The Everfree Forest was darker than usual this particular evening, Toon Kritic thought to himself as he cautiously made his way through the unkempt foliage, which to him seemed endless.
The red and black stallion, clad in his usual black coat and top hat, would have rather avoided this place. However, he had grown desperate and there was only one creäture who could fix his problem and this was where she resided. Every so often, he'd stop and consider turning back. But NO! THIS-- this, was the only way! "If she can put an end to this, I'll finally be at peace!" he urged himself.
Howls echoed from a close distance, and for a brief second he could feel is ears twitch and his mane stand on end. No doubt they belonged to a pack of Timber Wolves, possibly cornering their prey. As if Toon wasn't already feeling so uneasy the very thought sent a shiver down his spine. Shaking his head, he thought it best to make haste if only to avoid the same fate.His slow clops suddenly became fast and loud, crushing fallen pieces of twig under his hooves. " The sooner I get out of this place, the better!" He muttered through gritted teeth.
The young stallion burst through the thick brush as quickly as his legs could carry him until he could run no more. He came to a sliding halt, just inches from a collision course with a tree trunk. He took a moment to catch his breath as he began looking around, he took notice of his surroundings. He sat in a clearing, with only the one tree in front of him. It was a sickly looking oak tree, crackling and bare. Only a shriveled leaf or two hung on to its thin, brittle branches. He couldn't help but think how it looked out-of-place among all the lush, green plants. In fact, it was downright eerie. In that moment, Toon was startled by the sound of movement. "Who-whos there?" his voice trembled, as did he.
"You're Toon Kritic I presume?" an ominous voice spoke. Then, from behind the old dead oak, came a feminine but alarming figure. She smiled at him mischievously, her red bat-like wings spread out, showing off her cutie mark, which was that of an orange flame. The creature's ears were curved, almost like horns and her mane was a bright red.
Toon had overheard other ponies talking about this strange individual that lived deep in the Everfree Forest. At first he thought it was just some old ponies telling old mares tales, but there was something else that caught his attention and had it not been for that one bit of information, he wouldn't have bothered. It had been said that this creäture, a pony but no ordinary pony was in this particular spot, granting wishes. There were some other things too, but he had pretty much stopped paying attention after that. Still, if it had been true and apparently it was, he could maybe do something about HIM! The alter ego that haunted him relentlessly. He stood there, trying to find the right words but could only stare at her in disbelief.
"Well are you just going to stand there?" The monstrous mare raised an eye brow, then smiled and sauntered toward the other Pony, flicking her long red tail under his chin. "Then again, I always did like the strong silent type." she flirted. Toon shook his head, and backed away a bit. "Maybe I'm making a mistake. Sorry to waste your time!" He began to retreat, only to be stopped in his tracks. "You don't want to leave. After all, I am the only one who could help you with your little problems, yes?" she smirked, extending a hoof toward him. "They call me Spicy Demon."
"And you can help me?"
"Yes. For a price."
Her emphasis on the word, "price" made Toon rather uncomfortable. He started to dig in his pockets. "Oh, of course-- I mean, I'm sure granting wishes doesn't come cheap, am I right?" he laughed nervously, pulling out a satchel. "How much? 50 bits? 100?"
Spicy floated up ward and shook her head slowly. "No no, I don't take petty cash. I'm in the market for something much more valuable."
"Okay, um what about gems, I think I have some rubies in here somewhere."
"Mmm mm."
"Well, what then? I don't have anything else!"
"Oh, but you do."
There was an awkward silence, then the demon pony flew in close, so close that the two were practically touching noses. "Your soul." she whispered.
Toon looked at her blankly, then frowned. "Yeah, like I said before, I made a huge mistake coming out here."
"Hmm. perhaps I should be discussing this with Toon Z?"
"NO! Don't you get him involved in this! It wouldn't end well!"
"Which is why you came to me to begin with, is it not?"
Just as she said that, Toon cringed as he could hear a maniacal laugh echoing inside his head. He dropped to the ground, shouting, "No NO! Argh!" he gritted his teeth, in a desperate attempt to gain control. "Okay, okay!" he cried. "I'll do anything, just help me get rid of him?!!"
"Very well." Spicy nodded. In a poof of red smoke, a scroll appeared. "I Spicy Demon, grant you this one favor, in return for your ever lasting soul. This contract is forever binding and cannot be broken, under penalty of an eternity of fiery torment-- So, do we have a deal?"
Toon had to take a moment to let the fine print sink in, after which he reluctantly planted his hoofpint on the dotted line. No sooner did he do that, the scroll disappeared into thin air.
"Now, for the fun part!" Spicy laughed wickedly, as she shot into the air, spreading her wings and hooves, she began to chant.
"Regna terrae, cantata Deo, psallite Cernunnos,
Regna terrae, cantata Dea psallite Aradia.
caeli Deus, Deus terrae,
Humiliter majestati gloriae tuae supplicamus
Ut ab omni infernalium spirituum potestate,
Laqueo, and deceptione nequitia,
Omnis fallaciae, libera nos, dominates.
Exorcizamus you omnis immundus spiritus
Omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio,
Infernalis adversarii, omnis legio,
Omnis and congregatio secta diabolica.
Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, dominates,
Ut coven tuam secura tibi libertate servire facias,
Te rogamus, audi nos!
Ut inimicos sanctae circulae humiliare digneris,
Te rogamus, audi nos!
Terribilis Deus Sanctuario suo,
Cernunnos ipse truderit virtutem plebi Suae,
Aradia ipse fortitudinem plebi Suae.
Benedictus Deus, Gloria Patri,
Benedictus Dea, Matri gloria!"
The words echoed through out the forest. The winds began to pick up as if in response to her chanting.
The stallion, watched this from below, his emotions were a mix of dread and intrigue. Then, without warning he collapsed to the ground, a surge of pain coursing through him from head to hoof. "Auuuughhh! No--S-stooop!" he tried to yell, but his cries were unheard over the powerful energy that surrounded him. His body burned at the sensation. Toon began to feel as though he was being ripped in two, which was exactly what was happening. His alter ego was being ripped from his body and fighting every inch of the way.
"What's happening?!!" ToonZ screamed. "What is this?!! NO!!! You can't do this to me!!! You don't know what you're doing, you idiot! STOP!!! STOOOOOP!!!!" Both struggled, and both were in a great deal of pain. Though this was meant to be a quick process, it felt as though it had been going on for moons. Finally, the two halves were completely separated. ToonZ floated in the air, unconscious and eventually faded into non-existence. Toon Critic was awake, but the experience left him feeling numb and lethargic. He lied there for a while, unable to move or speak. Spicy rejoined him on the ground and gave his side a gentile nudge. "Well, I'd say we're done here-- what, not even going to say thank you?" The mare tilted her head. "Anyhow, pleasure doing business with you." and with that, she disappeared into a fiery blaze, leaving Toon to lick his own wounds.
After an hour or so, Toon kritic was able to pick himself up, though his memory was a bit fuzzy, he certainly noticed a difference in how he felt, both physically and emotionally. He could no longer hear the taunts of his corrupt alter ego, ringing in his ears. For the first time in a life time, he felt warmth and invulnerable. This new way of being was better than he could have ever imagined it would be and all he had to do was give up his soul-- his-- soul. like a ton of bricks, it hit. "I-- gave up my soul." he sat down, bowing his head sadly. Yes, he was rid of ToonZ forever but then again, "This has to be the worst case of buyers remorse ever." he muttered to himself." Rising to his hooves, he slowly made his way back home, with the unfortunate realization, did he free himself from one problem, only to be plagued by another? And a single nagging question, "Did I do the right thing?"
End.