1563 Years Ago

Another day, another hunt. I thought as I walked out of the cave I have been living in. I take a look around at the scenery: a tall mountain looms in the distance, a forest bursting with life of all shapes and sizes, seemingly endless plains running past the forest and a small stone cottage.

As I approached the cottage a familiar voice rang out “Good morning, Nox!” yelled a tall white alicorn with a red mane.

“Morning to you aswell, Faust.” I replied after I got closer. “How are the girls today?”

She giggled “As lively as ever, they are excited about their father coming home today” she said with a smile.

“Oh? Maximilian coming back already? I thought you said he was visiting the Equus Isles? You didn’t lie to me now did you?” I lean in close trying to hold back a smile.

“AUNTIE!” I watch two happy fillies run at me. One with a dark blue coat and a light blue mane, the other white with a pink mane. “Daddy’s coming home! Daddy’s coming home!” they shout with glee.

“Now girls, calm down. You don’t want to get too messy now do you? You want to look right for daddy right?” Faust asks them.

A collective “Awww” escapes their mouths. “But we want to play with auntie Nox!” Luna shouts.

I reach down and scratch their heads “How about we play hide and seek? So long as you two don’t try hiding in any yucky spots you will stay clean.” I ask them. They answer by running off with giant smiles on their faces.

Later that evening we sit by the cottage and wait for Maximilian Nebulous to arrive. He should have been here hours ago and Faust is trying not to show her worry. Celestia and Luna are both trying to fight off sleep. “Why don’t you two go inside and sleep? Me and mommy will wake you when Daddy arrives.” I ask them.

“B-but I want to wait for daddy…” Celestia mumbles.

“I know you do sweetie, but you and your sister need to get some rest. Lest you wont want to wake in the morning.” Faust says to them. They mumble under their breaths and head inside.

Faust goes in with them and returns after getting them to bed. She looks off to the east with a worried look “ What’s taking him so long?” she mutters.

“Probably a storm at sea, or a delay in setting sail. I’m sure he will be back soon Faust. Just watch he will be walking up to the cottage anytime and pulling you off your hooves. “ I say with a grin, hiding my own worry. My words don’t put her at ease. “I’ll tell you what, if he isn’t here by sunrise I’ll go look for him. Even if I have to go all the way to the Equus Isles to find him.”

Come sunrise Maximilian still hasn’t returned so after trying to calm Faust’s worry and the girls anxiety I head off to find him. It will take three days to reach the coast and another week to reach the Isles hopefully I’ll find him admiring the scenery of the forest, the big oaf.

My journey endsafter a day and a half of walking. Sitting in the middle of a charred clearing were the remains of the last Alicorn Stallion. They were charred to the bone and the only thing telling me it was him was the fact the skeleton had both a horn and wings.

I cried for what seemed like days after burying his remains. He was my friend, my first friend in this world. Days after death saved me from the endless cycle of my powers killing and reviving myself I met him. He was a kind stallion and he wanted to be friends with everyone. He didn’t care that I was an undead monster with unspeakable powers. No, he didn’t care about any of that. He introduced me to his family and friends.

He saved me and Faust the day the Alicorn Empire collapsed. They angered the gods, and gods destroyed the Alicorns for it. Save Maximilian and Faust. They were the last two natural Alicorns and now Maximilian is dead. And I’m left to tell his wife and daughters. I have to tell them he won't be coming home; that he angered what I can only guess was a dragon.

The journey back to Faust’s cottage was a long one. I walked slowly morning my friend. The only thing driving me to walk was the fact Faust was waiting for me… and him.

When I arrived alone Faust already knew. He wasn’t coming home and it was just her and the girls now. She cried and cried. I broke it to the girls he wasn’t coming, but they didn’t understand.

I stayed with them at their cottage that night, trying to help console them. After I returned home, I cried again. I cried long into the night; all of the tears I had fought back when I was with them, when I was trying to be strong, came out.

I spent two days there, I would walk outside and look toward the cottage to see how Faust and the girls were doing but I couldn’t bring myself to go near them. Then he came.

“The Empire has fallen, a dark mage sits upon the throne. Thousands will perish should he remain. You are to go north to the Crystal Empire and hunt the dark mage. Destroy his hold upon the city and free them of his blight.” That was Death’s command. I only nodded.

I forced myself to say goodbye to Faust and girls. I told them I was going away to stop a very bad pony. They cried. This was the last time I would ever see Faust and last time before Sombra forced me to fight them that I would see the girls.

A year later Death told me Faust had past away. Her time had ran out long ago but Solaris and Artemis took a liking to her and Maximilian. They kept them alive for as long as they could. But their time was up and Death knew I would have fought everything to keep her alive had I been there and the Empire would have fallen long before its time. Shade Strike the Horrid would have destroyed the Empire had I not come. I wanted to go to the girls, but I couldn’t leave. The Empire needed me.

Author's Note

I lied, due to being busy I got a chapter out early and its a flash back! Hopefully the next couple of chapters will explain some things.

Special thanks to my good friend Magical Trevor for helping me come up with Maximilian Nebulous' name. So don't be surprised if he has character show up with the same name in the future. (He may or may not. Do not assume.)

Special thanks to Kamunari for his post on the last chapter has given me ideas for this semi-arc. It will only last one or more chapters however.

So people THIS IS WHY YOU COMMENT. You give me IDEAS and they make me WANT TO WRITE. Thus it makes the story LAST LONGER.

If you spot any errors point them out and I'll try to get them fixed. Next week I'm busy Monday and Tuesday so the chapter may be a bit late, sorry guys.

Fore those wondering about the timeline of the past please look here: Timeline

Now COMMENT, please.