Recommend to listen while reading this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoC-H3tLvQY

Snow blanketed everything.

The whiteness that covered nearly every surface was almost blinding in the low sunlight. Ice glistened and sparkled, though never melted. And the wind gave gentle howls of cold, chilling the land all the further. In it all, a structure shifted, cracking ice and moving snow. A gate activated, coming to life at long last and shattering the icy coat over itself.

When it broke free, lighting with magic to allow it’s master through, only then did silence fall once again. And the Overlord, now in blue-white clothed armor, looked about from behind a cloth mask and protective reflective visor. With a slight flexing of his gauntlets, given an added glove-like cover, Jerry found himself at a loss for words.

The whole place looked like a tundra, and what was a place full of life and a bustling city… was not a silent, cold, winter coated tundra. Tall buildings ices over and are forgotten. Snow covering every road and path. And silence only broken by gentle gusting winds that brought bit’s of drifting snow from the ground.

The Overlord looked left and right, and half patted his person to make sure he had what Albert gave him. The Scientist clearly took no chances. There were small packs with enough space to give him a few nutrient blocks, in case he got hungry. And even spaces for a few bottles of water, to stave off thrist. A modified Diving reel was also added to his gear, and a re-customized ice-pick. Stepping forwards, Jerry also was just as aware of the slightly spiked boots he now had.

I am glad I let Albert, Magic, and Giblet go at my Durium armor set… thought Jerry, as he wielded his ax, or at least set it on his back as while he would use a sword in this scenario? The ax was an all around weapon for both speed and damage. The middle ground between blade and mace really. Not to mention Albert pointed out if Jerry somehow got stuck in the wilderness, he could use the axe for an important tool of survival.

Giving a good look around, he began his steps in the silence and still city of Vanhoover. There was nothing in sight but snow, ice...and abandoned structures. The man had to take in sights as he took low breaths under his mask, moving through the snow bit by bit, dragging through as Jerry had to take his time. Using as near to no energy as possible in the freezing temperatures as he glanced around his surroundings.

There was barely nothing, as Jerry started his venture of going into Vanhoover, mostly to pass through for the real journey in mind. The Overlord just barely heard the fading sound of his Main Gate, as he moved forward with each step of snow being pushed aside by his metal covered feet. Looking at the empty culdesac and the frozen roads that set before him. Carefully walking on the icy ground below him from possibly slipping, or breaking the ice to alert nearby Wendigos if any were around.

He had managed to enter the city edges, seeing already places being left abandoned.

Seeing the buildings that were covered in ice, snow, or even a rare few buildings that weren’t covered. But were instead broken in with near nothing inside them. It was unnerving for him.

Unnerving of how with each step he took, was slowly being surrounded by the many empty homes. Seeing nothing but broken in glass and windows. Feeling the need to look in one of the buildings, seeing an abandoned ‘pet shop’. Posters of propaganda faded, as the place looked picked clean of anything of food or value. Jerry left it to move on, soon spotting another shop with some goods in it-- but covered completely in ice.

He could tell that even if he tried to break in the ice, it wouldn’t even be worth it. Most of the food would be frozen solid, and bad at this point. So Jerry had to abandon the thought of scavenging to continue on. Everywhere he was looking while exploring the city, was abandoned. Shops with broken windows, buildings covered fully in snow or ice-- even a few goods out in the streets nearby a building or two.

However once he got deeper in the city? Near it’s heart was he shown a sight that chilled not only his body from the gust of wind-- but his heart. Seeing the sights of doors left ajar, various things left behind as valuables, suitcases-- even clothes were left about...and among them were frozen shapes among the many shops that were looted earlier.

The sights of people frozen solid, or in this case...a Caribou frozen and looking in a state of eternal screaming in fear.

Jerry had to resolve himself from not staring too much, forcing himself to push as he felt he would get new nightmares about this place in his sleep. But the sights were endless, as various bodies in positions of fear, screaming, or trying to flee were around him. Staring at whatever they faced with an expression of terror...or at him if he didn’t glance away from their eyes.

When he managed to go past the frozen statues around him...passing through the city heart of life...was he frozen again from the sight before him, seeing to the side was a….child. Fetal while they lay on the ground. Looking as if they had fallen asleep in an alleyway box they took shelter in. Jerry couldn’t stop himself from slowly walking close to the sightseeing...to the filly laying there, eyes closed as if they were in a deep sleep as they hugged themselves.

Jerry stared, seeing the...the sight before him as he gripped his axe tightly, he almost raised it up to smash down to free the foal...but then what? It was obvious trying to break the filly out was useless….

But seeing a blanket in the snow, admittedly a bit hard to see as it was covered in frost, but managing to see the raggy thing on the ground. Jerry crouched down to gently pick it up, or rather tried not to tug too hard on it as he glanced at the foal…

He wanted to save that foal. To save and bring them out of this hell he...created. Granted inadvertently-- but one he created nevertheless. But what then? They look peaceful. Asleep…

But they were dead.

That what tore his heart out the most. Here a foal laying on the ground...dead.

All he could do was to move the blanket over the frozen filly, tucking her in as to give the naked foal something warm...even if it was meaningless, it was all he could do.

Slowly he left the presence of the dead pony, walking on as he traveled bit by bit out of the city, seeing a fallen building on it’s side ahead. Noting that the structure was weakened, that due to the ice and snow that it couldn’t withstand such hellish storms that it gave in. His eyes glance down to the various items on the ground. Seeing papers, staplers-- things you see in an office building…

Granted there were some things with Caribou influence, like the water jugs for mares, or stockings to put ‘bad girls’ in.

Although as he moved, his eyes glanced over the ground...making him pause as he saw something within the snow, moving close to it, did Jerry crouch down. Taking a hand out to grab the reveal photo up in his sight, an image of summer and a family all together in the woods based on the background...A father of a stallion unicorn. A mother of an earth breed stock...and children. Three, two girls and one boy. Two earth and one unicorn…

And all of it covered in frost as it clings to the image. As if to wish to freeze the mere warmth and joy of the old memory into nothing more than dead cold husk. Letting go of the image, there was no need for him to keep it...even less be reminded that he caused this.

Sure he took the Heart, he took the Princess’s and got things rolling...but Jerry did what no one else could do so easily...bring back the one thing anyone fears to have around. The Wendigos.

With a deep breath under his visor, Jerry refocuses on the now, moving through the fallen building and going past the area around him. Leaving the city bit by bit as the Overlord managed to get out of the city with it’s building behind him...although he could still see more snow spreading all around, ice growing with each freezing temperature dropping as to cover what remained of the place.

As the silence only kept his company as he dared not bring his Minions even now, as this journey...he had to go with himself. The winds merely howl around him, almost as if reminding him that despite the silence around him, it was the air itself that seemed to keep everything in winter. Cold and unforgiving to everything that resides in it.

Jerry continues his trek, moving along as the man enters the light forest, seeing the frozen trees that were dead and filled with icicles.

Crack.

He paused.

The ground below him went brittle as the ice broke under the weight of life itself as he dropped. A sound of panic escaped from the man as he fell down into the dark depths. Going down hard into a cave, that was both cold and forgotten. Jerry was thankful that his armor was strong enough to keep himself from most harm, and durable against such a fall.

Getting up on his feet, did his visor move with lights illuminating out from the helm. Revealing everything as despite the cold frozen winter above, there was ice that grew down here as it glistern like claws stretching to cover everything in it’s frozen reach.

Looking to the dark tunnels, revealing what was allowed with each step he took, causing the place to echo with each crunch of frost. Seeing slight signs of glittering icy reflections of his light, Jerry moved deeper in the cave hall. Hearing the repeating echo of metal and icey dirt, hearing it grind into the stone ground. Dirt and ice mixed, because of the moving life. But the Overlord had to pause to see gems lying about on the ground-- even in the walls themselves.

Seeing tracks of iron made within the ground, carts of steel on its sides or on the tracks. Even seeing a few pick-axes to reveal that despite this place being abandoned...the Greed was still here. Still showing in this forgotten place. Moving slowly as the carts were filled, half filled, even empty or split as he saw rocks, piles of frozen dirt-- or dug up gem remains in them.

Tools rusting away themselves as they lay in the cart, as if to be sent off or easily moved.

Jerry eventually reached a large opening. Seeing within his light were...dogs. Anthropomorphic dogs, most infected by the Khara and frozen. Seeing the few he spotted were clinging to their riches as they peacefully lay in their place. Yet Jerry moved past the bodies, seeing a few halls to the inhabitants' home stretched out. Tracks and tunnels seemingly to be reached to wherever they work.

Moving past a place of storage with a door, one that was broken in. Jerry could only see carved places for home and living, multiple food and bands within each home. It was only then Jerry realized this was a home...now it was voided and silent. Seeing sticks that were burnt to keep warm in fire pits were now out and cold.

Seeing an old dog in his throne, an eternal snarl expression with him rising on his paws with a raised spear. Jerry nearly pauses, seeing a mother and her pups in a corner. Using her body to protect her young despite it being in vain. He saw dogs, both braved and scared all around as they were stuck in time. Stuck in their places as the frost covers their forms. Seeing guards moving in to fight and defend, while the citizens were moving to aid them or flee from the danger….

This was their home….and now? Now it was a tomb with not even a name of who they were in life.

He didn’t know how long he stood there. Didn’t know how long he stayed in the tomb, searching for anything of clues, or signs of survivors...it was all for naught as all he found was a wall. It was crude, it was lacking in context...but it was some sort of history of a wall painting. Seeing...a dog leading their people down? Seeing a meeting with the Caribou and a stricken deal?

There were spears from the dogs and blades from the caribous in that image, revealing that they faced each other in the ‘deal’...and weren’t in agreeing terms. Jerry wonder...wonder if he could have saved this group? Saved them and let them live in his domain? There was so...so much loss here. So much wasted potential and a chance for sparing this group-- even if it was one group...could have saved so much more.

But Jerry had to move on.

Move and leave this tomb, following along a path in a hall, trekking in the darkness with only his helm light showing his path. He didn't even know how long he’s been walking as if...if time was meaningless right now. He felt...reminded of the Expedition fleet. Being within the Prawn to help scavenge the ships. Being in the darkness as it felt like he was back there. Being in the utter dark, in the silence...and the light reached so far until he couldn't see anything.

Back then all he had to worry was the sound that crept in the darkness, making him worry of what was within it.

Yet now? Now with nothing to hear but his own breath and his own footsteps... He was in the silence...and it made him even more unnerved with no one beside him. Well...beside him and the many frozen dead inside of the tomb.

Jerry didn’t even want to look back, in fear of feeling his feet stop if he did.

As he kept moving...did he see a light, a light of an exit...yet when he passed a tunnel up? Seeing something out of the corner of his eye...an outstretched claw of icy blue almost a foot away from his face as he nearly jumped back. Looking past the claw...was a dog, or Diamond dog if he recalled the words right...in a motion of fleeing, fear frozen on his face as Jerry shivered.

Already more nightmares were piling on for him. He wonders if he will get any sleep later on.

But he moved past the body, making his way slowly to the exit as ice became apparent to him. Crunching loud with each echoing step he took, seeing more light coming forth as he made his exit out of the tomb of darkness, seeing a lake on the openside-- covered in the icy menace. The trees that were plentiful and used to be of green?

Were now covered in ice as they look to be of crystal, being coated tightly by the ice and the icicles that threaten to strike down like spikes from the sky that hang from above. Jerry made sure to avoid going near a tree, or walking loud for a chance he could be hit by them.

Leaving the cave entrance and moving around the lake, did the Overlord saw around him of the forest that remains. Once was a land full of life, of peace and the slowly coming night. The darkness spread as it seemed as if that time itself was seamless, that the only thing that showed ‘living’ was the sky. Something of which Jerry made note to watch in case he needed to bunker down fast.

Yet all around him was nothing but the ice and snow. Or the howling wind that moved all over, whispering in his ear of pure nothing. Singing of the emptiness and isolation as all around him...was white and blue...ground and sky.

Days had passed in his travel, Jerry had to return to the castle whenever he needed the rest of traveling through the ice and snow. Always leaving in a Waypoint gate and returning...but with each trip back and forth, did his mind plague him of what he saw, the bits of nightmares of seeing frozen faces of fears to him-- the frozen filly that died in her sleep as she huddled in that box.

Even that tomb haunted his mind and dreams.

But he must travel, travel through the ice and snow as his mind began to wander, to just...think. That there was so much that happened, that so much came before his arrival. Evil in the form of the Caribou Empire. Pain of lost of families, of broken friendships, of ponies hurting each other.

Betrayals of love ones either betraying the one they held dear, or friends turning on each other...rape. Rape of countless mares, of fillies losing what innocent they had. Even the rape of innocent and of virginity of later generations faced in the few years. Even loss of limbs, of ponies, of even their very minds being erased to be the Caribou playthings. A loss of the home that was Equestria.

There was also the treachery of the ponies being used, treachery of the Caribous using the Crystal Heart against them. The greed that set many to be sold for slavery, to be used as nothing more than sex-toys or pleasure. The utter cruelty given to those who don’t submit, to fillies and mares who faced the sadistic and self-serving desires of their ‘master’s. The pain given by countless breaking of minds or wills, of bodies being used or bruised. The pain of losing a loved one, or losing those you care for into being broken in mind or will...or being nothing but a Blank.

The lies being spread of how this was the ‘true’ nature of things. Of how this was meant to be...the loneliness many faced away from everything they knew. Of parents. Of siblings...even of friends as they were alienated. Even the hopelessness.

The hopelessness of how things were bleak. Of how they lost the harmony of a nation, of how everything they knew was turned into a perversion of itself.

Even he wasn’t guiltless. He had done quite a few things to be condemned. Accused of crimes of rape, of death, even made choices to be accursed further. Jerry even accused himself, as he had killed many as blood were on his hands…

He was even nearly killed.

There were many dead because of him, by his hands or actions...but the many who had died didn’t die by him...but by other means. Which made him pause in his traveling to the north.

He stood in the icy realm of the winter, in the cold and in the night itself as the Overlord glanced at the moon shining bright down on him...did he know that here and now? There was no good. No evil. Only the utter emptiness. The emptiness of the windigos, that were after him...yet they attacked other's because of the one thing they feasted on. Hatred in other's…

Only in the silence by himself...did he know that the only reason the Windigos were around was the lack of Harmony...Something the ponies had, and now lost as his visor moved around. Imaging in his mind of a land that was once filled with kindness, laughter, loyalty, generous, honest and even friendly people…

It was now a dead, cold, hurt, broken, greedy and shattered land.

He didn’t even do this by himself. In a way, he was the catalyst that caused it. He was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Looking at this place...and back home he saw a clear difference. His mind thought of his home on how it...it held life. It held...a balance of sorts...A...harmony.

Inwardly he knew if Gnarl was around, that old Minion will gag at it….but it was there. It made his mind think of what he saw here in the cold wilderness. Of what he could have done instead of being told what to do. On perhaps...making up for his crimes? Perhaps even undoing what he did? Maybe give a chance to those who were lost, to those who never held that chance...to give what other's never had...like that filly asleep in her eternal grave on those streets?

He doubted he could ever atone for his crimes. He doubted he could ever stop being the Overlord. He doubted he could remove his rage...because he knew deep down that he liked being the Overlord. He was addicted to being the villian. He could never be a hero. He could never stop killing...but what he could do? He could be like Mortis said he was. An Overlord that was kind. One who helped others.

Granted it was to have ‘loyal followers’...but wasn’t that the point?

To have something to give, despite being tainted himself? To give mercy when it was given? To give sanctuary when it was called? To grant something of a chance despite his hand being bloody? To show that despite being a monster….that he had his own virtues?

Like what he saw in his own home. Seeing the loyalty that shines in the eyes of those who followed him, be it both Minion or Pony. Seeing the utter kindness that warms the halls, filling with citizens and their children. Hearing those laughter that echo out from friends as they heal from the wounds that are inflicted on them. The honesty that was given, over past troubles that filled everywhere-- only to be laid down for what to look forward to.

Even...the kinship that were formed in the sorrow, that were formed from understanding and mending what had happened. To have...have hope bloom.

Maybe at one point in his life...Twilight and her friend offering their friendship could’ve been dismissed. Or put aside-- or if Gnarl had his way, would be the new Overlord trophies. But instead Jerry took the higher route. That despite how bleak things were? That Twilight and her friends gave their affinity, seeing it spread and clearly shown among his home.

That even Shadow joined in their antics, as the aspects of Harmony were spreading, moving in their own ways to make things a bit brighter. While it’s true that they were all broken, some more than others...they all held on. Because they each have the other to hold up. To help them stand on their feet.

That despite hope being frail...it can never be destroyed. That even in the longest winter…

Spring would arrive.

Jerry didn’t even notice that he was walking through the entire time in his thoughts. That he was soon on a cliffside, looking down on the frozen lands and the icy beach of the Lunar Bay, that the sun rose among the horizon. He partially wondered if he was slowly becoming philosophical when he was alone. But he didn’t bother to think too much…

Mostly as for a brief moment...the sky was stuck between day and night.

Looking onwards, Jerry observed the sight before him… and for a long minute, he became aware… the sun was stuck in place. And once glance up, Jerry found that the sky was literally still. A small portion was orange and in the process of becoming dawn. The night in the process of ressessing-- yet the dark purple sky and it’s stars remained in place with the moon.

Something… was wrong with the sky…

...that's not good. thought Jerry.