Glory to The Necropolis!

"What's wrong, Twilight? You look like you barely got any sleep last night." Spike said as he brought Twilight her breakfast to the table: some homemade pancakes with maple syrup on top. "Did that book give you nightmares?"

Twilight magically lifted her folk, and began eating her breakfast. "No I don't think so..." she replied, speaking between bites. "I'm not sure what it was about… I had a dream. There was this palace, and I…I..." Her fork dropped to the floor as she turned to look at Spike, tears welling up in her eyes.

Twilight quickly reached out, and pulled him into an embrace and began to weep into his small shoulder. "I didn’t save you! Any of you!" she cried out as she wept on his shoulder. "You, Rarity, Pinkie Pie I lost all of you! You all turned to dust before I could save you..." she finished weakly, and began to hold him tight. "Please don't go... I don't want to lose any of you..."

Spike was surprised at first, but quickly recovered, and returned the hug in kind. “Don't worry Twilight. We're not going anywhere."

After a minute of silent sobbing, the both of them still held each other close, neither one wanting to let go of the other. Three minutes later, and the both of them still held the other close, until Spike had an idea.

Spike pulled himself away a little bit, and looked at his friend. "Hey Twilight, how bout we tell the others what happened yesterday, so they can help too." Twilight answered him with a silent nod. Both he and Twilight released their grip on each other, and Spike slowly stepped back a bit to get a better look at his friend.

Twilight was an utter mess, her purple mane and lavender coat were in shambles, and her eyes were puffy and red from all of the crying she had done. "You look like a mess, Twilight. How bout you go finish your breakfast. Then clean yourself up while I go get the girls, that okay?" Twilight answered with a small tired smile and a nod.

"Alight." Spike bent down to grab the fork Twilight had dropped. Proceeded over to the sink, and put it in the basin. He then pulled open one of the drawers, and pulled out a clean fork for her to use. When Twilight's magic enveloped the fork he released his grip on it, and was about to walk out when...

"Thanks for your help, Spike," Twilight said to him in a tired voice. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

As he walked out the door, he glanced back at his friend. "Always happy to help."

* * *

An hour later, Twilight and all her friends were gathered round in the middle of the library, as she recounted to them what had happened yesterday.

Twilight was looking like her old self again, as she told her friends about what had happened. As she spoke, Spike acted as a visual aid to help her friends visualize how the face looked. He was apparently doing a good job considering Fluttershy looked like she was trying to sink into the floor, but then again she always did scare easily.

When Twilight and Spike were finished, all of her friends, except Rainbow Dash, had looks of worry and concern. Rainbow on the other hand, had a fire in her eyes at what the book had done to her friend.

"Twilight darling, it sounds like you've a most dreadful ordeal," Rarity said, her voice full of worry.

"Alright, where's that book? I'll tear it to pieces!" Rainbow Dash growled out as she quickly looked about the room for the book in question.

"I sent it to Canterlot," Twilight answered. "hopefully the Princesses are looking into it right now."

"Are ya sure you're alright Twi?" Applejack asked, worried for her health. "Yer sure that tentacle thing didn't hurt you right?"

"As far as I can tell I'm alright..." Twilight answered as she looked herself over, everything looked to be in place.

"OOH! I know what could cheer you up Twilly! We could have your birthday party early!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she bounced about the room with her classic big smile, back to her usual energetic self again.

"Thanks, Pinkie," Twilight said with a small laugh, Pinkie's happiness was known for being infectious. "But the book already threw my schedule out of order. I don’t want to have to reschedule for the party too.”

"Aaaaaaawww," Pinkie let out with a pout, she had already drawn up plans in her head for the party.

Spike crossed his arms, and had an amused smirk on his face. That's my Twilight. he thought with an amused little roll of his eyes.

"OH, I know! I can at least bake you a cake!" Pinkie quickly rebounded, her smile back at full force.

"Sure thing Pinkie," Twilight said with a nod, having now caught Pinkie's smile.

As Twilight finished talking, Rarity decided to take a glance at the nearby clock, and realized that she was now running low on time. "Twilight, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I need to get back to the boutique. I have some orders to complete you see." she said with an apologetic look.

"I understand," Twilight said with a nod.

"I'm fraid I have to get back to work too sugarcube," Applejack said with a sorry look. "Spike caught me when I was about to go harvest part of the north field."

"And I need to get back to feeding the chickens if that's okay with you, but I can stay here if you like," Fluttershy said in her usual quiet voice.

"It's alright," Twilight said again with a nod, though she hid a frown that her friends had to go.

Rainbow Dash rubbed her forelegs together as she looked at the front door. "And I think I'm gonna get going too Twilight." Rainbow Dash said while looking to the side, rubbing the back of her head with her foreleg, and proceeded to get up to leave.

"And I got a cake to bake! I'll see you later Twilly!" Pinkie said, as she hopped past Rainbow Dash out of the library.

Rainbow Dash was about to leave when she stopped and looked over her shoulder. "If you need our help, Twilight, you know where to find us."

As Rainbow Dash closed the door behind her, Twilight slumped a bit as she thought of the dream. Just don't get lost...

* * *

The next day, Twilight was pacing back and forth in the library with a scowl upon her face. Twilight growled as she thought of the report. A cookbook... A COOKBOOK! Of all things, it can turn into a cookbook!

Just a few minutes ago, the arcane science lab in Canterlot had sent her a report regarding the Black Book. Apparently the Black Book had the ability to modify its appearance. The report had also come with pictures, and showed that the book had indeed made itself look like a cookbook, with recipes, cooking tips, and everything. It even gave itself a title, 'Cooking for Dummies'.

According to the letter, the book looked and acted like any other old novel. The Canterlot scientist had run test on the pages and printing, and both turned back as just regular paper and ink. They even tested the black leather the book was bound in, and found that too was just plain old leather. For all intensive purposes, to the scientists, it was a regular old book sent by some crazy mare in Ponyville.

But Twilight and her friends knew better, both her and Spike had seen the book and how it acted, and her friends now knew too. It was just too real to have been their imagination.

At the moment the Canterlot Science Academy was running some final tests on the book to make sure. If nothing came up still, then they would be sending the book back to Ponyville soon enough.

BURP!

There was her answer. With a loud grunt, Twilight turned her furious gaze onto the book shaped package on the ground. Her angry glare focused on the package, hoping that maybe if she looked at it long enough that the package would catch fire, and turn the book to ashes for all the trouble it caused her and Spike.

Instead she was just glaring at the package. Twilight turned around, and made her way for the door. "I'm going to go get Rainbow Dash."

Spike quickly got in front of Twilight to block her way. "Now hold on there ,Twilight. Lets calm down and investigate this ourselves." He then spread his arms out wide, and gained stern look on his face. He clearly wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer.

Twilight, to her credit, tried several times to get around the little purple dragon. She even tried to teleport, but Spike's response to that was a swift flick to her horn, breaking her concentration on the spell. With a defeated sigh, Twilight relented. "Fine..."

Spike gave her a firm nod. The both of them turned and walked over to the package on the ground. "Now lets see here..." Spike said as he ripped open the package to reveal the familiar black book. Sure enough there was a title on the cover, this time saying 'How to Annoy a Mare and her pet Salamander.' Spike did his best to suppress the growing scowl on his face as he opened the book.

Step 1: Be sent to Canterlot to be examined by scientists.

Step 2: Come back as nothing but an old cook book.

Step 3: ???

Step 4: laugh!

At reading that last part the library was filled with a quick burst of laughter that faded away in a few seconds. Spike turned the page and the face was back again, this time wearing a smug smile as its eyes gazed back at the at the pair.

Did you really think it would be that easy? I've learned how to hide myself over the years.

Both Twilight and Spike wore flat expressions at the book, they weren't going to let it have any fun at their expense. Then an idea crossed Twilight's mind. As she whispered her idea into Spikes ear he gained a mischievous smile. The book turned a page by itself, and the face this time had a curious look to it.

What are you two planning?

When Twilight was finished sharing her idea she looked at Spike and asked with her own mischievous smile. "Hey Spike, do you think its pages are waterproof?" When they both looked back to the book the face had its eyes wide open with a deep frown.

uh oh...

* * *

I demand you stop this! THIS! INSTANT!

"Not until you give us some proper answers 'bub'," Twilight said as she gave the book a hard scowl. They had the book soaking in the kitchen sink with the faucet pouring more and more water onto the pages. The ink was running on the pages, but, surprisingly, the words were still legible. Twilight turned the page with her magic to reveal the answer.

NO!

"Spike more water if you please," Twilight asked.

Spike gave her a salute. "Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" He then preceded to turn the sink’s handle, and gave the book a bath of cold water. The both of them let the water run for a minute, and then Twilight turned the page with her magic.

Alright! Alright! Fine I'll talk! Just stop with the water works, geez!

"Good" Twilight said as she shut off the faucet. She then lifted the book out of the sinks basin, and floated it over to the table.

"We want straight answers 'pal' no more riddles. To start with who are you?" Twilight ordered as she turned the page. If the book wasn't going to answer, then it was back to the sink.

Who I am 'dear' is a soul, bound to this book by my own doing.

My real body was destroyed over FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO! Do you want to know what it's like to be nothing but a blank book? IT'S DAMN BORING THAT'S WHAT! So excuuuse me princess if I wanted to have some fun.

Although she didn't show it, Twilight was slightly taken aback by the response. Five thousand years? Even Discord wasn't trapped that long. She quickly recovered, and decided to ask something that had been worrying her. "Who's this 'dead king' you keep talking about?"

When Twilight turn the page for the answer, there on the next page was a portrait of someone's face. It was not the book's face, but someone else entirely.

So this is the dead king... Twilight thought as she looked over the portrait. The first thing Twilight noticed about the face were its eyes. The irises in particular stood out, thanks to being surrounded by black ink.

The next thing Twilight noticed, were its peculiar eye sockets. The sockets were in the shape of half circles, that were both slanted inward to form a scowl.

Below the eyes was what Twilight guessed to be the mouth. The mouth had a strange look to it, like an uppercase ‘M’ only flattened out a bit to give the face a grim frown.

Lastly, Twilight noticed the shape of the portrait’s head. It was neither a pony’s nor any other creature she knew of, but instead a round vertical oval. The shape, combined with the rest of the portrait’s features, made it look like it was a mask for some kind of unknown creature.

All in all though, the face had a look of grim determination and will to it. Twilight could imagine the face saying one thing to her, ’get out of my way.’

Beneath the drawing was the rest of the answer.

Behold The Dead King. He's the reason I bound my soul to this book, and he's the reason I call out to his city. I want him to pay for what he did to me and my sons.

I use the last remnants of my power to make sure he can never truly have peace of mind, and hope that someday his precious city is destroyed by one of the worlds I send him to.

Hence the summons.

As Twilight finished reading the passage, she wondered what the king did to the book, and its family, to make it hate him so much. She put that thought to the side though, and chose to ask something she thought more important. "Is there a way to keep him from coming here?" She turned the page to reveal one simple word.

No.

Twilight gave a flat look at the book’s answer Great.... The book then turned the page by itself to something she didn't quite expect, a tired looking face.

If you don’t mind dear I've had enough for today, and frankly I need to dry out.

If you have anymore questions you can ask him when he gets here.

You'll know when they're here.

Twilight scowled at the book. "Oh no you don't! You're not going anywhere until you've answered the rest of my-"

SLAM!

When the book slammed shut as a curt response to Twilight’s demands, Twilight jumped back away in surprise. "I'm gonna guess that means 'no'," Spike said flatly. He then looked out the kitchen window. "How bout we call it a night, Twilight. It's getting dark out."

That last part got Twilight's attention Wait, already? she too looked outside. Sure enough, it looked like it was starting to get dark out. That can't be right it's only... she then turned to look at the clock. 6:47 it should still be light out! It was midsummer in Equestria, and at around this time of year it started getting dark out at around 7:30, but now it was almost an hour ahead. What in Equestria is going on?

* * *

Three days later, and now it was starting to get dark out at around five o'clock, and light out at eleven in the morning. When it was dark out you couldn't see a thing without a light source, and even that hardly helped push back the darkness. The air was starting to feel colder as well, it felt more and more like Autumn with each passing day.

It did not matter much if you wrapped yourself up, the cold felt as if it was coming from within your own body. Everyone in Ponyville had taken notice now of what was going on, and all of them were scared about what was happening.

Princess Celestia had received word on what was happening from both Twilight and the mayor, and sent a contingent of the royal guard to ponyville should danger come.

At the moment, Twilight and her friends were gathered in the library, with a small black book on the center table. "So this is the troublesome tome." Rarity thought aloud as she looked over the black book.

Almost all of Twilight's friends were gathered around table. Rarity and Fluttershy were investigating the book for themselves, while Rainbow Dash was off to the side glaring at the book, still wanting to tear it apart.

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie had run off to somewhere else into the library. What she was doing though was anyones guess. Other than the occasional ruckus none of the girls had seen where their pink friend had run off to.

At the moment, Applejack was listening to Twilight as she told the farmer pony about what she had been doing the last few days.

“And even after all of that, the book still won’t open?” Applejack asked.

"Yes," Twilight answered with a scowl as she thought back to her attempts the last few days.

After Twilight and Spike's interrogation with the book, it had closed itself tight. So tight in fact, that when Twilight tried running water onto the page edges of the book, the water just poured harmlessly off.

After that, Twilight had tried different ways to get the book to open back up again. Her first attempt was to simply pry the book open with her telekinesis, which left her with bad headache afterwards when she overdid it.

The second day, Twilight brought the book down into her basement laboratory to see if the Canterlot results were correct. Much to her annoyance, the results were the same. She then grabbed a crowbar, and tried to pry the book open, and was rewarded with a straightened out crowbar for her troubles.

On the third day, Twilight tried to pull it open by using an intricate pulley system, some clever rope work on the books cover edges for surface, and a bunch of heavy weights for the extra pull. The aftermath of said attempt was snapped rope, scattered weights, some ruined pulleys, and a still closed book.

Earlier today, Twilight was about ready to see if the book was fireproof, when Spike had an idea. Maybe their friends could get the book open using their own different approaches. Thus the call for aid in the endeavor had been sent out, and all their friends answered the call.

“Alright, does anypony have any ideas?” Spike asked the rest of the gang.

Rainbow Dash immediately flew up into the air. “How about you let me handle this,” she said with a toothy grin.

“Rainbow darling, I know what you're thinking, and I doubt it will work.” Rarity said to her eager friend. She pretty well knew that forcing the book open wouldn't work considering what Twilight did the last few days, but you could never be too sure. “Twilight, what do you think?” she asked as she looked at her friend.

"Go right ahead," Twilight said as she motioned Rainbow dash to proceed.

“Alright!” Rainbow Dash swooped down and grabbed the book in her hooves. She maneuvered the book around, and bit down on the cover edges and began to pull. “Thish ting is toffer tan it looksh,” she managed to say through clenched teeth.

After a few more seconds the book suddenly opened up, and slammed shut on her snout. Rainbow Dash gave out a yelp, more out of surprise than anything, and dropped the book back onto the table. She rubbed her snout, and looked to the side to see the look Rarity was giving her. "Don't look at me like that." Rarity just rolled her eyes in response.

“Anypony else got any bright ideas?” Twilight asked the rest of the gang. Her demeanor had only soured more after RD's attempt.

Everyone started to ponder and think for a few moments, before Fluttershy quietly spoke up. “Well, umm, maybe we could try asking it, nicely, to open?” she meekly suggested.

Twilight just gave a huff at the suggestion.

Rarity knew that Twilight was upset, but this wasn’t like her. "Well we could at least try, Twilight.”

Twilight gave Rarity a cold glare. "I want to talk to that thing as little as possible."

“But maybe if we-” a quivering voice spoke.

Twilight spun to face the voice. “I said no!” she snapped with teeth bared. Twilight quickly realised who she just yelled at when she looked into those hurt turquoise eyes. Fluttershy cowered back from Twilight with tears in her eyes. Rarity quickly went to comfort her while everyone else just stared in shock.

Twilight couldn’t believe what she had done. All of her anger, all of her stress, it all molded into guilt and regret as Fluttershy cowered back from her as if she were a monster. “Fluttershy... I’m-I’m sorry its just...” Twilight choked on her words. All of the stress and trouble the book had caused her, it would never be an excuse for hurting her friends. Twilight fell back onto her haunches, and hung her head low as tears fell down her face. “I’m sorry...”

Everyone was silent for a minute. So silent in fact, that they all heard a soft ‘thump’ come from the table.

“Hey, the book’s open!” Pinkie Pie shouted, having appeared from Celestia knows where. Everyone else jumped as Pinkie made her appearance, but they all looked at the table, and, sure enough, the book was open. Everyone gathered around the table to see what the book now read. On the page was the face with a look of guilt and shame in its downcast eyes.

It’s times like this that remind me of what all I’ve done, and just how far I’ve fallen.

“What do you mean..?” Twilight asked, having regained some of her composure. The book turned its page to continue.

Its times like this, and people like you and your friends, that remind me of what I’ve become and the harm I cause to people who don’t deserve it.

“If yer feelin guilty, then why weren’t ya when you and Twilight first met?” Applejack asked. Once more, the book turned to answer.

I have hurt and used many people over the years. I’ve done it so much now, that I’ve largely grown numb to it all.

Twilight didn’t exactly leave me with the best first impressions when she washed me in the sink, so I felt no guilt in my actions at the time. Now though, I see that I have wronged an innocent and her friends.

“Why did you go after Twilight in the first place?” Rainbow Dash asked. The book turned to a reveal a drawing depicting rays of light shining out from a single point in a dark void.

In order to summon the Necropolis I need a strong soul to attract it. Twilight has such a soul, and I sense you all do as well, though sometimes I am wrong.

I did not ‘go after’ Twilight specifically, she is merely a victim of circumstance. I’d run into others before her, but Twilight was the one who read me long enough for me to establish a connection to the Necropolis. Now her soul is a beacon shining out into the void and now the Necropolis draws close to the light.

As everyone finished reading the passage, Twilight began to feel a strange tingling sensation within her mind that made her head itch. The book turned it’s pages one last time to reveal two small little words.

I’m sorry.

With those last words the book closed itself shut. Twilight was about to ask the book what was wrong when…

"Hey is it just me, or is the room getting darker?" Rainbow Dash asked as she look around. Her question got the rest of the gangs attention, and they too looked about. To their growing fear, everyone began to see that the shadows were slowly starting to crawl their way closer towards them, like twisted claws reaching towards its prey.

"W-what’s going on?" Pinkie Pie asked nervously as she looked around at the crawling shadows. Spike quickly began to run around the room, turning on and lighting every light and candle he could to hold back the encroaching dark.

Spike managed to grab one of the lanterns hanging off the wall before the shadows got too close, and brought it towards the rest of the gang. All seven of them quickly huddled around the precious sheltered flame as the darkness seemed to swallow anything that was not near the light.

Then, out there in the distance, the group heard a small rumbling sound begin. As the seconds passed, the rumbling sound grew steadily louder and louder until it sounded as if there was a landslide happening right outside the library door.

As the rumbling sound grew even louder still, the ground began to shake and stir beneath their hooves. Through the windows, the group could hardly see and hear other ponies as started to run about and scream in panic, barely illuminated by the seemingly useless sun high in the blackened sky.

At this point, everyone was holding eachother close, to the point where they were about to start squishing each other if they weren't careful. From out of no where, there then came an unseen frozen wind that ran through the whole group and chilled each and everyone of them to their very soul.

As if carried on by the fell wind, there began an unearthly chorus of shrieks and screams full of fear, pain, and agony that chilled the gangs hearts to their core. As the icy wind put out all the candles Spike had lit, save for the sheltered flame within the lantern, there came a monstrous bellowing roar that not even a full grown dragon could match.

The screaming, the darkness, all of it continued on for minutes, but for everyone huddled tightly together in the library it felt like a nightmarish eternity. With the sound of rending metal, and a long piercing scream, everything began to grow quiet. When the screams stopped, so too did the ground stop shaking, and the frozen wind die away. Finally, the darkness slowly faded away, and light returned once again to Ponyville.

Everyone just stared out the windows, with eyes opened wide as saucers, and pupils as tiny as pins. After a full minute of shock induced silence, Applejack slowly asked the question that was on everyone’s mind. “What. Just. Happened?” Her question got everyone else back to their scenes, and, one by one, they all released their tight grips on each other.

When Fluttershy released her grip, there was a sharp gasp followed by a wheezing sound.       Fluttershy looked down, and realized who she had put in what had practically a death grip during the whole ordeal. "Ohmygoodness! Ohmygoodness! Ohmygoodness! Spike are you alright?" The panicked mare asked as she looked down at the poor little dragon in her hooves. Spike’s response was a wheeze, a nod, and a smile. He even gave her a little thumbs up to confirm that he was alright, and just needed to catch all the air that’d been squeezed out of him.

When Spike finally caught his breath, everyone started looking about to see what damage the quake had caused. Many of the books had fallen off the library shelves, but otherwise there didn't seem to be much other damage.

Rarity gave a sigh of relief. “Well it looks like everything is alright, for the most part.” Everyone else shared her relief, and were glad to see that the library, and more importantly each other were alright. Then, Rarity’s eyes widened as she thought about something. Wait, what about… Applejack and Pinkie Pie were on the same train of thought as she was, and their eyes widened too as they thought about.

"The Boutique!"

"The Farm!"

"The Bakery!"

All three of them quickly ran out the door to see if their homes and loved ones were alright.

Rainbow quickly followed behind them to see if ponies around town were hurt. Fluttershy was about to quickly run out the door as well to see if all her animal friends were alright, when Twilight called out to her. She stopped in the doorway, and turned around to look at her friend.

Twilight was sitting back on her haunches, with her eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. I didn’t mean to yell at you,” she said as she apprehensively rubbed her foreleg.

Fluttershy gave her a smile of warmth and understanding. “It’s okay. We all get upset sometimes.” With that Fluttershy ran off to her cottage.

Twilight gave a thankful smile to where her friend had been. Fluttershy was always kind and understanding, and Twilight was always grateful for it. She then turned around, and gave out a sigh as she looked at all of the books that were scattered about the floor.  “Looks like we’ve got some work to do, Spike.”

* * *

Over the next few minutes the two of them worked on putting the toppled books back onto their respective shelves. They were almost done, when Twilight glanced over to the table with a black book atop it. Paying it no mind, she got back to work. But as she worked, her thoughts kept going back to the book, and something nagging at the back of her mind.

Twilight had several books in the air, when her eyes slowly began to widen as it dawned on her. You'll know when they're here. she remembered the book say. Twilight remembered it so clearly now, that she could hardly believe she’d forgotten it.

The books Twilight was levitating fell to the ground, gaining a curious look from Spike from atop the ladder. “What’s up, Twilight?”

Twilight’s face looked haunted as she stared off into nothing. “They’re here...” Spike’s eyes widened as well, as he too remembered what the book said.

Twilight’s head whipped over to give a maddened stare at the black book. Moving like someone possessed, she opened the book with indecent speed. She had apparently caught the book off guard with the sudden act given the surprised face on the page.

Uh… can I help you..?

Twilight was panicked and desperate for answers on what to warn the princesses about, and so the floodgates opened. “YES! Tell me everything you know about the city! What are the king's intentions? Are they good or bad? Are they hostile? Are they- ”

SLAM!

The book slammed shut so fast that it lept into the air, with Twilight doing the same. When Twilight landed back on the ground again, she was a frazzled mess. She was still giving a crazed wide eyed stare at the book, but she was slowly starting to get her head screwed back on again.

The book slowly opened again, and the face looked as if it was trying to back off the page, like Twilight was about to attack it or something.

Did... that help..?

Twilight continued to stare for a few seconds longer until she was calm enough to act rationally again. “Uh… yes,” she answered sheepishly. But then, her expression turned desperate and pleading. "Please, I need to warn the princesses about all of this, about the city, about the king."

The page turned to answer.

To answer your first questions respectively dear; I don't know, depends on your point of view, and depends on what you do.

As for warning others, I've found it's often a bad idea to blow the whistle on the city. That's when they get involved with the world they're in.

Twilight was stuck now, she wanted warn others so everyone could be prepared in case they were violent, but now the book was telling her to do the opposite. As she mulled over her thoughts, the book turned to explain.

Often times, the city likes to remain quiet if it’s hidden. I can sense that it’s underground somewhere, so they’ll be acting quiet for now. But if the city is revealed, and it gets involved in something, you'd best hope you're on their side.

Or else.

If that entrance was 'quiet' I'd hate to see what loud is. Twilight thought sarcastically. "What do mean 'or else'?" she turned the page herself and on the next page was just a drawing of what looked to be a bloodied knife.

"Well that's one answer," Spike said as he approached. "So are they bad guys?" he turned the page for the response.

Again, that depends on your point of view, and how you deal with them. You are good people from what I’ve now seen, so I suggest diplomacy and try for peace. That would be your best chance for surviving their stay here.

Now this is a key thing to remember, they get very violent when their home is attacked. If the city is attacked, they go to war fighting to survive and win. No one has yet defeated them, for they will do whatever is necessary to win and survive.

The page turned to reveal a picture of an upside down mountain floating above a sea of flames.

Many worlds have been destroyed by The Necropolis and its people, and you and your world shall fall to them as well should you go to war. Pray you don't join the tally.

What you do now is up for you to decide, for this world is yours not mine.

One last thing dear, the dead king shall be coming to collect me soon enough. That may be your only chance if you wish to make a peace treaty.

Beware, be brave, and good luck.

With that, the book closed once more. When Twilight tried to open it, the book wouldn't budge.

"Now what?" Spike asked as he looked at Twilight.

Twilight turned to look at him. "I guess we'll just have to wait." She then turned back to the book, and narrowed her eyes a little. We'll just have to wait and see.

Whenever this king arrived, she was going to be ready.