The daemon, Protector of Equestria.

Chapter: 5 Equestria’s shield

Patholis looked at the two alicorns staring at him, he felt uneasy he hadn’t been able to fully check his new body. Maybe they can see some weakness or abnormality.

He recognised them both, the white one was the one he saw lifting the sun and the blue one was the one standing atop of the tower.

They stood there in silence, unsure as to what was going on Patholis broke the silence.

‘So are you Celestia and Luna?’

The two alicorns seemed surprised at their names being said without title.

‘There should be a princess in there somewhere.’ Said the taller one, her voice regal it reminded him of a female daemon king.

‘Sorry princess as you can imagine I am new here.’ Said Patholis while in a small bow.

‘Who are you? Why are you here? Where did you come from?’ the taller one demanded.

‘I am Patholis. I am here to serve. I came from a land far away from here.’

‘Serve whom?’ said the smaller and presumably younger one.

‘You, your majesty. I am here as your servant.’

‘We have enough of those.’ Said the taller one.

‘Err I mean not a servant of trivial things such as food and comfort. I mean a servant with great power ready to defend.’

‘Why do you think we need a defender?’ the smaller one was clearly more inquisitive of their guest.

‘I do not, it is my punishment.’ Patholis said grimly, it was fact he was going to have to deal with it.

‘Punishment? For want crime?’

‘I saved the lives of billions but I had to take the life of a friend.’

‘Who sent you on this punishment?’ said the taller one. Patholis had to think about this one, he was going to lie.

‘You may have heard of him? The king of all daemons.’

At the mention of his name the alicorns shivered with fear. Yes they had heard of him. The devastation he leaves in his wake for sport.

The taller one spoke again but with the slightest hint of fear in her voice. Patholis sensed this and tried to release the tension of the situation.

‘No need to fear princesses the king daemon is not angry at you or your performance as rulers. He merely needed to find a suitable punishment for me.’

‘Oh… well still we do not require your help.’ The taller one said proudly.

‘That is reassuring but me coming here is a one way trip I cannot go back.’

‘How did you get here?’ said the smaller one her voice softer when giving the question.

‘The daemon king made a portal for me and I walked through so here I am.’

‘Give us one moment.’ Said the taller one while turning to face her sister and inviting her to do the same.

‘What are we to do?’ said Celestia her mind still trying to take in what has just been said.

‘I don’t know should we trust him? He seems to have come a long way just to be turned down.’ Luna’s voice was much softer when talking to her sister.

‘Well your right there. Let’s give him a chance to prove himself.’

‘I don’t understand you mean a test?’

‘Yes, exactly that is what we shall do.’

Celestia turned to the guest in her presence.

‘If you are truly here to serve me and my sister…’

‘Wait you two are sisters?’

‘Yes problem?’ Celestia was annoyed at the interruption but she kept her ‘cool’.

‘No it actually makes sense.’

‘Anyway you are to complete a test of our choice. Will you accept?’

‘Yes, princess Celestia?’

‘Yes that is me and this is my sister Luna?’ Celestia said while pointing a hoof at her sister.

‘Hello.’ Luna’s voice welcoming now that she knew the he knew her name.

‘I accept your challenge but may I have some time to prepare?’ Patholis knew that only a small amount of energy remained in the shard of larthorlite, which was still wrapped tightly around his right hind leg.

‘Sure for any loyal protector of Equestria.’

With that Patholis was led by guards to a physician who gave Patholis a full physical check over.

He had strong legs, wings and a sharp horn. The princesses had watched the check with intrigue.

While there the physician had explained that alicorns are rare, that the only ones are relatives of the princesses. Patholis then had to explain that this body was not his and that his true form is something that they would find most scary.

Patholis asked about the mark on his flank, the physician explained that it was his cutie mark which represents his destiny.

The half sun and moon on the shield seemed to be evidence as to his purpose here.

Luna also took the liberty of explaining that she and her sister lift the sun and moon every day. Then Patholis had to explain the shard of rock which had kept close to his person at all times.

Then came the test, he had been led all around the castle. He was let to clean himself, which was interesting for him in that this was a totally new body. He was then given a small meal and then led back the throne room with Celestia and Luna waiting for him.

‘Welcome back Patholis I hope you are clean and full.’ Said Celestia her voice still regal but with an underlying tone of interest.

‘That I am your majesty. Dare I ask as to the nature of my test?’

‘Yes, let me show you something.’

With that Celestia walked back from her sister to a balcony which had a full view of the plain which Patholis had trekked early that day.

‘Follow.’ Celestia called from the balcony.

Patholis started to walk towards the throne and the balcony, as he walked he inevitably went past Princess Luna. She just looked at Patholis with amazement, she and her sister where supposed to be the only alicorns in the world.

He gave her a look and small smile. Her cheeks turned the slightest red. Patholis realising what he was doing pointed his head forward and didn’t more it until her got to the balcony. Celestia was standing there looking out at the sun set.

Celestia looked out to the sun as it set knowing her sister was to soon lift the moon and bring forth the night. She turned the grey alicorn with great interest, before a few hours ago she was convinced that she and her sister were the only two alicorns in the world.

He walked up to her standing next to her only half a hoofs distance apart.

‘I try to rule this land fairly. I try to make sure everyone has enough food and has a warm bed for the night.’ Patholis was unsure as to how to respond to this so he simply nodded.

‘But no matter how many peace deals I make or alliances I build my kingdom still has enemies.’

‘Oh…and who are your enemy’s?’

‘They are just boarder disputes or usurper’s trying to take my throne away from me. But there is an individual who is a greater threat than all these combined.’

‘Who is that princess?’

‘He is a draconequus know as discord. Have you heard of him?’

It took no time for Patholis to come up with an answer.

‘I don’t recognise the name but I know of the draconequus. He should be the last one shouldn’t he?’

‘Yes, this morning he made a threat that he will conquer Equestria and plunge it into chaos.’

‘That will not do. I assume that my test has something to do with him.’

‘You assume correctly, I need you to…’ the princess stopped for she didn’t know what to say.

‘You need me to do what? Kill him?’

‘I don’t know.  Has he done enough for me to justify murder?’ Celestia said softly

‘I wouldn’t be able to answer that but if you feel that your kingdom will be safer with him dead, then you have a good excuse there.’ Patholis said bluntly.

‘You think so?’

At this Patholis looked at the floor with uncertainty.

‘How many people have seen me here? Only your guard right?’

‘Maybe what’s your point?’

‘Who knows of my true purpose here? If you sent me out to kill this ‘discord’ then no one could trace it back to you.’

‘That could work but you’re not even armed.’ Celestia said while looking at Patholis’ empty hooves.

‘I can fix that.’ Patholis reached for the black shard which easily came off its rag holster.

Celestia knew what the shard was but had only read about larthorlite in books.

Patholis held the shard in his hoof; it attached its self to his hoof via magic. Patholis could once again feel the power inside it, albeit a lot less power as he had used a lot in his transformation. With a quick and simple thought the shard glowed with black light. Its shape stated to change in Patholis’ hoof. It grew in size, its sides slowly turned sharp. In a matter of seconds the shard had formed into the shape of a sword. It was the same colour as the shard was, black and it pulsed with energy.

‘I shall call it shadow blade.’ Said Patholis while proudly holding his new weapon.

‘Wow, I have lived for a long time and I will live for longer still but that was amazing.’ Celestia said while looking at shadow blade.

‘Now,’ said Patholis while turning to face Celestia. ’do I have a mission princess?’

‘Yes Patholis the daemon, your mission is to kill the draconequus know as discord. Do it in my name but not my honour.’

‘I understand.’

‘Go protector of Equestria, do your duty, be Equestria’s shield.’ As Celestia said this Patholis started to walk from the balcony. He put shadow blade into its invisible scabbard, and whispered to himself.

‘Equestria’s shield.’