The Witch King Rises Again

Alduin could see the golden carriage coming from the white city towards his master's castle. Two of they horses were pulling the chariot while the purple one with wings, the one he recognised from the group that entered the fortress not too long ago, was in the back watching him as she grew near. Alduin remembered his master's commands, "I am not to kill them should they approach, He will deal with them."  This one is bold, perhaps this one has news of the hunt. Alduin remained atop the tower looking down as the carriage landed in the courtyard. The purple one stepped off her golden chariot and motioned for the two others to leave. They looked to each other and nodded to the purple one. Must be their superior. They then left the same way they arrived. Alduin watched as  she walked towards the doors to the fortress proper, going past the stone statues he didn't recognise but his master seemed to take great care in carving them out of stone. The statues were of nine figures. Eight of them looked like his master, but had no armour or defining features, each of the figures was fighting something. Many were creatures that were armoured instead of cloaked like his master. The eight simple ones were arranged in a manner that provided a path going between them to the doors at the end of the path was the last statue, it was of his master, Angmar. He was standing tall with the hilt of his sword in his grasp, the tip of the sword was touching the ground. Unlike the others, Angmar's wasn't fighting, simply guarding. The pony was studying each of the stone figures as she walked by them. She reached that of the master, and stared. Hmmmmm how curious, I will have to ask the master about this one when he is finished with her. The pony turned to go around the statue and went to the doors. Alduin was able to tell that she was sending glances up to him on top of the tower every now and again. The pony knocked her hoof on the door. They slowly moved open to let her inside, likely the master wants her in his throne room if they are going to talk. Alduin returned to his regular sky-watching when the pony was removed from his gaze. He thought to himself how his master would deal with this nuisance, especially because she interrupted his slumber.

Angmar was sitting atop his throne when he felt his wards being prodded, it awoke him from his magically induced slumber. It is a state in which he can focus purely on his minions and see what must be done to keep everything in check. His wolves had begun scouring the frozen land after the search of the forest bared no fruit. He searched the mind of Alduin and found that it was that princess Twilight. This had better be good, for her sake. He thought.

'You really must find better ways to have those who follow you take care of everything without you.'

That voice again. Angmar didn't hold back when he shoved the voice back down, it didn't resist. He used his magic to prevent it from coming back up, until he allowed it of course. He didn't feel ready to face the memories that accompanied the voice. He waved his hand and opened the doors between him and the pony. Eventually she showed up at the other end of his throne room.

"Explain yourself. Why have you interrupted my slumber? Good news I trust, for your sake." Angmar asked raising his head

Twilight continued walking up to him until she was at the steps to his throne before speaking. "Princess Celestia has asked me to inform you that we have Sombra in custody.... The trial will begin when you are able to attend. Celestia has given you the choice of which position to take in the trial. This includes all of the possible positions." Twilight was barely able to keep her eyes level to where Angmar's were.

Angmar let out a low grown. "Hmmm, not how I would do it, but it will have to do.... For now." Angmar stood up and began to descend the stairs. "Where is this trial being held?"

Twilight removed a rolled up piece of parchment from her bag, and read aloud. "The trial is to be held in Canterlot, within the castle courts. You will be directed there once you reach the city." Twilight moved out of the king's way, while putting the scroll back in her saddlebag. "Do you know when you will be available?"

"I will be leaving now, I will allow you to teleport away and prepare for my arrival I will require iron blocks and a temporary residence in this 'Canterlot', I will prepare to depart. Now get out of my sight!" Angmar waved his hand and lifted the teleportation wards. Twilight noticed the lift of the wards and left with a purple flash. Angmar left to arm himself and sent some mental commands to Alduin. 'Meet me in the courtyard. We have business to attend to.' He was answered by a mental nod from the dragon. Angmar proceeded down into the depths of his castle and entered a large room he hadn't found a use for until now. He grabbed his staff that was slung over his shoulder and began to create magical bindings and gateways. Runes were carved into the stone floor, each one of the many glowing a faint blue in the dark room. He arranged the runes in ten different circles and carving circles around them. He grasped his staff in both of his armoured hands and slammed it into the ground in front of him. A blue wave erupted from where it impacted the ground and collected in each of the ten circles. The magic created pools within the circles, becoming black with blue tendrils swimming in the darkness. The blue glow given off by the ten portals bathed the large room with eerie light. Angmar continued by moving ten of his elite guard, which now reigned in about twenty sentinels, to the room to prepare. Angmar linked the portals to a talisman he was fashioning out of some silver. The talisman was a flat ring that had a four inch diameter with the same runes engraved in the outward face, he forced some of the magic into the space within the ring. The ring's runes began to glow the same blue and another pool was formed in the ring. He examined his work, the ten portals on the ground were easy enough with his staff, but getting a sustained portal in such a small space and flat as the ring was something he could be proud of. His requested sentinels came into the room and stood by awaiting orders. Angmar ordered one of them to jump into the nearest portal to test his system. It did, and materialised beside Angmar with a blue mist coming from its' metal body. Excellent! This will prove most valuable in times to come, I have no doubt. He thought to himself with excitement. Angmar instructed the ten sentinels to position themselves around the ten portals and await his command. He walked out as they did as ordered. He still had much to do if he was to complete the role he had planned for himself. If what the princess was saying was true, then he could have whatever position he wanted in the trial. Angmar thought about this while he walked through the lower halls of his keep. He was never good at making decisions, especially if it was of something such as this. He wanted to be left alone in this world of madness, yet he wanted revenge on that so called 'King of Crystals', as Sombra had referred to himself within the confides of his mind, for trying to bend him to his pathetic will. With that in mind, he couldn't simply choose judge, jury requires multiple individuals for it to not create uproar, so that left one position of power he could take, and be proud of. I wonder if they will even know what and executioner is in this dreadful place? He mused to himself. And of course, if he was going to perform the role of bringer-of-death, then he might as well look the part. He continued down his maze of halls until he got to the deepest room in his fortress, it was where he had found the dragon's skeleton, and where the gold and jewels remained. After some searching with his magic, he found something that would suit his needs, apparently some of the iron that was down here was unable to be moved via the iron golems because of some enchantments upon the metal itself. Angmar went over the enchantments and found that they were nothing of great value, it was likely to be used as a ceremonial purpose because all he could tell from them was that when moved at a certain speed, it would create a deep purple trail behind it. Not useful, but could be used to his advantage, a nice fear factor if nothing else. He was getting tired from the exertion of using so much magic but he figured he could do a few more things before resting. He shaped the enchanted metal into the best instrument for death, at least by human expectations. It was a large scythe, the shaft was a s tall as him and made from another blackwood spear that was left in the room and the blade extended about a foot above his head, the blade was double sided and had the pattern of many skulls between the sharp edges. Perfection. He found his creations to be amusing him more and more. He erected some training statues for him to practice his swing with the massive blade. He took a careful swing at the first one to get a feel of its' weight. It cleanly cleaved the statue in half from head to toe. Another swing, another split statue, this one horizontally. Another, another, and another. Angmar was satisfied with the blade and his abilities with it. He was pleased with the effect given off by the blade when it was swung also.

He was ready.

He traversed his halls back to the courtyard, the weight of his shoulders becoming more and more apparent as he walked. He would need to rest, and soon. Perhaps during the flight? No, to much happening, need to remain focused on the task at hand. He decided he would simply tell them to postpone the trial whilst he slept. He arrived at the doors to his keep, and walked out them to the courtyard. As instructed, Alduin was waiting for him to give orders. Angmar climbed onto Alduin's back and onto a saddle he had made earlier for him. The dragon had the sense to have it put on before he got there.

Alduin asked across a mental connection. "What is our heading Drog?"

"To the city of 'Canterlot', I shall have my revenge on that meat-sack! Perhaps their elders could see my point of view. Maybe we could even strike a deal, I get left alone, I don't kill them? Your thoughts?"

"An intriguing plan Drog, although from what I have seen of them, I have doubts on their reaction to your proposal."

Angmar mentally scoffed. "Perhaps they will be less than willing, although, I expect them to require some....convincing."

Alduin accepted his master's answer and took off. Angmar had one hand on the saddle, securing himself, and the other holding the scythe in a pose that would make it easy for him to strike at anything around him. The flight would not take long, less than an hour at best, but that was no reason to let his guard down.

The flight was going well, the forest was behind them and the town he had originally visited was just passing beneath him. The city of Canterlot was coming closer and closer, he was preparing his magic for transporting his guards when he arrived. At long last the city borders had past underneath. The ponies wouldn't be able to notice him yet unless they were looking. Time to fix that.

One quick mental command later, and Alduin let out a roar that would have deafened and petrified any who were in his close proximity. He assumed it got the message across when he saw ponies leaving their home to gawk at him, aswell as guards scrambling to their posts and sharing glances with me and Alduin. As I passed over the outer wall over Canterlot I instructed Alduin to land in an open area, and so we did. Ponies swarmed around us in panic. We simply continued towards the castle in a walk/crawl, which is all that Aduin could do with his body structure. Eventually guards surrounded us and I told Alduin to stop.

"Halt in the name of the princesses! You will--" The guard in front of him called out.

"YOU will speak when spoken to you dimwitted inferior!" Angmar replied, remaining atop Alduin.

The guard was surprised and gained some anger in his voice. "You would be wise to hold your tongue creature! Now, you will drop your weapons and--"

"Drop my weapons?! And give them to the likes of some idiot grunt?! HA!" Angmar said examining his scythe, drawing his armoured finger against the edge of the blade.

"GRUNT?!? I will have you know that I am captain of the royal guards! And now I demand that you listen to your superior!"

"Last I checked LORDS have guards, such as captains!" He finished with a snap of his fingers. He used the magic in his staff to summon the ten sentinels awaiting him. They all appeared at his level, causing them to hit the ground with ten loud thumps. All of them in ready positions after standing up from their short fall. Angmar then levitated himself off of Alduin's back and landed on the ground, allowing the dragon to rear his head back to look more imposing. His power was nearly drained, he would need to be careful with the engagement.

The captain was taken aback by the sudden appearances. "Tell your guards to stand down and you will all be treated fairly. You have trespassed, caused panic, and used teleportation magic in a non-legal fashion in this case, bringing troops into the city! I can promise a fair trial with the princesses if you stand down NOW! Or else we will be for--"

"SHINING ARMOUR, YOU WILL STAND DOWN AT ONCE!" A voice that Angmar didn't recognize boomed from above. Both Angmar and the now-identified captain looked up to see another alicorn, this one was white though, with a rainbow-esk mane that was flowing. She didn't look to happy with the guards, but when her gaze turned to Angmar her face turned to one of worry. She lowered herself to the ground to stand between Shining Armour and Angmar. "Lord Angmar, I presume?"

"Princess Celestia I presume?" He replied flatly, his rage at the captain's insolence faded slowly.

"Correct. We have prepared a room for you, but we were not expecting a dragon to be accompanying you. I shall send word to have a place set out for it to reside while we discuss. Would you be alright with being escorted to the castle by myself and these guards?"

"Do you enjoy the prospect of their heads being severed from their shoulders?" Angmar asked, retaining his flat tone with his distorted voice.

Celestia seemed to take the hint and sighed. "Then follow me. I shall lead you to the castle and to your quarters."