the more reason for what I’m about to tell you,” she said as she summoned some thread from the air. She pushed the thread through the horn with some difficulty as she spoke. “I want you to take this,” the princess told me as she finally managed to thread the horn. “No, I won’t have that thing near me, besides, you are more qualified to handle this thing,” I said looking at the horn. “I want you and Twilight to watch over this for me because of its properties. The horn will be safer that way, I will tell her but you are not to tell anypony about this, but the horn will keep you safe from any magical attack except if you are levitated, and this string will keep you from all but the strongest of Sombra’s influences,” she handed me the horn again. “Luckily the most he can do is speak menacingly, which I could not keep him from doing, so I hope you and he can get along some,” she smirked at me. I reluctantly slipped the horn over my head and again felt the king’s presence with my mind. “As long as he doesn’t try to eat me again,” I commented. I could feel a rumble in my brain as if Sombra was chuckling. “I don’t think he’ll be eating anything ever again from there, now please send in Twilight.” I nodded in respect and turned to exit. The doors came apart and I was greeted with the sight of Twilight pacing back and forth. “You’re expected within,” I said stepping after her slipping the horn beneath my shirt. Twilight didn’t answer me as she stepped into the throne room and the door slammed shut behind me. I began to descend the stairs and I felt Sombra stir in my head. I will have my vengeance, mortal. The king threatened. “You can have your revenge, just stay on the string and only speak when spoken to,” I told him. I’ll speak when I wish to! Sombra snapped at me. I laughed at his comment. “And I’ll listen when I wish to,” I said and ignored the unicorn as I stepped through the palace doorway and towards the carriage to await Twilight’s news that I already knew.