Darkness, an Eternity

After our embrace, we quickly took each other into a warm and tight embrace. She had buried her head once again in my arms, my own laying over hers. I began to play with her hair, running my finger through it slowly. Her locks had been brushed and straightened quite well this day, most likely for this occasion, the longest strands reaching just past her butt, laying over the area in her back where her wings meet. We had stayed there, enjoying each other's presences for many precious moments before continuing on and beginning to walk back to the castle.

"So, what are the happenings in Equestria now?" She questioned. I had an arm firmly kept around her, making her side pressed up against me as we walked.

"Well, we had just defeated the main ruler here and I appointed the proper authority to rule in my stead as I go about doing what I do. And we have a resistance founded in Ponyville, which I am dealing with quickly."

"I know the first part...you had killed her right in front of me. Why did you have to do it so brutally?" She questioned, the last part of her sentence going into a quiet solemn voice.

"To send a message, but I was also quite angry when I had heard they took you from me. You know you're quite important to me." I spoke, receiving a heavy pull and hug on my arm. I looked to her.

"It was still a bit much..."

"It was effective in what it intended to do." We had almost reached the path and both of us had gone silent when we did, ponies were walking the finished paved road. Stone laid out well with glass braziers on pillars that rested on both sides of the path.

The ponies had stopped and looked at me with a sort of distaste. They continued to just stare at me with a sort of hate, but some had a sort of sympathy for me for an odd reason. The ponies had to have started some kind of story or my past may have been leaked out by someone. Only few there had looked at me with a smile, either of respect, fear, or honest belief that I am a good being. I only needed a few to have hope in me, that's how manipulating the public works. I continued to hold her close to me.

"I know some of you may have hate for me or most likely fear me or both. But do know that I can better take care of your threats. I can eradicate those that threaten Equestria and pacify the common and daily threats of beasts and monsters. I can promise this and you will see in due time."

"You're nothing but trouble and we don't want you here." One of the more wealthier and higher reputation holders spoke up directly. I was used to the waltzes of political events on ballroom floors filled with pitfalls and spikes.

"If I leave, who will protect you? The elements of harmony are not going to work anymore. Holy forces are gone, and Celestia only has her magic, she can't protect all of you ponies as well as I could." He had gone silent.

"We'd rather die than be forced to live under your rule!" A lower status citizen tried to begin another chaotic event. I dealt with these sudden proclaims quickly, they can turn into a nuisance-like uproar quickly.

"If you died, you wouldn't be here, you would be in my kingdom directly, which is paradise for the dead. And even if you weren't with me, your souls would be lost among a plane of no existence. You would cease to even exist and that's something no mind could ever conceive." They fell silent from my response yet again.

"Be glad you live, be glad you've been promised an afterlife. Eventually, you'll come to accept me and praise me for this. I can offer you things Celestia could never do, just believe in me and obey." I left Violet's side and walked up to one of the ponies.

The gray maned, lime green old pony began to shake in fear. The other ponies had slowly backed away when I approached her. I laid my hand upon her head and focuses, she shook more and sealed her eyes tight. There were gasps all around as the visible wrinkles on her face and body began to clear up, tighten, and form young, beautiful skin once more, her fur tightening to her body and gaining a new luster. The mop of mane she had quickly healed as well, returning to a ever so light blonde. She no longer shook and stood easily, rejuvenated of all energy. I took away my hand and she remained the same, a dark aura, a sign of my energy, was left about her ever so slightly.

I wrapped my arm around my lovely wife again and began the trek back to the castle once more, walking down the stone path. The ponies behind me were still stunned, shocked, astonished from my actions, but yet all of them seemed to praise the wonders I did and complimented the newly reborn pony on her looks once more.

"Trying hard enough to get them to like you?" Violet said with a slight giggle as we crossed the stone bridge, ponies still coming to the castle.

"Well, if they see me as a Dark Messiah, they'll be more accepting and we'll soon lead them in better directions. We can also have great steeds for our forces and horses that could talk to you while you rode them." I looked to her, "It'd be an interesting experience."

"An unnerving one." We had both fell silent upon the entry into the castle.

There was a line forming from the door, ponies waiting to see me in the throne room of the castle, ready to speak of conspiracies and traitors to their nation that underwent a dark epiphany. These were sometimes of little use to me, but they always helped in the end.

Violet left a kiss upon my lips before walking off down corridors and up many stairs to reach our room most likely. She always left me when I had business to conduct and citizens to speak with. My brother by name formed in my hand from dark flames, the metal shining from the dark flame lit torches in the room. I walked up and took my seat upon the throne, one of my three advisers coming to my side, standing at my right. I laid the tip of the Death Sword at my feet, between them, leaning forward and holding the handle with both hands, giving an intimidating pose already, prepared to squeeze all information from these ponies.

The guards at the front doors opened the huge wooden gates again, guiding the very first pony in and forming a barrier to keep the others out, closing the doors and standing outside with them. Two higher ranking warriors of mine were in the room, standing at either side of the designated speaking spot for citizens, a small black square outlined on the purple carpet that lead to the throne. The pony began to walk up, a yellow coat and red curly mane accented by his baker's apron, showing he must have just gotten done with work as flour and other stains were on it. He bowed his head to me when he had reached the platform. I could feel his nervous vibe solidifying the air around me. I ate chunks from the metaphorical air about him with my presence, pose, and stare.

"I see you just came from work. Very responsible. And what would you tell me about Second Sunlight or its members?" I began, my voice commanding and deep as it normally is.

"I...I..." He began.

"State your name, occupation, residency, and address his Majesty properly when you speak." Both of the guards said roughly, their hands laying on the pommel and handle of their swords, as directed by me for further pressing of informants.

"I'm-I'm Carrot Cake, co-owner of Sugarcube Corner with my wife Cup Cake, I live at my business, Sugarcube Corner, in Ponyville, your...Majesty." He spoke quickly and had a hard time exerting the last part of his sentence.

"And what have you heard?" I leaned forward more, intent on trying to get him to slip up somewhere in case he was leaving some information out.

"The resistance is mostly working in different basements and sometimes in the remains of crop fields." He spoke quickly again.

"Who owns these basements?" My adviser had begun to take notes on the information he was giving. I was still busy being the inquisitor here.

"I don't know. I just heard they used basements."

"Where did you hear it?"

"From one of my uh-customers." He slipped up.

"Ponyville is such a small town and you most likely heard it from someone you know well or a very regular customer. You must know a name."

"B...Berry Punch!" His voice cracked and squeaked from the large amount of stress he was under.

"Go send out other guards to arrest Berry Punch and bring her to me immediately." I looked at Carrot Cake still as one of the higher ranking soldiers in the throne room, the one to the left of Carrot Cake was in a light jog out of the throne room and towards the quarters.

"Don't her any of us, please!"

"Is that a plea? Are you with her as well?" I stood and walked down the five steps to his level and stood above him, sword in my right hand.

"N-n-no...no, your Majesty!" He bowed his head and shut his eyes hard.

"Arrest him too along with the entire Cake family and send for Pinkie Pie."

Soon after, once the throne room was clear again, I sat upon the throne and the next pony came in, stating facts about themselves and their physical life before coming forth with something to say. Sometimes the informants would repeat or get themselves in the dungeons with the others. I had told the guards to keep them locked up based on what evidence claim they were involved with. Organization is key to deciphering these things. Most of the ponies that had told me things had me send out for arrest warrants on more and more ponies, the dungeons would most certainly be noisy or quiet depending on the attitudes of the guards that ran the jailor shifts for the month, perhaps the accompanying Pinkie would keep them entertained and happy. It was late, very late, when I had finished. The sun was down and the moon and stars shone, all ponies taken care of now. I had made sure that none were allowed to leave until their evidence claims were questioned and examined by me personally.

I stood up from the throne, the dark sword disappearing in black flames to return to the void where it was kept. I walked outside and stared about, Guards doing simple training routines at night, servants working, and everything else quiet. I remained outside for a bit before returning to my room, where I had a sleeping magnificence to see. I climbed in bed, and she quickly, but silently embraced me. I did the same to her, generating warmth just as well as the now cold fireplace in the room did. I had gone to sleep, the information gleaned from ponies gone in just a snap by her.