The Hell of Life

The ponies, save for Twilight, went outside to investigate what was making the mumbling noise. Chrysalis ran outside with them, knowing that if she stayed in the house, she would be cornered.

"What is making that noise?" Rarity asked, trying to locate its source.

"A hell-lord." Chrysalis answered. The ponies eyes widened.

"Wait, I though you said that the hell-lords were only in the purgatory." Rainbow asked, confused as to why one was in ponyville.

"This one must have escaped tartarus, and is now most likely targeting me."

"I-is there a-anything we c-can do to s-stop it?" Fluttershy asked, shaking with fear.

"I... I don't know, the only way I killed them was with the holy artifacts. But without them or anything to burn or combine with, there may not be a way to stop it." Chrysalis was now beginning to loose all hope. She truly had no idea if there was an alternative way to kill a hell-lord, and if there is not, then she is doomed, so is all of the ponies in ponyville, and possibly beyond the borders of Equestria. The murmering was becoming louder as the hell-lord drew closer.

"G-guys!" Rainbow gained everyone's attention, she was pointing to a figure at the edge of the fog. When they saw what it was, they all gasped. Rarity fainted, the color drained from Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow tried their best not to show that they were scared, but failing horribly, Pinkie had ran back into the library to hide, and Chrysalis was backing away from the figure. The hell-lord was there, just looking at them through the fog, as if it was studying them. However, once it's sight locked onto Chrysalis, it disappeared into the fog, spines began to emerge instead, attack every living thing in sight. Ponies began to run and scream in terror, fleeing aimlessly in the fog. Rainbow and Applejack, seeing that other ponies were in danger, shook off their fear and started to combat the spines.

Chrysalis however. was looking all around her self, trying to locate the hell-lord before it was to late for her. Suddenly, just as in the purgatory, the visions came. The hell-lord came out of the fog in front of Chrysalis, in turn, Chrysalis disappeared into the fog opposite of the demon. She had no objective of combining or bringing anything to a fire, the only objective on her mind at the moment was to stay away from the hell-lord. She had to move out of the from the spines, either chasing other ponies, or taking a stab at her, dodge other ponies, or the hell-lord itself, which she usually choose to run in the opposite direction.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were not having an easier time with the spines. They had to protect themselves and other ponies, and because of them doing so, many spines had begun to target them, trying to eliminate their biggest threat first before proceeding with their original plans. Fluttershy was doing what she did best, and that was hiding. She had dragged the unconscious Rarity with her to the nearest bush that could conceal both of them. Now she was watching the fight through a peephole she made in the bush. Thankfully, her shaking was not giving away her position, as the whole bush was shaking with her.

Soon Rarity was beginning to stir.

"Wha-what happe-" She was immediately shut up by Fluttershy by placing a hoof to her mouth. She pointed to the peephole, allowing Rarity to get up and witness what was happening, however, the only thing she witnessed was a spine popping up in front of their faces. They both let out a horrified scream, Rarity grabbed the nearest thing, a branch from the bush, and proceeded to whack the spine. "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU RUFFIAN!" With the magic influencing the branch, the spine was taking damage from, cracks had already appeared on the skull and were proceeding to get worse. Soon, the spine simply fell limp onto the ground, leaving behind a heavily breathing Rarity and a shaken Fluttershy. However, the other demons on the area saw one of their own fall, and made their way towards Rarity and Fluttershy.

Things were not looking good for anypony, Chrysalis was beginning to grow tired, the same with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, and Rarity was barely keeping the spines at bay. Rainbow and AJ were about to loose their battle, until a cloud of confetti appeared, blowing away all the spines. Pinkie Pire then came out of the fog with her party cannon and the Element of Harmony. Applejack and Rainbow had a look of relief on their faces. Back with Rarity and Fluttershy, a blast of magic destroyed all the spines near the two, looking to their right, they saw Twilight, holding their Elements of Harmony, her wearing her own. With the Elements, the six mares quickly regrouped. When Twilight saw Rainbow, Pinkie and Applejack return to the library, Twilight activated the Elements of Harmony. She mentally aimed at the hell-lord, as it started to gain on Chrysalis, she then opened her eyes, revealing that they were white with magic.

The Rainbow of Harmony shot out from her crown, making a corkscrew shape before shooting towards the demon. The hell-lord was hammered into the ground by the rainbow, it then erupted from the crater like a geyser, it then split off, connecting with every one of the spines. They each exploded into Rainbow particles, once all the spines were destroyed, a bright light consumed ponyville, washing away the fog. Soon, the light faded away, the sky were clear and there was no spine in sight. The six Elements landed gently on the ground looking at the crater made by the rainbow. Chrysalis sat by it, trying to catch her breath, she was at least happy that back at the wedding, she was not attacked by the Elements.

"Did we win?" Rainbow asked. Chrysalis, seeing that the threat was over, got up, and began to make her way back to her friends. But suddenly, the claw of the hell-lord shot up from the crater, grabbing Chrysalis. The six mares eyes widened as Chrysalis let out a terrified scream. The hell-lord pulled itself out of the ground and got into Chrysalis' face, it then let out a scream, her vision being filled with the demon screaming, the vision then ended with it deforming, Chrysalis just stood there, until she fell limp to the ground, her eyes completely white. The mares gasped, the hell-lord then seem to turn to smoke, entering Chrysalis' pupiless eyes. Once the process was over, her eyes closed as she slowly got up, facing away from the mares.

"...Chrysalis?" Fluttershy asked. The changeling just stood there a moment longer before turning towards them, her eyes as black as night. She had a devilish grin plastered ever her face as he let out an ear piecing shriek. The hell-lord now had her body, and the Elements did not know what to do.

Chrysalis awoke in a pitch black place, she could make out her legs on the ground, but she could not make out where she was. But, not far in front of her, there was a glowing orb, about as tall as her, on top if it was a goo-like purple substance. When she approached it, she could not believe what she saw. It was her friends, the Elements, but they were not inside the orb, it was like looking at them through a window, then it hit her.

"This... this is my soul, but, how... how is this possible?!" She could watch in disbelieve as the perspective of her outside body rise above the mares perspectives. She then saw a green glow appear in the top of the vision, she realized that her body was gaining back its original attributes, but she did not know how. But then she remembered what had happen before she fainted, the hell-lord had reached her. "It... it took over my body!" She yelled, as she sprinted towards her soul, only to be swatted away by the purple substance. As she recovered, she threw a murderous glare at it. "That must be the hell-lord, but why does it look like that?"

The substance then started to completely cover her soul, as it gained more control over her body. But, before it could completely cover it, a small bit if her soul escaped, and shot into Chrysalis. She suddenly felt power return to her, her wings sprouted from her back, and her horn appeared on her head. She was back to normal, but the hell-lord was not pleased. It started to launch projectiles at her. Thinking fast, she jumped into the air, using her regained wings to help her dodge the projectiles. She then started to fire back, firing green bolts of magic at it. It looked physically pained by her attack, suddenly tentacles shot out of it, latching into Chrysalis, she charged her horn and shot a concentrated beam at the tentacles. Once she cut through, they reeled back in pain, and disappeared back into the purple substance. A part of it launched itself off her soul, latching onto her, weighing her down to the ground.

It felt like she was melting as the substance burned her. She tried to shake it off, but no matter how hard she tried, it would not come off. Desperate, she charged her magic, and let off a magical blast, blowing off the substance. The hell-lord rippled with pain, it was loosing control of Chrysalis' body. It tried to keep itself together, but Chrysalis kept attacking it.

"I will not let you hurt my friends!" She yelled as she charged her horn, and shot a beam at the hell-lord. It let out a pained shriek as it slowly melted away, leaving her soul. She breathed heavily as she looked back at her soul, the vision in it wobbled, as the hell-lord last control over it, as her body fell, Chrysalis too, passed out.

Chrysalis woke up immediately, she saw she was laying on the dirt rode. Looking up, she saw the six mares, bruised, cut, and tired, the hell-lord must have done a number on them. She slowly got up, seeing her get up, the six tensed up, before realizing that she was once again in control. Fluttershy made the first move towards her, leaping up and tacking her into a hug.

"Oh, thank Celestia you are alright! I was so worried about you!" She said, tears welling up in her eyes. Once the shock of being tackled to the ground subsided, Chrysalis happily returned the hug, happy that her friends were alright.

Later

The moon had risen a while ago andPrincess Luna was pacing back and forward in the throne room. Twilight had sent a letter to Celestia and her about the hell-lord attack. Once she had read the letter, Celestia waisted no time traveling to the Gates of Tartarus, she was not even wearing her golden regalia. Luna was worried for her sister and the fact that a hell-lord had possibly escaped from Tartarus. If a hell-lord had escaped, what else could have escaped from there? She then heard the sounds of a magical teleport, turning around, she saw that Celestia had returned, but she had a troubled look on her face.

"What is wrong?" She asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

"There... was no breach." She stated. Luna inwardly sighed in relief, but now instead of worried, she was confused.

"But, then how was there a hell-lord in ponyville?" She asked.

"That's what I'm wondering myself Luna." She said, immediately letting out a yawn, covering it with her hoof. "Excuse me. Let's not worry about it, it's taken care of. It must have been part of the redemption for Chrysalis. Now if you will excuse me Luna, but I must get back to bed. Good night Luna." She said, giving Luna a hug.

"Good night sister." She returned the hug, then letting her sister return to her bed. She was still worried about the fact that a hell-lord was in ponyville, but decided to drop the matter."I shouldn't worry, the hell-lord is gone. It had not escaped from Tartarus... but... where did it come from?"