Sleep did not clutch at the Overlord much longer as he was jerked from it's darkness. Someone or more accurately, somepony had tossed a bucket of water on the dark one.

"WAKE UP! The princess is here tah see you prisoner!" A gruff voice shouted to him.

As the dark one opened his orange eyes he was met with another bucket of water drenching his form. The liquid had been chilled to a point where anyone who came into contact with it would catch a cold and now this cold water was running down any gaps in the armor. Tattered rags rapped around the armor were now stained with it's moisture. Now dripping and wet, the Overlord glared venomously at the shaggy guard pony. He lunged at guard only be yanked back. Like a dog on a leash but with several more chains.

"You'd better behave boy or I'll skin yur hide and mount it on mah fireplace!" The guard yelled again before taking a cudgel in his mouth and hitting the prisoner with it. It impacted against the metal armor with a resonating 'thud' but did little more than agitate the dark one. Before the situation could escalate any further a better sounding voice called out to the guard.

"That's quite enough warden. We don't need to agitate our 'guest' any further do we?" The warden just huffed and walked away while muttering to himself. "You'll have to forgive the warden. He's been at this job for twenty years and it doesn't do good things for a pony"

A taller white alicorn had entered the prison cell. It was clearly female and towered over the many guards that accompanied her. Even with her taller form her horn just barely was eye level with the dark one. She had regalia similar to the other alicorn from before and had sun emblems on her flanks. Multi-color hair flapping in the fake breeze. Magenta eyes taking in his impressive form. Regardless what she thought of him this warrior was an great sight to behold.

"I am Princess Celestia. My sister told me what you like to be called. So until you present a name for us then you shall be known as Overlord. I must admit you do have some rather impressive armor. Neither tool or magic could remove it so we were forced to take drastic measures." The dark one just stared at Celestia while water continued to drip down his armor.

"Ah yes. Luna also told me your preference for silence. Which is good because you really need to hear what I have to say." The alicorn mare spoke while assuming a royal posture.

Celestia took one of her fore hooves and pointed it to the several chains binding the Overlord. "Those shackles are magic resistant and more durable than a dragon scale. Currently you are our prisoner in the Canterlot dungeons which never has been broken out of before. Your current situation is not favorable indeed."

"Several ponies are now refugees because their town was recently destroyed. Most of them blame you for their misfortune and are crying out for your punishment." Celestia said and then paused for effect.

"I am well aware of the diamond dog incursion and the dragon attack. Which you are at fault for neither one. However because of what we know now, I cannot in good faith turn you free. Changelings accompanied you during these events which are still hunted for their invasion. Also there is the matter of what Luna has seen while walking amongst your dreams. I'm not going to lie Overlord. With everything presented before me I have every right to punish you in any way I see fit.

Celestia walked closer to the Overlord and locked eyes with him. Magenta to his orange. "It does not have to be this way. Should you consent to our terms then all charges against you will be dropped or annulled. You must lead us to wherever Chrysalis is and assist in her capture. Afterward you would have to be reeducated to better fit society. I'm sure you could be a great force for good just as much as you can evil."

The whole time Celestia was talking the dark one just stared at her with his unnerving glare. Eventually the Princess's demeanor changed and she used her magic to yank his chain towards her. Overlord was forced very close to Celestia's face, which was now seething with fury hot as the sun.

"If you wish to remain evil then their is something I must tell you. I will not tolerate you harming my little ponies or those I care about! Are we clear!?" Princess Celestia shouted with a booming voice that probably was heard from Ponyville.

Once again she got no reply, which in turn caused her to sigh. Celestia released the chain and the dark one returned to his original position.

"I take it your silence is a refusal. Very well. Your trial shall be held at noon tomorrow." The Princess said before heading to the door. She looked back to him one last time and said.

"At least think about my offer because everypony deserves a second chance." After that sentence she turned to leave.

However, Celestia was stopped by a smaller pink alicorn. Standing behind her was the same white unicorn from before. Shining Armor. The dark one could make out parts of their conversation and intently listened in.

"Please auntie. We'll never know unless I try. Please just let me talk to him." The pink alicorn said while pleading to the white alicorn. There was another sigh and then Celestia replied.

"Alright if you strongly feel the need to then go right ahead. I have other prior engagements to attend to so you'll have to do it without me."

"Oh that's alright auntie. Me and Shiny can talk to him by ourselves." The pink alicorn said while Shining Armor's eye started to twitch. With some polite bows the groups parted ways. Celestia teleported while the pair entered the dark one's cell. He stared at them just the same as the others while they both situated themselves.

The alicorn mare was pink with almost the same features as the last two. While she had wings and a horn, her hair did not flap in the air. She was obviously royal because of the crown and slippers she wore. A glass heart of some kind was tattooed on both side of her rump just like any other pony the dark one had seen. Out of the two of them this alicorn seemed to be the most enthusiastic while Shining Armor definitely did not want to be here.

"Hello Overlord. My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. You've already met my husband Shining Armor. If you want you can just call us Cadence and Shiny." The pink alicorn now known as Cadence said. Shiny was a bit upset that she told the Overlord that. Anything he could of done to intimidate this mare would not work and only seemed to put Shiny on edge. After a brief silence Princess Cadence began to speak again.

"Despite what everypony says I know there's good underneath all that scary armor. When the town Brittlebuck was attacked, twice. You chose to save the townsponies. No bad pony would ever choose to risk their life to save others and that's why I believe in you. In fact I believe a certain somepony owes you an apology." At the last part Cadence looked to her husband who was watching disinterestedly. She gave him a little hoof tap and got his attention. She shook her head in the dark one's direction and his face scrunched in rejection. Shiny refused to do as his wife asked until she finally convinced him to do it. So very dejectedly he walked up to the Overlord and apologized.

"Overlord, I'm sorry for calling you a bucker." The moment he said it his wife tackled him with a hug. She then proceeded to wing hug both Shiny and the Overlord while beaming over her success.

"See Shiny. Was that so hard? I bet if it wasn't for the changelings or dragon, the two of you would be friends."

"Yeah. Friends." Shining said sarcastically monotone.

Then for the next few hours, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza proceeded to speak to the dark one while her husband just listened. It did not matter what the subject was. She would talk about herself and Shiny. Whatever she knew about the Overlord. How the changelings ruined her wedding but yet somehow she forgave them. Insignificant things like how and where she grew up. She even told a story of her foalsitting a little filly called something sparkle or whatever.

At the end of her one sided conversation the sun began to set in the background. Cadence was interrupted by her husband wanting to be elsewhere. Cadence finally realized how much time had passed and blushed with embarrassment. She turned to the Overlord one last time to say her goodbyes. "Wow. You really are a good listener Overlord. You'll make a mare really happy one day. I'm sure of it. Alright come on Shiny let's go."

Cadence waved goodbye while Shining closed the solid cell door with his magic. While the dark one's vision of the pair was obscured. His hearing of them was not. Cadence and Shining Armor stood right outside the cell door, talking.

"Cadey. Did you really have to spend hours talking to the guy?" The masculine voice of Shining Armor came through the door.

"Why yes Shiny. I was trying to get to know him." The feminine voice of Cadence echoed as well. Shining was heard scoffing and relied.

"Get to know him? He's evil! You shouldn't be getting to know him."

"But he's not evil. You told me yourself Shiny that he jumped in to save a mare and her foal from that dragon. Now would any evil pony do that?" Princess Cadence rebuked.

"Well no." Shining eventually replied.

"Then my point stands." A sigh could be heard after Cadence replied with her reasoning. After a pregnant pause, Shining Armor could be heard speaking again.

"Honey, I'm just confused why you are so interested in this Overlord in the first place."

"He knows Chrysalis and changelings seem to trust him. I was hoping that through him we could find Chrysalis and the other changelings. If possible I want to resolve this peacefully." Princess Cadence replied.

"I thought you hated changelings just like me." Shining asked.

"I did at first shiny. They took me prisoner and imponyated me. Worst of all they almost made me loose you. I was just as furious as we all were dear but then I calmed down. They could have been starving and had no choice but to attack us. That's why I want to resolve this peacefully to where everypony benefits." After the Princess finished speaking. There was another deep sigh.

"You always were the better pony Cadey but then again you are not the Princess of Love for nothing." Shiny replied.

"Hey Shiny I have an idea. How about I take you to that restaurant you like so much and then we go see a movie. Then afterward we can do all the stuff you like in our room." Shining Armor seemed to really like Cadence's idea.

The two of them continued to talk about mushy stuff and what they were gonna do. They were probably both hugging and kissing because there was the sound effects to accompany them. Eventually the two love birds started to walk away until their hoof steps could not be heard. The dark one was rather indifferent to all this until he started to feel something. A feeling that he had not felt since the pony reuniting with their loved ones at Brittlebuck.

This was still alien to the dark one but he could definitely feel it's presence. The air was saturated with love left behind by his recent visitors. It felt so enticing to him that the Overlord couldn't help but soak it up. The love he gathered was so potent he could literally feel it change him.

The dark green changeling crystals on the left gauntlet began to expand and grow. Like ferns on a tree. Bit by bit it inched it's way up the left arm until the shoulder stopped it's expansion. Several more ominous green crystals had formed all over the dark one's left arm, at least six to ten inches in length and sharp to a point. The only places they did not form where the joints of his arm and fingers. Their sudden growth had shattered the shackle restraining his left hand.

Surging with power and strength, the dark one ripped every other restraint off of him like it was tin foil. While it was a little jarring to have his entire left arm covered in changeling crystals like a second armor. The feeling was not unwelcome. With his sudden empowerment he could feel the presence of changelings. Even this far away. It didn't take long for them to notice his appearance as well.

"My lord can you hear me? it's me Chrysalis. Thank the hive you're still alive. Stay put, we are on the way." With the hive mind restored Chrysalis was able to communicate with the dark one. He was furious. Everything he had done was thrown in his face. Well, the dark one was done playing nice. If they want to be ungrateful ponies then he'll show them no mercy and give them no respite. He had a nasty plan just waiting to be done. But there was one thing he had to do first.

The Overlord steeled himself and summoned his wrath. He had a warden to find.

Author's Note

This chapter has been haunting me ever since I finished the last one. So please take it so I can be done with it and move on to the best part.