I was nearing the end of the week and had finally gotten the soul of a dead child to stop weighing me down. Don't get me wrong, I've killed many creatures, but never any children. I know that sounds kinda funny, killing some is okay but others aren't. An adult can usually choose the direction they're going, but children can't. Darn it, I'm rambling again. Forgive me my scattered brain, I've been doing a lot these past few days. The construction, maintaining the slaves, and planning for the future has taken up a lot of my mental faculties.

I started thinking about what I'd do once I got back to the cosmic heart, how to beat the grandparents this time. Like many wizards before me, I've dabbled in solar and lunar magic. No wizard in recorded history ever had the capacity to raise or lower the sun or moon though. Here though, the rulers of Equestria were able to do that near effortlessly. That's only two of the princesses of Equestria, there were three others too. Princess Cadance, Princess of Love, and Twilight Sparkle, who will one day be the Princess of Friendship. Solar and Lunar magic like what Equestria has, has never been seen, and were someone with my knowledge to have access to such power, I'd be near unstoppable. In a similar manner, Love magic has never truly been tried before. I'm not even entirely sure how it works, assuming it works as a cupid's arrow sort of deal, It could also be useful.

My kingdom was built from conquest, mother took over land and people and used it to build the Shimmering Isles. I may not be as magically skilled as her, but I'm no slouch. I will conquer Equestria, and return to the cosmic heart. I won't just return and fight the grandparents of creation, I will decimate them with the magic of Equestria. To do that, however, Equestria must fall. It won't be easy, but I've conquered plenty for mother, and I certainly could do so again. I've spent these few days underground building my base of operations, it's not much. I have a barracks, cafeteria, and a dressing room, perfect for my ten minions. My yellow, cutiemark-less, pegasus stallions are quite eager to get to work and I know the perfect thing to start them out on -- apple farming.

Three of my minion's fur was dyed brown and green so they would blend in well with the tree and leaves of Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack is currently working to harvest multiple fields of apples all by herself since her brother was injured, she won't be able to do it alone. Twilight will try to help her, but Applejack will decline. With my minions helping her, the work will go by much easier, and it shall also increase Applejack's confidence in her independence. Which shall allow her to remain stubborn in her belief of not asking for help which I believe will aid me later.

It would be their first mission and they'd be doing it in absolute secrecy, were they to be found out the entire mission would be null. This also meant they'd be doing it alone. From what the show was willing to show us, she'd be alone for most of the work and we knew that Applejack would gather exactly half the apples required, So that will make the job easier for us. She will work one half and the slaves shall work the other side of the field.

I was currently upstairs in the bath, cleaning myself and getting ready for the award ceremony for Applejack, It was the first time I truly could attend to my hygiene to my usual standards, there wasn't an ounce of dirt on me. I smelled of lavender and vanilla as my slaves left for Sweet Apple Acres and I would soon follow them outside. Because of the work that needs done, I will have to be outside for the majority of it. I shall have her work done in half the time it takes now, which will ultimately influence Rainbow Dash launching into Twilight's library, and Pinkie Pie's muffin baking later. Hopefully, it all works out as I intend.

Just outside the town hall, a large crowd of Ponies waited for Applejack to arrive. I quickly hid myself in the massive cocoon of pony flesh and lowered my head to appear as if I was looking at the ground. From my horn I sent out a spectral ear to listen in on the conversation at the front. Yes, they had a microphone, but where I was so far back I had trouble hearing them.

"Welcome, everypony! Today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help in matters great and small. A pony whose contributions to--" Twilight spoke before being cut off by Rainbow Dash.

The scene continued like this for a few minutes, my healer instincts kicked in for a few seconds as I used some of my magic to spy on Spike just so I knew he was alright. When both Pinkie Pie and Applejack started looking at themselves at their reflection in the trophy, I knew it was time for me to move. I left just before Applejack could leave with her trophy and started to walk around the town at a leisurely pace while letting my mind wander. In theory, me walking along the outer road of Ponyville would give the appearance that I knew where I was going while also giving off the appearance of normalcy.

To anyone looking, I was just another completely normal pony going about their day. To my dissatisfaction, I was met with a crying Applebloom, royal guards, and missing posters instead. I would not interact with any of them but judging by the picture of the filly I killed a few days ago, Twist. It was clear that Applebloom missed her friend, but I knew she'd make new ones soon and I never made eye contact with the guards. Unfortunately for me, the guards wanted to speak with me.

A white-furred stallion with blue eyes proceeded to ask me numerous questions.

"State your name and Occupation." He demanded.

I didn't particularly care, and besides, ponies are unusually trusting. " Lively Hollow, currently unemployed."

He pulled out a notebook from under his golden armor. "Lively Hollow, huh? Says here you're known amongst the residents as a hermit and you're reported to have offered medical services to one Spike Dragon, is this correct?"

Cursed horse, he's spoken with Twilight. What else does he know about me. "This is correct."

"Where were you on the day of Twist's disappearance?" He asked.

"I stayed home that day, I wasn't feeling well." I replied convincingly.

"Your home is located in the small stretch of land between the Everfree and Ponyville, correct?"

"This is also true."

"It was reported that both Twist and Applebloom were playing around that area that day, and you heard nothing from either?"

Applebloom was there too? I don't remember seeing her anywhere that night. I looked over at her while she sat on a bench, seemingly lost without her friend. That look in her eye as she saw me, she knows what I've done.

Author's Note

Please, tell me what you think, I haven't wrote anything in a while.