The Lost Lord of Iron

Chapters

Of Dread and Iron | Chapter 1
First Contact | Chapter 2
Soul Undying | Chapter 4
Death in his wake | Chapter 5
Dead Iron meets Living Flesh | Chapter 3

Of Dread and Iron | Chapter 1

Author's Note

Howdy there!

As an avid reader of fanfiction, I've stumbled upon the 'merchant at a convention' trend and thought I'd give it a go myself, so here we are! I wouldn't expect frequent updates, however, my writing battery is rather finnicky. Regardless!

I hope you all enjoy it, and happy reading!

[THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REWRITTEN]

Of Dread and Iron | Chapter 1

The air buzzed with an almost electric energy as the crowd flowed like the tides of the sea, the shadow of a large building looming over them. They all looked happy, or a tad nervous. Not that anybody could blame the nervous ones, it was a pretty sizable event, and people from all over the world had been making their way to and from the area.

After all, It was a gaming convention! A place where nerds can meet their favorite creators, dress up in cosplay, or just interact with their fellows. Everyone could feel the excitement in the air, thick and palpable. Not one wanted to be left out of the momentous gathering of geeks.

Except, save for one. Which would just happen to be me. 19 years old, Socially awkward, hasn’t-seen-the-sun-in-days me. I was completely out of my element here, and fear gripped me like a vice. Of course, I was fully aware the fear was irrational, but it still held me in its paralyzing grasp as the crowd milled around me.

I was like a rock in the middle of a stream. Nobody paid me any mind, simply going about their business as they made their way to the convention building. To me, the whole thing was incredibly daunting. I had no friends to come with, and the mere concept of making friends in real life mortified me. So I stood there as stock-still as I could, hoping I would get some breathing room anytime soon.

20 minutes came and went, and I was still standing there, the crowd barely diminishing in size. Go figure for one of the largest nerd events on the planet. I was just lucky I managed to shower the night before and get some deodorant on me, or else I’d be drowning in self-consciousness right about now. Regardless, I couldn’t stay here. I had to, at the very least, find a place to sit down.

As I began to move, the crowd that once flowed around me got the inclination that I was entirely ready to merge with them. I was not. I bumped into several people as I tried to make my way out, my face flushing considerably as I spouted profuse apologies in passing. This was already a terrible experience, and I internally chided myself for ignoring all the possible ways this whole thing could go wrong. I just hoped nobody was going to scream at me.

Which, was of course, another baseless fear. I had a lot of those, but even though I was good at acknowledging them, it didn’t really make them any easier to deal with. Luckily enough however, I no longer had to deal with the crowd of nerds as I finally made it out. I soon found myself a nice spot to sit against a concrete wall, content to simply watch the crowd mill about. I resolved myself to go inside once the crowd had gotten to tolerable levels.

But, that little thought had me waiting there on the hard concrete for 3 total hours, my rear end seriously unhappy with how uncomfortable my sitting place was. But at least the crowd had thinned significantly in that time, so it wasn’t a total loss. Getting up with a groan, I briefly popped my neck and began making my way to the convention doors, taking out my visitor ID card for security to scan when the time came.

The little social interaction with security passed with no hiccups, despite all the intrusive thoughts telling me otherwise. I quelled them with little difficulty as I turned my attention to the swathe of fellow gamers, intricate cosplays, and developer booths that littered the convention.

I spent hours just lurking around, never really approaching anyone, fine with just watching from the sidelines as the cosplayers and their friends struck poses and horsed around with each other. I watched fans interact with their favorite dev teams, asking the tired developers more questions than they could answer. During the whole ordeal, I could feel a bemused smile tugging at my lips, but instinct told me to remain stone faced, and so I did.

The entirety of my time at the convention was spent doing that.

As the day came to a close and the visitors began filtering out, I could feel an unexpected weight lift from my shoulders. It was finally over. While enjoyable, it was wildly outside of my comfort zone. Maybe I’ll come to another one of these someday. Maybe. Who knows? I may never come back to one of these ever again. The whole experience was incredibly draining.

My thoughts began to cloud over as I walked back to my hotel room, but that little daydreaming session was cut short as I heard a curt ‘psst’ come from the alleyway to my left. I turned as quickly as I could to face whatever was there, and soon saw a man dressed up as The Merchant from Resident Evil 4, hunched over and beckoning me into the alleyway.

“Theodore Goobins, What a pleasure it is to finally meet you!”

My entire body locked up. How did he know my name? I wasn’t even wearing my visitor card. Was he watching me during the whole convention? No, that’s absurd… But how did he know my name? I needed answers, and I needed them now.

“H-how do you know my name, and who are you?”

I asked, visibly uncomfortable with the situation. The merchant simply laughed and waved me off, as if I had asked a silly question.

“Never mind that, Mr. Goobins! Come, come, I have some Items I think you’d love to get your grubby little hands on,” He said excitedly, continuing to beckon me into the alleyway.

The more I thought about refusing the more nervous I got, thoughts beginning to delve into what he’d do if I said no. I never wanted to get wrapped up with shifty people before, and this guy was the shiftiest person I’ve ever met. But I didn’t really have much of a choice now, did I? Who knows what he’d do to me…

I took short, hesitating steps into the alleyway, following him from a slight distance as he led me down a winding corridor of brick and concrete. I was pretty sure that this wasn’t how alleyways worked, but that train of thought was quickly nipped in the bud as we arrived at a square room with a table smack-dab in the middle of it.

The merchant found his spot behind the table, and spread his arms wide over the selection of items there. It really was quite the spread! There were a lot of items I recognized, and they were very high quality. The price tags attached to them clearly showed that, too. My respect for the man went up considerably, making the fear I felt somewhat smaller. As shifty as he was, he had items of great quality.

As I was hunched over looking at what he had in store, my eyes landed on a crown I was very familiar with. The crown itself was angular and sharp, like claws reaching towards the ceiling, glowing a deep cyan with the LED lights that had been expertly placed inside. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could swear he was smiling.

“Something you fancy catch your eye?” he asked, his voice laced with barely contained mirth. It was odd, sure, but maybe he was just eager to finally get a sale. The table looked rather full, which was a clear sign that nobody had bought anything from him. That revelation shocked me, truly, it did. His replicas were so well-made, it was insane that he had such a hard time selling.

Though, one good look at the surroundings was reason enough for that. He was so tucked away from the convention area, I was equally unsurprised to find that nobody had found him yet. I gave the price tag on the crown a peek and grimaced. Nearly a thousand dollars. Quite pricey for a prop…

“I-I’m sorry, as much as I’d like to get this, it’s way out of my budget.” I said sadly, moving back up to my full height. The Merchant didn’t seem too perturbed though, as he had chuckled, shaking his head as he picked up the crown.

“Don’t worry about such a silly thing. Instead, how about we make a deal?” He said, leaning forward, his torso above the table as he looked me in the eyes.

“What kind of deal?”

“Oh, one you’ll find quite agreeable. I give you the crown, and in return, you give me entertainment.” He held out his hand to me, and I immediately felt the air begin to vibrate. It was odd, but nothing I paid much mind to, as my thoughts were focused on the conversation.

Entertainment? What did he mean by that? I really hoped he didn’t mean anything sexual, because no matter how much I wanted that crown, never in a million years would I do something like that for a prop.

“What kind of e-entertainment?” I couldn’t keep the nervousness out of my voice as I asked, taking a small step back. He seemed to notice this and began to laugh, the sound ringing in my ears in an unnatural fashion. This whole situation was beginning to deeply unnerve me.

“Certainly not the kind you’re thinking of, Mr. Goobins. I mean I’m simply going to watch as you play.” He said, wiping a mirthful tear from his eye as he finally calmed down.

Play. Oh! He wanted me to stream as I played! That was easy, but… Why? That’s such a small thing to ask for, and I wasn’t even a good player. Casual at best. Nothing special, or at all worth watching. I heaved a sigh and took another step back, giving him a weary look.

“I’m sorry, man, it really wouldn’t be a fair deal on your end. Nice meeting you, though,” I said as I began to leave. The vibration in the air seemed to intensify for a split second as I turned my back.

“WAIT!” The merchant yelled, a hand materializing on my shoulder. I flinched and turned my head to look at him.

How did he get there so fa-

“Don’t you want a second chance, Mr. Goobins? A fresh start?” His words interrupted my thoughts.

I froze in place as I quickly looked away, my breath becoming shaky. He already knew my name, but now, my thoughts were gripped with fear. Had he somehow found out? How could he have possibly found out!? Had he been stalking me? How did he know? HOW DID HE KNOW? HOW DID HE KN-

“This is a chance for a fresh start, Mr. Goobins. Just like you always wanted.” he interrupted my train of thought once again, his voice cutting through the tension like a hot knife through warm butter. I turned around to face him, the crown in his hand glowing even brighter than before. His other hand was still outstretched, waiting to be grasped in a handshake.

A fresh start for me wasn’t possible. Not unless I left this hellish planet behind. But, I really had nothing to lose from this. I audibly gulped, looking at his open hand with trepidation. Every instinct in my body was screaming at me to run, to leave and to never look back, but my heart wanted to take his hand, to see what kind of ‘fresh start’ he was offering.

Guided by the wild beating of my heart, I grasped his hand with mine, and shook it. The merchant’s eyes went wide with glee as I did so, pressing the crown into my other hand.

“I cannot wait to see what kind of shenanigans you get up to, Mr. Goobins.”

And with that, my world went black. I could feel the sickening sensation of being thrown, but no matter where I looked it was just black. I screamed, terrified out of my mind, unable to fully grasp what was happening as I went hurtling through the seemingly endless void.

This went on for a solid 30 minutes, and my screaming had long since stopped. I slowly yet surely collected myself, and came to one conclusion. I was going to die. With this revelation, an odd calm washed over me. Maybe the merchant tricked me and pushed me down some super deep trap door in the floor I didn’t see beforehand. No hole was this deep, but it was the only logical explanation I could come to. I closed my eyes, and a light smile graced my face. I could finally rest. No more week-long bouts of self-loathing, no more guilt, no more hurting myself in the wee hours of the night when the shame got the better of me. With my death... I'd make it all right.

Or at least, that’s what I had hoped. He did say fresh start after all.

Suddenly, the sensation of falling had vanished as if it were never there to begin with, and it was replaced with dusty smells and a cold wind. I slowly opened my eyes, and I was greeted with the sight of what looked to be an extremely dilapidated throne room, weak sunlight filtering in through the broken ceiling, snow covering parts of the floor. Piles of rotting timber and dusty old bricks were littered across the large room, and once beautiful tapestries hung ragged from the walls, any discernible symbols worn away by the passage of time. It took me a second to realize that I was at the very far end of it. On a throne, that seemed to be one of a pair that sat there.

As I looked down to inspect the throne, the state of my seat became the least of my concerns as I laid eyes upon my visage. I was clad in dark, gnarled armor that just screamed ‘tyrant’. I stood up, looking at my gauntleted hands with a mix of worry and awe. Not only did I look entirely different, but I felt different too.

I felt powerful. I felt strong. I felt utterly unstoppable, as if I could simply take what I want, when I wanted it. I could feel the excitement begin to take over as I finally recognized who's armor I seemed to be wearing. The things I could do! The legions I could bend to my will! The mountains I could CRUSH beneath my might! I could teach the world to fear my name. I was Sahn-Uzal. I… was Mordekaiser. The Iron Revenant, and Lord of Death.

I felt the zeal for conquest begin to rise within me, threatening to overwhelm me. But this glorious feeling was quickly swept away by the all-consuming apathy that soon returned once it realized I was still quite ‘alive’. I fell back onto my paltry throne, my arms as heavy as the old stone around me.

‘No you aren’t, don’t be so full of yourself’ I thought bitterly, heaving a great and dreadful metallic sigh as I slumped in my throne. Sure, I certainly looked like him, and most likely had his abilities, but these were some large sabatons to fill. I was nowhere near the man that the real Mordekaiser was. Sure, he was evil, but he had a purpose. Conviction. A will to never fade. Me? I’m just a drifter on life’s current, wanting nothing more than to forget the past.

I stood from my throne once again and began to walk the length of the throne room, slowly making my way towards the great wooden doors. Each footstep was filled with undead strength, and the rumble of my newfound power caused the ground to shake lightly with each heavy footfall. I was wholly undeserving of it. I pushed the doors open with no effort at all despite how large they were, and stepped onto a platform that overlooked a grand hall, with six doors lining the way, three on each side of the hall itself.

I made my way down the stairs from the platform, and mentally noted the two giant tapestries that hung from the ceiling. Horses, it'd seem... Well, horses with wings and a horn. One tapestry was yellow, and the other was a royal blue. A quirky choice of decoration, but who was I to judge? In my youth, I probably would've chosen something edgy. I soon strode my way across the hall, folding my hands behind my back as I gazed at the doors I passed. I made a quick mental note to explore those once I got done looking around outside.

Approaching the doors, I unclasped my hands from behind my back and pressed against them, opening them slowly as to not damage the aged wood. Though they seemed sturdy enough on second thought. The light of the sun glared down at me as the doors fully opened, giving me the view of a yard coated in a thick layer of snow. The sight of the fluffy whiteness helped ease my heart. I always loved snow, how it glittered in the sunlight, the tranquility of it... I smiled slightly beneath my helmet, enjoying the little wonders that the world had to offer me.

It felt a bit cold, but comfortably so, as if I were bundled up and protected from the harshness of it. I simply waved it off as a magic thing and went along my way, exiting the castle proper to stand upon the steps of what I was sure to have been a once great stronghold. The castle I appeared in seemed to be stationed in the midst of a giant forest, trees stretching around me like a veritable sea of snow-covered evergreens and willows that strangely haven't lost their foliage.

Looking back, the sheer size of the place and how ornate it was made me think about it's likely long and storied history, and more importantly... Just where the hell was I? A place like this definitely would've been famous, and definitely well cared for. Maybe I was the first one to discover it? No, no, that's absurd. I banished the silly thought as I continued, walking down the stairs and onto the field. I soon noted that the castle sat atop a sort of island, detached from the rest of the forest due to the presence of a ravine that seemed to stretch all around it.

Well isn't that just neat.

Looking for a way across, I soon spotted a rickety, wooden bridge that swayed slowly from side to side in the wind. It was pretty obvious, even at first glance, that the rotten wooden planks the thing was made up of weren't going to be able to hold my weight in ANY capacity. I grumbled slightly, cursing my bad luck. It seemed I'd need to find another way to get across... Or I'd just need to jump, which, depending on how powerful my legs were, could be a lot easier than it looks.

Turning with a huff, I made my way back into the castle, making sure to shake the snow from my boots as to not... Make the already damp floors wetter? It was purely out of habit at this point. But that wasn't my chief concern at the moment. What I needed was to get my bearings. As soon as I do that, I can sit down and get to thinking on my next move.

It was time to explore the castle itself.

As I strode into the main hall, I gave each door a good long look before coming to a complete stop in the center, hands on my hips as I considered which door to go through. Most doors were still on their hinges, but some were askew, and one was simply gone entirely. I could feel my train of thought starting to wander down the path of wondering what happened to the missing door, before my eyes caught a glimpse of a piece of paper that sat nestled underneath one of them.

Taking a few long steps to get there, I pulled the paper free and gave it a good look-over. It was in English, that much I knew, but... Barely legible. Time really did a number on it. Sighing, I let the paper fall from my hand before I looked towards the door I rescued it from. Might as well check there first.

Opening the door, I was greeted with a short hallway, that quickly opened up to a rather large library. The place had a somewhat strong scent of mildew and dust, overturned wooden tables strewn about the space. The books in the shelves seemed to be relatively clean and well preserved, I quickly noted... Odd. One would think that the books would be the first to crumble.

On the only upright table sat a rather thick tome, one that seemed to be covered in dust as I would reckon an ancient book should be. Brushing the layer of dust from it's cover, It was revealed to be a compendium. 'Royal Sisters Library Compendium: A-Z'. Jackpot. Opening the aged tome carefully, I set about reading for any maps that might be here in the library...

A boring 15 minutes later gave me some results!

There were indeed a few maps in the library, though where is the question. The names of the maps were odd, though. Maps of someplace called... 'Equestria'? There wasn't any country I knew of by that name. A strange feeling of excitement and hope began to bubble up from my chest, my breath becoming shaky as I immediately began the search for the maps in question, not even bothering to take note of the giant broken Pegasus-unicorn statue.

It took some time of course, tromping through the ancient library, but I eventually came across my quarry. Nestled neatly in a square shelf was a bundle of large scrolls, with a small metal plaque underneath reading 'maps'. Gingerly sliding one out of it's resting place, I brought the map over to the table, and spread it out. What I saw nearly made me cry, if it weren't for the fact I no longer had tear ducts.

The map, albeit obviously dated, was a map of a land I've never seen before. A whole new world. While it mostly detailed the landmass that I was sent to, in the four cardinal directions it labeled other countries. The Empire of Griffonstone to the east, The Islands of Minos to the far west, The Nation of Zebrica to the south, and someplace called 'The Crystal Empire' way up north. Gently letting go of the map, I took a few deep breaths, before the sheer joy in my soul erupted out of my mouth in the form of a jubilant cry.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES" I bellowed with my face to the ceiling, the sheer power of my voice causing the dust to become unsettled and the stone to shake ever so slightly. This was it! A brand new start in a brand new world! The prospect of being here was simply far too exciting. Maybe I'd get to meet some fantasy races! Like dwarves or elves! Maybe even DRAGONS! I rubbed my gauntleted hands together giddily as I exited the library, unable to stop the giggles leaving my mouth.

Maybe I could fix up this place someday! That’d certainly be nice. But before doing any of that, I’d have to meet the locals of this world and somehow convince them that I’m not as mean as I look. But that involved actually interacting with people. So, no, that was off the table, as much as I’d love to meet all the different races this place surely had to offer. I mean, it was a fantasy world, right? There just HAD to be fantasy races, too.

But as I reentered the throne room after making my way through the main hall, my excitement was replaced by a profound sadness as I looked upon the twin thrones. My thoughts soon drifted to him. I... I didn't deserve this second chance. HE did. This... This wasn't right. This was UNFAIR. Unfair that I was given this second chance, when I knew of someone who deserved it far, far more than I did...

But I had no right to complain about fairness.

I walked up the steps to the thrones and sat down in one of them, my shoulders slumped, my arms heavy. I sat there, stewing in my guilt for who knows how long. I didn’t even realize the sun had gone down while I was neck deep in self-loathing. But something inside me was constantly battling with those thoughts, raging against them, speaking of the greatness I could achieve now that I had a new chance at life with powers beyond my comprehension. It was a difficult internal struggle, but one that the new voice soon found itself on top of.

Maybe my... Redemption, if I was even deserving of it, could come through doing good for the world. Use these necromantic powers for the betterment of others instead of ill. The new voice grumbled at my pathetic ideas for the powers I now wielded, mumbling something about how they should be used for conquest and subjugation, not helping the weak. I quieted the voice by continuing to think of all the good I could do, beginning to daydream of heroism and perhaps romance.

I chuckled ruefully to myself. Who would ever love a monster such as I? The notion itself was absurd, and the voice seemed to agree, saying that I didn’t need love when I had power. Although I didn’t agree, I didn’t respond to it, simply content to sit there in my decrepit throne of stone. I studied the chamber as I sat there, taking it all in, wondering if I should make this my ‘base of operations’ or something of the sort. The idea certainly had merit, and it’s not like anybody owned the place.

Internally, I resolved the area as mine, and almost immediately afterwards, I felt a shift in the air. The night outside seemed to grow even darker as a rumbling began to grow from within the castle walls. I sat up on my throne, concern flooding my very being as I watched the castle shake. Was it an earthquake? An avalanche? Just what the fuck was happening!? Was I already going to lose my castle?

I watched as the piles of stone bricks and rotting timber began to float up, held by ghostly energies. The stone bricks found homes within the empty spaces in the walls, and the rotting timber seemed to meld together and harden in the rafters and wooden supports above, turning a beautiful shade of ebony.

The castle seemed to come to life as it repaired itself, tapestries fluttering wildly as their fabric was mended and their colors were changed to match my own. With a fierce glow, a symbol was emblazoned in the center of the tapestries, A jawless human skull that donned the wicked, gnarled crown belonging to the name Mordekaiser. Torches burst to life with a deep, cyan flame, bathing the throne room in a ghostly light, and the long, red carpet slowly mended itself in one big ripple, the red shifting into a royal blue.

I stood breathless as I watched this all unfold, a sound like crumbling stone and burning fire prompting me to turn around to gaze upon the thrones, which were also in the throes of transformation. Spectral fire consumed them, charring them as they molded themselves into something new. Soon enough, the transformation was complete, and i was left with a large throne of darkest stone, a plush cyan pillow resting within the seat. Two braziers of gnarled metal formed at the sides and blazed with the same ghostly fire that rested in the torches.

Before I could even sit back down to see how it felt, a flash of light brought forth a fluttering piece of paper, which I caught deftly. Seemed my reflexes had improved as well. Straightening out the paper, it appeared to be some kind of letter that read;

‘Salutations and good tidings, Mr. Goobins! If you’re getting this, you’ve claimed a building as your own, and as a little gift from me, I placed a spell on you that would instruct your abilities to renovate the building to better fit your tastes! This is something you’ll be able to do in the future on your own once you learn how to control your new powers. But for now, enjoy~!’

I chuckled as I finished reading the letter, shaking my head as I placed it in one of the braziers to burn. I was once again in that merchant’s debt. Maybe someday I’d be able to repay him, but for now, I was going to enjoy the gifts given to me, and rest. Sitting in the throne, I marveled at the fact that I could feel through the armor and how nice the seat was, as if my armor was a second skin. It was as if my very flesh was merged with the iron.

Because it was, of course. I didn’t have a material body anymore. I ruminated on this for a bit while I marveled at the improvements to my castle. My old internet friends would’ve called it edgy beyond belief, but I quite liked it. It was very well-put together, and if I was going to try and fill the sabatons left to me in my own way, I may as well have a base of operations that was befitting of my station.

It’d certainly be intimidating for anyone that wasn’t me. The whole vibe was dark and imposing, as if you just accidentally wandered into the final boss’ lair. I couldn’t wait to see the reactions of the first people to gaze upon my home. Though it filled me with equal amounts of dread. I didn’t want to get attacked or anything. Even though I’m a hulking mass of Iron and necromantic energy, I don’t want to fight anyone unless I absolutely had to.

I wasn’t going to raise my hand against anybody. Not again. At this thought, I slumped in my throne, heaving another metallic sigh as I watched the daunting doors to my throne room. I wasn’t in a rush to repeat any past mistakes, and I most certainly didn’t want to get chased from my home.

I silently wondered what adventures this world had in store for me, and if I had the courage to take them on.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌ꕥ﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

In the opulently natural halls of a giant tree, a deer-like creature rushed through, startling servants and visitors alike as he sprinted with all his might. He burst through the throne room doors, guards watching him with alarmed eyes as he made his way up to the thrones of wood and wicker. As he approached, he slowed his pace significantly, skidding on the floors. The two regal looking deer sitting upon the thrones eyed him with concern instead of offended indifference that royalty usually bore.

“THE OLD CASTLE! S-S-SOMETHING'S HAPPENED TO IT!” He reported fearfully, his lungs absolutely burning with exertion. He collapsed where he stood when exhaustion overcame him, his cervid form hitting the floor hard, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The guards rushed to his aid, helping him stand and face his monarchs.

The Regal Elk King looked to his wife and back to the tired deer, his eyes now filled with barely disguised worry. The Queen opened her mouth to speak, her voice laced with disbelief.

“What do you mean something happened to it? Constable, Explain what you saw.” She asked, her fierce eyes boring into the constable's.

“When me and Daisyheart were on patrol on the northern border, we saw the castle of the two sisters begin to change! It was wreathed in dark magic and repaired itself as if it were alive!” He spluttered, clearly shaken up from the incident.

“Where is your partner, Constable?” The King asked, not seeing Daisyheart anywhere present. He had a look of grave concern on his face, as did his queen.

“She stayed to watch it for any further changes, and sent me here to report. I came as quickly as I could.” He replied, his voice steadying as he got his breath. He was a total mess, dripping with sweat. It seemed he truly sprinted all the way from the northern border to the palace. The King’s face softened with sympathy for the poor stag.

“Go get some rest, Constable Brambletail. You’ve more than earned it. Clover, my love, we must gather the guards. It seems we will have to put their training to the test.” He said, turning from the tired stag to his wife, the Queen. She replied with a grim nod before shouting orders to the servants and present guards. The King immediately began writing a letter to Princess Celestia, hoping that the centuries of neglect hasn't harmed their friendship.

After he gave the letter to a royal messenger to deliver, he sighed. Developments like this were always bad for his already declining health. Had he been in his prime, the King would've- Suddenly and without warning, a dagger of pain pierced the King's heart, making him nearly double over. His Queen rushed to his side, holding him up, her face filled with worry. The King assured his wife that he'd be fine, gently separating himself from her embrace.

He had to be strong. For his people. The King could not afford to show weakness. Not now. Not with a potential threat looming on the horizon. As he straightened his posture, he heaved another sigh, hoping beyond hope that whatever Princess Celestia had in her back pocket would deliver his people from danger.

First Contact | Chapter 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Soul Undying | Chapter 4

I drummed my fingers on the table idly as I watched Daisyheart consume her meal. It was a simple salad, but boy, did she make it look appetizing. As she was eating, the doe spoke between bites, yammering on about patrols and reports from her fellow constables regarding a bandit gang harassing some village on the northern outskirts of The Everfree.

But at some point I think I just tuned her out.

She was seated to the right of me, in a dark, ornate wooden chair that complimented an equally dark and ornate dining table, meant to seat around 15 or so individuals.

It was early morning, and yet the sun was blotted out by angry looking clouds, the wind and debris railing against the beautiful stained glass church-like window. It sat high and snug within the confines of the wall on the opposite end of the dining hall, colored a kaleidoscope of blues and greens. Even now, I found it hard to adjust to. All this finery, this grandness, all of it was mine.

And I still hadn’t explored even half of it yet. There were still entire wings of the castle to investigate, dungeons to skulk through, the likely refurbished library to gawk at. All in due time, of course. Lifting my hand from the table, I gazed at it. One of the two very same hands that brutalized an honest-to-god sasquatch yesterday.

The feeling of its bones crunching under my fist, the way its face turned into bloody pulp with each punch of my knuckles, how it became nothing but a bloody smear in the dirt… Deep down inside, I felt satisfied. Not the kind of satisfaction you’d get from saving a friend from certain death.

No.

It was the satisfaction that came with utterly dominating your opposition. The wretched beast’s squeals and howls of pain echoed in my mind, stirring that feeling up like silt in a pond. If I had lips, they would’ve curled into a self-satisfied smile. But I did not. Instead, I felt deeply disgusted with myself.

Taking something’s life wasn’t supposed to be a satisfying experience. But that was the first time in a very, very long time since I’ve ever been in a fight. Not since… Middle school. The thought of those days made my nonexistent stomach twist into a knot. My eyes narrowed as the memories swarmed back to me like an angry cloud of wasps.

Adrenaline. The cathartic release of my fist colliding with a jeering classmate’s nose. The sense of power, the sick joy that I felt as I watched him curl into a ball and cry. A little monster was born that day. A monster that I thought I put down for good, only for him to rattle the cage I locked him in.

As I dwelt on these things, a void began to grow in my chest, and a heavy weight slowly pressed itself down on me…

“Jealous?” Daisyheart said through a mouthful of greens, distracting me from my ruminations, the negative thoughts washed away. I turned my gaze to her, and found her wearing a smug expression, cheeks enlarged from the salad she’s been stuffing her face with.

I found myself laughing, shaking my head with mirth. She really was a silly creature, wasn’t she?

“No. I don’t crave food, nor can I eat it… But, I’ll concede that I do miss my sense of taste.” I responded amiably, gesturing idly with a hand before letting it fall back to the table. She thought about my answer as she chewed on her food, her muzzle scrunching up as the doe swallowed her meal.

“Wait a minute- Hold it, does that mean you were alive at some point?” Daisyheart queried a strangely concerned look on her face. That, in of itself, was worrying.

Usually in a fantasy setting, the undead were looked upon with both disgust, disdain, and no small amount of hatred. I had to be really tactful about this, or else I risk alienating her… But I didn’t really know how to broach that without looking weird.

That, and my quiet staring was starting to make her nervous. Might as well just be upfront about the matter. Heaving a sigh, I nodded.

“Yes. I am a Revenant, Daisyheart. Or a Lich. Perhaps bo-” I started, before I was promptly interrupted by the doe across from me.

“YOU’RE A REVENANT!? Wh- I- WHAT!?” Daisy yelled, slamming both hooves on the table, making her salad spill everywhere as she looked at me with flabbergasted shock. I winced at the sheer volume she was able to project. If I had eardrums, they would’ve burst.

“YES! I am! Now please, return to your seat. And stop shouting at me, I’m right here!” I demanded, flicking my hand in her direction before shaking my head in exasperation. Sudden, loud noises had a habit of agitating me.

“Y-y-you’re-... You’re undead. An actual, h-honest-to-faust undead.” Daisyheart said dumbly, her jaw practically on the floor. She looked at me as if I were a beast of legend, making me shift slightly in my seat. What was this ominous feeling in the room?

“I assume that’s unusual?” I ventured. After a second of processing, she suddenly spluttered, gesturing wildly with her hooves before throwing them up in the air.

“YES! YES THAT’S UNUSUAL, THEODORE! I thought you were just some weird sentient golem or something, y’know!?” She exclaimed loudly, looking at me with wild eyes. She seemed to be getting increasingly frazzled as this conversation wore on, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for her.

“...I’m surprised my self-proclaimed title didn’t tip you off.” I half-muttered, turning my head to the side. I felt oddly ashamed, which Mordekaiser was none too pleased about, but I managed to keep myself from shuddering.

“I thought you said it was just an ACT!” Daisyheart bemoaned before groaning loudly, slapping her hooves over her eyes as she set her forehead against the table.

“And it was!” I exclaimed, snapping my gaze in her direction. Admittedly, I was somewhat hurt by her reaction. I mean, I had to know it was coming. This is probably the tamest response I could’ve gotten… But regardless. It didn’t feel good.

“Is my undead nature truly that disturbing to you?” I said quietly, breaking the moment of silence between us.

Daisy then sighed, raising her head to look at me, her ears pressed flat against her head.

“No, Theodore. Well- I mean, I’m shocked, yeah, and who wouldn’t be? But… You’re still my friend. The problem is… Soon after Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria, banished her sister to the moon, she led the first crusade against the Necromancers in the badlands.” Daisyheart began to explain. If I had a brow, it would’ve been furrowed.

“After that, she wiped out any and every trace of necromancy in the country. It was the first crusade in a long line of them, ridding Equestria of dark magic… Until you showed up.” She finished, giving me a worried stare. Halfway through the impromptu history lesson, a pit had grown where my stomach would be, and only magnified as Daisy wrapped it up.

This was bad.

I mean, getting rid of dark magic is a good thing! Don’t get me wrong! But what does that mean for me!? I practically reeked of it! Hell, I was MADE of it! Does that mean Princess Celestia, who’s probably a Queen by now, will, in the near future, break down my door demanding my proverbial head!?

“We cannot let her know of my existence. If she catches word of my nature, there’s no doubt she’ll march here with an army. I must prepare.” I said quickly, standing up and looking around for the door. Spotting it, I prepared to move for it, but was subsequently stopped as Daisyheart spoke up again.

“Uhm… About that. Do you remember Twilight Sparkle? The purple Alicorn with the tiara?” She said, a cringe on her face. I didn’t like what this was leading up to. I slowly turned to face her, my ghastly eyes wide.

“Y-yeah, uhm… She uh, she’s Princess Celestia’s pupil…” She squeaked out, squeezing her eyes shut and turning away, bracing herself.

And it was a good thing she did.

“WHAAAAAAAAT!!!!???” I bellowed, making the stones of my castle shake slightly with the sheer power of my voice. Daisyheart had to clamp her hooves over her ears to protect them from harm, and only cracked open an eye when I went quiet. I was taking heaving breaths, my fists clenching and unclenching as I thought about what to do.

“I must prepare IMMEDIATELY. Daisyheart, return to your people and inform your superiors of my situation. I may be expecting company within the following days, and it’s imperative that you are not associated with me. I shudder to think of what this ‘Celestia’ would do to you if she found out you’ve been staying here.” I said, pacing back and forth as I tried to think of the best course of action. Do I run and hide? OW, No, that thought alone just earned me a massive headache… And I think I know where, or rather, who, it came from.

“Excuse me? Theodore, I am NOT leaving you. We’re friends, and friends don’t just abandon each other at the first sign of trouble!” Daisyheart said heatedly, which took me by surprise, prompting me to freeze in my pacing. When my gaze met hers, I nearly flinched from the intensity in her eyes. She looked as if I just suggested she strip naked and dance the hula.

The mere thought of leaving mebehind was that offensive? Despite being under that burning stare, I couldn’t help but feel a warmth blossom in my chest.

“...I… I see. W-well, if that’s what you want, I suppose I cannot stop you.” I responded somewhat meekly, fiddling with my fingers, like a child who didn’t quite know what to say.

“Darn right. We’re in this together, Theo, so don’t go getting any funny ideas.” Daisyheart said, now relatively placated. She stood up and walked over to me, gesturing for me to kneel. Confused, I did as she asked. I was promptly rewarded with a hug for my efforts. Daisy had to stand up on her hindlegs to reach around my neck, of course.

Regardless. It left me stunned.

When was the last time anyone’s ever hugged me? I couldn’t for the (un)life of me remember. I vaguely remember being hugged by a kindergarten teacher when I tripped and fell, scraping my knee… But other than that, I genuinely couldn’t recall. Never really had any friends. My parents weren’t the hugging type, and I didn’t have any siblings, either…

“C’mooon, now you put your arms around me. It’s called a hug. Can you say hug, Theodore?” Daisyheart teased, nearly ruining the nice moment. I reflexively scoffed and returned her embrace, careful not to squeeze too hard. I still had trouble controlling my strength sometimes.

“Oh, be quiet, you.” I said, amusement lacing my words as Daisyheart giggled, tightening her hold on me. At this moment, I could feel Mordekaiser's blatant disgust with my actions in the back of my mind, but I paid it no heed. I needed this. She was warm.

I sighed contentedly, releasing her from my hold. Daisy took a few steps back, and gave me a kindhearted smile, one that I wanted to return… But without warning, an unfathomable weight rammed itself onto my shoulders. An uninvited guest that I was all too familiar with.

As always, it was like a leech, devouring whatever contentment I had, leaving me cold and empty… Empty of peace. And in that void, a feeling of immense self-loathing sprung up from the depths of my brain. I was self-aware enough to recognize the signs of a massive oncoming depressive episode.

It was so strange how they just… Came out of nowhere. As if they were a predator waiting to strike me at my most vulnerable. No amount of antidepressants could possibly purge this emotional parasite. Once it found just a smidgen of hope or joy in my heart, it pounced, and reminded me of how much of a worthless monster I was.

I didn’t deserve her smile.

I didn’t deserve her.

If… If she knew what kind of vile wretch I was, there’s no doubt she’d hate me.

Neither my eyes or body language had changed. I gave no inclination to how I was truly feeling in that moment, and yet, Daisyheart’s expression faltered suddenly, and then fell. Almost as if she... Knew somehow. I swear those emerald green eyes of hers were shining a little brighter now.

“Theodore…” Daisy began, her ears pinned back as she gazed up at me empathetically, taking a step forward. Her reaction only served to thoroughly confuse, and, to be quite frank, scare me. I held up a hand to stop her from coming any closer, shakily huffing.

“I’m sorry, but I think I may need to stretch my legs. A-Alone. I-I have much to dwell on, afterall.” I said, immediately turning on my heel to walk out the door. Daisyheart called out to me, but I ignored her. I couldn’t bear it anymore. I couldn’t let her waste such kindness on me, not when there were others far more deserving of it.

I made my way through the castle and out the grand wooden doors, down the steps, and to the ravine. I hardly remembered leaping over it in my haze. I stumbled into the forest, ferns and bushes rustling as their frail stems and branches fell victim to my sabatons. The distance I walked was lost to me, but I hadn’t made it to the river, that much was known.

The wind picked up, almost in response to my worsening state of mind.

Suddenly stumbling, I fell over a root, landing in the dirty undergrowth with a thud. Moments later, I groggily pulled myself up a tree trunk and held onto it tightly, shaking my head as the negative cloud looming over me took hold like some jealous siren. I couldn’t stave off the tidal wave of hatred, the kind of hate that could only ever be aimed at myself.

Maybe everyone in this world would be better off if I just let that Princess Celestia person purge me. Smite me with some holy magic or something like that. Sure, it’d probably be painful, but that’s what irredeemable monsters deserve. Right?

No.

Why would I trouble somebody important like that to put down a mutt like me? Maybe I could find a cave system. Go deep, deep down… Bury myself underneath rock and rubble. Far, far underground, where I can’t hurt anyone else.

In the recesses of my mind, I could feel Mordekaiser trying his damnedest to carve a path through my loathsome melancholy to get to me. To knock some sense into my brain and shake me from the depressive abyss that held me captive. But it was almost supernatural in how it seemed to push back against the undead tyrant, pressing in on him on all sides.

I could tell he was starting to get furious. The emotion bled into my body, causing my fingers to dig into the bark of the tree like putty, the wood easily splintering under my might.

But before he or I could do anything, I heard something tear through the boughs of the trees. It was crashing, and quickly, landing nearby with a groundshaking impact akin to a large rock being catapulted into the ground. Pulling myself onto my feet with the support of the tree, I staggered away from the oak and made myself towards the impact zone.

What I came upon nearly shocked me out of my episode.

It was a Roc! One with a handsome crown of feathers. But it laid there, unmoving, unresponsive to the world, its wings bent at unnatural angles. My tenderized heart sank, going out to the poor beast in sympathy. After a moment of hesitation, I broke away from the bushes I had been standing behind, and approached it.

It’s head twitched as it acknowledged my approach, straining to look at me. But yet again, something was terribly wrong. Everything else in its body was limp. It could only feebly move its head. Any mystery of its condition was dispelled soon after, as I quickly realized with dread that its spine was probably broken.

“Wh-wh… Wh…Who… A-are… You…?” The Roc said, his voice wheezily escaping his beak, his eyes dull and unfocused. The sudden speech made me flinch back, eyes wide. I stood there in stunned silence for a minute. I took that time to compose myself, before I slowly kneeled closer.

“I am Lord Dietrich. King of The Dead, and the land hereafter.” I answered. The Roc’s dulled eyes focused slightly as they went wide with disbelief, and then a number of other emotions. Pain. Sorrow. Fear. Before finally… Rage. As if I were the reaper, here to claim his soul.

“T-T-The d-dead…? I… A-a-am not… D-DONE… H-H-H-HERE… Yet… I… I s-still… Ha-have so much t-to… To d-do…” The Roc said, his eyes fierce as he glared up at me defiantly. Despite his terminal injury, he was still full of life. Still brimming with the will to go on. In those hazel depths, I found myself swallowed up by the fire of his determination, and I couldn’t help but feel… Envious.

I felt, for a moment, a little spark light up in my soul.

A desire.

In that moment, I felt a presence beside me. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. A domineering aura filled the air, sensed only by those sensitive to the dead and those beyond it. But still, a chill descended upon the woods, for even in death, the living would know the weight of his authority.

“Observe, Whelp. Even in the shadow of death, this beast’s strength of will burns like a furnace. Despite his broken, maimed flesh, he defies his fate with a fervor you are right to envy– and would be wise to emulate.” Mordekaiser said, coming to stand beside The Roc’s head, looking down at him with unreadable eyes. Meanwhile, the car-sized raptor made no indication that he had heard the undead tyrant, keeping his defiant gaze locked on me.

I kept my own stare trained on The Roc.

The little monster rattled his cage again, a fire lit beneath it...

“This… Bird, will not simply fade into oblivion. No. We will not allow that, for every empire starts with but a single brick.”

The fog that had consumed my mind was burned up by that fire. Doubt, fear, restraint. Gone.

All that was left was a deep, burning itch.

“Take it, Whelp. Take his will, and make it your own. He will be the first brick of your empire, the first soul in your army.”

It would be like snapping a dry stick.

This would be a mercy.

I would be doing him a kindness.

My hand reached towards The Roc’s neck, gripping it. The giant Bird of prey was surprised by the sudden contact, and looked at me with a mix of fear and anger. If I had a heart, it would’ve been hammering in my chest.

“D-don’t-”

CRACK!

The bars of the cage bent.

“...I am not Death, my little soul. I am beyond it. I am its ruling fist… And every shade shall serve.” I said darkly, rising and taking a step back, my eyes on The Roc’s motionless corpse. I did him a favor. He wasn’t going to live long out here. I merely expedited the process. For a moment, I thought of Daisyheart, and my soul quaked with doubt… But Mordekaiser spurned me on.

“Now, reach forth and repeat after me.” Mordekaiser commanded, prompting me to obey. I extended my gauntleted hand towards The Roc’s lifeless body, fingers outstretched like grasping claws.

“Pitiful struggle, freed from flesh, you are mine.”

“Pitiful struggle, freed from flesh… You. Are. Mine.” I repeated the words in a tongue that was entirely foreign to me, but somehow intimately familiar. Instinctively I knew. It was the language of the dead.

Ochnun.

I could feel the necromantic energy flowing through me as I reverberated those words, dark power coursing through my hand and towards The Roc, grasping his essence in a vice grip. Closing my fist, I turned it palm-up and WRENCHED the soul out of the giant raptor’s body.

In a brilliant display of turquoise and cyan, The Roc’s soul erupted from his corpse, first a large orb the size of a bowling ball. Then, as it hovered there before me, it slowly began to spread out and take form. A giant, ethereal bird of prey. A necromantic film coated his form like a veil, and his eyes blazed to life with the very same dark magic that raised him.

He stared at me for a moment, before lowering himself to the forest floor, spreading his wings wide in a show of submission. I was beside myself with awe at the power I wielded, amazed that I could conquer death so… Effortlessly. I looked at Mordekaiser like an excited child, hoping I made my old man proud.

All the while, having entirely forgotten the brutality of my actions.

The Undead Tyrant folded his arms and locked eyes with me. He looked thoughtful, his piercing gaze weighing decisions. After several silent moments, the ethereal Roc long since risen and glancing between us, I began to get nervous. Then Mordekaiser spoke.

“...We have much to discuss. But for now, I’d recommend tending to your pet.” He said ominously, slowly vanishing into the ether as he looked past me to stare at the only creature that’d be foolish enough to follow me out in this kind of weather.

Daisyheart.

I turned around, and there she was. Staring at me with wide, horrified eyes, ears pinned back. It was that same look again, like yesterday, when I killed the sasquatch. Except only, there was no awe in those eyes. Only horror, as Daisy bore witness to the incredibly taboo scene in front of her, and stared at me as if I were some kind of monster.

“T-Theodore? Wh-... What’s going on here?” Daisyheart asked, unable to keep the fear from her voice as she glanced between the undead Roc and me, the gears in her mind churning at a feverish pace to try and justify the situation.

Meanwhile, I was frozen solid.

Snapping myself out of the shock I was in, I immediately sobered up from the intoxicating sense of power, which was now replaced by an all consuming sense of guilt and regret.

“Daisy, i-it was the only thing I could do. I-I-I couldn’t save him, he didn’t want to die, a-and-” I stammered, gesturing at The Roc, trying to come up with excuses for what she stumbled upon. But no matter which way I sliced it, this… This didn’t look good.

“So… You- You resurrected him? Brought him back?” Daisyheart ventured, still trying to process the giant spectral bird currently watching them both with a perplexed tilt of his head. I was about to come up with a pathetic answer when somebody else spoke up.

“After snapping my neck rather suddenly, yes. It was painless, so that's another point of gratitude that I owe to Lord Dietrich.” The Roc said suddenly, startling the both of us. It seemed that he had adjusted rather quickly to his new situation. Me and Daisy both turned to him, shocked that he was even speaking.

“From what I’ve heard, it usually takes a while for somecreature to die from a broken neck. But Mi’lord must have crushed just about everything under there, so it was quite… Instant.” He continued, gesturing with a wing as if this were just a regular conversation about the weather, which only served to deepen the look of horror on Daisy’s face.

“A-And… Who m-might you be?” Daisy asked nervously, her head closed to the ground as she looked up at the undead Roc.

“Borealis Nightchant, at my Lord’s service.” Borealis answered, inclining his head towards me. The moment Daisyheart heard his name, she went positively pale despite her fur. Slowly turning her head towards me, she looked as if she was on the verge of fainting.

“Theo- I- Lord Dietrich… That’s the Roc Chieftain’s SON.”

Oh.

Oh no.

Author's Note

Hey-howdy-hiddily-ho! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Didn't expect I'd be able to push one out so soon after the last one... But hey! Here I am!

Well, soon is a strong word. But that's relative. Soon for me at the very least, kekeke.

Death in his wake | Chapter 5

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Dead Iron meets Living Flesh | Chapter 3

It was the day after I had met the residents of this world and I was sitting quietly on my throne, alongside Daisyheart, who was here as a diplomatic representative for the Deerfolk.

The Queen had noticed how higher in spirits I had been when we came back inside after my little… Meltdown, and attributed that to Daisyheart’s own efforts. Thus, Queen Cloverhoof found it prudent to assign her to me as a show of goodwill, though I could tell she was hesitant.

I honestly don’t even know how Daisyheart came to the conclusion that I needed a friend. When I asked, she responded simply by stating that Deerfolk like herself were potent empaths, and that she had this odd nagging feeling in the back of her mind that prompted her forward. All that did was raise more questions than satisfy answers, so I decided not to dig any further. At least for now.

But while I sat there on my throne, I contemplated my next move and the previous night’s events.

I managed to establish a shaky, albeit friendly, relationship with the nearby monarchy somehow. Which was only further solidified when I received a very important looking document this morning that detailed plans for a more formal meeting, one that was to be held at the deerfolk capital of Verdeloom.

It was to be held on the thirty-first of the month, of which it was currently the twentieth according to Daisyheart. So, I had eleven days to get my act together and figure out just what the hell I’m doing.

My main concern at the moment was the fact that, as a King, I was now responsible for the wellbeing of anyone that decided to throw down roots (no pun intended) in my territory. The chances of that happening are pretty slim, but regardless.

I had no experience with leadership, no idea how lawmaking worked, and certainly no knowledge regarding the required legal jargon that I’d need to know, lest I accidentally sign everything away to some shady court spider. I let out a heavy sigh as I leaned forward to let my elbows rest on my knees, burying my face in my gauntleted hands. I had a lot to learn.

This prompted Daisyheart to cast a quizzical look my way, an eyebrow raised. “You alright, Theodore? You look worried.” She asked kindly, turning a bit more to face me.

“I’m fine. Please, don’t waste your concern on me.” I said wearily, letting my left hand fall and hang in the open air.

“Well, if you say so… Though if I had to guess, you’re probably way out of your depth, huh?” Daisyheart cracked a wry grin as I simply turned my head away to stare at nothing in particular.

“You can always talk to me, you know that, right?” she continued. I gave it thought for a moment. I was a little hesitant to just air out my worries to somebody I barely knew.

Even though we were friends, I didn’t want to burden her… Though with her grin still going strong, she raised an expectant eyebrow, waiting ever so patiently for me to spill my guts. I was seriously starting to regret the whole ‘Lord Dietrich’ schtick at this point.

Meanwhile, Daisyheart watched me with an amused twinkle in her eye despite my silence. Shaking her head, she sighed and nodded “Trust me, I get it. When I was a fawn, my dear old dad was obsessed with me becoming the next head of the family!” she said in a gruff voice, likely a comical attempt to imitate her father.

“So, naturally, that came with a lot of stuffy education. Good faust… lemme tell you, it was agonizingly boring. Not to mention overwhelming. I honestly would’ve preferred to watch grass grow.” She explained with a rueful chuckle, remembering the countless lessons led by a grouchy old doe.

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I just stayed quiet. I then briefly thought about asking what her family was like, but… We’re still practically strangers. It’d be a rude question, right? Not my business to stick my nose into.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess at the moment as well, and it was only getting harder to organize them. As much as I would’ve liked to simply sit there and chat with Daisyheart, I needed some space to think.

“I hate to cut our conversation short, but I think I will excuse myself for the time being. I’d like to take stock of my new holdings.” I said, rising from my seat and promptly making way to the throne chamber’s large wooden doors. Though, quick as ever on the uptake, Daisyheart called out to me.

“Hey! Wait up!”

Of course, I paused. Within seconds, she cleared the short distance I had made and stopped beside me.

“Mind if I tag along? I mean, what’s a Lord without an entourage, right?” She said, nudging my side with her elbow. She seemed pretty eager to come with me, but… I needed some time alone at the moment.

“I apologize, but I’d like to ask that you remain here for the time being. I will fetch you if I need you.” I said, my tone not leaving any room for an argument. She gave me a cute pout, and huffed indignantly, looking away with her snout raised in the air. I didn’t know if It was because I was undead or if I’m just a heartless bastard, but it had little effect on me.

I let an amused rumble escape my chest as I once more made for the doors, leaving Daisy to her devices. Stepping out of the throne room and into the main hall, I made my way down the stairs, through the hall and into the castle yard, my thoughts drifting back to last night’s meltdown for a split second before moving onwards.

It appeared to be a relatively cloudless day, the sun making the snow sparkle brilliantly in its golden light. My sabatons crunched through the snow without effort as I made my way out of the courtyard and onto a winding cobblestone road that stretched downwards, taking in all the sights and sounds.

The rolling sheets of white snow and the plethora of trees made for quite the idyllic landscape, bringing me to realize that this is the first time I’ve actually made an effort to venture outside the castle grounds since I arrived. I soon found myself up against the ravine, however.

Stopping before its edge, I looked down, grimacing slightly as I took in the long fall below. I gave a long glance to the other side, before taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. I never did like heights.

Bending my knees like spring coils, I easily cleared the gap in a single bound, landing on the other side with a near seismic impact as the ground shook upon my landing. Snow fell from the boughs of the trees, landing on my helmet and pauldrons. Shaking the powdery whiteness from my armor, I looked back at the castle, and gave a long whistle.

It was gorgeous.

Darkly so. It was like a structure ripped straight from Castlevania, ominous and foreboding, yet also beautiful in its own right. Definitely looked like a place Mordekaiser would call home, with its gothic aesthetic and gnarled iron accessories giving it a vibe that could only be described as ‘villainous’. Tearing my gaze away from my abode, I turned my attention to the forest, and would’ve made an audible gulping sound if I had a throat.

It was almost scarier than the castle I just came from. The thick canopy cast a spell of darkness on all that rested below it, and the dense vegetation would make any trek a hassle for even seasoned explorers. A trifling matter for me, of course. I could just plow through it all without any problems. But that wasn’t the problem here. Scary forest bad. It’s really as simple as that.

Biting my nonexistent lip, I made my way into the woodland proper. Hands clasped behind my back, I tried to hide my fear while I admired the dark, and almost jungle-esq, scenery.

What really caught my attention though was the sheer variety of trees that populated these woods. From towering pines, willows that retained their greenery, strong oaks and noble birches. Something about that didn’t seem quite right. With all this snow around, you’d think these trees would’ve lost their foliage already. But, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Due to the thick canopy, the forest floor was largely free of snow, which made the finer details of the forest much easier to see. If one thought the variety of trees was impressive, a simple look around would tell you that the plants were far more numerous and diverse. Fantastical flora ranging from exotic blue flowers to softly glowing colonies of mushrooms, and more.

I probably would have taken all day just looking at all the new plants if I didn’t have a goal in mind, which was one; clearing my head and two; getting to know my territory on a more personal level. Tromping through the forest, woodland critters would sometimes scramble to get out of my way.

I walked for about five minutes before the bushes to my left rustled furiously, heralding the arrival of something.

My soul nearly leapt from my armor as I noticed a pair of frightfully large wooden wolves sprint from the bushes as they chased what appeared to be a large rabbit with antlers. The predators and prey left as quickly as they came, disappearing into the foliage and the shade of the forest. If I had a heart, it would’ve been hammering in my chest.

I immediately spun on a heel and started speed walking back towards the castle, fully intending on taking Daisyheart up on her previous offer. A voice in the back of my head expressed its contempt, broadcasting its raw disgust at my cowardice.

Walking alone was seriously overrated anyways.

It took me little time to reach the castle, and I blazed through the halls, propelled by my fear. As I came upon the wooden doors, I hesitated, taking a deep breath to steady myself. If Daisyheart noticed how shook up I was, there was no doubt in my mind that she’d tease me about it.

I opened the doors and stepped inside. Almost immediately, Daisy was at my side.

“So? How’d it go?” She asked expectantly. She seemed rather restless, which I couldn’t blame her for. There wasn’t much to do as a diplomatic representative here, and she was likely bored out of her mind staying cooped up in a castle. An empty one at that.

“It- Well- I-I-I’m not quite finished. I thought it cruel to leave you here and neglect my guest. Thus, I returned to retrieve you.” My speech was a tad awkward, and I couldn’t help but clasp my hands behind my back and discreetly fiddle with my fingers.Meanwhile, Daisy gave me a smug look.

“Uh-huh. Sure you did. Let me take another guess; You ran into some wildlife, didn’t you?” She said, the smugness on her face only intensifying as my silence spoke for me, an amused hum building in her throat.

“D’aww, don’t worry big guy, I’ll protect you!” She said confidently, tapping a sword at her waist. Even though I was slightly annoyed and embarrassed with her antics, I felt rather glad she was with me. Her casual demeanor helped ease my nerves somewhat.

“N-now then, let’s be off, shall we? There’s much to see.” And with that, we were off. Through the doors, down the hall, past the field, and over the ravine. We made our way into the forest, ready to see what the woodland had in store.

Daisyheart, likely already having seen this area on her way through, looked around with her head on a swivel and eyes alert. Judging by her tense body language, I could infer that this place was a lot more dangerous than I thought. Especially if my encounter earlier was anything to go by.

We soon came upon the spot where I briefly encountered the wolves, and I repressed the urge to hesitate as we passed it. It took another ten minutes before we finally reached a landmark. A long, winding river that seemed to stretch on and on. My mind suddenly sparked with the idea of a river-side town. Good for fishing, milling flour, and transporting goods. Among other things.

I’d have to run the idea by The Queen later, or perhaps the King if I get acquainted with him at the upcoming meeting.

Daisyheart would have to do for now.

“Constable Daisyheart, I have a query if you’d be so kind to answer.” I asked as I gazed in the river below, my eyes catching a fish darting from hiding place to hiding place.

“Sure! What’cha got?” Daisyheart promptly responded, taking a second to sit down at the river’s edge beside me, her ears swiveling to cover her back as she cast her eyes on me. One could never be too careful around here, after all.

“If I were to establish a settlement beside this river, would that be cause for conflict with your superiors?” I asked, watching a much larger, scarier looking fish nab the one I had been watching. Brutal. Such is the law of nature, though. Survival of the fittest.

“Ah… I mean…” Daisy started, sucking in air through her teeth as she grimaced. No-go, then? That was disappointing. “They wouldn’t be opposed, it’s your territory n’ all, but… They aren’t the ones to-”

Daisyheart was interrupted as a giant shadow swam up from the river’s horizon, quickly closing in on them. My eyes widened with panic as it burst forth from the water, revealing itself to be a giant purple serpentine creature… With an orange head of hair and an eccentrically curled mustache?

“Oooh, now would ya lookie here~!” The serpent said in a rather… Zesty voice. The giant river serpent rested his elbows on the bank as he looked down on us, his expression a scene of whimsical interest and curiosity. Daisyheart released a sigh and gestured to the purple serpent with a cloven hoof.

“Speak of the creature, and he shall appear… This is Steven Magnet.” She said exasperatedly, as if she had a not-so-pleasant history with him.

“Oh Daisy, honey, you’re so mean~! Acting as if we aren’t besties!” Steven Magnet said jokingly, twirling his finger in his mustache before pointing at Daisy. The doe’s face spread with a rueful smile, shaking her head as she looked up at the river serpent.

“But enough about that, who's tall, dark and handsome here? Well, hm… handsome might be a strong word… No offense, mister.” he said, giving me a lookover. The serpent had the same expression that Rarity did when she inspected my armor. Disgust, mixed with intrigue.

“Offense taken. Are you the overgrown eel who rules this river?” I said in a no-nonsense tone, looking up at him with baleful eyes. I wasn’t really offended. He was right, after all. Before and after becoming King Dietrich, I wasn’t exactly a looker. Daisy visibly cringed at my response, probably hoping Steven would stay civil.

“Ohoho, cat’s got some claws, hm? I’ll let it slide~ Only because it seems you’re friends with my bestie-for-resties Daisy… But yes, to answer your question. I’m the big wig of the river so to speak.” Steven replied in a sassy tone, before shifting to a bored one as he leaned against the river bank to inspect his carefully manicured nails.

“Hehe, well, uh, Steven, This is King Dietrich! Ruling lord of the realm of the dead, and the sole occupant of the newly refurbished castle of the two sisters.” Daisyheart said, introducing me to her apparent friend. Steven Magnet seemed to be surprised that I was royalty, and bowed after Daisy was down speaking.

“Well I’m TERRIBLY sorry for my rudeness, your majesty. I had no idea I was in the presence of royalty! So, what can the great and fabulous Steven Magnet do for you?” The serpent said amiably, clasping his hands together like a business man as he spoke.

“A riverside settlement. At some point in the future, I may want to finance the creation of one. Would you be opposed to it?” I asked as I looked up at the stylish leviathan. For a moment, he twirled his mustache in thought, thinking of all the pros and cons. Steven Magnet put a hand on his side as he delved deeper into thought, before snapping his fingers and turning to me with a smile on his reptilian face.

“That’d be a MARVELOUS idea! A little riverside town? Just quaint! It’ll finally give me some folks to gossip with that aren’t Daisyheart and occasionally Rarity! Though I do ask that you don’t blockade the river. I’d like to be able to freely pass to and fro.” Steven said exuberantly, the idea charming him before adding that stipulation with a more business-like tone.

I nodded in response before looking across the river, gauging the distance… I then turned around and walked back into the forest without saying a word.

Daisyheart and Steven Magnet shared a quizzical look before their attention was immediately stolen by the heavy footfalls of my sabatons. Sprinting out of the bushes, I leapt across the river in one jump, landing with yet another earth-shaking boom. That felt GOOD. The power my legs held was incredible! And Steven Magnet certainly thought so too, clapping wildly.

“Bravo! BRAVO! What a show!” The serpent cheered enthusiastically before swimming over to the other side to meet me. He raised his body to act as a bridge for Daisy, who quickly crossed and hopped down on the river’s edge beside me.

“You two stay out of trouble now~! Toodles!” Steven said, waving goodbye before diving into the river and swimming off.

Me and Daisyheart stood there in silence as we watched his shadow beneath the water depart into the river’s horizon, before sharing a look. I chuckled, turning around to continue our trek.

“He was quite the character.” I said, ducking under a branch as we walked.

“That he is… He’s of the good sort though. Steven and I have been friends for a long time.” Daisy replied, stepping over an overturned log as she followed along.

We had spent most of the day just exploring the Everfree forest, making sure to keep within the bounds of my territory. Whenever I neared the border, I could see a wispy line of ghostly energy start to form on the ground, so that helped a little at least.

One of the landmarks in my territory appeared to be a sort of rocky mountain that was at least half-a-mile tall and half-a-mile wide. It was pretty barren looking, save for the odd dead tree here and there. Not to mention it was COVERED in holes, of which giant birds would periodically fly in and out of.

Apparently according to Daisy, this place was home to a giant flock of Rocs that lived here in the Everfree. They were an intelligent species, but they were also really aggressive towards outsiders, so they didn’t talk often. The voice from earlier piped up, saying something about the Rocs being ‘ripe for conquering’ or some such like that.

Ignoring it, I watched a giant bird the size of a car fly up the miniature mountain carrying some dead animal. The Roc was a beautiful creature, by all accounts. Made up of gray, brown, white, and gray-ish cyan feathers. Soon after spotting it, we left. I didn’t feel like getting mobbed if they happened to notice us.

As we approached the next point of interest, the trees around us began to get… Unsettlingly webby. That is to say, covered in large spider webs. Now, I don’t know about other folks, but I DO NOT like spiders. And the size of these webs suggested that they were of the fantasy variety. Giant.

“D-D-Daisyheart?” I asked worriedly, unable to keep my ‘dark lord’ voice up as the fear bled into my vocals.

“Yeeees?” Daisyheart returned promptly, moving in front of me to avoid a web. She seemed far too unfazed by this for my liking. As if this was just another walk in the park for her.

“A-are there… Giant spiders, here? In this area?” I probed, instinctively trying to make myself look smaller as we seemed to wander deeper within obvious giant spider territory.

“Oh! You mean the Gloamings? Yes, this is where they live, why? Ya scared?” She finished, her tone laced with teasing mischief.

“WHY WOULDN’T I BE!? They’re giant fucking spiders!” I exclaimed, stopping in my tracks as my fear began to get the better of me, my head whipping around, expecting to see a giant wolf spider pop out at any moment to eat me alive. In my hysteria, I somehow completely forgot I was in a full suit of armor thicker than a well-loaded lasagna.

“Awwwh, come on! They’re harmless! Well- No, that’d be a lie. But, they are peaceful.” She began, turning around to give me an amused look. “And they don’t eat other sentient creatures if that’s what you’re worried about.”

I didn’t care for the giggle that escaped her as I heaved a massive sigh, my hands going to my knees as I nearly doubled over with relief. If I had a physical body, I’d probably need a serious deep massage to work out all the tension in my body.

“So, correct me if I’m wrong, but these spiders- I mean, ‘Gloamings’ are sentient as well?” I queried, rising back to proper posture befitting a king. Daisyheart gave me an enthusiastic, sharp nod in response.

“Yep! Real friendly folks, too. Very family oriented. Last time I visited the Tucketts, I had to drag a big ol’ bag of leftovers and knitted sweaters home.” The doe said, a wide smile gracing her face as she thought back on the pleasant memory.

For me, personally, the thought of giant sentient spiders with the dispositions of friendly suburbanites was still more than off-putting. I held up a fist to my face, clearing my throat before speaking again.

“Well, I suppose that’s enough for today. I’m ready to return now.” I said, folding my hands behind my back. There was no way in hell I was meeting giant spiders today. I didn’t care if they were as warm and welcoming as the Weasleys were to Harry potter. I didn’t feel like being a rattling mess during the whole interaction.

“Oh, come on, Theo! They aren’t-” Daisy started before I interrupted her.

“This is not up for debate. We are going back.” I hissed down at her, getting a grumpy looking expression as a response. Sorry, sister. Even I have boundaries that I won’t cross. Giant spiders being one of them.

Out of nowhere, a wind kicked up and blew through the forest, sending a biting chill through everything present. Daisyheart couldn’t help but shiver violently for a moment as the wind passed over us, though I appeared to be relatively unaffected. Sure, it was a bit nippy, but nothing worth shivering over.

“Let’s hurry back, yeah? As creepy as that castle is, it’s warm. Ugh! Sweet Faust, I just had to be a Constable…” She grumbled, turning around to begin the trek home.

It seemed she didn’t fancy the cold too much. I couldn’t help but chuckle a little at that, earning myself a blow of raspberries from my companion. The levity certainly helped take my mind off the whole ‘giant spider’ thing.

Daisyheart and I said nothing as we walked, giving me ample time to rattle around my own brain. We passed the Roc Mountain again, taking care not to be seen, and crossed the river. I had to throw Daisy to get her across, chucking her into a bush on the other side.

She whooped with excitement as she burst forth from the bushes, and I was quite pleased to know I could throw somebody that far.

As we made our way back into more familiar territory, I silently mused to myself, wondering if I could change how my armor looked. This thought had me quite occupied as the ravine came into view, though the sight that greeted us made Daisyheart gasp in horror.

The sound shook me from my thoughts and I looked down at Daisy, puzzled. I immediately noticed she was in a battle stance, her eyes glaring at something further on. Following her vision, I felt myself stiffen as I noticed what had her so spooked.

Standing nearly as tall as I am, was a great ape, covered head to toe in a thick coat of fur. It appeared to be bent over what I soon realized to be the corpse of an animal. The beast’s hands were drenched in blood, its mouth and neck also stained with the crimson liquid. It looked at us, its beady eyes slowly widening as its facial features contorted with rage and wariness.

“Horse apples! It’s a freakin’ Sasquatch!” Daisyheart hissed under her breath beside me, her mind buzzing with escape routes or possible ways to fell the beast in a worst case scenario. She slowly began backing away, and I followed suit. Our eyes never left the Sasquatch, and its eyes never left us. It was almost like a staring contest, though the stakes were far higher than normal.

Even though dead and breathless, I held the air in my chest, my thoughts unable to even form as fear wracked my being. It was huge! And heavily muscled to boot. Not to mention a completely wild animal, one that I thought was just superstition or folklore. Not in horseland apparently.

The beast’s gaze seemed fixated on Daisyheart, its meager meal that lay dead upon the road apparently not enough for it. It wanted juicier prey. She seemed to know it, too, as she began quaking nearly as much as I was.

All was silent as we slowly backed up, praying that it would just become disinterested. But no. It took this as an invitation to start slowly yet surely advancing in our direction, the hunger in its eyes evident. As I tried to formulate some kind of plan, a loud crack ripped through the fragile silence, and I looked down to see that I had stepped on a stick.

The yeti bellowed a war cry, and leapt at Daisy, easily covering the distance in a single bound.

Time slowed as the creature paused mid-air. I found my limbs slow to respond, as if the air was molasses and my arms thin twigs. Was it fear that chained me? Maybe magic? I received no answer to my questions, but a voice did heed my call, a familiar one at that.

Strike it down.

…What?

STRIKE.

IT.

DOWN!

The voice bellowed, and time sped up once more. The Sasquatch came speeding at Daisy with the force of a cannon ball. But at the same moment time returned to the world, I was filled with a broiling rage and a strength of will that wasn’t mine.

That couldn’t have been mine.

One foot stepped forward, one arm cocked back, and I met the Sasquatch’s face with a gauntleted fist. I gave it all the force I could muster, and stopped the beast in its flight. A resounding crack filled the air as the Sasquatch flew several feet backwards, landing and rolling into a crouch. Blood poured from its nose, pooling in its heavily matted fur, making the red that much darker.

It once again bellowed a challenge, and I returned it with a metallic one of my own, prompting the both of us to clash once more in a contest of strength. Its hands met mine as we pushed against each other, and I glared a promise of death into its eyes, its face only several inches from my own.

With a primal ape-ish scream, the Sasquatch pushed with a ferocity I had not expected, my metal boots grinding into the earth. I was losing this battle of strength, and fast. All Daisyheart could do was watch worriedly from the sidelines as I was being overpowered.

I couldn’t lose here. If I did, Daisy would definitely die. I had only known her for a day, but the image that flashed into my mind, of Daisy being ripped apart by the beast before me… It filled me with unbridled rage, one that I thought had long since died.

Drawing my head back, I jerked forward, being rewarded with a sickening crunch as my helm collided with the Sasquatch’s face, breaking its nose further.

The beast wailed with pain as it staggered backwards. I immediately took this opportunity to advance, but just as quickly as I stepped forward, the Sasquatch recovered. Nearly in sync, me and the Sasquatch traded wild haymakers, the blow nearly knocking me off my feet. We then traded punches in quick succession, dents starting to form in my armor where the Sasquatch’s fist made impact.

As the Sasquatch readied another swing, I remembered that my gauntlets had clawed fingers, and used those to my advantage as I tore at the beast’s face with a well-timed swipe.

Blood erupted across its features, but it pressed onwards, catching me right on the edge of my helmet. The blow sent me staggering, and the Sasquatch took advantage of this. It brought another maul-like fist down on the back of my helmet, slamming me to the earth.

The ground rumbled and cracked with the impact, and as I lay there, trying to rise, It delivered another blow to my head, causing my strength to fail me. Daisyheart was paralyzed with fear as she watched this all unfold, her instincts screaming at her to run as the Sasquatch then turned its furious gaze to her. It stepped over my limp form and began making its way to her.

As I watched from the ground, I tried to rise, but my arms kept buckling under my weight. A hopeless feeling began to well within my chest, but the sight of the beast approaching Daisy washed it away like tears in a typhoon. The rage in my chest doubled, then tripled as the Sasquatch’s outstretched hand went to grab the quivering doe.

I wanted to tear that abominable thing limb from limb. I wanted to see its gore coat my hands. I wanted to make the horrid thing crumple under my might. I wanted to banish the fear from Daisy’s eyes. As the desires mounted, so too did my strength.

I WOULD tear that abominable thing limb from limb. I WILL see its blood and viscera coat my hands. I WOULD protect Daisy. I will.

I WILL.

AND NO FORCE OF THIS MORTAL COIL COULD STOP ME.

Before I even realized it, my hand was already clutched around the Sasquatch’s ankle. It yelped at the sudden contact, and howled in pain as I crushed the bones beneath its flesh. I dragged it down onto the dirt with me, fighting its panicked attempts to free itself all the while.

My eyes were wide with an otherworldly blaze as I broke its flailing arms one at a time.

I straddled its chest and delivered devastating punches to its face, before raising my fists into the air… And then swinging them down onto the Sasquatch’s face like a pair of sledgehammers, sending blood flying every which way.

But I wasn’t done.

I continued beating its skull into a bloody pile of flesh and brain matter, drenching my armor up to my elbows in its gore. Each punch and every sickening crunch did nothing to sate my anger.

I punched until its skull was dust, and then punched the stains further into the ground. When I finally realized I was punching the ground in my blood-drunk stupor, I paused, and slowly rose to tower over the beast’s corpse.

I looked down at my shaking hands, my gaze once more settling on the Sasquatch’s body. A few moments of silence passed before I reared back and let rip a victorious, tree-shaking bellow with the last vestiges of my rage.

That went on for what felt like eternity before I remembered where I was, who I was, and who I was with. I turned to Daisyshield, who now looked upon me with a mix of fear and awe. I reached out to her and she flinched, prompting me to draw my hand back as if it were struck. I looked down at my hands again, and I felt positively queasy.

“...I-...I’m sorry you had to see that. A-are you okay?” I asked, my voice hollow and numb. I had dropped my ‘Dietrich’ persona once more as I stepped away from the corpse, my hands still shaking. It took Daisy a moment to realize that I had spoken to her.

Briskly shaking her head, she pushed down the fear and gingerly got to her hooves, then made her way towards me. Daisyheart grimaced as she stepped over the pool of blood that had formed in the ground and started taking in the damage that the Sasquatch dealt.

“Am I okay? Yeah I’m okay, but Theo, you just took on a Sasquatch! Alone! Are YOU okay!? Look how banged up you are!” She said, fretting over the many dents in my armor.

The beast had certainly done a number on me. Though oddly enough, I didn’t feel any pain. Perks of being undead, I supposed. In fact, I felt… Stronger, somehow. Not by a truly significant amount, but it was noticeable. Stronger than I was before the fight began.

“Y-yeah, I think so.” I replied wearily, resisting the urge to push her away.

Daisy would probably give me an earful if I were to get blood in her fur, which brought an amused twinkle to my eyes. If I had a face, I would’ve smiled. She scoffed and shook her head, gesturing at the corpse behind her.

“Seriously, buck! you brutalized that thing! Normally it’d take like, six rangers to bring one down. Geez louise… Who needs rangers when you can take on a Sasquatch solo?” Daisyheart said jokingly, a valiant attempt to lighten the air. It seemed this scare did little to dampen her chipper spirit.

…But one thing’s for sure. She developed a new appreciation for her friend’s strength, and reminded herself to never get on his bad side.

“Alrighty. Let’s get you back to the river and clean you up. I don’t want you stepping into the castle covered in brain goo.”

I nodded and followed without complaint as we made our way to the river once more. There, I took the time to wash all the blood and gore off my hands and armor. Daisyheart stood off to the side, wishing she could help, but these waters would likely give any living creature (that weren’t fish or Steven Magnet) hypothermia within minutes. I didn’t mind though, as I cleaned myself thoroughly enough on my own.

As ordered by the constable, I did a little spin so that Daisy could check for any spots I might’ve missed. Luckily, I got the OK, and promptly pulled myself from the River. We resumed the walk to the castle with haste, as I was seriously missing my throne at this point, and the sun was starting to set.

Once we arrived at the castle and walked through the throne room, Daisyheart stopped before a door off to one side of the chamber, a hoof resting on its handle.

“Thank you, by the way.” She said in an uncharacteristically soft tone of voice, looking back at me with sparkling eyes and a gentle smile on her lips

“Whatever for?” I replied promptly, already slipping back into the ‘Dietrich’ persona. Daisy huffed, an amused look on her face as she stared up at me.

“You know what, you big doofus! You saved my life back there!” She said with a playful glare, jabbing a hoof in my direction. I had almost completely forgotten, being the airhead I was. Leave it up to me to forget the near-death encounter I just had. Though I was glad to see that she was still doing alright.

“Ah, yes. So I did. You’re quite welcome.” I replied quickly, which gave Daisyheart reason to chuckle and shake her head, looking up at the ceiling in apparent exasperation.

“Faust above, what am I gonna do with you…” She said to nobody in particular, a warm smile gracing her face as she locked eyes with me once again. That smile sent my nonexistent heart aflutter.

“Well, I think I’m gonna get some beauty sleep. Thanks again, that was probably the craziest date I’ve ever been on.”

Daisy gave a mischievous giggle as my posture visibly stiffened.

“Wait, t-that wasn’t-!” And she’s already gone. I could hear her giggles echoing within the hall as she walked away to her room. As the door swung shut, I sighed and let my posture relax.

Though, as I turned to walk up the steps to my throne, I felt a prickle on the back of my nonexistent neck. I could feel that, once again, I was no longer alone. Turning around, I found myself face to face with an apparition I found all too familiar.

The faint outline of Mordekaiser,

Lord of the dead,

Terror of Noxus,

The ruler of the Immortal Bastion, stared at me with contempt coloring the cyan fires that served as his eyes. I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing. In that moment, I felt the piercing gaze of the mirage-like figure before me, and found myself wilting under it.

“Before you ask, yes, I am real, you blithering fool.” The mirage said, its voice utterly devoid of anything but cold annoyance. It stunned me into silence, his words prompting me to take a tentative step back.

“...T-t-that was you, w-wasn’t it? When I was f-fighting the S-s-sasquatch.” I stuttered in disbelief after several moments of silent staring.

Mordekaiser snorted, ghostly vapors flying from his ethereal helm as he spoke. He then stomped forward until he stood right in front of me, his ghostly footfalls echoing within the chamber with the weight of his authority.

“I refuse to let incompetence– no– weakness, fell me. Even if I am not the one who wields my form.” Mordekaiser leaned forward, seeming to loom over me despite being the same size. I felt my knees go weak as he leered down at me, my will almost subconsciously bent to his own.

“Listen, and listen well, whelp. You are nothing more than a pile of imposing scrap masquerading as a man of importance.” I shrank further in on myself as Mordekaiser spoke, each word driving themselves into what little confidence I had left like nails into soft wood.

Seeing him in the game, I thought the hulking mass of malice and metal was intimidating enough, but now? In the flesh?

Nothing could possibly compare.

“I-I, I did as you said- I-, I tried! I mean-” I stuttered my way through my response, unable to keep myself from shaking in The Iron Revenant’s presence. This was a fear I was all too used to, one that erupted from a dominating force, allowing no room for resistance. It left me feeling paralyzed and weak.

Mordekaiser shook his head, interrupting my incoherent babbling.

“Save your worthless breath for those who would care.” He stepped forward, standing barely a foot away with his ghostly helm inches from my far more corporeal one.

“Action. strength of will. power. Those are the core, fundamental foundations that drive any, and every world. Those are the only measures that matter.” Mordekaiser waved a hand behind himself, gesturing at a portal that had ripped itself open behind him. Beyond lay a blackened sky with a dark city that spread to the bleak horizon.

“If you desire to become more than a pathetic little woodland salamander pretending to wield a dragon’s might, then build upon those three things.” I could feel the ghost sneer at me behind his helm as his fist dropped.

“But you need purpose to do that don’t you, wretch? You need an external force to drive you onward.” He pointed at the door that Daisy left through as if he were a disappointed father pointing at a car his son just wrecked.

“You care for that beast, don’t you?” The apparition growled. After a moment of waiting, I realized he expected a response. I couldn’t summon the words, so I simply nodded hesitantly.

“Your will is weak; your power, empty; your mind, frail. If you dare to continue wearing my face, then make yourself worthy of it, or I will personally sunder your pet’s soul from its body.” With a final glare, Mordekaiser turned to go. His steps clanged hollowly as he walked, but just as he was about to pass through the portal, he paused. The ghost spoke in a grinding tone barely above a whisper.

“Consume your enemies with your soul-fire and become strong, or become mulch for the worms beneath your boots, whelp. Even this world of sickening weakness has its thorns.” The portal snapped close without a sound, but the Dread Lord’s words echoed through the chamber, as if will alone could sustain them, as if even his voice refused to die.

I was left staring, dumbfounded and frightened beyond all belief. But through the fearful cloud that darkened my thoughts…

…Mordekaiser’s words rang clear and true like a church bell.

Author's Note

Howdy-ho, y'all! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am genuinely sorry that I take so long to get these out. My work ethic is just horrendous, and my inspiration lacking.

Big thanks to Orderly Disassembly for helping me write this chapter!