//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Overlord Rarity // Story: My Little Overlord // by pchn00 //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Overlord Rarity Once it was clear the show was over, the assembled ponies began to disperse. Though they were all buzzing with excitement. Rainbow Dash had been beaten in a race! Such a thing just wasn’t done and nopony was really clear on how they should react. Many seemed to think it was a fluke, or that the racer had taken it easy on the new guy because he was so deformed. Laharl heard none of this however, deep in his newest crater as he was. Gnashing his teeth in fury he wrenched himself free and leapt out. “What’s the big idea?! You couldn’t just let me land!?” He was met with an equally irritated looking Twilight Sparkle. “You hurt Rainbow Dash’s feelings.” “Hmph. So? She challenged ME. And lost. That means she’s a loser, it’s the definition of the word!” Twilight didn’t seem amused. “That doesn’t give you the right to rub it in her nose. She takes racing very seriously.” The overlord still seemed unphased. “And? If it’s so serious to her maybe she should stop sucking at it. Or pick who she decides to drag into a race smarter. Clearly anyone can just look at me and see my vast superiority.” Opening her mouth once, then twice trying to find the right words to vocalize her feelings without descending to Laharl’s level of petty insults Twilight instead rounded on her hooves and stalked back to the library. Watching her go for a moment Laharl spotted Scootaboo (he was still pretty sure that was her name) regarding him quietly. With a smug grin he stalked up to her. “Pretty awesome right?” To his surprise she frowned. “The racing yeah, but after? That wasn’t awesome it all. It’s never cool to hurt somepony’s feelings on purpose.” “What?! Of course it is! That’s the best part of beating someone. Rubbing it in their face after. Jeez don’t you ponies know anything?” She turned away without another word going back to her friends. “C’mon girls let’s get outta here. This guy’s not cool, he’s a jerk.” “Hey! I’m cool! I’m the overlord! The most badass demon there is! Don’t just walk away!” He scowled as they didn’t turn back but kept walking. With a snort he turned on his heel preparing to go the other way, nearly bowling over a gentle glowering Fluttershy. Oh god not her too! She opened her mouth, no doubt to admonish him and make him feel miserable…but before she could get a word out he vaulted over her head and dashed from the sight of the race. He didn’t stop until that horrible Flonne-wannabe pegasus was well out of sight. Breathing a sigh of relief when he noticed she wasn’t giving chase, he slowed his pace. From where he was standing he could see the weird house build in the clouds Rainbow Butt had flown off to. “Jeez she likes her rainbows.” Arms folded across his chest he just stared up at the cloud home silently for several minutes. “Mmm, she does doesn’t she? I’ve told her once or twice it’s a bit much but Rainbow Dash isn’t a pony to listen to sound advice. She’s the sort who needs lessons drilled into her by force most of the time.” Laharl turned to the cultured voice behind him, seeing the unicorn he’d made faint earlier. White coat, curly purple mane, obviously fake eye lashes. Maybe ponies had prostitutes too? He shrugged. “Whatever, not my business.” “I suppose that’s true. You were quite spectacular in the air. I’ve never seen anypony as fast.” Finally! Someone who appreciated his awesomeness. “Yeah well it was no big deal; I mean I guess I AM pretty amazing.” “You certainly are. I was wondering if you’d lend me some of your amazing skills this afternoon? I’ve lost my usual assistant and some…body to help me makes the job so much easier.” Now he regarded her skeptically. “Why should I? What’s in it for me?” “Well Pinkie Pie said you had to use credit at Sugarcube Corner. Am I correct in assuming you don’t have a bit to your name?” He shrugged. “So? It’s not like I’m gonna be here long enough for it to matter.” “You know that for absolute certain?” He opened his mouth to reply, then shut it. He DIDN’T know for certain. Twilight said she was ‘working’ on a way home for him whatever the hell that meant. Though it sounded like she had no idea how to get him back and was saying that just to placate him. “Whatever. So what you’ll pay me? Whaddo I gotta do?” “Nothing too difficult darling. Just a bit of heavy lifting here and there. You’ve quite a lot of muscle hiding in those skinny arms I’m told.” “Hmph. Fine. Let’s just get this over with. And you better pay well!” “I’m very generous with my helpers you’ll find. Let us be off hm?” Laharl walked at the unicorn’s side, happy to have something else to occupy his mind with than a tear filled pegasi’s magenta colored eyes. *** Fluttershy approached the library cautiously. From the banging and crashing within it didn’t sound like Twilight was in a very good mood. Steeling what nerves she possessed she pushed her way in, ducking with a little yeep as a book flashed overhead soaring out into the street and striking an unfortunate stallion in the back of the head…knocking him out cold. Twilight barely tossed a half-hearted ‘sorry’ the poor ponies’ way before she focused her attention on her visitor. Her pegasus friend was regarding her with a mix of fear and worry, and she forced herself to calm down. “I’m sorry Fluttershy. But that Laharl…I don’t know what it is about him but every time he opens his big, stupid mouth I….grrrrr!” She stomped a hoof cracking the floor. “W-well um, why is he still here then?” The fuming alicorn glanced Fluttershy’s way again. “What do you mean? Princess Celestia won’t let me open the gates of Tartarus to send him back.” Feeling a bit bolder now that Twilight’s eyes and horn had stopped glowing Fluttershy stepped closer. “I mean why is he still HERE. In Ponyville. He’s obviously an awful person making Rainbow Dash cry like that. And he got into a fight with Pinkie Pie of all ponies. Why don’t you just tell him to go?” Twilight blinked. “Tell him to go? Go where?” The pegasus shrugged. “Does it matter? He can take care of himself and nopony would be sad to see him gone. You obviously hate him right?” “I…” Twilight’s wings sagged and she sighed. “I don’t HATE him. He just makes me…angry. I’ve NEVER felt so angry. It’s not all his fault…there are glaringly obvious cultural differences. I don’t doubt that in his world it’s common for the winner of any contest to brag a good deal. Or to swear all the time or to SHOUT all the time.” She was pacing back and forth now, giving Fluttershy occasional curious looks. “I’m a little surprised you feel that way though. It doesn’t seem very…kind? You were a lot more patient with Discord.” Now it was Fluttershy’s turn to pause. “I…well you’re right. Oh my goodness I don’t know what’s come over my Twilight. How could I suggest we cast him out of town? He’s just lost and alone and probably a little scared even.” The more book smart pony was frowning gently now as she levitated a kettle of tea on to boil. “Something funny’s going on here. Anypony spending time around Laharl seems to be…different.” “Meaner you mean.” Twilight shook her head. “No, not necessarily. I’ve spent more time with him than anypony else and I don’t feel MEAN, my temper’s just been a good deal shorter. I think Laharl is inadvertently affecting our behavior somehow.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened at that. “He’s dangerous just to be near?” “Maybe not dangerous, but there’s something odd about him. It could have to do with his mana. As I’m sure you know every pony tribe, not just unicorns, uses mana for everything. To grow their plants quicker, to fly, whatever. We’re swimming in the stuff. Laharl is too but his mana felt different from ours.” She frowned trying to find the right way to put what she wanted to say into words. Instead she used magic to create an image of a gently flowing stream in the air. “This is what a pony’s mana flow looks like. Relaxed, free flowing and smooth. Now when I examined Laharl’s mana it looked like…” The stream shifted to suddenly become a roaring out of control river, great waves rising up and crashing together in a wild frenzy of motion. “So…Laharl’s magic is wild and crazy while ours is calm and reserved? And him being around us is…” Fluttershy trailed off as Twilight’s eyes widened and she floated a mirror off the wall. Staring intently at it she gave a small squeak and looked at the nervous pegasus. “My mana’s flowing twice as fast as it should be. The more we’re around Laharl…” “…the more we’re acting like him.” Fluttershy finished quietly. “But this doesn’t make any sense! Spike’s mana was wildly different than ours and we didn’t…get lazy and want to eat gems all day. How could just being near him do this to us? Because he’s a demon?” Fluttershy shook her head. “I don’t know Twilight. But I think Princess Celestia needs to know.” Seeing her friend grabbing quill and parchment she shook her head again. “She needs to be told in person. You go to Canterlot; I’ll track down Laharl and take him to my cottage. It’s far enough from town he won’t effect anypony but me.” Twilight chewed her lip in concern. “Are you sure? He might make you go crazy or something.” “I’m sure. Somepony needs to look after him and I think I’ll manage just fine. You just go talk to the princess and get her to take care of everything.” Twilight had to fight back her rising irritation. SHE was a princess too. SHE should be able to take care of everything. She shouldn’t have to run to Celestia anytime a big problem came along. But this wasn’t about her, it was about Ponyville and she couldn’t let her insecurities get in the way of her duties. “You’re right. Just…be careful. If you start to feel funny or anything just…figure out a way to get some distance from him alright?” “Alright Twilight. Don’t you worry; just get this mess straightened out.” Fluttershy managed to keep her brave smile on until her friend was out of sight, flying as fast as she could for Canterlot. When she was in the clear she let out a deep breath. “If his mana’s affecting us…is ours affecting him?” *** This one seems like she’s not a total lunatic. She wasn’t yapping his ear off, bludgeoning him, or wanting to show him up at anything. She seemed content to walk in silence which would normally suit Laharl just fine but anytime his mind began to wander it wandered to the crushed pony. “So uh…what are we doing out here anyway?” Rarity glanced up at him. She’d been walking him out of town toward the mountains nearby. “Collecting gemstones. My old helper Spike was such quite good at it.” She sighed softly. “I do miss him.” “Spike’s a pretty goofy name for a hor..pony.” He hastily corrected himself, noting the alarmed look in the ponies’ eye. “He wasn’t a pony in fact. Spike was a dragon. The cutest baby dragon anypony could ever have the good fortune to meet.” She heaves a tremendous sigh. “I do worry about him so.” Hm. So there were dragons on this world? That was interesting. “Where’d he go?” “Oh the dragon lands. Wanted to learn more about himself or some such nonsense. As if everything he needed to know he couldn’t find here.” With a grunt the demon shrugged. “Dragons’re tough. He’ll be fine.” “Oh? You have experience with dragons?” Laharl looked down at her. “Of course I do. I have a ton of them as vassals. They’re some of the strongest monsters in the netherworld.” Rarity furrowed her brow in confusion. “There are dragons where you’re from? In Tartarus? Are they imprisoned for being bad or…?” “Don’t be stupid. We have tons of ‘em. There’s no way they could all come from this dump. Overlords have been using dragons as vassals for as long as there’ve been demons. It’s traditional to have one guarding your vault.” “How very strange.” They continued on in silence before the mare looked up at her temporary assistant again. “That was quite an impressive race earlier.” Laharl’s antenna twitched. “Yeah well we’ve already established I’m amazing.” “Mmm.” Her horn was glowing softly as she swung her head to and fro slowly. “Be a dear and break that boulder open would you?” Brow raised curiously Laharl moved to the large rock. “Just break it?” “Please.” With a shrug he swung his first in a downward arc, splitting the boulder cleaning with a shower of stone and dust. He was more than a little astonished to find it filled to the brim with priceless gemstones of all kinds. “Wh-what the hell?! Is this some kind of money piñata?!” Rarity trotted up practically squealing in delight. “Money? Of course not these are just rubies and diamonds and the like. Decoration…or food for dragons I suppose.” Laharl looked from her to the gems incredulously. The stupid rock was filled with enough cash to buy his whole palace. Maybe twice! “You…you use them for decoration…and food. Not for spending? No one to cash these in here?” The unicorn was happily levitating the gems into a large wagon she’d been trailing behind them. “Of course we don’t spend them. What would somepony do with a sparkly rock? Save make their home or clothing look pretty of course.” The gears were rapidly turning in the overlords head. If he could return to the Netherworld with THIS much cash he could buy…a new Etna! One who knew how to shut her trap and behave. His excitement dimmed somewhat at the thought of his chief vassal. Why was his chest feeling tight again? Stupid ponies must be getting to him. “Laharl dear are you alright? You look a little green.” “Hmph! I’m fine! Pay me with some of these gems and you can keep your bits or whatever.” “They truly have monetary value where you’re from don’t they? Very well if that’s what you wish, we’ll split them fifty-fifty hm? But I expect you to work hard.” “Lady for that much cash you got it.” He was working with much more enthusiasm now. Gleefully pounding the ground or smashing anything she indicated had yet another treasure trove stored within. “You know I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Rainbow Dash so thoroughly beaten.” Laharl twitched and his fist slipped causing him to bounce his face off his latest target. Rubbing his nose with a sullen glare he shot a scathing look back at Rarity. “Well she shouldn’t’ve picked a fight with me then.” “I can’t find the fault with that logic certainly. Though I have to wonder if you couldn’t have been a trifle more tactful afterwards.” He had been wondering that very thing. With a grunt he pounded the next boulder apart allowing the pony to collect her gems. So what if he gloated some? He always did! Though he may have been a bit worse than normal. He was pretty pissed off from the thrashings he’d received already. “I don’t wanna talk about the stupid race! If you want my help then drop it!” “My apologies of course. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She kept moving along at a relaxed pace, pointing out yet another cache of gems. While he dug them up she took a moment to study his manacles. “What would you do Laharl? If you weren’t wearing those?” “Beat the crap out of Pinkie Pie.” There was literally no hesitation in his response. Rarity couldn’t help but laugh a little. “I suppose I can understand that sentiment after the thrashing she delivered you. But what about after that?” “Go home. I’d find the stupid gates of Tartarus myself and pry them open.” “Go home? That’s all? Not raze the countryside or try to steal the souls of everypony in Equestria?” With a snort he dumped the latest armload in the wagon. “What is with you ponies and your crazy ideas about demons? For your information most of us aren’t wild bloodthirsty monsters! We don’t go around beating up anything we want for fun! I mean…maybe violence is the first solution we think of to a problem but we still need a REASON.” (even if the reason is as petty as stealing a pudding cup, an incident that sparked a thousand year war between two neighboring netherworlds). “Wouldn’t the riches found in Equestria be enough to draw your people’s attention to us?” “Well…uh…yeah. I guess. But I don’t NEED the money. I just want it. I’m not gonna start blowing this crap hole up because I want some gems. Ugh I could just imagine what Flonne would do to me if she heard I started a war for money.” “Flonne? Is she your special somepony?” She drew another X on the ground. “D-don’t ever say that! Of course not! She’s the most annoying, obnoxious, love-obsessed freak of a demon in the Netherworld! In ANY Netherworld! Probably in Celestia too!” Rarity giggled softly. “Your cheeks are turning rather pink Overlord Laharl. Are you suuuure?” With a growl he rounded on the annoying mare. “Yes I’m-“ His eyes widened at something behind Rarity. Seeing the shock in his eyes she turned to look in time to see a massive axe twirling end over end heading straight for her. It was coming too quickly for her to even think about catching it with her magic. She braced herself for the coming impact… …only for it to never come. She felt something hot and stick splatter across her face and neck. Breath coming in ragged gasps she looked up to see Laharl standing over her, the blade of the axe having gone through his back and out his chest. He’d leapt in the way and taken the deadly weapon meant for her in himself. “L-Laharl…” With a grimace he dropped to one knee. “I’m fine! Th-this’ nothing! J-just get outta here!” “Absolutely not! You need help!” She began to fret trying to find the best way to remove it. Before she could contemplate using her magic however a massive black armored figure fell from the sky, landing with an earth shattering impact and sending dust and stone flying everywhere. Her wagon was tossed from the side of the mountain to bounce far out of sight below, trailing gems as it went. “Ha! So you’re Overlord Laharl? I’m not impressed.” Rarity gazed up at the imposing figure. Bipedal like Laharl was, though he was clad head to toe in jet black armor. Only the top half of his head was exposed. Baleful yellow eyes gleamed down at the pair. Laharl struggled to rise; only to fall to his knees again as the demon gripped his axe forcing him down into the ground. “When my lord sent me here to collect you I thought I’d have a harder time than this. One little axe in the back and you’re out of the fight. And you let yourself get wounded for the sake of…THAT?” Rarity shivered as the monstrous creature turned its gaze to her. He began to laugh a deep bellowing roar of a laugh, keeping his grip on the axe handle and sending vibrations through it with each guffaw, causing Laharl to squirm in agony. “S-stop it! Let him go this instant!” This only seemed to amuse the demon more. “Oh ho! The little unicorn has spirit.” Contemptuously kicking Laharl aside while simultaneously wrenching his axe free, the young Overlord landed in a growing pool of his own blood. “Well then little horse, before I bring my trophy back to my master let us do battle eh? You’re clearly a mighty warrior to stand up to me so.” With a sharp gasp the mare’s eyes darted from side to side. Seeking a weapon…an escape…somepony to help. ANYthing. Though she was forced to come to one inevitable conclusion as the demon charged. Nothing could save her. *** Celestia and her guest both leapt from their viewing place by the mirror the second the axe found its way into Laharl. “What in the world is that?!” Her guest wrenched the mirror to the side to get a clearer view of Laharl’s assailant. “It’s a demon! But how did it get here?! You said you had Equestria cut off from the other worlds!” “I did. Something broke my spell of protection over Equestria. We can worry about that later. We have to deal with this threat immediately.” “Ah, ah, ah. I can’t have you two rushing off and spoiling all my fun. After all I’ve just arrived to the party!” Celestia glared hotly as Discord appeared in her private chambers. “Surely my invitation was lost in the mail. I mean it’s not like you’re so hypocritical that you’d imprison ME for a thousand years in stone for sewing a little chaos, then go and dump a demonic OVERLORD amongst your cheery little ponies just for fun!” Celestia could almost physically feel the rage and hated rolling off the supposedly reformed draconeqeus. “Discord this isn’t the same at all. The universe has changed; many demons aren’t the horrible monsters from our time. Where did you even GET that thing?” “Who Mr. Tall Dark and Slashy? He’s on loan from a new acquaintance of mine. Your little friend there’s heard of him. Malbreche is his name I believe?” “What?! You revealed this world to the Lord of Torture? Are you completely insane?!” Not bothering to conceal his identity any longer Vyers let his cloak slip away. Discord was busy laughing maniacally so Celestia answered for him. “He is. I had hoped like Luna enough time to contemplate his actions would temper his mental instabilities. Clearly I was wrong.” His laughter ended abruptly as he fixed Celestia with a hot glare. “Oh it gave me time to contemplate lots of things Princess!” He spat the last word. “We were to be partners you and I? Do you remember? I found you drifting aimlessly out there and we made a deal! I find you a new world; you let me have my fun in it! Right?!” Celestia’s ears folded back. “You went too far Discord. Pranks and jokes were one thing but then you started causing serious home to the citizens of Equestria. I had to put a stop to it. I tried to reason with you.” “Well not THIS time! This time I win! This time the game goes how I want it to go!” His demeanor did an immediate one eighty and he grinned. “But not to worry! You two will still get to spectate. “Former Overlord and current Princess both lunged toward Discord, but not quickly enough. With a snap of his claws a bright flash filled the room, and soon the statues of both a demon and alicorn stood in place of the living beings. Humming cheerfully to himself Discord hoisted both into the air and turned them to face the suddenly much bigger mirror. “There we go! A nice clear view! Now let’s sit back and enjoy the show hm?” Neither prisoner had much to say on the matter. *** Rarity couldn’t stop an alarmed shriek from forcing its way out of her mouth as the axe came close enough to sharing off her head she felt the wind stir her mane as it passed. She was darting back and forth frantically working to avoid the surprisingly quick demons attacks, but she was rapidly running out of room. He was methodically backing her into a corner. “Not long now little unicorn. Just sit still and I’ll end it quick!” He punctuated the last word by slamming the axe into the ground at her side, digging a deep furrow in the rock. About ready to keel over from her panic Rarity’s eyes fixed on the prone, possible dead form of Laharl. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw his hand twitch though. He was trying to rise! He was still alive! Of course that would change quickly as soon as the demon lost interest in her. Laharl was depending on her. Perhaps all of Ponyville too. The town wasn’t far and who was to say the demon would lose interest in murder after doing away with her? No it was time to stop running. Planting her hooves solidly she rounded to face the demon summoning all the magic she could into her horn. He charged forward not concerned in the least, and was considerably surprised when the magical blast caught him square in the stomach, lifting him off his feet and sending him hurtling over the side of the mountain. Breathing raggedly Rarity eased to the edge peeking down in time to see the armored monster disappear into the trees far below. Satisfied her quarry would not be returning she hurried to Laharl’s side. There was more blood than she’d ever seen in her life, but now was not the time to be squeamish, (she was already covered in the stuff and would be taking either a twenty four hour bath or all day spa trip to cleanse herself once all this was over). “Laharl! Laharl are you alright?” Groaning softly he cracked an eye open. “…had worse. Would be better if these damn manacles weren’t on me.” Smiling in relief that despite nearly being sheared in half he DID in fact seem to be recovering Rarity knelt beside him. “Is there…is there anything I can do?” “Can you get these off me?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry no. I’m not the best with spells. I could make them explode or something equally unpleasant. We’ll need Twilight for that.” “Hmph. Then get me outta here. Where’s the heavy knight?” “I knocked him off the cliff. We shan’t be seeing him again.” Rarity didn’t like the semi-alarmed look in Laharl’s eyes. “That’s it? Knocked off a cliff?” The mare’s ear twitched as she heard faint crunching noises coming from the edge of the cliff. Barely daring to look she couldn’t help peering over the edge. There was the demon, the heavy knight Laharl called it climbing back up. He would pound a fist into the side of the mountain and pull himself up, bit by bit. She rushed back to the Overlord’s side. “W-what do we do?! We have to get out of here!” With a grimace Laharl rolled himself onto his back. “…how’s that stupid horn work? You draw mana from the air or inside?” Rarity blinked at the seemingly from nowhere question. “Wh-what? What’s it matter?” “It matters!” She yelped softly. “F-from the air around us. Everypony has a small store of personal mana inside but unicorns cast spells by drawing ambient energy through their horns. That’s basic biology.” Laharl nodded firmly. “Good. Stick your horn in here.” He indicated the garish gash running the length of his abdomen. Rarity of course recoiled. “A-are you mad?! I’m not sticking my…my horn inSIDE you!” With a grimace he sat up straighter. “D’you wanna stop that guy or not?!” Dancing from hoof to hoof Rarity looked from the gaping wound back to the slowly approaching demon. “Oh this had better work or I’ll kill you myself!” She inched closer, screwing her eyes shut and slowly easing her horn toward the gash. “Ew ew ew ew ew….” She heard Laharl gasp in pain and she almost pulled away as her horn made contact but his hand clamped around the back of her neck tightly locking her in place. She struggled at first, then felt the first jolt run through her horn and into her body. It was mana…though far more than she’d ever tried to absorb for a spell before. Again she tried to pull away thinking that was the end of it, before another jolt ran through her. Than another, and another. By the fifth she was beginning to feel a sensation somewhat similar to over indulging in the occasional bottle of wine with Fluttershy after their spa trips. Though it wasn’t wine that was the source of her growing intoxication. This time it was something altogether different. Power. Smiling now she didn’t resist as Laharl conjured more and more of his mana. Of course it attempted to flow from his core to the manacles, but the unicorns’ horn was the closer conductor for the energy so instead of the metal at his wrists it raced down into the ponies’ body. He watched curiously as her snowy coat began to darken to a slate gray. She was growing taller steadily, and with a little gasp of pain he realized her horn must be growing too as he felt it force its way through his chest and out the back. She was nearly the size of a normal, full grown horse though her mane and tail rippled and flowed constantly with the heavy concentration of mana in her body. Blinking her eyes open she stepped away as his hand fell from her neck. They were the same crystalline blue thought he pupils were vertical slits. “Oh…my…Laharl is this…how you feel all the time?” “Pretty…awesome right?” He was paler than ever, but he’d kept enough mana for himself to keep from bleeding to death even if he’d halted his healing. “That is certainly one way to explain it.” She was a little surprised at the sound of her own voice, deeper, imposing. Surprised…but she liked it. Now when the demon hauled itself over the cliff and into view it wasn’t fear she was feeling. It was anticipation. Lips pulled back in a tooth grin revealing the small but noticeable fangs she watched the heavy knight fully raise to his feet. “Shall we begin round two?”