Jerry had to follow the Eyes instruction to the letter, mostly since he needed to find this mare, who supposedly held the magic of the Celestial sisters. Keeping on a straight line, going down south as fast as he could in his armor set, Jerry almost consider on changing to his other set of armor.

But push that thought aside as he kept with the time limit, with thanks of Mortis who seem to kept the time on a watch on his end.

“Master if I may, how are you certain you will find this, mare in the first place?” While Mortis wouldn’t question his Master choices, the Blue Raiser felt a odd sense of suspicion, feeling unknown magic on his Master. Magic that wasn’t anything like he seen before.

“Just following my gut feeling.” fibbed Jerry, as it was admittedly a gut feeling...but he didn’t want to explain about his deal, not when he was so close. He was just thankful Mortis decided to drop it, keeping a eye on the time as minutes pass by, before the Blue minion spoke.

“Half a hour, Spawning Gates will arrive.”

And just on time, the four Tribe gates appeared, Jerry talking out the needed numbers that the Eyes told him to pick, getting them ready as one Green complained. “Cold! Freezing.”

A Red laugh in near mocking. “Ha-ha!”

A brown snap as he raise his blade. “Silence, Master needs us focus!” already the Minions moving behind their Overlord, follow his direction as Jerry was following the path the Eyes laid out...a part of Jerry really hoped this wasn’t something to screw him over the moment he arrived to his destination.

While the rule of ‘go straight’ was what had him going the most, now and then Jerry did feel lost. With how expansive and wide the white tundra plains were? It was easy to drift one way or the other. But, true to word, all he had to do was look down if he felt lost. And, just like that, there was always a line there to walk parallel to. One that looked as if it was made by a finger being drawn in the snow.

It felt almost eerie to think, that Fate himself made those lines just to be sure Jerry got what he wanted. And knew when to place them so Jerry would see them exactly when he looked down.

But, when the last half hour ticked by and they arrived near a place with near to no snow, warmer air and a moving sea.. Did they see not too far out, a mare. One in a heavy winter coat and sitting on a rock in thought. It felt almost bazaar that so much had come true…. Then, he chose to look up.

Above, there was a storm cloud rolling by. One of a few, though this one seemed darker and sparked with thunder. It was almost ominous at how it rolled on by and almost in a… straight line. Too straight, now that he really focused on it. Only then did he notice how it tipped and a nose of a ship begin to appear.

“Mortis, get a Gate ready in case!” told Jerry, moving faster as he sent a mental command to his Minions, making the Reds ready to fire above once the ship got close. The Greens moving silently ahead, being ordered to grab the mare and bring both her and the dagger by her to their Master. To which the Greens moved as swiftly as they could, moving behind the pegasus as without warning?

Did they grab onto her, gripping at her arms, legs and hosting over in the air. Seemingly to hold her up despite being smaller than she was, as they began to carry her back towards their Master. Browns moving to assist and provide a form of defense for the slightly weaker Greens.

Like that, the stormcloud receded and a ship, clad in steel and armed to the teeth dove down. While the mare screamed and struggled, kicking and arms waving, did the cannon’s roar. Fire from the many Red’s flew up and pelted the armor, and to Jerry’s slight alarm, watch the fire reflect off, as if the steel was completely immune to the magical fires.

Albert did mention of magic repelling steel…. thought Jerry, as he watch the ship coming down more, raising his arms up to call upon Sanctuary to form a barrier for himself as the cannons were coming a bit to close near his position.

His attention was split, as the pegasus mare was soon brought over by his side, coming down on the sand a bit quickly as a Brown swipe the dagger off of her as to crush the bone. Although the Brown-- as did the other Minions yelp as three forms of magic sprew out. One streak of golden magic, another streak of indigo magic, both flying fast and straight away.

While the third? It was of darker magical like fog, seeping and scampering away into the cracks of the ground, a dark sounding laughter coming from it.

As much as Jerry would like to be alarm from this-- he had more to focus on. Like the ship swoops in and half landed. Seeing large, hulking troops coming out with shields and spears as their armor showed of dark black as possible. Jerry gave a glance as he told to the possibly scared/shock mare.

“You have a lot of questions, and probably want to leave,” and on cue from Mortis did a Waypoint Gate appeared behind them. “But as of now? Get into the Gate, now!” Jerry tone was filled with a bit of forced bite, mostly since he was underprepare, and wasn’t able to fight against these troops-- not without high Minion casualties. His Blues, thankfully move over by the mare, examining her as one told in a hurry tone.

“Quick, will restore wings and bring you to Equestrians.”

“What? Wait, no!” Stammered out the mare, “let me go!” Struggling all the more-- though with the browns moving to help reinforce the greens in dragging her off, it was trivial. And while the fireballs were not stopping the hulking troops, it did slow them some with the embers of magic laying on the ground.

As he neared the gate, something else happened. Magic arced and in a colorful display seemed to crack and explode like lightning. It almost hit him, and definitely bounced off a blue that was near him. Half hurting the minion, but keeping him from being blasted away.

One glace back over his shoulder, he spotted a marron mare. A unicorn half leading the forces and a broken horn on her head. She watched him with a sort of calmness that was borderline menacing. Steps measured and magical arcs widely sparking from her horn. But with another discharge and a half glare of rage, did that magic arc out like a jagged snake. He ducked and that wild magic flew over head, blasting the ground before him. Thankfully, gate very close now.

“Go, go, go, go!” order Jerry, getting his Minions into their respective pits as the mare was already sent away before the marron mare attack. Jerry manage to get on the Gate, making sure Sanctuary was active as he spoke out. “I don’t know who you are, I don’t know how you came here...but I do know is that you probably see me as a enemy for one reason or another.” taking a moment to ask-- before he felt a magical arc slam into his shields.

He was admittedly terrified of the strength behind it-- but was thankful the Sanctuary spell held up as he called out. “Can I at least get a name of my supposedly enemy? I mean, unicorn mare isn’t much of a name you know!” Normally he would just run...but considering he would be visiting the Storm King lands? He would at least want to know some info of whoever this mare was.

With a calm and almost cold look, she stopped and folded her hands behind her, troops stopping at her own pause. With eyes flickering from him to the gate, something seemed to spark in her mind. When her magic sparked sporadically again, Jerry felt the gut wrenching urge to just run.

So with a switch in his mind, did he teleported out of there. His body disappearing from sight, as a mere moment of his leaving, did a colorful magical bursts danced over the Gate. Ineffectively, but almost deadly to those that would be near of it. The Waypoint Gate burrow back deep, disappearing in the sands as if it didn’t exist…

Then a hedgehog came up, scratching his head as he look up to the mare as he asked.

“So….what’cha gonna tell the boss, Tempest? We did just lost, yah know...the thing the Storm King wanted when he heard about it?”

With a very frustrated exhale of breath, did she glared at the gate for a long moment. It was almost thoughtful deep the way she looked at it before walking forwards, hooves clopping away. “We are going to tell him there was a setback and that the Overlord threat isn’t as gone as the last set of reports said.”

While she moved, he soon followed along. Both traversing the ground before stopping before the now broken dagger. She looked it over with her eyes, bending down to take up the bone blade and it’s hilt. After a moment, she turned and passed them to the hedgehog, telling, “put that away somewhere secure. Unicorn horn, a rare one too. I think the Storm King could use a new staff head, and that would make a good focus point.”

While the hedgehog gave a small salute, crouching to grab and pocket it elsewhere, he look up and asked. “That was the Overlord?” giving a look back to the now disappeared Gate as he remarked. “For someone who's supposedly a threat, he did ran off like a chicken.”

“Chicken or not, he got here first.” She said while moving back for the ship. “I want to know how or why. We’ve been tracking that magic for weeks. I want to know how he knew where to find it, and why he set it free.” Brows furrowing in thought. A idea, forming in Tempest’s mind. “Ready the troops for redeployment and ready a report. I think we now have a clue of what’s really going on here in Equestria.”

---

Oh God that was scary! thought Jerry in near panic, sitting in his throne room, still in his Winter gear as he couldn’t believe how close he was to be roasted in magical lighting! Even more without the defenses in his armor. He was even more glad he took the deal now, especially since he manage to get it before that...that mare with the broken horn did! He didn’t knew who she was, but he knew she worked for the Storm King.

And If the Storm King did somehow got the Princess’s magic? Game over man. Game over.

He gave a shudder to that...and nearly jumped up as he thought. Oh shit did it work!? mind worrying that it didn’t work somehow, as he began to rush to the Armory. Mostly to switch armor sets and go to the island. He wanted to make sure it worked. And there was one way to do it.

---

Getting the armor set on and transporting out into the Main Gate on the island, Jerry was greeted to the sight of something he never thought he would be thankful for. Sunlight. Day time….

A functioning sky system.

Jerry couldn’t believe how happy he was with the sky being so...bright. He almost consider on singing-- or cheering if he wasn’t pressed for time. So Jerry had force walk himself to the mansion. Mostly because he wanted to be sure that the magic was working right. Granted he didn't know how magic work here-- but he knows that if the sun was working right? Something good must of happen.

But if it didn't...if it didn’t, we are so screwed. thought Jerry as he really didn’t want to know what the worse could be for here...even more as he recall that shadowy magic, and that laughter.

His best guess was this Sombra guy...and Jerry honestly hope that he wouldn’t fight Sombra so soon. Not with the Wendigos around. But he had to push that out of his mind as he saw the sights of the mansion gates. Getting in was easy…

Being ready for whatever to come was another.

As he step through the gates and was soon greeted by the guards, did Jerry tell them to basically let him in. Mostly to make sure things were actually working right. And while normally unsure, they let the man in. Possibly because he was becoming a common occurrence.

It took a while, and a bit of waiting in one of the many chairs that made up the main meeting space those involved in serious matters would gather. But in time, both Celestia and Luna walked in. Oddly enough, they seemed more… radiant than before. And it was no exaggeration. Their coats seemed to have a more refined deepness to it, and their manes seemed to just sparkle. wings held all the more strongly and poise all the more graceful-- if that was physically possible.

“Overlord.” Luna spoke with a dipping of her head. “We assume you being here has something to do with our magic finally returning?”

With a deep breath of relief escaping from him, and a bit of his body sagging did Jerry nodded. “Oh thank God, it worked.” Leaning back in his chair as he answer. “Yeah, I just...wanted to be sure that you two got the magic back...I really, really didn’t want to come here and find out the worse. I mean, with the threat of unbalance astronomy, winter filled Equestria and what I saw earlier?”

A deep breath of exasperation came out as he told solemnly. “I just had to be sure things worked right for once and not another fucked up.”

“Well that is nice to know.” Spoke Celestia, “I am curious on what you did to return our magic?” Delicate brow raising as it did. “Last we knew, our magic was missing and in a place none of us knew. And rather suddenly, it returns and from what you are saying, you were part of it’s reason for it’s return.”

“Yeah...so turned out the magic was in this horn dagger thing? Carried around by a pegasus mare-- which I can assume my Blues brought to the island once they patched up her wings and gave her the vaccine in case?” he didn’t recall much in his armor switching, but he heard from Mortis that ‘the task was done’ and could only assume the Blue meant the mare.

“Yes.” nodded Luna as she told. “We were informed she was, in a dazed of sorts.” then furrowed her brows as she asked. “But tell us, how did you knew where she was?”

To this...Jerry let out a sagged breath. “Welp...like they say….desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Arms crossing over her chest, Luna asked, “desperate measures?” Eyes going over his person some in thought. Through while she watched him a little, she focused in more in thought. And likewise, so did her sister, as if trying to puzzle something out.

It was Luna that breathed in and said, “you made a deal.” Which made Jerry half tilt in uncertainty. “We might not see it, but it’s mark can still be felt in other ways, Overlord.” Nearly glaring at him. “What did we tell you about that?”

Slight anger rose as Jerry stood up and snapped. “Get off your high pedestal Luna. You and Celestia should be somewhat happy I did!” then took a breath in to rein in his anger as he told. “I was literally hours away from that mare and the dagger. If I didn’t take the deal, that marron unicorn in the Storm King forces would of scoop her up and the guy would of had your magic to control the skies!”

Then raise a hand as he said. “Was it stupid of me? Damn right. Was it risky? Of course!” then threw both arms up. “But what other options did I had? It was either make the deal, or missed the chance of taking the magic before someone else did!”

“You do not know what you have traded off to get such a chance.” Luna shot back with a controlled tone of her own. “Whatever the deal you made, you will regret it, Overlord. One way or another. Things may seem fine for now, but whatever he wants, he will get in only his way. In manners you will not conceive until it is too late.”

“As long as it doesn’t affect those I care about? I think I’ll take my chances.” snapped Jerry, as he took another deep breath in and told in a controlled manner. “I get it. It was stupid of me. But if I recall right from his own mouth-- you two did exactly what I did.” looking at them both as he pushed. “So before you get on your soapboxes and lecture at me for making a foolish mistake? How about you both recall what's it like being desperate when everything shitting around you? I’m certain you both had a few moments in your life with that feeling!”

Hands gripping by her sides, Luna spoke, “you dare…” a slight threat starting on her lips.

“Sister.” Celestia spoke with a sternness before turning her eyes at Jerry. For a moment, the room stilled into a silence as they all looked to the other.

After a moment, Celestia sighed out, “so he told you.” Seeming to say it more out of exasperation more than anything. “I shouldn’t be surprised. He does enjoy causing issues…” Eyes flicking away before returning to the human before her.

“Jerry, you have to understand. We warned you because we know the price that comes in the end. It’s why we warned you. When we called on him, we were young and naïve. We thought we could make a deal that would secure our future and the future of our ponies.”

Breathing in, Celestia glanced aside. “We did assure it. But the price sometimes seems too weighty. No nation raises without something to help build it. To keep it strong.”

“Steel is only as strong as the fires it is forged from.” Luna seemed to add in as well. “By plight, peril, war, tribulations and terror. For each hurdal cast our way, do we become stronger.. And so does our nation. But in turn… we are forever plagued by disaster after disaster. Horror by horror. One calamity after another.”

Staring at the two, his helmet keeping his expression hidden, but one could hear the dumb-foundedness in his tone. “That….explains a lot with how your nation is trouble-magnet…” thinking of the various of foes, the near never-ending disasters or problems that came. Even the hardships and later amount of villains appearing. It just...make sense now.

Even the Caribou played a role into this!

With a more calmer breath, Jerry soon said. “I get it. I really do, and before you say I don’t-- he’s the reason I was sent here. He’s the reason why I’m the Overlord-- he’s the reason on how I managed to be alive somehow in some ways.” then let out a breath. “So again. I get it. I don’t know what's going to happen in the future, I don’t know how it’ll affect me….but one thing I do know for certain? It's not going to affect my home. My people-- or my herd. Just me.”

A small smile in his tone as he look to the both of them as he finished. “And I wouldn’t like it any other way than that.”

The two alicorns still traded looks of worry, with Celestia telling, “I thought the same things when I made the deal along with my sister.” Catching his ear. “It wasn’t years later, that I saw the coast for what it was when I had to banish my only family away for a thousand years.”

One last look, Celestia told, “pray that you made the right deal. While they might not be harmed directly, I fear for what will happen to harm them indirectly.” Then nod, “good day to you, Overlord.” Turning and moving away.

Luna watched for a moment, before turning to tell, “we urge you. Fulfill your deal and never make another. Hopefully Fate will only see fit to pull a simple ‘prank’ on you and not something more.” Turning to follow her sister.

Yeah...me too… thought Jerry as he was about to walk away-- before he recall as he turn his head and called out. “Hey a quick warning? Sombra might show up later on-- apparently his ghost was in that dagger horn!”

Both stopped in their tracks, and for the second time, Jerry was given a front row seat, to the Royal Canterlot Voice by Luna herself. “HE MAY WHAT!?”

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