King of the North

"You're still up?!" Twilight struggled to keep her balance. She had gotten so little sleep, just endlessly talking to the king. She had practically fallen asleep mid sentence and woke up in her bed. After returning to the balcony she found that it was mid day and that the king was calmly sitting and reading one of the books from her library. It did not appear he had moved an inch since she passed out. As well he looked just the same, his eyes were fresh and calm as they were when she first saw him.

"Well yes... the storms in the north are very VERY powerful, they blot out the sun and moon most of the time, the majority of the north is accustom to 30 hour day cycles. However, I being the king have an important role to play, so I can last far longer...." He chuckled hoping she could pick up on the half truths. He wanted to see if this young alicorn was fit for her role. He could tell she was very smart but sometimes she missed things, he had to be a little more blunt when dealing with ponies as their culture was far less used to those who were not upfront and honest about their intentions.

"Well no time like the present my little purple friend... if you have nothing else important to do I would be happy to go to Canterlot and set up this alliance and open up trade for our peoples." He stood and gently put the book down. Twilight seemed oddly entranced at how fluid his movements were, the joints to his fingers moved so gracefully as he closed the book. Book sorting and handling was always a bit rougher without magic but the more she paid attention the more she seemed to notice that this wolf was oddly majestic in even his most simple of movements.

"Ah... yes... we can go to Canterlot at any time, the train is just down the street. It will get us there pretty fast."

The king smiled happily as Shaman came out of his shadow chewing on Kaar preserves. The sudden appearance gave Twilight a small jump but she shrugged it off and offered a smile before coming about to go and wake spike to tell him what that day's plans were.

".....I hope you have not changed too much....  Aurinko Pylly...." His gaze settled on the Canterlot castle in the distance.

"And... and then my daddy punched him right in the snout! But he threw lighting right back. But then..." The little wolf beamed and nearly squealed in glee as Pinkie pie sat listening to her story with almost equal excitement watching the illusion magic display animation to her story telling "... then Oracle stepped in and with just a wave of her hand the lightning arced away from my daddy and struck the ground!.. The evil Shaman had lost his one and only chance of hurting my daddy or the king."

"What happened to him?" Pinkie leaned in with bright happy eager eyes.

"He stood trial for treason and was forced to take the Sanguine Oath! He entered the Iron forest alone and fought against the Kaar until he died...." Rose puffed out her chest beaming with pride. Back at home, story telling was the honor of the elders, but at the moment she was the oldest and most revered Susi present so the honor fell to her. It was a default technicality which made her outright giddy.

"OH!... ok... the North sounds awesome and scary at the same time..." Pinkie stepped back to take some cupcakes out of the oven as she maintained eye contact. "Oh oh oh oh oh! can you tell me any big stories about you or your family? I know the last few had your daddy in it but.... never was it actually about your family..."

Rose's smile faded slightly but she looked into Pinkie's eyes. "....W...well... there is one story... but My daddy doesn't like it being told. The king said it was a story all could learn from... but he says a lot of really strange stuff no one understands....I guess... but its... its not a very happy story...."

Pinkie's ears lowered a tad but she did not falter. She could feel the story was important. She just could not shake the feeling that the room filled with. Pinkie knew the feeling well, but it was almost like Rose did not. It was shame.

Her hands lit up and like with the previous stories she told her magic flared to show images of the snowy north and a single Susi appeared. Tall and powerful he held a heavy lance in one hand and a heavy mace in the other. "The failed General... My grand father,  Inquisitor. He took the name Inquisitor because as the king taught him, you must question everything you can perceive, otherwise you will only see what others desire you to see... It was a lesson that brought him to a strange conclusion. He took all his soldiers and a large portion of the cursed blood, traveled to the far west, past the iron forest and built a citadel there...." Her hands flared up and the image pushed into the space around them showing a young wolf with two swords standing before Rose's grandfather.

"Father!... this is madness... you cannot be serious..." His hands twitched, it was clear he was torn in two. His loyalty to the throne and his loyalty to his father.

"He lead me to this himself, question EVERYTHING..... like why something like him would even exist?... The answer is simple. A test, My child... he took control of the North three thousand years ago to forge us into our own rulers. His mere existence is a test that will forever stand as a challenge.  In order for the North to become more... we must overthrow the King.... it is the only way my child...."

The smaller Susi shivered and looked up at his father. "NO!... its not right, he lead us for thousands of years, he feed us from slavery..."

"Did he really?... I have looked over and over again, we were never freed, we simply swapped masters. The king is a warrior, more than just a warrior... but he is not a true king. He is simply a physical manifestation of who we are.... or at least a part of it...." His eyes stared down at his youngest son but the young wolf's actions only brought anger to the father's eyes.

"NO!!!" The twin blades drew but instantly the heavy mace splashed down and knocked them from his grip. He grit and bared his teeth up at his father. "YOU CANNOT DO THIS.... Please father....please..."

Another voice boomed into the long hall along with the sound of the doors shattering. The hulking form and skull mask, symbol of the One eye'ed skull stepped into the great hall. "FATHER!....." The mask came off and two eyes stared up at the old general. Though the image  of the skull had two eyes, and was very young. His armor shined and was free of scratches.

The response in the father's voice was rage. ".... TRAITORS!.... Who has betrayed me and my command?.... who told you of this?"

The skull shook his head and raised his ax. "It matters not father, I was given the knowledge and as such so has the king. He is coming, He is coming with his armies. I am here before him, please father... I beg of you... stop this madness... stop it all...."

Inquisitor looked down at his oldest son, then back at his youngest son. "....I will not... you have both shamed me...."

As if in slow motion The Skull raised his ax and leaped forward just as the younger son took an arrow from his quiver and lunged. Inquisitor shed a single tear as his mace lashed back and sent the younger son through the wall, and with a sudden burst, the lance caught fire and was thrown with great force impacting and almost deflecting from the Skull's head burning and penetrating his eye.

All present stared in horror. The soldiers under Inquisitor's command, and the cursed blood taken with their main forces all stood uncertain. Their loyalty was sworn to both their general and the throne. It was more than planned treachery now, The Inquisitor had just committed treason and drew the blood of his own sons.

"Susien Kuningas is a lie.... He is not one of us... He never was. I have dedicated my life to understanding the ways of this world... and I have seen the truth.... a truth that cast's the shadow of death upon us all. You will listen to my commands and obey... or you will perish beneath my mace...." He raised his weapon high as the Skull rose in pain from below. Looking up at his father. He opened his mouth but another voice echoed through the halls.

"NO!.... You speak Heresy....Your foolishness will cost the north the lives of thousands...."

He whipped about and stared at what appeared to be a single cursed blood who stepped out of the formation. The others stared on in horror, but this young Susi who was barely even of age to stand in the ranks of the army stared up at the Inquisitor.

"You... You a member of the cursed blood would stand against me? And for the sake of the one who enslaved your bloodline for three thousand years?.... your blind faith and loyalty impresses no one boy..." He marched forward with his mace extended.

"Yes, I have faith in the king, I deny you and your claims... but it is not by blind loyalty... In all your pondering and thought... you forgot the cost of your actions. You forgot to inquire what it would cost... and whether it would be worth it... you forgot to inquire of your own motives...."

Inquisitor was now feet from him. "You are mislead.... but your bravery and concern is noted..." His cold eyes stared down into the hot blooded eyes of the youth. "I am impressed... but before you die.... tell me your name, that you would be remembered... No cursed blood have I ever seen before me unbroken and without fear.... despite your betrayal. You honor your kind with your bravery...."

The youth looked up and smiled a warm inviting calm and almost blissful smile. "I am Dagfinn of the house Lempo... We... the cursed blood know in our hearts... Susien Kuningas has done his deeds for the north. We and we alone it seems are the ones who not blind in our loyalty...He has been and always will be the Guardian of our kind, of all of the north. He is the shining example of who we should all be... I strive with every fiber of my being to be like him... but I feel, you are lost in your pondering in inquiring... It has blinded you....."

"Brave words little one... the Cursed blood will be lesser when you die..." Inquisitor's mace rose but the calm smile across his lips did not fade.

"I have nothing to fear, and your inquiring mind has blinded you to more than just who and what Susien Kuningas is...."

The mace reached its peak in at the tip of Inquisitor's reach before it began to sweep down bursting into an inferno of blood red flames as it arced through the air. Though before it reached the young Susi he stepped further into Inquisitor's reach and gave a soft twirl. The mace shattered the stone floor beneath their feet and with a swift motion the young Susi Dagfinn plunged a dagger into Inquisitor's wrist. What happened next was nearly too fast to be seen. Claws lit up with magical fire and slashed back and forth as the dagger in the hands of the young Dagfinn danced about. The sound of a cold steel blade punching through ribs echoed in the room in front of The Skull. Just as the younger son struggled up from the rubble the eyes of both sons stared at the mortally wounded Dagfinn tearing the dagger out of the heart of their father. The site mortified them both. Sickness and rage built up inside but was forced cold when a heavy hand landed on the Skull's shoulder.

"Stand down... It could not have been avoided..." Susien Kuningas stepped forward, past the Skull and right up to the young Dagfinn. "Pup... I heard your words... I have noticed your deeds... you stood against what you new was wrong knowing full well what it would cost you... I have recognized your deeds.... but, even I am confused why you would act. Surely you had faith that I would come and repair this."

Dagfinn looked up from the puddle of blood, deep cauterized wounds in his back from fiery claws. "I do not need blind faith, What we the cursed blood owe to you is without measure. Your mercy to us when we deserved none cannot be repaid, but just like peace. The impossible should always be strived for. I moved because the truth was being subverted. Inquisitor saw many things others did not, but his mind was tainted with doubt. I am filled with certainty. I too question everything, but I take the answers and I instill them into who I am... I refuse to allow your grace upon my kind to be answered with treachery fueled by half truths. I may die today... but I die knowing I did what was right. And I know this without any need for blind obedience." He smiled up at the king who kneeled down looking into the young one's eyes.

"I am honestly surprised... and quite delighted. You are more than just honorable. You I feel represent what the North is... you are certainly one of it's guardians... and if you survive....then I will ensure that you are rewarded..."

His hand gently moved to the back of Dagfinn's head and he tilted him back opening his mouth. Taking the dagger from his hand he drew the blade across his own wrist and bled into the cursed blood's maw. "Drink... and we will see how well you represent the north....."

The magic fizzed and faded and Rose's eyes were cast downwards. "As the King says, even when striving to do what is right, you can do what is wrong. My grandfather did both. He earned death, but is still remembered for his service and bravery. Even as he moved to betray his king, he still wanted only what was best for the north... The fault was simply in his reasoning. Susien Kuningas says that in order to have a good soul, you must see ALL things, not just what you believe concerns you. Ignore the illusion of sides and you will see the truth..."

Pinkie's eyes were wide but her smile not wholly there. She understood it all and it amazed her but she felt strongly the pain of the two sons and of the king. "Well that was amazing!!... though..." She slathered on more frosting atop the cupcakes before throwing one to Rose who eagerly gobbled it down. "Its kinda a sad story."

"Yeah... it kinda is...."

"Another?"

".... sure!" The smell of cupcakes and magic filled Sugar cube corner as the two continued their day.

"Shaman... stand by until you are needed..." The Shaman nodded and vanished into the shadows without a word. This still was unnerving for Twilight the way he seemed so at ease with all his dark powers.

Twilight could easily tell his power was not malicious but it was far darker than the magic she was used to. "Ahem... well... this has been like very VERY short notice, I do hope that Celestia is not busy..."

Her soft hoof falls were accompanied by the long stride of the king just a few feet behind her. The guards gave him a menacing glare of mistrust. He offered back a warm smile, not blaming mistrust of such creatures to a wolf. Never the less he did not break his stride and they did not stop glaring at him with suspicion. They slowed at the door to the main hall and he breathed deeply. "Well... here goes...."

Twilight only looked at him for a moment before the door opened and they entered. There were a few ponies there going over things off a list but both Luna and Celestia were there. "Ah! Princess Luna, Princess Celestia! Cadence sent us emissaries from the far north. The king of the North himself decided to come."

Luna looked up and nearly froze. Her eyes wide and her pupils small. She looked like she had seen a ghost. Celestia looked up and smiled at Twilight. "Well then come right in we have plenty of time left in the day lets ....." Her eyes grew wide and she stared at him.

"Hello Aurinko Pylly... good to see you are doing well... goodness, last time I saw you, you were still just this tall..." He waved his hand at about his waist level. Though the air turned hot and tinged with magical power.

The banner behind Celestia caught fire and her lips turned to a snarl. "YOU!!!" Twilight flinched and quickly broke into a sweat. She was very surprised to hear the king speak to Celestia in such a familiar manner, but her response felt like it burned a hole in her soul. "HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?"

"Ponies make terrible soldiers... that could have a thing or two to do with it..." He stepped forward without an ounce of malice.

However, Celestia's power lit up like the heart of the sun and she leveled her horn at him. Loosing a blast of magical power that could level half of canterlot. The King shot forward with an open hand. Palming the powerful beam of magic he still closed the gap quickly grasping her horn with a grip of iron. Wrenching her head to the side his open left palm smashed her in the throat and his leg swept her hooves out from under her.

"After all I did for your nation, you have a funny way of showing your appreciation..." He quickly leaped out of the way as Luna dove in as if to impale him on her horn. Glancing once at his singed palm he sighed.

Celestia struggled to her hooves and coughed in a pained raspy voice. "You killed hundreds of my ponies...and for WHAT?... to give us a message?" The guards began to pour into the room and a few near forcefully pulled Twilight to the side getting her out of the way.

"We never intended for hostilities... but your kind are as stubborn and as prideful as they come... we saved your lives...and by default we saved the lives of every non pony race on your continent." His hands tensed and formed into menacing open fists to claw and smash equally.

"You declared war on us... we could barely even stand and you marched your army into our back yard bringing death with you." She hefted a polearm presented to her by one of her guards. "I was a filly then.... but you will find that I am a far more capable mare now...." She rushed in with her weapon firmly gripped within her golden magic. The moment she came within range there was the clash and ring of cold steel. The air turned deathly cold and the head of Celestia's halberd twirled about and sank into the stone wall on the far side of the great hall.

He held her firmly by the throat pulling her up to his level as he held a large ax up to her face. The weapon seethed with elemental magic more powerful than Twilight had ever felt. Ice magic. His eyes opened firmly and the whites clouded up with a pitch black as he glared into the eyes of a struggling and gasping Celestia. "Your foolish kind refused to listen to the prophecies of wolves out of petty hate... you refused to form armies against the coming darkness... we had no choice but to force you to move as we had requested... but then you went too far in retaliation...."

Gasping as she struggled her wings flapped  and finally a hoof came to his knee relieving a fair amount of pressure applied to her throat. "We had no choice... you monsters were relentless..."

"You deceived Roudan, the last of her kind into attacking us..."

"And your assaults stopped!... you obviously could not win against an old God..."

"Are you blind you petty fool..." He pressed the ax against her face and Celestia went noticeably pale.  "Our goal was to force you to create an army... we succeeded. But then you sent the last of the elementals to kill me, She much like you refused to listen to reason... I was forced to kill her..."

"Roudan?...you killed her?... " Her face twisted into horror and anger as she came to realize the weapon he was holding was made from the old God's bones.

"We came in peace, now, just like we did back then. And again, you have to step in and piss all over honorable intent...again all I wanted was to bring happiness and security to your world and my own... but you are dead set on the destruction of your people through your ignorance..." He glared at her as she returned his gaze, her eyes filled with hate and anger. "But, tell you what... I am more than fair, some even say merciful...Ill give you one last chance, see if you learn the lesson and can set aside your hate...."

His eyes drifted back to Twilight who stared on in horror. His eyes betrayed pain and sorrow but he resolved himself and threw the remains of Rouden. "Shaman! Jätän sen sinulle kunnes asiat on ratkaistu..." The bladed weapon was caught in the hand of the Shaman who nodded and turned to Twilight. The guards raised their weapons as he rushed forward. With an icy blast he was gone and Twilight toppled falling unconscious to the floor.

The king frowned and breathed deeply before releasing Celestia. "I will have to teach you the lesson the hard way then... you ponies are so damned stubborn..." To all their surprise he relaxed his stance and sat firmly on the ground in front of a confused, worried, and still quite angry Celestia. "I surrender.... go ahead Aurinko Pylly.... take me to your darkest dungeons... We will see what breaks first... your hate, or your nation..."