The King Of Nothing

Walking through a desolate hallway in the Castle, a tall blue alicorn wearing silver regalia and a dark purple glow scans her surroundings cautiously, guided by an eerie lullaby echoing through the walls and paintings that sing along with the tune with a child like tune.

~ Hush, now, ~

~ Hide, all you little ones. ~

~ Run, now,

~ before he sees you, ~

~ and take you, ~

~ Where friendship and love have long died ~

The princess has to pause that last part of the lullaby in surprise and concern as she reaches the end of the hallway, where a statue of the Mane Six is in front of her. Only their eyes had been carved out, and there was a slash on their necks where red liquid was flowing, imitating a wound as they seem to be singing as well.

The scene was freezing the princess' veins and shivering her fur, yet she pressed on and erased the illusion while continuing her march. The song seems to pick volume as she walks up a set of stairs where stained glasses depict her citizens escaping fires or being grabbed by giant black hands from a pony on a hoodie, no doubt another attempt to gaslight the princess into distrusting the individual.

~ Pain and Fear follows the Nothing King, ~

~ When his kingdom comes ~

~ Darkness is night! ~

Reaching the top of the stairs, the princess was faced with a set of double doors that, when open, transported her into another part of the castle: the underground levels below the dungeon, where the castle's central cores reside.

Once more, the song continued as more images of soldiers and maids turning apart were presented to the princess all over the floor as she advanced through a pony-made hallway of rock bricks. In the distance, she could see a source of light beckoning for her to get closer.

~ Quiet ~

~ When he approaches remain, ~

~ silent. ~

~ With secretive feelings of ~

~ Fearsome, ~

~ hatred that reaches the skies ~

Reaching the end of the hallway and entering the room of the central core, Luna's blood froze when she saw a tall alicorn stallion with a long silver mane raising his wings with claws on as well as a beat-up, unconscious, and bloody Celestia been held up and choke with one arm by the stallion alicorn and ramming her head against the magic sphere in the center of the room which was in the process of breaking and become unstable.

~ You will bring ~

~ Joy to the Nothing King, ~

~ When he sees the light ~

~ Leaving your eyes. ~

At the last part of the lullaby, the stallion succeeded in breaking both the orb and Celestia's skull, creating a giant explosion that faded everything into white and brought the princess back to her studio with a slight startle and a shake before sitting up and holding her head.

"Are you okay, your highness? Water!" Shiitake orders one of her guards to comply and give the princess a glass of water while the major grabs her free hand. "Did you see what my report told you about?"

"I saw a hallucination attempting to cloud my judgment, indeed," Princess Luna replied after taking a deep sip of her glass of water before addressing Shiitake. "But nothing that would indicate Amon is responsible for them," she declared with finality as she stood up and looked at the source of her bad dream.

A piece of the mysterious toxic fog plaguing the dream realm for the last couple of weeks, safely sealed and contained on a crystal translucent orb for analysis and study.

Ever since Luna read the major's report and confirmed her claims that the root of the curse invading Canterlot came from the land of the dream instead of an external force, the princess has spent as much time as she can investigating and trying to discover what could be producing such terrible fog. Yet, she has kept stumbling into one dead end after another. Taking a bit of solace with the major's assistance, she, at the very least, stopped the unusual weather for the time being.

Switching tactics, the princess' latest experiment allows her to be briefly infected by the fog to study how it operates in the hopes of finding clues. Which, to her pleasure, was precisely what she saw.

"Quite the opposite." Collecting the orb, the princess walked toward an empty and hollow podium with visages extending outwards, imitating a blooming flower. Placing the orb in the middle, the visages retracted and sealed the orb in a steel dome before the podium retracted and was sealed away beneath the room floor.

"From what I witnessed, it seems this curse has an objective of vilifying and awoke distrust toward our guest. A clear attempt to paint him as a foe rather than a friend or a victim needing help. Restless, cunning, and far more relentless than any Tantabus I could ever make. Truly the worst abomination ever born from the union of nightmares and curses, with a clear goal in mind."

Luna gives back the glass of water and stares directly at Shiitake. "Make us distrust our guest and treat him like the worst criminal of Equestria, maybe even worse, encouraging us to think less of him and forget basic pony laws when passing judgment or even common sense, just like you displayed the night you brought this information to my attention," Luna ends her statement as she looks at the major with a stoic expression.

"Your majesty, you surely wouldn't be implying that I'm infected, right?"

"No, not infected per se," Luna mentions, bringing her index and thumb fingers to her chin. "Not by the same curse, at the very least," She proclaims with a raised eyebrow, making Shiitake flinch and take a step back.

"But I want you to see the facts as they are and apply the same logic you requested me to use when you presented this case, Major Shiitake," Luna asked while circling the mare and eyeing her as if she were some lab rat.

"What benefit could there be in casting a spell that openly antagonizes you and subtly encourages your enemies to raise their guard and alert of every move you make?"

"Well, empathy, for example, is easy to move around if ponies around you think you are a victim."

"Then why not present yourself as a victim from the start?" Luna fires back. "If he truly is responsible for these nightmares, why target himself as the monster? It doesn't make much sense, don't you agree? Not even King Sombra would announce his arrival with anticipation for his foes to stop him, so I repeat, does suggesting this curse is something Amon is creating a will, something that makes sense, major?"

"It doesn't, your highness; you are right," Shiitake admitted with a defeated sigh while looking down. "By all intents and purposes, the only pony gaining something from this would be the one that wishes to harm that stallion."

"So glad you are starting to see reason," Luna smiled, standing before the major. "Indeed, it doesn't. What makes me believe is that there is someone else at work here; it is obvious that whoever is behind this trouble wishes to put our guest in a less than flattery light; why and how is what concerns me and makes me want to explore further."

"I will put my best ponies on the case, your highness; you give me the order." Shiitake salute solemnly.

"Thank you for your dedication, major, but please allow me to select the ponies for the job; all we still need to discuss is your actions."

"Ma'am?" Shiitake asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Major Shiitake, you have been called for misbehavior and abuse of power on more than one occasion. Our resident psychology and mandatory tolerance and acceptance program have done their job and helped you through all of your demons, yet here you are now, in various years. You didn't need to be called to attention for this behavior again until you saw our new guests in the eyes."

"Ma'am, with all due respect, he is a homeless pony, freakishly huge, and a stallion; how couldn't I have my suspicions of him? For all we know, he could provoke another Nightmare Moon, maybe even worse, a stallion nightmare moon," Shiitake fires back as Luna remains quiet.

Deciding to put pause her sexist ideology and blaming it on the curse for the moment, the princess proceeded calmly.

"It's understandable to be wary of a stranger like him, especially how he somehow was homeless despite being an alicorn. And indeed, I'm well aware of the dangers that could represent should he let himself be absorbed by his anger. Yet instead of conducting yourself professionally and observing him before taking any actions that may, I remind you, COULD have triggered the worst-case scenario, what was your first response?"

"I… order his arrest with, at best, dubious reasons," Shiitake answers mostly to herself in realization as she has a thousand-mile stare at the ground.

"Now you understand why I believe there is more than one type of curse at work here, major?"

"But… but that is impossible; when and how could I be infected? I had never seen that alicorn before, and our first encounter was inside the castle walls; no curse could have reached me."

"Unless the effects change depending on the beholder." Luna walks to her desk and lays her fingers on Shiitake's report. "Your report could shed some light on those questions, major. Those who have not seen his face seem to visualize a shady, scary figure; those who show empathy or concern are exposed to horrible nightmares and illusions that chip away said emotions and those that have suspicious or negative inclinations seem to have a spike in their feelings to ridiculous extremes and cloud their judgment making them subjective to act irrational and aggressive toward him. It hopes to push this stallion to become the successor to my infamous other half."

Luna sighs in shame and pity, "At least that is my hypothesis; based on the clues, all seem to have one goal. Put him as the foe to defeat and keep him isolated from everyone to ensure that result."

She approached the major once more. "This requires further study and observation, conducted only by those able to resist, recognize, and dispel this type of magic." Luna put her hands behind her back. "You are dismissed from this case, Major Shiitake."

"WHAT?! But… but, your highness, I was the one that brought the issue to your attention."

"As well as demonstrating how your mental faculties have been compromised, major, I understand your frustration, but I need a team that I can be sure would remain impartial and focus on the facts instead of being swayed and manipulated by these enchantments, which is why you must remain away from both this case and our guest and place yourself for a full check-up to confirm my hypothesis and receive the proper treatment. Do I make myself clear, major?"

The mare in question clenches her teeth and fist before nodding, "As your command, your highness." She gives her a salute.

"Good, then you are dismissed; get some rest, Major Shiitake. It's late, and you can be sure your information will be used well. Alongside what my sister found early in the morning, regardless, Amon, you can rest well. We will reach the source of this issue," Luna promised as she showed her the door with her hand.

"Thanks, your highness," Shiitake replies as she and her two soldiers leave the room.

The trio walks silently throughout the hallway until one of Shiitake's guards replies. "Are you gonna stay away from the case, ma'am?"

"Of course not, but you heard her; I must keep my distance from that stallion. But I will use a more indirect approach if I can't get involved directly."

She proclaims before summoning a feather and an empty scroll and starting to write on it, "And I know exactly how I'm going to do it."

Shiitake smiles as she starts to write something down in the scroll, unconsciously mumbling a minor tune that slowly begins to concern the guards.

~...bring joy to the Nothing King~

~When I see the light~

~ leaving your eyes!~

The Next Morning,

Fighting against the idea of remaining in bed, Amon tosses away the bedsheets and stretches on his new bed while letting go a long yawn. He rubs his eyes as he stands and sits up at the edge of said bed, glancing at his new room.

Even if he was already familiar with it, the sensation of surprise was still fresh in his mind, how luxurious everything looked, from the carpeted light blue floor whose texture felt good under his hooves to the complex intricate carpeting in both the furniture and pillars spread on the spacious room that was even equipped with a mini kitchen, a living room, and two personal bathroom which he assumed was for guest and even a curious chimney that looks more like some bubble suspended in mid-air that contains a fireplace inside letting the smoke out through tiny bubbles that exit the room through a balcony that had a nice view of the city outside currently cover by two glamorous blue and golden curtains depicting the sun and moon cutie marks on them.

No different from any other room in the castle? Yeah right. Celestia, your attempts at spoiling me are as subtle as a rock to the face.

Amon rolled his eyes as he stood up and approached the kitchen. After putting on his gray sweatpants, he opened the mini fridge, where a cake magically materialized.

But I can humor you and let you pamper me a little.

Amon admits to himself as he picks up the cake and enjoys his little pastry before breakfast. He did not even bother to look for a fork and just ate it as if it were an apple while sitting on one of the chairs in the living room, savoring each slowly with his eyes closed until a knock on the door got his attention.

With his meal officially interrupted, Amon glared at the door before sighing and rushing his treat while heading back to his room, cleaning his hand against his chest as he opened a closet and put on a robe long enough to cover his wings.

During that, there was another knock on the door as Amon was heading there while tying his robe. "I'm coming; I heard you the first time."

Amon was about to answer when a thought passed through his mind. The cautions grabbed a nearby lamp before opening the door a little, leaning against it away from the opening. "What is it?" He peeked outside to see a maid standing before the door.

"Morning, Mr. Amon." The pegasus maid greeted him with a small bow. She was a simple butter-yellow pegasus with a pastel pink shaggy long mane with some volume and a bright yellow stream. Like all other maids, she seemed to be wearing a classing French maid uniform complete with a frilly tiara and long white gloves, and the base feathers of her wings were bright pink, with the rest matching her yellow fur.

Now more relaxed, Amon opens the door and greets the mare appropriately, hiding his hand and holding the lamp as a precaution.

"Morning, Ms…" Amon replies cautiously as he glances to the right and left of the hallway, checking for guards before looking at the maid.

"Viola Heartstrings, at your service, sir, but you can call me Vivi; all my friends do."

"Right, nice to meet you, Ms.Heartstrings," Amon replied, putting down the lamp. "Sorry if it was rude, but trust me, you do not wish to have me as a friend."

Viola, undeterred, maintains her smile and nods. "It's okay; the princess informed me of your case and how you can be shy. But don't worry, I'm not so easily discouraged. I love changing the tune on other ponies to a more harmonious one."

Amon raised an eyebrow at that proclamation. "Did the princess also tell you that becoming friends with me can be a risk to your health?"

She kept her friendly, bubbling personality. "She did indeed, and with all due respect, sir, I can protect myself and find the challenge enticing. especially if it could blossom into something… more special." She finished with a smirk and a wink at him.

The act made Amon flinch slightly and pretend to clear his throat. "So, Ms. Heartstrings, do you want to tell me something?"

"Indeed, sir, I came on behalf of Princess Celestia, who invites you to join her for breakfast and to guide you to the dining room should you accept, although it seems you have already started with a small appetizer." Viola mentions, with a slight smirk, directing her view to Amon's exposed chest, which had a bit of frosting.

With a slight blush, Amon covers himself and nods, "Yeah, I suppose I could get something to eat. Just a moment." Closing the door, Amon rushes to the kitchen, soaks a small cloth, and cleans his chest and hands before heading to his room to put all his clothes inside his bag and put on a pair of pants, as well as his trusted beanie, before exiting the room.

"Okay, I'm ready."

"Eh… why are you taking your bag, sir?" Viola asks as they walk through the hallway.

"To keep it close," Amon replied as it was the most obvious question, further confusing Viola.

"But why? Sir, nobody will steal your bag; you can leave your stuff in your room; really, there is no problem."

"Agree to disagree, tell me, Ms. Heartstrings, have you ever been to a shelter?"

"I don't believe I have ever been in one, no," Viola replied, shaking her head.

"Then here is a small lesson about those places and being homeless in general work, this." He moves his bag for her to see. "It is worth too much for ponies desperate for bits or drugs who would do anything to get their little hands on it. So, in the street, you should always keep an eye on your stuff and always be ready to defend them or steal someone else's stuff. It's a dog-eat-dog kind of world outside your cozy little home."

He put his bag back on. "That is why the bag stays with me; I may have accepted your help and appreciate the private room, but it will be long before I can trust you ponies enough to leave my bag behind."

"So you are saying we only need to wait until you trust us?" Viola replies without skipping a beat, smiling, closing her eyes, and nodding several times.

Amon looked at her in shock, and before he could reply, she had walked ahead of him. "Fair enough, I can wait; please don't hesitate to ask once you are ready. I would gladly give that bag of yours a good wash."

Amon stares at her in confusion before getting startled when she notices him looking and deliberately exaggerates the sway on her hips and the movements of her shaggy tail with a ribbon on the tip.

"Are you enjoying the view, sir?" Viola asked while keeping her eyes ahead, making Amon look away in embarrassment, shame, and slight confusion about how she realized his actions the moment he heard her giggle.

-Celestia, what kind of crazy-ass maid did you send to look for me? God, I hope this pegasus is the only one like this-