"Oh, hello there, you delicious little morsel. What brings you back down to the dark depths of my prison? Did you finally decide to give yourself up and feed me?" I grimaced as the creature before me licked her lips and shook my head, keeping my eyes on her even through my swishing mane. "No? Well, I suppose I can keep waiting. It isn't like I have a choice, considering my current lodgings." Her chains jingled as she tugged on them, the glowing iron bands around her wrists keeping her secure on the floor with little room to move.

"Speaking of my current predicament, has she made any inquiries regarding my well being?" Again, I shook my head, but this time, I swear that her jovial expression slipped into despair. Just like the last time. "Oh... It can't be helped. Still, if you aren't here to bring me her well wishes, or offer yourself to me, then I'm guessing you want another story?" Perhaps I nodded a bit too eagerly, as, when I stopped, the woman was chuckling. "Of course you do. Ever the scholar, after all.

"Hmmm... But what should I tell you now? You know where I come from, about my early life... What more could a pony like you want to hear from a demon like me? You certainly wouldn't want to hear about all the delicious little fillies and colts I've nibbled on, would you?" I could feel the disgust rising in my throat and frowned as she bit back a fit of laughter. "No, definitely not..." She looked up into the abyss surrounding the solitary platform, looking like she was trying to dig something out of her memories. She knew exactly what I wanted to hear, I'd only asked about it every time I stepped off the luminous rainbow steps and onto the lonely little island, but I wasn’t going to beg for it again. "I am at quite a loss, here. Can you think of something you want to hear about?" I nodded excitedly, a little more eager than I had anticipated, but still remained silent. I guess I’d beg just a little. "Perfect! Why don't you come on over here and whisper it in my ear then? I'll never know if you don't tell me, after all."

I shook my head vehemently, keeping my lips sealed tight, and it finally pulled that withheld laugh from her throat. "Fine. I promise I won't suck your soul through your mouth. Besides..." I sighed heavily, finally expelling the breath I didn’t realized I had been holding, just as she dove to the end of her chains, her metal confinements holding her back mere inches from my face. "It wouldn't taste nearly as sweet as when you give it to me yourself..."

"Stay back!" I screamed, just like I had the first time I had met her and she pulled a similar trick, and I felt a sense deja vu as I lit my horn, building up an impulsive spell to push her away.

"No need for that, my little morsel. I know better than to harm you, lest I invoke her ire... again. However..." She leaned back enough to bring a sharp-nailed hand to her chin in mock thought. "Perhaps that'd be a great way to get her to visit me down in my cold, lonely dungeon. She'd certainly come running in her if she found out you were in trouble." A happy sigh, was all I got as she retreated into her own thoughts and stared almost wistfully up into the nothingness above. "Still, you came for a story, so what do you want? I'm feeling particularly jovial today, so I'll tell you about anything you want."

I’ll admit that I was hesitant to speak, opening and closing my mouth over and over as I’m sure my face contorted between a display of uncertainty and deep thought, until, after several minutes of awkward silence and her very attentive stare, I nodded to myself. "Tell me-" She arched her eyebrow, her face twisting into an unamused glare, and I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment. "I mean, could you tell me about how you got banished here?"

Her grin, wide and predatory, spread across her face as she stared down at the me. "Now, isn't that quite the story to tell? I certainly hope you have plenty of time, because this story starts way back." Her smile slipped, turning wistful as she laid back and looked up into the black abyss above. "I remember everything so clearly... Almost like it hadn't happened decades ago."

Author's Note

The intro chapter of a hopefully somewhat long and fun story about a demon and her affection for the princess of the sun. Yes, this story will involve many mature themes, as if that warning tag didn't give you enough info ahead of time, and, yes, this story will end in Tragedy (kinda). I'm sure you've got the ending of this story figured out, as I didn't quite hide it with the intro, but I'm sure the impact going in will have the effect I'm looking for.

For now, though, enjoy!

P.S. - Also, I wonder how many of you know who the mare that's talking to her is. I'm sure many of you will figure it out, but I won't be dropping any names for many reasons.