I sit, floating above Umbra, waiting for the inevitable: I wait to live again. Minutes pass. minutes turn to hours and hours turn to days. Three days pass before Umbra awakens. The doctor worries about her health but she remains stubborn and tells him nothing. Visitors come and go, yet she doesn’t speak to any of them. Not to the guards or the Princesses.

Two more days pass before I feel it. I’m about to live again. I smile and my eyes burst open, my lungs fill with air as I gasp for air. I sit up and look at the dead plant life around me. Mostly grass, a few bushes and a tree all wilted by my power. As I stand the guards finally take notice, the two pegasi’ faces distort in fear. ‘I guess no one told them I was getting up… What did they think they were guarding?’ I think to myself.

I point at the closest one, a white pegasus. “Go inform Princess Celestia that I am awake and tell her I’m calling in my favor.” I tell him with a scratchy voice. I point to the other guard, another white pegasus. “Take me to the kitchen please, I need water.” I tell him.

“M..m..MONSTER!” one of them shouts.

I deadpan. “Really? Monster? That’s the best insult you have?” I notice their legs shaking. “By Solaris’ sweet sun, please stop that. Yes, I came back from the dead. That is normal for me. Now even if you don’t believe me, even if you believe I am a threat, don’t you think you should inform the Princess of my presence?”

Their only response is shoving a spear in my face. I sigh and grab the spear with my skeletal right hand and whisper “Rot.” The spear’s shaft begins to rot away and the tip begins to rust. “You know, I’m not surprised they don’t tell you guys anything. Just another thing to add to the list.” I turn and start walking towards the castle, ignoring the guards.

As I approach the castle another guard, another white pegasus, screams “Halt!” I ignore him. He responds by thrusting a spear at me.

“Rot.” Another broken spear, another wide eyed panicked guard. I look him dead in the eyes. “Yeah, bad idea. A good idea would be: GOING AND TELLING THE FREAKING PRINCESS!” I yell at him. He pisses himself and I face palm. “Bloody useless guard… so bloody useless.” I look at him again, hoping, no praying he is a new recruit. “Are you new by chance?” He passes out. “Uhhhggg!” I groan as I continue my walk to the castle.

Upon reaching the nearest door I encountered another guard, this one however did not attack me nor react at all to my presence, because he was asleep on the job. ‘Do I wake him? Could be fun, could be disastrous. Hmm… I’ll leave him.’ I walk past him, carefully avoiding waking him.

I catch a glimpse of myself in my reflection on the polished flooring. The right side of my face is sagging and looks like it can fall off at any moment. I am missing several teeth and I am now half bald. “Regeneration failure 179. Thank you Universe for being so bloody kind!” I snarl before continuing my hunt for the kitchen or Princess.

It doesn’t take long before I am standing before the large door to the royal dinning room, I open it, only to receive frightened glares from the ponies in the room. I ignore them and practically bolt over to a tea pot. I down the entire pot, before letting out a loud gasp.

I finally take a look at the ponies in the room. A dozen or so guards all armed and ready to attack me, two butlers, three maids, a visably startled Princess Celestia and a large white Pony-hound hybrid. “Princess, we need to talk. Alone.”

“And pray tell would I listen to a monster like you!” Celestia starts channeling magic into her horn, not recognising me.

I facepalm “You will listen because you need to and seriously? How well did attacking me go last time? Just how many undead do you think are in Canterlot!?”

She stops and just stares. Before she can say anything the pony-hound speaks up. “Sis.. ter.. wel..come.. back..”

“It’s good to be back, Nina. I trust you have been well?” I ask, ignoring the blank stares of everyone else in the room.

“Y..es. Big.. Broth..er well.”

“Good to hear Worm is doing well.” I sigh “You’d best be getting back to him, he is liable to blow himself up with you being gone so long.” I smile at her. “I’ll have Umbra summon you up later so we can chat, ok?”

Nina nods before walking to an empty portion of the room. “B..ye Prin..cess.. Sis..ter.” In an explosion of electric sparks Nina vanishes.

I look to Celestia again. “Incase you haven’t figured it out by now: I. Am. Nox. Back from the dead! And we have problems to discuss, Princess.”

“Nox? How are you back? Miss Nina said it would take atleast a month for you to return.” Celestia replies, still not discharging her horn.

“Grass, so much grass and other assorted plant life. And as for the disfiguration of my face, my reanimation redistributed the energy of my body to speed up the process.” I gesture to my face then my body. “This is not ideal, but for the time being it will be sufficient. Now can you dismiss your staff so we may talk alone?”

Celestia gives a nod. “Everypony, you are dismissed from the dining hall.”

“Princess” a half dozen of them mutter as they walk out.

“Alright, they are gone, now tell me what you wish to speak of Nox?” Celestia asks.

“First, tell me: Did the butler survive?”

“Yes, Quick Wit, is expected to make a full recovery. He will still be off work for the next month however.” Celestia replies.

“Then the first thing we need to talk about, Celestia, is my murder and the attempted murder of Quick Wit.” I say with a blank expression.

Author's Note

And its here, the next chapter. Its only really late and I am sorry.

Reasons and Excuses:
For the past month or so my family has had a series of medical problems. Dictating several members of my family to need surgery. (My father, mother and now nephew). This has led to me being stressed and not wan't to write. However, things are mostly looking up as only my nephew needs surgery (It is relatively minor).

Secondly: I am lazy and I am suffering from writers block, again. However (thankfully at least) its not a direction issue, I know where I want this to go. At least for the short term and I have one possible idea for long term. Its getting from point A to Point B that is causing me issues.

So for awhile updates will probably be sporadic, but do not fear: I AM NOT ABANDONING THIS.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please comment if you spot any issues or if you like something. Frankly just comment, I like your comments.