Terms

"What?" Chrysalis asked, not believing what she just heard.

"We have agreed to form a peace treaty as well as help your troops prepare. Is this not what you wanted?" Celestia asked with suspicion.

"Yes but I didn't think you would agree to it at all even it the slightest." Informed her of her doubts.

"Yes, well I believe you can thank David for that. He was right, we didn't the full story behind the invasion though I have often wondered why you never sought to do this in the first place. I understand that there may have been reservations with the rest of the world not being exactly welcoming to changelings. You both came here today seeking assistance from the same ponies that had wanted to end your lives all for the good of the ones you cherished. So David, you will be getting help from Twilight in enchanting and piecing together this suit of yours and we will help equip your changelings with better equipment as well Queen Chrysalis. But note that if any of you cause trouble you will face punishment. We will have an official document ready to sign in a few moments with the terms of our agreement but for now go to your subjects and take them to the fields outside of Ponyville and get yourselves situated." Celestia informed the two. Chrysalis and Lily got up from their seats and headed towards the door, When they noticed that David wasn't following them they turned around to see him looking at Celestia with narrowed eyes.

"What are you playing at Celestia?" I asked after a moment of staring.

"What do you mean?"

"Your face tells me that you're willing to accept this but your eyes tell me otherwise. So what's the catch, what is it that you're telling us?" I asked as he watched the ponies on the other side of the room.

Celestia sighed and dropped smile. "Very well then, since I can't seem to hide anything from you I might as well tell you. We have managed to convince Shining Armor to train the changelings but not before you and him have a duel of your own to determine just how much work you're willing to put in to become stronger. Since you seem to inspire the changelings that their commitment would be the same as yours. This is also to make sure that you won't be relying on us to clean up the mess that you have gotten yourself into. We were going to wait on the day that it was supposed to take place to tell you but it seems that yet again you've proven why you've survived in the Everfree for so long." When she finished she expected him or Chrysalis to become angry and protest but to her surprise the changeling queen stayed silent as she looked at the man and watched as a maniacal smile came across his features.

"So when does this duel take place exactly?" I asked much to their combined shock.

"In three days, and you are forbidden to use your, Dark Form, as you call it. Anything else will be permitted as long as it's not lethal." Luna informed as she was the first to recover.

"Very well then. I'll agree to this duel but don't get butt hurt when I beat you Armor. If it's for the good of the Hive then I can assure you that I won't lose." If this is what it took to make the Hive survived this I would make sure that I was more than prepared to give Shining Armor a beating that he obviously needs. It was time for me to show what the Demon could do when I'm in control. For now though we needed to return to the Hive and tell them the good news. I got up and headed towards the door with Chrysalis and Lily following close behind.

"You know that you won't win against him right. He is captain of Celestia's Royal Guard and without the use of your Dark Form it will make it all the more harder to actually do anything to him." Chrysalis said once we made it out of the castle and onto the path that led towards Ponyville.

"You know I wish that you would have a little faith in me. The Dark form was mainly something to be used in emergencies so I wouldn't have used it anyways. I always prided myself on being able to fight with my own rather than rely on Saburo's power in the first place."

"Then what of that creature you fought with last week?"

"That was more out of anger more than anything. Seeing what that thing to the ponies that had owned the convoy got my blood boiling something fierce. There was no way I wasn't going to avenge their deaths. Fighting as myself would have seen that thing run off in cowardice with the same injuries I took, but my Dark form guaranteed its death. That's the other thing too, I'm just fighting Shining Armor in a duel not a death match. The Dark form is an executioner that feels nothing but hatred so it would have been going overboard in the first place." I explained to Chrysalis. It seemed like she got everything I was saying but I could tell she still held doubt.

"Hey David wait up!" I heard a certain beige-colored mare shout from my left.

"Hey Bonny, what's up?" I greeted her with a smile.

"I was trying to get this before you came out of Twilight's castle but it took a little longer to find than I thought. Though I'm glad that I managed to catch you guys before you left." Bonbon said as she grabbed a package off her back and gave it to me. I opened it to find my notebook inside and I couldn't help but swoop her up in a crushing embrace.

"Thanks for thanking care of it Bonbon it means a lot to me." I tell her as I set back down on all fours.

"It was no problem David but what happened to my necklace. I thought you said that you were never going to take it off?" Bonbon asked with curiosity rather than anger.

"Oh I gave it to Lily and has done a good job of living up to my promise to you." I tell her as she looked at Lily and saw that she was indeed wearing the necklace that she gave me. "I hope you don't mind but she's grown kind of attached to it and refuses to take if off for any reason."

"That's alright I was going to tell you to keep it anyway, but it looks better on her than it ever did on me so I don't mind if your daughter keeps it." She said as she ruffled Lily's mane like frill.

"Hey, how did you know that she was my daughter?"

"I heard you say so before you and the changeling queen went into the castle."

"Oh damn I forgot to introduce you two didn't I. Chrysalis this is my best friend Bonbon, Bonbon this is Queen Chrysalis my-"

"I'm his marefriend." Chrysalis said as she held out her hoof.

"Well it's nice to meet you Chrysalis," Bonbon greeted with a smile as they shook. "Dating a queen huh, guess you must have finally put your good looks to use. Congratulations David, I'm happy that you finally found your special somepony."

"Yeah well I try. Anyway Bonny we got to get going. The rest of the Hive is staying in the castle in the Everfree Forest and we want to get them out of there as soon as possible. Plus I'm worried might happen if we don't get there soon."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't trust your family that should be enough of a hint for you or do you need another?" I asked as I nudged her playfully. It's something of an ongoing joke between us that we've kept hush hush just to infuriate others.

"Is it okay if I tag along. Lyra is out of town with the orchestra and it seems that Lacy is now busy with whatever happened at the castle." Bonbon asked. I looked over to Chrysalis to see what she thought and got a shrug for my troubles.

"Sure but stay close. We wouldn't you getting lost or jumped by some timberwolves or manticores. Those things are enough of a pain to fight without having to worry about all of you."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Chrysalis asked with suspicion.

"That you're a slave driver. Over here making sleep when I should guarding the camp."

"Well then I guess I'm going to be looking out for your well being more often then if it annoys you that much."

"See, she's a bloody slave driver." We all stand there for a few moments before we burst into laughter. A confused Lily was trying to ask one of us what was so funny but let out a frustrated huff when all she got was more laughter from us. I picked her up and put her on my shoulders as we trekked into the forest of to the castle. The walk was uneventful as we made it back in no time flat. We were greeted immediately by the others when walked in and they assumed that we had good news when they spotted Bonbon following behind us. Some even greeted her as we were swarmed though stopped the moment I put up a hand. It's still surprising to me how willing they've become to listen to me whenever I had something to say and that has led to a few jokes of calling me the changeling king between Chryssy and I.

"Listen everyone, I know a lot of you are assuming that things went well because she's here." I spoke loud enough so that the entire could hear me. "Well I going to tell that..... you're right. The princesses of Equestria have agreed to make peace and allow asylum in Equestria. What I need all of you to do is make sure everything in the convoys are secured and move out. We will be moving to the fields south of Ponyville and that is where will be staying for the time being. We will also have Shining Armor help train our troops with better equipment than what we already have though that won't be for another three days and even then it will have to wait until after my fight with him." Murmuring started amongst the crowd when they heard this and from what I pieces I could catch they were confused on the reason for the duel. "The duel is the princess's' way of determining our willingness to defend ourselves as well as them. They have it in their minds that I represent just that but I say that you can show them yourselves with what training we already do. I will win this fight to show that not only are we willing but that we're more than capable of handling ourselves out in the field. So what do you all say, are you ready to show Equestria's army what we can do?"

"YEAH!!!"

"Will we be ready to end the invasion?"

"YEAH!!!!!!!!!"

"Are you ready to show the other hives who's stronger?"

"YEEEAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!" Well they're pumped and ready to go.

"Look out Shining Armor, here comes the true Demon." Saburo said with the same determination as the Hive.

"Damn right, and I'm going to make sure that Chrysalis's mother regrets ever thinking of doing this. We'll be ready when she comes and when they do I will make them submit to Chrysalis's whim." I spoke in a serious tone that pervaded just how I felt now. I know that the invasion is in five months but as I told Chrysalis earlier, I don't trust her family and will be damned if they catch me off guard.

With the spirits of the Hive up high the caravans were loaded up and moving out of the castle in just a couple of hours. We came across a problem immediately with the gap around the castle but that problem was solved when Chrysalis suggested I use the gauntlets to create barriers to fill in the gap. After some trial and error I managed to create a bridge strong enough to allow the convoy to move safely. After that it was only a matter of minutes to get to Ponyville and head to the south fields. Everypony that was out and about had stopped what they were doing to watch was happening. When they spotted me they started pointing and whispering things that I couldn't hear though I din't really care. Just like the girls and princesses I was still pissed at all of them for turning on me the way they did.

There were of course ponies who had problems to having changelings traveling through town but they were quickly disposed of by me. My glare could be compared to Fluttershy's 'Stare' and got them all to back off in a moments notice. Once we got to the south fields the wagons were put into a circle a fair distance away from each other and everypony got to digging. Bonbon stayed to help until the sun started its descent towards the horizon. After the moon had been risen into the sky did Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight show up with a scroll that was to be the official document for our treaty. When they got there I tried to get into their meeting but Twilight tried to kick me saying that since I wasn't royalty that it did not concern me. Of course Chrysalis saw this and told her to step aside seeing how they said nothing as such back at the castle and that I was considered a leader amongst the Hive anyway so her point was invalid.

After the two of us read and signed the treaty they promptly left and though all of the princesses except Twilight were happy to see me back I kept quiet or spoke in a neutral tone to show that I was upset about the banishment. It was like this for the next two days as they stopped by to see how we were settling in. I could be on the middle of a conversation with Chrysalis but will either go on without acknowledging them or leave to go help with the construction of the new Hive. They finally took the hint of the reason why I was acting the way I was from Lacy when she came with them during one of their visits. I knew that she was going to tell them but if I'm to give her a chance to prove that she really does want to be friends again then I have to put some trust into her.

They tried to apologize for the banishment but I wasn't going to hear it. I told them the only reason I wasn't going off on them was because of my friends, which consisted of Bonbon, Lacy, and apparently Lyra, as well as for my daughter, Chrysalis, and the Hive. They didn't seem to get the memo as they kept on trying to convince me so I put up a soundproof barrier courtesy of my upgraded gauntlets. They still weren't finished but they were close and that goes for the rest of the suit. Despite her obvious hatred for me Twilight was eager to help with the suit as it provided so many more magical applications thanks to my drawings and the functions that they served. It was during this time that I had met Discord and found out that Celestia had him reformed by Fluttershy and was now allowed to roam free, as long as he behaved himself of course.
The two of us hit off right away as he was messing with the books to Twilight's Library as they danced around and started singing like that frog from the Looney Tunes. With him as another friend the progress of the suit was going by quickly but I was going to test it out in just a few moments as my duel with Shining Armor was about to start.
"You ready?" Chrysalis asked as we waited in a tent for Celestia to call us out.

"I'm more than ready. Don't worry Chryssy I will be alright if that's what you're worried about."

"I know, and even if this just a duel I can't help but feel worried. Shining Armor may not be happy about refusing to be Cadence's friend again."

"I don't really care considering that she could have said something that day but no she, like almost everypony else in this fucking town, just watched me walk away, uttering the same cruel, hurtful things that they were. The same could be said for Celestia and Luna too."

"You made her cry after calling her a backstabbing whorse. Besides you were willing to forgive Lacy and give her another chance." Chrysalis pointed out the events of yesterday.

"Lacy is different. She had good intentions when she revealed my secret but I allowed a lifetime of pent anger and rage consume me and drive my actions for the next few years before I wised up."

"Will Shining Armor and David please step into the ring." Celestia's voice boomed through the tent.

"Guess it's show time." I sat to myself as I step out to find a massive crowd filled with changelings and ponies cheering for me and Shining Armor respectively. I spotted him across from me and he did indeed seem upset as we walked towards to middle of the arena.

"Will the competitors touch their hooves, or hands, together and move back ten paces." Celestia said as I held out a fist but Shining Armor simply snorted before backing up the required distance.

"This is going to be fun." Saboru said exactly what I was thinking as I took my position. The crowd started to countdown from ten as the excitement in the air grew.

"Begin!" Celestia shouted the moment they hit zero and I threw up a barrier as Shining Armor was shot out a magical beam towards me. I dropped my shield and ran at him with the intent of ending this quickly. As sent a wave of magic to disorientate him long enough to deliver a magically fueled punch to the face. That was the plan anyway but it seems that he was able to recover quickly after the wave hit and blasted me square in the chest.

"So much for ending this quickly. Let's hope he doesn't turn out to be a disappointment." I say as I pick myself up off the ground. It didn't take long for him to come charging at me. It seemed he sought to use my own tactic against me as he jumped up and fired another beam at me only for it to be blocked by my shield. I felt pain dominate my midsection as I was sent flying into the wall and slid down it, clenching my gut and the ponies cheered loudly. I looked up to see a smirking Shining Armor stand beside another guard. "What the fuck is this you coward, can't fight your own battles?"

"Remember anything goes, except you can't use your Dark form. I thought you would have known that, oh well I guess you're losing after oh mighty demon." He replied smugly as I stood up.

"Alright then you fucking coward. I'll fight you and however many guards you throw and I will still win without my Dark form and when I do I'm going to make sure Equestria knows just how much honor you actually have." I said angrily as he just performed one of the last things you want to do in a fight like this when you're facing against me. Ganging up on me pisses me off more than anything when it comes to a fair fight and I have a tendency to blow up, and without changing too so this is not going to be pretty.

With this in mind I let loose a vicious growl before charging back at Shining Armor. He stood there as he charged up his horn but right as he was about to release it I grabbed the guard that had moved to intercept my strike and used him as a meatshield then repositioned my hands to grab hold of his hind legs and use him as a club. Shining Armor was pinned down as I kept the guard atop of him and proceed to punch his face in. I got in several punches before being tackled by more guards and was sent flying a few feet as they helped their captain up and moved their unconscious comrade out of the arena. Before I could make a move I was jumped from behind by four more guards and was pinned down. I struggled furiously as I attempted to stand back up though with little success but with a lot of rage.

The more my struggling got me nowhere the angrier I got and I was counting on it at this point. There are two types of anger when I'm involved. The first is psychotic rage that comes from holding back my emotions, this is what my Dark form is born from. The other kind is the murderous rage that comes from situations like this. I believe the honor between warriors in a fight and expect everyone to live up to it as well. I know that that is not going to happen but that's the reason I follow it so diligently; it's because of this that I could let my murderous rage loose without getting into that much trouble seeing how at that point it's nothing more than self-defense.

"Now it's time to pay!" I growled as my vision turned red and my body stiffened. I was getting up but they couldn't push me down and when I was blasted I barely moved a few inches. A feral was released as I straightened up and looked at the group before me with bloodlust. The suit responded to my emotions as it should and a bright light was emitted from it as my new and favorite weapon came into existence.

The Divine Hope of Lost Souls is it name and collecting souls is its game. The blade was similar to that of an executioner's but it was black with golden runes running along the surface towards the handle. The handle was also black but it was covered a magically enchanted cloth that allowed it expand and collapse on a whim and it too had the same golden runes covering its surface. Last, but certainly not least, was the hook that had grooves spiraling along its length and razor sharp spines running along the outside of it. The hook, like the rest of blade, was covered by the golden runes that ran from the source that rested at the tip of it. A pendent that hold vast amounts of magic and is to be used as an absolute last resort as it takes time to recharge the energy. This blade is one of the deadliest that I ever thought of and you want to know what the worst part about this blade is...... it's still incomplete.

The guards backed away as I gripped the staff like blade within my grasp. I only gave them a few moments to admire it before I used the magic in my suit to enhance my speed to get the drop on one of them and hit him with a blast from the blade which in turn took another four guards with him. "Four down, forty one to go."

I went to work immediately disposing of the rest of the guards until it was only me and Shining Armor left, and he was not looking so good as he realized that we were alone. "The deal was that you couldn't use your Dark form if you and the bug wanted your troops trained." That got plenty of hisses from the changelings in the crowd but they went silent when I put up my hand.

"Yes that was the deal and I have honored it. My Dark form involve me having claws and fangs as well as slitted pupils but I know that I don't any of those. All of this is a result of the suit responding to my emotions of anger that I felt towards your cowardice. If had only played fair then I wouldn't have been tempted to have to test out this feature of the suit yet until it was complete but alas you forced my hand." I said in mock disappointment before delivering the final blow and knocking unconscious with the rest of his troops. I heard nothing but silence after he fell and looked up to see absolutely everyone in the stands with an expression of shock and mortal terror, even from Lily. As I looked around the crowd I noticed my reflection from a shield and I saw an evil madman instead of to friendly psychopath and then noticed the state of the my opponents. They were all bloodied and battered but alive, though just barely. After double checking that I was actually seeing what I was seeing the Divine disappeared from hand and I ran out of the arena. I headed to my wagon and dove under it to the hole I had made whenever I wanted privacy. As soon as I was in I recovered it and used a sound proof barrier on the entrance to keep everyone from discovering me.

"I truly have become The Demon. Now I remember where that nickname truly came from. It came the day I was truly betrayed, the day when my parents abandon me and why I truly told myself never to love again. It was the day I stopped the shooting at my high school........ the day I should have died." David stated as his eyes turned dull and lifeless in the light of the black flames that lit up his den.