The months in the Netherealm went by in what the Overlord felt was the blink of an eye. A full four months of training, working his body back to its fearsome legends of old.
He had first had the minions etch archaic runes into his body, increasing gravity and resistance around his body before he did the same thing to his armor. Once they were taken off, the gravity of the earth would be so light to him, he'd be nothing but a blurring ghost!

He started out small for him, at five times the earth's normal gravity.

Hey, I said small to him, not everypony else readers!

So he had done that and fell face-first onto the floor. It took him the better of three weeks (Plus a lot of bags with his waste in them) to get used to the increased gravity, but he finally got up from the ground and yelled at Gnarl for not talking sense into him for the five times earth's gravity.
Gnarl's response?

“Payback is a bitch isn't it Master?” Gnarl said smugly recalling the pike up his ass.

Sadly Gnarl got a spiked club to the face courtesy of Gilda who was nearby and annoyed at the minion master for being an ass to their master. The Overlord sat laughing uproariously as the Warrior Mistress began to wail on Gnarl for his 'impudence' the maids Lyra and Bon-Bon watching with small grins of their own.
Soon though, The Overlord was back to his training; swordplay, mace slamming, axe boomerang throwing, spell casting, Minion ordering, etc.

Each time he had gotten used to the gravity, he had upped one level. For the reminder of the months, he spent in training. Soon it was time to put phase two of his plan in play.

MLPOV

The Overlord looked at the remaining ponies upon the slabs of stone; what was once a party of twenty had been cut down to ten, whimpering, bloody ponies strapped to various metal tables, with the last one having various senbon stuck in his body. Gnarl stood next to him, a tray holding a ceremonial knife in his claws. The Overlord strode over to the first one, who whimpered at the towering form.

“P-p-p-p-p-please! N-n-n-n-n-n-no m-m-m-m-m-more! I-I've told you all that I know! Military camp locations, the palace's location, everything!” The stallion stammered out.

The Overlord simply picked up the knife and inspected it. Gnarl grinned, he loved his master's work with a blade. It was truly a work of art when all was said and done.

“I know you've told me everything. I, however, still have a use for you.” The Overlord said as he sliced into the pony.

The stallion screamed as the blade dug into his flesh. Gnarl sighed in ecstasy; hearing a ponies screams were ambrosia to the old minion. The Overlord began to crave the blade into the flesh carving runes. What the Overlord was doing was simple. He was making the ten ponies...living bombs. It was a creation of his own during the minor war with Celestia and Luna. He always wanted to send those who she cared for to their deaths. Best part was no one could stop it since the runes played havoc with a Unicorn's magic. An accident on his part in the making, but he like it nonetheless. He was soon done with the sobbing pony and channeled his dark magic into the runes.
The runes glowed dark purple making the pony start screaming again in pain as they absorbed the magic. The Overlord chuckled as he moved onto the next one, the screams of the others echoing in the halls.

MLPOV

The Overlord looked at the city of Paris through the Tower Heart with a look of disgust. The outer part of the city was run down, houses were falling apart, the roads were cracked and broken, rats and other vermin ran around freely, and the various ponies walked in ragged clothes and sick. The one thing that Overlord noticed though was that was no children in the run down section.

“Curious...but I will focus on that later.” The Overlord mumbled as the tower heart faded to gray.

He turned from the heart, exited the room, and went to another room. He opened the door with a wave of his hand and saw ten cloaked ponies. He grinned behind his helmet as he entered making the ten all flinch. He look at each one, his red hellish eyes of the helmet piercing the hearts and souls of them. They bowed submissively to him.

“You know your parts...now go.”

One by one, the ten went through the gate. The gate glowed white as the ponies vanished. Now all The Overlord had to do now...was wait.

MLPOV

The ten ponies emerged from the odd stone in shimmers of light. Several guards, who had been placed their to prevent the poor from escaping, started at the sight before they brought their lances up.

“/Halt, who goes there?!\” The leader of the group demanded in Prench.

Silver Tongue quickly replied stating that it was the party. This made the guards lower their weapons but keep on guard. Silver explained what had happened, minus the torture, knowing that the Overlord was expecting it. The guards looked shocked until the hoods were revealed. They hurriedly brought the party right for the palace and their emperor.

MLPOV

Gnarl swore in minionese at the sight of the ponies being taken to the palace.

“Master those ponies sold you out! It'll only be a matter of time before the army is down on our ears!” Gnarl reported.

The answer he got was a low chuckle.

“Peace Gnarl...It's all going to plan,” The Overlord said. “Those fools think they're going to win but they haven't realized that they are doomed. The first thing they will do is call a military meeting with the party of ten being informants. That is when all high ranking officials will be in one...single...place.”

Gnarl's eyes went wide. The carving of the runes...not telling the party about it making them think it was another form of torture and to send a message...when in reality, it was meant to take out higher-ups in one swoop. This would make the army go into disarray and then...

“Easy pickings! Oh, I like the way you think Master!” Gnarl praised.

The Overlord chuckled as he headed for the gate. He had poor folk to rile up.

MLPOV

Neighpoleon's general's were all called to the main war room while the Emperor was off sipping his afternoon tea. They were still standing when two guards opened the door and a trio of unicorns walked in. They led by a sturdy looking Unicorn with an steel rod for a cutie mark. He was in his mid 50s but still looked like his mid-40s. He sat down at the head of the table and the rest of the generals followed suit. The head major looked around the room at each Major and General.

“/So...why has this meeting been called, gentlecolts? I'm assuming since the Emperor isn't here, he wasn't informed?\” The gruff pony snarled as he linked his hands together.

“/Apologies for not summoning the Emperor, General Steelwill. But it concerns his majesty's safety.\” The major to his left said.

Steelwill sat up straighter at that. A threat to the Emperor's safety was ALWAYS taken seriously.

“/What is it that threatens Prance and her Emperor?\” Steelwill demanded in a quiet tone.

The major waved his hand and the ten ponies came in, still disheveled and looking to and fro nervously. The major looked at Steelwill.

“/This is ambassador Silver Tongue and the remains of his party,”\ Major said. /“I can only guess that negotiations went...badly.\”

Steelwill glared at the major making him shrink back down in his seat. He would be the judge of that. First though, they needed to know their enemy. Steelwill asked Silver to tell them about the party. Silver shakily started to retell the event, the meeting with the Overlord. Silver told them about Charming Bow-tie's death but not the reason. Many of them started grumbling but a glare from the general silenced them. Silver told them that the Overlord took one look at the agreement and tore it up right in their eyes. They had then been captured but escaped when the Overlord left with all of the tiny pixies.

“/We should attack this Overlord right now! He dares insult our emperor with his continued living!\” One of the generals snarled.

Steelwill glared at the outspoken general making him quiver.

“/A war with this...Overlord...could be disastrous since we have no idea of his skills, army size, reserve forces or what kind of countries he has as allies. We need more...\”

The explanation was cut off by Silver tongue screaming in pain as the Runes lit up. His screams were joined by the nine others and the runes glowing. One of the majors looked at the ten and asked the obvious question.

“/What the devil is going on?!\”

Silver Tongue seemed to realize something and looked up at Steelwill with a sorrowful expression.

“/I'm sorry...\” Silver got out when he and the other nine went white.

The feeling of heat, sounds of air whooshing, and the startled cries echoed in Steelwill's ears as the white wall rushed to meet him and his group consuming them in fire and light.

MLPOV

The Overlord appeared in a flash of lightning and power startling several of the ponies. Gilda was at his side with a spear in her hand. After the cascade of power was over and done with, the ponies all looked. One of them stepped forward.

/Who...who are you?\ The Pony asked in fright.

The Overlord simply looked at the pony; he couldn't understand what they were saying simply because he didn't speak their language. Thankfully, Gilda spoke in fluent Prench.

/He is the Overlord, come to reclaim a item that was stolen from him. Your 'emperor' has it.\ Glida replied making the Overlord look at her in slight surprise.

How'd she know the language? Never mind, more time to figure that out at a later point in time. He had more important matters to attend to.

/Emperor...BAH! He is no emperor of ours,\ Another snarled making the Overlord look at the pony.

Judging by the tone, he didn't like Neighpoliean and the rest of the muttering made him grin even more. Perfect.

“Then you will join us?”

Instantly, the rumblings stopped as Gilda asked. The Overlord frowned. Even for their talk, they wouldn't go up against him...and now he knew why. The missing children...they must have been taken away in their youth. Had no one stood up to the guards? The Overlord sighed and shook his head.

“Fine, if you don't want to fight, so be it. But know this...if you had shown at LEAST some of a spine, you wouldn't have lost your children. Parents unwilling to fight for their children lives...how sickening. They must be ashamed to have once called you parents in this lifetime. I know I would be and I can just see it now on their graves; 'Here lies the sons and Daughters of Prance...their families too cowardly to care for them. May they know peace in Paradise above'.” Overlord said in a mocking tone, waving his hand intricately as if he was dismissing them.

With his piece being translated by Gilda, the Overlord summoned some of his minions, mostly browns and greens with a three cell of Blues. He started through the streets heading for the center of the city, Gilda right behind him. As soon as he was done, one of the stallions watched after the retreating form of the Overlord. The words struck like a knife to his heart. He didn't fight the guards as they took his wife and daughter away to serve in the palace...he didn't fight for his son as they shipped him off to the mines...all he cared about was surviving the terror of Neighpolean and dying of old age. But now that he looked back on it, he was ashamed. He could have fought, would have died but he would have started something. In an epiphany he saw all of the poor rising up against their oppressor...if he had just fought back. Well, the time may be past, but he was going to do his damnedest to make sure his family had their eternal rest in peace. He stood and went back into his home, headed straight for the kitchen, grabbed a large butcher knife and went back out. He hurried down the street carrying the blade. He turned back to the large crowd.

/I do not know about you foals. But for too long, we have stood by while that poser of an emperor destroyed our way of life and took away our families, destroying us in body, mind, and spirit! I will not stand idly by and let our children weep in the next world for our lack of will...I will FIGHT alongside that armored stranger! At least he is willing to do something about it!\ The stallion proclaimed as he turned and headed after the Overlord.

The words ignited a fire in many hearts and several rushed to their homes, grabbing whatever manner of weapon they could get and joining the lone stallion. Soon, one became a hundred...a thousand...ten thousand...a hundred thousand! Men and women ranging twenties to their seventies were marching along, chanting...

/DOWN WITH THE EMPEROR! DOWN WITH THE NOBLES!\

They soon met up with the Overlord, the mob well into three-fourths of a million marching alongside him, chanting turning to singing. Through it all, The Overlord grinned. His spell had worked.

MLPOV

The center of Paris, Capital city of Prance, was in flames. Ponies in fine clothes ran about screaming as they burned, the smell of charred flesh thick in the air. The guards and army were running around, trying to stop the riots and the fire. It was not easy when many of the more disgruntled members were joining in the chaos. The mob and Overlord marched on the center, The Overlord paused as he looked at the destruction and death. Gilda gasped at seeing the city wide fires.

“Overkill much?” She asked not looking away.

The Overlord laughed loudly as he heard the saying. After he was done, he turned to the griffon.

“My dear, there is no such thing as Overkill. Only fire and reload.”

The Overlord turned to mob and gestured to the burning.

“There lays before you the Jewel of Neighpolein's empire! Have at it.”

The mob roared as they charged the capital, many of the rouge guards taking note and joining in. The rumbling of the streets made the remaining guard look up. The instant they saw the massive tidal wave of ponies and mentally said 'buck it'. They broke ranks and fled as the mob took to the running nobles, beating them screaming 'DOWN WITH THE NOBLES!'. They began to beat them within an inch of the noble's lives, taking anything of value off the pony in question. While this was going on, the Overlord marched through the new fighting on a path to the palace of this...Emperor.

MLPOV

The stallion looked at the burning city in cold indiffernce. But while he was calm on the outside, his mind was in turmoil. How could the peasants get the explosives and use them!? He tightly controlled what was sent to them, just enough food to make them useful to him. So how?! The sudden banging of a door opening made him turn around and saw his elite guards on the ground, groaning as a heavily metal covered being stepped in. He looked at Neighpolean with a cock of his head.

“God above...you are short.”

The metal being was right. Neighpolean only stood at 3 foot 5 inches with white fur and golden blonde hair. His amber eyes glared at the being hatefully behind a helmet in the shape of a dragon's mouth. The metal being noticed it and growled.

“So...you have the helmet of Despair I see.”

Neighpolean didn't know what the being was speaking of and spoke in a a voice that the Overlord surprisingly could understand.

“And who do you tink you are, metal man? I am Neighpolean! Greatest pony ever to have lived!” Neighpolean ranted, obviously mad at the slight about his height.

The metal foe chuckled.

“Well, I'm known as the Overlord. And you...have something that belongs to me.”

With that, the Overlord rushed him with his axe held high. Neighpolean was taken off guard and just barely got out of the way of the massive weapon. The entire castle shook from the impact of the axe striking the floor. The tiny tyrant hurried over to his throne and grabbed a hidden rapier.

“En garde, you vile abomination!”

The Overlord laughed.

“Name calling now eh? Fine, midget. We'll play.”

The Overlord charged again, the axe and blade clashing. Surprisingly, the blade didn't shatter from the powerful blow which made the Overlord cock his eyebrow behind his helmet. Both the emperor and the Lord of Evil jumped back.

“Interesting sword. Not many can stand up to my power. What is it made of?” The Overlord asked.

Neighpolean smirked haughtily.

“Your mom.” The diminutive emperor said making the Overlord face vault.

That was not expected of the Emperor but the Overlord shook it off and resumed his attacks. Neighpolean blocked each blow, but was forced back several feet in his throne room. The Overlord was not liking this. It was almost too easy. He got his reward by dodging a spell blast and looked to see three unicorns in royal purple robes. 'High' mages of Prance no doubt. The Overlord cast his favorite, the Fireball spell at the mages. They panicked and broke ranks making the Overlord smirk.

“Very imposing the 'high' mages of Prance. A simple Fireball spell and they scatter.”

Neighpolean scowled.

“Cowards! I shall gut them like the worthless worms they are!” The emperor spat before looking at the Overlord. “AFTER I gut you!”

Neighpolean rushed the Overlord and started to thrust wildly, making the lord of evil back up and go on the defense. The two repeated this back and forth with the mages getting in the way every so often. Finally, the Overlord had enough. He forced Neighpolean into a corner near one of the mages. Faster then they could react, a black beam shot out and hit the Mage. The mage's eyes became nothing but white and he stood up stiffly. He put his arms out and shot a spell at the mage closest to him. The mage screamed in shock as his body became black and started to fall apart. The Overlord laughed at seeing the spell. It was one of the ones he had created.

“Ah, the dismemberment spell. Wonder how you got your hands on it?”

Neighpolean merely grunted as he charged the brainwashed Mage. With a deft flick of his wrist, the sword cut through flesh and the head of the mage fell to the ground. The Overlord laughed.

“In another life, in another universe, you'd make a great ally. Sadly, you forgot someone.”

Neighpolean's eyes went wide as he felt a blast on his back, realizing that while he was distracted with the one mage, the Overlord had brainwashed the other one. Now he was on the defensive from two fronts; spells from the mage and the blade of the Dark Tyrant before him. Neighpolean feinted right and dashed to the other mage. A sudden blow from the right knocked him clean off his feet and knocked the helmet off his head.
Neighpolean scrambled up and began whimpering.

“Please...don't kill me...” He whispered.

The Overlord looked down at the figure and then at the Helmet.

“Huh...that's surprising.”

“Indeed sire. It appears that the Helmet of Despair gave this pony an boost in the confidence department...odd that.”

“Must have lost its connection to the Tower Heart some time ago...these ponies must have linked it to something to give the boost. I don't know what but the Heart should override the other.”

Gnarl confirmed and the Overlord turned to Neighpolean. The stallion whimpered before curling up into a ball. This made the Overlord scowl; he hated people that begged for life...it ruined the image that they once were. The Overlord simply grabbed Neighpolean by the scruff of his silk dress and hoisted him up.
Gilda dropped down from the ceiling and looked at the two.

“Nice fight...but why not finish him?” The griffon asked as she sat on the throne.

All the Overlord did was chuckle.

“I won't kill him, Gilda...”

Neighpolean sighed in relief as the Overlord picked up his horned helmet.

“...because I want to give the people out there their pound of flesh.”

That made Neighpolean shudder in fear and sprung a leak as Gilda laughed.

MLPOV

The situation outside hadn’t changed in the slightest. The poor were revolting against the rich, forcing them out of their homes and brutally beating them to a pulp. The sounds of the riot were stilled when the great doors of the palace were blown apart. The poor looked at the dark figure with the female griffon as they walked down the stairs holding a struggling smaller figure in his hands. The Overlord threw the figure at the feet of the crowd.

“PONIES OF PRANCE! I GIVE TO YOU, YOUR EMPEROR! EXACT YOUR REVENGE FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE AS YOU SEE FIT!”

The statement was short and to the point. The people could do anything they wanted to the cowering foal before them, revenge for all the years under his hoof.
They did not hesitate. Like sharks on a bleeding animal, they swarmed him. Neighpolean screamed a high-pitch scream as he was seized by several arms. The Overlord lost sight of the smaller pony in the sea of raging civilians. Still, he could hear the screams of the former ruler as the ponies tore him apart, figuratively and literally. He stepped to the side as a limb from the wailing emperor flew through the air and landed on the ground where he was once standing. He smiled as the head was torn off the shoulders and mounted on a pike. Soon the roars of anger turned to cheers of triumph as they paraded through Paris, the head of Neighpolean at the front.
As the Overlord watched, his helmet crackled to life.

“Master, we have found a TREASURE trove. Most of your minion totems were deep in the catacombs of this place, along with several spells, mostly your dismemberment and Evil Eye spell along with the next level of the Fireball spell. But the REAL find was that metal that pony used; its Overlordium Sire! The metal you crafted eons ago back during the Great Upheavl.”

That made the Overlord grin darkly. Overlordium...ah how he recalled that happy accident. A metal that wouldn't bend or break as easily as other metals. Impervious to heat, cold, harsh pressure and anything else short of the actual surface of the sun couldn't damage the metal. It was perfect for Gilda, Lyra, and Bon-Bon in terms of armor and weapons.

“Get as much of that metal as you can Gnarl...I'll be back to the Tower shortly.”

The liberator of Prance turned to the large parade and watched with unhidden glee.

It was good to be the Overlord.

Author's Note

Sorry for the LONG wait. Job hunting and cleaning out homes for garage sales has eaten up a LOT of my time. Prance has fallen to the Overlord but what does this actually mean? It looks to me like he's not going to take over Prance...or is he? Well, the good news is that there won't be too long of wait for the next chapter which is going to explain some things about Celestia and the Overlord, even their relationship some.

Peace out!