My little Ner'Zhul: Friendship is plaguedby Vex the RabbitChaptersPrologue Of fallen kings (minor edit)Understanding and BelongingRoads and ragePrologue Prologue "Do not think of me as a weak human, I left those frail bonds LONG ago! Even if you could muster up enough power to send me away, I WILL find a way back!" warned Arthas. Raising his sword, Frostmourne, he let the blade plummet back down, ending the life of his challenger. Now no longer distracted, Arthas began to fell the powerful energies the Elves use to end the Burning Legion. "So, they are using that ancient tree as the source? No matter, magick this powerful will take tim-" Arthas was cut short by a light starting to envelop him. "WHAT? How did they aquire THIS much power in so little time?" He shouted while beginning to swing Frostmourne at the light. "I AM ARTHAS, THE LICH KING! I AM NER'ZHUL! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED THIS EASILY!....... " before the fallen prince could continue everything went black, was this death, was this it? the end of the Scourge? "NO, I refuse to die, I am Ner'Zhul, The Lich KING! Granted immortality by the Burning Legion, and lived beyond there death! I........will.............not.................................DI-" Once more, he was cut off, but this time, something was different, he felt pulses, and a solid form, was he within a mortal body once more? Slowly attempting to adjust to his new body he attempted to move one of his limbs, with a little luck, he was able to feel an arm move, or was it a leg? This new body he had felt nothing like a human, was he a Centaur? or an animal? Searching for where his new head was, if he had one, he wished to open his eyes to get a look at what he was. Eventually finding where everything was and how to move them, he began to open his eyes, everything was bright and colorful, allmost to so. Moving his body around to get a feel for it, he somehow found himself standing, but not able to walk to well. "Damn those Elves, to think they had this much power......, no matter, I will return, and then I shall punish them for their arrogence!" Two hours pass and Ner'Zhul was finally able to walk, sort of, figured out how stumble, but it closely resembled walking, just, sloppy walking. "Over here girls, the Princess said this is where the strong energies are coming from!" ordered a female voice "Twilight, wait up sugar cube, you shouldn't go at this alone...." warned another female voice, most likely to the first voice he heard. "Great, humans, just what I needed! Easy pray to start the Scourge once more, then I shall rule not one, but two planes of existence!" thought Ner'Zhul as he began to grin behind his helmet. "Whoa, hey, are you ok?" asked the first female voice, who he presumed as 'Twilight'. "Yes, although, I have been in bet-......." Upon turning around he saw a purple horse with a mane of two more shades of purple and a.....horn?. Ner'Zhul was speechless, did this equine just talk? Was it one of dryads the Elves had, he never actually saw one before, simply hearing about them was enough. "Did you just talk?" Ner'Zhul asked the equine, hoping he was just hearing voices. "Are you a dryad?" the purple equine just stood there for a moment while five more, each with unique color patterns of there own. Now he begins to question his own sanity. "So this is what living for eternity can do to a mind,....heh." "What's a....dryad?" asked Twilight. "I'm a pony, and why shouldn't I be talking?" Taking a minute, Ner'Zhul had to think of a response, right in front of him, a pony just talk. "To start, you are an animal, animals do not talk." Ner'Zhul stated, then proceeded to push Twilight out of the way in the most brutal fashion he could at the time, he tosses her aside like a rag doll. "Hmph, stronger then I thought, looks like this body isn't useless..." Ner'Zhul then began to walk away, but was tackled by a cyan pony with wings. Now pinned to a tree with a puddle nearby he remained calm as ever, Ner'Zhul looked into the puddle. The first thing he noticed was that his helmet was off, then began to look for it. Upon finding it, he put his attention back to the puddle, He noticed he to was a pony, this he could deal with, bodies were nothing more the husks for him to use. Ner'Zhul had light a gray coat with a rusty blueish black mane and tail, both flat and lifeless, his eyes were an icy blue and emited a blue aura, which reminded the other ponies of a certain king that Ner'Zhul would very much live to meet. "Sombra! What are you doing here?" asked the cyan pony. "Firstly, I am not this 'Sombra' you think I am, and before I tell you my name, wouldn't it be polite to tell me yours?" Ner'Zhul spoke in a snidely yet calm tone. Beyond where he was pinned, Ner'Zhul noticed the buttery yellow pony with wings, and the pure white pony with a horn helping Twilight up. "Tell him our names Rainbow, he clearly won't cooperate unless we do" Twilight spoke while wiping blood off her mouth. "But Twi, he just batted yo-" "And can easily escape you if he wanted to Rainbow, he has proven he's more then capable of..... evading detainment..." Twilight cut Rainbow off. Rainbow growls under her breath. "Fine!" She angrily agrees as she lets Ner'Zhul go. Ner'Zhul pats the dust off of his regal armour, which adorns many skull shaped patterns, which put the girls in a state of unease. "My name is Rainbow Dash, the orange pony behind me with the blond mane is AppleJack, The yellow pegasus with the pink mane is Fluttershy, and the white unicorn with the purple mane is Rarity and the one you batte-" "I am Twilight Sparkle, and I'm willing to forgive you, if you answer some questions... " Twilight cut Rainbow off once more, but this time with an irritated tone. Author's Note I am looking for proof readers and cover artists, as my spell check ceases to work, and I have gotten.......rusty...with my skill as an artist, any help you readers can provide will be much obliged! Of fallen kings (minor edit)Later the same night, the five mares and Ner'Zhul were at the library, sitting around the old wooden table that rests in the middle of the room. "So, who exactly are you?" Twilight asked with careful caution in her voice. "You say you aren't Sombra, yet your eyes seem to emit pure magic..." "Yeah, only one pony does that, Sombra!" Rainbow yelled while smashing a hoof on the table, causing it to groan. Ner'Zhul let out a sigh, he figured he won't prophet from killing them..... yet. "I am Ner'Zhul, the Lich King! Creator of the Scourge and ruler of the Frozen Throne..." Ner'Zhul replied to both of the mares. "As for my eyes, any living creature that is consumed by any form of dark powers....well, there's your explanation! So giving the fact that you have not yet tried to detain me yet again, I'm guessing you did not understand half of what I said?...." The mares were stunned, they knew what a Lich was, or was supposed to be, but here they are, looking at a lich KING, they didn't know what to do. "So, you raise the dead, then rule them? You don't slaughter, right?" Twilight asked sheepishly "No, I don't kill..." he replied. To this Twilight let out grateful sigh. "I get others to slaughter in mass amounts for me, using my plauge!" Ner'Zhull finished while using his new understanding of his equine body to put a hoof on the table, where it rested near his helmet. Twilight, grabbed a quill and parchment ready to write to Celestia and quickly send it should needed. "I will make you a deal though..." Ner'Zhul spoke to Twilight hoping to put her at some ease, he wouldn't want to die now, of all times! "Three things, very simple, the first, help me find a way back to where I came! Second, tell me more about this Sombra, as for the third one, take me to him after you tell me about him..." Twilight looked at Ner'Zhul, hoping he was simply kidding, but he wasn't, every inch of him spoke honesty, a chill ran down her spine. "The first and second part of the deal I can do, the third part I have to refuse!" Twilight replied. Ner'Zhul calmly grabbed his helmet, then proceeded to put it on. "Then there is nothing stopping me from killing you!" He said coldly. A blueish white sword began to appear out of thing air as he grabbed the handle. "Frostmourne is hungry anyway, but don't fret, you'll be walking soon again...." Meanwhile in Canterlot Celestia worries about what happens with these dark new energies. "Sister, this energy is darker then Sombra's, who ever is eminating this energy might even be able to take on Discord" spoke a voice, breaking Celestia's thoughts. "Yes, you may be right my dear Luna..." Celestia Replied. Out of the blue, a scroll appeared in a puff of green blue flame and smoke. "Ah, this must be the scouts report on the situation..." Celestia pauses, questioning if reading this report will be what she expected, or worse. After a moments pause Celestia used her magic to unfurl the scroll then began reading the report. 'At exactly 1400 hours the Elements of Harmony sent to seek the source of the dark energy. Upon closing in on this energy, they found a larger then usual stallion wearing dark, full body armour adorned with skull patterns. After witnessing him batting the Elelment of Magic aside like a fly, I close my report on this stallion with him being extremely hostile, and must be detained or killed as soon as possible!' "Short and sweet, sounds like Treble was the one who wrote this? would you not agree, Tia?" Luna asked her older sister. "Indeed, I think it is also Treble we should let to handle this..... But I would like to meet this stallion myself." Celestia turns her head to the window, which lays to her right. "I pray for my little ponies, hope that they do not find harm......or death..." Back at the library, Twilight was able to prevented a slaughter by agreeing to all of Ner'Zhul's terms terms, but will also have to pass with Celestia's inspection as well. Rarity took Fluttershy back to her cabin to calm her down, while Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack suffered from minor cuts barely holding him back. "So, what's with this sword.....Frostmourne, was it's name?" Twilight asked not wanting to touch it should it do something to her. "Yes" Ner'Zhul replied, AJ and Rainbow close by should they need to restrain him again. "It takes the souls of those I slay, so I can raise their corpses whenever I need or want to. Don't worry, touching it will no longer take souls, I think, I've never tested my sword out of the realm of humans, so I'm not sure if it has changed at all." Ner'Zhul walked toward his ice cold blade, grabbing it once it was within his grasp. "I would like to start seeing if it changed at all though!" Once that sentence hit the three mares they all tensed up, ready to attack. "But, I am true to my word, I will.... attempt, to hold off killing you and the rest of your people. As for living without my armour, only if I am allowed to carry Frostmourne with me!" He put his sword back down, and walked toward one of the many book shelves. Ner'Zhul figured if he was going to stay here he might as well learn a few things about this dimension, how their magic works and the various races, both sentient and feral. Twilight walked over to the other two girls and pulled their heads down. "Girls, what are we going to do, we can't really trust his word, even if he does mean what he says, right?" Twilight asked in a whisper. "I reckon we give him just one shot, but under tight watch!" Apple Jack replied. "Yeah, you think the princess could send in some guards?" Rainbow added. "I'm sure she's way ahead of that Rainbow." Twilight assured her friend. Using his own magick Ner'Zhul levitated a few select books that he believes will help him the most in gathering the basic knowledge he seeks. After a few hours the sun began to set, it was only Twilight and Ner'Zhul still withen the confines of the wodden walls. Twilight kept a nervous eye on Ner'Zhul, while her guest seemed to be ignoring her all together. The first to break the silence was the purple mare! "...Um, it's getting late, you're more then welc-" "I do not need your charity, I am a KING! Besides, this, 'Everfree Forest' intrigues me, I'm staying there in the abandoned castle." Ner'Zhul cut Twilight off. Twilight didn't say a word, the confusion he displayed was to say the least, evident. She just couldn't figure out why, or what was causing his confusion, or anger for that matter. The slamming of her door broke her train of thought, but quickly went back on track. Ner'Zhul began his walk toward the looming forest. Passing house after house, chilling the air around him, he stopped near a bakery. "....Sugar Cube.........Corner?" Ner'Zhul spoke out. In his mortal days as an Orc, he did enjoy sweets to a great extent, but once he was forced into that cursed throne of ice, he couldn't enjoy anything anymore. "Bah, I don't need these weak feelings!" he shouted to himself, waking a pink pony from sleep. Ner'Zhul began to walk away shortly before the pony he woke opened her window. Only seeing his outline and hearling the clanking of his armour, the pink mare knew there was a new pony, which meant a party! Now closing in on the forest he was set on calling home, an outline of another pony came into view. Drawing his blade he saw the perfect oppertunity to start the scourge once more. "I'd put that away, you might hurst yourself." Teased the pony. "Wether I hurt myself or not is irrelivent, I will simply find a new body!" Replied Ner'Zhul. This new pony began to come into view, he had a very faded purple coat with a scruffy slicked-back deep purple mane that carried a dark blue stripe on the top, his eyes were an airy green, wings resting on his sides, and help no content to fight. "Who are are? I would like to know the name of the one who will serve me!" Ner'Zhul demanded. "You first..." Replied the faded purple pony. "Very well, I am Ner'Zhul, the Li-" Before he could finish Ner'Zhul went flying ten feet from where he stood, the pony standing on his rear hooves, his top right hoof not even an inch from where his face was. "You mangy CUR" Ner'Zhul replied to the attack, quickly retaliating by charging towards him with Frostmourne. The pony he was about to kill simply dissapeared, right in front of him. "My name is Treble, my foes call me Trouble, I'm a deaf pegesus who manipulates sound waves, as well as use them to hear, every noise you make, every movement you do, makes a ripple in the waves of sound, even right now, I'm using sound magick to move at a speed you cannot see! That first hit was payback for my friend, Twilight, and you only get one warning, should you harm another pony, your head WILL be mine" Threatened Treble. Ner'Zhul for the first time, showed fear, but quickly masked it, how can one being hold more power then him, any sound, and type of movement, is his way of fighting, and he clearly knew what he was doing. "Again, with these weak mortal feelings?!" Ner'Zhul shouted his fear away. Treble no longer seemed to be around, so Ner'Zhul made his way to his new castle, cutting down Manticores and Cocitaces alike in pure rage, collecting their souls to raise later. A knock echoed through the library. "Coming!" Spoke Twilight. A minute passed and the door opened, revealing a familiar grinning pegasus to the purple mare. "........Treble?" She asked in a sad, yet exited voice. "Treble, is that really you?" The purple mare lunged at her old friend. "Don't you ever scare us like that again, it took Pinkie MONTHS to cope with loosing you" she began to cry and berate the colt. Treble simply put his hooves around Twilight, content on letting her let it all out. "Gather the girls up tomorrow, I'd like to apologize to each and every one of them" Treble looked up to the moon. "especially Pinks!" Author's Note Yes this chapter was short, I simply used this one to get important players in this story out of the way, as for Treble, he might get his own story in time.... Understanding and BelongingNer'Zhul awoke to three undead Manticores patrolling his newly acquired castle. "These creatures are quite reliable, but I'll need ponies if I'm to reconstruct this run down dump!" Grunted to angered lich king. "And that pony.... Treble, just WHO does he think he is, I will make him suffer for tossing me aside like that!" Getting up from his rest, Ner'Zhul trudged over to a small puddle he would use as a mirror. His now smooth and well kept mane was now matted and clumpy, as well as his tail, truthfully, he liked this look much better, it seemed to scream undeath to him. Other then his mane, he noticed a large cut across his right side of the face, where Treble had seemed to blast him. Could he use sound as blades? Ner'Zhul thought. No, that's impossible, sound is fluent, it can't take a solid form! Ner'Zhul pounded a hoof in the puddle, scattering the water all around him. "Just who is this Treble? And why is he so focused on me?" He growled. Ner'Zhul turned from his now scattered mirror, and vanished into the darkness of the castle. Ner'Zhul came back out without his armour on, which meant his cutie mark was revealed, a clear blue ice shard with a green flame within it, not that he noticed, or cared. Ner'Zhul's stomach began to growl at him for some food, one thing he forgot mortals need. with a heavy sigh he though going to that sweet shop wouldn't be a bad place to go, he would like to know the taste of sugar once more after all. Putting Frostmourne in his make shift sheath, Ner'Zhul began to head out, back into Ponyvill. Twilight woke up to the smell of eggs and waffles. Is Spike making breakfast already? she thought. With a long stretch Twilight rolled out of bed only to find herself falling. She quickly caught herself before she did a face-plant on the floor, then yawned before letting go, now ready to land. Now on all four hooves, she looked around and saw Spike still sleeping. "But, if Spike is still sleeping..." Twilight whispered, her eyes wide. Did some one break in? She thought. But, why would they be cooking, are they simply hungry? Twilight quickly made her way out of her room then proceeded to creep quietly down the stairs, so she wont be heard. Now done with the stairs she then started creeping closer to the kitchen, only to quickly see it was Treble who was cooking breakfast, using his unique magic to launch what he needs to him, or away. Twilight let out a relieving breath of air after holding her breath. "Treble, I forgot you stayed the night" She chuckled, only to get no response out of her friend. "Treble?" "Might as well Wake Twi up, tell her breakfast is about to be set" Treble said while turning around, eyes closes. he took two steps forward and began to open his eyes. ".....Twilight? you're up early. Did the smell wake you" he asked shocked to she her up this early willingly. "I called your name while you were cooking..." She replied. "Yeah, sorry about that, It's hard to constantly use my magic just to hear, would be a lot easier if I was a unicorn!" Treble replied. Twilight noticed Treble's cutie mark has changed, instead of just a musical note called a 'treble' it was now surrounded by what seemed like waves. "Treble, your cutie mark, it chan-" "Changed? Yes, it did, and I'd rather not say how if you don't mind Twi..." Treble cut Twilight off Sugar Cube Corner just opened up as Ner'Zhul made his way in to the quaint town. Still early in the morning, there was little trafic on the streets, save for the mailers, store suppliers, and a few ponies just enjoying the morning. While walking through the town Ner'Zhul hoped that no'pony' would interrupt him. "Heh." He chuckled. "It's cute how body has been with replaced with pony, to bad I'll have to kill this world, hopefully they wont put up a big fight, since I haven't even seen one guard!" Sugar Cube Corner came into Ner'Zhul's field of view. Already smelling the sweets being baked, he wondered if this race discovered chocolate, or even pie, hell, maybe they even have chocolate pie! Thinking about food seemed only to make him even more hungry, if he kept this up his hunger would become ravenous. Opening the door, he heard a high pitched voice from the kitchen. "One minute please!" the voice sang out. "Great, a creature with loads of energy, I hope it'll leave me be at least..." After a perfect minute a pink mare with an even pinker and bouncy mane and tail, her energy made her bouncy mane look dead in comparison came walking out of the kitchen. The mare looked over to greet her customer, only freeze momentarily, then gasp loudly before rushing up to Ner'Zhul. "Hi I'm Pinkie Pie, are you new here, are you going to stay for a little bit, a while, or a long time? although a long time is different from pony to pony, what do you see as a long time, ooh I know, I'm gonna throw a PARTY!" Pinkie said drawing some more air back into to her lungs to continue. Not understanding a word of what she just said Ner'Zhul began to draw Frostmourne, had every intention of killing her now, but before he could draw more then an inch of blade, Treble's warning came into his head. 'Should you harm another pony, your head WILL be mine' Ner'Zhul swiped back his fear of Treble once more. With great restraint, he put his sword fully back into the sheath, and then put a hoof over the hyper active pony, he forced Pinkie to the floor, but not using enough power to purposely hurt her. "NO party, just give me some chocolate, and an apple pie, and leave me alone!" He demanded while removing his hoof from Pinkie, putting it back on the floor. "Okay, I'm sorry.." Pinkie apologized, her mane becoming a bit more dull and lifeless, loosing some of it's bounce in the process. Ner'Zhul wondered if Treble would see this as harming another pony, then he didn't care. Ner'Zhul made his way to the most isolated table there was, the one in the way back. Reaching the table, he loosened the sheaths binding, as his blade fell to the floor, he then picked it up with his mouth seeing no other way, and not wanting to wast his magic on such a tedious task, and placed it up against the wall, next to where he chose to sit down. Ten minutes pass and the pink mare came to Ner'Zhul's table, carrying a platter of chocolates and two pies.Ner'Zhul noticed the second pie he didn't order. "I only ordered ONE pie, what's with the second?' He asked impatiently. Pinkie only smiled sheepishly. "The second pie is on the house!" She spoke. "Think of it as my way of apologizing to you." Pinkie hoped that this new colt would accept her offering of forgiveness, and to her joy, he did, giving her mane and till a bit more life once more. "Fine, whatever." Ner'Zhul grunted. Pinkie put the platter on the table then looked back at Ner'Zhul. "My name is Pinkie Pie by the way, if you need anything, let me know, kay?" She spoke, only to receive silence. Making her way back to the kitchen, Pinkie hopped the colt would thank her before leaving, though she had little expect of that happening. While enjoying his delicious sweets, Ner'Zhul heard the door open, and saw the five mares he nearly killed the day before, as well as Treble, who quickly saw him in return. Ner'Zhul gave Treble a murderous glare with his teeth clenched and teeth showing, revealing four very sharp teeth among his more normal teeth. Treble, seeing this as a welcome, trotted his way over to Ner'Zhul to chat with him. "Pinkie!" Twilight shouted for her pink friend. "Me and the other girls have a surprise for you!" "A SURPRISE?!" Pinkie shouted back in pure glee and excitement, then rushed out of the kitchen, covered in all sorts of pre baked batter. "You know Ner'Zhul, Equestria could use a pony like you, it's either that, or detainment or even death." Treble spoke in a low voice as not to let the others hear, which Ner'Zhul did in kind. "What could a Lick King do in a peaceful land!" He replied to Treble's statement. "It's only peaceful because of the ponies like me and you, who secretly to keep it that way, If you wan't I can take you to see Sombra, during times nopony is allowed to visit, just to give you a view of what happens to those who threaten this peace. On a second not Ner'Zhul, I can't say I've been in the same spot as you-" "That's an under-statement" Ner'Zhul cut Treble off, only to get him clearing his throat in irritation. "Fine, Continue..." Ner'Zhul spoke ready to unwillingly listen. "I may not be in the same spot in you Ner'Zhul, but I've been in the same boat..." Treble finished. "What are you getting at, cur?" Ner'Zhul growled. "What I'm saying is, you clearly had a master, who ordered you to do nothing but kill and slaughter, I can see it in your eyes that those masters are long gone, leaving you alone, confused, and no where you seem to belong. I'm Giving you a choice her Ner'Zhul, this nation could really use your raw power, especially now, when a war threatens to break out." Treble spoke the last part with great sadness and discontent. "And why should I help you and your nation when it will fall to me within time?" Ner'Zhul spat at Treble who simply pulled a folded note out from what seemed to be nowhere, placed it next to Ner'Zhuls platter, then left. Pinkie saw a pony walking towards them. Faded purple coat, blue and purple mane, scruffy and slicked back a bit, it can't be! Pinkie thought, her smile growing wider each second. Treble stopped a few feet away from her, put his head up, and braced himself for either a slap, or tackle. "Miss me?" He asked with a hint of sorrow in his voice. Pinkie tackled him to the ground and began crying her eyes out in relief and happiness, overwhelmed with joy to see the colt who makes her heart flutter standing right before her, after she attended his funeral Now on the floor and a bit of crying out of the way, Pinkie picked herself up a bit and looked at Treble. The next thing the colt knew there was a loud smack, then his entire left side of his face hurt like it's never hurt before, then Pinkie continued to sob over him. Treble put both his hooves over Pinkie and pulled her down for a hug and started to tear up himself. With a breaking voice, Treble began to speak. "I'm so sorry I made you go through my own death having you attend my own funeral, and most importantly, making you think you lost me forever! I know there's nothing I can do to apologize for what I did to any of you for that, but every day that passed, was another day I truly did feel dead inside!" After seeing this, something in Ner'Zhul clicked, he felt jealousy, no one would ever miss him if he died, he betrayed his entire race, turned them into monsters bound to his will, doing nothing but spreading chaos among other races, he didn't want to deny he wanted to cry out of joy, feel missed, and joy when seeing an old friend, he didn't want to his his jealousy of Treble, the one pony he thought would never cry, was crying over others he simply missed. Ner'Zhul looked down at Treble's note and thought about reading it, though he hesitated, he did end up picking the note up with his demonic magic, and began to unfold it. " Treble, you have been summoned for a midnight meeting to discuss the outbreak of war in front of the Everfree's entrance, and how we will handle it. Should you not be able to attend this meeting for any valid reason, you will receive the report, then report in your voice on the situation. If you are to share any contents of this note, we will consider you a traitor, hunt you down, and kill you, as well as anyone you were close to should they aid you in laying low. Your captain -Mist" Why would he give me this note if he already knows what will happen. Ner'Zhul thought, he then looked back at the group, now all of which were standing, Pinkie staying as close to Treble as she can, almost cuddling him, chatting and catching Treble up on events he missed. "Just what are you trying to do to me Treble, I am NOT a mortal like you god dammit! So stop trying to make me feel like one!" Ner'Zhul whispered to himself while beginning to tear up. Ner'Zhul's eyes shot wide. A tear? But, Liches can't cry, we don't truly feel emotions to be able to cry.... Ner'Zhul thought while wiping the now frozen tear from the side of his eye. A few hours pass and Ner'Zhul has been done with his food for quite some time, instead he stayed there to think about what to do. "If this land is on the brink of war, where all all the guards, a handful of ponies couldn't hold back an entire army, that's absurd, but Treble is very powerful, are they all this strong?" He spoke to himself. "Should I take up his offer?" Ner'Zhul now starting to question himself and what he stands for, began to wonder if he should go back to the planet he is well known on. Pinkie trotting up to the table occupied by the breaking lich saw that he was done with his food."Excuse me, would you like any more sweets?" She asked him, breaking his thought. "Huh? oh, no, just take the platter and leave" He spoke with a heavy tone. Pinkie took the platter without saying another word and began to make her way to where the dirty trays are kept waiting to be washed. "Actually, what can you tell me about Treble?" Ner'Zhul asked before the pink mare vanished behind the counter. Pinkie turned around and set they trey down on a nearby table, then walked back over to Ner'Zhul, and sat down across from him. "What do you want to know?" She asked "How powerful is he, combat wise..." Ner'Zhul spoke up, while looking down. Ner'Zhul never thought he would be one to start a conversation of this type, but here he was. "You shouldn't underestimate him if that what you're looking for. He'd defend Equestria, even at the cost of his sanity, which it even came to that before.." Pinkie shuddered at the memory of seeing her Treble like that. "And what of you and Treble?" Ner'Zhul continued with his questions. Pinkie's face turned a bright red. "Oh, well um....I wish I could say we're a couple..." She spoke with a flustered voice. "But Treble doesn't want to get close to other ponies like that, lest they make him lose focus in a fight. But he does know how I feel, so he refuses to accept any other mare's sign of affection, only mine." "I see...." Ner'Zhul said. "..and,....thank you for the food..." With that Pinkie's day brightened up, but she help most of it in, knowing that this colt wasn't the bright and bubbly kind. Ner'Zhul then got off of his seat and grabbed Frostmourne, putting the sheath it was in back on him. Walking toward the door, Ner'Zhul thought that being 'nice' wasn't as bad, or hard, as he had thought it would be, though he would still prefer to be rough if given the chance. Stopping at the door, he looked back at Pinkie "My name is Ner'Zhul, by the way, you can expect me here tomorrow as well..." Later that night, a group of seven ponies gathered right in front of the Everfree. "Captain?" Treble spoke up before the group began their discussion. "As you know, Celestia assigned me to keep this new colt in check..." "Continue!" Mist replied. "He is extremely powerful, and may even be able beat me within time, I gave him my note, in hopes he will come, I know of the charges I will face, but he may help us turn the tides, should he begin to falter in battle! So you can press whatever charges you want on me, but do so AFTER the war!" Treble finished. Treble's captain looked over at the entrance of the forest, and saw an additional pony that wasn't meant to be there, she then threw an angry glare at Treble, who only coward and shy away a bit. "We'll talk later Treble!" Mist said coldly. Treble made his way over to the rest of the group, next to Ner'Zhul to be more accurate. "What was that, why did you back down like that?" Ner'Zhul asked Treble in a whispered voice. "Can we leave it at, there's a reason Mist is captain..." Treble replied with a chill invading his spine and a constant shiver. "All right dogs, We are going to be having an unexpected guest during this meeting" Mist spoke to her group lifting a hoof to point in Ner'Zhul's direction. "Now then, as you know, the Griffins and Changelings have made an alliance, and threaten to attack Equestria, The only thing delaying them are us five echo squads, primarily, our squad. Every team has been called back, and all able bodied guards and knights have been stations at the major boarders. The princesses expect my squad to settle this with no bloodshed on either side if we can. Treble, You are taking your new friend-" "I'm not his friend, If anything, I only see him as an equal, nothing more!" Ner'Zhul cut Mist off. Treble wished he had a shell to withdraw into, so he wouldn't have to face Mists's wrath. Mist simply gave a look at Ner'Zhul that would instantly break a dragon, let alone a pony, but it didn't even seem to faze this new pony, which only aggrivated her more. Turning to face this colt, she walked up to him. "This is MY teratory, I don't care who the fuck you are, or think you are, when I give an order, you follow it to the letter! NOW SIT!" She commanded, only, Ner'Zhul didn't sit, this made Mist's eye go wide, as well as the whole groups. "did he just, do what I think he did?" on of the squad members asked. Treble looked at Ner'Zhul, no one was ever able to not be effected by her commanding magic, but Ner'zhul didn't simply ignore her magic, it couldn't even phase him, let alone make him even twitch. Mist glared at Treble, who pulled Ner'Zhul's tail and forced him back before Mist's rage was directed at him. "Don't get me killed, otherwise, I'm taking you with me!" Treble told Ner'Zhul, to which he only smirked. Ner'Zhul enjoyed this, was this what is felt like to have a friend? if it was, he truly wouldn't mind making a few while he's here. "Treble, you and this whelp will go parlay with the griffin king, use force as a secondary method, and only resolve to killing as a last resort." Mist ordered. "Yes ma'am" Treble sighed. "Sliver, and Cannon, you two are with me to parlay with the changeling queen, the rest of you, get to the border outposts to aid the troops! That's it, we all start tomorrow, dismissed!" Mist commanded. After the group departed, to get a good nights sleep, Treble saw Ner'Zhul head into the forest. "Hey, wait up, where are you going?" Treble asked, running up to Ner'Zhul so he wouldn't have to shout. "....home, why?" Ner'Zhul replied. Treble only stared blankly at his new partner before going behind him, grabbing his tail, and dragging him back to Ponyvill. "You're gonna be staying with Twi from now on, no exeptions!" Treble barked at Ner'Zhul. "And where will you stay?" asked Ner'Zhul. Treble was silent for a moment, pondering on where to stay. "I'm sure Pinkie would like me staying the night before I have to leave..." Treble replied, almost with a saddened voice. Ner'Zhul, picking up on that, thought he should have Treble become his first friend, seeing as though he said he could relate to his position. "Even though it's just a night, I'm sure she'd like it to!" Ner'Zhul stated. "Yeah, I kn-" Treble let go of Ner'Zhul's tail and turned around to look at him. Ner'Zhul now getting up looked back at Treble while patting dust off his coat. "What?" He asked. "Did you just try to lift my spirits?" Treble asked somewhat baffled by Ner'Zhul's almost sudden cgange of attitude. Ner'Zhul held back a chuckle seeing Treble confused like that. "I gave your little talk some thought, and came to a conclusion, I'm willing to ATTEMPT to make at least a few friends!" Now, if you excuse me, I have no choice but to sleep inside of a tree tonight!' Ner'Zhul snidely told Treble before making his way to Twilights house alone, leaving Treble there to process what just happened. Roads and rageNer'Zhul woke up to Twilight trying to push him off the couch she let him sleep on. Groggily he moved his head to look at the mare attempting to move him and gave her a puzzled look. "May I help you?" He spoke gruffly. "No, but Treble is waiting for you downstairs, and I think he wants to leave as soon as possible." Twilight informed the tired colt. Ner'Zhul got up as Twilight began to push once more, making her fall on her face from the lack of force countering her. "You really should practice balance a bit more if you just fall over like that!" Ner'Zhul ordered Twilight while stepping off the couch, ready to grab his sword which he laid at the end of the couch. "Oh, hahaha, really, I let you sleep here and you've been nothing but rude!" Twilight snarled. Picking up Frostmourne's sheath and throwing it on, Ner'Zhul turned around to face Twilight, then stuck a hoof out. Twilight looked up at Ner'Zhul because of the gesture he just made, he wished to help her up. Twilight knocked his hoof away. "Don't try to act nice all the sudden, I remember what you are, the only reason I haven't done anything is because Treble seems to think you can change!" Twilight barked while getting up with Ner'Zhul's aid. Unknowingly to hurt, Ner'Zhul felt hurt at that statement, while it's true his original intentions still exist, he was trying to make an effort in change. Ner'Zhul put his hoof back down and walked out of Twilights room, not wishing to make things harder. As he made his way downstairs Ner'Zhul was greeted by a small green dragon, who had his meal ready for travel, and held it out for him to grab. Ner'Zhul just stood there, not knowing what to do. "Are you going to take your breakfast or not?" Asked the dragon. "I'm really busy and can't stand here all day!" Ner'Zhul simply gave a light nod in thanks then used his magic to levetate it before walking out the open door. "Hay there Ner'Zhul" Treble greeted his new partner while throwing a saddle bag his way. "No time, gotta move before Pinks finds out I'm gone!" He finished, but not before running off to the train station. Ner'Zhul, barely keeping up, finally noticed the weapon on Trebles wings, or what he thought were weapons, as well as a very unique collar. As they ran toward the station, Ner'Zhul could swear he could someone shout Treble's name, in a cross between a very sad, and extremely angered tone. Finally closing in on the station, Ner'Zhul noticed a train adorned to match the night, he also heard something charging for them. Ready to pull his weapon and fight Treble spoke up. "No fight, just run!" He ordered. To this, Ner'Zhul was more then glad to do if this made Treble frightened. Entering the train, it took of at an amazing speed the second both colts were on. Looking back, Ner'Zhul saw Pinkie, slowly fading from view. "Phew" Treble sighed. "If she caught me, she'd never let me leave." Ner'Zhul only gave a glance at Treble before walking over to one of the luxurious seats. Looking around the inside of the train was decorated like the night as well, the ceiling looked as though it WAS night out, while the dominant colors seem to be dark blue and black with moderate lighting. "Any plans on how we get to this king?" Ner'Zhul asked the only other passenger while pulling a blind to the side. "Yes, the princesses are meeting us at the border of Saddle Arabia, along with their representatives. We will be masquerading as caravan guards, we will be paid for the safety of the caravan as well as the success of our main mission." Treble replied. "Two other things, first, whats with that....collar?" Ner'Zhul asked, hoping not to offend Treble. "This?" Treble replied with another question, holding up his pair of headphones. "They're my headphones, Pinkie gave them to me as a gift while she helped me get used to other ponies. As for the second question I know you are going to ask, the things on the back of my wings are bracers, activated by my sound. They.... make make my wings more blade-like to put it simply." he finished "I see, that's a unique way to fight, I take it you can make sound in to a blade you launch?" Ner'Zhul wondered as he remembered his first encounter with Treble. "On a second note, forget that question, when we first met, you seemed intent on killing me, why the change in plans?" To this, Treble gave a light heart chuckle. "Heh, about that..... I actually sent a report that I'm either going to detain or kill you, and forgot to send an update to the princesses...." Treble's attitude became a bit more sullen. "As for my own change, you remind me of myself when I first came to Ponyvill." Ner'Zhul pondered, did Treble only get this strong with help? how much stronger can I become? He began to think about thing he never would have back in Lorderon. Pinkie was crying non stop, her friends trying to cheer her up, her mane completely flat and lifeless. "Why would he leave again after he just came back like that? Does he hate me?" Pinkie asked herself out loud sniffling in between words. "Of course he doesn't darling, he loves you, and you know that!" Rarity scolded Pinkie for thinking like that. "Yeah, it just would have been harder for him to leave you with you begging him not to go Pinkie." Twilight spoke up. Fluttershy came back from the kitchen after cooking some food with Spike for the group, laying the food out on the table with the little dragon. She slowly trotted over to the group, making her way to Pinkie. Patting Pinkie on the back, Fluttershy sat down. "There there, he'll come back safe and sound, just like always, he made a pinkie promise, remember?" Fluttershy encouraged the crying mare. Pinkie looked up to meet Fluttershy eye to eye, revealing a pendent with the musical symbol for a treble laying in a pool of tears. "You really think so?" Pinkie asked with an optimistic smile. "I know so, since when has he let any of us down?" Fluttershy told Pinkie, picking up her pendent to put it around Pinkies neck. "Now let's eat, I'm sure you are all hungry...." Around three hours later, an extremely bored Ner'Zhul began to burst out. "Gah, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE? I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FASTEST TRAIN AROUND HERE!" Treble only sighed as the other pony started an out-rage. "You do know that the station is coming up, right?" Treble asked the impatient lich king. Ner'Zhul stopped his small rampage and turned to blankly look at Treble who looked as bored as he felt. "....er...right. I knew that!" Ner'Zhul lied, refusing to look the part of a fool. With a screeching halt, the train came to a stop. Two princesses and a pony dressed like a nomad await on the outside, awaiting Treble to give him more details on how to carry out this mission. The train doors slide open as a light gray colt came out of the train first. "Damn Treble, acting all level headed! 'It's only boredom, learn to deal with it like I do!' who does he think he is?" Ner'Zhul muttered "Guards, sieze this intruder!" Luna commanded as a few lightly armored station guards came over with their weapons already drawn. Ner'Zhul, quickly thinking, smashed one of his hooves in the guards direction, causing a splintered wall to jot up in front of them. Using this time, he drew his faithful blade out of it's sheath. Feeling the shock wave of Ner'Zhul's slamming, Treble let out an aggravated groan. "Can't even wait five minutes to start a fight, I feel like I got stuck with baby siting duties." Treble picked up their bag of supplies after finishing his final check. Walking out, he trotted before his rulers, setting his bag down and bowing before them. "Forgive your majesties, I failed to give you an updated report. I chose to introduce him to the rest of the Echo's. My failure will not happen again, I promise." Treble informed Celestia and Luna, to which they only replied with chuckles. This confused both Treble and Ner'Zhul. "Guards, stand down, he is with our operative!" Celestia commanded. Treble got up from his bow, and looked up to the two alicorns. "I do not understand..... I revealed your secret militery-" "To somepony who clearly belongs in it" Celestia cut Treble off. "I have seen no other with that amount of power before Treble. Although I do worry..." Celestia turned to Ner'Zhul with her business face. "You are not from this world, are you?" She asked, to which Ner'Zhul only nodded that he wasn't. "I am not, I am Ner'Zhul, Lich Ki-" Ner'Zhul stopped for a minute, what if he left that life out, he could start over here, he knew Treble would vouch for him. After taking the minute to think about his wording, Ner'Zhul continued. ".....I am Ner'Zhul, fallen orc chieftain, forced to become a lich king!" "I see, then tell me, why should I not kill you lich? there is no place for you here!" Celestia replied, her voive becoming as cold as Ner'Zhul's soul while her horn began to glow. "My reason is my own, should you wish to kill me, do so, I know you are only protecting you subjects!" Ner'Zhul spoke in a shout. Grabbing the bindings that hold his sheath he flung it off and away from him, readying for the princess's powerful magic. "I have but one request, you bury me in the frozen arctics of the North!" Celestia stood there, sizing up Ner'Zhul's words to how much he meant them, in a few seconds, her horn stopped its glowing, and her stance became a lot more lax. "You have pure heart, but your past corrupts your soul, within time, it may heal, but until then..." Celestia turns back to take her place next to her sister. "I trust Treble to keep an eye on you." Ner'Zhul glanced at his blade, a look of regret for ever making it now. "Celestia, right?" Ner'Zhul asked the tall white princess. "Yes, that is my name." She assured. "Take that blade, do not envelop it in magic, do not touch it, lest its power consume you... I no longer wish to carry remnants of my past. In your abandoned castle my amour is there, kill my manticores I raised and destroy the armor. Ner'Zhul spoke, fighting to conceal his seething blood lust at what he just said. "But you'll have no weapon!" Treble reminded the gray pony. "If you can make do without one..." Ner'Zhul's blood lust now replaced with a sense needing to be needed. "..so can I" "Right then, now here is what the best course of action you two should take, the caravan is waiting at the other side of the station. Use your ploy to your advantage, meaning should the griffins try to brush you two off warn them no guards, no more war supplies." Luna gave them their orders, which both saluted to. Treble and Ner'Zhul began their walk to where the caravan was was patiently waiting. Upon turning the corner, the caravan came into view, walking up to what they were supposed to guard, the merchants who owned the caravan gave them looks of disappointment. "We only get two, unarmored ponies who don't even have weapons?" Spoke a husky unicorn, whom both presumed was their leader" "Trust me, we don't need weapons, or armor, and just the two of us and hold off an army!" Ner'Zhul stated smugly. "Prove it!" The husky pony dared. Ner'Zhul was more then happy to accept this challenge, pushing himself up to stand on his rear hooves only, he came back down, causing a small shock wave of raw power as well as creating a small crater. "And my friend here can take anything that I can't reach!" Ner'Zhul scoffed at the caravan's leader who left him with his eyes bulging. Once the caravan was completely ready, they all set off for the long trip. Taking off from the town, the husky unicorn came up to Treble. "So, what can you do? I need to know both of you can keep us safe, there are things that stalk the night" "You mean the hyena tribes? We can deal with a few weaklings..." Treble replied, not wishing to chat with this stuck up pony any longer. "Then I'll have to dismiss you!" The caravans leader sneered. Looking at Ner'Zhul, Treble got a nod in acceptance. "Fine, but tell me your name first!" Treble ordered. "Cold Cash, and watch your tone with me boy, I'm a very powerful unicorn!" Cold warned. "Well then mister powerful.." Treble stopped for a moment and flung his left wing outward, causing a huge scar in the land a few seconds later. "It seems you'll be third rate here!" Treble spoke, leaving an angered Cold Cash there cursing Treble's name. Sun now threatening to set, Ner'Zhul began to set up his and Treble's tent, but neither had any attention to use it. Watching Treble playing with the kids that had to come along with their parents. "What a child, how could he disgrace himself by lowering his standards like that!" Ner'Zhul spoke quietly. "I dunno, I think it's kinda cute" A mare said while sitting next to Ner'Zhul. "He'd make a great father for what ever lucky mare has his eye! My name is Clover by the way" "What, how can you tell a mare caught his eye?" Ner'Zhul asked shocked. did she know more then what she appeared to? "The headphones he's wearing have two cutie marks on them, on one side you can see his cutie mark, on the other..." She began waiting for Treble to turn around. "See those three balloons? who ever has that cutie mark is a lucky girl!" she chuckled. "You wouldn't be that bad of a father either ya know, you have a strong heart, and a stronger will." With that, she left Ner'Zhul there, watching Treble wave goodnight to the foals he was playing with. Walking over to his thinking friend, Treble knocked on his head. "Hey, anyone home?" he asked. "Time to start our cover job!" Ner'Zhul knocked Treble's hoof away. "Yeah, yeah, I know, sun goes down, we wait for whatever." Ner'Zhul shot Treble down. "...What's with the attitude again?" Treble asked worried about his friend. "It's..... I'm sorry, I'm not one for this kind of heat, I need the chill of the North! and.... never mind, I may just be thinking things..." Ner'Zhul spoke, hoping to put Treble at ease. Treble inhaled before beginning to speak again. "I know you don't need me to look after you but,....... You'll get your cool air soon, night in the desserts are cold, and tell me what else is bothering, anything that may threaten peace is something Echo's need to know about, even if it's just a hunch or feeling!" Ordered Treble. Ner'Zhul looked up hoping he wouldn't have to mention them, hoping they could stay dead, guess this was just hopeful wishing. "The Burning Legion....." Ner'Zhul told Treble. "The what?" Treble asked. "The Burning Legion, demons from many worlds gathered for a similar purpose, burning worlds should the races of it be to weak to be used by them, or defy them. They are the ones who did this to me!" Ner'Zhul shed a tear. "They made me forget what it meant to be mortal, and made me hate it to boot, I thought they were dead, but it's like I can feel them, I fear this world will be next...." Treble could only stare at Ner'Zhul in empathy and sorrow, unable to find words. "But I will die before I see this world burn!" Ner'Zhul finish, slamming a hoof down for emphasis. While taking in the moment, a noise snapped them both back into readiness, only for a sound in the opposite direction to come up. Both colts tensing up, they stood up. "Ner'Zhul, take the left side of the caravans, only stray from your path in a short distance then hurry back!" Treble ordered while they began to move. "Stay as quite as possible!" "Easier for you light hooves!" Ner'Zhul cracked a joke. Both of the colts on high guard scanned left and right every second they could. Moving slowly, Treble caught a glance of the noise maker. "Not so fast!" he whispered to himself. Treble flashed over to the shadowy figure, punching it in the process, sending a wave of sound through its body, rupturing it's organs with sicking pops. Now limply on the ground, Treble got a better look at it. "A griffin soldier?" Treble asked spying a note on the griffin. "Treble, griffin soldiers, make sure the merchants are safe, and keep them that way!" He hollered to Ner'Zhul, who rushed to each wagon, gathering them up to put them in one wagon. Treble pulled the note out from the soldiers belt and opened it. " Captain Lionheart, our inside agent, Mist, has informed that two Echo's will be masquerading as caravan guards, kill the guards and the merchants, leave no trace that you, or any of your men, were there. failure to comply this mission but return will result in dishonorable discharge! -General Wind Runner" "Mist is working for the enemy? Not good!" Treble spoke, anger of Mist's betrayal evident in his voice. "Ner'Zhul, we're taking shifts, they know about our ploy! So get some sleep, I need to take out some anger!" Morning came quickly for the Ner'Zhul, he had never noticed the beauty of a sun being raised from the horizon. Griffin bodies scattered about from Treble's outburst of anger, his cruelness made even Ner'Zhul shiver. Was this what Pinkie meant when she said he gave up his sanity once? "Let's go Ner'Zhul, we still have a days travel!" Treble ordered. Walking in silence, not even Cold Cash had anything to say, Trebles anger was still evident, and clearly showing in the way he was walking. He seemed a lot more tense, ready to snap at the first pony who spoke. Ner'Zhul, knowing something HAD to be said spoke up. "Treble, how you acted was cruel, even by my standards, you had no right to torture them!" Ner'Zhul scolded Treble who didn't seem to reply. "Are you ignoring me?" Ner'Zhul grabbed Treble's tail and pulled him back. Treble's eyes moved to look at the one who pulled him down, without moving his head. "Let go of my tail, now!" Treble gave a warning to Ner'Zhul. Ner'Zhul only continued to stare at the faded purple colt. "I said, let-" Treble was cut off by Ner'Zhul's hoof sending him sliding across the sand. The entire group of merchants stopped, gasping at what just happened. "You're out of place doing what you did, killing is one thing, but torturing is another thing!" Ner'Zhul growled "Says the butcher king who raises the dead!" Treble spat at Ner'Zhul. Walking up to Treble, Ner'Zhul loomed over him with mighty power. "At least I didn't make them suffer like a TYRANT!" Ner'Zhul spoke, blowing Treble down from anger, to a lethargic regret. "Now get up, we're almost at the border!" Ner'Zhul turned around, wishing he didn't need to to that, but he couldn't stand seeing that much anger, even he was never that angry or cruel. Treble slowly got up, and followed the continuing caravan from the back with his head down. Two griffins swoop down to question the caravans purpose. Cold walked up as to tell them their reason for passing. "Halt, What purpose does your caravan have in the griffin kingdom?" asked one of the border guards. "We are here with your weapon shipment, we aren't early are we?" Cold replied. The griffin pulled out a list and looked it over carefully. "Yes, you are early, no matter, go through!" The griffins flew back up to their cloud stations as the caravan continued into the griffin kingdom.
Prologue Prologue "Do not think of me as a weak human, I left those frail bonds LONG ago! Even if you could muster up enough power to send me away, I WILL find a way back!" warned Arthas. Raising his sword, Frostmourne, he let the blade plummet back down, ending the life of his challenger. Now no longer distracted, Arthas began to fell the powerful energies the Elves use to end the Burning Legion. "So, they are using that ancient tree as the source? No matter, magick this powerful will take tim-" Arthas was cut short by a light starting to envelop him. "WHAT? How did they aquire THIS much power in so little time?" He shouted while beginning to swing Frostmourne at the light. "I AM ARTHAS, THE LICH KING! I AM NER'ZHUL! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED THIS EASILY!....... " before the fallen prince could continue everything went black, was this death, was this it? the end of the Scourge? "NO, I refuse to die, I am Ner'Zhul, The Lich KING! Granted immortality by the Burning Legion, and lived beyond there death! I........will.............not.................................DI-" Once more, he was cut off, but this time, something was different, he felt pulses, and a solid form, was he within a mortal body once more? Slowly attempting to adjust to his new body he attempted to move one of his limbs, with a little luck, he was able to feel an arm move, or was it a leg? This new body he had felt nothing like a human, was he a Centaur? or an animal? Searching for where his new head was, if he had one, he wished to open his eyes to get a look at what he was. Eventually finding where everything was and how to move them, he began to open his eyes, everything was bright and colorful, allmost to so. Moving his body around to get a feel for it, he somehow found himself standing, but not able to walk to well. "Damn those Elves, to think they had this much power......, no matter, I will return, and then I shall punish them for their arrogence!" Two hours pass and Ner'Zhul was finally able to walk, sort of, figured out how stumble, but it closely resembled walking, just, sloppy walking. "Over here girls, the Princess said this is where the strong energies are coming from!" ordered a female voice "Twilight, wait up sugar cube, you shouldn't go at this alone...." warned another female voice, most likely to the first voice he heard. "Great, humans, just what I needed! Easy pray to start the Scourge once more, then I shall rule not one, but two planes of existence!" thought Ner'Zhul as he began to grin behind his helmet. "Whoa, hey, are you ok?" asked the first female voice, who he presumed as 'Twilight'. "Yes, although, I have been in bet-......." Upon turning around he saw a purple horse with a mane of two more shades of purple and a.....horn?. Ner'Zhul was speechless, did this equine just talk? Was it one of dryads the Elves had, he never actually saw one before, simply hearing about them was enough. "Did you just talk?" Ner'Zhul asked the equine, hoping he was just hearing voices. "Are you a dryad?" the purple equine just stood there for a moment while five more, each with unique color patterns of there own. Now he begins to question his own sanity. "So this is what living for eternity can do to a mind,....heh." "What's a....dryad?" asked Twilight. "I'm a pony, and why shouldn't I be talking?" Taking a minute, Ner'Zhul had to think of a response, right in front of him, a pony just talk. "To start, you are an animal, animals do not talk." Ner'Zhul stated, then proceeded to push Twilight out of the way in the most brutal fashion he could at the time, he tosses her aside like a rag doll. "Hmph, stronger then I thought, looks like this body isn't useless..." Ner'Zhul then began to walk away, but was tackled by a cyan pony with wings. Now pinned to a tree with a puddle nearby he remained calm as ever, Ner'Zhul looked into the puddle. The first thing he noticed was that his helmet was off, then began to look for it. Upon finding it, he put his attention back to the puddle, He noticed he to was a pony, this he could deal with, bodies were nothing more the husks for him to use. Ner'Zhul had light a gray coat with a rusty blueish black mane and tail, both flat and lifeless, his eyes were an icy blue and emited a blue aura, which reminded the other ponies of a certain king that Ner'Zhul would very much live to meet. "Sombra! What are you doing here?" asked the cyan pony. "Firstly, I am not this 'Sombra' you think I am, and before I tell you my name, wouldn't it be polite to tell me yours?" Ner'Zhul spoke in a snidely yet calm tone. Beyond where he was pinned, Ner'Zhul noticed the buttery yellow pony with wings, and the pure white pony with a horn helping Twilight up. "Tell him our names Rainbow, he clearly won't cooperate unless we do" Twilight spoke while wiping blood off her mouth. "But Twi, he just batted yo-" "And can easily escape you if he wanted to Rainbow, he has proven he's more then capable of..... evading detainment..." Twilight cut Rainbow off. Rainbow growls under her breath. "Fine!" She angrily agrees as she lets Ner'Zhul go. Ner'Zhul pats the dust off of his regal armour, which adorns many skull shaped patterns, which put the girls in a state of unease. "My name is Rainbow Dash, the orange pony behind me with the blond mane is AppleJack, The yellow pegasus with the pink mane is Fluttershy, and the white unicorn with the purple mane is Rarity and the one you batte-" "I am Twilight Sparkle, and I'm willing to forgive you, if you answer some questions... " Twilight cut Rainbow off once more, but this time with an irritated tone. Author's Note I am looking for proof readers and cover artists, as my spell check ceases to work, and I have gotten.......rusty...with my skill as an artist, any help you readers can provide will be much obliged!
Of fallen kings (minor edit)Later the same night, the five mares and Ner'Zhul were at the library, sitting around the old wooden table that rests in the middle of the room. "So, who exactly are you?" Twilight asked with careful caution in her voice. "You say you aren't Sombra, yet your eyes seem to emit pure magic..." "Yeah, only one pony does that, Sombra!" Rainbow yelled while smashing a hoof on the table, causing it to groan. Ner'Zhul let out a sigh, he figured he won't prophet from killing them..... yet. "I am Ner'Zhul, the Lich King! Creator of the Scourge and ruler of the Frozen Throne..." Ner'Zhul replied to both of the mares. "As for my eyes, any living creature that is consumed by any form of dark powers....well, there's your explanation! So giving the fact that you have not yet tried to detain me yet again, I'm guessing you did not understand half of what I said?...." The mares were stunned, they knew what a Lich was, or was supposed to be, but here they are, looking at a lich KING, they didn't know what to do. "So, you raise the dead, then rule them? You don't slaughter, right?" Twilight asked sheepishly "No, I don't kill..." he replied. To this Twilight let out grateful sigh. "I get others to slaughter in mass amounts for me, using my plauge!" Ner'Zhull finished while using his new understanding of his equine body to put a hoof on the table, where it rested near his helmet. Twilight, grabbed a quill and parchment ready to write to Celestia and quickly send it should needed. "I will make you a deal though..." Ner'Zhul spoke to Twilight hoping to put her at some ease, he wouldn't want to die now, of all times! "Three things, very simple, the first, help me find a way back to where I came! Second, tell me more about this Sombra, as for the third one, take me to him after you tell me about him..." Twilight looked at Ner'Zhul, hoping he was simply kidding, but he wasn't, every inch of him spoke honesty, a chill ran down her spine. "The first and second part of the deal I can do, the third part I have to refuse!" Twilight replied. Ner'Zhul calmly grabbed his helmet, then proceeded to put it on. "Then there is nothing stopping me from killing you!" He said coldly. A blueish white sword began to appear out of thing air as he grabbed the handle. "Frostmourne is hungry anyway, but don't fret, you'll be walking soon again...." Meanwhile in Canterlot Celestia worries about what happens with these dark new energies. "Sister, this energy is darker then Sombra's, who ever is eminating this energy might even be able to take on Discord" spoke a voice, breaking Celestia's thoughts. "Yes, you may be right my dear Luna..." Celestia Replied. Out of the blue, a scroll appeared in a puff of green blue flame and smoke. "Ah, this must be the scouts report on the situation..." Celestia pauses, questioning if reading this report will be what she expected, or worse. After a moments pause Celestia used her magic to unfurl the scroll then began reading the report. 'At exactly 1400 hours the Elements of Harmony sent to seek the source of the dark energy. Upon closing in on this energy, they found a larger then usual stallion wearing dark, full body armour adorned with skull patterns. After witnessing him batting the Elelment of Magic aside like a fly, I close my report on this stallion with him being extremely hostile, and must be detained or killed as soon as possible!' "Short and sweet, sounds like Treble was the one who wrote this? would you not agree, Tia?" Luna asked her older sister. "Indeed, I think it is also Treble we should let to handle this..... But I would like to meet this stallion myself." Celestia turns her head to the window, which lays to her right. "I pray for my little ponies, hope that they do not find harm......or death..." Back at the library, Twilight was able to prevented a slaughter by agreeing to all of Ner'Zhul's terms terms, but will also have to pass with Celestia's inspection as well. Rarity took Fluttershy back to her cabin to calm her down, while Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack suffered from minor cuts barely holding him back. "So, what's with this sword.....Frostmourne, was it's name?" Twilight asked not wanting to touch it should it do something to her. "Yes" Ner'Zhul replied, AJ and Rainbow close by should they need to restrain him again. "It takes the souls of those I slay, so I can raise their corpses whenever I need or want to. Don't worry, touching it will no longer take souls, I think, I've never tested my sword out of the realm of humans, so I'm not sure if it has changed at all." Ner'Zhul walked toward his ice cold blade, grabbing it once it was within his grasp. "I would like to start seeing if it changed at all though!" Once that sentence hit the three mares they all tensed up, ready to attack. "But, I am true to my word, I will.... attempt, to hold off killing you and the rest of your people. As for living without my armour, only if I am allowed to carry Frostmourne with me!" He put his sword back down, and walked toward one of the many book shelves. Ner'Zhul figured if he was going to stay here he might as well learn a few things about this dimension, how their magic works and the various races, both sentient and feral. Twilight walked over to the other two girls and pulled their heads down. "Girls, what are we going to do, we can't really trust his word, even if he does mean what he says, right?" Twilight asked in a whisper. "I reckon we give him just one shot, but under tight watch!" Apple Jack replied. "Yeah, you think the princess could send in some guards?" Rainbow added. "I'm sure she's way ahead of that Rainbow." Twilight assured her friend. Using his own magick Ner'Zhul levitated a few select books that he believes will help him the most in gathering the basic knowledge he seeks. After a few hours the sun began to set, it was only Twilight and Ner'Zhul still withen the confines of the wodden walls. Twilight kept a nervous eye on Ner'Zhul, while her guest seemed to be ignoring her all together. The first to break the silence was the purple mare! "...Um, it's getting late, you're more then welc-" "I do not need your charity, I am a KING! Besides, this, 'Everfree Forest' intrigues me, I'm staying there in the abandoned castle." Ner'Zhul cut Twilight off. Twilight didn't say a word, the confusion he displayed was to say the least, evident. She just couldn't figure out why, or what was causing his confusion, or anger for that matter. The slamming of her door broke her train of thought, but quickly went back on track. Ner'Zhul began his walk toward the looming forest. Passing house after house, chilling the air around him, he stopped near a bakery. "....Sugar Cube.........Corner?" Ner'Zhul spoke out. In his mortal days as an Orc, he did enjoy sweets to a great extent, but once he was forced into that cursed throne of ice, he couldn't enjoy anything anymore. "Bah, I don't need these weak feelings!" he shouted to himself, waking a pink pony from sleep. Ner'Zhul began to walk away shortly before the pony he woke opened her window. Only seeing his outline and hearling the clanking of his armour, the pink mare knew there was a new pony, which meant a party! Now closing in on the forest he was set on calling home, an outline of another pony came into view. Drawing his blade he saw the perfect oppertunity to start the scourge once more. "I'd put that away, you might hurst yourself." Teased the pony. "Wether I hurt myself or not is irrelivent, I will simply find a new body!" Replied Ner'Zhul. This new pony began to come into view, he had a very faded purple coat with a scruffy slicked-back deep purple mane that carried a dark blue stripe on the top, his eyes were an airy green, wings resting on his sides, and help no content to fight. "Who are are? I would like to know the name of the one who will serve me!" Ner'Zhul demanded. "You first..." Replied the faded purple pony. "Very well, I am Ner'Zhul, the Li-" Before he could finish Ner'Zhul went flying ten feet from where he stood, the pony standing on his rear hooves, his top right hoof not even an inch from where his face was. "You mangy CUR" Ner'Zhul replied to the attack, quickly retaliating by charging towards him with Frostmourne. The pony he was about to kill simply dissapeared, right in front of him. "My name is Treble, my foes call me Trouble, I'm a deaf pegesus who manipulates sound waves, as well as use them to hear, every noise you make, every movement you do, makes a ripple in the waves of sound, even right now, I'm using sound magick to move at a speed you cannot see! That first hit was payback for my friend, Twilight, and you only get one warning, should you harm another pony, your head WILL be mine" Threatened Treble. Ner'Zhul for the first time, showed fear, but quickly masked it, how can one being hold more power then him, any sound, and type of movement, is his way of fighting, and he clearly knew what he was doing. "Again, with these weak mortal feelings?!" Ner'Zhul shouted his fear away. Treble no longer seemed to be around, so Ner'Zhul made his way to his new castle, cutting down Manticores and Cocitaces alike in pure rage, collecting their souls to raise later. A knock echoed through the library. "Coming!" Spoke Twilight. A minute passed and the door opened, revealing a familiar grinning pegasus to the purple mare. "........Treble?" She asked in a sad, yet exited voice. "Treble, is that really you?" The purple mare lunged at her old friend. "Don't you ever scare us like that again, it took Pinkie MONTHS to cope with loosing you" she began to cry and berate the colt. Treble simply put his hooves around Twilight, content on letting her let it all out. "Gather the girls up tomorrow, I'd like to apologize to each and every one of them" Treble looked up to the moon. "especially Pinks!" Author's Note Yes this chapter was short, I simply used this one to get important players in this story out of the way, as for Treble, he might get his own story in time....
Understanding and BelongingNer'Zhul awoke to three undead Manticores patrolling his newly acquired castle. "These creatures are quite reliable, but I'll need ponies if I'm to reconstruct this run down dump!" Grunted to angered lich king. "And that pony.... Treble, just WHO does he think he is, I will make him suffer for tossing me aside like that!" Getting up from his rest, Ner'Zhul trudged over to a small puddle he would use as a mirror. His now smooth and well kept mane was now matted and clumpy, as well as his tail, truthfully, he liked this look much better, it seemed to scream undeath to him. Other then his mane, he noticed a large cut across his right side of the face, where Treble had seemed to blast him. Could he use sound as blades? Ner'Zhul thought. No, that's impossible, sound is fluent, it can't take a solid form! Ner'Zhul pounded a hoof in the puddle, scattering the water all around him. "Just who is this Treble? And why is he so focused on me?" He growled. Ner'Zhul turned from his now scattered mirror, and vanished into the darkness of the castle. Ner'Zhul came back out without his armour on, which meant his cutie mark was revealed, a clear blue ice shard with a green flame within it, not that he noticed, or cared. Ner'Zhul's stomach began to growl at him for some food, one thing he forgot mortals need. with a heavy sigh he though going to that sweet shop wouldn't be a bad place to go, he would like to know the taste of sugar once more after all. Putting Frostmourne in his make shift sheath, Ner'Zhul began to head out, back into Ponyvill. Twilight woke up to the smell of eggs and waffles. Is Spike making breakfast already? she thought. With a long stretch Twilight rolled out of bed only to find herself falling. She quickly caught herself before she did a face-plant on the floor, then yawned before letting go, now ready to land. Now on all four hooves, she looked around and saw Spike still sleeping. "But, if Spike is still sleeping..." Twilight whispered, her eyes wide. Did some one break in? She thought. But, why would they be cooking, are they simply hungry? Twilight quickly made her way out of her room then proceeded to creep quietly down the stairs, so she wont be heard. Now done with the stairs she then started creeping closer to the kitchen, only to quickly see it was Treble who was cooking breakfast, using his unique magic to launch what he needs to him, or away. Twilight let out a relieving breath of air after holding her breath. "Treble, I forgot you stayed the night" She chuckled, only to get no response out of her friend. "Treble?" "Might as well Wake Twi up, tell her breakfast is about to be set" Treble said while turning around, eyes closes. he took two steps forward and began to open his eyes. ".....Twilight? you're up early. Did the smell wake you" he asked shocked to she her up this early willingly. "I called your name while you were cooking..." She replied. "Yeah, sorry about that, It's hard to constantly use my magic just to hear, would be a lot easier if I was a unicorn!" Treble replied. Twilight noticed Treble's cutie mark has changed, instead of just a musical note called a 'treble' it was now surrounded by what seemed like waves. "Treble, your cutie mark, it chan-" "Changed? Yes, it did, and I'd rather not say how if you don't mind Twi..." Treble cut Twilight off Sugar Cube Corner just opened up as Ner'Zhul made his way in to the quaint town. Still early in the morning, there was little trafic on the streets, save for the mailers, store suppliers, and a few ponies just enjoying the morning. While walking through the town Ner'Zhul hoped that no'pony' would interrupt him. "Heh." He chuckled. "It's cute how body has been with replaced with pony, to bad I'll have to kill this world, hopefully they wont put up a big fight, since I haven't even seen one guard!" Sugar Cube Corner came into Ner'Zhul's field of view. Already smelling the sweets being baked, he wondered if this race discovered chocolate, or even pie, hell, maybe they even have chocolate pie! Thinking about food seemed only to make him even more hungry, if he kept this up his hunger would become ravenous. Opening the door, he heard a high pitched voice from the kitchen. "One minute please!" the voice sang out. "Great, a creature with loads of energy, I hope it'll leave me be at least..." After a perfect minute a pink mare with an even pinker and bouncy mane and tail, her energy made her bouncy mane look dead in comparison came walking out of the kitchen. The mare looked over to greet her customer, only freeze momentarily, then gasp loudly before rushing up to Ner'Zhul. "Hi I'm Pinkie Pie, are you new here, are you going to stay for a little bit, a while, or a long time? although a long time is different from pony to pony, what do you see as a long time, ooh I know, I'm gonna throw a PARTY!" Pinkie said drawing some more air back into to her lungs to continue. Not understanding a word of what she just said Ner'Zhul began to draw Frostmourne, had every intention of killing her now, but before he could draw more then an inch of blade, Treble's warning came into his head. 'Should you harm another pony, your head WILL be mine' Ner'Zhul swiped back his fear of Treble once more. With great restraint, he put his sword fully back into the sheath, and then put a hoof over the hyper active pony, he forced Pinkie to the floor, but not using enough power to purposely hurt her. "NO party, just give me some chocolate, and an apple pie, and leave me alone!" He demanded while removing his hoof from Pinkie, putting it back on the floor. "Okay, I'm sorry.." Pinkie apologized, her mane becoming a bit more dull and lifeless, loosing some of it's bounce in the process. Ner'Zhul wondered if Treble would see this as harming another pony, then he didn't care. Ner'Zhul made his way to the most isolated table there was, the one in the way back. Reaching the table, he loosened the sheaths binding, as his blade fell to the floor, he then picked it up with his mouth seeing no other way, and not wanting to wast his magic on such a tedious task, and placed it up against the wall, next to where he chose to sit down. Ten minutes pass and the pink mare came to Ner'Zhul's table, carrying a platter of chocolates and two pies.Ner'Zhul noticed the second pie he didn't order. "I only ordered ONE pie, what's with the second?' He asked impatiently. Pinkie only smiled sheepishly. "The second pie is on the house!" She spoke. "Think of it as my way of apologizing to you." Pinkie hoped that this new colt would accept her offering of forgiveness, and to her joy, he did, giving her mane and till a bit more life once more. "Fine, whatever." Ner'Zhul grunted. Pinkie put the platter on the table then looked back at Ner'Zhul. "My name is Pinkie Pie by the way, if you need anything, let me know, kay?" She spoke, only to receive silence. Making her way back to the kitchen, Pinkie hopped the colt would thank her before leaving, though she had little expect of that happening. While enjoying his delicious sweets, Ner'Zhul heard the door open, and saw the five mares he nearly killed the day before, as well as Treble, who quickly saw him in return. Ner'Zhul gave Treble a murderous glare with his teeth clenched and teeth showing, revealing four very sharp teeth among his more normal teeth. Treble, seeing this as a welcome, trotted his way over to Ner'Zhul to chat with him. "Pinkie!" Twilight shouted for her pink friend. "Me and the other girls have a surprise for you!" "A SURPRISE?!" Pinkie shouted back in pure glee and excitement, then rushed out of the kitchen, covered in all sorts of pre baked batter. "You know Ner'Zhul, Equestria could use a pony like you, it's either that, or detainment or even death." Treble spoke in a low voice as not to let the others hear, which Ner'Zhul did in kind. "What could a Lick King do in a peaceful land!" He replied to Treble's statement. "It's only peaceful because of the ponies like me and you, who secretly to keep it that way, If you wan't I can take you to see Sombra, during times nopony is allowed to visit, just to give you a view of what happens to those who threaten this peace. On a second not Ner'Zhul, I can't say I've been in the same spot as you-" "That's an under-statement" Ner'Zhul cut Treble off, only to get him clearing his throat in irritation. "Fine, Continue..." Ner'Zhul spoke ready to unwillingly listen. "I may not be in the same spot in you Ner'Zhul, but I've been in the same boat..." Treble finished. "What are you getting at, cur?" Ner'Zhul growled. "What I'm saying is, you clearly had a master, who ordered you to do nothing but kill and slaughter, I can see it in your eyes that those masters are long gone, leaving you alone, confused, and no where you seem to belong. I'm Giving you a choice her Ner'Zhul, this nation could really use your raw power, especially now, when a war threatens to break out." Treble spoke the last part with great sadness and discontent. "And why should I help you and your nation when it will fall to me within time?" Ner'Zhul spat at Treble who simply pulled a folded note out from what seemed to be nowhere, placed it next to Ner'Zhuls platter, then left. Pinkie saw a pony walking towards them. Faded purple coat, blue and purple mane, scruffy and slicked back a bit, it can't be! Pinkie thought, her smile growing wider each second. Treble stopped a few feet away from her, put his head up, and braced himself for either a slap, or tackle. "Miss me?" He asked with a hint of sorrow in his voice. Pinkie tackled him to the ground and began crying her eyes out in relief and happiness, overwhelmed with joy to see the colt who makes her heart flutter standing right before her, after she attended his funeral Now on the floor and a bit of crying out of the way, Pinkie picked herself up a bit and looked at Treble. The next thing the colt knew there was a loud smack, then his entire left side of his face hurt like it's never hurt before, then Pinkie continued to sob over him. Treble put both his hooves over Pinkie and pulled her down for a hug and started to tear up himself. With a breaking voice, Treble began to speak. "I'm so sorry I made you go through my own death having you attend my own funeral, and most importantly, making you think you lost me forever! I know there's nothing I can do to apologize for what I did to any of you for that, but every day that passed, was another day I truly did feel dead inside!" After seeing this, something in Ner'Zhul clicked, he felt jealousy, no one would ever miss him if he died, he betrayed his entire race, turned them into monsters bound to his will, doing nothing but spreading chaos among other races, he didn't want to deny he wanted to cry out of joy, feel missed, and joy when seeing an old friend, he didn't want to his his jealousy of Treble, the one pony he thought would never cry, was crying over others he simply missed. Ner'Zhul looked down at Treble's note and thought about reading it, though he hesitated, he did end up picking the note up with his demonic magic, and began to unfold it. " Treble, you have been summoned for a midnight meeting to discuss the outbreak of war in front of the Everfree's entrance, and how we will handle it. Should you not be able to attend this meeting for any valid reason, you will receive the report, then report in your voice on the situation. If you are to share any contents of this note, we will consider you a traitor, hunt you down, and kill you, as well as anyone you were close to should they aid you in laying low. Your captain -Mist" Why would he give me this note if he already knows what will happen. Ner'Zhul thought, he then looked back at the group, now all of which were standing, Pinkie staying as close to Treble as she can, almost cuddling him, chatting and catching Treble up on events he missed. "Just what are you trying to do to me Treble, I am NOT a mortal like you god dammit! So stop trying to make me feel like one!" Ner'Zhul whispered to himself while beginning to tear up. Ner'Zhul's eyes shot wide. A tear? But, Liches can't cry, we don't truly feel emotions to be able to cry.... Ner'Zhul thought while wiping the now frozen tear from the side of his eye. A few hours pass and Ner'Zhul has been done with his food for quite some time, instead he stayed there to think about what to do. "If this land is on the brink of war, where all all the guards, a handful of ponies couldn't hold back an entire army, that's absurd, but Treble is very powerful, are they all this strong?" He spoke to himself. "Should I take up his offer?" Ner'Zhul now starting to question himself and what he stands for, began to wonder if he should go back to the planet he is well known on. Pinkie trotting up to the table occupied by the breaking lich saw that he was done with his food."Excuse me, would you like any more sweets?" She asked him, breaking his thought. "Huh? oh, no, just take the platter and leave" He spoke with a heavy tone. Pinkie took the platter without saying another word and began to make her way to where the dirty trays are kept waiting to be washed. "Actually, what can you tell me about Treble?" Ner'Zhul asked before the pink mare vanished behind the counter. Pinkie turned around and set they trey down on a nearby table, then walked back over to Ner'Zhul, and sat down across from him. "What do you want to know?" She asked "How powerful is he, combat wise..." Ner'Zhul spoke up, while looking down. Ner'Zhul never thought he would be one to start a conversation of this type, but here he was. "You shouldn't underestimate him if that what you're looking for. He'd defend Equestria, even at the cost of his sanity, which it even came to that before.." Pinkie shuddered at the memory of seeing her Treble like that. "And what of you and Treble?" Ner'Zhul continued with his questions. Pinkie's face turned a bright red. "Oh, well um....I wish I could say we're a couple..." She spoke with a flustered voice. "But Treble doesn't want to get close to other ponies like that, lest they make him lose focus in a fight. But he does know how I feel, so he refuses to accept any other mare's sign of affection, only mine." "I see...." Ner'Zhul said. "..and,....thank you for the food..." With that Pinkie's day brightened up, but she help most of it in, knowing that this colt wasn't the bright and bubbly kind. Ner'Zhul then got off of his seat and grabbed Frostmourne, putting the sheath it was in back on him. Walking toward the door, Ner'Zhul thought that being 'nice' wasn't as bad, or hard, as he had thought it would be, though he would still prefer to be rough if given the chance. Stopping at the door, he looked back at Pinkie "My name is Ner'Zhul, by the way, you can expect me here tomorrow as well..." Later that night, a group of seven ponies gathered right in front of the Everfree. "Captain?" Treble spoke up before the group began their discussion. "As you know, Celestia assigned me to keep this new colt in check..." "Continue!" Mist replied. "He is extremely powerful, and may even be able beat me within time, I gave him my note, in hopes he will come, I know of the charges I will face, but he may help us turn the tides, should he begin to falter in battle! So you can press whatever charges you want on me, but do so AFTER the war!" Treble finished. Treble's captain looked over at the entrance of the forest, and saw an additional pony that wasn't meant to be there, she then threw an angry glare at Treble, who only coward and shy away a bit. "We'll talk later Treble!" Mist said coldly. Treble made his way over to the rest of the group, next to Ner'Zhul to be more accurate. "What was that, why did you back down like that?" Ner'Zhul asked Treble in a whispered voice. "Can we leave it at, there's a reason Mist is captain..." Treble replied with a chill invading his spine and a constant shiver. "All right dogs, We are going to be having an unexpected guest during this meeting" Mist spoke to her group lifting a hoof to point in Ner'Zhul's direction. "Now then, as you know, the Griffins and Changelings have made an alliance, and threaten to attack Equestria, The only thing delaying them are us five echo squads, primarily, our squad. Every team has been called back, and all able bodied guards and knights have been stations at the major boarders. The princesses expect my squad to settle this with no bloodshed on either side if we can. Treble, You are taking your new friend-" "I'm not his friend, If anything, I only see him as an equal, nothing more!" Ner'Zhul cut Mist off. Treble wished he had a shell to withdraw into, so he wouldn't have to face Mists's wrath. Mist simply gave a look at Ner'Zhul that would instantly break a dragon, let alone a pony, but it didn't even seem to faze this new pony, which only aggrivated her more. Turning to face this colt, she walked up to him. "This is MY teratory, I don't care who the fuck you are, or think you are, when I give an order, you follow it to the letter! NOW SIT!" She commanded, only, Ner'Zhul didn't sit, this made Mist's eye go wide, as well as the whole groups. "did he just, do what I think he did?" on of the squad members asked. Treble looked at Ner'Zhul, no one was ever able to not be effected by her commanding magic, but Ner'zhul didn't simply ignore her magic, it couldn't even phase him, let alone make him even twitch. Mist glared at Treble, who pulled Ner'Zhul's tail and forced him back before Mist's rage was directed at him. "Don't get me killed, otherwise, I'm taking you with me!" Treble told Ner'Zhul, to which he only smirked. Ner'Zhul enjoyed this, was this what is felt like to have a friend? if it was, he truly wouldn't mind making a few while he's here. "Treble, you and this whelp will go parlay with the griffin king, use force as a secondary method, and only resolve to killing as a last resort." Mist ordered. "Yes ma'am" Treble sighed. "Sliver, and Cannon, you two are with me to parlay with the changeling queen, the rest of you, get to the border outposts to aid the troops! That's it, we all start tomorrow, dismissed!" Mist commanded. After the group departed, to get a good nights sleep, Treble saw Ner'Zhul head into the forest. "Hey, wait up, where are you going?" Treble asked, running up to Ner'Zhul so he wouldn't have to shout. "....home, why?" Ner'Zhul replied. Treble only stared blankly at his new partner before going behind him, grabbing his tail, and dragging him back to Ponyvill. "You're gonna be staying with Twi from now on, no exeptions!" Treble barked at Ner'Zhul. "And where will you stay?" asked Ner'Zhul. Treble was silent for a moment, pondering on where to stay. "I'm sure Pinkie would like me staying the night before I have to leave..." Treble replied, almost with a saddened voice. Ner'Zhul, picking up on that, thought he should have Treble become his first friend, seeing as though he said he could relate to his position. "Even though it's just a night, I'm sure she'd like it to!" Ner'Zhul stated. "Yeah, I kn-" Treble let go of Ner'Zhul's tail and turned around to look at him. Ner'Zhul now getting up looked back at Treble while patting dust off his coat. "What?" He asked. "Did you just try to lift my spirits?" Treble asked somewhat baffled by Ner'Zhul's almost sudden cgange of attitude. Ner'Zhul held back a chuckle seeing Treble confused like that. "I gave your little talk some thought, and came to a conclusion, I'm willing to ATTEMPT to make at least a few friends!" Now, if you excuse me, I have no choice but to sleep inside of a tree tonight!' Ner'Zhul snidely told Treble before making his way to Twilights house alone, leaving Treble there to process what just happened.
Roads and rageNer'Zhul woke up to Twilight trying to push him off the couch she let him sleep on. Groggily he moved his head to look at the mare attempting to move him and gave her a puzzled look. "May I help you?" He spoke gruffly. "No, but Treble is waiting for you downstairs, and I think he wants to leave as soon as possible." Twilight informed the tired colt. Ner'Zhul got up as Twilight began to push once more, making her fall on her face from the lack of force countering her. "You really should practice balance a bit more if you just fall over like that!" Ner'Zhul ordered Twilight while stepping off the couch, ready to grab his sword which he laid at the end of the couch. "Oh, hahaha, really, I let you sleep here and you've been nothing but rude!" Twilight snarled. Picking up Frostmourne's sheath and throwing it on, Ner'Zhul turned around to face Twilight, then stuck a hoof out. Twilight looked up at Ner'Zhul because of the gesture he just made, he wished to help her up. Twilight knocked his hoof away. "Don't try to act nice all the sudden, I remember what you are, the only reason I haven't done anything is because Treble seems to think you can change!" Twilight barked while getting up with Ner'Zhul's aid. Unknowingly to hurt, Ner'Zhul felt hurt at that statement, while it's true his original intentions still exist, he was trying to make an effort in change. Ner'Zhul put his hoof back down and walked out of Twilights room, not wishing to make things harder. As he made his way downstairs Ner'Zhul was greeted by a small green dragon, who had his meal ready for travel, and held it out for him to grab. Ner'Zhul just stood there, not knowing what to do. "Are you going to take your breakfast or not?" Asked the dragon. "I'm really busy and can't stand here all day!" Ner'Zhul simply gave a light nod in thanks then used his magic to levetate it before walking out the open door. "Hay there Ner'Zhul" Treble greeted his new partner while throwing a saddle bag his way. "No time, gotta move before Pinks finds out I'm gone!" He finished, but not before running off to the train station. Ner'Zhul, barely keeping up, finally noticed the weapon on Trebles wings, or what he thought were weapons, as well as a very unique collar. As they ran toward the station, Ner'Zhul could swear he could someone shout Treble's name, in a cross between a very sad, and extremely angered tone. Finally closing in on the station, Ner'Zhul noticed a train adorned to match the night, he also heard something charging for them. Ready to pull his weapon and fight Treble spoke up. "No fight, just run!" He ordered. To this, Ner'Zhul was more then glad to do if this made Treble frightened. Entering the train, it took of at an amazing speed the second both colts were on. Looking back, Ner'Zhul saw Pinkie, slowly fading from view. "Phew" Treble sighed. "If she caught me, she'd never let me leave." Ner'Zhul only gave a glance at Treble before walking over to one of the luxurious seats. Looking around the inside of the train was decorated like the night as well, the ceiling looked as though it WAS night out, while the dominant colors seem to be dark blue and black with moderate lighting. "Any plans on how we get to this king?" Ner'Zhul asked the only other passenger while pulling a blind to the side. "Yes, the princesses are meeting us at the border of Saddle Arabia, along with their representatives. We will be masquerading as caravan guards, we will be paid for the safety of the caravan as well as the success of our main mission." Treble replied. "Two other things, first, whats with that....collar?" Ner'Zhul asked, hoping not to offend Treble. "This?" Treble replied with another question, holding up his pair of headphones. "They're my headphones, Pinkie gave them to me as a gift while she helped me get used to other ponies. As for the second question I know you are going to ask, the things on the back of my wings are bracers, activated by my sound. They.... make make my wings more blade-like to put it simply." he finished "I see, that's a unique way to fight, I take it you can make sound in to a blade you launch?" Ner'Zhul wondered as he remembered his first encounter with Treble. "On a second note, forget that question, when we first met, you seemed intent on killing me, why the change in plans?" To this, Treble gave a light heart chuckle. "Heh, about that..... I actually sent a report that I'm either going to detain or kill you, and forgot to send an update to the princesses...." Treble's attitude became a bit more sullen. "As for my own change, you remind me of myself when I first came to Ponyvill." Ner'Zhul pondered, did Treble only get this strong with help? how much stronger can I become? He began to think about thing he never would have back in Lorderon. Pinkie was crying non stop, her friends trying to cheer her up, her mane completely flat and lifeless. "Why would he leave again after he just came back like that? Does he hate me?" Pinkie asked herself out loud sniffling in between words. "Of course he doesn't darling, he loves you, and you know that!" Rarity scolded Pinkie for thinking like that. "Yeah, it just would have been harder for him to leave you with you begging him not to go Pinkie." Twilight spoke up. Fluttershy came back from the kitchen after cooking some food with Spike for the group, laying the food out on the table with the little dragon. She slowly trotted over to the group, making her way to Pinkie. Patting Pinkie on the back, Fluttershy sat down. "There there, he'll come back safe and sound, just like always, he made a pinkie promise, remember?" Fluttershy encouraged the crying mare. Pinkie looked up to meet Fluttershy eye to eye, revealing a pendent with the musical symbol for a treble laying in a pool of tears. "You really think so?" Pinkie asked with an optimistic smile. "I know so, since when has he let any of us down?" Fluttershy told Pinkie, picking up her pendent to put it around Pinkies neck. "Now let's eat, I'm sure you are all hungry...." Around three hours later, an extremely bored Ner'Zhul began to burst out. "Gah, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE? I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FASTEST TRAIN AROUND HERE!" Treble only sighed as the other pony started an out-rage. "You do know that the station is coming up, right?" Treble asked the impatient lich king. Ner'Zhul stopped his small rampage and turned to blankly look at Treble who looked as bored as he felt. "....er...right. I knew that!" Ner'Zhul lied, refusing to look the part of a fool. With a screeching halt, the train came to a stop. Two princesses and a pony dressed like a nomad await on the outside, awaiting Treble to give him more details on how to carry out this mission. The train doors slide open as a light gray colt came out of the train first. "Damn Treble, acting all level headed! 'It's only boredom, learn to deal with it like I do!' who does he think he is?" Ner'Zhul muttered "Guards, sieze this intruder!" Luna commanded as a few lightly armored station guards came over with their weapons already drawn. Ner'Zhul, quickly thinking, smashed one of his hooves in the guards direction, causing a splintered wall to jot up in front of them. Using this time, he drew his faithful blade out of it's sheath. Feeling the shock wave of Ner'Zhul's slamming, Treble let out an aggravated groan. "Can't even wait five minutes to start a fight, I feel like I got stuck with baby siting duties." Treble picked up their bag of supplies after finishing his final check. Walking out, he trotted before his rulers, setting his bag down and bowing before them. "Forgive your majesties, I failed to give you an updated report. I chose to introduce him to the rest of the Echo's. My failure will not happen again, I promise." Treble informed Celestia and Luna, to which they only replied with chuckles. This confused both Treble and Ner'Zhul. "Guards, stand down, he is with our operative!" Celestia commanded. Treble got up from his bow, and looked up to the two alicorns. "I do not understand..... I revealed your secret militery-" "To somepony who clearly belongs in it" Celestia cut Treble off. "I have seen no other with that amount of power before Treble. Although I do worry..." Celestia turned to Ner'Zhul with her business face. "You are not from this world, are you?" She asked, to which Ner'Zhul only nodded that he wasn't. "I am not, I am Ner'Zhul, Lich Ki-" Ner'Zhul stopped for a minute, what if he left that life out, he could start over here, he knew Treble would vouch for him. After taking the minute to think about his wording, Ner'Zhul continued. ".....I am Ner'Zhul, fallen orc chieftain, forced to become a lich king!" "I see, then tell me, why should I not kill you lich? there is no place for you here!" Celestia replied, her voive becoming as cold as Ner'Zhul's soul while her horn began to glow. "My reason is my own, should you wish to kill me, do so, I know you are only protecting you subjects!" Ner'Zhul spoke in a shout. Grabbing the bindings that hold his sheath he flung it off and away from him, readying for the princess's powerful magic. "I have but one request, you bury me in the frozen arctics of the North!" Celestia stood there, sizing up Ner'Zhul's words to how much he meant them, in a few seconds, her horn stopped its glowing, and her stance became a lot more lax. "You have pure heart, but your past corrupts your soul, within time, it may heal, but until then..." Celestia turns back to take her place next to her sister. "I trust Treble to keep an eye on you." Ner'Zhul glanced at his blade, a look of regret for ever making it now. "Celestia, right?" Ner'Zhul asked the tall white princess. "Yes, that is my name." She assured. "Take that blade, do not envelop it in magic, do not touch it, lest its power consume you... I no longer wish to carry remnants of my past. In your abandoned castle my amour is there, kill my manticores I raised and destroy the armor. Ner'Zhul spoke, fighting to conceal his seething blood lust at what he just said. "But you'll have no weapon!" Treble reminded the gray pony. "If you can make do without one..." Ner'Zhul's blood lust now replaced with a sense needing to be needed. "..so can I" "Right then, now here is what the best course of action you two should take, the caravan is waiting at the other side of the station. Use your ploy to your advantage, meaning should the griffins try to brush you two off warn them no guards, no more war supplies." Luna gave them their orders, which both saluted to. Treble and Ner'Zhul began their walk to where the caravan was was patiently waiting. Upon turning the corner, the caravan came into view, walking up to what they were supposed to guard, the merchants who owned the caravan gave them looks of disappointment. "We only get two, unarmored ponies who don't even have weapons?" Spoke a husky unicorn, whom both presumed was their leader" "Trust me, we don't need weapons, or armor, and just the two of us and hold off an army!" Ner'Zhul stated smugly. "Prove it!" The husky pony dared. Ner'Zhul was more then happy to accept this challenge, pushing himself up to stand on his rear hooves only, he came back down, causing a small shock wave of raw power as well as creating a small crater. "And my friend here can take anything that I can't reach!" Ner'Zhul scoffed at the caravan's leader who left him with his eyes bulging. Once the caravan was completely ready, they all set off for the long trip. Taking off from the town, the husky unicorn came up to Treble. "So, what can you do? I need to know both of you can keep us safe, there are things that stalk the night" "You mean the hyena tribes? We can deal with a few weaklings..." Treble replied, not wishing to chat with this stuck up pony any longer. "Then I'll have to dismiss you!" The caravans leader sneered. Looking at Ner'Zhul, Treble got a nod in acceptance. "Fine, but tell me your name first!" Treble ordered. "Cold Cash, and watch your tone with me boy, I'm a very powerful unicorn!" Cold warned. "Well then mister powerful.." Treble stopped for a moment and flung his left wing outward, causing a huge scar in the land a few seconds later. "It seems you'll be third rate here!" Treble spoke, leaving an angered Cold Cash there cursing Treble's name. Sun now threatening to set, Ner'Zhul began to set up his and Treble's tent, but neither had any attention to use it. Watching Treble playing with the kids that had to come along with their parents. "What a child, how could he disgrace himself by lowering his standards like that!" Ner'Zhul spoke quietly. "I dunno, I think it's kinda cute" A mare said while sitting next to Ner'Zhul. "He'd make a great father for what ever lucky mare has his eye! My name is Clover by the way" "What, how can you tell a mare caught his eye?" Ner'Zhul asked shocked. did she know more then what she appeared to? "The headphones he's wearing have two cutie marks on them, on one side you can see his cutie mark, on the other..." She began waiting for Treble to turn around. "See those three balloons? who ever has that cutie mark is a lucky girl!" she chuckled. "You wouldn't be that bad of a father either ya know, you have a strong heart, and a stronger will." With that, she left Ner'Zhul there, watching Treble wave goodnight to the foals he was playing with. Walking over to his thinking friend, Treble knocked on his head. "Hey, anyone home?" he asked. "Time to start our cover job!" Ner'Zhul knocked Treble's hoof away. "Yeah, yeah, I know, sun goes down, we wait for whatever." Ner'Zhul shot Treble down. "...What's with the attitude again?" Treble asked worried about his friend. "It's..... I'm sorry, I'm not one for this kind of heat, I need the chill of the North! and.... never mind, I may just be thinking things..." Ner'Zhul spoke, hoping to put Treble at ease. Treble inhaled before beginning to speak again. "I know you don't need me to look after you but,....... You'll get your cool air soon, night in the desserts are cold, and tell me what else is bothering, anything that may threaten peace is something Echo's need to know about, even if it's just a hunch or feeling!" Ordered Treble. Ner'Zhul looked up hoping he wouldn't have to mention them, hoping they could stay dead, guess this was just hopeful wishing. "The Burning Legion....." Ner'Zhul told Treble. "The what?" Treble asked. "The Burning Legion, demons from many worlds gathered for a similar purpose, burning worlds should the races of it be to weak to be used by them, or defy them. They are the ones who did this to me!" Ner'Zhul shed a tear. "They made me forget what it meant to be mortal, and made me hate it to boot, I thought they were dead, but it's like I can feel them, I fear this world will be next...." Treble could only stare at Ner'Zhul in empathy and sorrow, unable to find words. "But I will die before I see this world burn!" Ner'Zhul finish, slamming a hoof down for emphasis. While taking in the moment, a noise snapped them both back into readiness, only for a sound in the opposite direction to come up. Both colts tensing up, they stood up. "Ner'Zhul, take the left side of the caravans, only stray from your path in a short distance then hurry back!" Treble ordered while they began to move. "Stay as quite as possible!" "Easier for you light hooves!" Ner'Zhul cracked a joke. Both of the colts on high guard scanned left and right every second they could. Moving slowly, Treble caught a glance of the noise maker. "Not so fast!" he whispered to himself. Treble flashed over to the shadowy figure, punching it in the process, sending a wave of sound through its body, rupturing it's organs with sicking pops. Now limply on the ground, Treble got a better look at it. "A griffin soldier?" Treble asked spying a note on the griffin. "Treble, griffin soldiers, make sure the merchants are safe, and keep them that way!" He hollered to Ner'Zhul, who rushed to each wagon, gathering them up to put them in one wagon. Treble pulled the note out from the soldiers belt and opened it. " Captain Lionheart, our inside agent, Mist, has informed that two Echo's will be masquerading as caravan guards, kill the guards and the merchants, leave no trace that you, or any of your men, were there. failure to comply this mission but return will result in dishonorable discharge! -General Wind Runner" "Mist is working for the enemy? Not good!" Treble spoke, anger of Mist's betrayal evident in his voice. "Ner'Zhul, we're taking shifts, they know about our ploy! So get some sleep, I need to take out some anger!" Morning came quickly for the Ner'Zhul, he had never noticed the beauty of a sun being raised from the horizon. Griffin bodies scattered about from Treble's outburst of anger, his cruelness made even Ner'Zhul shiver. Was this what Pinkie meant when she said he gave up his sanity once? "Let's go Ner'Zhul, we still have a days travel!" Treble ordered. Walking in silence, not even Cold Cash had anything to say, Trebles anger was still evident, and clearly showing in the way he was walking. He seemed a lot more tense, ready to snap at the first pony who spoke. Ner'Zhul, knowing something HAD to be said spoke up. "Treble, how you acted was cruel, even by my standards, you had no right to torture them!" Ner'Zhul scolded Treble who didn't seem to reply. "Are you ignoring me?" Ner'Zhul grabbed Treble's tail and pulled him back. Treble's eyes moved to look at the one who pulled him down, without moving his head. "Let go of my tail, now!" Treble gave a warning to Ner'Zhul. Ner'Zhul only continued to stare at the faded purple colt. "I said, let-" Treble was cut off by Ner'Zhul's hoof sending him sliding across the sand. The entire group of merchants stopped, gasping at what just happened. "You're out of place doing what you did, killing is one thing, but torturing is another thing!" Ner'Zhul growled "Says the butcher king who raises the dead!" Treble spat at Ner'Zhul. Walking up to Treble, Ner'Zhul loomed over him with mighty power. "At least I didn't make them suffer like a TYRANT!" Ner'Zhul spoke, blowing Treble down from anger, to a lethargic regret. "Now get up, we're almost at the border!" Ner'Zhul turned around, wishing he didn't need to to that, but he couldn't stand seeing that much anger, even he was never that angry or cruel. Treble slowly got up, and followed the continuing caravan from the back with his head down. Two griffins swoop down to question the caravans purpose. Cold walked up as to tell them their reason for passing. "Halt, What purpose does your caravan have in the griffin kingdom?" asked one of the border guards. "We are here with your weapon shipment, we aren't early are we?" Cold replied. The griffin pulled out a list and looked it over carefully. "Yes, you are early, no matter, go through!" The griffins flew back up to their cloud stations as the caravan continued into the griffin kingdom.
