Andromalius, Celestia, and Natura Stella stood before the tower. It was even bigger that they thought: it was a size of a small fortress. It was made in Gothic style, the main color was black. The teal flame that burned on top of the tower seemed to become bigger as the time passed.

Warily, the trio approached big wooden gates. No guards could be seen guarding it. But no matter what the three could see, they were wary and careful, listening to the sounds that were coming from the inside. There were whispers, rattle of bones, and some other sounds Andromalius remembered hearing somewhere.

The trio slowly opened the gates. They creaked, and that sound echoed through the main hall of the tower.

Andromalius and Celestia lighted their horns, illuminating the way. The inside of the tower was dimly lit with green-flamed torches, barely dispelling the darkness.

Andromalius noticed a symbol of spider on the walls. The gears in his head started turning as a memory came to him.

"It simply cannot be..." he muttered. "This is just crazy..."

"Andromalius, what's the matter?" Celestia worriedly asked, walking closer.

"Look at that symbol." he pointed at the spider. "I know what it means, and I know it shouldn't be here..."

Natura's eyes shrank to pinpricks as she looked at the symbol. She whispered quietly: "Lords of Death..."

Celestia looked puzzled, trying to understand what the two were talking about.

"Celestia," Andromalius spoke. "The spider is a symbol of the Necromancers, the followers of Asha. They shouldn't be here."

"Necromancers?" Celestia frowned. "Those who raise dead for evil purposes? And who is that 'Asha'?"

"It depends on what is evil." the hell stallion replied. "Necromancers are mostly searching for the way to become immortal. They fight the forces of chaos, and that is not doing evil deeds... Fro a certain point of view, I suppose. And if a certain Lord of Death is here, it's better to be on his good side." he paused for a moment, letting the information sink in. "Asha is a goddess that created the world of Ashan. Necromancers worship her aspect — a spider."

"I think you'll have to tell me the whole story someday."

"Of course I will." Andromalius nodded.

Suddenly, someone emerged from down the hall. It was a tall pony, shrouded in old dark cloak, scythe in hooves, and blue glow coming from underneath the hood. A rattle of bones could be heard as many skulls that were attached to the cloak hit each other as the creature moved closer to the trio.

Andromalius quickly recognized the creature. It was a Wight, an incarnation of Death itself. Its harmful touch can take lives.

Celestia and Natura just stared at the Wight in fear, unsure of what to do.

"Stand behind me!" Andromalius said loudly, preparing to battle. "Don't let it touch you!"

The mares did as asked, hiding behind the hell stallion. Using his magic, he created a fireball and sent it to the Wight. A loud explosion occurred, harming the creature severely. It stopped for a second, then continued moving towards the trio with increased pace.

Another fireball quickly came, completely incinerating the Wight, leaving its deadly scythe lying on the floor.

"What was that?" Celestia asked, shivering from fear.

"It was a Wight." Andromalius explained. "If it touches you, you are dead."

Suddenly, a loud and recognizable voice sounded: "Who dares entering the tower? You will stand before me and explain your actions!"

Suddenly, a lot of undead troops entered the hall: skeleton warriors, ghosts, zombies, and a pair of archliches. Andromalius understood that he and the mares had no chances against them, there were too many troops to battle.

Natura collapsed, fainting.

Celestia and Andromalius were led through the tower to the upper floor, the hell stallion carried Natura Stella on his back.

The upper floor was a large circular hall that had an old throne stood, a tall bat pony stallion sat upon it, dressed in clothes of dark-gray. His fur was pale-gray, his mane was black. A red spider symbol was on the stallion's forehead.

Andromalius immediately recognized the stallion, even with all the changes.

"Well, well, a demon." the stallion's eyes narrowed, looking at Andromalius. "What do you and your companions need here? Who are you?... Hmm, something tells me that you—" he pointed at Andromalius. "—aren't what you seem."

"I am Andromalius." the hell stallion introduced himself. "Before we start, may I guess who you are?"

"You may try, Andromalius." the necromancer looked at him with interest.

"You are Arantir, the High Lord of Heresh, the commander of undead armies that hunt down the demons and banish them back to Sheogh." Andromalius couldn't help but smirk, seeing Arantir's reaction. The necromancer was very surprised.

"Indeed you know me." he spoke, then cleared his throat. "Very well, then you know how I looked before I became like this." he gestured at himself. "So, what are you all doing here?"

"Searching for answers." Andromalius spoke. "Something here is not right."

"I am not the reason for this city's state." Arantir shook his head. "The ghosts were here for a long time, longer than a thousand years. Their bones make good warriors, though."

"Unearthing graves is a great crime!" Celestia spoke, stepping forward.

"The dead can serve better than the living." Arantir disagreed. "The souls of dead don't need their bodies. And you are?.."

"I am Celestia, the Princess of the Day and the Diarch of Equestria." she introduced herself.

"A ruler?" Arantir looked surprised. "What is a ruler of a country doing so far away from her castle?"

"It's none of your business." Celestia said through the gritted teeth.

"Celestia, calm down." Andromalius told her. "I can handle this."

Taking a few deep breaths, Celestia calmed down and nodded.

"So," Arantir continued. "Maybe one of you have an explanation for my current situation. Andromalius, do you have any idea?"

"No, High Lord, I don't." the hell stallion shook his head. "Before I appeared here, in this world, I was a human as well."

"Are we not in Ashan anymore?" Arantir raised a brow. "I see no lies in your words, but can it be possible?"

"I am not from Ashan, nor am I from here. This is entirely different world, and certainly it is not a part of Ashan."

"Hm, that is a surprising discovery..." Arantir scratched his chin. "Well, that explains why I can't teleport back to Heresh and why are all those books written in a very strange language I can't understand."

"That is the language of unicorns. It is dead for thousands of years, no one speaks it now." Celestia spoke. "This city is long gone by now. It was standing on the highest hill, but now it is buried under tons of snow."

"So, a city of dead." Arantir concluded. "It still can't accept its demise, and so can't the citizens. That is truly interesting...

"So, I need information about this world. Care to provide me with necessary books? I don't want to make a bad... first impression, so to say."

"The nearest city is far away, and the road is dangerous." Celestia answered. "But we were choosing whether to continue our journey or to go back... Well, seeing that she—" Celestia gestured at the unconscious unicorn. "—is very scared of this place, and you need information, my suggestion is that we all go to the living lands. Andromalius?"

"That is reasonable." the hell stallion nodded. "High Lord," he addressed the necromancer. "This world is much different from Ashan. But to go back with us, you have to go alone. The citizens won't like an army of the undead marching through their lands. Even I alone can make a great fuss."

"That is very understandable." Arantir chuckled. "But if what you told me is a lie, your death will be painful and your soul shall have no rest."

Now, the four equines were walking towards the Astrological Tower. Natura woke up shortly after Andromalius and Arantir had a conversation. She was afraid of the necromancer at first, but seeing that the hell stallion trusts him Natura decided that she better trust Andromalius's judgement.

"This is all interesting..." Arantir spoke, looking at his wings, folding and unfolding them. "The wings, that is. What am I now?"

"A lunar pegasus." Celestia answered. "There are only about three hundred of them, and they live in isolation. You look a little different, though. All lunar pegasi have slit-pupil eyes and long fangs. You, on the other hoof, don't."

"Perhaps it is because I wasn't born a necromancer." Arantir suggested. "And... Hmm, basically I was turned into something that represents the night, and that is a lunar pegasus. Perhaps I would've been just a pegasus... I was always interested in them, but the pegasi kind is extinct in Ashan, as far as I know."

"Why are they extinct?" Celestia frowned.

"No one knows, that is the thing." the necromancer replied. "They just... disappeared without a trace. There are legends and myths, though.

"Say, Andromalius, does you world have them, the pegasi?"

"They are but a myth." Andromalius shook his head. "Most of what you have seen is as well."

"Really?" Arantir raised a brow. "I find it hard to believe."

"The hardest thing to believe is the fact that humans are the only sapient race in my world." Andromalius said. "No elves, no dwarves, no demons, there is no magic at all."

"That is interesting. If it would be possible, I'd like to visit your world."

"You'll be very surprised to know that it is much different to yours. I think I'll tell you about it if you want since there is no known way back for me." Andromalius sighed sadly.

"That would be certainly great. I'm looking forward to it."

"I think I'll join you as well." Celestia spoke. "I'm very interested in hearing about your worlds."

"I just... would like that as well." Natura spoke quietly. "I love interesting stories, that is."

As the four reached the top of the tower, it became colder. Arantir pulled a hood on, and Andromalius had to give his cloak to the shivering unicorn. And together, the four went to the lands of living.

"Hm, that is why my scouts didn't return." Arantir said, looking at something in the snow. "They froze to their, huh, death."

Thankfully, there was still a trace of Celestia and Andromalius left on the snow. It would help the four to reach the green lands sooner.

Author's Notes:

Arantir's appearance: