The Lich King's Return

Part II: Frozen Melancholy

Applejack and her 5 friends all sat in the Lich's bedroom at the Inn. He had been sleeping for 4 days straight, and Applejack was worried he wouldn't be awake when the princesses arrived. The strange visitor snored slightly and rolled over, letting Applejack get a good look at it's face. Unlike most creatures she's seen, it was hairless, except for a flowing white mane and small stubble over his chin. His complexion was pale, yet dark, and he was remarkably thin. Just what is this weird feller? How can I trust him to be near the princesses? she thought, just as he jolted upright. He had a blank look in his eyes, and that's when Applejack noticed for the first time that one eye was a cold, pale blue, and the other was a deep, dark red, like an apple that was fully ripe. He stared off for a few seconds, when Applejack worked up the nerve to speak.

"So... Lich King... I reckon you had a bad dream?" She said, with a confident voice that hid her pure fear.

The Lich King looked at her, sighed, and spoke. "I'm a Lich. I never dream, I only speak. Applejack, I should let you know, your father, Cortland, has a message. He says he's been watching you grow, and is sad he wasn't there for Applebloom's birth. He says that he regrets trying to sell apples to those bandits in the Badlands, and is so sorry he had to leave you."

Applejack's jaw clenched, and her heart burned. "Are.... are you saying my father's still alive?" she asked, hopeful. The Lich King shook his head, and Applejack's heart sank.

Fluttershy spoke up: "But, Mr. Lich King, how can you have a message from him if he's not alive?" The Lich looked at her, slightly amused, and she immediately regretted breaking her silence.

"I don't want to have to explain this multiple times, Fluttershy, so please, be patient and wait for the princesses. Also, how's Angel Bunny doing?"

Fluttershy was very shocked at the sudden name-drop. She couldn't wait any more. "How do you know all our names? Have you been watching us?"

The Lich King's eyes seemed to darken at this, and he spoke. "I guess I owe you at least one explanation. I have been watching you, yes. I've been waiting for a moment of total peacetime, where I could integrate with pony society, and rebuild my old life."

"What old life?" Asked Pinkie. "Were you a doctor? or a farmer? or a soldier? Oooh, I bet you were a baker like me! Did you make cakes? is that giant sword meant for cutting giant cakes?"

The Lich let out a hollow, airy laugh. "Close, Pinkie. I was a King. THE King. As a Lich, the only Lich to ever exist, I was king of the dead. In fact, I am dead. Sort of. It's hard to explain. I guess I'm not a king any more, seeing as how my kingdom is gone."

Rainbow Dash, who up till this point was sitting quietly, spoke up. "Oh a king, that's what you were?" She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Tell me, what happened to your kingdom? Did you forget it in your other pants?"

The Lich's eyes were tearing up, and Rainbow wondered if she crossed the line. He reached into the sack at the end of his bed, and produced two stones. "Listen closely, Rainbow. See these two stones? Nearly identical, but one is slightly different. The stone in my left hand is my world, where I was born, where I grew up, where I died, and where I was reborn." He said, casually mentioning his undeath. He crushed the stone in his hand, until it was dust. Blowing the dust away, he placed the second stone where the first used to be. "This stone is your world, where we are now. My world is gone, forever, and reborn in the form of Equestria. I survived my world's death, and sat alone, in the cold vacuum and endless expanse of space, until even that had to die. I witnessed the heat-death of the universe, miss Dash, and watched the flash that created another. I sat, waiting and watching, as the great floating rocks slammed together to make Equestria, and I waited until your world developed enough to have a decent population of the dead. Then, I hitched a ride on an incoming asteroid, and left a smoking crater in the Everfree forest, where I made my landing."

Twilight Sparkle's eyes widened with recognition. "The Agister asteroid! Princess Celestia said it was going to hit Ponyville, but mysteriously started pulling to the left! Your extra weight must have changed it's trajectory!"

Now the Lich was really crying. "Are you calling me fat?" He said, through wet eyes, and Twilight realized that, in spite of his alleged age, she was talking to a child. Well, I can say without a doubt he's probably harmless, she thought to herself, The Princesses arrive tomorrow morning. I'm sure they can sort this all out.