A Villain Gets A Second Chance

You then sigh heavily as you say, "Alright, let's continue where I left off..."

Rainbow then huffs and says, "Yeah, get back to the action!"

Rolling your eyes at her, you say, "Alright little miss speed demon, pipe down. I was fighting my way through towns while I had Kel'Thuzad and Sylvanas blocking the paths into the mountains with their troops. When I headed to another town, I suddenly felt an unbearable pain come over my whole body, nearly causing me to fall out of the saddle. When I asked what was happening to me, I heard the Lich King Ner'zhul tell me that danger was drawing near, and power was fading as time was beginning to run out. The voice and pain faded away after a few moments and Kel'Thuzad asked if I needed assistance, but I told him I didn't because the pain had passed and noticed my powers were diminished and that something was terribly wrong here. He asked if we should recall our forces, but I told him we wouldn't, as I wanted to finish the hunt and conclude our business before looking into the mystery."

Twilight takes over writing for Rarity as you tell them of how you had finally dealt with the final village and the paladin order when you decided to round up the stragglers and finish them off as you were hit by another bout of pain, hearing you say, "I was contacted by the Lich King again and warned that danger was drawing near the Frozen Throne, then was ordered to return to Northrend immediately. When his voice faded, I told Kel'Thuzad to take me back to the capital as I had a long journey ahead of me. With my powers further diminished, I noticed that I had lost control of some of my forces...learning later that Sylvanas was among them as well as a few of my Val'kyr. As I was on my way back to the capital, I received further warnings about my waning power. Barely able to control my own soldiers then, I told Kel'Thuzad of how all would be lost if I didn't return to Northrend soon. He had told me to not worry, that the ships had already been gathered for my departure. We were on our way there at that moment when we were ambushed by the three dreadlords Detheroc, Balnazzar, and Varimathras as well as a few of their soldiers, telling us that there's been a change of plans...that I was going nowhere. Kel'Thuzad heard the gates shut behind us and realize that it was a trap and they were trying to assassinate us both as Balnazzar said that I never should have returned in my weakened state, because they now controlled the majority of my warriors and that it seemed my reign was short-lived. The lich then told me to flee the city because there was too many of them, but he would find his own way out and meet me in the wilderness. I then agreed and wished him good luck before fighting my way back through their forces and smashing my way through the iron gates that they shut."

As you tell them of the battle you had to wage just to escape their trap, making it out of the city to be joined by a few banshees led by Sylvanas. Taking a breath, you then say, "The banshees told me they were sent to find me by Sylvanas and would escort me across the river to the wilderness. When we reached a clearing, they stopped and said we would rest here to gather our strength and I went to ask why here. I then told them that we needed to find Kel'Thuzad when I was struck by another bout of pain, where the Lich King told me that I had been deceived and to come to him at once. It was at that moment that the rest of my warriors were slaughtered, with an arrow striking me in the shoulder, which made me ask what was going on when Sylvanas confronted me. She then told me that I had walked right into her ambush and it was time to even the scales. I had called her a traitor and angrily asked what she had done to me as I felt something working its way through my body, leaving me unable to fight back. She answered me and said that it was a special poisoned arrow she made just for me, commenting that the paralysis I was feeling is but a tiny sliver of the agony I caused her. I then told her to finish me then, but she then said, 'A quick death...like what I gave her? No, I was going to suffer as she had. Thanks to her poisoned arrow, I couldn't run away.' She then told me with all the hatred she had to give my regards to hell and called me a son of a bitch, just then Kel'Thuzad arrived with his troops and engaged the banshees and Sylvanas, saying that I would not fall today. I then heard Sylvanas tell me it wasn't over, that she would never stop hunting me before running off into the woods as her banshees fell." You continue telling them how Kel'Thuzad told you the effects will wear off in time, and that all the preparations for my journey to Northrend had been finished. Just before departing, you called him a loyal friend and didn't know if you would ever return, so you asked him to watch over your land and see to it that your legacy endured.

As Twilight continues writing as you pause to let her catch up, she eventually finishes and looks up with a tired yawn, saying, "...Ready."

Continuing the story, you tell them of how it took your ragged fleet three weeks to get to the frozen southern coast of Northrend when you encountered a group of High Elves that announced themselves as the Blood Elves, swearing to avenge the ghosts of Quel'Thalas and that the dead land would be cleansed. With a sigh, you say, "I told them that Northrend belongs to the Scourge and that they had made a terrible mistake in coming here. I then told my soldiers to kill them when a new group of creatures arrived and ambushed them, slaughtering them all in Ner'zhul's name. Not knowing who or what they were, I approached them warily and thanked their mighty leader for their assistance and learned that they were sent by the Lich King to aid me, introducing himself as Anub'arak, ancient king of Azjol-Nerub." After spelling both names out for Twilight, you continue the story where you left off, saying, "Welcoming his aid, I told him we had little time for pleasantries, as we were urgently needed at Icecrown. We then set off to deal with the Blood Elves' base in Northrend."

Fluttershy keeps herself strengthened against how he decimated their base and came to meet Prince Kael'thas, who took his leave after telling Arthas that the group he decimated was just a scouting force and that you would find it far more difficult to defeat Lord Illidan's army. Something deep inside her tells her that the story is somewhat half-finished as she feels rather sleepy, asking, "Uhm, I was wondering if it would be okay with you if we got some sleep?"

Curious, you look out the window to see the sun rising with Celestia's power and turn back to them with a nod, saying, "Of course, I myself will be needing to rest, however, I doubt it will be a peaceful rest. I shall continue the story after we all wake, goodnight, girls." Laying your head down onto your hooves by the fire, you prepare for another night plagued by your past horrors.

Twilight watches the girls all laying next to each other, bringing a smile to her face as she finishes writing the last bit of the story and turns to Spike, saying, "Please prepare to send everything written to Princess Celestia so that there is room to continue writing his story down while I write a letter to the princess to inform her of the current situation."

Spike's eyes widen at hearing that and gulps, asking, "Wait...ALL of this?" When he hears her hum in confirmation, he nods and then breathes his special flame over the stacks of papers.

Moments later, inside the special relaxation quarters of Canterlot Castle

Celestia watches over her sleeping sister when she sees numerous stacks of paper appearing all around her, saying, "What in Equestria is going on with all these stacks of paper?" She then sees a scroll pop up before her and unrolls it curiously, surprised at finding out that it is from Twilight. Reading further into the letter, she is pleased to learn that Arthas had been found unconscious in the snowy lands between Canterlot and Ponyville, bringing him back to Twilight's home. After questioning him why he tried to abandon them, they learned from Fluttershy that he had left after watching her cry from knowing what happened to him at the end. By being stubborn through his unwillingness to burden us and upset us with his past, they eventually got him to tell his story, however they were up all night long listening to his story and were just now going to sleep. She was even surprised to learn that Fluttershy managed to find the strength to continue listening to the story after initially begging him to tell no more, removing the ear plugs and ear muffs keeping her from hearing more of the horrors of his past.

Luna wakes to her sister's shuffling hooves and asks wearily, "Sister...what is going on?" Looking around, she sees the numerous stacks of paper surrounding them and asks, "What is all this?"

She turns to her sister and says, "This is another part of Arthas's past, though we will have to wait until the first part's barrier disappears to read it in order to fully understand his whole story."

The younger sister looks at the stacks of paper without barriers around them and says, "I think that would help to keep us from getting confused from reading it out of order."

With no court being held over the holidays, Celestia reads back through the pages regarding what Arthas knows about Azeroth, thinking, 'The description of the known landmasses and the massive, swirling maelstrom between all the continents seems familiar...but why is that? My sister and I should investigate why it feels familiar to me...'

When you wake, you smell Spike cooking something delicious in the kitchen and feel something soft up against you. Turning your head to look, you see Twilight to one side of you with Applejack on your opposite side and spot Fluttershy lying on top of you. A half-chuckle escapes your lips as you find amusement in it, saying, "I see you girls were ensuring that I would go nowhere, even though I am still tied up."

The girls slowly stir awake at his words and look at him saying how glad they were that he didn't try to run away again, then get up to their hooves as they go get something to eat, with Fluttershy bringing him some fried potato fries and some kind of vegetable dinner while Applejack brings him some Applejuice, untying his legs, saying, "Now don't get any bright ideas mister, 'cause ah'm gonna stick to you like stink to a skunk."

With a smirk, you nod your head, saying, "As you wish, but I wouldn't get very far if I tried with the ring on my horn and my foreleg in a cast."

The sun is near the horizon when the others come back after heading to their homes for a bit, settling in to hear the rest of the story as Twilight brings out more stacks of paper and quills, saying, "Alright, Arthas, let's continue where we left off." Looking around at her friends, she asks, "Are you all ready to hear the remainder of the story?"

Watching them nod and hearing their confirmations, you then say, "Alright then, now where was I..." Remembering your place from last night, you continue, saying, "Right...I voiced my surprised at learning that Illidan Stormrage was behind the invasion, and Prince Kael'thas confirmed that he was indeed behind it. He then told me that their forces were vast and that they marched upon the Icecrown Glacier as we spoke, adding that I would never make it in time to save my precious Lich King. Before he left, he told me to consider that as payment for Quel'Thalas and other insults...with other insults meaning me 'taking' Lady Jaina Proudmoore from him because we both fancied her. Once he was gone, I was hit by yet another painful feeling as I weakened again as Ner'zhul spoke to me and urged me to make haste, for his enemies were drawing near and our time was nearly gone. After seeing me in pain, Anub'arak asked if I was well and I told him that I was alright, though my powers were weakening once again. I then told him that Kael'thas was right, that we would not reach him in time. It was then that Anub'arak told me that there was another route we could take...through the shattered, ancient kingdom of Azjol-Nerub, which laid deep beneath us. Even though it had fallen on dark times, it still could provide us a quick route to the glacier. With no choice, I accepted his suggestion and asked him to guide the way."

Spike listens as you tell them of your journey to the entrance, listening more intently as you talk of your intense battle with dragons from the Blue Dragonflight. His eyes tear up as he hears of how you defeated them all and was able to raise the great dragon Sapphiron into undeath as a Frost Wyrm.

As you tell them how Anub'arak advised you to conserve strength due to the long trek ahead of you, you eventually get to where you made it to the start of the tunnels to Azjol-Nerub. You then say, "Anub'arak said that nothing was certain, that the ruins would be quite perilous, but still worth the risk. We were walking for hours, which made me anxious to get to the Lich King's side because he was defenseless without us, but Anub'arak informed me that he left many of his warriors at Icecrown and that they would the line for as long as they were able. When we finally did arrive at the entrance, something felt very off to me as there was nothing around as I asked him where his nerubian people were, undead or otherwise. Telling me that he was wondering that himself, he then suggested that something must have driven them off. Moments later, a group of dwarves ran out of hiding and told us that they did, calling us rotting bastards and said they had been watching us all along. I then recognized them as being Muradin's dwarves, complaining out loud why nobody stays dead anymore. They then told me they've been wandering the forsaken land ever since I killed Muradin and left them here to rot, though Baelgun led us into the ruined city to survive and there was no way they were going to let me in. In response, I sent Sapphiron to destroy the gate they had closed. When the gate was destroyed, the blast killed a dwarf that failed to make it inside and I was forced to leave Sapphiron behind due to the tunnels being too small for him."

Rainbow listens intently to the story as it continues on with how Anub'arak warned you that time was running out and they had to hurry, which wasn't easy due to you having to fight your way through the tunnels. When she hears of surviving nerubians still fighting to reclaim the tunnels foolishly after the war of the spider, she asks, "How long ago was this spider war?"

You think about it for a moment and say, "Well it happened sometime during my teenage years, but that is a different story than mine. After killing Baelgun and opening the way into the next section, I noticed that the air inside smelled awful and that something didn't feel right."

An eerie feeling crawls up Rarity's spine as she mutters, "I have a feeling that something truly horrid was down there in the inner kingdom with you..."

A chuckle escapes your throat as you look at her and say, "Horrid doesn't even do justice to what was down there in the heart of the old kingdom." You then continue with the story, telling them of the battle throughout the tunnels, then say, "When we broke our way through a barricaded door, we saw what the dwarves were scared of...the ones that Anub'arak only thought were legends until that moment, naming them as the Faceless Ones. If you wish to see what they looked like, there are several drawings I made of everything I remember. You will have to ask Twilight where the rest of them are, as the first batch was likely sent as a Hearth's Warming present, am I right, Twilight?"

Twilight looks up, surprised as she says, "You knew!?"

You laugh and then nod, saying, 'Of course I did, you are so obsessive with your reports that it is predictable whenever you make a breakthrough, be it big or small."

Rainbow then turns to Twilight and asks, "Yo Twilight, where did ya hide those drawings so we can look at em?"

She sighs and pulls them out from inside a set of fake books, saying, "Here you go, but for Rarity's sake, try not to let her see the ones depicting what the Faceless Ones look like."

Watching Rainbow looking through the photos, Rarity asks, "Why can't I see what they look like, darling?"

Twilight looks at her with a deadpan look in her eyes and asks, "Because they are basically walking, faceless tentacled creatures that might affect your daily life whenever you might look at a mane or tail."

The fashionista scoffs and says, "Oh pish-posh Twilight, nothing could possibly change how I see a pony's mane or tail."

She sighs and watches her head over to look at the images with Rainbow and the others, saying, "Okay then, don't say I didn't warn you..." Looking up to you, she continues writing for a bit before saying, "Alright, you can keep going."

You then nod your head and say, "Alright, we had to fight our way through a room filled with dozens of writhing tentacles three-times taller than my human form with huge curved spikes growing from their insides that were sticking up through the tiled floor under a foot of water along with a dozen or so bipedal Faceless Ones. The tentacles would lash out and strike at anything that got near them, so they proved to be quite the nuisance to deal with until we killed off the last of the Faceless Ones in the room. When we moved onto the next area, we came face-to-face with a Forgotten One, which was another creature I had never came across before. It was a hideous blob-like creature having four eyes, and five mouths all over it. Anub'arak couldn't believe that one was there, telling me to look to my defenses and fight like I never fought before. Sending some of my troops to attack it, I discovered that it could use spells and psychic attacks as well as summon, and control multiple tentacles at a time along with calling in additional soldiers. Once we had dispatched it and the few soldiers that arrived during the fight, I turned to check out noise from another tunnel and noticed that there were perhaps a hundred or even more racing our way to take us down. Knowing we could not take them all, Anub'arak told us to hurry toward the stairwell quickly, where we hastily closed the doors behind us and blocked the path as best we could."

Rarity and the others look through the colored drawings of places, buildings, people, and creatures you knew when she sees the drawing of the Forgotten One and exclaims, "EHEHEEEWW! That is the most HIDEOUS THING I HAVE EVER LOOKED AT YET! I am aghast at how I find some inspiration from this monstrosity!"

With a chuckle, you continue the story from when you reached the Upper Kingdom and had to watch out for hidden traps and pitfalls as you made your way to the exit. After you get through the part where you ran down the path while urging Anub'arak and the others to find cover, you say, "I had to be careful where I stepped with Invincible or I would have fell to one of the many traps within the passageway."

Twilight continues writing the story down as you tell her how you had to fight your way through a dozen Faceless Ones without any help from others, narrowly succeeding with the aid of your spells and regrouping with Anub'arak and the others on the other side of the labyrinth. She listens to how you collected stashes of gold as you made your escape, having to fight your way through even more faceless ones that tried to block your escape.

As you tell her how you finally made it to the exit to the outside, you say, "As I was looking forward to seeing the sun again, Anub'arak reminded me that Illidan and the true battle still laid ahead of us above. He also said he hoped that our journey through the dark earth bought us the time necessary to reach the glacier in time. It took us a few hours to arrive near the base of the Scourge's main stronghold, arriving just in time as Illidan's naga and blood elf forces took up positions at the glacier's base. At that moment, I was hit by one more bout of pain as the Lich King spoke to me, saying that I had come at last. He then told me of a fracture in his prison, the Frozen Throne, and his power was slowly leaking out of it...which was the cause of my powers diminishing. I asked him how it was possible and he told me that the runeblade called Frostmourne, was once locked inside the prison with him but he forced it from the ice so that it would find me and in turn, guide me to him, which it finally had. He then told me that we faced a grave danger, his creator, the demonlord Kil'jaedan, sent his agents to destroy him. If they were to reach the Frozen Throne before me, all would be lost as the Scourge would be undone. He bade me to hurry and granted me all the power he could spare, and I knew right away what I had to do. Wanting to end the game once and for all, I needed to make plans with Anub'arak to defend the Lich King's throne chamber."

Everyone stops looking at the photos as they listen in to the story, hearing how you were fed up with Illidan mocking the Scourge and decided to put the fear of death back into him. Each time your forces would clash with his keeps their attention riveted to you, waiting to hear who the victor was. After a long battle that lasted for several hours, you came out victorious in claiming all four obelisks and opened the doors to the throne.

You see the looks on their faces and then say, "I was on my way to the doors when Illidan met me outside the throne doors, telling him that the Frozen Throne was mine and to step out of the way. I told him to leave the world and not to return, for I would be waiting if he did. He then spoke to me and said he swore to destroy it, that it had to be done, though I refused to let him do that. That led us to facing off against each other one more time..."

When you describe the start of the fight to them, they are enthralled as Twilight manages to somehow keep writing while keeping her attention mostly glued to you. Telling them how you traded blows with Illidan and his dual, double-bladed warglaives, rendering him unable to grip one weapon, you forced him to unleash the power he got from the skull of Gul'dan. You then look at their enraptured faces, you say, "I saw the green markings on his body glow with the power the skull gave him, watching as he discarded his other weapon and let his rage take over as he jumped up into the air and prepared to charge at me with his clawed hands. I saw a chance to end the fight and held my sword in both hands, channeling power into Frostmourne until it glowed a bright sapphire blue, then charged toward him with the sword held low behind me with both hands. He then dove at me in turn with his hands reaching out to tear me apart, which is when I jumped up to meet him. When we were a few feet apart...I swung my sword up and to the left, and heard my sword cut him deeply. When I heard him fall to the ice heavily, I kept walking towards the doors to the Frozen Throne."

Twilight works feverishly to catch up as you pause the story, her heart beats quickly at hearing of the duel between you and Illidan. It takes her a few moments to finish writing before looking at you, saying, "I'm done, please continue."

You then tell them of your walk up the long staircase to the Frozen Throne, thinking back on your journey here and the friends that abandoned you, betrayed you, or you left behind. With a sigh, you say, "During my trek up the steps, I could hear the voices of my former friends in my head the entire way. Undaunted by what I had done, I kept going and reached the Frozen Throne itself. When I looked upon the ice surrounding the throne, I thought I saw the Lich King trapped inside it and heard him speak to me from the ice, saying, 'Return the blade and complete the circle. Free him from his icy prison.' Hearing that, I took big steps forward while drawing my sword back to shatter the ice trapping him inside. When I destroyed the ice with Frostmourne, I discovered that there was only an empty suit of armor inside the ice. Looking upon the empty armor with a smile, I took it as being my reward for being so loyal to him and replaced what was lying before me. The last thing I picked up...was the crowned helm. Once I put it on, I heard the ice above the throne starting to break apart when I began to feel new power suffusing my body which felt amazing to me. I then heard the Lich King tell me that we were finally one and opened my eyes to look out at the vast lands I now ruled over as the Scourge's new Lich King. Feeling annoyed with the small pangs I felt during my climb up the steps, I tore out my own heart and cast it far away from me. Aware of my new strength, I knew I needed to rest for a little while and sat down in my new throne."

Gasping in shock, Rainbow and Spike both blink their eyes and say, "Woah..." in unison as Spike continues, saying, "So that's how you got that creepy armor."

You nod your head and say, "It is indeed, now let's continue..."

The bookworm nods her head and finishes writing before making a note at the bottom of the page to help with keeping the story straight, then sets it at the top of the appropriate stack and grabs a new paper, saying, "Okay, go ahead."

As you tell them how you slumbered atop the throne to gather your strength, you say, "When I awoke, I learned I had slept for about a decade and decided to ready myself to wage war on the world of mortals. With a sigh, you get to where Sapphiron told you of where the great dragon Sindragosa fell from the sky after being mortally wounded by the dragon soul wielded by the traitor Neltharion, saying, "As I set out to the place where she fell, I walked onto a lake several miles from the Frozen Throne and found her soul trapped beneath the ice with her skeletal body at the bottom of the lake. As I claimed her crazed and enraged soul with Frostmourne, I heard her rant and rave about how much she craved revenge against the Burning Legion, Neltharion, her former consort Malygos, and the world of mortals. When I told her who I was, I told her I could help her get her revenge...and more if she served me in undeath. In her present state, she eagerly took my offer of resurrecting her and asked me to find and raise her children as well, telling me where they fell in their battle against the black aspect Neltharion, who betrayed all of the flights several thousand years ago. When I resurrected her, I had her lead the frostbrood into war against the mortals. With her among my ranks, I sent out agents to raise the dead in preparation to battle the living."

Twilight continues to write down the story as you pause after a little while to let her catch up, which takes her a few moments to finish writing, saying, "Alright, continue with your story."

Continuing on, you reach the point where you sent your newly created Death Knights to destroy the village of Hearthglen, then sending them on to attack Light's Hope Chapel, saying, "I sent them there to hopefully draw man old acquaintance out of hiding, which it did, and planned to kill him myself. It was there, that my Death Knights were bested and captured by my old friend Tirion Fordring. When I saw the soul of Alexandros Mograine intervene and show him a vision of the past, I saw my chance to claim a powerful soul that had eluded me several years ago. Wanting to claim his soul, I appeared near him and waited a moment to hear his words to his son Darion, claiming his soul as I commented how touching it was, and that he was now mine. At that moment, he had realized how little I valued them and said I betrayed them all, which resulted in him regaining his will and turning against me. When he jumped at me and attempted to strike me down, I batted him aside with Frostmourne and commented on how pathetic the attack was. Tirion then called me a damned monster, to which I then told him he was correct. I did indeed send them there to die because their lives meant nothing to me...however, his life had great value. I then said how easy it was to draw him out of hiding, leaving himself so exposed with nothing around that could save the great paladin's life. The others charged in to attack me, but I cast them all back and greatly weakened them. At that moment, I believed that I would claim his soul...however, I saw Darion throw his sword to Tirion. When Tirion caught it, I was taken by surprise when he was suffused with great strength and surrounded by vibrant, holy light as he then leapt towards me and struck my side. Feeling his strike made me jump back and check my wound, finding that he managed to wound me lightly. Feeling uneasiness creep through me, I decided to retreat, saying that it wasn't over...when we met again, it would be on unholy ground. It was after my retreat that the Argent Crusade was formed from the merging of the Argent Dawn and the Silver Hand. Shortly after, I lost command of the floating Necropolis called Acherus just outside of Hearthglen."

As she continues writing, she hears of what you have done in the meantime. When you pause in the story yet again, she works to catch up before nodding her head for you to continue. While you resume the story, she hears Fluttershy sobbing at the events that transpired at Angrathar, the Wrath Gate.

Hours later, you look out the window to see the sky lightening in preparation for the sun to rise and smirk, saying, "Finally, when the heroes had fought their way to Icecrown Citadel's front door...I stood before Frostmourne and saw many souls manifest in the room around me, with my father being the foremost of them all as he asked me if I could feel fate closing in around me. Saying that the light's justice had been awakened, that my past finally caught up to me and I would be made accountable for all that I had done. Though he was the first to be devoured by my evil, thousands more were still bound to the blade and were crying out for release. His final words to me were to look to my defenses, for the justice's champions had gathered at my gates. After those words, I took up the sword and said to let them come...for Frostmourne hungered for more souls."

Seeing how the quill was trembling violently in her magic, Rarity takes over for her, saying, "Let me take over for you."

Pausing to let her pick up where she left off and catch up, you hear Twilight thank her friend. Once she is caught up, you hear her ask you to continue and resume the tale. Telling them about the intense battle they waged through Icecrown floor by floor and room by room, besting your strongest warriors before finally reaching the top of your citadel. Not leaving details out, you describe the battle in great detail, leading right up to the moment that Tirion broke free of his prison and charged. You think back on that moment with a slight grin on your face as you say, "When our two swords met, his Ashbringer...completely shattered Frostmourne's blade. When I looked down in shock and surprise at my broken sword, I watched the souls trapped within go free. As they all swirled around me, they picked me up into the air and began to further weaken me, until Tirion dealt me a mortal wound. Too weak and unable to fight any longer, the spirits released me from their hold. After falling to the floor, my crowned helm came off my head and skittered a short distance from me when I saw my father appear from the thousands of swirling spirits above me. Once again myself, he knelt down beside me and I reached up with my gauntleted right hand and grasped his shoulder gasping out, 'Father!' before asking if it was over."

With tears running down Rarity's face as sobs wrack her body and the others, she continues writing on with a heavy heart as she hears you say, "My father replied with, 'At long last, my son. No king rules forever.' Right then my vision started to fade away as I saw two brilliant figures flying toward me, and I assumed they were coming to take me to face judgement. Before all went dark, my very last words were, 'I see only darkness before me.' I then felt myself being carried away, eventually getting the feeling of being dropped. The falling sensation lasted for a little while, so I must have fallen quite a ways before I felt something grip me tightly in its grasp. Unable to look around me, I heard a new, deep voice speak up, saying, 'Your soul is finally mine after all the hard work I put in to acquire the perfect source of energy for my designs.' Shortly after that, I began to suffer the agonizing sensation of having tiny pieces of me torn away...and never returning. The torture was so immense, I lost all sense of time as I slowly started to cease existing. When the torture finally came to an end, I heard voices once again that seemed to be around me that said, 'Arthas? Is that...all that remains of him? The last flicker of his scarred spirit...consumed by the forges of The Jailer. No crown, no throne, not even a soul remaining for judgement.' I then heard that same voice at the end speak again, saying, 'I hated you, hunted you. With each act of selfishness...I...became you. However, that...is my burden to bear. Your legacy...is at its end, so be gone then...Arthas Menethil, let the final whisper of your name...fade and be forgotten forever.' I was then drawn away somewhere that I cannot tell you about how I was returned to life and found myself here as I was before."

Twilight sobs as sorrow fills her heart, saying, "It is so sad to hear that you never got the chance to make amends with your former friends..."

With a nod, you answer her, saying, "It is regrettable that I may never see them again, though I doubt that they would ever forgive me for what I've done. I had been given the chance to redeem myself here, though I wasn't given much guidance or advice to follow."

She and the others look at you as Applejack places a hoof over your good shoulder, saying, "Don't worry pardner, we will be there to help you along the way if you need us.

Rainbow then nods and says in a determined tone, "Yeah, we'll always have your back!"

Fluttershy then lays down beside you and leans her head against your neck, saying, "If you need to talk to anypony, we will listen."

Twilight then smiles and says, "Yes we will, because that is what friends are supposed to do, be there for each other. We all can be good friends for you to keep, but only if you allow us in to help you."

You sigh and look at them all with tears in your eyes as you feel a faint warmth ignite within you and smile at them, which surprisingly stays there for full two minutes as you feel happy at the same time, saying, "Thank you, everyone. It will not be easy for me to adapt to having friends again, but I will do my best to let you all into my hardened heart."

When everything is silent, Pinkie recalls the feeling she got a few months ago and turns her head slowly towards Fluttershy with wide eyes and eyes the size of pinpricks, then says with an eerily low and calm voice, "Fluttershy...did you make a Pinkie Promise to someone a few months ago?"

Thinking about her question, she then nods and says, "Yes I did, I made a formal Pinkie Promise to our friend Blistering Blizzard, or Arthas the day after we saved Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon. I overheard him singing a really sad song and then got pulled into it, after a conversation afterwards, I promised that I wouldn't share what I heard him say of his past a secret from you all." Realizing what she did earlier out of anger, she gasps and puts her wingtips over her mouth, muttering, "Oops...sorry Arthas!"

Hearing gasps from the other ponies around her except from you at the revelation, Pinkie's mane pops and goes flat as her eyes disappear under her mane, taking a deep breath before jumping into the air and screaming angrily, "YOU BROKE A PINKIE PROMISE!!!"

Intervening for Fluttershy's sake, you say, "PINKS! In Fluttershy's defense, it was sort of an emergency. Besides that, her outburst got me to open up to you all about my horrible past, so I forgive her for breaking her promise to me, it was for my own good anyways."

She lowers her head and takes an audible deep breath and huffs it out in a rush, looking back up at Fluttershy with a smile as her mane reinflates, saying, "I forgive you too!" Then glomps the shy pegasus and gives her a firm hug, saying, "You are even scarier when you are very angry."

A few hours pass as everyone leaves with the exception of Fluttershy, looking at her curiously as you ask, "What's up Flutters?"

Fluttershy blushes lightly as she then turns to Twilight and asks, "Uhm, Twilight? Would it...be okay if I...spent the night here?"

Twilight nods, saying, "Of course, it's Hearth's Warming Eve after all! There is so much fun that we can have together!"