> Overlords and Friendship...
>  by OblivionShadow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1: Magic Overlord to Pony Overlord...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Overlord Azure Flame lounged on his throne as the minions ran around before him.  Off to his left Quaver played the harp and tried to sing for their Master.  Azure stopped himself from picking up the minion and throwing him off the side of the Dark Tower.  “Well, the tower might be the wrong word for it.”  He mused aloud.  The Dark Tower that he ruled was not above ground.  It was in the Netherworld and floated stationary on its own.  It had many parts that he could access at any time.  The great forge was one he found himself using frequently due to it being away from the minions and his advisor, Gnarl. The minion burrows were where they kept the hives for each minion type.  It had taken time to retrieve them all, but he had accomplished it.  Showing that he was the true Overlord and Master of all the lands.  He slowly took what he decided was his and those who argued were enslaved or he killed them outright.  He would brook no argument or threat to his rule. Azure had taken the towns and villages for his own and used force to subjugate them if needed.

It had been months since he had defeated the Emperor in combat and he had enslaved every person in the former Empire and they all served him with absolute loyalty.  Beside his throne stood Gnarl.  The eldest of the minions and one of the only ones capable of higher thought.  Gnarl had advised many Overlords in his time and now was no exception.  Azure looked to the minions that were scurrying around the room and leaned his head back against his throne.

His armor shifted with him and his eyes closed.  His eyes glowed at all times and he always wore his armor to prevent injury from an attack.  His armor was made of the best metals that his forge master, Giblet, could get his claws on.  Lava itself moved through the pieces and seemed to connect them together.  His skin was covered to prevent injury and a red cloak fell from the back coming to mid-calf in length.  The edges were rounded and a black lining covered the underside of it.  Metal covered his torso and hips.  His boots were knee-high and had a cruel look to them.  Azure wore a pair of gauntlets on his hands.  The right gauntlet had a glowing gem the size of his fist in it.  It used to be on his left hand, but since he was right hand dominant, he had Giblet remake it.  The jewel sat in the middle of his forearm and the gauntlet itself ended in his fingers being covered in claws. They had been used many times as he conquered the lands around him.  His gauntlet gave him the ability to control the minions at his command easier.  It could be done without it, but it was not as simple.  It would utter a call to summon them to him or command their directions.  A flick of his fingers would sweep them after his enemies and they would continue until they either died or accomplished their task.

The Overlord was the absolute ruler of his lands and he allowed no threat to that rule.  He had reclaimed the Tower Heart that had belonged to his father before him.  It had taken a huge amount of power to recharge it.  He had siphoned power from the last Sanctuary that Queen Faye had created. They had used it to attack the Empire and after the battle he reclaimed it.  It had been low on power, but over the past months, it had recovered as it held power from him.  He would go into the Heart chamber and siphon some of his power into it for safekeeping. Then he had siphoned what remained from the Fairy Queen herself.  His power had corrupted her and she swore fealty to him and the elves that she commanded were now his as well.  She joined the other two women that he had in the Tower as his third mistress.  Though there were days that he regretted keeping any of them.  The women spent a large amount of time arguing among themselves.  He had declared Kelda his first mistress due to her being the only person who had stayed beside him during his time in Nordberg.

He opened his eyes as Quaver hit a particularly bad note and gave a shrill squeal.  He lunged to his feet, stormed over to the minion, and delivered a powerful kick that sent the Jester rolling backward.  Minions laughed at the Jesters expense.  Their Master looked over his shoulder and they went back to work.  Azure stood still as he tried to decide what to do.   He looked to the slim blade that rested against the throne.  Blue flame whispered along the blade.  He had taken his name from the blade since he had no name of his own when it was crafted.  He had always been called witch boy by the people so he had given himself a name when he became the Overlord.  The weapon was 50 inches long and barely a quarter of an inch thick.  The hilt was 10 inches long and was carved from the tusk of a walrus that Kelda had killed on a hunting trip.  The blade had been a gift for him.  Wolves were carved into the hilt and the head of it was a dire wolves head.  He left it where it rested and as he looked to the exit of the throne room.  He was up and had no desire to sit back on the throne.  His armor moved with him as he looked to the Gnarl.

“I’ll be with the Tower Heart.”  Azure informed Gnarl and turned to leave the throne room.

“Yes, Master.”  Was the only reply that was permitted.  Gnarl rarely argued with him, thankfully.

Azure looked ahead as the minions scrambled out of his way.  The Overlord walked out of the main keep and stepped onto one of the floating stones that could take him to any part of his domain if he chose.  The Netherworld had its own laws and they were remarkably flexible.  His will determined what nature did in his domain.  The stone flew through the vacant air and he looked around him as he passed by other sections of his home.  The magic-user waited for the stone to stop beside a platform before he stepped off it.  He had made that mistake once and had to explain to Gnarl why several minions were talking about the Master being a klutz.  That had been an embarrassing explanation.  He had stepped off too early and had ended up hanging onto the edge of the platform waiting for the minions stationed around the area to reach him and pull him up onto the platform.  He made it a habit after that escapade to wait till it completely stopped before he moved.

Ahead of him, the Tower Heart floated in place.  The minions that guarded it stood at attention as he walked past them.  He set his right hand on the Heart and closed his eyes.  He started to send his power to the Heart when he startled.  A vision went past his eyes.  Pieces, parts of cities and villages passed by him.  Azure gasped as the vision ended and he backed up several steps.  His breath tore from him.  He panted as he leaned down putting his hands on his thighs as he breathed.  A shudder went through the Netherworld.  The shaking stopped for a time.  He looked up as the Netherworld pitched violently under him.  He was thrown backward, off his feet.  Azure rolled into the cage that surrounded the Heart.  The shaking stopped again, as his hand gripped the cage behind him.  The minions yammered as they held on as well.

“Master!”  One of them yelled.

Azure pulled himself to his feet and walked to them.  “Hold fast.  I don’t think it’s over.”

He looked back to the Heart as his body seized up.  The muscles in his body screamed and he fell to his knees, pain tearing at him.  A soundless scream tore from him as he fell to his hands and knees.  He could hear his heart hammering and his blood rushed through him.  All he could hear was his heart.  The Overlord looked up and saw a pulse of color go through the Tower Heart.  The ground pitched and he rolled toward the Heart.  He reached out his hand and the claws on his right gauntlet grasped the Tower Hearts smooth surface. He looked up to it as colors went through it. His vision began to dim at the sides and he gasped for air.  The Netherworld pitched once more and he rolled away from the Heart and collided violently with the cage around the Heart.  The last thing he saw was a vision of a castle of crystal.





A jolt went through his body, but he was still.  A second shock arced through him.  Blue lightning pulsed over him in rows.  Within his chest, his still heart began to beat.  A harsh gasp went out as he gasped for air.  Azure sat up swiftly and panted as his breathing was rough and violent.  Pain went through him and he gritted his teeth against it.  He hauled himself to his feet and looked around.  The minions were sprawled across the floor.  He listened and he could hear them breathing.  The Tower Heart shone to the side of him and he turned to look at it.  It shone back at him and he could feel the power held within it.  A sigh of relief escaped him.  A quiet groan caught his attention and he turned to look at the unconscious minions.  One sat up and shook his head, his long ears flapped against his head.

“Master?”  He said aloud.

Azure recognized him as Rasp.  One of the minions that had been with them when they found him in Nordberg.  “I’m here.”  He voiced and looked back to the Heart.

“Master!  You...okay?”  He was hesitant as he approached the Overlord.

“I’m fine.”  He said aloud.  He was sore and bruised, but he would live.  A claw poked his leg and he looked to Rasp, who was staring at him.  “Yes?”

“Master?”

Azure felt annoyance bubbling in him as he looked closer to the minion.  “What?”  His voice was harsh and sharp.  The minion startled and looked up to his Overlord, who looked less than impressed at being questioned.

“I sorry Master!”  He squealed and fell to his knees bowing low.  “Master look different.”  He explained.

“Different?”  He looked to the minion.

“Yup.”

“How so?”  Azure gazed down at Rasp, who looked about as thoughtful as a Minion could.

“Master look like...horse.”

Azure felt his eyes widen.  “Pardon?”

“Horse.”

Azure stared.  “I can’t tell if he’s kidding or not.”  He thought to himself.

“Master!”

Azure looked up as Gnarl’s voice caught his attention.  “I’m in here, Gnarl.”

Gnarl ran into sight and stopped in his tracks.  He stared at the Overlord.  “Master?”

Azure rolled his eyes.  “Yes, Gnarl.”  He glared at the minion master and waited.

“Sire, have you seen yourself?”

“Clearly not.  Rasp has been telling me I look different and that I look like a horse.  I can’t seem to decide if he is being serious or not.”

“Master...Look at the Tower Heart.”  Gnarl instructed him.

Azure growled under his breath as he turned to look at the Hearts surface.  He focused on the image and his eyes widened.  A pair of brilliant red eyes looked back at him, they had been gold last he checked.  His skin was now covered in fur that was a deep red in color.  His hair was normally hidden under the helm, but this was not the case now.  His onyx hair now had streaks of silver and dark blue.  Looking back at him was the face of a horse.  His helm sat in place as he leaned back and fell to the ground.  Upon looking down he found his arms were now forelegs and he was indeed a horse.  His armor fit his new body just as well as before, but now the gauntlets were open at the end and the jewel still glowed as colors went through it as before.  He pulled himself to his...hooves and looked around him.  ' I can’t lose my composure.  I am the Overlord and I can’t lose my mind yet.  Maybe later.'  he thought to himself as he kept his head high and looked to his servants.

“It would appear as though something unexplained has befallen all of us, Gnarl.”

“Yes, Sire.”  Gnarl came forward and bowed his head in front of his Lord.

“I want an exploration conducted of the Netherworld.  I want to know if anything is out of place or wrong.  I want this done immediately.  Send the fastest we have.  I want our security level raised and all minions on alert.”  Gnarl nodded and stepped back.  “Now.”

Gnarl whirled around and made for the stones to leave.  Azure waited till he was gone before he breathed deeply.  “Okay...Okay...Stay calm.”  He whispered to himself.  “This could be worse.  I could be dead.  Or I could have been turned into a slug.”  He shuddered.  “All right, I can’t stay here with the Heart.  I have to move and that means I need to learn fast.”

The magic-user turned stallion looked back to the Heart and leaned forward to look at himself once more.  A sleek horn now came from the helm above his eyes.  It was around a foot long with smooth sides.  He was glad that he was not the type to panic.   He looked back and found that his armor and cloak were the same, just altered to be worn by a horse.  Azure had not looked at himself in depth when Gnarl had told him to a moment ago.  He looked to Rasp and the other minions as they waited for directions.

“Rasp, remain on guard.”  Azure started walking forward and was pleased when he didn’t fall flat on his face.

Rasp stayed behind him as he summoned a stone to carry him to the throne room.  He stepped onto it and tried to remain still, as it moved.  The stallion looked around him and found that the Netherworld was still underground but it was a different landscape.  Gems glittered in the walls, lava still flowed, but its heat seemed diminished.  The stone stopped at the platform and Azure stepped off it, his ears flicked to listen.

“What is going on here?”  Kelda hollered.

“Maybe I should have stayed with the Heart.”  He muttered to himself.  His head raised, as he strode forward, the image of the proud Overlord.  He refused to allow his status to slip as he moved.  The minions saluted as they were meant to but they still stared.  Azure snarled at them and they focused on the wall opposite them.  He approached the throne and Kelda.  Her body was also now a horse and her fur was a deep cream color with her former hair color intact.  Unlike him, she didn’t have a horn coming out of her forehead.  The bright red contrasted with her pale coloring.  She still had her dress but it was open in the front to accommodate her rear legs, without tripping her.  It was the same color scheme.  A red cover went over her flanks and under her tail, covering the white gown underneath.  A deep blue corset went around her waist accenting her chest and thin waist.  She opened her mouth as he approached.

“That's enough of your wailing, Kelda.”  He said aloud.

She spun and stopped to stare at the Overlord.  He kept his head raised as he looked back at her.  “My Lord, what is going on?”

She had finally stopped calling him Witch Boy only recently.  Mainly because he threatened to demote her from her place as his first mistress.  “I’m not sure, Kelda.  What do you remember?”

She looked away from him as she thought about it.  “Well, I came down here and the ground started to pitch and I fell down a few of the stairs and I suppose I hit my head.”

“How do you figure?”

“The headache.”  She quipped to him.

'Walked into that one.’  He commented to himself.  His face remained impassive.  “Well, I suppose we should check on Juno and Faye.”  Kelda grimaced.  He looked to the mare and scoffed.  “Kelda, act like an adult.”  He admonished her and walked past her to the stairs that led to the private chambers.  His was at the top of the Netherworld tower while Kelda’s and the others were closer to the throne room.  Her room was closest to his due to her status.  As he ascended the stairs he could hear the argument even before he reached the chambers.  He stopped and looked over his shoulder to the mare with him, who shrugged and shook her head.

“Darkness preserve me.”  He muttered and Kelda snickered at his expense.

He looked up to the hub that split into the separate rooms.  Juno’s was on the far left and Faye the far right.  Kelda’s was further up in another antechamber then his was after that.

“You did this, you insane fairy!”  Juno’s voice was outraged and accusing.

Azure sighed and looked into the room.  Juno was standing on his right.  Her dress was in the same style as Kelda’s just with other colors.  Her white gown was the same length and had the royal purple going over her flanks, she had tan boots on her front hooves.  Her coloring was a light gray with deep brown mane and tail.  He looked a bit further and saw Faye.  Her coloring was pale cream, even paler than Kelda.  Her dress was a deep maroon and with silver accents.  It was  in a similar design to the others except that her tail was hidden underneath it.  Her forelegs had boots on them with the spines from her original wrist bracer and she had a line if spines going behind her head as well.  He looked back to the mare with him, who looked past him.

“If I wished to curse you, you harlot, why would I do it to myself as well?”  The dark fairy replied.

Juno paused.  Azure shook his head.  “Enough, both of you.”

Both mares turned to their Lord and bowed their heads as he approached. They looked up as the armored stallion approached them, Kelda at his back.  Faye managed not to glare at the other mare.  Juno was not too subtle.  He said nothing as he stopped in front of them.

“Well, at least you are all right as well.  Granted, I could hear your bickering all the way to the Tower Heart.  And that bickering ends now.  Both of you will come to the throne room.”  Both mares opened their mouths.  “Now,”  Azure said flatly.  He turned and walked away from them, Kelda on his heels.  He looked back as Juno and Faye fell in behind her.

They returned to the throne room and he looked up to find Gnarl walking into the room as well.  Azure walked to the throne and sat down in it.  The throne itself had been altered as well, to accommodate a horse.  Kelda took her place in the small throne at his side while Juno and Faye went to the other side and sat down on the stairs.  Gnarl approached and bowed low to the stallion.

“Sire.  I bring news.”  The minion master said as he bowed low.

“Speak, Gnarl.  Where in the blazing Hell's are we?”

“I do not know, Sire.  I tried to activate one of the Tower Gates and got no response.  It seems as though the other Gates are non-responsive as well.”

Azure looked to his Adviser.  “You mean to say that I cannot access my kingdom?”  His voice deepened at the implication, a growl just under his tone.

“Yes,”  Gnarl said, he visibly shrank a bit at the tone from the stallion.

Azure stood up and walked down to the Tower Gate that was in the throne room.  He looked up and his gauntlet flashed.  The Gate activated and moved as it was meant to.  It lowered as though to swallow its master then went silent.  The light that came from it vanished and it moved back into place.

“What in the Hells?”  Azure stared up at it, dumbfounded.  After a few breaths, he looked down to his hooves.  “Well, shit.”

Kelda watched as he turned and came back to the throne.  “Gnarl.  I want the surface scouted.  Find a way to reach it.”

Gnarl stood straighter.  “Already did, my liege.”

Azure nodded.  “And?”

“The land is very different.  We could not see any of the normal landmarks and Nordberg is not in sight.”

Azure started.  “Even Nordberg is missing?”

“Yes, Master.”

Azure sat back, his haunches pushed against the back of the throne.  “What can we see?”

“There appears to be a town fairly close by.  I sent several green minions to investigate then report back.”

“I want that report immediately Gnarl.  The moment they return have them brought to me.”

“At once, Sire.”

Azure watched as Gnarl waddled off to follow his commands.  He set his forelegs on the arm of his throne as he considered the news from Gnarl.  “Nordberg is missing.”  He muttered.

“Does he mean that all of the areas around us is different then?”  Kelda asked.

Azure looked at her.  “It's safe to say that it most likely is.  I tried to use the gate that is inside of Nordberg.  You saw the result.”  Azure looked to her as she looked away from him.

The mares were silent as time went by them.  Azure looked to his gauntlet and watched as the stone inside it flickered with colors and the magic inside it.  He set his leg back down and waited in silence. His ears turned to face forward as Gnarl and several green minions ran into the throne room.

“Master!”  Gnarl hollered to the stallion.

“Yes?”

“There is a Gate active.”

“Where the Hells is it?”

“It's in the town nearby.  There are many ponies investigating it.  It seems like horses are the normal animal for this area.  There appear to be 3 types of them. One has wings on their backs, the other looks like the mistresses and the last have horns like you Sire.”  Gnarl informed him.  “Well, not like you. They are shorter in stature and the horn is smaller.” He amended.

“Hmm.”  Azure considered his words.  “Did you see anything that would give us the name of this town?  Perhaps if we know the name we can use the Gate.”

“Ponyville, Master.”  One of the Greens stepped up and spoke to him.

“Ponyville?  What a ridiculous name.”  Gnarl commented.

“I agree.  But, with that name, we can use the gate, hopefully.  We need to find where the others are.”  The stallion stood and walked to the Netherworld Gate.  He looked to it and his gauntlet flared.  The Gate activated and descended, just before it fully activated Azure released the power that moved it, allowing it to ascend and go dormant.  “It worked.  I have no desire to go there until I have more information.  I refuse to run blind.”

“Understood Master.  I will send out...”  Gnarl began but stopped when Azure raised a hoof to silence him.

“Have the greens monitor this town and send Grubby and the diggers out to find the other gates.  If they find one, get the name of the place it's in so we can test them.”  Azure commanded.

“At your command, Sire.”  Gnarl turned and walked away.

“I wonder if they have someplace to go shopping?”  Juno wondered aloud.

Azure couldn’t stop himself from putting his hoof over his face, exasperated.  “A topic for another day, Juno,”  Azure said to the empty-headed mare.  ‘Why did I bother saving her?’  Azure shook his head to clear it.

“I need a new outfit if I’m going to be a horse for some time.”  She added.

Kelda looked at her.  “Be quiet, you harpy.”  She said.

Juno opened her mouth only to have Azure slam his hoof onto the ground.  “Enough.”  The three mares went silent as Azure stood up and started walking around, pacing.  He paced under the now working Gate as he waited for more news.  Time ticked by and Azure could feel himself growing more restless.  He was more suited to being out and gathering the information that way.  He hated waiting.  His hooves continued to pace over the stone flooring.  He snorted and looked away from the mares.

“If Gnarl comes back, tell him I'm at the Heart.”  He said and walked out of the room.

He stepped onto the stone and it took him where he wished.  “Least the mechanics of the Netherworld haven’t changed.”  He said.  When it stopped he hopped off of it and went inside the cage that held the Heart and hid.  His breathing panted from him for a moment as he allowed himself a moment of panic.  “I’m a damned horse.”  He breathed and turned to the Heart.  Its surface shimmered and moved.  Azure leaned his head against its surface, keeping his horn from smacking into the surface.  His snout ended up pushed against it but he barely noticed.  His eyes closed as he breathed quietly.  He opened his eyes to see that an image was in front of his snout.  He whinnied in surprise and fell to his rump on the ground. The image remained as he looked up.

“Master?”  The minions looked into check on him.

“I’m fine.”  He said as he got to his hooves.

The Heart remained as he looked to the image.  It was the Netherworld Gate that Gnarl had mentioned.  He could see the horses gathered around it.  None of them seemed brave enough to step onto it.  He watched as a mare came forward and began speaking.  He looked away from her and started trying to see more through the image.  He brought up his hoof and started to move when the image moved with his hoof.  “Hmmm...”  He shifted his weight and used his right hoof to move the image.  He stopped when an image caught his attention.  It was a castle, of pure crystal.  He startled and stared.  He knew that image.  It was the last thing he saw before blacking out.  The castle stood tall in the image, keeping his attention.

“Must belong to the ruler of this area.  This could be a problem.  I’m no one's serf.”  he said aloud.

“Master!”  Gnarl yelled as he came running to the stallion.

“Calm down, Gnarl.  I’m not going anywhere.”  He admonished his adviser.  The minion panted as he breathed.

“Master, this area is ruled by a Princess.”  He panted out.

“Oh?  Only a Princess?”

“Yes, Master.  She is called Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship.”

Azure stopped and looked to Gnarl.  “The Princess of... What?  Named Twilight...Sparkle?”

Gnarl waited for Azure to turn to him.  “Friendship, my Lord, and yes that is her name.”  The minion gagged on the word as he spoke it.

Azure blinked as a smile crossed his muzzle.  He snorted as he tried to hold back a laugh, he failed in the attempt and fell to his knees laughing.  He fell to his side as he laughed, uncontrollably at the notion.  “By the Hells.”  He gasped as he laughed.  Gnarl watched as his Master rolled on the floor laughing.  After a minute or so he calmed and pulled himself to his hooves.  “I needed a good laugh.  Well done, Gnarl.”  He said as he looked back to the Heart.

“What do you plan to do, my Lord?”  Gnarl asked him, once it was clear he had recovered.

“Plan?  I plan to take that town and those that are in it.”  He told the minion.  “But first I will do this differently.  Judging by what I have seen these horses are very different.  They seem to listen very well to each other.  Come, Gnarl.”  He said as he pulled the minion's shabby robes to stand with him.

“Master!  The Heart!”

“Yes.  I saw this image just before I blacked out before awakening here.  It seems the Heart has the ability to show me this world.”  He said to the stunned adviser.

“So what will you do?

“Well, if this Twilight really is the Princess of Friendship...”  He suppressed a laugh.  “Then I’m sure she would love to meet a new friend.”  He said as a malicious smile crossed his mouth.

Gnarl looked to his Overlord and smiled as well.  “At your command. Sire.”

Azure looked back to the Heart, he moved his hoof and went back to the Netherworld Gate in the town.  “I wonder how they will react when someone comes through that Gate?”

“We will find out, Master.”

“Indeed.”  Azure swiped his hoof over the Heart, removing the image.  “I want a group of 10 greens prepped for surveillance.  That means they can’t stink.  They will smell them and ruin it.  So clean them, well.  I want my 5 best browns at my side with 3 reds and 2 blues.”  Gnarl nodded and waited for the stallion to pass him.  He stepped onto the rock with him and they moved through the netherworld.  “Go ahead and prepare everything Gnarl.  I’m going to the Arena to practice.  I need to be able to move like a horse or the act will fail.”

Gnarl stepped off the rock and turned back to the Overlord.  “It will be done.  Will you be taking one of the mistresses?”

“Not at first.  I’ll introduce them later.  Oh, and don’t let Juno through any of the Gates.  She’s an idiot who could ruin the whole plan.  Kelda and Faye are the only two who can keep their mouths shut.  If she acts up I’ll bring her a toy from that town. That should silence her for a time.”

The minion nodded and left the stallion to prepare.  Azure looked to the Arena in the distance and the stone under his hooves moved him to it.  He stepped off and walked through the doors to the Arena floors.  Usually, he watched the minions and various creatures battle in the arena.  He participated at times, but not always.  He moved to the center and stopped.  He stomped a hoof and targets appeared.  He looked down to his gauntlet but left it alone.

“How do I access my magic?”  He looked to the target dummies.  He felt something go through him and the dummy erupted in flame.

The stallion snorted as the dummy turned to ash.  He looked up and found his horn surrounded in a red aura.  ‘Interesting.’  He looked to another dummy and thought of other spells he knew.  The target spell was best used on an actual person, due to its ability to either enslave or kill.  It needed a mind to attack in order to bend it to Azure’s will.  The minion spell could overcharge one minion to turn it into a bomb that would kill anything caught in it’s path.  Or charge one that he could sacrifice to recover his own health and strength.  He used that rarely due to having to resurrect minions more often than he liked.   The final one was the Halo spell and it was used to strengthen the health and toughness of the minions around him.  Or he could use it personally to create a devastating shock wave that could either kill or knock down enemies that were foolish enough to get too close.

He looked to the dummies and backed up from them.  “Best to try moving faster before I fall on my face in front of the horses of this world.”  He walked forward and then broke into a trot and stumbled.  He stopped before falling and breathed in relief.  He stood up straight and looked around him.  Walking was proving to be fine, it was going faster than that, that he was having issues with.  The blood-red pony lengthened his stride and started to move up in speed slowly.  He tried to trot once more and fell forward.  After landing in the dirt he let his flank fall to the ground as well, to avoid the image of having his tail in the air while his head was on the ground.  The Overlord gave an angry huff and sat up.

“It can’t be this difficult to trot.  This is ridiculous.  Foals can walk within a few minutes and run just as quickly.  So why am I...Wait.”  He looked to the target dummies and thought it over.  “Foals run because if they do not stay with the mare they can die.  So they have to move.  While I have never had a mother, I have been in battle.”

He got to his hooves and shook himself to get rid of the dirt.  He looked to the dummy and lowered his horn at it.  ‘If I look at it as though it is an enemy, then perhaps I can charge it.’

Azure backed up and stared at his target.  An Empire soldier came forward and the stallion charged it, his horn lowered.  His hooves gained speed as he galloped and collided with the straw dummy, tearing it in half.  He slid to a halt on the other side of it and shook himself free of straw.

“Well, that worked better than I thought it would.”   He looked back to the wreckage that was the training dummy.  “All right, time to see if I can do this without falling.”  The Overlord started forward and broke into an easy trot and kept his head up, to avoid looking down to his hooves.  He looked to the entrance and found Gnarl standing at the doors, waiting.  The stallion broke into a gallop and charged the minion, skidding to a halt a few feet from him.

Gnarl clapped as Azure arched his neck and pranced in place for a moment, pleased with himself.  “Well done, Dark Master.  The mistresses are still working on walking normally.”  Gnarl praised.

“Well, if I am going to mingle with them I need to be able to move like them.  How go the preparations?”

“They are done, my Lord,”  Gnarl said to him as he stepped out of the way.

“Good.  I am finished as well.”  Azure said as he approached the traveling stone.  They stepped onto it and it took them to the throne room.  Azure walked in and ascended the steps to the throne and sat down.  The minions that were to be his guards came forward and saluted.  The stallion gazed down at them and nodded.  They spun and sat down to the left of the throne, waiting for instructions.  Azure glanced to Kelda who was sitting at his right with the others and watching him.  His helm was sitting off the side and he looked to it.  His horn lit and the red aura surrounded the helm, it floated to him and descended onto his head gently.  When it was in place he let the magic go and a small grin flit over his mouth.  ‘I could get used to this.’ 

Azure stood up and descended the steps until he was in the center of the room with the minions at his side.  He stomped his right hoof and the Gate activated.  The dark Lord closed his eyes and waited.
> 2: Meetings and screw ups...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Okay everypony.  Just stay back and remain calm.”  Princess Twilight Sparkle announced to the crowd of ponies as she stood in front of the strange structure.  Her back was to it as she addressed the ponies of Ponyville.

Spike, her assistant, stood a couple of feet behind her.  “Hey, Twilight?”  He waited for the purple Alicorn to look to him.  “What is it?”

She was quiet for a few beats before she leaned down to him.  “I have no idea.”  She admitted to the baby dragon.

“No idea at all?”

“Nope.”  She admitted with a sheepish glance.  “I can tell you is that its made of metal, but the structure itself is an unknown metal.”

She looked over her shoulder at the structure.  The bottom of it had pieces of metal that looked like stairs but they were not in lines.  It had 6 spines going up from the side of it.  It stood over 20 feet tall and had a beam of bright blue lightning constantly coming from the center of it.  The center did not have a floor that she could see.  She had hovered over it as close as she dared to look into it.  It was made of only metal and was scary to look at.  She had been called upon to investigate by Rainbow Dash, who had dragged her away from a new book to look at the structure.  Spike had come with her and she had sent him back to the castle to gather several architecture books to see if there was anything that resembled it.  The books showed nothing that was even close to it in terms of design or architecture.  She had put a hoof on the metal while she had examined it and it was warm.  It had felt alien and she pulled away from it, the look was off-putting to her as well.  The mare now looked at it from the ground. There were odd swirls and markings engraved in the metal.  The worst part was when it had started to move, the spines had spread out as if they were reaching for something.  After a few tense moments, it had calmed and returned to its original place, allowing the panicked ponies to return to their places to gawk at it.

Spike stared at it with the other ponies.  “So what do we do?”

She looked at him and tried to smile.  “We sent a message to the Princess so we should hear from her in no time.”

The ponies around her all smiled and nodded.  Twilight was glad that had seemed to ease their nerves a bit, even if it did not help her own.  The structure made her nervous and was upsetting to be near it for too long.  It was foreboding and frightened her on a primal level and she had to hide her shaking.  Her wings remained pinned tightly to her sides.  Her friends were with her, so she felt better with them to close.  But she was still uneasy.

“I must admit dear, I’m surprised that nothing was damaged at this, things, appearance.  It seems to fit right in that empty space.”  Rarity said to her.

Twilight nodded.  “Yeah, but the fact that it just tore through the ground and was just suddenly here is worrisome.”

“Well ah’m sure that whatever it is isn’t a threat to no pony.”  Applejack said as she looked to it.  “Even though it is creepy lookin’.  Ya really have no idea where it’s from?”

The Alicorn shrugged.  “None of the books I have looked through have anything like it.  I even looked at some from ancient history.  Nothing.  Nothing that even resembles it, not even a little bit.”

“I think it’s pretty sweet looking,” Rainbow admitted as she looked at it from where she was hovering.  “Its like something from a Daring Do book!”  She said, excitement in her voice.  “What if it is something from one of the books?”

Twilight laughed.  “As fun as that would be, I think Daring Do would be here by now to see it.”

Rainbow frowned.  “Maybe.  Or she’s in disguise!”  She yelled out and looked to the ponies behind her.  “Or not.”

The mares laughed.  “Maybe a pony owns it!”  Pinkie Pie shouted.  “Then we can have a Welcome to Ponyville Party!”  She exclaimed.  “Of course, you need a pony to have the party for.  Celebrating a weirdo metal thing is just really weird.”

Fluttershy was looking at it from halfway behind Rarity.  “Why would it come here?”

“I don’t think it made the choice itself, Fluttershy,”  Twilight said to her shy friend.  “Somepony must have put it here.”

A clash of thunder went out and Twilight went still.  Her hooves gripped the ground in front of her.  Fluttershy screamed and fainted.  Her other friends and Spike shouted as well.  She looked to them and watched as they stared at something behind her.  Her ears flicked to listen behind her.  The sound of hoof falls on metal sounded, a slight echo coming from the sounds as they landed on the metal.

“Twilight…Run.”  Spike advised his voice a whisper.

“There is something behind me?”  She asked, nervousness edging into her voice.

“Some pony, darling.”  Rarity said to her.

Twilight gulped and slowly turned to look over her shoulder.  A tall pony stood at the top of the ramp behind her.  She couldn’t see his face or any part of him. He wore full armor and the helm that covered his face was horned, it covered his mouth, and glowing red eyes looked out from under the inside of the helm.  She looked down by his legs and saw little creatures around him.  She could see ten of them.  They were in 3 colors, brown, red, and blue.  The brown ones were in front of him and to the side.  The red ones were behind them and the blues in the back behind him.  They stayed with him and were as still as he was.  He said nothing as she looked back to his face.  Rarity helped Fluttershy to her hooves, the yellow mare squeaked and hid behind the other.  Twilight slowly turned around and faced him, asking her voice not to break before she could speak aloud.

She gulped once more and cleared her throat.  “Hello.”  Her voice pitched and she cleared her throat.  “I am Princess Twilight Sparkle.  Welcome to Ponyville.”

Red eyes looked to her and she had a moment of panic before there was any reply.  “Thank you for the greeting.”

Twilight nearly shuddered as his voice went over her.  There was no emotion behind his words.  It was a statement and nothing more.  “What brings you to Ponyville?”

“One of my Gates ended up here.  I came to see what might have drawn it to this little town.”

“Gates?  Is that what this structure is called?”

“Yes.”

Twilight looked to the ponies behind her.  “What is your name?”

He looked from her to the other ponies and then back to her.  “Overlord Azure Flame.”

Twilight paused as she heard the title with his name.  “Overlord?”

He closed his eyes for a moment.  “I command the creatures you see beside me.  That is what they call me.”

“Oh.”  Twilight looked to the creatures beside him.  “What are they?”

“Their species name is the same as what they are, they are Minions.”  He said and the creatures looked to him at his words.

“I’ve never heard of them,”  Twilight said to the armored pony.

“Not surprising.  We are not from here originally.”

“Why did you come here?”

He paused.  “That is not your concern.”

Twilight stepped back but then squared her shoulders.  “You are in a town that I protect.  So it is my business.”

He chuckled.  A sound that went through her and made her cringe.  “You have courage, I will give you that.  But unless you plan to force me to speak, it is still not your business.”  His voice pitched and the last word was husky and an obvious declaration.  He was daring her to fight with him.

Twilight blinked and nodded.  “Fine.  Perhaps we will speak of it another time then.” She paused as she tried to think of what else to say.  “So how do we address you?  They call you an Overlord.”

He gave a wry chuckle.  “I am called many things.  Though if we are being technical those that I rule over calling me Lord or I am called Master by many.”  He paused as Twilight stared.  “Granted those that I command are not from here so the titles may be different.”

“Those that you rule?”

“Yes.  You are a Princess, are you not?”  She nodded.  “You are a ruler then?”

Twilight nodded.  “I share it with three others.”

“Ahh, so they are queens then?”

“No.”  He tilted his head slightly and waited as she explained.  “They are Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadance.”

“So is there one above you three then?”

“No.  It's just us and Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor rule the Crystal Empire.”  She said to him.

“Interesting.  Well, if we are going with that term then I would have been called a King.”

Her eyes widened.  She looked back to the ponies behind her and saw the shock on their faces.  “You ruled alone?”

“Of course, I rule alone.  I’m amazed that you rule as a group.”

A burp caught her attention and he looked back as well.  Spike looked at them as he caught the scroll on his claws.  She nodded to him and he unrolled it.


Dear Twilight:

When you figure out what this structure is please let us know.  My sister and I are interested in what this item actually is.  Please keep in touch and be safe.

Princess Celestia


Twilight looked to Spike then back to the Overlord behind her.  He was silent as her mind raced.  “Thank you for speaking with me and if you will excuse me for a moment, I would speak with my assistant.”

“Very well.”  He said to her and took the weight off one of his rear legs.

Twilight grabbed Spike in her magic and ran to the side.  She missed the look he gave to a corner of the structure, his eyes flaring once.


Dear Princess Celestia.

The structure is called a Gate.  A pony named Overlord Azure Flame emerged from it a few minutes ago.  He is the equivalent of a King where he is from and commands a bunch of little creatures called Minions.  He says that the Gate appeared in Ponyville for some reason, but is unwilling to elaborate about.  He is nonhostile at the moment but is very rigid in his responses.  I have only seen ten of the creatures he commands, but they are well armored and carry weapons.  He is also fully armored and armed.  He carries a long sword at his shoulder.  He hasn’t threatened any pony, but I think he could do a lot of damage if he wished to.  Thank you for your quick reply.

Princess Twilight


“Send it Spike.”  She said to the dragon, who nodded and breathed green flame on the scroll.  It vanished and Twilight walked back to the crowd and the Overlord.  “Thank you for your patience.”

“Sure.  I’m in no hurry at this moment in time.”  He said to her.

“Still, thank you.  You mentioned that you wished to see what brought your Gate here.  May I inquire as to what reason this Gate could have ended up here?”

The pony regarded her for a moment before he looked to the Gate itself.  “This was at a different location before.  When we moved, it did as well.  I will give you a few details if you work with me on something.”

Twilight looked nervous and held her breath for a moment before she looked to him.  “If it is reasonable.”

“I assure you it is nothing major.  I have no doubt that the other Gates I have could have also been shifted.  So I will give a few more details to you, if, you aid me in the search for them.”  He reasoned to her.

Twilight stared for a moment. “How many are there?”

He looked to the side for a moment.  “Twenty, give or take a few.  They vary in size and power depending on their location.”  He replied to her.

Twilight jaw opened and she stared at him.  “Over twenty?”  Her voice barely a whisper.

“If all of them are in effect, then yes.”

A burp sounded again and Spike gave her the scroll.  She turned to the side and read it to herself.


Dear Twilight,

Please be careful.  An Overlord is so named due to their propensity for acts that would be called evil to us.  Bear this in mind as you interact with him.  The mention of him being unwilling to speak of his past or motives is concerning to my sister and I.  If you believe that he has no ulterior motive or at least does not intend to attack, then please bring him to Canterlot and we will be happy to meet him.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna



Twilight rolled up the scroll and sent it to her castle before she looked back to the stallion.  She turned to him and held her head up to him.  “I cannot promise to find them on my own.  If you are all right with it, the other Princesses would like to meet with you as well.  Between the three of us, we would have better luck finding the Gates.”

He looked to her, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her.  Twilight shrunk back a bit under his gaze.  “I suppose I will have to meet them eventually.  One thing I will require before we meet with them.”

Twilight stopped herself from gulping before she spoke. “And that is?”

“Safe passage no matter the result of this meeting.”  He said to her.  His head lowered some to look down on her.  “I require your word that no matter what the result, I am able to leave their presence and have a safe passage back.”

Twilight blinked at him.   “Why would we stop you from going home?”

He looked at her.  He blinked and then pulled his head back to his full height.  “By the Dark, your not kidding.”  He said to her.  A laugh escaped him as he let his head drop to his chest.  He looked at her and another laugh barked from him.  “Oh, to hell with it.”  A shrill whistle escaped him.  Two of the Minions looked up and then jumped to stand on his back and shoulders.  They removed his helm and his black mane tumbled from under it.  The silver and blue streaks showed as one of the minions jumped down and held the helm in its claws.  His fur was a deep red and it was looked like blood to the Alicorn mare.  His eyes continued to glow red as he looked to the ponies. “You are no threat.”

Twilight shook her head.  “We wouldn’t hurt you.”  She said to him.





Azure stood in silence as he looked down to the ponies before him.  ‘This should be interesting.’  He walked down the steps and the ponies all backed up to give the armored pony room.  “So, where is this meeting place?”

Twilight had backed up with them and stared at him.  She inhaled before replying.  “Canterlot.”

He looked back to the Gate.  “I wonder.”  He said as he spun back to the Gate and walked into the blue lightning arcing from it.  He stomped his right hoof and the Gate came to life under his command.  He heard a few yells and looked back.  The ponies had backed up even further as the Gate came to life and he couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes in response.  He waited as the magic grew and he gave a shallow grin.  “Found one.”   He looked back at her.  “I can meet you there if needed.”

Twilight stepped up to him.  “What?”

“One of my gates is close by that town you mentioned.  I’m not certain of its exact location.  I’m unsure if it’s inside the town or not.”

Twilight shook her head and blinked.  “I think it would be best if I went with you.  That way no pony panics when you come through that Gate of yours.  If that is possible.”  She added the last part as an afterthought.

Azure was silent as he considered what she said. He knew that he and the minions could travel between Gates easily enough.  He had brought Kelda and the others through them as well at one time.  He looked to the Gate and let the magic in it go for the time being.

“I will be honest and inform you that I am not sure how it will react if I take you with me through it.  I can use it as I wish due to my command of it, but I have never used it to take anyone with me to another Gate.”

“So you have never tested that?”

“No.  I have never needed to.”

Twilight looked nervous as she thought over what he said.  Azure looked to the Gate as it had settled back into it’s resting position.  ‘I’m not sure if having her go through with me is a good idea.  I still have to test whether the Gate can do the same things it did before.  Taking a Princess of this world through with me and if she ends up in the Netherworld I will have to find a way to explain the place or kill her outright and blame it on the Gates magic.’  He sighed and leaned back on his haunches.  He looked back at the mare as she seemed to be speaking with the little lizard.  He waited as she turned back to him.

“It's up to you whether we use you to test it out.  I will do what I can to make sure it does not hurt you.”  He reasoned to her.

The purple mare nodded as the dragon jumped onto her back and held onto her mane.  “I have no doubt that it will be okay.  I trust you will not let me get hurt.”

He focused on the gate and the minions clamored to go through it at his command.  He waited till the mare was up beside him, he reached out and set a hoof on her shoulder as he called upon the Gates power to send him to the other location.  He heard a yelp as they appeared in the new area.  He looked to the mare who swayed on her hooves.  He held her up as the dragon fell off her back and onto the metal of the Gate.

She shook her head and composed herself.  “That was...disorienting.”

“Are you all right?”  He asked of her.  He paused as the minions surged forward at the sight of several guards.  His horn lit with a brilliant red aura as it surrounded the hilt of his sword.

“Wait!  It's okay.”  Twilight ran down the Gates stairs and stopped in front of the guards.  “It's okay!  He’s with me.”

The guards relaxed and Azure whistled for the minions to return to his side.  Twilight looked back and gave him a tense smile.

“Sorry about that.  Now I’m glad I came with you.”  She said with a forced laugh.  “Oh, Spike.”

She trotted back up to him and her magenta aura covered the baby dragon and set him on her back.  She trotted to the bottom of the Gate and turned back to him.

“Allow me to welcome you to Canterlot, Overlord Azure Flame.”  She said and waved a hoof to the gates of the city.

“I thank you for the warm welcome.”  He replied as he came down the steps and stood in front of her.

The dragon stirred and sat up on the mares back.  “Wow.  That was a hell of a ride.”

“Spike!  Language!”  She scolded him.  “Not in front of a guest.”

Azure chuckled.  “I have heard and said much worse, Princess Twilight.”

Twilight grimaced as she walked in front of him through the gates.  A sprawling city showed behind the doors.  He walked slowly behind the mare, the guards walked past them and headed for the castle that he could see from his place in the streets.  ‘This could be troublesome to conquer.’  He made mental notes as they walked.  The red stallion was quiet as they moved.  Spike turned around and motioned for the red pony to walk faster and pull up by the mare.

“So how many of those minions do you have?”

“Enough.”  He answered.  ‘He must think me a fool if he thinks I will give him information about my army.’

“I just wondered.  They don’t look very tough.”

Azure chuckled.  ‘They can easily lift a cow.’  The Overlord was quiet for a moment.  “Appearances can be deceiving.”  He said to the drake.

“Yeah.  I guess so.”

“Spike.  I need to write up a letter of safe passage for him.  So a quill and paper, please.”  Twilight voiced to him.

The drake shrugged at the red stallion and turned back to the mare.  Azure looked around as ponies looked out their house windows and stopped in the streets to stare.  He held his head up and followed behind the mare.  They approached the castle and he halted on the edge of the moat.  The wooden drawbridge was lowered and welcoming.  Twilight looked back and trotted back to him.

“I’m working on it, but it might be better to finish it inside.”  She advised.

He was about to ask for her reason when he looked back and was the large crowd that had amassed as they walked through the city.  “Bloody Hell.”  He said as he nodded to her.  He followed her inside and the guards prevented the ponies from following them inside.

“How long have these other ponies ruled?”

Twilight slowed down and walked next to him. “Princess Celestia has been the ruler of Equestria for over a thousand years and Princess Luna was banished to the moon for a thousand years, but she ruled with her sister before that.  So maybe 100 years or more.  I’m not sure of the exact time.”

He looked to her and managed not to look as stunned as he felt.  “Over a thousand years?”

The mare nodded as they stopped outside a set of very tall doors.  Her magic held the scroll in its magenta magic and she walked up to the door and a smaller door within the larger one opened.  “Here we go...”  He heard her whisper to herself as they went into the room.

A white mare and a deep blue waited inside the room.  The minions with him drew up closer to him, intent on protecting him if needed.  Twilight motioned for him to stop just behind her.  He stopped and waited.

“Princesses Celestia and Luna.  I bring the Overlord Azure Flame.  He owns the structure that appeared in Ponyville. There is also another one just outside of Canterlot’s main gates.  That's how we got here so fast.”  Twilight informed them.

“I had wondered how you were able to get here so quickly.”  The white mare said and stood up.  Her mane held several colors and swirled as if constantly moved by the wind.

The other mare was a deep blue and her mane matched her coat and moved without wind as well.  “I am Princess Luna.  It is a pleasure to meet you.”  She said and stepped off the dais to walk up to him.

He gave a slight bow of his head and waited for her to reach him.  He whistled and the brown minions backed up a step to stand at his shoulders.  The mare held out her hoof and he reached out to grasp it.  She gave his hoof a vigorous shake and he pulled his hoof back, away from her.

“I think that was a bit, abrupt sister,”  Celestia said with a laugh.

Luna looked sheepish and backed up.  The minions stayed close to him and watched the mares.  He looked over his shoulder as the three reds he brought with him were ready to start tossing fire if he so much as twitched.  He stayed back and did not speak as the mares regarded him.  He looked to Twilight who was talking to her assistant as he wrote almost frantically.

“Got it!”  He suddenly shouted, holding the paper up.

Azure looked back to his minions as they came forward and surrounded him.  A red leaped onto his back and held a ball of flame in its claws.

“Spike.”  The Princess yelped.  “I’m sorry.  We have your passage note ready.  I’ll make sure it’s signed.  Umm...just a minute.”  She said and her magenta aura gripped the scroll as she went up to the other monarchs.

Azure relaxed and gave a signal for the minions to calm but remain on alert.  The mares talked amongst themselves and Luna regarded the stallion, curiosity in her eyes.

“Why do you need to have a letter of Safe Passage?”

“I require it before I speak with you further,” he said to her.

Twilight spoke up to explain.  “So that if we do not like what he says he can still leave.  Its a fail safe.”

The white mare, Celestia looked at him.  “We have no desire to stop you from leaving.”

“I have been told that before.  But in the end, I was stopped and attacked.  I will not explain anything without that binding contract.”

The mares looked surprised and they each applied a seal to the paper.  Twilight trotted down the stairs and gave him the document.  His magic held it and he looked over it.  He put the paper in a slot in his armor and leaned on his haunches, showing them he was all right for the time being.

“Twilight mentioned that the Gates that are in Ponyville and now outside of Canterlot belong to you.  Do you have any idea why they ended up in their current locations?”  Celestia asked.

“I am currently looking into that myself.  I am unsure of why they were put into their current locations.”  He replied with a true statement.

Luna sat down by her sister and looked to him.  “How many are there?”

“Close to twenty give or take.  They vary in strength depending on their purpose.  I can travel to any of them when they are active.”

“You asked that we help you find them.  Why would you want us to aid you?” Celestia asked.

“A wise question.  I have no real need of your aid.  I can find them on my own time.  I simply asked as a way to start a beneficial relationship.”

“And how does finding those benefit us?”  The white mare asked.

Azure’s mouth pulled into a slight grin.  “Well, if they are messed with they are designed to kill.”

Twilight’s eyes widened.  “How much attention can they be given before they react?”

“If a pony were to try to activate them or linger in the lightning from them for too long...well, I’m sure I don’t need to elaborate too much.”  He replied.  ‘A slight lie won’t hurt them.  Plus, it will push them to act.’  

They looked nervous and glanced to each other.  “So they are dangerous?”  Luna asked.

“To an extent.  Princess Twilight can explain the feeling that comes from them.  She had some exposure to the Gate itself before I came through it.”

They looked at her.  “It felt very...alien.  Something felt wrong about it, but he can command it easily.  It answers to you and only you right?”

“Correct.”  He answered.

“There is nothing like it in any of my books on architecture.  Nothing looked even close to it.  The feeling from it is very...upsetting.  Even being a few feet away feels like the air itself is trembling.”  She explained further.

“Are you all right?”  Celestia asked her.

“I’m fine.  I came through the Gate because he was there.  If I tried to go through alone...what would have happened?”  She asked of him.

“I’m not exactly sure.  Ponies have tried to use them before.  I didn’t see them come through alive.  They also do not react well to tampering.”  He replied with a half-truth.  He was certain the Gate would not allow them through it, but he wasn’t positive of any action if they did manage to activate it.

The mares looked shocked.  Celestia leaned forward.  “How can you control such a thing?”

“I am the one they are designed and made for.  I use them to travel to parts of the world.  It depends on me what the Gate does.  If I choose for them to kill, then they will.  If I wish for the Gate to remain closed unless I activate them, then they will.  The problem now is that they were scattered.  To safeguard them I need to have access to them.”

“So you can make them safe?”  Twilight asked.

“Safe is a relative term.  If you mean completely harmless, then no.  They act as a doorway for me, but to others, they are a wall.”   He sighed, as a way to draw them to his words and ensure their attention.  “But.  If I can get to them, I might be able to alter them to be less...deadly.  But to do that I need the Gate itself.  I have two of them under my control at this time.  The rest must be found.”  He informed them.

“So far they are in Ponyville and outside Canterlot.  Maybe they are near other cities and towns?”  Luna reasoned.

“That is possible.”

“Do you have any idea what might have drawn them to those places?”  Celestia asked.

“Without analyzing them further, I have no concrete ideas.  I have a few suspicions, but nothing worth mentioning.”  In truth, he had no idea, but they did not need to know that.

Celestia sat back in her throne and looked at him, her expression guarded.  “We will help you find these ‘Gates’ of yours, for the sole purpose of safeguarding them and avoiding death and harm to our subjects.”

“A wise choice.”  He replied to her.

“But what assurance do we have that you will not use them against us?  You come here with a guard contingent of those creatures.  One looks like it is ready to attack us with fire.”  She went on.

Azure looked over his shoulder at the red on his left shoulder.  It no longer held any flames, but it was still as it watched the mares, intently.  “If you were in a new place with no knowledge of the inhabitants and their manner, how would you react?  Would you walk up to them and hope they were friendly?  Or would you take precautions to protect your own life?”

The mare looked sheepish as she sat back again.  “That is a fair point.”  She admitted.

“I appreciate your understanding.  In exchange for that, I will have him stand down.”  Azure reached back, put his hoof on the minion and tossed him back and onto the ground.

The mares looked shocked as the minion stood up and shook his head, ears flapping against his head, then watched as he ran back into his place behind the brown minions.  Azure looked at the mares as they were stunned.

“That looked like it hurt,”  Luna said aloud, then put her hoof over her mouth.

Azure looked at her.  “If it did, why should that concern me?”

“Whatever he is, he still serves you.  And you threw him over your shoulder?”  Twilight said to him.

“I can do as I wish with him.  His is one of mine.”  Azure replied to their stunned expressions.

“But.”  Twilight stopped.

He sighed and looked to the minions.  “You seem to misunderstand something.  They serve me and I can do as I wish to them.  I could throw him off that balcony, and if the fall doesn’t kill him, he will come back to protect me, at all costs.”

Celestia’s mouth dropped open at his statement.  “Why would you throw him from the balcony?”

Azure chuckled.  “Again, I can do as I wish.  Shall I prove it?”

“No!”  Twilight shouted.  “I mean.  It’s fine.”

“A smaller demonstration then?”  He looked to a brown minion.  He looked at them then saw the one he wanted.  “Wrath.”

“Master?”  The minion came forward and stood in front of him.

Azure spun around and a strong buck sent the minion rolling.  Azure turned around and waited till the minion stopped moving, then stomped a hoof.  The minion scrabbled on the smooth floor to get back to him.  The mares stared, wide-eyed as he wrapped his unbroken arm around Azure’s right foreleg.  He gave a contented purr and then stood up, arms dangling.  Azure reached up and patted the minion on his knobby head and then gestured to go back to his place.

“I am all they see.  I am the center of their world and there is nothing else.  My word is absolute to them and my wish is what they accomplish.”  Azure informed them.

Twilight stepped down and walked up to him.  She reached him and then looked to the minion who was standing just behind his shoulder.  It didn’t seem to be in any pain from the broken arm and the minion watched Azure, then his eyes moved to the mare that was staring at him.  Twilight backed up a step then regarded Azure.

“So they have no real minds of their own?”

“Not really.  A few of them have lived long enough for higher thinking, but there are only 4 of them at this time.  I leave them at home to prevent their deaths.  I need them as they are.”

“Where is home?”  She asked.

“Not far enough in a relationship for that Princess.”  He said to her.

Twilight flushed and backed up.  Spike walked up to them and stared.  “So they don’t ever talk back?”

Azure thought for a moment.  “No.  If they do and it displeases me, then their life is forfeit.”

Spike startled.  “Wow.”

“So you can kill them for disagreeing with you?”  Twilight asked.

He snorted a laugh.  “No.  I do not mind being challenged.  Within reason.  My eldest adviser, for example, is permitted to disagree, so long as he has a good reason.”

Spike stood in front of the red stallion and a smile grew on his face.  “That's actually kinda neat.”

“Oh?”

“Spike!”  Twilight admonished the dragon.

“I mean that they are so loyal.  They won't let anything hurt you?”

“No.  If I am injured then, they have failed in their jobs.”

“Wow.”  Spike was awestruck by the stallion in front of him.  He was different from the Alicorns.  He was a Unicorn that had absolute control over everything around him.  Spike had grown up surrounded by mares and his few male friends weren’t always around.  Azure's ears flicked and he looked up as a laugh sounded off.  Spike looked up and groaned.

Azure looked to the dragon.

“Hi, Discord,”  Spike said aloud.

A creature appeared beside the stallion.  Azure snorted and stepped to the side, away from the strange creature.  The creature was taller than he was by a couple of heads.  It had a draconian tail with one dragon leg, the other was from a goat.  One arm ended in a paw and the other appeared to be the arm of a lizard with four claws.  Its neck was long and had gray fur on it.  It had one goat horn and the other was the antler of a deer.  It looked around and smiled.

“Hello, my friends.  I heard we have a visitor.  So who is this new...pony?”  He looked at the red stallion.

Azure had the brown minions in front of him, weapons ready, the reds stood behind them with one on his back, its claws in his mane and the blues stood at his flanks.  Discord stared at him then looked to the mares.

“Him?”  Discord commented and motioned a thumb to the stallion.

“Discord.  Meet Overlord Azure Flame.”  Twilight said and motioned to the stallion.

“Well, well.  An Overlord makes his way to Equestria.  So are you going to throw him in the dungeon?”  He asked as he snapped his fingers and a cage appeared around the stallion.

Azure startled as the bars surrounded him.  His eyes widened as he backed up and his rump hit the bars behind him.  His horn lit up with a red aura and he wished himself away from the bars.  He closed his eyes as he felt the magic in his horn gather, then he opened them to find himself outside the bars.  He startled, but then looked to the offending creature.  His horn lit up and the blade at his shoulder slid from its sheath.  He snarled as the blade twirled in his magic and he waited for the creature to act.  The minions yelled and cried out as they were still stuck in the cage, unable to defend him.

“DISCORD!”  Twilight yelled.  “What are you doing?”

“What?  I was just asking a question?”  The animal replied.  He snapped his fingers and the minions fell out of the cage.

They scrambled over to their master and surrounded the enraged stallion.  They clamored around him and prepared to attack as well.  Twilight loped up to him and stopped in front of him.

“I am so sorry.”  She frantically spoke to him.  “That is Discord.  He’s usually like this.  It takes getting used to, but he won’t hurt you.”

“So instead he would imprison me?”  Azure replied.  His voice tense and venom dripped from his voice.

“No.  That was him teasing.  I promise we would have stopped him.  We will not imprison you.”  Twilight tried to reassure him.

The red stallion was silent as he glared at Discord.  “Keep that thing away from me.”  He snarled and put the blade back in its sheath.

“Thank you.”  She said to him and trotted to Discord.  “What are you thinking!?”  She whispered to him.

Discord looked affronted.  “I’m trying to help.”

“By putting him in a cage?”

“Well, an Overlord earns that name for a reason.  I was helping.”  He reasoned.

Twilight put a hoof over her muzzle and flapped her wings till she was level with Discords face.  “Helping?  How is that helping?  He has the name Overlord cause that's what the minions call him.”

“Oh.”  The creature looked at Azure, who nodded and pointed a hoof at the minions with him.  “Oops?”

Twilight dropped a foot in altitude from shock, before she recovered and was level with him again.  “Oops?  You would have broken the safe passage agreement we have with him!”

Discord looked to the red pony who was watching the exchange.  “Safe passage?”

“Yes.  We all signed a safe passage agreement at his request.”

“And you signed it?”

“We all did!”  She yelled at him.

“I didn’t.”  Discord said to her.

The purple Alicorn reached out and grabbed his beard, pulling his face to hers.  “I will tell Fluttershy that you are judging a pony before getting to know him.”  She threatened.

Discord startled and looked at the mare.  He disappeared from beside her and appeared in front of Azure.  The stallion snarled and backed up a step.  The creature bowed low and spoke.  “You have my apologies, Mr. Overlord.  I hope that we can start over and build a better friendship.”  He looked back to Twilight who nodded as she landed.

Azure stared at the creature as it looked to him.  “Very well.  But do not think to imprison me again or I will not be as kind as they are.”  He vowed.

Discord stood upright and grabbed Azure’s hoof in his claws.  He gave it a frantic shake and then backed up.  “Good, that's taken care of.  See ya!”  He vanished as Azure growled at being touched.

Twilight gave him a sheepish glance.  “I am so sorry about that.”

Azure shook his head.  “I will ignore what just happened under the agreement that it will not happen again.”

The mare nodded and sighed in relief.  ‘That will put these friendly equines in my back pocket.  Now they will do as I ask simply because that buffoon committed an error.  Though if it happens again I will attack him and turn him into a rug.’  Azure thought to himself and looked to the mares as they began speaking among themselves.  They looked to him after they had finished.

Celestia looked to him and a gentle smile crossed her muzzle.  “Overlord Azure Flame.  After discussing it we would be more than happy to help you find these other Gates.  Not only to make them safe but to apologize for Discords... Egregious behavior toward you.”

“I appreciate the help, Princess.  I look forward to working with you to find all of them.”  He replied, even as he fought back a smirk.

Twilight came back to him, a smile on her muzzle.  “I’ll take you back to your Gate.  Are you okay to be teleported?”

He looked at her.  “Tele-what?”

She looked at him.  “What you did when you escaped that cage Discord put you in.”

“Oh.  Right.  Sorry, its called something else where I am from.”  He quickly replied to her.

“Oh?”  The purple mare looked curiously back at him.

'Well shit.’  He thought to himself.  “Its called a portal.”  He said to her and hoped she fell for it.

“Oh, okay.  I suppose it could be called that.”  She said to him.

Oh thank the Darkness she fell for it.’  He thought to himself.  “And being teleported should be fine.”

“Excellent.”  She motioned for the dragon to join her.  “Okay so get all the minions to put a hoof on you, or claws in their case.”

Azure looked to them and they did as instructed.  She reached out and set a hoof on his shoulder.  He closed his eyes as he felt something pulling on him and when he opened them he swayed on his hooves for a moment before shaking his head to clear it.  The mare looked concerned as she watched him.

“Are you okay?”

“That was a bit...disorienting.”  He admitted.  “But I am fine.”

Twilight looked relieved and backed up as the minions trotted to the Gate and into the lightning coming from it.  They stood and waited for him.  He glanced to the purple mare.  “Are you wanting to go back via the Gate or...?”

“Oh no, it’s okay.  I’m going to stay here and start looking into where those Gates of yours might be.”  She smiled at him, a slight blush to her cheeks.  “But thank you anyway.”

“Of course.  Till next time then.”

She watched as he went to the gate.  “Oh!”  She yelled and spun to him.  “When we find a gate how should I contact you?”

He stopped and looked back at her.  “I will post a pair of minions outside of the Gate in Ponyville.  I will also put a Minion Gate so they can inform me of your presence.”  He said to her, the mare nodded her understanding.   “I can see if a pony begins to mess with the Gates so I do ask that it be left alone.”

Twilight nodded again.  “Of course.  It's your property and I will make sure ponies know to leave it alone.  Thank you again for your understanding of Discord.”

“So long as that creature leaves me alone we will have no further incidents.”  He replied.  ‘Or I will skin him alive.’

“Understood.  I’ll make sure he knows.”

He nodded to the mare and walked to the Gate.  He focused on the Gate in Ponyville to create a minion gate in Ponyville.  He focused on the Gate within Ponyville and closed his eyes.  He opened them in Ponyville and walked down the stairs to stand on the earth.  He turned to face the gate and used his gauntlet to call on Grubby.  The minion came through the Gate and waited for instructions.

“Create a minion gate in the usual place for all 4 colors.”  He instructed.

The minion nodded and immediately began the process of creating the holes for the minion types.  Azure sighed and stifled a yawn.  ‘Acting is more difficult than it looks.’  It was easier to just conquer an area.  But since magic seemed to be common in this world he would need to approach this conquest differently.  His ears flicked to listen behind him as he looked over his shoulder to find several multicolored ponies watching him.  He ignored them and focused back on Grubby’s efforts.  Azure had never asked what needed to be done to connect the hives to the Minion gates.  Grubby poked his head out of the brown minion gate and gave a toothy smile to the Overlord, who remained silent.  He jumped out and began the next one.

“Howdy!”

A yell from behind him startled him and the minions spun to look behind him.  He turned and found an orange mare with blond hair and a hat standing a few feet behind him.  The minions growled and grumbled around him.  ‘What the hell does howdy mean?’  he asked himself as he regarded the mare.

“Ah’m Applejack.  Ah wanted ta welcome ya to Ponyville.  Ya appeared so quickly earlier ah didn’t get a chance ta greet ya.”  She explained.

Oh.  It's a greeting.  Pretty informal in my opinion.’  He thought about it as he stood in silence.

Four more mares approached as well and stood at Applejack's shoulder.  The stallion flicked his ears back then forward as he regarded the mare.  “It's nice to meet you, Applejack.  As you know, I am Azure Flame.”

A light gray mare approached him.  She had a violet purple mane and had a horn on her head, similar to his own, only spiraled.  “I am Rarity, my good stallion.  It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”  He gave a polite bow of his head to her.

A pale yellow mare with a long pink mane came forward as well.  “I’m Fluttershy.”  He had to flick both his ears forward to hear her name.  Her voice was quiet and barely above a whisper.

A pale blue mare stepped up next.  “I’m Rainbow Dash.  The fastest flier in all Equestria.”

Azure looked at her, unimpressed.  The last mare was a bright pink mare that appeared to be vibrating in place.  She ran up to him but stopped when the minions advanced to keep her from getting too close to him.  “I’m Pinkie Pie! Do you like chocolate cake?”

“Do I like...what?”  He asked of her.

“Cake.  More specifically chocolate flavor with chocolate icing.”  She explained as she began to bounce in place.

He looked past her to the other mares who gave a defeated smile and chuckled at the pink mare.  “I have no idea what you are talking about.”  He admitted to her.

The mare froze in place, about a foot off the ground.  Azure tiled his head to look under her to see if he had missed a platform but found nothing holding her in place.  ‘What in the hell?’  He went to look at the mare and watched in alarm as her eyes widened to the point he was concerned they would pop out of her head.

“You haven’t had chocolate?”  She said as she slowly landed back on the ground.

“No.”  He said to her, his body guarded and tense. The jewel in his gauntlet flared and the minions crowded him, ready to defend.

She looked at him, her eyes going back to normal size and jumped at him.  Azure leaned back and growled at the mare.  Wrath jumped to Azure’s back, then jumped to collide with the mare and stopped her from landing on the Overlord.  Azure watched as Wrath struck the mare and sent her rolling.  She landed to the side and Azure gave a sigh of relief.  The minion looked back to him for a moment before turning back to the mare.

“Do not touch me,”  Azure said aloud.

Pinkie stood up and shook herself.  “But how can I throw a party for you if I don’t know you?”

“A party?” He asked her.  ‘They won’t be wanting to welcome me when I conquer them.’  He thought to himself as the mare nodded her head.  “No.  Not necessary.”

The pink mare looked crushed at his statement.  “But ponies use parties to welcome each other and get to know one another.  You can make a lot of friends at..”

He barked a laugh and looked sideways at the mare.  “I have no desire for friends, little mare.”  The Overlord said to her.  “They are a liability I cannot afford.”  He said and turned back to the Gate.

“Minion gates for Master!”  Grubby shouted and motioned to the now glowing holes in the ground.

“Well done, Grubby.”  He praised the minion as it ran up to him.  He ran a hoof over the hard hat it was wearing.  “Let's go home.”  He said to the minions, who scrambled to get back to him and walk with him to the Gate.  He looked to the minions around him and his eyes fell on Wrath, even with a broken arm he still jumped to protect him.  He reached out with his magic, picked him up and set the minion on his back.  “Stay there.”  He commanded and the minion nodded.  He looked at two of the minions with him.

“You two will remain here to guard the Gate.  Should the purple mare, Twilight Sparkle, give you a message you will deliver it to me immediately.  Understood?”

“Yes, Master.”  The two chimed and took their position on either side of the stairs.

The Overlord walked up to the stairs to the Gate and commanded it to return him to the Netherworld.  He closed his eyes and opened them once he felt his hooves hit the stone ground.  He looked around and inhaled.

“By all the is Unholy!  I need a bath and something to throttle! Now!”  He roared.  He looked around.  “Quaver!”

The jester ran up to him and waited for the beating to start.  Azure turned and bucked the minion away from him, then charged after him to throttle him with his own hooves.  His hooves gripped the minion's neck as he shook him.  After several seconds, he released the minion and let him drop to the ground.

“Okay, I'm calm,”  Azure said, a pant escaping him.

Kelda walked up to him and leaned into him, putting a foreleg around his shoulders, nuzzling him.  “Bad time, love?”

“There are no words.”  He said as he gave a loud snort and looked to Gnarl.  “Gnarl the ponies will start looking for the Gates as well.  I have stationed two minions beside the gate and had Grubby create the minion gates for later use.  If the Princess sends a note to us she will do it through one of the stationed minions.  This way I do not have to associate with them too much.”  The minion on his back shifted.  “Also.  Create a suitable reward for this minion.  He protected me from being...hugged by one of the ponies.  Reward him well.”  Oblivion set the minion down his magic.

“At your command.  Will you be bathing next master?”  Gnarl asked.

“Yes.  Also, tone down the lights in my chambers.  I’ve had enough light on me to last a month.”  He said as he got out from under Kelda’s foreleg and walked for the stairs to his chambers.

“Want some company, love?”  Kelda asked as she winked in his direction.

“Normally, yes.  But not this time, Kelda.”  He said to her.

Azure walked up to the stairs and found the minions in his quarters already blowing out several braziers and making sure the water in his bath was a suitable temperature and the salts were added.  They were clothed in small togas and several carried large fans made of peacock feathers to fan him with if he chose.  Several ran up to him and he sat down to allow them to remove his armor.  A large red pillow was brought over for his gauntlet to be placed on while he bathed.  They would take his armor to giblet to be polished and bring back his other armor for him to wear if he so chose.   The gauntlet would be tended to immediately in his presence.  He waited till the armor was removed, the binding in his mane removed and then jumped into the bath.  The water went over his head as he shook his mane underwater.  He came up for air after a minute and panted.  He shook as the murky water covered him.  The Overlord stood up and collapsed backward, sitting on a stone under the water.  He whistled and a few blue minions jumped into the water as well and began to wash his mane.  He looked around and then stood up, allowing them to add soap to his fur.   He relaxed under their ministrations and felt himself calming further as their claws gently moved through his fur.

‘That was more of an ordeal than I anticipated.  These ponies are far too trusting and kind for their own good.  Might actually make taking their kingdom easier.  There are many ways to take over though.  I could just use my presence spell to enslave the weak minded, but that can cause panic and aggravation.’  His skin trembled under the minion's claws and he sighed.  His ear flicked as Gnarl came into the room.

“Yes, Gnarl?”  he asked.  His voice held impatience.

“Deepest apologies, Dark master, but there are ponies trying to access the Gate.”

“Pardon?”

“Well, it’s just one pony that appears to be trying to use it.  What should we do?”

“Well, I did warn them that it could hurt them if messed with,”  Azure replied, he gave a malicious look to Gnarl, who grinned as well.

“Understood Master.  Shall it be deadly or?”

“No.  I need them alive.  Just a minor attack should do.  I did tell them to avoid messing with them.  So unfortunate that they do not listen.”  He said fake sympathy oozed from his voice.

Gnarl nodded and waddled back the way he had come.  Azure relaxed once more and put the Gate out of his mind.  ‘Well, it won’t do to much damage, just enough to dissuade any further attempts.’
> 3: Falling into Place...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure rolled over and groaned as he slowly opened one eye.  He closed it and shook his head as he sat up and scrubbed his face for a moment before looking around him.  The room had not changed and he growled under his breath about strange dreams and ponies.  He spun and stood in one swift motion.  The Overlord yelped as he pitched forward and found himself standing on four hooves.  He released a heavy sigh as he realized that he had not been dreaming.

“By the Netherworld.”  He cursed for a moment before a laugh broke from him.  “Well, I suppose it could be worse and I have a new realm to conquer as a result.”  He paused as that realization caught up to him.

The stallion moved through the chamber that was his quarters and paused before a tall mirror and regarded his new form once more.  His mind went back to the prospect of having to carve out his domain once and he allowed himself a moment of frustration.  He had finally achieved his goals of taking the land that he proclaimed as his own and keeping it.  Now he would have to redo all his efforts and take the ponies as his own.  His frustration grew as he recalled the treatment at the hands of people before the minions had found him in Nordberg.  A loud snort sounded as he spun away from the mirror and gave a hard buck, shattering the glass.  He panted as his rear legs came back to the stone floor and his head lowered.  His ears heard the sound of minion claws scrabbling to his bed chamber and he watched as the heavy velvet drape was thrown back.

“Master!”  A minion cried out as he stormed toward them.

“I want that fixed and bring my armor.”  He commanded as he passed by them.

They bowed their heads and scrambled to do as they were told.  He waited as his armor was brought to him and he allowed them to place it on him.  His gauntlet was brought to him from its place beside his bed and put in its place as well.  When it was in place, aside from his helm which he set on his back and made for the door to leave.  He stopped and glanced back as the minions cleaned up the shattered mirror.  He mentally berated himself for his loss of temper which slowed him for a moment, then he went out the door and down the stone steps toward his throne room.  The red stallion trotted down the last few steps as he passed by the mare’s rooms and kept going.

“My Lord?”

He closed his eyes for a moment as Juno approached him.  “Yes, Juno?”  His head turned to glance to her as she pulled up beside him.

“Sleep well?”  She asked.

He nodded and waited for her to speak further.  Experience with this one told him that her greeting and wondering about his health masked her intentions.  “And you?”  He asked her.

She gave a dramatic huff and leaned into his shoulder.  “No.  I slept awful.  This new form is simply not to my taste.  It was impossible to get comfortable.  And it was cold.”  She said to him, her body pushing against his.  She looked suggestively to him.  “I know that if I could have joined you, for example, then I would not have been so cold.”

‘There we go.’  He thought to himself.  “I can ask the minions to see to it that the braziers in your quarters are tended to more thoroughly tonight.”  He said to her and slid out from under her weight.  He heard the quiet snort from her as he walked away.

“One more thing.”  She said her voice sing-song.

He glanced over his shoulder as he paused at the top of the stairs, just in case he chose to throw himself down them to escape her.  “Yes?”

“I need to have some new dresses made or bought.  This one is old and not as nice on this body.  I am one of your mistresses.  Which means I need to look the part.”  She said to him.

He withheld a groan.  “As soon as I think the area is ready I will be sure to find a shop for you, Juno.”  He said to her, his tone of voice landing on the side of diplomatic, instead of condescending.

The mare tilted her head and nodded as she went back to her room.  Azure waited till she vanished from sight before putting a hoof over his face a rolling his eyes.  “That one will drive me to insanity.”  He whispered to himself.  He went down the remaining flight of stairs and into the throne room.

“Greetings, Dark Master,”  Gnarl called top him and approached the tall stallion.

“Gnarl.”  He replied and halted at the minion advisors approach.  “Any news?”

“Yes.  That Princess sent a message through earlier.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, she was asking about the gate.”

“What about it?”  He said as he walked past and headed for the platforms to reach more of the tower.

“Well, she was wondering if we knew about the pony that was injured by the gate last night.”  Gnarl supplied him as he kept stride with the stallion.

Azure stopped.  A malicious smile crossed his muzzle.  “Oh?  Did a pony get hurt by the Gate?  How unfortunate.”  He oozed back at the now grinning minion.

“Yes, Master.”  Gnarl chuckled darkly and went on.  “She would like to meet with you about how to safeguard the Gates further.”

He growled.  “Bloody Hell.  I warned them against messing with the Gates.  Their lack of control over their subjects is the cause of this.  I will not be ordered around by some little pony who happens to have a title.”  Azure said aloud, venom dripped from his words as he reached the platform he wanted and stepped onto it.  It would take him to the kitchens for a meal.  Gnarl jumped onto it with him and waited as the stone moved under them.

“I agree with you Master.”  Gnarl quickly spoke up.

Azure could feel his temper rising and bit it back as he focused on where he wished to go.  The stone came to a stop and he stepped off of it, Gnarl on his heels.  A large room opened up before them and the stallion walked in.  A long table stretched out and he made for the main seat at the end of the table.  He sat in the high backed chair and waited.  Gnarl waddled to the kitchens and called for their master’s usual request, before returning to the still angry stallion.

“Master?”  Gnarl said to him, his voice held caution.

“I know.”  He said with a sigh and leaned heavily into the chair as he thought over his options.  “Well, I suppose I should give the appearance of being concerned if I am to one day remove these mares from their thrones.”  He reasoned.

Gnarl smiled and nodded at him.  “Precisely, Dark Master.  These ponies are quite trusting and…”

Azure held up a hoof, calling for his silence.  “Though we will have to beware of a strange creature called Discord.  He knew more than he was letting on when he met me.”

“Discord, my Lord?”  Gnarl asked him.

“Yes.  A strange mesh of many animals and seemed to have the trust and respect of the mares as well.  He had no qualms about throwing me in a makeshift cage and leaving me there.”

“Pardon!?”  Gnarl cried out.

“Easy Gnarl.  I have escaped far worse.  He was admonished for his actions by Princess Twilight and had to apologize.  Though she did use the name of another to force him to comply…Who was it?”  He tapped a hoof to his chin as he went over the names of ponies he had met.  “Butter…Bitter…Flitter…Damn it…Flutter…Something…Fluttershy!”  He cried out as the name came to him.  The image of a butter yellow pony came to him.  “If needed we will take her to force him to comply.  Keep in mind the butter yellow mare with wings and long pink hair Gnarl.  Should the need arise.”

“As you wish, Master,”  Gnarl replied, making a mental and physical note of the mare’s description.

His breakfast came out of the back and he ate in silence, as was his preference.  When he finished he sat in silence.  “Alright.  Have a minion go to the castle that houses the Princess and inform her that I will arrive in half an hour.  That should give me enough time to get ready for their world.”

“Yes, Master.  Their world is very…bright.”  Gnarl agreed, looking a bit green around the face at the utterance.

“Very.  Try being outside in it.”  Azure admitted.  “Everlight had the sun, but it was better than this.  Give me the cold of Nordberg over this any day.”  He replied as he stood.

Gnarl gave a visible shudder and walked with him.  They reached the throne room once more and Gnarl rushed to accomplish his task.  Azure stood still as he tried to figure out what he wished to do with the bit of time he had.  He looked up and saw Juno in the throne room with Kelda and decided that the arena sounded like a good spot to go.  Anywhere, but the throne room.  The stone shifted and glided through the air to take him where he wished to go.  He jumped off the stone once it stopped moving and walked onto the stone platform.  He glanced over to the minion gates and reached out his gauntlet and the minions jumped from the gate a few moments later at his summons.  Once he had a group of fifteen he walked into the arena and began to trot around, keeping the minions directly with him and making sure they could move around and even under him to stay in place and guard his body.  He noticed that Wrath was with them, his arm in a cast.  Azure slowed to send him back but thought better of it after remembering the devotion from the day before.

Minutes passed as the minions moved with him and the greens began jumping over his back to stay in their place.  Azure’s red aura lifted up two of them and set them on either of his shoulders.  Once they were in place they vanished once they stopped moving.  He was free to move and the green minions were no longer visible.  He gave a satisfied snort and looked up as a minion ran into the arena, running hard toward him.

“Master!”  It yelped as it slowed and saluted as it reached him.

“Go on.”

“The pony is waiting outside of the gate for Master.”  He shrilled.

“Understood.”  Azure trotted to the entrance and slowed to a walk as he stepped onto the platform.  The minions ran for the minion gates and would meet him in the throne room.

He stepped into the throne room and walked to the Gate in the center.  The fifteen minions crowded around him and he gave a hesitant sniff to make sure the green minions were properly bathed.  As much as he understood their love of smells, there were times that even he was tempted to throw them into a puddle and clean them off before his sense of smell rotted due to the stench.  One that he knew to be called Stabby jumped to his back and held onto the opening by his mane.  The other jumped up as well and they took their positions.  He now had six browns, two greens, three blues, and four reds.  He glanced to Gnarl who nodded and backed away from the gate.  Azure looked up and called on the gates teleportation magic and vanished in the stream of blue lightning.

He opened his eyes once he felt the magic of the Gate end and looked down the steps to find Twilight Sparkle at the bottom, waiting for him.  She smiled at him and waited as he approached.

“Good morning, Overlord.”  She greeted him.  She seemed to stumble over the title but he chose to remain silent about it.  “I’m sorry.”

He paused as he stepped off the last step and stood in front of the purple mare.  “For what, Princess?”

She looked at him and sighed.  “I didn’t tell every pony to avoid the Gate and some pony was messing with it and it reacted.”

“So I have heard,”  Azure replied to her.  “I trust it was not too serious?”

“No, just a really nasty sunburn and road rash from it tossing her.”  She replied.

“I suppose that is fortunate.”  He said to her.  “But I get the feeling that is not all you are apologizing for.”

She looked surprised when a red flush went over her skin and through her fur.  “Your right.  I know I should have anticipated Discord showing up.  He always does.  But I should have known better than to let him get too close and then to insult you like that.”  She looked to the ground and swirled the tip of a hoof in the dirt.  “Also you don’t have to call me by my title.  Just Twilight is fine.”

He looked to her, a bit of surprise went through him.  “You do not care for the title?”

“It’s not that.  I’m grateful for the trust every pony has in me, but…”  She trailed off.

“But?”

“I wasn’t always a Princess.  I was just a regular unicorn.”  She admitted.  “I sometimes miss it.”

He looked at her for a moment before replying.  “So you were appointed to the position?”

“In a way.  Would you walk with me and I can explain?”  She asked of him.

“Certainly.  Lead on.”

She fell into step beside him and began to explain.  “I was just a unicorn before, no wings.”  She admitted and glanced to them as they flicked at her sides.  “When I was able to create new magic with the help of my friends, I ascended to an Alicorn.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.  Only Princesses Celestia and Luna were born as an Alicorn.  I and my sister in law, Cadance are Ascended Alicorns.  So it’s different.”

Azure considered for a moment.  “So to become one of the ruling class you must accomplish a task of some kind?”

“Not always.  I don’t know how it worked for Cadance, I’ve never asked her.  That was just how it was with me.”  She amended.

“Interesting.”

“How about you?”

“Pardon?”

“How did you earn your title and throne?”

Azure was quiet as he considered.  “Our ways are very different. As are the places that we grew up in.  So the methods are therefore different as well.  I took my place.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was thrown away by the village as a…colt.”

“They abandoned you?”  She asked.

“In a way.  Where I am from magic was hated and believed to have caused a magical plague and such.  So it was outlawed and any who had it were either killed or enslaved or thrown in what was called an Arena to fight to the death against other magical creatures.”  He informed her.  He saw no reason to inform her of a few things.  So far as he could tell she was interested and he figured that drawing on one of the rulers of this world could only work in his favor.

“Did that happen to you?”

“It did.  When I was much older.  I was dropped off in front of the gates of a village when I was an infant.  Due to my being different, I was ostracized.  One day during the festival of Midwinter's Eve the Empire came to the villages gates.  I was with another foal who was the only one that cared at all for me and we went to the main gates to see what was going on.  People were screaming and running as a boulder crashed against the main gates.  They called for the village to send out their magic users so that they could be cleansed.”

“They pushed you out the gate?”  Twilight asked.  Her voice was insistent that he continues and she looked worried about how he would reply.

“Not quite.  The elders of the village said that there were no magic users and they were simple folk that worked the land.  The captain of the garrison said that they had been led there by one of the sentinels.  A being that can sense and locate magic.”  He informed her as she opened her muzzle to ask.  “If the magic users weren’t sent out the entire town would be cleansed.  So after a moment or so he saw me a few feet away.  He cried out that they had one and picked me up, then tossed me over the edge of the wall.  Which was about a 20-foot fall.  For a child of eight or so, that was quite the distance.”

“Oh, by Equestria.  You lived obviously but…”

“Oh, it hurt.  I have the scars from it.  I landed in the snow, but it was not as fluffy as one would hope.  I cracked several ribs, split my neck on a rock and nearly broke my shoulder.  But I got up as soldiers approached me and I looked to the left for any kind of escape.  Several minions began hollering for me to follow them and they led me to safety.”

Twilight smiled and looked to the minions beside him.  “So they rescued you?”

“Yes.  They had been searching for many years for a new Overlord to lead them.  The previous one had been locked in an infernal abyss and was gone.  I was brought to the minion burrows and they took me in, saw to my wounds and raised me as their next Master.”

Twilight looked ahead of them and shook her head.  “I can’t believe others would sacrifice you like that, especially at such a young age.  It’s barbaric.”

“Perhaps.  But, I was the magic user they were after.  Magic is what I am and always will be.  Granted, I had never truly used it until the minions found me and I began my schooling.”

“How long before you…took…your place?”

“Thirteen winters.  I returned to that village on the same day as the one that they had shunned me.  It took a few hours, but I conquered the village and all who lived in it.  That was the first one to fall under my command.”

“Conquered?”

“Yes.  You were given your place.  I took mine.  Any who stood in my path were removed and I took control of the lands that I chose to view as my own.  So those who view an Overlord as an object of evil are not wrong.  It’s a matter of perspective.  Some may view that what I did was wrong, but in the same breath, some think of it in another way.  No one under my rule is killed unless it is needed.  They are protected and permitted to go on with their lives, so long as they understand that I am their Master and I brook no threat to my rule.”

Twilight was quiet as she considered his words.  They neared the castle and he stopped to look over it.  It was exactly like the image in the Tower Heart.  Not a crystal was out of place and the surface shone in the sunlight.  The minions gazed at it and made noises of awe at the structure.

Twilight looked over at him before speaking.  “Was it just the one place that you took control of?”

“No.  Others fell to my rule and eventually, so too did their Glorious Empire.”  He admitted to her.

“So magic users are safe under your rule?”

“Of course.  Magic is many things, but it is not inherently evil on its own.  Only those who choose to be an issue are dealt with.”

She nodded and led him into the castle itself.  He walked behind her and marveled at the structure. He was not a fan of the brilliant lights coming from it, but in time he was sure that it would make for a suitable castle under a new ruler, in time.  Her magic gripped a set of double doors and opened them to reveal a table with what appeared to be a map of the area on it.  Even he could tell that the furniture had a magical signature of its own.  Around it were thrones with markings that were the same as the one on the pony’s flanks.  He looked up as the other mares and the baby dragon all turned to look at him as he walked in.  They all smiled and the baby dragon, Spike, smiled and waved to him.  He gave a polite nod in return.

Twilight went to her own throne and turned to look at him as a chair for him appeared at the end of the round table.  She beckoned for him to take a seat, between herself and the flying pony, Rainbow Dash.  He gave another polite nod and sat in the offered chair, making sure not to move the greens minions on his shoulders.  The other minions made themselves comfortable around him and watched the doors, windows, and the ponies around them.

The orange mare looked to him, her expression a mix of apprehension and anger.  “Now ya need ta explain yerself.”  She said aloud after a moment of letting him get settled.

He looked to the mare.  His expression was blank for a moment before a smirk crossed his muzzle.  “Oh?”

“Eeyup.  A pony got hurt by that there Gate ah yers.”  She began.

Azure held up a hoof to silence her.  “I had warned your Princess of the possible consequences of a pony trying to use the Gate or attempting to tamper with it.  I would have expected you to be more cautious of the Gate as it is not a creation that is common to this place.  It is hardly my fault if one of you chose to tamper with something that you have no way of understanding.”  He said to her.  His smirk remained as he leaned in the back of the chair, giving off an air of superiority as he waited for the mares to react.

Applejack stared at him for a moment before she spoke again.  “Now ya see here.  Since that thing is yers ya have a responsibility ta make sure it’s safe.”  She went on.

Azure scoffed at her and leaned forward till his elbows rested on the table’s top.  “I do not recall anyone asking about if the Gate was dangerous.  I figured since my guards are there that would dissuade any…”  He paused as he tried to think of the proper wording.  “Little ponies from tampering with it.  Perhaps I was incorrect in assuming one would have the base intelligence to leave it alone.”  He said to her.

He watched as the mare's eyes widened at his words.  He refused to be spoken down to by this little mare and the blame for their stupidity put on him.  Twilight quickly leaned in and tried to defuse the growing tension.  “Applejack, I know how he said that was a bit cruel, but he does have a point.  I knew that it could act out if tampered with.  I am sorry that I did not come back with him to let every pony know about the Gate.  He asked that we help him find the other Gates and the Princesses and I agreed and that way he can go to them and bring them fully under his control.  But just like any magical item, the Gate will act if it deems a threat is nearby.  Is that correct?”  She looked to Azure for confirmation.

“Yes.  If it is being tampered with or it perceives a possible magical threat then it is designed to act a certain way.  Because I was able to use that one the damage the attack did to the offending pony was muted.”  He paused as they listened.  “From what I have been told it was just a very nasty sunburn.  If it had been tampered with prior to my presence then the offending pony would not survive that encounter with the Gates magic.”  The other mares nodded their understanding and the orange farm mare leaned back in her chair a glare leveled at him.

Twilight leaned forward and addressed them.  “Okay.  So I think we need to try to find these Gates as quickly as possible.  If we find one then we need to alert him and he can go to the location of the Gate to make it not as deadly.   It can’t be made not to stop any pony from messing with it.  It’s a Gateway to his home so security is paramount, right?”  He nodded.  “So I do know where one is now.”

“That was quick.”  He admitted.

“Well, I got a letter from my brother and Cadance.  One of them is just inside of the Crystal Empire.”  He tilted his head at the name as she went on.  “It’s inside the barrier that the Crystal Empire would have made to protect its ponies.  So if you would like to we can go to that one now.  My brother has already been told of the danger the Gate can pose so they have marked it off till you get to it.”

“Well done.  I appreciate the aid.  I will go to the location now.”  He said and began to stand.

“Now hold up there fer a sec.”  Applejack spoke up again.  “Ah still got questions fer ya.”

Azure sighed and sat back down.  His gaze fell to the orange mare, his expression a mix of annoyance and boredom.  “I hardly have time for this.  I appreciate that the Gate is not in danger of being used at this time, but I would prefer to not be delayed more than what is required.”

“Ah know.  But still, ya owe us some answers.”  She said to him.

Azure's head looked to the mare, his glowing red eyes flashed.  “I owe you?”  He stood in his seat, his hooves on the table.  His horn lit as the red aura lifted Applejack and she hovered in front of his snout.  “I owe you nothing, little mare!  You would presume to command me?  I have commanded armies across countries and brought Empires to heel.  You do not have the power to bring me to command me.”  Off to the side, Twilight looked to her friends and they all looked stunned.  She lit her own horn but was unable to stop him from holding Applejack.  “You will never try that again.  I have conquered legions, little pony.  Do not think that I cannot do so again.”  His voice was low as he spoke.  Azure's voice held the promise of action if he was treated that way again.  He released her from his magic and let her fall, roughly to the table.  The mare gasped at the impact as he spun and started to leave.  He stopped and glanced back over his shoulder.  “If you wish to accompany Princess then you are welcome, but only you.”  He added Twilight nodded to him as the minions pushed open the doors for him and he left the throne room.





Twilight looked to Applejack who still sat, stunned where she had been dropped.  “Are you okay?”  She asked her stunned friend.

“Ah’m okay.  Ah think.”  She jumped off the table and checked herself over.  “Ah didn’t think he’d get so sore over it.”  She muttered.

“Applejack he’s not a normal pony.  It’s not my place to tell his story, but he isn’t the type to take that kind of talk without speaking up.  Even though that was a bit unsettling for all of us.”  Twilight admitted as she walked to her friend.

“Ya still gonna go with ‘im?”  She asked the Alicorn.

Twilight nodded.  “Yes.  It will be good for me to go with him since my brother and Cadance don’t know him and I don’t want them to be blindsided by him.”  She admitted with a smile.

The mares chuckled and nodded.  “You had better hurry, darling.  He was setting a rather brisk pace to that Gate.”  Rarity said to her.

Twilight gasped and teleported.  She opened her eyes and found him to be standing by the gate, waiting.  “I am so sorry it took me a minute.”  She rushed as she trotted to him.

“It’s all right.  I needed a moment to gather my temper as it was.”  He admitted to her.  Allowing the mare to think he was more bothered than he was would work well in gaining her trust.  He walked to the Gate and stepped into the blue lightning.  The mare joined him and they vanished in a crash of lightning.  He opened his eyes and was greeted with an open field.  His eyes cast to the right and was a set of two tall crystal spears from the earth that were a deep magenta in color.  Azure glanced to the left and saw a city encased in various crystals, each a different color.  The crystal shone in the lights and sparkled in the sunlight.  He couldn’t hide the cringe as he glanced to the base of the Gate.  Two ponies stood at the gate and were now staring, stunned at the stallion.  Twilight had sagged against him for a moment as she gathered herself from the longer distance use of the gate.

“Oh wow.  That was worse than the first time.”  She said to him as she came out from behind him and the minions.

“It was a greater distance than the last time.”  He informed her.

She nodded then looked down to the guards.  She trotted down to them.  “Please let my brother and Cadance know that I am here and I brought the owner of the structure with me.”  She said to them.  One of the Pegasus guards nodded and took to the air, flying hard for the castle.  “It’ll be just a few minutes I’m sure.  Shining Armor and Cadance said that we could come by anytime and they would be happy to meet with you out here by the Gate.”

“I appreciate their understanding.”  He looked to the city.  ‘That is way too much light for me anyway.  It makes me cringe just thinking of it.  If I must wander through it then I will, but not unless I must.’   He admitted to himself.

As they waited Twilight looked to the gate.  “So they are all identical?”

“No.  The ones that you have seen are the larger formation.  The other is a simple structure that is elevated off the ground.  It has the same blue lightning so it is advised that they not be tampered with but they are much smaller.”

“How small?  Will they be hard to find if they are too small?”  She questioned.

Azure lifted his gauntlet and formed an image in his mind the minions ran out in front of him and circled themselves into the design he wished.  It was a circle of around four by four.  “The metal of them is the same as this Gate, but in that size.”  He informed her.  “They rise around six to eight inches off the ground.”

“Okay.  So they are pretty easy to spot.”  She said back to him, looking to the now dispersing minions as they went back to their master.

“Yes.  You would have to work to miss one.  It’s likely that they would have to be blind to not trip over one.”  He said to her.

Twilight giggled at his statement and looked back as he glanced beyond them.  The purple mare grinned aloud as she saw the approaching ponies.  Azure was silent as she ran up to them and began to sing and dance with the other mare.  The stallion walked up to him and saw the look on the armored ponies face.

“You get used to it.  They do it every time.”  He said to him.

“Is there a reason?”

“Yes.  Cadance was Twily’s foal sitter and that was their thing.”  He advised.  “I’m Shining Armor.”

Azure shook his head.  “Nice to meet you.  Azure Flame, Overlord of the Dark Tower.”

The white pony looked a bit unsure at the admission but seemed to let it wash over him instead of dwelling on it.

The minions watched the stallion closely as he waited with their master.  He was a white stallion of close to Azure’s own height.  A shield was on his flanks with a star identical to Twilight’s own in the center.  Azure ignored the markings and waited as the pink Alicorn trotted over to him with Twilight at her side.

“It’s nice to meet you, Overlord Azure Flame.  My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.  Please just call me Cadance.  My sister in law said that this structure is yours?”

“She has informed you correctly.  This is one of the Gates that I use to get around to separate areas of my Kingdom.  As you can see it has been displaced along with the others.”  He informed the mare.

“May I ask how they work?”  Cadance asked of him.

“I am not certain of their exact magic, but they are used mostly for transportation.  For exact details, I would need the one who makes them.  He, unfortunately, does not venture out of the Netherworld.”  He informed her.

“I see.  Twilight mentioned that you can make the Gate safe for the ponies.”

“I cannot make them docile if that is what you are referring to. I can ensure that any defensive action from them will not result in a casualty. But they cannot be made dormant.” Azure said to them.

“Some pony in Ponyville tried to use one and since it uses that blue lightning they got thrown away from it with a nasty sunburn.”  Twilight supplied.  “I think that is as safe as they get.”

“I see.”  Shining Armor put a hoof against his chin as he looked at the structure.

“I will be leaving two of my guards here to protect the gate itself.  I will ask them to drive off anyone that is not either of you.  That way if needed you can send a message through them and they will deliver it to me or my advisor.”  Azure added as he looked to Gate.  His gauntlet flared and the Gate flashed as a minion came through.  “Grubby.”  He called as he walked over to the minion, who stayed in place.  “I want the usual minion gates and ensure that the Gate itself is at full power and capacity.”

The minion stood up straight and saluted as he set to work.  Once again Azure didn’t ask about how he could dig enough to connect the gates to the Netherworld or anything.  That was not information he had to be proficient with.  He walked back to them and stood with them as the minion got to work.  “He will check on the Gate and ensure its security is set.  I have also tasked him with ensuring its stability.  The last thing we want is for it to collapse.”  He tossed in that last part due to Gnarl once mentioning that the gates could be a bit temperamental.

“Collapse?”  Cadance asked him as he still by them.

“Yes.  I was informed by my advisor that a gate needs to have its magic properly linked and attuned or it can cause damage to the area around it.  Collapse is a possibility.  If that were to happen the lightning held within it would lash out as the surrounding area.  I do not know how far the damage would extend only that it could.  Which is why I am ensuring that the Gates are secure due to them now being in a different area than they were originally set.”

“Meaning?”  Shining leaned in a bit to gain his attention.

“Meaning that the Gates were all in set location prior to arriving here.  I had placed them in my own kingdom and they were set in place.  When we arrived here they were…misplaced.”

“You’re not from Equestria?”  Cadance asked.

“Not originally.”  He admitted.

“That must be upsetting.  Any idea of how you arrived here?”  Shining asked him.

“I have others investigating the possible cause while I am tending to the issue of the Gates,”  Azure told them.  In fact, he had no idea, but he had to appear well in control or risk derailing his own plans for the future.  The conversation settled onto the Crystal Empire and its history as they waited for Grubby to finish with the Gate.

“Master!”  A loud yell from the direction of the gate caught his attention.  Azure looked to the gates as a minion came running to him, carrying a folded paper.  His red aura picked up the letter and opened it.


Master:



I am pleased to inform you that we have found another of the Gates.  It is in a town nestled inside the forest by the crystal castle.  We have reason to believe that the town is actually Nordberg or possibly Everlight.  Send word of what you wish for us to do now.



Devoted servant of Darkness, Gnarl


Azure read the note several times as a grin broke out over his muzzle.  A low chuckle escaped him as a quill appeared in his magic and he replied to Gnarl, with his orders.


Gnarl,



Investigate this location immediately.  We must know if this is Nordberg or one of my other territories.  Also, have the minions go out into this area and see if the other parts of my kingdom have also been brought there.  If this is, in fact, the truth then we can change our plans to accommodate this development.  I will return to the Netherworld within the hour to investigate this in person.



Overlord Azure Flame


Azure gave the note back to the minion, who ran back to the Minion gate and leaped into it.  The ponies looked at him as he watched the minion vanished, a grin on his muzzle.  ‘I might have my kingdom with me.  That’s…fortunate.’  He thought to himself as the implications washed over him.  He looked to the ponies as they waited for an explanation.  “Another Gate was located by some of my minions.  My advisor was simply informing me of it.”

The ponies smiled.  “That’s wonderful news,”  Twilight said to him.  “Do they know the name of the town by it?”

He shook his head.  “No.  They were asking me for further instructions so I gave them their orders.  I will head back to them in time to investigate it myself as well.”

Cadance tilted her head a bit at him.  “They do not act without you?”

“He rules them on his own.  Unlike us where there are several of us.”  Twilight advised them.

“She is correct.  I do not trust the rule of my ponies to any other besides myself.”  He informed them.

Shining gave him a bit of a look but didn’t argue.  “So I take it you don’t have a special some pony back home?”

Azure looked at him.  “A what?”

Shining was quiet.  “A wife?”

Azure snorted.  “By the Dark, no.”  A laugh played over his features for a moment.

The ponies were quiet.  Shining smiled and a laugh broke from him, Cadance and Twilight giggled at his declaration.  ‘Will leave Kelda and the others out of it till the time suits me.’  Cadance looked back to the Gate and walked cautiously up to it.

“Is it simply able to transport you?”  She finally asked.  She whinnied in surprise as Grubby burst from the ground a foot in front of her, causing her to fall back to her rump.

Twilight giggled as Azure walked over to her and watched as the minion vanished back into the ground.  Shining helped his wife to her hooves.

“Its purpose is what I make it be.  As you have been told it can be defensive if needed.  Yes, its primary purpose is to act as a long range teleport.  For example, we used it to arrive here.”  He informed her.

“So long as he knows the name of the place that it’s close to, then he can use it,”  Twilight added.

“She is correct.  She informed me of the name of your empire and I used that to command the Gate.  So long as I can locate the place the gate answers my command.”  He added.

“And your minions can use it as well?”  Twilight asked.

"Yes and no. It depends on the reasoning of the gate itself.  Some can.  You saw the one that came to me left through one the holes that Grubby is creating?”  The ponies nodded.  “Those are minion’s gates.  They have four colors and they are connected directly to the burrows that exist in the Netherworld.  They are directly connected.  Do not ask me how.  That is information I do not have.”  He added as Twilight opened her mouth then closed it with a click of her teeth.

“So the only way they can reach you was through those holes in the ground.”  Shining started to speak as metal came through the ground and it became a mini form of the larger Gate.

Each color came through and Grubby jumped out of the brown minion gate, looking quite pleased with himself.  “Minion Gates for Master!”  He yelped as he bowed to the Overlord.

Azure walked up to him and ran an armored hoof over the minions head and patted him a few times.  “Well done.  Head back and inform Gnarl that I will be along shortly.”  He ushered the minion to leave and watched as he jumped into the minion gate and was gone.  “To reply to your statement from before, the answer is twofold.  They can come through the gate so long as they are with me.  The moment they are on their own they rely on the minion gates that you now see.”

“If a pony touches one of these?”  Twilight asked as she examined the red gate.

“It will do nothing.  These are far less sensitive since they do not act as anything more than a Gate for the minions.  Only a minion can use one.  Anything else will meet a wall.  Feel free to check.”  He said to the mare.

He watched as Twilight tentatively put her hoof into the red light and then was surprised when it struck something solid.  It was closed to her.  “How extraordinary!”  She shrilled and began to circle the small gate, curiosity humming through her.

“She’s gone,”  Shining commented with a laugh.

“How do you mean?”  Azure asked, watching the mare.

“Twilight fixates on new things and strives to learn everything about them.”  He advised the blood red stallion.

“She will have to do it on her own time as I am needed elsewhere.  So if she wishes to stay here to poke at the minion gates then that is fine I will leave her here.  Otherwise, she needs to peel herself away from it or be left behind.”  Azure advised.

Twilight stopped and looked back to him, sheepishly.  “I’ll go with you.  Thanks for waiting.”  She added.

“It’s fine.  I understand your desire to understand things, but I do not have the time to accommodate that desire at this time.”  He said as he led the minions up the steps and stood in the lightning, waiting on the mare as she bid her brother and sister in law farewell.  He looked to the minions with him and sent two of them to the base of the gate to watch over it.  “These two will stay here and wait for any news that you may need to send to me.  They will also drive off any who approach the gate that is not either of you.  They will not kill, but they will drive them away.  I have no desire to deal with another fool trying to meddle with what they do not understand.”  Azure informed them.

Both rulers nodded and backed up from the gate.  Twilight joined him and waved to her family before they vanished.  Azure opened his eyes and found the town of Ponyville back in front of them.

“Thank you for letting me go with you,”  Twilight said to him as she trotted down the steps and spun to look to him.

“It was no trouble.  I will ask that you keep the others in check.  As you have no doubt noticed I will act as I see fit should I be challenged.”  He advised the mare.

She nodded at him.  “I understand.  Applejack was upset since it was a friend of ours that got zapped by it.”

“That’s is no fault of mine.”  He replied to her.

“I know.  It’s actually mine since I didn’t warn them.  It fell to me to do that and I didn’t.  I am sorry for that.”

“I will forgive it. So long as it does not happen again.”

“I’ll try.  Good luck with the Gate you found.”  She said to him as she waved goodbye to him.

He gave a polite nod and focused on the Gates magic.  A loud crash and he was gone.





“Hey, Twi!”  Applejack loped up to her.  “He gone?”

“Yeah.  They found another gate so he went to go investigate it.  Applejack why were you so angry at him earlier?  It wasn’t his fault that Derpy got hurt.  I should have come back with him to let every pony know about the Gates magic.”  She said to her.  “Yeah the gate is his but Ponyville is mine to protect.”

Applejack leaned onto her haunches and looked apologetic.  “Ah’m sorry.  Ah was just upset that he didn’t seem ta care about it.  He didn’t ask how she was doin’ or nothing.”

Twilight looked to the Gate then back to the other mare.  “Walk with me?”  Applejack nodded.  “He’s not the type to worry about that.  I think if she was one of his subjects then he would have focused a bit more but since she is one of mine then it falls to me to tend to it, not him.  I think that’s just how he thinks of it.”

“But it was his…”

“I know it was his Gate.  But the ponies here are mine.  So their well-being isn’t his problem.”  Twilight interrupted.

Applejack looked uncertain before she nodded in understanding.  “So we still gonna help him?”

Twilight nodded.  “Yeah.  After what Discord did the Princesses and I agreed that we owed him for that slip-up.”

“And now ah owe ‘im an apology.  Ah shouldn’t have said what ah did.”  Applejack said to her friend.  “He comin’ back?”

Twilight shrugged as they walked.  “Eventually.  I can send for him and ask for him to come to Ponyville but I think we would need a gate to bring him back.  He’s pretty focused on them.”  Twilight admitted.

Applejack huffed.  “So just askin’ ‘im ta visit won’t work?”

Twilight laughed and shook her head as they walked.  “No.  I don’t think that would work on him.”





Azure looked up as Gnarl waddled up to him from his place by the throne.

“Welcome back, Master.  You seem in better spirits since the last visit.”  Gnarl said to him.

“I wasn’t touched, but I hate the bright lights,”  Azure admitted as he walked forward.  His magic gripped his helm and he slid it onto his head, encasing it in armor.  “Okay, so this Gate that was found and the town?”  Azure stopped as Kelda and Juno came down the stairs, bickering.  “Gnarl, where is it?”

“They call it the Everfree, Master.”

“Oh, good.  See ya later.”  Azure stomped a hoof and vanished as the mares saw him and started to speak.  He was gone before they could catch him.

His eyes opened to find a jungle stretching out before and around him.  He breathed it in and found it to his liking.  It felt different than the village of ponies.  It felt more normal to him.  He walked forward and was greeted by several minions.

“Lead me to the town.”  He commanded as he saw them.  They nodded and scampered ahead of him.  They gripped a long set of vines and pulled them aside to reveal the town.  A familiar sight greeted him.  The tall wooden gates that told him where he was.  “Ahh.  Nordberg.  Welcome back.”  He smiled as he strode up to the gates.  Inside, he could hear yelling and he paused as the gates were slowly opened for him.  The Overlord walked in as the gates opened and found the humans turned ponies all watching him.  He stopped and waited for them to act.  Wisely, he watched as they began to bow.  Azure walked forward and they immediately parted for him to pass by them.  They whispered as he passed them.

“It is the master.”

“It happened to him, too.”

“So he didn’t do this to us as a punishment?”

“Why would he do this to us?”

“Is he angry with us?  We are loyal to him, endlessly loyal.”

Azure listened as they talked to each other.  He reached the bridge for the small river flowing by the front of the town.  One of the villagers came forward as he turned to look at them all.

“Master!  We haven’t angered ye, have we?”  He asked as he tried to kneel down in the form of a horse.

“No, I am not angry with you.”  He said to them.  His voice carried over the village, commanding their silence and attention.

“How did this happen to us, Dark Lord?”  Another called out.

“It has happened to all of us.  What I require from you all now is for you to begin to come to terms with this new reality.  Show me that you had nothing to do with this by renewing the loyalty that you have shown me before.  I have no doubt that I can continue to act as the Master that I was before, so long as your loyalty is as unfaltering as it was before.”  He paused as they all bowed low to him.  None stood upright as they listened and prostrated before him.  “Your lives will be as safe as they were before.  Once again, I will deploy a large group of my army to both protect and watch over you.  I expect that within this forest is much of what we will need to continue your way of life.”

“Oh, thank you, Dark Master.  We are eternally loyal to ye.  Ye have protected us!”  Another cried out, praising him.

Azure was quiet as he gave a slight nod, acknowledging that he had heard them.  “Go about your days and try to come to terms with the new forms you have found yourselves in.  While your bodies may have changed I do not think that your minds have.  You each have the ability to understand and adapt.  I trust you can accomplish your tasks and continue to move forward.”

Azure turned and walked toward the City Hall.  Last time one of his main Gates had been beside it.  He looked up as he broke into a trot, both to get there faster and to show his subjects that he was more than capable of doing more than walking.  He looked up as the gate loomed before him.  He slowed as he neared it and the Gate roared to life with a crackle of lightning and crash of thunder.

A malicious smile crossed his muzzle as he looked to the Gate, then back to the ponies that were beginning to mill about.  A laugh pulled from him and he smiled as the minion gates began to be dug as well.  “This is beginning to work in my favor.  This new world will be mine.  I will take it as I have taken everything else.  But for now, I will bide my time.”  Azure looked back to the gates of Nordberg.  “Perhaps the others are here as well.”  He leaped to the Gates lightning and focused.  His eyes opened as the gate came to life around him.  A smile crossed his lips, showing his teeth and the Gates came to life at his call.  Others were still missing, but his subjects would soon now him once more as their Master.  “Everlight, the Empire, they are mine once more.”  He said aloud as he barked out a laugh.  “It will be mine once more.”
> 4: Rebellion...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure glanced back over his shoulder as he stood on the rampart of a newly constructed wall.  He had tasked the minions with building a small fortress to hold the newest of the Gates that he had Grubby create.  This would act as the front of his new kingdom.  He was going to take the forest that now seemed to house all of his domain within its borders.  All of his subjects were accounted for and were now adjusting back under his rule.  He had made his presence known to them as soon as he found the Gates that connected to them.  His mind raced over the implications of possibly having to go hoof to hoof with the ponies over the territory.

“If needed I will hasten my plans.  If not then I will hold back for now.” He reasoned to himself.

On his back, Wrath sat in silence as the minion stayed still in place.  Azure had taken a bit of a liking to the minion over the past several weeks.  He had tasked Giblet with crafting armor for the minion as he now stayed at Azure’s side at all times.  The armor was well fitted and mimicked pieces of Azure’s own.  While his was black, Wrath’s was red.  A color similar to Azure’s fur.  It showed that he was closer to Azure and gave the minion a bit more authority.  The red stallion looked back to the trees that surrounded them.  The forest itself was unruly and held monsters of its own.  A creature called a manticore moved with the minions, under their order.  It had attacked a week ago and Azure had subdued the creature then tried out his Presence spell and was surprised when it worked on the monster.  He had to ask Twilight what the creature was and she had shown him several pictures from her books.  Along with several warnings about the woods and advised him to stay out of them.

He snorted as he thought over her warnings.  “As if I need to be worried about this forest.  Though, it has proven to be rather…robust at times.”  He admitted aloud.

The stallion heard a yell from behind him and he glanced back.  Several ponies were pulling wagons with supplies.  The ponies of Nordberg had once again proven that they were the more athletic of Azure’s subjects.  The others were complaining more than working.  He had tasked Kelda with whipping the Empire into shape.  Faye was in Everlight using the Elves under his rule to shore up any defenses and prepare the new farmland.  He had considered putting Juno to work, but had thought better of it after a moment of thought.  That mare would have them doing things for her, not working to accomplish her task.  She had argued when the others went outside of the Netherworld.  He had explained to her that they were going to be working.  If she wished to get out and work then she was welcome or she could remain in the throne room till they returned.  Azure chuckled as he remembered her eyes light up at the new spot she found herself.  She chose to stay behind as a result.  No doubt hoping that the position would end up being permanent.  Once out of the Netherworld Azure had breathed a sigh great relief.  He had assured Kelda that her position was not in any danger and she still held her position, but he had used that to stop Juno from complaining.  The pale mare had agreed and gone to her task.

He turned and walked down the stairs to the ground behind the wall.  A gate that was larger than the others was still in production.  Azure had it created as a test.  He was going to have each part of his kingdom connected by a series of larger Gates.  He could use them to transport large items.  These gates would also hold more than enough power to kill any who tried to use them.  Even at their lowest settings, the effects would be deadly.  He walked calmly among his ponies as they scrambled to work and get out of his way.  Foals ran around him as he walked toward the Gate.  Grubby and his diggers were clamoring over it, tweaking parts of it, removing other pieces.  Azure said nothing as he watched them.  This Gate would be the first and the most potent of them.  It was the prototype for the others. The Overlord was quiet as his eyes scanned the surface of the growing structure.  Grubby had spent hours with him as he explained the superstructure to the minion.  It had begun construction only days earlier.  The other Gates closest to it would not be connected to it.  This one and the others had the sole purpose of moving large amounts of equipment and supplies as needed.

A sound caught his attention as he looked to the doors of the wall.  He trotted to them and his magic pushed them open, revealing utter chaos.  Ponies ran in every direction and the minions were scrambling as trees fell around them.  The Overlord was quiet as he looked to the tree line.  A shape moved behind the trees.  A loud whistle pulled from him followed by a commanding bellow from the Gauntlet around his right foreleg.  He was soon surrounded by over fifty minions, all battle trained and tested.  He galloped forward to the tree line and plunged into the forest after shape in the shadows.  The minion fanned out and began emitting calls and growls to herd their quarry.  They began to narrow their lines and the greens dashed ahead to jump through the trees and gain ground on their quarry.  Azure galloped at the back of them, his katana, still within it's sheath at his shoulder.  His magic held the hilt of the weapon, ready to draw it should the need arise.  A shape snaked ahead of them and Azure gave a loud growl as he picked up speed.  A shape reared up and loomed over them as he slid to a halt.  Dirt and dust billowed around him as he came to rest.  His sword slid from its sheath and he squared off ready to attack.

Around him the minions cried out and jumped ahead and back to him, ready for a fight.  As the shape came down a set of teeth came into view and Azure leaped back, taking the minions with him.  The creature was over fifty feet tall and had teeth taller than Azure himself.  Its coat was a deep purple and seemed to have stars within it.  While Azure had never seen such a beast, he would marvel at it later.  The minions stayed with him and he glanced to the side as the greens were hidden within the trees, awaiting his commands.  The blues stayed off to the side and the reads were several feet back.  Azure roared a challenge and reared back, his hooves cutting the air as the gauntlet began to send a signal to the minions as he thought out his commands to them.  They split into smaller groups as the creature swiped at them.  The greens leaped from the trees and began tearing into the creatures hide.  The blades on their hands were soon bloodied and the poison within their claws and blood began to attack the creature’s body.  The Browns began to move around its feet, stabbing at the soft tissue.  Balls of flame went over his head as the reds began to lob fire at the creature.  The scent of burning flesh soon coated the air as the fight continued.  Azure's hooves gripped the ground as he jumped into the fray as well.  His sword cutting deep into the animals paws.  He collapsed his legs and let himself slide on his side under the animal, sliding toward its belly.  Azures blade plunged into the animal’s soft underbelly and he twisted it cruelly in place, forcing a pained bellow from the animal.  It swiped at him and he felt pony sized claws glance off his armor as he dove under the beast and came out from under it.  His magic pulled his blade free and galloped to the side of it.  A weight on his back had him looking back as two greens landed on him, with a glance to him he took off for the creature's side once more.  The greens understood his intent and held onto his armor.  He raced up next to it and the greens leaped from his back as he went by.  As time wore on Azure could feel fatigued inching its way into his muscles.  He plunged ahead and brought the greens on his back to the creatures back and bucked them higher than they could have jumped on their own.  The animal was slowing and beginning to fade.  Azure plunged to a halt and waited.  The gauntlet bellowed and the minions that remained returned to his side.  The blues had revived those that fallen and they joined them as well.  The creature looked to the group and finally began to collapse.  Azure was silent as it collapsed before him.  He flicked the blood from his blade and slid it into the sheath.

“As nice as having this monster under my control would have been, I’m not foolish enough to attempt it.”  He watched as the monster died in front of him and he leaned back against a tree.  Fatigue biting at him.  A bark of surprise went out from his right and he spun as a minion sitting on a blue bear galloped in front of him.

It looked like a smaller version of the bigger one.  Azure watched as the small bear collapsed and groaned under the minion's weight.  Azures magic lifted the minion off it as he regarded the cub.  His eyes flicked to the dead beast and then to the small one.

“If this is the cub of that one then…”  His mind raced as the implications went through his thoughts.  A smile pulled at his muzzle and his teeth shone between his lips.  “It will be that big at some point.  So if I… Keep it, then it will serve me as well.  What a nice little pet you will be.”  He said as his hoof hovered in front of the bear and magic coursed over it as his control spell took its mind.  Once the spell faded Azure walked slowly back to the keep.  The minions and the bear followed behind him.  He looked back as the bear followed on his heels.  “Perfect.”  He said to himself as they cleared the trees.

Ponies peeked out from behind the doors as his magic pulled it open and he walked back inside.  Azure sent the minions back to work unless their injuries needed tending.  Those that were wounded went to the blues and waited to be tended to.  The minions could be revived but the blues were not able to heal them on the spot.  They did, however, know how to tend to the wounds.  Azure was able to get the infant bear to stay in one place as he considered what to do with it now that he had control of it.  It would need a place to be held so it could be trained.  He looked around and found an area that could be converted to a holding pen and training space.  His magic picked up downed trees and vines to lash the logs in place.  After a time his magic faded and he sighed as the pen was completed.  He led the bear into its pen and was able to command it to remain there.  He closed the gate behind him as he left it in place.

“Perhaps I will put Kelda in charge of it.”  He thought aloud.  An idea struck him and he looked back to the forest where the dead one lay.  “Wrath.”  The minion ran to him at the call of its name and saluted him as it waited.  “Take some of the greens back to the animal and skin it.  I want the pelt.”  He commanded.

The armored minion nodded in understanding and ran to gather several of the greens.  The red pony was quiet as he looked over his armor, which was scuffed from the hit from its claws, but otherwise in one piece and had withstood the attack, leaving him unscathed.  His gaze went back to the minions as they went into the forest to accomplish their task.  The Overlord leaned against the pen he had created and waited for the minions to return with the pelt, it would make a nice gift for Kelda.  He had a feeling it would end up as a decoration in the Netherworld.  Though for once it would be his own kill, instead of hers.  He hunted, but not as active as she did.  He looked up as a minion ran through the crowd of working ponies and minions.  He slid to a halt before their master and waited for his acknowledgment.  He recognized the minion as one of Gnarls messengers.  A nod had the minion speaking.

“Master.  Gnarl says Princess sent message to meet.”  He shrilled.

“Meet?  For what reason?”  He questioned.

The minion looked thoughtful as he thought about the question.  A shrug escaped him with an apologetic glance to the Master, who now looked unimpressed.

“Very well.”  He sighed.

Azure looked to the forest as Wrath and the others dragged the enormous fur out of the trees.  His magic gripped it and lifted it to him.   The greens went back to their own work and Wrath galloped to him and leaped to his place on Azure's shoulder.  The Master turned for the gates of Nordberg and lifted the pelt behind him.  They reached the Gate and he walked into it.  A thought later and he was gone.

His eyes adjusted to the darker throne room and his magic set the fur down and walked to where Gnarl was waiting for him.  “What does she want this time?”

Gnarl looked to him with a cringe.  “She wishes for you to join them for tea.”

Azures stared.  He blinked as his mind stumbled over the statement.  “You’re kidding?”

“No, My Lord.  Apparently, they have not seen you in recent weeks so they wish for you to join them to have a cup of tea and… Chat.”  The minion advisor clarified.

Azure still stumbled over the request and its clarification for a moment before he shook his head and craned his neck up at the thought.  “Tea?”  He looked away from Gnarl and glanced around him for a moment as his mind finally seemed to slam into place with the nature of the request.  “They miss my presence?”

“It would seem so, Great One,”  Gnarl replied.

Azure was quiet as he went to his throne and let himself fall into it.  He shook his head again and a laugh pulled from him.  “That’s new.  These ponies really are the friendly bunch.  Foolish, but friendly.  Oh, send for Kelda.  I have a gift for her.”  He said.  “I’ll think over this request while I wait for her.  Did the Princess say when?”

“This afternoon, Dark Master.”

“So in an hour or so.  Or when I choose to arrive, if I do at all.”  He said as the minion advisor nodded.

Gnarl sent a minion to retrieve Kelda at the master’s request.  The minutes ticked by as Azure suddenly chuckled and leaned heavily into his throne.  “Send a note to Twilight that I will accept her request.”  He cringed at the thought but held his composure.

“Well, I suppose I do need to find out the ownership status of the forest.  Since my kingdom resides within it I plan to claim it as my own, but I would rather not fight them at this time.”  His dialogue paused as Kelda came through the Gate and smiled to her Lord.

“You called on me, love?”  She said to him as she approached.

Azure gave a smile to her as his magic gripped the deep blue and purple fur, then unfurled it before her.  The fur was the same size as the beast it once belonged to.  Her eyes widened at the sight before her as her hooves covered her mouth.  A delighted sound tore from her as she reached for the long fur.  His magic released it as she gripped it and held it in her hooves.

“This is the most beautiful coat of fur I have ever seen.  What beast has this fur?”  She squealed with delight as she spoke.

He stood up and came to stand behind her as she snuggled the luxurious fur to her face and chest.  “Came from a beast that we have never seen before.  It attacked the area by Nordberg, but fell to me in the end.”  He said to her as he put his cheek against hers and gave her a gentle nuzzle.  “I figured the pelt would make a perfect gift for you.”

She cooed and nuzzled him back.  “You are a wonder, love.  I adore this fur.”  She said as she looked to him.  “Though I must admit the red of yours is much more appealing.”  She said as one of her hooves was on his cheek.  She held him to her as her lips ghosted over his.

Azure pushed back and kissed her as she moaned under him.  He pulled back and nuzzled her once more.  “Only for you.”  He whispered to her.  “I have also taken control of the cub that was with it.  It will grow to be as large as the parent then it will make a hell of a guardian.  If you wish to tend to it, then it is in Nordberg.”  He said to her and gave her ear a gentle nip as he walked for the Gate.

She reached back and swatted his flanks.  “You are too kind, my Lord.”  She said to him.  “I have to see this small beast.”  She started to stand but then dove into the fur instead.  “Once I finish deciding what to do with this marvelous fur you gave me.”

The mare giggled under the fur and he gave a satisfied snort in reply.  “Gnarl.  Ensure my new pet is fed and housed.  I will be going to have…tea.”  His mouth twisted on the wording but managed to speak it aloud.

“Understood, Master,”  Gnarl said as he turned to the minions with him.

Azure stomped a hoof and Wrath and the others that normally went with him joined him at the gate.  He groaned and focused the Gates magic.  A crash of thunder and he was in Ponyville once more.

“Azure!”

His eyes fell on Twilight as she approached the Gate.  He regarded the mare for a moment before walking down the metal steps of the Gate.  Her casual use of his name had not gone unnoticed by him or the minions with him.  Only Kelda ever used his name, even then it was rare.  The mare suddenly paused, a hoof going over her mouth as she realized her words.

“Oh.  I’m sorry.  I forgot to ask if using your name would be okay.  I was so glad to see you that I forgot for a moment that you’re more formal.”  She berated herself as he stopped in front of her.

Azure was quiet as he thought over what to tell her.  ‘In the long run allowing the mare to use my name means that she will be thinking I am her friend.  As much as I prefer that she not use my name so casually I will allow this.’  He reasoned to himself.  “It’s alright.  I suppose since we are of nearly equal rank then the use of a given name is…allowed.”  He said to her.

A wide smile crossed her muzzle and she nodded.  “Thank you for understanding.  And of course, thank you for coming to join us.  We haven’t seen you in quite a while so I figured asking you to join us for our weekly meeting would be good for all of us.”  She explained as they began to walk for the castle.

“Makes sense.  Though it sounds as though I am imposing on a…”  He paused as she waved a hoof at him.

“Not at all.  It’s usually just the six of us getting together for a meal and tea to discuss events.  I am sorry to say that I haven’t found any more Gates.  So I am thankful that you still chose to come to Ponyville even though I don’t have a new location for you.”  She admitted to him.

“That’s all right.  I have found several of them already so I have not been waiting for any word of your success or failure.”  He reasoned to her.

She nodded.  “I’m glad that you found some of them.  They are proving harder to find than I thought they would.  I figured something that size would be easy, but if they are all over Equestria then it could be more difficult than I first thought.  And since they are not all the same size that makes it more challenging.”

“As I said I have been busy, so I had not really even noticed the lack of word from you and yours.”

She went quiet with a small smile on her muzzle as she opened the front doors of the castle for him.  He gave a polite nod and walked into the front foyer.  Her magenta aura gripped the next door and he walked into the room where the other mares and Spike were seated.  A chair was once more waiting for him beside the Princess as he went up to it.  Wrath jumped from his back and pulled out the chair for him.  He sat down and waited as Twilight sat down.  His eyes looked to them as the other mares looked to Applejack.  The orange mare looked uncertain for a moment before inhaling.

“Ah have somethin’ ta say.”  She said, her hoof tapping the table, gaining their attention.

Azure nearly groaned at the thought of what she was going to argue with him over now.  He waited as she inhaled again and looked at him.

“Ah’m sorry.”  She said to him, her head slightly bowed.

Azure blinked at her for a moment before he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his chin on his hooves.  “Oh?”

“Eeyup.  I was unfair to ya before.  While Ah think I was right askin’, Ah should have been more considerate of yer feelings.  Ah just plunged ahead thinkin’ Ah had the right of it.”  She explained to him as he waited for her to go on.  “Yer a pony just like us, but it's differen’ where ya are from and Ah should have been understandin’ of that.  So Ah am sorry fer how I acted to ya.”

Azure was quiet as the mare waited for his reply.  He leaned back a bit as he thought it over.  “I accept the apology.  So long as this does not happen again I see no reason why we cannot go forward.”

Applejack perked up and a smile crossed her muzzle.  “Glad ta hear it.”

Twilight smiled and turned to Azure.  “Spike, can you get the tea please?”  The purple dragon nodded and jumped off his chair and ran for the door across the hall.  “So what have you doing for past few weeks?  We haven’t heard anything from you since we found the Gate at the Crystal Empire and you needed help identifying a manticore.  How did that go by the way?”

“It was fine.  There have been no further issues with the beast.”  He explained to her.

“So?”  She cajoled him to continue.

Azure was quiet for a moment.  “I did find several more of the Gates and have been tending to them.  I do have a question about territories if you will permit me.”

Twilight was quiet as she nodded to him.  “You can ask anything.”

“The forest that borders the village.  Does it belong to any pony?”

Twilight looked thoughtful.  Her horn lit as a map appeared on the table.  Azure yelped and pulled back.  A living map appeared over the smooth surface.  It reminded him of the Tower Heart and for a moment he thought he might need it.  Twilight giggled as he composed himself and glanced to her.

“Sorry.  I forgot you haven’t seen it before.”  She explained looking apologetic.

Azure snorted but looked to the map.  He stood up and he felt the greens on his back shift in place as he moved.  Her horn stayed lit as a paper map appeared in her aura.  She unfolded it and his magic took it from her as he scanned the page.

“Okay, so the Everfree stretches from one side of Equestria almost to the other.  It’s huge and untamed.”  She explained and pointed to the map table to show him the length of the forest.

“I see that.  But does it belong to any pony?”  He pressed.

“Not really.  It exists within Equestria, but no matter what we do it has never really been used as a part of Equestria.  The Princess has never called it her own.  The borders are a bit flexible at times, but the general rule of hoof is to avoid it.”

“It ain’t natural.”  Applejack tossed in, with the others nodding in agreement.

“How so?"  Azure found himself curious about why it had that label.

“It don’t work like Equestria.”  She went on.

“That does not explain anything.”  Azure informed her.  “Is there anything that you can tell as to why it is labeled that way?”  He pressed the mares as gently as he could.

“Animals take care of themselves,”  Fluttershy said to him.

Azure was quiet as he listened to her.  “And that’s bad?”  He said to her, confusion obvious on his face.

“The animals everywhere else have our help, but those ones are too wild.”  She explained.

Azure leaned back and looked startled.  “Pardon?  Wait so the animals I see around here cannot tend to their lives themselves?  They have ponies working for them?”

“Kind of.”  Twilight sought to clarify.  “For example, during Winter Wrap Up we make the nests for the birds that are coming back from their winter roosts.”  She informed him.

Azure was shocked, to say the least as he thought that over.  He shook his head and leaned up to the table once more.  “All right, I’ll wait on that explanation.  Anything else?”

“The weather.”  Rainbow Dash said to him.

“What about it?”  He started, then held up a hoof.  “Please do not tell me that you can control the weather as well?”

Rainbow nodded.  “Yup.  It’s controlled by the weather team.”  She explained.  “The weather team is made of Pegasus ponies who move the clouds and tend to the weather around Ponyville.”

Azure leaned back once more and shook his head.  “That is…the strangest thing I have ever heard.  So the weather and the animals are all incapable of natural movement?  Am I understanding that correctly?”

Twilight and the other mares nodded.  “The Princesses raise and lower the sun and moon as well.”  Twilight chimed up.

Azure opened his mouth to speak but paused at that bit of information.  “What?”

Twilight giggled.  “Princess Celestia raises the sun each day and Princess Luna raises the moon at night.”  She explained to him as he listened to her, shock clear on his face.

He put a hoof to his face as he thought over what he had been told so far.  On the ground, the minions shuffled as he focused on the new intelligence.  “Interesting.”  He looked up as Spike came in pushing a cart with teacups, tea, and sugar on it.  The baby dragon handed a cup to Azure, who held it in his magic and then filled it with fluid, the dragon then held up several sugar cubes.  Azures magic took them from his grasp and dropped them into the cup.  With a polite nod, he looked back to the table and the mares as Spike went to the next pony.

“All right.  So the animals and the weather cannot be moved or changed.  Is that all?”  He finally said aloud.

The mares were quiet as they thought it over.  Twilight finally nodded as Spike got into his chair and sipped his own tea.  Azure's hooves gripped the teacup as he took a sip from it.  He managed not to grimace.  He hated tea.  The only time he drank it was when he was forced to and even then he had to sweeten it.  He set it down and waited for them to speak up.

“Those are the main things about it yes.  There is one pony who lives inside of it though.”

Azure looked to the Alicorn.  “Oh?  I thought it was frowned upon?”

“Zecora isn’t afraid of it.  She’s a zebra from far away so she sees it differently.  You seem pretty surprised about what we mentioned.”

“Considering that where I am from the weather needs no ponies to help to change and the animals are just that, animals.”  He replied.  “Is she loyal to your Princesses or is she on her own?”

“I think she’s okay with the Princesses.  Why?”  Twilight asked.

“Pardon the interruption.”  Rarity spoke up.  “I could not help but notice the damage to your armor, dear.  Did something happen?”

Azure looked to the deep cut in the right shoulder of his armor and the scuffs from sliding on it.  “Oh, that.  It was nothing.  A creature attacked us in the forest this morning.”

“Is every pony okay?”  Pinkie asked.

“Nothing that will not heal.”  He said to them.

“Any idea what it was?  And that’s why no pony goes to the Everfree, willingly.”  Fluttershy added in.

Azure shook his head.  “I’m not familiar with the type of beast that it was.  I’m not well versed in the creatures here to make a guess.”

“What did it look like?”  Pinkie asked.  Excitement quivered over her.  “Was it a serpent, a manticore, again, no you know what they are?  Maybe a…”  Red aura covered her muzzle, stopping her from speaking further.

“It was close to fifty feet tall and had what looked like stars in its fur…”

“Oh!”  Twilight shouted as he spoke.

Azure jumped at her outburst.  His glowing red eyes narrowed at the mare.

She looked sheepish before speaking.  “That sounds like an Ursa Major.”

“A what?”  He asked as a book appeared in front of him and the pages flipped to show him an almost exact picture of the creature he had killed merely an hour or so before.  “Yeah, that’s it.”

“Wow, I have never seen one before.  We have dealt with an Ursa Minor, but not the parent.”

“I assume the Minor is a cub.”  He added in.

“Yes.  What did you do when you saw it?  Why was it so close?”  She paused as his horn lit up and she went quiet.

“Considering that it attacked me and mine it was not a good meeting,”  Azure explained.  He picked up the book in his hooves and held it to read the contents.  The mares gasped and Spike leaned forward in his seat.

“Did you fight it?”  The dragon asked.

“Yes,”  Azure replied as he looked at the book once more.  “It was missing the front teeth now that I look at it.  This image has the saber teeth, the one I met did not.”

“Might have been a defect or lost them,”  Twilight spoke up.  “Did you drive it away?”

“And how would I do that?  No, we were forced to kill it.”  He said as he read over the beast’s description in the book.  Silence resounded as his ears suddenly flicked forward as he heard nothing after his statement.  He glanced up and the mares looked nothing short of horrified at him.  He rolled his eyes and he set the book down.  “And what should I have done?  It did not exactly give me the choice of options.  I do not think it would have paused to speak with me.”

“You could have let it go,”  Fluttershy whispered.

“I don’t think that was an option.  Considering it was felling trees as it tried to maim everything in its path.  We drove it away, but then it attacked.  I am not about to let myself or mine be attacked by some beast and let it walk away without recourse.”  He informed them.  He sipped his tea and once again managed not to cringe at the bitter taste.  “If it helps, I intend to care for the cub that was left behind.”

Fluttershy gasped.  “You killed the parent?  It was defending its family.”  She had tears in her eyes as she spoke.

“Before we drove it back it was attacking us without reason.  We chased it for over a mile before it stopped and fought back.  So we were not near the cub when it lashed out.  So there was no logical reason to attack us when we were not threatening the cub.”

Twilight nodded as she listened.  “So the baby will be cared for?”

“Yes.  I have already erected a pen for it and have the minions creating a shelter, now that I am looking at this I will know what to feed it.”  He explained as he picked up the book once more.  He looked from the book once more to the mares as they seemed to relax.  He left out skinning the beast and his plans for the infant as it grew.

“Will you release it when it’s older?”  Pinkie asked.

“No.”  He replied, then thought of it.  “Since it will have been fed by me it will not be wild any longer, correct?”  Fluttershy, the animal expert nodded in agreement.  “Then releasing it would be a death sentence.  I see no reason not to raise and protect it as needed.”  Azure explained.

Fluttershy smiled.  “That will be wonderful.  You will have a very large pet, Azure.”  Azure stopped at the use of his name but ignored it.  He closed the book and set it aside.  “What will you feed it?”

“Well according to this it is old enough to eat meat so that is what we will feed it.”  He reasoned to them.

The mares cringed but agreed. “Well, at least you can take care of the cub.”  Rarity reasoned.

“So now that is settled.  No one controls the forest or owns it?”  He refocused the conversation back to his own goal.  He picked up the paper map in his hooves and looked over it as he spoke.

“No.  If we look at it in terms of borders, then no.  Equestria borders end when they meet up with it.  So it’s on its own, I suppose.  The Princesses used to have a castle in it, but it's fallen to ruin.”  Twilight reasoned to him.

“Perfect.”  He commented and glanced to the Princess beside him, who looked to him at his comment.  “Then there is no argument if I take control of it.”  He stated as he folded the map and set it on top of the book.

Twilight spun to look to him as he chuckled and leaned back in the chair.  The minions mingled around his chair for a moment, then settled once more.  Wrath kept an eye on their Master and then to the mares.  “What do you mean?”

Azure looked at her and explained.  “The Everfree, as you call it, will come under my control.  I claim the territory as my own.”

“But it’s not a friendly place to live, darling.”  Rarity said to him.

“I’m aware.  It’s actually exactly what I am looking for.  Where I am from the sun, moon, animals, and weather act on their own and we adjust around them.  So having that back in our home is perfect for mine.  If there is no argument about then I suppose taking it is the easy part.  I assume I must do more to take it officially?”

Twilight focused and nodded.  “We would need to go to the Princess and get approval…”

Azure barked out a laugh.  “Approval?  If no one owns the territory, then why do I need approval?”  He replied to the Alicorn.  “I am not aware of needing to justify my decision to your fellow Princess should I choose to occupy the land that no one owns.  Unless I am mistaken?”

Twilight thought it over and looked at the others before replying.  “I don’t know much about land laws, I’ll be honest, but just taking something isn’t really the way things are done in Equestria.  I’m certain if you explain to the Princess then she would be happy to make that official for you.”

Azure crossed his hooves and appeared thoughtful.  ‘Well since I do still need aid finding the Gates I might want to play along.  This is becoming more aggravating my by the minute.’  Azure was quiet.  “I will send her a note, but I do not need to justify the acquisition of land that is not claimed.”

“What about Zecora?”  Pinkie piped up.

“She is more than welcome to stay.  I do not require her fealty or anything of that nature.  So long as she keeps out of my way and does not argue my rule, then she is more than welcome to remain.  I assume that she is not too far into the forest?”

“Not really, she’s a few minutes in,”  Fluttershy informed him.

“As I said, she is welcome to remain.  I will not command her so long as she keeps to herself.  Which by the sound of it she does anyway.  So she and I should be able to exist without annoying the other.”  He reasoned out.

Twilight looked visibly uncertain.  “Why do you need that much space?  That’s a huge territory.  It could fit Canterlot a hundred times.”

“I have my reasons.”  He replied to the uncertain monarch.

A loud knock resounded and Spike jumped up to open the doors.  A minion raced in, scrambling over the smooth crystal floor.  Azure sighed and his horn lit as he lifted the scrabbling minion to his side.  The minion held out a letter and he gripped it in one hoof as he patted the minion on the head and looked to the note.


Master:



Mistress Kelda sends her regards once more for the lovely fur.  Now to business.  The residents of Everlight are rebelling.  Faye returned to report that many of her troops were killed and then she herself was attacked.  Her wounds are minor, though she was quite angered by the attack.  The ponies claim that since they were free of you for an extended time that they are no longer yours to command.  Shall I prepare to have the minions overrun their position?  Please return with your orders, Sire.



Your Devoted Servant, 



Gnarl


An angry look clouded Azures features as he crushed the note in his magic, which incinerated the note and stood to leave.  His temper barely under the surface, he stormed to the doors and flung them open.  Twilight went after him, he could hear her hooves on the crystal floor.  His magic tossed the final doors open and a stiff breeze of cool air ruffled his mane and forelock.  His red eyes blazed as he began to walk to the Gate.  His steps were deliberate and held a purpose as Twilight drew up beside him.  The others hot on her heels.

“Azure!  What's wrong?  Is everything okay?”  She questioned the enraged stallion.

He stopped when they reached the gate and he sent the minions ahead of him until only Wrath remained.  The mares startled at the green minions that appeared on his armor as they jumped to the minion gates and hopped through them.

“You asked why I am taking the forest as my own.  My ponies are within it.  My kingdom came with me but was scattered.  I have located my subjects within that wood and I dare anyone to take it from me.  I would explain further, but I have a business to attend to.”

Twilight stared, shocked.  “Your ponies are here too?  That’s good news, isn’t it?”

“It is.  To a certain extent.”  He replied as he looked to the Gate.  ‘Until they go against me.  Then they need to be brought back in line.’

“Something went wrong I guess?”  The mare questioned further.  “Can we help?”

Azure snorted.  “As much as I appreciate the offer you would be under hoof while I tend to a rebellion.  I do not allow anything or anyone to question my rule.  The ponies are about to be reminded who their Master really is.”  Azure vowed, venom dripping from his tone as he ascended the stairs to the Gates magic.

“They rebelled?”  Applejack said to him.  “Why in tarnation would they do that?”

“They are foolish at times and easily swayed.  I have no doubt that I know the one that instigated this and I intend to remind them why I am their Overlord.  I took their city once, I will do it again.”  He said to them as he waited for them to react.

“Still we can help.  Maybe they just need to be reminded that things are better under your rule.”  Twilight added.  “Magic was evil before you.  We could help you remind them of that.”

“The ponies that I need to realign are the ones that enslave others and attacked one of my closest advisors.  I have three…two under Gnarl that I trust to an extent.  They attacked her and injured her.  I will not tolerate any act of rebellion.”  Azure informed the small group.

“Enslaved ponies?”  Applejack yelped at the admission.

“Yes.  I abolished that when I took command.  I suppose I must do it again.”  He turned away from the group as the red flame began to dance over his armor, recoloring it.  The scuffs vanished as the armor warped around him.  The shoulders thickened on his armor and it slid down to end past his flanks just before his tail.  The sides slid back to cover the sides of his flanks and the boots around his other three legs lengthened, the gauntlet swirled with colors as it too morphed under his fury.  The gauntlet became sharper and the edges melded to cover the entirety of his leg.  Red coloring began to dominate the pieces that were once silver.  The areas of molten lava that encircled it began to ignite and flames danced over the sections.  Azure looked over his shoulder as his helm appeared over his head and covered his mane.  The horns between his ears sharpened and the opening for his mouth narrowed.  The pieces of leather within it thickened and the armor became a solid piece of molten metal that began to circulate over Azure's fur as if it lived.  The mares backed up from the sight.

“Azure!  We can help.  Maybe with us helping this can be done peacefully.”  Twilight tried to reason with him.

Azure looked back over his shoulder as Wrath leaped to his back.  “I am no Prince, Twilight.  I am an Overlord and those ponies have committed a grievous error and I will remind them of their place.  Perhaps in your world kindness can survive, but not in mine.  Should I leave them be and try to negotiate do you think the ponies who are not of noble birth will be treated as well as they were under my command?”

Twilight paused and then, hesitantly, shook her head.   “No.”  She whispered.

“I do not tolerate slavery.  They may be called slaves under me, but they are protected and taken care of.  I command their loyalty that is true.  But I do not tolerate slavery of another under a pony, which is not me.  Therefore, I will be TAKING the Everfree as my new territory, since those I rule are within it.  I have no intention of harming Equestria or its citizens so long as my rule is not threatened.  I have no quarrel with any of you.  If Celestia or Luna wish to argue with me then they can come to my stronghold within the forest.”  He stated and turned to the Gates magic.

“Good luck,”  Twilight said to him.

Azure startled and looked back to the ponies and dragon.  All of them were giving him a smile and hope sparkled in their eyes.  He sighed and chuckled at them.  “You ponies are far too trusting.”  He said to them.

“Can you send a note if everything works out okay?  Or if you need help?”  Twilight pleaded with him.

“If I remember to I will.”  He finally agreed.

“Thank you, Azure.  Good luck!”  Twilight and the mares backed up after he agreed.

He gave a slight shake of his head before vanishing once more.  His eyes opened in the throne room and they fell to the light gray mare sitting on the steps with bandages around her neck and forelegs.

“Faye.”  He said aloud as he approached her.

The Fairy looked to him, anger burning in her eyes.  He could see the pain in her gaze as well, but he pretended not to see it, for her sake.  While Kelda was his first mistress, he had no argument with Faye, who was just as loyal to him as Kelda.

“Master.”  She said and started to stand.

“It’s all right.  Stay where you are.”  His voice commanded her to remain in place as he reached her.  His magic removed his helm and set it on the throne behind them.  He reached out a hoof and set it on her cheek.  He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss to the cheek.  Kelda was sitting with her and he nuzzled her as well, a silent thank you for sitting with the other mare.

“What happened, Faye?”  He asked her as he sat down on the stairs with the mares.  “Gnarl, have Quaver bring Faye a drink.”

“Yes, Master.  Would you like one as well?”  The minion asked.

Azure hesitated.  The bitter tea aftertaste had him nodding to the minion master.  He waddled away as Azure turned to the gray mare.

“Faye?”

“My Lord.  I arrived through the Gate under your command.  At first, they were a bit argumentative but fell back in line.  The Elven ponies fell to my command easily.”  She paused at his look.  “They have finer features and their ears are elongated back at the tips.”  Azure nodded for her to continue.  “The others were more…hesitant.  It would seem that since they were on their own for a time they came to think they no longer needed to be commanded by your Dark Majesty.  I was able to put down a few small uprising with force.  Using the Elven and the minions you gifted me the slight resistance fell quickly to your rule once more.  But it seems they were biding their time and amassing the weapons and supplies they would need to fight you.  I beg your forgiveness, Lord.”  She stopped, sniffled and looked away from him.

Azure sighed and reached out to her.  He pulled the mare to his chest and put his cloak over her.  He knew Faye well enough to know that she was far too proud to cry in front of others.  Kelda put a hoof on her back as the gray mare sniffled and then quiet sobs shook her frame as she gripped his fur and armor.  Azure looked to Kelda and saw the same fury that was pulsing through him reflected back to him in her eyes.  While Kelda was his clear favorite, Faye was a close second.  Her attachment to him was obvious due to his power being what had corrupted her when they were empowering the Tower Heart for the assault on the Empire.  By draining her of the power of Light that she held, he had then filled her with the Dark power that resided within him.  He waited as her cries quieted and gently pushed her back from him.  She looked at him as he took the edge of his cloak, then used it to wipe away any remaining tears on her face.

“My Lord, I…”  She began.

He quieted her with a gentle kiss and stood up.  Quaver waddled to them at Azure's glance, having stopped the minion from approaching minutes earlier, and gave Faye her drink, the other he took to Azure himself.  Azure sipped his drink as he focused and used what he had been told so far to base his plan for retaking Everlight.

“Faye.”  He said aloud.  The mare looked to him.  “Was the gate still active when you got to it or had it been compromised?”

“Which one my Lord?”  She asked him.

He paused.  “Which one did you use?”

She looked away and sniffed.  “We were not in the main area of the town.  We were by the entrance, by the Nether shard.”  She gave him the requested information.

He cursed in silence as he nodded to the mare.  “All right.  Then I would assume that they have trapped one or both of them.”

Faye looked into her drink and he walked back over to her. “I conquered it the long way once before.  It will not hurt me to do so again.”  He whispered into her ear as he nuzzled her once more. Gnarl came back into the throne room and approached the Overlord.

“Master.”  The minion waited for Azure's attention before speaking further.  “What has happened to your armor?  Not that I find it bad, Master.  It has simply been changed.  I like it better since it covers up more of that nasty fur of yours.”  He amended at the look from the stallion.

Azure looked over the changed armor and tilted his head at it before responding.  “It began to change after I read the note from you about Everlight.  Though I’m hardly upset at the changes.  Will have to ask Giblet to make the others like this as well.”  He replied to the curious minion.  “Perhaps it changes as I need it.  Will see how it changes in the long run.”

Gnarl nodded and stepped back as Azure began to pace under the Gate.  Azure finished his drink and set the glass on the floor by Quaver to be taken back to the kitchens.  He paced as plans circled through his mind.  Calling his attention to the old routes and what he knew of them.  He knew the Gate that was in the center of the Isle of Everlight was still active.  He had tried it before and found it to be active.  He didn’t think they would travel far outside of Everlight city itself.  They would keep their strength where it would have the most use.  He stopped as he looked back to Faye and Kelda.  Both mares were quiet as they sat on the stairs under his throne.  He looked to the throne and a new wave of indignation went through his body.  There would be a reckoning in Everlight come daybreak.  If he was right the former governess was to blame.  She had been outspoken before the move but now he assumed that she would be the driving force behind this foolishness.  He spun to the Gate and was bathed in the light from its magic.  His helm slid over his head and he looked to the mares and Gnarl.  Wrath jumped to his back at a glance.

“I will be taking enough minions to overrun Everlight, Gnarl.”  He said to his advisor, who still looked nervous.

“Master.  We still have not figured out why we cannot speak to you through your helm.  I ask that you wait to see if Giblet can check this newly remade helm to speak to you as we did before the move.”  Gnarl pleaded with him from his place beside the throne.

Azure knew that since the move Gnarl had become a bit more paranoid about Azure’s whereabouts whenever he left the Netherworld.  The move had made it impossible for him to reach their Master.  They had not been able to figure out what had changed the magic that allowed them to speak back and forth.  Since Azure's father had been lost to the Infernal Abyss Gnarl had been a bit unsure about the Overlord leaving the Netherworld.  Even now Azure had a minion in the form of Wrath sleeping at the end of his bed, or on the floor if he got annoyed with him and kicked him off the bed.  Azure had permitted the changes, but he knew that now they had no choice, but to act on what they knew.

“Gnarl.  I understand your hesitation, but the longer we delay the more time they have to shore up their defenses and make retaking the city more difficult.  They must be brought back to heel.  I will send word through the Gates as I retake them.  I will use the one in the center of the Isle just in case they have trapped the other two within the city itself.”  Azure advised Gnarl as he looked to the gate.

“Yes, Master,”  Gnarl said to him with a somber nod.

Kelda stood up and trotted over to him.  “Be careful, love.  You ran yourself ragged conquering it once.”  She said to him, her tone whispered, as she spoke quietly in his ear.

“I was not as experienced then, Kelda.  I have learned since that time.  But, I will be as cautious as I can.  If I am right the Gate will put me close to the nesting ground of the spiders, I can use them in the assault.”

Kelda nodded and held him close.  “Just come back to us.  Your loss would destroy us all.”  She whispered to him.

“It will take more than this for you to lose me, Kelda.”

She held him tighter.  “I thought I lost you once.  I won’t again.”  She said to him.

He held her and pushed her back from him.  “See you in a few hours or a day.”  He said to her and kissed her.  He ended the contact and the Gates magic took him from the throne room.
> 5: Reaching Everlight, Again...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure opened his eyes and found himself in a familiar setting.  It appeared to be a mixture of both Everlight’s forest swamp and the Everfree’s thick foliage.  He summoned the minions from their respective Minion gates and waited as they surrounded him.  He thought about summoning more than the hundred that he had chosen but decided that too many would get under hoof as he swept through the forest.  He glanced toward a known gap in the foliage and found a large nest of spiders.  The arachnids seemed to have grown in size since the last he had seen them.  Not that he was going to complain.  He sent the green Minions into the gap and heard them shouting and talking to the spiders.  As he waited they began to join him once on the backs of the large black widow spiders.

“Master!”  Wrath shouted as he ran away from one of the greens, who had decided to taunt him.  The armored minion ran in between his forelegs and hid behind them.

The Overlord sighed and began to walk down the path to the city.  Wrath leaped onto his back and stayed still as the stallion moved.

Azure was quiet as he watched for any sign of ponies or traps around them.  So far his guess that the wannabe usurpers would remain in the city where they were strongest.  As they moved through the foliage the minions fanned out at his command and began to search for anything that did not belong.  Wrath suddenly yanked on his mane and the stallion stopped in surprise.  As he looked back to scold the minion, Wrath jumped from Azure’s back and into a copse of shrubs.  Azure held back his outrage, at the use of his mane like a pair of reins, and waited as a shriek reached his ears.  A pony leaped out of the plants and was pinned down under Wrath as the minion looked to the Dark Lord.  The pony was able to look up and his eyes widened at the sight of their Master.

“Dark Lord!”  He yelped out as Wrath sat down on his shoulders, keeping him prone before the red stallion.

Azure glared down to the dark-colored pony.  “Am I?”  He snarled to the pony.

The pony appeared about to panic as Azure spoke.  “Sire.  Please! I had nothing to do with the attack on Quee… Mistress Faye.”  The pony corrected.

His near slip had clued Azure into what he was.  He was one of the Elven Ponies that Faye had mentioned.  His features were more sharp than fine, but Azure didn’t care about the semantics.  His ears were drawn up to a fine point and angled back at the ends toward his flanks.  His fur was a deep brown with a wide blaze from his forelock to his muzzle.  He stayed down as he waited for Azure to speak.

“What is the situation in Everlight?”  He questioned the now shaking pony.

“Sire.  Mistress Faye was attacked by the first opening into Everlight city.  She fled into the Gate and was able to esca…”

“I am aware of the circumstances of her attack.  What I need to know is who is leading this rebellion and their status.”  Azure snarled as he stomped a hoof, cracking the earth under his armored hoof.

The pony whimpered and cringed into the dirt under him.  “The… The Governess.  She is the leader of the rebellion, your Majesty.”

Azure barked a laugh.  “I thought so.  That one will be a thorn in my side no longer when I retake the city.”  Azure looked at the pony and reached under his chin and pulled up till he was looking back at the Overlord.  “You will tell me everything.  Surely there are Elven left in the city.”  The pony nodded.  “How many?”

The pony looked away as he thought over the question.  “Over a hundred, sire.”

Azure smiled at the information.  “Good.  Is there a way into the city?  Not the main Gates.”

The pony once more appeared to be thinking it over.  The pony suddenly looked to him, fear crossing the pony’s thin face.  Azure waited as his eyes began to look side to side.  Azure glanced over and saw several green minions on spiders advancing.  Azure brought his hoof out from under the pony’s chin and used it to strike him under the chin, forcing his attention back to the Overlord.

“Speak.”  Azure's voice snarled through his pursed lips.

The pony shuddered.  “Sire.  There is a back entrance that the Elven slaves created to escape.  But it hasn’t been used since you closed it up after taking the city.”  He spoke quickly to avoid angering the red stallion further.

Azure thought back and his eyes widened for a moment as he recalled the passageway the Elven mentioned.  “I remember that hole in the wall.”

“Your minions closed it up, Sire.  We tried to use it when the Governess took over but we couldn’t get it open.”

“Of course not.  I designed it to only open if I needed it.  The opening is held closed by the same metal as the Gates I use.”  Azure stepped back and let the pony’s head fall back to the dirt.  “Is there a faster way to get to the city through the forest?”

“No, Sire.  I was trying to find a way when you’re… Guard found me.”  The Elven admitted.

Azure looked around him and found that they were in the open despite the thick foliage.  His skin shuddered under his armor as he found himself looking to the sides of the trees.  “You will lead us back to the city.  In a way that we can remain mostly unseen.”  The pony opened his mouth to speak, but a swift glare from the Dark Lord stopped him.  Azure looked at him and realized that the pony was more terrified of him than the possible slavery back in the city.  “Should we enter the city and once it is retaken then I think I will possibly see to rewarding you for your loyalty and clear dedication,”  Azure said aloud.  He didn’t look to the pony at first but his eyes looked down to find the pony staring at him in shock.

“Master… I don’t know how much help I can be.”  He paused as he spoke for a moment.  “But, I will do as you command.  Please don’t think I’m not loyal to you.  I swear my wife is as well.  We tried to help Mistress Faye.”

“I believe you,”  Azure spoke up as he looked about to ramble on.  “That is why I am choosing to get help from you versus walking in and slaughtering any in my way.”  He told the pony, who looked even more shocked.

“I will serve you, my Lord.  I swear it.  I can get you to the passageway.”  He swore as he gazed at the stallion.

Azure nodded to him and looked to Wrath, who was still sitting the center of the pony’s shoulders.  “Let him up, Wrath.”

The armored minion jumped from the Elven's back to the Overlords armor and scrambled into his place.  Azure was quiet as the pony climbed to his hooves.  It was clear there was more than the pony wanted to say as he kept glancing to the Overlord.  Azure sighed and began to walk forward, the minions and the pony in his wake.  A glance back had the pony staring more at his leading back than at the ground.  “Is there more you wish to say?”

The pony startled and paused for a moment before jumping forward to walk behind Azure.  “Sire.I…”  He paused once more and seemed to be looking for words.  “How did this happen to us?  We were humans and elves once.”

“If you are thinking I did this then don’t bother speaking further.  You don’t need your tongue to guide me.”  Azure warned as he faced ahead, his eyes scanning the path.

“No, Sire!  I would never think you had done this.  Never.  You have been a kind Master to us.  I would never think badly of you.”  He scrambled to set Azure at ease as the pony trotted to keep up with the Overlords longer stride.  “Please forgive me for not speaking more clearly.”

Azure glanced back and stopped to analyze the pony.  After a few beats he nodded and a short noise escaped him.  “Forgiven.  I realize that I do not know your name.  While normally I do not ask unless I feel the need to, in this situation it will benefit me to know.”

“Oh, I’m Anthe, Sire.”  The pony replied.  “Please forgive me, I should have said so before.”

Azure nodded and started walking once more.  “Keep up then.”  The pony jumped to stay at Azure's hip while avoiding the minions around them.  “I trust that we are going the correct way then?”

“Yes, Sire.  Would you like me to lead or should I stay where I am?”

Azure thought it over for a moment as he looked around them.  “Lead.  I can keep an eye on things that way.”  Azure finally spoke and watched as Anthe jumped to lead far enough ahead that Azure was level with his hip, but stayed close to avoid any issues with line of sight.

The deep brown pony began to veer off the path and into the forest.  Azure remained at his back, sending the minions in all directions to keep the area safe around him.  His horn remained unlit as they walked.  Azure stopped when a loud shriek caught his ears.  A minion was yelping as Azure walked toward the sound, followed by Anthe.  He found the minion dead on the ground beside a deep river.  Azure looked and didn’t see any sign of drowning.  A blue minion ran up and dragged the body away from the riverbed and used their own innate magic to revive the brown minion.  Azure watched as the minion’s chest returned to a normal shape and the broken ribs within healed as well.  The minion jumped to his feet and looked around him, bewildered for a moment before his gaze landed on the Master and a toothy smile went over his face, then he ran back into the ranks with the others, now at Azure's sides.

“He was crushed to death,”  Azure muttered to himself.  “Not many creatures have that strength normally.  A regular snake would be dead before they had the chance to kill.”

Azure was pulled violently from his musing as Anthe gripped his tail and yanked him back.  The red stallion yelped as he hit the ground, being dragged several feet back.  The minion had jumped back as well.  A serpents coils landed on the beach as Azure got to his hooves, ready to kill the pony that pulled his tail.  His threat died in his mouth as the snake pulled back into the water.

“Holy shit.”  Azure cursed as the snake slithered under the water.  Anthe was behind him, trembling against the sand, crying out apologies to the Dark Lord.  “Silence, Anthe.”  He commanded and watched as the snake seemed to be getting ready for another attack.

Azure immediately called the minions back and kicked Anthe back away from the water.  His rear legs struck the Elven and the smaller pony cried out at the impact to his face and shoulder.  Azure leaped back as the coils burst from the water and landed where he had been standing.  “Get back!”  He roared as Anthe got to his hooves.  He herded the Elven and his minions into the trees and stayed there as he watched the serpent raise from the water.

The serpent was easily over one hundred feet long if the indication of his coils and the height that it raised out of the waters.  It searched for the minions and ponies as they stayed silent in the trees and foliage.  The scales were a vibrant blue with a pale purple belly.  A long tongue flicked out of its mouth.  Azure had seen large anacondas before but nothing compared to this monster.  As much as the Overlord wanted to see this creature brought under his command he was unsure how to get it to come to him.

His red eyes glowed in the dim lighting and he realized his mistake as the serpents’ eyes fell on him.  ‘Oh no.’   He had enough time to think as he leaped out of the trees and began to gallop down the river bed.  Behind him, the minions and Elven fell behind as he raced headlong.  He knew that only the blue minions could swim.  The others were incredibly good at drowning, but he needed them all alive.  The snake’s coils landed in front of him and he jumped to land on the side.  His hooves gripped the snake’s slick skin as he used his grip to try to jump the rest of the way over its body.  He was able to get up onto the top of the thick coil and slide, ungracefully, to the ground behind it.  His body landed on the ground and he rolled to get away from getting crushed as the body rolled toward him.  He stood with barely enough time to mule kick the coil behind him and then take off running once more.  The red stallion galloped ahead, keeping his eyes on the serpent as it swam beside him.





Behind him, the minions screamed and scrambled to reach their Overlord.  Anthe ran with them, amazed at the speed of the Overlord.  “No one runs that fast.”  He cried out as he struggled to catch up.  His eyes followed the Overlord, then strayed to the snake under the water.  As it undulated under the water he saw it slow as it prepared to strike once more.  Anthe looked from it to the Dark Lord and back.  “Master, look out!”  He screamed out as the coils erupted from the ground.





Azure heard the warning as a coil landed in front of him, then directly behind.  He yelped as the coil behind him struck his flank and the next thing he knew he was in the water.  Cold water sluiced over him as the flames of his armor were snuffed in the chill water.  He was able to right himself as he felt something behind him.  His eyes opened as he realized that the snake was looping around him, or preparing to.  His eyes fell on the long shape in the water.  Snake eyes turned to him and he felt anger rising within him, even as his lungs begun to signal that he would need air soon enough.  His horn lit with his red aura and he felt a surge of power gathering within him.  He didn’t know what it was or where it came from, but he was past arguing with it.  The snake wrapped around him as his horn continued to be lit and the glow from it growing stronger still.

He looked around as his armor suddenly flared to life on his body.  His helm closed around his mouth and he was forced to expel the air in his lungs.  He breathed in and was shocked to find himself able to breathe.  His armor continued to wrap around him.  His hind legs were being coiled by the snake as the armor began to thicken over him, protecting him.  His hooves struck the snake, trying to escape it.  His horn began to pulse in time with his own heartbeat.  He stopped struggling as his mind began to flash, images of the Tower Heart passed over his sight as the snake wrapped around him.  He looked up as the light vanished as the snake surrounded him, blocking the light.  Azure felt the coils beginning to squeeze him.  His body began to cry out as the pressure in both his horn and his body began to hurt.  He closed his eyes and released the magic that was held in his horn.





Anthe stood at the edge of the river, where the Overlord had been.  As he scanned the water, he watched as the blue minions began to jump into the water, searching for their Master.  They dove down then came back to the surface, he was surprised as they suddenly hurried out of the water.  Anthe looked to the water and was scared to see a red light growing in strength under the water.  When it vanished he felt the panic rising in his chest.  His breathing rushed from him as the thought of the Overlord being lost terrified him.  He was the only chance they had to regain the peace they needed in Everlight.  He jumped into the water and plunged chest deep into it.

“Master!”  He cried out as he searched the water.

A minion suddenly grabbed his tail and began to pull him out of the water.  He was surprised to see how strong they were, but his shock was short lived as the water began to warm around him.  He looked down as the water began to tremble, ripples going over the surface.  He allowed the minions to haul him out of the water and he stayed on the bank with them.  A pulse went through the water.  Anthe backed up as the water began to steam, heat building up within it.  An area of over twenty feet in length and width began to bubble with heat.

A surge of magic went through the water, the pulse knocking both pony and minion off their feet.  The pony recovered first as the water shot up into the air with the force of a charging gargantuan.  The Elven screamed in fear as blood colored the water.  Terror gripped him as the water fell back to the surface and it went still.  The water began to cool once more as the stream began to move it.  He cried out as the snake came to the surface.  His cries stopped as the snake's corpse floated on the surface.





Azure's head broke the surface and he gasped as he swam for the shore.  He barely registered Anthe and minions as they ran to him.  He was several feet away from where he had gone into the water.  He collapsed to the sand and let his body try to recover from the experience.  His helm pulled away from his face and warped back into its previous form.  He coughed a few times as he pulled air into his lungs.  While he had been able to breathe underwater just fine, readjusting to the normal breathing took more effort than he thought it would.  His eyes closed as the sound of hooves and feet neared him.

“Master!”  Anthe yelled at him.  His voice was frantic as he put a hoof on Azure’s shoulder.  He was about to start shaking him when he felt the Overlord shift under his hoof.

“I’ll live,”  Azure replied, his eyes still closed.





Anthe felt the strength leave his legs as he listened to the Overlords' voice.  He wasn’t able to stop himself from sobbing in relief as he collapsed.  The minions milled around them as they also looked over their Master for any injuries.  The blues began to climb over him, inspecting him for any injuries that needed to be tended to.  After several minutes they calmed and Azure began to move more, having gotten his second wind.





Azure stood up and breathed deeply for a moment before he looked back over his shoulder to the water. The body of the snake still bobbed on the surface, all one hundred feet of it.  Anthe sobbed at his hooves.  The Dark Lord was quiet as he thought over what had happened.

‘I know that I saw the Tower Heart in my mind.  Is that what that power that was welling in me was?  My father was able to access the Tower Heart and use the power from it.  I have never been able to use it personally before.  Granted I have only had it with me for a few months.  I have been siphoning into it slowly since retrieving it.’  He remained silent as he turned to look at the body.  It was burned and the skin was broken and appeared to have been split due to pressure and movement.  The Dark Lord looked away from the water and the corpse as the Elven finally composed himself and stood.

“Master.  Are you all right?”

Azure was quiet as he turned his head to look at the Elven.  “I’m fine.  A bit wore from that fight, but nothing permanent.”  He assured the distraught pony.  ‘That was nearly Gnarls worst fear come true.’  He admitted silently to himself.  He looked to Anthe and waited for the sniffling to stop before speaking once more.  He refused to let them know just how tiring that had been and was determined to continue forward.  “Now that is finished I have a city to reclaim.  Lead on.”  He commanded.

“Of course, Dark Master.”  Anthe said to him and started for the forest.

Azure was close behind him, managing not to stumble in the sand.  A quiet grumble escaped him but went unnoticed by the pony and minions.  Wrath stayed off his back, sensing that Azure was tiring.  The hours began to drag by as the Elven led them deeper into the forest.  Azure found his temper growing shorter as time dragged on.  “Are you certain we are going the right way?”  He finally asked.  Annoyance crept into his tone.

“I promise Master, we are right where we need to be.”  The Elven assured him.  “Do we need to stop and rest?”

Azure managed to look affronted by the insinuation.  “No.  I am simply ensuring that I have my bearings.”  No matter how much he would have liked to take the chance he refused to look anything, except strong as steel in front of even one of his subjects.  Despite the headache growing behind his eyes the stallion continued walking. The Overlord pulled up beside the pony and slowly drew ahead of him.  He paused as Anthe bumped into his hip…again.  He had let it go the first couple of times, but now his temper was beginning to spike.  He looked back to find the pony panting beside him.  As much as he understood that the Elven was tired, pushing against him was not an option.

His mouth opened to scold him when his right ear flicked to face the forest.  Despite the growing pounding in his head, he stood still as his ears listened, intent.  He heard a gasp and a thought formed in his mind, a silent command to the legion with him.  Azure watched in silence as the minions began to fan out around him, going in all directions, just in case.  He heard shrieks from the right and he felt Anthe push up against him, a whimper escaping his throat.  A metallic clang caught his focus and he focused on the minions in that direction, the others now racing to join them.  A scream tore through the air and Anthe looked up from his place, pressed against Azure's hip.

Azure waited.  Silence pervaded as he was still.  A loud yelp and a series of curses caught his ears as two ponies staggered into the small opening at his right.  One was a brilliant yellow with a hammer on his flank fell to the ground.  The other was a pastel pink mare with a mixing bowl on her rump.  She stayed on her hooves and was staring at the ground when her eyes landed on Azure's armored hooves.  She inhaled and began to slowly look up his legs, chest, back, then to his head.  The stallion was silent as her eyes widened and a strangled sound escaped her.

“Oh no.”  She managed a whisper as the stallion on the ground finally glanced up as well.

Both ponies’ jaws fell open as they regarded the armored Overlord.  Anthe looked to them, a small smile crossing his muzzle.  “Desirah!  Joren!  You’re okay.”  He said to them and leaped to the, pulling the yellow pony to his hooves.

The mare looked to him.  “Anthe?”

“I’m fine.  I found the Overlord.  He’s coming to take back the city.  Everything will be okay.  It will go back to the way it should be.”  Anthe gushed to them.

The pony’s eyes went back to the armored stallion.  The yellow stallion finally cleared his throat to speak.  “I know he looks like the Master and the creatures are similar...  But?”  He stopped as Azures eyes began to glow brighter.

The headache pounded and he felt his temper slip at the implication that he was not their ruler.  Wrath leaped to the pony’s back and used the surprise to throw the pony to the ground, prone before the stallion.  Azure stepped away from his place and stopped his hooves in front of the offending pony.  He brought his head down and put his mouth by the trembling pony’s ear.

“Shall I remind you what a simple spell can do to the mind of a little pony such as yourself?”  His voice was low, husky and filled with venom.  The pony shuddered.  “You may wish to rethink your behavior.  Or I will remind you why I am your Master!”  Azures magic picked him up by his neck, Wrath leaped away as the pony was lifted into the air.  The pony cried out as Azure's red aura slammed him into the ground at his hooves.  Anthe and the mare backed away, shaking as the other Elven cried out and began to beg.

“Sire!  Please forgive me.  I didn’t see the truth right away.  I beg your forgiveness, you are our one true Master.”  He cried out, tears falling from his eyes as the pressure around his neck tightened for several seconds.

Azure released his neck and the pony coughed as he pulled air into his lungs.  The stallion on the ground remained in his place, his body shaking, terror lancing through him.  Azure snorted and stomped his gauntlet-ed hoof.  “Get up.”He snarled.

The Elven rushed to his hooves and waited for the Overlord to speak.  He instead turned back down the path.  “Anthe.”

The Elven ran up to his side and waited.  “Lead on.  I will not leave my realm in the hands of that fool for longer than I must.”  He said.

“Of course, My Lord.  Please follow us.”  He said and pushed the other two ponies ahead of him and toward the jungle.

He watched as they led him and the day broke into the evening.  He closed one eye as his vision faltered, the headache still pounding in his skull.  He stopped as he gave his head a gentle shake.  He felt a weight on his rump and looked over his shoulder to find a blue minion scrabbling up his armor, having jumped to try to land on his back, only to have failed.  Azure watched it as it finally came to rest for a moment at the height of his rump, then walked slowly to his head.  It looked at him, wide eyes waiting for him to respond.

“Yes?”  He finally spoke aloud.

“Masters head.”  The minion croaked out and pointed.

Anthe and the other two came back to his side.  “Master?  Are you all right?”  Anthe finally asked him.

Azure nearly growled at them and stormed ahead when his vision wavered once more.  He sat back on his haunches and reached up with his hooves to remove his helmet.  He pulled it off and shook his mane.  He groaned at the throbbing and gave the helm to Wrath to hold onto.  The blue minion clawed up his mane and wrapped his webbed feet in the strands to hold himself in place.  His scaled fingers threaded into Azure's red fur and the minion held its clawed hands against the stallions temples.  Azure closed his eyes once more and let the minion work.  Magic went over him in gentle waves.  The waves were strong but still gentle enough not to hurt him.  They washed against his mind like the waves of the sea.  The throbbing began to fade and Azure waited for the minion to finish his healing.  It was not the first time Azure had been healed by their magic.  The headache was markedly weakened, but Azure knew that to get rid of it completely he needed to eat and rest.

He opened his eyes and found the three Elven waiting.  They had sat down as well and were waiting for him to speak.  Wrath held him helm and waited as well. The minions had fanned out along the path, watching as their Master was tended to.  He glanced back as the blue minion finished and slowly climbed off Azure's neck and to the ground.

“I am fine.”  He relayed to his guide.

Anthe looked uncertain.  “We should probably rest, Master.  I know of some food in the forest that we can gather for you to eat.”  He explained.

Azure looked at the pony, searching for any deception or intent to flee.  When he was no deception he sighed.  “Very well.  Reaching the city exhausted will serve no purpose.  I trust you and your fellow Elven can attend a camp?  I will send the minions to find a suitable place.  Which of you wishes to accompany them and get it started?”

The stallion he had choked, Joren, tentatively raised a hoof.  “I will, Sire.”

Azure was tempted not to place any faith in the pony that had insulted him.  But he chose to show some goodwill to the pony, ensuring his loyalty.  “Very well.  They will lead and you point out a suitable place for them.  One will return to us and the rest will help you to clear the area.”

Joren smiled weakly and nodded.  “As you wish, Master.”  He turned and trotted with a group of ten minions.

The mare, Desirah watched them leave.  “Sire.  I can find some fruit for us to eat and also get some freshwater.”

“Very well.  I will send a few minions with you as well to aid in the search and to carry supplies.”  He sent a group of five greens for climbing trees and two reds with her.  She trotted into the trees and vanished with the minions at her back.

Anthe looked to him, a smile growing on his muzzle.  “Let us take care of everything, My Lord.  We know this forest by now.”  He assured the other stallion.

Azure gave a short nod and went back to waiting for the minions to return.  It took an hour, but the minions returned to him and guided them to the clearing.  Azure found it was beside a clean water source and had been cleared of large vegetation.  Desirah returned with the minions carrying various fruit and nuts that they had gathered.  Wrath set his helm beside the Overlord and waited for any other instructions.  

Room for a fire was cleared and a red minion lit the dry wood.  Azure sat in silence as the fruit and nuts were rationed to each pony.  His magic held his share and he ate once the others had taken bites of their food.  He had watched them since they returned, but he was no fool.  If they had poisoned it he would have noticed.  Once he had finished he could feel the headache weakening a bit more.  He knew that he had been hungry, but he had thought to be in the city by this time.  He had forgotten in his haste that the jungle had been melded with the Everfree.  He remained quiet as the three Elven began talking about the state of the city before they had fled.

“Sire?”  Joren spoke up, looking to him.

Azure looked at him.  “Yes?”

“Did Mistress Faye make it back okay?’

“Yes.  She had minor injuries.  But, they will heal.”  He supplied the response.  Despite her giving the Elves to her new Lord he knew that they still held a great love for her.

“That’s good to hear.  They went after her so quickly that we barely had time to warn her.”  Desirah spoke up.  “I saw them coming and pushed her ahead of me, but I didn’t have time to make sure she reached the gate okay. It’s good to hear that she made  it.”

“She was more angry than hurt.  She was upset that she had not been able to stop the rebellion before it started.”  Azure commented, glancing from the Elven to the flames.

“She tried to, but it was a surprise to all of us,”  Joren added.  “It’s good to know she made it back to you.”

Azure nodded, already growing bored of the well-wishing.  He knew Faye was fine, but they seemed to be stuck on the fact rather than continuing.  “How much further to the closed doorway?”

Anthe was quiet as he considered.  “We should get there late morning, Sire.  The others will be glad to have you back.”

“Oh?”  He asked a glance to the brown pony made him explain.

“Yes, when you took over we weren’t slaves anymore.  You made us equal.  We had not been treated like that since the Empire arrived.”  He explained.  The other two nodded at his explanation.  “We…”  He paused as he looked to the other ponies.  “We need you to take over again, Sire.”

Azure looked to the three of them.  “I intend to do just that.  Will the other Elven get in the way?”

“No.  They should come back to you right away.  There’s no reason not to.”  He added.  “You made us better than we were before and took care of us."

“Good.  We should have no trouble returning the city to my control.  As soon as the Governess is tended to I will reenact the rules that were there before this…foolishness happened.”  Azure replied.

“We are with you, Sire.”  Anthe smiled.

Azure nodded and looked back to the flames.  They lapsed into silence and Azure let himself collapse slowly to his belly and lay his head over his hooves.  The minions had circled the camp and were watching the perimeter.  Nothing would get near him without their notice.  His eyes slowly closed as his ears flicked one last time before allowing himself to sleep.
> 6: Everlights Second Fall...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Master.”

Azures eyes flickered open and he looked to the right to find Wrath barely an inch away from his eye.  He whinnied in surprise and pulled his head up from the ground.  Wrath backed up and sat back down as he waited to be addressed.  Azure yawned and looked around him.  The minions were in a circle around them and the Elven ponies were still asleep around the dead fire.

“What is it, Wrath?”  He asked the minion.  He looked up to the skies and found it was still dark out.  Aggravation began to roil within him as he addressed the armored minion.

“Master.  Ponies are close by.”  He replied and pointed to the road behind them.

Azure stared at him for a moment before he hauled himself to his hooves and began to think over his options.  Minions began to mill about as they waited for their Master’s commands.  “Wake up!”  He yelled at the three Elven, who startled and looked up to find him standing.

“My Lord?”  Anthe quickly asked as he also stood.

“Wrath has informed me that there are ponies on the main road.”  He clarified to the Elven.

Anthe looked nervous for a moment as he looked to the now, still minions.  They were all in a defensive stance around the Overlord.  Each green minion had their spider mounts hanging off of various trees and other surfaces.

“Anthe.”  The Elven looked to the red pony as he spoke.  “Go to the road and investigate.  If it is another Elven then I expect you to bring them to me.  If not, come back and alert me.  I will send a few minions with you to protect you if needed.”  Azure watched him head to the road as his magic lifted his helm from the ground and set it back in place.





Anthe nodded, fear riding in his eyes. He walked past the Overlord and watched as ten to fifteen minions stayed at his hips, watching over him.  An unmounted green jumped to land on his back, vanishing as it went still.  The pony crept forward as he left the sheltered clearing behind him.  He crouched down as he heard the sound of armor rattling.  He pushed a few fronds aside and cringed as he saw the armored ponies.  There were not many of them, perhaps only ten or so.  They wore the old armor of Everlight, from before the Overlords reign.  They paused at the turn in the road and began to look around them.  A pony that Anthe recognized as one of the old commanders from the Empire stood at the front.  Anthe crept through the bushes and drew up as close as he dared.

“That filthy magic user should be coming from this direction to try to reconquer the city of Everlight.  We have been sent to stop him and end his reign.  The Governess has retaken control of Everlight and has decreed that it is time for the Overlord to lose his hold on the region, permanently.”  The pony was overweight and appeared to have needed to be squeezed into the armor he wore.

Anthe looked over each pony, finding that they would stand no chance of stopping the Overlords force.  There were easily a hundred armored minions at the Dark Lords command.  Pitting them against a small force of ten was like lambs to a slaughter.  The commander huffed as he shifted the tight armor over his body.

“We will take the Overlord prisoner since his filthy magic is what has altered our bodies.  The magic-user will be taken down and confined.”  He went on.

“What about those little creatures of his?”  A soldier asked, his eyes darting from side to side.

The commander paused.  “They will fall as soon as we have control of him.  They will not endanger their leader’s life.  He may have survived the Arena once, but the Governess has designed a new one just for him.  Will only be a one time show, but will be worth it.”

Anthe’s eyes widened and he looked back the way he had come.  He slowly backed up and started for the clearing where the Overlord waited.  He pushed a minion ahead of him and the small creature darted easily through the fronds, silent.  He felt a spike of envy as he had to watch every hoof fall.  The pony watched his hooves and slowly made his way back to the Overlord.

“Master!”  He yelped as he got back to the clearing.  The Overlord was facing the entrance, waiting.





Azure watched him approach and waited for him to reach him.  The pony bowed low and panted as he reached the red stallion.

“What did you find?”  Azure asked.

“There is a group of ten ponies, all in the old Empire armor. They know that you will be coming to retake the city, so they have come out here to capture you. They said that they were ordered by  the Governess to do so.” He replied. He looked hesitant for a moment before continuing. “They also said that they will put you in a new  Arena. Apparently, it’s a onetime sight since you’re not supposed to  live through it.”

Azure smirked for a moment as he began to walk to the road.  “They can try.  This should act as a nice warm-up for the minions.”  He said aloud.  His voice was low and malice dripped off every word.

The minions trotted at his hips.  They did not go ahead of him, at his command.  He reached the road and Anthe pointed back the way they had come.  A malicious smile crossed his muzzle as he walked down the road.  He was unable to hide the prance in his gait as he moved.  His red eyes fell on the backs of the armored ponies and he slowed.  Anthe and the two others stayed behind him, out of sight.  The minions were silent as they began to flow out from his sides.  The mounted greens scrabbled up the trees and hid within the ferns and leaves.  The Browns ran along the edges of the path, their numbers making it so they were soon out in front of the small group.  The reds walked with the browns but stayed behind them to avoid being seen.  The other greens stayed at Azures back and waited, their stealth removing them from sight.  Several were commanded to use his back as a platform if needed.  The blue minions went deeper into the forest to avoid detection but remained close enough to watch the battle and retrieve any fallen minions.  Wrath slipped off his back and stared at his hooves, watching for any danger to the Overlord.

Azure raised his head as the preparations finished.  An ear-piercing whistle sounded from him.  The small group startled and turned back to see what had caused the piercing sound.  They all yelled incoherently with various amounts of fear at the sight of the heavily armored Unicorn behind them.  Their commander quickly stood before them and stared at the Overlord.

“There you are, you filthy magical monster.  You will not be taking Everlight city again.”  He said aloud.

Azure was silent for a moment.  His eyes glowed from the confines of his helm.  “Is that so?”  He responded.  His voice was quiet and smooth.  “And you are going to stop me?”

“Yes, we are.  You will surrender to us and we will escort you back to Everlight for sentencing.”  He declared.

“I see.”  Azure went quiet as he ordered the minions to silently surround them on the sides.  He let them think that he only had a few of the creatures with him, versus the legion at his command.  “I don’t think I can let that happen.  I have heard that the Governess believes that she now controls Everlight city once more.  Is that correct?”

“It is back in the right ha…hooves.”  He replied.  “You have no power here.  Magic users are not permitted here any longer.  Your kind is not welcome and will be purged.  You will not be allowed to infect Everlight with your magical filth.”  His mouth pulled up in a triumphant sneer as he spoke.

The ponies with him fumbled a bit as they held their weapons.  Most had their shields titled in odd angles.  Azure fought back a laugh at the comical display before him.  The ponies had no idea how to hold their weapons properly.  The Overlord watched as they seemed to finally gather themselves, ready to approach him.

“I took Everlight once.  What makes you think you can stop me when the legion that was there before could not?  You have nine, hilariously awkward ponies with you.  While you have no idea of the force I command.”

“You have the one at your feet and the three slaves behind you.  You may have magic, but we outnumber you.”  His sneer grew as he convinced himself of the truth in front of him.

“So you think I have three Elven ponies and one minion?”

The commander nodded, triumph in his eyes.

Azure finally released the laugh that had been sitting in the back of his throat.  The laugh shook his frame and sent shivers down the spines of every pony present.  “You foolish little ponies.  I had forty minions to take Everlight once.  What makes you think I have brought no less than that same amount once more?”

“I don’t see any with you know.  Which makes me believe that you are a foolish little Overlord who no longer has those little creatures in bulk.”  He replied, his triumph certain in his mind.

Azure smiled.  His smile unsettled the guards even further as he lowered his head slightly and commanded the brown minions to silently box them in from the back as well.  They were silent as they moved to his commands.  “Turn around.”  He commanded.

The ponies looked back at his command, whether they meant to or not they obeyed.  The commander blanched at the twenty minions standing behind him.  The others cringed at the sight and held their shields close to their forms.  Azure laughed as the minions on the right and left sides also came forward.  Swords, halberds, daggers, and spears surrounded the group.  Azure's laugh died out as he relished the terrified looks of the group.  His heart thudded in his chest, relishing the adrenaline going through him as he watched the terror building in the guards.

Azure took three steps forward and the guards grouped tighter together, their fear getting the better of them.

“Come on now men, stand straight.  Show those backbones.”  The commander yelled at them.

The ponies did as commanded, but their nervousness and fear showed in their posture and expression. Azure was quiet as he remembered something Gnarl had once told him when he was taking Nordberg.  He thought back about what he had been taught about the leaders of the formations.   ‘Take out their leader first to lower the morale of their formations. If their morale drops too low the formation will break up and the individual units will rout.’  Basically, if you kill the leader the others fall apart.  A skill he had used frequently to great effect.  He glanced to the trees close to the commander and a smile crossed his mouth once more.  The brown minions lunged at him to drive him a bit back from the formation, preventing them from trying to save him.  They were able to herd him back and take him to the ground for a moment by attacking his hocks.  The rotund pony rolled to his feet and used his sword to try to deflect the browns weapons.  Azure commanded the greens to attack from the trees.  They followed his command and the pony soon found himself with three large spiders on his back, with green minions stabbing into his withers and breaking through his badly fitting armor.  The spiders leaped away and went back to the trees, waiting for the command to attack again.  Azure summoned the reds from their hiding place as he remembered Gnarl teaching him to use the reds flames.  ‘Humans can’t stand to see other humans on fire, it’s the smell you see.’  But if you use that to your advantage you can kill from afar without losing minions. By killing their commander the way he had when they were more likely to fall to their fear and surrender to his command.  Azure chuckled under his breath as flames began to flicker on the commander’s armor it spread to his mane and tail.  He began to scream as the minions continued to attack.  Azure gave them the command to finish him and the Browns jumped on him as he fell, flames licking over his skin.





Anthe shuddered back at the sight before him.  Desirah and Joren huddled against him as well.  They watched as the Overlord used the minions to attack and eliminate the commander of the small group of guards.  Joren looked to him and began to gag as the scent of burning hair and flesh reached them.  A stiff breeze blew ash and the strong scent of death over them.  Anthe watched as Azure brought his head up to full height and stepped up to the group.  Only a few feet from them he paused.





“Now you have a choice,”  Azure said to the group.  They turned away from the still-burning corpse to regard him, terror brimming from them.  “You can surrender or I will have the legion at my command kill you slowly as punishment for your transgression against Everlight’s true ruler.”

The group glanced back as the body burned and the minions were silent and waiting, they waited for the command to kill everything that was before them.  Anything that stood against their Master.  One armored guard looked around and saw eyes staring at them from the forest.  The eyes glowed from the forest, waiting.  He screamed and dropped his shield and sword.  He lunged forward and collapsed to his knees before the red stallion.

Azure watched as the pony sobbed and begged through his tears.  “Please, you’re Majesty.  I beg your forgiveness.  I don’t want to fight you or your monsters.  Please let me live.”  He blubbered and begged for his life at the Unicorns hooves.

Azure reached down and pulled the plumed helm from his head.  “Do you regret your actions?”  Azure allowed his voice to drop, letting it sound almost interested in his words.

“Yes, Sire.  I will serve you.  Let me serve you again.”  He begged, tears running down his face.

Azure waited as the pony continued to sob and beg.  He took his hoof away from his face and placed it back on the ground.  “Very well.  I will allow you to live.  You will lead us to the city, to the back entrance.  Then you will go in ahead of us, with one of my minions on your back.  Should you betray my commands he will kill you in front of them.”  The pony shuddered at the reply from the Overlord.  “Then you will wait till I tell you and you will kill any who oppose me.  Or I will make you suffer a death that will go down in infamy.”  Azure vowed to him.

The pony nodded and mewled from his place on the ground.  Azure looked to the others, waiting for their response.  Behind him the Elven watched, he could feel their gazes on his back, almost like weights between his shoulders.  The group threw down their weapons and bowed low to their Overlord.

Azure watched as they gave into him.  “I will tell all of you this now.  Should even one of you betray me, then I will kill all of you, slowly and in public?  Your lives rest in the ponies at your sides.”  Azure called upon all the minions at his command to show themselves.  Revealing all one hundred of them.  The terrified ponies began to tremble at the amount of the troops around them.  “I will choose randomly who dies and you will not know if it is your turn or the one at your side.”  He informed them as the minions pressed against them.  “Do not betray me.  I have no issue with ending your pathetic lives on the spot.”  Azure commented as he spun on his heel and started down the path, with Anthe and the others leading.

Azure looked back as the guards moved with him and slowly stayed close to each other as the minions stayed close to them.  The browns behind them used their spears to drive them forward, marching over the smoldering corpse of the fallen commander.  As they marched Anthe looked back to make sure that the Overlord was close as they walked to the pavilion.  Azure ordered a stop as he thought back to the layout of the area ahead of them.  He looked back to the guards he had with him.  The Unicorn was quiet as he considered his options.  He could send one of them ahead and use them as a distraction to get his forces in position.  He changed his mind upon seeing the minimal troops at the opening to the area.  Azure moved Anthe and the guards to stay behind him.  The minions roared into battle and swiftly cut down all in their path.  Azure walked through the opening of the pavilion and scuffed his hooves over the sands to remove the blood from the bottom of them.

“That was boring.”  He commented to himself and kept walking.  He walked off to the side and looked ahead.  He was fairly certain that the direction he needed to go was now through the thick foliage and into the deep forest.  “Anthe!”

The Elven trotted to him, his face drawn as he scuffed his hooves, same as Azure had done.  “Sire?”

“Am I right in thinking that this is the way to the doorway?”  He asked the nervous pony.

“Yes.  A mile or so inward is the doorway we need.”  He replied, affirming Azure’s thoughts.

“Good.  This jungle is becoming more boring by the minute.”  Azure griped for a moment as he motioned for Anthe to lead and he would follow him.

The minions fell into lines as well and herded the guards with them.  The ponies were silent as they trailed the Overlord and awaited his commands.  Azure followed in silence as he picked his way through the trees and shrubs, all were over his head in height.  He kicked out at a tree that had risen up under his tail as he walked over it and ended up kicking several minions to the ground behind him.  ‘That was uncomfortable.’  He commented to himself as the minions picked themselves up and followed a couple of extra feet behind the Master's heels.  Time ticked past as the long procession made its way the last mile to the doorway that Azure himself had commanded closed months earlier to prevent any of his subjects from escaping.  As they neared it he waited for the minions to check the area and then call out that it was clear and safe.

Anthe trotted up to it and nodded to the Overlord at his heels.  “It’s right over here, Lord.”

“Perfect."  Azure walked up to it and looked it over for a moment.  The door was close to seven feet tall, just enough for him to have ducked through it before, now he could walk almost without needing to tip his head a bit to prevent knocking his horn against the doorjamb.  In the center was an indented area that he had requested be placed there to prevent anyone besides himself from being able to open it.  He reached a hoof up and set it in the middle of the indented section.  He waited as nothing happened.  ‘Well, shit.’  He thought to himself as the door remained locked.  He looked around it then shook his head at his forgetfulness.  He raised up his right hoof, which held the gauntlet and set it in the indent.  The door jolted as dust came off the doorway and began to slowly open, sliding into the ground.

Azure leaned in and was greeted with a wall of ivy and he used a hoof to slowly part it to see through.  The unicorn looked and found ponies milling around.  He watched as several Elven walked past the door, their clothes frayed and he could see what looked like marks from a whip or weapon across their back and flanks.  His blood boiled at the sight.  While he was the Overlord and his pony’s belonged to him, he did not permit slavery and the cruelty that came with it.  It was one thing that he had made sure to abolish when he took control.  Now it had made a comeback under the Governess.  He motioned for Anthe to join him, the smaller pony came to stand next to him.

“Do they look familiar?”  He asked the Elven pony.

Anthe gasped and nodded.  “I know a couple of them.  They are good ponies, Sire.  I promise you that.”  He whispered to the red stallion.

“Good.  Now we need to find a way to get your or the others in there to gather the Elven in this area.  With them blocking we can make an entrance into the area.”  Anthe looked at him, confusion on his features.  “By having the Elven ponies in one area it will go unnoticed if a few more ponies are moving with them.  And the minions can move around their legs without being immediately noticed.  The more the better.  If we can get as many as possible in there then taking the city by surprise will be possible.”  Azure explained to the pony who nodded in understanding.

Anthe was quiet as he leaned into the small gap Azure had created.  “Sire.  Let me.  I have an idea.  Can you help me make a small cut in this ivy at the side?  I can slip through and the gap will be easily hidden.  I will get as many as I can.  Please let me do this.”  Anthe pleaded to the Unicorn.

Azure looked at the pleading face of the Elven.  His eyes were earnest and showed no deception.  Azure looked back to the gap and nodded.  “Very well.”  Azure used his sword to slowly cut the ivy by the side of the doorway.  Anthe quickly slipped through at the tip of Azure's horn to the gap.  Desirah slipped in behind the Overlord and held the ivy in place, preventing others from seeing the gap.





Anthe slipped through the gap and trotted into a group of ponies and hid among them.  One mare turned and saw him.  He frantically shook his head at her to silence her.  She nodded and angled the group of six ponies to a building.  Once they were in its shadow she looked to the Elven stallion.

“Anthe!  Where have you been?”  She questioned.  He started to open his mouth to explain.  “No, wait.  Why did you come back?  You escaped and got away.”

Anthe silenced her with a hoof and looked to the group.  “I did getaway.  I found help.”

“Who would help us?”  Another asked him.  “Desirah and Joren got away as well.”

“They are with me.  We found them and they came back to help as well.”  Anthe explained.

“Okay, but who would dare to help us?”  An older stallion asked, depression in his voice as he questioned the younger Elven.

Anthe paused.  “Okay, you need to not shout or yell.  Promise me you will not scream.”  He pleaded with them.  They nodded and huddled closer together, in the shadow of the building.  “It’s the Overlord.”

The ponies leaned back on their haunches, fear rippling through them.  “What?!”  The elder stallion nearly yelled.

Anthe reached over and put a hoof over his mouth, looking around, hoping his outburst had gone unnoticed.  When nothing happened he sighed in relief, then removed his hoof.  “He’s outside.  He sent me in to get help.”  They looked at him, fear giving way to curiosity.  “We need to gather as many Elven as we can.  Then get to the corner over there.”  He motioned behind them to the ivy-covered wall.

“Why over there?”  A mare asked.

“Do you remember that doorway that was there?”  They nodded after a moment of thought.  “The Master can open it.  It’s covered in ivy so he cut the side of it so I could slip through without notice.”

“Okay, but why do we need to go over there?”

“Because he has over one hundred minions at his command to take back the city.”  Anthe told them.

The group stared at him as he gave them the numbers.  The ponies looked to each other as they considered what he had said.  “So if we can get more over there he can come in?  But how does that help him?”

“If we can get ponies over there to block the sight of the others then he can slip in with his troops and hide among all of us and surprise attack the troops.  The little minions with him can hide among our legs as they wait for his command to take the city.  The more the better.”  Anthe said to them, hoping his voice sounded hopeful and encouraging.  “I know he is just as scary but, think about how it was after him.  We weren’t slaves any longer.  We were safe and protected.  I told him of slavery and he was pretty angry about it.  I know he plans to get rid of it again.”

“How do you know?”

“I asked him.  His goal is to retake the city.  With or without us it will happen.  I would rather be at his back than in the way.”  Anthe pointed out.

“Why?”

“Anything in his way is going to get run over.  The Governess sent a group out to capture or kill him.”

“What happened?”

“He caught them instead.  Their commander fell to his minions and now the rest of the group is at his back, under his command once more.”  Anthe explained.  “We have to help him.  He’s here to protect us again.”

They looked nervously at the stallion. “What do we do?”  A pinto mare lamented as she looked for one pony to the next.

“We help him.”  Another replied.  “We have to.  It’s either help him or get run over by his troops.  You say he brought over a hundred of them?”  Anthe nodded in affirmation.  “He took this place with a quarter of that the last time.  I was here and I remember it.  We have to be at his back.  He'd never hurt us unless we rose against him.  Otherwise, he was actually pretty fair to all the people…ponies.  Did he?”

“No.”  Anthe replied quickly.  “He was transformed to.  So he didn’t do this to us.”

The ponies nodded in understanding.  “We had best get started.”

Anthe nodded, glee working its way into his features.  “Okay.  We should break up in teams and branch out into the city.  Meet back here in a half-hour?”

The others nodded and they broke into three teams and walked into the main city.  Anthe reached a small group and told them to go the market streets and head for the wall of ivy.  When asked he gave a brief explanation that their Master had come to help and take back the city.  Most showed fear until he said that he was waiting till the Elven, who had not betrayed him, were at the market so they would be behind him instead of in the way.  The ponies nodded and slowly made their way to the designated meeting place.  Anthe managed to hide the grin that was threatening to break through his look of forced misery.  He spied another group and started to head for them when a guard stopped him.  He didn’t raise his head, trying to look as beat as possible.

“What are you doing?”

Anthe froze at the question.  “I’m working, sir.”  He managed to squeak out.

“And what are you working on?”

“Gathering materials for a blacksmithing project.”  He tried to lie as well as he could while keeping his head down.

The guard took the weight off one hoof and sighed.  “Fine, get out of the way.”  His voice grated over the pony.

Anthe hurried past him as a line of pain went across his back.  Anthe yelped and stumbled as the whip descended once more.  He raced forward to escape the strikes, he fled around a corner and managed to hide among the stalls, out of sight.  The guard went past his hiding place, a look of cruelty across his face.  Anthe memorized his features.  His heart raced as he hoped that guard got run over by the Overlord.  He looked back to his back and found three one-foot long cuts in his back.  One went down the center of his back, the others crossed it and went down his side.  He whimpered and waited as minutes went by and the guard didn’t reappear.  He slipped out of his hiding place and made for the last few Elven he could see.  He needed to get back to the door and alert the Overlord.

Anthe walked as fast as he dared and gathered the last few ponies to his side.  They moved with him to the door.  He started through the market and found Elven slowly coming to him.  They had been waiting in the shadows of the buildings.   Waiting for him to show them what to do.  He reached the doorway and raised his head to look over the group.  There were over sixty of them.  More than half of the population.  He allowed himself a grin and then pushed his head carefully through the gap and then slipped past it.  Desirah took his place, talking to the ponies and keeping them calm and focused.





“Sire.”

“Anthe.  How did it…?”  Azure leaned around and saw the deep cuts in the pony’s back.  “What in the hells?”

The pony looked to the cuts and then back to his Master.  “I was attacked by one of the guards.  I swear, I tried to blend in and keep to the shadows, I swear it.”  He whispered urgently.  “But… One of them hit me anyway.”

Azure felt a rush of indignation go over him, though his face remained impassive.  He looked at the Elven and felt a bit of protectiveness run through him.  “Okay.  When it is over, if he lives, point him out to me.  He has forfeited his right to breathe.”  Azure snarled.  The Elven looked shocked but nodded at the Overlords statement.  “All right, how many do we have?”

“Over half.  Maybe between sixty and seventy.”

Azure nodded.  “Good.  Do they know what is about to happen?”

“Yes, I explained it to them.  They know that the minions will be around their legs and that you will come in as well.  They are going to wait till you command them to act or stay behind.”

“They will stay behind.  Give them their orders when it begins.  If needed get in front of them and keep them back.  I will be taking the city back under my rule.”  He informed the pony.

“Understood Sire.  I’ll get to the front of them now.”  He started for the door when a hoof on his shoulder stopped him.

“Wrath.”  The red-armored minion came forward at Azures command.  “Stay behind this one's legs and watch the front.  When it begins to lead the Browns forward when I signal the assault.”  The minion took his commands and dropped to the ground scrambling silently to the Elven hind legs.  Azure dropped his hoof.  “Go.”  He commanded.

He watched Anthe slip through the gap and he leaned his head down to watch.  When Anthe was in front, Desirah turned and nodded back to him.  A signal they had worked out while they waited.  Azure lifted the ivy at the bottom, which he had cut away already, allowing the minions to slip under it and infiltrate the city, hiding under the legs of the Elven.  Azure watched as the reds and browns made their way inside.  The unmounted greens, as gently as possible, began to climb up on the backs and sides of the Elven ponies.  Many held onto their manes and dangled off the side, along their shoulders.

“What is this?”  A voice called out from the city.

Azure looked up, a curse falling from his lips.  “Damn it to the Dark.”  He watched as a guard came forward, his beady eyes going over the assembled Elven.  Anthe was in front, Azure could see the pony trying to speak to the guard.  The Unicorn focused on getting more minions into position.  He looked to Joren and the pony came to stand beside him.

“I will slip under as planned and begin the assault.  Push those guards in and they will follow my command.  I have already given them their orders.”  The pony nodded and held the ivy from the bottom.  Azure pushed as many minions as he dared in before he too ducked down and crawled, on his belly, into the group of ponies and minions.  He crouched down to avoid being seen, as he was much taller than most.  He slowly pushed through them and made for the front of the group, where he could hear Anthe frantically speaking.  Azure focused on his movement, leaving the Elven to talk.  He finally reached the front and was standing behind the front line.

“I don’t care if you were told to get an accurate count by the Governess.  You can’t be here.”  The guard’s voice rippled over the group, eliciting a tremble from most of the assembled ponies.  “If you do not go back to your masters, I will drive you all into the newly formed arena, and watch you die, painfully.”

Anthe trembled, Azure pushed his horn against the Elvens flank, a glance back had Anthes eyes connecting with his own, and he was seeing the red eyes of an angry Overlord.  He smiled and turned back to the guard.  Azure could see the pony’s courage come back to him.

“We will not move.”  He declared.

The guard smiled as he looked at them all.  “I will enjoy beating some sense into you then.”  He reared back his hoof to strike the pony a cruel whip in his hoof.

Azure pushed Anthe out of the way and the blow rang against the thick armor over his chest.  The guard’s eyes went up to his form until they connected with the glowing red.  He sputtered and fell back to his haunches as the Overlord, smiled.

“Now.”  His minions raced out, their commands clear.  Azure watched as the minions leaped from behind and under the Elven and surged into the city.  Azure stepped forward, his steps thudding deliberately against the tile of the walkway.





Anthe watched as the minions streamed out from under the Elven, they jumped off the backs of others and the doorway had them pushing past it.  Joren pulled the ivy off the wall and allowed the minions and the captive guards to push into the city.  He looked to the Overlord as he strode away from them, his head glancing from side to side.  The Elven looked to the ponies with him, who were slowly beginning to smile.

“He’s back.”  Anthe finally said aloud to those who crowded around him, watching.





Azure heard a loud cheer sound from behind him.  He looked back to find the Elven cheering at his back.  They saw him and smiles crossed their muzzles, clear joy in their eyes as they kept calling out encouragement to him and the minions.  He blinked at them for a moment before refocusing on the job ahead of him.  ‘That was a bit… Different.’  He admitted to himself as he commanded the minions to sweep across the stalls and rout the guards and citizens cowering around them.  The minions corralled all the citizens and guards into one area.  Azure waited till they were properly cowed and then moved on.  The guards quickly switched their allegiance and walked with him.  He kept them in front to hide his forces behind them and take each sector of the city back.  He was reminded of how big the city itself was as he walked the streets, searching each house and dragging ponies from it.  He sent minions back with captives and commanded the guards.  Soon his force of one hundred had swelled to one fifty and he commanded them with absolute assurance.

“Master!”  Wrath yelled out as he jumped to Azures back once more.  “Moreover there.’

Azure nodded to the minion and sent the guards to gather those in the houses and streets.  Elven ponies immediately flocked to him and were led back to the others.  Foals and mares were escorted to holding areas.  He commanded those that dared stand against him to fight his forces, though none did.  The spiders happily bit and the greens attacked the guards when they did fight back, only to be brought down by poison and force.  Azure finally found himself striding up the main causeway toward the temple.  The temple was a relic from when Everlight had first come under the control of the Empire.  It stood twenty feet high and was made up of columns that held up a halo-shaped ring around the top of the structure.  A dome rose from that and held a banner that Azure had placed in his colors, signifying its fall to his rule.  As they neared it he saw that the banner had been removed, but not completely.  It hung off to the side, showing that they had not been able to reach it and had simply moved it instead of removing it.

Azure chuckled at the sight of the temple as he neared it.  His eyes fell on the Governess standing on a balcony in front of the temple.  Her eyes widened at the sight of the army he brought to her doors.  The minions roared and screeched, eager to reach their goal.  The mare watched as he stopped at the head of the path.  Twenty feet away from her if he went forward.  On the sides were the paths which had been blocked by debris.  Azure's grin fell on the blockades, shoddily made as they were and laughed.  It would take no time at all for the greens to clear the barriers and the Browns to beat them down to rubble.  The reds could set them alight if he chose but he would hold off on that.  The mare wore a dress of white silk that flowed over her body.  A necklace of amethyst gems around her neck, beveled with gold help to hold the dress in place.  A hairpiece of gold rose above her head and gave the impression that it was a crown more than a simple accessory.  Azure smirked at the sight of the very overweight mare.  Her dress straining to contain her.  Her silver hair begot her age.

“You are not welcome here, beast.”  She declared to him.  Her voice was as arrogant as he recalled.

Azure took the weight off his right hind leg and sighed in boredom at her statement.  She sputtered as he looked more bored with her than before.  “I see that you have tried to take back the control that I stripped from you once before.”  He replied, his voice drifted over the light breeze.

“You are not welcome here in this civilized place.”  She went on.

Azure scoffed and shook his head.  “Civilized?”  He chuckled at the statement and went on.  “A place so civilized has fallen once more.  My ‘barbaric’ ways have once again conquered this city.  You seem to be confused about something.  This city was never yours.  It was always been Mine!”  Azure said to her.  His voice became more firm the longer he spoke.  His voice snarled out the last word, causing the mare to visibly shudder.

She seemed to gather herself once more to speak down to him.  “You have no place here, beast.  You belong in the new arena that I have made and we will watch you die as a sport.  You, your little things, and the traitorous slaves that helped you.”  She vowed.

Azure looked back as the Elven marched up behind him, hate in their eyes as they looked at the Governess.  His eyes looked over them as they stopped behind his forces, out of the way, showing their support for the Overlord.  The stallion looked back to the mare and a smirk crossed his features once more.

“I applaud you for delaying the inevitable, but.  I grow bored with your stupidity.”  Azure looked to the sides and sent a group of spiders to each one and ordered them over it and they advanced on the mare.  The Browns began attacking the blockades, destroying them in seconds.  He walked to the right and slowly ascended the stairs.

He caught a glimpse of the mare as she tried to mock charge the surrounding greens, trying to get them to back up.  Azure could hear her yelps of fear as the spider’s gnashed their prominent fangs.  The browns surrounded her as well.  The minions stayed firm in their place.  Azure was silent as he reached them, the minions parting to allow him to reach her.  She trembled at the sight of the heavily armored stallion.  Azures magic gripped his helm and he gave it to a minion to hold for him.  His red eyes sparkled as he shook out his mane and regarded the mare once more, this time from his proper place, above her.

“You have committed a great error, little pony.”  He said aloud.  “I have heard of this new arena, where is it?”  He asked of her.

The mare motioned off to the side and he walked deliberately over in the indicated direction, the minions herded her after him.  He reached the edge and found a deep pit that had been recently dug.  The smell of death wafted up from it and he could see blood along its floor and walls.  His eyes scanned the ground and they widened when he found several ponies on the ground floor, huddled against the wall.  They looked up and found, their former Master standing above them.

“Dark Lord?”  One asked, her voice small and weakened.

Azure could see she was thin and her fur showed signs of rain rot.  Her fur falling off her back and sides as the skin threatened to rot on her form.  Anger pulsed over him as he spotted two foals in with her.  A stallion held them close, protecting them as best as he was able.  Azure horn lit and the red aura covered the ponies in the pit.  They cried out at the red aura and struggled against his magic.  He lifted them from the pit and set them gently on the stone grounds.  They stopped struggling as they realized they were no longer in the pit.  Their eyes were wide as the stallion spun to the crowd below.

“Anthe!”  He yelled to the group below.

“Master.  I’m coming!”  The Elven hollered as he ran to the Overlords call.  He galloped to them and slid to a halt.  “Yes, Master?”

“Do you know these ponies?”  He indicated the small family behind him.

Anthe looked back, his eyes widening at the sight.  “Lorna, Tillhe, the foals are named Orino, and Sehere.”  He shouted and looked to the Overlord.  “I know them.  What happened?”

“They were in the pit behind me.  Their ‘Arena’ as they called it.  A death filled pit is more accurate.”  He said and then looked to the ponies.  “Tend to them, Anthe.”

“Yes, Master.”  He jumped to the family and helped them stand.  He picked up the foals and set them on his back, both were too weak to walk.  The pony turned to the Unicorn, rage barely held back.  “Sire.  I know I have no right to ask anything of you.  But….”

“This will not go unpunished, that I can assure you.  Now go.”  Azure snarled.

Anthe nodded and let the parents lean on him as they walked away.  More Elven approached to help as they reached the stairs.  Azure refocused on the Governess, who was now cowering away from him.  Azures magic gripped her and dragged her across the ground behind him.  She yelped and cried out as he dragged her over the stones and up the stairs of the temple.  He dropped her on the balcony in front of the temple.  The citizens and the Elven were crowding into the causeway and watched as he stood above them once more.

“Today I have retaken this city as my own.  This city will once more fall to my rule and the rules of the past will be re-enacted.  Slavery is once more abolished and if I should hear of any outcry or argument against it I will remove the tongue of the pony arguing.”  Pony’s gasped as he threatened them.

Azure could see the Elven smiling at the statement.  Azure looked to the cowering mare and continued.  “The Governess has been once more removed from power.  Her crimes are far greater than they were the last time she and I crossed paths.”  Azure went on.  “She has led a rebellion, crushed the Elven under her heels with forced slavery, and cast ponies into a pit that she called an Arena to watch them suffer and die.”  He paused as ponies listened.  “And she has nearly brought ruin to Everlight.  Had her rule continued I would have still taken Everlight, but due to the actions of those loyal to me, the complete ruination of Everlight has been prevented.”

The ponies milled about as he spoke.  He looked over the ponies as they all once more began to look to him as they were meant to.  The Unicorn was quiet for a moment as his magic picked up the mare and held her aloft for them to see.

“So now I will ask you for her judgment.  This time I will ask of the people she cowed and those who suffered what a suitable punishment is for her.  I have my judgment to give, but I will still ask.”  Azure said aloud.

His ears were inundated with the shouts of the ponies.  Some called for her death, others for mercy.  He would still bring forth his punishment but, his curiosity had been piqued when he found the Elven suffering in the pit.  He had wondered how ponies would react to cruelty.  His ears listened as they began to scream for her blood.  Azure smiled and held up a hoof.

“I have heard many advisement's.  Many of you call for her to die for her crimes.  I agree that her life is forfeit.”  Azure called out.  “The question now is how will she die?”  He asked then once more.

He heard them calling out for her to go into the pit and die of starvation.  Azure listened and his mouth pulled up into a cruel smile.  “Judgement is final.  And I know how to end her.”

Azures magic kept her aloft and he felt the Tower Heart react to his reaching for it.  Magic pulsed over him as he held her a bit higher allowing ponies to see her as she began to writhe and cry.  Magic coursed over her slowly burning through her clothes and into her fur.  The ponies cheered as she began to scream.  Even those who had served her as fellow nobles had held some hate in their hearts for her.  Azures magic burned her fur, beginning to burn into her skin.  She began to scream even more when the flames began to bite deeper into her flesh.  She writhed and cried out as her skin began to split from the flames and her writhing.  A quick glance to the crowd showed that they were still screaming for her to die.  Azure increased the power behind his magic and she screamed as he pushed the flames inside of her, allowing it to burn from within.  She screamed as the flames began to burst from her and her insides burned through and her blood boiled within her.  She screamed one last time as the flames consumed her entirely.  Azure released the remnants of her and let the ashes fall into the water below.

Azure exhaled as a wave of fatigue hit him, but he kept his stance.  The ponies screamed their joy as he raised his head higher and regarded them.  His magic gripped the banner on the temple and replaced it.  Returning it to its place, showing all assembled that Everlight City was his once more.  He walked past the Gate that was close to the temple and down the steps.  Ponies reached out to gently run a hoof over his armor, murmuring their love and thanks to the Unicorn.  Azure walked out of the causeway and into the streets.  He looked over and found Anthe giving water to the tortured ponies.

The Elven smiled as he got up and walked over to the unicorn.  “Sire.  Thank you for everything.  You have returned Everlight to the way it should be.  Thank you.”  Tears fell from his eyes as he regarded the other pony.

Azure nodded at him.  “Do not think I have forgotten who was there to aid me.  Your reward is for you to decide, within reason.”  Azure informed the pony.

Azure waited patiently as the pony considered his words. He did not expect the pony to choose immediately and rose a hoof to silence him when he spoke.  “I do not expect you to choose immediately.  You have time.”  He paused as the guards began to come through the gates.  “Though I do remember a promise I made to you when the siege began.”

Anthe nodded and looked to the guards as they went by the Overlord, their heads bowing low.  Anthe pointed as one went by.  “That one.”

Azure nodded and Wrath jumped to the appointed pony and drove him to the ground.  The Overlord was silent as he went over to him and regarded the pony at his hooves.  “Do you have a preference, Anthe?”

The Elven walked over to him, then knelt down to the guard's face.  “How many Elven have you beaten just for fun?  Because you decide that you can.  That you’re allowed.”  He asked.  “How many?!”  He yelled.

The guard looked panicked as Azure approached.  Anthe stood up and looked to the Unicorn as he stopped beside him.  “Sire.  I think death is too easy for him.  It the easy way out and he doesn’t suffer for it.”

Azure nodded.  “That is true.  His judgment is yours, then.”

The Elven sniffled as he looked at the other Elven that had joined them.  Azure waited as he looked at them.  “How many has he hurt?”  He called out to the others.

Azure watched as hooves were raised.  Even he was a bit surprised by how many admitted to being beaten.  Anthe gasped and backed up a step at the count of ponies.  He looked back at Azure, who said nothing in reply.

Anthe looked at the wounds on his own back then to the pony on the ground, who Wrath still had pinned.  “You will suffer as we did.  But your life is mine to decide if you live or not.  Your life is in the hooves of an Elven, one you attacked for no reason, other than that you can.  You will not die today.  Maybe tomorrow, or the day after that.  You don’t know.  I decide your fate.”  Anthe said to him.  The Elven looked to the Overlord, his eyes asking for approval.

Azure smiled and nodded.  “Well done.”

Anthe panted as he spun and walked away from the guard.  Azure stepped forward.  The guard shrieked as a line of magic burned into his fur, leaving a long burn.  Two more burns went over his skin, marking him for his crimes.  Anthe had looked back and a small smile crossed his muzzle.  Azure glanced up to the Elven who nodded in agreement.

“You are stripped of your position.”  Azures magic yanked his armor off his frame.  “Your fate has been sealed and decided upon.  Your death is in the hooves of another and will remain that way until he chooses to change it.”  The last of the armor was removed and the pony looked to his former comrades who looked away from him.  “You are not allowed to take your own life, nor are you allowed to leave the city to try to die.  You will have a minion will you that will prevent your death till the decided upon a time.  Forgiveness.  That is a truth you will never be given.”  Azure informed him and all those present.

The Overlord backed up and used his magic to destroy the armor, melting it into nothing.  Azure looked over the ponies and found approval in their eyes.  He walked away from the crowd, after sending a brown minion to watch over the guard.  It would keep him alive as long as was needed.  Till Anthe decided his fate.  The Elven walked with him to the Gate and they bowed as he walked into the lightning.  He summoned the minions to the city and they went over it, reclaiming each corner.

“Anthe.”  He spoke out as he turned in the lightning, once more speaking out to the ponies.  The Elven looked up and came up to the base of the stairs of the gate.  “You are in command of the Elven.”  He ponies eyes widened as he immediately bowed low.  “You will guide them and remind them of the reason I reclaimed this city.  The rebuilding of Everlight will begin under your command.  I will send builders to the city and they will help with its rebuilding.  In the meantime, I will send Faye to the city and she will rule over it for now.”

“Yes, Sire.”  Anthe said to him.

“Good.  Now I suggest you gather what you can and tend to your own.  The real work begins now.”  Azure told him as he reached out to the Gates magic and was gone.

Azure sighed as he found himself in the throne room once more.  He looked to the stairs and watched as Kelda stood up, clear relief on her face at his arrival.  Gnarl also stepped forward, clearly pleased.

“Everlight is once again mine to command.  I have set an Elven pony to start the rebuilding.  Faye.  When you are able the rebuilding of Everlight will be aided by you and its rule will be built by you as well.  No doubt I can trust you to bring it back to my ways.”  The mare nodded as she remained on the stairs.  “Good.”  Azure began to speak more as a wave of exhaustion rolled over him.  He breathed deeply and began to walk around them, heading for the stairs behind the throne.  He caught Faye leaving for Everlight as he went around the throne.

“Master?”  Gnarl asked.

“I’m tired, Gnarl.  It took more than I thought to take it back.”  He admitted.

Gnarl waddled quickly to the side of the stallion, who had stopped before the stairs.  “Master.  What happened?”

“I called on the Tower Heart to punish the Governess.  I have used it before and it was tiring.  But this is… Different.”  He explained.

Gnarl looked at him as he listened.  “Master.  The Tower Heart was meant to hold your fathers magic and he could draw on it to use more.  You have not been attuned to the Heart.  You are able to put your power into it, but it is not yours, yet.”  The minion explained.  His clawed hand landing on Azure's shoulder.

Azure groaned.  “That knowledge would have been useful yesterday, Gnarl.”  The stallion spoke aloud to the advisor.

Gnarl opened his mouth to speak as the stallion pitched forward, managing to catch himself before he fell.  Gnarl made to hold him up as the stallion's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the ground.  He heard Gnarl yell, the last thing he heard was Kelda screaming his name.

“AZURE!”
> 7: Attuning a Heart...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gnarl held the Overlords head in his claws as his body fell, colliding heavily with the stone and metal of the Dark Tower.  Azure's breathing was strained and he appeared to be having trouble pulling air into his body.  Wrath and the other minions gathered around as Kelda jumped to land by his head as well.  She reached out and held his head off the ground, allowing Gnarl to free his claws from the sweat-drenched red fur.

“Wrath.  We must get the Master to the Tower Heart.  We must find a way to attune his body to the Heart.  Once that is complete, his body should begin to recover.”  Gnarl rushed out, his voice ringing over the minions.

Wrath and the minions picked Azure's body up off the floor and began to walk to the stone platforms.  Gnarl ran ahead and called upon two of the platforms to hold the body of the Overlord without trying to lay him on one and hope it made it to the correct spot.  The minions laid him gently on the stone surface and ran for the minion gates to meet them there.  Kelda jumped onto the platform and rode it with Gnarl.  Keeping the platforms together to keep the Overlord stable.  Gnarl watched as the Tower Heart chamber began to approach and prepared himself to command the minions.

“Gnarl.”  Kelda finally breathed out the advisor's name.  He looked to her as she breathed out a panicky breath before speaking further.  “Will he be all right?”

Gnarl said nothing as he looked to the Overlord then to the Tower Heart.  “I do not know, Mistress Kelda.”

The mare looked upset at the response but focused on the barely breathing stallion at her hooves.  The minion waited for the platform to stop and they overran the stones as they picked up their Master.  Kelda held his head on her back and was just as slow and careful when they set him down beside the Heart.  Once he was set down on the stone Gnarl put a clawed hand on the Hearts surface and set the other over Azure's heart.  The Overlord’s heart was slow but steady as he continued to struggle to pull in air.  Gnarl shut his eyes and reached out to the Heart for a moment before removing his hand from its surface.  He looked to the weapon on the Overlords' shoulder and pulled it from the scabbard.  Sapphire blue flame whispered over the blade and the minion was still as he looked to the Overlord.

Kelda looked at him and nodded as she stayed still at the Dark Lords side.  Gnarl slid the weapon across the Overlords fur then turned the weapon and began to slowly sink it into his chest, from the front.  Azure didn’t move as the blade cut through him.  Kelda closed her eyes and looked at his face as she held his head against her chest, shaking.  Gnarl looked to the Heart and then reached down to the cut, which still had the weapon embedded in his flesh.  Blood oozed from the wound and Gnarl watched as it gathered on the ground and he placed his hand in the small puddle.  With that done, he slid it slowly over the Hearts smooth surface.  Gnarl whispered to the Tower Heart, begging it to reach out to the Overlord and join its power with his life force.  Kelda sobbed silently against the Overlords' neck as she held him.





Azure groaned and looked up.  A bright blue sky stretched out above him.  He titled his head as he tried to recall how he got outside.  The last thing he recalled was being in the Netherworld.  He rolled to his belly and slowly got to his hooves.  He shook himself and looked over his body.  Every hair of his red coat was in place until he realized he had none of his armor.  He whinnied at the realization that he was exposed.  His eyes scanned for any threat, only to find none.  He looked behind him and startled.  A tear that stretched the length of the horizon loomed behind him.  He spun and faced the strange sight.  He looked away and then back to find the horizon had gotten closer to him.  He focused on it and, against his own advice, slowly began to walk in the direction of the tear.  He kept his eyes on the horizon, refusing to let it decide how close it was going to get to him.  He stopped after several minutes and breathed for a moment as he then began walking once more, a sigh pulling from him.

“Well, this is new.  If this is a new trick by that impudent creature Discord I will flay him living.”  He vowed as he walked forward, his hooves thudding dully against the grass.

He finally reached the end of the road that he could walk, finding a steep seemingly endless fall off a very high cliff.  He snorted in annoyance as he finally looked away from the horizon. He looked to it once more to find that it had not moved.  He was curious about it but chose to ignore it and start to look for answers.  He looked back over his shoulder and finally noticed something that was different about him from the ponies he had met.  He did not have a marking on his rump like the other ponies he had met.  While he cared very little about it he knew that it seemed to be something that was important or at least commonplace.  He shook his head and looked away from his flanks to refocus his energy.

“All right.  This was a huge waste of my time.”  He growled under his breath.

“Is it?”

A voice called out from behind him.  The red stallion startled and spun around to face the direction it had come from.  A pony in full armor stood several feet behind him.  The helm sat easily on the ponies head, its solid steel sitting in place.  The horns that rose from the helm stood taller than the pony’s ears and horn.  The chest pieces were smooth and one solid piece that then slid over the others shoulder and toward his flanks.  The armor shone in the light of the sun.  Azure was about to speak when he saw something familiar on the ponies left foreleg.

“Is that…?”  Azure's voice lifted slowly over a gentle breeze that gently moved his forelock.

The other said nothing as the red stared.  It was Gauntlet.  It was different than the one Azure himself wore, but the basic design was similar to how it had looked before his armor had warped into its newer design.  Azure's horn lit for a moment before a stab of pain brought him to his knees.  He gasped as it faded and he quickly got to his hooves.

The stallion chuckled, his eyes shone out of his helm.  “You shouldn’t try to use your magic.”  He advised.

Azure began to open his mouth as the eyes of the other opened, revealing glowing gold orbs.  The red stallion paused and closed his jaws.  “Who are you?  And who do you think you are to command me?”

The other shook his head and looked away from the red pony.  “I know you as well as I know myself.”

Azure gave an annoyed snort.  “Yeah.  That’s not cryptic at all.”  Sarcasm dripping from his voice.

The other gave a loud laugh and nodded.  “I suppose it was a bit cryptic.  So I have a question for you.”

Azure thought about being a smart-ass for a moment but decided that a bit of tact would go a long way.  “Go ahead.”

“How is Gnarl these days?”

Azure started and looked at the other pony.  “What?”

“Gnarl.  Is he still at the side of the Overlord?”

Azure was silent.  His mind slammed into place as the reply caught up to his stunned thoughts.  “How do you know about him?”

“I know him well.  He stood at my side once.  Now, he guides you.”

Azure backed up a step as the other pony spoke and then went silent.  “Who are you?”  Azure's voice crept from him, tentative, almost worried about the answer.

The other pony was quiet for a moment as he finally spoke.  “I think you know who I am.”

Azure was quiet.  “That’s not possible.  Gnarl said you were lost in an Infernal Abyss…  How are you here?”

“I am lost.  My body was lost to the Abyss a long time ago before you were born anyway.”  He replied.  “I exist in the Tower Heart, in a way.  My power was held in the Heart which you now possess.  Well done using it to attack the Empire.  That was a genius.”

Azure nodded as he realized that he was muzzle to muzzle with a father that he had never met, but was now speaking with.  “The Tower Heart was shattered when I found it.  How are you here?”

“As I said my power was held within it and allowed it to grow and change as I grew in strength and power.  You are of my blood, so you are able to use the Tower Heart, to an extent.  By using the power from it you have caused a great amount of damage to your own mind and body.  Right now Gnarl is trying to connect your life to the Tower Heart.”

“What will that do?”

“It will allow you to easily access the power of the Tower Heart and not face the backlash that has crippled you.”

“So by using it the last few times I have killed myself?”

“Not exactly.”  The other spoke up and began to walk away from him.

Azure broke into a trot and drew up a few feet to his side, close enough to hear, but not close enough to be attacked.  “So explain.”

“You used a power that is not fully your own.  You have been filling it with your magic, but it is still not yours.  I am still connected to it since as far as it is concerned I did not truly die in the sense of the word.  You must end me here to take control of the Tower Heart and save your own life.  Gnarl has opened the Gate, you have to walk through it.”

“Wait.  So I have to kill you here to save myself?”

“Yes.”  He replied.

Azure stopped as he closed his eyes and shook his head.  “How do I kill something with nobody?”

“Easily.  You reach out to the power you have within you, not using your horn and use it to end me here.  I am a spirit here, nothing more.  By using your own spirit you can fight me.”

Azure was quiet as he looked to the ground.  As much as he knew the former Lord was right, he was hesitant.  He had been abandoned by his mother in Nordberg, but his father had never gotten the chance to know him.  Even though he was the Overlord, the Lord of the Dark Tower, Master of the Netherworld he was still young enough to realize that he had a chance to know someone that had been gone before he had the chance to know anything.  He looked up as the other pony waited.

“I never knew you,”  Azure whispered to himself, not expecting to be heard.

“I know.”

He startled and cursed under his breath.  For the first time in his life, he felt something like longing rearing up slowly within him.

“I have watched as you used the Tower Heart in the Sanctuary, used it against the Empires shield then reclaimed it after the battle.  I watched the battle from within the Heart.  You are the second of our line.  I was the first and you followed in my steps.  Your strength is a credit to you and shows the spirit that beats inside your heart.  Keep walking forward.  Do not look back and never regret the actions you take.  You are the Master of the Dark Tower and its one true ruler.”  The former said to him.

Azure looked up and realized that he had more to accomplish.  While a part of him wanted nothing more to curl into a ball and call out for the family he never had, he quashed the feeling and stepped up to the father that now stood before him.  He reached into himself instead of channeling his horn and found the strength within him, waiting to be called upon.  He brought it to bear and he roared as he lunged forward, his curved horn tearing into the chest of his father.  No blood splattered the ground, a chuckle sounded as he stayed in place.

“Well done.”

The spirit vanished and Azure stumbled forward.  The presence was gone and Azure gasped and clenched his eyes shut.  His head went back as he screamed.  His emotions were raw in his chest as he screamed out his pain and let it wash over him.  The Overlord went quiet as he sunk to the ground and covered his face with his hooves.  He gasped out as he allowed himself to crumble for a few moments before lunging to his hooves to analyze his surroundings once more.  As he looked to the horizon over his shoulder he watched as the scene began to darken around him.  The red stallion watched as it neared him, his horn alight with his red aura.  A weight on his shoulder stopped him.

“Go home.”  A voice whispers in his ear and he felt a strong push.  He yelped and closed his eyes as the abyss greeted him.

Azure moaned and opened his eyes.  Pain pulsed over him as he gasped and struggled under the weight on his body.

“No, love!  Hold still.”

Kelda’s voice reached him and he stilled.  His nose caught her scent and he went still, his head on her forelegs, held against her fur.  She gasped and pulled back from him, slowly.  He stayed still as the pain in his chest grew and he gasped against it.

“Stay still Master,”  Gnarl spoke out as he slowly began to pull the blade out of the deep wound.

“Gods Gnarl!”  Azure yelled as the blade slid out him and was dropped to the ground.

Azure looked up as several blue minions crawled over him, their hands gripped his fur and pulled the broken flesh together, their magic crawled over the gash, slowly healing it.  Once they finished he slowly sat up and looked around him.  Kelda’s face was tear stained as she hiccuped at him.  He looked from her to Gnarl, who was covered in a fair amount of Azure's own blood.  The Overlord looked to the Tower Heart and found a long curve of his blood marring the smooth surface.

“Gnarl.”

“Master, please forgive me for harming you.”  The Minion began.

“It’s fine.”  Azure silenced him as he stared at the heart.  “I know why you did it.”

Gnarl went silent and watched the Overlord.  Azure rolled more to his belly and stilled for a moment as he looked away from the Heart and to the Gauntlet on his foreleg.  “Gnarl?”

“Master?”

“The last Gauntlet was with my father.  So how is this one mine?”

Gnarl appeared startled as the Overlord spoke.  “The Gauntlet you bear is your own.”

“I know that.  How it is made?”

“I am unsure of the exact crafting, my Lord.  Giblet crafted it when you were brought to the Netherworld.  He was given a cloth that held your blood on it and your blood aided him in crafting the Gauntlet.”

Azure nodded and slowly got to his hooves.  He groaned as his vision spun and he staggered.  Kelda went to his side and he leaned heavily against her.  She held his weight as he got his bearings and finally was able to stand unaided.  He finally raised his head up and looked to the group with him.  His magic picked up his blade.  He looked at the surface, covered in it's master's blood.  He flicked the blade and the blood flow from the surface and splashed the ground.  Wrath stayed at his hooves, ready for any orders, the others remained close, but not crowding him.  Azure was still silent as he walked slowly to the stone platform, summoning a floating stone.  Kelda, Wrath, and Gnarl walked onto it with him and waited as he sent it back to the throne room.  When he returned to the throne room he glanced to the stone throne at the end of the path.  Beside him, Kelda nudged his shoulder.  He walked up to the throne, his eyes running over the surface as he regarded it.

The unicorn’s horn lit and his red aura covered the throne, his magic beginning to warp and change the throne.  ‘All of this is mine. I will make it mine.’  He thought to himself as he began to pull magic from the Tower Heart as well as use his own.  The throne warped in on its self and then expanded to form the throne in the image he wished of it.  The throne warped upward, its spires reaching into the cathedral ceiling of the Netherworld.  Once the height was as he wished it to be he released his magic from that portion and focused on the area around the throne.  Great black dragon wings pulled from the stone and metal, they spread wide along the sides of the structure, hiding the stairs behind the wings.  Lava moved through the throne and spilled over the armrests into the base of the throne.  Above it, the metal warped further and shifted under the strain of the magic surrounding it.  The Netherworld groaned under him as he brought the magic to bear against the structure.  When he finished his magic pulled back and he panted as he looked at the structure.  He walked up to it and spun to sit in the newly remade throne.

“Now all that is here is mine alone.”  He said aloud.

Gnarl walked up to stand at his usual place and waited for further instructions from the Overlord.  Azure was silent as he let his mind travel over the things he had been told and seen in his time as the Overlord.

“Gnarl.”

“Master.”

“The Tower Heart will need to be replenished.  Is it possible to have it begin slowly siphoning from the world above us?”

Gnarl blinked, then a vicious grin crossed his face as he regarded the now scheming Overlord.  “It can be done if you will it to do so, my Lord.”  He informed their Master.  “The Tower Heart normally holds the magic that you create within yourself and holds it for you to use later.  But since your magic is different from your Lord Father before you, then I think it would be possible to give it the task you request.”

Azure smiled and leaned heavily into the furs covering the seat of the throne.  “Good.  Now to decide where to have it leech from.”  His mind traveled to the map in the Princesses castle.  The magic from it brought up a map that could be used as more than a flat map.  “Giblet.”  He whispered.  “I need Giblet, I have a task for him.”

“At your command, Master.”  Gnarl nodded to him as he bowed low to the red stallion.  He glanced to one of the guard minions who nodded and took off at a hard run.

Azure was quiet as he waited for the forge master.  What he wanted would be no easy task.  The Overlord got to his hooves and walked to the right of the throne.  His horn lit once more as he summoned the Netherworld to bend to his command.  The thick stone pulled up from the floor and molded into a table that bore a strong resemblance to the one from Twilight's castle.  When he finished he backed up and sagged for a moment before composing himself once more.

“Love?”  Kelda came up to him and stood at his side, her expression filled with concern.

“I’m all right.”  He looked over his shoulder to Gnarl once more.

“Gnarl.  Send a note to the Princess.  I would like a copy of her map.  A paper copy is adequate.  I need the full map of Equestria and outlying territories.  Wrath, you will deliver the request and return with the requested information.”

Gnarl scratched out the request as the Overlord spoke.  He gave it to Wrath who ran for the minion gates to deliver the letter.  Azure lapsed into silence as he waited for his commands to be fulfilled.

“Master.”  Giblet trotted up to him and bowed low.

“Giblet.  On this table, I need a map created.  With this, I can figure out our strategy of attack.  The map this is based on has the ability to create a full-scale image above the table’s image.  I need it to have that ability as well.  Or create a map that is to scale so that I can see what is around us.”  Azure explained as the minion listened intently as he spoke.  The forge master began crawling over the wide surface examining it as he muttered incoherently to himself.  Azure heard a loud yelp several minutes later as Wrath ran up to him, holding out a thick scroll.  He unfurled it within his magic and saw a note clipped to it.


Azure:

I hope this is what you were asking for.  Sorry about it taking me some time to find a well-detailed map for you.  This is a copy of one I have so feel free to keep it.  I have also located another Gate.  When you are able to let me know and I will accompany you to its location.  I hope everything went well with the rebellion.  Let us know if there is anything we can do to help you and if you need anything.


Take care,

Twilight Sparkle


Azure was silent as he gave the note to Gnarl to hold onto.  He gave the map to Giblet who scanned the map intently.  He looked up as Azure nickered at him and nodded.

“New map table for Master.”  Giblet yelped to him and with a flick of his hands, he began to shape the table under him.

Azure backed up as dust and magic began to flow around the table.  He sneezed as it surrounded them.  The Overlord was about to complain when he heard the scratching of feet behind him and a glance over his shoulder had him jumping out of the way of six helpers that ran into the cloud of magically charged dust and joined Giblet in his crafting.  The Overlord sighed and went back to his throne.

His mind wandered as he thought over the retaking of Everlight.  It had fallen much in the way he had thought it would, but at the same time, things had been different.  Before he had subdued the Governess with his magic and left her slovenly obedient.  That magic seemed to have stopped when they were transported.  He had subdued Borius in Nordberg, but he had still been subdued when they found him.  He could only imagine that the Governess had a little bit stronger will then that fat slug.  Though he was on the fence about the accuracy of it.

“Lord,”  Gnarl spoke up, bringing him out of his thoughts.

“Yes?”

“The Princess mentioned a new Gate.  Will you be going to it?”

“In time, yes.”

Azure fell silent as he watched Giblet and the others pause working as the Forge minion looked from the table to the map he had been given.  The cloud of dust resumed and he looked away, his eyes closing as he reached out to the Tower Heart.  He felt it add to his magic and the strength behind it.  He gave a low sigh and leaned his head back against the throne.  After several minutes he opened his eyes as Kelda leaned against the armrest on his left and nuzzled him, gently.

“Are you sure you’re all right, love?”  She asked him, her voice quiet.

He looked back to her and gave a silent nod.  She nuzzled him again and he returned the affection.  “I’ll be fine.  Was a bit of a shock, that’s all.”

She nodded and went to her usual place on the stairs.  Giblet jumped out of the magic dust and bowed to the Overlord before pointing to the table.  A look of pleasure on the minions face.  Azure stood up and walked over to it as the dust finally cleared completely.  Azure felt a smile tug at one side of his muzzle as he regarded the map.  It appeared almost identical to the one in Twilight's castle.  The main difference was this one did not change and would not turn into a normal table.  He looked over the options and finally settled on a few outlying territories to begin siphoning power into the Heart.

His horn lit with his red aura and he felt the Tower Heart responding as he willed his command to it and the Heart responded with action.  Azure was silent as he pulled his magic back to him and allowed the Heart to continue to slowly siphon power from the places he had chosen.  He knew the spots had names, but he didn’t really care enough to check.  The Heart continued with its actions and would continue until the area had been fully drained or Azure stopped it.

“All right, now to find this new Gate.”  He said aloud and walked for the depression in the floor of the throne room.  Wrath leaped to his back and held onto his Master's armor.  Azure looked up to the Gate and closed his eyes as it flared and he felt it pulling him to the location he commanded.

His eyes opened as the sensation of movement ended and he found himself in Ponyville once more.  The minions that were normally with him leaped from the small minion gates at the call from the Gauntlet.  Azure walked deliberately down the stairs and onto the dirt roads of the town.  Around him, ponies had stopped and been staring at the armored stallion.  He said nothing as he began to move down the street toward the crystal castle.  The minions were quiet and stayed around him as he walked.  His stride was slow, but his hoof steps were deliberate as he moved.  His eyes cast from one side to the next as he walked.  He had not truly looked through the town the last few times he had been there.  The buildings appeared solid and of strong craftsmanship.  Whether they would be able to hold up to an attack from his army had yet to be seen.

“Overlord!”  A voice shrilled out just to his left and he paused at the call.  He saw a door that was open and had a bright pink pony leaning out of it and yelling at him while waving a hoof to him.

His mind went over the ponies he knew and recalled she was named Pinkie Pie.  He gave a polite nod to her and started to move away only for her to trot over to him and stop him from moving ahead.  “Yes?”

“It’s been a couple of days since you were here.  Did you get everything fixed up?”  She asked.

“Yes.  All is back as it should be.”  He replied to her, his voice quiet, but strong.

“That’s wonderful.  We can have a party to celebrate it.”  She shrilled and walked back to the building she had come from.

Azure shrugged, not fully knowing what she was speaking of and kept walking.  His eyes landed on the castle and he used his magic to push open the front door.  Normally he knew that when someone wanted into a building they had to knock or ask permission.  He was not about to stand outside like a fool and wait to be given permission.  He did not need permission as far as he was concerned.  He walked inside and then pushed open the next set of doors, opening into the room with the map table.  He paused as Discord turned to him.

“Well, who do we have here?”  The creature slid off the table and walked over to him.

“I see you are welcome here as well?”  Azure replied to him.

“Why of course.”

“And where is the Princess?”

“I think she is in the library.  I can take you to her.”  He said as he walked the rest of the distance and laid his arm over the red ponies shoulder, pulling him close.

Wrath growled and began to swipe his claws at his arm.  A quiet snap of fingers went through the air and Wrath yelped as fluffy green mitts appeared on his hands, hiding his claws.  The minion continued to yelp in alarm and began to wave his arms, trying to remove the item.

“That will not…”  Azure began to speak as a loud snap went through the air.

Azure coughed and shook his head as a feeling of vertigo went over him and he scowled at the creature who was still holding onto him.  Discord smiled widely at him and finally released him.

“You’re not still angry about the mistake before, are you?”

Azure said nothing and continued to scowl at him.  His tail flicked and he pulled away from under Discords arm.  On his back Wrath snarled and swiped his claws at the creature, the mitts having been finally removed.  Discord pulled back at the angry minion's repeated swipes.

“Last time we had the misfortune of meeting you placed me in a cage.”  Azure pointed out.

Discord rubbed the back of his head with one hand and smiled.  “Yeah, I did.  Well, you know how things are.  Overlords are not something a pony meets all the time.  Though I should have asked about it since the little critters you have just call you that.  So I did apologize.”

“Perhaps, but I would appreciate it if you refrained from trying to handle me unless I approve the idea.”  Azure's voice held no room for more arguing as he regarded the creature.

“Well, where is the fun in that?”

“I am not here to have fun.  I have a purpose and nothing will get in the way of that.”  Azure assured him as he began to walk away from him.

“You’re not planning on harming these very nice ponies are you?”  Discord asked, for once his voice sounded serious.

“Why would I do that?”  Azure asked him as he paused and looked over his shoulder.  “My kingdom is here and I have enough to occupy my time than look at these little ponies.”

“Good to hear.”  Discord replied and a wide smile stretched his features.  “Since I really like things the way they are so it’s good to hear that you won’t be harming them.”

‘Not yet.’  Azure thought to himself and gave a slight nod to the strange animal and walked away from him, deeper into the room.  Discord vanished in a puff of smoke and Azure moved through the room toward the back.  As he neared the back he could hear talking coming from a room to the left of him.  His hooves fell quietly on the floor and he looked into the room.  Inside Twilight was moving books and others were being thrown around her.  He waited till she paused and walked into the room.  He gave a bark of alarm as a book struck him in the shoulder. Twilight paused and looked slowly over her shoulder.  She whinnied in alarm at the sight of the unimpressed stallion in the door.

“Oh.  Azure!  I am so sorry.”  She trotted over to him and removed the books from around his hooves, clearing a path for him to move.

He sighed and shook his head in reply.  “Is there a reason for you striking me with a book?”

“Oh no, it was an accident.  I am looking for a specific book and I was moving the others around me with my magic while I was searching and I wasn’t looking behind me and then I ended up hitting you with one of them.  I am so sorry.”  She said to him, her tone hurried as she tried to explain.

Azure had to fight not to roll his eyes at the mares blunder, but held it back and nodded to her.  “Very well.  Thank you for the map that you sent.  It is already proving useful.”

Twilight appeared visibly relieved at the stallion’s change of subject.  “I’m glad.  I wasn’t sure if you wanted just the region around here or everything.  So I sent everything and figured that if you only needed part of it then you could change it if you needed to.”

“It was what I needed, thank you.”  He waited as she gave a pleased nod.  “You mentioned that another Gate has been located?”

“Yes.  It’s just inside of Cloudsdale.  I was kind of surprised they didn’t notice it sooner, but apparently, it’s inside of a really old stadium that hardly any pony ever goes inside of.”  She explained to him and began to lead him out of the library.  “Cloudsdale is pretty high up and one needs to be a Pegasus pony or an Alicorn to walk on clouds.  I know a spell that I can use so that you and the minions don’t have to worry about falling through the clouds.”

Azure paused for a moment as he listened to her.  “So it is in the sky?”

“Yes.  Don’t worry it's okay for us to get there.  We can use the gate and then I can explain it further.  I did inform them that they needed to stay away from it and leave it alone till you got to it.”  She explained further.  “So it’s been left alone thankfully and nopony has gone near it.”

“That’s fortunate.”  He replied.  While he admitted no one handling the Gate was good it just meant that he didn’t have to put any foolish ponies in their place as he had done before.

Twilight led him out of the castle and down the main street, toward the Ponyville Gate.  They walked in silence but paused when Pinkie Pie jumped to block the path.

“You said you don’t like chocolate before right?”  She asked him as she leaned into his space.

He reached up and used a hoof to push her back from him.  Twilight stepped in and smiled at her friend.  “Pinkie, what is going on?”

“He got that rebellion taken care of so we need to celebrate.”  She replied.

“Pinkie.  I don’t think he likes parties.”  Twilight replied to the exuberant mare.

“Well, I figured when he got used to everypony then he would be okay with me throwing a party for him.”  She began to explain.

Azure stuffed a hoof in her flapping mouth and sighed.  “No.”  He said to her, removed his hoof and walked away from them.

Twilight trotted to catch up him and gave a sheepish look to him.  “She’s pretty determined.”

“She can be as determined as she wishes that does not change that I will not be a part of something unless I wish to be.”

Twilight nodded to him and looked back.  She shrugged to her friend and shook her head.  He could hear a loud groaning sound from behind them and he rolled his eyes.  They reached the Gate and Azure walked up to the blue lightning, standing inside of it as he waited for the Alicorn mare.

“Okay just hold still for a second and I’ll cast the spell for you.”  She said to him as her horn lit with her magenta aura.

“And this spell will allow me to walk on clouds?”  His voice held disbelief as she nodded an continued to gather magic into her horn.

Azure was ready to defend if anything went wrong with her spell.  He felt her magic cover his body and the minions around him.  He watched her as she smiled and released the spell.  A tingle went over his skin and he shook himself to rid himself of the feeling.

“There.  Now everything will be fine.”  She chirped happily as she jumped to join him on the Gate.

Azure nodded and put a hoof on her shoulder as he commanded the Gates magic to reach the newly discovered Gate. His eyes landed in a dimly lit room and he slowly walked down the stairs and into the dark room.  Twilight followed behind him and smiled as he paused at the end of the stairs.  He paused before stepping onto the clouds and glanced over to her and waited as she walked ahead of him.

“I’m an Alicorn so that spell won’t work on me any longer, but I’ll make sure you and the minions are safe and watch over you if anything happens, but I’m certain that you’ll be okay though.”  She informed him, with a smile on her muzzle.

‘I fall through this, and I will attack that town of hers first.’  He vowed to himself as he placed a hoof tentatively on the white cloud.  He felt it give slightly but appeared solid under his hoof.  He leaned more of his weight forward and brought his other fore hoof down on the surface as well.  When he did not fall through it Twilight reached out and grabbed his right foreleg, pulling him onto the cloud.  He yelped at the sudden pull and found all four hooves on the cloud.  Twilight giggled at the look on his face, which was nothing short of a shock.  He straightened and commanded the minions to his side.  They jumped from the stairs to his armor and appeared more concerned that he had been about the sudden possible drop.  Azure growled and shook them off him as they yelped and fell to the fluffy surface.  When they all stood and found themselves to not be falling to their deaths the group cheered and danced around him for a moment as they reveled in the feeling under their feet.  Azure gave a short whistle and they fell into a pace around him.

“See?  No problem.”  Twilight said to him and began to lead him out of the building.

“So what is this place?”  He asked her as he drew up next to her.

“It’s a sports stadium.  Well, it was.  It’s not used anymore since a bigger one was built a few years ago.  So they cordoned off this one and closed it down.”

“So is it similar to an Arena?”

“Kind of.  Not like the one that you were since in though.  This one is for friendly competition.”

“I see,”  Azure replied and began to look at the dilapidated structure.  It appeared sound and showed no sign of collapse, but he was still wary of the building.

“Okay, this way.”  Twilight trotted ahead and led him to a door and opened it for him.

He walked through it and growled at the sudden brightness.  He scrunched his eyes closed and put a hoof over his eyes.  “By the Dark.”  He cursed.

He opened his eyes slowly and found himself standing in the shade.  He lowered his hoof and found Twilight had reared up and was using a wing to shield his face from the light.  He looked to her as she smiled and a quiet giggle escaped her.

“Sorry.  I forgot that you’re usually not in the sun very often.”  She said as she waited for him to adjust.

“Thank you for that.”  He admitted and finally his eyes adjusted to the light and he raised his head up to his normal height and waited as she began to lead him forward once more.  The roads were all of the same clouds and he was surprised at the buildings all structures that he could see were made of the same cloud formations.  Azure looked around him as ponies stopped and stared at the group.

Twilight laughed as ponies hurried out of the way and stayed on the sidewalks.  “It might take a minute for everypony to realize that you’re not scary.”  She informed him.

‘Not at this moment.’  He admitted to himself and gave her a nod that he had heard her.  “So where are we going, exactly?”

“Oh, well I figured that having you meet the mayor of Cloudsdale might be advantageous to keep ponies away from the Gate.  Are you going to have guards placed by it like the others?”

“It would be difficult considering that they cannot fly.  Unless you can cast that spell over every minion in my army.”

Twilight cringed.  “Not all of them.  So you’ll make it safe enough and then leave it unattended?”

“I’m working on that part.  Might have to command them to never step off the stairs.  Might use the red minions who can use fire to drive them off.  Station two browns and two reds as back up.”

Twilight looked nervous for a moment before replying.  “Are you sure that you need to have it guarded like that?”

“Unless you think they will leave it alone without argument or curiosity.”

Twilight groaned and nodded to him.  “Fair point.”

He nodded and waited as she walked with him.  “Or is there a way for you to enchant an item that they can hold, or use their armor for such a purpose?”

Twilight appeared to be pondering his words as they kept walking.  “I can look into that idea.  I haven’t done anything like that personally.  But it is worth looking into.”

Azure nodded and stayed with her as they walked.  Pegasus hovered both in the air above them and others were on the ground as they stared at the Princess and the red stallion.  The living lava in his armor flowed easily along the joints in the armor and seemed to be drawing a fair amount of attention on its own.  Though the pony wearing it was garnering the most attention.  The minions moved around him, guarding him against any perceived threat.  Twilight guided him through the streets and up the cloud stairs to a large building that he assumed was like a town hall.  The double doors opened as her magic covered them and a cream colored Pegasus mare beckoned them inside.

“Welcome to city hall, Princess Twilight.  And your attendant is?”

Azure's eyes widened momentarily and he looked to the mare.  Twilight put a wing in front of his face, surprising him into backing up a step.

“This is Overlord Azure Flame.  The owner of the structure we spoke of earlier.”  She quickly explained, trying to shield the mare from the outraged glare of the stallion.

“Oh.”  The mare shrunk back at the outraged look coming from the tall stallion as he looked around the outstretched wing.  “My apologies, sir.  I am Sharp Point.  Please follow me.”  She said and quickly began to lead them down the hall.

Azure memorized her features and the scroll marking on her flank for later.  He allowed the outrage to flow off him and regained his expression of superiority.  They walked down the hall, hooves landing dully on the floor under them.  He looked at it and found it to be a wooden floor.  ‘Why can’t everything have a normal floor?’  He thought to himself as they moved.  Another set of doors was pushed open and the mare led them inside.  At the back of the room was a wide desk with a pony bent over a document seated at it.  Azure waited as the mare beckoned for them to wait as she went to the pony at the desk.  The stallion raised his head, eyes landing on Twilight and Azure at the entrance.  He smiled and beckoned them inside.  They reached the desk and paused a few feet in front of it.

“Princess Twilight!  What a delight to see you today.”  He gushed to the Alicorn, who smiled kindly in response.  His eyes landed on the stallion with her and he paused.

“Mayor, this is Overlord Azure Flame.  He is the owner of the structure that you contacted me about.”  Twilight quickly explained.

Azure said nothing as he looked over the thin pony at the desk.  His coat was a light red, almost pink, his mane was a beige in color.  The pony said nothing for a moment as he seemed to process the title and reason that they were there, to begin with.

“Of course.  Thank you for coming, Mr. Overlord.”  The pony stumbled over the title and then tried to hide his blundering under a smile.

Azure fought back a bored sigh.  “Thank you for the greeting.”  He replied and waited for the pony to speak further.

Twilight hid a smile behind a hoof as the mayor looked a bit uncertain and seemed to stumble even more at the reds reply.  “So I brought him here to explain what the structure is and what will be done with it.”

“Oh, you’ll be removing it?”  He began.  “That’s wonderful.  We have had a bear of a time trying to keep it secret.”

“It will not be moved,”  Azure spoke, his voice commanded instant silence.

Twilight paused at his flat tone as the pony stumbled to a halt in his speech.  “What?”

Azure sighed in annoyance as he spoke slowly for the pony.  “It.  Will.  Not.  Be.  Moved.”

Twilight snorted a laugh at his deliberately slow tone.  The mayor was quiet as he stared at the pony.  His eyes went to the side and he looked at a paper he had with him, his hoof fell on it and he pulled on it till it was in front of him.

“But I was told it belonged to you.”  He began.

Azure shook his head and put up a hoof, commanding silence.  “It is mine.  Because it is nowhere that is where it will remain.  The magic within it is not to be trifled with.  While it could be moved it could possibly do a great deal of damage to the surrounding area.”  Which was an utter lie and Azure knew it, but they did not.  He continued as the pony looked shocked at him.  “The Gate was once in a different location but was moved here recently.  Due to that, it has…” he searched for the word.

Twilight thought for a moment.  “Settled?”

“Yes.  Precisely, it has settled here which means the magic has bonded to the area and is stable in its current location.”  He finished with an appreciative nod to Twilight.

The mayor was quiet and then blinked rapidly before settling back in his chair.  “All right.  But keeping ponies away from the…”

“Gate.”  Azure supplied.

“Yes.  The Gate.  Most ponies will wish to see the structure and while we can ask them to stay away from it…”

“The security of the gate is my concern.”  Azure cut off the pony’s rambling, boredom beginning to gnaw at him.  “The Gate will be guarded by four of my guards.  They will stay on the stairs of the Gate and any who get to close are doing so at their own risk.”

Twilight was quiet for a moment before she spoke up as well.  “He has stationed guards at the other gates that have been discovered as well.  They will drive off those who attempt to get to close.  The Gate also has its own defenses.  A pony in Ponyville fouled with it and was thrown away from it after receiving a bad burn from the lightning within the Gate.”  She supplied further facts for the mayor to digest.

Azure was silent as he gave a single nod to confirm what she had said.  The mayor looked to her then back to Azure as he was thinking over the information.  “So it is dangerous?”

“In a way, yes,”  Azure replied.  “It is a structure that is made and designed for my use.  It is not meant to be used by any other besides myself.  The Princess has been able to come with me to the locations of the Gates due to her being at my side when I travel through the Gate.”  Twilight nodded in confirmation of what he was saying.

“So it needs to be guarded at all times?”  The mayor spoke up.

“Yes.  Due to the magic that flows through it.  My minions are not a threat to it and it will not activate to their presence.  They can go through it at times and are able to use the magic within it.  I will also look into placing the minion gates close by.  That way they can run a message to me if needed.”

“Messages?”

“Yes.  Should something happen with the Gate I would expect to be notified.  Though if a pony is a fool enough to try to get past the minions and attempt to mess with the Gate that is not an issue that needs to be brought to my attention.  Unless an attack is made on the Gate.”  The Overlord explained.

“But if it hurts somepony?”  The mayor spoke to him, interrupting the red stallion.

“That is not my concern.  I will place protection on the Gate itself.  But should they get past them and against all warnings try to use or foul the Gate then it will react as will the Guards that are stationed.”  Azure let the interruption go for the moment.  But if it happened again he would act to put the pony in his place.

“Just let me know and I will discuss it with him if needed,”  Twilight spoke up, trying to comfort the now shaken pony.

“But if your Gate hurts a pony then it becomes a question of its safety.”  The mayor began.

Azure gave a low sigh.  “Once more.  If they get past the guards and have been foolish enough to break the perimeter of the gate than they are at fault.  I accept no responsibility for their stupidity.  I am not their parent nor am I their foal sitter.”  He used a word he had heard before to illustrate his point.  “Should you wish to argue about who is at fault then you are welcome to try.  But I will tell you now that their idiocy is not my fault.”

Twilight hid a giggle and looked at the mayor.  “Once more just send me a report of what happens and if needed I will contact him.”  She explained once more.

“But in all seriousness, the blame…”

“Enough,”  Azure spoke above the pony.  His tone commanding silence and attention.  “You appear to be struggling with the concept of this conversation.  This is the last I will speak of it or I will assume that you are incapable of understanding and find somepony who is capable.  The ponies who try to attack the Gate will be dealt with by the guards.  Should they get past them, then the gate will attack them in their stead.  The stupidity of said ponies is not my problem.  The presence of four armed and armored guards should be enough to dissuade them.  If not, then that is not my problem.”  Azure said to him, making it clear that he was done discussing the subject.

The mayor’s mouth hung open and then opened and closed, much like a fish out of water.  He nodded suddenly and appeared to finally have understood the concepts put before him.  Azure waited as Twilight looked between them.  She shook her head slightly before smiling to the mayor.

“I will look over any reports and they will be passed to him if needed.  Though, I do not anticipate any issues.”  Twilight informed him with a pleasant smile.

“Of course, Princess.”  He said aloud.  “And Mr. Overlord, I hope you can make the Gate inactive to protect…”

Azure laughed aloud, interrupting the pony.  “By the Dark, no.  It will remain active at all times.  I will not disable or render it ineffective.  I’m not even sure I can and even if it were possible I would not.  Kindly understand that the Gate will remain as is.  It will not be moving, nor will it be rendered inactive.  There is not a snowballs chance in the Netherworld of that happening.  So I advise you to put that idea out of your mind now.”  Azure said to him.  A laugh brimmed in his voice and he was able to hold it back.

Twilight hid a smile and watched as the mayor stared wide-eyed at the armored Overlord.  “I think we have made everything clear and hopefully nothing will happen so long as the proper protocol is done and ponies are well warned of the Gates magic.”  She said to the still gaping mayor, who managed to nod.

Azure gave a single nod and whirled on his right heel and headed for the door to leave.  He heard Twilight’s hooves thudding on the floor as she caught up with him.  They left the building to find a group of ponies outside at the bottom of the stairs.  Azure rolled his eyes and walked down the stairs.  The group parted to let him through and he strode past them, his stride not faltering.

“That went well,”  Twilight said to him.

“Ha!”  The laugh he had been holding finally broke from him as he heard her.  “That is the one they chose to lead them?  By the Dark, that was a poor choice.”  He chuckled as they walked.

Twilight giggled.  “Well to be fair, dealing with you can be a bit taxing.”  She admitted to him with a chuckle of her own.

“Perhaps.  But how hard is it to understand what another is saying?  By all that is Unholy, I was beginning to think he would need me to write it down in very small words.”

Twilight laughed and shook her head.  “That’s so mean.”  She giggled.

“Do I care?  No.”  He replied.

She chuckled and stayed at his side.  As they neared it he could see ponies being pushed back by several Pegasus in golden armor.  He recognized them as the guards in the palace in Canterlot.  “Looks like Celestia sent help.”

“I sent her a letter earlier letting her know about the Gate.  I asked about having guards stationed at the entrance of the stadium to keep ponies away from it.  I wasn’t sure any would be sent.”  She admitted to him.

“That reminds me.  Why does your castle appear to have no security?”  He asked her.  He had noticed it before but had only thought of the question now.

“Oh.  I’ve never felt it was needed.  Ponyville is very peaceful, so I have never thought of it.”  She replied to him.

“I see.”

They neared the guards who nodded to the Alicorn and parted to let them in.  Azure looked back as the ponies pushed against them saying they had a right to see what was being hidden.  The guards disagreed and reminded them to step back.  Azure listened and a smile crossed his muzzle.

“Is there a back entrance to this place?”

“I have no idea.  Why?”

“Because we are not alone.”  He replied, his smile still on his muzzle.

“Oh no,”  Twilight commented, annoyance in her tone.

Sure enough, they entered into the dome and several ponies were tampering with the Gate.  Azure watched as the lightning began to brighten and he sighed at the stupidity.

“Get away from it!”  Twilight yelled at them.

The group looked back and saw her and the Overlord.  Azure laughed and shook his head.  “That’s going to hurt.”  He laughed at them as the Gate flared.  The lightning struck out at the offending ponies sending all four of them through the air, screaming.  They hit the ground and slid over the clouds, coming to rest a few feet from the stallion an Alicorn.

Twilight cringed and trotted to them.  Azure groaned and shook his head as he walked up to them as well.  He paused as he heard the minions cackling with laughter around him.  On his back, Wrath was holding onto his armor and mane as he cackled.  A chuckle escaped the Dark Lord as he came to stand next to one of the ponies.

“We did warn you,”  Azure said to the twitching pony.  His coat was burned with large patches missing.  The burns had instantly cauterized preventing any bleeding.

Twilight looked to him.  “I thought it was only a sunburn?”

“If I have had time to alter the defenses yes.  I wished to speak with the leader of this city first.  Due to its secluded location, I believed it would not be tampered with.”  Azure explained.  His voice held the laughter in it as he looked from her to the ailing Pegasi.

She cringed and trotted back to the guards in the front.  “Be right back.”  She hollered over her shoulder to him.

He watched her leave and looked to the ponies on the ground.  They all looked to him as he shrugged and walked past them, already bored with their moaning and crying.  He went to the Gate and stepped onto the hardened metal.  He felt better with a fully solid surface under his hooves.  As he inspected the gate he heard shouting from the direction of the ponies.  He glanced back at Twilight and another pony converged on the fools.  Twilight backed up as they began treating the ponies.  She trotted to him and stood at the bottom of the stairs.

“You could have stood with them till I got back.”  She said to him.

“Why?”  He asked her as he focused on the Gate.

“Just to comfort them.  So they didn’t feel alone.”  She answered him, her eyes narrowed slightly at him.

He paused as he turned to look fully at her.  “I see no reason to stand there when there is nothing I can do.  Their own folly is what caused this.  It is no fault of mine, nor the Gates, that they snuck in, despite the presence of Celestia’s Royal Guards.”

Twilight groaned and looked back to the ponies.  “Still.  Standing there wouldn’t have killed you.”

He shrugged.  “I have better things to do than coddle four foolish little ponies.”

Twilight gave a loud annoyed growl and sat down on her haunches.  “That’s not the point.  Wouldn’t you want someone to sit with you if you were hurt?”

He looked at her.  “No.”

“No?”

“No.  If I do something that ill-advised then I expect to be either left to die or laughed at.”  He replied, looking away from her and back to the Gate.

He didn’t see her expression, but he was sure that she didn’t like his commentary.  He ignored her and went back to looking at the Gate and the surrounding area.

“Azure.”

He paused and looked over his shoulder with a heavy sigh.  “Yes?”

“When you were hurt, when they threw you away, didn’t you want someone to help you?”  She asked him.

“No.  I knew none would.  There was no point in complaining when I needed to get up and move.  My life mattered to only myself and the minions that were screaming at me to follow them.  I did not expect anypony to help me.  Nor would I have accepted it.”

“Why not?”

“Because all ponies, lie.”

He looked away from her and turned his back to her, indicating that he was done speaking.  He walked down the stairs and off to the side of it, standing on the clouds.  His gauntlet flashed as he reached out, summoning Grubby.  The minion came through the gate and looked for the Master.  He leaped off the stairs and Azure made sure to catch him before he landed on the ground.  He held the minion in front of him and looked at the ground for a moment.  He gently set the minion on the clouds, ready to grab him should he fall through.  Much to his surprise, the minion bounced on the clouds for a moment before running around, seeming to enjoy the feel of the soft clouds under his feet.  Azure scowled before whistling, bringing Grubby back to focus back on his commands.

“Ensure the security of the Gate and prep the minion gates as well.”  He commanded.  “The usual.”

Grubby saluted and dove into the clouds.  Azure shook his head and cursed about the fairness of it under his breath for a moment before he backed up and let the minion do his work without Azure's hooves in the way.  He waited as the ponies were removed from the stadium on stretchers and he looked past them as a familiar incompetent pony ran up to him.

“You said this would not be your fault.  Well, those ponies are badly hurt.  I thought the burn would be like a sunburn.”  He began spouting off as Azure and Twilight watched him.

Twilight stepped forward.  “Normally that is exactly what happens.  But this time due to the fact that the Gate was in a very out of the way area and its seclusion it was unlikely to be noticed.  So the alterations were not made till the Gate could be checked by the minions who help make them.  Right?”  She looked to Azure as she spoke the last sentence.

“Yes.  Due to the location, it was delayed due to needing to speak with you before it was completed.  I needed the minion who can make the Gates check it and assure that there was nothing wrong with it.  I can see that structurally it is sound, but Grubby is needed for anything more than that.”  Azure replied.

“But those ponies…”

“Silence.”  Azure whirled to fully look at the pony, his tone hard with a sharp edge to it.  “I have had enough of your mewling.  Your incompetence is beginning to bore and annoy me.  If you wish to place blame on me then feel free.  I will ignore it and do as I wish.  I do not need you to allow me to do anything with the Gate.  If contested about it I will throw you into the lightning myself.  So I advise you to not to annoy me further.”  Azure threatened, his patience worn.

Twilight stared at him as the mayor gulped and nodded, remaining silent.  He turned and ran out of the stadium.  Azure snorted and turned back to the Gate and the changes to the surrounding area.  Under the clouds, he could sense that Grubby was moving through them as he linked the Netherworld and any magic that he needed to the Gate.

“Azure.”   Twilight’s voice found his ears and he looked to her.  “You can’t threaten a pony just because they disagree with you.”  Her voice was soft as she spoke.

Azure sighed once more and looked to her.  “I understand that.  But sometimes a firm tone is needed and in other instances, a kick in the ass is needed as well.  I had no intention to truly throw him in there, but I will not repeat myself more than is needed.  You had explained the situation well and there was no need for further discussion.”  He explained to her.  He went back to watching Grubby form the minion gates.

He didn’t hear Twilight saw anything more as he stood in silence.  He was beginning to feel weariness edging slowly into his muscles and shortening his temper further.  Which was ill-advised due to him no longer watching the situation.  He was not watching as Grubby leaped from the clouds at the completion of his orders and collided heavily with the Overlords right flank.  Azure yelped and staggered.  He hadn’t noticed Twilight standing close to him when he staggered and fell on her.  She screeched as his weight fell on her and she found herself looking at him from her new position under his shoulder and side.

“Grubby!”  Azure roared as his mind realized the situation.

A quiet whimper caught his attention as he looked down to find Twilight under him.  His eyes widened as she looked at him, her eyes wide as well.

“Oh shit.”  He cursed and lunged to his hooves.

He whirled around and put a hoof out to her.  She took the offered limb and got to her hooves.  She brushed off her fur and winced, a hoof going to her right wing, which had been crushed under his side.  She sat down and gripped the appendage as slowly tried to extend it in her hooves.  She yelped and tears came to her eyes as she stopped trying to move it.  Azure quickly realized that it was most likely broken.

“Hold it still.”  He told her and looked to the blue minion gate.

His Gauntlet roared and five blue minions hurried to his side.  “Look to the injured wing and repair it.”  He commanded and tipped his horn to Twilight.

The mare looked nervous but held still as the five minions descended on her.  Taking the appendage from her hooves.  Azure knew their touch to be gentle, he watched for any discomfort from the Alicorn.  Now he was hoping they would be able to heal her, same as they did with him.  They took the wing and stood close to her.  Their claws threading gently into her fur on top of areas that would later bruise.





Twilight watched as they held her broken wing and she looked around as claws went gently over her skin, under her fur.  She waited as they stopped moving and she gasped as magic surged over her.  It was cool and went into the bruised skin and broken bones.  She looked up as Azure stood close by.  She looked at him and he looked to the blue minions that surrounded her.  She felt the cool magic cover her and she felt her muscles relax and she felt the bones moving inside the broken wing.  'That should hurt.’  She thought to herself as the bones shifted and mended under the magic of the blue minions.  As they finished they backed away from her, pulling her to her hooves, encouraging her to move.  One reached out and gently pulled the previously broken wing out to its length and she smiled as she realized the wing was fully repaired.  She looked from the minions to Azure and found him to be checking the minions.





“Is it done?”  He asked one of them as they went to his side.

“Yes.  All better!”  One said to him.

“Good.  Return to the Netherworld.”  He commanded and the minions happily leaped into the minion Gate.

An almost sweet smile went onto his muzzle as he looked back to find the original minion standing silently beside the brown minion gate.  “Grubby.”  The minion nodded to him.  “Come.”

The minion crept up to him and sat down on its haunches.  Azure reached out his hooves, put them around the minion’s neck, and began to throttle him.  “You foolish, little!  What have I said about checking your surroundings?!”  Azure yelled at the minion as he shook him.

The minion gurgled a reply, Azure turned and threw him into the brown minion gate.  It flashed and he vanished into it.  Azure gave an angry snort and turned back to Twilight.  “My apologies for that bit of…unpleasantness.  How are your wounds?”

She startled and shook her head.  “I’m okay.  Seems to be fully healed.  I didn’t know that they could do that.”

He took a deep breath and nodded.  “The blue minions have the ability to heal among others things.  That is their purpose when we venture out of the Netherworld.”

“Thank you for asking them to heal it.”

“I caused the injury, though indirectly.”  He glared at the minion gate for a moment before continuing.  “So it is my place to repair it.  While I personally do not have the ability to do so so I can use the resources I do have to fix the damage.”

She nodded.  “Still, thank you.”

“Of course.  Are you ready to return?”  Azure looked to two of the minions with him and appointed them its guards and walked up to the stairs.

She nodded and followed him onto the Gate.  He placed a hoof on her side and the Gate flared to send them back to Ponyville.  She trotted down the stairs and turned back to him.

“Take it easy, Azure.  If you need anything let me know.”  She said to him, a wide smile on her muzzle.

Azure nodded to her.  He closed his eyes and the Gate sent him back to the Netherworld.  The minions went back via the gates and went to the minion burrows instead of following him.  If he needed them he would summon them.  Azure sighed, tiredness biting at him.  The Overlord walked silently toward the stairs, which were obscured by the dark wings that came from the tall throne.  Kelda was behind him as he walked up to the stairs toward his chambers.

“Love?”

“Yes, Kelda?”

“Are you all right?”  She asked as he paused in the small room the housed the stairs to the individual chambers.  “It has been a very long few days.”  She reasoned at his incredulous look.

His expression softened and he turned back to her.  He reached out one hoof, gripped her dress, and pulled her close, allowing her to wrap her forelegs around him and hold tightly to him.  She nuzzled into his mane and held him tightly.  He sat down and allowed her to hold him as long as she needed to.  She had always been by his side or close by when they were young.  He would never admit it, but he had always cared for her.  Even after he had been thrown away he had heard her screaming on the ramparts.  When he returned he looked for her as he went through Nordberg.  Though if anyone had asked he would have denied it.  He let his chin fall to her shoulder and rest there, inhaling her scent.  She finally released him and stepped back to allow him to stand.  He started for the stairs to the higher chambers and heard her hooves behind him.  He paused and looked back to her, then tilted his head to her.  A little smile crossed her muzzle and she jumped up to land at his side.

“Whether you want me to or not I am sleeping with you tonight.”  She declared, her natural stubbornness showing through.

“And if I say no?”  He asked her, his voice held a hint of teasing.

“Then I will sneak in later.”  She reasoned to him, her smile widening.

Azure chuckled and shook his head.  He tipped his horn and sent her ahead of him so he could land a nip of her flank, sending her yelping ahead of him.  He summoned the minions as he moved to get his armor and get a bath ready for him.  Ahead of him, Kelda cast a mischievous glance over her shoulder as she trotted ahead and he heard a splash ahead of him.  A laugh broke from him as he followed the sound of splashing.
> 8: A Changeling Around Town...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure groaned and opened one eye.  He sat up and his back crackled as he stretched. He heard a soft groan beside him and he turned to find Kelda snuggled into the blanket and he smiled at her for a moment before he slid out of bed.  He arched his back once his hooves hit the floor and he heard several loud pops as he rotated his shoulders.  His body was sore, but he didn’t feel anything wrong with it.  He had slept deeply with Kelda huddled tightly against him. He glanced back to her and gave a quiet snort at her sleeping form.  The red stallion walked toward the other end of the room, toward his armor.  

Wrath ran over to him and pulled a rope that had a bell on the top of the shaft.  The Overlord stared at it for a moment.  As far as he knew that was a new device.  He glanced up as the sound of claws on stone raced toward him.  The minions crowded around him and his armor was put in place on his form and set in place.  He hadn’t even noticed that it was not in the usual place after having been tended to by Giblet.  His armor slid into place and when they left him he shrugged his shoulders and felt the armor shift in place.  He stretched his body and the armor slid into its proper place and he began to leave the room.  He paused and looked back to the still sleeping mare.  He shook his head and chose not to awaken her.  

The red stallion trotted down the stairs and into the throne room.  Gnarl was standing next to the map table Giblet had created the day before.  The Minion Master seemed to be trying to understand the dimensions of the structures built into the table’s surface.

“Having any issues, Gnarl?”  He asked.  The minion startled and looked back to the Overlord as he walked across the room and stopped at the side of the table.  

“No Master.  I was looking at the map you had created for your use and it seems quite detailed. That pony is proving to be quite useful.”  

“Indeed she is.  I was not sure how easily I would be able to use her but so far she is proving to be very eager to give me what I want.”  

“Well done Master.  I am amazed at your skill in using this little pony for your own means.” Azure nodded to the minion, clearly pleased at the praise.  “Oh. Speaking of that silly little pony a letter was brought for you.  It is on your throne.”

Azure nodded and went back to the throne.  He spun to sit in it as his magic held up the letter and unrolled the scroll.  


Azure:

I hope everything is going well with you.  I spoke to Princess Celestia about the Everfree and she wishes to speak with you about your claim on it.  I don’t think she wants to fight you on it, so there is no need to worry about it.  Though I will come with you as well if it is alright.  I think she wishes to ask what your plans for it are.  Feel free to drop by the castle at any time and let me know when you wish to go to Canterlot.

Yours,

Twilight


Azure was quiet as he set the letter down and leaned his head back till it bumped the back of the throne.  His eyes closed as he went over what she had written to him. He opened his eyes and looked to the Gate in the throne room and pushed himself to his hooves.  

“Gnarl.  Their Princess wishes to speak with me about the forest that I have claimed as my own.” He said as he walked slowly down the stairs to the metal flooring.  “I will speak with them but the land will remain under my control.”  The stallion reached the center of the room and waited as the advisor turned to face him.

“If there is a need Master call upon your army and we will come to you.  These little ponies cannot be permitted to go against you.”  The advisor reminded him.

“Agreed.  They will fall should they decide to stand against me.”  The stallion gave out a shrill whistle and Wrath clamored to his side and jumped to land across the Overlords' shoulders.  

The Gate crashed with lightning as he commanded it to take him to Ponyville.  His eyes opened to find himself looking at the dirt streets of the small town.  His armored hooves thudded dully down the metal steps of the Gate.  The Gauntlet bellowed and twenty minions scrambled from the Minion Gates.  Azure slowly made his way up the main road, earning him stares from several ponies.  His armor glinted in the morning sun and he carried himself with purpose. He neared the castle and was surprised when the front doors were thrown open.  Twilight raced out and slid to a halt at the sight of him.

“Azure!!  Perfect! I need your help.”  She said to him in a rush.

The mare reached out and wrapped her foreleg around his and began to drag him back the way he had come.  The Overlord found himself nearly on the ground at the mares hurried pace.  He had mastered walking on three legs, but not racing on three legs.  He staggered and they both ended up in the dust.  A loud groan escaped him as he coughed dust and tried to untangle his legs from hers.  

“What in the Netherworld is going on?”  He complained as she managed to pull away and get to her hooves.  

“I am so sorry.”  She hurriedly pulled him to his hooves and once more began to drag him. 

“Stop.  For the love…”  The Overlord growled at her continued treatment.

Azure leaned his haunches back and dug in his hind legs, forcing the Alicorn to drag his weight across the dirt.  His other foreleg dug in and she finally was brought to a halt after over fifteen feet of dragging his weight.  She panted and looked back at him.  His eyes were narrowed and his mouth set in an angry frown. She paused, blinked several times, and released his foreleg. 

“Oh…Oh…I am so sorry.”  She quickly apologized as he got his hooves under him and stood.

“Why are you dragging me around town?”

“I got a letter from the Princess, a Changeling has been spotted in Canterlot.”  She replied.

“A what?”  He asked her.

“A Changeling.  A creature that feeds on love.”  

“Feeds on…Love?  How the hell does that work?”

“They drain it from ponies.  They are left drained and powerless.”  Twilight explained.  

“Interesting. So what do you need my help for?”  

Twilight paused and breathed in to calm her nerves. “I need your help to find it.  I hope that since you and your minions are not from Equestria, then you can maybe sense them.  Or your minions can smell them out.”  

“They are not bloodhounds.”  He replied to her.

“I know that.  But maybe they can help.”  She responded.  

Azure looked at the mare, her expression hopeful. He sighed and a hoof scratched the back of his neck as he contemplated what purpose he could have for helping her with this task.  The mare would owe him a large favor if he helped.  Even more, if he was successful in the search.  “Very well.  I promise nothing, but we…”

“Thank you so much!”  The mare shouted her joy and wrapped her forelegs around his neck and squeezed.   

He tried to pull away from her but was not able to break her grip without throwing her to the ground.  She released him and turned back to the street.  

“Can we use the Gate then?”  She asked him.

Azure nodded and broke into a trot to keep up with her hurried pace, as she began to trot away from him.  His minions raced around them, keeping an easy pace with him. Azure was quiet as they reached the Gate and he stepped into the lightning and waited for her to join him. She jumped into the lightning to join him and wrapped her foreleg around his and closed her eyes.  He willed the Gate to move and focused on the Gate outside of Canterlot.  A crash of thunder sounded as they arrived.  He waited for Twilight to get her bearings before he moved and she walked down the stairs at his side.  He said nothing as he looked to the Gates and then to the mare with him.

“Now what?”  He asked her, his voice annoyed as he waited for her to speak.

“How many minions can you summon?”  She asked him.

He gave her a look and she fidgeted for a moment. “Okay, how many can you control at once?”  He gave her the same look.  “No limit?”

“Not really.  I can control as many as I need.  So the question is.  How many do you want?”

“Fifty?”  She asked. 

“Foals play.”  He replied to her, his voice cocky as he spun to the Gates.  

His gauntlet roared and the minions surged from the Gates and surrounded him and the mare at his side.  Twilight’s eyes were wide at the sight of the horde around her. 

“Oh wow.”  She muttered and looked at them.  Her ears pinned at the cacophony they raised.  

Azure stomped a hoof and the minions went silent at his command.  “All right, so what are we searching for?”

Her horn lit and a book hovered in front of her and she flipped through it till she found what she wanted.  She spun the book to face him and he stared at the bug-like creature on the pages.  “Ugly little sod, isn’t it?”  He commented, earning him a giggle from the mare.  He focused and the image went out the minions at his sides.  He commanded them and they began to branch out around him, widening the circle around them.  Azure began to walk forward the minions branching out and searching the structures and roads, alleys were torn apart as they hunted.  

“Wow.”  Twilight stayed close to him as he moved.  

“You wanted them to hunt.”  He replied as he commanded his troops.

“So these are the minions that went into battle with you as well?”

“Of course.  The armor they wear is battle tested.”  Azure responded.  “While I am not certain they will find the creature you are after they might find traces of it to track.”

“That’s good enough for me.  I want to find it and drive it out if we can.  They’re not welcome here.”  She replied.

“Oh?  What crime did they commit?”

“They took over Canterlot and tried to drain the love from every stallion, mare, and foal.  They also imprisoned Cadance and their queen enslaved my brother.  On their wedding day.”

Azure paused and looked at the mare.  “Truly?”

“Yes.”  She replied.

Azure could not stop the laugh that broke free of him. He stopped laughing and returned to the mare’s side, earning him an annoyed look at his laughter.  “The timing I have to admit is quite amusing.”  

“I’m glad you’re entertained.”  She replied, snidely.  

“Oh come now.  Even you must see the humor in it.  Even if only after the fact.”  He jabbed at her.

A smile played at the edges of her mouth and she finally giggled.  “It’s funny after.  It was horrible at the time.”

"I’m sure it was.  I’ll ask for the detailed story later.”  He replied and issued further commands to the minions.  ‘If only to write it down to further amuse me later.’  

Twilight glowered at him for a moment but kept moving. Azure was silent as the minions began calling out and surging down a side street.  The stallion lost his humorous laughter and followed the calls of the minions. 

“Azure?”

“Silence.”  He hissed back to her.  

He did not see Twilight lower her head at the hiss that came from him.  The mare stayed close to him.  Blue minions surged ahead of him and he watched as they began to lead the way. They charged into an open area and began to cover ground quickly.  Azure broke into a gallop to stay close to them.  Twilight yelped and caught up to him quickly.  Azure watched the minion’s behavior and was able to locate the cause of their fury.  They surrounded a large group of ponies, the other minions backing them up and staying close to protect the more fragile type.  Azure looked to the group and his eyes narrowed.  

“Azure?”  Twilight panted at his side, her voice low and quiet.

The Overlord stepped forward and focused on a foal at the back of the group.  The foal was hidden behind the legs of the adults.  Azure’s eyes opened wider as the foals form shimmered in his vision.  Its form was not solid and undulated as if in the heat.  He raised his head and looked around, checking the area before he acted.  He was not in his own realm where his actions could not be argued against.  The stallion watched as the ponies close to the creature began to question him and the minions still screaming around them.  

“Move.”  He snarled and approached them.  

“I never.  Now, listen here you.”  A well-dressed pink mare began to speak.

“MOVE!”  Azure roared at her and the minions raced ahead to follow his unspoken command.

They pushed the society ponies aside and surrounded the foal.  

“Azure! Are you sure?”  Twilight called to him.

Azure’s red aura began to cover the foal, but it shifted forms and slipped past him.  The Overlord sent his commands to the blue minions and the others around him. He split them into groups and their purpose was to find the creature and bring it back to him.  

“You had it!?”  Twilight yelled at his side, anger in her voice as she watched as the groups split and thundered away from him.  “Where are they going?”

“They are doing as I command.  They will hunt it down and bring it back here.  In the meantime, you and I will hunt it as well.” 

“You can see through it?”

“Yes.  Though not at a great distance.”  He admitted. “If I can get within ten to twenty feet maybe.”

“I’ll make sure you can,”  Twilight replied, determination set her voice and he nodded to her.  

“Keep up.”  He said to her and took off at a gallop, following his own course through the streets. 

He glanced back and Twilight was at his hip, keeping as close to him as she dared.  He had to admit she had spunk.  He careened down an alley and paused before racing around the corner. In his mind, the minions raced a bit ahead of him and he trailed each group at his own speed.  He had found that he was a naturally fast runner after testing it in the arena in the Netherworld.  A speed that he used to his advantage now.  Time ticked by and soon Twilight panted at his side.  

“Azure.  Slow up a bit.”  She called to him.  

He paused at a junction and waited for her to regain her strength.  He waited as she leaned against his hip and panted.  

“I haven’t seen a pony run so fast for so long. Are you some kind of marathon runner?” She panted to him.

“No.  I am nothing of the sort.  I just keep up this pace and I do not tire quickly.  If you want to keep up with the minions at a charge then one must be just as fast as they are.”  He replied.

“I can’t keep up with you for this long. But, I need to be at your side.”  

“Why?”

“If you scare the hell out of every pony, then they will get in the way, thinking they need to stop you.”  She chided him, anger in her voice.

He growled and looked back to her.  “You have a point.  That could prove annoying.”  His mind raced as he felt the minions drawing away from him.  “Damn it to the Dark.”  He cursed and looked back to her.  His magic covered her and he dropped her on his back.  “Hold on.”  He barked to her and took off once more once she felt her hooves grip his mane.

“Yikes!”  Twilight shrieked as she frantically gripped his mane.  





Twilight had not been ready for him to use his magic to toss her onto his back and then run at full speed once more.  She looked to the side and in front of him and saw a curved road.  “Oh no.” She whispered and oriented her body to sit across his back.  She clenched her hind legs tightly around him and put one hoof against his neck, to help her balance.  Her other hoof held tightly to his mane as he tore around the corner and lunged out of the last corner.  She gulped at the sight of a set of stairs.  

“No!  Go around them!”  She yelled at him.

The stallion snorted and ignored her words. She held even tighter to him as he gathered his muscles and jumped.  He cleared the first set of stairs and Twilight held on for the next set.  She knew that he was not going to stop for each set. His intent was to jump and clear them in one leap.  She gripped his armor and mane in her forehooves and held tight.  Azure leaped down each set and landed for the last one. His hooves hit the ground and his hooves slid, due to his hoof boots, and he turned to avoid slamming into the wall face first.  He bounced into it with his left side and then gathered himself to keep going.  Twilight had managed to get her leg out of the way and then put it back to hold onto him.  She looked ahead and incoherent yells escaped her.  She tried pulling on his mane, to no avail.  The jump ahead of them was wider than the stairs had been.

“NO! Azure?!”  She screamed at him and ducked down to hide her face in his mane.





The Overlord galloped at the jump.  He could hear Twilight yelling at him and he cast a glance back to find her hiding in his long mane.  He dug in and gathered himself to jump once more.  He knew the jump was wider than before but he refused to go around. This was faster.  His hind legs gathered and he leaped for the other side of the canal.  He could see the clear water under him as he lengthened his body to reach the other side. His fore hooves landed and his hind caught on the lip of the canal.  He plunged ahead and was able to avoid landing in the canal water.  He looked back and couldn’t help but prance a bit at the jump.  He looked back as Twilight opened one eye to look at him.  

She looked back to the gap and then to him. “You’re insane.”  She said to him, her voice flat.

“HA HA!”  He laughed and took off once more.  The mare yelped but held on.  

Azure focused on one group of minions that seemed to be moving faster than the others.  He focused on them and followed them.  His stride lengthened as he called on his body for more speed.  He flowed across the ground and on his back Twilight yelped as his speed increased.  





Twilight gasped as the buildings blurred as the Overlord galloped across the cobblestoned roads.  She raised her head a bit and looked ahead of them.  She had no idea of where exactly they were.  He was moving too fast to make it easy for her to gather her bearings.  As she sat on his back she could feel the wind raced past her and she felt a smile crossing her muzzle.  She leaned over his neck and a laugh broke from her.  She looked up and he had cast a glance back to her and she cheered him on from her place.  

“We have minions to catch!”  She shouted to him, her muzzle sporting a wide grin.

He snorted to her and she could feel him digging in to move faster.  ‘I never knew any pony could run this fast.’ She thought to herself as he slid around another corner and surged down another alleyway.  ‘I really hope no pony is in front of us.’  She had time to think before she looked up and saw the main market.  

“Oh no!”  She pulled back on his mane and for once he seemed to agree with her and start to try to slow down.  

“Shit!”  He shouted and leaned his body back, trying to slide to a stop.  “Jump off!”  He shouted at her.

She looked up and a large group of ponies had frozen at the sight of them.  She leaned down and wrapped her forelegs around his neck.  “Close your eyes!”  She yelled at him and focused her magic.  She saw his eyes as they closed and they vanished in a flash of her magenta aura.  





Azure heard her instructions and followed them. He felt her magic wash over him and then the ground rushed up at them and he rolled to lessen the impact to both of them.  His body hit the ground and he rolled over the thick grass.  

“Oof….”  Azure felt his body colliding with a few rocks as he finally stopped and laid stunned for a moment before he threw himself to his hooves.  His tail flicked as he groaned in pain.  He looked up and found Twilight in much the same shape as he was.  

The mare looked up and then sat down.  “You okay?”  She asked.

“I’ll live.”  He replied.  

He sat down and rubbed his back where he had landed first, thankfully her spell had dropped them off on grass, but he knew he would have bruises to match a few rock outlines later.  

“You’re not hurt?  Beyond bruises?”  She asked as she got to her hooves and gingerly walked over to him.

“Yeah.  Nothing more than a few bruises.  You?”

“Same.”    

“Good to know.”

“Where are the minions?”  She asked as she sat down beside him with a groan.

He looked up and focused on the minions he had been chasing.  “We are actually a little ahead of them.  Which is a nice state, but I could have done without the bruising entrance.”  

“Well.  Least we didn’t run into a bunch of carts.  That was the main outside market.”

He looked to her for a moment.  “Hells.”  

“Yep.  Okay, so let’s start looking around here and catch up to the minions.”  She said and got to her hooves again.  “Just slowly…owie.”  She replied and reached out to him.

He allowed her to pull him to his hooves and he fought the groan that caught in his throat.  He followed her and began to look around him.  “Where in the Hells are we?”  

“The Royal Canterlot Gardens.  I figured landing here would be gentler than stone.”  She replied.  “Much better than wagons and stone that would have happened before my teleport.”  

“I was not complaining about the destination just the unknown location.”  He replied. 

“Okay start looking around.  Between you and the minions, we should be able to find it first.”  She said to him.

Azure grunted a reply and moved ahead of her. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary and the minion came rushing into the area and began to mill about him. Their focus suddenly lost.  The red stallion began to pace and search as he moved.  He paused and stopped as he looked at the actions of the minions around him.  They were milling about but the blue minions, who were more magically inclined were watching above them.  He chanced a look up and the tree shuddered in his vision.  

“Twilight, can they change into anything?”  He asked her.

“I think so.  I’m not too sure though.  Why?”

“Like a tree?”  

“Tree?”  She looked thoughtful at his question.  “I really have no idea.”  

Azure spun and his hind legs kicked out and dented in the tree they were under.  Twilight gasped as the tree let out a scream of pain and faded.  The changeling rolled into the rear wall and Azure chased it and the minions raced to it and massed on the creature to immobilize it.  They held onto it and the Overlord walked gingerly to it and looked down at the gasping creature.  He had heard bones break when his hooves hit it.  As he listened to it he grimaced.  

“If you want answers from it I suggest you act quickly.”

“Why?”

“I may have kicked it a bit harder than intended.” He admitted and backed up to let her approach it.

”I was afraid of that.”  She admitted and trotted up to the creature.  “Why are you here?”

The changeling looked up to her and sneered. “I won’t tell you anything.”  It snarled.  “You ponies are too soft.  You won’t hurt me.”  

Twilight grumbled about the chances of it talking, a hoof landed on her shoulder and pushed her back.  Azure stepped up to the creature and lowered his head to speak to it.

“She is.  But I…Am not so kind.”  The creature looked at him, its eyes began to widen at the blazing red of the Overlords stare.  “If you wish to die painlessly then speak.  If not. I will kill you so slowly as to go down in infamy.”  He threatened.  

“You can’t do that.  You’re precious Princess…”  It stopped when the red stallion laughed.    

“Do I look like one of her ponies?”  He asked as the creature finally began to look at him. “I am an Overlord.  I answer to no pony but myself.  I will take the information from you. Or you can tell her.”  He admitted with a toss of his head to the Alicorn mare. “Otherwise I will make…You…Scream for death.”  He said and inched toward the now trembling creature.

The Changeling looked to Twilight but she made no move to stop the stallion.  It began to tremble.  “You can’t.” It said again.

Azure’s lips parted to show teeth, a smile that chilled the creature to the marrow of his bones.  Twilight closed her eyes and Azure looked to the armored Wrath. “Wrath.  Go to the Netherworld and get my sword.  I thought I was having a meeting today so I did not bring it.  Go get it.”  He said and the minion raced off.

“Why do you need that?”  It whimpered.

“Beating you with my hooves is very, unsightly and frankly, it’s beneath me.  Eviscerating you with a blade is more…satisfying.”  He explained.  “I will have you squeal like a butchered hog by the end of it.”  He promised and laid his head against the trembling creatures head, by its ears.  “You will talk little one.  Or you will suffer.  It matters not to me what order that comes in.  The Princesses and your Queen cannot save you now.  You…Are…Mine!”  He snarled and the creature began to writhe and cry out.  

It screamed and Azure pulled back to avoid being struck by its flailing hooves.  “She is coming.  She wants you!”  He screamed as the stallion listened.  

“Who?”  Twilight asked as she drew up next to the red stallion.

“Him!”  It shrieked.

“Me?  Why in the Netherworld would she want me?”

“You are more powerful than her.  She wants you to join her.”  It cried out.

Azure looked to the Princess next to him. “Does she look like him?”

“She is Celestia’s height, same legs, bug wings, and a horn.”  She supplied.

Azure’s mouth twisted at the description. “Sounds vile.  She is wasting her time then, and more importantly, she’ll be wasting mine.”  Azure's tone was disgusted.  He had three mistresses already, all of them appealing.  The description of their Queen left him wanting to gag.  ' I have standards for my mistresses and bug wings hold no appeal.'

“She will still come for you.  She wants your power.  She said she could sense the hate and rage inside you from our hive.  She will have you unless you give her what she wants.”

“And what is that?”

“Your army.”

“Hah!”  

“And your heart.”

“My heart?”  Azure laughed.  “I banished that myself.  She will gain nothing from me.  You feed on love, creature.  I do not have that to be taken.”  

“She will tear your heart out and then she will have the power you contain.”

“What!?”  Twilight yelled and advanced on the creature, her fury on display.  “She wants to hurt him?”

Azure opened his mouth to speak but paused at the vehemence of the mare.

“She will not lay a hoof on him.  He is a friend to Equestria.  More importantly, he is my friend!  She will not get near him.  How does she plan on accomplishing this?”

The creature began to wheeze and ichor began to drip from its mouth.  Twilight sat back on her haunches and looked to him over her shoulder.  Azure commanded two of his blue minions to heal the creature partially.  Just enough to keep it alive.  They advanced on the creature and its worst wounds were healed.  Its head spun to the infuriated Princess, understanding dawning in its eyes.  She wished it to live so she could question it further.  Azure pulled the minions back and waited as Twilight went back to her questioning.  

“How does she plan to come after him?”

“She is searching for your base.  She can’t seem to find it.  But the power it holds can only be used by you, it's ruler.  If she cannot have you, then she will take that power from within you.”  It rushed out as it tried to gather its strength.  

Azure looked back as Wrath reached him, carrying the long blade that Azure had taken his name from.  He slowly took it and kept his body angled to hide the weapon. Wrath jumped to his back and held tightly to the scuffed and dirty armor.  Twilight leaned back and looked at the red pony with her.  

“How close is she to finding him?”  She asked, turning back to their captive

“She is close, she believes.  She is going to the places where he has been seen.  She does not know that he can see us, or that his monsters can see us.  She will succeed.  His strength will be hers and the changelings will overtake Equestria before…”  

Shunk!

The weapon cut through the creature’s throat and its head fell behind it, dead in a moment.  Twilight looked back to Azure and he shook his head at her.  

“Why did you do that?”  She shrieked at him, as he wiped the blade clean.  "What if we needed it alive?"

“We know what the Queen is after and how she plans to do it.  Anything more was poison.  Simple words to try to create fear in your heart.  Replacing your rage with fear.”  He replied to her and slid the weapon into its sheath and then into its place on his armor. 

Twilight looked back to it and backed up from the headless creature.  “Still.  I would have preferred to keep it alive.  What if the princess had more to say to it?"

“You would not have gotten anything more from it. Well, nothing useful anyway.”

“How do you know?”

He looked back to her and gave her a bored look. “I have questioned my fair share of ponies, Princess.  You have seen that for yourself.  Do you think he had more to give?”

Twilight looked to the body and then back to him. “I suppose not.  But I wonder what he was going to say.”

“How do you mean?”  Though he had a good idea what was going to be said he had prevented it from happening.  

“She would take Equestria before…Before what?”

“If I had to hazard a guess?”  She nodded at him.  “Perhaps before you could stop her?”

“That would make sense actually.  She has said things similar.”  She admitted and smiled at the red stallion.  “Can they carry the body?”

“Why?”

“We need to take it inside for the Princesses.” 

“Oh?”  He shrugged, managed not to cringe in pain and commanded the minions to pick it up. One picked up the head and followed behind Azure and Twilight.  

“Yeah, just to confirm.”  

“Very well.  They will follow us.  Should I send the others back?”

“No.  Just in case, let’s keep them close.  In case there are more.  More minions mean more eyes to keep watch.”  She replied.

Azure gave a little shrug and the minions surrounded them.  His mind worked over what they had learned.  ‘She can sense me then?  This could prove troublesome.  I should get back to Gnarl and go over this with him. Her idea to eat my heart is an interesting one, though most likely useless.’  His mind went over possibilities as he moved with the mare leading him.

“Azure?”

"Hmm?”  He focused on the mare as she spoke to him.

“What did you mean when you spoke to it?” 

“About what?”  He replied.  “You shall need to be more specific.”

“About banishing your heart.”

“Oh, that.”  He responded to her.  She gave him a withering glare over her shoulder and he shrugged.

“I was speaking with a creature that drains the love from ponies.  What better way to make it speak than to deny that I have love in my life?”  He replied to her, his tone light.

She chuckled.  “Good point.  You definitely understand interrogation tactics far better than I do.”

“I am simply not as nice as you are.”  He replied.  “Niceties have no place in an interrogation where you have less time.” 

"Maybe your right.” 

“I know I am.”  He responded to her and she chuckled as she led him to the throne room once more.  “Been a while since the last time we two came here.  Many different reasons though.”

“Very true.  Last time I was not asking my minions to cart around a headless changeling.” He replied.

“Heh.”  She giggled and nodded back to him.  “That’s true.”

She led him to the throne room and the doors opened to let them walk in.  Azure watched as one guard turned to speak to him and his eyes widened ant the sea of minions following them.  His eyes fell on the headless body and he blanched.  The sight of the minion following carrying just the head made him back away in disgust.   Azure scoffed at the guard’s reaction and walked purposefully into the brightly lit room.  Ahead of him Celestia stood up and smiled, greeting her fellow Princess.  

“Twilight!”  She cried out in greeting to the young mare.  

“Princess Celestia.”  She responded and a wide smile crossed her features.  “And of course Overlord Azure Flame.  Welcome to Canterlot once more.”  She bowed her head to him.

“It has been a while since I was in the city, Celestia. I thank you for the greeting.”

“I have to admit I am surprised to see you.  I had the impression Twilight was going to be busy today.”

“She was,”  Azure responded and Twilight hunkered down a bit at his words.  

“Oh?  Did something change?”  The Sun Princess asked.

“She dragged me here to help her hunt a creature called a changeling.”  He replied.

Twilight covered her face with her hooves.  The Princess smiled as she sat down on her throne and looked to the red stallion.  “And?”

“We did find it.”  

“You did?  Well done.  I thank you both for what you have done.  Where is it?” She asked him.

Azure looked back and the minion brought the creature up to her throne and laid it down.  Azure looked back and the minion with the head was still behind him. Wrath leaped from Azure’s armor and took the appendage from the other minion and raced it to the throne to join the body.  Celestia stared at the head as it was dropped and the armored minion ran back to join his master. 

“Oh my.”  She said.  Her voice was subdued and quiet.  

“We did find out what it wanted though.  It was going to start spouting lies and trying to frighten ponies so Azure put it down.”  Twilight said to her, trying to look encouraging to her fellow ruler.

“Put it down?”  She replied.

“Yep,”  Twilight responded, brightly.  

“Azure?” 

“She is correct.  I have done more than my share of interrogations and it was going to start trying to buy time for it to recover some of its strength for an escape. It would do that by speaking of his Queen's intention, which we already knew, and by trying to frighten those around it.”  He responded. 

“Alright.  So what was the intention?”  Celestia asked them.

“Queen Chrysalis is actually after him,”  Twilight replied.  

Celestia paused and looked to the Overlord behind Twilight, who shrugged absently.  “You do not seem too concerned.”

“Should I be?”  He replied.  “Ponies hating me is not new to me.  Others seek to use me for their ends.  It happens. It is the curse of those who have power and those who do not.  Those who do not seek to use or steal from those who do.  It is how it has always been.  One more want to use me is not something I will lose sleep over.”  He responded to her.  

Both Princesses turned to look at him as he spoke. Twilight looked apologetic as he went silent.  Celestia looked to him and nodded in understanding.  

“Still.  Finding out that an enemy is targeting you would make most ponies a bit more concerned.” She admitted to him and spoke quietly. 

“Perhaps.  But I am not bothered by it.  If she can find where I live and then get to it, I will give her what she wants as a reward.”  He replied with a laugh of his own.  

Twilight shook her head and looked back to him.  “I don’t think his home is reachable unless she can get a Gate to work for her.”  

“Is that possible?”  Celestia asked, concern in her tone.

“Unlikely.  But I will be asking around as well.”  Azure replied.  “I was told that you wished to speak with me about the Everfree?”  He said to her, changing the subject.

“Already bored with the subject of her wanting to hurt you?”  Twilight asked.

“It’s not that I am bored by it.  It is simply not something that I am highly concerned with.” He said to her.

“Very well.”  Celestia had the body removed and waited as it was taken out of the room.  “So you have laid claim to the Everfree?”

“Yes.”  He replied.

“Are you aware that of its status?”

“Which is?”

“That it is not able to be controlled by any pony.”

“I am well aware of it.  It acts in a way that I am used to.  Where I am from there is no way to control the animals, weather, etc.”

"I see.  You are aware that it goes down the center of Equestria and into the desert?”

“I am well aware.  Twilight provided me with a map of the area.  But anywhere that my subjects are is going to be in my control.” 

“I had heard that.  Are your subjects wanting to be under the rule of Equestria or remain…?” 

Azure had lowered his body slightly and the minions with him had gathered around and their weapons made ready.  “They belong to me and they will remain mine.  Any action to try to take what is mine will be met with responding power of my own.”  He growled to the white Alicorn.  “Do not test me.”

“I see.  I did not mean to come across like I would be acting against you.  Please accept my apologies for how that came across. I simply meant that they are welcome to come to Equestria as friends.”    

Azure kept the minions ready but allowed himself to leave his stance.  “We shall see.”  He replied.

“I’m sure you can understand my hesitance about the location.  Again, it runs the length of Equestria and divides it as well.”

“I can see your reasoning, but I am not going to allow my ponies to be taken by any other.  They are mine to command and protect.  Any action against them is going to meet with a response of my own.  Whether that response is favorable or not depends on your actions, Celestia.  I have no inclination to allow myself to become one of your subjects.  And my subjects will remain the way they are.  If you wish to enforce your rule then we have nothing more to discuss and I will meet you on the battlefield.  Otherwise, it is your move.”  

The red stallion spun on his heel and made for the doors.  They slammed shut and the stallion looked back to Celestia, who was standing.  Twilight was looking to him, her expression uncertain as the stallion turned to look at the Sun Princess.  

“I have no desire to bring a war to Equestria, Overlord. My concern is for the safety of my subjects.  As is yours. Your ponies are in no danger from myself or my sister.  Please. Come back and we can continue to discuss this matter.”  

“Very well.”  Azure turned and walked slowly back to the mares.

“Is it possible to create a road that will allow supplies and other goods to cross through the Everfree?  Since we will be losing some of the routes that we would be used normally.” Celestia sat down and brought up a point to the stallion.

“I think that can be arranged.  I will speak with my builders and we will see what would make the most logistical sense.”  He replied to her.

“I am glad that we can discuss this calmly.  Thank you again.”  Celestia said to him, a smile on her muzzle.

“I am glad to see that you understand my point as well,”  Azure responded to her and took the weight off one hind leg.  

“I am glad.  I will create a list of concerns and then I will send them to Twilight or would you prefer that I ask the minions you stationed outside of the Gate to respond to you?”

“Either is fine.  It depends on your preference.  Either way will get the message to me.”  

“Perhaps I will send it to Twilight.  That way you and she can look through it.  I trust that after tracking down that Changeling you are both a bit on the tired side.  I do greatly appreciate your aid, Overlord.  How did you find it?”

“His minions can sense them and if he gets close enough he can see through their appearance.”  Twilight supplied and Azure nodded at the accuracy of her statements.

“That is a skill to be proud of indeed.  We are lucky to have your help.  Thank you once again.”  Celestia said to him as he turned to leave, Twilight on his heels.  

Azure pushed open the doors with his red aura and walked easily out of the palace and down the path toward the Gate.  

“Are you okay?”  Twilight asked him.

“I’m fine.  Why do you ask?”

“Well, you seemed upset in there.  I’m sure the Princess didn’t mean it to sound like your ponies should come here instead.”  Twilight replied to him.

“I’m sure.  But the implication was there.  An implication that I will not tolerate.”  He told her, his voice hard and confident.

“I know.  But I know it was an accident.”

“I’m sure.”  He said back to her, lapsing into silence as they approached the Gate.  “Are you coming back with me or remaining here?”

“I‘m coming with you this time.  I was only here to find the changeling.”  

Azure nodded and stepped on the Gates stairs and into the lightning.  She stood beside him and he willed the Gate to move them.  A crash of lightning signaled their return to Ponyville.  Azure waited as Twilight stepped off the stairs and onto the dirt roads.  

“Thank you for all your help, Azure.  I really appreciate it.”  Twilight said back to him.

“It was no trouble.  Though I do ask that the next time you ask for my aid it’s less…Bruising.”  He said to her, as he stretched his back.

She laughed and nodded.  “I will try to make sure it’s less of an adventure.  But to be honest it was kind of fun.”  

“In a way.”  

“I have never seen anypony run that fast.  You might even be faster than Rainbow on the ground.” She laughed as she spoke to him.  “Anyway.  Get some rest, Azure.”

He turned to leave and began to command the Gate when a sound caught his attention.  

Twilight had held out a hoof to him and looked as though she had more to say.  “Yes?”

“I just want you to know that…If Chrysalis did come after you, then I’d help you.  I wouldn’t let her hurt you.”  She said to him, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“I’m not that worried about it.”  He responded,

“I know.  It’s not like you to be concerned about something like that.  But I just wanted you to know that I have your back.  I promise.”  She said to him, a smile on her muzzle.

He nodded at her.  “I understand.  If it comes to that I will let you know.”  

She nodded and waved as he vanished into the Gates magic.  Azure left the center of the throne room that held the Gate and groaned at the bruises along his body.  “Gods below.” He cursed as he moved toward his room. “Gnarl!”  He shouted.  

“Master?”  The minion came up to him from the throne.  “Are you well?”

“I’ll live.  Tell the minions to make sure my bath water is as hot as they will allow it. I have a few bruises I need to soak in hot water.  I’ll explain everything when I’m done.  Is it possible for anyone to use the gate that is not me?”

“No, Sire.  Of course not.  That would be counterproductive.”

“Even if somepony looked like me?  Transformed to look like me?”

“No.  The Gates are attuned to your magic only.  It is not possible.”

“Just in case have Grubby and the others shore up the Gates we have control of and make it possible for me to use them only. I will explain everything in due time.”

“As you wish, Master.  It will be done and I will send the minions up ahead of you.”

Azure grumbled up the stairs his bruises reminding him where they were and how deep some were.  “Damnit.”  He cursed and walked gingerly up the stairs.  “Have to admit is better than running into wagons but Gods, it’s just as punishing.” He complained as he mounted the stairs and walked up to them, slowly.
> 9: The Hive...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure looked to the Tower Heart and leaned his flank against one of the walls that surrounded it.  He reached out and laid a hoof on the Hearts smooth surface and focused on what he wanted to see.  An image of a barren land came to his sight as he focused on the image of the Changeling from the day before.  The bruises still remained but he refused to allow them to slow his plans.  Sharp stones jutted from the ground and a barren land stretched as he began to move his hoof over the crystal and it began to pan around the surroundings.  A structure suddenly dominated his vision and he pushed the image away and allowed himself to look at it from a short distance, allowing him to see it completely. 

To an observer, it appeared to simply be a large collection of sharp rocks, but to Azure, it appeared more like a castle in a way. As he watched it he could see more of the Changelings flying around the structure and moving in and out of the large holes in its sides.  

“Looks like an ant hill.  Only much taller, with less purpose, and no chance of withstanding an assault from me.”  He said aloud, Wrath sitting on the ground a foot away, nodding fervently as the Overlord chuckled.  

The minion sat close by but did not get under the hoof of the Overlord.  Azure pushed the image in and tried to look into the structure and see what more he could find out about the inner workings.  The image clouded for a moment and he sharpened his focus and began to look for a creature that Twilight had described, the Hives Queen.  He was regretting not asking her name but ultimately decided it did not matter.  The image cleared and he was greeted with an image of holes within holes and narrow paths that threaded through the core of the structure.  His hoof moved to the right and he could see that the inner workings of the Hive were much the same as any other bug hill.  Which mean that it had only one queen.  

“Where are you?”  He whispered aloud while he moved his hoof once more, guiding the Heart’s sight down a corridor that looked well used.  

Time ticked past he went down the many passageways. A groan of frustration escaped him as he finally caught a glimpse of something that stood out to him.  He turned his attention to the image and the Heart responded and the image was brought into clear focus.  A throne-like seat rose from the ground.  As he stared at it he could see how it would be thought of like a throne for their Queen.  While he wrinkled his nose at the sight of it stood a good ten or more feet off of the ground.  Spines rose from its back and holes littered the throne until it reached the seat itself. Azure shook his head and began to look away from the throne as a group of Changelings buzzed into the room.  He waited as they looked back and he watched as their Queen came into focus.  

“Twilights description is pretty much accurate.”  He said aloud and watched as she came into clearer focus.  

Her height was indeed closest to Celestia and her general build was similar, but that was where the similarities ended. Her legs had holes starting along with her hocks and she appeared to be mostly legs with a slim almost emaciated form that they supported.  Her green eyes shone out of her face, her mane and tail were the same strange cobweb-like material.  A layer of chitin covered her back and her wings were fly like, complete with holes. Azure grimaced at the sight of her and couldn’t stop a gag that fought up from his throat.  Her horn was just as tall as Celestia’s, while its design had it straight up but it had chunks missing from it.  She had the visual look of an Alicorn but he was certain that she was not one of their kind.  Azure pulled the image back as she jumped to the throne and sat on it.  He sat back and kept the image trained on the throne. 

“All right.  Now I know where she is, but how do I…what the hell is that thing doing now?”

He leaned back forward as a changeling came to stand in front of her and his form erupted in green flames and Azure balked at the form it had taken.  He was now staring at himself without his armor.  He focused the image and then he cringed and looked back at his own body. 

“Do I look that small?”  He asked aloud and looked back at the image.  “By the Dark.”

The image made him look thin and gaunt. Apparently, the Queen agreed with him as she seemed to be yelling at the changeling before her.  Flames went over him again and now Azure found himself looking at a nearly exact copy of himself.  His skin trembled but he refused to look away.  

“I need to know what they are saying.  There must be away…Hmm…”  He looked away from the image and put a hoof to his chin as he considered.  “Sending a minion in there is useless, unless…Unless there is a Netherworld Shard close by.”  The stallion looked over to his attendant minion and clicked his tongue at him, calling him to his side.  The minion raced to him and sat in silence as it waited for him to speak.  “Go get Gnarl and bring him to me.”

The minion saluted and took off at a hard run, jumping into the minion gate and vanishing from sight.  Azure was quiet as he waited for the Advisor to join him. The Changelings did not seem to be doing anything other than conversing between them.  Several minutes passed and he was beginning to grow annoyed when the Minion Master arrived and waddled quickly to his side.

“You called, Master?”  He spoke as he bowed low to the Overlord.

“Look to the Heart.”  He commanded.

“Master!”  

“Yes.  That is a Changeling.  The tall one is their Queen.  I told you what we learned yesterday did I not?”

“You did, Master.”  The Advisor replied.  “So that is the Queen the creature spoke of?”

“Yes.  Ugly being isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”  

Hunter chuckled as Gnarl wrinkled his already wrinkled face up at the image.  “So they have taken your form?”

“Yes.  Which means that they have seen me before.  But they also did not get close enough for me to see them or for the blues to catch a whiff of them.”  He replied. “If the little one we caught in Canterlot is right then the Queen is after what I have.  She wants my army and the power that comes with it.  This is why I made sure the Gates defenses have been seen to and kept safe.  Nothing aside from me can through them at any time.  Is there a way to ensure that?  I want the gates to not even work for a normal minion.  If you choose to come to the surface then that can work, but otherwise no other can use them.”

“That can be done, My Lord,”  Gnarl assured him with a nod.  “Anything more?”

“Yes.  I can see into the Changeling Hive but I cannot hear anything.  What would it take to see if a Netherworld Shard is close by? I want to hear her and ensure that I can trounce her if I need to.  I need to know the secrets of that Hive and I want them…Now.”  Azure said to the minion.

Gnarl nodded, an evil smile crossing his features. “That can be arranged.  We can cut a piece of the Netherworld and Grubby can ensure it makes it to the surface.  We can send him and the other diggers ahead and find a place that we can guard and protect while you take a group into the Hive itself.  I assume you will be taking the greens?”

“You assume correctly.  They need to be bathed and ensure that my best will be going with me.  I want the ones that I used in the Empire.” He replied.

“Understood Master.  They will be made ready.  I will ensure Grubby gets to work on finding a suitable location immediately.  When do you wish to do this?”

“Now.”  He replied. 

Gnarl looked uncertain for a moment but then breathed and nodded.  “Understood Great Master.  I will send Wrath to you when I am certain we have everything ready for your Dark Majesty.” 

“Good.  I look forward to it Gnarl.  When I go out I want you watching this thing and ensure that that bug is still there.” He said as the Minion Master waddled back to the hovering stone disks and walked onto them, an assured nod and a deep bow later and he was gone once more.  

Azure remained at the Heart and sat back as the Changelings around their Queen began to try to transform into a better version of him.  While it was disturbing to see more than one of him he had to keep an eye on things as time slipped past him.  He leaned back and slowly sat down beside the Heart, leaning against the wall.  He looked up as Wrath rejoined him and stood in front of the red stallion.

“Master!”  The stallion looked to the minion as went on.  “Ready!”  

The minion shouted his reply and Azure pushed himself to his hooves and the minion leaped for his back and sat lightly in place. The Overlord was quiet as he left the Heart and a glance over his shoulder had the image vanishing at his departure.  ‘I should be able to tell it to show Gnarl where I am.  Otherwise, he will be troublesome about me being out of communication or able to easily find me.  I have to admit I hope Giblets experiments on my helm will allow him to speak to me through it like he used to.  Otherwise, he may buck me trying to leave for so far away.’  Azure was quiet as he stepped onto the platform and commanded it to return to the throne room.  As the platform moved he looked over the walls of the Netherworld and he watched as the lava that flowed within flowed freely over the walls.  The red stallion was quiet as the platform reached its destination and he jumped off of it once it had stopped moving.  

“Gnarl!”  He shouted as he reached the entrance to the throne room.

“Yes, Master?”  

Gnarl was looking at the map table and Azure joined him. “Any idea where that place is?”

“No, Master.  But the Tower Heart will be able to tell us the exact location.”

Azure nodded and closed his eyes as he reached out to the Tower Heart and it responded to his call.  He called upon the location of the Changeling Hive and he felt the Heart pulling in a direction and he opened his eyes as he scanned the map table.  His eyes widened as the map lit up and a far section of it began to warp into the basic shape of the barren land of the Changelings.  

“There it is.”  He said to the Minion Master.

“Well done Master.  Your use of the Tower Heart is truly exceptional.”  The Advisor praised.  

“Thank you.  Now to start to move.  Is the Netherworld Shard ready?”

“Yes.  It is being brought to you to ensure that it will act as the other ones once did.” The minion replied to him.

“Understood.  The last thing we need is for it not to work.  Grubby will need to engineer a Gate there as well.  Depending on the size of the hiding place he finds will determine if the Gate is the standard size or the one I created.”  Azure responded to him.  “How are the experiments with my helm coming along?”

“Very well Master.  We are sure the newest one will be able to allow us to speak back and forth. The only question is its range.”

“And I will not be wearing it when I control the minion within the Hive.”  The Overlord pointed out.  

Gnarl gave a visible grimace and nodded. “That’s true.  We will do further testing to try to find a way for it to work again.”

“Well, we have control of the Tower Heart.  Is it possible that I can use it to speak to you, as you did with my Father?”

Gnarl was quiet as he thought it over.  “If you can command it to then I would hope that it can do as you ask of it.  I suppose we can test it as well while you are out.”

“Agreed.  Do you need to have the Heart here to talk to me or can it stay where it is?”

“I think we should try it out up here, Lord.” 

“Very well.”

Gnarl opened his mouth to speak when the Overlords horn lit up.  His magic connected to the Tower Heart and the globe appeared above them, hovering over the map table.  The Minion Master was quiet as he stared at the Heart and then to the Overlord himself. 

“Well done Master.”  He praised, his voice a pitch higher.  

Azure looked to the minion.  “Thank you.  I was not wholly certain I could bring it here and have it stay in place, but it seems to work out just fine.”

Gnarl nodded fervently as he then began to issue commands to the minions around them.  The Greens that he would be taking with him was a bit surly due to their baths but they behaved as they were commanded.  Azure has decided to only take twenty of them.  Any more than that and they risked being seen.  Azure waited as Gnarl looked back and motioned for him to look to the throne as the Netherworld shard was laid before him. His horn lit and he reached out and his magic covered the shard he looked over as the strongest of the greens, who would act as his host for the time they were in the Hive, stepped forward and he focused on the Minion.  His consciousness began to pull away and he closed his eyes as his magic flared and he opened his eyes.  His Unicorn form stood in place as he gazed at it and then looked to Gnarl.  He nodded and then released the magic and he went back to his own body.  

“Good.  It will work as they always have.  Send Grubby out with the shard and place it in a secure location.”  He commanded and the minions rushed to accomplish his commands. 

“Master, if you are caught?”

“I will abandon the minion and call them back to me from the outside.  Otherwise, I will resurrect them later.”  He responded. “Should have no problem using the greens stealth to avoid contact.”

The Overlord stood next to the map and looked up to the Tower Heart as it stayed hovering in place.  His gaze went back to the map table and he waited as the minions scurried to complete the impromptu orders of their Master.  Azure watched them race about and waited patiently for them to complete his orders.  The Shard had already been removed and was now on its way to the wasteland that the Changelings called home.  He walked up to his throne and spun to sit down.  He leaned back against the throne and breathed a sigh through his nose.  His eyes closed, his ears flicked as he listened to the sound of scrabbling claws on stone.  

“You seem well-rested love.”  Kelda purred to him.

He cracked one eye and looked to the mare on his right side.  “I am. And you?”

“Same here.  It’s good to see you calm for once.  Since we arrived here your normally rushing one way or another.” She replied and leaned her body into his shoulder.

“Well.  When one is brought to a new place, one must make the best of it.”  He said to her, a smirk on his lips. 

“You never cease to amaze, love.  So far you have brought those little ponies into the palm of your hoof.”  She commented.  “They have even sworn to protect you from this fake Queen.” 

“She is a Queen to them.  But if I play my cards correctly then she will bow to me.”  He said back to her.  

“Exactly.  Though what will you do with her?”

“If you are thinking that she will join you then you have nothing to worry about.  She holds no appeal to me.”  He assured the cream coated mare.  “I would rather be gelded than have her among my mistresses.”  

Kelda barked a laugh at his comment and nuzzled him. “Please don’t have yourself gelded. I am quite fond of you in one piece.” 

“As am I.”  He chuckled back to her.  “Again nothing to worry about there.  I may just kill her and take over the Hive.”  

“That would be the easiest solution.”

“Or I may see if my Presence spell will work on her, then she will be under my control one way or the other.”  

“You have it all planned out already?” 

“Most of it.  I have plans and backups for those should they fail.  I want you to be with Gnarl as I go through the Hive. Your input is usually spot on for some situations.  I will see if I can get the Tower heart to work the way we need it to.”

Kelda tilted her head at his words and he paused. “How do you mean?  I wondered why the Heart is up here rather than in its usual place.” 

“I will command it to act in the way my helm used to. Before Gnarl would have used it to speak to my father.  So if I get out of range of my helm then we can see if the Tower Heart will take over. If the helm fails as soon as I get to the Changeling lands then I will call on the Heart.  Otherwise, I will use it when I am inside the Hive.”

“Inside?”

“Yes.  I have Grubby transporting a shard of the Netherworld to a hidden location inside of their lands.  I will then use the green minions to infiltrate the Hive and use their abilities to gain access to the throne room where the Queen is and overhear what she has been saying.”

“You know where she is already?”

“Of course.”  

The red stallion looked to the Heart and it hovered in place as his magic covered it and brought it close to him so Kelda could see into it as well.  His mind focused and the Queen was still on the throne and seemed to be yelling at her drones.  She balked at the sight of the bug-like creatures and looked to him.

“Now I see why you told me not to be concerned about her.”  She said to him and nuzzled his neck.  “That is an ugly animal.  Not even worth skinning.”

He chuckled and nuzzled her back. “Agreed.  I have no desire to replace you or the others.  Though there are days.”  

“Oh many days, my love.  Juno is on the warpath once more.”

Azure groaned and his magic sent the Heart back to its place above the map table.  “Now what?”

“She is screaming about going shopping.”  He rolled his eyes and looked over to the mare at his side.  “I’m serious.”

“Netherworld preserve me.”  

“Is there a way to send her away somewhere that we can’t hear her whining anymore?”

Azure laughed and ran his hoof along Kelda’s cheek. “If only.  She serves her purpose.”

“Which is?”

“I have a mistress from the main territories that I rule.  You came from Nordberg, Faye from the Sanctuary, and Juno from Everlight.”  

“You do not have a lady from the Empire.”

“That’s is because Juno fits for them as well. Plus every female in there was a fat bloated thing if you recall.”

Kelda nodded as she grimaced.  “That’s true.  You have high standards.”

“I would hope so.”  He replied to her, a smirk on his mouth. 

She leaned forward further and rested her head on his shoulder and nuzzled him once more.  “Will be taking a mare from this place as well?”

“I might.  Though I am not certain which one I would choose.”  He admitted.  “Celestia and Luna are the ones who raise the sun and moon.”

“They what?”

“I know.  It took me time to realize that they were serious as well.  They are called an Alicorn, which makes them the ruling class.  Those two have ruled for more and a thousand years.  If I understood it right they have always controlled the sun and moon. So I would need to control them as well ss the other territories.”

“What ones?”

“There is Equestria, the Crystal Empire, and those outside of it.”  He replied to her.

“Is a tall order, even for someone like you?” She replied.

“It is.  But I welcome the challenge.  I’m not very good at sitting back and ruling without doing anything.  It bores me.”  He informed her.

“That’s true.  You were the active one in Nordberg when we were kids as well.  Some things don’t change.”

“Indeed.”  

"Master!”  Gnarl shouted as the minions gathered.

“Yes?”

“It is ready.  Grubby created a basic gate to allow for you to decide the type of Gate you wish to have thereafter you arrive.”  Gnarl said as he stood at the bottom of the steps.

“That works perfectly, actually.”  The stallion shrugged out from under Kelda and walked down the steps to the Gate on the throne room.  

Wrath raced up to him and scaled the stallion’s armor to set his new helm in place.  The minion sat back in his place and waited as the Overlord shook his head to test the helms fit and nodded to the Advisor when he was done.  Kelda stood next to the minion Master as Azure called the minions to his side and focused on the changeling lands.  A crash of thunder and lightning and he opened his eyes to a dark cavern and he was forced to wait as his eyes adjusted and he walked carefully down the steps to the dirt.  The minion gates activated at his approach and light from their inner workings gave some light to the place.  His gauntlet roared as he summoned the other minion colors to guard the place while he was gone.  The reds lit several braziers for light and the Overlord was glad that they had thought a bit ahead.  

“Okay.  Grubby, sit for a moment.”  Azure snapped as the minion builder approached him, awaiting his orders. Azure looked around the walls and then up to the ceiling above them.  His ears flicked absently as he thought over his options.  “Gnarl?  Can you hear me?”

He paused as he waited for the Advisor to reply. He was met with silence and he allowed a groan to escape him as he looked back to the Gate.  “Gnarl!”  He shouted, trying it once more.  His horn lit up with his red aura and he reached out to the Tower Heart, commanding it to act as a way of communication.  When he could sense it activating he tried once more.  “Gnarl.”

“Master!”  

Azure grimaced at the piercing yell that hit his ears.  He shook his head as the ringing finally stopped and he managed not to snarl a reply. “I can hear you just fine. Shouting is not needed.”

“Apologies, Dark one.  We were quite concerned when you were not answering earlier.”

“Yes.  I figured as much.  Did the Tower Heart activate?”

“Yes.  It lit up a bit more and now we can speak to you through it.  Well done, Lord.”  Gnarl replied.

“Well.  When you didn’t reply to my calls I figured we had gone too far and the helm range had been exceeded.”  Azure explained.

“Right.  How do things look, Dark Master?”

“Not too bad.  Grubby is about to start on the gate and I will see how far we are from the Hive and then start making my way toward it.”

“Well planned, Dark One.”  

“Are you going to be all right, love?”  Kelda piped up.

“Should be fine.  My biggest concern is the distance.  Once I find out how far away I am I’ll be better able to figure out the method of approach.”

“Be careful.  This world holds its own dangers.”  She advised.

“I’ll be fine.  But I will cautious if that will set your mind at ease.”

“It does, yes.  Keep in contact.  Will you be able to hear us if we speak to you when you are a minion?”

“I’m not certain.  We will have to see if it works as it used to.  With the Tower Heart, it should act as it used to. Gnarl?”

“Master?”

“When my father was ruler did he have the ability to use the netherworld shards?”

“No, Lord.  We did not have need of them.”

“That’s right.  The tower was above ground.  Forgot about that.  Well, before my helm allowed you to see through my eyes, but we have not been able to recreate that so far?”

“Correct.  We are still working on that.  It is still a mystery why it no longer works.”  Gnarl complained.

“Well.  Magic is a lot more common here right?”  Kelda replied to the minion’s complaint.

“True.”  Azure put in, trying to follow her line of thought.

“Could that have altered the helm and the magic that connects it to you?”  She asked.

Azure was silent as his mind clicked into place with her thought process and he leaned back to allow himself to smack himself in the face with a hoof.  “By the Dark.”

“Am I incorrect, love?”  She asked, concern in her voice.

“Not at all.  You’re actually exactly right.  I had not even thought about the magic of this world and how prevalent it is.  Gnarl, thoughts?”

“Mistress Kelda might be onto something, Lord.  I had not considered the magic of this world. We might need to see if we can question one of the little ponies about it.”

“I have Princess Twilight on my side.  She is an Alicorn so she has more magic than most.” The red stallion replied.

“We can use her then.”  Gnarl replied. 

“How will we ask her for help though?”  Kelda asked.  “Unless you intend to bring her to the Tower?”

“No.  That is not my thought.  I figured I could bring the helm itself and I can command the Tower heart from a distance. She may have an idea how to connect the helm once more.”  He replied quickly.

“Brilliant Master.  We will use the pony to do the work for us.”  Gnarl piped up.

“Precisely.  I would rather do that then experiment endlessly with the damned thing.”  He replied.  

“Good luck, Master.  We will wait to see if we can talk to you through the minion.” Gnarl spoke to him, his voice held some concern.

“Agreed.  Grubby.” The minion was still at his hooves as he spoke.  “A regular sized Gate to replace the small one.”

The minion nodded and shrieked out to the other builders and the dust kicked up as the minions worked swiftly.  The stallion was quiet as he stayed out of the way. He allowed the minions to do their work without his interference and allowed them to work.  He was aware of the cavern they were in and he began to look for an exit.  His hooves carried him forward and the minions that he had summoned stayed at his side as he moved.  He followed a scent to the entrance and looked outside to see that he could see the Hive easily.  It was barely a mile away from their location.  

“May have to have the entrance hidden just in case.” He muttered to himself as he looked around.  He ducked back as the sound of buzzing caught his ears.  His eyes looked up and a drone flew over the cavern and he watched as it flew to the Hive.  He narrowed his eyes and was able to barely make out where it entered.  “This could be a bit harrowing.”  

“Love?”  Kelda said aloud, having heard him talking to himself.

“It’s a little less than a mile to the Hive from this location.”

“Should we find a new one Master?”  Gnarl asked.

“No.  There are places to hide and there are not many drones about so we should be able to sneak in well enough.”  He replied. 

While he was uncertain of the exact entrance he knew that he was going to have to take it slowly and use the greens stealth. As he watched the Hive he was sure of only one thing and that it was going to take him a while to get to the throne room.  His other option was to find a way to get a drone to lead him there.  A yelping cry behind him had him looking over his shoulder to find Grubby motioning for him to return to the center of the cavern.  He rejoined them and the Netherworld Shard reacted and grew up from the grounds and he beckoned the minions he wanted and to follow him and they began to dance around it, aiding his magic in transferring his mind completely.  The red stallion lit his horn and began to focus on the shard and the chosen minion. His eyes closed as he completed the spell and he opened them to find his body in its place.  He opened his mouth, half expecting a minion shriek to come from him.  

“Gnarl?”  His voice was gravel on hooves but it was able to be heard.

“Master?”  Gnarls voice sounded uncertain as he replied.

“Yes, it’s me.  I guess I can speak through the minion but I will most likely stay silent for a while.”  He replied.

“Agreed Master.” Gnarl commented to him.

Azure could hear Kelda chuckling in the background and huffed for a moment but then moved the minions out, after leaving the other in defense of his body.  The nineteen minions flanked him and stayed with him as he guided them along a winding path to the Hive.  As they neared it he stopped in his tracks as a drone started to come outside.  The greens stealth only worked when they were not moving so he froze.  The drone walked out of the Hive and turned a sharp left, avoiding the group of minions, how stood still only a few feet from his nose.  Azure waited till it was feet away before he dashed ahead and into the Hive. The minions were silent as they moved. They mimicked his quiet as they moved deeper, their pace slow as the Overlord led them.  

Azure paused as he neared an arched doorway that seemed a bit out of place inside the Hive.  He peered around the corner and saw a familiar area.  He could see the Swiss cheese looking room and he thought back to the Tower hearts vision and he recalled the route the Heart had taken before. He began to leave the safety of the doorway when a group of drones came from the direction he needed to go toward. He leaned back and the minion crowded around him, going still to turn invisible and wait for the group to pass by. He nearly growled when they paused and looked around them.  At first, Azure was uncertain if they could smell the minions but that thought was quickly dashed when they simply began to speak quietly amongst themselves.  Azure turned his head slightly to allow himself to hear them.

“So far none of us can use the form that she wants correctly.  I haven’t even seen him!”  One complained.

“None of us have.  Some pony saw the drones that went to Canterlot and I think they were either killed or caught.”  One of them spoke up.

“Dead.  Have to be.” 

“The Queen is pretty set on this stallion. She thinks he can help her take over Canterlot first then the rest of Equestria.”

“Maybe if she asks him?”  The others turned to look at the drone who had spoken and it cringed away from the glaring eyes.  “Well, just a thought.  Easier than trying to copy him and take the army she says he has.”

“That’s true.”  

“But still.  How do we know he has what our Queen wants?”

“You want to argue with her?”

“No.”

“Then we had better find him and figure out how to get him to agree to our Queen’s terms.”

“Terms?”  Gnarl spoke aloud into Azure's mind.

The Overlord said nothing in reply and continued to listen to their conversation.  “The terms that she will take him as a consort in exchange for his army?”  Azure snorted a laugh and put his clawed hands over his muzzle to smother the laugh that came from his throat.  He looked back to them and found they had paused but didn’t seem concerned enough to investigate.

“Yeah, those terms.  But if he has an army of his own why would he want to be with our Queen?”

“Well.  It’s either that option or she is going to find a way to either snap off his horn and try to use it or she is going to drain him of love and then force him to do as she says.”

“Or she is going to kill him and find out how to use the body to gain the army she wants.”

“Or that, yeah.”  

Azure looked at each of them and his worry about their Queen was still not at a point where he felt he needed to watch himself. Plus, if a changeling got too close to him he could see through their form and act accordingly.  And with the blue minions, he was not concerned about being caught unawares.  He waited as they finally seemed to move off and he rushed the minions through the open area after he was certain they were alone.  They threaded their way slowly through the rest of the complex.  Azure looked up as the room dead-ended and he gave a quiet curse as he looked around.  His gaze went to the strange pods on the ground and he looked at them more closely.  He instructed the greens to remain in place and he jumped carefully down to inspect the strange pods more closely. 

The Overlord was careful not to touch anything that might make any sound and draw attention to the room they were in.  He looked at the closest pod and he pulled back when he realized that it was an egg pod.  The creature within it was a Changeling and it had moved as it continued to develop.  He turned to walk away when he paused.  His eyes looked at the pods and he then turned back to the entrance and then to the greens hidden away.  He hopped back up to them and moved them to the side, out of the doorway.  ‘I wonder.’ He jumped back down and poked at the pod with one foot and nothing happened.  He pushed it harder and still nothing.  He pulled back the blades on his arms and swung them, rupturing the pod and killing the changeling inside of it.

He jumped back to the others and hid among them. He listened intently for any sounds that were coming to them and found nothing.  He looked down to the rest of the pods and then looked to the minions behind him, they stared back at him and he nodded his head toward the pods and they descended ion the pods.  Azure watched as they silently destroyed the remaining pods and then rejoined him, clearly pleased with themselves.  As he looked over the destruction he looked at the minions and himself and found that they all had some of the fluids from the pods on their bodies, giving them a different scent.  The greens loved new smells and stenches so they were even happier than before and Azure simply rolled his eyes as he led them back through the doorway and back the way they had come.  

“Master.”  Gnarl suddenly spoke up.

“Yes, Gnarl?”  He whispered as he found an out of the way space to talk to the Minion Master.

“Why did we destroy those little things?  I’m certain that you have a reason and I would have also broken them personally.”  Gnarl replied.  His question phrased to not earn the ire of the Overlord he was speaking to.  

“If I ever meet this Queen face to face I will bring it up and that will tell her that I know where she lays her eggs and that I can and will destroy them, happily destroy them might I add.”  He replied, his tone malicious as he spoke.

“Ahh!  Well played Master.  Indeed that will shake her.”

“That all?”

“Yes, Master.”  

Azure left their hiding place and resumed his search for the throne room.  The longer it went the more strain was being placed on the minion’s body.  His power was greater than their own and their form was not meant to house a being of his power.  He could feel the body beginning to weaken from the strain of his power within it. His movements were not as swift as they had been.  He quickened his pace as much as he dared and stumbled into the throne room and slid to a stop before they were spotted.  He flattened himself and the minions with him against the wall and waited as the Queen began to yell at the drones with her once more.

“None of you can hold his form correctly!”

“My Queen!  None of us have really seen him up close.  We haven’t been able to spy on him to learn how he moves and acts.”  One pleaded with her.

The Queen scowled and the drone went silent. “So we need to see more of him and let you study him then?”

“Yes, My Queen.  Given some time at least one of us will be able to act as a decoy and earn you the army you seek.”  He went on.

She appeared thoughtful for a moment before she went on.  “If we knew where he lived it would be simpler.  How can it be that none of you have found his castle?  It’s a Tower!”  She yelled the last part at them.  “Towers are tall by definition.  How can you not have found him?”

“He uses those strange portals and none of us can get through it.”  One added as it limped a few steps forward.  “I have tried to use it once and it attacked me for the effort.”  It said and Azure could see a healing burn across part of its side.  

“That had to hurt.”  Kelda said to him, as Gnarl laughed in the background.

He nodded in agreement since speaking would draw attention and he didn’t need to be spotted by the bug Queen.  The Queen huffed and sat in silence.  “Well since no magic works here he will have a hard time finding this place.  So we need to find a place he is seen more often.”  She reasoned.

“He is usually seen in Ponyville.”  A drone piped up from the back of the small group.

“Oh?  Same town as that Princess.”  She spat out. She suddenly sat up taller an alarmed look crossing her face for a moment.  “If he allies with them then…We must find him and either kill him or bring him to me.  His magic will be useless here.”

Azure was silent as he listened to her.  He toned out the conversation for a moment and thought about what he was hearing.  ‘The changeling's Hive is an area that does not allow magic.  If that were the case then the Tower Heart…’ he paused as he thought of the Heart that he could use as he wished.  ‘The Tower heart is not from this world.  While my body is that of a Unicorn I have the magic of the Tower Heart behind me.  She cannot counter it with whatever is here to stop magic.’  He reasoned and looked back the way they had come.  As much as he wanted to remain and listen to her yell at her drones he knew that the minion form he was in would not last for much longer.  He angled the minions through the shadows to avoid being seen as they left the room and began to move the way they had come.  Azure paused as he looked at the passage ahead of them.  It was not the same as before.  ‘Oh no.’ He thought to himself as he looked around them and moved the minions to the wall once more while he tried to get his bearings.  

“Master?”

Azure heard Gnarl calling him but he didn’t reply immediately.  After a few minutes of standing still, he replied to the waiting Advisor.  “Yes?”

“How are you doing in there?”  He asked.

“Trying to leave actually.”

“You said trying?”  Kelda pointed out.

“Yes, I did.  I found out a few new details of their Queens plans and am trying to leave the Hive.  But…It is not in the same state as it was when I left.”  He replied.

“What do you mean?”  Kelda asked.

“The corridors are no longer in the same place. The oaths are different.  It seems as though the entire Hive has moved and changed its…form…Oh no.”  He groaned as the realization struck him.  

“Lord?”  Faye spoke up.  

“Greetings Faye.  You’ll have to tell me about Everlight when I return.  The Hive is the same as the Changelings themselves.”  He replied to the former Fairy Queen.  “It changes as they do.”  

“Oh no,”  Kelda said aloud.  

He went silent as a changeling was walking toward them. The creatures head was down low and seemed even more unhappy than most.  It paused and sniffed as it was a few feet from them.  Its eyes opened wide and it searched around itself.  Azure waited as it seemed more uncertain by what it was smelling.  ‘The egg pods?’  He thought and looked down at his feet and the minions with him. None of them had any of the fluids still attached to them and he looked back to the searching bug.  

“Thorax!!”  A shout from ahead of them startled the Changeling enough that it went stock still and stared ahead of him as another approached him.  “What are you doing out here?  Our Queen wants that red Unicorn stallion found.  So, get going!”  It shouted and the changeling nodded.  

Azure fought back a smile as the changeling turned and began to walk away.  Azure stayed at a safe distance and followed the Changeling carefully.  He thought they had lost track of him but usually, they could hear him being yelled at and were able to track him fairly easily because of it.  ‘Not the most popular of Changelings.’  He admitted to himself as the creature led them outside.  Once outside Azure waited till the Changeling was in the air before he dashed across the way to hide in the shadow of another stone formation.  A sigh of relief escaped him as he began the trek back to the Gate.  As they neared the Gates hiding place he sighed and was able to push the minion body he was in back to the side of his own body.  He closed his eyes and focused on his own body and he felt his mind slipping and when his eyes opened the minion was on the floor and he looked down to it, expecting it to be dead when it panted and got to its feet.  

“I’m back, Gnarl.”  He said aloud.

“Good to hear your voice, Master.”  The Minion Master replied.  “Are you returning to the Dark Tower?”

“Yes.  I will be returning in a moment.”  He replied and he could hear the sound of assurance from the others as they waited. “Grubby!”  The minion digger was still there, having finished the Gate while the Overlord had been gone and now he sat waiting for his instructions.  “I want the entrance to this hollow hidden. Make it appear blocked but still allow us to open it.”

The minion nodded and went to work.  Azure headed back to the Gate and walked into the Gates lightning, he looked back and set a small group of minions at the Gates steps to protect it and to warn of an attack on the Gate.  He finished that and called on the Gate to return him to the Netherworld.  Upon opening his eyes he could see the light that came off of the Tower Heart, casting the area under it with a bit of light.

“Welcome home, My Lord.”  Gnarl greeted him as the red stallion walked toward the map table and drew up next to it.  “What have you learned?”

Azure chuckled at the eagerness that Gnarl asked of him.  The minion clicked his long claws together as he waited for the stallion to speak.  “Well, their Queen is trying to teach them how to be me.”  

“Pardon?”  Faye asked, her eyes uncertain for a moment as she regarded him.

“They are a race of shapeshifting bug creatures in the shape of ponies.”  Azure clarified.  “I chased one down in Canterlot yesterday, at Princess Twilight’s request.”  

“How do you search for them if they can shapeshift?” She inquired.  

“I can see through it if I can get within ten to twenty feet.  The minions can sense it and the blues are able to easily see and locate them.”  He replied.

Faye nodded and now also waited for him to continue. “She is trying to train them to take my place so she is able to command my army.”  

“The audacity!”  Faye shrieked.  Her eyes narrowed in anger as she turned to the Gate.

“Faye.”  Azure's voice caught her and she looked back to him.  “I am right here and I know her plans.  She has no chance of harming me at this point.”  

She paused and bowed her head to him.  “My apologies, Dark One.  I was simply angered by…”

Azure held up a hoof.  “I know.  Believe me, I was not thrilled at her declaration either.  Her drones pointed out that they have not seen me and have had no way to study me.  So their ability to impersonate me is very limited.  Their attempts were hilarious at best.”  They nodded and he went on.  “She asked that they then find me so they could study me as a way to take the army. Her other requests were to have one of her three options work out.  Option one was to take me as her consort and then she would be able to use my army.” Both Kelda and Faye’s expressions darkened as he spoke about the Queens desires.  “Option two was to snap off my horn and try to use the magic in it.  Option three is to kill me and I assume replace me with one of her drones. Otherwise, it was then to use the body and see what would happen.”  

Gnarl growled under his breath as Azure spoke, while Kelda and Faye looked nothing short of murderous.  “Was that all, love?”  Kelda spoke up, her voice tense.

“That was basically the main points.  She has sent out a few drones to try to find me and then shadow me to learn how to be me.  But the only confirmed place that they have seen me is in Ponyville with Twilight.  That is the only place I have been seen regularly.  I left the Gate there and had Grubby erect a way to hide the entrance of the cavern where it is hidden.  I left a couple of minions to guard it and alert me if anything happens with the Gates location.”

“Well done Master.  You have already countered her plans before she has the chance to ever know you were there.”  Gnarl praised and the Overlord raised his head at the praise.  

“And you left a parting gift for her as well,” Kelda said, a smirk on her muzzle. 

“Also true.  I killed a clutch of her eggs so that should get her riled up.  Unless she has next to no actual care for them.  In which case it will simply be something I can throw at her should we meet face to face?  I know where she is and have already been inside her Hive.  Will see how it plays out.”  He commented and shrugged his shoulders.  

“You’re not too concerned about the threat she may pose, My Lord?”  Faye asked.

“Not really.  Celestia and Luna asked the same things when they were alerted to what the one we had killed in Canterlot had said.  It said that she was searching for a way to get to where I live.  I told them that if she can get to the Netherworld without me knowing then I will give her what she wants as a reward.  I have placed all of the Gates we have control of on different settings and they cannot be used with me.  Only I can use them to any effect.”  He replied.

“I see.  They have never seen us either so that means they cannot try to impersonate any of your mistresses.”  Faye commented.

Kelda snorted.  “A drone in the place of Juno might be better than the real one though.”  

Faye snorted a laugh and Azure chuckled at her comment.  Gnarl looked a bit stricken but Juno had been his favorite since the beginning.  Though Azure was not sure if he had the same care for her since her pony form did not show any of the features she had as a human. He still had little patience for the woman, mare form or otherwise.  He opened his mouth to speak when a thought came to him.  The fact that he had three mistresses was not known to anypony aside from those in the Tower and in his territories.  He looked back to the map and then to the Heart, hovering above him. Kelda was the first to notice that he was no longer focused on speaking with them.  

“Love?”  She called gently to him as his horn lit up.

His magic reached out to the Tower Heart that was above him.  He looked at the map and called on the Heart to drain not just the location it was using now but to also see if it could target the Changeling Hive and the lands around it. He growled when the magic bounced back to him.  “Not the right type of magic I will assume.”  His words were barely a whisper as he spoke.  He was quiet as he released his hold on the Tower Heart and then looked up to the ceiling.  Juno’s room was closest to the throne room since she was the lowest ranking of his mistresses. 

“This should make things interesting.”  He whispered aloud as a cruel smile crossed his muzzle. “She may prove useful yet again.” 

“Dark Master?”  Gnarl spoke up as Azure looked back to the map and then to the Advisor.

“I have an idea, Gnarl.  What if we use Juno to draw the bug out?”  He spoke quietly.  They looked to him and he could see the curiously in their eyes.  “I can take her to Ponyville and Canterlot. They seem to be having trouble acting, like me, so give them a much easier target.  Juno is the easiest of the three of you.”  

“That’s true.  She’s an idiot.”  Kelda replied.

“She has skills of her own but they are not meant to be used for a group that is her equal or higher.  She can gain the favor of a stallion very quickly with her looks alone.  While you or Faye have your charms, Juno is able to walk into a room and have the men inside it at her beck and call in a few minutes.  That is her skill, one that she has used to great effect.”  Azure pointed out.  “She doesn’t need intelligence to get what she wants.”  

“You make a strong point my Lord,”  Gnarl said from a couple of feet away.  “So how would you bring the focus to her?”

“By taking her with me on a few errands.  She wants to go shopping.  I will take her around Ponyville and perhaps to Canterlot.  I need to speak with Twilight about the local currency anyway.  I do not think they will accept the gold coins from the treasury.  Plus, I will not need to draw the focus to her, she can do that on her own.”  Kelda nodded in agreement with his assessment while Faye and Gnarl looked less certain. “You have a better suggestion then?” He asked them.

“I suppose taking all three of us is not an option?”  Faye asked.

“No.  The three of you will draw too much attention.  I don’t mean by your looks, I mean for the bickering that they will be able to hear from one side of the Everfree to the other.”  He replied.

“That’s a good point,”  Kelda admitted with a grimace.  “Will you be going out now?”

“No.  I’m still sore from yesterday’s bruising and have no desire to run around at the moment. I think in a couple of days I will ask Twilight for a solution to the money issue and the inability of Gnarl to see from my helm as he used to.  For now, I will wait and watch.”  He said to them.  

The red stallion was quiet as he looked up and sent the Tower Heart back to its place and then looked to Faye.  “So why have you returned, Faye?  Are the repairs to Everlight completed?”

“Yes Dark Lord, they have been completed.  Do you wish to tour them at a later date?” She asked of him.

“I will yes.  But not today.”

“Of course not.  You mentioned that you were still injured so I would not presume to tell you when to see your Kingdom.”  She replied to him with a bow of her head.  “The Elven that you interacted with during your retaking of the city has been quite busy seeing to it that effort is made to bring things back to the way that you would wish them to be.  I have not seen a pony run around so much to better your glory.”  

Azure was quiet as he thought back to the ponies or Everlight.  “Anthe, am I right?”

“Yes, sire.  Your memory is impeccable.”  She complimented.

“Some days it is.”  He muttered and walked toward his throne and sat down.  Azure was quiet as he thought over the retaking of Everlight to ensure that he had names and faces matched up before he spoke further.  “So he has been doing a fair amount of the work I assume?”

“Yes, sire.  I believe he is desperate to prove that your retaking of the city was the kindest way.  Many of the Elven have taken to ensure that things are kept neat for you should you visit.” She informed him.

“Interesting.  And the one guard that I gave a sentence too?”  He asked.

“Still lives.  The minion you left with him has saved his worthless life at least three times that we are aware of.”  She replied with a dark chuckle.  

“I figured that he would still try.  Anthe holds his fate in his hooves.  Perhaps I should drop by and see if the Elven has chosen his sentence.  How long has it been?”

“A month or so,”  Gnarl answered his question.

“Hmm.  A suitable enough time for him to suffer, I would think.  We shall see if I fell up to trekking around Everlight city in the morning.  Until then I want a meal sent to my quarters Gnarl. Should the need arise you can find me there.”  He said and pushed himself up from his throne, he gave a slight grimace as a large bruise along his back was aggravated and he turned to head up the stairs to relax for the evening. Kelda jumped up to join him and stayed at his hip as he went to his own room.
> 10: Lies and Favors...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure looked to the throne as he waited for Wrath to return with his helm. He had also sent for Juno to join him in the throne room. He gave a quiet sigh as he steeled himself for a day with her. She was a trial on his nerves but she could suit his needs well for his plan of dealing with the Changeling Queen. While others might be surprised that he also had no intention of telling the mare his plans for her. His other mistresses could act fairly well, he was certain that she would not be so subtle. He looked to the entrance as Wrath loped into the room his the Overlords helm clutched in his claws. He leaped to the stallions back and sat in silence. Azure looked to the Gate as he heard hooves on the stairs and he glanced back to find Juno walking gingerly to his side. 

“Thank you for the invitation, Lord.” She gushed to him, pressing her shoulder to his. “What can I do for you?”

“Well. It was brought to my attention that you wished to leave the Tower for some shopping.” He said to her, keeping his voice even as he regarded her. “So I would have you join me for a visit to the village.”

Her eyes lit up and she nodded to him. “Yes. That would be wonderful, Lord.” She said to him and pranced in place.

Azure turned to the Gate and then to the mare. “We will be going to Everlight first to attend to an issue. You can either wait here or join me.” 

“You have been good enough to ask for me to join you so I will stay with you.” She gushed further. She turned to him and nipped his neck in play and pranced into the Gates magic. 

Azure heard a low growl and looked to the stairs to find Kelda watching, her jaw set. Azure waited till she looked to him and he winked to her and a smile tugged at her mouth as he turned to the Gate. The Gates magic went over him as he reached out and set a hoof on the mare's shoulder to keep her close as the Gate activated and he closed his eyes for a moment as the Gates magic moved him to his destination. His eyes opened after a short pause and beside him, Juno leaned on him for a moment as she regained her bearings. 

“Sire!” 

A voice he recognized caught his attention and he looked down to see Anthe and Faye waiting for him. The Elven bowed deeply to the Overlord as he walked down the stairs and stood before them. Juno remained quiet as she glared at the other Mistress. Faye did not react and kept her eyes on the red stallion. 

“I think it is time for that tour, Faye.” He said to her. “I want to see the parts of the city that have been rebuilt and has that pit been filled in?”

Faye looked to Anthe who nodded to her. “Yes, Sire. I made sure of it myself. Everything has been rebuilt and please allow me to show it to you.” He said and bowed once more.

“Very well. I have heard good things from Faye. I expect to be pleased by the work that has been done.” He said to them and Elven nodded.

“This way, Sire.” He said and cheerfully walked ahead to lead the red Unicorn into the city. 

They walked ahead and toward the area where the arena had once been. Azure was pleased to see that it had been filled in and nothing remained of the death pit that had once been there. Unless one knew where to look it was not easily seen. Anthe waited as the Overlord looked to the area and nodded when he finished checking the area. 

“Very good.” He said aloud. 

Anthe smiled widely and waited as Azure rejoined them and motioned for them to move on. Azure was quiet as they began to move through the rest of the town center and into the market. Ponies moved aside as they saw their Lord and bowed as he passed by. Juno stayed at his hip and for once remained silent. The Elven led him to the beaches where the ponies were fishing and hauling in the catches for the day. Azure was pleased to see that they were no longer segregated and were forced to work side by side. The catch would be used to feed the city and other territories as well. Azure was working on creating roads that went to the cities and outlying towns. His red eyes looked around them as they were led by the smiling Elven. The town had been rebuilt and was beginning to return to the thriving city it had once been. 

“Sire. Are you pleased with the progress?” Anthe asked him.

“Yes. So far I am quite pleased with the progress that has been made. I foresee Everlight returning to the way it was before.” 

Anthe nearly skipped at the stallion’s words and his smile widened as well. “I’m glad to hear that, Sire.” 

“One other thing I came to see the end of, Anthe.” He paused as they neared the smaller gate at the end of the tour. “That guard that was tied to you.”

Anthe’s eyes widened at the mention of the guard and he nodded. “Sire, I…I haven’t thought of him much. You were so generous before that I threw myself into my work and tried to ignore him.”

“I understand that Anthe. But his fate is still yours to decide. His life in your hooves. It has come time to choose his fate.” Azure said to him and the Elven nodded at his words. “Wrath. Find him and bring him to me.” He said to the minion on his back. Wrath leaped to the ground, still holding the stallion’s helm and raced away from his side.

They waited and Anthe stayed quiet as the sound of minion cries drew closer after several minutes of near silence. As they neared a haggard pony was driven ahead of them. His coat was dirty and Wrath drove him to the ground once more, careful of the helm in his claws. Azure glanced to Anthe and the Elven stepped forward. 

“You hurt so many and do not deserve to have any choice in your life. But.” Anthe looked to the Overlord who waited as he went on. “I don’t think death is the right punishment for you.” 

The guard looked up to the Elven. “What now?” He croaked to the other pony.

“My Lord?” Anthe looked to the red stallion who stood a few feet behind him. Azure walked up to him and waited as the Elven looked uncertain. “What should I do with him?”

“It is your decision. He did not stand against me, nor did he attack me. It was you that was wronged, not I.” Azure reminded him. “His fate is yours to decide. If you wish his life to end then Wrath will end him. But the choice is yours.” 

Anthe was quiet as he looked to the pony that was being held on the ground by a now grinning minion. The stallion looked to the ground, a soft whimper escaped him as he waited for this fate to be decided. “I want him to live.” Anthe finally stated.

“Oh?” Azure replied.

“I want him to serve. Death is easy. It's living that’s hard to do.” Anthe replied. He looked to Azure for the approval of his choice or if the red Overlord would change it. 

“Very well. He will serve you.” Azure said bluntly.

“Me?” 

“Yes. You hold his fate and you have gifted him his life. He will serve under you and accomplish tasks that you set for him.” He explained.

“Sire I don’t want a slave…” Anthe spoke up, his voice held panic.

“He is not a slave, Anthe. He is your servant or assistant if you wish. You have taken to ensure the safety and health of the ponies here. That is your job and he will assist you in your work. You will work under Faye and the tasks you are given will be yours and his.” Azure explained.

“Oh. Okay, that sounds fair to me.” Anthe replied, his smile returned as he held out a hoof to the gaunt stallion. 

“Wrath,” Azure called the minion to his side and he leaped to hold the black armor of the Overlord. 

The former guard looked at the extended hoof and reached out and was slowly pulled to his hooves. “I will do whatever you need me to do. I will so what I can to atone for what I did. And I will serve you without question.” He said and lowered his head to the shocked Elven.

“Oh!” He looked to the Overlord who chuckled. “But first swear your allegiance to our Lord, then you can help me.” 

The guard spun to the stallion, but in his gaunt state, he nearly fell and barely managed not to fall on his face at the Overlords hooves. “Master. I swear I will never falter and I will serve you till the end of my days.” He vowed.

“Very good,” Azure replied and stomped a hoof. “Your vows have been heard and I accept your service once more. Do not trifle with the gift you have been given.” 

“Sire.” He said and nodded to the red Unicorn. 

“Now I have other places to be. I trust that Everlight will continue to serve me well.” The ponies bowed their heads and he turned to the small gate by the front of the city’s entrance gates. “Juno, with me.” 

The red unicorn walked to the small gate and placed a hoof on Juno’s shoulder to keep her with him as they traveled. His eyes closed as he waited for the magic to dissipate before he opened his eyes once more and waited for Juno to gain her bearings before moving out of the Gates magic. Azures eyes adjusted to the bright sun above him and he stepped down the stairs and onto the dirt road. Beside him, Juno looked around them and he waited for her to speak further. 

“It’s not much of a city is it?” She said to him, her expression uncertain.

“It’s small. But for now, we will start out here. I’m sure you can find something to occupy your time. We need to find a way to get my helm to function as it used to. To that end, we will go to ask another pony who has more knowledge of the magic involved.” He reasoned to her and began to walk down the street toward the Castle at the end of the road.

Juno huffed but stayed close to him as they walked forward. He glanced to her and he could see that she was looking around them to see what was available to her. As he walked ahead he heard ponies stopping to look at the pair of them and he tried to ignore the stares as Juno stayed close to him. She was clever enough to know that straying from him now would not help her rise above her current station. 

“Azure!” 

A shout caught his attention and he paused to find a white mare trotting up to him, a wide smile on her face. Several bags floated around her as he tried to recall her name. He recalled that she was among those that were close to the Twilight and he closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to recall her name. ‘Not Fluttershy, not the farm horse, not the pink one, dammit…R…something. Rarity.’ His memory finally caught up with him and he finally recalled her name. 

“Rarity.” He said to her as she stopped close to him. 

“It’s good to see you again, darling.” She said to him and her eyes went to his companion. “Who might this be?” She asked him as she regarded the light grey mare with him.

“This is Juno. She has come to do some shopping and perhaps find a new dress.” He explained and he could see rarity’s eyes widen.

“Oh? Then you simply must come to my boutique. I just found some new fabric that I am dying to try out. If you would not mind allowing me to show it to you perhaps you and I can figure out a new design for you. You have a lovely coat and your mane is such a rich color.” Rarity said to the mare who nodded to her.

“My Lord?” Juno looked at him.

He pulled her close to him to speak to her. “Do not mention that you are one of my mistresses. I will bring that up when the time suits me. You may go with her so long as you remember your place.” He reminded her harshly. The mare nodded and nuzzled him as he released his hold on her dress sleeve. 

“Lead the way,” Juno said to the other mare who smiled in reply. 

Azure watched as they parted from him, already discussing the design and fabric choices. He shook his head and rolled his eyes as he looked back to make sure that Wrath still held his helm and began to walk to the castle once more. He neared the front door and used his magic to push the front door open. Had he thought about it he would have sent a letter ahead of time but he didn’t much care if he interrupted the Alicorn. He pushed open the next set of doors that led to the map table and found Twilight sitting at it while her magic levitated books around her. He paused once in the room and waited for her to notice him. He glanced to the small throne beside her as Spike looked up and a smile went over his draconic features. 

“Twilight.” He reached up and prodded the mare beside him, earning him no response but a mumbled grunt. “Twilight.” He tried again and she still didn’t look up or over to him. “TWILIGHT!” He yelled at her and she startled enough to drop her books to the floor and table. 

“Spike!” She yelled to him as he pointed to the Overlord.

The mare gave an annoyed grumble as she looked where he was pointing and her eyes widened at the sight of the red stallion. “Oh.” She reached out with her magic and picked up the dropped materials and set them aside as he walked into the room and neared her. “Azure. It’s been a while. How are you doing?”

“I am well. And yourself?”

“I’m good. Thank you for asking. What can I do for you?” She asked him and a chair materialized for him to sit on close to her. 

“I have a dilemma that I am looking to correct and hopefully you have the insight I am looking for. “ He said to her and sat down in the chair beside her. He looked to Wrath who leaped from his back and set the helm on the table in front of them. “This helm used to allow my advisor to see through my eyes and speak to me when I was not within the Netherworld. Since the move, we have not been able to get it to function as it used to. We would lose contact occasionally but the connection was restored when I neared one of the Gates. We have been able to get it to allow him to speak to me but the range is very limited.” He explained and Twilight was taking notes as he spoke to her. “It was brought to my attention that the magic of the Netherworld and here may not be working together. I am curious if you have any insight into solutions?” He said to her.

Twilight looked over her notes and a frown crossed her features. “I’m not sure but let me bring up a few books and see what we can find out.” She said to him and he nodded as her magic flashed, setting several books in front of them. 

He watched as she opened several books and they hovered around them as she scanned their pages. Her eyes searched the pages and she glanced to the helm and back to the books. A few of them vanished and they were replaced by new ones that she was summoning as she needed them. She set down two of the books and the others vanished and she looked back to him. 

“Okay, I have a few ideas. But I do not know how the magic from the Netherworld and the Gates works so I will need your help with this one.” She said to him and her magic covered the helm and she began to turn it around in her magic and analyze the look of it. “So there is no mechanism inside it to go back and forth?”

“No.” He replied to her.

Twilight nodded in understanding and looked back to the helm in her magic. She held it over her head and looked up into it and scanned the inside once more. “Okay, so how did it work before?”

“I never asked for any specifics. It simply allowed him to see through my eyes and he was able to hear through it as well.” He explained to her. “It was designed to allow him to see and speak to me with it.”

“Who made it?”

“Giblet. He stays with the Great Forge and makes my armor and weapons.” 

“Can I speak with him?”

“Not possible. He remains in the Netherworld and I've never seen him leave.”

“What about the minion that always come from the Gates when we find them?”

“Grubby? He’s a digger who specializes in the Gates magic.” He replied to her with a shake of his head.

“Hmm.” Twilight set the helm onto the table and looked at her books once more. “Okay, so we have a few things we can try. Do you have any way to use the magic that it used before?”

“The Netherworld magic?” She nodded at his question. “Of course. I am its ruler so I can command it as I see fit. Why?”

“Was it used to power the helm before?”

“In a way. My own magic helped but the Netherworld is the stronger of the options I believe.” 

“Okay so since you can use them both that will be really helpful. So I have a few experiments I think we can try out. Do you have time to spare to work on this now?”

“Sure. I came here expecting it to take time so I have nothing pressing for the afternoon.” He replied to her.

Twilight smiled and motioned for him to take a look at the books with her. He scanned the contents and waited for the Alicorn to explain her experiments for the helm to him. His magic picked up the helm and he checked the interior of it. 

“Okay. So I think the first thing we should try is to see what the current range is. You mentioned that you can go a certain distance before it doesn't work anymore.” She said to him. “Any idea of the range or should we just teleport until it stops?”

“I haven't had time to test the range personally. I now that it’s not a large range. So I can see how far it goes until he can no longer reach me.” He replied.

“Okay. So let’s start with the castle as the origin location.” She said to him and they moved away from the map table. 

Azure followed her to the doors of the castle and she opened them for him as Wrath jumped to his back and held onto the stallion’s armor. Azure looked back to the minion and motioned for him to stay instead of going with the stallion. The minion jumped back to the table and raced across the surface till he jumped to Twilight's seat and lounged in the throne. Azure rolled his eyes and looked back to the mare with him. Once they were outside the mare looked to him and a smile stretched over her muzzle. 

“Okay, so we can actually use the Gates if you want or we can use short-range teleporting.” She said to him.

“Short range teleport might be the best idea. The Gates range is probably outside of the helms ability. The Gates with my kingdom might be close enough to each other but that’s not what we need to test out.” He replied to her.

“I agree. That's a good point. Okay, so I can do the teleporting if that’s okay with you.” 

“That’s fine. A moment.” the red stallion slid the helm onto his head and used it to reach out to Gnarl. “Gnarl.”

“Master?” the minion replied.

“Stay close to the map and see how far we can go until the helms range is exceeded.”

“Yes, Master. I will remain where I am.” 

“Go ahead. Short ranging and we will see how far until he can't hear me any longer.” He said to the purple Alicorn.

“Perfect. Okay, hold on.” She reached out and gripped his hoof with hers. 

Azure watched as her horn flared and he closed his eyes and he could feel her magic when it activated and he opened his eyes to find them on the outskirts of town, close to an apple orchard. 

“Good?”

“Gnarl?” 

“Master?”

“Okay, so we are by the apple orchard. Mark that distance on the map.”

“Understood.” 

“Next.” He said to her. 

Twilight nodded and held his hoof tightly as her horn lit. He closed his eyes and they were on the edge of the Everfree a mile away from the orchard. 

“Gnarl?”

“Marking your location Master. I’m still able to hear you clearly and there is no interference.”

“Good.” He looked to Twilight and nodded to her. “Next.”

His eyes closed and she teleported them once more. His eyes opened and they were in front of a house. He glanced to her and she smiled. “This is Zecoras house. I figured it would be a good spot to use as a marker. He nodded and looked at the house.

“Gnarl?”

At first, there was no reply and Azure looked to the mare when the Advisor replied though it sounded fainter than before. 

“Your voice is quieter, Lord. The distance seems to be affecting the helm.”

“Agreed. Mark the location two-fold. We are outside of a house in the forest owned by a mare named Zecora. Mark it on the map.” 

“Understood, Lord.”

“Azure?” She spoke to him and the stallion looked to her. “Is it starting to fail a bit?”

“Yes. Our voices are getting to be faint. How far are we?”

“We are approximately 5 miles from the castle. Should we keep going?”

“Yes. I want to know its range as close as possible.” 

“Okay. No problem. Hold on.” She held his hoof and her horn flashed.

He looked around and they were on a mountain outside of the town. He glanced around before he looked to the mare beside him. “Where are we?”

“My friends and I sent a dragon on its way from this location months ago so I figured it would be easier to use this height.” 

“Understood. Gnarl?”

“Mas...er...You...” 

“Damn.” He cursed and shook his head at the mare at his side. “Nothing clear. It’s too far now. Might be the height, but I doubt it.”

“Got it. Okay so let’s try the base of the mountain.” She replied.

Azure nodded and she gripped his hoof once more. Her horn flashed and he found they were at the base of the mountain. He nodded to her as she waited as he looked to the mountain again as he called out to the Minion Master. 

“Gnarl?”

“Mast...Your...faint...”

“Okay, I think this is the range of the helm. Mark it down and we will go back to the castle in Ponyville to run more tests on the helm and see if we can get it to work once more.”

“Yes.” 

“Okay so back to the castle?” Twilight asked him.

“Yes. It's close enough to hear him, but it cuts out occasionally.” Azure said to her. 

“Okay.” 

Alicorn held his hoof and a flash of her magic later, they stood in front of the castle once more as she released his hoof as her magic opened the front doors and she followed him inside. The Unicorn stallion was quiet as his magic removed his helm and set it on the map table as they approached it. Wrath jumped up and landed on the table as Azure set his helm on the table. The Overlord came back to the map table and sat down. Wrath jumped to the ground and sat down beside the Overlords seat. 

“Okay, so my first idea is to try to use regular Unicorn magic from an outside source, me in this case, and see if I can connect it that way.” She explained. “Once I think I have it working I will signal you to reach out to it as well and see if you can use the magic from the Netherworld to link it.”

“Very well.” Azure nodded to her and leaned back into his seat.

Her magic gripped the helm and she focused on trying to use her magic as a conduit for the helm to work fully. He watched as her magic layered over the helm and she paused for a moment to look to him and he nodded as his own horn lit and his own magic joined hers. He allowed her to lead the magic and he watched as the two magic’s began to mix and he reached out for more of his own magic to ensure that there was enough magic to work with. 

Twilight’s magic flashed and he released his own magic as well as she lowered the helm to the table. “Okay. Try it out and see if he can see through it.” 

Azure nodded and his magic set the helm in place. “Gnarl. Can you see anything?”

“A moment Master.” The minion replied. “Nothing Master. I cannot see anything.”

“Damn. Nothing.” He replied and looked to the waiting Alicorn.

Twilight nodded and the Overlord removed the helm and set it on the table once more. “Okay, how does he look through the helm?”

“How do you mean? He uses a pool of water to watch.”

“I'm assuming the water is special in some way.”

“Naturally.”

“Okay so we need to use different magic, I don’t think Unicorn magic is going to help us much. We need more of the Netherworld’s magic to augment ours. I still think using a mix of our magic will help but we need the Netherworld magic to pick up more slack.”

“Very well. I will call on as much as I think will help. If it’s not enough then we can try it again.” Azure replied.

“Sounds like a good plan. The last thing we want is to damage it and not find any answers for you.” Twilight replied.

He watched as her magic held the helm once more and it now hovered above the table. She looked to him after a moment and his magic joined hers and he reached out to the Tower Heart and he allowed its magic to join theirs. He watched as the magic’s joined and he watched it closely as the magic began to glow brighter and he looked to the mare. Twilight’s eyes were closed as she focused on her task. He knocked his hoof on the table and she looked to him and he glanced to the helm and her eyes widened at the sight. 

“Ummm... Careful.” She spoke aloud to him as she kept an eye on the helm and the conflicting magic in front of them. 

As they watched the magic grew brighter and he glanced to the mare with him. “I think we should redo this.” He said to her and she nodded. 

“Pull back slowly.” She said to him.

He pushed the Tower Heart back and set the helm down when Twilight’s magic faded from it. He glanced to her and she looked perplexed at the helm in front of her. She looked to him and a strange look crossed her features.

“Okay, so I was first then your magic and then the Netherworld?”

“Correct.” He replied to her, his tone calm.

“Right. So one of us came on a bit strong. So I'll pull back and you remain the same.” She said to him.

“Very well.” He said to him and picked up the helm in his own magic and looked to her when he was at the same level he had been before. 

Her magic joined his and he added in the Tower Heart after her. He commanded the Heart to hold steady and remain the same. He watched as the magic mixed well as it had before but then the glow began to grow once more and Twilight made a slashing motion with a hoof and Azure removed the Tower Heart and then allowed Twilight to hold the helm and set it down. 

“Okay. So it doesn't seem to matter which of us begins. Are you adding the Netherworld separately?”

“Of course. It can't hold the helm on its own.” He replied to her.

Twilight picked up her scroll and quill and wrote down her own notes and then put the quill down and looked to him. She tapped a hoof on the paper as she looked around for a second. 

“All right. So adding the Netherworld is destabilizing the magic from our horns. Which makes very little sense since you can use them at the same time. Which means the Netherworld’s magic is not on the same wavelength as the magic that comes from a Unicorn's horn” She paused and scribbled more notes on the paper. “Okay, how does the Netherworld magic work?”

Azure paused at her question. He sat one hoof on the table and the other tapped his chin as he considered her question. “The Netherworld does as I command it to,” he replied, cautiously to her. She tilted her head at his reply and he went on. “As its Lord and Master, I dictate what the magic does. It’s in a constant state of flux and movement.”

“Okay. So you can tell it what to do?”

“Of course.” He replied.

“That might be good actually. So you can tell how much magic to send back to us. So is it possible to lessen it?”

“I can yes. But, I have no desire to need to have my horn active at all times to allow him to see through it.”

“Okay wait. So your horn was not active before?”

“Correct. It was not being used before.” He replied, keeping her in the dark about that fact that he was two egged before and not a pony.

“Oh. Okay, so that changes things. Sorry for not asking before.” She said to him. 

“It happens. We will fix it as we go.” He said to her.

Twilight went back to her books and the Overlord sat close by as he considered what more he could tell her. ' She has proven useful so far. But I have no desire to allow her to access my domain. Though...It could prove to be an interesting experiment to see if it's possible to begin to corrupt one of them.' The Overlord looked to the mare and then to the helm on the table. He tapped his hoof to his chin as he thought over what he knew of how to corrupt another being. The ponies from Nordberg had been easy and quick due to them not having the strongest of minds. Same with the others and then he had corrupted Faye without intending to and now she served him faithfully. His ears flicked absently as he considered the merits of slowly corrupting the Princess he sat close to now. 'Worth a shot.'

"I have an idea.” He said aloud and waited for the mare to look to him before he went on.

Twilight’s head came up and she looked to him. “Go ahead.” 

“A while ago I was able to allow another to gain some of my magic and it allowed her to use the Netherworld magic. Perhaps if there is more magic to use and if I direct it then we can work with what we have and get the result we want.” 

Twilight looked thoughtful as he spoke and her eyes widened at the implication of the new magic she might be able to use, even if temporarily. “So you can share the magic for a bit and I will be able to help connect it?” 

“That is my thought. I will command the Netherworld magic and at the same time allow you to connect to it as well by infusing you with a piece of that magic.” He replied to her. “It’s up to you of course.”

The mare smiled at his words and nodded. “Of course. This will be amazing. I haven’t had the chance to see, much less experience, other types of magic. I'll be happy to help, Azure.”

He barely held back the malicious grin at her exuberant reply. “Perfect,” he said aloud and waited for her to draw up next to him. His horn lit as he regarded the mare beside him and his aura covered her as he cast a spell he knew would infect her. The mare jerked a bit the contact but she was quiet and he stopped the spell before it would have started to cause a noticeable difference in her. His aura released her and he stepped back as she blinked a few times and looked to him. 

“Okay, that was a bit weird. I feel okay but it’s like there is something in the back of my mind.” She explained to him. “It’s not a bad feeling actually. It’s...just different.” 

“Well. We hope it works for what we need it to do.” He replied. “So I’ll lead again?”

“Yeah. I'll follow your lead. Hopefully, we can get it right.” She said to him. 

“Agreed.” He said to her even as he watched her from the corner of his eye. 

His magic levitated the helm and he brought the Tower Heart into play before Twilight gave it her magic which was now laced with his power. Her magenta aura sparked for a moment and he could sense a bit of his power in her magic and he managed not to smile as he realized that his experiment had been a minor success. Whether his power would remain in her permanently or if he would need to infuse her again he was not sure. But for now, he allowed himself to wait for the right time.

“All right. Bring your magic to bear...Now.” He said to her and she nodded. Calling on more of her magic and he felt her magic mix with his and the Tower Heart reacted as well and it called on the magic he had put within her and he looked at her as it reacted and her purple eyes flicked to a darker purple for a moment and she blinked and then seemed fine. He refocused on his helm and the Tower Heart reached out to them both and he watched as the helm absorbed the combined magic’s. He tapped Twilight and she released her magical hold and he set the helm on the table and waited as the helm smoked for a moment in front of them. Azure was quiet as they waited for it to cool off before he tried to use it. 

He glanced to Twilight and she was watching the helm with interest as it finished smoking and his magic gripped the helm. “Now we see if this worked,” he said aloud and she nodded. 

“Be careful. Don't hurt yourself.” She cautioned as he set the helm over his head. 

Azure was quiet as the helm set down on his head and he waited for a second or two before he spoke aloud. “Gnarl?”

“Master!” The Minion Master sounded startled. “I can see what you do Dark One.”

“Excellent.” The Overlord looked to the Alicorn at his side and nodded. “It works once more.” 

“That’s great. We did it.” Her smile widened and she pranced in place. 

“Finally. That is taken care of.” He said aloud.

“My Lord?” 

Azure grumbled at the voice from the entrance. “Great.” 

“Azure?” Twilight said to him, her expression concerned. “Are you okay?”

“It’s fine. It's Juno.” He said aloud and turned back to the entrance and motioned for Wrath to jump to his back. 

“There you are. This mare is simply wonderful.” His third mistress gushed as she approached him. “Her shop is a dream boutique.” 

“I'm sure it is, Juno. Twilight I have a question about the coin you use.” He looked to the mare and she nodded and waited as he went on. “What coins are used here?”

“We use Bits.” She supplied.

“What metals are they made of?” He pressed.

“Umm...Mostly base metals nothing more than that.” She replied. 

“Okay, so what is the worth of gold?” 

“Pure gold or mixed gold?”

Azure looked affronted at her. “Pure of course. I accept nothing less.” 

“Okay, then it’s worth a lot. Why, is the coin you have pure gold?”

“Of course it is. It comes from the mines that I own.” 

“You mine your own gold?” Twilight asked him. 

“Yes. They are in my kingdom and that makes everything within them mine.” He replied. 

“Okay, do you have any with you?” 

Azure looked to Juno who nodded. She reached back to her belt and Azures magic took the single coin from her hoof and handed it to the Princess. She led them back into the map room and set the coin on the table. Her horn glowed as she summoned a lab kit to the table. Azure didn't even bother trying to understand what she was doing and looked to Juno instead. He pulled her aside as Rarity trotted into the room and joined Twilight. 

“Lord?” 

“Come.” He said to her, as he led her to the first door and waited for her to be paying attention to him. “Mind your words now more than ever. I am glad that you found the boutique. But if you screw this up your position will be made worse in the tower I promise you that.” He growled o her.

The mare was quiet but nodded to him “I understand.”

“Good. I will buy you at least one new dress but should this work well then, I will remember it.” He said to her as her eyes widened at his words. “You may end up above your old station should this work.”

“I would replace Kelda?” She asked.

“No, but Faye would be moved to follow you.” He said to her.

Juno's eyes widened and she nodded. “I will do exactly as you have commanded. I trust that my help will be rewarded well.” She said to him and she nuzzled under his chin and he turned his head to rub his cheek over her hair and then lead her back into the other room with Twilight. She turned and yelled his name but was surprised as he was close and he gave her an annoyed look as she looked sheepishly back at him. “Sorry. I finished figuring out the metal content and purity of this coin.” 

“And?” 

“I am sorry I doubted you first and foremost. You were right. It is pure gold. I am so sorry for doubting.” She said to him as he stood close to her. “I can't cash this type of coin but if you are okay with it we can go to Canterlot and ask the Princesses.”

“I suppose that will be needed if we are to purchase anything.” Juno budged him gently to let him know where she was standing and to remind him of his words. “I am certain that Juno has commissioned a new gown from Rarity so I will need to be able to pay for it.” 

Twilight looked at her friend, who nodded. “She picked out a new design and it will be stunning on her. Her coat and her mane will be perfect in it,” she replied. 

“Good to hear. So a trip to Canterlot will be required for this.” Azure reasoned. “Do you wish to do this today or at a later date?”

“Today might be for the best,” Twilight replied. “Do you have time?”

“Yes. Do you wish to use the Gate then?” Azure asked her. 

“Would be faster.” Twilight reasoned. 

“Very well. Come then.” He said to her. 

The red stallion led them out of the castle and down the main road to the Gates location. They reached the Gate and the Overlord looked over his shoulder to Juno. “Juno. Go back to the Tower. Let Gnarl know that I will be back later after finding out what we are going to do about the currency.” 

Juno nodded to him, set his helm on her back when he gave it to her, and bowed her head to the stallion as she walked up the stairs and a moment later the Gates magic peaked and she vanished. At his side, Twilight watched as the other mare vanished. 

“Thank you for your help with her Rarity. It makes things simpler for me.”

“Of course darling. She was a bit demanding at times but reminding her of what the result will be kept her in check.” Rarity replied with a smile. “She does have a good eye for quality I have to admit.” 

“She does indeed. Thank you again.” He said to her and the mare left them and left them behind. 

“Shall we?” He said and led the Alicorn up the stairs to the Gate. 

He placed a hoof on her shoulder and the Gates Lightning flared and when he opened his eyes the gates of Canterlot stood tall off to the side of them and he walked down them with the mare at his side. He glanced to Twilight and she was quiet as they walked toward the castle, through the city. 

“So who is Juno?” She finally asked. 

“Why?”

“Just wondering. Seems like an interesting pony.”

Azure barked a laugh and shook his head. “She is a means to an end in a way,” he replied. “She is from one of the territories that I conquered. I have a couple of others that are from the various territories.” 

“Oh. So she's not a wife or a special somepony, like that?”

“By the Dark, no.” He replied with a laugh. “She means very little to me in that sense.” 

“Oh. Okay I see, I think.” She replied and kept up with him as he walked. 

They lapsed into silence as they walked through the city and crossed over the drawbridge to the castle doors. Twilight led him down the halls and they halted out in front of the main throne doors. He glanced to her and she motioned for him to wait. The door opened and a young stallion in armor walked out and looked to Twilight, bowing his head as he spoke to her. 

“I am sorry that the Princess is not available for any discussions. But she does wish to know what you need to speak with her about.” He asked and waited as the Princess of Friendship explained their desire to discuss the currency and if he could exchange it somehow. He nodded and backed back to the room and closed the door.

He growled under his breath and the mare looked to him. “I know. But we can’t just barge into the room.” She began to explain as his horn lit. “No, no, please.” Her hooves gripped his armor and Wrath grumbled at her from his place on the stallion’s back. 

“Why are we waiting? Are you not of the same rank?” He asked her.

“I am the same rank but it’s polite to wait. She would do the same for me. In your castle, if a pony just barged into your throne room uninvited what would happen?”

He paused and nodded to her. “They would not live to regret the decision.” 

“Exactly. It’s just a way of showing respect and courtesy. It’s not meant to be an insult.” She replied to him and patted his shoulder as her hooves released their grip on his armor.

“Very well.” He grumbled in reply. 

Twilight smiled and they waited for the pony to return. A few minutes passed and he was losing the remains of his patience when the door opened. The stallion came back and gave Twilight a note and she thanked him as they turned away from the doors. 

“What is that?” Azure asked her as they passed by the far wall. 

“It’s the business number for the pony that handles the exchange rates and currency.” She explained. “So we can go visit him and he will help us to work on exchanging some of the coins for you.”

“That will have to do.” He replied and they turned down the hall to find their way out of the castle. 

Twilight led them out of the castle and back into the city. He scanned the buildings as they turned onto a road that led down to a secluded street. The Overlord watched as the mare scanned the doorways. 

“Okay, here it is.” She said aloud and tapped his shoulder. “So he will probably ask you about the amount of the coin you have and if you want to exchange all of it or just a portion.”

“It depends on the amount it is worth. If what you said is accurate then the pure gold that I have is worth a great deal more of your currency then I will exchange enough to keep myself going for a time. Nothing more than that.” 

“Okay. Sounds like a plan.” She said to him merrily and opened the door for him. 

The armored stallion walked into the building and paused at the front, waiting for the Alicorn to join him. She stopped at his side and looked around them to the various desks that had ponies sitting behind them. They were all now staring wide-eyed at the Princess and the red stallion at her side. 

“Hi. I was hoping we could talk with Clear Cut?” the Princess said to them.

“Just a moment, Princess Twilight.” An older mare got up from her desk and quickly trotted down a nearby hallway. 

Azure's ears pinned back, but he said nothing at the lack of decorum at his presence. Twilight stood quietly with him as two pairs of hooves came toward them. The stallion with her was older and his coat was a pale gray, almost white and his eyes were hidden behind a pair of thick glasses. He approached them carefully, his eyes on the armored red Unicorn at her side. 

“Princess Twilight! It’s such a pleasure to see you.” He shook her hoof politely and regarded the stallion with her. “I am sorry that I do not know your name, sir.”

“This is Overlord Azure Flame. He is the reason we have sought you out today.” Twilight explained. “The currency from where he is from is very different from ours. So we are looking to see what it would cost or what he would need to do to exchange some of it for use.” 

“I see. Please this way, Princess, Overlord.” He said and spun to lead them further into the building. 

Azure followed behind Twilight as the stallion led them into a larger room that housed his office and he motioned for them to sit in front of his desk. On Azure's back Wrath jumped down and took his position by the stallion's hooves. The pony leaned over and stared at the small armored minion on the floor but didn't say anything about him. 

“Okay. So what type of currency are we looking to have evaluated?” He finally asked them as they were settled.

“I did a cursory examination and metallurgy on the coin and it came out one way but I would like your opinion as well.” Twilight explained and set the gold coin on the desk in front of him.

He picked it up and pulled a magnifying glass out of a drawer and examined it under the glass. “I see. So what is the story behind this coin?”

“It is the coin that is used in my kingdom,” Azure replied, his voice clear. “It has been explained to me that the currency here is made of base metals. Mine is not made of such cheap materials and is made out of pure gold.” 

The pony’s ears flicked at the mention of gold and he looked up from the coin in his hoof. Azure watched him as his eyes flicked from the Overlord to the Princess and back to the coin. “Well. I can say that it is not pure gold. It has some in it but it is not pure.”

Twilight looked startled and stared at him for a moment before she looked back to him, perplexed. “Are you certain you can say that without checking the metal content?”

“Miss Sparkle. I have been in the business of coins for going on thirty years. While I do not doubt your magical skills you do not have the ability to ascertain the value of a coin on sight.” He replied to her.

Azure watched him as the stallion didn't look at him and his senses perked as the pony spoke to Twilight. Azure had grown up around ponies who lied and were false and he had developed a strong ability to sense those that were lying to him. Twilight nodded to the stallion and then looked to Azure himself.

“I guess I was wrong.” She said to him, though her expression was troubled. 

Azure said nothing and decided to see what would happen if more coins were brought out to the stallion. “Hmm. Perhaps it’s just that one that is off in content.” He said and pulled out the small pouch that Juno had been wearing from a compartment of his armor and set it on the desktop. 

The pony stared and slowly reached for the pouch as well. He gently removed the remaining coins and set them on the desk. He carefully picked up each coin and began to inspect them one at a time. Azure watched him intently as Clear Cut checked each coin and set them aside. 

“Well. As far as I can tell they are maybe half gold. The other half are base metals such as iron. I am sorry that whoever made these misled you about their content.” He said to the Princess. 

Azure's eyes widened slightly at the implied meaning behind the other words. He looked to Twilight and her eyes were wide as she glanced to him. “So they aren't pure gold?” She asked aloud.

“No. They are half at best and that impacts their worth of course.” He replied to her. “They are worth perhaps...ten bits each.” 

Azure couldn't stop the bark of laughter that escaped him. Twilight looked to him and the other pony stared as well as if he had forgotten that the Overlord was there. The red stallion looked at the coins and then to the pony ahead of him. 

“I hate to point this out, but you are an awful liar.” He said aloud, a slight smile tugged at his mouth.

“I beg your pardon?” He looked affronted at the stallion’s words.

“Save your surprise for a pony that believes your lies and foolishness.” The pony began to speak but Azure held up a hoof, silencing him. “You are a fool and a liar. Those coins are far purer than you are saying. I know they are since I was there when they were made.” He said to them.

Twilight stared at him and then to the pony at the desk, who looked uncertain. “You were?”

“Yes. They were made after the gold was mined from the mines within my kingdom. I took the unrefined metal and had it molded into a coin that is exclusive to my kingdom. So while I am certain you are an expert in your field, so am I.” Azure snarled.

“Now see here, you uncultured...”

“Silence.” Azure snarled and leaned forward in his seat. “You are a fool if you think for even a moment that I did not see you looking at them with intent. I am no fool. Trying to fool me out of the purest gold to come out of the ground itself is an activity I am well acquainted with. Lies are a part of every pony and nothing changes that. Your mistake is trying to lie to a pony that was raised among liars and cheats. So here is your chance to rectify your words. Check. Them. Again.” 

Twilight stared at him but didn’t stop him as his red eyes blazed at the pony at the desk, who tried to look confident but was failing at the endeavor. Azure's eyes did not blink or falter as the pony tried to stare back at him but he ended up pulling back and looking to the desk once more. He picked up one of the coins and looked at it through the glass once more. 

“It might be close to pure but I can assure you that it is not...”

“Enough. I will not tolerate a pony who is going to lie to my face and expect me to allow it. Thank your Princess that I am allowing you to breathe.” He snarled as the coins were covered in his magic and swept into the small bag. Azure pulled back as the pony lunged for the small bag and his hooves gripped it tightly. 

“Perhaps we can do a test on these to find out the truth.” He hurriedly said to them.

“I think not,” Azure replied. “Let’s see if I get this right. Your plan is to take them and replace them with coins that are of lesser value and then come back to me with your 'proof'. I will not permit those coins to leave my sight. If you wish to test them, then bring your device here and then I will give you one of the coins.” 

The pony looked panicked as Twilight's magic covered the pouch and it was yanked from his grasp. “I do not think we will be asking for your aid any longer. You are certain to hear about this.” She growled to him.

Her magic gave the pouch back to the Overlord and he slid it back onto place within his armor. As she stormed out, Azure was on her heels and she opened the front door for him and he walked calmly out of it and onto the street. She stopped outside and a frustrated sigh escaped the Alicorn. 

“I am so sorry Azure.” She said to him and looked to him. 

“None of the blame is yours. I learned a long time ago how to spot a liar. This treatment is not new to me.” He replied to her as they began to walk back toward the castle. 

“I can't believe he tried to do that.” She went on. “That was just so...unheard of.”

“You’re living behind rose-colored glasses Twilight. The world is often not kind and others will always seek to better themselves, no matter who gets stepped on. That is how it is.” He said to her as they walked.

“I know but...still it’s beyond what I can even think of.” She replied.

“As I said rose-colored glasses. You’re surrounded by ponies that have protected and sheltered you and because of that you have not seen the other side of the mirror,” he said to her as he walked. “The world is not as kind as you wish it was.” 

“But...”

“There is nothing else I can say Twilight. You have seen that for yourself and it is now in front of your muzzle. It is now up to you to see it for yourself if you wish to.” 

They walked in silence as they neared the castle once more and walked into the hallway, leading to the throne room doors. Twilight went quiet beside him as he looked to the doors as his magic tossed them open, his patience wearing thin. For once, Twilight did not say anything as he forced his way into the room. On her throne, Celestia looked to him and a thin smile crossed her muzzle. Her expression looked exasperated at the stallion’s entrance. 

“Overlord. It’s a pleasure to see you again. You seem upset.” She spoke up as they approached.

“That is one way to put it.” He replied. “Did you recommend that pony to help with the currency?”

“Of course. He is part of our budget committee and is very good at his job.” She explained.

“Perhaps you should audit him,” Azure replied.

The Sun Princess looked shocked at his reply. “I’m sorry, but I do not follow.”

“He claimed that the coin that I had brought to have looked into had already been checked and its quality was already known and he claimed that it’s worth was meager at best. I allowed him to dig himself a hole despite already knowing the worth of the coin and the content of the metal. After confronting him he wished to keep the coins to test them further and I declined.”

Celestia stared at him as he spoke. Surprise showed over her features as he explained the situation. “He claimed that the coins are not pure gold?” 

“Correct.”

“How do you know they are? I believe what you are telling me, but I have to ask.” Celestia replied.

“That’s fine. The coins were made in my presence. The ones I brought with me are not infected with other metals or contaminants.” Azure replied.

Celestia looked troubled as she listened to him speak. Her horn lit with her golden aura and a scroll and quill appeared as she began writing.  Azure said nothing as the note burned away as she sent it.  “I am asking for one of my most trusted laboratory technicians to join us with the equipment needed to test the coins.  It will be done right in front of all of us to ensure the purity of the test and the coins themselves.”  She said aloud and Azure nodded at her words.

“That is adequate.”  He replied to her. 

They waited for several minutes as a side door in the throne room opened and a brilliant green pony in a white lab coat trotted ion with a cart hovering behind him.  Several beakers and other items sat on the small table as he set it down in front of the Princess of the Sun.  

“You called, Princess Celestia?”  He said aloud and then looked to the other ponies in the room.  “Pardon my manners.  Greetings to you Princess Twilight and Overlord Azure Flame.”

Azure allowed the look of surprise to go over his features as Celestia giggled.  “I made sure that your face is recognizable.  I did not wish to insult you.”  She said to him.

“I appreciate the forethought.”  He replied to her, surprise in his voice as he gave a slight nod to the worker.  

Twilight smiled and they both approached the lab equipment and Azure pulled a single coin from the small pouch hidden on his armor.  He set it on the table and the pony looked at it and then back to the princess of the Sun.

“We need to know the metal content of that coin. Other can be tested as well to ascertain the content.”  Celestia explained.  

“Of course.”  The green pony asked for nothing else as he took the coin and set it aside.

Azure side passed to the side of the table, as if to watch the proceedings when in fact he could not have cared less about the experiment.  His mind wandered as he waited for the results.  At his side, Twilight watched intently as the pony tested the coin.  ‘Hopefully this will clear up any further issues and will allow for the coin to be converted.  It will be changed in time when I allow myself to take the kingdom.  But for now I will play along with this.’  He thought to himself and he took the weight off one hind leg and allowed himself to relax as much as was allowed.  A loud clink of glass caught his attention and jarred him from his thoughts.  The pony was staring at the coin in front of him and looked at those assembled.

“May I ask where this came from?”  He asked.

Celestia nodded and looked to the red Unicorn.  “It came from his lands, mined from gold mines that he owns.” 

“Oh.  That explains a few things.”  He replied. “Okay, so the metal is the purest gold that I have ever seen.  It also contains hints of magic as well.  What type of mining was used?”

“Do you mean what brought it from the ground?” Azure asked and the pony nodded.  “Simple pickaxe and labor.”  

“So no magic was used to mine the ore?”

“No,”  Azure replied to his inquiry.  

“Well.  Then you have the best miners in Equestria and they can work miracles.  This coin is worth a large number of bits due to the purity and inherent magic within the coin itself.  I do not know the current exchange rates but I would assume that it is worth at least fifty to a hundred bits each.”  He replied.

“Funny,”  Azure said aloud, sarcasm.  “An ‘Expert’ said that it was at best half gold and was worth barely ten bits.”  

The technician’s eyes widened as he stared at the red stallion. “Is he blind?”  

Twilight snorted a laugh and shook her head.  “No.”

“Then has either a fool, a liar or a thief.”  He went on.  “I work with chemicals and such things all day and I can promise you this is pure.”  

“Thank you for your help,”  Celestia said aloud.

“Should I test another coin?”  The tech asked.

“Do you think it is needed?”  Twilight asked.

“To silence other doubters perhaps,”  Azure replied and his magic set five more coins on the table.  

The pony nodded and went to work testing the other coins and Celestia left her seat and joined them.  “Please accept my sincere apologies for this Azure.”  She said to him.

“You could not have known of his subterfuge.  Though I will ask that he not be permitted near the coins if I trade them in.”  He said to her.

“Understood.  He will be investigated as well.  Perhaps we have given him too much freedom."  Celestia replied.

“All of them are the same.  As pure as can be and an added magic to them as well.”  He said aloud as he finished the final tests.  “Here you go.” 

Azure took the offered coins and slid them back into the pouch.  The tech began to clean up his work and slowly made his way out of the room after bowing to the group of them.  Celestia stood with him and appeared thoughtful for a moment before she spoke.  

“Well.  Without knowing the current exchange rates I cannot give a clear answer to their worth but I trust that technician and he prides himself on accuracy.  So that being said I will be happy to alert Twilight once I can get an accurate number for you.”  She said to him.

“That will be fine.  I am in no hurry at this time.”  He said to her.

“What about the dress Juno asked for?” Twilight asked him.

Azure looked at her for a moment before he closed his eyes as he recalled that his mistress had put in a request to Rarity.  “I had forgotten.”  He replied.  “How long will it take to be finished?”

“If she is in the throes of creativity it could be a few days or less,”  Twilight replied.

“By the Dark.”  He cursed.  “Well, it will have to wait until the currency is sorted out.”  

“Juno?”  Celestia asked.

“She is one of the emissaries to the sections of my kingdom.”  He replied.

“Not a wife or anything like that.”  Twilight chuckled and he shook his head.

“Well, please allow me to pay for the dress for her then.  It is not your fault or hers that this unpleasantness has happened.  Twilight, can you ask Rarity to send the invoice to me for payment?” The Sun Princess said to them.

“She will appreciate the gesture,”  Azure said to the Alicorn and waited as Twilight nodded at her mentor’s request.

“It is my pleasure.  Again, I am sorry for what has happened, Azure.  I thank you for your understanding.”  

“Of course.”  He said to her as he gave her a polite nod.  

The mares both smiled and he turned to leave the room, a slight smile on his mouth.  ‘And they happily trust that I am here to earn their aid.  In time.’  He thought to himself as twilight joined him and they left the castle, walking to the waiting Gate.
> 11: Into the Desert...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure waited as Juno slipped into her new dress as he sat in a chair provided by Rarity.  The dressmaker pushed the cloth barrier back and Juno walked out in a deep purple gown.  It only had one sleeve that stretched down to her hock.  A stripe of vibrant white went along her chest and circled around her neck and flowed off the back of the dress in a short train.  A thin belt went around her hips and flowed down in a waterfall effect from her hips and joined into the train.  He had to admit it looked nice on her and he nodded to her as he pushed away from the chair.  

“It’s stunning!”  Juno gushed over the dress and spun in place, showing off the flowing fabric.  “I simply adore it.”  

“It fits you perfectly, Juno.”  He replied and she jumped to nuzzle him and kissed his cheek.  

“It’s perfect.”  Rarity agreed.  “I simply love it against your coat and mane.”  

Juno looked to him and he nodded to her in approval. While he did not prefer her, he had to admit she had an appeal all her own.  Rarity stepped back as the mare admired the gown in the mirror.  The white Unicorn came over to him and he lowered his head as she spoke to him.

“She is a bit demanding, but that gown is simply gorgeous on her.”  She whispered to him.

“She can be quite insufferable I agree.”  He replied to her and she giggled quietly behind a hoof.  “I appreciate your patience with her.”  

“A bit demanding, but not the worst of my customers.” Rarity confided in him.

He chuckled and stood up to his full height. He glanced over his shoulder as Wrath was sitting in place on the Overlords back and was looking at his claws, afflicted by the sheer boredom.  Azure said nothing to the minion as he was not the only one that was bored out of his mind.  The red stallion was quiet as he waited for the mare to finish admiring herself. Rarity tapped his shoulder once more and he lowered his head to her.

“I must admit that I was a bit surprised when she mentioned that ponies of the Empire wear clothes all the time.”  She said to him.  “Do all of them truly wear dresses and suits?”

“Dresses yes, but I have never seen any of them in a full suit.  A jacket maybe.”  He replied to her.  “It’s a matter of preference.”

“And you dear?”

“I wear my armor.  That’s as close as it gets.”  He admitted.

“Well, if you change your mind I can design a set of clothing for you that would be amazing on your lovely red coat.”  She said to him.

“I will keep it in mind.”

The mare nodded and looked back to Juno. Azure was quiet as he let his mind wander.  He was aware that the changelings were still around and were watching him as he moved around.  He kept his manner stiff, letting them think that they were memorizing his mannerisms. He kept Juno with him as often as he could tolerate her.  He mostly walked her through Canterlot and occasionally within Ponyville.  He kept a small group of blue minions with him and watched them see if they could sense the little creatures around them.  He had been given an indication from them once, within Canterlots walls.  He made sure that they saw Juno and he gave the impression that she was favored at his side since there was no indication of any other mare with him.  

The red stallion watched as Juno finished her preening and joined him once more.  Rarity bid them good day after ensuring that he knew about Celestia’s request for the invoice and he assured the fashionista that he was well aware.  They left the boutique and he held the door for the mare as she pranced out into the open.  Several ponies stopped to look at her gown and she made sure to show off a bit as they began to walk forward.  On his back Wrath stood upright on his shoulder and Azure took notice when the minion did not move from the alert position and he paused as Juno walked several steps ahead of him.  He glanced to the blue minions and they were staring in the same direction that now held Wrath’s rapt attention.  The others were also staring as he waited for them to calm.  

Wrath snorted and sat back against the stallion’s armor and the others also calmed.  Juno rejoined him with a flourish, allowing the train on her dress to flow behind her.  Azure said nothing and began to walk with her once more.  He fought back a smug grin as his plan was working as he wished it to. The stallion was quiet as they walked slowly through the small town.  Juno pranced slowly at his side.  He had to admit she looked well put together in the gown and was suited to being at his side.  ‘Will have to get Kelda to her to have a gown made.’ He thought to himself as the mare pranced. He said nothing and allowed her to show off.  

He had the minions by the Changeling hive on alert and they had alerted him to their having more activity and he had visited it once more and had stayed outside of the hive.  He dared not venture inside again after the near disaster of last time. According to what he had overheard their Queen was certain of a way to get close to him.  Azure was pretty sure he knew what she meant and he allowed Juno to show exactly what kind of pony she was and allowed them to think that they could replace her and get close to him.  He would take the creature to the Netherworld and that would be the end of it for the time being.  He might take her to Canterlot to show off if he felt so inclined.  But for now, he would allow her to believe that he was unaware of her machinations.  Though he had to be careful if she began to spout off.  While he was certain that he could allay any concerns and convince Twilight and the others that he was no threat, no matter what the bug Queen spouted.

He gave a slight shake of his head and looked up as the castle loomed in front of them.  He had been coming every few days under the pretense of learning Equestria’s laws to see if he got the opportunity to corrupt the Princess of Friendship further.  So far he had been able to use magic on her three times, but he made sure to make it small, keeping it unnoticed by those closest to her.  Every now and then she would say something that was closer to his way of thinking and he would not react to it to ensure that no one suspected anything.  It made things remarkably easy if he allowed it to happen close to him.  Juno pranced at his side as they neared the Netherworld Gate.  He looked up as familiar mare trotted toward him.  

“Azure!”  Twilight yelled to him as he neared them.  “Hi, Juno.”  She greeted the mare as she stopped ahead of them.

“Morning,”  Juno replied.

“Good morning Twilight.”  Azure greeted her.

“I found another Gate.”  She related to him.  

“Excellent.  Where?” 

“A town named Appleoosa.”  

“Interesting.  Well, I assume that I need to go there?”

“Your right,”  Twilight replied.  “I think we should bring Applejack as well.”

“Why?”

“Her cousin lives there and she knows most everypony.  Might make things easier.”  

Azure was quiet as he considered what she had said. Juno leaned against him as he thought it over.  Twilight smiled at her but he saw a shift in her eyes for a moment and then it was gone. He fought back a smirk and nodded to the Alicorn.  

“Very well.  If you think she can help then she can come with.  Juno?”  The mare looked to him.  “Go back to the Netherworld and inform the others of what I am doing.”  

“My Lord, I could come with you…”  She began and his glowing red eyes narrowed and she wisely paused.  “As you wish.”  She wisely corrected herself. 

He watched her got to the Gate and its magic took her away after a moments delay.  He glanced to the Alicorn who smiled at him.  

“Okay, so we need to go get Applejack.”  She said to him.  “I didn’t know you were in town or I would have asked her to join me.” 

“That’s fine,”  Azure replied to her.  

He allowed the mare to lead him out of town and onto a dirt road.  “So where is she?”

“At her family’s farm.  They run Sweet Apple Acres.  So she’s probably out in the fields.”

“I see,”  Azure replied and walked quietly at her side.  

They neared a fence and she led him through and toward a farmhouse off to the side.  She stopped by the red barn and he looked over the structure and waited as she looked around as well.  

“Okay.  I will be right back.”  She said to him and took to the air.  

The stallion watched as she left him behind and he snorted at the idea of staying in the place she had left him and he began to walk around him.  He poked his head into the barn and didn’t see anything that struck him as interesting and he left it behind as he neared the house once more and looked over the outside of it.  He heard a low yelp and he looked around as a group of foals stared at him from the main fence.  The stallion ignored them turned to look through the orchard nearest to him and he could feel Wrath shift on his back, but ignored the minion’s movement.  His hooves were quiet, despite the heavy armor he wore, as he walked a few trees into the orchard before a light tug on his mane got his attention.  

“Hmm?”  He looked over his shoulder as Wrath pointed behind him.

Azure looked behind him to see the three foals following him, their eyes wide and staring.  He said nothing to them as he turned around to face them.  They stared up at him and he moved to go around them, choosing to ignore them further.  His hooves carried him out of the trees and he moved to look past the barn and he could smell the scent of animals as it hit his nose and he snorted but kept walking. He could feel Wrath moving toward his flank and he then heard the minion growling.  He paused and looked back to find the foals on his heels.  He flicked his ears as they smiled and watched the annoyed minion on his back.  His tail flicked absently and he walked forward once more.  He passed by a chicken coop and looked around the pig pen before he started to walk past that toward the farther fields.  

“Master.”  Wrath called out.

Azure paused and a sigh escaped as he looked back to the minion, who was now pointing to the still following foals.  He looked back to them and they looked from the minion to him and walked closer to him.  His body stayed still as they moved and were soon on the side of him, looking from him to the growling armored minion.  Azure gave a slight buck and the minion slid off his back to the ground. He heard an upset grumble from the minion as he walked away once more.  The minion knew enough to know that he was not permitted to harm the ponies unless commanded otherwise.  So the Overlord was not concerned about them being hurt by Wrath.  He looked back as the minion was being prodded by the foals and questions were asked of it.  

“They act as if he could answer.”  He muttered to himself and kept walking.  “Gets them off my tail.”  

He kept going and found a large field of crops being grown in the back end of the farm.  His eyes scanned the area and he could hear a wailing cry behind him.  He looked back as Wrath raced toward him. He stood still as the minion neared him and scrambled to his back once more.  The foals were behind him and as they neared him the minion was again beyond their reach. He ignored them and began to walk down a narrow path along the crop field and looked over what appeared to be an irrigation system.  He had not brought his helm with him on this trip so he was not able to ask Gnarl to look it over and see if he would need to worry about maintaining it after he took the town.  He added it to the list of things to ask about in the back of his mind. He turned to head back and foals were in the way of his hooves.  

“Move.”

His voice was authoritative and they spun to run back the way they had come.  He said nothing as they got out of his way and he left the field behind him.  His interaction with children was limited after leaving Nordberg as a child and to be honest, he had no care to start now.  His hooves thudded on the dirt as he began to walk away from them.  He glanced back as Wrath once more began to growl as they tailed him.  He ignored them and kept walking.  

“Umm…Excuse me.”  

He could hear one of them speak and he stopped to look over his shoulder once more.  He didn’t say anything as one walked closer to him.  He looked a bit closer and he could tell that it was a filly and her coat was a creamy white with pink and purple curled hair.  He waited as she looked to him and finally spoke again.

“Are you Azure?”  She asked him.

“I am.”  He replied.

“My sister mentioned you.  I’m Sweetie Belle”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.  Rarity is my sister and she told me about you.”

“Did she?”  His tone was bored as he waited for her to get to the point.

“Yeah, she said that you came from far away and if I saw you I should say hello.”  She went on.

“And now you have.”  He replied and began to walk away once more.  

“Oh wait.”  She yelped and he could hear the others keeping pace with her as he paused once more.  

“Yes?”

“These are my friends.  Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.”  She said and pointed to the other fillies as she spoke.

“Charmed.”  He replied and began to walk once more.  

“Wait!”  

They shouted to him and he paused once more. His eyes looked to them, his expression already bored with them.  They looked to him as they came to a stop at his side.  

“What are you wearing?”  The orange one asked him.

“Armor.”  

“Why?”  She asked.

“Why not?”

They stopped at his question and shrugged. “Nopony else wears it.”  The yellow one replied.

“That’s their choice.”  He replied.  

“But why?”  Sweetie Belle asked him.

He stared at her as he sighed.  “I choose to wear it to avoid ponies touching me.”  He replied.

“Oh.”  They replied and looked at each other at his reply.  

Azure was quiet as they considered his reply. To be honest, he did not much care if they touched him, but his armor acted as a deterrent and he was fine with that. He didn’t want them to get that close unless he has a reason.  

“What's his name?”  Scootaloo asked and pointed to the growling minion.

“Wrath.”  He replied and the minion stopped at the mention of his name.

“What kind of name is that?”  Apple Bloom said.

“It’s the one he came with,”  Azure replied.  “I did not choose it.”

“He’s not your pet?”

Azure stared for a moment as a bark of laughter broke from him.  “By the Dark, no.  He is a member of my army.  Nothing more than that.”  

“So what’s his job?”  Scootaloo asked him.

“To protect me.”  He replied.  

“From what?”  Apple Bloom asked.

“Anything that seems to be a threat.”  He replied.

“Like what?”  They pressed and he sighed.  

“Weapons, ponies trying to touch me, etc.”  

“What would he do if I touched you?”

“Touch me and find out.”  He replied as the minion snarled and leaned toward them, his claws out.

“Maybe not.”  Sweetie Belle spoke up at the sight of the minion's claws.  

“He’s not that scary looking.”  Scootaloo pointed out.  “He looks kind of wimpy.”  

“Perhaps to you.”  He replied.  

“So he’s not a good guard if he’s not scary.” Scootaloo went on.  

Azure sighed and fought the desire to allow the minion to slap them into submission and instead chose to scare them a different way.  “What would he need to do to be scary?”

“He needs to be bigger.”  Sweetie Belle replied.

“He only has claws.  He needs a sword.”  Scootaloo replied. 

“He looks really weak, so he needs muscles.” Apple Bloom added.  

“Hmm.” He thought about their list and looked to the minion.  “Wrath.” The minion turned to him and waited for instructions.  “Return to the netherworld.  Trade armor, gain a weapon, and return to me.”  

The minion stood up and saluted as he jumped off the stallions back and raced for the Gate.  Azure watched as he vanished and looked to the fillies.  “Three minutes.”  He said to them and stood in place, his expression bored.  

The foals looked to him as he waited and they tried to question him further as they waited but he refused to speak.  He could sense the minion returning to him and he looked from the fillies to the advancing minion.  The minion had switched into the armor that Azure had designed for combat and now carried the spear he had also designed and also had a short-range sword on the minion’s thin hip.  The minion approached them and branded the spear at them to force them to back away from the Overlord.  They started as the minion was now bigger and weaponized.  While he could do nothing about muscle mass the armor fit perfectly and the minion now had more bulk.  

“Okay, so he looks a bit scarier.”  Apple Bloom pointed out and the others nodded.  

Azure examined a hoof boot for a moment before he shrugged and began to walk away, a whistle leaving his lips.  Wrath leaped to him and retook his place on Azures back and shoulder.  The fillies caught up to him and the heavily armored minion snarled.  

“So why was he wearing the other stuff?”  Sweetie Belle asked.

“That armor is for everyday use.  This one is for heavy combat.”  He replied.  

“Well…he’s still not that scary,”  Scootaloo said to him.

He could hear the tremor in her voice but he paused at her words.  “Oh?”

“Yeah.  He could still get stepped on.”  She went on.

“Very well.”  

Azure looked up past the hills to where he knew the Gate stood.  His Gauntlet roared as the colors shifted within it.  He watched as the fillies shuddered at the sudden sound.  They looked at the gauntlet as he raised that hoof and after a moment’s delay, he slammed the hoof to the ground, commanding the legion that sat at his beck and call.  The fillies were quiet as the ground began to shake under their hooves. Screams and calls sounded out and they were quiet as he spun to face them. 

“Step on them.”  He said to them and looked to the small hill as the minions swarmed over it. 

He heard the fillies gasp as they kept coming. He had summoned close to a hundred of them just to prove a point.  The foals cried out as the minions came to him and stood around them, staying close to their Master as he stood tall before them.  Azure said nothing as the Browns roared in unison and the Reds stood behind them, fire licking from their hands.  The Greens hissed and leaped from tree to tree, venom dripping from their claws and the blades they carried.  The Blues stood at the back, protected by the ferocity of their fellows.  The fillies stared from the minions to the Overlord before them.  

“Scary enough?”  He asked them.

They began to whimper as he turned to walk away from them, leaving them whimpering in his wake.  The minions fell in behind him, leaving them behind and he walked past the chicken coop with the minions in his wake.  He looked up as a flustered Princess stared at him.  Her mouth agape at the horde at his back.  

“What is going on?  I was gone for a few minutes.”  She asked him.

“It’s nothing.  Just proving a point.”  He replied to her.  

He looked up as Applejack came out of the house and joined the purple Alicorn, her eyes wide.  

“Whoa.”  She said aloud.  “What in tarnation are ya doin’ with all o’ them?”

“Nothing.  Just giving them a run.”  He replied. 

“Okay, let's head out I guess.  Are you going to keep all of them with us?”  Twilight asked as they began to leave.

“No.  I will send the majority back home.”  He explained. 

“Good, since I think all of them would cause a panic.” She replied, a nervous glance to the horde at his command.  

“I have no desire to cause an issue.  I simply wanted to give them a little exercise.”  

“Well.  Ya certainly have enough ta give a town a run fer its’ bits.”  Applejack said to him as they walked closer to town.  

“Again, that is not my aim.”  He replied to her.  

Twilight and the other mare were quiet as they neared the Gate.  Azure commanded the majority to return to the Netherworld.  Keeping twenty with him as he looked to the two mares and walked up to the lightning-charged Gate.  

“It only looks bad, Applejack.  I promise it’s safe to go through.”  Twilight assured the visibly skeptical farm mare.  

“If ya say so.”  She replied and mounted the metal stairs to join the Overlord and the Alicorn above her.  

“Hold onto her,”  Azure said to Twilight, who nodded and gripped her friend’s fur with her hoof.  

“Close your eyes,”  Twilight advised.  “It’s not as disorienting that way.”

“Great.”  Applejack commented and closed her eyes tightly.  

Azure called on the gate's power and the thunder roared as they were moved from place to place.  He looked up as a wall greeted him.  “Might need to ask about it being moved.”  He muttered to himself.  “Can’t see a damned thing.”

“Huh?”  Twilight said to him as he spoke.  

“Nothing.  Just make a note to myself.”  

“Wow.”  Applejack staggered off the Gates stairs and spread all four legs to keep herself standing. “Ya weren’t kiddin’.  That’s not a fun thing.”  

“It takes getting used to,”  Twilight admitted and patted her shoulder in sympathy. 

“It does take some time.”  He admitted since he had nearly retched the first time he used one.  

“Okay.  So once we get around this we can see Appleoosa.”  Twilight said and led him around the train station to see the town that it hid.  “It’s a nice little town.”  She said to him and Applejack nodded in agreement.  

“Hmm.”  He made a non-committal noise in reply and followed the mares forward.  

He looked around and he could see that she had not been exaggerating about the size of the place.  Applejack looked to him as they began to walk down the main street. 

“Mah cousin should be around here somewhere.” She said of him.  “In the meantime, we can talk to the Sheriff about that there Gate a’ yers.”  

“Glorious.”  He replied and followed her.  

He was quiet as ponies immediately began to stare at him as his hooves thudded across the dirt.  The minions grumbled and growled behind him as he walked.  The Overlord kept his head high as he moved and watched as the ponies began to whisper and point.  Ahead of them a mare saw them and took off at a hard gallop toward the end of the street and disappeared.  After a short delay, a light colored pony with a dark brown mane came running down the road and slid to a stop at the sight of the two mares and the armored stallion.  He wore a hat similar to Applejacks stood on his head even though it was black with a red stripe around it.  He had a thick black mustache that Azure had to admit looked ridiculous on the pony. He also wore a thick blue denim vest. 

“Applejack?”  He sputtered out finally after staring for several seconds.  

“Sheriff Silvester.”  Ashe greeted him with a smile and approached him.  “It’s been a bit since last Ah saw ya.”

“It’s been a bit yes.  Princess Twilight.”  He greeted her with a polite nod and tip of his hat.  

Azure held back his displeasure at the lack of proper greeting and stayed quiet.  The stallion looked at him and then to the mares.  

“This is Overlord Azure Flame.  He’s the owner of the structure you wrote to the Princess about.”  Twilight supplied.

“Ahh.  Pleasure ta meet ya.”  The sheriff said to him.

“Pleasure is mine,”  Azure replied and waited as they went on.

“Right.  That thing came outta nowhere and has been scaring the locals.”  The Sheriff said to the stallion.  “What can we do to get rid of it?”

“I can move it a bit, but it cannot be moved too far from the original location.  Due to the possibility of the magic that controls it collapsing it will remain in the area.”  Azure replied.  “I will summon my digger to handle the gate itself.”  

“So we are stuck with it?”  Silverstar asked.

“Yes,”  Twilight replied.  “The Overlord is right that it can’t be handled by any other than him and those he allows to.”  

Azure saw the odd look Applejack gave her friend and she seemed to ignore it and she looked to him.  “What she said is correct.  I will move it a slight bit, but it cannot be removed.”

The Sheriff looked unconvinced but nodded in agreement.  “Well do what ya can.”  He replied.

Azure looked back to the Gate and his gauntlet called out a short blast of sound.  A scream went out as Grubby tore over the arid dirt and slid to a stop at his side.  “Move the gate away from the building and secure it.  Add the Minion Gates as well.”  He commanded and the minion saluted as it raced back to the Gate.  

“That will do.”  He replied, his voice bland, boredom showing through his actions.

“What are those things?”  The Sheriff asked as he stared at the minions that were sitting or sleeping behind the armored stallion.

“They are a part of my army.”  

“Army?!”  The Sheriff looked concerned as he heard the stallion speak.  “What do ya need an army for?”

“Where I was located before I had to reclaim my lands and it took an army to accomplish this.  They are now tasked with finding the missing Gates and protecting my subjects.”  Azure explained.

“Your subjects?”

“His ponies were brought to the Everfree Forest and he uses the minions to patrol and protect them.”  Twilight supplied.

“Oh.” The Sheriff looked uncertain.

Azure looked around them to the modest houses and businesses around him and he reached out to the Tower Heart to see how the draining of the first area was proceeding.  He made a note to look into the next area when he went back to the Tower. 

“Azure?”

“Hmm?”  He heard his name and looked to find Twilight looking to him.  

“Are you okay with walk-in around Appaloosa to get a better look at it?”  She asked him.

“Certainly.  Lead the way then.”  He replied and the Alicorn gave a nod to the Sheriff and began to lead the stallion away from the main road.

“I can introduce you to Chief Thunderhooves as well.” She said to him as Applejack stood on her other side.  

“Who?”  He asked her, his eyes narrowed slightly at the name.

“Chief Thunderhooves is the leader of the local buffalo tribe.”  She explained.  “We first came out here with a new tree for Applejacks cousins’ new orchard and the settlers were having a conflict with the local tribe and they argued about the land that was being used.  It was in the middle of one of their traditional stampeding paths.  In the end, they agreed to allow the settlers to use the path so long as they shared with Apple goods that come from the trees.”  

“Interesting.”  Azure was more interested in seeing these other beings more than the conflict with them. 

“Might take a bit ta get to ‘em.”  Applejack said to him.  “Twilight can ya teleport us?”  

“Yeah.  Just have the minions hold onto you and us.”  She said as the minions gripped her fur and wings.  “That was easy.”

Azure closed his eyes as the magic covered them and he gave a slight groan as the magic faded and he looked up to see a circle of large creatures staring at the group.  “You put us in the center of them.”  He said to her.

The mare looked up and a sheepish look went over her features.  “Oops.” He looked at him as he managed not to growl at her and Wrath fell off his back.  “Sorry Wrath.”  She apologized to the minion as he shook his head and jumped to the Overlords back once more.  

Applejack chuckled at the minions as they reoriented themselves and huddled around the Overlord.  A small buffalo trotted to them with happy noises.  “Little Strongheart.”  Applejack called out to her and the buffalo smiled in reply.

“Hi.”  She called out a greeting but slowed at the sight of the armored minions.  

“Oh.  Don’t mind Azure.  He’s not so bad.”  The farm mare assured her and patted the stallion's shoulder.  

The buffalo smiled once more and came up to them.  Azure looked at her and she had a band around the top of her head just above her ears of various colors with a feather sticking out of it.  He looked to the others of her species and he could see that the others were quite large. 

“It’s good to see you again.”  She said to them.

“It’s been a while since we were here last,”  Twilight replied.  “This is Overlord Azure Flame.  He came here to look at the Gate that showed up here.”  

“That odd thing by the train station?”  The small buffalo clarified.

“Yeah.  It belongs to him but he didn’t place it there.  He’s here to fix it and make sure it’s as safe as it can be.  It’s not totally safe but it is enough to make sure no pony gets killed by it.”  

“Could there be more of them here?”  

“Perhaps,”  Azure replied.  “There are quite a few of them that are still missing.”  

“There’s a place out in the desert that looks like something is wrong with it.  We only saw it during a stampede and we can’t figure it out.”  She replied.  

“How far is it?”  Applejack asked her.

“Not too far.  We can carry you to it.”  Strongheart replied.  

“That would be fine.  Azure?  Do you mind?” Twilight asked him.

“If it is a malfunctioning Gate, then you will need me anyway.  So I will come with you.”  He agreed.

Azure was quiet as they began to make arrangements to take them into the desert.  He reached out to the Tower Heart once more and focused on its power.  He reached out to the area and a smile tugged at his lips. He knew where they were going and he knew the reason.  But he would keep that to himself.  If he was right then the area he had been draining to strengthen the Tower Heart was not too far away from him.  Looked back as a buffalo came toward him and stopped in front of him.  

“He will carry you there Azure,”  Twilight said to him as she hopped onto one of the other buffalo.

Azure had to admit that was an odd idea.  His hooves were fine but he had to admit the idea of being carried could grow on him as well.  He looked at the buffalo who knelt down to make it easier for him to jump up.  Azure looked to eh minions with him and they came forward to make a set of minion stairs for him.  He set one hoof on the first set and then up to the final one and sat as regally as possible while balancing on the creatures back.  

“Have ta admit Ah didn’t think they could hold ya.” Applejack teased.

“You clearly underestimate them,”  Azure replied as the minions fell into place next to the buffalo as it got to its hooves.  

He spread his forelegs to balance as the buffalo looked back to him and he gave a slight nod to the creature that now carried him. Strongheart came up to him and looked up to him.  

“Are you okay?”  She asked him.

“Yes.  This will be fine.”  He said to her.  

She nodded and started to lead them into the desert.
> 12: A Vanishing Act...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure looked down as the buffalo picked up speed and moved into an easy gallop.  The minions kept up as they moved and he had to admit that the buffalo were faster than they looked.  His eyes scanned the area around him and found it to be a boring landscape of compacted dirt and the occasional cactus.  The buffalo carrying him ran at an easy pace that was easy for him to sit and not be tossed around.  He had never been one to be carried much throughout his retaking of the Empire and not much after it.  Though he had to admit this made things easier on him and he looked down at the minions as they kept an easy pace with the buffalo.  They stayed at its sides, protecting the buffalo that carried him as if it were him alone.  The red stallion was quiet and looked up as Twilight angled her buffalo toward him and pulled up next to him, careful of the running minions.  

“I’m surprised they can keep up so easily.” She called out to him over the pounding hooves.

“They could always keep up with me.”  He called back.

“That’s true.  They didn’t have any issue tracking that Changeling and stayed a bit ahead of you.”  She admitted with a thoughtful glanced to them once more.  “I have been watching out for any signs of Changelings since and I haven’t found anything.”

“Nor have I.”  He lied easily to her.  He would keep his machinations to himself and include her only if it suited him in the long run.

“Not sure If I am relieved or not about that.” She replied.

Azure shrugged and looked ahead of them. Applejack was up with Little Strongheart and he could see that they were talking over the hooves.  The Alicorn was quiet as they moved over the arid landscape of compacted dirt.  His body was well tuned to the Tower Heart by now and he could reach out to it at any time and could sense that they were drawing upon a font of its power.  ‘So this is where it's draining from.’  He thought to himself.  

Applejack came over to them and she yelled to them above the hooves.  “We’re almost there!  She said that they don’t know when it started but it was getting bigger.”  The orange mare explained.

“Any sign of tampering around it?”  Twilight asked.

“Nah.  She said that they have been watching it since they found it but still have no idea what it is or what’s causing it.”  

“Odd,”  Azure added in for appearances.

The mares all looked ahead and he watched the buffalo ahead of them.  The buffalo began to slow down as the little one ahead of them began to slow down.  They slowed to a stop and the minions drew up next to the buffalo, once more acting as stairs for him as Twilight and Applejack jumped from their backs.  Strongheart led them up to a spot of darkened dirt.  He looked at it and he could tell that it was a draining point for the Tower Heart.  The dirt was no longer viable and was in essence dead.  The Tower Heart was draining the life and magic from the land in and around it.  

“Wha’ in tarnation?”  Applejack asked and looked closer at the ground.  

“What can cause this?”  Strongheart asked.

“I’m not sure.  Let’s take a closer look.”  Twilight said and motioned for him to join her.  

He joined the purple mare and watched as she picked up a hoof-full of the dead ground and let it fall from her hoof back to the ground.  The red stallion gave the pretense of looking intently at the dead soil and walked slowly at the edge for a moment before rejoining the mare.  

“Any ideas?”  He asked her.

“Any chance this could be a broken Gate?”  She asked.

“Not possible.”  He replied with certainty.

“How are ya so sure?”  Applejack asked him.

“If a Gate collapsed here the area could not be in this condition.  It would be destroyed in a greater display.  Plus it would not be this small.”  He reasoned.

“He’s right,”  Twilight spoke up.  “If a magical item the size of a Gate failed the area would be more disturbed and the area would be blackened.”  She explained.

“So what happened?”  Strongheart asked.

“Not sure,”  Twilight replied and looked again.

He watched as her horn lit with her aura and a tape measure appeared in her magic as she sent it to the other side to measure the anomaly.  It came back and her eyes widened slightly.  

“Okay its thirty feet wide in a circle.  So I wonder how deep it is.”  She asked and her magic flashed as a long pole appeared instead of the tape measure.  She pushed the pole into the ground and it dove into the softened earth in response to the force.  She pushed the pole deeper and the dead soil soon covered the top of it.  “Okay, so it is deeper than ten feet.”  

A scroll and quill appeared in her magic as she began to take notes.  Applejack stayed with her as she began to circle the darkened ground.  Azure looked at the dying ground before him and she fought back a smile that threatened to tug at his mouth.  At his sides, the minions were quiet and were lounged around his hooves.  He wasn’t concerned about being found out as he set the Tower Heart to begin to drain other locations as well.  The red stallion glanced over his shoulder to the buffalo who seemed to be happy patiently waiting in the background.  

His only complaint so far was the heat.  His armor was dark in color and he held back a complaint as the sun beat down on him.  He looked to the minions and they began to climb over him and several shield their arms up to shield his face from the heat.  He heard a chuckle as he looked to the mares and they were chuckling at his use of the creatures.  He shrugged and they stayed in place.  Twilight flew over to him and she hovered over him, her wings blotting out more of the sun.  He looked to her and she chuckled in place.  

“A bit warm out fer armor, pardner.”  Applejack said as she joined them.

“I did not anticipate being out in the desert when I chose what set to wear this morning.”  He said back to her.  

“Why don’t you have them hold parts of it till ya get back?”  She reasoned to him.  

His blank expression earned a shrug from her as she sighed.  

“She has a point though,”  Twilight said to him as she hovered.  “You can keep the chest piece, but the rest can go.  Armor is meant to cover your chest anyway, most vital organs.”  She reasoned.

“True.”  He replied and looked over his body to the armor covering his flanks and legs.  

He could feel sweat beading up under his red fur and after several minutes the confining armor was becoming stifling. He growled and his Gauntlet roared as he commanded the minions with him.  They crawled over him as Twilight dropped to the ground close to him.  He could feel the armor covering his flanks being loosened and then being pulled away from his body.  He glanced back as pieces were dropped to the minions on the ground and they passed them amongst themselves to carry the rest. The largest piece on his flanks was removed and dropped to the others, he shook himself once the minions had dropped off his back and were once more standing quietly at his side.  

“Wow.”  Applejack said aloud.

Azure looked to her and her eyes were wide.  His eyes went to Twilight and she was staring as well.  He looked back to his flanks and didn’t see anything to cause such a stir from them.  He rolled his eyes and began to walk away from them.  

“Azure?”  Twilight spoke up.

“Yes?”

“You know you don’t have a Cutie Mark, right?”

“A what?”  He asked as he looked back to her.  

She pointed to the mark on her hip and he looked back to his and it was as blank as always.  The mares were looking at him for any type of reaction.  

“It’s always like that?”  She asked further.

“Of course.”  He replied.  “There has never been anything there.”  He explained. “I do not need such a thing.”  

“It tells you what makes you unique.” Twilight explained.  “Like a talent.”  

Azure stared at them as they waited for him to respond, he barked a laugh.  “How ridiculous.”  He replied and went on walking away from them.  He glanced back and they were both staring at him their jaws slightly agape. 

The red stallion stood on the other side of the dark earth and looked down at it.  He looked around for a moment and placed one armored hoof on the ground and he pulled back at the sudden draw from him.  ‘Hmm.  That could be a problem.’  He thought to himself as he reached out to the Tower heart once more.  His thoughts became more specific and he commanded it to draw only from the ground and not ponies.  He didn’t care about any other creatures so long as the ponies didn’t catch on to any issues with it.  He looked up as Twilight flew to him and landed next to him.  

“You sure you’re okay?”

He allowed his head to tilt slightly to show that he wasn’t following her line of questioning.

“About your cutie mark.”  She replied.

“Oh.  I had already forgotten about it.  As I said it has always been like this and I have no desire to change it.”  He explained.  “I fail to see why it is so important to you.”

“All ponies have one.  I’m shocked you don’t.  I would have thought a pony your age would have one already.”  

“What does my age have to do with it?”  He asked her, allowing some annoyance to creep into his tone.

“I just mean that most ponies our age have theirs and know what their special talent is.”  She quickly explained.  

“And again I do not feel the need for one.  I do not care what is normal for others nor do I feel the need to find out.  I know what I do well and a strange mark on my hip isn’t going to change that.”  He replied to her.

“Oh.”  She replied quickly.  “Well, it’s good that you’re okay with it.  A lot of ponies would be upset by it but I’m glad that you’re okay.”  

He snorted in reply and she went quiet at his side.  He glanced to her after a few minutes and she was taking notes on the dead earth before them and he slowly walked away from her to look at it more closely on his own. He looked up as Applejack joined her and he could hear them whispering amongst themselves.  

“If it bothers the both of you so much, shall I put the armor back on?”  He said to them.  He watched them both stiffen.  “What foolishness this is.”  The Gauntlet roared and the minions began to come to him but they were stopped by a magenta aura.  

“No.  Sorry,” Twilight said to him.  “It’s not that it bothers us it’s just different. It’s too hot for you to be wearing all of it and it was rude of us to talk behind your back.”  She rushed out and released the minions once the Gauntlet went silent.  “Leave it off.  I’m sorry. We’re both sorry.”  

He gave a slight nod to her and left the armor in the hands of the minions.  The stallion said nothing and walked close to them once more.  

“Sorry bout that.”  Applejack said to him.

“Let it die.”  He replied. 

“Huh?”  Applejack replied to him, her eyes wide.

“He means that the subject is dead so leave it alone.”  Twilight clarified she had grown accustomed to his way of speaking over time.  

“Oh.”  Applejack smiled at him and nodded.  “Ah got it.” 

Twilight looked to him and her eyes widened for a moment.  “Azure!” She yelled at him and flew to his side. “Is it possible for your magic to find out what could be causing this?”

“For example?”  He asked her, he was curious what her train of thought was.

“Is the Netherworld located close to here?”

“Not that I am aware of.”  He admitted.

She looked to the deadened earth in front of her. “Is it possible the Netherworld is around here and it's having an adverse effect on the land?”

“No.”  He replied. “The Netherworld is not built that way.” He explained to her.  “It takes energy from itself.”  

“Oh.  Well, that’s good.”  She admitted and a smile grew on her muzzle.  “So we are still not sure what is causing this.”

Azure was quiet as he let her spin her wheels trying to understand what was in front of her.  So long as she did not come after him his plans were intact.   The tower heart would continue to drain this area until he commanded otherwise.  So long as it remained undisturbed then he would be able to keep its actions out of sight.  The red pony was quiet as Twilight tapped his hip and he looked back to her.  

“I am wondering if the land here is still alive.” She asked him.

He feigned surprise at her and shrugged in reply. “Just by looking at it I am not sure.” 

“Can you help me find out?”

“And how do I do that?”

“Your magic is built differently from mine.  Can it sense the life force of things around it?”

Azure was quiet as he considered her question. While he had to admit it was a good one he was not sure how to respond to her.  He hadn’t used it in that way but he was sure that with the Tower heart it was possible so long as he kept a rein on it.  He had learned that the Tower Heart had a hair trigger.  If he thought of it then the Heart would act whether he was ready or not.  He shrugged in reply.  

“It can to an extent I suppose.  Though I have not personally used it for the purpose.” He admitted.

“Can you try?”  She asked him quietly.

Azure's horn lit and he called on the Netherworlds magic to answer him.  He knew that the area was dead due to the Tower Heart but she had managed to pique his interest.  His horn was covered in his red aura and he looked to the area ahead of him and let his horn die out.  

“I don’t think it can without a bit of help.” 

“What can I do to help?”  Twilight asked.

“Perhaps if we mix the magic it will be able to reach out enough.  The netherworld magic is foreign in this place so it’s having trouble finding what we need.”  He replied to her.  

She brightened and a smile crossed her muzzle. “Of course.  Give it a point to follow and it will help me find the answer.” 

“Precisely.  We can do the same thing as before if you prefer.”  He added to her.

“Will that help, do you think?”

“Perhaps.  Can’t hurt.” He replied.

She brightened at his suggestion and nodded in agreement.  His horn blazed with his red aura and it covered the Alicorn’s horn and slowly covered her body as well.  He pushed her magic out of the way and once more pushed a piece of his own into place. Allowing her to see the dead spot of land before them.  She watched him and he tipped his horn to the land for her to look.  The Tower Heart connected with him and he pushed a bit of the same corruption that lived within him into her.  She looked to the ground and a frown went over her mouth as she looked closely at the earth.  She picked up a hoof-full of the land and scanned it.  He kept the magic on her to allow her to see.  When she was done she looked to him and he removed his magic from her and he saw her eyes flicker once more as she looked at him.  The look was gone in a moment and she scowled at the dead earth.  

“See what you needed?”  He asked her.

“Yes.  Unfortunately, it appears that the land itself has died.”  She explained as Applejack came over.

“What was that?”  She inquired and pushed the Alicorn away from him.

He feigned surprise at the farm pony’s question. “I did as she asked of me.  She asked for help and I helped.”  

“Ya did?”  

“Yes.  I asked him to help me try to find out if the land was dead or not.  I figured that since the magic of the Netherworld is different from typical Unicorn magic that it might be able to help me try to find out more about the land.”  Twilight defended.  “And it worked.”

“Oh.”  She looked sheepishly to the stallion and backed up several steps.  “Ah didn’t know.  It looked funny so Ah though somethin’ was wrong.”  

“Applejack!”  Twilight looked angrily at her friend.  “Azure is a friend of ours.  He wouldn’t try to hurt me.”  

“I have no desire to harm her,”  Azure said to her.  Which he admitted was technically true.    

The farm mare looked properly chastised and looked apologetically to the red stallion.  “Ah’m sorry Azure.  Ah’m batting a thousand with ya today.  Ah’m sorry.”

“As long as this stops happening then I do not see a reason to hold it against you.”  He replied, diplomatically.  

Applejack nodded and went back to stand with Strongheart and waited for the others to join her.  Twilight patted Azure’s shoulder and motioned for him to follow her back to the buffalo.  Azure paused and his armor was put back in place to avoid stares and more questions at his lack of one of their ridiculous marks.  The minions made the stairs for him once more and he sat evenly on the buffalo’s back.  The minions kept up as they began the journey back to the tribe and then back to Appleoosa. 





Azure walked toward the Gate and he was pleased to see that it had been moved out from behind the train station and now stood twenty feet from that original location.  While he was pleased to see it moved, he noticed that a group had gathered outside of it.  

“By the Dark.”  He cursed as he and the two mares reached the Gate.  When they didn’t move he sent the minions to make a path for him and he heard Twilight giggle at the minions as they forced the ponies back.  

Applejack didn’t say anything as he made a path for himself.  He walked ahead once there was a sufficient opening and he saw that there was a small group of minions waiting at the base of the stairs of the gate.  They saw him and started to call and yelp.  He approached them and Silverstar was not far from them. 

“They yours?”  He asked.

“Obviously,”  Azure replied.

“Well, they went tearing through town looking for ya and scared the daylights out of a lot of ponies.”

Azure looked at the group and he waited as they ran to him and began to crawl over him.  “Interesting.”  He replied and waited as they finished checking him.  He looked to them and a note was handed to him.  His magic held the letter as he opened it.


Master:
Mistress Juno left the Tower to get a slip in her gown repaired and has not returned.  She was told not to leave but she claimed that she now had your favor and left anyway.  The minions were sent to locate you and were not able to so they were commanded to search the town for your Dark Majesty.  

Gnarl

Mistress Kelda says take your dammed helm with you next time.


“Hmm.”  He said and the letter was incinerated in his magic.  “Interesting.”  He whispered aloud.  

His eyes landed on the annoyed Sherriff and he nodded his head to him.  “My apologies.  They were looking for me and were not able to find me.  They are trained to search just in case something had happened to me and I was unable to call for aid.”  He explained which was true.

“So they were makin’ sure ya weren’t hurt?”  Applejack asked him.

“Precisely,”  Azure replied to her.  “After a few close calls, we began to teach them to search for me just in case of capture or injury.”

“That makes sense.  Did they hurt anypony?”  Twilight asked.

“Nah.  Just scared ‘em,”  Silverstar admitted.

“They are also ordered not to harm the ponies and to work around them if able,”  Azure explained further.  “They are taught not to cause harm while they search for me.  If they find evidence that I have been harmed then they will react to it and double their efforts.”

“Meaning if they find your blood?”  Twilight said to him.

“Precisely.  They know what my scent is and what the smell of my blood is so they are able to track it.” Azure replied to her.

“Okay.  That makes sense actually.  They searched but nothing was broken or damaged.”  Silverstar replied.  “So no harm is done.  Just a few startled ponies.”  

“Good to hear,”  Azure replied.  “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get them back to Ponyville.”  He replied and nodded to the two mares at his back.

“Right behind you Azure,”  Twilight said to him and Applejack nodded at her side.  

He walked up to the stairs and the minions leaped into their respective gates as Wrath gripped the stallion’s armor and the mares reached out to touch his armor and held it tightly.  Thunder crashed as they emerged back in Ponyville.  He walked down the stairs with them on his heels and he began to look around as the minions rejoined him at the call of the Gauntlet.  Twilight came to stand at his side and looked at him, her expression curious.  

“What is it?”  She asked him.

“Juno came back here to have her gown checked and has not returned yet.  So I will look for her, send her home, and  then head home for the day.”  He explained.

“Do ya need any help?”  Applejack asked him.

“No.  It should be easy to find her.  I will just listen for her whining.”  He explained and Applejack nodded and smiled at Twilight as she went her own way.  

“I’ll come with you,”  Twilight said to him and fell into step at his side.  

“Very well.”  He replied and began the walk to Rarity’s boutique.  

“I thought you told her to go home?”

“I did.  Apparently being at my side recently has given her the wrong idea.”  

“What do you mean?”

“She seemed to think she has my favor and the ability to do as she wishes.”  

“Oh.”  Twilight laughed at his side.  “I assume that she is wrong?”

“You assume correctly.”  

Azure was quiet as they neared the boutique and a minion pushed open the door for him as the bell above it dinged to alert the mare aside.

“Azure?”  She called out as she came around the corner.  “What can I do for you darling?”

“Has Juno been by?”  

“Yes.  She came by to see a snag in her gown.  I fixed it and she claimed to be going home after that.”  Rarity replied to him.  “She needs a bit of a lesson in manners if I am being frank, dear.”

“She will be getting more than that when I find her,”  Azure advised. 

“Oh dear.”  Rarity replied, a hoof going to her mouth.  

“Thank you Rarity.  I was informed that she had not returned.  For her sake, she had better be in a ditch.”  He replied as he bowed his head politely to the seamstress and left the shop.  

Twilight jumped after him after saying a quick goodbye to the other mare.  “How much trouble is she in?”

“Enough that I will demote her further when I find her. I do not appreciate her thinking she is able to do as she wishes with the bit of…”  He paused as he searched for the word.

“Kindness?”  

“Not quite.”  He searched for the word but dropped it when it did not come to him.  “She will pay for this transgression.”

Twilight cringed at the angry stallion as he led her through Ponyville’s streets.  Azure had to admit that a part of his anger was fake but at the same time, he was furious that she had chosen to take the bit of leniency he gave her and run with it. His annoyance was beginning to show as the minions began to search as well.  He was fairly certain he knew what had happened to her but he was not about to guess with Twilight on his heels.  

“Can she use the Gate at will?”  Twilight asked.

“To an extent.  I altered it to only allow her to go to places she had been before.”  He replied.

“Has she been anywhere else?”  

Azure stopped in his tracks at the mare’s question. ‘If she went to Canterlot I will skin her.’  He thought to himself and the Gauntlet roared at his command. Twilight stayed close to him as a large group of minions came running to his side.  

“Find her.”  He ordered and they splintered into small groups at his direct command.  

“What?  What is it?” Twilight asked him.

“They will find her if she is in this town.”  He snarled through gritted teeth.  

“And if she isn’t?”  

“I will kill her.”  He snarled and whirled to head back to the Gate.

Twilight cringed but stayed with him as he stalked back to the gate.  ‘If the Changelings grabbed her then I’m fine and that plan is going as intended.  If not…Then I may replace her with Faye and start over.  If she survives the aftermath I will have her living in the minion burrows.’  He stopped at the Gate and waited as the minions slowly came back to him.  Twilight stared at him for a moment as the minions trickled back to him.  Azure snorted as the last came back to him.  Twilight looked to him as he closed his eyes in anger and tried not to rage in front of the Alicorn.  He pursed his lips and opened his eyes once more.  They blazed as he gathered himself and minions under his command.  He looked back to the Gate as Wrath jumped from his back under a thought command and vanished into the minion bolt hole.  A minute passed and he had returned through the Gate with Azure’s helm.  The Overlord gripped the helm and it slid into place on his form.  

“Master?”  Gnarl called out to him.

“I hear you.”  He replied.  

“No luck Master?”

“No.  That leads me to think she decided to go against orders and go to Canterlot.”  He snarled back.

“Why Master?”

“She is only permitted to go to places that she has been to before.  The only other place outside of my kingdom is Canterlot.”  He replied.

“Understood Dark one.  Will you be going after her?”

“Yes.  I will skin her if she has screwed things up.”   Azure snarled and Twilight set a hoof on his shoulder, trying to comfort him.  

“Can I help?”  She asked him, her voice quiet.

“I have Twilight with me,”  Azure said to the Minion Master.

“Oh.  Can she be useful?”  Gnarl asked him.

“Perhaps.”  He replied quietly.  “You know the most about Canterlot.”

“I was born and raised there.”  She replied.

“Perfect.  I will need you to show me around areas that, that airhead might have gone to.”  He replied to her and she nodded.  

“Shall we?”  She asked and trotted up the Gates steps to wait for him.  

“Lets.”  He replied and joined her.  He reached out to the Gate and its magic roared as they were taken to the Canterlot Gate.  “We are here.”

She opened her eyes and nodded to him.  “Okay.  What does she like?”

“Money.”  He replied immediately, she looked to him, her expression annoyed.  “She enjoys being fawned over if I am honest.”  

“Okay, then she will head for the shops and areas where there are lots of ponies.  The markets places like that.”

“Like the one, we almost crashed into?”  He replied.

Twilight laughed and nodded.  “Exactly.  It’s the biggest one in all of Canterlot.  There’s no way a show off pony like her could resist.”

“Lead on.”  He said to her and she stepped up to his side and led the way forward.
> 13: Capture and Testing...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure walked behind the purple mare as she led him through the most populated portions of the city, allowing him to hunt for the wayward mare.  She was guiding him to the main market and then further if needed.  The armored stallion’s hooves thudded against the paved streets of the capital.  Twilight paused at a street and looked down it to see if she could see anything.  

“Anything?”  Azure asked her as he drew up next to her.  

“I can’t see anything.”  She admitted and looked up to him.  

Azure flicked his ears and listened to see if there was anything that sounded familiar to him.  “I don’t hear anything.  I can send a few minions that way to see.”

“I don’t want to send the minions out just in case they cause a panic.”  Twilight reasoned to him.

“Would not be the first time they ran through the streets.”  

“I know.  But that was an emergency.  They had already shown that they could hunt for the changelings so we needed them to run around.”  She replied.

Azure grumbled in reply and nodded at her words. “If this gets to be more troublesome then I will send them anyway.”  

The Alicorn nodded.  “Sounds fair.  If you and I can’t find her then I will agree to the minions running around to find her. Just in small groups?”  

“Fair enough.”  He allowed her to get a small victory in his presence.

She smiled brightly and began to lead him once more.  He glanced around him and his red eyes searched the area around him for any sign of his missing Mistress.  While he was still enraged at the audacity of her actions he was aware that murdering her in public was not in his own best interests.  His helm sat in place and allowed Gnarl to watch through his eyes as well.  The Minion Master had said very little so far.

“Anything down there?”  Twilight asked him, jarring him from his thoughts.

He looked down the long alley and nothing caught his attention as he shook his head at her.  “Nothing so far.  For her sake, she better be close by.”

“Is she the only one from your kingdom?” Twilight asked as they started to walk past the last alleyway.

Azure paused as he considered her question.  “I have other emissaries yes.”  He chose not to call them by the normal name to avoid any questions that would bring.  

“Are they all mares?”  She asked.

“Yes.  They held positions of higher importance when I took my kingdom.  So it made sense to keep them close.”  He explained.

“What are their names?”  She asked, her eyes curious.

“Kelda and Faye.”  

Twilight was quiet as they paused to look down another road.  “Pretty names.”  

“They suit them to be honest.”  He looked down the road and shook his head at the Alicorn. 

Twilight nodded in reply.  “Okay, there is the market.  Will see if she is there.”  

Azure nodded in reply and stayed at her side as they stood at the opening to the market.  The armored pony looked out over the vast amount of ponies.  Azure looked over the crowd and tried to see if he could see the errant mare from where he stood.  He felt a wind go past him as Twilight took to the air and hovered above him. She squinted and he watched as she looked down to him and bade him wait for her.  Once he nodded in agreement she took wing.  Azure stood in place and watched as she moved through the air.  He was careful not to send the minions in despite the temptation to do so.  He looked back to the circling Alicorn as she flew back toward him.  

“I see her.”  She called out.

“And?”

“She has attracted quite a crowd,”  Twilight said as she took to the ground next to him. “This way.”  

The mare stared forward and he was on her hip as they walked into the crowd.  Azure said nothing as the ponies slowly became aware of the armored pony and the small horde behind him.  They backed up and slowly made way for him and the Alicorn.  His ears flicked forward and he heard a familiar voice. He pushed past a small group of assembled stallions and stood silent among them as Juno spun in a slow circle. He looked at her and he could see her form shimmering in front of him.  A slight stomp of his hoof silenced the minions with him.  ‘They took the bait, for once Juno’s stupidity came in useful.’  He thought to himself and allowed himself a cocky grin.  That was one plan that he was ready for.  Though now he had to figure out how to get her out of there without making too much of a fuss over her.  At the same time, he was still furious that she had gone to Canterlot without his permission.  The mare spun in a circle and her eyes widened at the sight of the fully armored Overlord standing among the admirers that she had gathered.  She stopped and looked at him, a smile crossing her mouth. 

“My Lord.”  She crooned aloud.  “You finally join me.  I took the chance to come to Canterlot to ensure that ponies knew of…”

“Silence.”  He said to her, his voice flat, but still held the anger under it.

She went quiet and he could see the form shimmering before him.  “Sire?”

“You left the Netherworld without my permission. You came to Canterlot against orders to remain in the Netherworld.  And now you expect me to be happy about your failures.  If you were not in trouble before you most certainly are now.”  He said to her as he approached her.

She opened her mouth to speak and a moment later a slap sounded out in the quiet square.  Twilight gasped behind him, her hoof going over her mouth.  A trickle of blood came from the side of her mouth. His armored hoof had struck her along the side of her mouth up to her cheekbone.  Juno backed up and a shocked sound came from her.  “Sire?”  Her voice was small and quiet.  

“You seemed to believe that you have my favor and can do as you wish.  There are others in line ahead of you and they do not do as they wish.  My command is not to be argued.  You have displeased me greatly.  I rule the Netherworld and you have acted in a way that has not only angered me, but I am also considering your place in the Nether world and whether you are to be permitted back within my kingdom at all.”  Azure went on.  

Juno was silent as the crowd that had gathered was no longer looking at her with favor.  They were now staring at the angry red stallion and were slowly backing up at the sound of the clear tongue lashing.  She leaned back on her heels and bowed her head to him.  “Please forgive me, My Lord.  I did not think that my actions would…”

“That is the problem Juno.  You do not think.”  He snarled as he interrupted her.  “We are leaving right now.  If you value your life you will do as you are commanded.”  

“Yes, Sire.”  She whispered and began to follow him as he spun to leave the crowd.  

Twilight stayed with them as Azure led the way back to the Netherworld Gate.  Azure’s hooves were like thunder as he walked.  His steps were deliberately heavy to impress upon the mare that she was troubling him.  He allowed a slight tug at the side of his mouth as the thought that he was about to take the changeling into his realm and only then would he choose what to do with it.  His first inclination was to use his own magic on it and bring to his own way of thinking.  If that failed then he would see how the creature held up to torture.  

“Master?”  

“Yes?”

“One of the minions at the Hive Gate has returned saying that a mare was taken into the Hive and has not come out.”

Azure chuckled for a moment before he nodded in reply to Gnarls information.  “Understood. Can you see everything exactly as I do Gnarl?”

“No Master.  I can only see what the helm is seeing.”  

“Understood.  I will explain when I return.”

“As you command, Master.”  

They fell silent as they approached the Gate and Azure stopped in front of it.  “We will go to Ponyville first to return you home Twilight.  Then we will go home.”  He said as he glared at Juno, who shrank under his gaze.  Twilight nodded and her gaze fell on the mare.  Azure watched as her eyes darkened for a moment as she gazed at the cowering mare.  It was gone in a moment but Azure saw the corruption in her gaze for that single moment in time.  He said nothing and simply walked up to the stairs to the waiting Gate.  Twilight joined him and Juno stepped onto the stairs to join them.  Hunter reached out and gripped the mare's shoulder and Twilight set a hoof on his armor. The Gates lightning flared a crash of thunder told him that they were back in Ponyville.  Twilight trotted down the steps and looked to him.

“Till next time Azure.”  She said and her eyes once more fell on Juno.  She stared at the other mare and waved goodbye to the stallion.  

He waited till she was a fair distance away before he commanded the Gate once more.  His red eyes blazed as he looked to the changeling next to him.  He would let it move ahead of him to see what would happen.  He gave a sharp whistle and Wrath removed the helm that he wore and set it to the side on the map table.  Kelda was sitting at her place by Azure’s throne and Faye had taken her place as well. Azure knew that it was meant to show the wayward mare her place.  

“What have you done Juno?”  Kelda shouted at her.  

Azure said nothing as the Nordberg bred mare stood up and approached the other.  He went to his throne and decided to see how the changeling would react.  He slowly summoned his best minions to take the place of the normal guards, allowing him to command them if needed.  Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Gnarl looking to him. He said nothing and looked to the mares once more.  

“You have no idea how much trouble and aggravation you have caused us.  But the worst thing you have done is anger our Lord.  You have cost him the time that could have been spent bringing these lowly ponies to heel, instead, he is forced to run around after you.”  Kelda’s voice raised as she grew more enraged by the other mares silence.  

“Kelda.”  Azure's voice rolled over them.

The mare looked back to him and she went back to her seat and waited as he looked at the offending mare, who had remained silent. He tapped his hoof and the minions swarmed the mare and she looked up as they surrounded her.  She looked up to him and he stood up to approach her.  His hooves thudded heavily on the metal flooring. He reached her and the minions stayed between them and her.  

“Juno.”  He said her name as he stood still, his armor giving off the occasional sound as it settled on his body.

“Lord, I didn’t think it would be an issue to act on my own.”  She began, a loud snort from Kelda silenced her.

“You thought you held my favor?”  He said to her.

“Yes?”  She replied to him. phrasing her reply as a question.

“You’re not certain?”  He asked her.

“I thought I did.”  She replied.  

“The only one that has my true favor is Kelda. You are the last one that I would give any preference to.  Faye comes in behind her.  Kelda has my favor and is able to act as needed.  You are nothing more than a somewhat pretty mare.”  He said to her and turned away from her.  “Then again.  This conversation is actually pointless.”

He saw Kelda and Faye look at him as Gnarl stared as well.  “Master?” Gnarl voiced.  

“It’s pointless to yell at a fake.”  He voiced aloud.

He heard a slight gasp come from the mare behind him.  “Sire, I am Juno.”  

Azure looked over his shoulder, a rare smile on his lips.  The changeling in Juno’s form shivered at the sight.  “Welcome to the Dark Tower, changeling.”  The mare’s eyes went comically wide as he spoke.  “I’d applaud your efforts, but that would mean I didn’t know you were coming.  I knew that your Queen would send one to replace that airhead eventually.  Though I did not anticipate her making it so easy for me.”

Gnarl’s eyes went wide as he looked to the impostor. “So the mare the minions saw?”

“That was no doubt Juno being taken to their Hive. When you told me I already knew that I had a changeling in disguise with me.  Though I might actually pity them for having to listen to her now.”  

“How?”  Faye asked him.  “I cannot tell the difference between this one and the normal one.  Aside from this one is quiet.”  

“Quite the difference, no?”  Azure replied to his second mistress.  He paused before speaking about his own ability to see past the disguise and chose to keep that quiet for now.  While they knew he didn’t want to risk the changeling knowing.  “The minions are able to track and sense the presence of a Changeling.  The blues are able to see through it due to their strong magical affinity.  It allows them to hunt your kind easily.”  

The changeling looked to the blues that were staring at it from several feet back.  Azure looked to Kelda and Faye and shook his head.  They gave a slight nod and kept his eyesight to themselves. Gnarl was already aware to keep his jaws closed about it.  Faye looked to him as he stayed still for a moment, his gaze going back to the trapped changeling.  

“I would advise against shapeshifting.  My minions are able to see and track your kind so escape is impossible.  But if you wish to cut your life short then feel free.  I might give you a head start, just for a bit of sport.”  Azure growled a malicious smile crossed his face. 

The changeling shook its head and Azure waited for it to decide its next move.  Its form erupted in green flame and a small drone was left in the place of the mare. Azure looked to the small creature and approached it.  Kelda stood up as she watched him intently.  Her face held concern as he stayed as close as he dared to the drone.  It looked nervously from stallion to mare and back again. 

“My queen will know if I do not report to her.” It hissed out.

Azure barked a laugh.  “You think you would have been able to get into my realm with her appearance alone?”  The drone looked concerned as it stared at him.  “Juno could move to other locations but you are not her.  Even then she was only permitted to go where I allowed. Your queen is not in those locations.” 

“My queen can be anypony easily enough.”  It began.

“Perhaps.  But she cannot command the Netherworld or its army.  Your Queen is less than I, and I am more than she will ever be.  Let me guess her desire to have you gain entry to my home.”  He began to circle the drone and the minions that stayed around it, their weapons primed. “Her first thought was to have me become her consort and then she gains my army.”  The changeling stared, its eyes wide as he went on.  “Or there was snapping off my horn to try to find out if she could use it.  Or kill me and try to find a way to use my corpse to command my army.  Did I miss anything?”  

The bug-like creature stared, its eyes scanning around it.  Its clear shock made him laugh lightly, his voice calm as he continued to circle it. “How?”

“Oh.  That reminds me.  The little Princess from Ponyville asked me to aid her in searching for a Changeling in Canterlot.  That was how we learned of the minion’s ability to track your kind.  That drone was caught by me and Twilight.  It spilled its secrets after a bit of verbal torture and I was informed of her desire to command me through that.  I was informed of her desire to use me or kill me and have planned accordingly since then.  You walked right into a trap that was laid by me over time.  I knew that you would not be able to use my form to gain access to my army or the Dark Tower so I allowed Juno to become an easier target.  But that’s neither here nor there now.”  He said to the creature. 

“But how did you know what she had said?”  

“Oh, that,”  Azure said as he circled.  While normally he spoke very little about what had happened to avoid being caught unawares, this was part of the plan to break the creature.  “I was there when she explained it all.”  

The drone’s eyes widened.  “That’s not possible!”

“Is that because magic is negated in your Hive?” Azure cut in, earning him the widened eyes look of near terror from the drone.  It shook its head and Azure chuckled.  “Shall I prove it?”  

The creature stared and slowly nodded in reply. “You could not have gotten into the Hive.  Magic is useless there.”

“Let’s see.  Oh. I found a chamber that held a clutch or two of egg pods.”  The creature stared as he spoke.  “I destroyed them, all of them.  I trust that is enough to assure you of my claim?”  

He watched as the drone went slightly limp, its legs beginning to shake.  Its head drooped and its wings fell limply at its sides.  It sat heavily and Azure could hear it breathing deeply.  Azure stopped and watched as it shook.  He wasn’t sure how it would normally act but the one that he had found himself in possession of was quiet and seemed easy enough to cow.  

“I will let you choose your fate,”  Azure spoke up, the drone looked up to him slowly. “You can do as I say and I will let you live.  Or you can become my experiment.”  

“Can I leave?”  It asked.

Azure barked a laugh.  “Surely you’re jesting?  Your kind came after me.  You stole one of my mistresses, admittedly you stole the one I do not care much about, but still.  You stole from ME.”  Azure's voice deepened on the last few words.  “And you have the gall to ask for mercy?” 

Kelda came to stand at his side and she nuzzled up against his neck.  “What will you do with it, Love?”  

“I am considering my options.”  He said to her.  “You have annoyed me bug.  I have killed for less.”  He said in reply to her and the drone.  "Since you have upset me I will make the decision for you.”  

Azure approached the changeling and his minions tightened their formation and several of them reached out to grip the thin, emaciated body.  The drone screamed as the claws dug into his body and his fur, they held him still. He looked up as magic gathered in the Overlords horn.  His aura shifted as he changed which spell he was going to use and the horn began to glow with a bright white light.  The magic thrashed and churned on the curved horn.  The changeling screamed as the magic was released and the drone was covered in the magic and held tightly in its grasp.  Azure closed his eyes as he waited for the spell to give him some warning of when it needed to be released to avoid killing the drone.  He wanted him to fall to the Overlords rule, not burn to ash.  Azure held it and the spell shifted and the red stallion released the spell.  The changelings head was down and Azure waited to see if it had worked.  

“Master?”  The drone called out gently, its voice a whisper.

Azure was quiet as the drone looked up to him, his eyes blank until they saw the red Unicorn.  What could be described as joy went through its expression and it stared up at him?  Next, to him, Kelda was quiet as she leaned against his shoulder.  He glanced to Gnarl who approached as the minions backed up at his command.  The Minion Master examined the drone and looked to the Overlord.  

“Well done Master.  The spell appears to have worked perfectly.”  Gnarl praised.

“For now.  We will keep hold of him just in case it wears off.  I do not anticipate any issues but we will monitor it.  I trust you have further questions about the Hive itself?”  

“I do Master,”  Gnarl confirmed.  

“Then he is yours.”  Azure reached out and gripped the drones jaw.  “You will answer his questions as if they were my own.”

“At your command, Sire.”  The drone replied.  

Azure opened his mouth but the sound of scrabbling claws caught his attention.  A minion came racing into the throne room and slid to a halt in front of the Overlord. He held out a letter and the red stallion took the letter into his magic and read it over.

SIRE, HELP!

Azure stared at the one word and then looked at the minion.  “Where?”

“Nordberg!”  It yelped back to him.  

“Blazing Hells.”  Azure cursed as he commanded the minions to his side, leaving a few to control the Changeling should his Evil Presence spell falter.  

Azure went to the center of the room, as his magic placed his helm over his head, to allow Gnarl to see what was happening and commanded the Gate to take him to the Gate within Nordberg.  The Gates magic crashed over him and he was greeted with the sound of screaming ponies as they ran in several directions all at once. Azure looked to the Minion Gates and he commanded the minions to his side.  The minions screamed and leaped to his command.  He commanded them forward as he swept the Browns forward to get to the backs of their war wolves.  He looked to Wrath, who held onto his armor and he thought out a command to the minion. He had forgotten his sword and he commanded the minion to bring it to him.  He paused at the sight of black smoke and the looked back to summon more of the reds and began to trot forward.  

He could hear more screaming and he broke into a controlled gallop and he left the city through the open front gates.  He looked to the sides and his ear flicked to the sound of laughter.  The red stallion followed the sound and was greeted with a small group of what looked like tiny dragons.  They were not as small as Twilight pet dragon, Spike but they were clearly not full grown.  A red dragon looked to be the leader of the small rabble and Azure focused on him. He was close to Azure’s own height with a red coat of scales.  He had a light yellow underbelly, with an orange set of spines along with his head and back. He sported a small set of wings that had a few holes in the membrane of the wing.

He leaned out a bit further to get a better look at the rest of the group.  A large bellied brown dragon laughed as the red spoke.  A set of round horns came from the top of his head and a small pair of wings on his back.  His tail resembled a large mace and thudded against the ground as he spoke.  Another was a purple with a pair of slim horns and hair that was a lighter shade of purple than his body.  Azure could see a dark grey dragon that had a yellow underbelly and long horns that curved back at the top of the horn.  

“Did you see those pansy pony’s run?”  The red cackled.

“They were terrified!”  The purple cried out as he bent over laughing.  

“I didn’t know there were ponies in the forest. I wonder if there are more.”  The brown asked as he looked a bit more thoughtful than the others.  

Azure listened as the minions stayed behind him. He looked to the pen on the far side that housed the infant Ursa Minor and he was pleased to see that it had been left alone.  He assumed that the dragons were not so foolish to mess with a being that was larger than they were.  While he was pleased that the ponies appeared to not be harmed, just frightened he knew that if they got away with this once then they would again.  If they chose to hunt his ponies then they would become the hunted.  

“We need to make another pass, I saw a ton of houses to light on fire.”  The red called out again.  

Azure looked annoyed and stepped out from behind the stone wall.  “I don’t think that is needed.”  

The dragons looked to him and he took mote as they backed up a step at the heavily armored stallion that walked until he was ten feet from them.  The red one stepped forward, puffing out his chest to appear larger and Azure simply stood tall, his horn making sure that he was taller than the young dragon.  

“Who are you to say that we can’t?”  The red crowed.  “Some little pony can’t stop us.”  

“Then it is a good thing I am not a ‘little’ pony.” He replied and the others snorted at the jab from the stallion.  “You have frightened my ponies and I will not permit it to happen again.”

The red glared at the others as they finished chuckling and he turned to glare at the red stallion.  “You may be my height but you’re still not going to stop us.  Some pony can’t fight a dragon.”

“If I can fight an Ursa Major and win then I can fight you.”  Azure pointed out.  “You are small enough to give my army a workout but nothing more than that.  I will give you the chance to leave and I will not pursue.  If you insist on fighting me then I will break you like the little lizard you are.” 

The reds eyes widened as the Overlord spoke. His eyes narrowed as anger went over his face.  “I don’t need to leave here.  You can’t stop me and what army?  Your namby-pamby Princess can’t help you here…”  

He stopped as Azure began to laugh.  “I am not anyone’s subject, little lizard.  I am an Overlord who has conquered more than my share of ponies and you are not any different.  You are nothing before me.”  Azure’s voice was steel as he spoke.

"That’s it.  You’re going down.  Just so you know who your fighting, I’m Garble.”  

“Overlord Azure Flame.”  

“You won’t be anything when I’m done.  If I win you serve me, pony.”  Garble snarled.

“And if I should win?”  Azure replied.

“If you win ummm…We leave?”  The brown asked.

“No,”  Azure replied.  “I win, you are mine to do with as I see fit.”

Garble looked uncertain for a moment as he looked at the stallion, his gaze steeled and he nodded.  “Fine.  No magic.”

Azure nodded.  “Very well.  No help from your fellow dragons.”

“And no help from any other ponies,”  Garble said to him.  

“Very well.”  Azure agreed.  

Garble took to the air as his fellows moved back to watch.  Azure said nothing as he reached out to the minions and backed them up into the shade of the wall.  He commanded the greens to scale the wall and wait for him to give them a command.  He glanced up as they did as he ordered. He moved the reds into place ahead of the browns and blues to keep the flames back. The Browns moved back, pulling the long fir of their mounts to stay away from any errant flame.  

Azure looked up as Garble flew low, his claws out and Azure ducked his head and the claws grated over the thick armor of his back. He bucked as the dragon passed over and his flank struck the dragon in the chest.  He heard the dragon grunt at the impact and take to the air once more. Garble dove down at him and the stallion reared to meet him as the dragon breathed fire, Azure rolled to the side and avoided the force of the flame.  He broke into a gallop to stay under the flying lizard.  His hoof beats were like thunder against the dirt ground.  

Azure looked to the minions as he passed by and saw Wrath standing with the others with his sword in his claws.  The Overlord commanded him to remain with the others and he would call on the weapon when it suited him.  He looked up as Garble dove to him once more.  The stallion slid to a stop as Garble went past him and he brought his armored jaws down on the dragons back.  Garble cried out and swung his tail at the stallion. Azure spun and kicked out with his hind legs.  It had the desired effect of tossing the dragon away from him and keeping him on the ground.  Azure shook his head to get rid of the ringing in his ears from the impact to his helm and he chased after the scrambling dragon.  

Garble turned to face him and breathed deeply to send a blast of flame the stallion’s way.  A breath of flame tore from the dragon’s jaws and Azure gigged to the side and dug his teeth into the dragons hide.  He pulled back and the young dragon cried out as he was thrown off his feet once more and rolled across the ground.  He got up and ran and took to the air once more.  Azure stayed under him and waited for his next chance to attack. He watched as Garble began to circle wider, his body getting closer to the waiting green minions.  Azure dug in and began to work on driving the inexperienced dragon closer to them.  

Garble dove for him and Azure allowed him to think he was driving the stallion toward Nordberg’s stone walls.  Azure slid to a stop and Garble banked to stay away from him. The Overlord looked up and issued the command for several of the green minions to leap and they landed on the dragons back.  He watched as they drove their poisoned weapons into the dragon’s thick hide and then leaped off of him.  Azure galloped under him and the minions fell to his back and held onto his armor.  Garble cried out as his flight became erratic and he came to the ground and spun to roar at the armored stallion.  Azure slid to a halt and reared, a challenge on his lips as he called back.  

The greens stayed on his back as his hooves came back to earth, kicking up dust that slowly floated away from him.  The red stallion watched as garble looked over his shoulder to see the wounds and the stallion charged him.  The dragon tried to breathe in but found himself rolling back as Azure’s armored shoulder slammed into his chest and abdomen.  The dragon panted and coughed as the wind had been knocked out of him.  Azure chased after him, his armored hooves striking the dragon violently in the sides and back.

“Wait…”  Garble cried out as Azure's hooves beat against him.  

“I win?”  Azure said and he slammed his hooves down one last time and left them in place.

“No.  I just need a breather.”  Garble replied.

“You need a breather?”  Azure said to him and the dragon nodded.  “There are no pauses in battle and there are no ‘breathers’ in war and you brought the war to my territory.”  

Azure's hooves struck down once more and Garble tried to roll away from the stallion.  The dragon cried out and finally got to his feet and had enough time to breathe fire at the stallion.  Azure fled the heat and backed away.  He sent the green minions away and sent them to join the other minions. Their position on the wall had been compromised.  They joined the others and stayed behind the red minions.  Garbles mouth closed and he spread his wings and a loud cry came from him as he tried to fly.  

Azure could see that one of the greens had slashed the wings membrane and he waited for the dragon to react.  Garble’s eyes were wised as he saw the badly damaged wing, his eyes narrowed in anger as he stared at the red stallion.  He charged the stallion and Azure spun to avoid him as Garble reached out an arm and looped it around Azure’s hips and he drove them both to the ground.  Azure kicked out and the dragon worked to try to straddle him to punch him.  Azure rolled to the side and Garble stayed with him, dust kicking up as they grappled.  If he had to admit Azure was not the best at unarmed combat, his strengths lay in his magic and sword work.  He paused and allowed the dragon to get more of a height advantage on him. The dragon leaned his head down as his jaws opened, fire at the back of his throat.  

Azure lunged toward him, head butting the dragon violently, and blood came from the dragons head as he reeled backward.  Azure bucked him off and the dragon fell backward onto the dirt.  Azure gave him another kick that tossed the dragon away from him another foot or so and got to his hooves.  The dragon clutched his head and moaned in pain, his mind disoriented at the impact of Azure’s metal helm to his unprotected head.  Azure stood over him and set his hoof on the dragons exposed throat.  

“You have lost, little lizard.”  Azure snarled.

“Not yet.”  The brown dragon started forward, intent on the red stallion.

“He agreed to the terms.  Unless you wish to wade into battle with me as well?”  Azure replied.

The brown stopped and watched the red as he lay quietly on the ground.  Azure could feel the blood going down his fur and it dripped past his eye.  He ignored the blood and kept his focus on the dragons. Azure waited as they looked from one to the other and stayed back.

“You cheated.”  The purple called out.

“Did I?”  Azure asked.

“Yeah, those little things helped you.”  He went on.

“He said no magic and no ponies could help me. They are not ponies nor are they my magic.  I stayed within the rules set at the beginning.  If you wish to fight for him then step forward.  But his terms will not carry over.  You wish to fight me and you will face me as I am normally.  The choice is yours.”  Azure replied smartly.

They said nothing in reply as Azure's horn lit with his red aura.  They were quiet as he stared at them, his eyes blazing, and a challenge in his eyes. On the ground, Garble was beginning to recover and Azure kept an eye on him to avoid him trying to escape.  Garble sat up and rubbed his head, wiping the blood out of his eyes.  

“You could have killed me.”  He snarled.

“As I said.  You brought the war to my ponies and I will react to protect what is mine.” Azure replied.  “Now if I recall we had a bargain.”  

Garble stood up and looked to the red stallion. He walked a foot away, kicked a chunk of dirt at the stallion’s body, and then took off running.  “Stupid pony, you can’t keep me!  You really thought I would keep a bargain with one of you weak ponies?  You can’t fight all of us.”  He yelled back, his voice crackling with laughter.  His friends fell in behind him, running versus flying, staying with him as they fled.

“That is what you think,”  Azure said as his Gauntlet roared and the minions swarmed after the dragon, their orders clear.  He brushed the dirt off his chest armor and watched.  

Azure waited as a scream went out and he waited in silence for the minions to return with his new pet.  The sound of battle caught his ears and he walked calmly toward the fight.  He looked past the trees and he could see that the dragons were trying to carry Garble away from the minions.  They held him tightly and the wolves had clamped their teeth around the dragon’s legs, tail, and wings.  The brown one was trying to pull him into the air as the others were trying to beat off the minions.  They paused as the Overlord caught up with them.  The purple dragon was fighting off Wrath and a few more of the browns when he stilled as the ground shuddered with the Overlords steps.  

“So you would go back on an agreement?”  

“You can’t do anything to me.  Your dumb princesses won’t uphold anything.” Garble snarled.

Azure sighed.  “How many times must I mention this?  I do not answer to anyone except myself.  I am an Overlord and I do not bow to anypony, dragon, or god.  You are beneath me and I will show you that fact now. I will show you how outclassed you truly are and were all along.”  

Azure's horn lit with a bright white aura, it tore through the air and struck Garble.  The dragon cried out and tried to pull away.  The minions leaped onto him, driving him to the ground, allowing Azure’s Presence spell to be uninterrupted.  The dragon’s eyes closed as he tried to fight the minions that pinned him down.  The other dragons watched as Azure's spell gained in power and the light from it near blinding.  Azure felt the magic warn him and he released the magic, completing the spell.  The stallion stepped back a foot and waited as the spells light faded and Garble was still and silent.  Garbles eyes opened and for a moment they were the same white as the spell.  He looked up at the Overlord that towered over him.  

“Sire?”  

Azure smiled and looked to the others who wore faces of horror at what they had witnessed and were now hearing.  The red stallion commanded the minions to get off the dragons back and allowed him to stand.  

“Garble?”  The purple called out, his voice barely more than a whisper.  

The red dragon didn’t acknowledge them as they stared, waiting for a sign from him.  Azure was quiet as they tried to call out to the young dragon.  

“Kneel,”  Azure said aloud silencing the remaining dragons.  

Garble nodded and kneeled before the Overlord, his Lord, and Master.  Azure watched as the others stared, horrified at the sight before them.   The red dragon had been their leader, the one that led them forward and had often led them against those that stood against them.  Azure watched as they blinked, confusion going through their eyes as Garble said nothing and waited for the armored stallion to command him.  They shifted on their paws as they watched, their gaze was uncertain.  The red stallion watched as they looked from the stallion to the bound red dragon. Their wings opened as they took to the air.  Azure watched and looked at the dragon that now belonged to him, one that would fight to accomplish his will.

“Follow me little lizard.”  He said aloud to the red dragon still kneeling before him.  

“Of course, Lord,”  Garble replied and rose to follow the Overlord.

Azure walked back toward Nordberg, his minions and the dragon on his heels.  Wrath leaped to the stallions back, sitting in silence on his shoulder.  He reached the gates and the ponies had gotten the fires under control and Azure reached out to the minions that had been stationed at the gates and they were sent to aid in the rebuilding and any repairs that were needed to be made to the walls and homes.  Ponies approached him and screams sounded out at the sight of the dragon. 

“Be silent.”  He snarled.

The ponies went silent at his command and he moved among them, the dragon on his heels.  Garble stayed behind him, the Overlords command was law and he followed it without question.  Azure turned around and Garble went still at his unspoken command.  

“Kneel,”  Azure said to the dragon.  Garble went to one knee and bowed his head low at the command from his Master.  “As you can see I now command him, he is mine to command.  You do not need to fear this creature now.  He will do as he is commanded, as you do.”  

“Master?”  A pony came forward.  “He is one of us now?”  

“He is mine to command.  I will keep him in line and he will not harm you.  Continue to be loyal to me and he will protect you under my rule.”  Azure replied to the pony who nodded.

The ponies smiled at him and nodded.  Azure spun to leave the area.  The Gate flexed in front of him and he sent the minions back through their own gates.  Lightning crashed as he approached and the Overlord walked up to the steps, the dragon on his heels.  He reached out and gripped the dragon’s scales and thought later brought him to the Dark Tower.  Kelda turned to the Gate, her expression bright as she looked to him.  

“My Lord!  Your ba… What is that?”  She asked at the sight of the dragon on his heels.  

“This is the reason that I received a message from Nordberg.  He and three other young dragons’ attacked the city.  I challenged this one who led them to combat.”  

“You won naturally,”  Kelda replied to him as she came up to him and nuzzled his neck. 

“Of course.”  He assured her.  “He lost and tried to flee despite the agreement.  The minions detained him and I now have my slave.”  

Kelda chuckled and nuzzled his neck, giving him a sharp nip to his lower jaw.  He ran his head over her hair and kissed her neck, earning a moan from the mare.  “So he is yours now?”  

“Yes.  It seems my spells will still work as they did before.  We will watch him and the drone to ensure that it holds them.”  He explained to her.

“Those that you have enslaved are free now though?” She replied.

“Yes.  But their devotion remains.  Perhaps extended exposure to my power will ensure that they remain mine.  We shall see.  Keep them under observation.  I want the dragon in a cage that can withstand flame.  Alert Giblet to use the reds to create the cage.  That should ensure that the fires cannot harm it.”

“We will need to harvest some more essence Master,” Gnarl said to him and approached the Overlord with the drone on his heels.

“Understood.  I will see what I can find in the Everfree around my kingdom.  Otherwise, I will find a town that is on the edges of the map to harvest.”  He replied to the Minion Master.

The minion bowed his head in agreement as Azure shook himself.  “Shall we have your meal brought to your room Master?”  

“Yeah.  I need a bath after the fight with that child dragon.”  

“It will be done, Master.  What shall we do with Juno?”  

“We will retrieve her eventually.  For now, she can annoy them and we will plan what to do with the drone we have at our command.”  Azure was quiet as a thought came to him.  “Gnarl?  Does my Presence spell remove the memories of the previous?”  

“No Master.  They are pushed back and replaced with your command.  Why?”  Gnarl replied, his expression questioning.  

“I am thinking that the drone will need to check in at times.  We need to be able to feed that Queen information to draw her out.  So we will command the drone to act as it did before when interacting with her and then report back to me when released from her.” Azure explained.  “If I had to guess they act under a hive mentality, similar to bees or ants.  I will refresh my spell before we send him home and once he returns to avoid any confusion and loss of command.”

“Well thought out Master.  That will ensure that she cannot regain control of the creature.”  Gnarl agreed, his praise clear as Azure nodded.

“The last thing we need is it telling her what he knows. We need her to play by MY rules.” Azure replied.

“You need to relax a bit, Love,”  Kelda said to him.  He looked at her.  “Even a mind like yours needs to let loose a bit.”  

“Oh?”  

“Yes.  Send both our meals Gnarl?”  She said to the Minion Master, who nodded.  “Shall we?”

Azure nipped her neck and she bounced ahead of him. “Lets.”  He replied and trialed after the mare, mounting the stairs with a jump to gain on the retreating mare.
> 14: Essence Gathered...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure sat on his throne as Gnarl droned on about what he had learned from the changeling so far.  He slid back in the seat and he gasped when he slid down further and slowly pushed himself back up in the throne and sat normally without slouching.  Gnarl had stopped when the Overlord slid down in the throne and was now staring, unimpressed at the bored Overlord.  

Azure got to his hooves and approached the Minion Master.  “So, in other words, we are not sure what will happen if the drone gets close to the Queen. We are not sure that my will is enough to hold him.”

“Yes, Sire.”  Gnarl confirmed.  

Azure stared at the drone, which was standing close by as they spoke.  “What if I go in with him?”  

“Sire?”

“If the spell is not enough then will my presence be enough?  Reinforcing it by my presence alone.”

Gnarl looked thoughtful at this words. “Perhaps.  But for now, we will need to see how strong the spell is at this moment.”  

“Meaning?”  

“If we take the drone out with you while you move around.  Your presence is often enough to command those close to you but we are not certain about the changeling.”

“So I should take him with me for a while before I send him back to the Queen?”

“Yes.  Or we can test it out to see how far you can go with him.”

“Or,”  Azure said as he cut the Minion Master off.  “I can go with him into the Hive in a minion host as a way to show the Queen that the drone has been successful.  It would cement her belief that simply by being associated with me will allow her to control the army she so desires.”  

Gnarl looked to the drone and then back to his Master, a sadistic smile crossing his features.  “You are quite clever my Lord.  That is an idea that I had not considered.  Your intelligence is staggering.”

“Not so much intelligence as a strategist.  But I will accept the praise none the less.  Is the dragon down with Giblet as per my command?”

“Yes, Master.  Giblet retrieved the dragon early this morning.  They await you at the Forge.”  Gnarl informed him.

“I will head down there.  We need to create a cage to contain the dragon until I decide what to do with him.  I will need him intact if the others return.  If needed I will use him to enslave others of his kind.  They would make quite the mounts for my best minion.”

“Indeed they would.  They will be yours to command Master.”  

Azure made an assenting noise as he walked out to the stones and waited as he summoned one floating stone to carry him to the forge.  Wrath jumped to his back as he uttered a shrill whistle, calling the minion to his side. Azure stood still as the stone moved swiftly through the air and docked at the side of the great forge.  He came around the corner and found Garble standing in silence as Giblet moved around him, a claw on his chin.  

“Giblet.”  

“Master.”  Giblet looked to him as he neared them, Garble looked to him and his head bowed in respect to his Lord.

“I trust you have figured out a cage for the dragon?”

“Master.  Me think one made from Reds only.”  

“Makes sense.  The reds are fire immune.  Are they immune to dragon fire from this world?”

Giblet nodded.  “Tested.”  He replied and pointed to the several reds that were jumping around and into a large fire pit. 

“Solves that.”  He muttered and looked back to the forge master.  “How many reds will we need for the cage?”

Giblet shrugged and looked back to the forge. The minion raced to the forge and began to climb over it, inspecting it for any flaws or weaknesses.  Azure looked to the dragon but remained silent as he waited for the minion to come back to him.  The stallion watched as he came running back to the Overlord, his thin arms flailing.  

“Lots.”  He replied.

Azure fought back the desire to throttle the minion with his bare hooves and nodded instead.  “Very well.  I will call on them and you watch for the strength of the cage itself.  Have you already made the mold for it?”

“Yes, Master.”  

“Good.  Let’s get started.”  

Azure watched as the forge minion went to the forge controls and he began to heat it as the Overlord stood as close as he dared to the molten metal.  The gauntlet roared and Azure watched as the red minions poured into the tubes above the forge itself.  They leaped happily into the tubes and then fell into the molten heat of the metal within. Their body’s melted, leaving their powerful essence behind.  Azure said nothing as the weakest of the reds jumped into the tubes above.  He kept his best out of the pot and watched as the metal was poured into the molds and then into the water where the blues cooled the pieces and the process repeated six times, one for each side and the top and bottom of the cage, then the individual pieces of the locks and hinges forged in place.  The red stallion was silent as he watched the forge minions helpers carry the pieces of the cage to the dragon, who stood silent and staring after the Overlord, waiting for a command.  

“Stand back,”  Azure commanded and the dragon did as he was commanded and stepped back several steps.  

The Overlord turned to watch as the cage was set up.  It was easily large enough for the dragon to lay down in and turn easily.  While Azure wanted it secure he was not going to allow the dragon's health to fail.  He needed the creature in good health if he was to be useful at all.  The cage was fashioned with the essence of the red which gave it immunity to fire and was not able to be broken down.  When it was finished he looked at the dragon and turned his body to face him.

“Get in.”  He ordered.  Garble said nothing as he walked quickly into the cage at his Lords command.  The doors were locked and Azure looked to the dragon once more.  “Try to escape.”  

Azure backed up as the dragon's body did exactly as it had been commanded.  The Overlord turned away as fire poured from the young dragon’s mouth.  The red minions that were still alive stood in front of the Overlord to prevent him from being scorched.  Azure took that as a hint and backed up to a safe distance as the cage rattled and the dragon inside fought like his life depended on his escape. Azure watched as the cage fell to the side and stayed intact.  The dragon inside stilled and looked to the Overlord.  

“That will be enough,”  Azure said aloud as the brown minions picked up the cage and set it upright. 

The door was opened and the dragon came out of the cage and knelt before his Master.  “I am sorry.  I nearly burned you, Master.”  

Azure looked to the dragon and said nothing for a moment. “Forgiven.  Do not forget that my life is worth a great deal more than your own.” 

“Of course, Sire.”  The dragon nodded as he stood back up and stepped aside.  

“Set the cage up in the throne room.”  He commanded as he walked back to the floating platforms.  

His hooves gripped the stone but he did not command it to move.  “Follow me, dragon.”  

Garble took to the air and flew behind the Overlord as he made his way back to the throne room.  He paused and the stone stopped suddenly.  “Return to the throne room.”  He commanded Garble, who nodded and took off to complete his orders.  Azure redirected the stone to visit the minion burrows. He wanted to know how many had been used and if he needed to harvest more evil essence.  He jumped from the stone when it reached its destination and he made his way through the burrows winding paths until he reached the red minion's hive.  He groaned at the sight of the diminished Hive.  The fires that lived within it were dull, indicating that it was low on the essence and needed to be replenished.  His jaw clenched as he contemplated if it was possible to send some from the other Hives.  His mind tossed that idea to the side as he realized that the others were plentiful due to the toughness of the minion themselves or their magical inclination. 

“And I can’t resurrect them since they did not die outside of the Netherworld.  Damn.” He cursed as he turned to go back to the stone platforms.  

He commanded the platform and returned to the throne room to speak to Gnarl.  Kelda had joined the Minion Master and was looking over the map table.  The minions saluted at his presence which alerted the others to his presence.  

“Morning Love.”  Kelda crooned to him as he approached her.

“Morning.”  He said to her.  “Gnarl.”

“Sire?”  

“We need to replenish the red minion hive. Its flames have faded.”  Azure informed them and the Minion Master cringed. 

“You are right.  The evil essence needs to be gathered once more.  There are many creatures in the surrounding forests that might yield a sufficient amount to replenish the Hive.”  He supplied.

“And if they do not?”  Kelda asked.

“Then we need a plan B,”  Azure said to her.

She nodded and looked back to the map table. Azure said nothing more in reply and sent Wrath to retrieve his helm. The minion returned and Azures magic set the helm in place as he went to the Gate in the center of the room.  He looked up as the Gates magic thundered above him, responding to his presence.  Azure looked out as the Gates power faded and he stepped out of the lightning and walked down the stairs to the dirt path.  His Gauntlet roared and the minions flooded over the ground around him. His commands were given and the minions surrounded him as they walked into the deep forest around them.  The war wolves did not come with at his command. There were far too many small places that would need to be investigated and the wolves were not small enough.  He kept them on the ground as they hunted out any small animals or even a few larger ones.  





Azure groaned as the minions chased after another burrow of rabbits.  “Bloody Hell.”  He cursed and walked forward.  They had been hunting for over three hours and had little to show for it.  He trudged onward, his hooves thudding on the dirt.  He was about to call it quits when the brown minions in the front began to shout and scream. He walked up as Wrath erupted from a bush, waving his arms and screeching as a tree chased after him. Azure blinked as the tree barked and snarled.  As he watched it he could tell that it had the size of a large wolf.  It was easily larger than the average pony and he watched as it chased he minion.  

Wrath screamed and ran as the creature gained on him. Azure shook his head at the sight and commanded the other browns to subdue the tree monster for him.  He watched as the minions swarmed the creature and pinned it to the ground.  It yelped and whined as it was held down.  Azure walked to the front of it and he stared down at it.  His ears flicked forward as the sound of twigs snapping and growling caught his ears.  The tree creature barked and howled from underneath minions and Azure looked to the direction of the sounds.  His eyes widened at the sight of a pack of the creature’s lunged out of the woods.

“Shit.”  He cursed under his breath as the minions began to call and scream as he spun to watch as they were slowly surrounded.  

Azure was about to reach out to the reds to light them a flame but paused when they did not attack.  He watched as they slowly circled and watched him closely. The one behind him whimpered and barked. The stallion looked back to the one they held and he realized what they held.  “I hold the Alpha.”  He whispered and looked back to the others.  A smile went over his mouth and his magic reached out to the creature they had and he pressed his will into place, asserting dominance over the monster. It didn’t dare to attack him as he backed up.  He commanded Wrath to the monsters back and the minion sat on its back and held tightly. He commanded the minions to release it and allow it to run.  The tree wolf galloped forward and Azure sent an unspoken command to the minion to order the creature.  The pack followed the Alpha closely, barking as the minion stayed on the tree wolfs back.

Azure was quiet as the minion steered the wolf back toward him and he watched as the wolf was brought to heel by the minion. The other browns leaped to the backs of the rest of the pack and soon Azure was staring at a new breed of mount for the brown minions.  He was not so blind as to think that all of the minions could ride them.  The Blues might be able to ride them safely but the reds could not due to the fire in their bodies.  The red stallion said nothing as he turned back to the woods and began to walk back to Nordberg Gates.  

“Gnarl?”

“I saw Master.  Well done in bringing those beasts to your command.”  The Minion Master praised.

Azure nodded in reply and looked back at the brown minions as they rejoined him.  “We need a better way to harvest the essence.  This is tedious at best.”  He replied, an annoying complaint on his lips.  “And only yields a small amount of essence.  We might have gathered enough to refill the red hive but only just barely.”

“I agree, Master.  This took too long and did not produce the results we need.” Gnarl agreed.

Azure snorted, annoyance biting at his mind. “We need a more efficient method.” 

“What about a…experiment, Love?”  Kelda voiced.

“Oh?”  Azure replied to her.

“Yes.  Do you think the ponies of this world would yield enough for you?”  She asked him.

Azure stopped in his tracks and Wrath bumped into his hip, though Azure allowed the mistake to go unnoticed.  The Overlord was silent as his mind went over what his mistress had said to him.  “That is a…intriguing thought.”  He finally said aloud.

He could hear Kelda chuckle.  “I thought you might approve.”  

“You are right.  We will need to find a place that has no connection that can be easily found out.  We also need to be able to pin it on another being and…That’s it.”  Azure said aloud, his tone jovial as he began to laugh.  

“Love?”  

“Master?”

“It’s perfect.”  He finally said through his own laughter.  “The Dragon.”

“What about him, Sire?”  Kelda said to him, her voice uncertain.  

“I can use what he is.  Gnarl!”  

“Sire!”  Gnarl chirped back immediately.  

“Find me a village that is secluded and unlikely to have a connection to Canterlot.  Have Grubby place a small gate hidden within that can hide an attack force.  I want it isolated and ready to be harvested.  I want the dragon to be ready to join me.  He will take to the air and ensure that none of the ponies can escape. We will see if the ponies will harvest more if they are unaware of their attacker or if they will yield more when they see their killer.”

He heard no reply as he started to walk forward once more.  He didn’t need them to agree with his plan, but the malicious giggle from the Minion Master told him that he approved.  “Master that is ingenious.”  

“I know,”  Azure replied as he broke into a longer stride trot.  

“How will you test it?”  Kelda asked.

“I will send in a minion to isolate a pony and draw them out where we can see if they will give less or more essence depending on their death.  Or if they yield more if they die my hoof or a minion.”  

“Master you are more devious than I had given you credit for,”  Kelda said to him.  “I love it.” 

“I know.”  He replied again.  “Get the dragon armored and ready.  I want that useless fire breather to earn his keep.  Light armor to keep him airborne.  Any pony that flies will be burnt to the ground.”  Azure broke into a gallop and raced back toward the Nordberg Gate, his goal clear.





Azure breathed as he came through the gate and stopped in the throne room.  His breathing hurried as he had galloped the way back to plan the assault.  Gnarl was standing on a chair next to the map table. The red stallion reached the table and breathed in to slow his breathing.  

“Master we do not have any way to find a town that fits your vision,”  Gnarl admitted.

“What?”  

The minion visibly stiffened at the tone of his voice.  “I mean that this map does not show the details of the town.”  

Azure scoffed and his horn lit as he summoned the Tower Heart.  The ball of magic hovered above as he commanded it to show him the town that Gnarl had found.  It sat at the edge of the borders, farthest away from Canterlot.  The Heart showed the town and it moved the vision through the town’s roads and the stallion watched intently.  As they watched the Heart showed the streets and businesses and homes that surrounded them.  Azure took a mental note about how to corral the ponies and keep them from fleeing. He would surround the village with the brown minions and use their strength to keep the ponies under control. The greens would be brought to keep to the roofs, allowing them to hide and attack from the shadows.  The blues would stay with him since he would be in the middle of the fight.  The reds would help garble destroy the village at the end of the fight if needed. 

“Master?”

“Yes, Gnarl?”

“What is the plan?”

“I will use a group of browns to surround the town and keep any ground-based ponies from escaping.  Garble will stay in the air and burn any flying ponies to the ground. I will place the greens off the streets and the reds and blues will stay with me.  I am debating on having the reds help to burn it to the ground but I might just put him to work.  I will go to Nordberg first to gather the new mounts and then go to the village once I get the affirmation that the small gate is ready.”

“Sounds like a solid plan, Love,”  Kelda said to him as she drew up next to him.  “Your dragon is armored.”  

Azure looked back to see Garble standing in place, light metal armor covering his features.  It was a simple set and kept the dragon's scales covered, obscuring everything including his coloring.  “Good.” 

Azure started to command the Heart to go back when he paused.  He set it to watch over the main roads and ensure that he was able to be warned easily, should any pony come toward the town.  The Browns would still be on guard around the town but it could not hurt to have another set of eyes watching.  He looked to Kelda who nodded.  He knew that he didn’t need to speak for her to understand his desire.

“This should be a fun distraction from the tedium of before.”  He said aloud as he moved to the Gate and motioned for Garble to join him.  The armored dragon stood as close as he dared to the armored stallion.  

Azure gripped his armor and the Gates magic thundered as he was sent to Nordberg.  The tree made wolves remained in the temporary enclosure that had been erected before they left earlier.  Wrath and the others jumped to their backs and Azure worked out how many minions he would need while he waited for the word of the Gate being finished.  He would use one of the small ones to make it easier to dismantle it when they left to avoid it being spotted.  The Overlord pulled as many reds as he dared and ordered them to stay with him and not leave his side.  The blues that he had with him were doubled and he kept them behind the reds.  The Browns were doubled as well and he looked to the greens next.  If he wanted to have them mounted as well he would need to go to Everlight for the spiders.  The spiders were not as easy to move to separate areas due to their natural affinity to hot weather.  He debated on it but pushed the idea back and chose to leave them on foot.  





“Master!”  Gnarl suddenly shouted, startling him out of his preparations.

“Yes?”  

“The Gate is ready.  It is called Everstone.”  He reported and went silent.

Azure's lips pulled back in a wide smile and he chuckled, pleasure clear on his face.  “Perfect.”  

He walked to the Gate and summoned the minions to join him at the new Gate, all minions stayed with him as he mounted the Gates steps.  Garble stayed with him and he gripped the armor to ensure that the dragon stayed with him.  Azure closed his eyes as the Gates magic crashed and he opened them to see a dense forest around him.  The mounted minions flooded over the ground and he watched as the others rejoined them. His red eyes watched as he walked slowly forward and looked out from among the trees and he could see the village ahead of him.  

“Keep an eye out Kelda.”  

“Of course, Lord.”  She crooned to him.  “I will watch your back.”  

Azure fought back a chuckle at her words and slowly commanded the unmounted browns to surround the village, hiding in the tall grass and ferns.  They flooded over the lands and he watched as they vanished into the grass.  He looked to the dragon at his side and issued his commands.

“Take to the air when I begin the assault and do not allow any flying ponies to leave through the skies.  Burn them down.”  He commanded. “Any ponies get past the browns are to be either killed or brought back to the village.  Understood?”

The dragon turned to him and knelt down in the grass.  “As you command, My Lord.”  He said and backed up to allow Azure to have plenty of room to finish his preparations.

Azure nodded to him and waited for a moment before he looked to the village.  His eyes fell on Wrath and he reached out to pull the mounted minion to his side.  His mind went over his unspoken commands and Wrath nodded.  A second mounted minion came to stand with the heavily armored minion.  

“Bring me two ponies, separately.”  He whispered aloud and the mounts raced forward, their riders eager to accomplish his commands.  

He watched as they split and went to separate sides of the village.  He lost sight of them and he waited silently in place.  His ears flicked after a few minutes as Wrath dragged a pony to them. Its mouth clamped shut by the minion as Wrath hung off the side of the wolf creature.  The minion’s claws gripped the pony’s mane in one clawed hand and the other clamped his jaws.  Azure said nothing as the pony was dropped in front of him.  

“Say nothing if you wish to live through this moment.”  He said to the shaking pony who nodded, complying with the stallion.  “Good.  I have a question for you.”

The pony said nothing as he looked at the minion that had dragged him out of his home.  “Okay.”  He whispered and waited in place.

“What is that?”  Azure asked and pointed to the wolf creature Wrath sat on.

“It…It’s a Timberwolf.”  He replied quietly.

“Literally?”  Azure replied, his tone incredulous.

“Yes.”  He said and nodded slowly.

Azure rolled his eyes and managed to fight back an annoying sound.  “That was all.  I figured asking a pony to come to me would not work since the creature would have been with me.”  He lied easily and patted the pony on the shoulder.

“I can go?”  He asked, his eyes wide.

“Of course,”  Azure said to him, a smile on his lips.  





The pony smiled and got to his hooves.  He pony turned to leave and he began to walk away as his breath caught at the sudden flash of pain.  He looked over his shoulder to see the blade of a sword driven through his back and he looked down to see the tip through his chest.  A rough laugh caught his attention and he looked back, the Unicorn’s smile had warped and was now cruel and malicious.

“You ponies are far too trusting for your own good.” He said aloud.

The pony gasped as the blade was ripped from his body and he saw the ground rush up at him as the sound of a muffled scream caught his attention and he looked up as another pony was dragged through the grass. 





Azure watched the light leave the ponies eyes and he went limp on the ground.  He raised his gauntlet and the light brightened as the essence was collected. “Hmm.”  He made a quiet sound but said nothing at the sight.  His weapon slid back into the scabbard at his shoulder after Wrath wiped the blade clean.  The mare was dragged through the grass and she tried to scream through the minion's hands at the sight of the dead stallion.  Wrath leaned down and gripped the dead pony’s mane, allowing him to drag the body off to the side.  Azure stared at her as she struggled to pull away but a stomp from him stopped her attempts and she stared at him.  

“I trust you will be cleverer than he was.” Azure began and she nodded frantically. 

Wrath returned after tossing the dead pony’s body to the side and was at his side once more.  Azure waited for the mare to calm a bit before he said anything more. Now he would test if Wrath could kill her and get the same amount of essence or more.  He was hoping for more considering how terrified she was now.   The minion that had hold of her slid to the ground to ensure that she did not scream. 

“How many ponies are in your village?”  He asked her, his voice quiet.

She looked away from him to the minion that held her jaws and then looked like she was thinking it over.  She looked to the minion and he released enough of her jaws to allow her to speak, but not enough to scream.

“Over two hundred I think.”  She whispered.

Azure looked to the village and a pleased sound escaped him.  “Good. That is all I needed from you. Wrath.”  

The minion reached out and his thin clawed hand gripped her.  Her eyes widened in terror as she cried out weakly.  Wraths sword slid into her chest, cutting into her heart, killing her instantly.  Azure looked to the gauntlet as it brightened.  “That works.”  

“Master?”  Gnarl spoke to him.

“I will gather them all in one spot and the more terrified they the more essence I receive in turn.  Terror is easy to accomplish.”  He said aloud as a laugh barked from him.  “Take to the air.”  He barked to Garble who bowed his head and took to the air.

“Well done Master.  That test worked out perfectly as you wished it would.”  Gnarl said to him, his voice clearly pleased.

“It helps that a young dragon's claws are very similar to the minions so that will make things easier for me to harvest them. Any ponies that looked like they were killed by anything less will be burned beyond recognition.”  Azure explained and he led the minions out of the forest.  

Wrath leaped to his Timberwolves back and stayed close to the Overlord as they advanced on the village ponies.  The minions began to flood the village under his command to get every single pony and bring them to the center of the village. Azure walked ahead as screams broke through the air.  The calm night air was shattered as screams and the screams of the minions tore through the air.  Azure watched as ponies were dragged from their homes and were dragged through the streets as the minions did as he has ordered.  The Overlord listened as the greens were positioned in the right place and the reds and blues stayed at his sides.  He said nothing as he looked up to see a Pegasus take to the air.  He followed the pony’s erratic flight as fire tore into the body and a scream tore through the air.  The pony careened to the ground and the Overlord watched as the dragon wheeled in the air and went back to the skies, doing as he had been commanded.  

Wrath raced ahead of him and the Overlord looked back to him as a pony fought back against the Timberwolf that was biting fiercely at the pony’s legs.  Azure watched as the pony turned to buck as the minion on the wolves back jabbed at him with the halberd that normally sat on the minions back.  It stabbed through the pony’s right flank and he cried out as he fell to the ground.  The Timberwolf reached out and its fangs bit into the pony’s leg and began to drag him to the center of the village.  Azure felt a smile tug at his mouth at the sights and sounds that went over him. His eyes closed for a moment as he began to walk forward, his stride slow and deliberate.  His armored hooves thudded against the dirt road, a pony fell out of the house to hid right and fell at his hooves.  The pony looked to the boots and a look of hope crossed his face as he looked up, his eyes widened at the sight of the brightly burning red eyes that looked down at him, his hope crushed in a moment.  

“Who are you?”  He asked, his voice quivering.  

“Me?”  Azure replied as the pony nodded slowly.  “I am your end.”  He spoke quietly as the pony began to shake.

A wolf reached out and gripped the pony’s hind leg and dragged him away as he cried out in pain.  Azure smiled maliciously at the ponies’ cries.  He began to walk forward once more and after a couple of minutes, he reached the center of the village and watched as the ponies huddled together, their eyes searching.  Azure backed up a step and got out of their eyesight.  He was curious how they would react to the Overlord if he was out of sight. He let the minions fill in the gaps as a pony was dropped from the sky by a flying Garble.  Azure sent him back to the skies with a glance and the dragon did as commanded.  

He watched as the ponies eyes stared, terrified at the surrounding minions and the howling wolves that bit at them as they circled them.  Azure chose that moment to walk forward, he watched a pony see him and a bit of hope went through her eyes.  

“Help us!”  She screamed at him.

Azure stopped at the back of the minions and the ponies were now staring in his direction.  He stomped a hoof and the minions looked back to him and the mounted browns stopped circling.  They bowed their heads and backed away to allow him room to walk easily past them. Azure could hear Kelda and Gnarl laughing through his helmet and a smile tugged over his mouth.  The ponies stared, the light of hope leaving their eyes. Azure walked toward them as they backed away from the sound of his armored hooves.  His smile had morphed into a sadistic grin as he regarded the ponies ahead of him.  

“Who are you?”  One asked him, his voice small and shook as he spoke.

“Does it matter?”  Azure replied.  “You are going to die anyway.”

“Then why are you doing this?”  He asked.

“I need to gather the essence that you hold to bring more of my army to life.  That is your purpose.”  Azure replied simply.

“Essence?”  

“Yes.  The evil essence that rests within you.  Your life force if you will.”  He explained. “I can use it.”

“But why do you need to kill us?”  

“That is the only way to harvest it,”  Azure replied as the minions at the back began to move under his command.

At the back of the group, the ponies began to scream as the minions attacked them.  The ponies close to him looked to him as the ponies behind them tried to crowd forward to get away from the attacking minions.  Azure said nothing as the minions with him began to advance as well.  They swarmed from behind him and jumped over their fellow minions to attack in succession.  Azure took the weight off one hind hoof as he watched, his red eyes brightly burning in their sockets.  He could hear Kelda and Gnarl speaking in the background but it was nothing that he needed to worry about.  

“Are there any taking to the air, Lord?” Gnarl asked him, the Minion Master had to shout over the din of the minions and screaming ponies.

“A few did but Garble did well to knock them to the earth,”  Azure replied.  

“Nothing on the roads, Love,”  Kelda said to him.

“Good.”  Azure’s voice bordered on bored at his gauntlet collected the essence as the ponies died. 

He walked forward as they fell ahead of him to ensure that he was close enough for the essence to gather to him.  The red stallion was quiet as the screams began to die out as the minions tore through the ponies.  No pony was spared as they killed those they found.  Azure commanded a group of them to recheck the houses to avoid anypony escaping to alert the Royals of his actions.  His ears flicked as he listened to the different pleas of the ponies and the cries for mercy, none of them getting past his ears to his mind. His mind was already on the amount of time it would take to replenish the red Hive and ensure that it was back in proper form.  He made a mental note to check on the other Hives to ensure that they were all well stocked and their condition was favorable.  While the reds did not often get into trouble under his command he had needed to resurrect his fair share over time.  He did not allow all of the essence to be used in one hive and he could section it as he saw fit.  This trip would serve to replenish both the red hive and his own extra stock that he kept in the wings should he need it.  As the last pony fell the gauntlet glowed brightly as the essence gathered within it before being sent back to the Netherworld.  His eyes fell on it and then to the village around him.  

“Best to move all the bodies into the houses to ensure that they burn properly.  The last thing I need is for them to all be found here.”  Azure mused aloud.

“Best to move them now Master,”  Gnarl advised.

Azure said nothing as his commands were formed and the minions began the task of moving the corpses.  The stallion’s eyes went to the sky and he sent a blast of red magic into the air to summon the dragon to his side.  Garble joined him after a moment and the stallion turned to the dragon. 

“Light the village aflame.  I do not want a single house to survive this fire.  I trust you can handle this command?”  

“Of course, Master,”  Garble replied and took to the air once more.  

Azure watched as the dragon took to the air and the first houses began to fall to the flame.  While his fire was not able to create a ground-shaking impact, with the aid of the reds he was able to accomplish what he had been commanded to accomplish.  The Overlord walked out of the village as the Browns came back to him and surrounded him, ensuring they stayed away from the fire.  Unlike the reds, they were not fire resistant.  The others stayed away as well.  He watched as the village became a bright spot of flame and he smiled at the sight before him.  His eyes were wide as the heat rolled over him, he whistled to have his helm pulled off and Wrath jumped to his back to remove the helm and jumped back to the Timberwolves back.  Azure shook out his mane and looked back to the fire.  Garble circled above, dropping fire in places to ensure that it blazed as he had been commanded.  Azure would have him walk around the perimeter in places to ensure that dragons took the blame for the slaughter.  The heat washed over him, ruffling his long mane.  His smile returned as a scream went out.  A minion dragged a burned pony out to him and the Overlord stood in silence as the pony was brought to him.  

Azure looked down as the pony stared up at him, tears of pain and terror falling from her eyes.  She panted as she stared up at him.  Azure’s magic pulled his sword free and she cried in place.  Azure reached down and his hoof raised her head to look at him.  

“Why?”  She whimpered to him.

His blade slid through her chest and she gasped as he spoke.  “Evil Always Finds A Way.”
> 15: Moving Ahead...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been several days since Azure’s destruction of the random town on the outskirts of Equestria. He did not think that anything had been noted since then.  He did not have any way to know since he had destroyed the gate that had been placed there and its place hidden deep to avoid it being found.  The Overlord had checked on the Hives and been shocked to find that they were more than replenished and he was sure that he would not need to harvest any essence for a while due to the sheer amount that had been brought to bear and he had taken the rest to be used later.  

Azure was quiet as he walked through the minion burrows and he nodded to Mortis as he passed by.  Azure had not needed to resurrect any of the minions in his army since they had been up against ponies that did not pose any threat.  He paused to look around as the minions lounged in place or chased after various rodents that had been allowed to breed and live to give them something to do in their spare time.  Azure shook his head as they chased the creature and he moved past them to avoid being run into.  He jumped to the platforms and commanded it to move and take him back to the throne room. 

He had left Gnarl to ponder how to ensure that the Changeling stayed under his command versus it being returned to the Queen when they got close to her.  So far their experiments had not shown any signs of the drone being taken from him. He had shown no sign of losing his connection to the Overlord but that did not mean that Azure would not be ready in case he did.  The platform stopped at the edge of the throne room doors and he jumped off to see Wrath come running out of the doorway and slide to a stop at the sight of him.  He trotted to the stallion and waved a letter in front of the red pony. 

“Give me that.”  He growled at the minion tried to jump to his back before giving over the letter.  Wrath went still and gave it to him and the stallion walked into the throne room with the minion on his heels.  His magic gripped the letter and he opened it as he paused next to the map table.  


Azure:
Can you come to Ponyville? Applejack wants to speak with you about her sister and I thought that it would be easier to meet her at the castle versus out at her farm.  

Thank you!

Twilight


“Hmm.  What could possibly be so dire that I need to go there?"  He questioned aloud.  His eyes traveled around him and he shrugged.  “I have nothing better to do at the moment.  So a trip to the town might prove to be an interesting distraction. Will see if she is asking about the dead town or not.”  

He left the note on the map table to allow Gnarl to know where he had gone.  He would take his helm with him in case he needed to explain further but he saw no need to wear it.  Wrath sprinted away to retrieve the helm that sat next to his throne and ran back with it in his claws.  He walked out into the center of the room and commanded the Gates magic.  He opened his eyes to see Twilight standing at the bottom of the stairs, surprise in her eyes.

“Hi, Azure.”  She greeted him with a wave of her hoof.  “I wasn’t expecting you to show up so fast.”  

“I had nothing better to do at this time.”  He replied as he walked down the stairs to join her.  The gauntlet roared and his normal amount of minions surged over the ground to join him. “You caught me in a moment of boredom.” 

Twilight giggled and nodded to him.  “Well Applejack wanted to talk to you so just come with me and we can chat with her.”

Azure nodded and stayed at the mare’s side as he walked toward the castle at the end of the street.  He glanced up and he could see that ponies were no longer turning to stare at him and the minions as he passed by.  He allowed himself a light chuckle at the sight of the ponies ignoring him.  Twilight looked to him as he laughed and she tilted her head slightly at him.

“I was laughing at how they no longer seem concerned with my presence.”

Twilight looked around them and she smiled.  “They are used to you by now.  At first, they were running from you and the minions but now you’re just like any other pony in town.”  

Azure said nothing and simply looked ahead of them as she spoke.  He had to admit they adjusted fairly quickly but that just meant that the minions moving through town would most likely go unnoticed.  He took note of it to inform Gnarl of later and stayed with the purple Alicorn.  They reached the castle and Twilight opened the door to allow him to inside ahead of her. She followed him inside and her magic pulled a chair out for him to use as they walked into the next room. Applejack stood up as he approached, he could see that she was upset by her expression and he sat down in place, the minions sat down around him.  Wrath set him helm on the table and went back to his own place.  Wrath sat on his tail and Azure flicked it to inform the minion that he did not approve.  The minion stood up, picked up the long tail and sat down with it on his lap.  While Azure had not expected that to be his solution he allowed it.  

“Ya need ta explain yerself.”  Applejack said to him, her voice firm.

“This again?”  Azure said to her and leaned back in his chair.

The mare blinked and then shook her head. “Not what Ah meant.  Ya were on mah farm the other day.”

Azure thought back and nodded in agreement. “That is true.”  

“Did ya meet anypony?”  

Azure thought it over and shook his head. “Nopony that stood out.”

“What about three fillies?”  She replied.

Azure looked thoughtful and he nodded.  “Okay, now I recall them.  Yes, I did meet three small ponies.”  

“And?”  She went on.

“And…What?”  Azure replied he had to admit he was not sure what she was looking for him to say.

“Apple Bloom has been havin’ nightmares since then. Anythin’ that ya can think of that could cause that?”  

Azure shook his head.  “To be honest this beating around the bush is becoming boring. Just say what you want to say.”  

Applejacks eyes widened then her eyes narrowed in anger. “She’s been wakin’ up cryin’ with nightmares of minions.  Lots’a minions.”

Azure feigned caring as the mare spoke, but his interest failed as she went on.  “And?” 

“And ya scared the daylights outta her.”  She replied, hotly.  “Yer a mite old ta be scarin’ fillies.”  

“It was not my intention to frighten them.”  He replied. 

“What was the intention of bringin’ that many minions to mah farm?”  

“They mentioned that Wrath did not look that frightening so I changed his armor.  They said that he was scarier but not enough to be protecting me.  So I called on a few more and they decided that they were scary enough altogether.”  

Applejack stared at him and Twilight shook her head, an exasperated smile on her lips.  “Ya knew that they might get scared!?  And ya did it anyway?”

“I did not see a reason not to prove them wrong. Was all in good fun.”  He replied.  

Applejack slapped her hoof to her face and glared at him. “Ya are too old for that.  Did ya really think it was okay ta terrorize three little fillies?”

Azure shrugged and placed his hooves under his chin. “As I said.  All in good fun.”  

Applejack snorted in reply.  “Stay away from mah sister.”  

“She and the others were following me around. I told them to stay out of the way and they persisted.  Perhaps she is the one that needs to be told to stay away.”  He countered.

“Oh, she will.  Ya need ta grow up, Azure.  Yer older and bigger than they are.”  

Azure’s brow lifted at her comment and he chose to allow her to feel that she had scolded him properly and he stayed silent. She pushed away from the table and stomped to the door behind him.  He didn’t bother looking back as Twilight trotted after the angry mare.  He said nothing as he could hear Twilight trying to smooth things over and the other mare huffed and left, slamming the door behind her.  Twilight came back to him and sat down in her own chair.  She sighed and looked at him.

“You really shouldn’t have scared the fillies.”

“As I said it was not my intention.  I simply proved them wrong, at their request.”

“You could have said that to Applejack.”  She countered.

“Perhaps.  But do you think that would have changed anything?”  He replied.

Twilight shook her head.  “Probably not, but still.”  Twilight began and the sound of a door opening caught her attention as Spike trotted up to her, a scroll in his claws.  “Hi, Spike.”  

Spike jumped to his own chair as she took the scroll from him.  “Hey, Azure.” He said with a friendly wave to the stallion.

“Spike.”  He replied and waited as Twilight stared at the scroll ahead of her.  “Anything interesting?”

“Yeah.  A town was attacked by somepony and…”  She paused at the sight of Spike next to her.  “Spike?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you bring in some coffee, please?”  She asked him brightly.

He looked at her, his face accusatory but he nodded.  “Sure.” 

Azure watched as the dragon walked out of the room and the door closed behind him.  “That bad?”  He asked her.

“Yup.  It was wiped out.  Nopony lived.”  She said as she read it over.

“Oh.”  Azure feigned shock at her words.  “Any ideas?”

“Princess Celestia says it was burned to the ground and that the ponies are…unrecognizable.”  

Azure widened his eyes at the information. “That’s quite the feat.”  

“I agree.  It takes a lot of work to do that to a body.  Azure?”

“Yes?”

“Can your minions…?”  He feigned insult at her words and she shook her head.  “I mean do they have the ability to do that?  I‘m trying to figure out what kind of strength would be needed.”

“Given plenty of time perhaps.  But it takes time to do that to a body as you said. One minion would not be able to attain that easily.  There would need to be a great deal of them to accomplish such a feat without help.”

“Okay.  That’s what I thought.  I was sure that you had nothing to do with it and I am glad to be right.  So what else could it be?”  She asked as she set the paper on the table.

Azure looked up as Spike came back into the room, he pushed a trolley with drinks into the room and Twilight smiled at him as he got to her.  She looked to Azure and he nodded back at her.  Her magic covered the coffee and she made herself a cup and another she set on the table and held up sugar and milk to him.  He nodded to both and she tipped in a couple of sugar cubes and a bit of milk and her magic set it in front of him.  He took the offered cup and sipped it as Spike got back into his chair. 

“So what did I miss?”  He asked as he set his own drink on the table.  

“Not much.  Just asking Azure what his red minions can do and how hot their fire is.” She feigned to him.

“Oh.  Boring.” 

“Not that interesting,”  Twilight said back to him and sipped her coffee.  

Azure said nothing and took a gulp of his drink. A plan formulated behind his eyes as a slight smile tugged at his mouth as he set his drink down he gathered himself to spin a lie to the mare.  “Now that I think of it I do have something to mention.”  

“Oh?”  Twilight asked him.  “Everything okay?”

“Thankfully yes.  But, could a dragon have the needed amount of literal firepower to harm that town?” He asked her.

He watched as Twilight’s eyes went wide as he spoke.  She looked to Spike who said nothing as he stared at the Overlord.  “That’s possible.  Why do you ask?”

“I was at home and a letter came to me from one of my settlements calling for my help.  They were under attack from something it seemed.”  He began and the mare and dragon were listening intently. “When I arrived several homes were on fire and a section of the wall burned as well.  Thankfully the walls are solid stone so it would have taken a great amount of flame to melt them.  But they reported that it was a group of dragons that had attacked.  I found them and chased them off before they could do more damage.”

Spike’s jaw dropped as Azure finished speaking and the red stallion took a drink of his coffee as Twilight stood up and the map came to life and she looked up at him.  “Can you show me roughly where the attack happened?”

“Why?”  He asked her.

“I want to know if they got driven off by you and went to this other town.”  She explained.  “I do not think you had anything to do with this, you were protecting your ponies, same as I would have.”  

Azure’s magic held his drink as he got to his hooves and walked over to her.  He looked at the map and pointed out where the attack happened.  He lied about the exact location and made it seem as though the dragons had been driven off of his land and had then attacked the village next.  Twilights eyes narrowed and he could see the anger in her eyes.  

“Can you describe the dragons?”

“Do you know them?”  He asked.

“Not personally.  But there are a few younger dragons that we have come into contact with that are not as likely to let it go that a pony drove them off.”

“Meaning?”

“There are a group of teenager dragons that don’t like ponies at all.  Last we were around them they attacked us and Spike.  We got away from them once but the idea that they decided to go after your ponies and then this town is…”  

“You think Garble would do that?”  Spike asked.  

“I think it could be possible.  You saw how much he hated ponies before.”  She reasoned to the baby dragon who nodded.  “But to…hurt so many.”

“It is possible,”  Azure added in.  “If a being has enough anger or hatred then they cannot be expected to act rationally or with any sense.  He lost to you before, correct?”

“Yes.  We got away with the egg of a phoenix before and that was what he wanted.”  Twilight replied.  

“So that would still count as a loss in his mind. An affront to his personal pride.” Azure replied, ensuring that the idea of an enraged dragon was the cause of the deaths.  “I know that when I was fighting to take back my kingdom I would often goad my enemies into acting out from anger or a slight to them.  It’s a common tactic.  In your case, it was not deliberate but it is still an affront to him. Therefore it is possible that he could gather those of like mind and spur them into enough of a frenzy to act out.”

Twilight listened to him and she nodded as he finished speaking.  “You make a good point.  He is a pretty nasty little dragon.  What did the leader of them look like?”

“He was red with a yellow belly,”  Azure replied.

“Yup.  That’s Garble.”  Spike said as he nodded, his arms crossed over his chest.

Twilight nodded, agreeing with the baby dragon at her side.  “I wish it wasn’t but I don’t think we can disagree with Azure and his description. It makes sense that if he failed to cause harm to Azure’s ponies that he might go after others.  Are your ponies okay?”  

“They are fine.  Repairs are already underway to several homes and roads.”  He admitted to her.  “More terrified than harmed.  They were fine once the threat was driven from the lands.”  

Twilight sighed in relief as he spoke and looked to Spike.  “Take a letter, Spike.”  

Azure watched as the baby dragon pulled out a scroll and will from behind him and waited for the mare to speak.


 “Dear Princess Celestia, I am shocked to hear what happened to that town and I have spoken with Azure at length and his minions are not able to destroy a town of that size in a short amount of time.  He did confide that his ponies had been attacked several days earlier by a group of young dragons.  He was called to the scene and drove them away and it seems that their defeat at his hooves might have angered the leader and they attacked the next settlement they came across.  I asked him to describe the dragon that was the leader and he described a dragon that Spike and I are aware of.  A young teenage dragon named Garble was the driving force behind the attack on Azure’s own ponies.  I can ask more if needed but I am certain that we are looking at a group of dragons and not any minions.  Azure would not attack any pony unless provoked and has no need to harm them.  I hope we can find out what caused the attack and help to bring the matter to a close.

Your fellow Princess, Twilight Sparkle.”


She looked at Spike who nodded, rolled up the scroll and a blast of green flame sent it on its way.  He watched as it spiraled out of the room and through the window.  ‘When I take this town I need to make sure I keep that little one under wraps.’  He thought to himself and leaned back on his haunches.  He wTwilightck to his chair and sat down as Twilight did the same.  

“Thank you for your help, Azure.  I had no idea what could have caused this.”  She said to him.

“It’s no trouble.  War is something I am familiar with.”  

“Unfortunately.”  

“True enough.”  He replied to her and got to his hooves.  “Speaking of unfortunately I do have other things that I need to tend to back in the Netherworld.  Unless there to is more you need?”  

“No.  I’m fine but thank you for asking.  What are you up to anyway?”  She asked him, a smile on her muzzle.  

“Nothing of great importance.  Just planning ahead.”  He responded to her.

“For?”

“In case that Queen tries to find the Netherworld I am making sure that even if she gains entry she will not be able to escape it.” 

“Oh.  That’s a good idea.  Are you sure you will be okay?”

“Should be fine.  Only I can use the army and they will only respond to my command.  The Gates are already safeguarded against her and her kind.  But should she find a way past that, we have contingency plans for her.”

“I won’t ask.  You already know what you’re doing.  If you need help with anything let me know and I will do whatever I can to help out.”  She said to him.

“I will keep it in mind.  Till next time.”  He said to her as he gathered his minions and walked for the door.  

“Be safe, Overlord,”  Twilight called to him as he left.  

Azure let a grin come to his face at her choice of words.  He didn’t need to look at her to see the flash of color or the change in her expression through her eyes.  He paused as he considered how to entice her to allow him to touch her again but he chose to wait.  She would call for it again soon enough.  He recalled asking Faye how it had felt to be corrupted by him and she had said that by the second time she had begun to need his magic to touch her.  Almost like a drug and by the end it would be all that she could see. Now she did not need his magic, all she needed was to be close to him.  His hooves carried him out of the castle and into the sunlight.  He walked to the Gate as the minion jumped into their respective minion holes and he commanded the Gate to send him home.  

His eyes opened as he looked around and left the center of the room and then to the side where Gnarl waited.  The Minion Master said nothing as the Overlord joined him. Azure opened his mouth to say anything when he stopped and his jaws closed slowly as he considered an old thought. 

“That’s it.”  He said aloud.  Gnarl turned to look at him when he spoke as Wrath came up to him, carrying his helm. “Gnarl, bring me the drone.”  

“Master we are still…”  The minion went silent as Azures blazing red eyes looked to him as he disagreed.  “Of course, Dark Lord.”  

The Minion Master looked to his own runners and they took off to retrieve the drone.  Minutes ticked past and the drone was brought before him.  His magic reached out and he used his spell once more.  The drone’s eyes went wide at the influx of his magic and he looked to the Overlord, need in his gaze.  

“As I thought.”  He said and released the magic.  “As I was thinking over the presence spell that I was slowly infecting Twilight with I was reminded of how Faye said it felt when I was slowly draining her. It’s like a drug, one that they cannot argue against.  I figured I should check with the drone we have and he confirmed it for me.  Draining a bit from him showed that he is also under the influence of it.  So the easiest way to keep him under my control is to go with him into the Hive.  We can use him to get more information.”

Gnarl stared at him as he spoke.  “Master you’re a genius.  I had not considered that solution.  You are right that your presence alone is the strongest influence of all.  I had not thought of it that way.  Did you add more to the Princess?”

“No.  I figure if I let it go for a bit then I can see if she reaches out to me first.” Azure assured him.  “For now I will let her figure it out on her own.”

“Sounds like a plan, Dark Master.  We will prepare the drone to go back to the Hive and report in.  Which minion will you use?”

“I will use Wrath this time.  He is the boldest of the group and the most easily seen. No doubt that they have seen him so it will add credence to any claims of being close to me.”

“Fair point Master.”  

“Prep him.  We will head out in a few minutes.”

Gnarls eyes widened and he began to yell commands as Azure walked out of the room and stood on the balcony outside.  The red stallion was quiet as Wrath sat on his back and Azure looked back as the minion ran his claws through the Overlords tangled mane.  He said nothing and permitted the minion to act as he saw fit.  His ears flicked absently as he listened to the minion's claws scrabbling over the stone as Gnarl yelled and shouted to them.  His mind cleared as he closed his eyes and focused on what he wished to accomplish.  He was ready for if the Queen wished to move on him personally and try to use him.  The drone was to then assure her that he was not that close to the Overlord yet and needed time to gain his confidence.  For now, he would worry about it later and school the Changeling on what he was to do.  He could hear Gnarl doing just that as he waited and he could hear the creature agreeing and committing it to memory.  

Azure's mind came into focus as he prepared to move forward and keep his goals in the front of his mind.  He would either enslave the Queen or break her.
> 16: Check in...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure looked to the drone at his side as he reached out to the Netherworld shard.  His magic had already set Wrath up on top of it and he invoked the magic that held it.  His eyes closed as his mind pulled away and he opened his eyes to find himself looking at his own body from the eyes of Wrath.  The drone said nothing as the armored minion jumped from the shard pillar to the ground.  Azure gripped the drones dress and led him toward the entrance, he looked out to ensure that none of the other Changelings were close enough to see where he had come from.  He led the drone out into the light of day and allowed it to get its bearings before walking into the Hive.  He allowed the drone to take the lead and lead him toward the hive.  The other minions remained back at his command and they awaited his call to action if needed.  

‘Here we go.’  He said to himself as they walked into the Hive.

The drone walked ahead and led him through the tunnels which shifted and chanced at will now that he was getting a look at them. He grumbled under his breath about the shifting walls but otherwise, he kept quiet.  They walked into the throne room and the drone guided him to within thirty feet of the throne and stopped in place.  Azure made sure to look around and scan the walls as he saw fit.  If they had seen the minions normally then his actions were completely normal.  The minions were nearly always in movement unless commanded otherwise.  

He looked over his shoulder to a separate entrance as the Queen walked into the room.  His eyes went over her and the same sense of revulsion went over his mind. He fought back a gag at the closer vision of her.  His nose was only slightly better than normal in the body of the brown minion so he was not able to discern any scent from her due to the distance.  She jumped to the throne and laid down, facing him and the drone under his command.  He hated that she was standing over him but he ignored the feeling coming up through him in favor of allowing her to live for a while longer.  Her eyes went over the drone and then to the minion by his legs.  

“So what is this thing?”  She finally sneered, looking down her nose at the both of them.  

Azure fought back a snort and stayed still. “It’s the Overlords personal minion, his favorite.”  The drone replied.

“So why do you have his favorite?”

“He said that I could use it when I went out.” The drone replied smoothly.

The Queen seemed to accept the answer and went quiet for a moment as she looked at the armored minion.  “Why did he let you have him…her…it?”

“I mentioned that I was going out and he said for me to take him for protection.”

She growled and leaned off to the side of the throne and looked annoyed at the drones around her.  “Why are you in that form still?”

The drone looked down to the Overlord at his side for a moment before the pre-outing training from Gnarl seemed to kick in. “If I am not the mare he was told to protect than he will leave.”

The Queen was quiet for a moment before she lunged forward.  “Why would it leave you behind if it was commanded to guard you?  It makes no sense to leave you just due to your appearance? So what is the real reason?”  

The drone shrugged and looked to the minion once more.  “That’s just what will happen, I think.”  It replied as it went back to staring at her.

‘Shit.’ Azure thought to himself as he realized that he was going to possibly have to do some extra work to make sure he didn’t end up with a dead drone and no way out of the Hive aside from abandoning Wrath to the Queen's guards.

The Queen jumped down and her form lit with green fire as she transformed into Juno.  She looked at the minion at the hooves of the other and then to the drone. “What is it called?”

“I don’t think they have names.”  

“You.”  She said and pointed to the minion, after making sure he was looking at her.  “Come here.”  She commanded, her voice the same as the drones.  

Azure looked at the drone and then back to her, trying to appear as though he was thinking.  The Overlord turned minion sat down and stayed in place beside the drone, a bored sigh escaping him at the situation. The Changeling Queen snarled and her form shifted back to her natural appearance.  She snarled at the drone who shook in place at her expression.  Years of living under her cruelty had left reactions that could not be stopped even by Azure’s own presence.  She snarled and walked back to her throne and jumped up to sit in it once more.

“Fine.  Stay in that form and do not lose that ugly little thing.”  She snarled in reply to the looks she was getting from those in the room.  “How did you even get here anyway?”

The drone breathed at her words and Azure waited for him to speak further.  “I asked for a ride to allow me to get close and I left them on the edge of the forest. Then I had to walk.”

The Queen snorted.  “Next time, bring him with you.”

“I…I can’t.”  The drone replied.  “I’m not his favorite yet.”

“Favorite?”  She crooned.

Azure could feel the desire to beat the stupid out of the drone come over him and he nearly acted as he wished.  His good sense caught him in time and he waited from where he was sitting on the floor, his eyes looking to the drone in question.

“He has other ponies around him that he favors more than me.  I can’t ask anything bigger than this of him…yet.”  The drone explained.

“So who is ahead of you?”

“A few servants that tend to him more than I do.” 

“Then get rid of them and take their place. Show some initiative!”  She yelled at the drone, who cringed down toward the floor.

“Yes, My Queen.”  He said to her and nodded frantically.

Azure bristled at the use of her title by the drone but he figured that if needed he would allow it to keep the Queen from acting out more than he was ready for.  Azure calmed as he thought it out and stayed still in place.  He got to his feet when the Queen approached them once more, having jumped back down their level.  Her horn lit up and Azure felt himself being lifted from the ground. His eyes went to the Queen and his own magic came up from within the body of the minion but died when he tried to invoke it.  He could feel the queen’s magic pressing down on him, trying to suffocate him.

“We don’t need to send this one back.  Maybe over time, we can steal a few and then you all can take their places.  Soon his army will be mine, one way or the other.”  She cooed to the struggling minion.

‘I think not.’  Azure’s mind crashed into place and he called out to the Netherworld that was his to command. Wraths golden eyes flared red as the Netherworld and the Tower Heart came to Azure's command and he brought their force back against her and she reeled back as though she had been struck.  Her magic dropped him and he fell to the ground and leaped to his claws.  He looked to the drone and leaped to its back, ready to command it to flee.  He knew that it had been commanded by Gnarl to save him no matter the cost if needed.  He could feel it tense under him, ready to run to protect him.  The Queen lunged forward, her face a mask of rage. She reached out with her hooves toward the minion and Azure brandished the sword at his hip and roared back at her. She stopped and stared at the ferocity of the minion and backed up a step.  

‘She comes after me again I will say to the Hells with my own plans and march on this place.  I can yell commands if needed.  The Netherworlds magic is more than enough to take this place down.’  He snarled to himself.  

The Queen laughed at the sight of the minion standing half on the drones head by now and then walked away.  She jumped back to her throne and Azure allowed himself to fall back and sit on the drones back.  He would not be caught on the ground again.  

“How did it push me back?”

“The armor was made by the Overlord personally.” The drone supplied.  

‘If Gnarl thought that far ahead I will be praising him as soon as I get back and that praise will not end for a day. Even though he will hate all the attention.’ He thought to himself as the Bug Queen leaned back and nodded to him.

“He can add enough magic to push me back into a piece of armor?”

“Yes.”  The drone said to her and looked back to the minion on his back, who was now gripping the brown mane in its claws.  “His forge can do a lot of strange things.”

Azure was quiet so as to give the drone as much credence as possible by staying still so long as not threatened, despite his own desire to beat her senseless and stomp her skull to paste.  She pondered what she had been told and soon waved her hoof at the drone.  

“Fine.  Keep getting closer to him and when you have his ear tell me.  I can be patient for a bit longer.  I want him under my control and when I do then not even Celestia and her precious Element Bearers will be able to stop me.”  She growled, a cruel smile on her muzzle.  

‘Element Bearers?  What is she blathering about?’  Azure asked himself.  ‘I will have to ask about this when I speak with Twilight again.  That sounds like something she would know of as a Princess of this country.’  

The drone made for the exit after nodding to the Queen.  Azure stayed on his back and got up into a position he had seen Wrath sit in before and the drone hissed as the claws bit at his skin.  Azure looked down and he could see that the drones form was much slimmer than his own and he sat back down to avoid bleeding the drone further. They walked slowly out of the Hive and the drone paused when others came down to speak to it. 

“So this what you have been up to?”  One asked and flipped the drones long brown hair back, flipping it into Azure’s face.  

“I was doing what she told me to do.”  It replied, mechanically.  

“I’m sure.  You got the easy job and…What is that thing doing?”  

Azure was now standing up taller on the drones back and glaring down at the others.  His patience was wearing thin and he had just been hit in the face with the drone’s mane. The thin drone in front of him backed up under the clear anger from the minion.  Azure reached for the weapon at his side and slung it toward them.  They scattered and he sat down heavily on the drones back and kicked it back into motion.  He leaned down and picked up the tossed weapon on their way out.  They got a fair distance away and the Overlord sighed aloud.  

“Gnarl?”

“Yes, Master?”

“Please tell me you heard all of that?”  

“I did Master.”  He assured the clearly cranky Overlord.  

“By the Dark, that creature gets uglier with each interaction.  I did not think it was possible.  Do not allow me to forget to ask Twilight about what she meant by Element Bearers.”

“I wrote it down, Master.”  The Minion Master assured him again.  

“Good.”  He replied and sagged on the drones back.  “That was more work than I had anticipated.”  

Azure looked up to ensure that they were not being watched as he pushed the drone into a lope and found the entrance to the Gate and slid inside as the minions closed it behind him.  The Overlord focused and was sent back to his own body and Wrath jumped from the drones back and ran to the Overlord, quickly jumping to his back.  Azure looked back and he could tell that not only did his armor protect him, but he had also been right about the drone being much slimmer than himself.  He glanced over his shoulder to the brown minion on his back and he seemed to be fine despite the time under the Overlords control.  Azure had seen the green that he had used before suffering from the effect of the Overlords magic.  Wrath seemed no worse for wear despite the use of the Netherworld magic through him.  Azure sighed as he pushed the thought of the minion wellbeing from his mind and walked back for the Gate, the drone on his heels.  





Azure sat in his throne, having explained everything to Gnarl and how he viewed their next moves as a minion came running up to Gnarl.  The minion yelped and cried and Gnarl looked to the Overlord, his expression uncertain. 

“Master?”

“Yes?”  Azure replied as he looked to the map next to him.  

“Dragons have been spotted close to Nordberg.”  

“Dragons?  As in large dragons or the ones from before?”  He asked, his expression annoyed at the lack of information.

Gnarl looked to the minion and waited as it screeched. “The smaller ones.”  

“Again?”  He growled and began to walk toward the Gate when he paused and looked to the caged dragon by the side of the room.  “Gnarl…”

“Yes, Lord?”

“Can we make more cages like this one?”  

“Of course Master.  If you command it we can make…Several more.”  The minion replied and his tone changed as the implications of Azure’s question caught up to him.  

“Garble?”  Azure said to the dragon as he approached the cage.

“My Lord?”  The dragon said and looked intently to the stallion.

“What did I tell you about my life once?”

“That’s it is far more valuable than mine.”  The dragon replied quickly.  

“Good boy.  I need you to do some acting for me.”  

“Anything My Lord.  I will do everything as you command.”  He replied and bowed his head low to the stallion. 

Azure smiled at the dragon’s words as he opened the cage door.  “Good.” 





Garble walked forward and he could see the other young dragons were circling the area around the town of Nordberg.  He breathed out and walked out into the area that he had been defeated in before.  The ground still held evidence of the fight that he had been in with the Overlord and he walked out into their line of sight.  He watched as they saw him and he swaggered out further as they landed close to him.  They landed around him and he could see the shock in their eyes at the sight of him. The brown one dropped to the ground, it shook as he landed.

“Garble?”  

“Yeah?”  He growled back, the picture of his normal self.

“You’re okay now?”  

“I’m fine.  That stupid pony let his guard down and paid for it.”  He snarled back and released a puff of flame, along with a cocky smile.

The brown raised his arm and the other three joined them. They all reached out to set a claw on him to make sure that he was okay and began to talk all at once.  

“How did you break that weird mind control of his?” 

Garble paused as he leaned back on his heels and smiled.  “I could tell it was not permanent so when it started to release a bit I kept it up, you know just so I could get that little pony to bow to me and when he wasn’t ready for it.”  He released a jet of flame and the others laughed.  “He got so burned that he had to do what I told him.  He’s not too tough without his little creatures and magic.”

“We went to the Dragon Lord and he told us that you got yourself into it and had to get yourself out.  So we came back to get you.”  

“Good thing.  I have that pony doing what I tell him now.  All the other ones are running scared when I come around.”  Garble went on.  “Come on.”  He said and motioned for the others to follow him.  

“Where are we going?”

“I want to show you the town that I run now.”  He laughed and walked ahead of them.

He glanced back and the others were on his heels. He walked them through the main front gates and he stepped to the side when they were all inside to allow for the torrent of minions to fall over them.  They had been waiting for the red dragon to get them in place.  The others cried out as the armored minions fell onto them from all directions and their jaws were roped shut and their claws tied. They cried out through the gags and they went silent at the sound of hoof falls.





“Welcome back,”  Azure said to them as they stared at him.  

Garble went up to him and knelt down before the armored stallion.  “My Lord. Is this as you had wished?”

“You did well,”  Azure assured the dragon and patted his head in clear praise.  

“I am glad that you approve.  I have brought them to you as you commanded.  They are yours.”  He replied and waited as Azure walked past him before he stepped to the side and waited.

Azure looked down at the dragons and a laugh broke from him as they stared at him.  “Coming back here was not your best idea, was it?”  They shook their heads and Azure looked to the new dragon, a white dragon with pale pink spines.  He had pink eyes and had a gangly appearance.  “And you are wishing you had stayed home.”  

The newcomer looked to the others and they looked back to the red stallion.  Azure said nothing as he charged his horn to begin to force the dragons to submit to his rule.  He targeted the brown first and the white magic crackled through the air and struck him. Azure held the magic till it signaled that his resistance was broken and he released the magic.  The dragon’s eyes were as white as the spell and then his eyes reverted back to normal and he stared at the stallion.  

“Master?”  He called out, his muscles going slack as he stopped fighting the minions hold.  

“Release him,”  Azure said and moved onto the next dragon.





Azure walked into the Netherworld from the Gate, five dragons on his heels.  He looked up and a surprised look crossed his face at the sight of the five cages that were already set up and ready for use.  Each dragon was moved into place and they settled into their cages as the Overlord walked back to his throne and sat down.  He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.  The use of so much of his magic was wearing on him and he breathed in slowly to try to push back the slight discomfort.  He started to allow himself to drift off when Kelda called out to him.

“Love?”  

He sat up and looked to her as she walked up the few stairs to reach him.  “Yes?”

“This came for you a little bit ago.”  She said to him and gave him a scroll.

He took the letter and unfurled it in his hooves and read it over.  “Twilight wants to ask my help with something.”  He said aloud, tiredness in his voice.

“You okay?”  Kelda asked him quietly as she walked up to the side of his throne and leaned over it to nuzzle him.

“I’m fine.  A bit wore down but nothing to worry about.”  

“What does she need?”

“No idea.  Doesn’t say.”  He replied and his magic incinerated the letter as he pushed himself to his hooves. 

Kelda followed him as he went to the Gate and Wrath jumped to his back.  He pushed the mare back and the gate crashed over him.  His eyes opened in Ponyville and he walked down the steps as the minions poured from the minion gates and clamored to his side.  He walked down the street, his head slightly lowered as fatigue bit at him. He decided that if this was nothing important he was going to storm out of the crystal castle and go back to the Netherworld.  He reached the castle quickly and his magic opened the front doors to find Spike looking startled at his entrance.

“Hey, Azure.”  He called out and approached the stallion.

“Spike.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Twilight asked me to come here.”  He replied.  “Where is she?”

“I think she’s in the library,”  Spike replied and motioned for the stallion to follow him. 

Spike led him deeper into the castle.  He had been in the library once before but that creature Discord had taken him there the last time.  Spike pointed to a set of large double doors and Azure’s magic pushed them open to reveal a long room surrounded on all sides with bookshelves. He walked in and a sound caught his attention.  He looked to the side and found a side room, he walked in and twilight was staring at a sample of dirt as he approached.  

“Twilight.”  He said to her.

She looked to him, clearly pleased at his presence. “You came.”

She trotted over to him and gave him a quick hug and led him back to where she had been sitting.  Normally he did not approve of such acts but he let it go.  He was tired and he was not in the mood to fight at the moment.  Plus it let her think that she was close to him and could act that way.  

“What do you need?”  He asked her, his voice tired.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.  What is it?”

“This is a sample from the spot we found in the desert by Appleoosa.  I had a sample sent here just in case I missed anything.  So far my own analysis hasn’t changed but I am thinking that since I was able to see more with your help that maybe you could help me again.”  She said to him, hope in her voice.

Azure paused and looked to the sample of dead earth. His thoughts fell on what Faye had said about his power infecting her and he looked to Twilight, who watched him with hope in her eyes.  He allowed himself a slight smile and nodded to her.  Joy crossed her face as she pushed her chair back to allow him to stand closer to her and the sample of earth.  

“Hold still.”  He said to her.  

His magic covered her horn and then covered her body.  He pulled some of her magic away from her and pushed some of his own into place.  He watched her eyes widen a bit as he moved the magic into her.  He pushed a bit more than normal into her to see how she would react.  Her eyes fell on him and he saw a shift in her gaze for a moment.  He tilted his horn to the ground sample and she looked to it as he considered what he saw in her. He had seen a look similar to what he saw in Kelda’s eyes when she looked at him.  There was a clear sense of care but also lust in her gaze for a moment.  He fought back a smile and waited as the mare pushed the dirt around with a hoof.  His magic stayed over her as she worked.  She glanced to him and he dropped the magic he held over her and she leaned back on her haunches.  

“Anything different?”  He asked her.

“No.  It’s odd though.”  

“How so?”

“I tried to add some water and other nutrients to it and nothing can bring it back.  It’s like everything was taken from it and there is no way to bring it back to life.”  She said to him.  “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

He leaned back on his heels and shook his head slowly.  “So what will you do now?”

“I’m not sure.  I was going to bring it up to Princess Celestia but I don’t know if there is anything she can do that I haven’t tried.  But I’m out of ideas.”  She admitted and huffed as her magic pulled her chair back to her.

Azure was quiet as he forced his tired mind to act on what he knew.  She did not seem to realize that the area was completely dead and there was no saving it at this point.  He would let her spin her wheels on that concept for a while.  Her mind was very slowly accepting the corruption that he was pushing into her and her body was allowing it.  So far nothing in her gave him pause to slow down his plans.  He watched her ponder things as he contemplated how to continue.  He knew that the corruption in her would start to affect her in the same way as a strong drug would and she would slowly begin to need to be around him to gain any further effect from it.  His magic would keep her coming to him to have him ‘help’ her with other tasks.  She would begin to justify it and then she would be too far gone to save.  He would keep a close eye on her just in case of any attempt to undo what he had been doing to her.  

“Azure?”

“Yes?”  He looked at her when she spoke to him.

“Do you think that spot is truly dead?”  She asked him, her voice quiet.

“In my opinion, it is yes.”  He said to her.  “But I get the feeling that you are going to keep trying to save it.”

“Your right.  You haven’t been here very long and you already know me.”  She chuckled and nodded at him.  “Will you help?”

He nodded at her and she grinned widely at him.  “For now we can keep it to ourselves while we try to find any solution or a definitive reason for it before we take it to the others.”

She looked to the dead earth as she considered what he said.  She nodded and looked at him.  “Your right. We need more information and we need clear reason and proof before we do anything else.  I agree that we should keep it to ourselves for now.  We will watch out for any change.  But it has gotten a little bigger since the last time but not by much.”

Azure nodded in agreement with her and backed up a step.  “I will ask my advisors and see if he has seen anything similar before and if I find anything I will let you know.”  He said to her and she beamed at him.  “Until next time then.”

“Get some rest.  You sound tired.”  She said and got up to lead him out of the library.  

“That is the plan.  Till next time then.”  He said to her as she led him to the front of the castle and he left her behind. 

He heard the castle doors close and a smile tugged its way onto his mouth.  He reached the Gate and its magic brought him back to the Netherworld.  Kelda stood up from her place on the stairs and she looked at him as he began to laugh.  He saw Gnarl look at him from the map table as he pulled himself back together and he approached the throne.  His body spun and he allowed himself to fall into the plush furs.  

“Love?”  Kelda called to him as she came up to the throne and sat down at his hooves to lean her body partially across his hind legs.

“Hmm?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.  Things are coming together rather well actually.  I was able to corrupt their little Princess of Friendship further so she will begin to fall even further in time.  For now, I will let her act as needed and ‘help’ her when asked.”  

Kelda leaned heavily against his legs and he ran his hoof over her mane.  She nuzzled against him and he tugged her mane in play and she slapped his thigh in return.  A coy look from her brought a laugh from him as she got to her hooves and laid more across his lap, allowing him to run a hoof over her fur.  He looked up from her and to the Minion Master.  

“Gnarl.  I might pull back the Tower Hearts draining of the land for now.  I will leave it in the one spot until it has fully drained the area more completely.  That will keep the Princess at my beck and call since she has agreed that she and I are going to try to find out what happened to the land there without telling anypony else.”  The Overlord explained as the Minion master opened his mouth to argue.

The Advisor went silent at the explanation and nodded in agreement.  “Well played Master.”  He smiled wide, his sharp teeth showing.  “Will you keep it in the other areas or pull it away from them completely?”

“I will slow it down.  The main spot will continue uninterrupted while I slow down the others to allow me to monitor it easier through the little Princess.”  He replied and went quiet as a thought struck him.  “Gnarl.  I need you to make up some ideas of what could be causing such an act to feed to her. That way she is chasing her own tail while I continue to move.”

Gnarl bowed his head and nodded.  “Understood Master.”  

Azure pushed Kelda off his lap and got to his hooves. He arched his back under his armor and walked toward the stairs to go to his own quarters.  He felt Kelda bump his hip and allowed her to stay close to him. The Nordberg bred mare bumped him again and when he didn’t react she bumped him once more, knocking him out of stride.  He paused and she nipped his neck and ran up the stairs ahead of him.  He chuckled and followed in her wake.
> 17:  Netherworlds Aid...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure walked down the dirt roads toward the crystal castle.  His intention was to ask Twilight what the Queen of Changelings had meant by Element Bearers.  While he was sure that there were other ways to get the information he needed, he knew that Twilight was the easiest way to get the information he wanted.  The Overlord was quiet as Wrath stood on his back, his claws dug into the thick armor that covered Azure’s back.  He reached the crystal castle, his magic opening the doors in front of him.  His eyes scanned the front room and his ears flicked forward to listen to the room in front of him.  His magic pushed it open and he found Twilight at the map table, books tossed across its smooth surface.  

“Twilight.”  He called out as he approached her.

She looked up at him, a smile crossing her muzzle. “Azure!  How are you doing?”

“I am well.  Yourself?”

She smiled and nodded at him.  “I’m fine.  Do you need anything?”

“I have a few questions for you.”

“Ask away.”  She said to him.  

“What is meant by the phrase Element Bearers?” He asked her as he sat down across from her.

She looked at him and her smile faltered as she thought it over for several seconds.  “Oh!  It most likely refers to the Elements of Harmony.”

“And those are?”  He pressed.

“They are the Elements of Friendship in a way. I and my friends are their Bearers. They are the Elements of Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Honesty, Laughter, and Magic.  They are what was used to banish Princess Luna when she turned into Nightmare Moon.  They banished her to the moon for a thousand years.  My friends and I used them to help turn her back into Princess Luna and then they were used on Discord to turn him into stone.”

“So they are a weapon?”  He asked her.

“Kind of.  They're more for defense really.”

“And they are now?”

“Right now they are in the Everfree forest within the Tree of Harmony.  I can show it to you since it’s in your territory, technically.”  

Azure was quiet as he considered what she had said. “And you are fine with them being in my kingdom?”

“Of course.  You’re my friend and I know you would help us if needed.”  She smiled wide at him as she spoke.  

Azure gave a slight nod to her and thought over what he had been told.  Questions went through his mind.  “Do they have a weakness?”

Twilight nodded.  “They work on Harmony.  So long as the six of us are in harmony they can be used.  If not then they don’t; work at all.”

“How do you know?”

“When Discord came back the first time he turned my friends into the opposite of our Elements and they were rendered ineffective.  For example, he turned Rarity into a greedy pony and Rainbow abandoned us.” She explained.

“I see.  So they are not all powerful.”

“No.”  She assured him.  “We obviously fixed it and we put Discord back into stone again at the end.  I made a spell to remind my friends of who they are supposed to be and we were able to turn things back to normal.”  

Azure nodded to her and fell silent.  “And now they are within the Everfree?”

“Yep.  Do you want to see them?”

He considered it and then nodded.  “I should see them in case I need to protect the area.” He lied to her.  

“That’s true.  If we need the Elements than something has gone horribly wrong and we may need your help.”  She agreed and came out from behind the table to join him. 

She set a hoof on him as the minions set their claws against his fur and hers.  Azure opened his eyes and looked up to see a tree of crystal standing ahead of him. Its branches were solid crystal and the end of the main five branches held gemstones that were in the shape of the other mare’s markings.  A gem in the shape of the same star of Twilight own mark was in the center of the trunk.  He walked slowly up to it and stood a few feet away from it.  His red eyes scanned the surface of the tree and it shone back at him.  

“Beautiful isn’t it?”  Twilight said as she came to stand next to him.  

He gave a slight nod to her to show he had heard her but he remained silent.  “So each gemstone belongs to one of you?”

“Yes.  We haven’t needed to use them again so they are staying here for now.  The tree keeps the Everfree from attacking the rest of Equestria so we chose to leave them here.”  She explained.

“So they remain here and Equestria is then protected by what in their place?”  

“We just keep an eye out to make sure we don’t need them.  So far nothing has happened that would make us need them.”  She replied.

“I see.”  

“How did you hear about them?  Not many ponies really even know about them.”  She asked.

He said nothing for a moment as he sighed.  “Juno heard something about them and she mentioned it to me.”  

“Oh.  Well, she was in Canterlot so they might have heard of them.  That’s more likely.”  She agreed. “How is she?”

“She is…”  He paused as he searched for the right word.  “Indisposed.”  

“Uh oh.”  She giggled.  

“She is well aware of her failure at this time. So she is reflecting upon it.”  He added to her and the purple mare covered her mouth with a hoof as he spoke.

“Well, she did go against what you said and even disobeyed your rule.”  She sneered.

Azure watched as her eye color darkened for a moment but then faded back to normal.  He said nothing to her about it and watched as she seemed uncertain for a moment but seemed to ignore the sudden feeling.  He looked to the tree and then back to the Princess.  

“So how do we get here by ground?”  He asked her.

“Oh.  Right, no problem.  Come on.” 

The purple mare led him out of the chamber and he looked at the gorge that surrounded them on all sides.  He saw the path that went from the ground to the top of the gorge and the pair of them walked toward it, the minions on their heels. She led him up the slope and he glanced over his shoulder to the bottom of the gorge and the entrance into the trees chamber.  

“See?”  She said as she looked at him.

He nodded in reply and his red eyes scanned the area around them.  He knew that they were closest to Nordberg and he would have the diggers create a Gate close by to allow him to access the chamber at will.  

“That’s all I needed.”  He said to the waiting mare and she smiled as she set a hoof on his armor and the minions crowded around them.  He closed his eyes as they teleported and he opened his eyes to see the castle’s throne room around them.  His red eyes scanned the room and he paused as the Netherworld bucked under him and he waited for several seconds as it stilled and went quiet once more. He looked at the purple mare next to him.  “That was all I needed.”  

Twilight looked uncertain for a moment before she nodded and her magic opened the doors for him.  His pace was hurried as the minions raced ahead of him and into their respective gates to return home.  Wrath held tightly to his armor as the stallion reached the Gate and the magic sent him home.  He opened his eyes as he scanned the area around him.  The Overlord began to walk slowly around his throne room and out to the balconies to see what could have caused the upheaval within his domain.  He could see the Netherworld walls shifting.

“That’s…out of the ordinary.”  He said aloud and looked at the minion on his back.  “Find Gnarl.” 

Wrath leaped from his back and vanished around a corner as he did as he had been commanded.  Azure watched the walls of his domain as they began to fray and dirt and lava fell from them.  He heard hooves coming around a corner and he braced as Kelda ran into him and fell to her flanks.

“My Lord?”  She said to him as she got to her hooves.  

“What is going on?” 

“I have no idea, Love.  Gnarl went to the minion burrows to look around. How long have you been back?”

“A few minutes, I felt the Netherworld shift and I made sure to return with haste.”  He explained to her as she hugged him tightly.  

“Thank the Dark you came back quickly.  Gnarl was muttering something about the Tower being unstable and other things that I did not fully understand.  Faye is still in Everlight so she isn’t here.”  She explained as she released him.

“I sent Wrath to get Gnarl for me so he can tell me what is going on.”  He said to her and she nodded.  

“I didn’t understand any of it, but he looked…almost afraid.”  She admitted. “If that is possible anyway.”

Azure had to admit the thought of Gnarl being afraid was unsettling but he kept his composure and went quiet as he waited. Several minutes went by as he heard the sound of claws on stone and metal and he looked up as Gnarl and Wrath came around the corner.  

“Master!”  Gnarl yelled at the sight of the red stallion.

“Gnarl.  What is going on?  I am seeing the walls of my domain splintering.”  Azure said to him as the minion joined him and Kelda.

“You are right, Dark One.  The Netherworld is an entity with the magic of its own that is connected to you.  But it is also supported by itself.  This world is very different from our own.  There is very little by way of dark magic or magic that has become tainted or evil.”  Gnarl explained quickly.

Azure was quiet as he considered what the Minion Master had said.  “So the Netherworld is starving in a sense?”  

“Yes.”  Gnarl agreed and nodded his head.  “There is nothing here for it to use or convert into anything that it can use. It has survived this long due to the power that it had gathered from before.  If we do not find a way to ‘feed’ it, it will fall.”  

Azure nodded his head that he understood and his mind raced as he thought over how he could save the only home he had ever known. “There is no true evil in this world…There is no way we can quickly make anything that could be useful. Shit.”  

He began to pace and Kelda moved with him, staying close to him should he need her for anything.  He could see that she was trying to think of anything as well and he remained quiet to allow them both to think clearly.  He thought over what he had been doing in this world so far and he paused as his thoughts fell on Twilight.  

“Gnarl?”

“Lord?”

“I have been corrupting that Princess slowly. Her magic is being turned to mine slowly.  Is she far enough along to be of use?”  He asked.

Gnarl looked thoughtful as he considered what had been said.  “No, Sire. She is not enough.”

Azure snarled and resumed pacing.  Kelda remained with him as he thought further. “If we drain enough power from the surface could it be converted?”

“No Sire.  I had considered that as well and the power from the surface, while it is great it does not convert into evil or good.  It’s a neutral that is good for powering the Tower Heart but not the Netherworld itself.”  Gnarl advised.

Azure tossed his head and growled in frustration as he resumed his frantic pacing.  “We need magic that it can use…”  His eyes scanned the area around him as he moved.  His hooves thudded loudly on the stone balcony.  “Can we use…”  He paused as his mind slammed into place and a thought hit him in the face. “Can we use Twilight as a conductor?”

“Pardon?”  Gnarl asked him and Kelda looked at him as well.

“Can I bring her here and have her channel her magic into the Tower Heart?  Her magic is purely born of Equestria.  But it also has a bit of mine within it.  Is that enough to then use her to funnel my magic through her into the Heart for use to bolster the Netherworld.” 

“You mean to use her as a pathway for your magic?” Kelda asked him.

“Yes.  By using her to funnel both her magic and mine into the Tower Heart I can then push the magic in the Tower Heart out to the Netherworld.  By doing that it can begin to ‘learn’ to convert eh magic of Equestria into fuel for it to live off of.”  Azure went on.

Gnarl looked at him for several seconds before a grin began to cross his wrinkled face.  “Master, you are a genius.”  He said as he began to pace as well.  “By using the mare as a way to link the magic of Equestria to yourself we can ‘teach’ it to use the magic of Equestria as fuel.”  

“Exactly.  If we can get the Netherworld to use the magic of Equestria to survive off of then it will not fall.  By using Twilight as a conduit then I can funnel the tainted Equestrian magic through her and then replenish the Netherworld with the Tower Heart.  Can the Heart handle that kind of power?”

“Most easily, Sire,”  Gnarl assured him.  “It will not shatter this time.  You have already strengthened it beyond what your Lord father had and it would take an enormous amount of power to shatter it again.  It will do as you command.”  

“Okay.  We have a plan.  I will bring the pony here.  Keep the Netherworld as stable as you can while I retrieve her.”  He commanded and loped back to the Gate.  “I’ll make something up for her to believe and get her to willingly pour her magic into the Heart.”  He shouted as he vanished with a crash of thunder.  

Azure's hooves hit the metal of the Gate and he leaped off the stairs and galloped down the dirt road toward the crystal castle once more.  His mind went over the lies he could tell her to get her to cooperate.  His hooves thundered and Wrath held tightly to him as the red stallion raced down the road.  His read aura gripped the doors and they were thrown open as he thundered inside.  His hooves slid on the smooth floor as he galloped inside.  His magic tossed open the second doors and Twilight yelped in shock as they banged against the walls inside.  He panted for a moment as he trotted into the room.  

“Azure?”  She called out to him as he stopped and breathed in for several seconds. “What's wrong?  Oh by Equestria are you okay?”

He looked up as she came trotting up to him and he gathered himself to speak to her.  “I need your help.”  He finally breathed out to her.

She looked uncertain for a moment before her resolve and her clear desire to help him came forward.  “Of course, what do you need?”  

“The Netherworld is dying.”  He said to her and her eyes went wide.  “Our old home was able to support it due to the content of the world around it.  But here it has no anchor and because of that, it can’t use the natural magic that is in this world.  The Netherworld was not born of this world.”

“So it can’t use the natural magic that is in the soil to support itself.”  She replied, ensuring that she understood as he nodded.  “So what can I do?”

“You have pure Equestrian Magic and enough of it that you might be able to help push it in the right direction.  I have a focus that we can use to ‘show’ the Netherworld the magic that it needs to use.  With it, I am hoping we can energize it and that should allow the Netherworld to begin to gather the power it needs from the world around it to support it as it converts that power into something it can use.”  He explained.  

She looked thoughtful as he spoke and then she nodded.  “Of course I’ll help.  Do you just need me or do you think we will need more power?  I’m sure Princess Luna or…”

“No.  For now, I trust you enough to go there but not them.”  He cut her off with a curt edge to his voice.  

She looked to him and her lips set in a line as she nodded.  “Let’s go.” She said to him, her eyes determined and her expression set.  “I won’t let your home die, Azure.”

He gave her a nod, spun, and galloped out of the castle, the Princess of Friendship on his heels. Their hooves drummed back through the town as he led her to the Gate.  ‘Please let the Gates still be able to function even as the Netherworld falters.’  He thought to himself as they neared the Gate.  The lightning from it was weaker and he nearly reached for the mare and threw her up the stairs.  He felt her put a hoof on his hind leg as they reached the lightning and he commanded the gate.  The lightning flared and a clash of thunder sends them to the netherworld.  He opened his eyes and looked around them.  He glanced back at Twilight as she sagged against his hind legs.  He put a hoof back and held her up as she shook her head.    

“That was a lot farther than the others.”  She said to him.

“I would assume so.  Come.”  He said and trotted out to the balcony where Kelda and Gnarl waited.  

The Minion Master saw the purple mare at his back and his gaze remained impassive as she saw them both.  Azure went to the side of the path and his magic flared as he called on the Tower Heart.  Twilight stayed close to him and tried to look friendly to them.  Kelda stayed back as the young mare stayed at his side.  

“That is Kelda.”  He said to the Unicorn who nodded in reply.  

“Nice to meet you Kelda.  I’m Twilight.”  She greeted the other mare from his side.

“Welcome to the Netherworld, Princess.”  She replied with a slight bow of her head.  

Azure looked over at the other mare who smiled at him, it was obvious that Kelda would hold back and keep her mouth shut as needed.  He knew her well enough to know that she could be trusted to keep his secrets to herself.  The Minion Master came over and stood a few feet away as the Tower Heart came into view and hovered in front of them bare inches from the metal floor.  Twilights eyes went wide at the sight of the Heart and she looked from the Heart to Azure and back again. 

“What is this?”  She asked as she looked at it.

“This is the focus that I mentioned.  It can handle the magic that needs to go into the Netherworld.  You channel through it and I will help.”  He said to her.  

“Welcome to the Netherworld, Miss Twilight,” Gnarl said to her as he came to stand by them.  “Our Lord has spoken of your willingness to help others and I thank you for your aid in this time.”  He said to her.

Azure knew that the advisor was chewing on his thanks to her and that he would need to hide in a dark corner later to recover from it.  He said nothing as twilight nodded to the Advisor.  “This is Gnarl, my lead advisor.”  Azure informed her.

“It’s nice to meet you as well.  I will help however I can.  I will do anything to make sure your home is safe.”  She assured them and even Kelda smiled at her as she spoke.

The cream mare approached and looked at the eager young mare.  “Thank you for coming.  Our Lord assured us that you would be willing to help and I am glad to see that he was correct.”  

Azure said nothing as he got the Tower Heart to hover closer to the mare and he left it to hover in place.  “Can you channel your magic into this?”

“Yes.  I think so.” She said to him and turned her gaze to the circle in front of her.  “What is it?”

“It’s part of the Netherworld that can be used to help out in this situation.”  He replied to her.  

She reached out a hoof and set it on the Hearts smooth surface and she pulled back, surprise going over her face as she looked at him.  “It’s powerful.  I can feel the magic inside it.”  She said to him.

“Can you still channel into it?  If you can’t then we…”

“No.  I can. It’s fine.  I was just surprised.  I can do this.”  She assured him, her voice firm.

He nodded to her and backed up a step.  “I’ll put a hoof on your shoulder to make sure you don’t stagger.  Channel what you can into it and I will handle the rest.”  He said to her.  

Kelda backed up with Gnarl and stood back to allow the Unicorns to work.  Twilight breathed in and put her hoof back on the Heart and closed her eyes as her horn lit with her magenta aura.  Azure's horn was covered with his own red aura and he reached out to the Heart as she began to push her own magic into the sphere.  Azure pulled his magic back and focused it on the mare under his hoof. His magic went over her as she channeled, mixing her magic with his own and pushing as much as he dared through her. He pulled back his own magic as it mixed within Twilight and she kept pushing her magic into the Heart.  He watched as she began to waver and he was about to pull her back when she squared her hooves and kept going.  

He watched as the Tower Heart began to glow brighter its natural luster growing stronger and it shone brightly in front of them.  Her magic began to falter the longer she forced it into the Heart and he watched her closely as she began to pant, her breathing becoming ragged.  His magic stayed with her as he slowly pulled his own magic away from her.  He figured that she would stop once his magic was gone but she kept pushing her magic forward.  He watched as her coloring began to shift a pink gradient coming up over her hooves and her wingtips shifted in color from purple to pink to a deep purple.  Her tail and mane gained more coloring as a golden color moved through to join the normal purple and pink coloring.  The brilliant pink coloring went over her hooves and stars of color began to come through her fur.  Gold, purple and pink stars came out on her fur and she pushed forward as they appeared.  

Azure looked over his shoulder to Gnarl, who urged him forward.  While she pushed onward he put his magic back into the mix and poured it into her.  He looked to the Tower Heart as the light within it grew brighter and he could sense the power that was flowing into it was stronger than he thought it had been.  He watched the Heart closely to ensure that it was not faltering under the flow of magic.  His own magic poured through her and he knew that she should have been reaching the end of her limit but she kept going.  Her mane and tail lengthened for several moments, their appearance shifting to flow similar to how Celestia’s own mane flowed like a river.  He could see her weakening after over a minute of channeling everything she had and he could see that she was beginning to stumble. He watched her grit her teeth and he chose to pull her back on his own.  

His hoof gripped her fur and he yanked her back, pulling her hoof from the Tower Heart.  She gave a weak cry as his magic commanded the Heart.  He felt her suddenly grip his foreleg and hold tightly to him.  His command went to the tower heart and it tore through the Netherworld away from him. He called on it to stop in the center and he bade it convert the magic it held and hold it within.  He heard Gnarl shout at him but he ignored the Advisor. When he felt it was ready he commanded it to release the magic it had been given.  Azure watched as the light within the Heart grew stronger and then he cringed as it was released into the Netherworld.  The magic poured from the Heart and covered every inch and piece of the Netherworld around it.  It poured from within and Azure felt it go over him and he looked up as the Netherworld began to rebuild itself.  The magic from the Heart was absorbed and began to permeate the whole of the world around it.  

Twilights grip on his foreleg tightened and he looked to her as she sat down at his side and he allowed her to hold tightly to him. He watched as the coloring faded and her body returned to what was normal.  She sagged against him and her head was pushed against his side, just behind his foreleg.  He said nothing and looked back to the Tower Heart as its bright light faded back to it's natural luster and glow and he recalled it to him.  The Heart came to him and he looked it over as hovered and he sighed in relief at the sight of the unblemished and undamaged Heart.  He sent it back to its place within the Netherworld and allowed himself to sit down heavily.  

“Master?”  Gnarl spoke as he hobbled to the pair of Unicorns.

“Yes?”  He replied.

“Are you?”

“I’m fine.  Tried but fine.”  He responded. “Twilight?”

“I’m fine, Lord.”  She said to him, her voice sultry.

Azure caught the looks from Gnarl and Kelda at her wording.  Azure looked down to her and she looked up at him, her eyes a deep red and her coat had turned a deeper purple.  Her wings had gained a set of red feathers that flowed back into the rest of her wing. Their color the same as his own red fur. Her mane and tail had gained a stripe of silver, the same as his own.  He looked at her and she sagged against him, her eyes closing.  Azure looked to the others and they were still staring at her as she fell asleep.  

“Oh, my,”  Kelda said to him as she came up to him and the unconscious mare.  “Did you mean to?’

“No.”  He admitted. “This might be a problem.  I did not mean for her to be fully mine until later. I was not intending to turn her just yet.”  

Gnarl was quiet as he regarded the Princess now asleep at their Lords hooves.  “It is possible that you can push back the magic in her and call on it later?”  

“Worth a try,”  Azure replied with a nod.  

His magic went over her and he focused on the magic within her and he pushed the magic back.  He dared not push it back to far.  He would keep it close to her to allow himself to bring it out should the need arise.  “I’ll push it just far back enough to allow it to be made active at any time.  If something happens to me it will come forward and she will show herself to be mine.”  He said to them and Gnarl nodded in agreement as her new features began to fade.  

When she had returned to normal he stopped and allowed her to remain as she had been before arriving in the Netherworld.  He said nothing as the mare still slept on him and he permitted it for now.  Gnarl came up to him and patted the red stallion’s armored shoulder.  

“Well done Dark One.  The Netherworld is becoming more stable as time passes.  It will take a few days for it to fully recover but it is working.  Your idea worked.”  He praised the tired pony.

“Good.  In a few minutes, I will try to wake her and take her back to her castle.  I want to make sure she can wake up before I send her back.  If she is harmed I will face trouble from her fellow rulers.”  He replied as Gnarl nodded in agreement as he spoke.  

“She has proven more than useful,”  Kelda admitted to him.  “She gave everything for you Sire.”  

“I was a bit shocked when she did, to be honest. I would have pulled back before it brought me to my knees in her hooves.”  He replied as he looked at the still mare.

“Same here.”  Kelda agreed.

Azure put a hoof under the mares head to stop her from hitting her head on the stone and metal floor and shook her shoulder. She groaned but did not awaken at his gentle pushing.  He rolled his eyes and shook her harder.  “Twilight.” He said aloud, trying to get her to awaken.

She groaned and snuggled her head against his hoof and he put his head back and rolled his eyes again.  His magic picked her up and he set her on his back as he moved into the throne room.  He set her on the floor again and he shook her once more.  When she didn’t stir he groaned and gripped her shoulder tightly in his hooves. 

“Twilight!”  He shouted her name and his hoof slapped her across one cheek.

She yelped and looked at him.  Her eyes were wide and they had returned to their normal coloring.  She shook her head and rubbed her head in her hooves as he released her.  “Oh by Celestia.  My head.”

“How do you feel?”  Kelda asked her as she drew up next to him as he got to this hooves.

“My head is killing me.”  She admitted, as she looked up at him and her eyes went wide. “Oh!  Did it work!?”

Azure chuckled and nodded.  “Yes.  The Netherworld is stabilizing and will recover in time.”  He said to her.

“Thank Equestria!”  She called out and then cringed as her head pounded.  

Kelda laughed at her and helped the mare to her hooves.  “Thank you for your help.”  She said to her and hugged her gently.

“Your welcome.  I’m just glad it worked and your home is safe.”  She said to them and hugged the cream-colored mare in turn.

Azure looked back as Gnarl rejoined them and stood at the side of Azure's throne.  Azure left the mares and went to his throne to sit down.  His head was ringing as he sat down and he knew he was magically tired and he sat quietly to allow himself to rest.  

“I have to admit I wasn’t sure it would work Azure,” Twilight admitted to him as she turned to face him.  She paused at the sight of him on the elaborate throne and she stumbled in her words. “But it did so I am glad I could be of help.”  

Azure nodded at her and pushed himself to his hooves and came toward her.  “I’ll get you back to your castle.”  He said to her and joined her under the Gate.  Twilight looked up and her eyes fell on the huge Gate above her and she looked nervous for a moment before Kelda nuzzled her gently and went back to her place by the throne.  Azure commanded the Gate and he gripped Twilights shoulder and she stumbled when they got back to Ponyville.  She stayed close to him as he led her back home.  

“You have my thanks, Twilight.”  He said to her.

“Anything I can do I will.  You’ve helped me plenty of times.  Was about time I did something for you.”  She chuckled and nudged him with her shoulder.  

Azure nodded at her and led her up to the castle and his magic pushed open the door for her.  She giggled and trotted back inside.  He released the door and she came back out and hugged him tightly. She held him tightly and he patted her mane with one hoof.  

“Anytime you need help, let me know.  I know you would do the same for me.”  She said to him and let him go.  

He tilted his head to her and turned to walk back to the Gate.  As he left her behind a smile pulled at his mouth and he fought back a laugh at the thought of what now hid within her, ready to come to his side when he called.
> 18: Interacting with a Queen...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure sat in his throne, a hoof tapping gently against his chin as his own thoughts spun through his mind. His armored hoof tapped against his chin as he considered his plans and how best to move forward.  With the Netherworld safe once more he turned his eye to the Changeling that sat in place off to the side of him.  The creature was silent at his command and waited for him to command it further.  His magic had summoned the Tower Heart and it hovered above the map table.  Gnarl was jotting down notes on a clipboard as he scanned the map itself.  Azure had marked where the Heart was draining on the map earlier and they were now looking at ways to begin to once more drain more spots from the world above.  

“Gnarl.”  He suddenly called out, startling the minion.

“Master?”  He replied as he looked to the Overlord and waited for him to speak further.

“Is the Netherworld now able to use the magic of the world to feed itself?”

“Yes, Master.  I was able to confirm it earlier.  The Netherworld got enough of a taste for it with the channeling that was done through the little Princess.”

“Good.  That solves that problem before it got out of control.  We can turn our attention to other matters.”  

“Yes Dark One.”  Gnarl agreed and went back to the map table once he waited to ensure that Azure had nothing more to say.  

The red stallion fell silent once more as his mind still swam with ideas and plans.  A sigh escaped him as he leaned heavily into the furs that covered the throne. The Overlord sighed again as he closed his eyes, his hooves going over his face as boredom began to bite at him. His body flowed forward as he pushed away from the throne and he began to pace a few feet away from the Minion Master. His thoughts were becoming deafening even to himself and he snorted as his eyes fell on the drone once more.  He halted abruptly and Gnarl turned to look at him as he stared at the silent drone.

“It’s about time I confront that crazed creature.” He finally said, his voice low and husky.  

“Sire?”

“The Queen.  I think it’s time I spoke to her personally.”

“Oh?”  Gnarl replied, his eyes wide.  

“The key to outmaneuvering an enemy is to move when they least expect it.  That was she cannot move to be more ready than I allow.”  He admitted to the Minion Master.

“What is your plan Master?”

“I will send our drone back to her and he will tell her that I will be out, alone, in an area that we already control.  Her arrogance will blind her to any danger and she will come after me, saving me the effort of going to her.”  

“Very clever Master.”  

Azure said nothing as he looked to the drone once more and his horn lit as he sent a new charge of his spell to the creature. It responded by coming toward him and bowing heavily as he began to issue his commands.





The drone walked through the Hive and into the throne room where the Changeling Queen sat.  It waited for her to speak as it came to stand in silence before her. The armored drones were silent as she stared down at the illusion hidden creature.

“No creature this time?”  She questioned.

“I snuck out to come back to you.  I overheard him saying that he was going out to the desert, alone.”

“Alone?”  She asked as she leaned forward, her eyes wide and interested.

“Yes m,y queen.  His guards angered him and he has cast them aside in favor of his own magic. I decided to risk leaving to tell you.” He said to her as she jumped down from the throne and patted him on the head, mussing the long brown mane.

The drone leaned back on his haunches as she walked past him, a laugh coming from her.  She spun back to her army and they advanced to her command.  

“Well done.  You were right to come back to tell me.  He will fall to me and then his army and his magic will be mine.  You know where he went?”  

The drone nodded frantically and turned to face her.  “Yes, My Queen.  I listened long enough to overhear the location.  I can lead you right to him.”  

“Good.  This will make things far simpler than I thought.  I’ll subdue him as I did Shining Armor and he will be under my control.” She gushed, her elation clear and her desire for power obvious.





Azure stood at the edge of the growing black spot of dead earth, his back to it.  His ears flicked to listen behind him as the Queen arrived, her wings giving off a signature sound that he had become accustomed to when the drone flew.  He said nothing as she approached him and paused at the other side of the patch of earth.  He looked over his shoulder as she stared back at him, her eyes wide and hungry.  He slowly turned to face her from the other side of the patch.  

“So here we are.”  He said to her, his voice quiet but loud enough to be heard.  

She nodded, a wide smile on her face. “You’re all alone out her, Overlord.” 

“Am I?”

“None of your little creatures are here.  Not even your favorite is at your side.”  She snarled to him.  “You are mine.”

He snorted a laugh.  “I belong to nopony or creature.”  

“I will have what I want from you, whether you like it or not.  Your army and the power they hold will be mine.”

“I have read up on how you drain your victims and how you attacked the wedding before.  I am ready for your tricks, Changeling.”  He replied to her.  “My army will remain as they are.”

“They will be mine before the end of this conversation.”  She sneered. “You won’t be able to tell me no when I am done with you.”  

Azure took note of the drone coming up to his side and didn’t react at the creature’s presence.  “I am well aware of your plans for me and my army.  I am sorry to say that your plans will take a second to my own.” 

“Your plans will matter little when I use your power to overtake Equestria.  I will rule it, not you.”

“If you wish to believe that it is your choice. I will not stop that delusion from sustaining you.”  He growled to her.

She growled but kept her head high.  “You can’t stop me if you can’t find me.  Your plans will fail and I will have what I want.” 

Azure tried to bite back the laugh that brimmed in his throat but he failed and it tore from his mouth.  He could see the uncertainty in the bug Queens eyes as he laughed at her.  “I found you’re Hive long ago.  Did your drones tell you I had not found you yet?”

She looked to the drones behind and around her and she shook her head as she snarled back to him.  “I have the loyalty of my drones and all you have are those little things.  They will be the front line of my army.  Their too weak to make up a strong force.  My Hive is well hidden and you cannot find it.”

“I assure you I can and already have.  Shall I prove it?”  He asked her, a slight tilt of his head stopped her snarling.

“Let’s see.”  He said as he tapped his hoof to his chin.  “It’s in an area that does not have any life in it.  The walls move and shift as the Changelings change their form. Oh!  And in one of the chambers sat a clutch of eggs.”  She stared as he went on.  “I smashed them all.  Leaving only a foul-smelling goo in their place.” 

He watched as the Queen rocked back a step on her heels.  Her drones looked shaken at his admission.  The drone at his side didn’t move at the sight of the Queen and stayed at the Overlords side.  He watched as a wave of anger came over her and she snarled at him once more.  He took the weight off one hind leg and he watched as the drones fluttered their wings at the clear rage of their ruler.  

“I already know your plans since I was there when they were discussed.  You were going to have a drone replace me and take my army that way.  Or you would ask me to step in as your consort and you would rule the army that way.  Or you would have snapped off my horn since you believe I command them through magic. Or the final option was to kill me and cow them that way or find a way to use the corpse another way.”  His voice was confident as he spoke to her.  “Did I miss anything?”

She stood upright, a snarl still on her lips. “You may have found my Hive but you know nothing of it.  Attack me there and see how far you get.”  

“Why would I do that when you’re already here? I already know that magic is blocked within the Hive as well.  Why would I go there when you already fell into my trap?” 

Her mouth dropped open at his words and the drones stared blankly at the confident red stallion.  Her wings spread and she made to leave but stopped when she looked at the drone.  “Take him.” She snarled suddenly at the drone.

Her eyes went wide at his lack of movement. She pointed a hoof at the drone and then to the Overlord.  The drone didn’t move despite looking at her.  Azure chuckled at her expression of irritation as he glanced to the drone at his side.  

“Drop your illusion.”  He commanded.

Green flame erupted around the drone as the image faded to reveal the drone that had hidden within it.  Her face dropped into an expression somewhere between shock and amazement that was so comical that it brought a laugh from him.  

“Shocked?”  He asked her, his tone mocking.

She shook her head slightly and glared at him. “What did you do?  How did you get him to turn against me?”

“A trick of my own.  Do you wish to know?”  He asked her.  His eyes fell on her as she stared at him.  Her eyes roved over his armored form and she finally nodded.  “I will show it to you.  But you have to be closer to see its use.”  He said to her, his voice smooth and even.

The Queen looked dubiously to him as he waited for her to move.  She stepped forward and her hooves fell onto the patch of dead ground and Azure commanded the Tower Heart to drain her as well.  He upped its drain rate and the Queen cried out as her power was being leeched out of her.  Azure stepped onto the dead patch and approached her, his stride even and deliberate. She cried out as the drain was sped up once more at his command.  

“Thank you for feeding my realm with your power. It will go to good use.”  He said to her.  Her face screwed up in a soundless snarl as she fell to her knees before him.  “You will also be of great help to MY plans.” 

His magic lanced out as he approached her and struck her horn with enough force to send her reeling backward.  He said nothing as his spell washed over her.  He was using her for more than her power.  He was experimenting to see if she was able to the conquered.  He watched as her green magic surged out to contest his own and his eyes widened as it appeared as a tug of war between them.  Her magic pushed it over halfway back to his own horn and he stopped to focus on fighting back.  

“You won’t win against somepony who feeds on love. I will drain you of all that you have and then I will enslave you like I did Shining Armor.”  She snarled at him as her magic pushed against his.

“You can try bug.”  He laughed as his magic pushed back.  “I am no pony to be trifled with.  Your battles with those sentimental little ponies are nothing compared to what I can do.”  

He forced more power into his horn and his magic was slowly pushing hers back toward her.  She screamed in rage as she was still being drained by the Tower Heart and she used her own emotions to push against him.  He narrowed his eyes as the magic pushed against him.  He rolled his eyes as he reached out to the Tower Heart to drain her faster and the bug Queen screamed in reply to his commands to the Heart.  

“Time to fall.”  He growled and called upon the Tower Heart and the Netherworld magic that he commanded.  

His red aura surged out of his horn, covering the white spell on his horn and collided with her own horn.  He watched as it cracked and then snapped off under the assault from him.  She screamed as his spell and his magic covered her completely.  The horn spun away from her and was embedded in the ground close by, its green color fading to nothing.  The Changelings with her backed up at the scream from their Queen. His minions had surged forward in case they reacted to the subduing of their ruler.

“You have fallen, my little bug and you are now line to do with as I choose.”  He said to her as he approached her and now stood in front of her.  “You are MINE.”  

Her eyes went dead in their sockets and Azure released the spell and watched her for several seconds, his horn still covered in his aura in case she shrugged off the magic of the Netherworld.  She stayed in place and he watched her for any sign of reaction beyond what he would allow of her.

“Get up.” He commanded her.

She got to her hooves and her gaze stayed on him as blood dripped down her face from her broken horn.  Her gaze was vacant as she waited for him to speak further. Wrath came up to his side and held out the stallion’s helm.  The minions has been hiding off to the side out of sight behind a fake bush.  He slid his helm into place and spoke aloud for Gnarl.

“Gnarl?”

“Master?”  The minion replied quickly.  “I see it worked.”

“It worked perfectly.  The Tower Heart drained her nearly completely.  She is one of my pawns now.”

“And her drones?”

He looked up as the drones were now staring at him. “Let’s see.”  He said nothing to the former Queen as he moved past her and to the drones that had been with her.  “Your Queen is mine to command.  Your choice now is if you join her or if I make you answer my command.” 

The drones with her looked between each other and one took the chance on bowing low to the stallion.  The others followed suit and Azure stood above them, his head high and proud.  

“Good choice.  You will be commanded by me for when I call you into battle.  You have your place in my plans and I will make sure you are well used.”  Azure assured them with a cruel smile.  “I would advise against trying to fight against me.  You saw what I did to her and do not think I cannot do it to each of you easily enough.  You heard all I said to her and I did not lie about knowing where your Hive lies and that I can take it at a moment’s notice if I choose.  Tell your fellow bugs about your change of leadership.  Serve me well and you might be rewarded.”  

The assembled drones got to their hooves and waited for his commands of them.  he went back to the former Queen and then looked to her broken horn.  Wrath went over and picked it up for him.  His aura surrounded it and he tried to push a bit of magic into the horn and it flared to life for a moment.  

“Interesting.  Gnarl?”

“Master if we can harness their magic then perhaps we can use that horn to alter your appearance as needed.”  Gnarl said to him, clear excitement in his tone.

“Interesting.  Start the experiments for it.  I will have it delivered.”  Azure looked to one of his minions and then stomped his hoof to call Grubby to his command.

The digger came to his side and he issued his commands for a small Gate to be assembled in place.  The minion galloped away from him and set to his own task.  Azure waited for several minutes before he began to walk toward where the minion was working.  

“Come.”  He called out and the former Queen followed him closely.  

Ahead of him, Grubby jumped back and the dust steeled for the small slightly above ground Gate.  Azure looked at the drones who had also followed him and turned to them once they were close enough for him to command.  

“Return to the Hive and await my command.  Inform your fellows of your new ruler.” 

He glanced back and made a noise at the fact that he had forgotten to slow down the Tower Heart. He watched them leave with a bow. He kept his drone close by since he figured he would need one to experiment on to possibly power the Queens broken horn.  He chuckled and reached out to the Tower Heart to slow it down to normal levels once more.  

“Oops.”
> 19: Another Falls...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azure looked up as he considered what to do with the broken Queen now that he had her in his grasp. She stood off to the side in her own cage in the throne room.  Experiments on her horn were moving along well considering that he did not have any way to mimic her own magic and he was using the drone he had with him as a conduit. He sat in silence as his eyes went over the walls of the throne room and they fell to the Minion master who stood at the edge of the map table once more.  Azure had allowed the Tower Heart to continue to pull as much as possible from the upper world to allow it to amass as much power as possible.  Right now he was sure that the Netherworld magic at his back could put him over the edge to be able to contest may be one Alicorn but he did not wish to drain the Heart and himself in the attempt.  

“I have one Alicorn under my command.  Even if that was an accident.”  He muttered to himself.  “But I do not wish to be rendered useless after one fight.  I need more in my corner.  Removing the Queen’s horn as not my intent but now I must put up with the consequences of it snapping off in the fight.  I would have rather she kept it and her power added to mine. But that is not how it played out. I never thought a horn was that fragile.”  He admitted to himself and his gaze went to his own horn.

A hoof tapped on the armrest of the throne as he considered his next move.  He could attempt to use his Alicorn to go against Luna and Celestia but he would rather not use her at the moment.  So far no pony had put together that he was the source of things in the shadows.  

”Using my Alicorn is an idea but I have not put into account the other Alicorn off to the side, Cadance.  I do not know much about her aside from her being married to Twilights brother and the ruler of the Crystal Empire.  Beyond that, I do not know much.  I will have to quiz Twilight about it.”

“Lord?”

“Yes, Gnarl?”

“Are you talking to yourself?”

“Yes.  Just thinking out loud.”  He assured the Advisor.  “Contemplating our next move.”

“Understood.  Do you have need of help Master?”

“No.  At the moment I am still considering the options.  I am almost regretting breaking the Queen's horn from her.  I could have used her for our own purposes.”

“We still can Master.  The experiments on the horn are progressing nicely.  I think we can have it figured out how to use it to hide your appearance by the end of the week.”  Gnarl said to him.  “It’s a matter of time.”

“That’s good to hear.  I hate waiting but for this, we cannot rush it.  I own one Princess and a fallen Queen and the army she used to control.  Have Grubby and the others built the Hive up into the stronghold we need?”

“The construction is ongoing Master.  I will alert you to its completion.  The minions are finding it difficult to reinforce due to the constantly shifting walls.”  Gnarl admitted to him.  “But they will complete your commands.”

“I expect them to.”  He growled and pushed himself up from the throne and began to pace. The red stallion paced, his hooves echoing on the stone and metal flooring.  A low shriek caught his attention and he sighed as he realized that Juno was now back among them.  

She had been returned to them by the drones of the Hive and she had been informed of his displeasure with her by Kelda and Faye. He had not known that she had been returned until he had returned and she had been sitting a few steps down from her normal place on the stairs by his throne.  He had reminded her that she had played her part and the only reason he had not banished her entirely because her error in judgment had ended up getting him the Changeling he wanted.  She was now well aware that she was on thin ice with him.  She had been upset when he revealed that he had not been showing her any favoritism and had in fact been using her for his plans. Kelda had reminded her that their place was to be of use to him and nothing more.  Juno had been quiet ever since.  

He waited to see if there was any sign that he would need to get involved.  Only silence came from the direction of his mistresses rooms and he went back to his own thoughts.  His thoughts fell on the ruling Alicorns and the power they held due to controlling the sun and moon.  The Overlord began to pace once more and Gnarl looked to him, watching as he moved. He suddenly paused as an idea went through him.

"Gnarl."  His voice cut through the silence and the minion startled as he looked to his Master. "What if we found a way to corrupt another Alicorn?"

"It would give you control of the sun or moon, My Lord,"  Gnarl replied quickly.  "Which one are you thinking of?"

"The younger one, Luna.  There must be a way to get her attention and see if we can bring her to our side as well.  If I can get close enough to her and find a way to subdue her then I can see about corrupting her."  Azure admitted as he walked to the map table and stood in silence for several seconds. "I know very little about her character and have had little interaction with her."

"What about asking your Princess?"  Gnarl asked.  "You own one Princess and can, therefore, use the information from her."

"True enough.  I can call her to me should I choose."  

"Will you bring her here again?"

"No.  I'll go to her to keep us the illusion of friendship with those that know her." 

"Good idea."  Gnarl agreed and lowered his head as Azure moved away from the table.

He stepped into the middle of the Gate and the thunder crashed as he was transported to Ponyville.  He opened his eyes and stepped off the metal stairs as his Gauntlet roared.  The minions leaped from the minion gates and surrounded him.  Wrath jumped to his back and sat in place as the stallion began to walk down the streets toward the crystal castle.  His aura gripped the doors an pushed them open easily.  His hooves echoed on the smooth floor as he walked into the main hallway and listened as the sound of ponies chatting caught his attention.  He pushed open the doors to the throne room and was greeted with the eyes of six ponies turning to look at him.  

"Azure?"  Fluttershy called out quietly.

"Greetings.  Am I interrupting?"  He asked, feigning apologetic.

"No of course not,"  Twilight called out as she got out of her chair. "Please come in."

He gave a slight nod of his head to her as her magic summoned a chair for him across from her own.  He sat down as the minions sat on the floor around him.  The other mares smiled at him and he sat quietly as Twilight sat back down.  

"What have you been up to lately dear?" Rarity asked him.  

He paused before speaking as he glanced to her. "Nothing too interesting."

"Have ya thought of anything that coulda caused that spot out in Appleoosa?"  Applejack asked him.

He looked at the orange mare for a moment as he thought over her request.  "Oh that dead spot?" he said to her and she nodded.  "Unfortunately not.  I have been looking into a few theories but nothing concrete as of yet."

"Ah see.  Ah got a letter from mah cousin and he said that it has gotten bigger." She went on.

"Bigger?"  Twilight asked her, alarm in her expression as she leaned forward in her chair.  

"Yeah.  Said it got a lot bigger than last we were there."  

"We will have to look at it again."  The Alicorn said and sat back in her chair.  

"I agree.  We will look into it once more."  He said with feigned interest.  

Applejack seemed appeased with his charade and didn't press him further.  The Overlord was quiet as they began to speak around him.  He waited patiently for them to begin to leave, allowing him to speak to the Alicorn mare in private.  





Twilight's eyes fell on him as she came back into the room after bidding her friend’s goodbye she sat back down and he waited as her magic pulled a cup of tea for him. He held back his distaste for the drink and waited.  The small cup was gently sat in front of him and his magic levitated it and he sipped politely from it and set in back in place.  

"What can I do for you Azure?"  She asked him, a smile on her muzzle.  

"I was wondering what you know about Luna." He asked her.  "I realized that I know very little about her since I have only met her a few times if not less than that.  Celestia is clearly the day ruler but where does her sister fit in?"  

Twilight listened to him as he spoke and when he was done her magic summoned a book and set it in front of him.  His magic opened the book and he could see the bright colors of a picture book in front of him.  He closed the book abruptly and glared over at the mare.  

"Before you get mad.  I gave you that since it’s actually a book that has been made into history.  It looks like a foal’s book but I promise it’s not."  She quickly said to him.

He allowed his gaze to soften at her explanation and opened the book once more.  He scanned the pages and he realized that he mare had been corrupted once before.  He leaned back for a moment as he considered his next move.    "So where does Luna fit in now?"

"She rules the night like she did before.  She protects the dreams world at night." Twilight replied to him. 

"The world of Dreams?"  His expression must have told her how skeptical he was of her claim as she giggled.

"It’s real."  She assured him.  

"So did Celestia do that as well for a thousand years?"

"I'm not sure.  I know she tended to the Moon but I'm not sure how she treated the dream realm."  Twilight admitted.  

Azure fought back a laugh as he considered what he had been told.  "All right.  That's...different."  He admitted and leaned back in his chair.  

"It would be odd to hear if that's not normal where you’re from."  He shook his head as she spoke.  "But I promise you its real."

"So does she have night court as well?  Or is she only tending to dreams?"

"So far as I know dreams only.  But she is included in things if she wants to be." 

"So it’s not as equal as it could be?"

Twilight paused and her expression fell slightly at his reply.  "I'm not sure to be honest.  But I'm sure that if she wanted to be she would be allowed to do what she wanted."

"Or she is going to be pushed back as she once was?"  Azure interrupted.  He held up a hoof at the mares shocked expression.  "Simply an outsiders look Twilight.  I am not from here so that is where my line of thought goes." 

She calmed and he looked back to the book that still sat in front of him.  He put a hoof to his face and tapped it against his chin.  

"Azure?"  Twilight questioned as he sighed.

"I wonder, would it be possible to speak with her, privately."  He said to the Alicorn.

"It’s getting close to dark so after she raises the Moon I'm sure she could make some time for you.  I can ask her."

"I would appreciate that."  He said to her and the mares eyes lit up as she nodded. 

He said nothing as her horn lit up and she wrote out a message.  "I will ask her to join us here.  Is that okay?"

"Of course.  You are more than welcome to join in the discussion as well."  

She brightened and called for Spike to have the letter sent.  





The doors to the throne room opened and Luna walked quietly into the room as Twilight got up from her seat to greet her.  The blue Alicorn greeted her fellow Alicorn and then looked to the Overlord who was gazing over his shoulder to her.  He stayed in place and she came to greet him. 

“We bid thee greetings Overlord Azure Flame.” She said to him, her voice stern and stiff as she stood, waiting for him to respond.  

“Greetings Luna.”  He replied to her, his tone formal.

Twilight looked between them and then ushered the Moon Princess to a seat between them.  “You said you had questions Azure?”

“Indeed.  Where I am from the Moon and Sun are not controlled by anypony.”  Luna looked a bit stunned at his words but he went on.  “How is it that you can control such a large body as the Moon?”

“Tis my gift and my duty.  We have always had the moon at our call.  We were a filly when the moon began to answer our call.  It is through the old and the deep magic that we can raise and lower the Moon.”  She explained to him.

“I see.  And the same magic gives your elder sister the Sun?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.  And if anything should happen to one of you?”  He asked her and she looked uncertain.  “As I am the one who rules over my ponies I would be concerned if the Moon or Sun did not rise one morning or night.  Should I not be worried about that chance?”

Luna shook her head and then nodded to him after a few seconds delay.  “Thou have every right to ask and be concerned.  We would be uncertain as well in thou’s position. If anything happens to us than one would look to our fellow rulers for guidance.”  She reasoned to him.

“Understood.  I have read about your fall to Nightmare in books and heard snips of fact and gossip here and there.  I figure that asking you would be better than guesswork and assumption.”  He said to her and he could see the discomfort in her eyes and face at his questioning.  “I find that it is wise to know the past of those who rule either beside or…under oneself.” 

Twilight looked from him to the other mare and waited with him for her to speak. The blue mare nodded at him and inhaled to speak. “Twas my own pride that led to my fall. We were convinced that nopony understood the greatness of the Moon and the night she brings.  We kept our insecurities to ourselves and we did not speak of it.  We assumed that none would listen and we allowed our mind to become poisoned.”

“A form of corruption, I assume?”  Azure asked her.

“Yes.  Thou know of it?”  Luna sked him in reply.

“In a way.”  He said back to her.  

“In his world magic was called a plague.  Right?”  Twilight supplied and looked to him.

“Yes.  Those with magic were taken and purged.”

“Purged?”  Luna’s eyes were narrowed as she spoke.

“We were placed in an Arena and sent to battle to the death, our magic shackled.”  He informed her.  “I was thrown into it when I was older and fought my way free of it.”  

Lunas eyes went wide at his words and she leaned back in her chair.  “They wished to harm thee?”

“Any magic user was fair game for their entertainment.  From the smallest magical creature to the biggest.  They were not above using those lesser than them in there either.  Peasants were thrown in to be used as fodder for the beats they imprisoned.”

The two mares were quiet as he spoke and when he finished Luna was quiet as she shook her head slowly.  Her eyes fell on him once more and then to the map table between them.  “Thou now rule in their place.  Do your ponies regret it?”

“Regret going against me or regret me taking control?” He asked her.

“Both?”  Luna replied.

“They do not regret my taking control than I am aware of.  Those that fought against me have been removed and they paid with their lives for the transgression.  Magic now has its own place in the world and those that bear it are allowed to live with it.”  Azure said to her.

“Those that stood against you were killed by you and your army?”  Luna asked him.

“Of course.  Do you not punish those that stand against you?”  He responded.

“We do but they are not made to die for their crimes.” Luna clarified.

“I do not have that luxury.  If I allowed them to live they would come back to stand against me once more.  I do not wish to keep having to stand on the other side of them time and again.”  He replied and leaned heavily backward into his chair. “It becomes tedious and boring having to wade into the same fight over and over again.”  He explained.  

Luna nodded at his explanation and he leaned forward and rested his forelegs on the table.  Across from him, Twilight mirrored his movements, her eyes watching him closely. Luna did not speak as she seemed to be considering what he had said.  Several seconds passed like minutes as he waited for her to come to her own conclusions.  

“We do have a question for thee.”  She finally said to him.

“Go ahead.”  He replied a waved a hoof nonchalantly at her, beckoning her to go on.

“Thou come from a place where a battle is the end result of your meetings with others.  Do thou think that thee will ever endanger Equestria?”  She asked him slowly, her tone cautious as she regarded him.

He feigned shock at her words and leaned back slightly. “May I ask where that came from?” 

“Thou are a pony of great power and thee have an army at your command.  Your kingdom rests within the Everfree, in the middle of our lands.  Is our concern really so farfetched?”

“Not really.  I had wondered when it would come up truth be told.  Your kind are very trusting so I was not sure when it would come up.”  He replied to her with a casual shrug of his armored shoulders.   

“And thou’s reply is?”  

“You don’t know.”  He said back to her, his tone relaxed.  “Same as I do not know if you will ever choose to attack me.”

Luna looked uncertain and blinked several times. “We have no reason to attack, unless thou acts first.”  She rushed out.

“So you say.”  The red stallion pushed himself from his chair and the minions stirred from their place on the floor and moved with him as he stood.  “You can say anything to my face and act differently behind closed doors.”

“We have no reason to wish ill of you.”  Luna said to him, her voice shriller than before.

“I am sure.  Those in power must always look to the knives in the shadows.  I am not fool enough to always believe what I am told. So I ask you this.  Should I be concerned about the Sun and the Moon?”

Luna got to her hooves and shook her head at him. “Of course not.  Our sister and I have no intent to harm thee or the ponies thou commands.”

“What is your opinion of the tenuous union of our nations?”  He asked her.

“It is strong.  Thou are a pony of great power and one that we wish to keep as an ally.” She assured him.

“I see.  And if I attacked?”

“Then we would have to push you back.”  She said to him.  

“I understand.  I am uncertain of my place in this world and in its future.”  Luna looked at him, her eyes widened slightly as he spoke.  He saw Twilight get up from her seat and she watched him closely, Luna between them.  

Luna squared her shoulder to him and lowered her head, a stance that would allow her to defend if he attacked her.  “I will not allow anypony to bring harm to my subjects. I failed them once before, I will not do so again.”  

Azure let his face fall into an affronted look as he shook his head.  “I have no intention of attacking them.”  He assured her.  “I will have no need to.”

Luna looked relieved but then her ears flicked forward at the last of his words.  “Have no need?”

“I will become their ruler the moment you and your sister fall to me.”  He snarled to her and the minions brandished their weapons in her direction.  

Lunas horn lit and a blast of blue magic arced toward him.  He reared back as it struck the ground.  He broke into a lope and used the map table to keep her away from him.  His own magic charged with his red aura and it arced toward the mare and struck her a glancing blow to the shoulder.  She yelped at the impact and the minions surged under the table and harried her as she kicked ay them.  Wrath leaped to her back and gripped the flowing mane.  The mare whinnied as his heels struck her sides and she bucked under the minion.  Azure’s gauntlet roared as the minions did as commanded, harrying the mare endlessly. Azure’s horn charged and he blasted her with his own magic once more.  Her wings flared and she was able to use them to unseat the determined minion. 

Her wings carried her above him and her horn rained magic down on him and he twisted his body as a blast collided with his side, his armor groaned but held in place.  He knew that it would hold for a few hits but he knew better than to let it take the brunt of the blows.  His red eyes followed the blue mare above him as he dodged and gigged out of the way of her magic.  He called wrath to his back and he bucked the minion toward the mare and she pulled away, allowing the minion to grip her leg in his claws.  

Azures magic gripped the minion and used it to yank the mare to the ground.  Her horn charged as she rolled to her hooves and a blast of magic came toward him.  He braced and took the blast on the thick armor over his chest.  It was pushed against his fur but not enough to hurt him badly, barely as a bruise.  He looked to her as she charged her magic once more and he did the same.  He sent out a long blast and it collided in much the same way with hers as when he had fought against Chrysalis.  He grunted under the strain of the amount of magic going through him as he fought back against the Alicorn.  

The Overlord pushed more magic into his horn and began to push the mare back slowly.  He growled as she did the same and the force of her magic nearly toppled him.  His hooves held under him as he was forced back a step.  He reached out to the Netherworld and its magic coursed over him and he channeled it into his horn.  His last resort would be the Tower Heart and he disliked using it.  He growled as he pushed the magic forward as he heard a sound come from the side of him but he ignored it over the roar of the magic that coursed from the two ponies.  ‘If I’m not careful I’ll end up draining the Netherworld and the Tower Heart before I get this Alicorn to break a sweat.’  He snarled to himself as he pushed against her. 





Twilight watched as the two ruler’s battled in t eh middle of her castle.  She knew that she should be joining Princess Luna in stopping Azure from overthrowing them but her body remained still.  She could sense that Azure was using a huge amount of magic to battle the Moon Princess and she could tell that Luna was doing the same against him.  Both were showing the strain of the fight as Azure’s hooves slid under him under the push from the magic between them.  Luna had sweat coming through her fur and she wore a look of pain on her face.  Her own magic thrummed through her and she knew that helping one or the other would win the fight.

“Azure.”  

Her own voice startled her as she spoke his name. His name fell from her lips and she moved forward one step.  She didn’t see her feathers taking on their red gradient, her eyes turning dark red, her coat darkening as she took another step.  The final stripe of silver going through her mane and tail as she stepped closer to him. Her magic channeled as the magical energy from Luna surged toward him and he fell back under the push.  Her magic peaked as she sent it toward him.





Azure snarled under the strain as he was pushed back, his flank colliding with the wall behind him.  The strain was suddenly gone as he closed his eyes, bracing for the impact of the magic against his body.  He opened his eyes when he felt no impact to find a magenta shield covering him. He looked up and the sound of hooves on crystal caught his attention as Twilight stood in front of him.  She looked back to him and he pushed himself away from the wall and back to his hooves.  

“I am yours, Lord.”  She said to him and faced the Alicorn.

“Princess Twilight?”  

Luna’s stunned voice caught his focus and he looked up to see the other Alicorn staring wide eyed at the transformed Princess of Friendship. Azure regarded the mare who now protected him as the mare stood proudly against the Moon Princess.

“Yes?”

“What is thee doing?”  Luna demanded.  “He would attack your ponies!”  She accused.

“They are his already.”  She replied, her tone dismissive of the other mare.  “I will not allow him to be harmed so long as I stand with him.  I AM HIS.” She growled and lowered her own body into a fighting stance.

The blue Alicorn stared, her eyes wide and staring. “But thou are a Princess of Equestria! How can thee betray us?”  

“I am what he needs me to be.  I am both his shield and sword should he be in need.” Twilight growled.  

Azure came to stand close to her and laid a foreleg over her back as he nuzzled her neck, eliciting a moan from the mare.  “Cut it a bit close, my little Princess.”  He whispered to her and she tilted her head, allowing him to nip her throat.  “But I will forgive it this time.  I trust you can handle her for a moment?”

“As you command.”  She assured him and her horn lit as he pulled back and allowed her to go to war in his stead.  

Azure backed up to the far wall away from her and tried to get his breath and magic back under him. He watched as Twilight sent the blue Alicorn rolling with her own magic.  His minions clustered around him as he breathed.  He watched closely as the fight went on above and in front of him. He watched as Twilight kept the battle angled away from him, giving him plenty of time to recover.  

He could sense the Netherworld already recovering from the drain he had placed on it and he called on the Tower Heart to come to his command and he sent out a command for it to drain the spot in the desert for any extra energy as well.  He knew it would draw the attention of the inhabitants but he chose to allow it to happen anyway. His magic slowly recovered as Luan began to tire Twilight had taken wing and drove the Alicorn to the ground where he waited in the shadows.  

His magic poured from him and struck her in the back, driving her to her knees.  Her eyes were wide at the under hooved attack but he pushed onward.  Twilight’s magic formed a stream against the other Alicorn and Luna was forced to focus on the dark mare once more.  Azure focused the power of the Tower Heart on his Presence Spell and it lanced through the air to the prone mare and it collided violently with her body.  Luna screamed as the power of Twilights attack struck her and the dark mare kept up her attack, pushing the other to her knees.

Azure watched as her body began to transform, much like Twilight due to his spell.  Her blue coat darkened to a deep navy blue, her wings gained the same red tint as Twilight’s own, her eyes darkened to red and her mane gained a silver tint to its flowing state.  He pulled back his magic and the sudden loss of the spell knocked her to the ground, unconscious.  Twilight released her magic and joined him at his side.  She gazed down at the other Alicorn as he breathed a sigh.  

“My Lord?”  Twilight said to him as she leaned her body against his, intending to hold him up if he tired.  

“I’m fine.  You did perfectly.”  He said to her.

She glowed with the praise from him and he leaned on her to ensure that she felt needed by him.  The dark purple mare laid a wing over his back.  He pushed away from her and his horn lit as he covered her and pushed his magic back and then laid her gently on the ground off to the side of the dark blue mare.  He did the same to the dark blue mare and pushed his magic back from her, allowing her to act normally unless it came time to stand with him.  He leaned back on his haunches as he considered the two mares now at his command.  He waited patiently for both of them to awaken.  He would see just how much Luna recalled and if he needed to move the rest of his plans forward or if he could move steadily forward.  With Twilight he had allowed her to recall everything due to her having no idea she had been turned.  He had added in a new spell to his presence spell to alter memories but he had yet to test it.





Luna groaned and he watched as she got to her hooves. He had moved them both away from each other and into their chairs, making it seem as though they had dozed off during their conversation.  Luna looked up as Twilight also stirred and looked around to see him sitting quietly in his chair. 

“By the moon, did we fall asleep?”  She asked him, her tone hurried.

“You dozed off a bit.  Nothing to terrible.”  He assured her.  “Did you dream?”

“We had a dream most foul.”  She admitted.  “Do thee have the ability to hurt us?”

“He would never.”  Twilight said to her and the mare looked to her.

“Azure has no reason to attack and it’s rude to ask.” Twilight admonished the other Alicorn who nodded.

“Thou are right, Twilight Sparkle.  We are sorry for our question.”

“Forgiven.  I have no reason to attack nor do I have the desire.  I would rather remain allies at this time.”  He responded.  

“Then our dream was truly most foul.  Thou attacked us and our fellow ruler betrayed us.” She admitted,

Twilight stared, wide eyed at her as she spoke.  “That is a horrible dream.”  

“It was.”  Luna said as she got to her hooves.  “We will take out leave, we have a splitting headache that needs tending. Please forgive us for nodding off and we will take our leave.”  

“No harm done.  I was finished in my questioning anyway.”  He assured her with a dismissive wave of his hoof.  

The blue Alicorn nodded and bowed her head to him as she left the room.  He looked to Twilight who looked upset at the questions from before but she got to her hooves as well and came to stand close to him.   

“I hate to send you off but it’s late.”

“No, I agree.  I have taken enough of your time.  Thank you for your aid today.”  He said to her and got to his hooves and made for the door, the minions on his heels.  

“Have a good night Azure.  I’m glad you got what you needed today.”  She said to him.

He began to walk from her as a smile bit at the sides of his mouth.  “As am I.” He replied and a dark chuckle followed his words.