Aergad had been heading for his cellar when he came to a sudden halt on the stairs, "You're still there, aren't you... Buttercup?"
For a short moment there was no answer, but then a weak voice could be heard from one of his pockets, "I am..."
"So... you heard everything?" he asked as started to walk again.
"I did..." Xhergis carefully stuck her head out of his pocket, trying to get a look at his face, "Was that... that was really death, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, that was him..." the necromancer chuckled, "Though I'll probably never get over that form of his... I mean, seriously? A pony? That's just..." his laugh died, "That's just stupid."
"Aergad..." Xhergis wasn't sure how to ask, "Is he really your... I mean, are you really..."
"It's complicated." Aergad cut her off, "Let's not delve deeper on the subject, not now." he reached into his pocket and carefully brought the tiny changeling onto his palm, "I've been getting careless... haven't I?" he sighed, "Seriously, what am I going to do with you now, Buttercup?"
"You're not going to eat me? Are you?" Xhergis cringed as she saw that maniacal smile of his appear.
"Eat you? That would be taking it a bit too far now, wouldn't it?" he laughed and traced a finger around her, a thin glowing line starting to surround her on his palm, "I've got just the thing in mind though..."
"What are you doing?" Xhergis watched the line around her in terror.
"Quiet now, you don't want me to mess this one up." he chuckled.
Xhergis heard him chant in a language unlike any she had heard before and as he chanted, the line started to grow brighter and brighter. Then, with a flash of light, the chanting stopped and the line disappeared again.
"There we go." he chuckled and placed her in his pocket again, "That should do it."
"What?" she poked her head out, "What did you do just now? What was that?"
"A curse." the necromancer replied nonchalantly as he continued to walk down the stairs.
"Cu-c-c... A WHAT?!"
"It's quite simple. If you ever tell anyone about this, the great demon worm of Tzukl'ma Ban, devourer of a million souls and keeper of the three pits of decay, will come to find and devour you..." he gave her a happy smile, "And that, will be the end of you."
Xhergis only stared at him with an expression of pure horror.
"So no playing secret breaker, right?" he asked with an almost playful expression.
"O... Okay." she frantically nodded her head. Xhergis wasn't even sure if there really was a great demon worm, but she sure as hell wasn't about to test his curse.
"I'm curious though..." he asked, "Why didn't you speak up and ask me to return you to normal again?"
"I'm not sure..." Xherigs pulled herself up onto the rim of the pocket, "I just guess I like being small... We changelings are anxious at getting spotted, so being small is kind of nice. I get carried around all day, there's lots of emotions... and your pockets are really a good place to nap in."
Aergad sighed, "Looks like I just gotten myself a new familiar... I'm sure Chrysalis will be..." he stopped, "Wait... back in the hive, when we went into her chamber and..."
Xhergis blushed, "I didn't watch... but you were awfully loud..." no words could even describe the things she had heard... and seen. Poking her head out had left her staring and unable to tear her eyes away, "Please don't tell her... If she ever found out..."
She was cut off by the necromancer's amused laughs.
"It's not funny!" she scrunched her face, but became serious after another moment, "Back then... what did he show you? What's going to happen?"
"Life... I guess." the necromancer chuckled, "And then..." he gave her a smirk, "Death!"
---
Just after sunrise, two alicorns could be seen walking the courtyard of Canterlot castle.
"Are you sure about this?" Luna asked her sister as they stood outside the castle, "I can not imagine that Aergad will be amused. Not to mention that Blueblood will likely..."
"I know." Celestia replied, "But as it stands, the two of them will have to meet sooner or later."
"And what exactly did you tell them?"
"I told Blueblood we would need a representative in a new country... and I will tell Aergad that Blueblood will be here for a meeting with him when I pick up the containers." she saw her sister's look, "I know what you are thinking. Trust me, I don't like it either but this is the only way I can think of. As it stands, tradition does not demand for them to be actually married to one another if they are of the same gender. It would suffice for Blueblood to live under his protection."
"Supplied that Aergad would agree to this, which I highly doubt." Luna frowned, "Not to mention that Blueblood can be very difficult at times."
"Yes, I know." Celestia sighed, "But if I can bring the two together just carefully enough and explain to them that..."
"Hey." a voice interrupted them. During their conversation, one of the imps had walked up to them.
"You're one of the necromancer's demons." Luna remarked, "What brings you to Canterlot?"
"The boss told us to bring you the flasks up here." the imp pointed behind itself, numerous imps were carrying large boxes into the courtyard, "He got done earlier than expected, so he said there was no point in waiting for you to come pick them up."
"He did?" Celestia frowned, "I still had something to talk to him about... where is he?"
"The boss?" the imp scratched his head, "Didn't you meet him on your way out? He said he was heading for your chambers..."
"No, we didn't meet him." Celestia replied, "We took a different route here since we were..." she stalled, "My chambers?" her face started to grow pale, "But Blueblood is..."
Luna groaned, "So much for bringing the two together carefully..." both she and Celestia whirled around and looked up at the castle in shock, "Sister, do you feel that?!"
The imp gave one of the towers a short look and gave a short chuckle, "Uhhh... haven't seen him use that one in a while..." he turned to the other imps, "Everyone, gather up! The boss is about to do the Four-Cheeks!" the imps answered with a cheer as the two alicorns ran into the castle with frantic expressions.
---
Up in the castle, inside princess Celestia's chambers... the necromancer was already channeling enough mana to create a small star.