Darkness, an Eternity

I awoke, my eyes snapping open, my energy back in its full glory now. I saw I was laying in bed, in my bedroom, I felt heat upon my left side and saw Violet, laying near me, arm over me. I suppose she came to her senses or she's almost back to where she belongs. She wasn't particularly close to me, but I could feel her body heat and some of her side on me, perhaps she just thought I was close to death. I didn't need to really have a body temperature, I actually did it just for her so she'd have something warm to cuddle up to and now it seems she was trying to repay the favor. I began to use up the tiny bit of dark energy that I use every day and rarely has any impact on my energy pools. My illusion was still on, I began to radiate heat, making my body warm to the touch, and...

And....I was still naked, a set of robes on my nightstand. I looked about the room, lifting my head up and finding that my bottom half was covered by a blanket shared between me and my wife. She was most surely coming back to us. I found Rarity and Cadence staring at me, specifically my body which showed my training and scars of battle to make the illusion more realistic...even if I looked like a full mortal with it on already, being able to be touched properly and everything except sweat and bleed. Cadence was staring right at my eyes and Rarity was much more distracted by my scar ridden but well toned chest and abdomen.

"I see Vincent most likely put me here and you two decided to watch over me." I began, sitting up, carefully moving Violet's hand as to not wake her, my voice in a hushed tone, "And eyes are up here Rarity." She snapped out of it and looked up at my face now.

"I...uhhhh...uhm. Sorry, dear." She took a while to find her words, a light blush on her face.

"We did indeed decide to look after you...I've decided to be an ally of yours and so have Twilight and her friends, even if Applejack and Rainbow Dash had to disdainfully accept it." Cadence answered.

."I suppose the rest of ponykind should soon follow, or most of it. Any resistances shall be dealt with harshly. I want you to not worry," I formed up a dark wall, preventing them from being able to see my nude form as I stood slowly out of bed, dressing in my robes, " I will protect you from threats, I will train your guards, and I will help your people prosper as long as they become my people upon death. And you, Cadence, will help Luna rule over Equestria, you think with your morals and not with the mindset of helping the people, having a balance between the two helps to voice the people better and ensure their well-being." I had finished my monologue, the dark wall fading as I had my robe vest and pants on. I then sat and put on my socks and then my simple black leather boots, standing afterwards to put the robe's overcoat and jacket on.

"I have no doubt about that, I trust you and so do some of the elements...some." Cadence responded, "I believe she is making a comeback to you, Lucius. She's not let go of you once during your sleep. And you've been out for a week and a half about. This is the eleventh day."

"And that means there are duties to attend to. I know my people are fine, they had no need to worry over me, they've seen me through such bad times like these." I spoke and walked to the door, "I must begin my work on my royal duties. We may speak later." Cadence and Rarity nodded, staying in the room to most likely watch over Violet.

I walked over to my study and sat in my chair, quickly beginning work, massive amounts of paperwork being present. I worked through the fresher ones, showing more important events and reports of what is happening in Equestria, my royals must have organized outposts and resupply stops for the reconnaissance teams they also must have put together. They were amazing at being generals too, they could do everything. I found that they were a good amount of resistances built up and scattered throughout, one specifically large group known as Second Sunlight seemed to be heading most of the major resistance operations to exclude ponykind from me and isolate us. Something to be dealt with swiftly.

I stayed at my desk working for hours, new papers being delivered to me at nightfall, nobody disturbing me once while I worked. I stayed up throughout the night and finished the papers in the morning, including the ones that arrived at ten AM drop off. So many activities had happened and the Underworld was growing in businesses, but not so much in population. the new pony souls would most certainly solve that.

It was then that I realized there was no true holy force left in existence to oppose me and I would only handle threats addressed to me, my allies, my people, and the problems of keeping the kingdom running smoothly. And this made my fighting skills almost useless. I would rarely have to participate in any battles. I decided that ridding Equestria of this Second Sunlight organization would be my primary goal. And I had already began to plan that out in my mind.

I stood from my deck and walked out of my study, heading outside into the front yard of the castle, continuing on and walking out of the built walls toward the great ravine. I directed myself to the black bubble surrounding the human town of Equine Hills. I had entered it, making a hole for me in it and began my walk to the mayor's house, she was most certainly the head of the government here now. The entire way was filled with staring and fear, people forced to walk after their cars ran out of gas. Many of them stared at me with fear or hate, wishing I never befell upon their town. I arrived and with no mannerism, opened the door of the house and walked through the foyer and into the living room.

"Mayor, I'd like a word." I announced my arrival, noting some security cameras in the corners of the walls. I soon heard footsteps from the stairs and found a human a match of Mayor Mare from Ponyville; grey hair, a light beige skin tone, a few wrinkles, a pair of blue rimmed glasses, and well dressed in a women's tan suit.

"Oh, it's you. What can I do for you today, sir?" She addressed me with a smile and the highest of manners.

"Your people will have a chance to communicate with the ponies of this world and intermingle, a chance at living better and growing more."

"There must be something you want in return for it." She was indeed a practiced politician.

"You catch on quick. I'd like to get a few of your people in my town dedicated even more to me, I need reconnaissance done to get information on an organization. I now asserted myself as the biggest player of power in this world. I already promise a good afterlife to your people."

"I'll-" I had interrupted her sentence, already knowing what she had planned to be saying.

"It's now or never and never means I have to search for more ways to get what needs to be done done. It'll also put you guys in less favor of me. Decide now, this is how you be a true leader." I spoke quickly and with a firm tone, she had most certainly got the message.

She took a small moment to mull it over in her mind, an understandable decision.

"No, you'll have to find a new way. We'll keep our current condition and arrangement." She replied with quite and unexpected answer.

I suppose she knew as an experienced crisis manager, she knew I would try to obtain control over her and her people by giving her no choice. She must be trying to get on my nerves at this point. I just walked out and walked back through the streets, going back to the castle. I had immediately began to think of a new plan and there would be quite a lot of deception in them. I continued along the way and quickly ordered Vincent to follow me as a show of force. We were going to campaign.

I had just arrived in my bedroom to see that Cadence and Rarity had left and Violet was sitting on the bed, immediately looking up to me upon my arrival.

"Where had you gone?" She asked, she was returning to normal, mostly reading the files and entry logs I had written.

"I went to go attempt to start a plan to put down a resistance and it went awry. I'm only here to make sure you are alright, I'll be launching a quickly thought up second plan." I replied, her standing and walking to me as I stood at the door, ready to leave and begin my mission.

"Oh..." She seemed saddened at hearing that I would leave soon, "Well, where are you going?"

"All over Equestria with Vincent, we're going to make displays and crush this resistance the hard way." I kept my answer simple, I knew the normal Violet and these were the answers to keep her from worrying too much.

"Well, just, be careful and..." She left on a long pause before sighing, "Nevermind." She finished, saddened even more.

I took her into my arms and hugged her tight, receiving the same hug back but nothing more as we soon disconnected. I walked out of the room before stopping and turning back to her.

"I'll return to you, I promise." I spoke and quickly began a fast walk down the halls and out of the castle, Vincent following me closely. Once I had left the view of the castle, I began a mad sprint, becoming a blur and Vincent soon following suit, keeping up with me. He drew his twinblade from his back.

I decided our first stop would be Ponyville, to make sure the resistance wasn't there trying to harbor itself upon hatred for me.