Well this is going to be an awkward explanation. I thought to myself. Before I could even start explaining I was met with an eerie static sound echoing through the castle. Something about it was off, the sound caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end and a shiver to run down my spine. In a panic I drew upon my powers, ready to raise every body in the city to fight whatever was making the static. The static cut out quickly and was replaced by chanting, in what I presume is Latin.

“I wouldn’t do that” said a cold yet elderly voice behind me. I turned to see the royals and the rest of the ponies in the room frozen in time. All except a tall elderly looking, pale white, bald earth pony in a black suit standing near the main hall door. I knew this stallion. I feared him more than I hated Sombra. I feared him more than anything else I had ever known.

“L-l-lord Death, i-is the static not a threat?” I stammered out. Shit, shit, SHIT!

“To me? No. To you? Yes. Just not currently. My brother still slumbers” he replied.

“Y-your brother? O-One of the four?” I asked.

“Yes, my brother Pestilence. He slumbers beneath the ice to the north, but you already knew that. Didn’t you my dear Nox?” he smiled at me, which is more fear inducing than a smile should ever be. I merely nod. “But yes, the reason I have come to you: You must leave this city by midnight tomorrow. And take that filly with you. Your presences are causing my brother to stir. Normally it shouldn’t, but with the death of his pet returned to much dark magic to him. He can feel you, and he wants to feed. If he wakes up now the schedule will be all mixed up. We can’t have that can we?”

“No, Lord Death, we cannot. I thank you for this warning” I replied. SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT. This is bad, really bad.

“Good, farewell my dear Nox.” He vanished and time resumed. The Prince was yelling something, but I didn’t hear him. All I heard was the static and my own heart beating. I need to leave. NOW!

“Umbra go to the library and pack the bag. We are leaving” I say as I walk toward the door, ignoring everyone else. Umbra runs off to pack the bag. As I was stopped by a spear tip.

“Who said anything about you leaving? You are prisoner and until we say you will remain as such” snarled the Prince.

“Who says? WHO SAYS?! One with more authority than you, one with more power than you, one who I fear a hell of a lot more than you!” I shout at the prince.

“Who?” he sneered.

“Death” I replied. He had better back off, or I might do something I’ll regret I thought.

“Death? Is that a threat? Because I take threats very seriously.” he shouted in near anger.

“Not a threat! One of the Four, the Patron of Necromancy, the Pale Pony, the Reaper, the ferry pony. I care not what title you use for him, but he is real and he was here. He said his brother slumbered nearby and my powers might awaken him. You DO NOT want Pestilence to awaken. Not now, not ever! I am leaving this city tonight. I care not if you want to send an escort of guards with me, to insure I am imprisoned later. I do not care if you threaten to open Tartarus and throw me in, I am leaving. Death gave an order, and you DO NOT disobey!” I shout at him. He is really getting on my nerves.

“The Four? Who in the name of Celestia are the Four?!” he shouted at me. Selective hearing much?

“Death, Pestilence, War, Famine. The four who meet on battled ground, when the sky tears asunder and all that is ceases to be. They are also known as the gods of Dark Magic” I snarl at him. Before storming past to go help Umbra pack, ignoring the stupid prince and the rest of the ponies.

Upon arriving at the door to the library I lock the prince out. We will need peace to get this done in time. Four hundred sixty volumes on dark magic sit on the shelves, all of them need to be packed. Umbra has already dumped several shelves worth into her bag. A bottomless bag, gifted to her by her parents, that she stored all of her worldly possessions in. A few toys, a checkers board and pieces, a diary and picture of her family. And now it will hold all of these books.

Two hours and fifteen minutes, is all it took to put every book into her bag. It was now time to say goodbye to the few friends we had here in the kingdom and to finally let them have rest. “Devious, Goliath, Titan, it has been an honor and privilege to know each of you. You helped me in my darkest time and continued to help me after that. You three will have my eternal thanks” I said to them.

“If skeletons could cry, I’d be ball’n right now. Thank you for giving us a chance when everyone had already forgotten us” Devious said to me before turning to Umbra. “You’ve always been a good filly Umbra, keep that up. Don’t give Nox to much trouble, ok?” Umbra hugged him while crying.

“Its time” I said. Goliath and Titan nodded and Umbra let go of Devious. “Devious Grin, Goliath, Titan I release you” With three simple words they collapsed back into piles of bones. I pick them up and place them in a near by boxes, one for each of them. I buried the boxes in the castle gardens and place a marker above their graves.

Here lies the bravest soldiers the Empire has ever known: Devious Grin, Goliath, Titan. They served the Empire in life and in death, my they finally have peace.

Author's Note

As to why the music? It'll be explained in the next chapter. As well as the various gods of this world. Well, some of them.

I will admit I am worried about this chapter. Originally the four were going to play a different role, but my mind decided to change that on me. I hope you enjoyed!

Just a bit of LORE stuff: Lord Death (this story) is not DEATH in the Displaced Lore. Lord Death is an aspect of death like Hades, Hel, Shinigami, etc.