Ner'Zhul awoke to three undead Manticores patrolling his newly acquired castle.
"These creatures are quite reliable, but I'll need ponies if I'm to reconstruct this run down dump!" Grunted to
angered lich king. "And that pony.... Treble, just WHO does he think he is, I will make him suffer for tossing me aside like that!"
Getting up from his rest, Ner'Zhul trudged over to a small puddle he would use as a mirror.
His now smooth and well kept mane was now matted and clumpy, as well as his tail, truthfully, he liked this look much
better, it seemed to scream undeath to him. Other then his mane, he noticed a large cut across his right side of the face, where Treble had seemed to blast him. Could he use sound as blades? Ner'Zhul thought. No, that's impossible,
sound is fluent, it can't take a solid form! Ner'Zhul pounded a hoof in the puddle, scattering the water all around
him. "Just who is this Treble? And why is he so focused on me?" He growled. Ner'Zhul turned from his now
scattered mirror, and vanished into the darkness of the castle.
Ner'Zhul came back out without his armour on, which meant his cutie mark was revealed, a clear blue ice shard
with a green flame within it, not that he noticed, or cared. Ner'Zhul's stomach began to growl at him for some food,
one thing he forgot mortals need. with a heavy sigh he though going to that sweet shop wouldn't be a bad place to
go, he would like to know the taste of sugar once more after all. Putting Frostmourne in his make shift sheath,
Ner'Zhul began to head out, back into Ponyvill.
Twilight woke up to the smell of eggs and waffles. Is Spike making breakfast already? she thought. With a long
stretch Twilight rolled out of bed only to find herself falling. She quickly caught herself before she did a face-plant on
the floor, then yawned before letting go, now ready to land. Now on all four hooves, she looked around and saw
Spike still sleeping.
"But, if Spike is still sleeping..." Twilight whispered, her eyes wide. Did some one break in? She thought. But, why
would they be cooking, are they simply hungry? Twilight quickly made her way out of her room then proceeded to
creep quietly down the stairs, so she wont be heard. Now done with the stairs she then started creeping closer to the
kitchen, only to quickly see it was Treble who was cooking breakfast, using his unique magic to launch what he needs
to him, or away. Twilight let out a relieving breath of air after holding her breath.
"Treble, I forgot you stayed the night" She chuckled, only to get no response out of her friend. "Treble?"
"Might as well Wake Twi up, tell her breakfast is about to be set" Treble said while turning around, eyes closes. he
took two steps forward and began to open his eyes. ".....Twilight? you're up early. Did the smell wake you" he asked
shocked to she her up this early willingly.
"I called your name while you were cooking..." She replied.
"Yeah, sorry about that, It's hard to constantly use my magic just to hear, would be a lot easier if I was a unicorn!"
Treble replied. Twilight noticed Treble's cutie mark has changed, instead of just a musical note called a 'treble' it
was now surrounded by what seemed like waves.
"Treble, your cutie mark, it chan-"
"Changed? Yes, it did, and I'd rather not say how if you don't mind Twi..." Treble cut Twilight off
Sugar Cube Corner just opened up as Ner'Zhul made his way in to the quaint town. Still early in the morning, there
was little trafic on the streets, save for the mailers, store suppliers, and a few ponies just enjoying the morning.
While walking through the town Ner'Zhul hoped that no'pony' would interrupt him.
"Heh." He chuckled. "It's cute how body has been with replaced with pony, to bad I'll have to kill this world, hopefully
they wont put up a big fight, since I haven't even seen one guard!"
Sugar Cube Corner came into Ner'Zhul's field of view. Already smelling the sweets being baked, he wondered if this
race discovered chocolate, or even pie, hell, maybe they even have chocolate pie! Thinking about food seemed only to
make him even more hungry, if he kept this up his hunger would become ravenous. Opening the door, he heard a
high pitched voice from the kitchen.
"One minute please!" the voice sang out.
"Great, a creature with loads of energy, I hope it'll leave me be at least..."
After a perfect minute a pink mare with an even pinker and bouncy mane and tail, her energy made her bouncy
mane look dead in comparison came walking out of the kitchen. The mare looked over to greet her customer, only
freeze momentarily, then gasp loudly before rushing up to Ner'Zhul.
"Hi I'm Pinkie Pie, are you new here, are you going to stay for a little bit, a while, or a long time? although a long
time is different from pony to pony, what do you see as a long time, ooh I know, I'm gonna throw a PARTY!" Pinkie
said drawing some more air back into to her lungs to continue. Not understanding a word of what she just said
Ner'Zhul began to draw Frostmourne, had every intention of killing her now, but before he could draw more then
an inch of blade, Treble's warning came into his head.
'Should you harm another pony, your head WILL be mine'
Ner'Zhul swiped back his fear of Treble once more. With great restraint, he put his sword fully back into the sheath,
and then put a hoof over the hyper active pony, he forced Pinkie to the floor, but not using enough power to
purposely hurt her.
"NO party, just give me some chocolate, and an apple pie, and leave me alone!" He demanded while removing his
hoof from Pinkie, putting it back on the floor.
"Okay, I'm sorry.." Pinkie apologized, her mane becoming a bit more dull and lifeless, loosing some of it's bounce in
the process. Ner'Zhul wondered if Treble would see this as harming another pony, then he didn't care. Ner'Zhul
made his way to the most isolated table there was, the one in the way back. Reaching the table, he loosened the
sheaths binding, as his blade fell to the floor, he then picked it up with his mouth seeing no other way, and not
wanting to wast his magic on such a tedious task, and placed it up against the wall, next to where he chose to sit
down.
Ten minutes pass and the pink mare came to Ner'Zhul's table, carrying a platter of chocolates and two
pies.Ner'Zhul noticed the second pie he didn't order.
"I only ordered ONE pie, what's with the second?' He asked impatiently. Pinkie only smiled sheepishly.
"The second pie is on the house!" She spoke. "Think of it as my way of apologizing to you." Pinkie hoped that this new
colt would accept her offering of forgiveness, and to her joy, he did, giving her mane and till a bit more life once
more.
"Fine, whatever." Ner'Zhul grunted. Pinkie put the platter on the table then looked back at Ner'Zhul.
"My name is Pinkie Pie by the way, if you need anything, let me know, kay?" She spoke, only to receive silence.
Making her way back to the kitchen, Pinkie hopped the colt would thank her before leaving, though she had little
expect of that happening.
While enjoying his delicious sweets, Ner'Zhul heard the door open, and saw the five mares he nearly killed the day
before, as well as Treble, who quickly saw him in return. Ner'Zhul gave Treble a murderous glare with his teeth
clenched and teeth showing, revealing four very sharp teeth among his more normal teeth. Treble, seeing this as a
welcome, trotted his way over to Ner'Zhul to chat with him.
"Pinkie!" Twilight shouted for her pink friend. "Me and the other girls have a surprise for you!"
"A SURPRISE?!" Pinkie shouted back in pure glee and excitement, then rushed out of the kitchen, covered in all sorts
of pre baked batter.
"You know Ner'Zhul, Equestria could use a pony like you, it's either that, or detainment or even death." Treble spoke
in a low voice as not to let the others hear, which Ner'Zhul did in kind.
"What could a Lick King do in a peaceful land!" He replied to Treble's statement.
"It's only peaceful because of the ponies like me and you, who secretly to keep it that way, If you wan't I
can take you to see Sombra, during times nopony is allowed to visit, just to give you a view of what happens to those
who threaten this peace. On a second not Ner'Zhul, I can't say I've been in the same spot as you-"
"That's an under-statement" Ner'Zhul cut Treble off, only to get him clearing his throat in irritation. "Fine,
Continue..." Ner'Zhul spoke ready to unwillingly listen.
"I may not be in the same spot in you Ner'Zhul, but I've been in the same boat..." Treble finished.
"What are you getting at, cur?" Ner'Zhul growled.
"What I'm saying is, you clearly had a master, who ordered you to do nothing but kill and slaughter, I can see it in
your eyes that those masters are long gone, leaving you alone, confused, and no where you seem to belong. I'm
Giving you a choice her Ner'Zhul, this nation could really use your raw power, especially now, when a war
threatens to break out." Treble spoke the last part with great sadness and discontent.
"And why should I help you and your nation when it will fall to me within time?" Ner'Zhul spat at Treble
who simply pulled a folded note out from what seemed to be nowhere, placed it next to Ner'Zhuls platter, then
left.
Pinkie saw a pony walking towards them. Faded purple coat, blue and purple mane, scruffy and slicked back a bit,
it can't be! Pinkie thought, her smile growing wider each second. Treble stopped a few feet away from her, put his
head up, and braced himself for either a slap, or tackle.
"Miss me?" He asked with a hint of sorrow in his voice. Pinkie tackled him to the ground and began crying her eyes
out in relief and happiness, overwhelmed with joy to see the colt who makes her heart flutter standing right before
her, after she attended his funeral
Now on the floor and a bit of crying out of the way, Pinkie picked herself up a bit and looked at Treble. The next
thing the colt knew there was a loud smack, then his entire left side of his face hurt like it's never hurt before, then
Pinkie continued to sob over him. Treble put both his hooves over Pinkie and pulled her down for a hug and started
to tear up himself. With a breaking voice, Treble began to speak. "I'm so sorry I made you go through my own death
having you attend my own funeral, and most importantly, making you think you lost me forever! I know there's
nothing I can do to apologize for what I did to any of you for that, but every day that passed, was another day I
truly did feel dead inside!"
After seeing this, something in Ner'Zhul clicked, he felt jealousy, no one would ever miss him if he died, he betrayed
his entire race, turned them into monsters bound to his will, doing nothing but spreading chaos among other races,
he didn't want to deny he wanted to cry out of joy, feel missed, and joy when seeing an old friend, he didn't want
to his his jealousy of Treble, the one pony he thought would never cry, was crying over others he simply missed.
Ner'Zhul looked down at Treble's note and thought about reading it, though he hesitated, he did end up picking the
note up with his demonic magic, and began to unfold it.
" Treble, you have been summoned for a midnight meeting to discuss the outbreak of war in front of the Everfree's
entrance, and how we will handle it. Should you not be able to attend this meeting for any valid reason, you will
receive the report, then report in your voice on the situation. If you are to share any contents of this note, we will
consider you a traitor, hunt you down, and kill you, as well as anyone you were close to should they aid you in
laying low.
Your captain
-Mist"
Why would he give me this note if he already knows what will happen. Ner'Zhul thought, he then looked back at the
group, now all of which were standing, Pinkie staying as close to Treble as she can, almost cuddling him, chatting
and catching Treble up on events he missed.
"Just what are you trying to do to me Treble, I am NOT a mortal like you god dammit! So stop trying to make me
feel like one!" Ner'Zhul whispered to himself while beginning to tear up. Ner'Zhul's eyes shot wide.
A tear? But, Liches can't cry, we don't truly feel emotions to be able to cry.... Ner'Zhul thought while wiping the now
frozen tear from the side of his eye.
A few hours pass and Ner'Zhul has been done with his food for quite some time, instead he stayed there to think
about what to do.
"If this land is on the brink of war, where all all the guards, a handful of ponies couldn't hold back an entire army,
that's absurd, but Treble is very powerful, are they all this strong?" He spoke to himself. "Should I take up his offer?"
Ner'Zhul now starting to question himself and what he stands for, began to wonder if he should go back to the
planet he is well known on. Pinkie trotting up to the table occupied by the breaking lich saw that he was done with
his food."Excuse me, would you like any more sweets?" She asked him, breaking his thought.
"Huh? oh, no, just take the platter and leave" He spoke with a heavy tone. Pinkie took the platter without saying
another word and began to make her way to where the dirty trays are kept waiting to be washed.
"Actually, what can you tell me about Treble?" Ner'Zhul asked before the pink mare vanished behind the counter.
Pinkie turned around and set they trey down on a nearby table, then walked back over to Ner'Zhul, and sat down
across from him.
"What do you want to know?" She asked
"How powerful is he, combat wise..." Ner'Zhul spoke up, while looking down. Ner'Zhul never thought he would be one
to start a conversation of this type, but here he was.
"You shouldn't underestimate him if that what you're looking for. He'd defend Equestria, even at the cost of his
sanity, which it even came to that before.." Pinkie shuddered at the memory of seeing her Treble like that.
"And what of you and Treble?" Ner'Zhul continued with his questions. Pinkie's face turned a bright red.
"Oh, well um....I wish I could say we're a couple..." She spoke with a flustered voice. "But Treble doesn't want to get
close to other ponies like that, lest they make him lose focus in a fight. But he does know how I feel, so he refuses to
accept any other mare's sign of affection, only mine."
"I see...." Ner'Zhul said. "..and,....thank you for the food..." With that Pinkie's day brightened up, but she help most of it
in, knowing that this colt wasn't the bright and bubbly kind. Ner'Zhul then got off of his seat and grabbed
Frostmourne, putting the sheath it was in back on him. Walking toward the door, Ner'Zhul thought that being 'nice'
wasn't as bad, or hard, as he had thought it would be, though he would still prefer to be rough if given the chance.
Stopping at the door, he looked back at Pinkie
"My name is Ner'Zhul, by the way, you can expect me here tomorrow as well..."
Later that night, a group of seven ponies gathered right in front of the Everfree.
"Captain?" Treble spoke up before the group began their discussion. "As you know, Celestia assigned me to keep this
new colt in check..."
"Continue!" Mist replied.
"He is extremely powerful, and may even be able beat me within time, I gave him my note, in hopes he will come, I
know of the charges I will face, but he may help us turn the tides, should he begin to falter in battle! So you can
press whatever charges you want on me, but do so AFTER the war!" Treble finished. Treble's captain looked over at
the entrance of the forest, and saw an additional pony that wasn't meant to be there, she then threw an angry
glare at Treble, who only coward and shy away a bit.
"We'll talk later Treble!" Mist said coldly. Treble made his way over to the rest of the group, next to Ner'Zhul to be
more accurate.
"What was that, why did you back down like that?" Ner'Zhul asked Treble in a whispered voice.
"Can we leave it at, there's a reason Mist is captain..." Treble replied with a chill invading his spine and a constant
shiver.
"All right dogs, We are going to be having an unexpected guest during this meeting" Mist spoke to her group lifting a
hoof to point in Ner'Zhul's direction. "Now then, as you know, the Griffins and Changelings have made an alliance,
and threaten to attack Equestria, The only thing delaying them are us five echo squads, primarily, our squad. Every
team has been called back, and all able bodied guards and knights have been stations at the major boarders. The
princesses expect my squad to settle this with no bloodshed on either side if we can. Treble, You are taking your new
friend-"
"I'm not his friend, If anything, I only see him as an equal, nothing more!" Ner'Zhul cut Mist off. Treble wished he
had a shell to withdraw into, so he wouldn't have to face Mists's wrath. Mist simply gave a look at Ner'Zhul that
would instantly break a dragon, let alone a pony, but it didn't even seem to faze this new pony, which only
aggrivated her more. Turning to face this colt, she walked up to him.
"This is MY teratory, I don't care who the fuck you are, or think you are, when I give an order, you follow it to the
letter! NOW SIT!" She commanded, only, Ner'Zhul didn't sit, this made Mist's eye go wide, as well as the whole
groups.
"did he just, do what I think he did?" on of the squad members asked. Treble looked at Ner'Zhul, no one was ever
able to not be effected by her commanding magic, but Ner'zhul didn't simply ignore her magic, it couldn't even
phase him, let alone make him even twitch. Mist glared at Treble, who pulled Ner'Zhul's tail and forced him back
before Mist's rage was directed at him.
"Don't get me killed, otherwise, I'm taking you with me!" Treble told Ner'Zhul, to which he only smirked.
Ner'Zhul enjoyed this, was this what is felt like to have a friend? if it was, he truly wouldn't mind making a few while he's here.
"Treble, you and this whelp will go parlay with the griffin king, use force as a secondary method, and only resolve to
killing as a last resort." Mist ordered.
"Yes ma'am" Treble sighed.
"Sliver, and Cannon, you two are with me to parlay with the changeling queen, the rest of you, get to the border
outposts to aid the troops! That's it, we all start tomorrow, dismissed!" Mist commanded.
After the group departed, to get a good nights sleep, Treble saw Ner'Zhul head into the forest.
"Hey, wait up, where are you going?" Treble asked, running up to Ner'Zhul so he wouldn't have to shout.
"....home, why?" Ner'Zhul replied. Treble only stared blankly at his new partner before going behind him, grabbing his
tail, and dragging him back to Ponyvill.
"You're gonna be staying with Twi from now on, no exeptions!" Treble barked at Ner'Zhul.
"And where will you stay?" asked Ner'Zhul. Treble was silent for a moment, pondering on where to stay.
"I'm sure Pinkie would like me staying the night before I have to leave..." Treble replied, almost with a saddened
voice. Ner'Zhul, picking up on that, thought he should have Treble become his first friend, seeing as though he said he
could relate to his position.
"Even though it's just a night, I'm sure she'd like it to!" Ner'Zhul stated.
"Yeah, I kn-" Treble let go of Ner'Zhul's tail and turned around to look at him. Ner'Zhul now getting up looked back
at Treble while patting dust off his coat.
"What?" He asked.
"Did you just try to lift my spirits?" Treble asked somewhat baffled by Ner'Zhul's almost sudden cgange of attitude.
Ner'Zhul held back a chuckle seeing Treble confused like that.
"I gave your little talk some thought, and came to a conclusion, I'm willing to ATTEMPT to make at least a few
friends!" Now, if you excuse me, I have no choice but to sleep inside of a tree tonight!' Ner'Zhul snidely told Treble
before making his way to Twilights house alone, leaving Treble there to process what just happened.