***Asphyxious pov. Workshop.***

“Why can’t I find them?” I asked myself as I used the seeker orb as I like to call it. Or what ever I call the huge ball of glass and magic as metal parts moved around. Yes I can use it to find displaced but I can’t use it to help me find the followers of cryx. I sighed and sat down thinking to myself, I gave myself to much to do and I’m over worked.

“Maybe I need some time to myself?” I say thinking out loud. I then felt something, the pull of my token but it was… Strange. Like a pull of magic was in use but it felt weak, really weak. It was so weak I could barely hear what someone was saying on the other end of it. “Oh well, might as well see what they want.”

I turned into my lich form and looked at my hand, I started to notice my Lich form was slowly changing. Nothing noticeable, just a small line of bone sticking out of my elbow. Bone like nails on the ends of my metal claws. But I was not going to worry about that for now, it was time to see who was calling me. I went into the portal that opened before me and on the other side was… A spider like being… Okay. That was different, I was about to say something to it before it kell over and fell on it side.

“Hey, you alright?” I asked it, if this was a displaced he didn’t look well. At least I think it was a he? But then I notice my surroundings. We were underground, webs covered everything and I could see more of the spider creatures slowly coming out of tunnels in the walls. It was only after I looked behind me that I saw a large altar and my token in the middle of it all. “Oh crap.” I looked back to the spider thing that was on the floor and reached out to wake it up, only to my surprise it was dead...

“You have come?” Asked a raspy voice from one of the tunnels. I turned to the voice and saw another of the spider creatures, this one however was dressed in robes.

“Who are you, what is this place?” I asked looking around at the large cave we was in. Or at least I assume it a cave.

“We’re Crypt Fiends, we have been waiting a long time my Lord.” It spoke before bowing to me, I then saw the other spiders were bowing as will. Okay time to find out what going on.

“What of this one? Why did it die?” I asked pointing at the dead, the robed spider looked sad. Hard to tell with it bug like face, but then I began to notice the difference between them. It was too small, the eyes were too large, it’s fangs were not even that long. The claws on the ends of it’s hands were too short and that when it hit me, this small spider was a child.

“He prayed that someone would come to help us. Every day and night, going for hours without food or water… Most of us have resigned ourselves to our fate but the young ones. They still believe in hope for our doomed world.” He looked up as another spider this one as tall as the robed one walked up and picked up the smaller spider before walking away. “But it looks like we did reach someone.”

“Before you jump to any conclusion, I think it best you explain what's going on.” I asked, he nodded before leading me away. I found out later that this world was dying, not really surprising. The only living things I could sense was these crypt fiends and rats. Hell I wasn’t even sure if there was plantlife here. The spider told me that the last of the alicorns had passed away, and the world was slowly starting to die. From what he said the ponie didn’t believe what the other races were saying and disregard what they said. And by the time they realized that it was true, it was too late.

“That is a lot to take in.” I added thinking this over. “But why call me? What do you think I can do to help?”

“Are you not a god?” It asked, I felt uncountable when it asked that. But the look in its eyes showed me that these being were desperate for help. And then I had a thought, I may not be a god but I do know someone who was.

“No, but I know someone who is.” I replied pulling out mum, Rin’s token. I guess I was still getting used to that and decided to give her a call. “Yo Rin I need some help here, I’m kind of in over my head.” There was a rumble and the Crypt Fiend jumped back in surprise as the ground toor open and the crystal pillars grew around the hole.

“I’m sorry. Were you talking to me? Is that any way to address your mother?” Rin’s voice called out from the hole.

“Sorry but take a look around and you’ll understand.” I explained. With a sigh Rin rose up from her portal and looked around. She then shot her head up and stared at the ceiling. “It’s okay he's a friend. And they need our help.”

“So many dead things.” Rin said as if in a trance as she continued to stare up at seemingly nothing. I now started to understand what that strange feeling I was getting from this place was. It was the dead and there was a lot of them. “So many lost souls in need of aid.”

“Mother! Hey still with us?” I called to her to get her to focus me and the robed spider. Unlike myself she must be more in tuned with the dead. And there must be a lot by the way she’s staring off into space like that. “You can worry about the lost souls after we save the still living ones.” Slowly her head turned to look at us and she saw the spider man for the first time.

“Yes.” She said simply. “Gather your people. I’ll make you a portal to my world.” She told him before summoning a lot of fox imps and they started drawing extremely complex runes on the ground. The Spider bowed to Rin before leaving and I decided to have a look around outside.

It was all dead, dried up riverbeds, dead trees and no life to speak of. It was like the magic of this world just turned to rot. “Or was poisoned…” I said to myself reaching down to the ground and taking a hand full of dirt and letting it fall between my metal fingers. It was true, this world was dying but why?

I then moved on, as what looked like a small town coate my eye. Once I made my way down to it, I could see it was abandoned. The buildings were left to rot, any sign of life that was once here was long gone by now. I could even feel the presence of ghosts here, I kept thinking something like this could happen to my world if Lord Toruk could get into it. I started to understand what Cutthoat must have felt, being alone. If the Crypt Fiends didn’t summon me, I would have assumed no one was still alive on this world.

“So much death.” I said to myself, when I found the bones of a pony. Funny enough laying next to the bones was a griffon and a diamond dog. They must of been friends, I slowly turned my head back to the small town. And that when I saw them, the ghosts of this town. They looked like they were just going about their daily routine. As if they didn’t die, but they did and it made me sad. They could not move on like this.

“I wonder, is this my fate?” I asked myself, watching the ghosts go about there business like nothing was wrong. “Will I go on where all overs have pasted and be unable to go with them? Will I be left behind?” I never asked to be an Iron lich, I only took the heart stones because I needed there power. I’d rather live one life time, then out live everyone I know and care about. It made me angry, it made me hate what I have become, it made me want to tear my world apart and be lift with nothing!

“But if I did that… My children will have nowhere to live, no one to make friends with, nowhere to play on a sunny day. What could I gain by destroying my world?” The answer was simple. Nothing… I’d gain nothing, but pain and sorrow. I was sick of feeling sorry for myself. No more helping other displaced, at least for now. I think it’s time I find those cryx ponies and dealt with them myself. But one thing bothered me, the spell to bring Toruk back needed his brother’s blood. The closest thing to that could be his children, but even so they were not his brothers. “They must have something planned, but what?”

I stopped when a filly looked up at me, I tilted my head to one side as I stared at it. The poor soul looked tired, and sad, she looked so young but the eyes looked older. As if she has seen a lifetime of the world change around her and she could not change with it. It must have been soul crushing to watch the world slowly dying all around you. Even after death. “Do you wish to pass on from this world little one?” I asked kneeling down to the filly.

She nodded her head yes, I looked at the other ghost and could only think of one way to help them. I lift up one hand as a cacle of runes appeared.“Soul Harvest.” As soon as the spell was cast all the souls in town were being pulled into a empty soul cage.

“Thank you.” Said the filly before her soul was pulled into the cage to. I looked sadly at the soul cage in my hand. I’ll give them to mum, I’m sure she can take care of them. I then made my way back to the cave.

Once inside I was surprised just how many Crypt Fiends there were. Some had egg sacks full of eggs. Other carried what few children they had, some were even helping those who were to old. But I also noticed some who didn’t look like they were leaving with the rest.

I then looked for Rin to find out what up with that. Once I found her it looked like she was talking to… A very large beetle… Okay let find out what went wrong this time. I thought as I walked up to them. “So who is the big guy?” I asked as said beetle moved its large horn like head to look at me.

“I am the king of the crypt fiends. I...am stan.” The large beetle replied.

“Nice to meet you Stan, I’m Asphyxious but my friends call me Asphy.” I reached out to shake his claw. He took it and it may have looked odd but I guess he was more surprised to meet another displaced. “So how long have you been living here?” I ask as I look down and notice Rin sniffing at the soul cage holding the town’s ghosts. I unhooked it from a chain and gave it to her.

“Not too long. Only about a year. Before that I was trapped in stone and before that I was human. I bought a figurine of what I am now from this guy in a merchant getup from Resident Evil 4 and fell into a portal. When I was out I was this thing and I landed in the bath tub with a very surprised Celestia. She… didn’t like bugs.” Stan replied as we followed Rin.

“Wow, so I take it the stuff with Nightmare Moon didn’t happen or Twilight meeting her friends here?” I asked, it gave me a new perspective about this world. Or a very worrying future.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. When I got out everything was already dying and the only source of information are these guys. And they didn’t get out much. All I know if someone they call ‘The moon butt which blocks out the sun’ was involved.” He said.

Well that explains why it looked so gloomy outside, my guess is Nightmare won the first time she fights Celestia and then get herself killed off, wait? “They told me the last alicorn died, so was that Nightmare Moon and how did she die?” It was a good question. Stan just shrugged at this.

“This underground system has acted as a shelter. No one leaves except to scavenge. I guess someone found this Nightmare Moon’s body...probably ate it too.” Stan said. I would have been grossed out by this but, I’ve be known to eat living being to so I didn’t really react much. Then we stopped in a large area with a massive ring of complex runes surrounded by large crystals which had their own system of constantly flowing runes. It kind of looked like programing.

“Get ready brother, because we’re in for a ride.” I tell Stan as I walked over to the runes. I looked at the runes but did nothing to mass with them. I know what it’s like to put a lot of work into runes and how annoying it was for someone to mess with them. I could make something like this but not this huge. I watched as Rin released the souls in the cage and started a ritual by ringing a golden bell and chanted and HOLY CRAP! The runes in the crystals shot out and began circling the room. There were far more runes in the crystals than I thought and I just noticed the ones in the ceiling. It was the most complex system I’ve seen so far. Immense power shoots through the floor opening a gateway on the floor. A white light that grows wider and wider. It didn’t take long for the town ghost to pass through but even more ghost were coming in through the walls creating a hurricane of ghosts that were drawn to this place.

I have never seen so many souls in one place before. Hell I don’t think any living being has seen this many before. Some small part of me felt drawn to the light, I was even going to reach out to it but stop myself. I couldn’t go not yet anyway, there was still so much for me to do. So I let my arm fall back to my side and watched in awe.

“You think this is something. Go outside.” One of the fox imps said like it was reading from a script which let me know it was Rin talking. I thought about that, I had a good idea where everything was so I teleported out and wow…… There was a massive tower of light but it looked like a twister. The clouds where the light reached twisted like I was looking at the top of a tornado and the souls. Only a fraction were using the gateway underground. There were too many souls to count flying around the beacon of light and up into the gate in the sky.

I could say it looked amazing, I could say it was beautiful. But no words came to mind, I just watched. As I was left deep in thought.

“It’s so beautiful.” A voice said to me and I looked to my left to see the ghost of Celestia looking up at the sight. It looked like she was crying. However that works.

“You should be on your way, I’m sure your sister waiting for you.” I said softly as I looked back to the gate. I wasn’t sure how to feel, some part of me felt sad another felt sorrow. I also felt empty… I didn’t like that last one. “Who knows, I’m sure Luna misses you.” I never got a reply. She just slowly walked forwards towards the light. I watched from afar as she made her way to it. I then had a thought, Nightmare better not show up and rouan this. The last thing I want is to fight is an annoying specter.

I then heard a roar, but not just any roar. The roar of a dragon, and I let out a growl as I turned to the sound and slowly made my way to it. If this dragon think he’s going to get a free meal of souls he's got another thing coming. I pulled my sword from my back as the runes of magic activated. I could not help but laugh as it landed and kicked up a dust cloud. I stopped when I smelt the scent of blood, not just any blood. I didn’t know how or way but I could tell this blood belong to Luna. And that made me angry…

Once the dust settled I could get a clear look at the dragon. “Deathwing… Long time no see, no wait you smell different. Oh I see now, you’re not a displaced.” If I had lips I’d be smiling right now. So this dragon was of this world, I could not help but wonder what his flesh would taste like. This was not the Deathwing I meet in the war of shadows, this one I have never meet before. And that means I can eat him, without fear of the other displaced coming after me. Wait, why am I thinking like that?

“Who dare claim to be me! No one can match my power worm, not only that who dare takes of what’s rightfully mine!” The dragon roared. And After all the crap I’ve dealt with in my life, as well as surviving the war of shadows. Not to mention killing and eating a dragon, this guy wasn’t even in my top three of things to fear. “Those souls belong to me and no one else!” Right… I thought sarcastically.

“Let me tell you something, Ever heard of Lord Toruk?” I asked only getting a confused look from the dragon. “I didn’t think so.” I then changed into my Dragon Lord form and growled. That surprised him before I lunged to attack!

“Did I miss anything?” I asked in my dragon anthro form covered in cuts, blood and bruises. But I have to say, dragonheart taste pretty good. I even licked my lips as I walked up to Rin. Stan looked just as surprised as all the spiders who were staring at me. “Something on my face?” I asked licking my snort with my tongue.

“Yes there is a small bit of liver stuck to the side of your head.” Rin replied simply as her fox imps cleaned up the runes. I reached up pulled it off my head, looked at it before eating it. Hmm, not bad. Could use salt. “I hope you remembered to keep the bones in tact for your mommy to play with.”

“More or less, I may have eaten one or two…” I replied sheepishly. Seeing now as a good time to play with my tail. Rin looked dejected at hearing this.

“Awwww… It it’s not a complete set I can’t use it to make this one undead I wanted to make. The ritual requires a full skeleton.” Rin said sadly. “Oh well. Scrap parts it is.”

“... There is something wrong with you two.” Stan said flatly.

“I was locked in the dark for nine hundred years, Alone. There bound to be something wrong with me.” I replied then smiled showing off my fangs. Stan just looked to Rin expectantly after that.

“Oh I just got stoned like you. But my crazy comes from kitsune brain chemistry and some other past experiences. Being in stone for a thousand years isn’t that bad.” Rin said cheerily. I would never know, I sometimes had nightmares of being locked away again. In the dark, alone, with no way to know how much time had passed… Yeah, I was insane.

“...What the hell could be worse than that?” Stan asked bewildered. I stared at him before pointing at myself. “Trapped in crystal, trapped in stone. Same thing. You're still trapped.” He replied.

“Yeah, but you could see the sky, You can tell how much time had passed, you have the slim hope of keeping your sanity.” Stan hummed as he took on a contemplation look before sighing and giving a nod.

“Fine. You win.” Stan grumbled. “What about you Rin. What was so bad you think it beats the stoning?”

“...It took years of dedicated training to get as good at my dark magic as I am now. Along the line I made...mistakes. The worst suffering I ever experienced was because of one of those mistakes. It only lasted for a moment. But I would take even what Ax here endured over having to take that again.” Rin said with a shudder. I could not help but smile a little.

“You kissed a diamond dog or something?” I asked in a joking manner.

“No… I was exorcising an evil spirit. I succeeded in sinding it to Hell but… I made a mistake and created a link with it without realizing it. For that one moment I felt what it was like to be in Hell. Literally.” Rin replied. Okay, that’s scary and not at all something I want to go through.

“So how long do we have to wait before all the spiders can go through the portal?” I asked hoping to change the topic.

“The portal was made while you were out getting those souls. You just saw the lignt when you came in.” Rin replied. “Oh, and do you want this back?” She asked as she held up my soul cage that once housed the town ghosts.

“Yes please, they’re hard to make and replace.” I replied taking the soul cage back. I put it on a link of chain that was hanging from my belt. Hmmm, I needed to find out how my changing magic works. “But I built cortexs for the warjacks the most. Seeing as alot of my dogs can’t or have a hard time using magic.”

“Have you considered items enchanted with specific spells like disposable wands?” Rin asked me. The idea did cross my mind but after reading the tomes on how to do that I found it was a little risky.

“I have, but until I can find a safer way of doing do. I run the risk of damaging my soul if something goes wrong. The magic I use is a little more demanding.” I explained.

“Well ya if you do it yourself. Can’t you use warjacks to make it from a safe distance from you?” She asked. If only it was that easy.

“Mum, warjacks are powered by steam and heat. Well or magic as you helped me out there. But the only thing magical about them is the cortex that drives them. And you can’t really get a warjack to empower an item, it has no link to magic like you or me.”

“Hmmm… right forgot about that. I just use imps for stuff like that. Oh have you figured out how to add new enchantments to your warjacks yet? I have quite a few artificers worshiping me that were so kind as to donate some books to my library. They’re meant for things like Iron Defenders but they work on warjacks to.” Rin said with a clap.

“Well there the rune plants but you still need a capacitor to change the magic in to...Cygnar… Oh why didn’t I think of this before!” I yelled hitting myself in the face like it was clear as day. “I can make Storm Chambers, that more than a enough for a year supply of power for any weapon. The hard part would be making them, unless…” I trailed off as my mind went into overtime. Maybe Cloudsdale could sell me bottlted lightning? This changes everything! Oh right what Rin said.

“Sorry, I could look at some of the artificers and see if they can help.” I added with a smile. That reminds me, I need to see how my diamond dogs are doing in that lab. I had a number of special items being worked on there. Oh my god, I just realized how that sounds… Note to self come up with a better name for that base I took over.

“...Right. I guess I could send a dwarf over. Now I’m going to find a nice spot to build a dungeon on this world. Not like anyone else is using it and I can use this would to store all the undead I’m making. Or anything else for that matter.” Rin said as she got up to leave. Hmmm, maybe I could build a base here later. Even test out my new warjacks here… Questions of later, besides I want to see how my kids in Rin’s world are doing. And find out how Sonata and her sisters are doing. Rin conjured up a flag with her symbol on it and drove it into the ground. “I claim this dead world for the great Fluffy Empire!” I burst out laughing.

“You laugh now but think of this. Thanks to Bronze who gave me literally every dead thing on a dead earth and now my claim of this world and all the dead I get from other worlds I will have an army of the undead more than twice the size of most world’s entire population. Animals included.” Rin said in a tone like she was giving a great speech.

“I can see how that works.” I replied.

“And with all the extra storage space and can mass produce warjacks and keep them on standby. An entire dead world for storage means I don’t need to stop because I need the space for something else or to stop before I invade another’s land!” Rin continued. She just pointed out every reason why I should make a base here.

“Can I have a workshop here?” I asked hoping she say yes. Please let me have this, Revan started her mood swings and it terrifying. There nothing more fearful than a pregnant sith, well half sith.

“Awwww, my wittle baby wants a play area? Okay I’ll have some of my foxes sent to the Zebra Islands and have them dig out and fortify basses for you to use.” Rin said in a cheery tone. “That’s plenty of space to work with.”

I smiled as I started to follow her to the portal. Once on the other side I was meet with, oh my that’s new... They had an airship, I mean I kind of knew they were around but I never seen one before. Maybe I should learn how to fly.

“So many new toys. Oh and I forgot about the wealth. I can send my minions to raid the vaults of this world. I’ve never had to worry about wealth thanks to my Keeper powers but imagine all those royal vaults and the hords of all those dead dragons in one place.” Rin said in an after thought. “Not to mention all the loot I’ll get just by having my foxes dig out all the basses and storage areas underground.”

“Where Stan?” I asked noticing how all the spiders stay close to me and Rin. How do you miss a huge beetle walking around?

“He went off to do some scavenging.” Rin said as she pointed to a shop. I could see him through the window just taking whatever he wanted while he was still in this world to take it. I sighed before going over, I just hope the rest of them don’t start doing this to. “It’s okay. It will help them to have things and some startup capital to make their own lives in Alexandria.” Rin said as she summoned an insane number of foxes. “Alright I want you all to dig massive rooms and large tunnels to make the largest dungeon in history! Then I want you to come to the surface and start claiming the land. And don’t stop till you’ve taken over the entire continent!” At this the foxes all saluted and got to work. It never ceases to amaze me how fast they can build things.

I just realized we were still on the dead word once I had a look inside the shop Stan was looting. Well, I might as well call Sonay and see if I can find a way to get some life back into this world. I then thought about the islands mum was talking about, then laughed. “My own broken coast.”

“What?” Rin asked as she was looking through her two paws like visualizing where things should go.

“Just an old territory the cryx controlled when they were still around. It was a chain of islands call the broken coast…” I then thought about that. I didn’t know much about the Zebra Islands, I assumed they were a continent like equestria.

“Oh I see. Well I don’t know much about that but you can rename them to whatever you want. They’re the ten islands surrounding the zebra’s main continent. All about the sizes of the hawaiian islands.” Rin said with a wave of her paws. This could be very interesting. “Hey stop that! I’m letting you take things to help you in your new life you can’t take pony corpses!” Rin shouted as some Crypt Fiends that were trying to stuff some coolers with cadavers.

I was a little surprised there was even any flesh on them. I’d think by the state of this world everything would have turned to dust by now. But seeing how cold it was I can understand how the rot of bodies was slowed down. That made me think, if it was cold here what was it like in the north?

“I guess while I’m waiting for my imps to dig deep enough for me to place a dungeon heart I can get started on some other continents as well. Here.” Rin said as about twenty foxes showed up. “They are the ones that will dig out your playgrounds. Talk to them about what kind of layout you want while mommy takes her new toy for a joy ride.” Rin said as she ran for where the airship was.

I smiled as she ran off and I looked to the foxes who were left in my care for now. “Well then, let’s go to Zebra Islands. I have a lot to do there.” Something tell me I’m in for a long walk. Just then the foxes knocked me down and lifted me up before shooting off down the road.

I was studying the markings left behind as I let the foxes work. I had the entrance of my new base in the side of a mountain. In a dead forest filled with nothing but markings. I made it clear to avoid any graves they may run into. But I knew nothing about what the Zebras of this world did with their dead.

I let the foxes know I planed to have a number of hidden docks on the islands. But that can come later, for now I wanted my base set up. And that left me time to look back at who used to live here. This made me want to go to Zebra back on my world, I knew gatormen lived with them so it would be more than interesting.

“So much could be hidden here, right under my-. “Excuse me. We can’t build one of the requested rooms. There is something in the way.” one of the imp foxes who interrupted my thoughts said as she patted my leg to get my attention. I went over to find out what they found. I had her lead me to the room and saw something interesting.

“A cave?” I asked looking into the opening that was made. This was going to be my libray for when I needed to look something up. The room can be put else where, I looked back to the fox imp. “Anyone go in to find out where it go?”

“We can’t. The creation of this room conflicts with one of your orders. You told us to avoid graveyards and this cave is a graveyard so we can’t go in and build the room requested. What are the new orders as one must be changed for us to continue.” The fox replied.

I see, the question now was graveyard to what? “Inform the other foxes and don’t worry about this room for now. I want two to go with me into explore the cave and two here. If I am not back within an hour get Rin.” I ordered waiting for the fox to get the others.

“Then you retract the order to avoid graveyards so that two imps can follow you?” The fox asked.

“Yes, but the order still stand for building the rest of the rooms. I just want to find out what’s in here before closing it off. You never know, we may find something interesting.” I replied. The fox takes a moment to process this before nodding.

“Very well. But mistress said that if we find Frostmourne down there she calls dibs.” The fox said as she signalled the other foxes.

“Very well.” I said one three more foxes show up I then walk into the cave. It was dark, and wet. Not surprising when you think of it, cave have been know to collect water. I then came across bones, fish bones… Odd. I thought as I went deeper.
That’s when the smell hit my nose, and I cringed as I stepped into something like a mix of mud and slime. But it wasn’t mud, it was a good thing there was no flies or I’m sure this cave would have been full of them.

I looked at the gunk and saw lumps in it, large lumps. I took a deep breath and dragged one out to show a skeleton, a siren skeleton. I looked at it sadly as I put it back. “A Siren graveyard…” I said out loud, I was glad I had eyeless site. I’m sure it was lessening the true horror of what I was seeing. But then I heard a sound, a drip of water.

“Water?” I said looking around for the sound. “Where it coming from?” I asked trying to find it.

“It’s coming in from the ocean.” One of the fox imps replied. I looked back at the foxes who looked like balls of magic to me now.

“I meant were the dripping was coming from.” I explained as I followed the sound.

“Where the water is hitting the ground.” Was the response he got. Something tells me Rin forgot to give these things some more simple understanding. That when I stepped into something, water. I reached down and put a finger in but toching the tip of my toung. It was salt water, but not salty enough so nothing can live in it... The water wasn’t brim. I want deeper walking into water that went up to my knees.

I then found a small pool of water, as clean water dripped from the roof of the cave. And what I saw surprised me. Five small forms lay curled up in the pool. “Get Rin, she will want to see this.” I said looking at the five small sirens in the pool. I heard the crumbling of the ground as a portal was open but before I could turn around Rin shot passed me making me spin like a top before falling on my butt.

“Oh, dear. The poor things, they’re suffering from malnutrition.” I heard Rin say as I waited for the room to stop spinning.

“Good thing I had a look in here before the foxes sealed it up.” I said with a smile. Before getting up then went back to look at the little ones. “Guess we should take them back with us?” I asked looking to Rin who wordlessly lifted them up in her magic and opened a portal.

“I’ll take them to my hospital until they’re back to good health. Then I’m sending out every fox I can spare and any minion that can hunt. They’re going to try and find any other survivors.” Rin said as she carefully levitated them through the portal.

“We’re both big softies aren’t we?” I asked smiling at her.

“I’m surprised you ordered them to leave the graveyards alone. Not that it matters. My foxes are already digging some up now to make your rooms.” Rin said as she concentrated.

“Call it old sentiment, I have a little more respect for the dead. But I’ll still use them if I have to. Also we have no idea how long they have been dead. Anyway, I always like to explore it kind of been a habit of mine. So when they found the cave.” I explained rubbing my head.

“Well tough noogies. There rotting plots are mine now. Also advanced or not my imps are soulless constructs. Their thought process are like computers. They take whatever you say literally and get stuck if commands clash so be more careful with your words.” Rin said as she summoned onyx gems and infused them with dark magic before using them of the dead sirens. “Now go and bring me more Siren corpses!” Rin ordered and the undead fish ponies left to obey the order.

“Is there anything you can do about the smell?” I asked covering my nose.

“Smell?” Rin asked in confusion before seaming to realize. “Oh that. I’ve grown so used to the smell of rot and decay it just doesn't bother me anymore. But I guess some foxes can clean the place up and the air can be vented out of that entrance over there.” Rin said as she pointed to an opening mostly underwater.

“Hmmm, you know we could turn this into a dock.” I said out loud. “But I’d like to keep most of the water pools if we can.”

“Whatever you want. It’s your playground.” Rin said with a shrug. “Oh! Found some more survivors! Mommy needs to go rescue some ponies so you have fun dear.” Rin said before jumping into a new portal and letting it close behind her.

I looked around and I can see a lot of uses for this cave. Maybe I should call Twilight to help me out with the planning. Maybe bring Pinkie over, she been begging me to blight her. “One thing at a time.” I said to myself and thought about where to put that library.

***Three weeks later.***

I feel like I’m in a James Bond movie. I thought to myself as I look around. The stainless steel walls and floors look like what you would see in a stereotypical villains lair. Now all it needs is a drop in floor with sharks in it… Oh come on! I thought when I saw the water filled hole with zombie sharks swimming in it.

“I think Rin went a little overboard.” I said looking at the zombie sharks. “Also where is my workshop?” I asked myself as I look around. Giant storage room. Indoor swimming pool...with more sharks… With what looked like laser beams attached to their heads. “Yeah she went overboard.” I said to myself, I know I shouldn’t have taken that nap. I actually stop and stare wide eyed when I came to my bathroom. My toilet was made of solid diamond and sat atop a pyramid made of gems. Around the room were portraits of all of my girls in my hoard and as I moved around I noticed that the eyes appear to follow me around with judgmental looks. Over the door were the words ‘the royal throne’.

“I hope those foxes are still around.” I said before walking off. One giant parking lot for warjacks three empty rooms with no use yet one kitchen and one room I had no idea what it was for later and I think I found my work shop. It’s a massive room with benches, chests, tools and what looks like skeletal dragon atms hanging from the ceiling connected through a line of gems to controls. As well as another giant storage room in the back.

“So what do I do now?” I asked myself walking around my new workshop. I sat down at one bance and looked at my tools. That when I heard a voice I knew all too well.

“This place is amazing!” It was Twilight. And I smiled when I saw it was my Twilight. And right behind her was Pinkie Pie. Pinkie let out a joyful scream before running over and tackled me to the floor in a hug.

“I missed you so much!” Said Pinkie as she started kissing me like crazy. It was nothing I’m not used to. So I just left her to do her own thing, we stopped kissing once Twilight looked down at us with her arms crossed.

“Explain how you made this place.” Twilight asked looking down at me and Pinkie.

“Rin helped?” I replied smiling at her. Before Pinkie get off of me and looks around.

“Who’s Rin?” She asked, on that right Twilight never meet Rin before. Also how did she get here? Sonay must of made a portal.

“She kind of my mother.” I replied as I heard a gasp from Pinkie.

“We need to throw her a party!” Pinkie yelled before running off. I swear she’s like Clover only less crazy. Or… More crazy? Hard to tell.

“So she your mother? And we haven’t meet yet?” Twilight asked looking worried. I smiled and explained how this all happened. As I was explaining I create a portal to Equestria where I think she was working last. What we found was a massive, black crystal building which we enter in search for Rin. I’m sure Pinkie will show up when she needed. She some how as the power to do that.

“What is this it’s so.” Twilight began before I waved it off.

“Relax she just has dark powers not evil.” I said before we walked into the factory of undead… I looked back to Twilight as she gave me a look. “Okay, I know what this looks like but she’s still not evil…” As we walked through we watched skeletons being riseon and walk from room to room having runes carved into their bones by imps or walking through ritual sights before getting armor and weapons. We also saw the corpses of large animals and monsters being chopped up and re stitched together into flesh golems. Allowed to soak in massive tanks of glowing green slime before coming out and passing through a process much like the skeletons did only larger to fit their giant size. There was blood everywhere being cleaned up by foxes to be used in dark rituals.

At this point vaguely familiar music starts to play and the foxes start to do a strange kind of dance to the beat. Why is this so familiar? I think to myself before Twilight and I are picked up and danced around.

“Impa-limpa! Impady doo!” Oh gods no! Now I know where I’ve heard that music! “We’ve got some tricks and some treats for you!” At this we’re carried along the assembly line and are forced to weave and dodge the parts hanging from meat hooks as we tried to stay balanced on the raft of fluff beneath us. “Why do you judge with only a look? Just believe everything that you’ve read in a book. When one doesn't understand and think it automatically bad. For a scientist like that is really - quite - sad.” At those words Twilight let out a shriek as the foxes stuffed her into the opening on one of those huge flesh golems so only her head was sticking out. The rest of her was in with its exposed and rooted innards as it marched forward on the assembly line. “I don’t like the look of it.”

Twilight chose that moment to flail about and pull herself out. As soon as she was free she flew around in a panic before landing on my head and clinging to it. “Impa-limpa, impady dee. Everything has more than what you can see! How do you learn without a thought in your head? As free thinking as the soulless dead! Don’t be an animal so easily led! Take a chance and see for yourself - in - stead!” At this we were back in the hall and the foxes were picking up speed. “Now on these thoughts we’ll leave you to stew!” They sang out as I was dropped and we went sliding like we were on a slip and slide. “And we’ll go impa-limpa impady doo!” Just then a fox took a picture of us like they do for drops on amusement park rides. When we came to a stop she ran up to us and gave me a copy of the picture. “Impady doo!” The camera imp finished the number and ran off leaving us there on the floor.

“Asphyxious… What just happened...” Twilight asked in a worrying tone as she stilled held on to me. Something tells me I’m in for a long talk later. I wasn’t sure myself, so I did my best to calm her down then we went back to looking for Rin.

Luckily for me we found Rin, and surprisingly Pinkie Pie was there to. How did she get here before us?! I looked up to Rin who was just finishing a ritual on the remains of a dragon which suddenly started radiating intense cold as it rose up and moved on to the next room as a new dragon’s corpse was brought in.

“Hi Rin this is-” Before I can finish Pinkie set off party favors and yelled.

“Hi mother in law!” Pinkie Yelled before hugging one of Rin tails. It made a squishing sound as the blood covering Rin got on Pinkie.

“Hi...You know it would have been nicer if you had waited for me to get cleaned up before you did that.” Rin said in amusement. I didn’t think about that, also it was kind of awkward. I just hope Twilight doesn't tell Rin about her mum Velvet… Things could get really awkward then.

“So, what are you doing?” Twilight asked as she looked at the runes. Meanwhile Pinkie looked like she was trying to clean Rin’s tail before hugging it again.

“This is my Scourge Factory. So named because this dying world was home to a warcraft displaced. And if you must know this factory is the pinnacle of necromancy and undead creation. Create undead, agement undead, Have them use hornet or slime staff to effectively double my army’s size. Give them weapons and armor. And train them to make them stronger. You never know when you need an army of the dead.” Rin said with a nod as if speaking a wise saying.

“Isn’t that illegal?” Twilight asked then looked back at me. “Is this why you won’t let me read your book?” Oh no… I looked around quickly as Twilight didn’t look happy at me. I think I should run away now… “Oh no you’re telling me everything now!” She yelled using her magic to hold me in place.

“Well I imagine it’s considered illegal in many worlds but it’s not an issue in mane. Besides this is a dead world. In this reality Nightmare Moon won so night forever and a dragon killed her so no more alicorns. The world was dying so I evacuated the survivors and claimed what’s left. This world in mine now and so is run under my rules. Besides I’m excused on many worlds where it’s illegal because I’m a goddess of undeath. My domains can’t be denied.” Rin answered.

Twilight looked at Rin before me then back at Rin. “I want my own lab, and to have Asphyxious working with me at all times.” Wait what? What was Twilight thinking?

“So, Rin is it cool if I call a friend to help bring the forest back to this world?” I asked as Twilight was still glaring at me. I’m going to be in the doghouse for a while.

“With the death of this world’s Celestia this world’s sun has also died. He’ll need something that could replace it but by all means.” Rin answered. “As for you Twilight I’ve already given Ax the Zebra islands to work with and all have had basses built on them. I’m sure he will let you work with him there. I’m sure as hell not going to let you work with necromancy. Have you even tried any of the exercises and training needed to use dark magic safely?”

“I’m not going to use necromancy, I have my own research. Also I’d like to work with Asphyxious alone with Pinkie pie.” Twilight replied with a smile. Oh my god help me!

“Well like I said that’s not an issue. I gave Ax all of the Zebra islands and build facilities in all of them. And all the scientific equipment in this world is free to use. Make a list and I can have some of my foxes deliver them.” Rin answered.

“I’m going to call Baldur and see if he can help.” I said pulling out this token… When did he make a token? “Yo dude need your help on a dead world. And one of my wifes want me to blight her… Twilight has been giving me that look.” In response three pillars of rock covered in runes known as shifting stones emerged from the ground in front of me, then almost a second later the runes on the pillars began to glow green before in a bright flash of light the burly human wearing a leather cloak and wielding a massive stone greatsword known as Baldur appeared. I was about to beg for his help but suddenly Twilight released an earsplitting squeal before grabbing me and Pinkie in her magic and started dragging us off rambling on about all of the possibilities and how we needed to make a list of all the equiptment for her new lab.

***Rin’s POV***

“Well… that was awkward timing.” I say as I look at my new guest. “Hello.”

“What in the name of the great devourer wurm…” Baldur said as he just stared at his surroundings, eye twitching.

“Welcome to the Scourge Factory. It’s where I’m building my army of the undead now.” I say in a cheery tone. “You might want to watch where you step. There is blood everywhere.”

“Ok, what the heck is going on and what happened to Ax?” Baldur said as he snapped out of whatever trance he was in a moment before.

“In order? This is a dead world thanks to Nightmare Moon winning against the six and then getting herself killed by Deathwing the dragon. Ax summoned me to evacuate the survivors so I did and now I claimed this world seeing as no one else was using it. As for Ax… I gave him the Zebra islands to make into basses and Twilight wanted her own lab. I told her she can make a list of any lab equipment on this world and I’ll have my minions deliver it and just as you got here the floodgates of her nerdgasm broke and she dragged Ax off to make that list.” I answer in one breath.

“Oh, well that explains it then.” Baldur said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sometimes I can’t help but pity that lich. So why was I called then? Was he going to ask for my help or something?”

“...I have no idea. Other than blighting his Pinkie he never gave any details.” I admit while scratching my head. “Oh! Where are my manners. My name is Rin. Goddess of darkness, pranks, games, undeath, forbidden knowledge, lost knowledge, monsters and dark heroes. I’m also little Axy’s mom. It’s nice to meat you.” I say in a cheery tone.

“I see… I am Baldur the stonecleaver, head druid of the Circle of Orboros and one or two other titles I can't remember. Anyway, since you are related to Ax I won't take any actions towards you.” baldur said, obviously displeased with some of my titles.

“Hmmmm. Don’t care for some of my aspects I see. Well that can’t be helped. I’ll have no problem with you as long as you’re not a jerk and don't cover any of my buildings in your cum.” I say with a nod.

“Why would I cover anything with- You know what? I’m not even going to bother.” Baldur sighed. “Children these days… what do they put into the heads of those around them?”

“Actually I said those things because they’ve happened before.” I reply.

“... Was it Ax’s fault? Because I don't know anyone that could pull something like that off other than him.” Baldur asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nope. It was a woopy goddess named Ava.” I answered.

“... I don't want to know and I’m not going to ask.” Baldur commented with a bored tone. “So, since Ax is busy being raped by his marefriends, is there anything I can do for you until he returns?”

“Hmmmm… Can’t think of anything. Lifeforce is useful but I just use the life clock for that. I already know your spells so it would be pointless to ask you to teach me those things. Even if trying to use those spells with my dark magic gets… twisted results. How about I just bake us some cookies and we chat? I think I know a few spells that would be great for you.” I say as I spread my forelegs out causing blood to drip from them.

“... I guess, but please get yourself cleaned up before that? You smell like a sewer.” Baldur said as he tried to ignore the fact that I claimed to know some of his magic.

“Alright.” I say as I create a portal. “This will take us to the home away from home I made in this world. You can wait there while I get myself cleaned up seeing as you appear to be very uncomfortable here in the factory.”

“You have no idea.” Baldur said before he went through the portal. With a snicker I hop in myself to go get a bath.

***2 Hours Later.***

I walk out onto the balcony with a warm plate of fresh baked sugar cookies to see Baldur looking out at the dead landscape. Setting the plate down I sit in one of the chairs.

“Something on your mind?” I ask him with a tilt of my head.

“This world has been poisoned…” baldur muttered as he stared off into space.

“Well, I wouldn’t say poisoned so much as starved. No sun means the plant life can’t feed and so on and so forth. The balance of nature can come crumbling down when the selfish don’t think about what they’re taking and then it all goes… Well like that.” I say as I point out into the wasteland. “It’s why I'm using this already ruined world to mass produce my undead army and where they will stay when I don’t need to use them.”

“I understand what you are saying, but I can hear this world's tree of harmony crying…” Baldur said while snapping out of his trance. “We must go to it, now.”

“Harmony is still here... I want to help but… I’ll let you go first and explain that I’m not evil please. Harmony magic is unhealthy for me. And though I have made friends with one Harmony in another world My world’s harmony is… Well she’s a bitch. The lawful stupid type that refuses to believe that any darkness user can be anything but evil and I don’t want to get blasted here.” I say nervously.

“Whatever you say.” Baldur replied before grabbing some cookies and vaulted over the edge of the balcony. I’m surprised he would do that as this black castle is more like a tower built on top of Canterlot mountain in a way that it’s almost one with it. This means that it’s a straight drop from the top of my castle to the bottom of the mountain. He looks off into the distance before looking down. “Oh %$^^$!” She shouted before he started falling and I jumped down after him.

“Can I take it from that profanity that you made a jump with a landing you don’t want to take?” I asked with an innocent tone.

“Kindof!” Baldur shouted before a swath of trees sprouted from the side of the mountain which he used to break his fall. “I am SO glad I can do that.” he then said with a sigh while the trees swiftly began to wilt from what I could see as I keep falling. I create a portal in the side of the mountain to summon Echo my dire bat and catch myself with my telekinesis spell before gently setting myself on his back. We fly back up to see Baldur still sitting in his rapidly dying tree.

“Hey, would you like a lift?” I asked with a snicker. “Echo is strong enough to carry two and it would be faster than running anyways.”

“*sigh* Might as well.” Baldur said before jumping off the tree and onto Echo’s back.

“Woh!” I cry out as Echo started falling like a rock despite the fact that he was flapping like crazy. “How heavy are you?!” I shouted. “You know what, never mind. Just let yourself keep falling. I’m thinking with portals!” I shout as I use my magic to free Echo but have him keep falling. “Let’s see. There.” I say as I create one of my portals on the side of the mountain. “And...There! Alright Echo pull up! You’ve earned your treats today!” As we slowed down I watched as Baldur fell into the portal beneath him and flew out of the other portal in the side of the mountain and allowing him to fly off like a cannon ball towards the Everfree.

“I hate flying!” Baldur could be heard yelling as he soared into the distance.

“It’s not flying! It’s falling with style!” I shout back as I follow on my mount. When I come in for a landing I look around.

“Baldur?” I asked but then spot a pair of leather boots sticking out of a crater and wiggling around. “Well as dense as his body apparently is I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” I say as I summon some of my foxy imps and set them to work digging out the dirt around him.

“And that is why I hate flying.” Baldur grumped when he was finally dug out of the ground.

“And yet you had no problem jumping. You know you could have just taken the ridiculously long slide I had installed for the the trip down.” I say with exasperation.

“First, I didn't know there was a slide. And second, I am more used to parkouring through the everfree than actually traveling through stuffy hallways.” Baldur deadpanned as he got up and stretched. “Now, shall we keep going?”

“Alright let’s go mr physics breaking trees being able to stop your heavy ass from falling at that speed.” I say as I start walking. “If you’re going to be jumping out of buildings like that you need to loose some weight anyways.”

“Normally I don't jump from places that high, so I don't really see the problem.” baldur said while rolling his eyes and walking towards the remains of the everfree forest, his giant stone sword slung over his shoulder that I could have sworn wasn't there a moment ago.

“...Why wouldn’t I put in an awesome slide after building a place that tall?” I asked more to make small talk as we moved. “Also you might want to watch your-’ ‘Squish’ “step. Oh well I’m sure entrails will wash right out.”

Baldur sighed as he just kept on walking, ignoring the remains now smeared on one of his boots. “Lets just keep moving.” After a short and mind numbingly boring walk as there was no opposition and I just made crystal bridges when needed we came to the stairs leading down to the cave.

“Well… I’ll wait here. Don’t want to get to close till I know it’s safe.” I say in concern. Baldur just nodded and started walking down the stairs. ‘Crack’ He froze at that moment before one of the steps broke under his weight and he fell forward and rolled all the way down destroying the steps as he went. “Are you okay?!” I shout down when he stopped rolling.

“Yes…” Baldur grumbled as he got up and dusted himself off. At that moment I heard Ax in my head asking where we were through my token so I tell him.

***Asphyxious pov***

I teleported to Baldur gasping for breath and with wobbly legs. I had no idea Pinkie could do that! I thought before looking around on where we are. “Why… Are we here?” I panted as I buttoned up my coat. I looked to Baldur who looked at me surprised.

“Wow, they got you good didn't they?” Baldur then burst into laughter while pointing out that I forgot my pants. Fuck, I opened a portal and pulled out a new peare and put the trousers on. “Anyway, We came here because I heard this world’s tree of harmony crying.”

“I’d be crying to if my world was dead.” I replied and walked on. “Let go and find out.”

“It's not completely dead yet otherwise she wouldn't still be breathing.” baldur pointed out as he followed me into the cave. I rolled my eye at this and moved my tail and wings.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask about my new look.” I asked as we made our way in deeper. I stopped when one of my horns got cart on something, with a twist of my head it was pulled free. Before I walked on, the air smelled old and stale. I dragged one of my claws along the wall of the tunnel. And then I saw it the tree…

“I have been watching you from the shadows my friend, did you seriously believe- Oh no…” Baldur started to say before he saw the tree as well. The tree had dark veins all over it, as if choking the life out of it.

“What is this?” I asked moving closer, to me it looked like dragonblight. But it didn’t feel like dragonblight. “Baldur get Rin, something tell me we’re in over our heads.”

“You have no idea.” Baldur said as he for some reason grabbed me by the collar of my shirt before he began to drag me out off the cave as fast as he could, which was surprisingly fast since we were out before I could ask him what the fuck he was doing. “Rin! Get down here! The tree has been infected!”

“Okay! But it better be safe!” Rin shouts back before portaling down to us.

“Hard to tell when I was being dragged off.” I replied pulling Baldur hand off. “One thing for sure something wrong with it.” Rin grumbled and reluctantly followed us back to the tree. After looking the tree up and down for a moment she carefully crept forward.

“Now, I’m here to help. So don’t go blasting me with your rainbows okay?” Rin asked but got no response. Once Rin was at the tree she covered her face for a moment and came back with an open mouth and pressed her face into the tree. I heard a munching sound as Rin backed away pulling a black, wavy substance out of the street as she went making slurping and eating noises. Soon she had to struggle harder to pull it away and with a tearing sound it came off and Rin slurped it down like noodles. “Mmmmmmmmm. Not bad.” Rin said. Looking up I say that the tree, though still sick was looking much better.

“What… did she just?” Baldur asked, staring in confusion at what he just saw.

“If I had to guess I’d say eating evil.” I replied before rubbing my chin. But really I was used to crazy stuff like this.

“You know you guys could just ask me.” Rin deadpanned. “For your information I discovered that I can eat taint. It’s delicious and nourishing for me. In fact I’ve become a convenient way to get rid of dark and cursed artifacts by offering them up to me. It’s a little trait that earned me the title ‘the curse eater.” After saying that Rin started eating again from the ground at the tree’s roots.

“Well, while Rin snacking. Want to help bring some life back into this planet Baldur?” I asked him as my tail moved from side to side. “I’m thinking we bring back the everfree first, then everything else.” I added holding out my hands to picture it.

“Might as well…” Baldur sighed as he visibly resisted the urge to facepalm. Whatever we had a planet to rebuild. I started making my way back out and saw something Pink… Oh no, I was then tackled to the ground again by a giggling Pinkie pie. Who was now blighted and part dragon.

“Ready for round two?” Asked Pinkie as I turned red. Oh no not again… I looked to Rin and Baldur for help.

“Hey don’t do that in front of me. I’m eating here.” Rin grumbled as she munched on the taint.

“Okayadokayloki!” Pinkie replied before carrying me off in her claws and flying!? How she even doing that?! I really need to learn how to fly… All I could do was watch as Rin and Baldur were getting smaller and smaller. Oh well, maybe Pinkie and Twilight can help me find out how to fly.

“Oh and Pinkie! The tree of harmony is feeling sick. Before you do anything can you help her feel better?” Rin called out as if it was an afterthought.

“Sure!” Pinkie replied before letting me fall to the ground… Ouch… I just thought to hell with it and fell asleep. Let Baldur deal with my wife’s madness for a while.

***Baldur’s pov***

I sighed as I watched the madness begin to unfold before the pink one as I liked to call her put a party hat on my head. It didn’t take me long to guess who blighted her. But that didn't take anything away from her energy. She was even putting up banner on the tree. “So how goes the progress on curing the tree?” I decided to ask to keep my mind off of the pink one’s antics.

“I’ve already got the curse out of it. I’m just eating it as it keeps coming before it can reach the tree. As long as what’s spreading the infection is still there it’s not going to stop.” Rin answered before taking another bite out of the taint in the ground.

“Got it, so I need to track down and destroy the heart of this blight.” I said more than asked before heading to the cave entrance to see if I could find where the pink one dropped Ax at...

Only to find him sleeping with a party hat on his head. “Where a Argus when you need one?” I asked myself.

“Oi, get your lazy undead but up Ax.” I shouted at the sleeping lich as I gave him a couple good kicks to one of his shoulders. He just rolled over and opened his jaws to show a row of fangs. Deciding to go to derastic measures I sighed before taking a deep breath for what I was about to do.

“ZECORA’S PREGNANT!”

“WHAT!?!” Asphyxious yelped before turning into a huge dragon… “I’M NOT READY FOR THAT!?!?!?” He yelled before running into the castile. Then started to climb over it… That worked a little too well.

I sighed before sprinting after Ax, I just hope he has calmed down by the time I catch up.

Asphyxious didn’t find what I did funny and he hasn’t said anything while I lead him to where I think the source of the blight might be coming from. Wasn’t even sure if that’s what it was though.

I could hear the stone groan in pain, something was boring through it and corrupting it. And as we walked the groaning got louder and louder which indicated we must have been going in the right direction.

“How much farther?” Asphyxious asked as he kept walking.

“Well, according to what I’m hearing... not... much… farther…” I said before stopping in my tracks. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

***Asphyxious pov***

“If you mean a huge evil looking heart pulsing with evil black stuff, then yes I see it.” I replied pulling out my cutlass. I looked back to Baldur who looked like his gobsmacked. “So do we just stab it and go home?” I asked resting my sword on my shoulder.

“I have no idea, I haven't seen or dealt with anything like that before to be honest.” He said while continuing to stare at the pulsating parasite. I rolled my tongue around in my mouth before walking up to it. “Hey, what are you doing!? Dont just walk up to it it may have defences!”

“Like what? It a huge muscle in a wall, what can it do?” I asked as I ignited my sword. I was about to drive my cutlass into it when I heard something. I slowly looked and saw what looks like some kind of bug… A really big one… Huh, looks kind of like a-.

“Look out!” Baldur shouted from a distance before I was piledrived into the ground by the bug as more began to appear. Yeah, not happening. I grab the thing by it throat and drive my sword into it body. It let out a scream as I then kicked it away.

“Really wished I brought a warjack right now!” I yelled getting back up and going back to back with him. “Don’t you have a warbeast or something!?” I yelled as one of the bugs jumped at me, before firing a hellfire spell at it. It screamed as it rolled on the floor on fire.

“No! And why would I bring a warbeast with me!?” Baldur said as he started smashing bugs that came from his direction with his sword as well.

“You’re a warlock aren’t you?!” I yelled back, pulling my shotgun out of my echo and fired.

“Yeah? What of it!?” Baldur replied as he summoned a thicket of briars to slow down the bugs’ advance.

“You draw on fury for more magic from your warbeast, don’t tell me you didn’t know that!?” I yelled again, cutting a bug head off. I swear it was like he didn’t read the books or something.

“I may have forgotten.” Baldur commented. “But then again, my specialty never was Warbeasts…” Energy then began to gather round him as he muttered some chants under his breath.

“Some Wold are classed as warbeasts you know?” I replied muttering my own spell. As a large number of the bugs ran at us.

“Whatever you say lich.” Baldur said before his shifting stones suddenly protruded from the ground next to us, and one blinding flash of light later a Wold Guardian appeared before it charged into the swarm of corrupted insects and began smashing them to pieces left and right.

“Huh, that works.” I added before casting caustic mist ahead of it. I smiled as the mist started to eat away at the insects. I must said a Wold has it uses, but I like my warjacks more. I looked around waiting for more bugs to show up. “What no more? I’m disappointed.” I said looking around with mock hurt.

“You idiot…” Baldur groaned as I could practically hear Murphy laughing at us. Would why I can hear my cook laughing? That seemed odd to me, anyway time to kill a heart. Until the rocks around it closed up around the heart.

“Well, that’s a problem.” I said walking up to the rocks before kicking it. “How are we meant to go through this?” I asked pointing at the wall of rock in our way. Until I hear a rumble, it can never be easy can it. I saw the wall pull away before a large head looks at us. I just gave it the bird as it roared at me.

“Now this is going to be fun.” I said holding out my arms to it. “Bring it on…” I called out, then regretting what I said as it opened it’s mouth and then swallowed me whole.

“Ax!” I heard before everything went dark.

I grunted as I hit rock after rock as I slid my way down and fell out into the stomach. My eye widened as I saw that the walls and floor were all large boulders spinning and grinding like gears. I saw a dead log that was swallowed with me land and get swepped into the spinning boulders causing it to be crushed into splinters.

“This I did not have in mind.” I said more to myself, I did not plan to be eaten. I stab my cutlass into the wall to stop myself from falling to my doom. I end up placing the sword in between two stone gears and they stop moving. Now what do I do? Find its heart and stab it, sounds like a plan to me… Now how to get to it? I then had an idea.

I casted blizzard inside, I smiled as the rocks slowed down and started to freeze over. Ice climb over everything. Now that it was safe to work in here, it’s time to look for this heart. Without the loud grinding sounds I could hear the sound of a beating heart above me but I couldn’t see any space I could fit through which means I needed to make my own exit.

“Time to give this thing heartburn.” I said with a smiled as smoke left my mouth. I then blasted the ceiling with my dragon’s breath and smile as rapidly heating the frozen boulder caused it to break apart. I’m so smart! ‘Rumble’ on the other hand that may have been a bad idea...

Worry about it later, kill the heart now! I thought as I climb up. As I climb up I slipped and nearly fell, until I remember something. “Wait, I have claws?” Now using my claws to help me climb was much easier then my hands. Why do I keep forgetting I’m part dragon. ‘Crunch crumble’ I looked around as bits of ice started breaking off and the grinding started all over again.

Less thinking more climbing! I thought to myself as I fought against the bolder I was climbing which was spinning downwards. Looking around I take a chance and let go while beating my wings to try and get to another bolder and make it. I sink my claws into it and let it carry me up. I take the time to look around for the next one I can jump onto and ride up before I reach the spot where the two rolling stones meet.

How big is this damn thing!? And where did those come from? I thought looking at the two stones in my way. Suddenly the world flipped upside down and I shout in surprise as I loose my grip and start falling towards the hole I made. With a few more flaps I’m able to make it into the hole just in time for everything to jerk to the side making me fall on my face. What the hell is going on out there!? Did Baldur become godzilla or something?!

***Rin’s pov. A short time ago***

Nom nom nom nom. I munch away at the nummy taint. I guessed that they managed to destroy the source because the taint stopped flowing it so fast and I was able to eat it as I moved towards where it was coming from. ‘Ssssssssssllllllllllllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrppppp gulp’.

“Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.” ‘BOOOOM!’ “Wha?” I say as I look up at what could only be described as a mountain in a humanoid form took a step. I could even see the dead trees that were once a forest on its shoulders. Every crack in its body had strange black waves like cursed fire and its eyes glowed hell fire red. “...How the hell did I miss that?” I ask myself as it took another step. One thing was for sure. It was full of that yummy taint. So, they didn’t stop it they just made it break its connection to the ground. Its movements are slow and clumsy. Probably relies entirely on its natural armor and throwing its weight around. Still with how big it is that’s probably all it ever needed. I thought to myself as I started growing larger and larger until I hit my max size. This quickly drew its attention.

“Hello dessert!” I say in a cheery tone as I conjure up a napkin which I tied around my neck along with a giant knife and fork. If only I could lick my lips to sell this. My actions actually gave it paws as if considering if I could really eat him despite being rock and twice my max size. First things first. Where are the others. I don’t want to smush them by mistake. I use the necromancy spell detect life figuring that it would be easy to see life force with so little life around. There is one in the distance. Looks like they were having trouble keeping up with the giant’s long stride. But where’s the other. The only other one I see is the one from the rock giant. A feeling of dread fills me when I connect the dots.

“Come here little piggy! I’m going to gut ya!” I shout as I charged at the giant while using my magic to pick up huge chunks of earth and at the right moment through them with as much force as I could hitting the giant in the eyes and several other places cracking the stone. The giang groaned and slipped downwards to try and hit me but I just ran around him and stabbed the knife into his leg right behind the knee using my magic to push it all the way through to the other side. This caused the rocks to break away from each other and the giant which was still leaning forward trying to hit me fell forward landing on his head. I then hit him with a blast of magic completing the flip and allowing him to crash onto the ground creating more cracks in its body. Regardless it still rose up. Using its one leg and one arm to stay that way as it crawled towards me.

That’s when an explosion of magic went off from somewhere in the stone monster’s side. It looked confused as it looked down at it side. Before the small hole that was made closed up. Then another explosion when off, then another and another. Seeing my chance I ran around it and jumped on its back from behind and sank my teeth into its tains and pulled. I jumped off with the taint in by mouth forcing it upright as it fought me on this. Using my telekinesis spell I pushed against it hard until with a ripping sound it tore off and the giant was pushed hard into the ground.

It’s much weaker now. I could tell as it crumbled. Carefully it rose up and did an impressive job of balancing on one leg. As this was going on more explosions went off inside it steadily getting closer to the middle of its chest. Now that it was so weak I grab its arms using my magic and move closer as I also use my magic to pull the crumbling rock that made up its chest and took a peek inside.

***Asphyxious pov***

“I looked into the heart of darkness, and I ATE IT ALL!” I yelled, shooting my shotgun at everything that was moving. And using my rocket launcher I never used. I was having fun, then the wall gets ripped away and I then saw a huge eye fiery looking at me. Wait is that?

“Mum?” I asked looking on in surprise. Well she gotten taller…

“Hmmmmm… I could have sworn something was in here.” She said. Can she not see me at this size? “Hmmmm Might as well eat that now.” She said as she focuses on the giant black and bleeding heart I was standing next to.

“Oh this is not good!” I said and started to run. Another bug jump out at me but I shot it with my shotgun before jumping over its body. “I do not want to be eaten by Rin!” I yelled as I kept running. A massive paw reaches in and grabs the heart but as a result it broke the stone causing a catapult effect launching me upwards and I landed on her leg as it was pulled out of the rock giant.

“Well, at least its nicer out here then it was in that thing.” I said holding onto her fur. I almost lost my grip as she tossed the heart into the air but hang on as she lowered her leg and a powerful wind pulled the heart into her mouth like some kind of black hole before it stopped. “I’m glad that over. Alright time to get noticed.” I say as I start shifting into my dragon form I let go of the fur and slide down her leg as I got ready to meet her face to face.

“Hmmmmm? Oh Ax! There you are!” She said down to me and my jaw drops. She’s bigger than the Dragon Lord! I thought as she picks me up by my armpits. “I was so worried when I only detected one source of lifeforce.”

“I was inside the rock monster.” I replied.

“Well then it’s a good thing I opened that monster up. I will not have my son leaving a monsters inside the natural way.” She said with a nod. Well that’s good to know. “Now care to explain what you were doing in such a dangerous place young man?”

“It ate me.” I said feeling a little embarrassed about that.

“Poor thing. But at least you gave it some indigestion. Now you’ve been somewhere gross so let’s get you a bubble bath and a rubber ducky.”

“I can clean myself.” I replied annoyed at her antics.

“I won’t deny you your desire to get yourself squeaky clean like a big boy. But I can still provide you with your bubbles and rubber ducky.” Rin said with a nod before picking me up out of her paws with a tail and setting me down on her back before carrying me off to find a lake or something. “And you better get squeaky clean or I’m growing Pinkie to my size and she can wash you. After I giver her a cup of the most powerful coffee I can find!”

I was not sure if I sould be afraid or not, as my face started to feel warmer. At the idea of Pinkie being as tall as Rin is now.

“Or maybe… I should get her to get your world’s Zecora instead...” She said out loud as if in deep thought.

“I’ll be good!” I quickly said. As much as I like Zecora she can be a bit out of control at times. I saw a flash and a sound like a roaring fire and Rin lifted a paw where a pink bottle of bubble bath grew and she completely emptied the giant bottle before one of her forelegs started stirring the water like crazy. After a moment I was picked up and dropped into a hot lake filled with bubbles. ‘SQUEAK SQUEAK.’ I look up as Rin squeezed a giant rubber ducky with an eye patch and a pirate hat before giving it to me. I looked at it before squeezing it, making it squeak. What the hell, I can deal with this. She then conjured a giant wash rag and dropped it into the water.

“Now don’t forget to wash behind your horns.” She said before walking off. I smiled at this as I rolled in the water to get clean. It was kind of nice.

***Twilight’s pov***

I was with the odd fox constructs when I heard the commotion. I decided to fly back and find out what happening. Only to see what looks like a huge mountain of rocks, and what looked like Asphyxious in his dragon lord form. As he likes to call it having a bubble bath in a lake… Why am I not surprised.

“Now where’s Rin?” I asked myself, then had a thought. Should I start calling her my mother in law? Oh I hope she not like my mother when she goes into heat. That will be awkward for everyone. It’s bad enough my mum slept with Asphyxious while I was there… That was embarrassing. Lucky for me I was looking for her magic and by using that I, found her! She was… What was she doing? It looked like she was grazing bit she was doing it to rock. When she pulled her head back she pulled out a black, wavy substance before slurping it down.

“What is she eating?” I ask catching her attention.

“Mmmmm?” She seemed to ask with a full mouth before swallowing. “Oh hey Twilight. Don’t mind me I’m just eating the curse in this land. It’s very yummy!” She’s eating a curse!? What, how!?

“How are you doing that!?” I yelled. As much as I knew about magic, there no such thing as curses! Also this feels evil. Yet she eating it like it was one of pinkie’s cupcakes.

“I just can. I think it’s part of my darkness aspect. Ny followers keep offering me cursed or dark items as tribute. Oh I never went into detail about that did I? I’m a goddess of darkness, pranks, games, undeath, forbidden knowledge, lost knowledge, monsters and dark heroes. But if you’d like to worship me you can focus on only one of those aspects if you’d wish.” Rin said before taking another bite out of the evil in the ground.

“Ummm, thank you but I’m still looking through a, the tomes Asphyxious was working on. By the way, what did you mean by lost knowledge?” I asked becoming curers.

“That is what most Twilights worship me for as well as other casters. As a goddess of lost knowledge I can direct my worshipers to lost knowledge such as forgotten tombs or outright know it. It just comes to me same with forbidden knowledge but I don’t have that much control over it.” Rin answered. “Kind of how my being a goddess of undeath makes the dead rise just by me being close to them sometimes.”

“That fascinating and terrifying.” I replied before landing next to her. “But what happened here?” I asked looking around.

“Evil heart artifact was spreading its corruption and killing this world's Tree of Harmony. I ate the heart and now I’m eating its taint.” Rin answered. Huh, that so…

“Fascinating.” I said thinking about that. To bad I couldn’t study it and it’s effects. Could have been interesting to work on.

“I know that look from all the other Twilights that worship me and work in my library. It wasn’t something you wanted to mess with. It was designed to spread its corruption like a contagious disease. Its was like a bioweapon set on a world to go off and wreak havoc.” Rin said.

“Bioweapon?” I asked not hearing the term before.

“It is an evil concept. It doesn't just attack the enemy's army but their citizens as well. Picture a bottle containing a highly contagious and deadly disease being released in a nation's center of transportation. Everyone there gets infected and carries the disease to other parts of the nation as they travel. Infecting troops, workers and even families.” Rin explained.

“That, horrible. Who would do something so terrible like that?” I asked in concern. I could not imagine any pony doing something like that.

“Any intelligent species is capable of producing someone both intelligent and evil enough to do such a thing but that heart felt...demonic to me so in this case a demon.” Rin replied.

“I see… Well I guess I should be happy nothing bad happened to Asphyxious. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie care the most about him out of everyone. Will, maybe Revan but it hard to tell. She’s always so…” I could not really think of the right words for her. “Antisocial?” Then again that not completely true, we all care about Asphyxious in different ways. I look up to Rin who had a far off look.

“I just considered this but...Even considering what’s happened to this world the demons in Tartaros on this world should still be alive. And without ponies to keep maintenance of that place…” Rin said with a frown.

“Oh my Celestia…” I said as in worry, if no one keeping an eye on tartaros. “Shouldn’t everypony imprisoned there be free and on the loss by now?”

“No I don’t think the world has been dying that long. I was able to find survivors to evacuate after all. Still I can’t leave them to get out. I’ll have to go there now and deal with them. They should still be imprisoned so it should be easy.” Rin replied.

“Should I go with you?” I asked, I only ever been there once and that was to put Cerberus back. To guard the gates, I’ve never been inside.

“If you’d like. But I warn you, depending on what I find I may just wind up killing everything in there.” Rin replied. I really hope she doesn't.

“Please don’t it’s bad enough knowing Asphyxious can kill somepony without a care. But I guess it’s a good thing he's worried about that. And I guess it apart of being a lich.” I asked thinking about that. Maybe we should bring him with us?

“It’s unlikely that I would be doing the killing myself. Like I told you before. You never know when you need an army of the undead. However if there is enough of them I will summon Horny to do it.” Rin said uncomfortably. Whoever this… Horny, was they sounded like trouble. Well I guess I can put those spells Asphyxious gave me to uses. I just hope I don’t have to use them. Speaking of which here he comes now.

“That bath felt really good.” Asphyxious said giving himself a stretch. I couldn’t help but feel my face get warmer. I really wanted to find out what make him teck. And I do enjoy the time we spend together. Maybe after all this we can… Brake in the lab…

“Glad you liked it. We’re going to Tartarus to deal with the inmates before they break out and become a problem.” Rin told him as she made a hole in the ground before jumping in. Asphyxious was next before jumping into the hole and I followed after him.

I used my wings to help me land slowly. Asphyxious meanwhile was looking around and twisting his head this way and that.

“Guess Cerberus was starving without his masters feeding him.” Rin said and I looked to where she was looking and found a torn open cage with the gory remains of whatever was in there rotting on the floor. I covered my mouth and looked away. Asphyxious sighed before walking over to the cage.

“Poor dog, must have been starving.” He said in a sad tone. “I really hope we can rehabilitate this one.” Once I calmed down I looked back to the both of them.

“...Oh my… I think this is enough to safely summon Horny. It looks like they’re all demons and there are so many of them.” Rin said as she looked down over the cliff.

“I’m a little more worried about the farl three headed dog running around.” Asphyxious replied before looking down with Rin, I walked up next to them and looked down to see thousands of horrible monsters free of their cages and already working on freeing others as well as building ramps to get up here.

“So mum, run in screaming?” Asphyxious asked, I looked up as he smiled. I really hope he was joking. I’ve never seen a demon before let alone hurt anypony.

“Don’t think you’re too old for me to put you over my kney young man. I still give my Celestia spankings if she’s bad and Luna took the pictures to prove it.” Rin remarked as she backed away pushing us away as she did so.

“I think my Celestia would enjoy that…” Asphyxious said looking up in thought. I blushed at the idea of him spanking my mentor, then started to giggle when I thought about Rin doing that.

“So what are we going to do?” I asked looking between them.

“...Twilight you might want to wait outside. As a Dungeon Keeper displaced I have the ability to summon and command a type of demon called a horned reaper. There is only one use for such a minion and that is a massacre. Trust me...he will be brutal.” Rin warned me. I gulped at this before feeling Asphyxious hand on my shoulder.

“Want me to go with you?” He asked, when I look up he was smiling softly at me. I just nod my head as Asphyxious started to lead me away. Something tells me if I had stayed I would have nightmares for the rest of my life. Once we were out the door and had it closed I felt an… evil magic. Then I fell to the floor shaking. I was filled with a terror I’ve never felt before and even Asphyxious was on his hand and knees trembling.

I couldn’t move and I felt like I was going to be crushed at any moment. Asphyxious then get up growling and the next thing I know. I was in his arms and he was running away from the closed gates. After awhile I felt the terror slowly fading and slowly looked up at Asphyxious. He didn’t look like he was afraid, Asphyxious looked more worried about something.

“A-Asphyxious?” I asked in a shaky tone. He stopped and looked down at me.

“You okay now?” He asked as I lift up my hand and it was shacking. Just what was that? What could be so evil that I would fall like that? Whatever it was, I was just glad to be away from it.

“I-I think so… What was it?” I asked Asphyxious as he rubbed his chin.

“I’d say that was Horny, and boy it can give my Terror ability a run for its money.” He replied before setting me down and setting with me. “That feeling we felt Twilight was Killing intent. I’ve felt it before and give it off myself.” I just stared at him as I tried to understand what he said. That feeling was killing intent? It was so strong I felt like my heart was going to stop. I looked back the way we came and hoped Rin would be alright.

***Rin’s pov***

I stay within my barrier as blood rains down around me. It was like watching a blood geyser moving around the room. Horny took to this… treat I gave him with enthusiasm. Looking down I see that if Horny let any of his combat skills get rusty is wasn’t enough to show. Right now he’s spinning his scythe like a baton, mowing down the hoards of demons like… well like a lawn more.

The ground shook with a roar as a behemoth came stomping in while letting off its own killing intent. Horny responded by stop holding his back. That’s when the tide changed. The demons down there were no longer trying to take horny down. Now they were running. Horny stood there with a dumbfounded expression for a moment only remembering just now why he always held it back before. With an enraged expression he gave chace to his fleeing prey. The behemoth being the slowest fell to his kney with a deep slash cutting the tendons in his leg. Wasting to time Horny climbed up onto its back and sank its blade into the flesh before and dragging it along as he climbed. He grinned in ecstasy as his latest victim wailed in agony. Horny then allowed himself to fall to the ground still dragging the blade in its flesh creating an opening for its innards to spill out. Rather than finishing the job he moved on because he enjoyed the sound the large demon made as it suffered.

Not wanting to watch as Horny got creative with his play time I looked away and found the three headed dog whimpering. Taking pity I create a cage around it using my magic, fill it with chickens to eat and create a portal to send it back to my dungeon.

***Asphyxious pov.***

After we get away from the killing intent...again. Twilight was pretty shaken up by it. So I held her in my arms, tail and wings. She started to relax then went to sleep. I started to relax once she fell asleep, but I was a little worried that Rin had something like that under her control. After a while there was a rumble and because my nerves were still on edge I jumped waking Twilight. I looked and saw one of Rin’s portals which she climbs out of.

“...Hey… You two okay?” Rin asked nervously. I sighed in relief and looked to Twilight who… had a barrier around herself.

“I’m okay, just got a little jumpy back there. I take it that was Horny I felt?” I asked as Twilight was slowly bring her barrier down. Poor girl looked like Fluttershy after someone scares her.

“Yes that was Horny. The only minion I have which I can truly say is nothing but evil. I don’t like to use him much because his sole purpose is to end all life in his path. He can’t help himself. Luckily he has a time limit and is forced back after a short time. I… don’t suggest that either of you go back in there. You don’t want to see what he did… Good news is I found and saved the dog.”

Well that good to hear. I then felt my stomach rumble. “Guess it’s time for food huh?” I said and saw this made Twilight laugh. “I think we could all do with a nice meal, knowing Pinkie she already has something for all of us.”

“I’ll have to eat elsewhere. I can no longer eat solid foods without sucking it in like a black hole. It’s not safe to have dinner guests for me.” Rin said sheepishly.

“Don’t worry about it, you’ll find a way to control it one day.” I replied getting ready to call Sonay to open a portal, and just as I was about to Pinkie show up from out of nowhere and hugs me. I could not make out half the stuff she was saying, because she was talking so fast. It was something about being worried, making me and Twilight feel better, then something about cakes?

“Wait aren’t we forgetting something?” Asked Twilight as the portal back home opened. Not that I could think of, as far as I know I had everyone here.

“Hmmmmmmm…. I can’t think of anything.” Rin admitted with a shrug. “Well I need to head back home anyways. And as for you two.” Rin said in a warning tone as she looked at the girls as she pointed at them. “Everyone my son has as a mate own me at least one grandbaby!”

I blushed at that as both Pinkie and Twilight giggled. Time to go home and eat some good food. I thought as I went into the portal with my two lovers.

***Baldur’s pov***

I looked around the area with a twitching eyebrow.

“Where is everyone!?” I shouted as I looked around. All I got as a response is a bee the size of a full grown house cat buzzing by.