The Empire Meets Equestria: Star Wars Esqueby Poetic BronyChaptersEmE Chapter 1 "Two grenades one gut"EmE Chapter 2 "Zebra Stew?"EmE Chapter 3 "Meeting the locals"EmE Chapter 5 Apple RoundupEmE Chapter 6 The PrincessesEmE Chapter 7 Three Great PowersEmE chapter 8 Can you handle the Truth?EmE Special: Myth and Legends collision coursePrologue: Undercover MissionEmE Chapter 4 "Gathering the Elements"EmE Chapter 1 "Two grenades one gut""Sir? Sir? are you all right sir?" AED-One asked his groggy master. Visage's head was pounding and the world seemed to be spinning as his vision cleared up he managed to answer his mechanical compatriot. "Yes One I'm fine...but what the Frak happened?" "We were thrown by the shock wave of the ship when the engines ruptured. While you were out after hitting your head we were knocked off of our proper course and have now crashed into an unknown planet." AED-One said in his normal mechanical tone. Visage rubbing the back of his head as he let this sink in. "I missed all the fun? If only I was immortal and invulnerable." He was talking more to himself than to his droid. "I wouldn't call what occurred 'fun' I am programed for logical processing not humor." AED-One said. Visage just rolled his eye's could have fooled me he thought while looking around at his new surroundings. The ship seemed to be intact the canopy looked to be half underwater if you consider the brown colored muck that was obscuring the lower half of the transpersteel windshield, water. "So, a swamp world like Domir?" Visage said thinking aloud. "Or just a swamp." AED-One replied. "That's it AED-1 time to sleep." Visage told the droid just as AED-One was about to respond Visage pressed in the button at the base of the metallic skull and with that the Droid imploded becoming a baseball sized sphere. Activating the storage utility on in his gem he put the droid away while producing a black bundle a small ear piece and his two blood sabers. Visage turned off the gem and unfurled the black mass revealing the cloak of a Shadow Knight which he donned, then grabbing the hood flipped it over his head, next he attached the two blood sabers to his sides. The two cylinders didn't hang like most Knights had them. Instead they were situated in more of a horizontal fashion with the blade emitters facing back. Visage then placed the ear piece in in his right ear pressing on it twice fast it came to life. A creeping metal flowed out covering Visage's face. The mask activated as it finished solidifying the eye slots glowed an eerie red. Now the Dark Lord was ready to face this new planet. Making his was to the aft of the pod he popped the hatch with a wave of his hand using the Force to pull the lever. The door swung up and out with a hiss as the gases escaped. The landscape was unfriendly the ship had landed in a bog, or swamp, Visage saw that several trees at the far end of the swamp had lost their tops and were still smoldering from the impact of the fireball of a ship. The pod apparently skipped a few times before coming to a halt in it's final resting place. The Dark Lord using his left hand pulled up on the right sleeve of his cloak revealing the glove that held the gem. Once again activating the gem several glowing charts were presented to him. "So it is at least it's an oxygen enriched environment." Visage said in a now more metallic voice. "I might not be needing the mask but lets see about the locals." Just as he finished the sentence as if on que an ugly beast of a head appeared apparently curious as to what had disturbed it's swampy home. "Your ugly.... you kind of remind me of Dormir." Are you related to the Drragg's on that planet??" Visage asked the monstrous head, just as three more rose up out of the swamp. "Oh look you brought friends." Visage sneered as he felt the intent coming from the creatures. All four heads were looking at the dark figure two of them were licking their gnarled mud caked lips as the other two let out a roar for the feast. "I'm not your diner...you beasts. If you leave peacefully I won't have to kill you." Visage was trying to reason with the monsters but to no avail one of them lunged forward muddy maw opening wide revealing jagged misshapen teeth. Visage used his own power to fly up just as the head came crashing down where he stood. Mud splashed in every direction and the pod started to sink into it's soupy grave. Visage was not pleased. Landing on the head of the monster that had tried to eat him he looked into it's glowing green eyes, as the slits that where it's pupils focused on him. Visage's hands disappeared into the folds of his cloak reappearing with two black balls that had pins in them, that he pulled using his thumbs. Two more of the creatures were preparing to strike. As they opened their maws he threw the orbs into them. The two heads reared back making a strange face as they swallowed the small black things. All four heads then looked dumbfounded. Visage jumped off the head he was standing on noticing a patch of solid ground that had a withered looking tree and a large boulder residing on it. Visage somersaulted in the air landing lightly, behind the tree. He peered out of the make shift hiding spot to notice two things. The monsters were not monsters, but monster singular and it was charging towards him. "Two grenades, one gullet. This will not end well." Visage said as he got as low as he could behind his cover waiting for the imminent explosion. The Monster stopped it's advance as the two Firimite Grenades went off inside the beast's belly. The monster had never felt anything like this. Racked with pain it's whole lower body caved in on itself breaking bones with a loud crack wreaking havoc with it's internals. Just as quickly as the pain came it suddenly felt nothing, for it was blown apart. Pieces of monster were sent skyward as several small shock waves charged with energy rippled out over the swamp. One of the heads fell just behind the ducking Dark Lord who was getting up as red and green goo along with mud caked scales rained down into the swamp. "I said this wouldn't end well for you." Visage stated flatly. "Never try eating Imperials or you'll be blown to pieces." He finished. "Are there any other beings that want to try and eat me!?" Visage yelled out into the swamp. With no reply forthcoming he spoke in a whisper. "That's what I thought." Now without any more immediate distractions Visage concentrated, his consciousness flowing outwards. He felt a great darkness somewhere to the far North and two beings of light to the East. "Oh, the choices! a Dark Lord up North or White Hander's to the East." Visage said activating his gem again this time a hover bike formed in front of Visage he Jumped on the back of it just as it solidified hitting the accelerator and Speed off, heading North. It didn't take long for the Swamp and Forest to zoom by and Visage soon found himself flying through blizzard like conditions. He didn't care because of his warm black cloak that was partially trailing behind him. Also his mask which had infrared capabilities, so despite the wall of white in front of him, Visage could still see. King Sombra was in a foul mood. Not that he wasn't always in a foul mood, but today he was even in more of a foul mood than usual. Something was coming, he could feel it. No pony can challenge my rule. Even those sister's haven't dared to try. Though rumors of an army being raised in Canterlot were being whispered. Sombra was deep in thought when one of his Pegasus guards burst in. "Sorry to disturb you your Majesty but we have an intruder." The crystalline Pegasus said. Visage broke through some kind of barrier. Stopping his bike he looked at his surroundings. Putting the bike back into his gem. Visage looked up at the sky it was a red orange mix and the place was covered by black crystal. There were seemingly transparent, flying horses that were overseeing some similar looking land bound horses in the distance. Visage started walking over to where the flying horses were. "Halt! Who...or what! are you?" A clear Grey flying hoarse with blackened mane asked. "Oh, and here I thought I might be the only intelligent being on this planet. I'm surprised you speak the common tongue and you seem sentient, for being a hoarse." Visage Replied. The hoarse landed a few feet away eying the dark creature. "I'm no hoarse, I'm a crystal pony Pegasus. This is the Crystal Empire, ruled by our King, Sombra. Now, speak your business creature, why are you here?" The Pegasus said. Visage looked at this Pegasus incredulously. I'm a creature? Well I suppose that's true if I'm the first Imperial to land err..crash here, but that also means there are no humanoids on this planet? Visage wondered. "I'm here to see the Dark Lord of the Zah I felt. Is he or she around?" Visage asked the Pegasus. "I don't know any Dark Lords, except Sombra who isn't a Lord but a King." The crystal Pegasus replied. King Sombra well so much for an ally on this planet. Visage reached out with the Force feeling the hate, anger, and despair all around him. There wasn't an ounce of hope to be felt anywhere. Looking at the Pegasus, Visage realized something, it was under a spell, or Force brainwash or perhaps both. There was no light in it's eyes, in fact the eye's of this Pegasus were glowing dark green and had red irises and silted pupils just like that swamp monster. Poor Pegasus doesn't realize it's being manipulated. Visage had a very big problem with this. Only enemies of the Empire, or in dire situations was any form of mind control allowed. If any Imperial Shadow Knight or White Hander was caught using any form mind control they were to be punished severely, and this king Sombra seems to have brainwashed an entire Kingdom. Visage tightened his left fist, putting out his right hand he concentrated on breaking the dark hold that was over this poor Pegasus. The Pegasus started rubbing his head. He felt as though a fog was being lifted. Regaining his senses and focus he saw a creature that stood on two legs holding out one of his extremities towards him. Realizing what had happened, the only thing he could do was sink to the ground. Remembering the horrible things he had done for the unicorn, that was his king washed over him like a title wave. Feeling like vomiting he looked again at this dark creature that was his savior, of his mind at least. Trying to shake off the nightmarish memories he got back on his four hooves. "Thank you....umm? I'm sorry what do you call yourself creature?" The Pegasus barely managed to ask. "I'm Visage, of the Faraxian, Imperial Shadow Knights. What is your name Pegasus?" Visage asked his freed friend. "Sky Shift, I am, or was, thanks to you, a Captain of Sombra's Army. I...am...or was in charge of watching over the slaves and punishing them for not working." Sky Shift muttered almost inaudibly. "Well Sky Shift, Sombra's rule will shortly be at an end. What you have been doing isn't your fault. Imperial punishment is death to any who abuse mind control powers. I seem to have arrived just in time to exact Imperial justice on this soon to be, dead king." Visage said enraged. Sky Shift looked shocked he had never heard of any such law but then again he was just freed by this Visage so it might be true. "Come Sky, we have work to do." Visage strode off headed to where the other Pegasai were closely watching over the earth bound slaves. Sky Shift fallowed the tall figure in hopes that this being was honest and would not become a new tyrant king. Visage and his new ally freed all of the slaves both from physical chains and chains of dark magic. It only took a Minonn for them to free all of the ponies as they were called. King Sombra and those with him in the castle were all that was left to clean up. Visage smiled wide under his mask all of the freed slaves watched after him as he stormed the castle gates by himself. Sombra's anger had never been hotter. In the last few hours his own army as well as all of his pony slaves were freed from his control. Sombra was trying to recapture his Pegasus army putting them back into his thrall, but to no avail something powerful was blocking his magic and his influence. Sombra just waited patiently for whoever or whatever it was. At first he thought it was the two sisters, but this power was dark and they were light. So who had this kind of dark influence. Discord? Perhaps? No, he was nothing but a stone statue thanks to the pair of alicorns. Sombra was racking his brain thinking about all of the dark figures who rampaged across the continent centuries past, nothing in his memory fit this new presence though. Sombra was wrapped up in thought when his throne room doors exploded inwards his answer was looking right at him. Visage climbed the stairs freeing the remaining Pegasus guards from Sombra's mind control as he ascended. Finally after walking down a lengthy hallway Visage came before two large ornate doors he could feel Sombra's Dark power within. Visage rage grew, not caring about anything else he extended a hand pointing it at the two doors he let loose a charged energy blast. The explosion threw one door several yards into the throne room the other was hanging by a single hinge that couldn't hold the heavy door up on it's own soon giving way under the strain making the door hit the crystal floor with a resounding thud and crack. Visage stepped through the now open doorway. Waving a hand he used the Force to clear the air of settling debris. Visage stared at the creature that was sitting on a black crystalline throne. Visage saw one of the biggest ponies he had thus far encountered. Looking into those green eyes with blood red irises and abyss like pupils was disconcerting this creature was so tainted with dark energy his eyes had changed and it's horn was a nasty shade of red that turned black near the base of it's skull. Walking toward the throne and the thing sitting upon it, the creature spoke to him. "Why have you come to my domain creature? Why have you disabled my control spells? What are you?" Sombra was furious but also curious. This being before him was dark in nature that he could sense, but why attack his kingdom? Why free the enslaved? Sombra wanted answers. Many more questions he had, but this thing now stopping it's advance and seemed perplexed. Visage shrugged at the onslaught of questions, but also barked out some of his own. "Why have you enslaved these ponies? Why have you stolen the throne from the true rulers? Who do you think you are? Visage was more sarcastic with his last question. Sombra getting up off his throne was intrigued never before had such a creature as this existed, that he knew of. Sombra was circling this being before him like a curious cat about to pounce, but waiting patiently to strike. First Sombra needed answers, if he recast his control spell and there were more things like this one they would be freed again. "I'm king Sombra. I rule the Crystal Empire. The ponies here are weak and helpless so they are lucky I haven't ended their miserable existence. Instead, I make them useful to me and the Empire. Now, why did you set them Free? By the look, and feel of you your just as dark hearted as I am." Sombra spoke with authority and a hint of curiosity. Visage stood his ground standing still under the scrutiny of the Dark King. "What am I?" Visage actually directed his question more at himself than Sombra. "Good question, I am a Dark Lord one of thirteen who help our Emperor rule the Galaxy. I am a scholar, a student, a master, a believer, I am Visage." Sombra took this in. Thirteen? Galaxy? Emperor? More beings like this one? Sombra started feeling something he hadn't felt in a long time. Sombra was afraid. "Oh, yes I forgot." Visage continued at his now captive audience. "I'm here to kill you." Visage stated factually. Sombra's eyes went wide then almost instantly narrowed. Sombra laughed. "You...kill me!" Sombra said still chuckling. "For what reason do you....Visage have to kill me?" Sombra sneered at him lowering his head while his ears went back, stomping his hoof to charge this usurper. "Do you want the full list or a summery?" Visage ignoring the Unicorns threat altogether. Sombra's head snapped up ears perking back up. "Oh, by all means lets have the full list." Sombra said sarcastically. Ignoring him he started the list. "Sombra by on behalf of the Marcisian Empire you are found guilty of using dark magic, murder, enslavement of a sentient race, mind manipulation, mind control, abuse of knowledge, abuse of power, conquest of a land that does not belong to you, and last but not least, just plain pissing me off. Now, most of these charges carry a death sentence so pick one, you Fraking sadistic, Skath sucking, Blort Worm! Visage emphasized the worm part at the end of his speech. Sombra was not impressed in the least and even though he had no idea what a blort worm was he knew that it was clearly an insult. Sombra channeling his dark magics in his horn encased Visage in crystal then made two bigger pillars of dark crystal smashing them together crushing the crystal chamber and the would be usurper. The sound of crushing crystal was deafening but Visage didn't care he had gotten out of the trap and was floating in mid air legs crossed and masked face resting in his hand his arm was resting on the knee of his left leg. Visage shook his head and sighed. The mad king was laughing his Crath off. Visage interrupted the celebration. "Add attempted murder of an Imperial Shadow Knight and endangered species to that list." Visage stated as Sombra stopped laughing looking around for the one who said that, finally looking up his eyes betraying him he was in shock. "But, but, I crushed you! You should be dead!" Sombra yelled at the floating Dark Lord. "Well, first your spells are slow, and second you missed me. You know, you kinda, remind me of a Dormirian Slug you aren't related to them, are you?" Visage asked quizzically. "Na, can't be they're not as ugly as you, and I wouldn't want to insult them by thinking that your related." Visage said answering his own question. Sombra went from surprise to shock to furious so fast his horn started to boil. Black and green bubbles formed and burst making Sombra's horn look like an overflowing pot on too hot of a stove. "I'm going to kill you Monster!" Sombra screamed. "You tried already...it's my turn now." Visage replied while landing on the ground. Reaching out with the force he chocked the mad king crushing his larynx then force crushing his lungs for good measure lifting the shocking mess of a unicorn off the ground Visage strode over to the beast. "You want to know why? Hmm? Lets see I have a code of honor that I live by. Peace is fleeting so I thirst for knowledge, through knowledge I gain power. Shadow Knights don't thirst for power, we don't embrace hatred, we don't fear, and we don't want any being to fear us. That is why we became apart of the Empire, to free people from fear, the fear of loss, oppression, of being alone. We have all lost something in our search for knowledge. For those who have felt the pain of loss, then overcome it, can overcome anything, even the power of corruption from the dark side. The Zaharaj have embraced the darkness, have calmed it, tamed it, and we are now allied with it. We no longer fear it, we need it, to become balanced. You, Sombra, are not balanced you kill, you enslave, because you are weak, you have fear and you let that fear grow into hatred. You've been consumed by your hatred, therefor your light has extinguished, and you must die for peace to return." Visage's masked face was mere inches from the grasping dark king as he spoke in a quiet reverence. Visage released his hold on Sombra the unicorn slumped onto the hard floor gasping for air. His lungs burned and throat pained. How can someone like this exist no being can tame the dark side what Visage said was all true, he knew that. He did become corrupted, and he was proud of it. Sombra got back on four hooves though still shaky from lack of oxygen and burning lungs he couldn't allow his kingdom to fall to this being. Sombra gathered as much dark magic as he could muster he had to kill Visage. This mockery of the dark side was an abomination you can't rule the unruly. Sombra thought as he sent crystal shards, arrows and an assortment of other sharpened looking objects at his opponent. Visage was dodging and weaving through the hailstorm of crystals. Dagger like small ones and larger massive ones all trying to pierce or crush him. Visage weaved over to the dark unicorn and force blasted him at near point blank rage. He then jumped floating just above the still in the air king Sombra and used multiple force blasts and one energy blast for good measure on the dark king that was still in flight. Sombra was hurtled to the floor the force blasts pounding on him making a crater in the middle of the throne room then just as he was about to stand a dark purple ball of energy hit him in the flank exploding on impact. Sombra screamed from the pain trying to use his dark magic to heal the wound that Just wouldn't stop burning. Sombra sent more crystals the Dark Lord's way using levitation magic he pulled a scythe from behind his throne bringing it to float beside him. if he couldn't use magic to kill Visage then the old fashioned way would have to suffice. Visage was dodging the last of the crystal storm when he noticed Sombra had a pretty big Scythe levitating next to him. "Awe, is playing with dark crystals the only thing your good at? You must have had a horrible master. Being just a one trick pony is so sad." Visage mocked. Sombra so enraged and in pain just charged the mockery of a Dark Lord, he was stopped in his tracks once again Sombra was held up by the Dark Lords Force powers. The burning and crushing in his throat and lungs returned ten fold. Unable to concentrate on the magic to lift his Scythe Sombra heard it clang against the crystalline floor his last hope of victory was lost to him. Visage walked towards his captive holding out his left hand force gripping and choking him. Visage's right hand went inside his cloak he then withdrew it, now holding the hilt of one of his blood sabers. Pressing the button the dark purple tinted blade came to life with a snap hiss Visage swung it at his choking captive severing the disgusting horn from his head. The horn flew several feet then landed point down imbedding itself in the broken crystal floor. With a resounding crack from the horn's impact, immediately the horn's former owner screamed in pain. Visage let his howling captive free from his grip. Sombra hit the hard surface with a thud but didn't notice because he was still screaming in pain from the loss of his horn. Visage strode over straddling the fallen king blade humming in anticipation it seemed waiting for it's owner to finish off the dying animal. Sombra ever the tactician spoke to Visage despite the pain. He needed to by time to crawl over to his horn to reattach it and then kill this mockery of a being. "So you'll finish me then take my place? Admit it your no better than I am." Sombra managed to choke out. "I don't do this for me. I do this because It's what is right, it's what the Gods demand, it's what the Empire demands. We are Justice sent to punish the unjust, like you." Visage despised this creature that he knew must have at least once been benevolent. Sombra laughed at the absurdity. Despite the pain he smiled up at the bringer of death that was above him. "Your a fool, the Gods don't exist here! And, if they did, they have abandoned us long ago." Sombra said as he choked, spitting up black blood. Visage noticed the color of his blood he hated those with the cursed black blood of the fallen God and this unicorn's blood was as black as midnight. "So your not just a lair, your also a Skath worshiper." Visage spat at the no longer unicorn. Sombra trying to use the dark magic he'd gathered to heal his injuries both internal and external. Sombra balked at this despite the pain. "I worship no one. I am my own master." Sombra said, as he tried to get up but failing. "You lie your blood is black that makes you either a Fallen or a Skath worshiper." Visage stated holding his blood saber close to Sombra's neck. "That means your blood is just as black as mine. You kill me for justice yet your also tainted. Don't deny it I have felt the darkness in you too." Sombra was getting weaker. He couldn't hold out for longer His magic reserves were nearly depleted. He had to get to his horn. "Haa haa haa haa haa!" Visage laughed at Sombra. The absurdity was hilarious. "My blood black, this is the color of my blood, FOOL!" Visage mocked, as he grabbed Sombra by the neck jerking the unicorn out from under him and holding the purple blade in front of Sombra's shocked face. Visage then threw the Unicorn back down onto the floor. Visage then stood over the fallen dark king. Visage put the tip of his blood saber right over Sombra's heart. "I shall now send you to whatever God it is you worship then." Visage said as he grabbed the hilt of his blood saber with both hands bringing it up over his head then bringing it down plunging it deep into Sombra's black heart. Sombra screamed so loud it shattered the crystal windows and shook the castle walls. The energy blade seared his flesh as it entered his chest and made contact with his heart, ripping right through it and exiting out his back, melting a hole in the crystal floor beneath him. Sombra's life came to an abrupt end by a being that didn't even belong there. Visage watched as Sombra's body deteriorated becoming a black mist that floated up and disappeared. The only thing left of the dark king was his horn which Visage reached out with the force bringing it to his free hand. Gripping it and placing both it and his blood saber onto his belt. It was then that the final wisps of black mist vanished into nothingness that the spell went off. Waves of dark magic enveloped the entire Crystal Empire and all of the residents that it contained, including one Lord Visage. "Oh, Frak!" Was the last thing Visage managed to say before his body was forced to the ground rather violently, darkness soon fallowed. EmE Chapter 2 "Zebra Stew?"Visage's eyes opened. Sombra that vindictive Darragg tried to destroy everything in the Empire fortunately he failed. Visage thought Pressing on the right side of his mask twice so the metal covering his face retreated back into the small ear piece. Getting on his feet was easy enough, but he was worrying about the ponies outside. Hoping that they were O.K from Sombra's failed spell. Looking around the throne room that he was in realizing it had changed. The black crystals and throne were no longer there, the crystals had become softer shades of blues and pinks, the damage to the room during his fight with Sombra was somehow cleared up, and the doors to the room's entrance were both on their hinges and were now Royal Blue in color. "Magic." Visage said smiling "I guess you lose again Sombra your spell to destroy failed, the Empire still stands, and I believe it has reverted back, to how it was before your rule." With Sombra's dark presence gone Visage felt a the light of something close. It wasn't as powerful as the other two beings he felt when he arrived on the planet, but still he wanted to find it. Hoping to get answers from someone more benign, he set out to look for it. Visage looked for the entrance to the stairway leading down to a much lower hall. During the fight Visage took the liberty of reading Sombra's mind, and most of what he saw he would like to forget. There were some secrets that Sombra had tried to lock away, but Visage was powerful and looking into peoples thoughts was relatively easy for him. Finding the entrance was easy, how to open it was going to be hard. The information he needed wasn't divulged by Sombra. So Visage levitated in the air just above where the entrance to the tunnel should be, crossing his legs he started to meditate. It was several Mironns before he thought of an answer that didn't involve explosions. Visage still in the air retrieved the black and red horn from his belt. Visage channeled lightning into it, the spark of energy danced about his hands and off the horn that had started to bubble. With that black and green color emanating from the horn the floor started to turn black and dark but as it did a spiraling stair case was revealed. "I win again Sombra." Visage smiled again, putting his trophy away, he flew down the central hole ignoring the winding staircase. Landing on the bottom the only thing to be seen was a door that was plain but had a strange eye glyph just above it. Producing the horn once again Visage opened the door with the same lightning technique. A bright light poured through the opening. Visage shielded his eyes with his hand that held Sombra's horn. No wonder you sealed this place with dark magic this thing is your complete opposite. Visage wondered as he started his assent on the pure white staircase. Ironic that Sombra would use a dark staircase to lead down and a bright white one that spirals up. Peace is fleeting so I thirst for knowledge and this had better take me to it, because right now I need some. I don't know what kind of world I'm in but I need to get back home before I'm missed. Visage thought as he made his way up the steps. "Frak, this!" Visage yelled as he took flight and speed up to the top. The view was breathtaking the central tower of the castle had an open view. Visage could see that the Empire was no longer the cruel black it had just been but now a rainbow of colors. The citizens were milling about at the bottom of the castle. Visage felt the great confusion coming from the crowd Visage also being one of them. How did we survive Sombra's spell of destruction? How did everything get all glittery and shiny? How did the Empire get back to how it was? With more questions than answers Visage pulled off his hood and rubbed the top of his head. I did. "Wait, what..Who said err thought that?" Visage asked aloud. I saved My Empire it is why I was created, it is my purpose. Sombra sealed me because he didn't have enough power to destroy me. Visage came back from his view point walking towards a spinning crystal heart. It's a sentient crystal. Someone with powerful magic must have forged it. Visage thought. Yes, many ages ago when I was given purpose. Was the crystals response. Visage walked toward the floating sentient object. Wait, stop! Sombra left several more traps so that nopony can free me! The floating heart warned him. It was too late the last step Visage took activated. Glowing glyphs appeared on the floor just beneath his feet, Visage was sent flying as a powerful spell was unleashed directly at him. I didn't say I didn't warn him...Oh well he wasn't the one to save me anyway. The crystal Heart wasn't saved this day but now there was one less trap for a certain unicorn and her dragon assistant to worry about. Visage landed on something soft for once. The grass under him danced playfully in the wind. "I swear this planet hates me. What God did I drath off this time?" Visage asked but received no answer from the light breeze. Visage found himself close to where he had crashed. This is that forest that I flew over on my bike this morning. Or was it yesterday I never asked how time worked on this planet. As he was thinking he made his way out of the clearing and onto the edge of the woods. The Trees were familiar enough, but he didn't want to come across one of those four headed creatures again. Two grenades one gut...next time use only one grenade. Visage thought making his way through the forest. The clouds had started to gather and the wind was picking up. Just my luck a storm is brewing, Things just keep getting better and better. Walking around an unknown forest, on an unknown planet populated by sentient ponies, ugly four headed beasts, power mad unicorns, and Verse knows what else. Visage mussed as rain drops started falling making the leaves on the big trees surrounding him bend and dance as they were hit by small water drops. It wasn't long before the happy slaps of rain become a near torrent of water. The sky was also getting darker as Visage made his way along the path that he was fallowing, that he hoped would lead him to shelter. He felt there were beings in the direction he was going but the progress he was making was slow at best, the roots were slick and his boots weren't getting much traction on the wet forest floor. The rain was coming down in buckets now. Although Visage's cloak and boots were waterproof the wet still bothered him. Slog, slog, slurp...were the only sounds he could hear besides the pounding rain, the sky was also darkening the cloud cover and the canopy of now waterlogged leaves made vision impossible and with all of the vegetation around he couldn't use his mask his infrared would have completely Fraked up and he was forced into not wearing it, at least he still had the earpiece. Visage's own breath came out in puffs of steam due to the temperature dropping. "I swear this planet hates me." Visage said again swiping a wet branch he had nearly run into. "I can see it now, Lord Visage found wet and frozen in a forest. Death caused by his own stupidity. Or, near death he was revived after being defrosted." Just as he was smiling at his own humor he saw a light in the distance. "I don't know what lives out here but it's got to be better than trying to spend the night out in this Fraking Forest." Visage said as he sighed making a fresh wisp of vapor appear, clouding his vision for a moment before dissipating. He started out towards the source of the light. Visage emerged from the forest's shadows getting closer to a hallowed out tree where light was escaping from make shift windows. The cent of something cooking was in the air around the tree. The wet Lord walked over to the door and knocked, then waited. At first there was no answer, he knew someone lived here he saw the cauldron in the middle of the tree brewing something. "I am sorry to say, but whoever you are, please go away." A female voice said to the Dark Lord standing in the pouring rain. Visage was about to kick the door down but he didn't want to upset the woman inside, so he simply asked. "I'm sorry to bother you but I'm lost, my ship exploded, my escape pod sunk into a swamp, and some dark unicorn blasted me here with a spell. I just want a dry place to rest for a while. Will you please let me come in?" Visage waited for a response from the woman inside. "I have thought about it and say, you sound as though you've had a busy day." The woman said as the door swung open. Visage noticed that it was a pony who answered the door. No, a Zebra more specifically he recognized the stripes, and she was looking at him wide eyed, even though her eyes were already quite large to begin with. "I have been around the block or two, but I have never in my years seen some pony quite like you." The zebra said to him as he ducked through the open door that was a bit too small. At least the inside had enough room so he didn't have to hunch over. "So I've been told. The ponies in the Crystal Empire said that too." Visage told the still staring Zebra. Sitting down by the fire pit that had a cauldron of stew or something hanging over it Visage threw back the hood of his wet cloak. "So madam, to whom I must thank, you have saved me from a night out in this weather. The name's Visage I'm from the Empire and like I said I'm stuck here. Wherever here is." Visage said as the Zebra made her way over to him getting her face uncomfortably close to his. "Your eyes? Why though so dark, I see no lies?" The Zebra said quizzically. "Ya, I get that a lot too. Your eyes are creepy, your eyes are evil. Well some things are worth sacrificing, if you can save a single life. My eyes, although creepy now, when I change they go back to how they were, so they're um..temporary." Visage told his new benefactor. The Zebra had finally backed off and walked to the back of the tree house to get something. "I must say I am amazed, from the Crystal Empire? If this is true, then over a thousand years old are you." The zebra told her house guest. "Wait, what? What do you mean a thousand years old I haven't even been here a Denonn and it's already been a thousand years?" Visage wondered at this information. "Wait, what is your standard of time here?" Visage asked hoping that the time on this planet wasn't as bad as he thought. "What a strange question you have asked, but we go by Years, Months and days that have passed." The Zebra told him. "So twenty four hours is a day to you? I also assume you have minutes too?" Visage quipped back to the Zebra who was stirring the cauldron of stuff that had started bubbling. "I see that with time, you also too can rhyme. Though late, I have to say, I am Zecora by the way." Zecora said with a smile as she stirred her brew. Visage mulled this over in his head. O.K so if they have the same time frame as Earth, then that would mean, it's been a little over three hundred Onns since I got here? "Three hundred Onns. The Emperor will kill me not to mention those girls. Wait, if this is a different dimension then time might not matter much. I hope that this is one of Chaos's jokes because, I'm not finding this funny." Visage was thinking out loud, getting the attention of a stirring zebra. "You speak so free, who is this Chaos that plays joke's on thee?" Zecora asked. "That is a long story Zecora, but I can tell you how I got here and what happened up till now if you'd like?" Visage told his host. "I would not be sorry, to lend you my ear, for your story." Zecora seemingly eager to listen. Visage told her everything from his Captain's Folly to the ship's explosion. The Hydra incident, (Zecora telling him what the beast was called) when he crashed and his triumph over Sombra, then finally his slog through the forest, to his meeting with his new friend. "I can see, you've had the hardest time that can be. You've only been here one single day yet you've done more than most can say." Zecora said to her interesting house guest. Visage leaned against the wall of the tree house stretching out his legs so his boots were near the fire. Pulling his hands out from under the folds of his cloak and reaching out towards the warm fire he pulled at one of the dancing flames catching it with his right hand it turned from a red flame to bright blue one. Visage played with his new small fireball tossing it from hand to hand, then he made it float in mid air just above his palm. He closed his fist tight around it, as it burst and died. "I still think this planet has it out for me. No offense. I have got to be the worst undercover operative since the Zah was taken over by the Empire." He told the curious Zecora. "So tell me Visage do you have any stories from the Zahraj?" She asked this strange being from the stars. "Well it's Zaharaj actually, and no I don't have many stories from them, they record things on holocrons, but they also like the printed word too. I have been to quite a few planets though. I learned some wonderful stories during my apprentice Onns. Would you like to hear some? I think we have time. " If Zecora wanted to hear some stories he wasn't going to let her down. Zecora went back to string the stuff in the cauldron that had started bubbling again. She added some powdery stuff, then taking out the spoon she put it in her mouth tasting some of the liquid and looking like she was judging it, finally looking at Visage she nodded. "The hour is not so late, it is only between six and eight." Telling Visage the time. "So, seven o'clock then, there is plenty of time for some stories I think." Visage was used to seventy two hour days so it was still really early for him, though he wasn't so sure about Zecora's bed time. But even two hours was quite a lot of time to fill. With the weather outside as it was he didn't really want to tell anything sad or gloomy the constant rain was gloomy enough, but now he was dry and relatively comfortable, and Zecora didn't even mind him playing with her fire so he thought of something appropriate. "Here is something from the people on Vitio four, or was it three, well one of the two planets." Visage said. "I think that this might be right up your ally." He didn't think Zecora got the proverb because she raised a eyebrow at him and took another taste of her bubbling stuff. Visage was actually curious as to what it was she was making but he was afraid to ask. "Fire breathes, fire gives, and the fire in the soul, is where eternal fire lives. They seem to say that a lot on that planet. It's still bugging me, I don't remember which planet it was." Visage trailed off trying to remember. Throwing both arms in the air in mock surrender he gave up. Zecora watched him but still continued what she was doing. "So this next one is from is from the planet Theros." Visage said as he started his new anecdote. "In these times have miracles ceased? Not for those who still in God have belief. For there is a power so much greater in this dreaded hour. But you must watch and prepare like a blooming flour. For each flower has their time to shower. Effulgent light like a sun so bright, and give all who witness the spectacle of hope, even in the darkest of night. A single bloom, can light a room, and sweep away the darkest gloom. Now, what happens to darkness then? A radiant field on display, and evil will no longer have any sway. For it will be those flowers so free, that will calm the storms of calamity, and ignite the torch of liberty." Visage finished looking at a smiling Zecora it looked like she wanted to applaud but she was still stirring her stuff in the cauldron. So the two unlikely friends shared stories and rhymes but mostly Visage did the talking and Zecora was more than willing to listen. With her melodic voice she asked. "By now it's done, so would you like some?" Pointing her hoof not holding the spoon at the cloaked man leaning against her wall. Visage unsure of what to do had to ask. "I'm not sure? What is it exactly?" "So, it is true you have never had Zebra stew?" Zecora said spooning a bowl for her guest reaching over to him holding it in her hoof and presenting it to a bewildered Visage. "Um...Zebra stew I'm guessing it's not made of zebra cuz that would be completely fraked, and how do you hold things without fingers to grasp them?" Visage realizing he said the last part aloud. Zecora chuckled as Visage took the bowl from her. "It is not made of Zebra, I assure you. As far as holding with a hoof it's old to me, but new to you. It is just something, we learn to do." Zecora finished then resumed her chuckle. Visage shrugged at this, not reading too deep into it was probably a good idea. Still eying the green tinted liquid in the bowl he held, still unsure of it's contents. Well at least it smells good and I don't think she'd put poison in it she's been trying it out herself sever times and I don't think it'll kill me so what the Frak. With that Visage tipped the bowl up and poured the contents down his mouth. It was warm at least, and kind of spicy but it wasn't the worst thing in the Galaxy. "So, not afraid of my cooking I see, you poured all my soup, into your tummy." Zecora smirked as she spooned her own bowl blowing on it before each bite. Visage wondered if he'd done something wrong. He wasn't going to press the issue but she didn't really give him any eating utensils. So he did what he thought was proper. "I hope I didn't offend you Zecora you've been a fine host keeping a thousand year old Dark Lord in your home can't be easy." Visage apologizing for disturbing her routine. Zecora chuckled again at this. "For a Dark Lord you seem to care, so how is it that you give every pony else a scare?" Visage didn't know how to answer that one he is just who he is he never really thought about it. In his Galaxy The Shadow Knights were all well known and even the eye's didn't really bother most beings. "I have no idea. I guess you could say that I am like how you are, with how you can carry objects with your hoof you can't explain it, it just is." Visage said. Zecora lit up as she put down her now empty bowl. She walked over to one of the far walls where she put a hoof on a small crank, as she turned it the cauldron was lifted up away from the fire. The pulley system looked rudimentary to Visage, but it was functional enough. It was also most likely used to clean out the inside of it too. He noticed that there was a swing arm attached to the pulley, so that way the cauldron could be lowered to the floor safely away from the fire to be replaced or cleaned. Zecora looked over at her new friend after putting bowls and spoons away. She smiled again at him again while putting the last few spices on her shelf. At least now Visage had one real friend albeit a strange one, then again he was the outsider here. After a few moments and all of the major cleaning was done Zeroca told her new house guest. "I should get to bed soon you see, for tomorrow I will show you out of the Everfree." With that she went to the back of the tree house into a separate room that was off from the main room that they were in. Visage sat alone listening to the drumming rain thanking the Gods that he didn't have to sleep out in it. As the fire in the pit died leaving nothing but glowing embers Visage sat listening, feeling, something seemed off, at first he thought it was just his imagination but no, there was something wrong with this planet he could feel it, but couldn't quite put a finger on it. So the now dark room was quiet but it was betrayed by two glowing gold and purple eyes. Visage felt miserable and didn't know why. Perhaps questions will be answered once he gets back home where everything is normal. Though not very tired the two glowing orbs closed the Dark Lord was once again, asleep. EmE Chapter 3 "Meeting the locals"Visage awoke to see Zecora's big eyes right next to his face. "I'm sorry Zecora but why do you do that?" Visage asked the Zebra still groggy from his rest. "I'm so sorry that I pry, but I have never before seen one with such an eye." Zecora said in her usual rhythmic way. "What is it about them exactly? I know I tired to explain last night." Visage asked his new Zebra friend as he got up to stretch out bumping the ceiling of the Treehouse with his hands. He watched Zecora bring her cauldron down over the fire pit using the crank and pulley system. "I still can't get over your eyes of dread, but I keep seeing something shining behind them in your head." Zecora told Visage as he helped her take the cauldron off the metal hooks that held it up. "You can actually see that? I didn't think anyone besides my family and friends would notice that." Visage said shocked. Zecora chuckled she did that a lot. "When I first got here a monster the ponies dreamed, until Twilight Sparkle changed them all, it seemed." Visage thought about this for a while. "So, the people here dreamed up strange rumors about you and this Twilight Sparkle changed their minds?" Visage guessing at Zecora's saying. "Mmmhmm. Yes, you have guessed Twilight was the one who put the rumors about me to rest." Zecora told her tall friend. "Visage, I must say can you help me get something from town today?" Zecora looking at Visage as he was pushing the black cauldron out the door trying to get it outside and clean it. Visage stopped pushing and using the Force just levitated the black bulky thing outside there was a small pool of water near the Treehouse that apparently Zecora used to wash in. He could see the well worn path from the pool to the house. Visage brought the water up out of the pool like a slender snake then whipped it into the black pot a making the water spin round making a whirlpool inside the cauldron getting what was left of green soup off the sides and then up and out. Zecora came out to join him watching closely as he worked. He could tell she was waiting for an answer. Visage was still thinking Should I go into a town? what if I run into someone like Sombra again? Sounds to me like Zecora could use the company and it would be better than being a stranger in a strange town. Visage looked at the still waiting Zebra she had probably deduced that he was thinking about what to do. "I have decided to go with you. But, I cannot guarantee that I'll stay, I'm actually more comfortable out in this forest with you." Visage finally said to a nodding Zebra. "I cannot say if the ponies there would let you stay, but out here you might get in my way." Zecora stated. Visage didn't know who to take this he thought he was being useful but he didn't want to impose on Zecora any more if she liked her space. It's probably why she stays out here rather than in the town. perhaps she doesn't like being around others, or perhaps there was something about this place that reminds her of her home. Visage was thinking why the Zebra liked being out in the secluded forest. Visage levitated the now clean cauldron back inside the treehouse setting it next to the fire pit. Zecora put on a set of bags that laid across her back. The unlikely pair then walked out the door Zecora closing it behind her. "I must say, that we can now be on our way." Zecora quipped as she lead the dark figure trailing behind her. Visage liked the feel of the forest the Force was strong and the magic he also felt was just as potent. Visage pulled off his cloak putting it in his gem stone's inventory system, raveling his black short sleeved shirt that had the Imperial Symbol enblazed on the left shoulder. The pants that had pockets on the legs that were on the large side were also black and the bottoms were tucked into the matching boots the only thing that stood out on the boots was a silver colored plate on the area that covered the toes. The pants also had a few pockets on the sides situated in front of two silver and black colored cylinders that were affixed to the belt which also had the horn of a now dead unicorn stuck in it. Visage pulled on a silver colored chain around his neck out from under his shirt producing a silver ring. He let it dangle on the end of it's chain. He watched the twirling ring that had several red and a few blue stones imbedded in it. The stones had all become dull in color they weren't shining any more. He couldn't even feel his wife Riza who was much more powerful than even he was, nor could he feel Vira who wasn't quite Riza's level but she was close. He missed feeling their presence even from across the Galaxy he could feel all of his close friends and family especially those two, but now he didn't feel anything outside this planet and that had him worried. "Something is wrong with this place." Visage said out loud but talking more to himself than to the Zebra in front of him. "I do not know what is wrong, but can you tell me why your face is long?" Zecora asked Visage admiring his choice of clothing. She wasn't too sure about the two metal cylinders on his sides but the red and black horn she did take notice raising an eyebrow but not saying anything. Visage still holding his ring let it go with a sigh. He dropped it to let it dangle and it danced about as he walked. The ring gleamed reflecting red and blue rays as the sun beat down on it when he walked through the breaks in the foliage above. Visage gave Zecora a smile. Looking up he folded his arms. Zecora looking at the pondering being behind her she still didn't know what he was but she did know that he was benign. "I don't know if I can explain this well but the Force or, the Flow of the Universe, it's like it dead ends just outside the atmosphere I can't feel anything beyond it." Visage came to walk next to Zecora picking up the dangling ring and holding it out. "See the gems on this ring." He asked her holding up the the silver bauble that was spinning slowly on the chain. Zecora nodded in response. "Well the gems were supposed to glow seven red and two blue but they aren't, and it feels like a part of me is missing because they aren't." Visage wasn't sure if he had gotten his feelings across to her but he tried his best. Letting go of the ring he let it continue to bounce against his neck and chest as they made their way through the Ever-free. Zecora knowing full well that this stranger was pained but couldn't do much for him, but she did know of a purple Unicorn that might be able to help. "I know that you are in distress, but I do know somepony that can fix your mess." She said trying to cheer up the sullen Visage. "I hope so. I want to get back home especially if I've already been here for over three hundred Onns..well, a thousand years by your time. Visage said with a weak grin. "We are almost in the clear, the Ponyville school bell I can hear." Zecora said after several Dironns. Visage heard the chiming of the bell too. He could also see a small settlement with various Ponies, some had wings others had horns and they were made up of all the colors of the Rainbow. Visage was nervous his fight with Sombra was still fresh in his memory and he didn't like those hydra's either he hoped to the God's that he wouldn't find trouble in town. The ponies were all going about their day when Zecora emerged from the woods with one of the strangest creatures they had ever seen. It was tall and had black clothing on, there was some sort of symbol on it's left shoulder so some thought it was it's cutey mark. Whispers and gossip started immediately as the pair entered Ponyville proper. A cerulean Pegusus landed a few feet from the two as some ponies started rubbernecking seeing what was going on. "Hi Zecora you don't come into Ponyville often and not with something so...unusual." The blue colored pegusus with rainbow colored hair said to the Zebra. "Rainbow Dash how do you fair, I bring a guest but not to scare." Zecora told the Blue Pegusus eying the tall dark figure. "I'm not scared of that....that, whatever it is." Rainbow Dash announced rather annoyed. Just then a pink streak ran by Rainbow Dash and crashed into the Dark Lord. A large pink thing knocked Visage over. Laying on his back he noticed that it was a pink pony with wild and brighter pink hair, her big blue eyes were staring down at him. "I'm sorry but could you please get off of me?" Visage asked trying hard not to hug the scrath out of the pink fluffy pony on top of him. He couldn't help it but this pony reminded him of home or at least it's heart did. "Hi big guy, I'm Pinky Pie and welcome to Ponyville! Can I throw you a party? What is your favorite flavor of cake? Mine's chocolate! What are you? Not that it matters! I like you mister! it is mister right? I know you'll just love it here!" Rainbow Dash pulled the still talking Pinky Pie off from the fallen Lord. "Pinky we don't know what that is. Or where it came from." rainbow dash told her excitable friend. "But he's friends with Zecora so he has to be friends with me too!" Pinky retorted and just then two arms reached around the pink mass of excitement. Visage couldn't bear it anymore he couldn't feel anything outside the planet but he felt the warmth coming off this Pony in waves just as Rainbow Dash pulled her off of him Visage sat up and pulled the pony close his eyes starting to wet. "And I thought that beings like Arorra and Vira didn't exist here but you have the same heart that they have." Visage a being of supposed Evil and Darkness was crying on a pony he'd just met. "Hay stop that your!....your!.." Rainbow Dash failing miserably got interrupted by Pinky. "He's hugging me Dashy! No one has ever hugged me the first time they met me! How can this thing possibly be bad!" pointing an accusing hoof at Rainbow Dash while still in Visage's squeeze. Visage let go of the Pink pony. "I'm sorry but after my fight with Sombra I didn't think there was any form of hope left." Eyes still watering Visage smiled at the Pink Pony. All of the ponies watching the spectacle just stared in awe then a purple pony with a horn came on the seen. "Just what is going on around here?" She said. "Ah! Twilight Sparkle, this is no mirage, I present the Dark Lord, Visage!" Zecora announced to all present. Twilight's mouth went agape. Visage stood up brushing off his cloths while looking at the Purple unicorn. "Now I can prepare the bestest welcome to Ponyville party for the Dark Lord Visage!" Pinky screamed totally ecstatic. "Wait! Dark Lord!?" Rainbow Dash interjected "Zecora you let a Dark Lord into Ponyville and Pinky your going to prepare a party for him are you all crazy!?" Rainbow yelled at all present. Some of the towns folk didn't take the announcement too well. Some were murmuring others were overjoyed. Twilight shook her head "Rainbow Dash he isn't evil he's the one that saved the Crystal Empire a thousand years ago! If you'd read history like I do, you'd know that. Instead of reading Daring Doo books with your head in the clouds!" "Ya! Silly! Nopony would give hugs like that if they were a big meany, mean, pants." Pinky retorted. "Though his evil may just be lies, there is something benevolent, behind those eyes." Zecora said, also telling off Rainbow Dash. "Oh, Visage you have to come with me to meet the mayor! I'm sure she'd love to meet you!" Twilight said sounding excited. "There is so much I want to ask you but we'll need to find a place for you here in Ponyville." Visage unsure about what to do looking at a soundly defeated Rainbow Dash who had her front two hooves crossed and was now pouting. "I didn't come here to make trouble I just want to find a way back home." Visage stated looking around at the citizens feeling a mix of excitement, worry, and a bit of panic. Visage looked at Zecora mentally pleading with her to let him come back to her place. Zecora knowingly smiled but shook her head at the pleading Lord. "I'm sure that soon you'll know, but I still have shopping before I go." Zecora said to Visage as she walked towards the market. Having been abandoned by his new friend he reluctantly fallowed Twilight, the bouncing Pinky Pie and the glum looking Rainbow Dash to the mayor's office. Visage feeling those around him wondered what he had gotten himself into. As they walked towards the center of town crowds of Ponies started to gather looking at the strange being, that was being lead by Twilight to the town hall. Just as they got to the fountain in the center of town Pinky piped up. "I have to go get ready for the party so I'll see you later Visagy!" Visage looking a the leaving Pink Pony used the Force to bring her back. Levitating her in the air next to him he once again hugged her. "Thank you Pinky I have never felt a heart quite like yours before." He told her as he released her. "And you give the bestest best hugs I have ever had Visagy!" Pinky quipped back. She turned and waved to her friends as she bounced down the street with more enthusiasm than normal. I have to make this the best welcome party ever! She thought to herself as she made her way to Sugar Cube corner to prepare. Pinky hopped through the door startling both Mr and Miss. Cake. With a big grin "You'll never guess who I just met!" Pinky announced to both the owners and restaurant goers. What is she on about now? All within earshot said to themselves. Visage walked towards another Treehouse this time it was also the local library after his conversation with the mayor it was decided that he would be staying with Twilight Sparkle, plus she could keep an eye on him if he turned out to be evil. Visage being able to read minds just played along. Twilight opened the door to the library. "I hope that you find the information you need somewhere in here Visage." Visage looking around at the books on the shelves just shrugged "I hope so Twilight. I'm already over three hundred Onns late in getting home no thanks to that Fraking Maniac Sombra." "Oh, can you tell me how you beat him I have a record of how you freed the Crystal Pony slaves but it doesn't go into Sombra's defeat." Twilight looking up at Visage pleading in her eyes. "I don't really think you'd like what I'd have to say....and wait a Deronn how do you know I freed the Ponies?" Visage asked curiosity taking hold. "Oh, I have that book somewhere.." Twilight ran around the library seeking the way ward book getting frustrated she eventually called out shouting "SPIKE! SPIKE!" Just then Visage heard small footsteps coming down the staircase. "Ya, Ya twilight I heard you the first time." Spike a small purple and green dragon whelp stopped in his tracks eyes working their way up a tall dark figure meeting a set of dark purple and gold eyes. Spike started stuttering. "T..t..t..Twilight what is that, and why is it in our Library?" Spike looking at the purple unicorn who was still busy looking for her missing book. "Oh, come on Spike don't be that way. I think you've read the book about him more times than I have." Twilight said pointing a hoof at Visage. "I have?" Spike looking from Twilight to Visage a few times. "Who are you?" "I'm Visage and apparently there is a book about me somewhere in this library." Visage said as he retrieved a book and started peering at the contents, but shortly giving up, closing it and placing it back on the shelf. "Wait you don't mean Lord Visage the one who freed the Crystal Empire from Sombra?" Spike stated his eyes going wide. "Yes, Spike the he's the same one from the book. Now where is it?" Twilight still rummaging through the stacks. "I was actually reading it upstairs. I'll go get it." Spike now enthusiastic ran up the stairs as fast as his short legs could carry him and in a moment he came back down holding the treasured book. Twilight pulled the book out of Spikes claws using her magic then resting it on the table in the center of the small library. Opening the book to the title page from what Visage could guess. Even though they spoke the Common Tongue they didn't write in any form that Visage could understand. A major problem he'd have to rectify but he was fine at the moment, wondering how Ponies from this time could have known about him. "The downfall of King Sombra by Sky Shift." Twilight said to her audience. Visage recognized that name. "Sky Shift was the first Crystal pony or pegusus, rather, that I freed from Sombra's control. How is it he wrote a book now? That was a long time ago." Visage said wondering. Twilight answered with glee. "That's because when you went storming Sombra's palace he flew all the way to Canterlot to seek the aid of the two princesses. By the time they returned the Empire had already vanished everyone thought that Sky Shift was the only survivor." "Where is he now? Can we go see him?" Visage was actually excited hoping to see Sky Shift once again. "I'm sorry but Sky Shift died a long time ago this book is a reproduction. The original was written about nine hundred and fifty years ago." Twilight said her ears drooping. "And such is the way of mortal beings." Visage said sadly. Twilight's ears perked back up at this. "You sound as though your immortal." She stared in wonder. "Was that a question or a statement?" Visage could guess so he shrugged and added "Yes, I'm an immortal but I'm by no means invulnerable." "Wow, your just like the princesses!" Spike exclaimed. "I don't know who these princesses are so I can't say." Visage muttered honestly. "Oh that's right the princesses, with your return your actually a candidate for the Imperial throne. Spike get some paper and a quill ready I need to send a letter to the princess." "On it!" the little dragon said quickly producing a quill and parchment. Visage gaped "I'm what!?" EmE Chapter 5 Apple RoundupTwilight and Visage both appeared right in front of Rarity's Boutique in a purple burst of light. Just as Rainbow Dash dove out of the sky to land next to them and Pinkie Pie bouncing her way over to rejoin the group. "That's not fair, using magic to teleport here!" Rainbow Dash argued kicking a hoof at the ground. "Your the one that wanted to race and you didn't say that I couldn't use my magic." Twilight countered as she knocked on the door. "I'll be right there." Rarity said from behind the door. "Ya, Dashie it's not like they cheated they just got here faster than we did is all." Pinkie stated as she shrugged then rubbed against Visage's left leg. The door in front of them opened before Rainbow Dash could say anything else. A white coated Unicorn with purple done up mane what was waring big red glasses answered. "Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie and....mother of Celestia what are you?" Rarity said as her eyes looked up into the face of the black clad Imperial. "Hi Rarity..that's right you haven't met him yet. This is Visagey he's an Alien and we have to take him to see the Princess." Pinkie said talking a mile a minute. Rarity looked at her friends before speaking. Twilight and Pinkie seemed to like this rather threatening looking thing fine. Rainbow seemed rather well like Rainbow Dash. "Umm, Twilight Darling his he...safe? You know to be around?" Rarity asked rather concerned. "Please Rarity don't tell me you haven't heard about the Crystal Empire's return after a thousand years? And my Brother and Sister in Law Cadence were sent there by Princess Celestia to help reacquaint them to life after the time leap? Or, that Lord Visage is the one who defeated King Sombra! Which by the way, you still haven't told me how you did it." She went from railing on Rarity to jabbing her hoof into his right leg a few times. "Perhaps later." Visage said cracking open an eye making Rarity back up a few steps. "I think we need to get to the train station on time. Don't you think so Twilight?" "And that's why we're here, now get your rear in gear and let's get Apple Jack!" Pinkie said jumping up and down while pointing her hoof in Rarity's direction. "Pinkie Pie, please I will do as you ask, but I refuse to go with you to Sweet Apple Acres. I will get ready and then wait for you at the train depot. Will that suffice Twilight Darling?" Rarity said still undecided about the fersom looking being her friends somehow ended up escorting. "I guess I should have read this mornings paper." Rarity said as she went back inside and closed the door on the crew. "Well, I guess Rarity won't ever change." rainbow Dash said as they all started off for Sweet Apple Acres to retrieve their friend. "So, Twilight if your going to use your magic can you teleport all of use this time." Rainbow Dash asked her friend. She was still rather annoyed. Twilight just smiled and gave a hearty nod. "Sweet Apple Acers here we come." with that her horn lit up and the entire company poofed away in a bright flash of purple and white. Apple Jack was busy looking over her orchard apple bucking season was coming soon so she had to check on the crops every day to see how well the fruit was progressing. Apple Jack was finishing up her rounds in the North field when she noticed Apple Bloom running towards her. "Apple Jack! Apple Jack! Twilight and her friends are here! There is somepony you have to meet! Your all needed in Canterlot this afternoon. Ya have ta be at the train station like right soon!" Apple Bloom was out of breath when she finally caught up to her big sister. "Wow, there little nelly, now slow it down a hare Apple Bloom what's this about bein in Canterlot this afternoon?" Apple Jack was confused. Somethin was difinitly up why were Tiwilght and the others here? What's happened? Apple Jack's mind was racing, thinking something bad had happened to the princess she wasted no time grabbed up Apple Bloom threw her on her back and took off for the barn. After just a few minutes she saw what was up. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash as well as Big Mac and even to her dismay, Ganny Smith were standing around talking to some tall dark figure. Apple Jack took a small detour. Apple Jack was a like lightning she ran over to the pig pen going over to the fence post that had her lasso dangling from it. She then put Apple Bloom down, grabbed up her rope and headed to where her family and friends were. "Apple Jack wait don't..." Apple Bloom tried to call after her big sister but she was too late. Apple Bloom snorted and took off running after her. "So, you like Apple Pies just as much as we do Mr. Visage?" Granny smith said in her usual tone. "Oh, yes very much so. Although in the Empire they are know as Perara Fruit. My mother actually baked them from time to time when I was still back on Earth." Visage said smiling down at the older mare. "So it's true then? You really are from a different world?" Granny Smith asked inquisitively. Visage was about to answer when Apple Jack came running at him with her lasso circling over her head. With a hearty "YEEEEHAAAA!" she let it fly aiming for Visage. Visage not wanting to get roped in, was in a flurry of motion he Force pulled one of his blood Sabers to his hand then as he activated the blade with a snap hiss. He then took several steps so that he was clear of all the ponies. As the lasso was just over his head he did an upward slice severing the rope as it fell to several pieces that landed harmlessly on the ground. "Wow!" Twilight exclaimed watching the seen unfold in front of her. "That was amazing!" Pinkie Pie Chimed in. "That was totally Awesome!" Rainbow said still in disbelief as to what she just witnessed. "Eeyup!" Was all Big Mac said but he had a very big grin on his face. "What in tarnashon are you doin young'un?" Granny Smith was rather cross she yelled at Apple Jack. "But I...I mean...well shoot, why am I, the bag guy?" Apple Jack said after spitting out her felled and now worthless rope. She stomped a hoof in protest. "That's what I was tryin to say but you just took off big sis." Apple Bloom said walking over to Visage staring at his purple glowing blade. Visage turned off his saber and put it back on his belt. "No, offense Apple Jack but I'm Visage and we." Visage made a wide gesture with his hand to the other ponies present. "Are here to pick you up." Visage finished with a smile. "Visage, I remember hearing that name from somewhere?" Apple Jack said as she started pondering. "Yes, he's Lord Visage from Sky Shift's book on the defeat of Sombra and the disappearance of the crystal Empire. " Twilight said eagerly as she trotted over to inspect the cylinders on Visage's hip. "Your that Visage but, but how? Why? WHAT IN TARNASHION IS GOIN ONNN!?" Apple Jack screamed. "Now Young'un don't go gettin into histarics. Just be moving on you don't want to be late for your meet with the princess." Granny Smith said as calmly as she could. "Eeyup." Big Mac said nodding his head in agreement. Twilight teleported to go and get the final member of the group, Fluttershy. "I'll meet up with everypony just as soon as I get Fluttershy." Twilight said as she disappeared in a swirl of purple magic. The rest of the group headed for the train depot both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were telling Apple Jack about Visage. It took a bit of explaining but after filling in Apple Jack on all of the goings on, they were pretty close to the Ponyville train depot. As they arrived they saw Spike, Rarity Twilight and Fluttershy. Visage couldn't help but notice small bubbly hearts coming off Spike as he was eying the pure white Unicorn, and Fluttershy a yellow Pegasus with pink mane was hiding herself behind Twilight much to his amusement. "All a bored!" The conductor announced as all of the ponies and one Lord entered the train car. Visage sat down next to a window putting his elbow on the sill he crossed his right leg over his left and rested his chin in his palm. Thanks to his presence most of the other passengers decided to vacate the train car that they were occupying. He actually didn't mind but Twilight did plop herself down next to him just as the train started moving. "Umm....Visage?" Apple Jack said as she started fiddling with her Stetson and looked rather nervous. Visage cracked an eye open making Apple Jack wince a little. "Yes, Apple Jack what is it?" "Well I just wanted to apologize for you know what I tried to do to ya, back at the farm." Apple Jack said still nervous, her ears were kind of drooped, and she was still fiddling with her hat. Visage closed his eye and smiled at the young mare. "No, harm done, and of course I forgive you Apple Jack." "Really!? I mean just like that?" Apple Jack said her ears perked back up. She then placed her Stetson back on her head. Visage, sighed "Of course just like that. Trust me your no Sombra." Visage stated. All of the other ponies started giggling. "Caugh..ehem...Visage about that beam of light of yours. Can you please tell me about it? Or how it works?" Twilight asked pleading in her eyes. Visage went back to staring out the window. He really didn't think that it would be a good idea, at least not yet anyway. "Later Twilight, later." With that Twilight just nodded but still looked kind of dejected. Apple Jack was now smiling away now that she'd been forgiven. Visage just stared out the window getting lost in his own thoughts. He could feel that powerful light presence getting closer. He assumed it was the princess that Twilight had talked about. The other ponies ignored him for most of the trip but he didn't really mind, he wanted to know where he was and he was hopeful that this princess had the answers. EmE Chapter 6 The PrincessesThe train screeched to a stop at the platform. Ponies started disembarking from the cars. Twilight and her friends were among them. Visage stood out in the crowed like a sore thumb. I hate the stares, I hate being labeled a freak it's just like Earth all over again. He thought as he missed being back in his own Galaxy where he was respected but even more importantly loved. I miss my wives, my friends, and my family. I want to go home this place is just too alien. Twilight was leading the group down a street as more ponies murmured and whispered about the black clad being. I can read your minds you know. And I'm not liking what some of you are thinking. Visage looked at the big castle in that was in the center of Canterlot. "Twilight I think I'll go on ahead. If you don't mind?" Visage asked the purple unicorn in front of him. "Go ahead how? Can you somehow get there faster than us? Oh are you going to teleport because there is powerful magic here that won't allow teleportation so don't try, OK." Twilight didn't even turn her head as she spoke. Visage didn't wait he hated this feeling he was getting so he just flew up over the group and took off towards the castle. He could feel not just one but two very powerful beings of light although to him one seemed a bit dimer or perhaps, darker than the other. The troupe stood shocked for a bit before recovering. "He can fly? But he never said anything about being able to fly." Rainbow Dash said as she flapped her own wings and took off after the black blur. Twilight turned to Fluttershy. "Are you going to fly after them Fluttershy?" Twilight asked her timid friend. "No, Twilight I'm fine with walking and I probably wouldn't be able to keep up anyway." Fluttershy said weakly. Still she was just a bit jealous of Rainbow Dash wishing she had just some of her courage and speed. "Well, that was rather rude of them to just take off like that." Rarity said as she flipped her mane with a hoof. "Well Visage can read ponies minds and he probably didn't like everypony whispering about him so I can understand." Twilight said to her friends. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know!" Fluttershy whispered. "Dont'cha worry about it non Fluttershy I'd probably take off to if everypony were talkin about me bahind my back." Apple Jack told her soft spoken friend. Apple Jack was also remembering the time her sister and her friends wrote that Gabby Gums column about her. So Visage was probably feeling the same way she did right now. "When you put it that way I guess I can understand. But I still think it was rather rude." Rarity stated. The remaining ponies all smiled as they pick up the pace a bit. Visage was nearing the castle as Rainbow Dash caught up with him. She looked at him with eyes narrowed. "You, big Jerk you should have told me you could fly." Rainbow said accusingly. "I didn't think I had to, and you never asked." Visage countered. Rainbow Dash was about to retort when Visage just dropped suddenly on his way down he grabbed her tail pulling her with him. Visage landed on the main castle steps holding up rainbow by the tail so she didn't hit the pavement. "What's the big idea Huh?" She complained. "You didn't even notice we were about to run into the castle did you?" visage told her as he lowered the blue Pegasus to the ground. Rainbow saw just how close they were to the castle as she started rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. "Wow that was a close call, thank you Visage I wasn't really paying attention." Rainbow said embarrassed. Visage opened his eyes and smiled, just as several solar guards surrounded the pair. "Halt, who are you and what do you want creature?" One of the guards demanded. Rainbow was steamed. "Hello don't you guys know that we were invited by the Princess to see her, and this." Rainbow Dash gestured to Visage. "Is Lord Visage the one who saved the Crystal Empire a thousand years ago. She was being very sarcastic but the guards didn't care and let them pass. Rainbow was leading Visage to the throne room. The giant set of doors opened wide as they walked up to them. The whole place reminded him of the Imperial Capital on Marcisia. as they entered the throne room one of the biggest whites ponies Visage had ever seen greeted them as she sat on her throne. "Greetings Lord Visage. I am Princess Celestia one of the co-rulers of Equestria I welcome you as a friend. I have heard about your deed's in the Crystal Empire from Sky Shift. I am very sorry we didn't get there in time to assist you." Celestia finished and smiled. Rainbow bumped Visage's leg with a hoof. "You've been here for what less than a day and you've already impressed the Princess." Visage shrugged. Celestia got up off of her throne and had started walking toward him. He couldn't help but notice that her mane was flowing in a non existent breeze and almost seemed to float like it was a form of liquid her tail was the same way. Her coat was pure white and she had the mark of the Sun on her hip. Visage started walking around the impressive being studying her. He could feel her power which was significant but he knew a lot more powerful beings where he was from. She apparently didn't seem to mind his curiosity. He put his hand to his chin in contemplation. "I must say I'm impressed. Very powerful, yet dignified and I must say both benevolent and kind." Visage was musing as a door on the left of the throne room swung open rather violently. A dark blue pony ran in as she eyed Visage. "Get away from my sister Dark One!" She shouted at him. "If thou even touchest a hair on her head I shall send you to Tarturus." She cried as she charged. "Luna STOP!" Celestia yelled at the charging pony. Luna skidded to a halt just feet from where Visage was standing. He noticed that she too had that mystified mane and tail but her colors resembled that of the night sky. Visage started walking over to her. "Sister, what meanest thou this!" Luna demanded as the fierce eyed creature walked near her. "Luna that is Lord Visage, Sombra's bane! So show him some respect, he is no enemy. He is just as curious about us as we are of him." Celestia explained to her younger sister. Luna just gasped. "I, I, please forgive my rudeness Lord." Luna spoke more softly. Visage wasn't listening he was studying this new and to him rather unusual being in front of him. He felt a slight darkness in her it wasn't much but it was definitely there. Visage did something he hadn't done to any pony he put his hand under her muzzle and looked into her eye's he was reading her mind it was like a book filled with anger, sadness, jealousy, and corruption. He saw what happened to her and he could even feel it too. Visage warped his arms around the dark blue mare. "I am so sorry." Visage spoke softly to her. If I had been there you wouldn't have been taken and corrupted by darkness I could have shown you how to fight against it, control it, tame it, making it's power your own, rather than losing your own self to it. I am so sorry." Luna was in shock nopony not even her own sister had apologized like this. How, how can someone like this exist? I, I could have been freed? I wouldn't have been trapped in the moon for a thousand years? Luna's expression went from shock to sadness she started crying on the shoulder of someone she'd just met who seemed to know more about her than her own sister did. "Oh, looky, looky, Visagey is hugging Princess Luna!" Pinkie Pie said as the rest of the group entered the throne room. "Visagey gives the bested huggeis in all of Equestria!" Pinkie stated as she bounced around the throne room. Luna nodded. "Yes, yes, he does." She said in no more than a whisper. Visage let Luna go as he turned again to Celestia. "YOU, HOW COULD YOU HAVE BANISHED YOUR OWN SISTER!? YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED HER! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR HER! INSTEAD YOU FEARED HER, ISOLATED HER AND THEN BECAUSE OF YOU SHE FELL INTO DARKNESS, NOT PREPARED, NOT READY TO FACE IT, IT CORRUPTED HER AND YOU LET IT HAPPEN! I COULD HAVE SAVED HER! I WISH I HAD BEEN THERE TO SAVE HER! Visage's anger came to roaring boil blue and black flames erupted from his body his purple and gold eye glowed bright through the flames. Celestia felt like she had been hit with a sledge hammer. Her greatest regret had smacked her right in the face and all of the sadness returned as Visage's words pierced her, to her very core. All of the ponies in the room fell into a state of shock at Visage's display of power. Twilight couldn't let visage kill her mentor but she didn't have her element of Harmony with her and Celestia was in such a state that she could barely stand. "Please stop this Visage I'm sure Celestia did everything she could to save Luna." Twilight running and stopped as she stood standing between the enraged Visage and the barely responsive Celestia. Celestia stopped panicking as Twilight stood between her and the being that was even more fearsome than even Discord. "No, Twilight I didn't do everything I could to prevent my sister from turning into Nightmare Moon, he is right. As much as I don't want to admit it, every thing he said is true." Celestia told her student very calmly. "So Lord Visage what is to be my punishment?" Celestia asked very low but to the point. Everypony again fell silent, waiting for Visage to respond. Visage said nothing for several minutes he just stood there looking at Celestia his anger making his flames roar almost uncontrollably. "I am sorry, but as much as I'd like to punish someone for betraying their own flesh and blood, I cannot. It isn't my place to pass judgement only the Gods can do that, and I am no God." Visage cooled off as his flames died but his eyes still burned brightly . "I am sorry Luna. but this isn't my Galaxy, nor my Universe therefor I have no jurisdiction. I would not have killed your sister for what she did to you but I would have certainly imprisoned her for it. " Visage sat down on the floor cross legged in front of the Alicorn princess, his hands were in the traditional Marcisain show of respect. His left hand covered the right that was made into a fist. Peace over power. His head was also in a slight bow. "We are grateful for your kindness, but I have forgiven my sister for what she did to me when I changed into Nightmare Moon. If you were here, then yes, perhaps things would have been different, but you were not. Therefor my sister did what she deemed necessary. So I beg you to forgive her too." Luna put her head down to speak directly into Visage's ear. Celestia started to tear up at her sister's love. She was going to throw herself at Visage letting him do what he willed. But he was angry at her because she didn't save Luna. She was forced into banishing her own sister into the moon. It took Twilight and her friends to free her, but Visage apparently could have also saved her, and she realized that he had enough power to probably do so. It was then that Celestia realized one important thing, Visage though he may look and even feel evil he had a kind heart, so much so he stood up for Luna, after apparently seeing into her past. Perhaps he was more fit to rule than even she was. EmE Chapter 7 Three Great PowersVisage had calmed down, yet everypony in the room was still dead silent his beratement of the Princess baffled Twilight. How could he? why did he? And why would the princess just take it. She just stood there and took it, I thought she was my mentor? "If you, ask me for an apology, you will not be finding one forthcoming." Visage said in such a cold tone every pony in the room felt as though the temperature actually dropped a few degrees. "I would never ask for one. I know what I did to my sister was wrong. I know banishing her to the moon was unforgivable but I had little choice in the matter I could not let every pony suffer at the hooves of Nightmare Moon." Celestia stood tall, confident, and yet sad all at the same time. "Choice, you had no CHOICE! My dear princess, every being has choice and every choice has consequence. You, of all beings, should know this!" Visage stood inches from the princess his gold eye's burned staring deep into hers. "I guess with your pathetic bit of knowledge you didn't....have a choice. I can see that both your heart as well as your sister's are pained because of your...choice." Visage, had gone from anger and fury, to such a clam and sullen demeanor that both princesses balked. "I can admit, even I am not infallible....and I am sorry for my outburst Princess Celestia." Visage bowed slightly, then turning to Luna who still had tears running down her cheeks. "I should have been there. If it wasn't for Sombra and that time spell of his I would have been. Luna you shouldn't have suffered, and your sister." Visage used his hand to gesture to Celestia. "She shouldn't have had to make the choice she did. So to the both of you, please forgive me?" Visage sat cross legged in between the two Diarchs head down both fists clenched. Celestia and Luna looked at each other then to the sitting being between them. Twilight and her friends all started to tear up. "I admit you are the strangest creature I have encountered, your power is dark yet you have a very strong heart and a greater sense of justice than even I posses. I admit that I was weak...too weak to save my sister...alone." Celestia gazed at the sitting figure then at her student and her friends. Pinkie couldn't take it anymore she ran over and put her hoofs around the still motionless Visage. "He's not bad! He's my friend he hugged me the first time he met me....nopony has ever hugged me the first time they meet me. But...but don't be mad at him Princess, please....he's got a big heart I know he does my Pinkie sense doesn't lie." Pinkie pleaded now in tears herself holding onto Visage. "I don't be knowin if it's my place to say....but he's been tellin the truth this whole time. He has'n been lie'n at all. I must admit though that little out burst o'his had me a bit worried for a second there. Not to mention those eyes o'his are a bit on the creepy side." Apple Jack said softly. "Pinkie...thank you for being so kind. Thank you for being.....my friend. I try my hardest to fallow our code but sometimes there are just too many gray areas that take both, discretion and discernment and I am pretty sure I blew it big time in this matter...It's just not fair." Visage spoke softly. "What is not fair Visage?" Luna asked the sitting man wrapped in a pink pony. "That what happened between you and your sister could have easily been resolved, yet because Celestia only knows the light she wasn't able to save you from the corruption." Visage stated. "You sound as though you know both?" Twilight was listening to the conversation and she had learned a great deal, about her mentor, about Luna, about Visage and even about herself. "Yes, Twilight both Light and Dark, Yin and Yang, Good and Evil, all are in balance. In order to become balanced, one must study all sides." Visage pushed Pinkie Pie softly off of him. He still put a hand on her head as he stood up Pinkie rubbed right up next putting a hoof around his leg so he continued to patting the top of her head. "So, you could have taught us how to fight the darkness?" Luna asked curiously as she wiped away the tears that had just stopped. "Well Luna, the answer is, yes and no." Visage said as he put up that finger of his. All of the ponies in the room looked confused. "What do you mean by that Visage?" Twilight not fully believing what she had just heard. "I think it best if I started with the basics. Everypony please pay attention." Visage told his audience. Every pony nodded most were still rather bewildered. Visage put his hand to his glove with the now glowing gem on it. He had to stop patting Pinkie to do this she she was looking kinda down when he stopped. He smiled down at her as he produced a black ball from his inventory system. Throwing the ball it transformed into a bipedal black metal being. It had the features of Visage two legs and arms but it's body was a polished black that the light reflected off in places. It's eyes were glowing a crimson red. It turned to look at all of those in the room then looking to Visage it spoke in a metallic voice. "Am I needed for something master?" It asked addressing Visage. "Yes, Bob I need you to display a holo image of our Galaxy." Visage told Bob as all the ponies in the room were staring at this new thing that just popped out of nowhere. "What in Equestria is that?" Rarity asked in awe. "I am Tactical Assault Droid Five but my master had designated me Bob, for an unknown reason." Bob replied to Rarity's inquiry. Bob put his metal palm face up as the raised disk in it's center glowed as a projection of the Firaxian Galaxy was displayed. The giant swirling mass of stars spun slowly as the giant black hole in the center pulsed as the nebula that surrounded it retracted and expanded ever so slightly. "This is incredible!" Twilight said clapping her hooves. "This is Awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "It's gorgeous!" Rarity stated in wonder. "What is it?" Pinkie asked looking up at her tall friend. Ponies I give you the Galaxy Firaxia my home, billions of stars with more planets that even I can count this is where I'm from. Bob bring up Earth." Visage asked his droid. The Galaxy zoomed out shrinking as the ponies in the room made ohhhsss and Awwwsss then suddenly a bright red star that nearly filled the entire throne room appeared. It then zoomed again and a small sphere of spinning blue and green covered by a layer of white in random places. "Are those clouds?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Yes, the weather patterns on earth are random and can be very violent at times. Mostly in the area of the Equator where large storms, designated Hurricanes and Typhoons by the inhabitants form from the warm rising ocean air." Bob told Rainbow. "This Bob guy, is totally awesome!" The blue Pegasus said doing a back flip. "Oh my, that sounds like a terrible planet to live on I'm soo sorry Visage." Fluttershy finally spoke in her quiet yet sweet voice. "Hold on everypony look! It's spinning and it has a moon that's also spinning. Visage are all planets like this in your Galaxy do they all spin like that?" Twilight asked stunned. "All planets spin on their axis that gives, said planet it's atmosphere, seasons and weather. Most planets revolve around a central star. The one in this solar system is designated Sol by the Earthlings. There are nine planets that are currently in orbit around Sol but only Earth contains sentient beings designated humans. There are currently twenty seven million planets that sustain sentient beings within the boarders of the Marcisian Empire. Earth even though it is located within the Imperial region, it is not an Imperial Planet." Bob said with a bit more explanation than what Visage would have liked. "Bob can you now show us Zaraj?" Visage told his mechanical friend. "As you wish master." Bob said as the full Galaxy came back into full view and then zoomed in again. "Zaraj home world to the Zaharaj, now named Imperial Shadow Knights by his Imperial Majesty Barran Marciss. The planet is surrounded by an asteroid field and even though the Planet does rotate, it does not orbit It's star, staying stationary. Most Macisain Scientists believe that this phenomenon is due to the high levels of Dark Side energy that permeate from the planet. It is also the reason the Zaharaj built their temples there, to further study the Dark Side of the Verse, renamed, Force, Five Onns ago after all practitioners voted on the name change. My master voted to keep it named Verse. As to why, I can not compute." Bob told his audience. Visage rolled his eyes at Bob's last comment. "This information is priceless. I just wish I had brought a quill and paper with me. I really wasn't expecting a lecture like this!" Twilight said ecstatically. "Agreed, I believe that Visage's, Bob, knows more about the Universe than even my sister or we do." Luna said looking at the spinning black and red planet that was hidden behind massive rocks that floated around it. "I contain star maps and information on The Empire and Firaxia. I am sorry but my data banks are limited only to that. I have no information on sentient horses, and there are no planets in The Empire that contain such life forms." Bob stated. "Is there anything else master?" Bob inquired of Visage. "No Bob, please deactivate if I need your assistance again I will summon you." Visage said smiling at his droid that imploded back into a black sphere, which he then used the Force to bring the ball to his hand and put it back into his gem. "We have a question Lord Visage." Luna said as she walking over to him. "Yes, Princess Luna? What is it?" Visage answered as he continued to pat Pinkie Pie who still hadn't moved since his presentation began. "Why is it that in your Galaxy all of the planets move themselves, yet my sister and I have to raise the moon and sun with our magic every night and day?" Luna said as she sat down a few feet away from him. "Perhaps dear sister, he doesn't have the answer to your question." Celestia said as she walked over and sat down next to her sister. "So do you have the answer Visagey?" Pinkie said still enjoying the petting she was getting. "So, can you tell us Visage?" Now Twilight was asking and this was starting to get on his nerves. First he just stood there silent apparently thinking, he looked down at Pinkie Pie. "First, things, first." Visage told his now eager and captive audience. All of the ponies even the usually board Rainbow Dash was paying attention. Visage motioned for all of the other ponies to come closer so he didn't have to keep looking behind him. All of the ponies seemed to understand for they all sat flanking the two princesses. Twilight, Rarity and Apple Jack were sitting next to Celestia. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sat next to Luna. Now that they were all in front of him more or less. The pink one just didn't want to let go of him for some reason. Visage started his next lecture as Twilight put it. "So in our Galaxy there are three know types of power or energy. First there is the Power of the Verse, Force, The Gift of the Gods, Flow of the Universe and several other names. Second there is the Ind'Ren Freth as the Marcisians call it. In the Common Tongue it's called Inner Fire, but it has also been called Chakra, Ki, the energy within, Pajzra and again, several more names. The third known Power is what your all using..." Visage was cut off by Twilight. "Magic!" Twilight exclaimed as all of the ponies looked at her for speaking out of turn. Visage just went with it, as Twilight's big grin turned into a nervous laugh, finishing with a slight cough. "Yes, Twilight, Magic." Visage restated. "But what about the ones that aren't known? Do they have all of those cool names too?" Rainbow interjected. "Hmm, I'm not really sure I can answer that one. I did overhear one of the Gods talking about it and he said there were I think, thirty seven forms of power." Visage said as all of the ponies looked dumbstruck. "THERE ARE THIRTY SEVEN!" Twilight yelled. Visage shrugged. "Either that or Three hundred and seven. I didn't really understand the language they were using." "THREE HUNDRED AND SEVEN?" This time they all shouted. Surprisingly even Fluttershy to Visage's amazement. "I'm sorry for that outburst Lord Visage, but I couldn't help but notice that you said something about Gods?" Princess Celestia said as every pony calmed down. "Ah, yes, you see in my Galaxy there is a very old saying, 'The greatest beings that rule the Universe are the Gods, and Demons, Dragons, Elves and Human Men and all of the goodly races in between.' Although where you ponies fit in on that scale I do not know." Visage told his class. "That is incredible I didn't think that God's truly existed!" Celestia said. "I mean, I had my suspicions that there were grater beings out there, besides us, but, you.....you, Visage just proved it." Celestia the one he was so enraged at not even a Minronn ago had now become his temporary student and he hoped a friend, also. "Problem is Celestia that question that Luna asked, I do think I know the answer." Visage said but he wasn't sure if they really should hear what he had to say next. Luna and Celestia knew that there was something wrong and even Twilight looked like she had some suspicion. "Is there something wrong Lord Visage?" Luna asked hoping she would be wrong. Visage actually got to his knee's and started hugging Pinkie for support. Should I tell them? Do they really need to know? Would they all be willing to bear the burden of knowing? Visage's mind became clouded with worry. "I think we can handle whatever it is you want to tell us Visagey." Pinkie said trying to comfort her friend. Visage got back to his feet but leaned onto Pinkie for more support. "This next part might be a bit much for you to hear. So, I need to know if you are all willing to bear the burden of knowing before I continue." Visage said with merely a whisper. All of the ponies present looked at each other then at Visage. "I think, we are all prepared to hear this Lord Visage." Celestia said firmly. "I'm trusting all of you now you can't ever repeat what I'm about to say. Just nod, then I'll go on. All ponies present nodded. "Then, I'll begin." Visage started. EmE chapter 8 Can you handle the Truth?"Then I'll begin. Several Eons ago the God's were at war." Visage started but all of the ponies even the princesses gasped in shock. "Why?" Twilight asked. "NO!" Celestia yelled. "That's crazy! Are they crazy!? Rainbow added. "Shhhh. I'm just as shocked as all of you but will you please, stop interrupting so he can explain. Please go on darling." Rarity said as she told off every pony and gestured for Visage to continue. "Thank you Rarity, so where was I? Ah, yes the God's were at war, one of the Dark God's decided that he wanted to rule over all God's becoming a God King but the God's of Light wouldn't have it. Now normally because a God is immortal they can't die. But The Dark God Skath found a way to kill a God, and he employed one of the Greater Meserino Demon Clans to join him. They also forged God slayers and thus armed they started a war. The God's of Light weren't prepared but they outnumbered Skath and his hoard so even with all of their casualties they still drove Skath back into his own realm. The God's of Light then Forged their own God Slayer weapons and they even got some of their own Demon Allies. The Silvarian Demons joined them in their fight. They tried to convince the King of The Meserino Demons to also join, but they wanted no part of it, they were disgusted with the Clan that joined Skath. Still several Meserino Demons did end up volunteering but that was after Skath had killed their king. The war had eventually come to a stalemate. Then The Meserino attacked the Silvarians in their own home they slaughtered each other both sides extinguishing the souls of the other till non were left, but the Silvarian King. Setting out himself to put an end to this pointless war he fought Skath three times, and all three times he could only manage a draw. The Silvarian King tried one last time but this time his own life, his own soul was extinguished. Skath was victorious. Problems really started for the Gods when war broke out on the mortal plane. Skath's worshipers were killing the worshipers, the children, of all other Gods if they didn't join them. Skath worshipers are all just like Sombra, only several times worse. If you refused to join, then you were sent to an extractor, a deplorable device that rips your soul apart dividing it up into as many clone bodies as it can, thus becoming an unliving horror we know as the Fallen. I have been fortunate enough that only once have I encountered a Fallen soldier. Milky white eyes devoid of life, pale white skin that is not easily harmed, and blood black as midnight and smells just, rancid. They use spears that are just as black as their blood, thrusting it into any of those who still have beating hearts." Visage stopped he was barely holding on to Pinkie Pie. He finally sunk to the floor tears streamed from his gold colored eye's. "This is horrible! How could they do that to another being?" Celestia asked terrified. Hoping that she would never have to encounter these Skath worshipers. The others weren't fairing much better all had horrible facial expression and several of them looked like they were going to faint which Fluttershy did, or become very sick. "I think I'm gonaa Puke." Rainbow said holding her hoof over her mouth as her cheeks puffed out as she forced herself to swallow her own bial back down. "You an me both Rainbow.." Apple Jack said as she took off her Stetson and used it to cover her mouth. She was looking the most green out of the bunch. "But, you won right?" Pinkie piped up. "Sorry, Pinkie. What?" Visage asked trying to get a hold of himself. "I mean the good side killed that Skath meany mean guy...Right?" "Yes, Pinkie the God's of Light prevailed in the end....but no ones knows how, we won." Visage said honestly. Flutershy woke up as she rubbed her head. "Is that horrible story over, yet?" "I'm hopin so Shy. I've heard some messed up stories when I was a filly but this just took the cake." Apple Jack said as her face went back to her normal color and she put her hat back on her head. "What doth thou mean, you don't know how you won?" Luna asked very quizzically. Every pony again stared at Visage. "That's just it, ever since I arrived, this place seemed off, and I didn't really know why. Until I realized that one of the God's of Light gave up their own life to destroy Skath and I think it was the God of this Universe." Visage said, even though the tears stopped he still was leaning on Pinkie but she was more than happy to lend her friend a helping hoof. All of the ponies looked shocked. "Is that why our planet doesn't rotate like the ones in your Galaxy?" Celestia said coming to a realization. "Is that also why we need to use magic to raise to lower the sun and moon every day and night?" Luna said supporting her sister's theory. "I believe so but even I can't be sure. You see I can't feel anything outside of your atmosphere, anything beyond that, is blocked to me. Now in my Galaxy I can sense beings even from great distances and the more powerful they are the easier it is to sense them." Visage said as he sat down giving up on even trying to stand. "So if I'm not mistaken, what your saying is that our God was killed by Skath and if it wasn't for our magic our world would have been broken." Twilight said horrified by her own conclusion. "Yes, I'm afraid that you are correct Twilight." Visage replied weakly. "It's no wonder you said you didn't want us to tell any pony this, if they ever found out then..." Celestia wasn't able to finish her thought. "Then there would be mass hysteria, and it wouldn't just effect Equestria, it would have an effect on all of Equestis." Luna finished for her sister. "Girls, I want all of you to never repeat what Lord Visage told us, will you promise me this?" Celestia said looking at all of her ponies. "Absolutely!" Apple jack cried. "You've got it Princess!" Rainbow Dash said with a salute. "I won't tell any pony." Fluttershy said meekly. "I won't tell a soul Darling." Rarity said giving her mane a flick. "I Pinkie Promise not to tell any pony!" Pinkie exclaimed startling Visage who was still leaning against her. Twilight gave a sigh...."I wish I could have written all of this down but I guess it would be best to keep it to ourselves. Still Visage it sounds like you've been through a lot do those.....Skath Worshipers attack your Galaxy often?" Twilight asked a little fearful. "Thank the God's no! I hope that they never do so again, the last time we encountered the Skath was near our far boarder in the Tegeral sector but that was what....three or four Onns ago?" Visage said as the memories from that horrible battle came flooding back. "Oh, my I'm, so, so, sorry Visage that sounds just awful." Fluttershy said as she tried to give him a weak smile. "It's in the past now Fluttershy we are now looking to the future I just hope I have a future when I return." Visage said weakly. "What doth thou mean by that Lord Visage?" Luna asked the sitting figure who was now resting on Pinkie Pie who had laid down to support her new friend. "You don't know? Visage is married to more than one pony he's an Endangered Species!" Rainbow announced to all in the room as she flew up, putting out her hooves to make it more dramatic. Every pony was shocked with the exception of Twilight and Pinkie Pie who were both there when he told them. Rainbow had tried to make a joke out of it but Twilight made her feel bad about it. So now it seemed she was trying to make up for it but to Visage it seemed like she was making things worse not better. "I'm sorry Visage I didn't know you were an Endangered species if I'd of know that I wouldn't have tried to avoid you..even though you look a bit scarey." Fluttershy this time managed a full smile. "Is there anything we can do to help you Lord Visage?" Celestia asked concerned for this human that came from Firaxia. "Wait hold on. Your from Earth right?" Rainbow asked as she landed next to Pinkie and Visage. "Well, yes?" Visage said not liking what Rainbow was thinking, nor where this line of questioning was going. "And Earth is full of humans right?" Rainbow said as she narrowed her eyes to slits. "Again, Yes." Visage said as he adjusted uncomfortably under Rainbow's scrutiny. "So if there is a planet full of humans and your from Earth then aren't you human too? So, why in Equestria are you an Endangered Species?" Rainbow said landing the final blow. Now all ponies were waiting for Visage's answer and he really wished he didn't have to tell them, but because he was in front of the Diarchs, there really wasn't much he could do in this situation. "Because Rainbow. I'm, not, human." Visage said slowly. Rainbow balked at this. Her eyes popped back open and her ears went straight up. "So, Visagey if your not a human then what are you?" Pinkie asked for every pony in the room. Visage looked at Apple Jack who nodded with a knowing smile. "If you must know I'm actually.....a......Silvarian." Visage said in defeat now his secret was out, not that it was really much of one back home but still, he hated being treated like a fragile piece of glass or a freak of nature. "Wait, you mean those Good Demons who were all killed by the bad ones?" Rainbow said. "Yes, Rainbow I'm the last of my kind, so please don't tell anyone or any pony I've already gotten into more trouble because certain beings found out and they caused me some problems, because of it. I mean, most Imperials know already. But the whole reason why I'm here now, is because, apparently, the Aclorian Empire of the Andramida Galaxy found out, and well, I had to disappear for a while, but I never thought I'd end up stranded here on your planet." Visage said flatly. "Is he telling the truth Apple Jack? Is he really a Silvarian?" Twilight asked her honest friend. "Ya, AJ spill is he one of those Silvarians or what?" Rainbow Dash demanded. All eyes were on Apple Jack the Element of Honesty. Even the Diarchs were waiting impatiently for her answer. "From what I can tell he's tellin the truth alright." Apple Jack confirmed but rather begrudgingly. "OH, wow!" Rainbow said. "Oh, my!" Rarity stated looking at Visage with a bit more scrutiny. "I'm so sorry, my friend blew your cover." Twilight said apologetically. "Do not worry Lord Visage, no pony will know what you really are." Luna said with a smile. "Yes, you have reveled much to us, so we will keep all of your secrets in turn." Celestia said with a wink and a smile as she started for the giant doors that were the entrance. "If you'll all excuse me, I have several matters that I need to attend to." With that Celesta walked out the two ornate doors and they slowly closed behind her. Visage finally managed to get up on his feet with a little help from Pinkie Pie. "So Visagey." Pinky squeaked. "What's your real name?" Every pony in the room again fell silent at Pinkie's question. "Well since you know pretty much everything about me now I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you." Visage said as all of the ponies present leaning in to hear his real name. "My real name is Arrom and I'm a Silvarian born of humans on Earth and when I was six years old my powers became uncontrollable. I nearly burned my house down and almost killed my own mother. Then Lord Nosfaren picked me up, took me to Zaraj, trained me, and gave me the name Visage, or the one who hides in shadows. I've been thankful to the Za and grateful to the Emperor for everything they've done for me for these many Onns. Now I'm here and I will help in any way I can." Arrom smiled at his new friends. "I'm Twilight Sparkle and in behalf of the Princess I officially welcome to to Equestria Arrom." Twilight was beaming she had learned a lot of new, and some rather disturbing things, but she still felt lucky to have a friend like Arrom. "Welcome to Equestria Sugar Cube." Apple Jack said to her strange new friend. "Arrom, darling you must let me design you some new cloths, black is so two years ago." Rarity said flicking her mane. "Welcome to Equestria Arrom, your going to come flying with me again right?" rainbow Dash said as she flew around the throne room excited. "I would like you welcome you also...that is if you wouldn't mind that is?" Fluttershy said rather weakly. Arrom knew she was still afraid of him but at least she was making an effort. "I thank you Fluttershy perhaps I could teach you some healing tricks for your animals sometime." Arrom said to Fluttershy. Fluttershy just gave him a weak smile but she still nodded her head in agreement. "Arrom I still owe you a Pinkie Pie Welcome to Ponyville party! So now it's going to be a welcome to Ponyville and Equestria party!" Pinkie Pie Exclaimed as she gave his leg another hug. "You really are something Pinkie your heart is gorgeous just don't let small things get you down. I can see that you sometimes take things a bit too seriously." Arrom said dropping to a knee as he put his right hand on Pinkie's heart. "Remeber Pinkie that even if your trying to make others happy don't destroy yourself in the process. I don't want to see this gorgeous heart of yours broken got it." Arrom said to the pink party pony. "I promise Arrom." Pinkie said beaming. Arrom got back to his feet as Pinkie started jumping around the throne room. Arrom didn't even notice that Luna had walked up to him just stopping a few feet from where he was standing. "We too would also like to welcome you to Equestria, Lord Visage." Luna said holding out a hoof to him. Arrom just stood there and shrugged as he reached out giving her hoof a firm shake. "I thank you Princess Luna but you really don't have to call me by my title just Visage, or Arrom if you prefer, but Lord Visage. I mean I'm not even in my own Galaxy anymore so you can drop the honorifics." Visage told her with a smile. "No, we must, it is Canterlot custom to address those with their proper titles." Luna countered as she put her hoof down rather hard making a loud clang as her metal clad hoof hit the floor. Arrom rolled his eye's. "As you wish Princess." Giving Luna a slight bow. Luna smiled as she headed for the smaller door on the left side of the throne room. Twilight came up to Arrom apparently with another question. "Arrom if you don't mind me asking but just how much energy were you producing when you were making all of those black flames?" Twilight asked as her ear twitched a bit. "Well in the Empire those of use who use the Inner Fire are allowed only to produce fifty thousand krenn. We are severely reprimanded if we ever go above that level unless were are in battle with the Fallen or other dangerous foes. but, to answer your question that was about nine thousand krenn give or take." Arrom said to ease Twilight's curiosity. Pinkie stopped jumping and ran over to Arrom and screamed at the top of her lungs. "IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!!" everyone had to cover their ears from the deafening noise. "What the hay, was that about Pinkie?" Apple Jack asked still recovering from the noise. Arrom wasn't at all impressed. "Pinkie that joke has been beaten to death like a dead hoarse, just so you know." Arrom said to the pink pony. Pinkie gasped in horror. " You beat dead horses on your planet Arrom?" She asked in shock. "Oh, why would you do such a horrible thing." Fluttershy said as she hung her head. "No, it's just an expression. It means that joke has been over used so much we might actually loose readers over it." Arrom explained. All of the Ponies in the room seemed confused except Pinkie. "I'm Sorry Arrom I won't be using any more over used jokes." Pinkie said crossing her heart. "I think the author will let it go this time but please think of the readers before using anymore over used memes." Arrom said looking up with a very stern expression on his face. "That's right I'm talking to you Mr. keyboard Warrior." Arrom said closing an eye and giving the poor author the bird. Hay wait what! This is my story! You can't give the author the bird that's just plane rude. Arrom snapped his fingers and the author's PC went dead.... EmE Special: Myth and Legends collision courseAn unknown location in the Universe A cloaked man sat hunched over in a great throne that was way too big for him. his feet dangled over the edge not even touching the floor that was a mass expanse of universe beneath him. The Dark God Chaos let out a disgruntled grunt as he looked over his uncle's Universe keeping one eye closed as the other darted about peering intently over the infinite expanse laid out at his feet. One of his demons had gone missing and he wanted him back. "You ask, Uncle Elohim where, is my demon?" Chaos demanded of the Archangel Halifell. Halifell just stood humbly wings retracted with his hand resting loosely on the pommel of his sword. Bright glowing golden eyes peered into fiery red ones undaunted. Halifell didn't like dealing with Skath's brat but now that peace has been restored between the God's of Light and Darkness several Seraphim and Archangels had to become intermediaries between the two. Halifell was unfortunate enough to become the spokes angel for Elohim and Chaos. Halifell knew what the Silvarian meant to both God's. Elohim adopted him after his father's great sacrifice and Chaos was freed from his eternal imprisonment by the Demon when Skath put down his disobedient son's pathetic rebellion. Helifell was quit literally between a Rock and a Hard place. "I know you want him back. Elohim is doing everything in his power to find our missing Silvarian." Halifell spoke softly not wanting to upset Chaos further. "My Uncle gave me the Silvarian to look after! He was in Elohims Universe when he disappeared from my sight so why does my Uncle want to hide him from me now?" Chaos asked his Uncle's messenger, both cool, calm and professional. "I assure you, Chaos that neither we, Elohim or any of the other God's had anything to do with Arrom's disappearance. I would also like to have him back." Halifell still remembered the Silvarian's sprite before he was born to parent's on Earth one of Elohim's planet's that was still in their trail phase. Chaos took this in and relaxed in his over sized throne, slumping so that his feet were now touching the floor that was so much like an expansion of the Universe. Chaos knew that he wasn't being lied to, that much was clear and if Elohim was also searching then which God was it that took Arrom and for what reason, that no being at this point knew. "I thank you for your time Halifell, tell my Uncle I thank him for letting me peer into his Universe for me." Chaos told the armor clad Archangel dismissing him with a slight gesture. "Your not the only being that misses him, Chaos. There are many of us that love him just as much as you do." Halifell was then at a loss for words. The last Silvarian missing, a great race of goodly Demons extinguished. This was a tragic loss and great failure for all sides. Chaos read Halifall's thought's as he opened a portal back to his heaven and the Grand God Elohim. "Tell my Uncle I love him, and thank you Halifall." Chaos told the departing Archangel as Halifell turned and gave Chaos a slight nod as he walked through the portal that snapped shut leaving Chaos to his thoughts. "Whoever took my Demon will pay dearly for their trespass!" Choas declared as he looked over at Hell's Gate his broad sword that was also a Soul Slayer. Hell's Gate heard and felt his master's intent as a red and black aura issued from the mouth of the Crimson and black sheath. "Oh, what's the matter love? Archangel get to you?" Zaratha cooed. The Mezerino demoness entered the great hall of the dark palace. Her bat like wings were folded up and draped over her like a great cape, her tail was swaying playfully from side to side as she made her way to her husband's side. "No Zaratha, if you must know I think my Uncle is just as concerned, perhaps even more so, about Arrom's disappearance than I am." Chaos told his wife with a heavy sigh. "Awe, poor Dark God, lost his favorite toy?" Zaratha said to her husband coyly as she brushed her long black and red tresses out of her face to bend down and kiss her beloved. Zaratha put her clawed hands down from her husband's face after their kiss and took a seat next to her glum husband, who was more than willing to make room for his very seductive and playful demoness. Chaos leaned into her as she wrapped him in her right wing and put her arm around the more diminutive man whom she loved, trying to support him. Choas started leaning out, and once again closed one of his glowing red eyes and peered out into the vastness of the Universe looking for his wayward Silvarian. "I wonder if his wife knows yet?" Chaos said aloud perking his wife's interest. "Which one? With all of your meddling he has a several. Wasn't it you who put the Endangered Species idea into the mind of the Marcisian Emperor?" Zathara asked in that coy yet accusing way of hers. "Yes, and it was more hilarious than even I could have imagined!" Chaos said as he started chuckling at all of the close calls and strange adventures that he had either directly or indirectly sent Arrom on. After that short derailment he came back to his point. "I meant if Riza knows or even, Vira." Chaos said with a slight grin. "What are you scheming now my husband?" His demoness asked rather quizzically. "Those two are demons and they can break through dimensional barriers just like God's can, yes?" Chaos now had a plan cooking and had a very bright yet evil smile on his face. "Well, yes. We can, why?" Zathara wondering where her husband's new scheme was going. "What if our missing Silvarian was lost in a different dimension and what if we sent your cousin Riza and the wonderful Veserino Vira after him. Plainly speaking I wouldn't be stepping on any of the other God's toes. Yet...." "Yet they could, because they are married and that takes precedent over inter-dimensional travel between Universes. My husband you are wickedly evil and fun. I'm so glad I married you!" Zaratha exclaimed giving her husband another kiss for good measure. After receiving his mouth back. "So who do we send to Earth to give that drinking fool of a cousin of yours the news?" Chaos asked the now more than eager to help Zaratha. "I have the perfect being for the job. Oh, and if you haven't noticed yet the Empire is also on the move." Zathara told her husband the news again in that coy and conniving way. "Excellent! This is going to be really fun to watch unfold!" Chaos cheered as he started to put his plans into motion. "I still feel sorry for Arrom, the poor crath won't know what hit him." Zathara chided. "Who cares, at least him and that family of his never gets old to watch, and this my dear will be something to witness.....Just as soon as Riza, Vira or the Empire finds him." Chaos couldn't have been any happier, creating problems for others was his forte and out of all of the beings in the multi-verse there was one that was very special to him. That Silvarian was always fun to tease and this was going to top it all. Chaos just knew it. Equestis Canterlot Arrom was out walking among the gardens of Canterlot Castle. Putting back on his Imperial cloak that had the symbol of a pinwheel of a Galaxy emblazed on the back that fluttered about as it hung loosely off his frame in the night breeze. Looking up into the mess of stars he tried desperately to make out any familiar constellations but to his disappointment there weren't any. Arrom wasn't tired in the least. He was growing tired and weary of this planet and the oddity of the Galaxy that was in full display above him. Once again he tried to reach out past that invisible barrier that lay just outside the atmosphere of Equestis. He struggled, pushed, trying to break free with his consciousness but again giving up after several Dironns passed. With a great sigh he fell onto his back looking up at the sparkling diamonds that seemed so close but yet so far. His hand once again reaching for the chain that held his treasured ring, the gems had completely gone cold as he watched it slowly spin one way to the other as it hung from the end of it's chain. The silver circle the gems were fixed to even seemed duller somehow or perhaps it's just the trick of the light. Even with the stars and a crescent moon it still was rather bright out, then again there was some light pollution coming from Canterolt proper but it still didn't make the disguised Silvarian feel any better. "I miss you, Mom I wonder if your still working as uncle's secretary? Dad are you still playing with those toy ships of yours?" Arrom mussed as he thought of his parent's jobs. His mom worked as a secretary for non other than his uncle at a large Corporation in Korea. His dad was a Captain of a Navel Destroyer of the United State's Third Pacific fleet. He knew they loved each other and he also knew they loved both him and his two older sisters, but they hardly ever saw each other. Kind of like the situation he was in now. Even they were a phone call or Skype message away, he was in another Galaxy with no ability to communicate with anyone from home. "Sara, Anna I hope your keeping that wife of mine out of trouble." Arrom said as he thought of his two older yet younger sisters. Time in the Galaxy moved faster than that on Earth, even though he was just Eighteen back home he was nearly forty by Marcisian reckoning. Arrom smiled as he could plainly see his two sisters with their black shoulder length hair bobbing as they skipped along, leading a much older looking and very tanned woman with long dark red hair and burning red eyes. Riza disguised herself as a human and most people just thought that the large circular pattern on her back was just some fancy tattoo and not a seal to contain all of her demonic energy. Riza for some reason liked to do the bar scene. She always seemed to be carrying a bottle with some sort alcohol in it, though with her genetics she would never be able to get drunk. His mom loved to take them to parties even though the immediate family didn't drink for religious reasons they would still cheer Riza on as she out drank everyone, even several of his Dad's sailor friends who were all impressed with her great tolerance to the strong beverages they chugged. Arrom could just look on and pout as he watched his wife, to him make a fool of herself, to everyone else in his Uncle's company she had somehow become a legend and a hero. "Riza I think you are crazier than even this planet's Pinkie Pie." Arrom announced with disgust at his wife's antics. Then Arrom remembered his own seal as he put his hand up and softly touched the top of his back. Riza was the one who put it on him teaching him how to disguise his demon features and power in order to hide in plain sight as a humble human. "At least she still has a good heart, though how my family treats her just like any normal person is still amazing and puzzling." Arrom put his hand behind his hood less head resting on it. As his mind wondered back still to when he first met Riza and Vira and even Lord Nos and the rest of the Zaharaj. "And thus Visage was born, thanks to Riza and the Counsel of the Zaharaj." Arrom said as he brought his hand back up to study his gloved fingers. "I wonder just how many times have I regrown you now?" He asked his hand as he wiggled his glove encased fingers. Still lost in thoughts he noticed that there was a presence no, several presences in the area. One was however rather close and was very much trying to hide their essence. "I can sense your presence ya know. Why, might I ask are you trying to spy on me?" Arrom said as he thought about sitting up to confront whomever was there, but he just brought his left leg up and hung his right over it making a triangular pattern as he waited for whomever it was to show themselves. "We are sorry for eavesdropping on thee Lord Visage." A dark blue mist came out of the foliage of a tree to his rear and slight left. The mist then materialized as it reached closer to the ground and took the form of Princess Luna. "Again, Princess could you please drop the honorifics. Arrom is fine or Visage, right now I'm no Lord. I'm just a guest here till I find a way back home that is." Arrom told the Lunar Diarch. "That we cannot do as I have said before Lord Visage." Luna countered flatly. "Fine, whatever, so what is it Princess did you need something? Or are you just here to eavesdrop?" Arrom asked seemingly without a care in the world. The princess looked rather ashamed for a moment but recovered quickly. "No, I just happened upon thee but we weren't sure if we should interrupt your reprieve." Luna said to the laying and surprisingly unguarded Visage that was now bobbing his right leg up and down similar to a see-saw over his left one. Arrom just smiled as he looked at Luna then up into the night sky. "I assume that this is your handiwork...or hoof-work? I'm sorry, but your terminology is rather difficult to grasp." Arrom then realized that he just made a fool of himself with his comment. Luna stood motionless for a Dironn before she looked up at her night sky realizing what Visage was trying to say. "Oh, yes, we thank thee for thine compliment." Luna said with a small smile. "If it pleases thee Lord, wouldest thou allow us to sit and talk awhile with thee, most other ponies are sleeping and the night's have become, rather dull." Luna asked but laid down anyway without receiving an answer. Arrom didn't say anything as he just watched the Princess of the night lay down on the soft garden grass the moonlight though faint reflected off her dark blue hide making it shimmer in a peculiar yet dazzling way. Her mane waved a bit more in the night breeze and her eyes twinkled with curiosity and wonder. "It's a free planet is it not? You and your sister are quite magical." Arrom said to his new listener. "Well of course it's a free planet, or at least Equestria is. There are still some untamed wilds on Equestis even our influence doesn't reach much past our boarders." Luna was rather ashamed knowing that Visage was a part of a Galactic Empire and though a it seemed a bit daunting she herself was a tad jealous of the fact. Arrom gave a knowing smile. "My planet is the same a this one then. On Earth there are many different Countries and Many different ideas on how being's should be governed. Wars pop up all over the globe and my father goes out to try and put out the flames of war before they spread. That is why Earth, as it stands, will never be able to be apart of the Empire. Unless everyone comes to a consensus and there is only a single governing body then the Empire might let them in, but till then, not going to happen." Luna took this new information in. "So that is why thine planet isn't apart of the Empire, but then what about thee?" "It's because I'm a Silvarian, that is the only reason why I'm a part of the Empire and though I would love the Constitution of my father's country become law of the Earth I know that it will never happen. At least not till Elohim's son returns, but only he knows when that will be." Arrom said dryly. "Who is this Elohim that thou speakest of?" Luna asked eagerly. Arrom once again had put his foot in his mouth. "Ugh....I didn't mean to tell you, but oh well it's not like it's a secret." Arrom looked at Luna who was waiting for the answer a bit too eagerly in his opinion, but well on more thing to add wasn't too big of a deal he hoped. "Elohim is the name of the God of our Universe. He has a son who literally died to save not just mankind as they say in the scriptures on Earth but All Kind every being has been touched by his sacrifice in a powerful way and some beings simply ignore that fact." Arrom told his audience as he knew that several of the guards were now eavesdropping. Luna didn't know what to say. A God gave their life to save every pony no every being. Then she realized that their own God did the same. Giving up their own life to save all beings from Skath. "Arrom he is like our God then? Does he no longer exist?" Luna asked with a heavy heart thinking of her own God's great sacrifice. Tears starting to well up in her eyes. "Oh, no he's fine, he had a few scars left over. I don't know why, he could easily heal them but I guess he keeps them as a reminder to himself as well as those who believe in him. Personally I think he's a bigger idiot than my dad." Arrom said indignantly as he folded his arms over his chest. "Wait isn't thine father from Earth, why wouldest thou say something like that, we wouldest like to know." Luna now more demanding than before asked the now still Dark Lord. "Sorry Princess, there are things that even I can't divulge even what I've told you is kind of a secret, at least among the Earthlings, but most of them are too lazy to care or refuse to acknowledge the truth that's right in front of them. At least my family get's it." Arrom nodded knowingly at his own parent's choices. Luna didn't like the answer but she didn't want to press the issue. Deciding to change the subject she focused on his family. We don't think he would mind talking about that. Luna thought. "So what about your family then? You said you had nine wives? How did you meet them all?" Luna said again intrigued with and that twinkle was back in those eyes of hers. "Now that is a rather long story, firstly though, it was Emperor Marcissia that created the Endangered Species ACT but there are rules to it. The three of the biggest ones are. First: I must have saved a females life or the female has a family marital tradition that I have met. Second: The female must be a virgin, otherwise unmarried and not currently in a relationship. Third: The female must be from a sentient species that has a genetic compatibility of at least forty five percent. The rest are just filler and drivel that the Emperor and his counselors came up with. But I did find a few in my travels that fit the criteria. The only real exceptions were Riza and Vira who I guess were promised to marry me by Riza's dad, the Great King of the Mezerino Demons. Who I still think is a Fraking Moron!" Luna was now in shock there were rules laid out by the Emperor and from the sound of it rather good ones too. She still wasn't sure about the one involving genetics but the others seemed very reasonable. "We can tell your Emperor is wise if he put those laws into place. At least thou doesn't go around marrying every pony you meet. Even that Mezerino king. I think, I know why he married thou to several of his own. We think it's so that none of the ones that sided with Skath couldn't touch you, being that you are family to one of them. We think that was also a sensible decision." Luna nodding her head at her own logic. "I cannot disagree with you Princess Luna, still I feel that Riza loves drinking more than me. Then again, I never could guess what goes through that woman's mind most of the time." Arrom finished getting up he walked over to the tree that Luna was hiding in leaning into it as he then slid down the trunk and crossed his feet as he again looked up into the star filled sky. Luna got up and fallowed after the Dark Lord standing off to his left she sunk back down still intent on continuing their conversation. She found him and his home fascinating and fantastical. She was hoping to hear more and fortunately he didn't disappoint. "Luna, did you know that I trained several apprentices all the way to knight hood?" Arrom looked over at his listener who was still making herself comfortable once again she stretched her wings a bit before she answered. "No, we have not heard of this. Who are these apprentices, whom you speak of?" Luna asked as her ears twitched a bit. Arrom smiled wide as Luna took the bait. You have no idea what you are in for now princess. "You see I started off with a Dormirian child named Arorra but she was more attuned to the light side more so than the dark. She was taken to the Order's planet Firax for training. I then was given two apprentices they were Zabrack brothers named Kaz and Zak and let me tell you they were very difficult to train. They were both practical jokers pulling off random schemes and plots. One time we were assigned to the Imperial Capital Ship aptly named The Constitution while on board they put a rather interesting additive into the ships water supply facility that turned most of the crew blue." Arrom watched Luna with glee as a smile appeared on her face. "They turned the crew blue? That sounds like something Discord would do." Luna actually started laughing at the thought. "Even to this day the name stuck The Constitution and it's Blue crew. I must admit it was quite funny even the very serious Marcisian Admiral thought it rather humerus. I swear Kaz and Zak did all kinds of crazy things but the thing that was craziest was the time I took them to Earth with me." Arrom stopped to look at his audience he also noticed that the guards that had been listening in were creeping closer and had been joined by several others. "If thine planet is not a part of the Empire then they surly must have gotten into all kinds of mischief." Luna said waiting for the end of this tale about Lord Visage's two apprentices. "So this is were things get......interested you see on my planet there is an Entertainment series called Star Wars created by a man named George Lucas, surprisingly he actually got more than a few things accurate, at least on the beings in the films compared to our own Galaxy. We still don't know why....but the main thing is that he had just released his new movie. When we went to visit my home my sisters insisted that we go to the premier in Soul with them. The great thing was we didn't have to hide, everyone just assumed that were were character's from the show. Mom said something about cosplay I think....anyway we blended in just fine..... Things were going good, that is until they revealed the Villain who went by the name of Darth Maul and the terror twins just loved him, up until his death that is." Arrom again stopped as he noticed the jaw on Luna's face nearly hit the ground. "They didn't! Did they." Luna guessed as to what the two kids did next. "Oh, yes they did they actually got their skin permanently dyed and even shaved their heads except Kaz who kept his pony tail, but they became the spitting images of Darth Maul and henceforth called themselves the brother's Maul. They even went so far to try and dress like him and they even fashioned their blood sabers after his light saber. Their mother was not too pleased when she found out. And of course I got the blame." Arrom couldn't help but laugh at the brother's small as most of the Shadow Knights called them. They were something else, that's for sure. Luna had regained her composure still she would like to meet these two brother's that caused Visage all of these problems. They might even be a match for Pinkie Pie. Luna thought as she hoped that the three would never meet. If they did who knows what they might do. "Don't worry Luna, Zak is married and became a bounty hunter and Kaz left the Shadow Knights and joined the White Handers he's a Grand Master sitting on their Counsel. He's mostly mellowed but he still loves to drive the other Grand Master's crazy with his pranks on occasion." Arrom stopped and again his hand clutched his ring as he remembered his wife Arorra who was also sitting on the Grand Counsel. Out of all of his wives she and Fraya were the only ones who were by his side the most. Several tears had started to form as he hoped to be reunited with them soon. Luna noticed that Lord Visage had once again went quiet as he held his ring in his hand and was weeping quietly. She then started feeling sad as she watched the smile flee from his face. She slowly got up and walked over to the man who shared much with her. Bringing her head down she leaned in and softly touched his lips with hers. Realizing what she had just done she quickly backed away as two glowing gold and purple orbs went wide in surprise. "We are sorry.....please forgive us....we just felt that we might cheer you up." Luna rambled cursing herself for what she just did. "Sorry for what, was there something you wanted me to know? I'm sorry but if there was some secret you wanted to tell me, I was a bit startled and wasn't able to catch it." Arrom said wondering why Luna backed away before telling him whatever it was she wanted him to know. Now Luna was confused. "We don't understand what thou art talking about?" She said honestly. Arrom shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal. In the Empire there are a lot of very powerful Verse users and if you have a secret that you wouldn't like shared the best way to tell it is through physical contact with the recipient. What you would call a kiss. I'm sorry but I wasn't paying attention to whatever it was you were trying to relay to me." Luna gleaned some rather useful information. "So what thou art telling us is that thou shareest information and secrets by sharing a kiss?" Arrom nodded. "Yes, but I was distracted so I missed whatever it was you were trying to tell me." Luna realized that this was a big misunderstanding. Visage thought that she was trying to tell him something when actually that wasn't the case at all. She then decided that in order to smooth out this situation she would play along. "Well, yes we were going to tell thee something but we realized that we had caught you off guard. It was of little importance so please pay it no heed." Luna hoped to get out of this situation with some dignity intact. Arrom looked at Luna with a puzzled expression. "If it wasn't important then I guess that's fine." He then pulled his hood over his head and folded his arms. "If there is something more you need Princess just let me know." Luna blushed a deep shade of red just as she turned around, spreading her wings to take off. She turned her head slightly. "No Lord Visage we will not bother thee the rest of this night, perhaps another?" She saw Lord Visage nod his head and not wanting to let him know what she had done, and took off. I think that went well, I just hope that my sister or....Twilight don't find out that Lord Visage can send information through a kiss. Luna thought about the disastrous consequences if either of them did find out. "That was a rather abrupt ending but I guess even a Lunar Princess has things to attend to. So any more of you eavesdroppers out there want to come out of hiding so I would have someone else to talk to?" Arrom announced to the guards that had gathered. All of the guards took off as the man addressed them, quickly getting back to their assigned posts. Several of them both saw and heard the whole exchange and they were going to report back to Celestia in the morning with the newly discovered information. Arrom sat under the tree lost in thought for the remainder of the night. Looking up into the star filled sky that now was turning a brilliant orange on the fringe of the horizon as the sun was starting to rise. He sat still watching the slow glow spread as his thoughts went again to his wife Arorra and the tragic and joyous day they met. Firaxian Galaxy Planet Firax home world of The Order of The White Hand one Derron after Visage's disappearance The vines that were wrapped and twisted around the young girls ankles that hurt as they rubbed against her off white skin. Her glassy eyes darting every which way as creatures came to inspect this given morsel. She was crying, in pain and terror. Why did they do this to me? What did I do that was so wrong? She thought as tears ran down her dirt covered face. Dormir was an inhospitable planet but the beings who lived there for Onns eked out a home on the giant swamp planet. The hull of the downed Marcisain Explorer ship became the only safe haven on this eat or be eaten world. Arorra was a child like most Dormirians having both Terran and Marcisian heritage her skin was white with a tint of blue, her hair was a crystalline white and her eyes were just like the Marcisians pupil-less and glassy. At this time they were full of terror. Her parents gave her to the elders of their village for a sacrifice to the monsters of the swamp lands. Being deemed a witch for powers she had, but didn't know how to control. She could lift things without touching them, she could strike out with lightning, shocking those that it touched. Because of these powers she was tied up and rendered helpless. As large scaled backs started to breach the surface of the murky water close to the atoll she was on or more appropriately tied to. Arorra was so terrified she could no longer scream she just simply whimpered mouth quivering as the scaled backs of the smaller beasts disappeared just as quickly as they had come. Arorra thought she was safe as she resumed struggling to get the vines tied around her hands and feet off of her, but her struggling only made the taught vines dig into her soft skin making it rip and bleed, ignoring the pain she continued to struggle but she stopped as she heard a low growl. Large plated scales breached the surface bigger than any of the others that just fled the great behemoth that was rising. Two great red eyes came up out of the water mud and swampy grasses splashing as they fell off the creatures large alligator looking head several rows of yellow and green teeth making a vile grin as it saw the helpless tied up Dormirian child that was looking back up in tears and terror. Arorra wet herself, not that it mattered much, being already caked in the muck and wet of the swamp. Letting out an inaudible scream as one of the four great clawed hands with fingers that were long and webbed, the curved claws at the end of each finger stretched out and were about to close on his snack like a cage. The hand was suddenly yanked back as a cloaked figure launched a glowing stick at it. He then pulled out the stick returning it to his hand but leaving a burning hole where it had pierced the Drragg. Visage had a bit of a reprieve as the Drragg clenched it's wounded hand with one of it's other three. The monster made a half growl half roar in anger and pain that had just been afflicted to it. Not wasting any time he cut the child free of her imprisonment using his blood saber. After the child was freed he looked her over making sure she wasn't too damaged, not taking long he turned around focusing on the giant he was about to face. "I see you like to eat sentient beings, beast. Mere children at that. You now face an apprentice of the Zah. So, prepare yourself monster." Visage said as he adjusted the hilt of his blood saber in a reverse grip. The Drragg swiped at the small black thing that held the glowing stick but it jumped onto his hand that was still in motion and with the glowing stick stabbed it several times making more burning wounds open. still clinging to the hand he was on Visage saw the other hand coming down the Drragg was trying to swat him, crushing him like a fly. Visage didn't even wait for the impact he jumped from the hand he was on blood saber now gripped with both hands he slammed the blade hard against the creatures wrist, nearly severing it's hand. Several tendons and strings of flesh prevented the now crippled limb from falling free. The Drragg growled and howled in pain clutching the wrist of it's crippled hand with one of its still good ones. The Dragg still reared up from it's cry in agony was once more in pain but this time it was it's whole body that was racked. Visage not letting the monster any time to recuperate charged his hands with lightning and unleashed a storm of angry bolts of blue and purple at it. He could literally hear the popping and cracking of armored flesh as steam and smoke started to billow from the enraged and crippled creature. Visage then flew up on top of the monster's head charging his blood saber with lightning the sparking purple blade came down with force, so much so, that the whole blade was imbedded deep into the monster's skull then channeling more lightning he started to fry the creature from the inside. The Drragg knew that it was dying powerful energies were boiling it's brain as lightning surged throughout it's body, blood and bile were starting to boil and pop. Despite that it would kill it's killer. Using one of it's good hands it grabbed the dark figure on top of it's head ripping the accursed glowing stick and trailing lighting out and away. Visage was hurled up into the dense fog of the planet. He was spinning end over end as he suddenly stopped, then started to plummet, he could see a great maw open wide, waiting to receive him. While in free fall he pulled out his second blood saber and snapping it end to end with the one that was already lit he put his body into a vertical dive, blade leading into the dark wet esophagus of the monster. Spreading his legs he was now in a tight wet mess facing down into the depths of a beast that was trying to make a meal of him. He snapped off the the purple glowing blade, then holding the hilt that was now twice as long, he held it in a horizontal position and snapped both blades on, they vanished into the soft tissues of the creatures neck. Gripping the hilt with both hands Visage kick his legs putting him into a one eighty spin, flesh and soft tissue were burned away by the blades and slowly he saw the outside world. The foggy swamp greeted the dark warrior like an old friend. Jumping through the hole he made, he flew up landing on the dry patch that a now dumbfounded looking child was still sitting on. Both her and Visage watched as the Drragg's severed head fell off from the giant body and into the swamp below it took a few Dironn's for the head and body to disappear into the slimy muck leaving a small bubbling geyser where it had sunk. Visage turned his masked face to the small girl and asked."So, kid what else do you do around here for fun?" Arorra awoke in a cold sweat she hadn't had that dream in a long time. She looked around the room with her glassy white eye's there were tears still running from them, so she wiped them away. She then looked for her husband but remembered that she was on Firax the planet that housed the Order of the White Hand. Putting both hands on her face to clear the bad memories she breathed deeply into them before putting one to her neck grabbing the small chain that was hanging from it. The silver chain had a silver ring attached to it. Looking at it she clutched it in her hand. Slowly releasing her fingers from her precious ring that her husband made her for their wedding. She grasped the purple blood gem that was it's center piece it was dark and cold and it wasn't glowing with the normal lively purple that it always did. Once again reflecting on her dream she knew that something bad had happened to Visage. She got dressed quickly not even messing with her hair, using the force she grabbed her blood saber attaching it to the side of her belt as she opened the door and ran to see the other Grand Masters, she knew something was wrong and she wanted answers. "Arorra I'm surprised to see you up so early." Grand Master Athren greeted her with a smile. "I've had a vision about the past when Visage saved me from the Drragg. I awoke to find that the blood gem he gave me is no longer glowing and I can't feel him through the Force anymore!" Arorra exclaimed to her colleague. Athren rubbed the back of his head getting his fingers tangled up in his black hair, he looked at the Dormirain woman pained as to what he should do. He finally decided to tell her, he didn't want her going around and reading every White Hander's mind. "We were contacted by the Imperial Capitol this morning...Now Arorra I don't want you to panic but Visage's ship ran into some.....problems. He is now missing." Athren stated as cool as he could. Arorra's reaction was pure panic her eye's went wide then tears started to form. She lost her balance so Athren reached out to grab the falling woman. Her hand going back to the chain. She was clutching her ring for comfort. "Do they know what happened to him?" She spoke through sobs. "The Empire found the crew of the Last Chance and were debriefed about a Minronn ago. Apparently they tried to jump through Entaru's Nightmare and they probably would have made it if it weren't for that Super Nova they ran into." Athren told his distraught friend in the calmest tone he could muster. Arorra would have turned white if she wasn't already. "They tried to jump that death trap? But what about my husband? How is he missing if the crew has been found?" Arorra was more pleading than asking. Athren just shook his head. Just then they were interrupted by Grand Master's Mirth and Kaz. they walk in on a distressed looking Athren trying to comfort and even more distressed looking Arorra. Kaz one of Visage's former students and a Maul brother felt the tension in the air. "So you told her about Master's disappearance." He said not trying to hide his own worry. Mirth gave all in the room a stern look. "Arorra you are hereby suspended from your duties." Mirth a blue skinned Twillan stated with authority. Everyone looked at him Arorra was frowning, Kaz looked sympathetic for someone who looked like a Darth Maul clone, if it wasn't for the ponytail of black hair dangling from the back of his horned covered head. Mirth coughed and finished what he started. "Arorra you are to head to the Imperial Capitol immediately and take part in the search for our missing Dark Lord. Oh, and I suggest you hurry up and get ready Azalla will be here in less than a Minronn." Kaz the black and Red Zabrak that took Lucas's Star War from Visage's home planet a bit to seriously, chimed in. "And I'll be joining you!" He announced to all present while putting a fist on his chest. Arorra wiped her tears away got up with a little help from Athren and quite literally bolted out the door down the hallway, back to her room to get the rest of her things. "Arorra were meeting at platform twenty eight! Be there or Azalla and I will leave without you!" Kaz yelled out after the running Dormirian. "Do you think she heard me?" He asked the rest of the beings in the room. both Grandmasters just put their hands on their faces and groaned. Prologue: Undercover MissionEveryone knows about the Galexy far far away but what about our own? This is about the Marcisian Empire, that rules our Galaxy and the beings that belong to it. Most characters and story are my own. Some Star Wars Refrences owned by Disney MLP owned by Lauren Faust/Hasbro It was dark, but not silent . The sounds of the engines could be heard throughout most of the ship but more so in the aft. Making meditation difficult, but not impossible. The Dark Lord was disguised most of the time during this undercover operation, but still how he ended up here was puzzling. Levitating above the floor with legs crossed he floated with one of his trusted blood sabers in pieces floating in front of him, all held firmly into place by either his own power or the force (seeing as that was the name all of the practitioners started calling it.) "I remember a time when it (The Force) had many names both the Jashari and the Zaharaj called it. Until, the Marcisian Empire took both organizations under it's wing. The Marcisian Empire of the Firaxian Galaxy, or the Milky Way Galaxy, different names, same Galaxy." Lord Visage said aloud. During meditation he did that a lot, to him it was a way of connecting to the past, through that connection it made it easier to see the future, which at this time was very clouded. Visage sighed, and started rehearsing the code of the Imperial Shadow Knights as they were named by the Emperor. "Peace is Fleeting so I thirst for knowledge, Through knowledge I gain Power, Through Power, I gain Wisdom, Through Wisdom I become Enlightened with Enlightenment I will become one with the Verse." (Universe shortened) Opening his eyes Visage smiled "I still like the old way better. Sorry, Lord Nos." There was a mirror facing him in his small compartment. For it was much too small to be a cabin the only things in it was a bed a dresser that was fixed to the bulkhead and a mirror that was mounted over the dresser. Visage was staring at his own reflection in the mirror. Those eyes really are creepy, he thought to himself even thought they were his own. The white Sclera that had purple bloody veins leading to darker purple blood shot looking irises that were abruptly overtaken by a gold inner iris that surrounded a deep, dark, pupil. The Abyss black hair didn't help matter's either. At least his face has a softness to it, despite his affinity for the dark side. If the others on the ship had any idea that they had one of the thirteen members of the Shadow Council was on board there would be an uproar, so the contacts had to stay in, while out performing his duties. Lead mechanic wasn't the worst job on an Terminian Freighter but still the accommodations left much to be desired. This tub is nothing like the Vengeance. Thinking about his own vessel. He actually missed his home, for that ship was indeed his second home besides the one back on Earth which at this time was a long ways away. At least this trip was going to be an easy one, simple supply run for the Terminian Conglomerate. The biggest privately owned business in the Galaxy. Visage went back to meditation at least he had the peace part, but the drumming of the engines propelling them through hyperspace was rather annoying. Despite that one minor irritation he was meticulously piecing his blood saber back together again. This ritual was like breathing at this point, he has done it so many times over the Onns but it still helped him clear his mind. Thinking back on how he got this ridiculous assignment. Maricisia Imperial capitol several cycles ago The palace was white marble with a light blue carpet leading up to the throne. The white pillars and transpersteel windows that lined the white walls between each pair of pillars had different tints of blue leaving brilliant designs on the floors between each set of columns the designs became less blue and more white and more intricate as they lead up to the throne. Visage was always overtaken by the pure beauty and size of it, no matter how many times he has visited the Marcisian Palace. His walk was not a pleasant one though, he could feel the anticipation and concern coming off of Emperor Barran distracting Visage from the grandeur of the palace this visit. Stopping near the small flight of steps that lead up to the throne that had a pacing Emperor in front of it. Visage stood still and cold. The waves of fear, dread, concern and other mixed emotions emanating from his eminence were immense. Barran like all Marcisians had pure white skin they were humanoid but they had glassy white eyes, tendrils for hair, and smaller tendrils under their chins used for eating, which could be retracted, unless they were very emotional, then they seem to come out on reflex and flail about. The other unusual feature is that they have no mouths but they do have something resembling lips so they might have had mouths in the distant past. Their noses aren't as pronounced as humans but they do have two nostrils. Barran wasn't looking forward to this meeting at all. He hated being the bearer of bad news but there was a way to make Visage disappear at least until a solution to his current problem could be found. It took a while for Barran to see a very still and patiently waiting Dark Lord of his Shadow Knights, who was at this time waiting for his Emperor to collect his thoughts, and say whatever was on his mind. Rather then being prodded Barran simply went with the truth. "Lord Visage I have been talking with the Shadow Council and we have decided to put you on an undercover mission for your wife and the Tarminain Conglomerate." Barran's tendrils squirmed a bit. But his glassy white eyes couldn't be read by the waiting dark lord. He needed to tell his astute young friend before he tried to read his mind, which powerful force users seem to do, but Visage wouldn't do that to his Emperor. He merely waited for him to speak. With a sigh Emperor Barran slumped down onto his throne. His mouth tendril's stopped flopping about and retracted. He then put his elbows down onto the armrest's of the throne, crossed his fingers, and rested his chin into the finger cradle. Looking at his Shadow Knight. Telling him what was happening was going to be hard, but it would be better for him to know the truth than keep him guessing. Barran hoping his thoughts wouldn't betray him first. "Visage...no Arrom what I am about to tell you is secret." Barran waited for a reply. Visage nodded in agreement knowing that what was going to be said must be big. "Our neighbors in the Andramida Galaxy have laid claim to you. Myself, The Imperial Shadow Knights, and The Order of the White Hand have decided that we will not relinquish you." Barran let this info sink in before continuing. Visage's eyes went wide. He had many questions. But his Emperor might have the answers so he just nodded, waiting patiently. Barran continued. "Due to this claim and your endangered species status we decided that you should, disappear...for the time being. Therefore I....no...we, have decided to send you on an undercover mission. You will be given a new identity and if the Aclorian Empire asks where you have gone we will be able to honestly say, we don't know." Barran looked at Arrom not just as his Knight but also his subject and charge. There wasn't really any better plan, the Aclorain Empire was nearly three times the size of their own. If they really wanted to they could track down Arrom, and force him to their Galaxy, to what en? Barran didn't want to know but he couldn't let them take the savior of his wife and child. "Arrom I have talked with your family, and wives about this and we have all decided it was the best, and only course of action, until we convince the Aclorians that they have no claim. You need to vanish so they can't find you." Barron's heart sank and was about in tears after finishing. Visage knew how hard it was for his Emperor to tell him. He could feel his Emperor's sadness. "Emperor Barron, do you know why they make, or have a claim on me?" Arrom asked his down looking Emperor. Barron being brought back from his thoughts shook his head both to clear it and to respond. "I am sorry but I do not, I could find out though..and then I might be able to.." "Keep me here." Visage finished for him. "I will do this undercover mission, you contact Emperor Acloria. See why they want me so badly. If they found out what I truly am then we might have a problem, but also a solution. You also tell them that I will not leave MY Galaxy unless they are attacked by those scum sucking Skath. Then maybe, and I mean, maybe I'll go help." Barron looked at Arrom with pride his nearly non existent lips turned up into a smile. "Your master will be happy to hear this." Visage just shrugged "Azalla's not my master anymore she's my wife, and she hasn't been my master in several Onns." "Well she'll still be pleased you'll be working for her and her Conglomerate." Barron said flatly. Arrom smirked. "Your the reason I married her and those others. MY Emperor!" "All joking aside." Barron simply shrugged. "I did what I felt I had to do. I said this before but I'll say it again. I will not allow an endangered species to go extinct while Marcisia stands. That decree that you were so angry about all those Onns ago. I need to know, how do you feel about it now?" Barron, curiously asked. Visage wondered for a bit. "Well having nine wives would be tough on some but with all of us doing different things and being scattered across the Galaxy I really don't see many of them often. And...." Barron really wanting to know, his anticipation building. "Annnnd what? might I ask?" Barron didn't realize he was on the edge of his seat. Rubbing his gloved hand through his black hair Visage gave a sigh "And I kinda miss them in my life....Yes, I know that your endangered species Act was necessary, and yes, I was furious at the time, but being around all of them for so long, they grew on me. I probably wouldn't be a Lord sitting on the Shadow Council if it weren't for Azalla or Arora and even Riza with her antics. Well, never mind." Visage trailed off. Realizing something. Barron watched as Arrom's arm dropped and his eye's went wide. Barron thought he could see the gears in Arrom's head turning. "Emperor Barron what if the Aclorians found out what I am, and also found out about the endangered species Act. What if that is the claim!" Visage said emphatically. Barron felt as though he were hit in the face by a Gorf. If that were true then there is a solution. In the Act it states that no being form outside the Empire could make a marriage claim. Even if Arrom saved Aclorian lives they wouldn't be covered by the law. "I bid you farewell my young friend..and may the Force be with you." With that Barron dismissed Arrom with a wave, then hurriedly dismissed himself. "May the Force guide us to our destiny." Visage said to his Emperor as he made a hasty exit smiling as he turned and set out for the Vengeance. Walking past the white pillars the small blue gemstone set into the top of his glove started blinking. A miniature hologram of Lord Nos appeared. "So did you meet the Emperor Lord Visage?" Still on his way out to the landing platforms Visage smiled and answered. "Yes, Lord Nos, I did and it seems I need to make myself scarce for a while." The miniature Lord Nos also smiled. "Indeed my friend. Just stay out of trouble this time. I don't want a sequel of the Mendinus four incident." Visage just rolled his eye's. "I didn't start that....incident." Nos, smirked evilly. "No...but you did finish it, and Lord Visage you need to meet your Captain and crew on Tarthos for your new assignment. Don't bring the Vengeance with you take a marked transport. There is a hub station in the Clanos sector, your contact there will fill you in on the rest. Oh...and...May the Force be with you Lord Visage." "May the Force guide us to our destinies Lord Nos." Visage replied, as the mini Lord Nos vanished back into the dimming blue gemstone. Getting back to the Vengeance walking up the ramp leading into his ship Visage realized something, he hated politics. Visage came out of his meditation. Putting his blood saber back together, levitating it close to his hand, slowly warping his fingers around the black and silver cylinder, tightly gripping the hilt, feeling it's pulse as the Dark Purple blood gem inside gave it's power to the circuitry inside creating a dark purple blade of energy. Visage quickly put the saber away storing it in the gem of his glove where he keeps many things hidden from prying eyes. Sub dimensional storage facilities for the win, he thought to himself as he put the uncomfortable contact's in his eyes. Just as there was a knock at the door. Opening the door with the press of a button there stood the chief engineer. "I thought I would need to get a plasma cutter to get you out of there Sparky." Tilara said sarcastically. Visage just kept calm ignoring her sarcasm he might be new to this crew but her Twillan (Look up Twilek if you want to know what a Twillan looks like) nature was something he was used to if only she knew he was married to one of the bosses. "I need you to come with me. The Captain is having us jump to new coordinates. Said he could cut our time by three to four cycles." Visage was kind of surprised by this. Cocking an eyebrow. "Oh...how so?" "Cap, didn't say and that has us concerned." Tilara said, not even trying to hide her worry. Visage thought back to his own hyperspace travels. "I don't remember any shortcuts like that in this sector." Realizing he had said that aloud, cursing himself for the mistake. Tilara looked at Sparky quizzically. Her two Twills as they were called started stretching out towards his head. He was used to Azalla doing that but not this woman. Tialra's Twills started to wrap around the back of Visage's head her Emerald eye's were narrowed as she started to pull him in. "I thought this was your first time out? Didn't you just graduate from the Imperial Space Center?" Her tone was rather threatening and had some venom to it. Visage trying to get out of this mess without blowing his cover, kept calm trying hard not to use the force or any other powers at his disposal to dissuade Tilara in her choice of inquiry. "I read star-charts and maps, we have to know more than just how to keep a ship, well... ship shape." Visage meagerly replied trying to curb Tilara's inquisition. He had apparently satisfied her because she halted her advance and withdrew her Twills, curling one around the back of her neck so that the two dropped to the left side of her head. Still, that was too close he thought. I'll need to watch what I say or his Imperial Majesty and the Counsel will lecture me on what undercover means. Tilara started walking towards the bow of the ship beckoning her young charge to fallow. The corridors and hallways were all well lit. Visage, or Sparky as he was currently known as, seriously couldn't the Counsel given him a better undercover name thinking to himself. Visage rolled his eyes as he just noticed his Chief had tightened her hands into fists her dark blue skin had beads of sweat forming on it, and he could feel her anxiety, in fact he felt most of the crew was anxious, and some were not very happy. What is going on, he wondered what is this secret route the captain knows about that he didn't, and why is the crew like this? Fallowing Tialra he knew they were headed to the galley where they were meeting up apparently with the rest of the crew. "THIS IS FOLLY!" he heard the old Gornok from several hallways down. As they reached the door way he saw the owner of the voice. Imperial Major Carthen a Terran that was made up of all muscle that was an even match for his clout. Carthen was a veteran who helped in the D'rath Pirate/Slaver cleanup which Visage and his former master, now wife, helped lead. "Calm down Major, I have talked with the captain and he said it isn't as dangerous as the Empire claims." The X.O B'tran a Marcisian with pure white skin, glassy white eye's and lengthy head tendrils said trying to calm down both Carthen and the other fifteen crew members. Although Visage could feel that even he was on edge. B'tran was forcing the tendrils' on his chin to remain retracted, the crew couldn't know, that even he, was distraught. "So, our chief and Sparky finally show up. Have you heard what our beloved captain is planning?" Carthen spoke putting emphasis as well as criticism in his words. Visage getting stares from the crew and especially from the X.O just simply shrugged. Tilara gave a half smile. "No we just got here why is everyone so uptight today?" Tilara asked. Visage knew she like most of the crew was a nervous wreak. "Captain Halbert has made the decision to....gamble on a new route, we are going to make a jump skirting the Entaru Nebula." B'tran was cut off before he could finish. "Is HE crazy!" One of the crew members shouted. "By the Gods!" Another said. "HE isn't serious! Is HE!?" Several said at once. "It's SUICIDE!"Several more shouted. The entire crew was thrown into a tailspin of anger and fear. Visage knew that the crew was right, not even the most powerful force users used that corridor. It was literately littered with micro black holes, dead planets, temporal rifts, and planets on the verge of dying. Super Novas were so common that the star-maps were useless, and the Empire gave a strict rule that star-ships were not to venture anywhere near it. Visage now knew why he had trouble seeing the future. If captain Halbert goes through with this space jump they might not live to have one. Just as things were about to get truly out of hand the Captain steps through the Galley door. "Imperials, I have an announcement." The room immediately quieted as Halbert spoke. With eye's burning with excitement and a smile on his bearded face the Terran male looked at his angry and concerned crew. "We are going to do the impossible." He paused looking again around the galley his crew now nervously waited, the tension was so high you could almost see the electricity in the air. "We are going to make a hyperspace jump on the fringe of the Entaru Nebula." He heard gaps, angry and nervous whispering as he made the declaration. Visage said what everyone thought. "Captain with all due respect, this is insane." Visage spoke flatly. Tilara glanced at him with a smile and a nod. The rest of the crew made similar gestures. The captain was undeterred. Stroking his beard "I know your all worried and even scared, but we can do this....no, we will do this we are going to make galactic history!" "Or die because of your folly, Captain." Visage sneered. Halbert glared at Sparky. "Because this is your first time out, Sparky." Halbert said threateningly. "I will ignore your outburst, besides what does a mere mechanic know about hyperspace travel anyway..hmmm?" Visage glared at his captain trying hard not to say what he had in his mind. More than you will ever know you crazy fool. unfortunately all he could do was grit his teeth, fold his arms, and lean against the galley wall. After putting his insubordinate mechanic down, Halbert looked around at his audience. "Anyone else?" He paused a moment "Good, because as Sparky said, and I normally would agree with him, this would, be folly, however I have a secret weapon." Leaning out the doorway he motioned for someone to enter. It wasn't long before a very nervous looking Zebrak walked in. "This is our new helmsman we picked up on Tarthos but before this job he was in the Order of the White Hand." There were gasps and more whispers coming from the crew. Visage looked at the Zabrak incredulously. The rest of the crew seemed to be in awe. "Well please introduce yourself." Halbert urged. "Hello,the name is Decren I'm the new helmsman as you can see I'm a Zabrak, formerly of the Order." Decren spoke softly trying to ignore the stares of the crew. His brown eyes looking at the floor, head slightly bowed showing off his several horns, the back ones were mostly covered by messy black hair. He was fidgeting so much the crew thought it was because he was nervous, Visage knew better. "Decren why don't you tell the crew what you told me last night." Captain Halbert was urging his pilot on. "In the Order I was in charge of star-charts and maps I have studied them and I found a safe way through Entaru's nightmare." Decren said softly trying hard not to sound nervous, but kept his eye's fixed on the floor or his feet. "Really you were in the Order? Lets see some Force tricks then?" Visage said with an ice cold tone, he wasn't at all pleased. Lets see you get out of this liar. He thought. "Ya, I've met a bunch of Force users durin the Pirate cleanup several Onns ago. You look like you might be a knight? or are you a Master." Major Carthen lit up wanting to see something levitate. "Oh! Can you do that...that." Carthen started snapping his fingers. "Trance?" Carthen said even more energetically. Visage smiled he couldn't believe Carthen remembered that. "It's not a trance it's called Battle Meditation you big Glort!" Visage, smiled at Carthen distracted by his old friends comment. He now had everyone's attention again. "That's it!" Carthen bellowed "But how do you know about Battle Meditation Sparky?" All eyes were on the young mechanic including Decren who finally stopped looking at his feet. Visage still leaning against the wall with arms folded merely shrugged. "I have a lot of friends in the Imperial Shadow Knights and several more in the Order." He wasn't lying he did know a lot of beings in both groups. there were several Ooohs from the crew but Tilara thankfully turned the attention back to the shocked Zebrak. "Oh! I heard that the Order uses Blood Sabers just like the Shadow Knights. Is that true Decren? Would you mind if I borrowed yours for awhile I'd love to take one apart." Tilara added with even more excitement. Decren went wide eyed, hating the crew for again focusing on him, he meekly replied. "I....can't use the Force, anymore and The Order took everything, when they threw me out."The entire crew even the Captain paled at this. Decren just hoped everyone would stop pestering him so he could get back to the bridge. "Threw you out, for what?" It was the Galley's Chef Rimalt who spoke up this time. The Terran man way back behind the food counter, wiping his hands on an already a dirty apron continued unabated. "I've been inside a lot of star-ships and I've never heard of the Order kicking anyone out. I know that Shadow Knights have been know to leave and go join the Order but they don't kick beings out do they Sparky?" The cook directing his question at the smaller Terran who was still leaning against the wall. "You'd have to do something really serious, or seriously fraked, in order to get let go from either organization. From what my friends have told me, the Shadow Knights would execute you, and the White hand would set you before the Grand Counsel before you'd get frackin expelled." Visage shrugged. "So, Decren how did you loose your Force powers? Did the Shadow Counsel end up sealing them on the Order's behalf?" Dacren once again lowered his eye's fidgeting even worse than before Captain Halbert put a hand on his shoulder. "He probably doesn't want to talk about it, nor does he have to just so long as he can get us to were we're going it doesn't matter." Dacren looked up at his captain. "Thank you, and I don't." Dacren told his Captain and then crew. Halbert smiled as he looked out over his fifteen crew members. "Are you all ready to make HISTORY YOU IMPS!" The chorus of voices was an overwhelming "FRAK YA!" only one voice in the crowd was silent. This does not bode well. Visage thought to himself. The crew started returning to their duties. Visage said goodbyes to several crew mates including a giant of a Major who picked him up and hugged him before letting him get back to the engine room with Tilara. Walking down the wide well lit corridors on his way back to his cell Visage passed a nervous looking Zabark. Visage's eyes narrowed as he caught up to Decren. "Your going to get us all killed." speaking low and cold Dacren jumped from hearing the voice next to him. "Sparky what are you talking about?" Dacren replied still trying to pretend innocents. "We both know you were never in the Order, and I don't know how you got those old smuggler routes but when we get into trouble, I'll have to be the one to get us out." Visage was threatening and to emphasis his displeasure he started force chocking the Zabrack. Decren could feel invisible hands crushing his larynx and his lungs felt like a Devroian Beetle was stepping on them gasping for air his eyes went so wide that they looked like saucers. "Now if you'll excuse me....this conversation never happened is that clear?" Decren could only nod in agreement. "Good, I'm glad we have an understanding." Visage released Dacren from his grip as he fell in a heap on the floor having a coughing fit. Dacren's lungs still burned as Sparky disappeared behind one of the connecting corridors. When he could finally speak. "I'm going to prove you all wrong you'll see the captain and me, we'll be famous! Mark my words Sparky. Mark, my words." Dacren whispered the last sentence. Getting up from off the floor while rubbing his neck with his left hand, his right went into his pocket where he pulled out an old holo map with a route marked out with the coordinates that will make him famous. He smiled as he walked to the bridge, not even caring about the exchange with an undercover Shadow Knight. All it did was make him even more giddy. They send a Shadow Knight to threaten me because they know that I have the maps and they want them, well wait till we show up on Marcisia in less than a Mcronn. That'll show them. Decren smiled as he took his map to the bridge to plot the course. It's been several Denonns since the the Ship entered the Entaru Nightmare. Visage disguised as Sparky was in the Engine Room staying occupied monitoring the consol in front of him he was flanked on either side by two droids. He ignored them and they ignored him it was just more of the usual. "Sir? there seems to be an anomaly in engine three." The droid on his left said in a mechanical voice. Sparky leaned over to see what was up. The monitor that the droid was watching had some strange readings. The core of engine three seemed to be fluctuating. "AED-Two is there any power fluctuations in the other two Engines?" Sparky asked the other Droid in the trio. The droid punched several glowing buttons with his lengthy mechanical fingers. AED-Two also extended several wires plugging them into slots next to the monitors. "Negative Sir all readings on the other two engines seem normal." AED-Two stated in that same mechanical monotone voice. Puzzled Sparky again looked over at AED-One's Screen. "Why only engine three?" Sparky didn't expect a response from the droids but AED-1 spoke up "Perhaps, it's because engine three is a new model." Sparky looked at his coworker quizzically. AED-One explained. "Engine three had to be replaced do to a failure. that was three Rionns ago." Sparky asked the droid "What caused the failure?" The droid just responded "Unknown." "Great so they replace a failed engine with a new one, hoping that it plays nice with the ship and the other two, but didn't find out what caused the failure in the first place." Sparky stated. "That is affirmative." Was the reply from both droids. Sparky raised his hands in mock surrender. "What is with that? does the entire contracted fleet cut corners? Or only the Captain of this ship?" "I'm sorry sir but I can't say I don't have enough data to give a definitive answer." AED-One stated. Sparky rolled his eyes ignoring the droids remark looking at the console again. Why only one?At this point it was anyone's guess. AED-Two looked at the mechanic. "Sir when the engine became inoperable, we had collided with an energy field. The engine had to be taken off line. The captain brought us into sub space in order to shut it down." Sparky wasn't expecting an explanation but grateful to the droid nonetheless. "Thanks, EAD-Two that helps." Visage then realized what the fluctuation meant. "Frak, Frak, Frak, EAD-One get the captain on the horn now." "Done Sir." EAD-Two said pressing the comm button on the panel in front of him. "This had better be important, Why are you calling?" Captain Halbert sounded annoyed. "Do a wide scanner sweep maximum band!" Sparky, yelled at his captain. "Why? What's going on down there?" Halbert was cut off by a shouting mechanic. "JUST DO IT!!" Visage was livid. Looking at the energy flux spiking even more so than last time. "This does not bode well." He had said that to himself several cycles ago and now his worst fears were being realized. On the bridge everyone heard a very disturbed mechanic yell at their captain. B'Tran the Marcisian X.O was already doing the sweep. His glassy eyes getting big. "Sparky was right, were all dead." Was all he could say before the ship was hit by a massive wave of pure energy. A dying star had finally gone supernova the energy waves flowing into the space around it like a rock hitting water, but these waves were killers, and the small ship was now caught in the middle of them. The ship was ripped out of hyperspace all of the crew inside were tossed around violently. Halbert yelled at B'Tran while trying to get back into his chair. "Cut all power to the engines get those shields up before we're hit again these waves usually come in threes!" B'Tran's fingers were already flying doing just that, getting the shields up just in time for the ship to get hit by a second blast. Decren was trying hard to keep the ship upright, angling the bow into the violent energy waves gritting his teeth, trying hard to concentrate on what he was doing, but in the back of his mind he was fearing what a certain enraged Shadow Knight was going to do to him if they survived the last waves. "Survive this first, wory about the Shadow Knight second." He said aloud, leaving both Halbert and B'Tran wondering what Decren was talking about what does a Shadow Knight have to do with this? But they would have to wait for an answer. Back in the Engine room Visage was rubbing his head from where it had hit against the reinforced hull. "AED's damage report are the engines stable?" "Engine two fractured but contained." AED-One said. "Engine one is stable and operable." AED-Two replied after getting back to the console. He had been hardest hit but they were made to take a beating, made out of a mix of Mithril and Marcisian Steel. Tilara came running through the door just as the second wave hit all in the room bracing they were rocked but not nearly as badly as the first time. "You boy's OK back here?" Tilara shouted over the groan of the ship while she leaned against the archway of the door to steady herself. Managing to get over to the two droids she looked at the damage the shockwaves had done. Leaning against EAD-Two's chair she turned to her Mechanic "Are you alright?" Tilara asked concerned "I'll live." was all the reply she received. Sparky was still rubbing his head his back turned to her. "So what's the dam...." Tilara trailed off. Sparky finished her thought and replied. "You mean damage. One engine of three is just fine we might be able to limp back if we survive, Captain's folly." Visage didn't even notice that one of his contacts fell out during his short flight and abrupt stop. Tilara still steadying herself one AED-2Two's seat both of her hands started turning from the usual blue to white her grip becoming so vice like her fingers were starting to make dents in it. She was staring at Sparky or more appropriately that now revealed eye. "My Lord? why are you here?" Visage not really registering the question at first looked at Tilara then at his face reflecting off AED-One's body. "Frak! Well so much for that." he said pulling out the other irritating disk that still covered his left eye. Visage blinked once just as the third wave hit the ship not caring about the whole undercover thing anymore "Sorry your Majesty I'm compromised...Nos isn't going to be pleased and how am I going to face those girls? Azalla might actually kill me this time." He used his own power to levitate so that the impact didn't affect him at all. Tilara ignoring all else going on just stared at Sparky who had somehow changed into one of the most respected and feared beings in the Galaxy. "Sir's we have a problem." Both sets of non droid eyes focused on AED-One "What now!?" Tilara and Visage said in unison. "The containment field in engine three is failing and engine two's has ruptured." Was all the Droid replied ignoring the drama surrounding him. "Jettison the two engines, use the override and get us away from them, as far, and as fast, as possible." Tilara concentrating on the job at hand answers would have to come latter. "That's the problem, protocols cannot be implemented because the first blast warped the housing. The engines can't be jettisoned." AED-One said factually. "Time?" Visage said. "Sorry, Sir?" AED-One replied. "How much time do we have before a catastrophic failure?" Visage said annoyed. "I don't know with all information I'd say about a Reonn maybe less." AED-One again replied flatly. "Tilara get to the bridge, tell the captain to give the evacuation order. I'll see what else I can do here." Visage looked at his Superior with a frown on his face. "But." Tilara started. "No buts. I'll be fine you now know who I am so, go!" Visage watched Tilara start to leave and then abruptly turn around "You promise me you won't do anything reckless." Panic in her eyes. "Sorry, I wouldn't be who I am if I wasn't reckless." Visige smiled at the leaving woman. "But you tell Decren and Helburt that I'll be looking for them latter." Visage said wickedly. Tilara couldn't help but chuckle as she sprinted out the door. Visage watched her leave Twills flowing behind her the door resealing itself at her departure. Tilara was on her way to have words with the captain. Now that he was alone he turned to the two droids "O.k boys time to see if we can by our crew more time." Visage not expecting any more waves placed his feet back on the deck. Channeling lightning from his fingers. "I'll give the shields a jolt you tell me when to back off I don't what to overload the system making this situation even worse." Both droids replied with a "Yes, sir." With that Visage opened a latch walking into where the engines were having trouble. Three Large pillars of bright green energy hid behind several layers of shields in front of him one engine was good so the two offending ones were his priority. One of the reinforced transpersteel cylinders had a crack starting to form, but the shields were holding for now. Engine three was the problem child. it was leaking green mist from several ruptures in the cylinder and the shields were the only thing holding the burning cloud of gas in check. "You first number three. Guys tell me when to stop." Visage let a loose a big blue and white lightning storm from his fingers at the failing containment field. "Time to feed the beast." The crew were all in escape pods and they were being jettisoned as fast and a safe as possible, the only ones left on the doomed vessel was Decren, Captain Halbert and a Dark Lord. Tilara and Carthen were in the escape pod waiting impatiently for the final three beings on board to arrive. They were watching the escape pod with the X.O and several other crew mates departed out into the vastness of space just as the pod engaged it's sublight drives the captain and Decren came through the hatch. "I've sent out the distress signal and because we were thrown out of hyperspace and pushed by those energy waves we are at least close to normal space outside Entaru's Nightmare." Halbert exclaimed. "By the Gods get us out of here!" Decren whined as he strapped himself in. "We aren't leaving without Sparky!" Carthen spat back. "He can use the escape pod near the engine room. Now, for Frak sake get us out of here before the engines rupture, and we're caught in the blast!" Halbert was both frightened and frantic. "Admit it Cap your just ofraid of bein in the same pod as a Dark Lord, who told you that this trip o' yours was folly!" Carthen was livid and wanted to throttle both his Captain and the Drathian Slug of a Zebrack, next to him. Tilara knowing that this conversation was going nowhere fast took matters into her own hands. Pressing the gem on her glove she brought her wrist near her mouth. "Lord? Are you there? Can you come in, please?" Silence was the only reply, then finally after several moments. "I hear you Telara and why are you still here? We've stopped the plasma leak for now but even the droids aren't sure how long the shields will hold. I'm going to go save the cargo, then use the escape pod back here." Sparky said as droid voices were heard in the back ground muttering something. "Leave the cargo! your life is at stake! You have a duty to your Empire!" Tilara retorted into here commlink. "I'm immortal." Tilara could almost see Sparky shrug as he said it. "Besides, the supplies are important and can save Imperial lives. So it's worth the risk. Now, please leave, I'll be fine." Visage was sounding annoyed. "Good luck, and may the Gods watch over you." Tilara said shutting off the comm and taking a seat next to Carthen. "Always did like them Shadow Knights." Carthen said punching several buttons and then pulling the lever to release them from the ship. Tilara nodded in agreement as they were rocketed away from the dying vessel that still had a single soul aboard. Visage was literally flying down the corridors he had done what he could to stabilize the engines but the siren alarm was putting him on edge. This is cutting it close. He thought. "AED-One I'm sorry but I couldn't take you with me." He spoke into his glowing comm that also served other purposes. "It's alright sir, I am programed to be self sacrificing." AED-One replied. "You have twenty one Dironns sir before containment failure." The glowing comm was also projecting a holographic keyboard and a micro version of the ship. He was talking to his droid, while unlocking several bulkheads, at the same time. Arriving at the cargo hold he punched several sequences into the keyboard, then put his left index finger onto the underside of the holo-ship. A panel on the wall next to the cargo hold's main door slid open revealing a large lever that he immediately pulled. "That's it AED-One the gravity is turned off and the cargo doors are opening." Visage informed his mechanical friend, as he watched the big containers float around inside the hold through the transpersteel windows. The floor inside the cargo hold was slowly disappearing and the vastness of space was eager to receive the big containers. With the help of the force all of the life saving supplies were now floating peacefully in the black curtain of space. Visage headed back towards the engine room to the escape pod that would take him to safety. Again Visage pressed his comm. "AED-One meet me at the escape pod and lock in those coordinates I don't want those containers to close to the ship when she blows." "Yes, sir." was the mechanical response. The doomed ship was going to make one last jump into hyperspace under the power of a single engine. It was just enough to get it away from the now stranded cargo. Getting into the escape pod closely fallowed by the remaining Engineering droid Visage activated the ships Hyper Drive. Using his gem a mini ship appeared along with three charts. Pressing a button on the middle chart the one good engine roared to life. typing in random coordinates on the glowing keypad the ship took off as the stars outside looked like streaks of white as they passed. Pressing buttons on the pods console Visage and his droid friend were going to make a hasty retreat when they came out of hyperspace. "And Trec, Desec, Ennc" Visage finished the countdown. Just as stars became dots again he pulled the release lever and the escape pod was away. Just as the engines on the ship went critical, explosions started cascading from the engines making their way to the bow. Debris and shrapnel, followed by a large shock wave rippled out hitting the small pod, jolting it forward as the two occupants inside where thrown forward from the shockwaves momentum. Visage's head made hard contact with the console in front of him and everything went black. EmE Chapter 4 "Gathering the Elements"Twilight had finished her letter to the princess handing it to Spike who breathed fire at it making it vanish into a could of green. Visage watched rather amused. "How exactly, is burning a letter you just wrote to the princess, going to help?" Visage asked. Twilight and Spike both smiled knowingly at each other then turning to Visage. "It's magic." Both said in unison. Visage shrugged at this, just as a new note appeared out of nowhere in a golden glow. Twilight caught the note unrolled it and started reading. "It's a message from the Princess she wants to meet you." Twilight pointed a hoof at Visage. "She included eight tickets for this afternoon's train, she also wants all of the Elements of Harmony to escort you there. Apparently there is something going on in the Crystal Empire." Twilight put the letter down and using her magic levitated the eight tickets to Spike. "Take these to the train station Spike we'll meet you there once I gather all of the others." Twilight told her dragon assistant as she headed for the door opening it with her magic. "Rodger that Twilight!" Spike said saluting and then running out the open door heading to the train depot. Visage really didn't understand what was happening. Train station? Canterlot? Elements of Harmony? Will this planet ever make sense? Visage had his right hand on his face making him look like he was in deep thought. "Visage? Visage?" Twilight was speaking his name but he was trying to make sense of everything even starting to make one of the Shadow Counsel doubtful and that was saying something. Visage put his hand down shaking his head to clear it. "Sorry, Twilight just lost in thought. I have a Fraking ton of questions that just keep piling up." Twilight looked ashamed. "I have a ton of questions for you too." Twilight still looking sheepish then it was her turn to shake her head. "They'll have to wait, we need to be on that train. The Princess is counting on us. So, we are going to go gather the other Elements as fast as we can now lets move!" Visage smiled. "I have no idea what these Elements are but they sound important, and I'm always thirsting for knowledge." Visage said holding up his index finger as he walked out the door. Twilight Put up the Closed sign as she trotted over next to Visage. Looking up into his face his eyes were closed but he had a big smile on his face. She couldn't help but notice that he was a lot like herself. "You sound as though your still a student. Aren't you a Lord? Doesn't that mean your done studying?" Twilight's ears twitched a bit, she wasn't trying to insult him she was just curious. Visage laughed. "Sorry, Twilight but don't you know that there is no end to studying. I, like all beings in the Imperial Shadow Knights, have learned the hard way that when you answer one question you seem to find more that need to be answered." Visage finished with a light chuckle. Twilight let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. "I thought you'd be...I don't know angry or something. I thought I might have offended you." Twilight said abashed. Visage opened his left eye a crack, again holding up his index finger. "Twilight I may be a Dark Lord but we of the Empire are nothing like that Fraking Blort Worm Sombra. There is no such thing as a bad question, only the one that was never asked." Visage said matter of factly making Twilight forget what she just said, and smiled. "I think I know why Pinky and Zecora both like you." Twilight started. "It's because you may look evil but you have a good heart, and mind." Twilight finished. "I should hope so Twilight I don't think my wives would have ever given me the time of day if I didn't have both of those." Visage closed his eye and folded his arms. Twilight stopped in her tracks. Visage noticed this and was also forced to halt. "Is there something wrong Twilight?" Visage asked the dumbstruck unicorn. Twilight could barley talk. "Yo...you....your MARRIED!?" She finished with a loud enough shout that all of the ponies in the vicinity stopped to stare. Visage wasn't really fazed at the outburst but Twilight was just standing there feet planted and panting heavily. Visage let out a sigh "Is me being married really, that big of a deal?" Visage asked as a blue Pegasus dropped out of the sky to land next to Twilight. "Twilight who's married? Don't tell me your marrying that thing?" Rainbow pointing an accusing hoof at the tall being that simply shrugged at the question. "No! Nononono...I meant HE'S MARRIED!! and to more than ONE PONY!" Twilight still frantic from the original outburrst yelled out loud again. All of the onlookers were in shock murmuring had started up again. Rainbow Dash was even in shock though Visage wasn't sure if it was because of what was said, or because of the distance she was from the speaker. Rainbow Dash shook hear head vigorously to clear it. "You can't be serious, how can somepony that looks like you ever get anypony to marry you. I mean come on Twilight multiple mares married to that thing, it's gotta be a joke." Rainbow Dash then started laughing hysterically. Twilight had just started to calm down, slowly breathing in and out several times, then looked at the smirking Dark Lord who was watching her friend Rainbow Dash, who at this time was rolling on the ground laughing so hard she was actually in tears. "Rainbow Dash it isn't funny to make fun of sompony else's customs. Even the Ponies in Saddle Arabia still practice polygamy, and perhaps it's common where he's from." Twilight stopped to help her friend get back onto her hooves. Rainbow was still laughing but managed to stay standing. "Sorry about my friend here Visage but I was kind of.... shocked...what you said really threw me off." Twilight jabbed a hoof into Rainbow Dash's right shoulder and looked at Visage apologetically. "It's alright, Twilight being an endangered species is kind of a downer but I have several women in my life who really help....I was really Drathed off at his Imperial Majesty when he created the Endangered Species ACT but I'm more than used to it now. Even my mom back home was shocked and had a similar reaction to her." Visage nodded his head at the blue Pegasus who had calmed down and was currently looking at the ground rubbing one hoof with the other. "Well it really isn't that funny when you put it like that." Dash said apologetically. "Your an Endangered Species? I had no idea! I'm so sorry Visage." Twilight said looking at Rainbow Dash. "And you didn't HELP matter's Rainbow how would you feel if you were an Endangered Species!" Twilight again pointed an accusing hoof at her repentant friend. "I said I was sorry, what more do you want from me?" Rainbow looking even lower, feeling even more guilty. "No, you didn't, and here you are the Element of Loyalty laughing her flank off at an Endangered Species, who SAVED an EMPIRE, and has done NOTHING bad since he got here, and you mock him, for being DIFFERENT! And even the princess wants to meet him!" Visage mused at this. "So your one of the Elements of Harmony hmm. Very interesting. Perhaps I could take you back to the Empire when I return. I could bring you to Zaraj and we could dissect you, perhaps we could learn what makes you tick." Visage said opening his eyes as he knelt down to stare right into Rainbow Dash's now fear filled eyes. Visage winked at Twilight making sure to let her in on his vicious joke. "You wouldn't dare...Twilight and the Princess would never let you...Would, ya, Twi?" Rainbow Dash plead with Twilight. Twilight got Visage's hint as did several of the onlookers some ponies had started trying hard to muffle their chuckles so they wouldn't let Rainbow Dash know what was going on. Even Twilight had to turn her back on her friend so that she wouldn't be able to see or hear her own chuckling. "I don't know Rainbow you did make fun of Visage and you even insulted him. If he did bring you back to dissect you, I don't think I could stop him. And, after the Princess hears what you said, I don't think SHE would stop him either. After all we are just a single Country and he has an Empire that has lot's of planets." Twilight managed to say without laughing. "But, but, I'm the most loyal Pony in all of Equestira! you wouldn't really dissect me...would you Lord Visage...umm....Sir." Rainbow Dash still fearful had her rainbow colored tail between her legs and her ears looked like they were plastered to the side of her head they were so drooped. Visage put his hands around behind the neck of the now terrified blue Pegasus that had started to turn white. Visage just hugged her. "I would never do any such thing." He whispered to her. "From what I can tell you are an extraordinary being, just don't take your jokes too far. For there are beings that I know of, that wouldn't hesitate, to dissect you." Rainbow Dash went limp in his arms the terror faded and her blue color returned. All of the ponies present started laughing, including Twilight, all were unaware to what Visage had told Rainbow keeping it between the the two. Twilight had to get everyone back to task. "Look everypony we have to get a move on or we'll be late for the train. So even though we have Rainbow Dash we still need to gather the others." Twilight looked at her two companions and stomped a hoof. "I'm not going to be tardy in our meeting with the princess." "Ya...ya Twilight we all know what happens when your late for something." Rainbow Dash said. "And Visage....you can let go of me now, ya, know." She asked sheepishly. "I didn't think you'd be able to stand on your own if I let go." Visage said while releasing his prisoner. Visage walked over to Twilight still looking back at a very unsure looking Pegasus. The joke he played on her was vicious he knew, but her demeanor left something to be desired. Getting a bit of playful vengeance, was fun and she needed to be taken down a peg in his opinion. "Twilight who are these others Elements that we need to pick up?" Visage asked the purple unicorn next to him. "Oh right well we need to get Pinky Pie, I think you met her already she'll be at the Sugar Cube Corner, then Rarity shes at the Carousel Boutique, and Apple Jack and Fluttershy. Apple Jack is at her families farm and Fluttershy has a home on the outskirts of town." Twilight said dignified. "Yes, it makes perfect sense that Pinky would be an Element. I haven't met the others so I can't say about them." Visage thought aloud. "Wait you knew Pinky was an Element how could you possibly know that?" Twilight asked as the trio headed towards Sugar Cube Corner. "I do have eyes you know Twilight." Visage stated simply. "Wait you mean you can see magic? How does that work?" Twilight was very eager to hear this. "Can you teach me how to see magic too..please?" "No, I can't see magic but I can see into a persons....or in this case ponies heart. I can also sense things about....beings weather they are good, bad, or indifferent." Visage stated holding up that finger of his. "Hold on...you can see into a ponies heart? Isn't that I don't know creepy or something?" Rainbow Dash finally piping up after listening to the two eggheads conversation. "Firstly we are not eggheads we are intellectuals, Secondly as Shadow Knights or Zaharaj we learn not just about the dark side of things but also the light and how to discern where a being is on the spectrum." "Wait, how did you know what I was thinking. I never even said egghead." Dash said with an incredulous look on her face. "I can read minds too. Though sometimes it's a lot harder to do, than others it really depends on the individual." Visage stated as they resumed their quest. "You can read a Ponies hearts and minds? That's amazing I would love to learn how you do that. I wonder if the princess would let me learn from you too." Twilight said ecstatic. "Twilight how is that cool, that is so not cool. I don't want anypony reading my mind...that's just...so wrong!" Rainbow Dash interjected. Visage knew that both arguments were sound. But he had to agree more with Twilight than Rainbow. As they arrived at their destination. Visage finally answered Rainbows argument. "To us it's very necessary to see what type of being we are dealing with. We of the Shadow Knights are entrusted to keep the peace between all planets in the Empire. Because of our abilities conflict is nonexistent and we would all very much like it to stay that way. We also aren't the only group of Force users in the Universe there are a lot more of us than you even realize, but if you don't like your thoughts being...overheard then don't think, so loud Mrs. Dash." Visage finished as the trio entered Sugar Cube Corner. "Hi! Visagey, Twilight, Rainbow Dash! what brings you all to Sugar Cube Corner I've only just started preparing for your party Visagey!" Pinkie Greeted the trio as she was mixing a bowl of what seemed to be some kind of cake batter. The Cake's as well as the restaurant goers all gasped as the black clad figure entered, there was more murmuring but one unicorn was staring so hard at Visage it was making him feel very uncomfortable. The unicorn got up from the table and trotted of to Visage curious eyes were on them as to what was about to unfold. "Hi, Lyra how have you been?" Twilight said trying to distract the unicorn. Completely ignoring her Lyra put out a hoof to take a hold of one of Visage's hands. Visage got to one knee so he wouldn't have to bend over quite so far. She was studying it with wide eyes. "Lyra stop he'll kill you!" A yellow colored Earth pony said warning her friend. "Hehehehe he wouldn't do that Bon Bon he's not a meany mean pants. He just looks like he is. He's even friends with Zecora!" Pinkie Pie said comming back from what appeared to be a kitchen she no longer had the mixing bowl with her. "Hannnnddddsssss." Was all Lyra could manage to say, as she held Visages black gloved hand as she was studying his fingers. "Hello, Lyra. I'm Visage if you haven't heard yet, my ship exploded and I ended up crashing here. I'm to see the princess with Twilight and her friends we are..." Visage was cut off by a Pink Pony. "Your here to get, me then, we can go get Rarity and Apple Jack to get to the train station before leaving for Canterlot." Pinkie finished then picked back up. "But that means no party! But Visagey needs a party!" Pinkie now looked rather dejected. "I still would like to know how she does that!" Rainbow Dash said. Visage just mused. "She is strong in the Force so she can sense things before they happen, it's a talent." Visage told the Rainbow maned pony. "I have the Force! Wow weee I have the Force!" Pinkie started bouncing off the walls distracting everyone in the room except Lyra who was still too occupied with studying Visage's hand. "Wait what's The Force?" Pinkie asked coming to a screeching halt. "I'll explain later, but right now we have a mission to complete. Mrs. Lyra I need my hand back if you don't mind?" He said retrieving his hand from Lyra's pretty strong hoof grip. Lyra looked dejected when Visage got up to leave with the others but as a gesture of friendship he patted the top of the head of the curious unicorn. As the four exited the building all of the patron's as well as the Cakes shared a really acward silence, then everyone in the building cheered. "That was....that was....that was the best thing ever!" Lyra said as she rubbed the top of her head with her hoof. Bon Bon just face hoofed. "Well Pinkie made a bunch of cakes for Visage but if they need to go see the Princess I would hate for them to go to waist so, Cakes on the house!" Mr. Cake exclaimed as a new roar of cheers came from the attendees. "Wow, Visagey sounds to me you might be a better party pony...er....person than me!" Pinkie told the tall being walking beside her. "I think everypony really thought you were going to kill Lyra for grabbing your hand like that." Rainbow added. Visage smiled as all of the ponies waited for a response. "Now why would I kill a pony just because they are curious. Every being should thirst for knowledge. Right Twilight?" Visage opened his right eye a crack and again held his hand up and put up that finger. "Oh, absolutely!" Twilight agreed nodding her head. "Next stop Carousel Boutique! Come on girls and Visagey we don't want to miss the train!" Pinkie took off headed for Rarity's place. Rainbow took off "I'll be there waiting for you slow pokes!" She said with her head slightly turned to the remaining two. She flew off so fast just leaving behind a rainbow trail in her wake. "You have some interesting friends Twilight." Visage quipped to the remaining purple unicorn. "Yep, I definitely do!" she replied. "So are we going to beat them there? Or are the eggheads to slow for Pinkie and Rainbow?" Visage stated with a conniving grin. "Oh trust me I have my ways. We'll definitely beat those two." Twilight said also giving her companion a rather conniving smile. With that said Twilight sparked up her horn and the pair of beings teleported in a bright white and purple flash.
EmE Chapter 1 "Two grenades one gut""Sir? Sir? are you all right sir?" AED-One asked his groggy master. Visage's head was pounding and the world seemed to be spinning as his vision cleared up he managed to answer his mechanical compatriot. "Yes One I'm fine...but what the Frak happened?" "We were thrown by the shock wave of the ship when the engines ruptured. While you were out after hitting your head we were knocked off of our proper course and have now crashed into an unknown planet." AED-One said in his normal mechanical tone. Visage rubbing the back of his head as he let this sink in. "I missed all the fun? If only I was immortal and invulnerable." He was talking more to himself than to his droid. "I wouldn't call what occurred 'fun' I am programed for logical processing not humor." AED-One said. Visage just rolled his eye's could have fooled me he thought while looking around at his new surroundings. The ship seemed to be intact the canopy looked to be half underwater if you consider the brown colored muck that was obscuring the lower half of the transpersteel windshield, water. "So, a swamp world like Domir?" Visage said thinking aloud. "Or just a swamp." AED-One replied. "That's it AED-1 time to sleep." Visage told the droid just as AED-One was about to respond Visage pressed in the button at the base of the metallic skull and with that the Droid imploded becoming a baseball sized sphere. Activating the storage utility on in his gem he put the droid away while producing a black bundle a small ear piece and his two blood sabers. Visage turned off the gem and unfurled the black mass revealing the cloak of a Shadow Knight which he donned, then grabbing the hood flipped it over his head, next he attached the two blood sabers to his sides. The two cylinders didn't hang like most Knights had them. Instead they were situated in more of a horizontal fashion with the blade emitters facing back. Visage then placed the ear piece in in his right ear pressing on it twice fast it came to life. A creeping metal flowed out covering Visage's face. The mask activated as it finished solidifying the eye slots glowed an eerie red. Now the Dark Lord was ready to face this new planet. Making his was to the aft of the pod he popped the hatch with a wave of his hand using the Force to pull the lever. The door swung up and out with a hiss as the gases escaped. The landscape was unfriendly the ship had landed in a bog, or swamp, Visage saw that several trees at the far end of the swamp had lost their tops and were still smoldering from the impact of the fireball of a ship. The pod apparently skipped a few times before coming to a halt in it's final resting place. The Dark Lord using his left hand pulled up on the right sleeve of his cloak revealing the glove that held the gem. Once again activating the gem several glowing charts were presented to him. "So it is at least it's an oxygen enriched environment." Visage said in a now more metallic voice. "I might not be needing the mask but lets see about the locals." Just as he finished the sentence as if on que an ugly beast of a head appeared apparently curious as to what had disturbed it's swampy home. "Your ugly.... you kind of remind me of Dormir." Are you related to the Drragg's on that planet??" Visage asked the monstrous head, just as three more rose up out of the swamp. "Oh look you brought friends." Visage sneered as he felt the intent coming from the creatures. All four heads were looking at the dark figure two of them were licking their gnarled mud caked lips as the other two let out a roar for the feast. "I'm not your diner...you beasts. If you leave peacefully I won't have to kill you." Visage was trying to reason with the monsters but to no avail one of them lunged forward muddy maw opening wide revealing jagged misshapen teeth. Visage used his own power to fly up just as the head came crashing down where he stood. Mud splashed in every direction and the pod started to sink into it's soupy grave. Visage was not pleased. Landing on the head of the monster that had tried to eat him he looked into it's glowing green eyes, as the slits that where it's pupils focused on him. Visage's hands disappeared into the folds of his cloak reappearing with two black balls that had pins in them, that he pulled using his thumbs. Two more of the creatures were preparing to strike. As they opened their maws he threw the orbs into them. The two heads reared back making a strange face as they swallowed the small black things. All four heads then looked dumbfounded. Visage jumped off the head he was standing on noticing a patch of solid ground that had a withered looking tree and a large boulder residing on it. Visage somersaulted in the air landing lightly, behind the tree. He peered out of the make shift hiding spot to notice two things. The monsters were not monsters, but monster singular and it was charging towards him. "Two grenades, one gullet. This will not end well." Visage said as he got as low as he could behind his cover waiting for the imminent explosion. The Monster stopped it's advance as the two Firimite Grenades went off inside the beast's belly. The monster had never felt anything like this. Racked with pain it's whole lower body caved in on itself breaking bones with a loud crack wreaking havoc with it's internals. Just as quickly as the pain came it suddenly felt nothing, for it was blown apart. Pieces of monster were sent skyward as several small shock waves charged with energy rippled out over the swamp. One of the heads fell just behind the ducking Dark Lord who was getting up as red and green goo along with mud caked scales rained down into the swamp. "I said this wouldn't end well for you." Visage stated flatly. "Never try eating Imperials or you'll be blown to pieces." He finished. "Are there any other beings that want to try and eat me!?" Visage yelled out into the swamp. With no reply forthcoming he spoke in a whisper. "That's what I thought." Now without any more immediate distractions Visage concentrated, his consciousness flowing outwards. He felt a great darkness somewhere to the far North and two beings of light to the East. "Oh, the choices! a Dark Lord up North or White Hander's to the East." Visage said activating his gem again this time a hover bike formed in front of Visage he Jumped on the back of it just as it solidified hitting the accelerator and Speed off, heading North. It didn't take long for the Swamp and Forest to zoom by and Visage soon found himself flying through blizzard like conditions. He didn't care because of his warm black cloak that was partially trailing behind him. Also his mask which had infrared capabilities, so despite the wall of white in front of him, Visage could still see. King Sombra was in a foul mood. Not that he wasn't always in a foul mood, but today he was even in more of a foul mood than usual. Something was coming, he could feel it. No pony can challenge my rule. Even those sister's haven't dared to try. Though rumors of an army being raised in Canterlot were being whispered. Sombra was deep in thought when one of his Pegasus guards burst in. "Sorry to disturb you your Majesty but we have an intruder." The crystalline Pegasus said. Visage broke through some kind of barrier. Stopping his bike he looked at his surroundings. Putting the bike back into his gem. Visage looked up at the sky it was a red orange mix and the place was covered by black crystal. There were seemingly transparent, flying horses that were overseeing some similar looking land bound horses in the distance. Visage started walking over to where the flying horses were. "Halt! Who...or what! are you?" A clear Grey flying hoarse with blackened mane asked. "Oh, and here I thought I might be the only intelligent being on this planet. I'm surprised you speak the common tongue and you seem sentient, for being a hoarse." Visage Replied. The hoarse landed a few feet away eying the dark creature. "I'm no hoarse, I'm a crystal pony Pegasus. This is the Crystal Empire, ruled by our King, Sombra. Now, speak your business creature, why are you here?" The Pegasus said. Visage looked at this Pegasus incredulously. I'm a creature? Well I suppose that's true if I'm the first Imperial to land err..crash here, but that also means there are no humanoids on this planet? Visage wondered. "I'm here to see the Dark Lord of the Zah I felt. Is he or she around?" Visage asked the Pegasus. "I don't know any Dark Lords, except Sombra who isn't a Lord but a King." The crystal Pegasus replied. King Sombra well so much for an ally on this planet. Visage reached out with the Force feeling the hate, anger, and despair all around him. There wasn't an ounce of hope to be felt anywhere. Looking at the Pegasus, Visage realized something, it was under a spell, or Force brainwash or perhaps both. There was no light in it's eyes, in fact the eye's of this Pegasus were glowing dark green and had red irises and silted pupils just like that swamp monster. Poor Pegasus doesn't realize it's being manipulated. Visage had a very big problem with this. Only enemies of the Empire, or in dire situations was any form of mind control allowed. If any Imperial Shadow Knight or White Hander was caught using any form mind control they were to be punished severely, and this king Sombra seems to have brainwashed an entire Kingdom. Visage tightened his left fist, putting out his right hand he concentrated on breaking the dark hold that was over this poor Pegasus. The Pegasus started rubbing his head. He felt as though a fog was being lifted. Regaining his senses and focus he saw a creature that stood on two legs holding out one of his extremities towards him. Realizing what had happened, the only thing he could do was sink to the ground. Remembering the horrible things he had done for the unicorn, that was his king washed over him like a title wave. Feeling like vomiting he looked again at this dark creature that was his savior, of his mind at least. Trying to shake off the nightmarish memories he got back on his four hooves. "Thank you....umm? I'm sorry what do you call yourself creature?" The Pegasus barely managed to ask. "I'm Visage, of the Faraxian, Imperial Shadow Knights. What is your name Pegasus?" Visage asked his freed friend. "Sky Shift, I am, or was, thanks to you, a Captain of Sombra's Army. I...am...or was in charge of watching over the slaves and punishing them for not working." Sky Shift muttered almost inaudibly. "Well Sky Shift, Sombra's rule will shortly be at an end. What you have been doing isn't your fault. Imperial punishment is death to any who abuse mind control powers. I seem to have arrived just in time to exact Imperial justice on this soon to be, dead king." Visage said enraged. Sky Shift looked shocked he had never heard of any such law but then again he was just freed by this Visage so it might be true. "Come Sky, we have work to do." Visage strode off headed to where the other Pegasai were closely watching over the earth bound slaves. Sky Shift fallowed the tall figure in hopes that this being was honest and would not become a new tyrant king. Visage and his new ally freed all of the slaves both from physical chains and chains of dark magic. It only took a Minonn for them to free all of the ponies as they were called. King Sombra and those with him in the castle were all that was left to clean up. Visage smiled wide under his mask all of the freed slaves watched after him as he stormed the castle gates by himself. Sombra's anger had never been hotter. In the last few hours his own army as well as all of his pony slaves were freed from his control. Sombra was trying to recapture his Pegasus army putting them back into his thrall, but to no avail something powerful was blocking his magic and his influence. Sombra just waited patiently for whoever or whatever it was. At first he thought it was the two sisters, but this power was dark and they were light. So who had this kind of dark influence. Discord? Perhaps? No, he was nothing but a stone statue thanks to the pair of alicorns. Sombra was racking his brain thinking about all of the dark figures who rampaged across the continent centuries past, nothing in his memory fit this new presence though. Sombra was wrapped up in thought when his throne room doors exploded inwards his answer was looking right at him. Visage climbed the stairs freeing the remaining Pegasus guards from Sombra's mind control as he ascended. Finally after walking down a lengthy hallway Visage came before two large ornate doors he could feel Sombra's Dark power within. Visage rage grew, not caring about anything else he extended a hand pointing it at the two doors he let loose a charged energy blast. The explosion threw one door several yards into the throne room the other was hanging by a single hinge that couldn't hold the heavy door up on it's own soon giving way under the strain making the door hit the crystal floor with a resounding thud and crack. Visage stepped through the now open doorway. Waving a hand he used the Force to clear the air of settling debris. Visage stared at the creature that was sitting on a black crystalline throne. Visage saw one of the biggest ponies he had thus far encountered. Looking into those green eyes with blood red irises and abyss like pupils was disconcerting this creature was so tainted with dark energy his eyes had changed and it's horn was a nasty shade of red that turned black near the base of it's skull. Walking toward the throne and the thing sitting upon it, the creature spoke to him. "Why have you come to my domain creature? Why have you disabled my control spells? What are you?" Sombra was furious but also curious. This being before him was dark in nature that he could sense, but why attack his kingdom? Why free the enslaved? Sombra wanted answers. Many more questions he had, but this thing now stopping it's advance and seemed perplexed. Visage shrugged at the onslaught of questions, but also barked out some of his own. "Why have you enslaved these ponies? Why have you stolen the throne from the true rulers? Who do you think you are? Visage was more sarcastic with his last question. Sombra getting up off his throne was intrigued never before had such a creature as this existed, that he knew of. Sombra was circling this being before him like a curious cat about to pounce, but waiting patiently to strike. First Sombra needed answers, if he recast his control spell and there were more things like this one they would be freed again. "I'm king Sombra. I rule the Crystal Empire. The ponies here are weak and helpless so they are lucky I haven't ended their miserable existence. Instead, I make them useful to me and the Empire. Now, why did you set them Free? By the look, and feel of you your just as dark hearted as I am." Sombra spoke with authority and a hint of curiosity. Visage stood his ground standing still under the scrutiny of the Dark King. "What am I?" Visage actually directed his question more at himself than Sombra. "Good question, I am a Dark Lord one of thirteen who help our Emperor rule the Galaxy. I am a scholar, a student, a master, a believer, I am Visage." Sombra took this in. Thirteen? Galaxy? Emperor? More beings like this one? Sombra started feeling something he hadn't felt in a long time. Sombra was afraid. "Oh, yes I forgot." Visage continued at his now captive audience. "I'm here to kill you." Visage stated factually. Sombra's eyes went wide then almost instantly narrowed. Sombra laughed. "You...kill me!" Sombra said still chuckling. "For what reason do you....Visage have to kill me?" Sombra sneered at him lowering his head while his ears went back, stomping his hoof to charge this usurper. "Do you want the full list or a summery?" Visage ignoring the Unicorns threat altogether. Sombra's head snapped up ears perking back up. "Oh, by all means lets have the full list." Sombra said sarcastically. Ignoring him he started the list. "Sombra by on behalf of the Marcisian Empire you are found guilty of using dark magic, murder, enslavement of a sentient race, mind manipulation, mind control, abuse of knowledge, abuse of power, conquest of a land that does not belong to you, and last but not least, just plain pissing me off. Now, most of these charges carry a death sentence so pick one, you Fraking sadistic, Skath sucking, Blort Worm! Visage emphasized the worm part at the end of his speech. Sombra was not impressed in the least and even though he had no idea what a blort worm was he knew that it was clearly an insult. Sombra channeling his dark magics in his horn encased Visage in crystal then made two bigger pillars of dark crystal smashing them together crushing the crystal chamber and the would be usurper. The sound of crushing crystal was deafening but Visage didn't care he had gotten out of the trap and was floating in mid air legs crossed and masked face resting in his hand his arm was resting on the knee of his left leg. Visage shook his head and sighed. The mad king was laughing his Crath off. Visage interrupted the celebration. "Add attempted murder of an Imperial Shadow Knight and endangered species to that list." Visage stated as Sombra stopped laughing looking around for the one who said that, finally looking up his eyes betraying him he was in shock. "But, but, I crushed you! You should be dead!" Sombra yelled at the floating Dark Lord. "Well, first your spells are slow, and second you missed me. You know, you kinda, remind me of a Dormirian Slug you aren't related to them, are you?" Visage asked quizzically. "Na, can't be they're not as ugly as you, and I wouldn't want to insult them by thinking that your related." Visage said answering his own question. Sombra went from surprise to shock to furious so fast his horn started to boil. Black and green bubbles formed and burst making Sombra's horn look like an overflowing pot on too hot of a stove. "I'm going to kill you Monster!" Sombra screamed. "You tried already...it's my turn now." Visage replied while landing on the ground. Reaching out with the force he chocked the mad king crushing his larynx then force crushing his lungs for good measure lifting the shocking mess of a unicorn off the ground Visage strode over to the beast. "You want to know why? Hmm? Lets see I have a code of honor that I live by. Peace is fleeting so I thirst for knowledge, through knowledge I gain power. Shadow Knights don't thirst for power, we don't embrace hatred, we don't fear, and we don't want any being to fear us. That is why we became apart of the Empire, to free people from fear, the fear of loss, oppression, of being alone. We have all lost something in our search for knowledge. For those who have felt the pain of loss, then overcome it, can overcome anything, even the power of corruption from the dark side. The Zaharaj have embraced the darkness, have calmed it, tamed it, and we are now allied with it. We no longer fear it, we need it, to become balanced. You, Sombra, are not balanced you kill, you enslave, because you are weak, you have fear and you let that fear grow into hatred. You've been consumed by your hatred, therefor your light has extinguished, and you must die for peace to return." Visage's masked face was mere inches from the grasping dark king as he spoke in a quiet reverence. Visage released his hold on Sombra the unicorn slumped onto the hard floor gasping for air. His lungs burned and throat pained. How can someone like this exist no being can tame the dark side what Visage said was all true, he knew that. He did become corrupted, and he was proud of it. Sombra got back on four hooves though still shaky from lack of oxygen and burning lungs he couldn't allow his kingdom to fall to this being. Sombra gathered as much dark magic as he could muster he had to kill Visage. This mockery of the dark side was an abomination you can't rule the unruly. Sombra thought as he sent crystal shards, arrows and an assortment of other sharpened looking objects at his opponent. Visage was dodging and weaving through the hailstorm of crystals. Dagger like small ones and larger massive ones all trying to pierce or crush him. Visage weaved over to the dark unicorn and force blasted him at near point blank rage. He then jumped floating just above the still in the air king Sombra and used multiple force blasts and one energy blast for good measure on the dark king that was still in flight. Sombra was hurtled to the floor the force blasts pounding on him making a crater in the middle of the throne room then just as he was about to stand a dark purple ball of energy hit him in the flank exploding on impact. Sombra screamed from the pain trying to use his dark magic to heal the wound that Just wouldn't stop burning. Sombra sent more crystals the Dark Lord's way using levitation magic he pulled a scythe from behind his throne bringing it to float beside him. if he couldn't use magic to kill Visage then the old fashioned way would have to suffice. Visage was dodging the last of the crystal storm when he noticed Sombra had a pretty big Scythe levitating next to him. "Awe, is playing with dark crystals the only thing your good at? You must have had a horrible master. Being just a one trick pony is so sad." Visage mocked. Sombra so enraged and in pain just charged the mockery of a Dark Lord, he was stopped in his tracks once again Sombra was held up by the Dark Lords Force powers. The burning and crushing in his throat and lungs returned ten fold. Unable to concentrate on the magic to lift his Scythe Sombra heard it clang against the crystalline floor his last hope of victory was lost to him. Visage walked towards his captive holding out his left hand force gripping and choking him. Visage's right hand went inside his cloak he then withdrew it, now holding the hilt of one of his blood sabers. Pressing the button the dark purple tinted blade came to life with a snap hiss Visage swung it at his choking captive severing the disgusting horn from his head. The horn flew several feet then landed point down imbedding itself in the broken crystal floor. With a resounding crack from the horn's impact, immediately the horn's former owner screamed in pain. Visage let his howling captive free from his grip. Sombra hit the hard surface with a thud but didn't notice because he was still screaming in pain from the loss of his horn. Visage strode over straddling the fallen king blade humming in anticipation it seemed waiting for it's owner to finish off the dying animal. Sombra ever the tactician spoke to Visage despite the pain. He needed to by time to crawl over to his horn to reattach it and then kill this mockery of a being. "So you'll finish me then take my place? Admit it your no better than I am." Sombra managed to choke out. "I don't do this for me. I do this because It's what is right, it's what the Gods demand, it's what the Empire demands. We are Justice sent to punish the unjust, like you." Visage despised this creature that he knew must have at least once been benevolent. Sombra laughed at the absurdity. Despite the pain he smiled up at the bringer of death that was above him. "Your a fool, the Gods don't exist here! And, if they did, they have abandoned us long ago." Sombra said as he choked, spitting up black blood. Visage noticed the color of his blood he hated those with the cursed black blood of the fallen God and this unicorn's blood was as black as midnight. "So your not just a lair, your also a Skath worshiper." Visage spat at the no longer unicorn. Sombra trying to use the dark magic he'd gathered to heal his injuries both internal and external. Sombra balked at this despite the pain. "I worship no one. I am my own master." Sombra said, as he tried to get up but failing. "You lie your blood is black that makes you either a Fallen or a Skath worshiper." Visage stated holding his blood saber close to Sombra's neck. "That means your blood is just as black as mine. You kill me for justice yet your also tainted. Don't deny it I have felt the darkness in you too." Sombra was getting weaker. He couldn't hold out for longer His magic reserves were nearly depleted. He had to get to his horn. "Haa haa haa haa haa!" Visage laughed at Sombra. The absurdity was hilarious. "My blood black, this is the color of my blood, FOOL!" Visage mocked, as he grabbed Sombra by the neck jerking the unicorn out from under him and holding the purple blade in front of Sombra's shocked face. Visage then threw the Unicorn back down onto the floor. Visage then stood over the fallen dark king. Visage put the tip of his blood saber right over Sombra's heart. "I shall now send you to whatever God it is you worship then." Visage said as he grabbed the hilt of his blood saber with both hands bringing it up over his head then bringing it down plunging it deep into Sombra's black heart. Sombra screamed so loud it shattered the crystal windows and shook the castle walls. The energy blade seared his flesh as it entered his chest and made contact with his heart, ripping right through it and exiting out his back, melting a hole in the crystal floor beneath him. Sombra's life came to an abrupt end by a being that didn't even belong there. Visage watched as Sombra's body deteriorated becoming a black mist that floated up and disappeared. The only thing left of the dark king was his horn which Visage reached out with the force bringing it to his free hand. Gripping it and placing both it and his blood saber onto his belt. It was then that the final wisps of black mist vanished into nothingness that the spell went off. Waves of dark magic enveloped the entire Crystal Empire and all of the residents that it contained, including one Lord Visage. "Oh, Frak!" Was the last thing Visage managed to say before his body was forced to the ground rather violently, darkness soon fallowed.
EmE Chapter 2 "Zebra Stew?"Visage's eyes opened. Sombra that vindictive Darragg tried to destroy everything in the Empire fortunately he failed. Visage thought Pressing on the right side of his mask twice so the metal covering his face retreated back into the small ear piece. Getting on his feet was easy enough, but he was worrying about the ponies outside. Hoping that they were O.K from Sombra's failed spell. Looking around the throne room that he was in realizing it had changed. The black crystals and throne were no longer there, the crystals had become softer shades of blues and pinks, the damage to the room during his fight with Sombra was somehow cleared up, and the doors to the room's entrance were both on their hinges and were now Royal Blue in color. "Magic." Visage said smiling "I guess you lose again Sombra your spell to destroy failed, the Empire still stands, and I believe it has reverted back, to how it was before your rule." With Sombra's dark presence gone Visage felt a the light of something close. It wasn't as powerful as the other two beings he felt when he arrived on the planet, but still he wanted to find it. Hoping to get answers from someone more benign, he set out to look for it. Visage looked for the entrance to the stairway leading down to a much lower hall. During the fight Visage took the liberty of reading Sombra's mind, and most of what he saw he would like to forget. There were some secrets that Sombra had tried to lock away, but Visage was powerful and looking into peoples thoughts was relatively easy for him. Finding the entrance was easy, how to open it was going to be hard. The information he needed wasn't divulged by Sombra. So Visage levitated in the air just above where the entrance to the tunnel should be, crossing his legs he started to meditate. It was several Mironns before he thought of an answer that didn't involve explosions. Visage still in the air retrieved the black and red horn from his belt. Visage channeled lightning into it, the spark of energy danced about his hands and off the horn that had started to bubble. With that black and green color emanating from the horn the floor started to turn black and dark but as it did a spiraling stair case was revealed. "I win again Sombra." Visage smiled again, putting his trophy away, he flew down the central hole ignoring the winding staircase. Landing on the bottom the only thing to be seen was a door that was plain but had a strange eye glyph just above it. Producing the horn once again Visage opened the door with the same lightning technique. A bright light poured through the opening. Visage shielded his eyes with his hand that held Sombra's horn. No wonder you sealed this place with dark magic this thing is your complete opposite. Visage wondered as he started his assent on the pure white staircase. Ironic that Sombra would use a dark staircase to lead down and a bright white one that spirals up. Peace is fleeting so I thirst for knowledge and this had better take me to it, because right now I need some. I don't know what kind of world I'm in but I need to get back home before I'm missed. Visage thought as he made his way up the steps. "Frak, this!" Visage yelled as he took flight and speed up to the top. The view was breathtaking the central tower of the castle had an open view. Visage could see that the Empire was no longer the cruel black it had just been but now a rainbow of colors. The citizens were milling about at the bottom of the castle. Visage felt the great confusion coming from the crowd Visage also being one of them. How did we survive Sombra's spell of destruction? How did everything get all glittery and shiny? How did the Empire get back to how it was? With more questions than answers Visage pulled off his hood and rubbed the top of his head. I did. "Wait, what..Who said err thought that?" Visage asked aloud. I saved My Empire it is why I was created, it is my purpose. Sombra sealed me because he didn't have enough power to destroy me. Visage came back from his view point walking towards a spinning crystal heart. It's a sentient crystal. Someone with powerful magic must have forged it. Visage thought. Yes, many ages ago when I was given purpose. Was the crystals response. Visage walked toward the floating sentient object. Wait, stop! Sombra left several more traps so that nopony can free me! The floating heart warned him. It was too late the last step Visage took activated. Glowing glyphs appeared on the floor just beneath his feet, Visage was sent flying as a powerful spell was unleashed directly at him. I didn't say I didn't warn him...Oh well he wasn't the one to save me anyway. The crystal Heart wasn't saved this day but now there was one less trap for a certain unicorn and her dragon assistant to worry about. Visage landed on something soft for once. The grass under him danced playfully in the wind. "I swear this planet hates me. What God did I drath off this time?" Visage asked but received no answer from the light breeze. Visage found himself close to where he had crashed. This is that forest that I flew over on my bike this morning. Or was it yesterday I never asked how time worked on this planet. As he was thinking he made his way out of the clearing and onto the edge of the woods. The Trees were familiar enough, but he didn't want to come across one of those four headed creatures again. Two grenades one gut...next time use only one grenade. Visage thought making his way through the forest. The clouds had started to gather and the wind was picking up. Just my luck a storm is brewing, Things just keep getting better and better. Walking around an unknown forest, on an unknown planet populated by sentient ponies, ugly four headed beasts, power mad unicorns, and Verse knows what else. Visage mussed as rain drops started falling making the leaves on the big trees surrounding him bend and dance as they were hit by small water drops. It wasn't long before the happy slaps of rain become a near torrent of water. The sky was also getting darker as Visage made his way along the path that he was fallowing, that he hoped would lead him to shelter. He felt there were beings in the direction he was going but the progress he was making was slow at best, the roots were slick and his boots weren't getting much traction on the wet forest floor. The rain was coming down in buckets now. Although Visage's cloak and boots were waterproof the wet still bothered him. Slog, slog, slurp...were the only sounds he could hear besides the pounding rain, the sky was also darkening the cloud cover and the canopy of now waterlogged leaves made vision impossible and with all of the vegetation around he couldn't use his mask his infrared would have completely Fraked up and he was forced into not wearing it, at least he still had the earpiece. Visage's own breath came out in puffs of steam due to the temperature dropping. "I swear this planet hates me." Visage said again swiping a wet branch he had nearly run into. "I can see it now, Lord Visage found wet and frozen in a forest. Death caused by his own stupidity. Or, near death he was revived after being defrosted." Just as he was smiling at his own humor he saw a light in the distance. "I don't know what lives out here but it's got to be better than trying to spend the night out in this Fraking Forest." Visage said as he sighed making a fresh wisp of vapor appear, clouding his vision for a moment before dissipating. He started out towards the source of the light. Visage emerged from the forest's shadows getting closer to a hallowed out tree where light was escaping from make shift windows. The cent of something cooking was in the air around the tree. The wet Lord walked over to the door and knocked, then waited. At first there was no answer, he knew someone lived here he saw the cauldron in the middle of the tree brewing something. "I am sorry to say, but whoever you are, please go away." A female voice said to the Dark Lord standing in the pouring rain. Visage was about to kick the door down but he didn't want to upset the woman inside, so he simply asked. "I'm sorry to bother you but I'm lost, my ship exploded, my escape pod sunk into a swamp, and some dark unicorn blasted me here with a spell. I just want a dry place to rest for a while. Will you please let me come in?" Visage waited for a response from the woman inside. "I have thought about it and say, you sound as though you've had a busy day." The woman said as the door swung open. Visage noticed that it was a pony who answered the door. No, a Zebra more specifically he recognized the stripes, and she was looking at him wide eyed, even though her eyes were already quite large to begin with. "I have been around the block or two, but I have never in my years seen some pony quite like you." The zebra said to him as he ducked through the open door that was a bit too small. At least the inside had enough room so he didn't have to hunch over. "So I've been told. The ponies in the Crystal Empire said that too." Visage told the still staring Zebra. Sitting down by the fire pit that had a cauldron of stew or something hanging over it Visage threw back the hood of his wet cloak. "So madam, to whom I must thank, you have saved me from a night out in this weather. The name's Visage I'm from the Empire and like I said I'm stuck here. Wherever here is." Visage said as the Zebra made her way over to him getting her face uncomfortably close to his. "Your eyes? Why though so dark, I see no lies?" The Zebra said quizzically. "Ya, I get that a lot too. Your eyes are creepy, your eyes are evil. Well some things are worth sacrificing, if you can save a single life. My eyes, although creepy now, when I change they go back to how they were, so they're um..temporary." Visage told his new benefactor. The Zebra had finally backed off and walked to the back of the tree house to get something. "I must say I am amazed, from the Crystal Empire? If this is true, then over a thousand years old are you." The zebra told her house guest. "Wait, what? What do you mean a thousand years old I haven't even been here a Denonn and it's already been a thousand years?" Visage wondered at this information. "Wait, what is your standard of time here?" Visage asked hoping that the time on this planet wasn't as bad as he thought. "What a strange question you have asked, but we go by Years, Months and days that have passed." The Zebra told him. "So twenty four hours is a day to you? I also assume you have minutes too?" Visage quipped back to the Zebra who was stirring the cauldron of stuff that had started bubbling. "I see that with time, you also too can rhyme. Though late, I have to say, I am Zecora by the way." Zecora said with a smile as she stirred her brew. Visage mulled this over in his head. O.K so if they have the same time frame as Earth, then that would mean, it's been a little over three hundred Onns since I got here? "Three hundred Onns. The Emperor will kill me not to mention those girls. Wait, if this is a different dimension then time might not matter much. I hope that this is one of Chaos's jokes because, I'm not finding this funny." Visage was thinking out loud, getting the attention of a stirring zebra. "You speak so free, who is this Chaos that plays joke's on thee?" Zecora asked. "That is a long story Zecora, but I can tell you how I got here and what happened up till now if you'd like?" Visage told his host. "I would not be sorry, to lend you my ear, for your story." Zecora seemingly eager to listen. Visage told her everything from his Captain's Folly to the ship's explosion. The Hydra incident, (Zecora telling him what the beast was called) when he crashed and his triumph over Sombra, then finally his slog through the forest, to his meeting with his new friend. "I can see, you've had the hardest time that can be. You've only been here one single day yet you've done more than most can say." Zecora said to her interesting house guest. Visage leaned against the wall of the tree house stretching out his legs so his boots were near the fire. Pulling his hands out from under the folds of his cloak and reaching out towards the warm fire he pulled at one of the dancing flames catching it with his right hand it turned from a red flame to bright blue one. Visage played with his new small fireball tossing it from hand to hand, then he made it float in mid air just above his palm. He closed his fist tight around it, as it burst and died. "I still think this planet has it out for me. No offense. I have got to be the worst undercover operative since the Zah was taken over by the Empire." He told the curious Zecora. "So tell me Visage do you have any stories from the Zahraj?" She asked this strange being from the stars. "Well it's Zaharaj actually, and no I don't have many stories from them, they record things on holocrons, but they also like the printed word too. I have been to quite a few planets though. I learned some wonderful stories during my apprentice Onns. Would you like to hear some? I think we have time. " If Zecora wanted to hear some stories he wasn't going to let her down. Zecora went back to string the stuff in the cauldron that had started bubbling again. She added some powdery stuff, then taking out the spoon she put it in her mouth tasting some of the liquid and looking like she was judging it, finally looking at Visage she nodded. "The hour is not so late, it is only between six and eight." Telling Visage the time. "So, seven o'clock then, there is plenty of time for some stories I think." Visage was used to seventy two hour days so it was still really early for him, though he wasn't so sure about Zecora's bed time. But even two hours was quite a lot of time to fill. With the weather outside as it was he didn't really want to tell anything sad or gloomy the constant rain was gloomy enough, but now he was dry and relatively comfortable, and Zecora didn't even mind him playing with her fire so he thought of something appropriate. "Here is something from the people on Vitio four, or was it three, well one of the two planets." Visage said. "I think that this might be right up your ally." He didn't think Zecora got the proverb because she raised a eyebrow at him and took another taste of her bubbling stuff. Visage was actually curious as to what it was she was making but he was afraid to ask. "Fire breathes, fire gives, and the fire in the soul, is where eternal fire lives. They seem to say that a lot on that planet. It's still bugging me, I don't remember which planet it was." Visage trailed off trying to remember. Throwing both arms in the air in mock surrender he gave up. Zecora watched him but still continued what she was doing. "So this next one is from is from the planet Theros." Visage said as he started his new anecdote. "In these times have miracles ceased? Not for those who still in God have belief. For there is a power so much greater in this dreaded hour. But you must watch and prepare like a blooming flour. For each flower has their time to shower. Effulgent light like a sun so bright, and give all who witness the spectacle of hope, even in the darkest of night. A single bloom, can light a room, and sweep away the darkest gloom. Now, what happens to darkness then? A radiant field on display, and evil will no longer have any sway. For it will be those flowers so free, that will calm the storms of calamity, and ignite the torch of liberty." Visage finished looking at a smiling Zecora it looked like she wanted to applaud but she was still stirring her stuff in the cauldron. So the two unlikely friends shared stories and rhymes but mostly Visage did the talking and Zecora was more than willing to listen. With her melodic voice she asked. "By now it's done, so would you like some?" Pointing her hoof not holding the spoon at the cloaked man leaning against her wall. Visage unsure of what to do had to ask. "I'm not sure? What is it exactly?" "So, it is true you have never had Zebra stew?" Zecora said spooning a bowl for her guest reaching over to him holding it in her hoof and presenting it to a bewildered Visage. "Um...Zebra stew I'm guessing it's not made of zebra cuz that would be completely fraked, and how do you hold things without fingers to grasp them?" Visage realizing he said the last part aloud. Zecora chuckled as Visage took the bowl from her. "It is not made of Zebra, I assure you. As far as holding with a hoof it's old to me, but new to you. It is just something, we learn to do." Zecora finished then resumed her chuckle. Visage shrugged at this, not reading too deep into it was probably a good idea. Still eying the green tinted liquid in the bowl he held, still unsure of it's contents. Well at least it smells good and I don't think she'd put poison in it she's been trying it out herself sever times and I don't think it'll kill me so what the Frak. With that Visage tipped the bowl up and poured the contents down his mouth. It was warm at least, and kind of spicy but it wasn't the worst thing in the Galaxy. "So, not afraid of my cooking I see, you poured all my soup, into your tummy." Zecora smirked as she spooned her own bowl blowing on it before each bite. Visage wondered if he'd done something wrong. He wasn't going to press the issue but she didn't really give him any eating utensils. So he did what he thought was proper. "I hope I didn't offend you Zecora you've been a fine host keeping a thousand year old Dark Lord in your home can't be easy." Visage apologizing for disturbing her routine. Zecora chuckled again at this. "For a Dark Lord you seem to care, so how is it that you give every pony else a scare?" Visage didn't know how to answer that one he is just who he is he never really thought about it. In his Galaxy The Shadow Knights were all well known and even the eye's didn't really bother most beings. "I have no idea. I guess you could say that I am like how you are, with how you can carry objects with your hoof you can't explain it, it just is." Visage said. Zecora lit up as she put down her now empty bowl. She walked over to one of the far walls where she put a hoof on a small crank, as she turned it the cauldron was lifted up away from the fire. The pulley system looked rudimentary to Visage, but it was functional enough. It was also most likely used to clean out the inside of it too. He noticed that there was a swing arm attached to the pulley, so that way the cauldron could be lowered to the floor safely away from the fire to be replaced or cleaned. Zecora looked over at her new friend after putting bowls and spoons away. She smiled again at him again while putting the last few spices on her shelf. At least now Visage had one real friend albeit a strange one, then again he was the outsider here. After a few moments and all of the major cleaning was done Zeroca told her new house guest. "I should get to bed soon you see, for tomorrow I will show you out of the Everfree." With that she went to the back of the tree house into a separate room that was off from the main room that they were in. Visage sat alone listening to the drumming rain thanking the Gods that he didn't have to sleep out in it. As the fire in the pit died leaving nothing but glowing embers Visage sat listening, feeling, something seemed off, at first he thought it was just his imagination but no, there was something wrong with this planet he could feel it, but couldn't quite put a finger on it. So the now dark room was quiet but it was betrayed by two glowing gold and purple eyes. Visage felt miserable and didn't know why. Perhaps questions will be answered once he gets back home where everything is normal. Though not very tired the two glowing orbs closed the Dark Lord was once again, asleep.
EmE Chapter 3 "Meeting the locals"Visage awoke to see Zecora's big eyes right next to his face. "I'm sorry Zecora but why do you do that?" Visage asked the Zebra still groggy from his rest. "I'm so sorry that I pry, but I have never before seen one with such an eye." Zecora said in her usual rhythmic way. "What is it about them exactly? I know I tired to explain last night." Visage asked his new Zebra friend as he got up to stretch out bumping the ceiling of the Treehouse with his hands. He watched Zecora bring her cauldron down over the fire pit using the crank and pulley system. "I still can't get over your eyes of dread, but I keep seeing something shining behind them in your head." Zecora told Visage as he helped her take the cauldron off the metal hooks that held it up. "You can actually see that? I didn't think anyone besides my family and friends would notice that." Visage said shocked. Zecora chuckled she did that a lot. "When I first got here a monster the ponies dreamed, until Twilight Sparkle changed them all, it seemed." Visage thought about this for a while. "So, the people here dreamed up strange rumors about you and this Twilight Sparkle changed their minds?" Visage guessing at Zecora's saying. "Mmmhmm. Yes, you have guessed Twilight was the one who put the rumors about me to rest." Zecora told her tall friend. "Visage, I must say can you help me get something from town today?" Zecora looking at Visage as he was pushing the black cauldron out the door trying to get it outside and clean it. Visage stopped pushing and using the Force just levitated the black bulky thing outside there was a small pool of water near the Treehouse that apparently Zecora used to wash in. He could see the well worn path from the pool to the house. Visage brought the water up out of the pool like a slender snake then whipped it into the black pot a making the water spin round making a whirlpool inside the cauldron getting what was left of green soup off the sides and then up and out. Zecora came out to join him watching closely as he worked. He could tell she was waiting for an answer. Visage was still thinking Should I go into a town? what if I run into someone like Sombra again? Sounds to me like Zecora could use the company and it would be better than being a stranger in a strange town. Visage looked at the still waiting Zebra she had probably deduced that he was thinking about what to do. "I have decided to go with you. But, I cannot guarantee that I'll stay, I'm actually more comfortable out in this forest with you." Visage finally said to a nodding Zebra. "I cannot say if the ponies there would let you stay, but out here you might get in my way." Zecora stated. Visage didn't know who to take this he thought he was being useful but he didn't want to impose on Zecora any more if she liked her space. It's probably why she stays out here rather than in the town. perhaps she doesn't like being around others, or perhaps there was something about this place that reminds her of her home. Visage was thinking why the Zebra liked being out in the secluded forest. Visage levitated the now clean cauldron back inside the treehouse setting it next to the fire pit. Zecora put on a set of bags that laid across her back. The unlikely pair then walked out the door Zecora closing it behind her. "I must say, that we can now be on our way." Zecora quipped as she lead the dark figure trailing behind her. Visage liked the feel of the forest the Force was strong and the magic he also felt was just as potent. Visage pulled off his cloak putting it in his gem stone's inventory system, raveling his black short sleeved shirt that had the Imperial Symbol enblazed on the left shoulder. The pants that had pockets on the legs that were on the large side were also black and the bottoms were tucked into the matching boots the only thing that stood out on the boots was a silver colored plate on the area that covered the toes. The pants also had a few pockets on the sides situated in front of two silver and black colored cylinders that were affixed to the belt which also had the horn of a now dead unicorn stuck in it. Visage pulled on a silver colored chain around his neck out from under his shirt producing a silver ring. He let it dangle on the end of it's chain. He watched the twirling ring that had several red and a few blue stones imbedded in it. The stones had all become dull in color they weren't shining any more. He couldn't even feel his wife Riza who was much more powerful than even he was, nor could he feel Vira who wasn't quite Riza's level but she was close. He missed feeling their presence even from across the Galaxy he could feel all of his close friends and family especially those two, but now he didn't feel anything outside this planet and that had him worried. "Something is wrong with this place." Visage said out loud but talking more to himself than to the Zebra in front of him. "I do not know what is wrong, but can you tell me why your face is long?" Zecora asked Visage admiring his choice of clothing. She wasn't too sure about the two metal cylinders on his sides but the red and black horn she did take notice raising an eyebrow but not saying anything. Visage still holding his ring let it go with a sigh. He dropped it to let it dangle and it danced about as he walked. The ring gleamed reflecting red and blue rays as the sun beat down on it when he walked through the breaks in the foliage above. Visage gave Zecora a smile. Looking up he folded his arms. Zecora looking at the pondering being behind her she still didn't know what he was but she did know that he was benign. "I don't know if I can explain this well but the Force or, the Flow of the Universe, it's like it dead ends just outside the atmosphere I can't feel anything beyond it." Visage came to walk next to Zecora picking up the dangling ring and holding it out. "See the gems on this ring." He asked her holding up the the silver bauble that was spinning slowly on the chain. Zecora nodded in response. "Well the gems were supposed to glow seven red and two blue but they aren't, and it feels like a part of me is missing because they aren't." Visage wasn't sure if he had gotten his feelings across to her but he tried his best. Letting go of the ring he let it continue to bounce against his neck and chest as they made their way through the Ever-free. Zecora knowing full well that this stranger was pained but couldn't do much for him, but she did know of a purple Unicorn that might be able to help. "I know that you are in distress, but I do know somepony that can fix your mess." She said trying to cheer up the sullen Visage. "I hope so. I want to get back home especially if I've already been here for over three hundred Onns..well, a thousand years by your time. Visage said with a weak grin. "We are almost in the clear, the Ponyville school bell I can hear." Zecora said after several Dironns. Visage heard the chiming of the bell too. He could also see a small settlement with various Ponies, some had wings others had horns and they were made up of all the colors of the Rainbow. Visage was nervous his fight with Sombra was still fresh in his memory and he didn't like those hydra's either he hoped to the God's that he wouldn't find trouble in town. The ponies were all going about their day when Zecora emerged from the woods with one of the strangest creatures they had ever seen. It was tall and had black clothing on, there was some sort of symbol on it's left shoulder so some thought it was it's cutey mark. Whispers and gossip started immediately as the pair entered Ponyville proper. A cerulean Pegusus landed a few feet from the two as some ponies started rubbernecking seeing what was going on. "Hi Zecora you don't come into Ponyville often and not with something so...unusual." The blue colored pegusus with rainbow colored hair said to the Zebra. "Rainbow Dash how do you fair, I bring a guest but not to scare." Zecora told the Blue Pegusus eying the tall dark figure. "I'm not scared of that....that, whatever it is." Rainbow Dash announced rather annoyed. Just then a pink streak ran by Rainbow Dash and crashed into the Dark Lord. A large pink thing knocked Visage over. Laying on his back he noticed that it was a pink pony with wild and brighter pink hair, her big blue eyes were staring down at him. "I'm sorry but could you please get off of me?" Visage asked trying hard not to hug the scrath out of the pink fluffy pony on top of him. He couldn't help it but this pony reminded him of home or at least it's heart did. "Hi big guy, I'm Pinky Pie and welcome to Ponyville! Can I throw you a party? What is your favorite flavor of cake? Mine's chocolate! What are you? Not that it matters! I like you mister! it is mister right? I know you'll just love it here!" Rainbow Dash pulled the still talking Pinky Pie off from the fallen Lord. "Pinky we don't know what that is. Or where it came from." rainbow dash told her excitable friend. "But he's friends with Zecora so he has to be friends with me too!" Pinky retorted and just then two arms reached around the pink mass of excitement. Visage couldn't bear it anymore he couldn't feel anything outside the planet but he felt the warmth coming off this Pony in waves just as Rainbow Dash pulled her off of him Visage sat up and pulled the pony close his eyes starting to wet. "And I thought that beings like Arorra and Vira didn't exist here but you have the same heart that they have." Visage a being of supposed Evil and Darkness was crying on a pony he'd just met. "Hay stop that your!....your!.." Rainbow Dash failing miserably got interrupted by Pinky. "He's hugging me Dashy! No one has ever hugged me the first time they met me! How can this thing possibly be bad!" pointing an accusing hoof at Rainbow Dash while still in Visage's squeeze. Visage let go of the Pink pony. "I'm sorry but after my fight with Sombra I didn't think there was any form of hope left." Eyes still watering Visage smiled at the Pink Pony. All of the ponies watching the spectacle just stared in awe then a purple pony with a horn came on the seen. "Just what is going on around here?" She said. "Ah! Twilight Sparkle, this is no mirage, I present the Dark Lord, Visage!" Zecora announced to all present. Twilight's mouth went agape. Visage stood up brushing off his cloths while looking at the Purple unicorn. "Now I can prepare the bestest welcome to Ponyville party for the Dark Lord Visage!" Pinky screamed totally ecstatic. "Wait! Dark Lord!?" Rainbow Dash interjected "Zecora you let a Dark Lord into Ponyville and Pinky your going to prepare a party for him are you all crazy!?" Rainbow yelled at all present. Some of the towns folk didn't take the announcement too well. Some were murmuring others were overjoyed. Twilight shook her head "Rainbow Dash he isn't evil he's the one that saved the Crystal Empire a thousand years ago! If you'd read history like I do, you'd know that. Instead of reading Daring Doo books with your head in the clouds!" "Ya! Silly! Nopony would give hugs like that if they were a big meany, mean, pants." Pinky retorted. "Though his evil may just be lies, there is something benevolent, behind those eyes." Zecora said, also telling off Rainbow Dash. "Oh, Visage you have to come with me to meet the mayor! I'm sure she'd love to meet you!" Twilight said sounding excited. "There is so much I want to ask you but we'll need to find a place for you here in Ponyville." Visage unsure about what to do looking at a soundly defeated Rainbow Dash who had her front two hooves crossed and was now pouting. "I didn't come here to make trouble I just want to find a way back home." Visage stated looking around at the citizens feeling a mix of excitement, worry, and a bit of panic. Visage looked at Zecora mentally pleading with her to let him come back to her place. Zecora knowingly smiled but shook her head at the pleading Lord. "I'm sure that soon you'll know, but I still have shopping before I go." Zecora said to Visage as she walked towards the market. Having been abandoned by his new friend he reluctantly fallowed Twilight, the bouncing Pinky Pie and the glum looking Rainbow Dash to the mayor's office. Visage feeling those around him wondered what he had gotten himself into. As they walked towards the center of town crowds of Ponies started to gather looking at the strange being, that was being lead by Twilight to the town hall. Just as they got to the fountain in the center of town Pinky piped up. "I have to go get ready for the party so I'll see you later Visagy!" Visage looking a the leaving Pink Pony used the Force to bring her back. Levitating her in the air next to him he once again hugged her. "Thank you Pinky I have never felt a heart quite like yours before." He told her as he released her. "And you give the bestest best hugs I have ever had Visagy!" Pinky quipped back. She turned and waved to her friends as she bounced down the street with more enthusiasm than normal. I have to make this the best welcome party ever! She thought to herself as she made her way to Sugar Cube corner to prepare. Pinky hopped through the door startling both Mr and Miss. Cake. With a big grin "You'll never guess who I just met!" Pinky announced to both the owners and restaurant goers. What is she on about now? All within earshot said to themselves. Visage walked towards another Treehouse this time it was also the local library after his conversation with the mayor it was decided that he would be staying with Twilight Sparkle, plus she could keep an eye on him if he turned out to be evil. Visage being able to read minds just played along. Twilight opened the door to the library. "I hope that you find the information you need somewhere in here Visage." Visage looking around at the books on the shelves just shrugged "I hope so Twilight. I'm already over three hundred Onns late in getting home no thanks to that Fraking Maniac Sombra." "Oh, can you tell me how you beat him I have a record of how you freed the Crystal Pony slaves but it doesn't go into Sombra's defeat." Twilight looking up at Visage pleading in her eyes. "I don't really think you'd like what I'd have to say....and wait a Deronn how do you know I freed the Ponies?" Visage asked curiosity taking hold. "Oh, I have that book somewhere.." Twilight ran around the library seeking the way ward book getting frustrated she eventually called out shouting "SPIKE! SPIKE!" Just then Visage heard small footsteps coming down the staircase. "Ya, Ya twilight I heard you the first time." Spike a small purple and green dragon whelp stopped in his tracks eyes working their way up a tall dark figure meeting a set of dark purple and gold eyes. Spike started stuttering. "T..t..t..Twilight what is that, and why is it in our Library?" Spike looking at the purple unicorn who was still busy looking for her missing book. "Oh, come on Spike don't be that way. I think you've read the book about him more times than I have." Twilight said pointing a hoof at Visage. "I have?" Spike looking from Twilight to Visage a few times. "Who are you?" "I'm Visage and apparently there is a book about me somewhere in this library." Visage said as he retrieved a book and started peering at the contents, but shortly giving up, closing it and placing it back on the shelf. "Wait you don't mean Lord Visage the one who freed the Crystal Empire from Sombra?" Spike stated his eyes going wide. "Yes, Spike the he's the same one from the book. Now where is it?" Twilight still rummaging through the stacks. "I was actually reading it upstairs. I'll go get it." Spike now enthusiastic ran up the stairs as fast as his short legs could carry him and in a moment he came back down holding the treasured book. Twilight pulled the book out of Spikes claws using her magic then resting it on the table in the center of the small library. Opening the book to the title page from what Visage could guess. Even though they spoke the Common Tongue they didn't write in any form that Visage could understand. A major problem he'd have to rectify but he was fine at the moment, wondering how Ponies from this time could have known about him. "The downfall of King Sombra by Sky Shift." Twilight said to her audience. Visage recognized that name. "Sky Shift was the first Crystal pony or pegusus, rather, that I freed from Sombra's control. How is it he wrote a book now? That was a long time ago." Visage said wondering. Twilight answered with glee. "That's because when you went storming Sombra's palace he flew all the way to Canterlot to seek the aid of the two princesses. By the time they returned the Empire had already vanished everyone thought that Sky Shift was the only survivor." "Where is he now? Can we go see him?" Visage was actually excited hoping to see Sky Shift once again. "I'm sorry but Sky Shift died a long time ago this book is a reproduction. The original was written about nine hundred and fifty years ago." Twilight said her ears drooping. "And such is the way of mortal beings." Visage said sadly. Twilight's ears perked back up at this. "You sound as though your immortal." She stared in wonder. "Was that a question or a statement?" Visage could guess so he shrugged and added "Yes, I'm an immortal but I'm by no means invulnerable." "Wow, your just like the princesses!" Spike exclaimed. "I don't know who these princesses are so I can't say." Visage muttered honestly. "Oh that's right the princesses, with your return your actually a candidate for the Imperial throne. Spike get some paper and a quill ready I need to send a letter to the princess." "On it!" the little dragon said quickly producing a quill and parchment. Visage gaped "I'm what!?"
EmE Chapter 5 Apple RoundupTwilight and Visage both appeared right in front of Rarity's Boutique in a purple burst of light. Just as Rainbow Dash dove out of the sky to land next to them and Pinkie Pie bouncing her way over to rejoin the group. "That's not fair, using magic to teleport here!" Rainbow Dash argued kicking a hoof at the ground. "Your the one that wanted to race and you didn't say that I couldn't use my magic." Twilight countered as she knocked on the door. "I'll be right there." Rarity said from behind the door. "Ya, Dashie it's not like they cheated they just got here faster than we did is all." Pinkie stated as she shrugged then rubbed against Visage's left leg. The door in front of them opened before Rainbow Dash could say anything else. A white coated Unicorn with purple done up mane what was waring big red glasses answered. "Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie and....mother of Celestia what are you?" Rarity said as her eyes looked up into the face of the black clad Imperial. "Hi Rarity..that's right you haven't met him yet. This is Visagey he's an Alien and we have to take him to see the Princess." Pinkie said talking a mile a minute. Rarity looked at her friends before speaking. Twilight and Pinkie seemed to like this rather threatening looking thing fine. Rainbow seemed rather well like Rainbow Dash. "Umm, Twilight Darling his he...safe? You know to be around?" Rarity asked rather concerned. "Please Rarity don't tell me you haven't heard about the Crystal Empire's return after a thousand years? And my Brother and Sister in Law Cadence were sent there by Princess Celestia to help reacquaint them to life after the time leap? Or, that Lord Visage is the one who defeated King Sombra! Which by the way, you still haven't told me how you did it." She went from railing on Rarity to jabbing her hoof into his right leg a few times. "Perhaps later." Visage said cracking open an eye making Rarity back up a few steps. "I think we need to get to the train station on time. Don't you think so Twilight?" "And that's why we're here, now get your rear in gear and let's get Apple Jack!" Pinkie said jumping up and down while pointing her hoof in Rarity's direction. "Pinkie Pie, please I will do as you ask, but I refuse to go with you to Sweet Apple Acres. I will get ready and then wait for you at the train depot. Will that suffice Twilight Darling?" Rarity said still undecided about the fersom looking being her friends somehow ended up escorting. "I guess I should have read this mornings paper." Rarity said as she went back inside and closed the door on the crew. "Well, I guess Rarity won't ever change." rainbow Dash said as they all started off for Sweet Apple Acres to retrieve their friend. "So, Twilight if your going to use your magic can you teleport all of use this time." Rainbow Dash asked her friend. She was still rather annoyed. Twilight just smiled and gave a hearty nod. "Sweet Apple Acers here we come." with that her horn lit up and the entire company poofed away in a bright flash of purple and white. Apple Jack was busy looking over her orchard apple bucking season was coming soon so she had to check on the crops every day to see how well the fruit was progressing. Apple Jack was finishing up her rounds in the North field when she noticed Apple Bloom running towards her. "Apple Jack! Apple Jack! Twilight and her friends are here! There is somepony you have to meet! Your all needed in Canterlot this afternoon. Ya have ta be at the train station like right soon!" Apple Bloom was out of breath when she finally caught up to her big sister. "Wow, there little nelly, now slow it down a hare Apple Bloom what's this about bein in Canterlot this afternoon?" Apple Jack was confused. Somethin was difinitly up why were Tiwilght and the others here? What's happened? Apple Jack's mind was racing, thinking something bad had happened to the princess she wasted no time grabbed up Apple Bloom threw her on her back and took off for the barn. After just a few minutes she saw what was up. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash as well as Big Mac and even to her dismay, Ganny Smith were standing around talking to some tall dark figure. Apple Jack took a small detour. Apple Jack was a like lightning she ran over to the pig pen going over to the fence post that had her lasso dangling from it. She then put Apple Bloom down, grabbed up her rope and headed to where her family and friends were. "Apple Jack wait don't..." Apple Bloom tried to call after her big sister but she was too late. Apple Bloom snorted and took off running after her. "So, you like Apple Pies just as much as we do Mr. Visage?" Granny smith said in her usual tone. "Oh, yes very much so. Although in the Empire they are know as Perara Fruit. My mother actually baked them from time to time when I was still back on Earth." Visage said smiling down at the older mare. "So it's true then? You really are from a different world?" Granny Smith asked inquisitively. Visage was about to answer when Apple Jack came running at him with her lasso circling over her head. With a hearty "YEEEEHAAAA!" she let it fly aiming for Visage. Visage not wanting to get roped in, was in a flurry of motion he Force pulled one of his blood Sabers to his hand then as he activated the blade with a snap hiss. He then took several steps so that he was clear of all the ponies. As the lasso was just over his head he did an upward slice severing the rope as it fell to several pieces that landed harmlessly on the ground. "Wow!" Twilight exclaimed watching the seen unfold in front of her. "That was amazing!" Pinkie Pie Chimed in. "That was totally Awesome!" Rainbow said still in disbelief as to what she just witnessed. "Eeyup!" Was all Big Mac said but he had a very big grin on his face. "What in tarnashon are you doin young'un?" Granny Smith was rather cross she yelled at Apple Jack. "But I...I mean...well shoot, why am I, the bag guy?" Apple Jack said after spitting out her felled and now worthless rope. She stomped a hoof in protest. "That's what I was tryin to say but you just took off big sis." Apple Bloom said walking over to Visage staring at his purple glowing blade. Visage turned off his saber and put it back on his belt. "No, offense Apple Jack but I'm Visage and we." Visage made a wide gesture with his hand to the other ponies present. "Are here to pick you up." Visage finished with a smile. "Visage, I remember hearing that name from somewhere?" Apple Jack said as she started pondering. "Yes, he's Lord Visage from Sky Shift's book on the defeat of Sombra and the disappearance of the crystal Empire. " Twilight said eagerly as she trotted over to inspect the cylinders on Visage's hip. "Your that Visage but, but how? Why? WHAT IN TARNASHION IS GOIN ONNN!?" Apple Jack screamed. "Now Young'un don't go gettin into histarics. Just be moving on you don't want to be late for your meet with the princess." Granny Smith said as calmly as she could. "Eeyup." Big Mac said nodding his head in agreement. Twilight teleported to go and get the final member of the group, Fluttershy. "I'll meet up with everypony just as soon as I get Fluttershy." Twilight said as she disappeared in a swirl of purple magic. The rest of the group headed for the train depot both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were telling Apple Jack about Visage. It took a bit of explaining but after filling in Apple Jack on all of the goings on, they were pretty close to the Ponyville train depot. As they arrived they saw Spike, Rarity Twilight and Fluttershy. Visage couldn't help but notice small bubbly hearts coming off Spike as he was eying the pure white Unicorn, and Fluttershy a yellow Pegasus with pink mane was hiding herself behind Twilight much to his amusement. "All a bored!" The conductor announced as all of the ponies and one Lord entered the train car. Visage sat down next to a window putting his elbow on the sill he crossed his right leg over his left and rested his chin in his palm. Thanks to his presence most of the other passengers decided to vacate the train car that they were occupying. He actually didn't mind but Twilight did plop herself down next to him just as the train started moving. "Umm....Visage?" Apple Jack said as she started fiddling with her Stetson and looked rather nervous. Visage cracked an eye open making Apple Jack wince a little. "Yes, Apple Jack what is it?" "Well I just wanted to apologize for you know what I tried to do to ya, back at the farm." Apple Jack said still nervous, her ears were kind of drooped, and she was still fiddling with her hat. Visage closed his eye and smiled at the young mare. "No, harm done, and of course I forgive you Apple Jack." "Really!? I mean just like that?" Apple Jack said her ears perked back up. She then placed her Stetson back on her head. Visage, sighed "Of course just like that. Trust me your no Sombra." Visage stated. All of the other ponies started giggling. "Caugh..ehem...Visage about that beam of light of yours. Can you please tell me about it? Or how it works?" Twilight asked pleading in her eyes. Visage went back to staring out the window. He really didn't think that it would be a good idea, at least not yet anyway. "Later Twilight, later." With that Twilight just nodded but still looked kind of dejected. Apple Jack was now smiling away now that she'd been forgiven. Visage just stared out the window getting lost in his own thoughts. He could feel that powerful light presence getting closer. He assumed it was the princess that Twilight had talked about. The other ponies ignored him for most of the trip but he didn't really mind, he wanted to know where he was and he was hopeful that this princess had the answers.
EmE Chapter 6 The PrincessesThe train screeched to a stop at the platform. Ponies started disembarking from the cars. Twilight and her friends were among them. Visage stood out in the crowed like a sore thumb. I hate the stares, I hate being labeled a freak it's just like Earth all over again. He thought as he missed being back in his own Galaxy where he was respected but even more importantly loved. I miss my wives, my friends, and my family. I want to go home this place is just too alien. Twilight was leading the group down a street as more ponies murmured and whispered about the black clad being. I can read your minds you know. And I'm not liking what some of you are thinking. Visage looked at the big castle in that was in the center of Canterlot. "Twilight I think I'll go on ahead. If you don't mind?" Visage asked the purple unicorn in front of him. "Go ahead how? Can you somehow get there faster than us? Oh are you going to teleport because there is powerful magic here that won't allow teleportation so don't try, OK." Twilight didn't even turn her head as she spoke. Visage didn't wait he hated this feeling he was getting so he just flew up over the group and took off towards the castle. He could feel not just one but two very powerful beings of light although to him one seemed a bit dimer or perhaps, darker than the other. The troupe stood shocked for a bit before recovering. "He can fly? But he never said anything about being able to fly." Rainbow Dash said as she flapped her own wings and took off after the black blur. Twilight turned to Fluttershy. "Are you going to fly after them Fluttershy?" Twilight asked her timid friend. "No, Twilight I'm fine with walking and I probably wouldn't be able to keep up anyway." Fluttershy said weakly. Still she was just a bit jealous of Rainbow Dash wishing she had just some of her courage and speed. "Well, that was rather rude of them to just take off like that." Rarity said as she flipped her mane with a hoof. "Well Visage can read ponies minds and he probably didn't like everypony whispering about him so I can understand." Twilight said to her friends. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know!" Fluttershy whispered. "Dont'cha worry about it non Fluttershy I'd probably take off to if everypony were talkin about me bahind my back." Apple Jack told her soft spoken friend. Apple Jack was also remembering the time her sister and her friends wrote that Gabby Gums column about her. So Visage was probably feeling the same way she did right now. "When you put it that way I guess I can understand. But I still think it was rather rude." Rarity stated. The remaining ponies all smiled as they pick up the pace a bit. Visage was nearing the castle as Rainbow Dash caught up with him. She looked at him with eyes narrowed. "You, big Jerk you should have told me you could fly." Rainbow said accusingly. "I didn't think I had to, and you never asked." Visage countered. Rainbow Dash was about to retort when Visage just dropped suddenly on his way down he grabbed her tail pulling her with him. Visage landed on the main castle steps holding up rainbow by the tail so she didn't hit the pavement. "What's the big idea Huh?" She complained. "You didn't even notice we were about to run into the castle did you?" visage told her as he lowered the blue Pegasus to the ground. Rainbow saw just how close they were to the castle as she started rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. "Wow that was a close call, thank you Visage I wasn't really paying attention." Rainbow said embarrassed. Visage opened his eyes and smiled, just as several solar guards surrounded the pair. "Halt, who are you and what do you want creature?" One of the guards demanded. Rainbow was steamed. "Hello don't you guys know that we were invited by the Princess to see her, and this." Rainbow Dash gestured to Visage. "Is Lord Visage the one who saved the Crystal Empire a thousand years ago. She was being very sarcastic but the guards didn't care and let them pass. Rainbow was leading Visage to the throne room. The giant set of doors opened wide as they walked up to them. The whole place reminded him of the Imperial Capital on Marcisia. as they entered the throne room one of the biggest whites ponies Visage had ever seen greeted them as she sat on her throne. "Greetings Lord Visage. I am Princess Celestia one of the co-rulers of Equestria I welcome you as a friend. I have heard about your deed's in the Crystal Empire from Sky Shift. I am very sorry we didn't get there in time to assist you." Celestia finished and smiled. Rainbow bumped Visage's leg with a hoof. "You've been here for what less than a day and you've already impressed the Princess." Visage shrugged. Celestia got up off of her throne and had started walking toward him. He couldn't help but notice that her mane was flowing in a non existent breeze and almost seemed to float like it was a form of liquid her tail was the same way. Her coat was pure white and she had the mark of the Sun on her hip. Visage started walking around the impressive being studying her. He could feel her power which was significant but he knew a lot more powerful beings where he was from. She apparently didn't seem to mind his curiosity. He put his hand to his chin in contemplation. "I must say I'm impressed. Very powerful, yet dignified and I must say both benevolent and kind." Visage was musing as a door on the left of the throne room swung open rather violently. A dark blue pony ran in as she eyed Visage. "Get away from my sister Dark One!" She shouted at him. "If thou even touchest a hair on her head I shall send you to Tarturus." She cried as she charged. "Luna STOP!" Celestia yelled at the charging pony. Luna skidded to a halt just feet from where Visage was standing. He noticed that she too had that mystified mane and tail but her colors resembled that of the night sky. Visage started walking over to her. "Sister, what meanest thou this!" Luna demanded as the fierce eyed creature walked near her. "Luna that is Lord Visage, Sombra's bane! So show him some respect, he is no enemy. He is just as curious about us as we are of him." Celestia explained to her younger sister. Luna just gasped. "I, I, please forgive my rudeness Lord." Luna spoke more softly. Visage wasn't listening he was studying this new and to him rather unusual being in front of him. He felt a slight darkness in her it wasn't much but it was definitely there. Visage did something he hadn't done to any pony he put his hand under her muzzle and looked into her eye's he was reading her mind it was like a book filled with anger, sadness, jealousy, and corruption. He saw what happened to her and he could even feel it too. Visage warped his arms around the dark blue mare. "I am so sorry." Visage spoke softly to her. If I had been there you wouldn't have been taken and corrupted by darkness I could have shown you how to fight against it, control it, tame it, making it's power your own, rather than losing your own self to it. I am so sorry." Luna was in shock nopony not even her own sister had apologized like this. How, how can someone like this exist? I, I could have been freed? I wouldn't have been trapped in the moon for a thousand years? Luna's expression went from shock to sadness she started crying on the shoulder of someone she'd just met who seemed to know more about her than her own sister did. "Oh, looky, looky, Visagey is hugging Princess Luna!" Pinkie Pie said as the rest of the group entered the throne room. "Visagey gives the bested huggeis in all of Equestria!" Pinkie stated as she bounced around the throne room. Luna nodded. "Yes, yes, he does." She said in no more than a whisper. Visage let Luna go as he turned again to Celestia. "YOU, HOW COULD YOU HAVE BANISHED YOUR OWN SISTER!? YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED HER! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR HER! INSTEAD YOU FEARED HER, ISOLATED HER AND THEN BECAUSE OF YOU SHE FELL INTO DARKNESS, NOT PREPARED, NOT READY TO FACE IT, IT CORRUPTED HER AND YOU LET IT HAPPEN! I COULD HAVE SAVED HER! I WISH I HAD BEEN THERE TO SAVE HER! Visage's anger came to roaring boil blue and black flames erupted from his body his purple and gold eye glowed bright through the flames. Celestia felt like she had been hit with a sledge hammer. Her greatest regret had smacked her right in the face and all of the sadness returned as Visage's words pierced her, to her very core. All of the ponies in the room fell into a state of shock at Visage's display of power. Twilight couldn't let visage kill her mentor but she didn't have her element of Harmony with her and Celestia was in such a state that she could barely stand. "Please stop this Visage I'm sure Celestia did everything she could to save Luna." Twilight running and stopped as she stood standing between the enraged Visage and the barely responsive Celestia. Celestia stopped panicking as Twilight stood between her and the being that was even more fearsome than even Discord. "No, Twilight I didn't do everything I could to prevent my sister from turning into Nightmare Moon, he is right. As much as I don't want to admit it, every thing he said is true." Celestia told her student very calmly. "So Lord Visage what is to be my punishment?" Celestia asked very low but to the point. Everypony again fell silent, waiting for Visage to respond. Visage said nothing for several minutes he just stood there looking at Celestia his anger making his flames roar almost uncontrollably. "I am sorry, but as much as I'd like to punish someone for betraying their own flesh and blood, I cannot. It isn't my place to pass judgement only the Gods can do that, and I am no God." Visage cooled off as his flames died but his eyes still burned brightly . "I am sorry Luna. but this isn't my Galaxy, nor my Universe therefor I have no jurisdiction. I would not have killed your sister for what she did to you but I would have certainly imprisoned her for it. " Visage sat down on the floor cross legged in front of the Alicorn princess, his hands were in the traditional Marcisain show of respect. His left hand covered the right that was made into a fist. Peace over power. His head was also in a slight bow. "We are grateful for your kindness, but I have forgiven my sister for what she did to me when I changed into Nightmare Moon. If you were here, then yes, perhaps things would have been different, but you were not. Therefor my sister did what she deemed necessary. So I beg you to forgive her too." Luna put her head down to speak directly into Visage's ear. Celestia started to tear up at her sister's love. She was going to throw herself at Visage letting him do what he willed. But he was angry at her because she didn't save Luna. She was forced into banishing her own sister into the moon. It took Twilight and her friends to free her, but Visage apparently could have also saved her, and she realized that he had enough power to probably do so. It was then that Celestia realized one important thing, Visage though he may look and even feel evil he had a kind heart, so much so he stood up for Luna, after apparently seeing into her past. Perhaps he was more fit to rule than even she was.
EmE Chapter 7 Three Great PowersVisage had calmed down, yet everypony in the room was still dead silent his beratement of the Princess baffled Twilight. How could he? why did he? And why would the princess just take it. She just stood there and took it, I thought she was my mentor? "If you, ask me for an apology, you will not be finding one forthcoming." Visage said in such a cold tone every pony in the room felt as though the temperature actually dropped a few degrees. "I would never ask for one. I know what I did to my sister was wrong. I know banishing her to the moon was unforgivable but I had little choice in the matter I could not let every pony suffer at the hooves of Nightmare Moon." Celestia stood tall, confident, and yet sad all at the same time. "Choice, you had no CHOICE! My dear princess, every being has choice and every choice has consequence. You, of all beings, should know this!" Visage stood inches from the princess his gold eye's burned staring deep into hers. "I guess with your pathetic bit of knowledge you didn't....have a choice. I can see that both your heart as well as your sister's are pained because of your...choice." Visage, had gone from anger and fury, to such a clam and sullen demeanor that both princesses balked. "I can admit, even I am not infallible....and I am sorry for my outburst Princess Celestia." Visage bowed slightly, then turning to Luna who still had tears running down her cheeks. "I should have been there. If it wasn't for Sombra and that time spell of his I would have been. Luna you shouldn't have suffered, and your sister." Visage used his hand to gesture to Celestia. "She shouldn't have had to make the choice she did. So to the both of you, please forgive me?" Visage sat cross legged in between the two Diarchs head down both fists clenched. Celestia and Luna looked at each other then to the sitting being between them. Twilight and her friends all started to tear up. "I admit you are the strangest creature I have encountered, your power is dark yet you have a very strong heart and a greater sense of justice than even I posses. I admit that I was weak...too weak to save my sister...alone." Celestia gazed at the sitting figure then at her student and her friends. Pinkie couldn't take it anymore she ran over and put her hoofs around the still motionless Visage. "He's not bad! He's my friend he hugged me the first time he met me....nopony has ever hugged me the first time they meet me. But...but don't be mad at him Princess, please....he's got a big heart I know he does my Pinkie sense doesn't lie." Pinkie pleaded now in tears herself holding onto Visage. "I don't be knowin if it's my place to say....but he's been tellin the truth this whole time. He has'n been lie'n at all. I must admit though that little out burst o'his had me a bit worried for a second there. Not to mention those eyes o'his are a bit on the creepy side." Apple Jack said softly. "Pinkie...thank you for being so kind. Thank you for being.....my friend. I try my hardest to fallow our code but sometimes there are just too many gray areas that take both, discretion and discernment and I am pretty sure I blew it big time in this matter...It's just not fair." Visage spoke softly. "What is not fair Visage?" Luna asked the sitting man wrapped in a pink pony. "That what happened between you and your sister could have easily been resolved, yet because Celestia only knows the light she wasn't able to save you from the corruption." Visage stated. "You sound as though you know both?" Twilight was listening to the conversation and she had learned a great deal, about her mentor, about Luna, about Visage and even about herself. "Yes, Twilight both Light and Dark, Yin and Yang, Good and Evil, all are in balance. In order to become balanced, one must study all sides." Visage pushed Pinkie Pie softly off of him. He still put a hand on her head as he stood up Pinkie rubbed right up next putting a hoof around his leg so he continued to patting the top of her head. "So, you could have taught us how to fight the darkness?" Luna asked curiously as she wiped away the tears that had just stopped. "Well Luna, the answer is, yes and no." Visage said as he put up that finger of his. All of the ponies in the room looked confused. "What do you mean by that Visage?" Twilight not fully believing what she had just heard. "I think it best if I started with the basics. Everypony please pay attention." Visage told his audience. Every pony nodded most were still rather bewildered. Visage put his hand to his glove with the now glowing gem on it. He had to stop patting Pinkie to do this she she was looking kinda down when he stopped. He smiled down at her as he produced a black ball from his inventory system. Throwing the ball it transformed into a bipedal black metal being. It had the features of Visage two legs and arms but it's body was a polished black that the light reflected off in places. It's eyes were glowing a crimson red. It turned to look at all of those in the room then looking to Visage it spoke in a metallic voice. "Am I needed for something master?" It asked addressing Visage. "Yes, Bob I need you to display a holo image of our Galaxy." Visage told Bob as all the ponies in the room were staring at this new thing that just popped out of nowhere. "What in Equestria is that?" Rarity asked in awe. "I am Tactical Assault Droid Five but my master had designated me Bob, for an unknown reason." Bob replied to Rarity's inquiry. Bob put his metal palm face up as the raised disk in it's center glowed as a projection of the Firaxian Galaxy was displayed. The giant swirling mass of stars spun slowly as the giant black hole in the center pulsed as the nebula that surrounded it retracted and expanded ever so slightly. "This is incredible!" Twilight said clapping her hooves. "This is Awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "It's gorgeous!" Rarity stated in wonder. "What is it?" Pinkie asked looking up at her tall friend. Ponies I give you the Galaxy Firaxia my home, billions of stars with more planets that even I can count this is where I'm from. Bob bring up Earth." Visage asked his droid. The Galaxy zoomed out shrinking as the ponies in the room made ohhhsss and Awwwsss then suddenly a bright red star that nearly filled the entire throne room appeared. It then zoomed again and a small sphere of spinning blue and green covered by a layer of white in random places. "Are those clouds?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Yes, the weather patterns on earth are random and can be very violent at times. Mostly in the area of the Equator where large storms, designated Hurricanes and Typhoons by the inhabitants form from the warm rising ocean air." Bob told Rainbow. "This Bob guy, is totally awesome!" The blue Pegasus said doing a back flip. "Oh my, that sounds like a terrible planet to live on I'm soo sorry Visage." Fluttershy finally spoke in her quiet yet sweet voice. "Hold on everypony look! It's spinning and it has a moon that's also spinning. Visage are all planets like this in your Galaxy do they all spin like that?" Twilight asked stunned. "All planets spin on their axis that gives, said planet it's atmosphere, seasons and weather. Most planets revolve around a central star. The one in this solar system is designated Sol by the Earthlings. There are nine planets that are currently in orbit around Sol but only Earth contains sentient beings designated humans. There are currently twenty seven million planets that sustain sentient beings within the boarders of the Marcisian Empire. Earth even though it is located within the Imperial region, it is not an Imperial Planet." Bob said with a bit more explanation than what Visage would have liked. "Bob can you now show us Zaraj?" Visage told his mechanical friend. "As you wish master." Bob said as the full Galaxy came back into full view and then zoomed in again. "Zaraj home world to the Zaharaj, now named Imperial Shadow Knights by his Imperial Majesty Barran Marciss. The planet is surrounded by an asteroid field and even though the Planet does rotate, it does not orbit It's star, staying stationary. Most Macisain Scientists believe that this phenomenon is due to the high levels of Dark Side energy that permeate from the planet. It is also the reason the Zaharaj built their temples there, to further study the Dark Side of the Verse, renamed, Force, Five Onns ago after all practitioners voted on the name change. My master voted to keep it named Verse. As to why, I can not compute." Bob told his audience. Visage rolled his eyes at Bob's last comment. "This information is priceless. I just wish I had brought a quill and paper with me. I really wasn't expecting a lecture like this!" Twilight said ecstatically. "Agreed, I believe that Visage's, Bob, knows more about the Universe than even my sister or we do." Luna said looking at the spinning black and red planet that was hidden behind massive rocks that floated around it. "I contain star maps and information on The Empire and Firaxia. I am sorry but my data banks are limited only to that. I have no information on sentient horses, and there are no planets in The Empire that contain such life forms." Bob stated. "Is there anything else master?" Bob inquired of Visage. "No Bob, please deactivate if I need your assistance again I will summon you." Visage said smiling at his droid that imploded back into a black sphere, which he then used the Force to bring the ball to his hand and put it back into his gem. "We have a question Lord Visage." Luna said as she walking over to him. "Yes, Princess Luna? What is it?" Visage answered as he continued to pat Pinkie Pie who still hadn't moved since his presentation began. "Why is it that in your Galaxy all of the planets move themselves, yet my sister and I have to raise the moon and sun with our magic every night and day?" Luna said as she sat down a few feet away from him. "Perhaps dear sister, he doesn't have the answer to your question." Celestia said as she walked over and sat down next to her sister. "So do you have the answer Visagey?" Pinkie said still enjoying the petting she was getting. "So, can you tell us Visage?" Now Twilight was asking and this was starting to get on his nerves. First he just stood there silent apparently thinking, he looked down at Pinkie Pie. "First, things, first." Visage told his now eager and captive audience. All of the ponies even the usually board Rainbow Dash was paying attention. Visage motioned for all of the other ponies to come closer so he didn't have to keep looking behind him. All of the ponies seemed to understand for they all sat flanking the two princesses. Twilight, Rarity and Apple Jack were sitting next to Celestia. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sat next to Luna. Now that they were all in front of him more or less. The pink one just didn't want to let go of him for some reason. Visage started his next lecture as Twilight put it. "So in our Galaxy there are three know types of power or energy. First there is the Power of the Verse, Force, The Gift of the Gods, Flow of the Universe and several other names. Second there is the Ind'Ren Freth as the Marcisians call it. In the Common Tongue it's called Inner Fire, but it has also been called Chakra, Ki, the energy within, Pajzra and again, several more names. The third known Power is what your all using..." Visage was cut off by Twilight. "Magic!" Twilight exclaimed as all of the ponies looked at her for speaking out of turn. Visage just went with it, as Twilight's big grin turned into a nervous laugh, finishing with a slight cough. "Yes, Twilight, Magic." Visage restated. "But what about the ones that aren't known? Do they have all of those cool names too?" Rainbow interjected. "Hmm, I'm not really sure I can answer that one. I did overhear one of the Gods talking about it and he said there were I think, thirty seven forms of power." Visage said as all of the ponies looked dumbstruck. "THERE ARE THIRTY SEVEN!" Twilight yelled. Visage shrugged. "Either that or Three hundred and seven. I didn't really understand the language they were using." "THREE HUNDRED AND SEVEN?" This time they all shouted. Surprisingly even Fluttershy to Visage's amazement. "I'm sorry for that outburst Lord Visage, but I couldn't help but notice that you said something about Gods?" Princess Celestia said as every pony calmed down. "Ah, yes, you see in my Galaxy there is a very old saying, 'The greatest beings that rule the Universe are the Gods, and Demons, Dragons, Elves and Human Men and all of the goodly races in between.' Although where you ponies fit in on that scale I do not know." Visage told his class. "That is incredible I didn't think that God's truly existed!" Celestia said. "I mean, I had my suspicions that there were grater beings out there, besides us, but, you.....you, Visage just proved it." Celestia the one he was so enraged at not even a Minronn ago had now become his temporary student and he hoped a friend, also. "Problem is Celestia that question that Luna asked, I do think I know the answer." Visage said but he wasn't sure if they really should hear what he had to say next. Luna and Celestia knew that there was something wrong and even Twilight looked like she had some suspicion. "Is there something wrong Lord Visage?" Luna asked hoping she would be wrong. Visage actually got to his knee's and started hugging Pinkie for support. Should I tell them? Do they really need to know? Would they all be willing to bear the burden of knowing? Visage's mind became clouded with worry. "I think we can handle whatever it is you want to tell us Visagey." Pinkie said trying to comfort her friend. Visage got back to his feet but leaned onto Pinkie for more support. "This next part might be a bit much for you to hear. So, I need to know if you are all willing to bear the burden of knowing before I continue." Visage said with merely a whisper. All of the ponies present looked at each other then at Visage. "I think, we are all prepared to hear this Lord Visage." Celestia said firmly. "I'm trusting all of you now you can't ever repeat what I'm about to say. Just nod, then I'll go on. All ponies present nodded. "Then, I'll begin." Visage started.
EmE chapter 8 Can you handle the Truth?"Then I'll begin. Several Eons ago the God's were at war." Visage started but all of the ponies even the princesses gasped in shock. "Why?" Twilight asked. "NO!" Celestia yelled. "That's crazy! Are they crazy!? Rainbow added. "Shhhh. I'm just as shocked as all of you but will you please, stop interrupting so he can explain. Please go on darling." Rarity said as she told off every pony and gestured for Visage to continue. "Thank you Rarity, so where was I? Ah, yes the God's were at war, one of the Dark God's decided that he wanted to rule over all God's becoming a God King but the God's of Light wouldn't have it. Now normally because a God is immortal they can't die. But The Dark God Skath found a way to kill a God, and he employed one of the Greater Meserino Demon Clans to join him. They also forged God slayers and thus armed they started a war. The God's of Light weren't prepared but they outnumbered Skath and his hoard so even with all of their casualties they still drove Skath back into his own realm. The God's of Light then Forged their own God Slayer weapons and they even got some of their own Demon Allies. The Silvarian Demons joined them in their fight. They tried to convince the King of The Meserino Demons to also join, but they wanted no part of it, they were disgusted with the Clan that joined Skath. Still several Meserino Demons did end up volunteering but that was after Skath had killed their king. The war had eventually come to a stalemate. Then The Meserino attacked the Silvarians in their own home they slaughtered each other both sides extinguishing the souls of the other till non were left, but the Silvarian King. Setting out himself to put an end to this pointless war he fought Skath three times, and all three times he could only manage a draw. The Silvarian King tried one last time but this time his own life, his own soul was extinguished. Skath was victorious. Problems really started for the Gods when war broke out on the mortal plane. Skath's worshipers were killing the worshipers, the children, of all other Gods if they didn't join them. Skath worshipers are all just like Sombra, only several times worse. If you refused to join, then you were sent to an extractor, a deplorable device that rips your soul apart dividing it up into as many clone bodies as it can, thus becoming an unliving horror we know as the Fallen. I have been fortunate enough that only once have I encountered a Fallen soldier. Milky white eyes devoid of life, pale white skin that is not easily harmed, and blood black as midnight and smells just, rancid. They use spears that are just as black as their blood, thrusting it into any of those who still have beating hearts." Visage stopped he was barely holding on to Pinkie Pie. He finally sunk to the floor tears streamed from his gold colored eye's. "This is horrible! How could they do that to another being?" Celestia asked terrified. Hoping that she would never have to encounter these Skath worshipers. The others weren't fairing much better all had horrible facial expression and several of them looked like they were going to faint which Fluttershy did, or become very sick. "I think I'm gonaa Puke." Rainbow said holding her hoof over her mouth as her cheeks puffed out as she forced herself to swallow her own bial back down. "You an me both Rainbow.." Apple Jack said as she took off her Stetson and used it to cover her mouth. She was looking the most green out of the bunch. "But, you won right?" Pinkie piped up. "Sorry, Pinkie. What?" Visage asked trying to get a hold of himself. "I mean the good side killed that Skath meany mean guy...Right?" "Yes, Pinkie the God's of Light prevailed in the end....but no ones knows how, we won." Visage said honestly. Flutershy woke up as she rubbed her head. "Is that horrible story over, yet?" "I'm hopin so Shy. I've heard some messed up stories when I was a filly but this just took the cake." Apple Jack said as her face went back to her normal color and she put her hat back on her head. "What doth thou mean, you don't know how you won?" Luna asked very quizzically. Every pony again stared at Visage. "That's just it, ever since I arrived, this place seemed off, and I didn't really know why. Until I realized that one of the God's of Light gave up their own life to destroy Skath and I think it was the God of this Universe." Visage said, even though the tears stopped he still was leaning on Pinkie but she was more than happy to lend her friend a helping hoof. All of the ponies looked shocked. "Is that why our planet doesn't rotate like the ones in your Galaxy?" Celestia said coming to a realization. "Is that also why we need to use magic to raise to lower the sun and moon every day and night?" Luna said supporting her sister's theory. "I believe so but even I can't be sure. You see I can't feel anything outside of your atmosphere, anything beyond that, is blocked to me. Now in my Galaxy I can sense beings even from great distances and the more powerful they are the easier it is to sense them." Visage said as he sat down giving up on even trying to stand. "So if I'm not mistaken, what your saying is that our God was killed by Skath and if it wasn't for our magic our world would have been broken." Twilight said horrified by her own conclusion. "Yes, I'm afraid that you are correct Twilight." Visage replied weakly. "It's no wonder you said you didn't want us to tell any pony this, if they ever found out then..." Celestia wasn't able to finish her thought. "Then there would be mass hysteria, and it wouldn't just effect Equestria, it would have an effect on all of Equestis." Luna finished for her sister. "Girls, I want all of you to never repeat what Lord Visage told us, will you promise me this?" Celestia said looking at all of her ponies. "Absolutely!" Apple jack cried. "You've got it Princess!" Rainbow Dash said with a salute. "I won't tell any pony." Fluttershy said meekly. "I won't tell a soul Darling." Rarity said giving her mane a flick. "I Pinkie Promise not to tell any pony!" Pinkie exclaimed startling Visage who was still leaning against her. Twilight gave a sigh...."I wish I could have written all of this down but I guess it would be best to keep it to ourselves. Still Visage it sounds like you've been through a lot do those.....Skath Worshipers attack your Galaxy often?" Twilight asked a little fearful. "Thank the God's no! I hope that they never do so again, the last time we encountered the Skath was near our far boarder in the Tegeral sector but that was what....three or four Onns ago?" Visage said as the memories from that horrible battle came flooding back. "Oh, my I'm, so, so, sorry Visage that sounds just awful." Fluttershy said as she tried to give him a weak smile. "It's in the past now Fluttershy we are now looking to the future I just hope I have a future when I return." Visage said weakly. "What doth thou mean by that Lord Visage?" Luna asked the sitting figure who was now resting on Pinkie Pie who had laid down to support her new friend. "You don't know? Visage is married to more than one pony he's an Endangered Species!" Rainbow announced to all in the room as she flew up, putting out her hooves to make it more dramatic. Every pony was shocked with the exception of Twilight and Pinkie Pie who were both there when he told them. Rainbow had tried to make a joke out of it but Twilight made her feel bad about it. So now it seemed she was trying to make up for it but to Visage it seemed like she was making things worse not better. "I'm sorry Visage I didn't know you were an Endangered species if I'd of know that I wouldn't have tried to avoid you..even though you look a bit scarey." Fluttershy this time managed a full smile. "Is there anything we can do to help you Lord Visage?" Celestia asked concerned for this human that came from Firaxia. "Wait hold on. Your from Earth right?" Rainbow asked as she landed next to Pinkie and Visage. "Well, yes?" Visage said not liking what Rainbow was thinking, nor where this line of questioning was going. "And Earth is full of humans right?" Rainbow said as she narrowed her eyes to slits. "Again, Yes." Visage said as he adjusted uncomfortably under Rainbow's scrutiny. "So if there is a planet full of humans and your from Earth then aren't you human too? So, why in Equestria are you an Endangered Species?" Rainbow said landing the final blow. Now all ponies were waiting for Visage's answer and he really wished he didn't have to tell them, but because he was in front of the Diarchs, there really wasn't much he could do in this situation. "Because Rainbow. I'm, not, human." Visage said slowly. Rainbow balked at this. Her eyes popped back open and her ears went straight up. "So, Visagey if your not a human then what are you?" Pinkie asked for every pony in the room. Visage looked at Apple Jack who nodded with a knowing smile. "If you must know I'm actually.....a......Silvarian." Visage said in defeat now his secret was out, not that it was really much of one back home but still, he hated being treated like a fragile piece of glass or a freak of nature. "Wait, you mean those Good Demons who were all killed by the bad ones?" Rainbow said. "Yes, Rainbow I'm the last of my kind, so please don't tell anyone or any pony I've already gotten into more trouble because certain beings found out and they caused me some problems, because of it. I mean, most Imperials know already. But the whole reason why I'm here now, is because, apparently, the Aclorian Empire of the Andramida Galaxy found out, and well, I had to disappear for a while, but I never thought I'd end up stranded here on your planet." Visage said flatly. "Is he telling the truth Apple Jack? Is he really a Silvarian?" Twilight asked her honest friend. "Ya, AJ spill is he one of those Silvarians or what?" Rainbow Dash demanded. All eyes were on Apple Jack the Element of Honesty. Even the Diarchs were waiting impatiently for her answer. "From what I can tell he's tellin the truth alright." Apple Jack confirmed but rather begrudgingly. "OH, wow!" Rainbow said. "Oh, my!" Rarity stated looking at Visage with a bit more scrutiny. "I'm so sorry, my friend blew your cover." Twilight said apologetically. "Do not worry Lord Visage, no pony will know what you really are." Luna said with a smile. "Yes, you have reveled much to us, so we will keep all of your secrets in turn." Celestia said with a wink and a smile as she started for the giant doors that were the entrance. "If you'll all excuse me, I have several matters that I need to attend to." With that Celesta walked out the two ornate doors and they slowly closed behind her. Visage finally managed to get up on his feet with a little help from Pinkie Pie. "So Visagey." Pinky squeaked. "What's your real name?" Every pony in the room again fell silent at Pinkie's question. "Well since you know pretty much everything about me now I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you." Visage said as all of the ponies present leaning in to hear his real name. "My real name is Arrom and I'm a Silvarian born of humans on Earth and when I was six years old my powers became uncontrollable. I nearly burned my house down and almost killed my own mother. Then Lord Nosfaren picked me up, took me to Zaraj, trained me, and gave me the name Visage, or the one who hides in shadows. I've been thankful to the Za and grateful to the Emperor for everything they've done for me for these many Onns. Now I'm here and I will help in any way I can." Arrom smiled at his new friends. "I'm Twilight Sparkle and in behalf of the Princess I officially welcome to to Equestria Arrom." Twilight was beaming she had learned a lot of new, and some rather disturbing things, but she still felt lucky to have a friend like Arrom. "Welcome to Equestria Sugar Cube." Apple Jack said to her strange new friend. "Arrom, darling you must let me design you some new cloths, black is so two years ago." Rarity said flicking her mane. "Welcome to Equestria Arrom, your going to come flying with me again right?" rainbow Dash said as she flew around the throne room excited. "I would like you welcome you also...that is if you wouldn't mind that is?" Fluttershy said rather weakly. Arrom knew she was still afraid of him but at least she was making an effort. "I thank you Fluttershy perhaps I could teach you some healing tricks for your animals sometime." Arrom said to Fluttershy. Fluttershy just gave him a weak smile but she still nodded her head in agreement. "Arrom I still owe you a Pinkie Pie Welcome to Ponyville party! So now it's going to be a welcome to Ponyville and Equestria party!" Pinkie Pie Exclaimed as she gave his leg another hug. "You really are something Pinkie your heart is gorgeous just don't let small things get you down. I can see that you sometimes take things a bit too seriously." Arrom said dropping to a knee as he put his right hand on Pinkie's heart. "Remeber Pinkie that even if your trying to make others happy don't destroy yourself in the process. I don't want to see this gorgeous heart of yours broken got it." Arrom said to the pink party pony. "I promise Arrom." Pinkie said beaming. Arrom got back to his feet as Pinkie started jumping around the throne room. Arrom didn't even notice that Luna had walked up to him just stopping a few feet from where he was standing. "We too would also like to welcome you to Equestria, Lord Visage." Luna said holding out a hoof to him. Arrom just stood there and shrugged as he reached out giving her hoof a firm shake. "I thank you Princess Luna but you really don't have to call me by my title just Visage, or Arrom if you prefer, but Lord Visage. I mean I'm not even in my own Galaxy anymore so you can drop the honorifics." Visage told her with a smile. "No, we must, it is Canterlot custom to address those with their proper titles." Luna countered as she put her hoof down rather hard making a loud clang as her metal clad hoof hit the floor. Arrom rolled his eye's. "As you wish Princess." Giving Luna a slight bow. Luna smiled as she headed for the smaller door on the left side of the throne room. Twilight came up to Arrom apparently with another question. "Arrom if you don't mind me asking but just how much energy were you producing when you were making all of those black flames?" Twilight asked as her ear twitched a bit. "Well in the Empire those of use who use the Inner Fire are allowed only to produce fifty thousand krenn. We are severely reprimanded if we ever go above that level unless were are in battle with the Fallen or other dangerous foes. but, to answer your question that was about nine thousand krenn give or take." Arrom said to ease Twilight's curiosity. Pinkie stopped jumping and ran over to Arrom and screamed at the top of her lungs. "IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!!" everyone had to cover their ears from the deafening noise. "What the hay, was that about Pinkie?" Apple Jack asked still recovering from the noise. Arrom wasn't at all impressed. "Pinkie that joke has been beaten to death like a dead hoarse, just so you know." Arrom said to the pink pony. Pinkie gasped in horror. " You beat dead horses on your planet Arrom?" She asked in shock. "Oh, why would you do such a horrible thing." Fluttershy said as she hung her head. "No, it's just an expression. It means that joke has been over used so much we might actually loose readers over it." Arrom explained. All of the Ponies in the room seemed confused except Pinkie. "I'm Sorry Arrom I won't be using any more over used jokes." Pinkie said crossing her heart. "I think the author will let it go this time but please think of the readers before using anymore over used memes." Arrom said looking up with a very stern expression on his face. "That's right I'm talking to you Mr. keyboard Warrior." Arrom said closing an eye and giving the poor author the bird. Hay wait what! This is my story! You can't give the author the bird that's just plane rude. Arrom snapped his fingers and the author's PC went dead....
EmE Special: Myth and Legends collision courseAn unknown location in the Universe A cloaked man sat hunched over in a great throne that was way too big for him. his feet dangled over the edge not even touching the floor that was a mass expanse of universe beneath him. The Dark God Chaos let out a disgruntled grunt as he looked over his uncle's Universe keeping one eye closed as the other darted about peering intently over the infinite expanse laid out at his feet. One of his demons had gone missing and he wanted him back. "You ask, Uncle Elohim where, is my demon?" Chaos demanded of the Archangel Halifell. Halifell just stood humbly wings retracted with his hand resting loosely on the pommel of his sword. Bright glowing golden eyes peered into fiery red ones undaunted. Halifell didn't like dealing with Skath's brat but now that peace has been restored between the God's of Light and Darkness several Seraphim and Archangels had to become intermediaries between the two. Halifell was unfortunate enough to become the spokes angel for Elohim and Chaos. Halifell knew what the Silvarian meant to both God's. Elohim adopted him after his father's great sacrifice and Chaos was freed from his eternal imprisonment by the Demon when Skath put down his disobedient son's pathetic rebellion. Helifell was quit literally between a Rock and a Hard place. "I know you want him back. Elohim is doing everything in his power to find our missing Silvarian." Halifell spoke softly not wanting to upset Chaos further. "My Uncle gave me the Silvarian to look after! He was in Elohims Universe when he disappeared from my sight so why does my Uncle want to hide him from me now?" Chaos asked his Uncle's messenger, both cool, calm and professional. "I assure you, Chaos that neither we, Elohim or any of the other God's had anything to do with Arrom's disappearance. I would also like to have him back." Halifell still remembered the Silvarian's sprite before he was born to parent's on Earth one of Elohim's planet's that was still in their trail phase. Chaos took this in and relaxed in his over sized throne, slumping so that his feet were now touching the floor that was so much like an expansion of the Universe. Chaos knew that he wasn't being lied to, that much was clear and if Elohim was also searching then which God was it that took Arrom and for what reason, that no being at this point knew. "I thank you for your time Halifell, tell my Uncle I thank him for letting me peer into his Universe for me." Chaos told the armor clad Archangel dismissing him with a slight gesture. "Your not the only being that misses him, Chaos. There are many of us that love him just as much as you do." Halifell was then at a loss for words. The last Silvarian missing, a great race of goodly Demons extinguished. This was a tragic loss and great failure for all sides. Chaos read Halifall's thought's as he opened a portal back to his heaven and the Grand God Elohim. "Tell my Uncle I love him, and thank you Halifall." Chaos told the departing Archangel as Halifell turned and gave Chaos a slight nod as he walked through the portal that snapped shut leaving Chaos to his thoughts. "Whoever took my Demon will pay dearly for their trespass!" Choas declared as he looked over at Hell's Gate his broad sword that was also a Soul Slayer. Hell's Gate heard and felt his master's intent as a red and black aura issued from the mouth of the Crimson and black sheath. "Oh, what's the matter love? Archangel get to you?" Zaratha cooed. The Mezerino demoness entered the great hall of the dark palace. Her bat like wings were folded up and draped over her like a great cape, her tail was swaying playfully from side to side as she made her way to her husband's side. "No Zaratha, if you must know I think my Uncle is just as concerned, perhaps even more so, about Arrom's disappearance than I am." Chaos told his wife with a heavy sigh. "Awe, poor Dark God, lost his favorite toy?" Zaratha said to her husband coyly as she brushed her long black and red tresses out of her face to bend down and kiss her beloved. Zaratha put her clawed hands down from her husband's face after their kiss and took a seat next to her glum husband, who was more than willing to make room for his very seductive and playful demoness. Chaos leaned into her as she wrapped him in her right wing and put her arm around the more diminutive man whom she loved, trying to support him. Choas started leaning out, and once again closed one of his glowing red eyes and peered out into the vastness of the Universe looking for his wayward Silvarian. "I wonder if his wife knows yet?" Chaos said aloud perking his wife's interest. "Which one? With all of your meddling he has a several. Wasn't it you who put the Endangered Species idea into the mind of the Marcisian Emperor?" Zathara asked in that coy yet accusing way of hers. "Yes, and it was more hilarious than even I could have imagined!" Chaos said as he started chuckling at all of the close calls and strange adventures that he had either directly or indirectly sent Arrom on. After that short derailment he came back to his point. "I meant if Riza knows or even, Vira." Chaos said with a slight grin. "What are you scheming now my husband?" His demoness asked rather quizzically. "Those two are demons and they can break through dimensional barriers just like God's can, yes?" Chaos now had a plan cooking and had a very bright yet evil smile on his face. "Well, yes. We can, why?" Zathara wondering where her husband's new scheme was going. "What if our missing Silvarian was lost in a different dimension and what if we sent your cousin Riza and the wonderful Veserino Vira after him. Plainly speaking I wouldn't be stepping on any of the other God's toes. Yet...." "Yet they could, because they are married and that takes precedent over inter-dimensional travel between Universes. My husband you are wickedly evil and fun. I'm so glad I married you!" Zaratha exclaimed giving her husband another kiss for good measure. After receiving his mouth back. "So who do we send to Earth to give that drinking fool of a cousin of yours the news?" Chaos asked the now more than eager to help Zaratha. "I have the perfect being for the job. Oh, and if you haven't noticed yet the Empire is also on the move." Zathara told her husband the news again in that coy and conniving way. "Excellent! This is going to be really fun to watch unfold!" Chaos cheered as he started to put his plans into motion. "I still feel sorry for Arrom, the poor crath won't know what hit him." Zathara chided. "Who cares, at least him and that family of his never gets old to watch, and this my dear will be something to witness.....Just as soon as Riza, Vira or the Empire finds him." Chaos couldn't have been any happier, creating problems for others was his forte and out of all of the beings in the multi-verse there was one that was very special to him. That Silvarian was always fun to tease and this was going to top it all. Chaos just knew it. Equestis Canterlot Arrom was out walking among the gardens of Canterlot Castle. Putting back on his Imperial cloak that had the symbol of a pinwheel of a Galaxy emblazed on the back that fluttered about as it hung loosely off his frame in the night breeze. Looking up into the mess of stars he tried desperately to make out any familiar constellations but to his disappointment there weren't any. Arrom wasn't tired in the least. He was growing tired and weary of this planet and the oddity of the Galaxy that was in full display above him. Once again he tried to reach out past that invisible barrier that lay just outside the atmosphere of Equestis. He struggled, pushed, trying to break free with his consciousness but again giving up after several Dironns passed. With a great sigh he fell onto his back looking up at the sparkling diamonds that seemed so close but yet so far. His hand once again reaching for the chain that held his treasured ring, the gems had completely gone cold as he watched it slowly spin one way to the other as it hung from the end of it's chain. The silver circle the gems were fixed to even seemed duller somehow or perhaps it's just the trick of the light. Even with the stars and a crescent moon it still was rather bright out, then again there was some light pollution coming from Canterolt proper but it still didn't make the disguised Silvarian feel any better. "I miss you, Mom I wonder if your still working as uncle's secretary? Dad are you still playing with those toy ships of yours?" Arrom mussed as he thought of his parent's jobs. His mom worked as a secretary for non other than his uncle at a large Corporation in Korea. His dad was a Captain of a Navel Destroyer of the United State's Third Pacific fleet. He knew they loved each other and he also knew they loved both him and his two older sisters, but they hardly ever saw each other. Kind of like the situation he was in now. Even they were a phone call or Skype message away, he was in another Galaxy with no ability to communicate with anyone from home. "Sara, Anna I hope your keeping that wife of mine out of trouble." Arrom said as he thought of his two older yet younger sisters. Time in the Galaxy moved faster than that on Earth, even though he was just Eighteen back home he was nearly forty by Marcisian reckoning. Arrom smiled as he could plainly see his two sisters with their black shoulder length hair bobbing as they skipped along, leading a much older looking and very tanned woman with long dark red hair and burning red eyes. Riza disguised herself as a human and most people just thought that the large circular pattern on her back was just some fancy tattoo and not a seal to contain all of her demonic energy. Riza for some reason liked to do the bar scene. She always seemed to be carrying a bottle with some sort alcohol in it, though with her genetics she would never be able to get drunk. His mom loved to take them to parties even though the immediate family didn't drink for religious reasons they would still cheer Riza on as she out drank everyone, even several of his Dad's sailor friends who were all impressed with her great tolerance to the strong beverages they chugged. Arrom could just look on and pout as he watched his wife, to him make a fool of herself, to everyone else in his Uncle's company she had somehow become a legend and a hero. "Riza I think you are crazier than even this planet's Pinkie Pie." Arrom announced with disgust at his wife's antics. Then Arrom remembered his own seal as he put his hand up and softly touched the top of his back. Riza was the one who put it on him teaching him how to disguise his demon features and power in order to hide in plain sight as a humble human. "At least she still has a good heart, though how my family treats her just like any normal person is still amazing and puzzling." Arrom put his hand behind his hood less head resting on it. As his mind wondered back still to when he first met Riza and Vira and even Lord Nos and the rest of the Zaharaj. "And thus Visage was born, thanks to Riza and the Counsel of the Zaharaj." Arrom said as he brought his hand back up to study his gloved fingers. "I wonder just how many times have I regrown you now?" He asked his hand as he wiggled his glove encased fingers. Still lost in thoughts he noticed that there was a presence no, several presences in the area. One was however rather close and was very much trying to hide their essence. "I can sense your presence ya know. Why, might I ask are you trying to spy on me?" Arrom said as he thought about sitting up to confront whomever was there, but he just brought his left leg up and hung his right over it making a triangular pattern as he waited for whomever it was to show themselves. "We are sorry for eavesdropping on thee Lord Visage." A dark blue mist came out of the foliage of a tree to his rear and slight left. The mist then materialized as it reached closer to the ground and took the form of Princess Luna. "Again, Princess could you please drop the honorifics. Arrom is fine or Visage, right now I'm no Lord. I'm just a guest here till I find a way back home that is." Arrom told the Lunar Diarch. "That we cannot do as I have said before Lord Visage." Luna countered flatly. "Fine, whatever, so what is it Princess did you need something? Or are you just here to eavesdrop?" Arrom asked seemingly without a care in the world. The princess looked rather ashamed for a moment but recovered quickly. "No, I just happened upon thee but we weren't sure if we should interrupt your reprieve." Luna said to the laying and surprisingly unguarded Visage that was now bobbing his right leg up and down similar to a see-saw over his left one. Arrom just smiled as he looked at Luna then up into the night sky. "I assume that this is your handiwork...or hoof-work? I'm sorry, but your terminology is rather difficult to grasp." Arrom then realized that he just made a fool of himself with his comment. Luna stood motionless for a Dironn before she looked up at her night sky realizing what Visage was trying to say. "Oh, yes, we thank thee for thine compliment." Luna said with a small smile. "If it pleases thee Lord, wouldest thou allow us to sit and talk awhile with thee, most other ponies are sleeping and the night's have become, rather dull." Luna asked but laid down anyway without receiving an answer. Arrom didn't say anything as he just watched the Princess of the night lay down on the soft garden grass the moonlight though faint reflected off her dark blue hide making it shimmer in a peculiar yet dazzling way. Her mane waved a bit more in the night breeze and her eyes twinkled with curiosity and wonder. "It's a free planet is it not? You and your sister are quite magical." Arrom said to his new listener. "Well of course it's a free planet, or at least Equestria is. There are still some untamed wilds on Equestis even our influence doesn't reach much past our boarders." Luna was rather ashamed knowing that Visage was a part of a Galactic Empire and though a it seemed a bit daunting she herself was a tad jealous of the fact. Arrom gave a knowing smile. "My planet is the same a this one then. On Earth there are many different Countries and Many different ideas on how being's should be governed. Wars pop up all over the globe and my father goes out to try and put out the flames of war before they spread. That is why Earth, as it stands, will never be able to be apart of the Empire. Unless everyone comes to a consensus and there is only a single governing body then the Empire might let them in, but till then, not going to happen." Luna took this new information in. "So that is why thine planet isn't apart of the Empire, but then what about thee?" "It's because I'm a Silvarian, that is the only reason why I'm a part of the Empire and though I would love the Constitution of my father's country become law of the Earth I know that it will never happen. At least not till Elohim's son returns, but only he knows when that will be." Arrom said dryly. "Who is this Elohim that thou speakest of?" Luna asked eagerly. Arrom once again had put his foot in his mouth. "Ugh....I didn't mean to tell you, but oh well it's not like it's a secret." Arrom looked at Luna who was waiting for the answer a bit too eagerly in his opinion, but well on more thing to add wasn't too big of a deal he hoped. "Elohim is the name of the God of our Universe. He has a son who literally died to save not just mankind as they say in the scriptures on Earth but All Kind every being has been touched by his sacrifice in a powerful way and some beings simply ignore that fact." Arrom told his audience as he knew that several of the guards were now eavesdropping. Luna didn't know what to say. A God gave their life to save every pony no every being. Then she realized that their own God did the same. Giving up their own life to save all beings from Skath. "Arrom he is like our God then? Does he no longer exist?" Luna asked with a heavy heart thinking of her own God's great sacrifice. Tears starting to well up in her eyes. "Oh, no he's fine, he had a few scars left over. I don't know why, he could easily heal them but I guess he keeps them as a reminder to himself as well as those who believe in him. Personally I think he's a bigger idiot than my dad." Arrom said indignantly as he folded his arms over his chest. "Wait isn't thine father from Earth, why wouldest thou say something like that, we wouldest like to know." Luna now more demanding than before asked the now still Dark Lord. "Sorry Princess, there are things that even I can't divulge even what I've told you is kind of a secret, at least among the Earthlings, but most of them are too lazy to care or refuse to acknowledge the truth that's right in front of them. At least my family get's it." Arrom nodded knowingly at his own parent's choices. Luna didn't like the answer but she didn't want to press the issue. Deciding to change the subject she focused on his family. We don't think he would mind talking about that. Luna thought. "So what about your family then? You said you had nine wives? How did you meet them all?" Luna said again intrigued with and that twinkle was back in those eyes of hers. "Now that is a rather long story, firstly though, it was Emperor Marcissia that created the Endangered Species ACT but there are rules to it. The three of the biggest ones are. First: I must have saved a females life or the female has a family marital tradition that I have met. Second: The female must be a virgin, otherwise unmarried and not currently in a relationship. Third: The female must be from a sentient species that has a genetic compatibility of at least forty five percent. The rest are just filler and drivel that the Emperor and his counselors came up with. But I did find a few in my travels that fit the criteria. The only real exceptions were Riza and Vira who I guess were promised to marry me by Riza's dad, the Great King of the Mezerino Demons. Who I still think is a Fraking Moron!" Luna was now in shock there were rules laid out by the Emperor and from the sound of it rather good ones too. She still wasn't sure about the one involving genetics but the others seemed very reasonable. "We can tell your Emperor is wise if he put those laws into place. At least thou doesn't go around marrying every pony you meet. Even that Mezerino king. I think, I know why he married thou to several of his own. We think it's so that none of the ones that sided with Skath couldn't touch you, being that you are family to one of them. We think that was also a sensible decision." Luna nodding her head at her own logic. "I cannot disagree with you Princess Luna, still I feel that Riza loves drinking more than me. Then again, I never could guess what goes through that woman's mind most of the time." Arrom finished getting up he walked over to the tree that Luna was hiding in leaning into it as he then slid down the trunk and crossed his feet as he again looked up into the star filled sky. Luna got up and fallowed after the Dark Lord standing off to his left she sunk back down still intent on continuing their conversation. She found him and his home fascinating and fantastical. She was hoping to hear more and fortunately he didn't disappoint. "Luna, did you know that I trained several apprentices all the way to knight hood?" Arrom looked over at his listener who was still making herself comfortable once again she stretched her wings a bit before she answered. "No, we have not heard of this. Who are these apprentices, whom you speak of?" Luna asked as her ears twitched a bit. Arrom smiled wide as Luna took the bait. You have no idea what you are in for now princess. "You see I started off with a Dormirian child named Arorra but she was more attuned to the light side more so than the dark. She was taken to the Order's planet Firax for training. I then was given two apprentices they were Zabrack brothers named Kaz and Zak and let me tell you they were very difficult to train. They were both practical jokers pulling off random schemes and plots. One time we were assigned to the Imperial Capital Ship aptly named The Constitution while on board they put a rather interesting additive into the ships water supply facility that turned most of the crew blue." Arrom watched Luna with glee as a smile appeared on her face. "They turned the crew blue? That sounds like something Discord would do." Luna actually started laughing at the thought. "Even to this day the name stuck The Constitution and it's Blue crew. I must admit it was quite funny even the very serious Marcisian Admiral thought it rather humerus. I swear Kaz and Zak did all kinds of crazy things but the thing that was craziest was the time I took them to Earth with me." Arrom stopped to look at his audience he also noticed that the guards that had been listening in were creeping closer and had been joined by several others. "If thine planet is not a part of the Empire then they surly must have gotten into all kinds of mischief." Luna said waiting for the end of this tale about Lord Visage's two apprentices. "So this is were things get......interested you see on my planet there is an Entertainment series called Star Wars created by a man named George Lucas, surprisingly he actually got more than a few things accurate, at least on the beings in the films compared to our own Galaxy. We still don't know why....but the main thing is that he had just released his new movie. When we went to visit my home my sisters insisted that we go to the premier in Soul with them. The great thing was we didn't have to hide, everyone just assumed that were were character's from the show. Mom said something about cosplay I think....anyway we blended in just fine..... Things were going good, that is until they revealed the Villain who went by the name of Darth Maul and the terror twins just loved him, up until his death that is." Arrom again stopped as he noticed the jaw on Luna's face nearly hit the ground. "They didn't! Did they." Luna guessed as to what the two kids did next. "Oh, yes they did they actually got their skin permanently dyed and even shaved their heads except Kaz who kept his pony tail, but they became the spitting images of Darth Maul and henceforth called themselves the brother's Maul. They even went so far to try and dress like him and they even fashioned their blood sabers after his light saber. Their mother was not too pleased when she found out. And of course I got the blame." Arrom couldn't help but laugh at the brother's small as most of the Shadow Knights called them. They were something else, that's for sure. Luna had regained her composure still she would like to meet these two brother's that caused Visage all of these problems. They might even be a match for Pinkie Pie. Luna thought as she hoped that the three would never meet. If they did who knows what they might do. "Don't worry Luna, Zak is married and became a bounty hunter and Kaz left the Shadow Knights and joined the White Handers he's a Grand Master sitting on their Counsel. He's mostly mellowed but he still loves to drive the other Grand Master's crazy with his pranks on occasion." Arrom stopped and again his hand clutched his ring as he remembered his wife Arorra who was also sitting on the Grand Counsel. Out of all of his wives she and Fraya were the only ones who were by his side the most. Several tears had started to form as he hoped to be reunited with them soon. Luna noticed that Lord Visage had once again went quiet as he held his ring in his hand and was weeping quietly. She then started feeling sad as she watched the smile flee from his face. She slowly got up and walked over to the man who shared much with her. Bringing her head down she leaned in and softly touched his lips with hers. Realizing what she had just done she quickly backed away as two glowing gold and purple orbs went wide in surprise. "We are sorry.....please forgive us....we just felt that we might cheer you up." Luna rambled cursing herself for what she just did. "Sorry for what, was there something you wanted me to know? I'm sorry but if there was some secret you wanted to tell me, I was a bit startled and wasn't able to catch it." Arrom said wondering why Luna backed away before telling him whatever it was she wanted him to know. Now Luna was confused. "We don't understand what thou art talking about?" She said honestly. Arrom shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal. In the Empire there are a lot of very powerful Verse users and if you have a secret that you wouldn't like shared the best way to tell it is through physical contact with the recipient. What you would call a kiss. I'm sorry but I wasn't paying attention to whatever it was you were trying to relay to me." Luna gleaned some rather useful information. "So what thou art telling us is that thou shareest information and secrets by sharing a kiss?" Arrom nodded. "Yes, but I was distracted so I missed whatever it was you were trying to tell me." Luna realized that this was a big misunderstanding. Visage thought that she was trying to tell him something when actually that wasn't the case at all. She then decided that in order to smooth out this situation she would play along. "Well, yes we were going to tell thee something but we realized that we had caught you off guard. It was of little importance so please pay it no heed." Luna hoped to get out of this situation with some dignity intact. Arrom looked at Luna with a puzzled expression. "If it wasn't important then I guess that's fine." He then pulled his hood over his head and folded his arms. "If there is something more you need Princess just let me know." Luna blushed a deep shade of red just as she turned around, spreading her wings to take off. She turned her head slightly. "No Lord Visage we will not bother thee the rest of this night, perhaps another?" She saw Lord Visage nod his head and not wanting to let him know what she had done, and took off. I think that went well, I just hope that my sister or....Twilight don't find out that Lord Visage can send information through a kiss. Luna thought about the disastrous consequences if either of them did find out. "That was a rather abrupt ending but I guess even a Lunar Princess has things to attend to. So any more of you eavesdroppers out there want to come out of hiding so I would have someone else to talk to?" Arrom announced to the guards that had gathered. All of the guards took off as the man addressed them, quickly getting back to their assigned posts. Several of them both saw and heard the whole exchange and they were going to report back to Celestia in the morning with the newly discovered information. Arrom sat under the tree lost in thought for the remainder of the night. Looking up into the star filled sky that now was turning a brilliant orange on the fringe of the horizon as the sun was starting to rise. He sat still watching the slow glow spread as his thoughts went again to his wife Arorra and the tragic and joyous day they met. Firaxian Galaxy Planet Firax home world of The Order of The White Hand one Derron after Visage's disappearance The vines that were wrapped and twisted around the young girls ankles that hurt as they rubbed against her off white skin. Her glassy eyes darting every which way as creatures came to inspect this given morsel. She was crying, in pain and terror. Why did they do this to me? What did I do that was so wrong? She thought as tears ran down her dirt covered face. Dormir was an inhospitable planet but the beings who lived there for Onns eked out a home on the giant swamp planet. The hull of the downed Marcisain Explorer ship became the only safe haven on this eat or be eaten world. Arorra was a child like most Dormirians having both Terran and Marcisian heritage her skin was white with a tint of blue, her hair was a crystalline white and her eyes were just like the Marcisians pupil-less and glassy. At this time they were full of terror. Her parents gave her to the elders of their village for a sacrifice to the monsters of the swamp lands. Being deemed a witch for powers she had, but didn't know how to control. She could lift things without touching them, she could strike out with lightning, shocking those that it touched. Because of these powers she was tied up and rendered helpless. As large scaled backs started to breach the surface of the murky water close to the atoll she was on or more appropriately tied to. Arorra was so terrified she could no longer scream she just simply whimpered mouth quivering as the scaled backs of the smaller beasts disappeared just as quickly as they had come. Arorra thought she was safe as she resumed struggling to get the vines tied around her hands and feet off of her, but her struggling only made the taught vines dig into her soft skin making it rip and bleed, ignoring the pain she continued to struggle but she stopped as she heard a low growl. Large plated scales breached the surface bigger than any of the others that just fled the great behemoth that was rising. Two great red eyes came up out of the water mud and swampy grasses splashing as they fell off the creatures large alligator looking head several rows of yellow and green teeth making a vile grin as it saw the helpless tied up Dormirian child that was looking back up in tears and terror. Arorra wet herself, not that it mattered much, being already caked in the muck and wet of the swamp. Letting out an inaudible scream as one of the four great clawed hands with fingers that were long and webbed, the curved claws at the end of each finger stretched out and were about to close on his snack like a cage. The hand was suddenly yanked back as a cloaked figure launched a glowing stick at it. He then pulled out the stick returning it to his hand but leaving a burning hole where it had pierced the Drragg. Visage had a bit of a reprieve as the Drragg clenched it's wounded hand with one of it's other three. The monster made a half growl half roar in anger and pain that had just been afflicted to it. Not wasting any time he cut the child free of her imprisonment using his blood saber. After the child was freed he looked her over making sure she wasn't too damaged, not taking long he turned around focusing on the giant he was about to face. "I see you like to eat sentient beings, beast. Mere children at that. You now face an apprentice of the Zah. So, prepare yourself monster." Visage said as he adjusted the hilt of his blood saber in a reverse grip. The Drragg swiped at the small black thing that held the glowing stick but it jumped onto his hand that was still in motion and with the glowing stick stabbed it several times making more burning wounds open. still clinging to the hand he was on Visage saw the other hand coming down the Drragg was trying to swat him, crushing him like a fly. Visage didn't even wait for the impact he jumped from the hand he was on blood saber now gripped with both hands he slammed the blade hard against the creatures wrist, nearly severing it's hand. Several tendons and strings of flesh prevented the now crippled limb from falling free. The Drragg growled and howled in pain clutching the wrist of it's crippled hand with one of its still good ones. The Dragg still reared up from it's cry in agony was once more in pain but this time it was it's whole body that was racked. Visage not letting the monster any time to recuperate charged his hands with lightning and unleashed a storm of angry bolts of blue and purple at it. He could literally hear the popping and cracking of armored flesh as steam and smoke started to billow from the enraged and crippled creature. Visage then flew up on top of the monster's head charging his blood saber with lightning the sparking purple blade came down with force, so much so, that the whole blade was imbedded deep into the monster's skull then channeling more lightning he started to fry the creature from the inside. The Drragg knew that it was dying powerful energies were boiling it's brain as lightning surged throughout it's body, blood and bile were starting to boil and pop. Despite that it would kill it's killer. Using one of it's good hands it grabbed the dark figure on top of it's head ripping the accursed glowing stick and trailing lighting out and away. Visage was hurled up into the dense fog of the planet. He was spinning end over end as he suddenly stopped, then started to plummet, he could see a great maw open wide, waiting to receive him. While in free fall he pulled out his second blood saber and snapping it end to end with the one that was already lit he put his body into a vertical dive, blade leading into the dark wet esophagus of the monster. Spreading his legs he was now in a tight wet mess facing down into the depths of a beast that was trying to make a meal of him. He snapped off the the purple glowing blade, then holding the hilt that was now twice as long, he held it in a horizontal position and snapped both blades on, they vanished into the soft tissues of the creatures neck. Gripping the hilt with both hands Visage kick his legs putting him into a one eighty spin, flesh and soft tissue were burned away by the blades and slowly he saw the outside world. The foggy swamp greeted the dark warrior like an old friend. Jumping through the hole he made, he flew up landing on the dry patch that a now dumbfounded looking child was still sitting on. Both her and Visage watched as the Drragg's severed head fell off from the giant body and into the swamp below it took a few Dironn's for the head and body to disappear into the slimy muck leaving a small bubbling geyser where it had sunk. Visage turned his masked face to the small girl and asked."So, kid what else do you do around here for fun?" Arorra awoke in a cold sweat she hadn't had that dream in a long time. She looked around the room with her glassy white eye's there were tears still running from them, so she wiped them away. She then looked for her husband but remembered that she was on Firax the planet that housed the Order of the White Hand. Putting both hands on her face to clear the bad memories she breathed deeply into them before putting one to her neck grabbing the small chain that was hanging from it. The silver chain had a silver ring attached to it. Looking at it she clutched it in her hand. Slowly releasing her fingers from her precious ring that her husband made her for their wedding. She grasped the purple blood gem that was it's center piece it was dark and cold and it wasn't glowing with the normal lively purple that it always did. Once again reflecting on her dream she knew that something bad had happened to Visage. She got dressed quickly not even messing with her hair, using the force she grabbed her blood saber attaching it to the side of her belt as she opened the door and ran to see the other Grand Masters, she knew something was wrong and she wanted answers. "Arorra I'm surprised to see you up so early." Grand Master Athren greeted her with a smile. "I've had a vision about the past when Visage saved me from the Drragg. I awoke to find that the blood gem he gave me is no longer glowing and I can't feel him through the Force anymore!" Arorra exclaimed to her colleague. Athren rubbed the back of his head getting his fingers tangled up in his black hair, he looked at the Dormirain woman pained as to what he should do. He finally decided to tell her, he didn't want her going around and reading every White Hander's mind. "We were contacted by the Imperial Capitol this morning...Now Arorra I don't want you to panic but Visage's ship ran into some.....problems. He is now missing." Athren stated as cool as he could. Arorra's reaction was pure panic her eye's went wide then tears started to form. She lost her balance so Athren reached out to grab the falling woman. Her hand going back to the chain. She was clutching her ring for comfort. "Do they know what happened to him?" She spoke through sobs. "The Empire found the crew of the Last Chance and were debriefed about a Minronn ago. Apparently they tried to jump through Entaru's Nightmare and they probably would have made it if it weren't for that Super Nova they ran into." Athren told his distraught friend in the calmest tone he could muster. Arorra would have turned white if she wasn't already. "They tried to jump that death trap? But what about my husband? How is he missing if the crew has been found?" Arorra was more pleading than asking. Athren just shook his head. Just then they were interrupted by Grand Master's Mirth and Kaz. they walk in on a distressed looking Athren trying to comfort and even more distressed looking Arorra. Kaz one of Visage's former students and a Maul brother felt the tension in the air. "So you told her about Master's disappearance." He said not trying to hide his own worry. Mirth gave all in the room a stern look. "Arorra you are hereby suspended from your duties." Mirth a blue skinned Twillan stated with authority. Everyone looked at him Arorra was frowning, Kaz looked sympathetic for someone who looked like a Darth Maul clone, if it wasn't for the ponytail of black hair dangling from the back of his horned covered head. Mirth coughed and finished what he started. "Arorra you are to head to the Imperial Capitol immediately and take part in the search for our missing Dark Lord. Oh, and I suggest you hurry up and get ready Azalla will be here in less than a Minronn." Kaz the black and Red Zabrak that took Lucas's Star War from Visage's home planet a bit to seriously, chimed in. "And I'll be joining you!" He announced to all present while putting a fist on his chest. Arorra wiped her tears away got up with a little help from Athren and quite literally bolted out the door down the hallway, back to her room to get the rest of her things. "Arorra were meeting at platform twenty eight! Be there or Azalla and I will leave without you!" Kaz yelled out after the running Dormirian. "Do you think she heard me?" He asked the rest of the beings in the room. both Grandmasters just put their hands on their faces and groaned.
Prologue: Undercover MissionEveryone knows about the Galexy far far away but what about our own? This is about the Marcisian Empire, that rules our Galaxy and the beings that belong to it. Most characters and story are my own. Some Star Wars Refrences owned by Disney MLP owned by Lauren Faust/Hasbro It was dark, but not silent . The sounds of the engines could be heard throughout most of the ship but more so in the aft. Making meditation difficult, but not impossible. The Dark Lord was disguised most of the time during this undercover operation, but still how he ended up here was puzzling. Levitating above the floor with legs crossed he floated with one of his trusted blood sabers in pieces floating in front of him, all held firmly into place by either his own power or the force (seeing as that was the name all of the practitioners started calling it.) "I remember a time when it (The Force) had many names both the Jashari and the Zaharaj called it. Until, the Marcisian Empire took both organizations under it's wing. The Marcisian Empire of the Firaxian Galaxy, or the Milky Way Galaxy, different names, same Galaxy." Lord Visage said aloud. During meditation he did that a lot, to him it was a way of connecting to the past, through that connection it made it easier to see the future, which at this time was very clouded. Visage sighed, and started rehearsing the code of the Imperial Shadow Knights as they were named by the Emperor. "Peace is Fleeting so I thirst for knowledge, Through knowledge I gain Power, Through Power, I gain Wisdom, Through Wisdom I become Enlightened with Enlightenment I will become one with the Verse." (Universe shortened) Opening his eyes Visage smiled "I still like the old way better. Sorry, Lord Nos." There was a mirror facing him in his small compartment. For it was much too small to be a cabin the only things in it was a bed a dresser that was fixed to the bulkhead and a mirror that was mounted over the dresser. Visage was staring at his own reflection in the mirror. Those eyes really are creepy, he thought to himself even thought they were his own. The white Sclera that had purple bloody veins leading to darker purple blood shot looking irises that were abruptly overtaken by a gold inner iris that surrounded a deep, dark, pupil. The Abyss black hair didn't help matter's either. At least his face has a softness to it, despite his affinity for the dark side. If the others on the ship had any idea that they had one of the thirteen members of the Shadow Council was on board there would be an uproar, so the contacts had to stay in, while out performing his duties. Lead mechanic wasn't the worst job on an Terminian Freighter but still the accommodations left much to be desired. This tub is nothing like the Vengeance. Thinking about his own vessel. He actually missed his home, for that ship was indeed his second home besides the one back on Earth which at this time was a long ways away. At least this trip was going to be an easy one, simple supply run for the Terminian Conglomerate. The biggest privately owned business in the Galaxy. Visage went back to meditation at least he had the peace part, but the drumming of the engines propelling them through hyperspace was rather annoying. Despite that one minor irritation he was meticulously piecing his blood saber back together again. This ritual was like breathing at this point, he has done it so many times over the Onns but it still helped him clear his mind. Thinking back on how he got this ridiculous assignment. Maricisia Imperial capitol several cycles ago The palace was white marble with a light blue carpet leading up to the throne. The white pillars and transpersteel windows that lined the white walls between each pair of pillars had different tints of blue leaving brilliant designs on the floors between each set of columns the designs became less blue and more white and more intricate as they lead up to the throne. Visage was always overtaken by the pure beauty and size of it, no matter how many times he has visited the Marcisian Palace. His walk was not a pleasant one though, he could feel the anticipation and concern coming off of Emperor Barran distracting Visage from the grandeur of the palace this visit. Stopping near the small flight of steps that lead up to the throne that had a pacing Emperor in front of it. Visage stood still and cold. The waves of fear, dread, concern and other mixed emotions emanating from his eminence were immense. Barran like all Marcisians had pure white skin they were humanoid but they had glassy white eyes, tendrils for hair, and smaller tendrils under their chins used for eating, which could be retracted, unless they were very emotional, then they seem to come out on reflex and flail about. The other unusual feature is that they have no mouths but they do have something resembling lips so they might have had mouths in the distant past. Their noses aren't as pronounced as humans but they do have two nostrils. Barran wasn't looking forward to this meeting at all. He hated being the bearer of bad news but there was a way to make Visage disappear at least until a solution to his current problem could be found. It took a while for Barran to see a very still and patiently waiting Dark Lord of his Shadow Knights, who was at this time waiting for his Emperor to collect his thoughts, and say whatever was on his mind. Rather then being prodded Barran simply went with the truth. "Lord Visage I have been talking with the Shadow Council and we have decided to put you on an undercover mission for your wife and the Tarminain Conglomerate." Barran's tendrils squirmed a bit. But his glassy white eyes couldn't be read by the waiting dark lord. He needed to tell his astute young friend before he tried to read his mind, which powerful force users seem to do, but Visage wouldn't do that to his Emperor. He merely waited for him to speak. With a sigh Emperor Barran slumped down onto his throne. His mouth tendril's stopped flopping about and retracted. He then put his elbows down onto the armrest's of the throne, crossed his fingers, and rested his chin into the finger cradle. Looking at his Shadow Knight. Telling him what was happening was going to be hard, but it would be better for him to know the truth than keep him guessing. Barran hoping his thoughts wouldn't betray him first. "Visage...no Arrom what I am about to tell you is secret." Barran waited for a reply. Visage nodded in agreement knowing that what was going to be said must be big. "Our neighbors in the Andramida Galaxy have laid claim to you. Myself, The Imperial Shadow Knights, and The Order of the White Hand have decided that we will not relinquish you." Barran let this info sink in before continuing. Visage's eyes went wide. He had many questions. But his Emperor might have the answers so he just nodded, waiting patiently. Barran continued. "Due to this claim and your endangered species status we decided that you should, disappear...for the time being. Therefore I....no...we, have decided to send you on an undercover mission. You will be given a new identity and if the Aclorian Empire asks where you have gone we will be able to honestly say, we don't know." Barran looked at Arrom not just as his Knight but also his subject and charge. There wasn't really any better plan, the Aclorain Empire was nearly three times the size of their own. If they really wanted to they could track down Arrom, and force him to their Galaxy, to what en? Barran didn't want to know but he couldn't let them take the savior of his wife and child. "Arrom I have talked with your family, and wives about this and we have all decided it was the best, and only course of action, until we convince the Aclorians that they have no claim. You need to vanish so they can't find you." Barron's heart sank and was about in tears after finishing. Visage knew how hard it was for his Emperor to tell him. He could feel his Emperor's sadness. "Emperor Barron, do you know why they make, or have a claim on me?" Arrom asked his down looking Emperor. Barron being brought back from his thoughts shook his head both to clear it and to respond. "I am sorry but I do not, I could find out though..and then I might be able to.." "Keep me here." Visage finished for him. "I will do this undercover mission, you contact Emperor Acloria. See why they want me so badly. If they found out what I truly am then we might have a problem, but also a solution. You also tell them that I will not leave MY Galaxy unless they are attacked by those scum sucking Skath. Then maybe, and I mean, maybe I'll go help." Barron looked at Arrom with pride his nearly non existent lips turned up into a smile. "Your master will be happy to hear this." Visage just shrugged "Azalla's not my master anymore she's my wife, and she hasn't been my master in several Onns." "Well she'll still be pleased you'll be working for her and her Conglomerate." Barron said flatly. Arrom smirked. "Your the reason I married her and those others. MY Emperor!" "All joking aside." Barron simply shrugged. "I did what I felt I had to do. I said this before but I'll say it again. I will not allow an endangered species to go extinct while Marcisia stands. That decree that you were so angry about all those Onns ago. I need to know, how do you feel about it now?" Barron, curiously asked. Visage wondered for a bit. "Well having nine wives would be tough on some but with all of us doing different things and being scattered across the Galaxy I really don't see many of them often. And...." Barron really wanting to know, his anticipation building. "Annnnd what? might I ask?" Barron didn't realize he was on the edge of his seat. Rubbing his gloved hand through his black hair Visage gave a sigh "And I kinda miss them in my life....Yes, I know that your endangered species Act was necessary, and yes, I was furious at the time, but being around all of them for so long, they grew on me. I probably wouldn't be a Lord sitting on the Shadow Council if it weren't for Azalla or Arora and even Riza with her antics. Well, never mind." Visage trailed off. Realizing something. Barron watched as Arrom's arm dropped and his eye's went wide. Barron thought he could see the gears in Arrom's head turning. "Emperor Barron what if the Aclorians found out what I am, and also found out about the endangered species Act. What if that is the claim!" Visage said emphatically. Barron felt as though he were hit in the face by a Gorf. If that were true then there is a solution. In the Act it states that no being form outside the Empire could make a marriage claim. Even if Arrom saved Aclorian lives they wouldn't be covered by the law. "I bid you farewell my young friend..and may the Force be with you." With that Barron dismissed Arrom with a wave, then hurriedly dismissed himself. "May the Force guide us to our destiny." Visage said to his Emperor as he made a hasty exit smiling as he turned and set out for the Vengeance. Walking past the white pillars the small blue gemstone set into the top of his glove started blinking. A miniature hologram of Lord Nos appeared. "So did you meet the Emperor Lord Visage?" Still on his way out to the landing platforms Visage smiled and answered. "Yes, Lord Nos, I did and it seems I need to make myself scarce for a while." The miniature Lord Nos also smiled. "Indeed my friend. Just stay out of trouble this time. I don't want a sequel of the Mendinus four incident." Visage just rolled his eye's. "I didn't start that....incident." Nos, smirked evilly. "No...but you did finish it, and Lord Visage you need to meet your Captain and crew on Tarthos for your new assignment. Don't bring the Vengeance with you take a marked transport. There is a hub station in the Clanos sector, your contact there will fill you in on the rest. Oh...and...May the Force be with you Lord Visage." "May the Force guide us to our destinies Lord Nos." Visage replied, as the mini Lord Nos vanished back into the dimming blue gemstone. Getting back to the Vengeance walking up the ramp leading into his ship Visage realized something, he hated politics. Visage came out of his meditation. Putting his blood saber back together, levitating it close to his hand, slowly warping his fingers around the black and silver cylinder, tightly gripping the hilt, feeling it's pulse as the Dark Purple blood gem inside gave it's power to the circuitry inside creating a dark purple blade of energy. Visage quickly put the saber away storing it in the gem of his glove where he keeps many things hidden from prying eyes. Sub dimensional storage facilities for the win, he thought to himself as he put the uncomfortable contact's in his eyes. Just as there was a knock at the door. Opening the door with the press of a button there stood the chief engineer. "I thought I would need to get a plasma cutter to get you out of there Sparky." Tilara said sarcastically. Visage just kept calm ignoring her sarcasm he might be new to this crew but her Twillan (Look up Twilek if you want to know what a Twillan looks like) nature was something he was used to if only she knew he was married to one of the bosses. "I need you to come with me. The Captain is having us jump to new coordinates. Said he could cut our time by three to four cycles." Visage was kind of surprised by this. Cocking an eyebrow. "Oh...how so?" "Cap, didn't say and that has us concerned." Tilara said, not even trying to hide her worry. Visage thought back to his own hyperspace travels. "I don't remember any shortcuts like that in this sector." Realizing he had said that aloud, cursing himself for the mistake. Tilara looked at Sparky quizzically. Her two Twills as they were called started stretching out towards his head. He was used to Azalla doing that but not this woman. Tialra's Twills started to wrap around the back of Visage's head her Emerald eye's were narrowed as she started to pull him in. "I thought this was your first time out? Didn't you just graduate from the Imperial Space Center?" Her tone was rather threatening and had some venom to it. Visage trying to get out of this mess without blowing his cover, kept calm trying hard not to use the force or any other powers at his disposal to dissuade Tilara in her choice of inquiry. "I read star-charts and maps, we have to know more than just how to keep a ship, well... ship shape." Visage meagerly replied trying to curb Tilara's inquisition. He had apparently satisfied her because she halted her advance and withdrew her Twills, curling one around the back of her neck so that the two dropped to the left side of her head. Still, that was too close he thought. I'll need to watch what I say or his Imperial Majesty and the Counsel will lecture me on what undercover means. Tilara started walking towards the bow of the ship beckoning her young charge to fallow. The corridors and hallways were all well lit. Visage, or Sparky as he was currently known as, seriously couldn't the Counsel given him a better undercover name thinking to himself. Visage rolled his eyes as he just noticed his Chief had tightened her hands into fists her dark blue skin had beads of sweat forming on it, and he could feel her anxiety, in fact he felt most of the crew was anxious, and some were not very happy. What is going on, he wondered what is this secret route the captain knows about that he didn't, and why is the crew like this? Fallowing Tialra he knew they were headed to the galley where they were meeting up apparently with the rest of the crew. "THIS IS FOLLY!" he heard the old Gornok from several hallways down. As they reached the door way he saw the owner of the voice. Imperial Major Carthen a Terran that was made up of all muscle that was an even match for his clout. Carthen was a veteran who helped in the D'rath Pirate/Slaver cleanup which Visage and his former master, now wife, helped lead. "Calm down Major, I have talked with the captain and he said it isn't as dangerous as the Empire claims." The X.O B'tran a Marcisian with pure white skin, glassy white eye's and lengthy head tendrils said trying to calm down both Carthen and the other fifteen crew members. Although Visage could feel that even he was on edge. B'tran was forcing the tendrils' on his chin to remain retracted, the crew couldn't know, that even he, was distraught. "So, our chief and Sparky finally show up. Have you heard what our beloved captain is planning?" Carthen spoke putting emphasis as well as criticism in his words. Visage getting stares from the crew and especially from the X.O just simply shrugged. Tilara gave a half smile. "No we just got here why is everyone so uptight today?" Tilara asked. Visage knew she like most of the crew was a nervous wreak. "Captain Halbert has made the decision to....gamble on a new route, we are going to make a jump skirting the Entaru Nebula." B'tran was cut off before he could finish. "Is HE crazy!" One of the crew members shouted. "By the Gods!" Another said. "HE isn't serious! Is HE!?" Several said at once. "It's SUICIDE!"Several more shouted. The entire crew was thrown into a tailspin of anger and fear. Visage knew that the crew was right, not even the most powerful force users used that corridor. It was literately littered with micro black holes, dead planets, temporal rifts, and planets on the verge of dying. Super Novas were so common that the star-maps were useless, and the Empire gave a strict rule that star-ships were not to venture anywhere near it. Visage now knew why he had trouble seeing the future. If captain Halbert goes through with this space jump they might not live to have one. Just as things were about to get truly out of hand the Captain steps through the Galley door. "Imperials, I have an announcement." The room immediately quieted as Halbert spoke. With eye's burning with excitement and a smile on his bearded face the Terran male looked at his angry and concerned crew. "We are going to do the impossible." He paused looking again around the galley his crew now nervously waited, the tension was so high you could almost see the electricity in the air. "We are going to make a hyperspace jump on the fringe of the Entaru Nebula." He heard gaps, angry and nervous whispering as he made the declaration. Visage said what everyone thought. "Captain with all due respect, this is insane." Visage spoke flatly. Tilara glanced at him with a smile and a nod. The rest of the crew made similar gestures. The captain was undeterred. Stroking his beard "I know your all worried and even scared, but we can do this....no, we will do this we are going to make galactic history!" "Or die because of your folly, Captain." Visage sneered. Halbert glared at Sparky. "Because this is your first time out, Sparky." Halbert said threateningly. "I will ignore your outburst, besides what does a mere mechanic know about hyperspace travel anyway..hmmm?" Visage glared at his captain trying hard not to say what he had in his mind. More than you will ever know you crazy fool. unfortunately all he could do was grit his teeth, fold his arms, and lean against the galley wall. After putting his insubordinate mechanic down, Halbert looked around at his audience. "Anyone else?" He paused a moment "Good, because as Sparky said, and I normally would agree with him, this would, be folly, however I have a secret weapon." Leaning out the doorway he motioned for someone to enter. It wasn't long before a very nervous looking Zebrak walked in. "This is our new helmsman we picked up on Tarthos but before this job he was in the Order of the White Hand." There were gasps and more whispers coming from the crew. Visage looked at the Zabrak incredulously. The rest of the crew seemed to be in awe. "Well please introduce yourself." Halbert urged. "Hello,the name is Decren I'm the new helmsman as you can see I'm a Zabrak, formerly of the Order." Decren spoke softly trying to ignore the stares of the crew. His brown eyes looking at the floor, head slightly bowed showing off his several horns, the back ones were mostly covered by messy black hair. He was fidgeting so much the crew thought it was because he was nervous, Visage knew better. "Decren why don't you tell the crew what you told me last night." Captain Halbert was urging his pilot on. "In the Order I was in charge of star-charts and maps I have studied them and I found a safe way through Entaru's nightmare." Decren said softly trying hard not to sound nervous, but kept his eye's fixed on the floor or his feet. "Really you were in the Order? Lets see some Force tricks then?" Visage said with an ice cold tone, he wasn't at all pleased. Lets see you get out of this liar. He thought. "Ya, I've met a bunch of Force users durin the Pirate cleanup several Onns ago. You look like you might be a knight? or are you a Master." Major Carthen lit up wanting to see something levitate. "Oh! Can you do that...that." Carthen started snapping his fingers. "Trance?" Carthen said even more energetically. Visage smiled he couldn't believe Carthen remembered that. "It's not a trance it's called Battle Meditation you big Glort!" Visage, smiled at Carthen distracted by his old friends comment. He now had everyone's attention again. "That's it!" Carthen bellowed "But how do you know about Battle Meditation Sparky?" All eyes were on the young mechanic including Decren who finally stopped looking at his feet. Visage still leaning against the wall with arms folded merely shrugged. "I have a lot of friends in the Imperial Shadow Knights and several more in the Order." He wasn't lying he did know a lot of beings in both groups. there were several Ooohs from the crew but Tilara thankfully turned the attention back to the shocked Zebrak. "Oh! I heard that the Order uses Blood Sabers just like the Shadow Knights. Is that true Decren? Would you mind if I borrowed yours for awhile I'd love to take one apart." Tilara added with even more excitement. Decren went wide eyed, hating the crew for again focusing on him, he meekly replied. "I....can't use the Force, anymore and The Order took everything, when they threw me out."The entire crew even the Captain paled at this. Decren just hoped everyone would stop pestering him so he could get back to the bridge. "Threw you out, for what?" It was the Galley's Chef Rimalt who spoke up this time. The Terran man way back behind the food counter, wiping his hands on an already a dirty apron continued unabated. "I've been inside a lot of star-ships and I've never heard of the Order kicking anyone out. I know that Shadow Knights have been know to leave and go join the Order but they don't kick beings out do they Sparky?" The cook directing his question at the smaller Terran who was still leaning against the wall. "You'd have to do something really serious, or seriously fraked, in order to get let go from either organization. From what my friends have told me, the Shadow Knights would execute you, and the White hand would set you before the Grand Counsel before you'd get frackin expelled." Visage shrugged. "So, Decren how did you loose your Force powers? Did the Shadow Counsel end up sealing them on the Order's behalf?" Dacren once again lowered his eye's fidgeting even worse than before Captain Halbert put a hand on his shoulder. "He probably doesn't want to talk about it, nor does he have to just so long as he can get us to were we're going it doesn't matter." Dacren looked up at his captain. "Thank you, and I don't." Dacren told his Captain and then crew. Halbert smiled as he looked out over his fifteen crew members. "Are you all ready to make HISTORY YOU IMPS!" The chorus of voices was an overwhelming "FRAK YA!" only one voice in the crowd was silent. This does not bode well. Visage thought to himself. The crew started returning to their duties. Visage said goodbyes to several crew mates including a giant of a Major who picked him up and hugged him before letting him get back to the engine room with Tilara. Walking down the wide well lit corridors on his way back to his cell Visage passed a nervous looking Zabark. Visage's eyes narrowed as he caught up to Decren. "Your going to get us all killed." speaking low and cold Dacren jumped from hearing the voice next to him. "Sparky what are you talking about?" Dacren replied still trying to pretend innocents. "We both know you were never in the Order, and I don't know how you got those old smuggler routes but when we get into trouble, I'll have to be the one to get us out." Visage was threatening and to emphasis his displeasure he started force chocking the Zabrack. Decren could feel invisible hands crushing his larynx and his lungs felt like a Devroian Beetle was stepping on them gasping for air his eyes went so wide that they looked like saucers. "Now if you'll excuse me....this conversation never happened is that clear?" Decren could only nod in agreement. "Good, I'm glad we have an understanding." Visage released Dacren from his grip as he fell in a heap on the floor having a coughing fit. Dacren's lungs still burned as Sparky disappeared behind one of the connecting corridors. When he could finally speak. "I'm going to prove you all wrong you'll see the captain and me, we'll be famous! Mark my words Sparky. Mark, my words." Dacren whispered the last sentence. Getting up from off the floor while rubbing his neck with his left hand, his right went into his pocket where he pulled out an old holo map with a route marked out with the coordinates that will make him famous. He smiled as he walked to the bridge, not even caring about the exchange with an undercover Shadow Knight. All it did was make him even more giddy. They send a Shadow Knight to threaten me because they know that I have the maps and they want them, well wait till we show up on Marcisia in less than a Mcronn. That'll show them. Decren smiled as he took his map to the bridge to plot the course. It's been several Denonns since the the Ship entered the Entaru Nightmare. Visage disguised as Sparky was in the Engine Room staying occupied monitoring the consol in front of him he was flanked on either side by two droids. He ignored them and they ignored him it was just more of the usual. "Sir? there seems to be an anomaly in engine three." The droid on his left said in a mechanical voice. Sparky leaned over to see what was up. The monitor that the droid was watching had some strange readings. The core of engine three seemed to be fluctuating. "AED-Two is there any power fluctuations in the other two Engines?" Sparky asked the other Droid in the trio. The droid punched several glowing buttons with his lengthy mechanical fingers. AED-Two also extended several wires plugging them into slots next to the monitors. "Negative Sir all readings on the other two engines seem normal." AED-Two stated in that same mechanical monotone voice. Puzzled Sparky again looked over at AED-One's Screen. "Why only engine three?" Sparky didn't expect a response from the droids but AED-1 spoke up "Perhaps, it's because engine three is a new model." Sparky looked at his coworker quizzically. AED-One explained. "Engine three had to be replaced do to a failure. that was three Rionns ago." Sparky asked the droid "What caused the failure?" The droid just responded "Unknown." "Great so they replace a failed engine with a new one, hoping that it plays nice with the ship and the other two, but didn't find out what caused the failure in the first place." Sparky stated. "That is affirmative." Was the reply from both droids. Sparky raised his hands in mock surrender. "What is with that? does the entire contracted fleet cut corners? Or only the Captain of this ship?" "I'm sorry sir but I can't say I don't have enough data to give a definitive answer." AED-One stated. Sparky rolled his eyes ignoring the droids remark looking at the console again. Why only one?At this point it was anyone's guess. AED-Two looked at the mechanic. "Sir when the engine became inoperable, we had collided with an energy field. The engine had to be taken off line. The captain brought us into sub space in order to shut it down." Sparky wasn't expecting an explanation but grateful to the droid nonetheless. "Thanks, EAD-Two that helps." Visage then realized what the fluctuation meant. "Frak, Frak, Frak, EAD-One get the captain on the horn now." "Done Sir." EAD-Two said pressing the comm button on the panel in front of him. "This had better be important, Why are you calling?" Captain Halbert sounded annoyed. "Do a wide scanner sweep maximum band!" Sparky, yelled at his captain. "Why? What's going on down there?" Halbert was cut off by a shouting mechanic. "JUST DO IT!!" Visage was livid. Looking at the energy flux spiking even more so than last time. "This does not bode well." He had said that to himself several cycles ago and now his worst fears were being realized. On the bridge everyone heard a very disturbed mechanic yell at their captain. B'Tran the Marcisian X.O was already doing the sweep. His glassy eyes getting big. "Sparky was right, were all dead." Was all he could say before the ship was hit by a massive wave of pure energy. A dying star had finally gone supernova the energy waves flowing into the space around it like a rock hitting water, but these waves were killers, and the small ship was now caught in the middle of them. The ship was ripped out of hyperspace all of the crew inside were tossed around violently. Halbert yelled at B'Tran while trying to get back into his chair. "Cut all power to the engines get those shields up before we're hit again these waves usually come in threes!" B'Tran's fingers were already flying doing just that, getting the shields up just in time for the ship to get hit by a second blast. Decren was trying hard to keep the ship upright, angling the bow into the violent energy waves gritting his teeth, trying hard to concentrate on what he was doing, but in the back of his mind he was fearing what a certain enraged Shadow Knight was going to do to him if they survived the last waves. "Survive this first, wory about the Shadow Knight second." He said aloud, leaving both Halbert and B'Tran wondering what Decren was talking about what does a Shadow Knight have to do with this? But they would have to wait for an answer. Back in the Engine room Visage was rubbing his head from where it had hit against the reinforced hull. "AED's damage report are the engines stable?" "Engine two fractured but contained." AED-One said. "Engine one is stable and operable." AED-Two replied after getting back to the console. He had been hardest hit but they were made to take a beating, made out of a mix of Mithril and Marcisian Steel. Tilara came running through the door just as the second wave hit all in the room bracing they were rocked but not nearly as badly as the first time. "You boy's OK back here?" Tilara shouted over the groan of the ship while she leaned against the archway of the door to steady herself. Managing to get over to the two droids she looked at the damage the shockwaves had done. Leaning against EAD-Two's chair she turned to her Mechanic "Are you alright?" Tilara asked concerned "I'll live." was all the reply she received. Sparky was still rubbing his head his back turned to her. "So what's the dam...." Tilara trailed off. Sparky finished her thought and replied. "You mean damage. One engine of three is just fine we might be able to limp back if we survive, Captain's folly." Visage didn't even notice that one of his contacts fell out during his short flight and abrupt stop. Tilara still steadying herself one AED-2Two's seat both of her hands started turning from the usual blue to white her grip becoming so vice like her fingers were starting to make dents in it. She was staring at Sparky or more appropriately that now revealed eye. "My Lord? why are you here?" Visage not really registering the question at first looked at Tilara then at his face reflecting off AED-One's body. "Frak! Well so much for that." he said pulling out the other irritating disk that still covered his left eye. Visage blinked once just as the third wave hit the ship not caring about the whole undercover thing anymore "Sorry your Majesty I'm compromised...Nos isn't going to be pleased and how am I going to face those girls? Azalla might actually kill me this time." He used his own power to levitate so that the impact didn't affect him at all. Tilara ignoring all else going on just stared at Sparky who had somehow changed into one of the most respected and feared beings in the Galaxy. "Sir's we have a problem." Both sets of non droid eyes focused on AED-One "What now!?" Tilara and Visage said in unison. "The containment field in engine three is failing and engine two's has ruptured." Was all the Droid replied ignoring the drama surrounding him. "Jettison the two engines, use the override and get us away from them, as far, and as fast, as possible." Tilara concentrating on the job at hand answers would have to come latter. "That's the problem, protocols cannot be implemented because the first blast warped the housing. The engines can't be jettisoned." AED-One said factually. "Time?" Visage said. "Sorry, Sir?" AED-One replied. "How much time do we have before a catastrophic failure?" Visage said annoyed. "I don't know with all information I'd say about a Reonn maybe less." AED-One again replied flatly. "Tilara get to the bridge, tell the captain to give the evacuation order. I'll see what else I can do here." Visage looked at his Superior with a frown on his face. "But." Tilara started. "No buts. I'll be fine you now know who I am so, go!" Visage watched Tilara start to leave and then abruptly turn around "You promise me you won't do anything reckless." Panic in her eyes. "Sorry, I wouldn't be who I am if I wasn't reckless." Visige smiled at the leaving woman. "But you tell Decren and Helburt that I'll be looking for them latter." Visage said wickedly. Tilara couldn't help but chuckle as she sprinted out the door. Visage watched her leave Twills flowing behind her the door resealing itself at her departure. Tilara was on her way to have words with the captain. Now that he was alone he turned to the two droids "O.k boys time to see if we can by our crew more time." Visage not expecting any more waves placed his feet back on the deck. Channeling lightning from his fingers. "I'll give the shields a jolt you tell me when to back off I don't what to overload the system making this situation even worse." Both droids replied with a "Yes, sir." With that Visage opened a latch walking into where the engines were having trouble. Three Large pillars of bright green energy hid behind several layers of shields in front of him one engine was good so the two offending ones were his priority. One of the reinforced transpersteel cylinders had a crack starting to form, but the shields were holding for now. Engine three was the problem child. it was leaking green mist from several ruptures in the cylinder and the shields were the only thing holding the burning cloud of gas in check. "You first number three. Guys tell me when to stop." Visage let a loose a big blue and white lightning storm from his fingers at the failing containment field. "Time to feed the beast." The crew were all in escape pods and they were being jettisoned as fast and a safe as possible, the only ones left on the doomed vessel was Decren, Captain Halbert and a Dark Lord. Tilara and Carthen were in the escape pod waiting impatiently for the final three beings on board to arrive. They were watching the escape pod with the X.O and several other crew mates departed out into the vastness of space just as the pod engaged it's sublight drives the captain and Decren came through the hatch. "I've sent out the distress signal and because we were thrown out of hyperspace and pushed by those energy waves we are at least close to normal space outside Entaru's Nightmare." Halbert exclaimed. "By the Gods get us out of here!" Decren whined as he strapped himself in. "We aren't leaving without Sparky!" Carthen spat back. "He can use the escape pod near the engine room. Now, for Frak sake get us out of here before the engines rupture, and we're caught in the blast!" Halbert was both frightened and frantic. "Admit it Cap your just ofraid of bein in the same pod as a Dark Lord, who told you that this trip o' yours was folly!" Carthen was livid and wanted to throttle both his Captain and the Drathian Slug of a Zebrack, next to him. Tilara knowing that this conversation was going nowhere fast took matters into her own hands. Pressing the gem on her glove she brought her wrist near her mouth. "Lord? Are you there? Can you come in, please?" Silence was the only reply, then finally after several moments. "I hear you Telara and why are you still here? We've stopped the plasma leak for now but even the droids aren't sure how long the shields will hold. I'm going to go save the cargo, then use the escape pod back here." Sparky said as droid voices were heard in the back ground muttering something. "Leave the cargo! your life is at stake! You have a duty to your Empire!" Tilara retorted into here commlink. "I'm immortal." Tilara could almost see Sparky shrug as he said it. "Besides, the supplies are important and can save Imperial lives. So it's worth the risk. Now, please leave, I'll be fine." Visage was sounding annoyed. "Good luck, and may the Gods watch over you." Tilara said shutting off the comm and taking a seat next to Carthen. "Always did like them Shadow Knights." Carthen said punching several buttons and then pulling the lever to release them from the ship. Tilara nodded in agreement as they were rocketed away from the dying vessel that still had a single soul aboard. Visage was literally flying down the corridors he had done what he could to stabilize the engines but the siren alarm was putting him on edge. This is cutting it close. He thought. "AED-One I'm sorry but I couldn't take you with me." He spoke into his glowing comm that also served other purposes. "It's alright sir, I am programed to be self sacrificing." AED-One replied. "You have twenty one Dironns sir before containment failure." The glowing comm was also projecting a holographic keyboard and a micro version of the ship. He was talking to his droid, while unlocking several bulkheads, at the same time. Arriving at the cargo hold he punched several sequences into the keyboard, then put his left index finger onto the underside of the holo-ship. A panel on the wall next to the cargo hold's main door slid open revealing a large lever that he immediately pulled. "That's it AED-One the gravity is turned off and the cargo doors are opening." Visage informed his mechanical friend, as he watched the big containers float around inside the hold through the transpersteel windows. The floor inside the cargo hold was slowly disappearing and the vastness of space was eager to receive the big containers. With the help of the force all of the life saving supplies were now floating peacefully in the black curtain of space. Visage headed back towards the engine room to the escape pod that would take him to safety. Again Visage pressed his comm. "AED-One meet me at the escape pod and lock in those coordinates I don't want those containers to close to the ship when she blows." "Yes, sir." was the mechanical response. The doomed ship was going to make one last jump into hyperspace under the power of a single engine. It was just enough to get it away from the now stranded cargo. Getting into the escape pod closely fallowed by the remaining Engineering droid Visage activated the ships Hyper Drive. Using his gem a mini ship appeared along with three charts. Pressing a button on the middle chart the one good engine roared to life. typing in random coordinates on the glowing keypad the ship took off as the stars outside looked like streaks of white as they passed. Pressing buttons on the pods console Visage and his droid friend were going to make a hasty retreat when they came out of hyperspace. "And Trec, Desec, Ennc" Visage finished the countdown. Just as stars became dots again he pulled the release lever and the escape pod was away. Just as the engines on the ship went critical, explosions started cascading from the engines making their way to the bow. Debris and shrapnel, followed by a large shock wave rippled out hitting the small pod, jolting it forward as the two occupants inside where thrown forward from the shockwaves momentum. Visage's head made hard contact with the console in front of him and everything went black.
EmE Chapter 4 "Gathering the Elements"Twilight had finished her letter to the princess handing it to Spike who breathed fire at it making it vanish into a could of green. Visage watched rather amused. "How exactly, is burning a letter you just wrote to the princess, going to help?" Visage asked. Twilight and Spike both smiled knowingly at each other then turning to Visage. "It's magic." Both said in unison. Visage shrugged at this, just as a new note appeared out of nowhere in a golden glow. Twilight caught the note unrolled it and started reading. "It's a message from the Princess she wants to meet you." Twilight pointed a hoof at Visage. "She included eight tickets for this afternoon's train, she also wants all of the Elements of Harmony to escort you there. Apparently there is something going on in the Crystal Empire." Twilight put the letter down and using her magic levitated the eight tickets to Spike. "Take these to the train station Spike we'll meet you there once I gather all of the others." Twilight told her dragon assistant as she headed for the door opening it with her magic. "Rodger that Twilight!" Spike said saluting and then running out the open door heading to the train depot. Visage really didn't understand what was happening. Train station? Canterlot? Elements of Harmony? Will this planet ever make sense? Visage had his right hand on his face making him look like he was in deep thought. "Visage? Visage?" Twilight was speaking his name but he was trying to make sense of everything even starting to make one of the Shadow Counsel doubtful and that was saying something. Visage put his hand down shaking his head to clear it. "Sorry, Twilight just lost in thought. I have a Fraking ton of questions that just keep piling up." Twilight looked ashamed. "I have a ton of questions for you too." Twilight still looking sheepish then it was her turn to shake her head. "They'll have to wait, we need to be on that train. The Princess is counting on us. So, we are going to go gather the other Elements as fast as we can now lets move!" Visage smiled. "I have no idea what these Elements are but they sound important, and I'm always thirsting for knowledge." Visage said holding up his index finger as he walked out the door. Twilight Put up the Closed sign as she trotted over next to Visage. Looking up into his face his eyes were closed but he had a big smile on his face. She couldn't help but notice that he was a lot like herself. "You sound as though your still a student. Aren't you a Lord? Doesn't that mean your done studying?" Twilight's ears twitched a bit, she wasn't trying to insult him she was just curious. Visage laughed. "Sorry, Twilight but don't you know that there is no end to studying. I, like all beings in the Imperial Shadow Knights, have learned the hard way that when you answer one question you seem to find more that need to be answered." Visage finished with a light chuckle. Twilight let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. "I thought you'd be...I don't know angry or something. I thought I might have offended you." Twilight said abashed. Visage opened his left eye a crack, again holding up his index finger. "Twilight I may be a Dark Lord but we of the Empire are nothing like that Fraking Blort Worm Sombra. There is no such thing as a bad question, only the one that was never asked." Visage said matter of factly making Twilight forget what she just said, and smiled. "I think I know why Pinky and Zecora both like you." Twilight started. "It's because you may look evil but you have a good heart, and mind." Twilight finished. "I should hope so Twilight I don't think my wives would have ever given me the time of day if I didn't have both of those." Visage closed his eye and folded his arms. Twilight stopped in her tracks. Visage noticed this and was also forced to halt. "Is there something wrong Twilight?" Visage asked the dumbstruck unicorn. Twilight could barley talk. "Yo...you....your MARRIED!?" She finished with a loud enough shout that all of the ponies in the vicinity stopped to stare. Visage wasn't really fazed at the outburst but Twilight was just standing there feet planted and panting heavily. Visage let out a sigh "Is me being married really, that big of a deal?" Visage asked as a blue Pegasus dropped out of the sky to land next to Twilight. "Twilight who's married? Don't tell me your marrying that thing?" Rainbow pointing an accusing hoof at the tall being that simply shrugged at the question. "No! Nononono...I meant HE'S MARRIED!! and to more than ONE PONY!" Twilight still frantic from the original outburrst yelled out loud again. All of the onlookers were in shock murmuring had started up again. Rainbow Dash was even in shock though Visage wasn't sure if it was because of what was said, or because of the distance she was from the speaker. Rainbow Dash shook hear head vigorously to clear it. "You can't be serious, how can somepony that looks like you ever get anypony to marry you. I mean come on Twilight multiple mares married to that thing, it's gotta be a joke." Rainbow Dash then started laughing hysterically. Twilight had just started to calm down, slowly breathing in and out several times, then looked at the smirking Dark Lord who was watching her friend Rainbow Dash, who at this time was rolling on the ground laughing so hard she was actually in tears. "Rainbow Dash it isn't funny to make fun of sompony else's customs. Even the Ponies in Saddle Arabia still practice polygamy, and perhaps it's common where he's from." Twilight stopped to help her friend get back onto her hooves. Rainbow was still laughing but managed to stay standing. "Sorry about my friend here Visage but I was kind of.... shocked...what you said really threw me off." Twilight jabbed a hoof into Rainbow Dash's right shoulder and looked at Visage apologetically. "It's alright, Twilight being an endangered species is kind of a downer but I have several women in my life who really help....I was really Drathed off at his Imperial Majesty when he created the Endangered Species ACT but I'm more than used to it now. Even my mom back home was shocked and had a similar reaction to her." Visage nodded his head at the blue Pegasus who had calmed down and was currently looking at the ground rubbing one hoof with the other. "Well it really isn't that funny when you put it like that." Dash said apologetically. "Your an Endangered Species? I had no idea! I'm so sorry Visage." Twilight said looking at Rainbow Dash. "And you didn't HELP matter's Rainbow how would you feel if you were an Endangered Species!" Twilight again pointed an accusing hoof at her repentant friend. "I said I was sorry, what more do you want from me?" Rainbow looking even lower, feeling even more guilty. "No, you didn't, and here you are the Element of Loyalty laughing her flank off at an Endangered Species, who SAVED an EMPIRE, and has done NOTHING bad since he got here, and you mock him, for being DIFFERENT! And even the princess wants to meet him!" Visage mused at this. "So your one of the Elements of Harmony hmm. Very interesting. Perhaps I could take you back to the Empire when I return. I could bring you to Zaraj and we could dissect you, perhaps we could learn what makes you tick." Visage said opening his eyes as he knelt down to stare right into Rainbow Dash's now fear filled eyes. Visage winked at Twilight making sure to let her in on his vicious joke. "You wouldn't dare...Twilight and the Princess would never let you...Would, ya, Twi?" Rainbow Dash plead with Twilight. Twilight got Visage's hint as did several of the onlookers some ponies had started trying hard to muffle their chuckles so they wouldn't let Rainbow Dash know what was going on. Even Twilight had to turn her back on her friend so that she wouldn't be able to see or hear her own chuckling. "I don't know Rainbow you did make fun of Visage and you even insulted him. If he did bring you back to dissect you, I don't think I could stop him. And, after the Princess hears what you said, I don't think SHE would stop him either. After all we are just a single Country and he has an Empire that has lot's of planets." Twilight managed to say without laughing. "But, but, I'm the most loyal Pony in all of Equestira! you wouldn't really dissect me...would you Lord Visage...umm....Sir." Rainbow Dash still fearful had her rainbow colored tail between her legs and her ears looked like they were plastered to the side of her head they were so drooped. Visage put his hands around behind the neck of the now terrified blue Pegasus that had started to turn white. Visage just hugged her. "I would never do any such thing." He whispered to her. "From what I can tell you are an extraordinary being, just don't take your jokes too far. For there are beings that I know of, that wouldn't hesitate, to dissect you." Rainbow Dash went limp in his arms the terror faded and her blue color returned. All of the ponies present started laughing, including Twilight, all were unaware to what Visage had told Rainbow keeping it between the the two. Twilight had to get everyone back to task. "Look everypony we have to get a move on or we'll be late for the train. So even though we have Rainbow Dash we still need to gather the others." Twilight looked at her two companions and stomped a hoof. "I'm not going to be tardy in our meeting with the princess." "Ya...ya Twilight we all know what happens when your late for something." Rainbow Dash said. "And Visage....you can let go of me now, ya, know." She asked sheepishly. "I didn't think you'd be able to stand on your own if I let go." Visage said while releasing his prisoner. Visage walked over to Twilight still looking back at a very unsure looking Pegasus. The joke he played on her was vicious he knew, but her demeanor left something to be desired. Getting a bit of playful vengeance, was fun and she needed to be taken down a peg in his opinion. "Twilight who are these others Elements that we need to pick up?" Visage asked the purple unicorn next to him. "Oh right well we need to get Pinky Pie, I think you met her already she'll be at the Sugar Cube Corner, then Rarity shes at the Carousel Boutique, and Apple Jack and Fluttershy. Apple Jack is at her families farm and Fluttershy has a home on the outskirts of town." Twilight said dignified. "Yes, it makes perfect sense that Pinky would be an Element. I haven't met the others so I can't say about them." Visage thought aloud. "Wait you knew Pinky was an Element how could you possibly know that?" Twilight asked as the trio headed towards Sugar Cube Corner. "I do have eyes you know Twilight." Visage stated simply. "Wait you mean you can see magic? How does that work?" Twilight was very eager to hear this. "Can you teach me how to see magic too..please?" "No, I can't see magic but I can see into a persons....or in this case ponies heart. I can also sense things about....beings weather they are good, bad, or indifferent." Visage stated holding up that finger of his. "Hold on...you can see into a ponies heart? Isn't that I don't know creepy or something?" Rainbow Dash finally piping up after listening to the two eggheads conversation. "Firstly we are not eggheads we are intellectuals, Secondly as Shadow Knights or Zaharaj we learn not just about the dark side of things but also the light and how to discern where a being is on the spectrum." "Wait, how did you know what I was thinking. I never even said egghead." Dash said with an incredulous look on her face. "I can read minds too. Though sometimes it's a lot harder to do, than others it really depends on the individual." Visage stated as they resumed their quest. "You can read a Ponies hearts and minds? That's amazing I would love to learn how you do that. I wonder if the princess would let me learn from you too." Twilight said ecstatic. "Twilight how is that cool, that is so not cool. I don't want anypony reading my mind...that's just...so wrong!" Rainbow Dash interjected. Visage knew that both arguments were sound. But he had to agree more with Twilight than Rainbow. As they arrived at their destination. Visage finally answered Rainbows argument. "To us it's very necessary to see what type of being we are dealing with. We of the Shadow Knights are entrusted to keep the peace between all planets in the Empire. Because of our abilities conflict is nonexistent and we would all very much like it to stay that way. We also aren't the only group of Force users in the Universe there are a lot more of us than you even realize, but if you don't like your thoughts being...overheard then don't think, so loud Mrs. Dash." Visage finished as the trio entered Sugar Cube Corner. "Hi! Visagey, Twilight, Rainbow Dash! what brings you all to Sugar Cube Corner I've only just started preparing for your party Visagey!" Pinkie Greeted the trio as she was mixing a bowl of what seemed to be some kind of cake batter. The Cake's as well as the restaurant goers all gasped as the black clad figure entered, there was more murmuring but one unicorn was staring so hard at Visage it was making him feel very uncomfortable. The unicorn got up from the table and trotted of to Visage curious eyes were on them as to what was about to unfold. "Hi, Lyra how have you been?" Twilight said trying to distract the unicorn. Completely ignoring her Lyra put out a hoof to take a hold of one of Visage's hands. Visage got to one knee so he wouldn't have to bend over quite so far. She was studying it with wide eyes. "Lyra stop he'll kill you!" A yellow colored Earth pony said warning her friend. "Hehehehe he wouldn't do that Bon Bon he's not a meany mean pants. He just looks like he is. He's even friends with Zecora!" Pinkie Pie said comming back from what appeared to be a kitchen she no longer had the mixing bowl with her. "Hannnnddddsssss." Was all Lyra could manage to say, as she held Visages black gloved hand as she was studying his fingers. "Hello, Lyra. I'm Visage if you haven't heard yet, my ship exploded and I ended up crashing here. I'm to see the princess with Twilight and her friends we are..." Visage was cut off by a Pink Pony. "Your here to get, me then, we can go get Rarity and Apple Jack to get to the train station before leaving for Canterlot." Pinkie finished then picked back up. "But that means no party! But Visagey needs a party!" Pinkie now looked rather dejected. "I still would like to know how she does that!" Rainbow Dash said. Visage just mused. "She is strong in the Force so she can sense things before they happen, it's a talent." Visage told the Rainbow maned pony. "I have the Force! Wow weee I have the Force!" Pinkie started bouncing off the walls distracting everyone in the room except Lyra who was still too occupied with studying Visage's hand. "Wait what's The Force?" Pinkie asked coming to a screeching halt. "I'll explain later, but right now we have a mission to complete. Mrs. Lyra I need my hand back if you don't mind?" He said retrieving his hand from Lyra's pretty strong hoof grip. Lyra looked dejected when Visage got up to leave with the others but as a gesture of friendship he patted the top of the head of the curious unicorn. As the four exited the building all of the patron's as well as the Cakes shared a really acward silence, then everyone in the building cheered. "That was....that was....that was the best thing ever!" Lyra said as she rubbed the top of her head with her hoof. Bon Bon just face hoofed. "Well Pinkie made a bunch of cakes for Visage but if they need to go see the Princess I would hate for them to go to waist so, Cakes on the house!" Mr. Cake exclaimed as a new roar of cheers came from the attendees. "Wow, Visagey sounds to me you might be a better party pony...er....person than me!" Pinkie told the tall being walking beside her. "I think everypony really thought you were going to kill Lyra for grabbing your hand like that." Rainbow added. Visage smiled as all of the ponies waited for a response. "Now why would I kill a pony just because they are curious. Every being should thirst for knowledge. Right Twilight?" Visage opened his right eye a crack and again held his hand up and put up that finger. "Oh, absolutely!" Twilight agreed nodding her head. "Next stop Carousel Boutique! Come on girls and Visagey we don't want to miss the train!" Pinkie took off headed for Rarity's place. Rainbow took off "I'll be there waiting for you slow pokes!" She said with her head slightly turned to the remaining two. She flew off so fast just leaving behind a rainbow trail in her wake. "You have some interesting friends Twilight." Visage quipped to the remaining purple unicorn. "Yep, I definitely do!" she replied. "So are we going to beat them there? Or are the eggheads to slow for Pinkie and Rainbow?" Visage stated with a conniving grin. "Oh trust me I have my ways. We'll definitely beat those two." Twilight said also giving her companion a rather conniving smile. With that said Twilight sparked up her horn and the pair of beings teleported in a bright white and purple flash.
