A disgruntled incubus flopped down on Twilight's crystal chest. Bad idea. She didn't know it would hurt her ass so severely. Her Ass +3 was at risk. Lilith the deprived watched her bookworm confidante mash buttons on some console controller. Their muzzle scrunched in soft delight and frustration all at once. Twilight Sparkle gave cheer as she raved the words 'praise the sun!' In boastful volume. The incubus struggled to keep her poise as their display staggered her. What sort of celebration was it when she was spouting a video game catchphrase. Her highness glanced back and chuckled hot with embarrassment.

"Ah, so, you were there this whole time? Well, just in time to see me wreck some casuls, too. Sit down and let me teach you how to git gud, my friend." The alicorn cheered, clanking some of her heavy cosplay with movement.

"What are you wearing...?" Lilith hushed, somewhat curious about the painstaking replica of video game armor.

Twilight held the back of her head, resting at a bonfire Their peculiar station had a charred sword stuck betwixt it's flames. Such stark design, her noob friend noted, already resting a finger on her chin. She kicked up one knee while sitting and observing the curious costume.

"This is Heide Knight's armor. Really reminiscent of the Sunlight Armor from the first game. But I digress, let's see if Fluttershy is on. Then we can beat a boss with jolly cooperation~" Twilight cheered, snuggling a plushie of some buckethead knight pony.

Eldritch as ever, the scene made Lilith smile and even grin crookedly. Dorky as it seemed, she sort of liked being so... surrounded by joy. It was hours of seeing FlutterDie_216 and Princess_Spankle on screen that gave her a newfound appreciation for video games. They looked so happy. So immersed in their jolly cooperation. Ripostes to backstabs and parry daggers to katanas, she loved everything about it. Lilith figured, after Ms. Sparkle hoofed over the controller, it called her very soul.

She picked a deprived class and spent her first hours leveling. Her first interest was in the faith-based magic. So Lilith farmed and farmed with the aide of FlutterDie_216. After sometime, they acquired headsets from someplace behind the television.

"Ms. Li? Are you sure you want to be a Sunbro? I think the covenant of blood is easier to be in. And you don't run out of things to do, really." Inquired their yellow friend, who's aura was brilliant and magnificent.

"I-I do. After all, I love jolly cooperation." Lilith replied, smirking at her own joke.

It drew a giggle over the microphone.

"Shit!" The incubus spat, circling and rolling about their opponent.

"Fucking Havelyn scrub!" Lilith cursed again, only to throw a sunlight spear and strike them mid-roll.

Lilith gave a chortle. Then another. And another. She struck her gesture at the duel's end and said proudly 'praise the sun!' In her ear, a quaint 'woohoo' kissed the silent victory. Not only had she become a true sun...sis or bro, but Lilith learned the true meaning of friendship. And jolly cooperation. It was after their tireless excitement that the trio decided to meet at a local café. For some reason, they also agreed on coming in costumes. Miss Rarity handled the delivery for both her long-time friend's and her new acquaintance. One dealt with the original sunlight set. And then, for odd tastes or peculiar vision, Fluttershy requested wanderer gear. The carousel boutique served as a little rendezvous as they enjoyed a spot of hooflong tea.

Twilight Sparkle held held her cup and saucer at the lips.

"Now where should we go today, my fellow sunpones...?"

That nickname drew a peculiar grin from Fluttershy, who had the cup and plate at the table edge.

"We should eat some cakes at Sugarcube Corner. Tea cakes, maybe?"

Lilith nodded to say 'yes.'
.
Ah yes. Their plans decided and their next destination. Though the trio resembled tin cans rather than actual knights or warriors, nopony could ruin their day. Except, maybe, a few miscreants from the feral woods. Twilight went rigid as her ears perked up. A brush of silence passed and within the blink of an eye, they were two ponies without a third friend. She panicked and darted everywhere in the vicinity, calling and shouting every which decibel. No luck. No answers. When Princess Sparkle thought all hope was lost, she glanced up only to see a hooded Fluttershy. Shadow obscured her eyes as her faint murmur carried over.

"We can't give up on her. Let's look for Lilith... together."

The alicorn smirked.

"Jolly cooperation...?"

"Jolly cooperation." Fluttershy grinned, taking their hoof.

Lilith woke, her hands tied to some sort of scratchy bark. Their horns felt slick with dense, viscous something like the rest of her costume. Everything was a blur and distortion of her surroundings. Only after a long wind-up did she finally recognize her setting. It was dark. All over. Robed figures clad in navy blue mumbled in tongues and odd incantations. Yet, as luck would have it, she beheld a crack in the roofing and rays pouring in.

A lean, towering colt stared her down, his face shrouded and his physique, bulging at the shoulders.

"Foul creature... Be you equal to Her majesty, or be you less, you are an abomination to our kind." He growled, hissing at the end of every word.

He presented a dagger with a wicked tip; it tapered to a fine point. In the center lay a red jewel, which was socketed in the shape of some insect. A scarab or the sort. Lilith struggled to break free of her binds, just barely out with one wrist. It spoke again as the chants grew louder. Every word dug beneath her skin and found home.

"What be your last words, creature...?"

Lilith suctioned all the rank, musty air she could before belting the answer skyward.

'Praise the sun, motherfucker...!' she boomed, shrill and dry after it all echoed throughout the woods.

A sharp, inward sting penetrated her torso. The incubus shook briefly as she looked down and identified it as her lungs. With one, free hand, she gripped the plunged knife, tore it out and stabbed her captor in riposte. It growled a soft 'you... fiend' and struck her cheek. It burned. Her adrenaline numbed their strike. But her vision faded. It all withered away as she saw a familiar puff of lavender smoke.

An angel came along and galloped toward her before the world turned black.

A smile spread across her bruised lip as she thought aloud, choking the breath away,

'If only I could be so grossly incandescent.'

Author's Note

"Be you equal to Her majesty, or be you less, you are an abomination to our kind."

Haha. This was my favorite chapter. They're so flattering. And I got to play hero.