Chapter 2: Explanations

"Note to self: do NOT attempt to fight humongous three-headed hounds if you end up on an new plane."

Sandova groaned and did a mental recap of the situation that got him....somewhere.

"I got dragged through the Hells and the Abyss, ended up lying in front of a planar portal and got confronted with its, uhm, guardian. When it seemed hostile I tried Summon Undead III for backup and when nothing appeared I made a.....let's call it a 'tactical retreat'."

Sandova frowned, something else happened. Otherwise he wouldn't be lying in... something incredibly soft? Now he was REALLY confused.

"Oh yeah, eyes. Ugh, why do I always do this with my eyes closed," Sandova murmured "or talk to myself for that matter?"

He slowly opened its eyes, and immediately wished he hadn't.

"Aaah, the daylight, it buuurns!"

"Eep"

Sandova froze.

"Who's there?"

"Eep" was the only reply.

Sandova blinked his eyes to get use to the glare and looked around. He was lying on a couch in something that looked like a homely cottage. Everywhere he looked he saw birdhouses and other critter 'homes', and in the corner was-

"Three questions. One: Where am I? Two: What happened? three: Why is the most adorable little...pegasus? Yes, pegasus. Why is the most adorable little pegasus I've ever seen looking at me like I could suddenly stand up and start eating everyone?"

Cowering in the corner was indeed a little yellow coated pegasus, who looked like it was trying to hide behind its pink mane.

Sandova sat up, morally questionable he might be(he still didn't view himself as evil, although everyone else did), he could not stand to see something so adorable being afraid like that. He got up from the couch and tried to comfort the little thing.

"Hush little one," he cooed. "I mean you no harm."

At this he heard someone talking behind him.

"You can talk? Now that is interesting. Spike, take notes."

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to scare your pet. My name is-"

When he looked at the source of the voice behind him his jaw dropped. Standing behind him were a purple unicorn and a small purple lizard with green, round spines along its head and back. The unicorn looked at him with what could only be described as utter fascination, while the dragon looked anxious, scared even.

"Uuhm, hi?"

Sandova immediately cringed inwardly at his weak choice of words. You're supposed to be charismatic damnit! Get your act together!

He cleared his throat and tried again.

"Let me rephrase that, my name is Sandova Asphyxious Mirell, mage, scholar and unexpected planar traveler, at your service."

Bandova bowed with a small flourish, while at the same time scanning his surroundings again. He was indeed in a nice little house, and it seemed that small, equine creatures were sentient species on this plane.

"I did not mean to startle your friend, but may I ask what you meant with your earlier question miss..."

"Sparkle," the unicorn answered. "my name is Twilight Sparkle. I am sorry for my apparent rudeness, but I have never seen anything that looked like you. Now that you're awake, do you want to answer some questions? Wait, did you say you were a mage? Does that mean you can cast magic? What is your species called?"

Sandova winced at the sudden barrage of chatter that came from the small unicorn, and he sat down while his head started pounding with equal enthusiasm.

"Slow down please, I am disoriented from my unexpected journey and getting chased by a giant three-headed dog, tripping while running from said dog and hitting my head didn't help my orientation at all. I don't know where I am, and I believe your friend is still terrified of me."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I always get carried away when confronted with something new. You are in Equestria, and the dog that chased you is called Cerberus. He guards the Tartarus Gate, and makes sure nothing escapes. My friend is called Fluttershy, and as her name suggests she's a little shy. You seem nice enough though, doesn't he Fluttershy? Come on, introduce yourself to him."

The yellow pegasus muttered something from behind her mane, so softly that Sandova couldn't understand a word of it. However, he did conclude that she was the most adorable thing he'd ever set eyes on, and it took all of his willpower to not pull her in a big hug, as that would probably startle her more. He nodded at her before crossing his legs and looking at Twilight.

"Now, it seems I have some explaining to do as well. What do you want to know miss Sparkle?"

"Well, what are you exactly? I have never seen a creature like you before."

"'Human', that's the name of my race. I see that we are not common or even nonexistent on this plane, interesting. Anything else?"

"You mentioned being a mage, so you're a spellcaster?"

"Indeed I am, and a good one at that," Sandova grinned.

"So what kind of magic are you capable of? Is it considered something special or can all humans cast magic? Oh spike, do you get all of this?"

The purple lizard nodded, writing furiously.

"The majority of humans are unable to cast spells, lacking either talent or study to do so. But spellcasting itself is actually quite common where I'm from, since there are so many different kinds of magic there are also a lot of different spellcasters out there. Most are grouped together in academies or churches, but some like to work on their own or travel the world in search of answers or fortune. I specialize in the school of necromancy myself, although I know some interesting conjuration and evocation spells as well."

Twilight suddenly looked uncomfortable.

"Necromancy? Isn't that a dark and evil kind of magic?"

Sandova swallowed and decided to act innocent.

"While a lot of necromancy spells are indeed evil, not all are. Besides, it's not the tool but the wielder who is evil in case of bad deeds. Necromancy is the power over negative energy, and can be used in a lot of different ways. While most applications of it include harming or scaring people, it can also be used to prevent one from being affected by negative energy, or anything animated by it. Why, even the holy paladins know one or two necromancy spells."

"And what about you, what kind of necromancer are you?"

Sandova sighed, he knew that it'd come to this as soon as he mentioned necromancy.

"I am called a dread necromancer by ignorant people, because I have a deep and unexplained affinity with negative energy. It probably has to do with the fact that I, and people like me, have a direct connection with the negative energy plane, whether born or gained through direct contact with it. This gives us untold control over said energy, but limits us to spells that utilize negative energy. And while I usually use my powers in self-defense or to help others, a lot of dread necromancers are worthy of the moniker."

A shadow fell over Sandova's face as he remembered Marcus, the unholy monster that introduced Sandova to his connection in the first place.

Twilight looked relieved at his answer though, if still uncomfortable.

"Can I ask you how you got here? You keep mentioning planes and I can't help but wonder if there are other worlds somewhere out there."

Sandova swallowed again. I seems he ended up in a very innocent world, as if made for children or something. It would explain why no hydra skeleton showed up when he tried to summon one, an innocent world like this doesn't have any undead for him to summon. He decided that he would not tell the unicorn the details of his planar travel.

"I was researching planar travel when I stumbled upon a spell that would allow one to cross the planar boundaries, and when I found out I wasn't yet powerful enough to cast it I tried to emulate its effect using a ritual. Something went wrong and I ended up with no control as to where I would end up, and then a magical portal suddenly appeared and I fell through in a flash of light. Which sounds like an overly clichéd way of appearing in another world but hey, what are ya gonna do about it eh? Anyway, I woke up in a big forest with ol' Cerberus standing over me, growling the whole time."

"Why would he do that, he's usually such a good boy."

During the 'interview' Fluttershy had moved closer and was now sitting next to Spike, still trying to avid eye contact.

"Maybe he was surprised, and guard dogs, however big they might be, tend to react aggressively to unknown things."'

"Yes, that might be it. Now I wanted to ask-"

Twilight was interrupted by Spike, who belched a gout of green fire. Out of the fire fell a scroll, which was promptly surrounded in a purple aura.

"A letter from the princess? I'm sorry Sandova but this is important."

She began reading the letter so fast that her eyes became a blur, and Sandova couldn't help but wonder how she managed to do that.

Suddenly Twilight gasped.

"She writes that something has come out of the Tartarus Gate, and that she's coming here to investigate! She should arrive any-"

Twilight was interrupted a second time by a brilliant flash of light. When Sandova's eyes started working again he saw a blindingly white winged unicorn with a flowing mane and tail standing next to Twilight and Fluttershy. This one appeared to be just as tall as he was, and even though he wasn't a cleric Sandova could feel the power emanating from her. He swallowed, because he knew he was in the presence of a deity. A lawful good deity at that. He quickly sank to one knee and bowed his head.

"Divine one, you humble me with your presence."

The goddess on the other hand, narrowed her eyes at Sandova.

"Spare me your honeyed words, spawn of Tartarus. I do not know how you got here or why, but I will send you back before you can harm or corrupt my little ponies."

Twilight's eyes widened.

"Princess, he is only a mage of the human race that came here through accident. He hasn't tried to harm or corrupt us at all."

"Not yet my student, but I felt something come through the Tartarus Gate despite my warding spells, and before me stands a creature that is beyond doubt evil. I can see it in his soul."

"Evil? But he seems so nice."

At this Sandova spoke up.

"I prefer to call it 'morally questionable', for although I do indeed practice evil magics I do done so only to help others or further my understanding of my powers."

"And yet you have the taint of evil on your soul, one who has merely questionable morals has not such a blackened soul."

Although Sandova knew saying anything more would probably incite the wrath of the deity he felt the need to both explain and defend himself, as he had tried so many times before. He would tell her everything, even when doing so would expose him to memories he'd rather forget.

"I can explain, you may not like what I have to say but please let me finish before you decide upon my fate."

"Very well, speak."

"I shall not deny that I am a bad man who has done terrible things, because that would be lying. I have killed many, and used their remains to experiment with my powers. I have raised the dead to do my bidding. I have inflicted untold agony upon some, and finished off people I could have spared. I have even razed an entire village to the ground, helped by foul and dangerous beings. My soul is filled with negative energy, and each day my body prepares itself further for its inevitable journey into undeath."

Sandova sighed as he felt his heart break at the sight of the now terrified Twilight, Spike and Fluttershy. Even the goddess looked astonished at what she was hearing.

"But, I have known far greater evil. As a child I witnessed innocent people butchered and eaten by a man named Marcus. This man had the same connection to negative energy as I do, and realized my potential. He made me watch as he did his grisly work, and I was both fascinated and terrified. He then grabbed me and strengthened my connection to the negative energy plane by filling me with its energy. It nearly killed me. He told me to grow strong and then left me, dying from a disease I did not know I had until its symptoms appeared."

Sandova shuddered at the memory and continued.

"When someone finally found me I was so close to death I could practically feel the veil that separates our world from the afterlife. I was saved and nursed back to health, my family so glad I had survived when the rest of the town didn't. They were out of town that day, and only that saved them from Marcus. I discovered my 'gift' soon after, when I tried to pet the cat and it promptly died. I had become a dread necromancer, and left soon after to protect my family from myself. For years I have wandered and searched to control my powers. I have only turned my powers against evil, but not before I discovered just how terrible my powers really are. But I never raised my hand against innocents, I would rather die than let that happen. Yes I have performed dark deeds, but my sense of justice was strong, and it still is. I have a gift, I can not only understand evil but make it truly realize what it does to people. I have used my powers to remind them just what they did to others, made them suffer like their victims did. First I was ashamed of the pleasure I took from it, but that soon vanished when I encountered people like Marcus. They deserved it, morals be damned they deserve it a thousand times over."

Sandova drew a shuddered breath and looked the goddess straight in the eye.

"It was not after the incident at the village of Havndir that I decided that everyone can shove their 'justice' up their rear and locked myself up in my laboratory. Only coming out to secretly protect the unwilling people when they needed me. I am a bad man, and a bad man doing good deeds is still a bad man to most people. So I live alone and practice sarcasm in my spare time. It was a pleasure knowing you miss Sparkle, miss Fluttershy, mister Spike. I hope haven't traumatized you with my stories, and I wish you a good life."

He nodded at them before looking at the goddess. He stood up and spread his arms.

"Goddess of good and law, I accept every punishment you wish to inflict upon me. I am at your mercy."

Meanwhile Celestia looked stunned. How can anyone suffer such terrible things, let alone inflict them upon others. How can someone meet the very worst the world has to offer, see he has the same power and still strive to eradicate it? This man deserved everything he was going to get.

"Very well, what is your name human?"

Sandova blinked in surprise, then smiled mockingly and bowed.

"My name is Sandova Asphyxious Mirell, spelled with an x and double l so you know how to spell my name on my tombstone. I like marble by the way."

Taken aback by his words Twilight turned to Celestia.

"Princess, you can't kill him. It doesn't matter how bad you think he is, he doesn't deserve that and-"

"No more my student, my mind is made up. He will get what he deserves."

With this she turned to Sandova.

"Sandova Asphyxious Mirell, I hereby sentence you to study the power of friendship, forgiveness and harmony. You will stay with my student and write reports on your findings. You WILL learn the magic of friendship, and see that not everything you do has to be grim and somber."

She smiled and winked at his dumbstruck face.

"Welcome to Equestria."

Author's Note

Second chapter is up, and the first has(hopefully) been purged of mistakes.
I have discovered that your praise is more addicting than the stories on this site, and that's saying a lot. I will try to keep up this speed in posting, but my holiday is over and my study requires time as well.
As you might have noticed I'm using D&D 3.5 as base, since Sandova is my D&D alter ego.
Honourable mention for the prople that guess correctly which god he reveres.

-Sandova