Dousing Rod with the help of his fellow guards and the eggheads in the lab finally connected the dots. Not only was the strange magical residue found at the murder scene at Ponyville, it was also found in the jail cell where the prisoner escaped and more recently at a robbed store. Now all Dousing Rod had to do was turn in the report to Celestia to continue this investigation and track the murderer.

Celestia was enjoying her tea in the dinning room until the investigator came in. 'Hopefully this isn't more bad news.' The guard walked up before bowing.

"You may rise, what news do you have for the investigation today?" Celestia said.

"Well your majesty, we have evidence connecting the jailbreak, the murder and the robbery, we believe the pony you captured may also be the murder."

'Well, that's bad news.'

"But also your majesty, we learned that we could trace the path the murder took, it's almost as if they are using magic 24/7, we can track them down immediately with your permission."

'There's the good news.' "Ah, this is great news lead investigator. Have a team of royal guards track the murderer but don't engage, the murderer is to powerful to take down, find them and report back to me."

"Yes Princess Celestia, we will track them down immediately."

Shadow Sense decided that he no longer needed to waste energy wearing a disguise so the illusion was turned off and she transformed into the humanoid form, to give off a more leader like look. Lathran would've been proud of his work if he wasn't stoic. Having nothing of immediate importance to do, he sat there and contemplated future plans for golems and structures alike. 'The golems should naturally absorb magic from the air just like him, but is there such a thing as to much magic absorption?' 'Would having to many golems kill the land itself?' 'Grid formation structures should be good, just like the old cities, do I want organic citizens?'

There was to much to question. I mean, there doesn't appear to be to many negative effects on the land from his golems. 'It may be only 7 in the base right now, but 30 doesn't seem to much.' I started pondering mass production ideas, I could only think of one. 'Someone else making them.' I created another minion, this one is only made of magic, no solid parts. It's personality has all the information I used to make the golems. This wraith is a mist with many sharp spider like legs so it can easily move parts together and shape them with ease. It's body has no structure and can't be broken, it can only be moved with magic. I will call it a replicator, nice and simple. I shove a large portion of magic into it and order it to make 5 construction golems and 2 guard golems to help with construction and protection.

It may have used up a lot of the stone but I was happy with the results. Stone collection was doubled along with construction. This must be what it feels like to play RTS games in real life, it's a bit satisfying. I told the replicator to make 6 dirt golems to act as guards, they will be faster and act as cannon fodder. I'm glad this amulet is holding up, but it won't last forever, it would probably make a great pillar in the construction of my enclave.

As I waited for time to pass one of my stone guards caught my attention, then it spoke two words. "Pegasus pony."

I used my magic to read the personality and memories of the golem, it appears a searching party has found me. They left and did not engage. I am glad they were paying attention while I was thinking. '1 pegasus and probably some unicorns.' I wondered how they found me so fast... Oh well, let's hope that the ponies don't immediately try to destroy him. I shifted my body into a new form, it's the equivalent of a male alicorn, without the alicorn magic of course. Not that the ponies could tell the difference. It's roughly the same size as Celestia with the same coat colors and cutie mark as Shadow Sense.

[#201931 hex color for coat] Dark purple / indigo almost Luna like, but darker.
[#620B54 hex color for hair / eyes] A more natural purple yet still dark.

With this new form, I could easily strike surprise and obedience into ponies, I may even surprise anyone long enough to actually be able to speak to them. I got some construction golems to make me a throne with stairs leading up to it, I did not melt the pieces together because I didn't want the throne outside, but I did melt the seat itself into one piece. I then sat in the throne and ordered 2 stone guards to stand next to me on each side. Then I waited for the confrontation, after several hours I saw multiple flying ponies coming my direction with some carriages in tow. They landed about 40 meters out, the ponies all got out of the carriages to get into formation.

Then there was Celestia herself, she left a majority of he guards behind and brought 2 spear wielding guards with her. She walked calmly up while her guards seemed to be shivering in fear. 'Pathetic' I gave Celestia the full welcome.

"Celestia, it's great to see you, I'm sorry I don't have food prepared, I haven't set up any sort of agriculture yet."

Celestia was a little confused but spoke anyways. "I didn't know there was another alicorn, there haven't been any ascensions recently." She looked at me with a face telling me I'm a fake and to quit with the bullshit.

"Why of course there hasn't been an ascension recently, I'm not an alicorn, but this does not mean we can't be allies. My name is Lathran, don't wear it out."

'Allies?' Celestia thought. 'Not until he explains his crimes.'

"Tell me, why did you commit murder and theft in my nation."

I thought about that for only a moment. "Ah, you mean the murder of Anon yes? He was a threat to the planet in his unstable condition, I figured it was best to kill him before he spilled certain knowledge."

"What kind of knowledge?" Celestia asked.

"The kind of knowledge that could destroy planets and eradicate species without any effort, I didn't want my other half to spread knowledge that would lead to war and death. What if the griffons got hold of it?"

'That makes some sense, but what does he mean about other half?' "I'm sorry, did you say other half?"

"Exactly, you purified Anon right? I'm the half that got removed, left behind was an unstable human with dangerous knowledge. I would know, he likely had multiple personality disorder since I was no longer there to contain them. Imagine if he had a fit of rage and killed one of your subjects? I felt it better to kill him before he caused a scene."

'That is, dark, Anon wasn't my subject and it may be unfair to him, but I can't lose my ponies over the unstable half of an alien.' Celestia thought.

"I would also be willing to sign a peace treaty here and now along with a mutual defense pact. I have much to offer in exchange for peace and knowledge." I spoke again.

"What about the robbery?"

"Ah yes, I needed that amulet to jump start my enclave, I would gladly pay back tenfold when I can along with a formal apology."

'That isn't enough to trust him.' "I demand that you give it back, I will return the property to it's rightful owner. You can't be trusted with it."

I give the amulet to her. "I apologize for any inconvenience I may have brought upon you. Lets not have this get in the way of peace."

Celestia teleported a piece of parchment in front of her and wrote down a treaty before passing it to me. Using my magic I picked it up and signed it, but not before reading it. I passed it back to her. 'She can break the treaty whenever I become "evil" or commit anymore crimes, so no murder for self protection.'

"May our peace bring much fortune to us both." I said while waving goodbye.

"Yes may our peace last forever, Lathran." She spoke while walking away. 'If he commits more crimes, he's going in the garden, too dangerous to give more than a second chance.'

I sat on my throne and watched as Celestia and her army gathered and left to Canterlot. I am glad I have time to bide my plans.

Author's Note

-Begin Author's Notes-

These two chapters may seem sudden, what do you think about the change in direction?

-Tracker-
--Base
-10 construction golems, stone.
-4 guard golems, stone.
-6 guard golems, dirt.
-1 replicator wraith

--Collection group going to Galloping Gorge
-4 collection golems, dirt.
-1 guard golem, stone.

-End Author's Notes-