Armored Demon Of Equestria

Darkness. That was all Zajar saw, pure and simple. But slowly the darkness soon began to take form. He soon began to his home from where he was born. Hell. The sounds of the damned echoing all throughout the place. The lava lakes where those unfortunate were dipped into as it slowly burned their skin off only for them to be reborn and the process continued again. "Zajar!"

Hearing his name he turned to see a figure that was completely black and couldn't make out their figure or what demon they were. He saw his mouth moving but couldn't hear a word being said. He felt his body moving on its own as he stepped all throughout hell and killing any demon or human in his path while chuckling about it. Was this really him?

"You can choose what you want to be."

What was that? That voice. It sounded so...soft and loving.

"You don't have to be like your kind."

Zajar could feel his body stopping while his whole surrounding turned dark again.

"lat saib olk mushof from alnej! (YOU CAN NOT HIDE FROM ME!)"

Zajar looked everywhere around trying to find the sound of this dark voice but all he saw was darkness. That was when he saw the darkness soon began to be covered in flames with screams of agony coming from within it. Zajar watched as the flame soon began to take form until it formed into a dark red eye that was slitted like a cat's. Around it, was dark fire in the shapes of skulls that seemed to be screaming out in agony. "Avhere lat ayh. (There you are.)" The eye spoke one more time than slammed into Zajar.

Zajar sat straight up painting while planting his hand on his chest. Sweat dripped down his face as he tried to control his breathing. "Nalkra mis kigija? (What was that?)" Zajat thought. It sounded like Yami, but it couldn't be. He never invaded dreams as he preferred more physical means of ending someone so he could hear them scream. What was that, though? That other voice. Zajar glanced up at his surroundings and saw trees. That's right. He did run from those....ponies?

He slowly began to stand to his feet while still glancing around to see if anything was going to attack him or....something. What should he do now? He stopped and slowly turned towards where the town was. Something didn't feel right. His eyes narrowed should he really return to a town that had practically ran him out? Well six of them did but that besides the point. There was a flash of red across the sky. Fire. Zajar could now see smoke rising from there now. He could just check it out now.

                                                      An hour earlier.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS CAVE EXPLORERS!" Was the shout of three fillies standing outside a cave.

By this point in time, the village of Ponyville was used to the deafening trio of screams that would burst out from the CMC-clubhouse. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo had seemingly thought up yet another plan to discover their talents and thus earn their cutie marks. Their ongoing quest was common knowledge among the villagers. The majority of them had already fallen prey to their different attempts to help them with their jobs and professions. More often than not, the results were disastrous. The young fillies always meant well, though, so the villagers took it in stride.

The crusaders’ plans were mostly harmless, usually taking place within the safe borders of Ponyville. But the fillies' plan today was anything but safe. Today, their quest led them to one of the most dangerous areas in Equestria. The great forest that was located just outside the borders of Ponyville: The Everfree Forest to explore a cave they had saw.

“Are you sure about this, Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked somewhat nervously. The excitement that had filled her voice during her and her friends’ shout from before was gone without a trace.

“Oh come on! Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts,” the purple-maned pegasus replied, skipping several steps ahead of her two friends. “Exploring just HAS to be our talent. We went out that one time remember?"

"First of all we didn't really explore. I don't think we even took more than a hundred steps when Fluttershy saved us from that cockatrice." Apple Bloom replied, the memories of it causing her to shudder a little.

“Hah! We’ve been inside there by ourselves before while visiting Zecora."

“And how will we get Cutie marks from exploring a cave?” Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo gave the young unicorn a deadpan look.

"I'm sure we might find something. Like treasure!"

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked over their shoulders towards Ponyville. Both of them were thinking the same thing: the huge scolding they would receive from their families once they found out where they had been. Apple Bloom’s sister Applejack and Sweetie Belle’s sister Rarity would be especially angry.

"I guess you right." Apple Bloom eventually responded.

The three glanced towards the cave, but none of them moved towards it to go inside. It seemed like minutes before they slowly moved inside. The inside of the cave wasn’t so bad, but they saw a couple bones every now and then, although they looked too small to be pony bones.

“Wow! Look at all of this. Pointy things coming from the ceiling, the water dripping down, the darkness and silence, this is awesome!!” Scootaloo shouted with excitement while Applebloom turned sharply and ‘shhh’ed her.

“Quiet! We don’t know what is in this here cave. There could be anything in here! A bear, or maybe even a dragon!” Scootaloo became a bit more cautious by the  mention of a dragon.

“But come on, there wouldn’t be a dragon here. . . right?”

The three were silent as they continued into the cave. "Oooof!" Sweetie Belle yelled as she fell over into the other two knocking them to the ground along with her. The three were soon entangled in each others limbs.

"What in the world did you trip over?" Scootaloo asked sarcastically while Sweetie Belle glared at her.

"I did trip over something and it did not feel like a rock."

The three after untangling themselves glanced over to see what tripped........they stared wide-eyed at what tripped Sweetie Belle. Laying on the ground was a gold goblet that lay there. "Guess we found your treasure Scootaloo."

"..."

"Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked after she and Apple bloom noticed she didn't answer. They turned towards her to see her eyes were wide. Glancing to where she was staring their eyes widened as well. In the middle of the cave was piles and piles of gems with some gold here and there. The pile was large enough it seemed almost reach the ceiling.

Scootaloo shook her head then smiled and shouted. "We found treasure!" Sweetie Belle and Applebloom shook off their shock and became exited just as their friend. The three jumped around in joy.

"Did we get our Cutie Marks?!" The three stopped their enjoyment and glanced at their flanks to see but frowned when they didn't have one.

"Nothing."

"Oh come on!"

Scootaloo trotted over to the pile of goodies. "At least we found something." Scootaloo spoke while she picked a gem up and carrying it over to her friends. The pile soon began to slide down as a horn soon began to appear unaware to the three fillies until it showed a snout  of something while the rest of it was buried underneath the gems and gold.

"You sure you want to take that?" Sweetie Belle asked as she stared at the gem Scootaloo held. The gem was a simple red one.

"Why not?"

"It might belong to somepony?"

"I highly doubt a pony would live in a cave."

The three began to bicker back and forth at each other until they felt wind blown on them. "Must be an airway in here." Scootaloo commented.

Applebloom turned to say something but stopped as her eyes widened as she stared behind her friends causing them to stare at her with their heads cocked to the side. "What's wrong with you?"

"Look if you want me to I will put it back." Scootaloo commented as she tossed the gem behind her shoulder.

"NO!" Applebloom shouted causing her friends to really stare at her as the gem hit the pile causing more to fall until it revealed a face and a dark green slitted eye that was staring at them and to Applebloom horror it was full of anger.

"Seriously. What it the matter with you?" The two stopped as they heard something moving behind them. The two slowly turned and just like their friend, had their mouths open wide at what was staring at them.

The dragon was covered in sapphire scales and had a sleek and muscular body. His claws and horns were ivory in color, and his wings were dark azure at the tips and almost as black as midnight underneath. From nose to tail, it was as tall as a full grown adult dragon. It stared down at them with its eyes narrowed while it slowly stood to its full height while the three fillies slowly backed away in fear.

"We didn't expect anypony here....or dragon honestly."

"Yeah, we swear we didn't want to disrupt your sleep. We will just let you get back to it."

The dragon snorted with flames coming out of his nostrils. "You will be sorry."

The three fillies were staring at him with confusion which soon turned to fear as he lunged at them with his mouth open and tried to eat him. The three turned and ran making him miss them by an inch. The dragon slowly stood back to its full height and roared that shook the entire cave. He immediately went after them. He stopped outside his cave and saw the three heading to a town. The dragon slowly smiled showing his sharp fangs. He really was hungry and pony did taste good especially when it's cooked with fire. The dragon slowly opened his wings and with one flap he took flight towards the town.

Zajar was outside town and what he saw was not good. The windows were broken, some of the buildings were torn and on fire and the streets deserted. He then heard some voices not too far off so he walked over to the sounds, and what he saw he couldn't believe. There in the center of the town near town hall were all the ponies huddled up in fear. They looked so scared and the reason why was the giant lizard thing that was standing by them. Zajar hid behind a building so it wouldn't see him.

"Why are you doing this!?" Twilight shouted.

The dragon just simply picked up a piece of a broken building and stared at then without care simply tossed it where it slammed into another building destroying it. "For fun really. I have been asleep for a little bit. Plus," - He stared at them licking his lips causing the ponies to press against each other even more. -"Pony meat is good."

"You ruffian!"

"Like I care what you things think." The dragon looked into the crowd of ponies and smirked when he found the three he was looking for. The three fillies that woke him up. He reached inside causing the ponies to scream in fright. He grabbed the Cutie Mark Crusaders by their tails causing them to scream. Zajar watched this with narrowed eyes.

"No…you wouldn't!"

"Oh yes, I will!"

"Applejack help!" Apple Bloom screamed in fear.

"Please let us go!" Sweetie Belle pleaded with tears.

"Let us go! We said we were sorry!" Scootaloo yelled in anger though you could fear in her voice.

"Apple Bloom/Sweetie Belle/Scootaloo/Spike!" Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Please don't do this, they're just children!" Fluttershy yelled trying to reason with the dragon who simply scoffed at their begging as he held the three in his claw.

The dragon simply held them over his mouth as he prepared to drop them down his throat. "Don't you dare you bastard!" Rainbow Dash screamed.

"We're begging you!" Applejack cried out with tears going down her face.

The dragon was about to let them drop when he stopped as if he was thinking. "Actually, I have a better idea."

The dragon lowered the three to the ground confusing everypony. "You have three seconds to get way before this piece smash you." The dragon reached over and picked up a giant piece.

The three fillies eyes widened in fear and took off running towards the exit of the town while the dragon tossed the piece at them. Time seemed to slow in motion as the piece came closer to the three. The ponies were yelling and screaming. Zajar saw he could save them if he wanted to do. Why should he, though? The others ran him out of town. Did that mean they deserved to die?

The three fillies saw a shadow getting closer to them causing them to glance up to see the building coming down at them. Knowing they couldn't outrun or get out of the way the three embraced each other with tears going down their faces. The building slammed down with a loud thud. The other ponies either stood there in shock or cried. Both Applejack and Rarity cried the hardest holding each other feeling the sorrow and heartbreak of losing their sisters. Rainbow Dash hung her head low crying silently. Even though Scootaloo wasn't related to her she still considered her as a little sister. And Twilight just stood there with a horrified face as tears streamed down her cheeks as she just watched three fillies killed.

"That was fun!"

"You…you horrid monster! You killed them in cold blood!" Pinkie screamed through her tears.

"And did I ever love it. Enough talk now. It's feeding time!" The dragon reached down ready to pluck up his meal when he stopped as he heard something as did the ponies. Glancing over to where he threw the piece they saw it was moving slightly.The ponies and dragon watched in surprise as it was lifted up. The ponies saw it was the demon though he had shrunk or it was his child! To their amazement they saw the three fillies by his feet still hugging each other while staring up at Zajar with tears going down their faces. Zajar held the building up before turning and tossing it down. Afterward, he glanced at the three while they just stared at him.Zajar motioned with his head to an alleyway which the three ran to.

"Who are you to disrupt my fun!?" The dragon yelled while Zajar just glared at him.

Zajar stared at the dragon then glanced towards the ponies who were looking at him. Zajar began to position his body. The ponies watched as it got into some stance with his right whatever back while the left was forward. His right arm was up towards the front while the left was back. The dragon stared confused at this as did the ponies who suddenly found that the dragon was distracted had moved from out behind him. Zajar stood there for a few more second then with a step that uplifted the ground began to sprint towards the dragon who was confused but began to laugh. "Aw ain't that cute! The little thing thinks it can take me on!"

Zajar continued to sprint ignoring all the ponies staring at him as he passed them and focused on the dragon. "Well come then! Hit me with your best shot!" As Zajar was fifty yards way he was reading. Twenty-five yards away. Now. Zajar body glowed a bright light startling the ponies and dragon and especially what happened next. Zajar suddenly grew until he was at eight meters tall just slightly lower than the dragon, coming up to his chin. "What the..." The dragon was cut off Zajar slammed his shoulder into him causing the dragon to let out a grunt and was sent flying backwards and landed on the ground where he skidded a few more feet leaving a drag mark through the ground.

"He can grow his size!" Rainbow Dash yelled while Twilight kept her eyes on him.

'The book said demons are evil. Yet he came to help us. Why?'

Zajar kept his shoulder down for a few more minute than slowly began to stand upright but keeping his eyes on the dragon. There was no sound but the breathing of the dragon showing he was still alive. Zajar with his eyes narrowed walked towards the downed dragon. When he was a few feet away he heard a chuckle. "Fool." The dragon suddenly stood up in the blink of an eye while thrusting his right claw towards Zajar chest. The ponies let out screams of fright as the claw slammed into Zajar chest, but everypony fright soon turned to disbelieve. The dragon let out a roar of pain as he backed a few feet away clutching his right claw with the other. His claw was bent unnaturally and the claws on it were broken and were now laying on the ground.

"How strong is his skin!?" Applejack yelled the question that was on everypony mind.

The dragon snorted out flames in anger. What was this thing? Why won't it just dies?! The dragon snorted one more time but stopped when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He saw the six ponies that had begged and stood up to him. 'Well, If I can't beat this thing then maybe,' - The dragon flapped his wings once causing him to fly into the air and began gathering fire in his mouth. 'DIE!'

Zajar watched the dragon with eyes narrowed trying to figure out what he saw going to do next when he saw it turned towards those ponies that had run him out of their town and blew fire from his mouth as them with incredible speed. Zajar eyes widened as he saw the flame heading towards them.

The six eyes widened when they saw the flame coming towards them with eyes wide. The flame was moving so fast that they couldn't even move out of the way or for Twilight to summon up a barrier. The six closed their eyes and embraced each other waiting for the flame to consume them.

The dragon continued to spray out fire after fire and finally stopped with a dark smile on his face. "Pony smell good when they are cooked." His eyes widened at what he saw.

The six had their eyes remained closed as they felt the fire going past them causing them to sweat from the heat. The flame stopped. "Does anypony feel on fire?"

"Let me check…nope I'm good and none of you either!" Pinkie shouted.

"How come we......" Twilight voice trailed off as they saw the demon standing in front of them with his arms spread out. His entire body was used as a shield while it was causing his armored skin to glow a low red color.

"He......saved us." Applejack spoke out in shock while she and her friends stared at him.

The dragon growled but stopped as he stared at this thing. That was when an idea struck him.

Zajar's once silver armored skin was now emitting a very low red glow, all most invisible,  the dragons lips curved into an evil smile seeing he had done damage to that thing. The dragon  yelled "ALL THINGS MUST BURN!!!" while sending another torrent of deadly flames at Zajar remained in place as he protected the ponies behind him.

"This doesn't make any since! He isn't supposed to help us!" Twilight shouted while begin dragged to safety by her friends.

"More running and thinking later egghead!"

Zajar stood there as his skin was growing hotter and hotter. It seemed like the fire would never end. All at once the flames stopped allowing Zajar to be able to see past the flames. He also saw the dragon swinging its other claw at his chest. There was a loud scraping sound as the claws tore through Zajar chest piece causing it to fly where it landed a couple of feet away. Zajar right chest piece was gone while he three scratches on his chest which soon, dark black blood slowly began to seep out. The dragon was smirking the whole time even as Zajar slammed his fist into its chest. The dragon gasped out in pain only to have Zajar elbow slam into his face knocking him to the ground causing dust to scatter everywhere.

The dragon spat out blood and tried to get back up only be slammed back into the ground by Zajar foot which held him there. For the first time in his life the dragon felt fear which grew as he saw this thing raise it hand and clenched it into a fist that was aimed down at him.

The ponies watched this with eye while Twilight eyes were narrowed. "He is going to kill him. All demons do." Twilight stated causing her friends to glance at her before turning back to Zajar.

Zajar stared down at the dragon who was shaking in fear as he stared up at Zajar. He could easily kill him. All it would take is to hit the dragon straight in the throat crushing it and allowing him to suffocate to death slowly. Why was he hesitating in doing it though? What was holding him back? Zajar stared at the dragon and to everypony surprise moved off while the dragon just kept his eyes on him thinking this was just a trick. Zajar simply nodded his head to the side. The dragon realised what he was saying and looking by those eyes he could tell that he shouldn't ever come back. With one flap of his wings the dragon flew off while Zajar watched him.

"Sugarcube. I thought you said demons don't show mercy?"

'Is it possible that the books were wrong? Or was he not a demon? He speaks the language, though.' Twilight thought.

Zajar satisfied that the dragon left looked over to where his armor piece had broken off only to see it melted by the heat causing him to sigh as he knew the next thing was going to hurt a lot.

"He's hurt!" Fluttershy said as she tried to fly over to him but was pulled back by Rainbow.

"Are you insane Shy? This could be a trick!" Rainbow shouted as she glared at Zajar.

"Are ya sure it isn't from you hurting yourself on his armor skin?" Applejack asked causing the said pegasus to glare at her.

"Hey what is he dong?" Pinkie asked while munching on popcorn and drinking a soda.

The ponies turned towards Zajar who bent his knees and looked like he was in pain. "I think he doesn't look so good."

Zajar body was in tremendous pain but he had to do it. The ponies eyes went wide as they saw the missing piece on his chest was slowly growing back!

"That's scientifically impossible!"

Zajar didn't any attention them but instead raised his head screaming inside his armored mouth so they couldn't hear him. There was a splash of black blood that coated his chest as the armored piece grew back in full. Zajar panted in pain for a minute than turned towards the ponies causing them to tense up. Hearing sounds he turned to see the three he saved run up to the six ponies he met before, the one with the pink bow went up to the orange pony with the cowboy hat, the little unicorn to the white one with purple hair, and the orange Pegasus to the rainbow mane one.

"Oh thank Celestia that you're alright. I thought I lost you, Sweetie Belle." Rarity cried in happiness.

"I'm happy too, I was so scared. I thought I was never going to see you again." Sweetie cried.

"I thought I was going to die too big sis." Apple Bloom sniffled into her coat.

"There, there sugar cube, it's all over now. You're safe." Applejack hugged her close.

"I don't want to go through that again." Scootaloo said while hugging Rainbow Dash close.

"Don't worry about that squirt, I won't let it happen to you again…I promise." She said.

"And it seems everypony is ok, nopony is missing. Thank Celestia that it's all over." Pinkie Pie said.

"And it's thanks to him. He saved us all." Sweetie Belle said pointing her hoof at Zajar.

They all turned to Zajar knowing she was right, but Zajar knew they were going to run away from him. He waited for it but was surprised to see Twilight slowly walk up to him. Still staring at her he began to shrink until he stood over Twilight where she came up to his stomach. Twilight walked up and stared up into his eyes.

"Thank you so much for saving us all. For saving those, we care for with all our hearts. We tried to stop him ourselves…but he overpowered us and captured us. We thought we were all going to die, but then you came and saved us…but why? We drove you away. And yet you came to our rescue."

Zajar didn't say a word not even in his language but simp,y stared at Twilight who was becoming nervous. 'Was he mad?'

Zajar stared at her for another minute then raised his right towards Twilight making the ponies tense while Twilight shook in fear. She quickly closed her eyes not wanting to see......petting? Her eyes snapped open to see he was simply rubbing her mane, not too rough or soft.She simply stared at him even as he began to back away after a few minutes of doing it. He stared at her then turned around to walk back into the forest.

"WAIT!" Zajar turned only to be slammed into by three small fillies. Glancing down he saw it was the three he saved holding him......a hug?

"Please don't go!"

They didn't want him to leave?

"You saved us! You don't deserve to live a creepy forest!"

"Yeah stay here!"

Zajar stared down at them not really sure what to do. He has never been hugged before or asked to stay.

Twilight stared at him in deep thought. She still wasn't sure she trusted him yet, but he did save them. That's it! She could have him stay at her library as she tries to figure him out more and even ask Celestia for help. Why did she have a feeling this was going to be bad.