The Lord of Ragnarok

Lord of Ragnarok

Chapter 27: Empty

New Appleoosa - King Sombra the Magnificent's P.O.V.

The city was rebuilding, and I watched as those I now ruled over moved with purpose. It made sense. At the end of the day the people wanted to have purpose, and they wanted something that made sense to them. Rebuilding a city was the kind of motivator that could do that. The buildings that Virth had torched had ended up being rebuilt, and this time I had used crystal magic to help do it.

I wanted this place to resemble my kingdom, and to their credit the artisans that were left alive had done well in cutting the crystal and using it as building blocks. The buildings weren’t organically grown as my Crystal Empire had been, but instead they were built from crystal. There was something industrious about the action, and I approved of it. It was a chance to truly rebuild my empire in my own vision.

I looked over those working, and I did not give them reason to revolt. They were fed, cared for, and they accepted that their lives were now under the protection, and absolute authority of King Sombra the Magnificent. I was uncertain of what Anok had done to them, but they took to the idea of an absolute ruler fairly well. There was no crying out, no call for rebellion, but instead they completely submitted.

In truth a part of me enjoyed this. I loved watching my servants doing as I asked, watching as they toiled endlessly. I felt that this was right. Those that lived here were, as Mannulus had stated, guilty by association. They had stood by and done nothing while their government had attacked those different than themselves. Allowing them to become subjugated seemed to be a worthy tradeoff.

As they worked I looked over the work. Each building had teams working between twelve and sixteen hour days in order to complete the projects before them. It was a daunting task to say the least, and I understood that it would be one that would last several years. The city would be complete, there would be a magnificent representation of the power of the spirit driving the efforts, but it would also likely take a considerable amount of time. Each block was cut, carved, placed, and then the next block received the same treatment. The Crystal itself was formed from the crystal I created through my magic.

In doing so I infused each building to become weapons. Even separated the blocks would hold some of my power. Should a fight breakout here I could draw on that power, allowing myself a temporary recharge. It would be easy enough to simply grow the buildings directly from crystal. If I did it would be a matter of carving out the insides, which again would take time, but I wanted it to be built as it was being built. I wanted them to take the time to cut and place each block. Doing so would instill a sense of purpose, and it would give them a reason to view the city as more than a collection of buildings. It would be a monument to their industrial spirit.
That was my truest goal. Push them forward, have them becoming more industrious, strive for invention, create the drive of creativity, and create a sense of purpose. I understood all too well where this was coming from. Who I was now had changed considerably. I was neither the gamer who played Ragnarok, nor was I King Sombra. I was a new being composed of both, and King Sombra had been a ruler through and through. He was industrious, striving for his empire to grow, to take more land, and to create greater weapons of war.

A good part of that was in me. I felt the same drive, but I focused on the city, the buildings, and I would spread this aesthetic throughout all of my new kingdom. Each town, each village, would become composed of crystal. I understood something else as well. It was something that was revealed to me after Mannulus had brought me back. I was immortal. I wasn’t eternal, but I was immortal. Time would have no effect on me. Sickness, disease, all of it would never touch me. It also revealed something else to me as well. As much as I loved her, Timidus would grow old. She would eventually succumb to death, and I would be forced to watch it happen. I felt the stirring of panic, and I realized that this was also something else left over from King Sombra as well. Or perhaps rather it was from one of the alternate versions of him.

There were an infinite number of universes, and the fact that Blackjack, the actual Blackjack, and her mother walked among us proved that each of these universes existed in their own world. It also meant that I was connected to each and every other version of King Sombra that existed. Some of those versions slipped into the darkness not out of a need for power, but rather out of love. Some versions had discovered immortality only to realize that those he cared for would grow old and die. He was forced to watch them slowly wither away, and it began to drive him mad. I felt that madness creeping in at the edges. I felt the need to change Timidus, to change my servants, to alter my foal, and make them all immortal.

The knowledge of how resided in my mind. There was an infinite collection of dark magics that I could call upon to grant them immortality, but all magic came with a price. If I attempted to crystalize them I would trap their essence, their souls, in slivers of crystal. Effectively it would stop their aging, and it would make them immortal, but it would imprison them in a lone cell, trapped away from all sight, sensation, and it would be a hell.

The one true thing I could do would be to take the black book from Mannulus. From its magic I could cut a small sliver of their souls, and then bind that sliver to their bodies. Perhaps I could convince Mannulus of my need for the book, but I doubted that he would part with the book. I knew, on a deep level, the terrible power that came with that book. I understood the temptation it held, and I knew the dark magic that begged to be released. Even here in this world the power of the stars was beyond understanding and control. To believe one’s self able to control that power was to flirt with disaster in the most outlandish and dangerous way.

Yet it didn’t change the truth of the matter. I didn’t erase what I felt was a true need. The black book would be the best option of achieving what I needed. For me to gain access to it I would need to find some way to make Mannulus relieve it, and I was uncertain if there was a direct option to do so. So, I would need to work behind the curtain, within the shadows, and I would need to gain access through alternative means. Mannulus loved all of his brides, and Rainbow Dash, and her parents, were my creations. I knew that she was loyal to her husband, that she would do nothing to harm him, but I also knew that her loyalty spread to me as well. I could work her from behind the scenes, have her gain access to the book, and bring it to me.

There would be no repercussions for her to do so. Mannulus simply loved her too much. Perhaps he might spank her, or have her take him in her ass, but there would be nothing that would do permanent harm to her. It was possible that my actions would do more harm, possibly, in the sense that I would be causing her act in ways she wouldn’t normally act. It could be possible that my bringing her loyalty to me into question could damage her psyche, but would it be worth it?

Would gaining the ability to give those I cared about immortality be worth the possible damage I could do to Rainbow? Part of me knew the answer. Nothing would be worth harming any of the guardians. I could potentially harm the temple, our guild, and it would all be for selfish desires. Yet, was it selfish? Was I selfish in that I wanted to protect what was mine? Was I wrong in wanting to keep them safe? No, I didn’t think so. I was acting out of love, or I was with Timidus.

I looked at her as we watched the city slowly being rebuilt. There was no other choice here. There was no simple change. In order to do what must be done I would need the book. I would need the power it had, and I would change this kingdom. My original subjects would become immortal, and those that serve me now would earn the chance for it. I would gift it to them as a reward for a life of servitude, and they would live forever. There would be no sickness that would touch them, no mere weapon that would kill them, and instead they would face eternity whole and complete.

Of course I would need to consider how I bound the sliver of their souls. Binding it to their bones would allow their bodies the ability to be harmed. Binding it to their skin would be better. No arrows would pierce them, no swords would take them, they would be indestructible, and they would be mine to control. I would have an unstoppable army, full of immortals, capable of overthrowing any that dared to stand against the temple, and potentially it could only cost a single life. Surely saving so many would be worth a single one. There was absolutely no doubt that Mannulus would see the truth of my argument. He would understand. The one thing I could count on was that he was rational most of the time.

It was settled, I would send word, via one of my own Pegasi, to Rainbow Dash and have her come to me. I would explain what I wanted, and I would question her loyalty if needed. I understood what could happen, but I would accept Mannulus’ anger should it be given. This was not the time to withdraw. It was the time to push forward, to face the future, and to embrace the change that was needed. It was time to shape our destinies, and if that meant doing things that would be considered vile and evil, then so be it, I would do so.

Besides, I am King Sombra the Magnificent, and none could question my purpose.

The Temple of Celestia Sol

Mannulus’ chambers - Rainbow Dash’s P.O.V.

I lay in the bed, my entire body tired. I’d asked Lord Mannulus to make love to me, well, to all of us, and he’d done so. A spell that I didn’t know he knew was called into play, and we weren’t dealing with a single version of our husband, but six of him. It’s one thing to have a single husband loving you, it’s quite another to have three demanding attention at once. My jaw, pussy, and tailhole are so sore. Not only that but I’m covered in some kind of sextastic glaze that I’m pretty sure is going to stick me to the bed.

I look over at Adagio who seems to be the same boat. Not only that, but so are Solar Flare, Luna, Twilight, and Obitus who all seem tired to the extreme. Obitus slowly sits up, grimacing slightly as she leans on one side of her hip to another. I watched her, and I understood all too well. She had not one, but two different versions of Lord Mannulus in her tailhole at once. He had her begging, like a naughty filly, to please let her cum and let her rest. The six of us slowly relaxed, and it was Twilight who finally breathed out the collective sigh we all felt.

“We need to relax, bathe, bathe again, and burn the sheets in here.”

There was a massive agreement of that, and together the six of us went to the huge tub in the master bathroom, and in there we soaked in the hot water. I felt the warmth of the water surround me, and I looked toward Obitus as she sat across from me. The very goddess of death herself seemed to enjoy the quiet soak as we sat together.

“How did you convince our husband to choose you?”

She smiled, something I realized was a wicked and usually sinister looking smile, and looked at the ceiling, “I forced him to finish becoming what he was meant to become, although he did cheat to do it,” she said, “Also, I fear that I may have opened something to him that was best left alone.”

Solar Flare looked at her, “What did you open?”

She closed her eyes and focused until a black book appeared before all of us. I knew it as the book that our husband had, but it looked a little different. That’s when I realized that it wasn’t the same copy. She held it, looking disturbed by it, but nonetheless she refused to open it.

“This book was created in an alternate universe, by a powerful zebra alchemist. That zebra unknowingly tapped into the powers of my kindred,” she said.

“Your kindred?” I asked.

She nodded, “In their world my kindred are the stars, celestial bodies that light up the night sky, but are far more than just that. They are spirits, ancient spirits, that look toward the world below in wonder. Some are malicious, wishing for total destruction, but there are several who simply wish to watch the insects crawling upon that planet. They find joy in seeing them become more than they were. This book, dared to steal some of the power of a more… malicious star.”

She looked at us, “It bound the soul of the zebra to it, causing him to become eternal, in a sense, and at the same time sealed his fate. He would forever be bound to the book, never knowing peace, but always thirsting for power, for knowledge, for revenge, and for the lusts of the flesh,” she said as she focused her magic, causing the book to disappear, and in its place a portal open.

They watched the portal as a four legged version of Lady Rarity found the book, and she shook her head, “It raped this version of Rarity’s mind, making her becoming dependent upon it. It corrupted her to the point that it changed the direction of her magic, but it didn’t count on her friendship and love for her friends to be so powerful. It kept that zebra’s soul from taking her completely.”

We watched in wonder as the portal closed, “Wait, what happened to her?”

She sighed, “She died. But, at the same time she didn’t. She will never know peace because she split her soul into forty-three pieces, and forty-two of those are bound to that earthly plane. She will never see her friends again, she will never know the peace she deserves, and that is her fate. She must always be forced to be separated from her friends, constantly disguised as them in the form of small statues.”

I shook my head, “Why doesn’t someone free her?”

She smiled, sadly, “It would mean all of the statues must be found, then a powerful necromancer would need to cast the spell to release her soul from them. Doing so would be nearly impossible.”

I watched as Twilight looked at her, “How does this affect our husband?”

She smiled sadly, “He tapped into the magic of the book to become a lesser god. In essence, by doing so he has opened the door to that soul to speak to him. It tempts him, even now, and it is only his impressive will power that prevents himself from giving in,” she looked at us, “The zebra will take every form it can to trick him, including that of a willing female. It will seduce every potential lust, desire, and greed our husband has until it breaks his willpower, and it will never give in.”

“I won’t let it!” I growled.

She smiled, “That’s good, because that is exactly what we must do. We must give him our love, we must devote ourselves to his desires, and we must show him that he doesn’t need to false promises of that soul. We will show him that we have far more to offer than a malicious soul bound to the power of an even more malicious star.”

After she explained that the door opened, and Siliva stepped in. Like Obitus she was a Dullahan, but unlike her she wasn’t completely bound to her rules. Since she was created here, and since her creator gave her a mind, and abilities, separate from Obitus she doesn't have to reap the souls of the living. It was something she could do, but I knew that she would instead choose to serve the temple. She looked toward us and bowed to me.

“Lady Rainbow Dash, I bring word from King Sombra the Magnificent. He wishes to speak to you, and declares that it must be done quickly.”

I nodded, rose from the bath and looked at my sister wives. All of them understood. My loyalty belonged to Lord Mannulus, but I owed loyalty to my creator as well. Ultimately I had long since decided that I would honor my husband beyond my creator, but a request for my presence was something I would honor. I dressed quickly, took to the sky, and flew toward King Sombra the Magnificent’s new kingdom. Upon landing I saw him. He smiled at me, walking toward me, and offered to give me a hug. It was something that I gave willingly.

“Rainbow, I have a request,” he said.