I couldn't help but sigh in the nice warm bed It just felt so good to sleep in a real bed hell it was good to just sleep for once. I didn't want to get up it just felt so nice and warm under the covers and the pillows were nice and soft.

"Asphyxious it time to get up." A soft voice called to me. My mind was still foggy from sleeping in for so long. Wait... Isn't that? I can't help but feel like I know that voice? I thought to my self as I slowly open my eyes.

I then close my eyes again as the sun light hit them. God, I forgot how much that hurts when you wake up. I think to myself and try to move my arm on my left side only to feel something laying on it. I try and open my eyes again and look to my left and saw Twilight with her arms around me sleeping soundly. I smiled at this as I close my eyes again and-.

My eyes shot open as I look back again and my mind was not lying to me. "What?" I said in shock.

I just, What was?, Why is? Who in?!, What is going ON!?!

"Asphyxious sweetie are you okay?" I froze when I heard the voice again. I slowly turn to my right and saw Fluttershy on the other side of the bed under the covers with a hand on my chest looking at me with concern. I also looked at her chest and saw she had hu-I slapped myself with my free hand as I blushed madly.

"Sorry Fluttershy I'm still half asleep. I didn't mean to worry you." I say with a soft smile.

I see Fluttershy smiling warmly at me after I said that. I felt a warmth in my heart I hadn't felt in a long time. I then felt Twilight moving on my arm. She slowly get up then let out a yawn as she stretch out her arms in to the air and let the covers fall down her cheat. I blushed again as I looked at her she wasn't as big as-I put my hand over my eyes and rub them.

What the hell is going on!? Why am I laying in bed with both Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle?! and why do they look like Anthopomorphic animals!?! Okay just calm down and think what did I do before I ended up... Here?

"Good morning Twilight." I hear Fluttershy say with warmth in her voice. My god I could just melt at the sound of her voice.

"Oh!, Fluttershy. I didn't think you would still be in bed. You always get up before we do." I don't know how but I could hear the embarrassment.

I move my hand away from my eyes and look down at the table. I love Fluttershy cooking she had a real skill at it. I was already starting to eat the bacon that was on the plate by god it tasted wonderful. I stop with food in my mouth.

Wait how did I get in to the kitchen? Just when did I get dressed? Why was I here?

"Asphyxious are you okay? You've been acting funny all morning." I look up in to the worried eyes of Twilight as she asked me that. I then saw Fluttershy walk over to us who looked just as worried.

"I'm sorry girls I, I think I'm just home sick." I cover my eyes as I feel them start to water.

I then felt there arms wrap around me. I move my hand away just in time to see them give me a kiss each. I was more shocked by the fact that they kissed me on the lips?!? I was really lost and didn't understand what was going on right now.

"Don't be sad you have us now." Said Fluttershy. Her words full of kindness that could melt even the most coldest of heart's.

"That right you got us to take care of you now." Said Twilight. I couldn't help but relax at her words. I smiles softly as I hug them.

"I love you two." I said with out even thinking about it.

"What is this?!?." I bolt up right at the sound of the royal canterlot voice and seeing Luna looking at us. I saw she was not a furry like Twilight and Fluttershy I then felt everything rush away.

***Asphyxious pov.***

I slam my clawed hand down on the table and gasped as my mind rushed to understand what just happened. I slowly look around I was in my room. I remember now I was starting to feel tired for the first time in weeks. I then sat down in my room and try to sleep so was I just dreaming just now?, and why did I dream that? I just shock my head and get up, I had to much to do too worry over a silly dream.

I got up and made my way out side. I made my way to my make shift lab that I made so I could help Moon dancer. I was having a hard time removing all the enchantments and a number of other things binding her soul to that dragon. I had to use a lot of magic to free her it hurt like hell but that voice. I can still hear him in side my head the words going over and over again in my mind. I was not going back to that place.

I rub my skull in pain it really did a number on me but I was just happy I could do something good for once. I sigh as I move through the tunnels I did however make one mistake Moon Dancer lost all her memory's. I did the best I could I then tried to tell her what happed but I don't think she really understands. I had her work in the forge with Kat the diamond dog. I also had to find out who that armoured pony was.

Kat dad who I later found out was called Bronze Fang wanted to work with us to. I guess he just wanted to keep an eye on his daughter. I didn't mind really Bronze was even helping out our new blacksmith. I would try and talk to the new dog from time to time but found he didn't talk much all I'd hear him say is 'Ya' or 'Na'. I heard from Rex his name was Marbles I have no idea why he was called that?.

I make my way to the lab and look around the den on the way. The diamond dogs did a lot of work in the short time we were here. I have only been here for four weeks and yet we have a working forge and already we're making armour for the dogs. I was also working on a side project for my self building a warjack. I found ever sine I made the Bane wolves the Manticore soul was bugging me it wanted a body to. I put my book down on the table once I was in the lab and was about to look over the plans and work on smaller parts for the Warjacks.

I got to work putting the cortex together making sure every part was right and in working order then adding the enchantments to it. I saw some parts move when I started to poor some of my magic in to it. I then thought back to the voices I heard in that place. I vaguely remember my first time being dragged in to that place. I saw so many things heard so many horrible things I was placed down on a stone table I had my costume removed.

I looked on in fear at the first thing I saw was a man who had a helmet on his head you couldn't even see his face, he dressed in black who had spider like limb sticking out of his back with tools on the ends. I don't want to remember the rest I do remember what he said. He said if you like Lich Lord Asphyxious so much to take care to look like him I guess we can humble him by giving you his old form. The rest from that point on was pain and fire.

I then heard his voice. You will be the key to bring me in to that world.

Lord Torok the master of the cryx armies the one who made the 12 lich lords I was hoping that part was just a dream. I start to think back who was Lord Torok he was a dragon a powerful one but still a dragon or was he?. I was about to get back to work but that was when I heard a voice.

Thou your powers are dark and wicked, your heart beats with the intention of good in it. I plea to you, Asphyxious. The Iron Lich! To come to my aid and strike a blow to my enemies!

I stay frozen for a second before I quickly wright down on a note that read Rex was in charge tell I get back. I turn to a large green flaming portal that opens before me and I did what Dante did as I jump in to it. Once I was in side I didn't know where the music came from or care. I just wanted to hit something!.

***Luna pov.***

"Sister we must have words with thee!." I needed to speck with my sister about the dream I walked in to the dream came from a vary strange creature I never seen before. It reminded her a bit like that being who said she was a human.

I walked in to what looked like a meeting with two griffin's and my sister the griffin's had six guard's dressed in full armour. I was not sure what happened the two diplomat's who were siting with celestia did not look pleased. I slowly walked over to my older sister and whispered in to her ear.

"What is going on?, why are the empire diplomat's here?." I asked looking to the griffin's.

"They are here to talk about the civil war that is between the nobles and it civilian's." Replied Celestia as she drinks her tea.

I didn't like this why would the empire be in the middle of a civil war the last I heard from Celestia and the ponies that went over for diplomatic mission's things were fine. I looked over to the griffin's with concern Luna her self didn't have anything against the griffin's they left there ways of war a long time ago. Well all but there ruler he was a unkind emperor who cared more about the wellbeing of his nobles then the hard working civilian's that kept the empire going.

"You can thank your bloody Solar Templars for this, they killed the emperor while he was out with his family meeting one of your ponies!." Said the male griffon who was now glaring at us. I was shocked I thought my sister said they were disbanded.

"Mason calm your self, the emperor and his family are not the only ones who were killed. The pony who was a good friend of his was killed as well along with most of his worker's." Said the griffoness on the right who was talking to the male called Mason.

"I am calm Vicky but the nobility is in a up roar with no one to take the throne it madness!. I fear that some of the nobles will try to kill each other just to get there talon's on the throne." I watched as Mason rubs his eyes with his talon.

"There is also this." Said Vicky as she pull out a peace of paper. "you should read it."

I looked on not sure what to make of this Celestia used her magic to pull the paper over to her self and started to read. I waited but the look on my sister face it did not look good. I then saw her look at me then hoofed me the paper I used my magic to hold it and start to read.

To the evil empire of the griffin's.

For to long have you been unpunished for your crimes with the many lives you have taken in the wars of the past. For this we will make things right, with the death of your emperor and his blood line equestria will forever be free of your evil!.

We are the Solar Templars the most holy of the sun goddess Celestia weapons. We fight and die in her name no evil will escape us. Her holy light will guide us and we will purge your evil from the lands for we have a holy goddess by our side where you have nothing!.

We will not rest untell equestria is safe from you monsters!, you can not stop us for we are righteous and you are not! For we are the Solar Templars and we will send you to tartarus!.

I didn't know what to say these mad fools believe this will help equestria? I look to the diplomat's and found we could not let this stand. I may have not liked the emperor but his family did nothing to deserve this I met them once they were so kind, the emperor wife was worried for the wellbeing of her children I promised her they would be safe.

"I'm not sure what you want us to do they already have been disbanded and banished form equestrian for over nine hundred years they are not acting on equestria behalf." I heard Celestia say as I put the note down on the table.

"Sister we can not let this stand they have killed innocents who had nothing to do with any of this, these criminals must face justice for what they have done." I would not let this stand I still remember my youth when I first met the Solar Templars they saw me as evil with out a second thought. I was glade our adopted mother and father were there to keep me and my sister safe. Even if they were the ruler's of equestria they still loved us those were good times indeed.

"I'm happy one of you is taking this seriously we haven't told anyone about this message, for now as far as the nobility knows the family is... grieving. With out an air and the blood line ended we'll have to go through the noble houses to see who should be the next emperor or empress to the kingdom." Said Mason rubs his beak.

"That not techneckly true there is still one blood relation left." Said Vicky as she pulls out a file from her robes then places it on the table.

I was a little surprised at this new peace of information not as much as the griffon diplomat Mason and my sister Celestia who were staring at Vicky. I take the folder in my magic then start to read I then saw a picture of a female griffon talking with a Pegasus but not just any Pegasus a blue and rainbow mane Pegasus she knew as one of the elements of harmony. The element of loyalty.

I gave it to my sister as I look at the diplomat with a small but of interest. "This griffon is a member of the royalty family?." I asked not sure what to feel the fact that she was living in equestrian just added more question's. I watched as the female griffon played with her talons. I then saw once my sister was finished reading she hoofed it over to Mason who held his talon out wanting to read the file to.

"More like his cousin from his father brother side of the family he was removed from the noble houses for marrying out side of nobility." Vicky smiled softly as she picks up her tea and start to drink it.

"But she just a." Mason stop him self from saying any more why I do not know. He then looks to the guard's and I notes one of them rise his eyebrow at Mason. I watched as the griffon diplomat then picks up his tea and drinks some once that was over he then looks In to the cup. "Out side of nobility, it'll be hard to get the other noble's to see her claim to the throne seriously."

I guess tensions between the nobility and the common griffin's are running higher then I thought, in the old times as I like to call them not all noble griffin's could join the guard. They just don't have the numbers or the skill for that kind of hard work those that do feel they bring grate honor to there family's. I look to my sister she looks more stressed then the griffin's.

"What will thou have us do to help our friend's Equestrian will lend it aid to the Empire." I said and bowed to them both. Once I rise back up again I must of shocked them both Mason and Vicky beak's were a gasp if this wasn't such a serious situation I would of laughed.

"Well for now Celestia could not send the Solar Templars aid if they ask for it, then we will need a joint announcement that these criminals will be stopped. They have made smaller attacks in the past on the minotaur's and the dragon lands to even going as far as attacking there eggs." I saw Celestia nod her head to agree with this. Then the meeting turned to more lighter topic's I guess I can wait a little longer before telling my sister about what I found.

***Asphyxious pov back in his lab.***

Wow just wow I had no idea what that Murphy guy had to deal with I'm just glad he let me keep this book I looted off that demon thing. I then saw it was a spell book, it was a training book for battle mage's I saw all the elements where here in this one book but I had my eye on just two spells I wanted. I open it and put the book down on the table next to my tome then began to read.

I was at it for hours I'm not sure how much time has past as I no longer needed to sleep I was testing out the spells with a small amount of magic and I liked what I see. I then start to melt the ice that was buildering up on one side of the room turning the ice to water.

"Apax!, oh their you are where have you been I was looking for you for day's." I turned to the door way in to my lab and saw Kat standing there with her hands on her hips. I found it funny how she was trying not to step on the water that was all over the floor in my work place.

"Sorry about that I take it Rex told you I was out for a bit?." I didn't like the way she was looking at me. You know that look a kid give you when they know your lying to them ya she was giving me that look.

"Whatever I wanted to show you something." I followed her out side in to the den but not before taking my old book with me I didn't like leaving that thing in the open where anyone could get it. We made our way to the new forge it was really large so Bronze and Marbles could do there work at the same time. I then started to notes the parts that were hang up around Kat part of the forge. I then saw that some of them were engraved with symbols.

"What is all this?." I asked as we stop at a work bench where I saw Moon Dancer using magic?. I watched as Kat put on what looked like goggles over her eyes then put on gloves and a apron before walking over to the undead pony. I felt a little bad for her I haven't really talked to her so I still don't know how she feels about all this.

I then saw Kant put her hand on Moon I guess shoulder to see what she doing I then hear Kat ask. "Is it ready?." I then saw the pony look at Kat wow didn't know Dancer was wearing goggles and a mask she then moves to one side. I just looked on in shock it was the cortex I was working on I slowly moved up to it and pick it up with one hand.

"You finished it how?." I asked them and saw the look in Kat eyes she just look to happy to tell me.

"Well seeing as you was gone for awhile we kind of had a peck in side your book." I saw Kat give me a big smile and a hopeful look.

I narrowed my eyes at them. "You know I don't like others reading my book what if you made something that could hurt you?." I crossed my arms at them after I put the cortex back on the table I saw Kat ears go down but Dancer spoke up.

"That not far Kat was only trying to help besides it not like we used this necrotite stuff anyway." I blinked at her what was she talking about?.

"What's necrotite?." I asked but saw Dancer look a little confused at my question.

"The book reads necrotite is what powers undead constructs and there machines, it also read it a coal infused with negative energy. But when I asked the other dogs about it they never heard of it." Said Moon Dancer as she explains this to me.

"So... what powering your body then?." Asked Kat as she start to look the pony over. I on the other hand started looking in to my old book and there it was necrotite yeap it all here just like Dancer said. I then looked to the part about it saying how it lethal to living creatures.

"I don't know but what I do know is this necrotite what ever it is, it's what keeping Asphyxious-." I didn't hear any more as I started to space out for a bit. So this is what keeping me alive this necrotite but if it toxic to other living things then I could be poisoning the diamond dogs and not even know it.

"I need to replace what keeping me alive." I said to my self this did not escape the pony and dog notes.

"Sir I don't think that a good idea just changing what powering your body could kill you, let alone removing it could also remove your soul." Said Dancer as her horn glows and pulls up some drawings.

"I've had Kat look over how my body works but we found something interesting when we removed a small peace of necrotite from my body." I quickly moved over to the unicorn and grabbed her mechanical shoulder's.

"You did WHAT!?!." I yelled at her.

"Apax calm down it cool." Said Kat as he go next to Dancer as if to act as some kind of barrier.

"Calm down how could I calm down after hearing that! You two could of gotten hurt or dancer could have died!. What if the ponies that did this to her puts some kind of explosive in her body we didn't know about!. Any number of things could have happened to you two what if something happened and I wasn't around to help!. I just... I don't want you guys to get hurt." I then felt Dancer metal hoof touch my hand.

I looked down at her as she removes her mask and take off her goggles with her magic the pony then looks up at me and smiles. I wasn't really sure why she was smiling like that. "I understand your worried about our well being and it sweet that you don't want anything bad to happen to me or Kat but you have to understand this was something I had to do for my self." Dancer said as she slowly push my hands away.

"Anyway there a point your missing it said in your book that necrotite glows green right? so why is it glowing blue now." She points at my rib cage then back to her self. That a really good point why was my chest glowing blue was it for the magic that freed me or something else. I didn't really think about it at the time.

"Hay... If this nectoo stuff is made from coal infused with negative energy, what happens if you infused it with positive energy?." I looked at Kat as she rubs the back of her head after saying that. My god what would that do?.

"That what I want to find out." Said Dancer as she walks away from me.

I watched as Dancer pick up a bag and used her magic to pull out some coal then she placed it on the table. I was about to help when I saw a dog run up to me. "Sir Asphyxious I have news from Rex, something important you have to see!." I sighed at the dog who was waving his arms in the air like crazy.

"Sorry girl's I'll have to do a rain check on seeing what you do but please be careful when using magic." I saw Kat just roll her eyes at me but Moon Dancer give me a nod that she will be careful. Once that was out of the way I followed the dog to Rex room and man I didn't think I'd see so many map's in one room.

"Asphyxious good I got some news that getting all the clans running with there tail between there leg's. All along the northern mountains." I just blink at him is he packing just what did he hear that got him so worried?.

"What going on?." I ask as I watch him pack things and maps in to a bag.

"It the crystal empire it back and the one of who ruled it is coming, we must leave before other more stronger diamond dog packs show up." Said Rex as he picks up the bag then walks up to me I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Rex we are going to the crystal empire." I saw Rex jaw drop when I said that I saw a look of terror in his eyes I've never seen before.

"Are you crazy! do you even know what this means!. If the crystal empire really is back as the other dogs say then that means the Dog killer, The diamond butcher him self King Sombra will come back to take what his!." I sigh as Rex told me this I guess there more history between the diamond dogs and crystal ponies then I thought.

"I guess you don't understand okay look, A long time ago back when the crystal empire was still new the diamond dogs wanted to steal from them. Every dog from the northern mountains wanted a peace of it this happened for many years. Then King Sombra came to power." I felt a shift in Rex tone of voice as he specks.

"King Sombra didn't like that the diamond dogs were taking what was his, in the past the crystal ponies didn't care that the dogs were taking some of there crystals. King Sombra sent soldiers in to the mountains to kill all that lived in the den's the only way the diamond dogs survived was to collapse there tunnels in to their den's." I felt sorry for them really I mean I knew Sombra was a dick but this. I now felt I had a need to go there more then ever I didn't care if the main six can fix this I want Sombre head!.

"Rex I want you to send a message to the diamond dogs of the northern mountains that I'll deal with Sombra." I turned and walked out as I head for my lab to get my staff.

"That crazy! but are you sure you can win?, I mean if you go to fight him." I stopped and looked at Rex. "I won't know unless I try." I walked out to my lab.

I put my tome down right where I left it as I pick up my staff but I wasn't sure if I should take it with me. I didn't like what would happen if Sombra get a hold of this book that meant I had to leave it behind but who could keep it safe. I slowly pick it up and think about it as I walk out side I made my way past the forge I then saw Kat and Dancer waving me over.

"What up." I ask as I stand before them.

"We heard what your going to do so we made you some things to take with." Said Kat as she pulls up what look like a number of straps and belts. I then saw there was some kind of pouch at the bottom of it all.

"It meant to hold your staff me and Dancer made it for ya." I was a little surprised at this I mean wow they didn't have to do that.

"I take it you heard about where I'm going." It was more of a statement then a question I guess news really dues travel fast.

"That just made us work harder to get this finished for you." Said Moon Dancer as she uses her magic to put my new holster on my back. I found straps and links that hooked around me and in to my open ribs it didn't feel to bad really. I then look to my staff in one hand then put in on my back as it fall in to place.

"It works!." Cheers out Kat as she start to jump around and laughing joy.

"How long have you two been working on this?." I asked as I get used to having my staff on my back.

"We started little over two days after I woke up so it took us around five day's." Said Dancer as she draws something on the floor with her metal hoof.

"You guys didn't really have to do this." I said in a warm tone in my voice. I felt really warm in side my first gift being in this world it made me feel like I have a home now.

"Think nothing of it this is just something we wanted to do to thank you for what you did for us." Said Kat as if waving off my thanks. I didn't care I was still happy they did this for me. I then saw Dancer walk up and put a small stone in my hand.

"Use this to get back if you get lost okay." I nod to the pony I then take a small stone from her and keep a hold of it in my hand. I see a small group of dogs waiting for me then saw some others go down the tunnel's I then see Rex look over at us I can tell he didn't like this.

I held my old tome in my hand then give it to Kat. "I want you two to keep this safe for me understand." I saw their surprise by the way there eyes widen. I hold it out to them but Kat didn't move she just looked at it then at me I then felt the pull of Moon Dancer magic take the book from my hand.

"We'll keep it safe sir." Said Dancer as she then hands the book to Kat who slowly take it and just blinks up at me. I then make my way other to Rex and a group of dogs who were wearing the new armour that was made for them. They were all armed with spear's in one hand and a thick shield in the other.

"I sent the runner's like you asked. I don't like this it crazy even for you I know you can use magic but are you sure you can fight Sombra?." I just make my way in to the tunnel's as I walk pasted.

"If we do this we will be known as the dogs who killed the King Sombra, other packs will run to join our clan. That reminds me just how big is our clan Rex?." I felt I should of asked Rex that weeks ago.

"Sigh the clan is not that big there are two other Alpha's who have been fighting for control for years. I guess the only reason they didn't attack us was our pack is the smallest. The clan is called the stone paws." I think about that as we walk I then thought of something we'll make our own clan.

"We'll start a new clan Rex from this day on we will be call the Iron dogs." I felt really good about that name even if it sounded a little silly.

"There is a clan already called the Iron dogs." Said Red as he walks up to my left side talk about a kill joy.

"Okay then... how about the Iron hound's?." I asked.

"They are one of the clans that live in the northern mountains." I just sigh as I cover my face with my metal hand.

You have got to be kidding me.

I think to my self as we walk. "Fuck it I'll deal with those other Alpha's later then think of a name for the clan. We have a King to kill." I growl to my self as we walk deeper in to the tunnel's. I was still feeling confident after helping Murphy kill all those demon's I then felt a stray thought go through my mind it was only a little thing but I didn't question it.

All things begin with a single step.

Author's Notes:

I know what your all going to say but I will get this stuff edited it just going to take time.

Anyway on with the show.

Also crossover with BlueSun52 in the future. :)

Edit: Crossover with BlueSun not going to happen sorry.