King Nothing

   Thousands of bodies littered the plains below, both of harmonious and chaotic  creatures. One amongst them yet stirred to life, it's shape twisted as tendrils shot towards the many corpses. Sickening cracks and splashing of blood made a mockery of the battle field, once a final resting place of the dead.

  With bodies twisting into something else the world watched silently as this new strange creature rose from the ashes. Bones and flesh mending together from each one of the various corpses, the shape growing larger as each body was added.

  A massive head shot outwards with skin stretching to it's furthest and ripping away, roaring in unimaginable pain as it's body formed. It's cries were noticed by another, The Giver. She heard the pained shrieks, with a glad heart she went to help whatever made such noise. The creature of corpses brought forth a massive fore leg down onto the ground with force, still it's body wasn't complete.

  The Giver arrived to witness the creature being born of death and decay writhe as it's hind legs built themselves. The creature fought to stand as it's new found body was so weak and powerless, it's eyes darting around in confusion and fear. The Giver could no longer sit and watch this being's struggle, she had to help it somehow.

  With a careful grace she made her way towards it, caution permeating her motions. It's eyes locked onto her with fury, her eyes showed no fear.

  "I am no threat to you... I only wish to help." Her words soothed the creature as it no longer glared. "Can you speak?"

  "Drthaiw grogvh trask olgd." It answered back. The Giver stood dumb struck as it spoke vastly different from her.

  "I didn't understand anything you just said." The Giver deadpanned. "Perhaps you need some food? Or water?"

  As The Giver spoke she willed a lake before the creature, smiling as it crawled closer to the body of water. The creature plunged it's head under the surface taking in massive intakes of the liquid, pieces of it's flesh falling softly onto the water's surface like snow. It reared it's head out after drinking it's fill, crawling back to it's original spot.

  "Well someone was thirsty." The Giver giggled turning back to the lake, which now turned a sickly brown. "Huh, that's interesting."

  She scooted closer to the water's edge, the murky brown lake gave off a foul stench like a corpse. The Giver examined the water as it's sickly brown waves sloshed against the dirt, with a small amount of effort she conjured a fish in her hand and set it in the water. Seconds passed before anything happened, The Giver thought that the water had no ill effect upon life. The fish she conjured floated slowly up towards the surface: the eyes were blown out, it's scales ripped away leaving open cuts and deep gauges visible, it's fins mangled with twisted bones sticking out.

  The Giver stood aghast as the once living being floated lifelessly at the surface.

  "I do not understand, that water was clean and fresh." The smell of decay became too much for the loving spirit causing her to gag. "Only after he drank from the lake did the water become this way... born of death and decay... hmmm so many questions."

  It watched her with it's many eyes, all twelve focusing upon her with interest. It watched her throw something into the liquid and reacted vividly, scrunching her face in a revolted fashion. As young as the creature was it had a rough understanding of emotions, it watched silently with all of it's eyes on this woman.

  ##########

  King Sombra watched as his princess slept peacefully, he dare not wake her. With him just entering their room after four hours arguing with Cadence he wasn't willing to risk another unhappy princess. Since his soul of justice and honor won the battle of control life ran rather smoothly. His heart never stopped beating, the wedding would be within a month.

  "Ugh... Sombra? Is that you?" Called a very groggy Celestia with her arms outstretched. "Its late, come to bed."

  "Yes my angel." One could hear his smile that grew on his face. "I hope I didn't wake you."

  "Nonsense, how was your meeting?"

  "Well allow me to say I have never heard a princess yell so much about 'if I'm a threat' among other things. I couldn't wait to come to bed." Sombra slid next to Celestia, wrapping his arms around her waist. With his "little spoon" secured, Sombra fought to enjoy this moment before fatigue struck his body. "How was your day?"

  "Boring as ever." Celestia yawned as she snuggled closer to Sombra, she could feel his heart beating in his chest. "Delegates from Saddle-Arabia opening a new shipping route with Manehatten. Same things everypony does in power."

  "From what everypony has told me I did things differently."

  "Yeah well we all aren't connected to dark magic like you are, we simply can't just take things." Celestia giggled, the very same giggle Sombra would do anything to hear. "Plus no offense dear but we have allies whereas you ruled alone."

  His smile dropped ever so slightly, one with a trained eye could catch it... like Celestia.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring anything up my love." Celestia could feel her heart drop at the situation she caused. Until she was tackled and being tickled ruthlessly by Sombra.

  "All that's in the past, I live for the here and now my angel." His tickling subsided into cuddling with his beloved, both wore smiles. "I love you."

  "I love you too, my handsome king."  Celestia gave Sombra a small peck on his lips. "But it's time for bed, I know what your thinking and the answer is no."

  "I am not thinking of anything of the sort!" Sombra quickly defended. "After being yelled at for hours I just want some rest."

  Sombra waited for Celestia's remark but none came, her gentle snores were her answer. He chuckled at her actions and she looked so cute when sleeping. His own eyelids grew heavy and soon sleep overcame him.

  When the the clock struck three Sombra awoke, three more hours till his angel would wake. He eased himself off the bed slowly and carefully as not to wake Celestia. Once he was sure he didn't wake Celestia he slowly opened the door to the hallway. The normally stoic guards were fast asleep. He shook his head with a chuckle at the famed royal guards.

  Down the hall he crept with his stealth levels increasing as he neared the throne room. His eyes quickly found the night guards, darkness was his element and all that went with it. They locked their eyes on him with a cautious look unhidden in their gaze, even after all this time many still didn't trust Sombra.

  "Is Princess Luna accepting visitors?" The once Godking asked with a small smirk gracing his features. "Or would I be wasting time?"

  "Her majesty is welcoming all who seek her council should they wish. Tread carefully master of shadows we will be watching you." The first guard hissed.

  "If Princess Luna should no longer wish to speak with you, you will leave immediately. Understood?" The second guard growled at Sombra, who merely smiled at these two. The large doors opened slowly, giving the throne room an ominous vibe.

  "Thank you Gentlecolts." In Sombra walked with his head held high as he was to face his rival of such time. There she sat with scrolls all around the lavish room, eyeing each parchment with care.

  Taxes increasing and decreasing as the nobles would have dictated for the past five hundred years, something Luna would change very soon. The sound of coughing brought her out of her study, Sombra smiled with a small bow of respect.

  "What do I owe the honor of having my sister's stallion in my court?" Still some tension even after two years. "Or do you simply wish to annoy us?"

"Quite the contrary Luna, I came to ask a question."

  "Oh? Then ask and we shall answer the best we can." Luna stated, preparing for whatever question he could ask.

  "Why do you harbor such mistrust and suspicion towards me?" Luna sat with a dumbfounded look as if she had been struck. "Why must we always be at odds? Is it because you feel like I'm stealing your sister away, I couldn't do that."

  "Yes, we felt it was an attempt to take what only family we have away from us... We... I thought you just wanted her all to yourself and never saw me as a part of her. She is the only sister I have. I don't want to be separated from her again..." Luna fought back her tears as she confessed the root of her contentment, as she choked out her sadness Sombra wrapped her in a comforting hug.

  "I'd never split a family apart, not by my choosing. I consider you my sister, I would also like to give my apologies for when I was that monster." Sombra sat with Luna for an hour. "Luna, I would be honored if will you accept my hand in friendship."

  "Of course I will..." Luna's tears lessened after what was said, she wore a weak smile. "Do not expect us to not prank you."

  "I'll wait for it when it happens."

  ############

  Death himself knew the terror of the creature born from his cold embrace, it wasn't his child. It wasn't part of the design of life created by The Giver, no it was something far from natural. It was alien to the cycle as it could kill but not die, it knew of pain though. But to hurt it was vastly inferior to what it would retaliate with. It carried a sickness that bent the cycle out of shape, to be reborn in it's image. It's horrible presence would poison everything around it.

  Death watched the great battle between The Giver and it, the lands were warped beyond saving. The Badlands. So many tainted by it's poisonous presence.

  Death saw it all play out.

  The Giver landed with a crack of thunder echoing, her stance shows she has no other options anymore. Across from her it stands. She has dubbed it The Beast for it knows nothing other than all that she stands against.

  The Beast ripped the head of an enemy with it's fingers, it's head turns towards it's new foe on the field of battle. All of it's eyes lit with an hellish rage born from the very blackest pits. The Beast charged headlong ignoring many of the other combatants as it surged, The Giver watched it move at incredible speed towards her. She collapses onto the once lively plains as The Beast smashes into her, it's eyes searching for weaknesses it could exploit.

  "Beast many a time I've tried to reason with you, yet this is what you wish!" The Giver spits, her voice is heard all around on the battlefield.

  "Whtophsr grah tresha duhmith!" The Beast challenges with it's claws at the ready. Faster than lighting The Beast's claws rain in a barage of melee strikes. Many are blocked yet a few land upon The Giver, she screams in pain as one of the claws pierce her armor. The Beast can feel the blood rushing out onto it's claws, with a satisfied snarl it licks the blood away.

  Hours turned to days as the battle continued with the only two fighters left, gods who clash with enough force to move mountains. They both wear heavy wounds but only one is worn from the fight. She will not allow this monster to roam freely upon the world.

  As her strength wains she knows what she must do.

  The Beast growls as it's form begins to heal the cuts, once done it charges again. The Giver's body lightens from within causing The Beast to halt in confusion.

  "The world needs not to remember what you are, I pray for you to one day know the light and cease this madness. I shall not allow you to destroy what I created being born from death and decay, for you shall be imprisoned far from what lands you have tainted with your sickness!" With her words the ground around The Beast rose in massive pillars that leaned over The Beast's form. It growled again in defiance at these words, it charged her once more only to fall.

  The Beast's eyes locked onto a stone shackle the held it's legs down tightly, it pulled it's own leg trying to break free and kill The Giver. As The Beast roared it's hatred and rage to the skies another shackle locked onto it's neck holding The Beast still, The Beast thrashed in pain as said shackle tightened.

  The Giver smiled as The Beast couldn't escape it's bindings, with one final push she ended her life, creating nine special objects. The first three were her daughters: Faust, Celestia, and finally Luna. Each one still infants.

  The six other pieces became the Elements of Harmony, found within the the Tree of Harmony that was created from The Giver's body. All these came from The Giver as the final things to be given from her, and each one was carried to a far off land. Before The Giver closed her eyes for the last time she stole a glance at The Beast that was being swallowed by the earth. It thrashed as hard as it could to escaped it's prison, yet there it stayed within it's shackles to be forgotten to time and memory.