Calcifer.

The immense, thick metal door opened into a pitch dark room.

The tan colt stepped inside the darkness a few feet, and swiped a light light switch on with his snout.

Four adjacent hanging lights flickered, then with a final surge of electricity, shrouded a dull lighting into a dainty crypt.

On the left wall; ten or so pony-sized steel doors placated themselves on an equally steel wall; The other walls were white-tiled.

In the center of the room laid three steel operation tables.  On each table was a single pony shaped body, each covered entirely in a white sheet.

The doctor stepped aside, letting Luna and her guest enter into the stuffy room.

Luna stopped in place once they entered.

A certain smell lingered in the air, causing her nostrils to both burn and cringe at the same time.

She knew what the smell was and where it was coming from; she just didn't want to believe it.

Calcifer, on the other hand, made his way to the nearest operating table in silence.

The human stopped infront of the clothed body on the table, and stared at it with partially sad, partially intent eyes.

He glared at the figure of the pony's head.  It appeared gentle, small, round, and young.

A stifled sobbing sounded behind him.  Calcifer turned his head to find Luna bowing her starry mane down, an expression of pure agony leavened across her face.

Calcifer remembered the woman he saw in Hell, and how she had the same expression... The same painful, heartbroken, lonely, bleeding expression.  That woman had nothing... nothing but Hell... for eternity.

He sidestepped to hide Luna's eyes from the pony's head.  Calcifer lifted the sheet covering the pony head, and laid it across her body.

Turning to Luna one last time; making sure she couldn't see the body, he looked longingly at the dead.

Her short azure coat, her multicolored mane.

The pony's eyes were strangely opened; they were a rich, bright rose red.

Dried blood crusted her mouth.

Fresh tears seeped from her beautiful red eyes; creating a small pool of water under her head.

Even when dead, she looked scared... Demons tend to do that when they're the ones who murdered you.

Calcifer felt a choking in his throat... the pony reminded him so much of his daughter... or at least when he had to identify her body.

If he could he would cry for this pony.

Still looking at the red eyes of the pony before him; Calcifer spoke softly, and fluently.

"Doctor, I want you to open the doors of the other three that died tonight."

The doctor stammered, "Erm... what?"

Calcifer laid the sheet back over the pony's head, then turned to the colt still by the light switch.

"I said, I want you to open the doors of the other three that died tonight.  Is there a problem with that?"

The second time Calcifer had to repeat himself, he said it more forcefully; slightly intimidating the poor doctor.

"No... sir."

A certain, queasy feeling gripped the colt's stomach; whoever or whatever the standing being was, he felt like it was powerful enough to command him.

The tan hided colt wordlessly walked to the steel doors on the left wall; a tingly feeling crawling on his spine as he knew the being was watching him.

Luna was still staring at the floor, afraid of what she'd see.  Her stifling sobbing unceasing.

Within a minute, the sound of three doors opening, and three stretchers sliding, echoed throughout the room.

When silence reigned...

"Leave."

The colt turned to the standing figure quizzically, "What?"

"Leave.  Take your Princess, and leave."

Upon hearing her title, Luna also stared at Calcifer, the question "Why?" was the only words she could muster.

The human turned to the mare, "What I'm about to do... might end my existence... but may also grant life."

"Life?"

"Leave Luna, now."

A certain commanding spitefulness edged his voice, making Luna's heart feel a chill of fear.

She backed away slowly, exiting the door, not taking her eyes of Calcifer's stone face.

The colt edged his way out the door in a nervous walk; he wouldn't admit aloud that he was scared out of his mind.

Once both ponies were out of the crypt, Calcifer gave one last look to Luna, then gave a last command.

"Shut the door."

The colt stared away from the creature standing in the morgue, and carefully bit the handle of the metal door.

Luna and Calcifer's eyes kept contact until a moving steel wall shut them out in two different worlds.

***

Fluttershy was lying under the tree she grew accustomed to call a temporary bed.  The sounds of the waterfall soothed her to sleep hours ago.

Absolutely nothing that happened this night woke her up.

Suddenly, a boisterous voice in the wind spoke and startled her awake.

"Awake and help..."