Chapter 3
By KidtheBrony
The light, ever moving, continued across time and space, searching for its final target. Yet even as it felt the presence it sought, a great darkness came forth to bar its path. Relentless, it pushed onwards, but the darkness was unwilling to simply let it pass, and delayed it for as long as it could muster the strength to. Because the darkness had a master, and he was preparing with the borrowed time he had.
"We are pleased to see you all here."
The Emperor gazed down from his throne, eyes narrowed as he observed his most powerful subjects. Six of the greatest military, scientific, and magical minds stood before him; a stranger clash of personalities and sadistic minds there would never be found. Each held little to no loyalty to each other, yet it was by his power that they co-operated, and because of this his empire was ever growing. Sipping from his goblet, he let the silence his words had brought linger a moment longer in the dark throne room.
"A great power will soon come from beyond Our lands; a summoning that has long been awaited by Us." He told them. "There is no stopping it, and We do not wish to at any rate."
"What is this power, My Lord?" Asked one of his lords.
"Chaos." He spoke with relish. As if in response, he could feel the light push closer to his realm, and with a flash of annoyance he drew deep into his power to halt its approach. "We seek to claim it as our own, but to do so, a new yet ancient war must be fought."
"Who are our enemies this time?" Said another lord, eyes twin flames of anger. In his hand there was suddenly a blade of fire and steel, ready to be swung in battle. "They will fall like the rest of this world!"
"Still your blade for now, Lord of Wrath. The time will soon come for battle, but there is something you must all know more than anything. In this war, there will be others. People who draw power from similar origin as you all do." He paused. "We speak, of course, of the Sinerals."
His words had the desired effect, a shift in the stance and attitude of his audience. Where before they had only shown the tiniest bit of interest, the Emperors declaration had suddenly ignited a passion that seldom had been seen by mortals. The shadows of the room seemed to brighten as, subconsciously, each of them drew on the power they held. From within them came a terrible darkness, comparable to his yet nowhere near as deep unless combined. It sucked the light from all corners of the room, and were anyone but themselves there, they would have surely fallen to the corrupting influences that the Sinerals naturally exuded. In response to this he too loosened the hold over his power, and the many shadows of the room suddenly became his own, and even the lords and ladies shuddered in fear as his presence enveloped them.
As great as their power may be, it was his that dominated them all. It was his that made him Emperor of a frozen and damned land.
"Patience, my generals. Time runs short, and We require you to muster as much of Our forces as you can in preparation." Rising, he withdrew his power back into his body and slowly stepped down from his seat. Gesturing with a hand he said, "We hold back the approach of Chaos, but can only do so for a short time longer. Recall as much of the army as you can; fill this fortress to the walls with steel and flesh! Let Our army pour from the gates once we arrive, and sweep over our enemies before they ever think to resist Our power!"
"As you command!" They roared, rushing away through doors and portals to carry out his will. As shouts echoed from outside the throne room, he stood in contemplation, a hand on his chin.
Now begins my greatest conquest. What will you do, forces of Harmony, as my army bleeds your people dry, and my Lords end your companions lives? And what too, shall Chaos bring to this fight: an ally or foe? Perhaps even both? Chuckling, he returned to his throne and close his eyes in meditation. There was still a final step to his plans to prepare before they departed.
Hours passed, and from every corner of the empire his troops came. On foot, by air, and atop creatures of every kind they marched, eyes alight in desire for yet another war. They filled the massive castle of spires and black stone, the terrible blizzard that raged eternally outside doing little to hinder their mad rush to serve. Their numbers reached into the thousands by the time the light arrived, but even then the darkness had one last trick up its sleeve. Even as it settled in to retrieve its targets it was seized by the dark, but instead of hindering, it now helped by boosting the summon. Instead of seven individuals the entire castle was consumed in a flash of twilight, leaving only a crater to mark where it had been. Surrounding it, the remaining troops lamented the lost chance, yet even as they thought this they turned back toward their posts. After all, they all knew the cost of failing their Emperor, and none wished to befall that terrible fate when he returned.